Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay DISTRICT WINNER 2022
By Montserrat Batista School #11
Not many people in my life have been inspiring enough to be compared to Martin Luther King Jr. If I had to pick one person that lives their life exactly like how I’d want to be one day, I’d choose my mother Heiry Quezada. To me, being like Dr. King implies you are fair, brave, nice, and strong. Most importantly, my mom shows the same amount of respect to everybody no matter their color, race, or religion. My mom thinks everyone is the same. She also thinks that we will get nowhere in life if we don’t care for everyone the same way we do for family. I would never change the way my mom sees the world.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a loving person and never used violence, no matter the cause. When I was younger my mom used to tell me stories about how when she was at work people didn’t treat her very well because she is Spanish. My mom told me instead of getting nasty and being rude, she just decided to kill them with kindness. I recommend this because it made them so mad to see her friendly reaction. When my classmates try to make me super mad by calling me names like “Monster rat” instead of my real name, I laugh with them instead of getting mad. That’s how Dr. King, my mom, and I don’t use violence or unkind words. I would never hit anyone because I know I couldn’t live with myself knowing that I hurt someone and my mom’s feelings.
When I was 9 years old I got a chance to tutor people that speak Spanish and English. I wasn’t going to take it because I thought I would mess up. Nervous, I was going to say no to helping people. My mom watched me type my response that I was not going to accept this offer. She gave me a long talk about how the only thing she wants most is for me to be a helper and be a kid again. That made me laugh but I went and said yes to the offer. Now, I’ve made so many friends from all around the world. My mom inspired me to be a helper just like how Martin Luther King helped Rosa Parks when she was thrown in jail.
Martin Luther King Jr. accepted people from all different kinds of backgrounds. My mom and I do this as well. I know so many people from India, Cuba, Turkey, Japan, China, Nigeria, Morocco and countless other places! This is all because of my mother. She is the most accepting person in my family. It’s because of her I have so many friends that I can talk to. I would never want to live my life thinking that I can only talk to people that are my race. My mom has a saying: “If we don’t see people the way we see our close friends or our family, it’s like you’re not evolving.” Who doesn’t want to evolve to be a better you?
Sometimes, I think that people won’t be like my mom because of their family situation or their backgrounds. None of that means you have to treat people differently. There’s so many other examples that say that my mom’s not racist, nonviolent, and a helper. I would say that in every situation, my mom is still like Dr. King. All that matters to me is that my mom continues to be the amazing, loving, and inspiring woman that she is. I am so grateful to have her as my mom and my role model.
POISED PATRIOTS SEEK ANOTHER POSTSEASON RUN
By Tommy Mitch, Staff Writer Colonia basketball
...READ MOREUPDATE THE HENRY INMAN LIBRARY
Hurricane Ida slammed into New Jersey, and Woodbridge, on September 1, 2021, leaving a trail of destruction and flood damage in the hard-hit Colonia section of the Township. In particular, the Henry Inman Branch Library, located at 607 Inman Avenue, suffered severe flood damage from the rising waters of the Pumpkin Patch Brook.
In the aftermath of the storm, the Township surveyed the damage and reported that the library incurred significant damage to all of the building floors, including water damage to at least four-feet of wallboard around the entire building, most of the furnishings and shelves, along with more than 3,000 books, were heavily damaged and lost.
The Inman Branch was closed to the public and the Branch Librarians and staff members were relocated to the Evergreen
Senior Center located at 400 Inman Avenue on October 8 offering limited services.
The Township Administration, along with the Library Board of Trustees, is committed to re-opening the Henry Inman Branch Library and has retained an independent architect – The Vaughn Collaborative – to survey the damage and provide an estimate to repair and replace the library building and interior furnishings. The review is underway and it is anticipated that work will begin as early as this Spring.
“We are grateful to the Township Department of Public Works for their quick response, the Evergreen Senior Center for allowing us a location to maintain some library services to Colonia and to all of the library patrons who have called to offer their time to help with the recovery efforts,” said Library Board President Isha Vyas.
