Acupuncture in Sayreville, NJ

If you’re into the outdoors here in New Jersey, you might want to mark your calendar for this spring: Central Jersey is finally getting its first Bass Pro Shops — a major destination for everything from fishing rods to hiking boots and more. The new store is going up off the Garden State Parkway in Sayreville’s Riverton development and is set to open this spring, giving outdoor lovers a closer place to gear up without a long drive.

For a long time, the only Bass Pro Shops in the state has been in Atlantic City, and before this, most of us willing to make a serious outdoor gear run would head to Cabela’s in Hamburg, PA. That trip always felt like an event — not just a quick stop for a new jacket or pair of hiking boots, but a whole experience with all the sights, sounds, and gear that make getting outdoors fun.

More than a store: why Bass Pro Shops feels like an outdoor destination

And that’s exactly the vibe Bass Pro delivers: these stores are more than retail outlets, they’re immersive outdoor destinations. Walk in and you’ll find huge selections of gear for fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, backpacking, boating, and more — from rods, reels, lures, and tackle to boots, weatherproof jackets, and footwear for every season. Many Bass Pro Shops also offer boats, marine accessories, outdoor cooking equipment, packs and backpacks, and even home or cabin décor inspired by nature.

But it’s not just products. Bass Pro stores are known for bringing the outdoors indoors with displays like massive aquariums, wildlife mounts, and themed murals that celebrate local outdoor life. The idea is to make it feel like you’re already in nature the moment you step through the door. Some locations even offer fishing demonstrations, seasonal family events like “Gone Fishing,” and workshops that teach outdoor skills and conservation.

A personal connection to hiking, fishing, and family time outdoors

That’s why I’m so pleased to see this store coming closer to Central New Jersey. I love the outdoors — hiking in particular — and our family spends a ton of time in nature. Even though I wouldn’t call myself an active hunter these days, I’ve done my fair share over the years. Lately, fishing with my son and daughter has become something I’m really excited about trying together this spring. There’s nothing quite like sharing a hobby with your kids and being out in nature as a family.

Why a Bass Pro Shops in Central Jersey just makes sense

We already have our cabin up in Sullivan County, PA, and one of our favorite spots to hit is Worlds End State Park, where hiking trails and scenic views never get old. And while we’ve always made the trek out to Hamburg for that classic Cabela’s outdoors trip, having Bass Pro Shops in Sayreville means that when we need gear — whether it’s hiking boots, a cold-weather camo suit, or some fishing tackle — we have a great new option!

So as spring rolls in, I’m not just looking forward to casting a line with the kids — I’m looking forward to walking through those doors and seeing what new gear and inspiration await right here in Central Jersey.

There have been long stretches of games for East Brunswick during which high-volume scoring seems like a natural given for the Bears with senior stars Matt Mikulka and Cam Vick.

The first eight minutes of Saturday’s game against Sayreville was not one of them.

With four plus-1,000-point scorers on the floor together, the probability for a wide-open shootout seemed high, though only Sayreville seemed to be feeding that promise in the first quarter.

“I was disappointed how we were letting their top two guys get every opportunity to score early in the game, and we weren’t getting any easy baskets,” East Brunswick head coach Mark Motusesky said.

The solution then was to start denying those easy baskets and chip away steadily at the other end.

East Brunswick regained some footing in the second quarter, then elevated the pressure and saw Mikulka and Vick slip into more familiar versions of themselves to rally the Bears to a 48-47 victory in a Greater Middlesex Conference-Red National Division clash in Sayreville.

Mikulka scored 13 of his game-high 26 points and Vick hit for 12 of his 14 in the closing half to help East Brunswick (11-1) fight back from a deficit that was as high as 13 points in the second quarter.

The Bears are out to their best start since beginning the 2012-13 season at 15-0 and finishing 26-4 behind standouts Rob Ukawuba and Garry Baumer. Sayreville is 7-4 and 0-2 against the Bears.

Mikulka, the program’s all-time scoring leader with 1,611 points, had dropped in seven points in the balance-restoring second quarter, but Vick, with 1,021 points, was limited to one field goal in those opening two quarters.

Chidi Chuwurah (1,390 points) struck for 14 of his 20 points and fellow senior Sam Jones (1,454) netted 12 of his 20 in the first half to steer the Bombers to a 31-20 advantage.

“We were getting our butts kicked in the first, but we still had 16 minutes in the second half to fix it,” Vick said. “When we came back, we were hungry, we wanted it more. And that’s what the scoreboard says.”

