Community Bulletin Board

South River Parks and Recreation will hold its annual Fireworks Celebration on July 1 at Bill Denny Stadium, South River High School, Montgomery Street. Rain date is July 2.

A refreshment stand, sponsored by South River High School girls sports, will open at 6:30 p.m. Hot dogs, popcorn and beverages will be available.

Musical entertainment is set for 8 p.m. The fireworks display will begin at dusk.

Due to new state regulations, spectators will no longer be allowed to sit in the end zone of the football field. Seating will be permitted in the bleachers.

For more information, call the rec hotline at (732) 254-4412.

Etz Chaim to sponsor June 26 Magic Show

Etz Chaim/Monroe Township Jewish Center will present its annual Magic Show from 3-5 p.m. on June 26 at the Monroe Township Community Center, Monmouth Road.

The event will feature clowns, magic and illusion, unicycle juggling and rolling globes.

Tickets are free of charge for children ages 12 and under; youngsters must be accompanied by an adult. Admission is $5 for adults.

For more information, call Nancy at (732) 723-1119.

La Leche League plans July 6 meeting

La Leche League of South River, a support group for expectant and nursing mothers in Middlesex and Monmouth counties, will hold its monthly meeting at 10:30 a.m. on July 6 at the South River Library, 55 Appleby Ave.

Topic will be “What to Expect: Knowing What’s Normal and Avoiding Problems.” Babies, new mothers and mothers-to-be are welcome.

The group shares information on parenting and mothering choices with mothers in South River, East Brunswick, Spotswood, Monroe, Jamesburg, Old Bridge, Sayreville, Matawan and Aberdeen. For more information and directions to the library, call Susan at (732) 238-3811.

Environmental panel to sponsor nature walk

The Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership will sponsor a nature walk through Milltown’s Mill Pond Park and surrounding waterways from 1-4 p.m. on June 26. Participants will also examine environmental problems.

Interested individuals should meet at 1 p.m. at the Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership headquarters, 85 Washington Ave., Milltown. Walk leader will be Andrew Besolde. For more information, call (732) 249-5297.

Richard Rodgers to be topic of library program

Dr. Donato D. Fornuto, professor emeritus of music at William Paterson University, Wayne, will present a program titled “Rodgers and Hart; Rodgers and Hammerstein” at noon on July 8 at the Spotswood Public Library, 548 Main St.

Fornuto, who has taught jazz as well as classical harmony and counterpoint, will illuminate the career of Richard Rodgers with biographical information and anecdotes. The presentation will feature sing-along opportunities and “Name-That-Tune” quizzes for audience members.

The program is free of charge. Reservations are recommended. The public is welcome. Refreshments will be served.

For more information and to reserve, call the library at (732) 251-1515.

The program has been developed and funded by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

‘Maria Full of Grace’ to open library film fest

The 23rd annual Summer International Film Festival at the East Brunswick Public Library, Jean Walling Civic Center, will open on July 5 with 1:30 and 8 p.m. screenings of the Spanish drama “Maria Full of Grace.” The festival will continue every Tuesday through Aug. 9.

Films will be shown in their original languages, with English subtitles as needed. Admission is free of charge. Reservations are not required.

The complete festival schedule is:

• July 12 — “Moolaade,” Senegalese, 2002, 124 minutes, rated PG-13;

• July 19 — “Monsieur Ibrahim,” French, 2003, 95 minutes, rated R;

• July 26 — “Motorcycle Diaries,” Spanish, 2004, 126 minutes, rated R;

• Aug. 2 — “Kitchen Stories,” Swedish and Norwegian, 2003, 92 minutes, rated PG;

• Aug. 9 — “The Magdalene Sisters,” British, 2003, 119 minutes, rated R.

The festival is sponsored by the Friends of the East Brunswick Public Library.

For more information, call Susan Sclar at (732) 390-6775.

Jamesburg Senior Citizens seeking new members

Jamesburg Senior Citizens is looking for new members.

All Jamesburg seniors are invited to join the club. Meetings are held at 39 Stevens Ave. Refreshments and bingo follow every meeting.

For more information on membership, call Delores Wigodinski at (732) 521-4620. For more information on Atlantic City trips, call Sue Kane at (732) 251-8386.

