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SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ - Franklin Elementary celebrated Autism Acceptance Month in April and, in addition to raising $355 for Autism New Jersey, numerous ‘au-some’ activities designed to promote inclusion took place.

During the May 7 board of education meeting, Principal Shannon Colucci along with fourth graders Alex Primiano and Justin Scala took to the podium to highlight the school’s ‘week of awareness,’ which featured themed-spirit days and sensory-friendly activities, including making food-grade sensory dough and shaving cream finger painting, that provided all students the opportunity to explore how people with unique abilities learn, relax, and interact.

“Many individuals with autism experience a range of sensory sensitivities - sights, sound, smells, textures, and tastes can be either overwhelming or under-stimulating,” Colucci said, adding that the activities were designed to help all students ‘better understand, appreciate, and celebrate’ individual differences.

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“Our sensory-friendly activities were thoroughly put together to support those with sensory processing challenges; however, these activities also promoted brain development, emotional regulation, and learning for every student,” she said. “Students were encouraged to participate in ways that felt right for them. Some discovered they didn't enjoy getting messy, while others fully embraced it. There was something for everyone, even if not everything was for everyone, and that’s what true inclusion is all about.”

During the meeting, a video highlighting some of the school’s sensory activities was shown and both Alex and Justin had the opportunity to share with district officials and the public some of their experiences working with their peers in Room 1 throughout the year.

“Room 1 is one of my favorite places to visit in Franklin School,” Justin, who had the opportunity to teach a fellow student how to use scissors, said. "It's special. We get to do stuff; we are helping them learn, and we are learning how to help them. They are comfortable with us.”

“When I walk into Room 1, the kids get excited, and I like that, and I like going back,” added Alex, who shared how he helped teach a student in the class how to warm up her hands. “... When I see them have these moments, I know I can be a role model because I help them to get where they need to be.”

According to Colucci, both Alex and Justin have ‘emerged as leaders and friends, embracing inclusion and playing a key part in helping’ some of the school’s STEP students feel ‘welcome, supported, and truly part’ of the Franklin community.

“Inclusion practices benefit every student and are especially meaningful for those in our self-contained STEP and Project Inspire programs,” Colucci said, adding, “At Franklin, we strive to ensure all students feel seen, valued, and a part of the school family. By embracing differences, our students build strong character and help foster a warm, welcoming learning environment for all.”

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OLD BRIDGE — South Plainfield and East Brunswick entered Tuesday’s Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament semifinals with a combined record of 32-5 in part because of their resiliency and ability to overcome adversity, and both teams displayed those positive traits throughout the afternoon.

In the end, it was South Plainfield that responded last after East Brunswick overcame a game-long deficit by tying the contest with three runs in the top of the seventh.

South Plainfield responded immediately as Sophia Alvarez led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk-off home run for a 5-4 victory that gives the second-seeded Tigers (13-3) an opportunity to defend its GMCT title against top-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas (17-4) on Friday at Woodbridge at 2 p.m.

“Honestly, I was looking for a pitch that I could drive, I was looking for a single to start off the inning,” Alvarez explained. “That’s all we needed. We needed runners in scoring position.”

Instead, she brought the highly-entertaining affair to a swift conclusion.

“I ended up getting my pitch and swung hard,” she added.

South Plainfield seized control of the contest by jumping on the third-seeded Lady Bears (20-3) for three runs in the bottom of the first. Ava Fusaro and Alvarez received lead off walks and advanced to second and third with a double steal before starter Nicole Swatko plated Fusaro with a sacrifice fly. Jocelyn Sosa then sent a 1-2 delivery over the fence in left-center field for a 3-0 lead that East Brunswick never overcame.

“My big thing is always to score first,” South Plainfield coach Antonia Pacillo offered, adding that she likes being the visiting team for the opportunity to jump on teams in the top of the first. “When we end up getting tied up (in the seventh), in that moment my thoughts are ‘Oh, Lord, what’s about to happen.’ But at the same time I remember that I have to keep my composure. These girls feed of my energy a lot so when I stay calm and cool and relaxed I feel that they do the same.”

East Brunswick responded characteristically, scratching out a run immediately in the top of the second as Maris Rampolla walked and scored on Ari DeMaio’s double to center. South Plainfield reinstated its three-run cushion in the third as Swatko doubled and scored on two wild pitches for a 4-1 edge.

The contest turned into a pitcher’s duel for the next three scoreless innings, each team managing only a single over those three frames. East Brunswick’s Bella Stagliano (15-2) retired nine in a row during one stretch, while Swatko (5-0) entered the seventh having mowed down the last eight batters she faced.

That didn’t last long.

Eva Munoz was hit by a pitch leading off the top of the seventh, Rampolla singled and DeMaio was plunked to fill the bases. Stagliano drilled a triple to right to tie the score and put the go-ahead run on third base with no outs. Pacillo then replaced Swatko with Ein Townley, the eventual winner, who Rachel Gerould greeted with an infield single, Stagliano holding.