The Library Board of Trustees invites Colonia residents and all regular Henry Inman library visitors to use other WPL branches during this time. The Main Library is located at 1 George Frederick Plaza in Woodbridge, the Iselin Branch, 1081 Green Street in Iselin, and the Fords Branch Library, 211 Ford Avenue. Woodbridge Township Library cards are valid in more than 50 area libraries in the MURAL system in Middlesex and Union County, as well.
Contact the Main Library, 732-634-4450 ext. 5, for more information or visit the Woodbridge Public Library website, woodbridgelibrary.org to “Ask-A-Librarian” by e-mail or chat.
A WOODBRIDGE POLICE OFFICER REMEMBERS 9/11 By Debbie Meehan
(Editors Note: This story was written in
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Woodbridge Township Remembers: 20th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial Service
The Office of the Mayor, the Municipal
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WOODBRIDGE POLICE SWEARS IN NEW OFFICERS
Pictured left to right are Officers: George
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Woodbridge Police Department to Participate in “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day” on Sat., April 24
Bring Unused & Expired Prescription Drugs
...READ MOREVince Valentine’s Comedy Collective
Show Times
- February 12, 2021 8:00 pm
- February 13, 2021 8:00 pm
Ticket Price $29.50
About The Show
Join us for night of laugher with some of New York’s finest comedians! Adult Content- enjoyable for adults ages 18 & up.
VINCE VALENTINE
Vince Valentine has been touring nationally with Broadway’s longest one person show ‘Defending The Caveman“ since 2003. A member of NYDT since 2001 and has played in the lead in “The Soapranos” a parody of the hit HBO series. As a writer and performer, he as also appeared in the Philly Fringe Festival as a member of the Comedy Improv Troupe , “ Skitzoids” and won acclaim in his role is Anthony in The New York International Theater Festival “ What Fools We Lover Be”
He is in production with his latest project “ As Youse Like It” a South Philly Fable , based on the Philly CheeseSteak Wars. Vince is a native of Philadelphia, where he teaches a very successful Stand Up Comedy Class for beginners at Camden County College.
PAUL LYONS
Paul’s comedy is inspired, inventive, and a pure delight. For over twenty years he has performed in every state, as well as overseas in England and Australia.
“A deviously creative funnyman”, says the Denver Rocky Mountain News. “Wonderfully wholesome and significantly different”, adds Silver Friedman, the owner of the Original Improvisation. His more than two dozen TV appearances include Comedy Central, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Showtime. The New York post sums him up this way, “Pure gold, very funny and illuminating.”
As a stand up comic, Paul has headlined in every state as well as overseas in London, England and Sydney, Australia. As an essayist Paul’s inspiring, peculiar pieces appear regularly in Playgirl, TV Guide, and Details.
JULIA SCOTTI
Julia is a nationally headlining comedian, former teacher, author, speaker, and woman of transgendered experience. She was a quarter-finalist and fan favorite on season 11 of America’s Got Talent on NBC in 2016.
Originally from Fairview, New Jersey, for the first 48 years she was better known as comedian Rick Scotti. She toured the country, appearing at venues all over the United States and Canada, both as a headliner in comedy clubs and as an opening act for artists such as Lou Rawls, Chicago, and Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Julia has appeared on numerous television and radio shows as well as commercials.
In 2000, Julia left comedy to begin her life altering transition, and also to begin her new career as a teacher, where she remained for seven years. She was self-employed for a time, but in 2011, after a ten year layoff from comedy, Julia returned to the stage. Her new brand of comedy is fierce, honest, and fearless. She has been described as a “force of nature”, “a cross between Sam Kinison and Mrs. Doubtfire”, and like a “chainsaw flying through the room”.
Julia was a quarter-finalist on season 11 America’s Got Talent in 2016. She was a judge’s favorite with Simon Cowell saying “you genuinely made me laugh”, and Howie Mandel quoted as saying “you have so much to offer, you are a joy.”
