Community Bulletin Board

Elijah’s Promise, 18 Nielson St., New Brunswick, will sponsor a Health Fair Block Party in New Brunswick June 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The free event is sponsored in collaboration with the Central Maternal and Child Health Consortium, UMDNJ-RWJMS Eric B. Chandler Health Center, Mt. Zion AME, H.I.P. H.O.P., Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Promotion Program, Catholic Charities Ozanam Inn, St. John’s Clinic, St. Vincent De Paul Society, Hyacinth Foundation and the city of New Brunswick.

It is designed to foster interest in preventive measures of health care, and will allow service providers to assess needs of low income individuals and refer individuals to appropriate systems.

The event will provide various health screenings such as cholesterol, blood pressure, and prostrate screenings; music; DJ Lady C; children’s activities; face painting; and free food.

For more information, call Yvette at (732) 545-9002, ext. 15.

USS Avenger group to meet June 12

The fan association USS Avenger, based in central New Jersey, will hold its monthly meeting June 12 at 3 p.m. at Border’s Books, Route 18, East Brunswick.

The Avenger is a chapter of Starfleet, The International Star Trek Fan Association Inc., and holds regular meetings and events, and offers a bimonthly newsletter. The meeting will feature a discussion and viewing of fan-produced films relating to the Star Trek and Star Wars franchises.

For more information, e-mail Judith at waidlich@rutchem.rutgers.edu or Todd at Scotsmuppet@gmail.com.

Judo camp in Monroe to begin June 20

Monroe Municipal Alliance will sponsor judo camp for students in grades one through 12 June 20-24 at Monroe Community Center. The camp will be facilitated by Ruggiero Brothers Judo Club. Times are 2-3:15 p.m. for grades one through five, 3:30-5 p.m. for six through eight, and 5:15-6:45 p.m. for nine through 12.

There is no fee for the camp. For more information, call the Alliance at (732) 723-5006.

‘Guys & Dolls’ auditions June 11 and 14

The Mighty Oak Players will hold auditions for “Guys and Dolls” at the Richard P. Marasco Performing Arts Center, 1629 Perrineville Road, Monroe Township, with show dates Aug. 25-28.

Auditions will be held June 11 at the chorus room, from 1-4 p.m. for vocal auditions and 4-5 p.m. for dance auditions; and June 14 at the main stage, 6-9 p.m. for vocal auditions and 8-10 p.m. for dance auditions. Callbacks are scheduled for June 15 at 7 p.m. at the chorus room, and June 16 at 7 p.m. at the main stage.

For more information, call (732) 521-3782 or (609) 395-0934.

‘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 2 p.m. on June 11 and 18 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.

Youth theater workshop scheduled in Sayreville

Triple H Productions, Sayreville, will offer a summer youth theater workshop for students in kindergarten-eighth grades (students in grades 9-12 also are welcome) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mondays-Saturdays, July 16-30, at St. Stanislaus Kostka School, MacArthur Avenue, Sayreville.

All workshops will offer daily instruction in acting, movement, creative drama, improvisation/theatre games and play production.

Registration deadline is June 20. Fee is $180, with $50 due at time of registration. A payment plan is available.

For more information, log on to www.triplehproductions.com or call Wlfredo Hernadez at (732) 254-1535.

Book discussions at library begin June 15

Monroe Township Library, 4 Municipal Plaza, will hold a discussion of “Janitor’s Boy” by Andrew Clements June 15.

A discussion of “Search for Delicious” by Natalie Babbitt will be July 20, and “The Barn” by Avi Aug. 17. Discussion are for children in third and fourth grade. Discussions for children in grades five and up will be “Up on Cloud Nine” by Anne Fine June 22, “Dragon Rider” by Cornelia Funke July 13, “Invitation to the Game” by Monica Hughes July 27, “Eragon” by Christopher Paolini Aug. 10 and “City of Ember” by Jeanne Duprau Aug. 24. All discussions are at 7:30 p.m. and refreshments will be served.

Registration for the summer reading program, “Dragons, Dreams and Daring Deeds” will be June 27. The program runs through Sept. 2. For each hour a child reads, she or he will receive a “dragon dollar” to exchange for books and other prizes on certain shopping days. Children reading at least one book may attend the end-of-summer celebration.

For details, call (732) 521-500.

International music events on tap in Monroe

The Monroe Township Cultural Arts Commission’s Music in the Park Summer 2005 series will offer free international music concerts on five consecutive Friday evenings in the gazebo on the lake at Thompson Park, Monroe. All events will begin at 6 p.m.

The concerts, which will feature mariachi to salsa, Greek folk songs to Italian ballads to Latino rhythms, will provide a showcase of “get-up-and-dance” music.