The scoreboard still had Sayreville in front, 41-38, when Chukwurah hit two free throws 3:03 left in the game.

Vick then scored on a driving layup with 2:49 left to cut the deficit to one. He missed the accompanying free throw, but chased down his own long rebound and passed to Mikulka, who fed 6-7 junior Corey Thomas at the basket for a 42-41 lead. That was the Bears’ first since 3-2.

East Brunswick continued to extend the floor and Vick came up with a steal and a breakaway layup for a 44-41 lead with 2:19 to play. Sayreville missed at the other end and Vick drove from the wing to raise the lead to 46-41 with 1:32 left.

“Both of us (teams) score like 67 to 70 points a game, but this was a very defensive game,” Vick said.

“They got Sam and Chidi and we got me and Matt, but this definitely came down to defense. Our role players, our guys that don’t score as much stepped up today,” he said.

One was Thomas, who scored only two points, but collected six rebounds and denied points with five blocks; senior forward Noah DeJesus scored two points, yet had nine rebounds and a steal; senior forward Andrew Caruso did not score, but had three assists and a steal.

“We all bought into Coach Mott’s system,” Vick said. “We’ve been working the entire year just trying to get better, and we know how good we are.”

And East Brunswick certainly knows how good Sayreville is, as well. The Bears escaped with a 58-53 victory over Bombers on Dec. 18, and Sayreville came into his game hot off a Top 20 upset Thursday against No. 17 Piscataway, 68-67. Chukwurah dropped in 26 pints and Jones had 18.

SAYREVILLE, NJ – What began as a favor for a friend has become a life’s mission for Sayreville resident Denise Morgan, whose compassion for stray and feral cats has blossomed into a full-time effort to reduce the homeless cat population through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts and socialization.

“I was helping my friend Eileen Di Nicola— she’s the big ‘Trap Queen’ of New Jersey — by transporting cats to the vet,” Morgan recalled. “But when I saw kittens being sent back outside, I thought, why can’t I help socialize them instead?”

That moment changed everything. Denise began taking in young feral kittens, gently working to transform terrified strays into affectionate, adoptable pets. Over time, her passion grew into what’s now known as — a program that, since 2020, has helped nearly 1,000 cats find new beginnings.

“Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return is the only way to stop the overpopulation of cats,” Morgan says. “With the help of CASA (Coalition of Advocates for Shelter Animals) Rescue of Tinton Falls and private donations, we are making a difference in the lives of community cats.”

A Mission Born from Loss and LoveMorgan’s devotion intensified following personal tragedy.

“I lost my daughter in 2018,” she shared. “After that, I needed something to pour my heart into. This became my purpose.”

After retiring during the COVID-19 pandemic, Denise threw herself into TNR full time — seven days a week, up to 10 hours a day — rescuing, trapping, transporting, and fostering cats across Sayreville.

Her kindness sparked action. In 2022, Morgan and fellow cat advocate Karen Bailey Bebert helped get a TNR ordinance passed unanimously by the Sayreville Borough Council.

“It was such a relief,” said Morgan. “Now we had the full backing of the town, CASA Rescue (Sayreville), and Associated Humane Society (Tinton Falls). It legitimized everything we were trying to do.”

“Mimi’s Boot Camp”At the heart of Morgan’s work is her home-based effort, affectionately nicknamed “Mimi’s Boot Camp,” a term coined by her grandson.

The “boot camp” is where feral kittens are carefully assessed to see whether they can be socialized with humans. According to Morgan, people who help socialize feral cats are like unicorns.

“It’s rare to find someone willing to take feral kittens and teach them to trust people," she said.

The process starts slowly. Once Morgan traps a feral kitten, she uses toothbrushes or scratchers to test reactions. Cats that show tolerance to touch are gradually spoon-fed to build trust. Those that begin to accept touch stay for as long as it takes to fully “flip.”

“When a cat finally leans into a scratch or eats from your hand—it’s magic,” she said. “That’s when I know they’re ready to find a home.”

Cats that remain too feral after weeks of effort are returned to the same location they were trapped.

“We never relocate them,” Morgan explained. “They know their home territory. That’s how they survive.”

Cat Compassion: From Sayreville to DenmarkMorgan’s Facebook page has connected her with animal advocates around the world—from Puerto Rico to Denmark and the UK.

“We share ideas, stories, and frustrations,” she said. “No matter where you live, people care deeply about animals. But resources vary widely, so we all try to help each other succeed.”

Locally, she’s eager to educate residents about how simply leaving food out for feral cats can do more harm than good.