Olde Tyme Circus

coming to Jamesburg

The Jamesburg Civic Association will host the Great American Olde Tyme Circus on June 30 on the grounds of JFK School, Front Street and Davison Avenue, Jamesburg. Show times are 5:15 and 7:30 p.m.

Advance-sale tickets are available through June 29 at the following Jamesburg locations: Sweet William and Thyme, 27 E. Railroad Ave.; Barbara’s Antiques, 35 E. Railroad Ave.; King Auto Parts, 67 E. Railroad Ave.; Little Shop of Treasures, 28 W. Railroad Ave.; PNC Bank, 36 W. Railroad Ave.; First Constitution Bank, 1 Harrison St.; and Gray Rock Supply, 64 W. Railroad Ave. Advance tickets cost $9; children age 2 and under will be admitted free of charge.

Tickets purchased at the gate cost $11; children age 2 and under admitted free of charge. Advance-sale tickets will not be available on circus day.

For directions or more information, call (732) 521-2040 and leave a message.

S.R.-E.B. Rotary sets

meetings, guest speakers

The Rotary Club of South River-East Brunswick will meet and host guest speakers from 12:15-1:30 p.m. on upcoming Wednesdays at the East Brunswick Chateau, Cranbury Road.

The summer schedule of meetings, speakers and topics is as follows:

• June 29 — Steve Latyschow of Millennium Cell, “Developments in Fuel Cells”;

• July 13 — Steven Kitts, “The Big Brother/Big Sister Organization”;

• July 20 — Pete Osowski of Solar Solutions, “Solar Energy Products”;

• July 27 — Robert Nisenson, Esq., “The New Bankruptcy Law.”

Lunch costs $15 per person.

For information and to reserve, call Joe Xerri at (732) 238-4111.

Retired federal workers

schedule July 9 cruise

National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Chapter 1533 will sponsor a sunset cruise of New York Harbor aboard the SeaStreak out of Atlantic Highlands.

Cost is $25 per person.

For more information and to reserve, call Susan at (732) 615-0514.

Fresh produce vouchers

will be given to seniors

A representative from the Middlesex County Department on Aging will be at the East Brunswick Senior Center, Jean Walling Civic Center, at 12:30 p.m. on July 6 to distribute vouchers for the New Jersey Farmer’s Market Senior Fresh Produce Program. Four $5 vouchers will be given to income-eligible senior citizens.

Proof of income will be required; the PAAD (Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled) card will be accepted.

Advance registration is required.

For more information and to register, call (732) 390-6896.

Vacation Bible school

planned at S.R. church

Conklin United Methodist Church, 82 Main St., South River, will hold a vacation Bible school from 9 a.m. to noon, July 18-22.

The program is open to youngsters ages 3-13. This year’s theme is “Circle G Ranch.” For more information and to register, call Patti at (732) 257-0559.

‘Miss Saigon’ first up

for Plays-in-the-Park

Middlesex County’s summer theater, Plays-in-the-Park, will open its 43rd season of musicals with a production of “Miss Saigon,” set for 8:30 p.m., June 28-July 9, at the Stephen J. Capestro Theater in Roosevelt Park, Edison. There will be no performances July 3 and 4. A sign-language-interpreted performance is planned for July 6, with a July 7 rain date.

The box office will open at 5:30 p.m. on performance days. Patrons must bring a low-back lawn chair, which they may place in the outdoor seating area immediately after purchasing a ticket. Chaise lounges and chairs taller than 40 inches will not be allowed.

Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors age 62 and above. Children age 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.

The theater, which is handicapped accessible, is located off Route 1 south, just south of the Menlo Park shopping mall, Edison.

For more information, call (732) 548-2884, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mondays-Fridays.

Funding has been made possible in part by the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission, through a grant provided by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, and by the financial support of the Friends of Plays-in-the-Park.

Local filmmakers plan

open casting, crew call

Local filmmakers Kevin Keiser of Hazlet and David Kaiserman of Holmdel will hold an open casting and crew call for their upcoming independent short, a dramatic film titled “Chapter 23: The Big Goodbye,” from 5-9 p.m. on June 26 at the Emergency Medical Services Building, 776 Washington Road, Sayreville. Interested individuals are urged to arrive between 5 and 6 p.m.

The filmmakers are seeking three women with the ability to play ages 25-35; three men, 25-35; one male, 40-60; and two young girls, ages 8-12. All should come prepared with a monologue. Potential production crew members also are needed.