The schedule is as follows:

• July 1 — “Greek Music Celebrates Family and Traditions,” with George Manikas and his three-piece band playing Greek folk music and traditional songs;

• July 8 — “Put a Little Salsa in Your Life,” featuring international salsa star David Cedeno and his orchestra performing classic and modern love songs;

• July 15 — “Italian-American Night,” with the Rick Koreyva Band performing classic Italian-American standards and the sounds of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Louis Prima;

• July 22 — “Chameleon Performs Latino Hits,” featuring modern South American hits from Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba and other Americas, with band leader Jim Royer on double bass and vocals, Rosie Rounds on flute and saxophone, Ismail Butera on accordion and Neil Ochoa on percussion;

• July 29 — “Mexican Minstrels,” with Mariachi Bustamante, a five-piece band made up of a trumpet player, a violin player and three Mexican guitars, serenading the audience with romantic folk tunes and traditional Mexican love songs.

Concertgoers should bring their own chair or blanket. For more information, call (732) 521-4400, ext. 134.

E.B. youngster to sell lemonade for charity

Eight-year-old East Brunswick resident Michele Katora will host Alex’s Lemonade Stand from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 11 at 2 Biernacki Court, off Old Stage Road near Summerhill Road in East Brunswick. Proceeds will benefit the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating pediatric cancer “one cup at a time.” Michele decided to host the stand after learning about Alex Scott, who died last year at the age of 8 after battling neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer, most of her life. Alex held lemonade stands to raise money for her hospitals from the time she was 4 years old.

Legion ladies auxiliary seeking new members

The Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Post No. 214, South River, is seeking new members to help support veterans at home and U.S. troops in various locations.

Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month at the post, 264 Whitehead Ave.

For more information, call Dot Swiderski at (732) 257-0825.

Audition scheduled for Summer Arts Academy

The Arts and Education Center, Somerset section of Franklin, the organization that has conducted the Middlesex County Arts High School and Arts Middle School programs for the past 25 years, will hold auditions for its Summer Arts Academy on June 14 at Monroe Township High School, Perrineville Road. The arts academy provides instruction for individuals in seventh-12th grades.

The four-week intensive training program will begin on July 5 at Monroe Township High School. Classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mondays-Thursdays.

Disciplines will include theater, musical theater, visual arts, cartooning and poetry.

The faculty will be made up of teaching artists from Arts High School and Arts Middle School. Courses will focus on broadening the students’ understanding and mastery of their own arts discipline while fostering a heightened awareness of other art genres. Student busing will be available from locations throughout Middlesex County. Admission to the summer academy will be by audition only. For an enrollment form and more information, call (732) 249-5151 or e-mail info@artsandedcenter.org.

Local talent to perform at South River concert

The South River Cultural Arts and Heritage Commission will present Plug and Play — A Concert in the Park, featuring the music of Electrical Void, First to Fall, the Rocker Chicks and special guests from South River High School and South River Middle School, from 3-8 p.m. on June 18 at Szabo Gazebo, Dailey’s Pond Park, Prospect and William streets, South River.

The concert is the first in a series of upcoming musical events designed to spotlight the local talent and diverse cultures of the South River area.

Admission is free of charge. Concertgoers should bring blankets or lawn chairs. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

For more information or to express an interest in performing at future events, call (732) 257-1999, ext. 150, or e-mail CulturalArts@SRBoro.com.

Dance to the oldies at American Legion post

Spotswood American Legion Post No. 253 will sponsor its monthly Oldies Dance from 8-11 p.m. on June 17 at the post home, Devoe Avenue, next to the lake.

Participants will dance to the music of the ’50s and ’60s. An oldies dance is held every third Friday of the month at the post home. A DJ provides the music.

Admission is $7 per person and includes soda, cake, coffee, tea, door prizes and trivia games. Singles are welcome.

For more information, call Tony at (732) 251-0970.

Open house at several

houses of worship in S.R.

The South River Council of Congregations will present “Open Doors of Faith” for various South River houses of worship June 12 from 2-4 p.m. Following the program, there will be refreshments and fellowship at Seven Acres Park, Kamm Avenue, South River.

Representatives from each house will be at their location to conduct tours and answer questions. Participating will be Congregation Anshe Emeth, Corpus Christi Church, Conklin United Methodist Church, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Old School Baptist Church, St. Euphrosynia Byelorussian Orthodox Church, St. Mary of Ostrabrama Church, Sts. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church and St. Stephen the Protomartyr Church.

For more information, call Thomas at (732) 238-0392.

Festa Italiana coming to

PNC Bank Arts Center

The Garden State Cultural Center Fund will present its 33rd annual Festa Italiana from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 12 at the PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel.