Christiana Lee grounded out to second and Gerould was caught on the back end after straying too far from second for a game-preserving double play.

“That kid at second base (Daria Mazzarese) made a nice play and really put us in a tough spot,” East Brunswick coach Kevin Brady noted. “Credit to them for being excellent and fundamentally sound in a defensive moment that could have made the difference in the game.”

South Plainfield’s seventh inning was far-less convoluted. Alvarez led off with a rocket to left for her third round-tripper of the campaign and South Plainfield was back in the championship game.

“I pretty much blacked out from first to third,” said Alvarez. “All of the energy hit me at once and seeing my team at home was a pretty good feeling.”

It was a gut-wrenching defeat for East Brunswick, which lost for the second day in a row, and barely had an opportunity to appreciate its own seventh-innings fireworks.

“One of the things that’s made us a really strong team all year is understanding that the game is never over until that scoreboard hits that final out,” Brady stated. “Sometimes you show championship heart in different ways and different moments of a game and I think we showed that in that seventh inning. These are the life lessons, that’s what you want them to walk away with. Now we’ll focus on the states and, hopefully, put our best foot forward.”

South Plainfield and St. Thomas split their two Red Division encounters, the Trojans winning, 14-4, on April 8, the Tigers rallying for a 4-3 verdict on April 24. Pacillo, in her first year after replacing Don Panzarella, the state’s all-time winningest coach, is looking forward to the matchup.

“I’m very happy for my girls and happy that we’re heading for the finals,” Pacillo said. “If we’re going to win it all I want to beat the best. I think it will be a really fun game to coach and be a part of, let alone watch my girls do what they do best and play.”

St. Thomas Aquinas 2, Monroe 0: Sophomore Megyn Kerstetter picked a fine time to hammer the first home run of her varsity career.

Kerstetter jumped on a 1-1 delivery to shatter a scoreless deadlock with two outs in the bottom of the sixth and propel the top-seeded Trojans (17-4) to their familiar place in the GMCT championship game.

Kerstetter wasn’t exactly thinking home run when she stepped to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the sixth of a compelling, scoreless affair.

“Before that our team was hitting, but we weren’t putting anything together,” she said. “I came up in a two-out spot. I took the first two pitches, I didn’t like them, and then the next one I just swung and hit it. I did not know it was over until I got to second base.”

St. Thomas tacked on an insurance run it wouldn’t require as Alyssa Collins followed Kerstetter’s blast with a single and scored on a base hit by Gwen Negron.

“We were starting to press to get hits because it was 0-0 and we’re getting hits, we just weren’t piecing them together,” Kerstetter said. “Our team was anxious to gets hits and help Liz (Negron) out, she was pitching a great game and we had a good game on defense. After that they kind of crumbled.”

As one might expect, both pitchers maintained their late-season excellence. Negron (16-3) fired a three-hitter with 14 strikeouts and one walk in posting her seventh shutout of the season.

Monroe’s Monica Bukowczyk, a Player of the Week candidate, continued to shine by blanking the area’s top team for five innings.

Sophia Colucci and Brielle Cubala had two hits apiece for St. Thomas while Bukowczyk, her sister, Brianna, and Brielle Zarsky each had singles for fourth-seeded Monroe (11-9), which had a four-game winning streak halted. .

”It feels crazy. All of the hard work I did in the winter hitting,” Kersetetter reflected.

“It feels really good to see my hard work pay off.”

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SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ - May is National Military Appreciation Month and, in the Borough of South Plainfield, Mayor Matt Anesh is calling upon citizens to honor those who serve or have served in all branches of the United States Armed Forces.

“For generations, members of the United States military have put their lives on the line to protect and defend the United States Constitution and the freedoms we hold dear,” according to the ‘Military Appreciation Month’ proclamation made by Anesh during the May 5 council meeting. “As our debt to them may never be repaid, it is the privilege of every American to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans.”

South Plainfield residents and veterans Bob Bengivenga and John DeAndrea, both longtime members of American Legion Chaumont Post 243, were on hand to accept the proclamation, with DeAndrea also honored during the meeting with a Quilt of Valor.

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Observed annually since 1999, National Military Appreciation Month serves not only to honor veterans but also to foster awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by the military community. The month-long tribute takes place in May to coincide with the many other events celebrating U.S. military members and their achievements throughout the month.

They include Loyalty Day and Silver Star Service Banner Day (both on May 1), Victory in Europe (VE) Day (May 8), Military Spouse Appreciation Day (May 9), Children of Fallen Patriots' Day (May 13), and Armed Forces Day (May 17), as well as National Poppy Day (May 23), and Memorial Day (May 26). Additionally, Public Service Recognition Week (May 4 to May 10) is also observed in May.

“The United States owes our servicemen and women an enormous debt, and the government, at the federal and state level, should ensure our veterans have the support they need to lead healthy lives and prosper when they return home,” states the mayor’s proclamation.