Community Bulletin Board

The 23rd annual Summer International Film Festival at the East Brunswick Public Library, Jean Walling Civic Center, will continue on July 19 with 1:30 and 8 p.m. screenings of the French drama “Monsieur Ibrahim.” The 2003 film, which is rated R, has a running time of 95 minutes.

The movie tells the story of a lonely teenage Jewish boy and an elderly Muslim shopkeeper in 1960s Paris who develop a bond based on their mutual desire for a better life.

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 remaining schedule is as follows:

• 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.

‘Annie: Junior Version’ coming to Spotswood

Saint Genesius Players Inc., a nonprofit theater group, will present the musical “Annie: Junior Version” through its youth program, SGP: Generations, at 8 p.m. on July 29 and 30 and at 3 p.m. on July 31 at Spotswood High School, Summerhill Road.

The show will be produced by Christopher J. Guell of Old Bridge, directed by Amanda Brill of East Brunswick, musically directed by Justin Ryan of Keyport and choreographed by Melissa Leshchanka of New Brunswick.

Tickets cost $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, $8 for children under age 12, and may be purchased at the door, by calling (732) 251-7936, or by logging on to www.saintgenesiusplayers.org.

Weight-loss support group seeks members

TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) New Jersey Chapter No. 153, a weight-loss support group based in Spotswood, is seeking new members. The aim of the national TOPS nonprofit organization to educate and encourage its members to lose weight using sensible means.

Meetings are held from 5:30-7 p.m. on Mondays at United Methodist Church, Manalapan Road, Spotswood. A nominal membership fee is charged for administrative costs, and minimal monthly dues are collected. For more information, call Trudy or Denise at (732) 656-1561 or log on to the group’s national Web site at www.tops.org.

St. Peter’s will offer Safe Sitter program

St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick, will offer a Safe Sitter program from 9:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on July 20 in the hospital’s Sister Marie dePazzi Conference Center, 254 Easton Ave. Girls and boys ages 11-13 are invited to participate.

The course will teach adolescents how to handle emergencies when caring for younger children. Participants will learn what to do for a choking child or if a child stops breathing; how to call for emergency help; how to feed and diaper a small child; and how to entertain children and keep them safe.

Fee is $50 and covers materials and program costs. Space is limited to 18 students. Registration is now going on.

For more information and to reserve, call (732) 745-8579.

Brass, acoustic bands to perform at concert

The South River Cultural Arts and Heritage Commission will present Plug and Play — A Concert in the Park, featuring the music of the Navesink Brass Band, Electrical Void and special guests to be announced, from 3-7 p.m. on July 23 at Szabo Gazebo, Dailey’s Pond Park, Prospect and William streets, South River.

The Navesink Brass quintet performs a variety of music, including American, patriotic, popular, jazz, Broadway and classical. Electrical Void is an acoustic band.

The concert is the second in a series of 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.

S.R. church to sponsor July 16 garage sale

The First Reformed Church, 40 Thomas St., South River, will host its Gigantic Garage Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 16.

Available merchandise will include clothing for all seasons for children and adults, an assortment of household items for indoor and outdoor use, and more. All items will be sold at bargain prices.

Free parking will be available in the church parking lot.

For more information, call (732) 257-1994.

Band parents to sponsor July 17 trip to A.C.

The Sayreville War Memorial High School Band Parents Association will sponsor a July 17 trip to the Sands Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City. The bus will depart at 10:30 a.m. from the school parking lot, Washington Road.

Cost is $22 per person, with a $15 return in slot cash. There will be refreshments and games on the bus.

Proceeds will benefit the Sayreville War Memorial High School Marching Band.

For more information and to reserve, call Debbie at (732) 257-7730.

Community invited to National Night Out

The Spotswood Police Department will hold its second National Night Out Against Crime beginning at 5 p.m. on Aug. 2 at the Spotswood municipal building, Summerhill Road.

The community is invited to come out and join the pledge against crime and violence.

Highlights will include New Jersey State Police boats; fingerprinting for children; first aid squad and fire department demonstrations; a rock-climbing wall; football and basketball challenges; representatives of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines and Middlesex County Department of Corrections; “driving-under-the-influence” goggles; free giveaways; a barbecue; soda; and face painting and tattoos for children.

Free sports giveaways will include a signed Philadelphia Flyers puck, Trenton Thunder tickets and race car photos. The East Coast Hockey League champion Trenton Titans will display the Kelly Cup for photos.

At 8 p.m. all will be invited to attend a free Movie in the Park, sponsored by the Spotswood Drug Alliance, on the Spotswood High School football field, Summerhill Road.

The event is free of charge and will take place rain or shine. Rain location will be Spotswood High School.

For more information, call Sgt. Chris Bierman at (732) 251-2121.

County will sponsor free summer concerts

The Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders and Department of Parks and Recreation will present a variety of free summer concerts.

