🌱 Patch AM: Large Warehouse Fire Prompts Road Closures, Massive Response In Union County

Hi Cranford! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Cranford drivers detoured as Roselle Park warehouse fire shuts key route
• Ready to audition for Cranford’s next big “Fiddler” production?

Also on today's calendar: Five Things You Must Know About Estate Planning After 65 (Online) and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: I quit my job as a banker. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Some sun returning; breezy, with a high of 32 and low of 22 degrees.
• Saturday: Some sun, then clouds, temps: high: 34, low: 26.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 36 and low of 22 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Large Warehouse Fire Prompts Road Closures, Massive Response In Union County (patch.com) — Cranford residents are feeling the impact of a major warehouse fire in neighboring Roselle Park, which has closed North Avenue heading into town and prompted air quality warnings. Police stress that Garden State Parkway entrances and exits from Cranford remain open, while multiple area fire departments, including Cranford’s, assist in battling the blaze into the evening.
   

• Auditions, Registration For Programs At CDC Theatre Coming In January (patch.com) — Cranford’s CDC Theatre is inviting children and adults to free auditions in early January for its May 2026 production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” with no experience or headshots required. The theatre will also open registration for its popular summer camp on Jan. 12, giving local families an early chance to secure spots.
   

📸 Around Cranford

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Cranford

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday January 2

• Five Things You Must Know About Estate Planning After 65 (Online)
  Online,
  2:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Sunday January 4

• SHOULDA 12:00-6:00
  Cranford Dramatic Club Theatre , 78 Winans Ave , Cranford
• Ice Hockey: Girls Varsity vs. Madison (Away)
  Westfield High School , 550 Dorian Road , Westfield
  8:00 pm

Monday January 5

• WILD 3:00PM - 5:15
  Cranford Dramatic Club Theatre , 78 Winans Ave , Cranford
• Bowling: Varsity (Date Changed from 01-09-26) vs. Scotch Plains-Fanwood (Home)
  Westfield High School , 550 Dorian Road , Westfield
  4:00 pm

Tuesday January 6

• Basketball: Girls Varsity vs. Scotch Plains-Fanwood (Home)
  Westfield High School , 550 Dorian Road , Westfield
  4:00 pm
• Swimming: Boys Varsity vs. Oratory Prep (Away)
  Westfield High School , 550 Dorian Road , Westfield
  4:00 pm
• Wrestling: MS vs. Linden (Away)
  Westfield High School , 550 Dorian Road , Westfield
  4:00 pm
• Bowling: Varsity vs. Arthur L. Johnson (Home)
  Westfield High School , 550 Dorian Road , Westfield
  4:00 pm

Sunday January 11

• Meadowbrook Day Camp to Host Open House on January 11, 2026
  Meadowbrook Country Day Camp , 73 E Valley Brook Rd , Washington Township
  11:00 am

📣 Cranford Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Friday January 2

• Ice Hockey: Boys Developmental vs. Montclair (Home)
  Westfield High School , 550 Dorian Road , Westfield
  4:40 pm

Saturday January 3

• Main - Open Yoga
  Woodbridge Township, NJ Calendar
  9:15 am
• Basketball: Boys Varsity vs. Ramapo (Home)
  Manasquan High School
  5:00 pm

Sunday January 4

• SHOULDA 12:00-6:00
  Cranford Dramatic Club Theatre , 78 Winans Ave , Cranford

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Cranford PatchAM possible:

• Omega Maintenance Facilities & Janitorial Services — (908) 282-4482
  Hurry - November Savings 20% Discount for All New Accounts!
• Orange Mattress — (732) 428-4125
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• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• Dogtopia of Union — (475) 338-3501
  Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• I hope your new year is in the pink!
  A holiday commission I hope you enjoy https://jdemaiodraws.com/ (Nextdoor Cranford - South Side)
• All lanes are blocked on the New Jersey Turnpike Outer Roadway northbound south of Interchange 13 - I-278/Goethals Bridge (Linden) due to a crash.
  6:18AM on Jan 1: Crash on New Jersey Turnpike Outer Roadway northbound south of Interchange 13 - I-278/Goethals Bridge (Linden) blocks 1 left lane of… (Nextdoor )

• ALDI posted a job opening for Full-Time Store Associate in Roselle. Apply here.
• New Jersey Staffing posted a job opening for Downstream Operator in Springfield. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Cranford here.

🗞 Nearby News

Kenilworth

• TAPinto Kenilworth's Biggest Stories of 2025 (tapinto.net)
• Boulevard Veterinary Clinic Pet of the Week: Bentley (tapinto.net)
• Massive 6-alarm blaze rips through N.J. warehouse. Alerts issued to residents. (nj.com)

Westfield

• NJ Festival Orchestra Welcomes 2026 with Timeless Broadway Tunes in Westfield (tapinto.net)
• No. 13 Westfield downs Randolph, wins King of the Hill crown - Boys ice hockey recap (nj.com)

Ok Cranford! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I just lost interest.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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