Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Which Cranford firefighter recruit just earned a top leadership honor?

Make time for Christmas Eve Family Service with Glowsticks at First Presbyterian on the Cranford Patch calendar

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Hey hey Cranford! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Which Cranford firefighter recruit just earned a top leadership honor?
  • How did Cranford’s girls hoops stack up against the state champs?
  • How Cranford’s tree company is navigating tariffs on fake Christmas trees

Also on today's calendar: Christmas Eve Family Service with Glowsticks at First Presbyterian and 8 more events.

Find out what's happening in Cranfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did the balloon say to the doctor? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Cranfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Sunday: Mostly sunny and windy, with a high of 45 and low of 26 degrees.
  • Monday: Sun giving way to clouds, temps: high: 39, low: 30.
  • Tuesday: Snow early, then rain, with a high of 40 and low of 36 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Cranford fireighter recruits graduate from Union County Fire Academy (unionnewsdaily.com) — Four Cranford call firefighter recruits have completed the rigorous 18‑week Union County Fire Academy program, earning their Firefighter 1 and 2 certifications and joining the Cranford Volunteer Division. One recruit, Michael DeGregorio, was additionally honored with the Ben Laganga Leadership Award for his commitment to public safety and leadership during training.
   

• Girls Basketball: New Providence Defeats Cranford, 33-13 (tapinto.net) — Cranford’s girls basketball team fell at home to defending state champion New Providence, 33–13, in a defense-heavy matchup. Despite the loss, Cranford’s Lily Costello led the Cougars with nine points and seven rebounds, and New Providence’s coach praised Cranford as a well-coached Union County contender.
   

• Americans still prefer fake Christmas trees even though few are made in US and prices are up (channel3000.com) — A major artificial Christmas tree supplier, National Tree Co., is based in Cranford and has shifted some manufacturing from China to Cambodia as new U.S. tariffs drive up prices. The story explains why most fake trees are still made overseas, how tariffs have raised retail prices by around 10–15%, and how companies are scrambling to diversify suppliers while keeping cost-conscious American shoppers buying.
   

📸 Around Cranford

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Cranford

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

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Other local events
    Monday December 22
  • SHOULDA 7:00
    Cranford Dramatic Club Theatre , 78 Winans Ave , Cranford
  • Ice Hockey: Boys Developmental vs. Scotch Plains-Fanwood (Home)
    Westfield High School , 550 Dorian Road , Westfield
    4:45 pm
  • Kapers - Gym
    McKinley Elementary School , 500 First St , Westfield
    6:00 pm
    • Tuesday December 23
  • SHOULDA 7:00
    Cranford Dramatic Club Theatre , 78 Winans Ave , Cranford
  • Basketball: Girls Varsity vs. Cranford (Away)
    Westfield High School , 550 Dorian Road , Westfield
    4:00 pm
    • Wednesday December 24
  • Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
    First Presbyterian Church of Cranford, NJ , 11 Springfield Ave , Cranford
    8:00 pm
    • Friday December 26
  • Basketball: Boys Varsity vs. Matawan Regional (Home)
    Westfield High School , 550 Dorian Road , Westfield
    4:30 pm
    • Sunday December 28
  • SHOULDA 12:00-6:00
    Cranford Dramatic Club Theatre , 78 Winans Ave , Cranford
  • Basketball: Boys Varsity vs. Rumson (Away)
    Westfield High School , 550 Dorian Road , Westfield
    4:00 pm

📣 Cranford Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

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:

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Lowe's Companies, Inc. posted a job opening for Full Time - Merchandising Service Associate - Day in Union. Apply here.
  • Merck posted a job opening for Director, Packaging Shipping Systems (Logistics and Distribution Technology) in Rahway. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Cranford here.

🗞 Nearby News

Kenilworth

  • Inkwell Printers Celebrates Move to Westfield (tapinto.net)

Westfield

  • Westfield To Celebrate America's 250th Birthday With 2026 Slate Of Events (patch.com)
  • Car Stolen, Home Broken Into In Westfield: Police (patch.com)
  • The Metropolis of New Jersey Hosts Annual Christmas Tree Lighting (thenationalherald.com)

Union

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 feel lightheaded!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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