Community Bulletin Board

In March 1995 the East Brunswick High School (EBHS) Drama Club presented “Bye Bye Birdie” as its annual spring musical. Now, 10 years later, the original cast members will return for two shows, 8 p.m. on May 27 and 28, on the stage at the high school, Cranbury Road, to celebrate the drama club and to raise funds for current students.

The show is being put together by producer and EBHS alumnus Jason Goldstein, class of 1998.

Tickets, which will be available at the door, cost $8 for the general public and $5 for students and senior citizens.

Milltown Tip A Cop

to aid Special Olympics

Guests who dine at Applebee’s restaurant, Ryders Crossing shopping complex, 324 Ryders Lane, Milltown, from 6-11 p.m. on May 26 can help members of the Milltown Police Department support the 2005 Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run.

During the Tip A Cop fund-raiser, borough police officers will serve as dinner wait staff. Donations, in the form of tips, will benefit New Jersey Special Olympics. Area Special Olympics athletes will be available to answer questions and thank patrons for their support. A balloon artist will entertain at the event.

For more information, call Patrolman Christopher Johnson at (732) 828-1100.

Jamesburg youngsters

invited to fishing derby

The Jamesburg Knights of Columbus and Jamesburg Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local No. 166 will sponsor a fishing derby for Jamesburg youngsters ages 3-15, 9 a.m. to noon on June 26 at Molder’s Fish Reserve, Englishtown Road, Old Bridge.

Interested individuals must sign up by June 20 at Jamesburg police headquarters, 131 Perrineville Road.

Participants in the derby must be accompanied by an adult and should bring their own fishing poles. Bait will be provided.

The event is open to Jamesburg residents only.

Alumni music ensemble

will offer spring concert

The Rutgers Alumni Wind Symphony will present its annual spring concert at 8 p.m. on May 21 in the Nicholas Music Center, Douglass College campus of Rutgers University, George Street, New Brunswick.

The nonprofit ensemble is made up of Rutgers alumni and residents of surrounding communities. Band directors are Nicholas Santoro and Nanette O’Neal, both Rutgers graduates. Admission to the concert is free of charge. The public is invited. For more information, call William E. Mele at (732) 951-1993.

Sponsors sought for

tsunami walk-a-thon

The more than 600 students of Applegarth Middle School, Monroe, will participate in a Tsunami Relief Walk-a-thon from 8:30-10:30 a.m. on May 27 at the school, Applegarth Road. The much-needed proceeds will go toward rebuilding three schools, a medical clinic and an orphanage in the Asian communities destroyed by the December tsunami. Individuals are sought to sponsor students, to donate water and snacks and to provide prizes or awards for the student(s) raising the most funds. For details, call Doreen Mullarney at (609) 655-0604.

Church seeks crafters,

vendors for June 4 event

Vendors are sought for a craft show set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 4 at Cottrell Corners Community Church, 442 Cottrell Road, Old Bridge.

The event will feature crafts, vendors, baked goods and flea market items. Proceeds will benefit the church building fund. Table rental cost is $20 for new vendors, $10 for returning vendors who participated in the church’s previous craft fair, free of charge to church members.

For more information and to reserve, call Debi at (732) 792-2955.

‘Bookseller of Kabul’

will be topic at library

The South River Library Book Discussion Group will discuss “The Bookseller of Kabul” by Asne Seierstad at 7:30 p.m. on May 26 at the library, 55 Appleby Ave.

Copies of the book will be available at the library circulation desk upon registration.

For more information, call (732) 254-2488.

Columbiettes to hold

May 21 flea market

The Immaculate Conception Knights of Columbus Council No. 4907 Columbiettes will hold a flea market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 21 in the Immaculate Conception Church parking lot, Manalapan Road, Spotswood.

The event will take place rain or shine.

For more information, call Rose at (732) 251-4864 or Edwina at (732) 251-4836.

Community theater

family to honor Monaco

The New Jersey community theater family will host an American Diabetes Association benefit in memory of Michael Monaco, a longtime participant in New Jersey theater, from 2-4 p.m. on May 21 at Villagers Theatre, DeMott Lane, Somerset section of Franklin.