Head shots and résumés should be sent to Kaiserman Media, P.O. Box 533, Holmdel, NJ 07733, or e-mailed to 732media@gmail.com.

Keiser and Kaiserman plan to shoot their short film locally in the coming weeks. The two young filmmakers are collaborating on the project with the aim of showing it next year at the Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah.

Library Friends to host

international film fest

The Friends of the Monroe Township Library will sponsor a summer international film festival at the library, 4 Municipal Plaza. All films will be shown at 2 and 6:30 p.m.

The schedule is as follows:

• July 7 — “Maria, Full of Grace” (Spanish, 2004);

• July 14 — “Moolaade” (Senegalese, 2004);

• July 21 — “Monsignor Ibrahim” (French, 2003);

• July 28 — “Motorcycle Dairies” (Spanish, 2004);

• Aug. 4 — “Kitchen Stories” (Swedish, 2003);

• Aug. 11 — “Magdalene Sisters” (English, 2002).

Tickets will be sold at the library beginning at 10 a.m. on June 20.

For more information, call (732) 521-5000.

Rosary society seeking

vendors for flea market

St. Thomas Rosary Society, Old Bridge, is seeking vendors for its 15th annual Giant Flea Market, set for 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 in St. Thomas the Apostle Church parking lot, Route 18 south, Old Bridge. Rain date is Sept. 17.

Spaces cost $15 each, $25 for two. There will be no refunds.

For more information and to reserve, call Charlotte at (732) 257-0721.

J’burg biz panel to hold

Business Card Exchange

The Jamesburg Area Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a Business Card Exchange from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on June 29 at OceanFirst Bank, Concordia Mall, 1600 Perrineville Road, Monroe. Refreshments will be served.

For more information and to reserve, call Monica Olson at (888) OCEAN33, ext. 4601, by June 24.

Teens to learn from professional filmmakers

Aspiring young film artists will learn how to make movies from professional filmmakers during Pixel Nation, a two-week summer video workshop set for July 1-15 (Session 1, for middle school students) and July 18-29 (Session 2, for high school students) at Highland Park High School, North Fifth Avenue. Classes will meet from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Mondays-Fridays. Some classes will also be held at the Institute for Arts and Humanities Education, New Brunswick.

The curriculum is designed for teens, ages 13 to 18, and includes analyzing experimental films, writing a screenplay, filming in the field and postproduction editing and mixing. Focus will be on nonrealistic and experimental video techniques. Students will screen and analyze experimental films and then create stylistic videos based on a common theme.

The faculty will include instructors from New York University (NYU), New York City, as well as New York and New Jersey filmmakers, directors and writers. Field trips will include visits to New York City’s Museum of Television and Radio or American Museum of the Moving Image and NYU’s video and film studios. The workshop will culminate in a film festival featuring all the students’ works. Each student will receive a completed shooting script, finished video on DVD and a reference letter reflecting their accomplishments.

An application and interview are required for admission. Tuition is $385 and includes application fee and video supplies. Scholarships are available. Class size is limited; admission is subject to availability.

For more information and an application, call the Institute for Arts and Humanities Education at (732) 220-1600.

Pixel Nation is a program of the Institute for Arts and Humanities Education, a nonprofit arts education organization dedicated to serving New Jersey’s families, schools and communities with innovative, interdisciplinary programming. The program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Summer reading program at library

Beginning July 11, the Jamesburg Public Library will sponsor a Summer Enrichment Program, a reading program for students going into second and third grades.

The program, which is free for all participants, is designed to enhance reading skills and motivate the students to read. Participants will read one book per month.

For more information, call librarian Jennie Ludas at (732) 521-5646.

Business networking event slated for June 28

Network PLUS, a business-to-business networking group that provides members with leads to help them grow their businesses, will sponsor its next networking event at 6 p.m. on June 28 at Panico’s, 103 Church St., New Brunswick.

Admission is $10 and includes hors d’oeuvres .

All interested individuals are welcome to attend.

Network PLUS has almost 1,000 members meeting at more than 80 different locations throughout New Jersey, offering breakfast, lunch and after-work events. The group’s goal is to grow to more than 10,000 members within the next three years.

Each event is led by an experienced and trained facilitator who is part of the Network PLUS management team.

For more information and to register, call (732) 254-8440, or e-mail robin@thesandersongroup.com.