The event will feature live entertainment all day, Italian food, a craft vendor marketplace, children’s rides and activities for all ages from noon to 4 p.m., an Alpha-Romeo car show, a state Department of Transportation and Safety display van, a soccer competition and Italian cultural organization displays.

For more information, call Phyllis Cedola at (973) 887-6224.

S.R. Boy Scout troop

plans June 11 car wash

South River Boy Scout Troop No. 4 will hold a car wash from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 11 at Elks Lodge No. 2033, Main Street, South River.

Dinner, auction to raise

funds for mission trip

The Fools for Christ clown group of Jamesburg Presbyterian Church will hold a fund-raising Foolish Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner and Wonderful Wacky Auction on June 18 at Elks Lodge No. 2180, 74 W. Railroad Ave., Jamesburg. Dinner is set for 4-6 p.m. The auction will begin at 7 p.m.

The dinner menu will include spaghetti, meatballs, salad, bread, dessert and beverages.

Admission to the dinner and auction is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 5-12; youngsters under age 5 will be admitted free of charge.

All proceeds will go to support the church’s upcoming mission trip to Cuba.

For more information, call (732) 521-1711.

Spotswood Library to sponsor book sale

The Spotswood Public Library, 548 Main St., will host a book sale during regular library hours June 11-25.

Hardcover books, paperbacks, children’s books, audiocassettes and videocassettes will be available.

Paperbacks will sell for 50 cents each or three for $1, hardcovers for 75 cents and up, videocassettes for $1.

An “All-You-Can-Carry for $5” sale is set for the last two days of the event, June 24 and 25.

All sales are final. Proceeds will benefit the library and its programs.

For more information, call (732) 251-1515.

Animal Rescue Force to sponsor garage sale

Animal Rescue Force, East Brunswick, a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to finding good homes for homeless dogs and cats, will hold a garage sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 11 and 8 a.m. to noon on June 12 at 5 Cypress Ave., North Brunswick. Rain dates will be June 18 and 19.

Donations of used dogs crates are sought.

For more information, call (732) 257-7559.

JFS seeking drivers to get meals to seniors

Jewish Family Service of Southern Middlesex County is in great need of drivers to deliver meals to homebound seniors in Old Bridge. For more information or to volunteer, call Jennifer at (609) 395-7979, Tuesdays-Thursdays.

AARP chapter slates meeting, trips

The AARP East Brunswick Chapter No. 4855 will hold a general membership meeting June 14 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the East Brunswick Library, 2 Jean Walling Civic Center Drive. The meeting will be the last until September. Members are asked to bring finger foods to share, and Richard Roden Jr. will present folk songs.

Seats are still available for the July 7 trip to Erie Trackside Manor in Port Jervis, N.Y. The $55 price covers transportation, light breakfast, buffet lunch, games and entertainment.

A trip to see “The Magic of Mario Lanza” is scheduled for Sept. 9 at the Wayne Manor, and reservations must be prepaid by Aug. 5. The cost is $59. A trip to see “La Cumare” at The Brownstone, Paterson, is set for Sept. 28, with reservations prepaid by July 29. The cost is $58.

For more information, call Terry at (732) 238-5678.

Reading club signups, kickoff slated at library

In-person registration will begin on June 20 for summer reading club and story time youth activities at the Spotswood Public Library, 548 Main St. Telephone registration will begin on June 21.

Library card holders ages 3-13 are invited to be “royal” readers and look for dragons, dreams and daring deeds as they take part in “Joust Read @ the Spotswood Public Library,” the library’s summer reading club. A reading log must be kept in order for participants to be eligible for weekly prizes and end-of-summer awards. The last day to log books will be Aug. 5.

Summer story times, open to children ages 3-8, will be offered June 28-July 7, July 12-21 and July 26-Aug. 4.

Youngsters who sign up for the summer reading club are invited to “Joust Fun,” set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 13. The event, which will feature “medieval” games, crafts and snacks, will kick off the reading club season. For more information, call (732) 251-1515.

‘Showcase 2005’ on tap June 10-12 at MTHS

Students at Monroe Township High School will perform “Showcase 2005,” a two-act, musical play featuring music and scenes from the Broadway stage, at 7:30 p.m. on June 10 and 11 and 4 p.m. on June 12 at the high school, Perrineville Road. Tickets cost $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $5 for students.

Car seat check slated for June 12 in Piscataway

“Safe Kids in the Park,” a car passenger safety program, will hold a car seat checkup June 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Johnson Park, Piscataway.

There will also be information on the proper way to install child seats, and fingerprinting of children. All events are free and are sponsored by Safe Kids Middlesex County, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, and Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

For more information, call the Sheriff’s Office at (732) 745-3801.