Local community theater actors will perform some of Monaco’s favorite scenes, songs and dances. There will be a 50/50 raffle. American Diabetes Association bracelets will be available for purchase.

Refreshments will be served.

Admission is $25 per person. Tickets will be available at the door. Proceeds will go to the American Diabetes Association.

For more information, call (732) 873-2710.

Ladies auxiliary offers

June 5 bus trip to A.C.

The Spotswood Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary will sponsor a June 5 bus trip to the Showboat Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City.

The bus will depart at 8:30 a.m. from the Main Street Firehouse. Participants should arrive at 8 a.m.

Cost is $25, with an $8 return in coin. Coffee and doughnuts will be served on the bus.

For more information and tickets, call (732) 251-3460.

S.R. American Legion

plans Spaghetti Festival

American Legion Post No. 214 will sponsor its annual Spaghetti Festival from 2-6 p.m. on June 5 at the post home, 264 Whitehead Ave., South River.

The menu will include spaghetti, meatballs, sausage, salad, bread, coffee, tea, soda and cake.

Donation is $9 for adults, $4 for children under age 10.

For tickets and more information, call Don Peterson at (732) 257-9302 or the post home at (732) 254-9712.

Flea market, bake sale

on tap at Parlin church

Messiah Lutheran Church, 3091 Bordentown Ave., Parlin section of Sayreville, will hold a Flea Market and Youth Group Bake Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 21. Rain date is June 4.

Proceeds, which will be matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, will benefit the church renovation fund.

For more information, call (732) 721-8493.

South River schedules

Memorial Day picnic

The borough of South River will sponsor a Memorial Day picnic on May 30 at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1451, 31 Reid St., South River. The event, which will begin after the borough parade, will include free birch beer and hot dogs. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For ticket information, call (732) 254-9834 or e-mail the post at vfwpost1451srnj@aol.com.

Holocaust observance

scheduled for June 5

The Henry Ricklis Holocaust Memorial Committee will hold its annual Yom Hashoa commemorative program at 1:30 p.m. on June 5 at Monroe Township High School, Perrineville Road.

This year’s theme will be “Sixty Years After the Liberation of the Death Camps.” To mark the anniversary, six survivors, each representing 1 million silenced Jews, will share their experiences. In addition, there will be dramatic readings, interpretive dancing and music of the Holocaust.

A memorial candle-lighting ceremony will take place from 1-1:30 p.m., prior to the program.

Admission is free of charge. The public is welcome.

For more information, call Jay Ellis Brown at (732) 251-6498.

Melendez concert to aid

World Youth Day trip

St. Thomas the Apostle HSA and the World Youth Day Pilgrims will present Tony Melendez and The Toe Jam Band in a concert set for 7:30 p.m. on May 22 at St. Thomas the Apostle School, Route 18 south, Old Bridge.

Proceeds will help defer the cost of sending St. Thomas youngsters to Cologne, Germany, for the upcoming World Youth Day 2005, where they will see the new pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI.

Concert tickets cost $5 for youngsters, $10 for adults. Refreshments and souvenirs will be sold during intermission.

For more information and to reserve, call (732) 251-4000.

Church rosary society

to sponsor June 4 bingo

The Immaculate Conception Rosary Society will sponsor an afternoon bingo event beginning at noon on June 4 at Immaculate Conception School, Manalapan Road, Spotswood. Doors will open at 11 a.m.

For more information, call (609) 409-0199.

Car wash to raise funds

for E.B. girls basketball

East Brunswick Girls Basketball will hold a car wash from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 21 at Chittick Elementary School, Flagler Street, East Brunswick.

Cost is $5 per car, $7 per sport utility vehicle (SUV).

Tickets on sale for

St. Bernadette’s dance

St. Bernadette’s Parish will sponsor its Spring Dance beginning at 6:30 p.m. on May 21 in the parish’s Lourdes Center, Villanova and Princeton roads, Parlin section of Old Bridge.

Cost is $25 per person and includes a buffet dinner, beer, wine and soda. Coffee and cake also will be served. There will be dancing to the music of a live band.

Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, may be obtained from any parish organization or by calling Betty Brauchle at (732) 727-4652 or Angela Cavalieri at (732) 727-4440.