“Feeding without fixing is just breeding,” Morgan said firmly. “Even if you don’t like cats, TNR makes sense. It humanely reduces the population and stops the suffering.”

A Call for SupportWhile the Sayreville TNR ordinance provides legitimacy, the work itself still depends on volunteers and donations.

“I need people to trap, transport, foster, and fundraise. This isn’t glamorous work—it’s long hours, sitting in the cold waiting on traps—but it’s deeply rewarding,” said Morgan, who credits CASA Rescue (Coalition of Advocates for Shelter Animals) as her nonprofit partner and fiscal agent, allowing Sayreville TNR to accept tax-deductible donations.

Morgan says despite the heartbreak and exhaustion, she finds purpose in every rescue.

“Even if a cat has to go back outside, at least it’s healthier and can live without constant suffering,” she said. “That’s why I do it—because every life matters.”

How to HelpResidents can support Sayreville’s TNR efforts in several ways:

SAYREVILLE, NJ — At a time when buying a home in New Jersey feels out of reach for many families, a new analysis from Redfin Real Estate, finds that Sayreville ranks third among the state’s 20 most affordable markets in which to buy a house. The data is based on the percentage of household income residents spend on housing costs and reflects averages from Jan. through Oct. 2025.

Redfin’s ranking used a “payment-to-income ratio” (a comparison of typical monthly mortgage payments to median household income) as its measure of affordability. Housing is generally considered affordable when it comprises 30% of income or less. Interestingly, none of the New Jersey cities in the Redfin analysis had a ratio below 37.5%. The study calculated Sayreville's payment-to-income ratio at 40.4%.

Sayreville by the Numbers

While Sayreville's ratio is above the 30% affordability benchmark, it still compares favorably to much of New Jersey, where increasingly high home prices have made ownership increasingly difficult—even as incomes have risen. Sayreville outperformed nearby communities including Old Bridge, Linden, and Carteret, all of which ranked lower in affordability, according to Redfin's report. Fairlawn (payment-to-income ratio: 37.6%) was rated the most affordable market in New Jersey, followed by Toms River (39.2%), and then Sayreville.

In higher-cost real estate markets across New Jersey, payment-to-income ratios climbed well above 60% in higher-cost areas such as Fort Lee, Paramus, and Princeton, which had the highest median monthly mortgage payment ($9,328), according to Redfin.

For families looking to stay in Middlesex County without stretching their budgets past the breaking point, Sayreville looks to be an affordable choice.

City and Payment to income ratio1. Fair Lawn: 37.6%2. Toms River: 39.2%3. Sayreville: 40.4%4. Bergenfield: 41.3%5. Rahway: 42.7%6. Westfield: 43.6%7. Old Bridge: 44.0%8. Linden: 44.6%9. Clifton: 45.3%10. Carteret: 46.3%11. Ridgewood: 47.3%12. Kearny: 52.1%13. Hackensack: 53.9%14. Bayonne: 54.3%15. Garfield: 59.1%16. Englewood: 60.0%17. Princeton: 60.8%18. Paramus: 68.8%19. Fort Lee: 74.5%20. Cliffside Park: 85.4%

SAYREVILLE, NJ — The Sayreville War Memorial High School girls basketball team enters the 2025–26 season with a clear focus: daily improvement, competitive spirit, and continued growth within the Greater Middlesex Conference’s White National Division.

Head coach Janet Cook returns with a young but motivated group, highlighted by sophomore standouts Natalia and Weronika Glazewski, who bring valuable varsity experience back to the court. Their develop.m.ent and leadership are expected to anchor the Bombers’ identity this winter.

“We are looking to be better every day and continue to put in the work to have a successful season,” Cook said.

The Bombers will also lean on returning contributors Gianna Falto, Karina Cardoso, Daniella Verlingo, and Dyanna Sharpe, each bringing toughness and familiarity with the varsity level. Together, they form a core that Cook believes can help elevate the program.

A mix of new faces and developing talent will round out the rotation, giving Sayreville additional depth as the team adapts to the pace of conference play. With only a handful of upperclass athletes on the roster, the Bombers will rely heavily on their underclass leaders to set the tone and drive the team forward.

Sayreville opens its season against Perth Amboy on Dec. 17, a matchup that should give the squad an early look at how its offseason work translates on the floor. A stretch of non-conference tests follows, offering chances to build confidence before entering the heart of GMC competition.

With a challenging schedule ahead, the Bombers aim to blend youthful energy with steady improvement as they navigate the winter slate. If their young core continues to develop and the returning players settle into expanded roles, Sayreville could be poised to take a meaningful step forward this season.

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