Small-town life to be topic at writers meeting

The Sisters in Crime-Central Jersey mystery readers and writers group will hold its regular monthly meeting on May 21 in the community room, lower level of the Jamesburg Public Library, Gatzmer Avenue. Writing instructor Pat Marinelli will lead a session of the writers critique group beginning at 9:30 a.m. The general meeting will start at 10:30 a.m.

Jamesburg Mayor Tony Lamantia and several Borough Council members will speak on “So You Want to Know About Small-Town Life” beginning at noon. The discussion will be aimed at assisting readers and writers to understand the specific idiosyncrasies of small-town life.

Sisters in Crime is a mystery readers and writers organization devoted to the promotion and support of women mystery authors. Both men and women are welcome to attend and join the organization. For more information, log on to members.aol.com/sinccj or call (732) 521-5646.

‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’ to be staged June 10-18

The Sayreville Main Street Theatre Company will present its production of the musical “The Scarlet Pimpernel” at 8 p.m. on June 10, 11, 17 and 18 and at 3 p.m. on June 12 in the company’s new theater, located in the Garden Friends Learning Center, 3018 Bordentown Road, Parlin section of Sayreville.

Advance tickets cost $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and students. An additional $2 will be charged for tickets purchased at the door. Prices include dessert and beverage.

For more information and to reserve, call (732) 553-1153 or log on to www.smstc.org.

Donors needed to avert holiday blood shortages

The Blood Center of New Jersey is asking residents to donate blood before and during the Memorial Day holiday to ensure that anyone needing blood during that time will be able to have the life-saving transfusions.

Donations usually fall dramatically over the Memorial Day holiday, creating a shortage for the following week. Patients will need blood throughout this period as a result of vehicular accidents, surgeries and transfusions for blood diseases.

The Blood Center will conduct the following upcoming community blood drives:

• May 22, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Brunswick Square Mall, Route 18 south, East Brunswick;

• May 23, 4-8 p.m. — Jamesburg Public Library, 229 Gatzmer Ave.;

• May 27, 2:30-8 p.m. — Woodbridge Community Center, 600 Main St.;

• May 29, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. — St. Matthew’s Church, 81 Seymour Ave., Edison.

Donors must be at least 17 years of age; there is no upper age limit. Donors should know their Social Security number and bring a signed or picture form of identification.

For more information or to sponsor a blood drive, call (800) 652-5663, ext. 140.

To sign up to donate, call (800) BLOOD NJ.

Columbiettes to host scramble on June

The Columbiettes of Immaculate Conception Knights of Columbus Council No. 4907 will sponsor a scramble (tricky tray) beginning at 8 p.m. on June 3 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Crescent Avenue, Spotswood. Doors will open at 6 p.m.

The event will feature refreshments and door prizes. Cost is $5 per person. Admission is open to adults only.

For advance tickets, call Vi at (732) 656-1850. For more information, call Mary Ann at (732) 251-4785 or Marie at (732) 251-1828.

OLV Columbiettes sets yard sale, craft market

Our Lady of Victory (OLV) Columbiettes will sponsor a yard sale and craft market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 21 in the Knights of Columbus Hall parking lot, Washington Road, Parlin section of Sayreville. The event will take place rain or shine. For more information, call Gail at (732) 238-2714.

SRHS classes of ’74, ’75 to celebrate at reunion

The South River High School (SRHS) classes of 1974 and 1975 will hold a reunion on Oct. 22 at the Holiday Inn, Jamesburg. The reunion will coincide with SRHS Homecoming Weekend.

For more information, members of the class of 1974 should e-mail Terry Capanna at TCC40@aol.com, or call (732) 613-3838; class of 1975 members should call Cyndi Colalillo at (732) 390-9667.

S.R. VFW to sponsor Memorial Day picnic

South River Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1451 will host a Memorial Day picnic from noon to 7 p.m. on May 28 on the grounds at the post home, 31 Reid St.

The event will feature music by Pulse, beer, soda, hot dogs, hamburgers, a horseshoe contest, a clown, a 50/50 and more.

Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for children. Tickets are now available.

For more information, call (732) 254-9834.