The schedule is as follows:

• The Pete Jaworski Polka Band — July 17, 3-4:30 p.m., Johnson Park, River Road, Piscataway;

• Francene Kane and Her Gentlemen Friends — July 17, 6-7:30 p.m., Warren Park, Florida Grove Road, Woodbridge;

• The George Krauss Memorial Band — July 17, 6:30-8 p.m., Spring Lake Park, Maple Avenue, South Plainfield;

• The Garden State Symphonic Band — July 20, 2-3:30 p.m., at the gazebo next to the lake in Thompson Park, Forsgate Drive, Monroe;

• The Jack Alan Orchestra Featuring Sandy Sasso — July 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Raritan Bay Waterfront Park, O’Leary Boulevard, South Amboy;

• Gibbler (pop rock) with opening act Ricky Eldridge — July 21, 6:30-8 p.m., Alvin P. Williams Park, Sewaren Peninsula, Cliff Road, Sewaren section of Woodbridge;

• The Dave Wilson Jazz Band — July 24, 3-4:30 p.m., Johnson Park;

• The Danny Mecca Dixieland Band — July 24, 6-7:30 p.m., Warren Park;

• The Chet Varner Quartet — July 24, 6:30-8 p.m., Spring Lake Park.

For more information, call (732) 745-3936.

Hazardous waste drop-off day scheduled

The Middlesex County Division of Solid Waste Management will hold a household hazardous waste drop-off day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 17 at the Old Bridge Public Works Department in the township municipal complex, Route 516 and Cottrell Road.

Household hazardous wastes which are improperly disposed of are identified as a danger to children and animals, a potential cause of groundwater pollution and a potential threat to garbage collection crews.

Acceptable materials that county residents may bring for disposal include, but are not limited to: pesticides/herbicides; flammable liquids; solvents; pool chemicals; used motor oil; oil filters; paints; car batteries; household batteries; antifreeze; propane tanks; fluorescent light bulbs (no broken bulbs); and asbestos. Residents who wish to bring asbestos (maximum 300 pounds) must register by calling (732) 745-4170.

Materials that will not be accepted are tires, explosives and munitions, infectious waste, unknown materials and empty containers.

The drop-off day is sponsored by the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders and is conducted in cooperation with the Old Bridge Public Works Department.

The free event is open to residents of Middlesex County. Items should be brought in clearly marked containers.

For more information on the hazardous waste drop-off day and on the county tire recycling program, call (732) 745-4170 or e-mail solidwaste@co.middlesex.nj.us.

B’nai B’rith couples to hold July 24 barbecue

The B’nai B’rith Ketubah Married Couples Unit (age 40-plus) will hold its annual barbecue at 2 p.m. on July 24 at a member’s home in Marlboro. Rain date is July 31.

Cost is $25 per couple for members, $30 per nonmember couple. Nonmembers who join the unit at the barbecue will be admitted free of charge.

For more information and to reserve, call Eileen at (732) 617-2438 by July 19.

First Reformed to offer

vacation Bible school

The First Reformed Church of South River, 40 Thomas St., will offer a vacation Bible school from 9-11:45 a.m., Aug. 8-12. This year’s theme will be “Kingdom of the Son Prayer Safari.”

The program is open to students who will enter kindergarten-sixth grade in the fall. Registration deadline is July 30. The school is free of charge. For more information and to register, call Beth at (732) 257-7014.

French film next up

at library film festival

The annual Summer International Film Festival at the Monroe Township Library, 4 Municipal Plaza, will continue on July 21 with 2 and 6:30 p.m. screenings of the French drama “Monsieur Ibrahim.” The 2003 film, which is rated R, has a running time of 95 minutes.

The movie tells the story of a lonely teenage Jewish boy and an elderly Muslim shopkeeper in 1960s Paris who develop a bond based on their mutual desire for a better life.

The remaining festival schedule is as follows:

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

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

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

All films will be shown at 2 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $1 each and are on sale at the library.

The festival is sponsored by the Friends of the Monroe Township Library.

For information, call (732) 521-5000.

Christ Church to offer

two summer concerts

Christ Church, 5 Paterson St., New Brunswick, will present classical music concerts at 6 p.m. on July 17 and July 24. Each concert is free of charge, but a free-will offering will be accepted.

Cellist Soren Beech will play a concert for solo cello at the July 17 event. Works will include excerpts from Bach’s Suite for Solo Cello in G-major, Suite for Solo Cello in E-flat major, and 20th-century composer George Crumb’s Solo Cello Sonata.

The July 24 concert will feature the Serafini Brillanti Trio in a varied program of works by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Foster and Gilbert and Sullivan, as well as traditional works by Correlli and Gounod.

An 8 p.m. celebration of the Eucharist will follow each concert. All are welcome.

For more information, call (732) 545-6262, or log on to the church’s Web site at www.christchurchnewbrunswick.org.

Chorale to offer July 20

sing-in, ice cream social

Voices Chorale will hold a Summer Sing-in and Ice Cream Social at 7:30 p.m. on July 20 at Pennington Presbyterian Church, 13 S. Main St.

Mozart’s Requiem will be the featured work. Dr. Lynne Ransom, founder of Voices, will conduct the sing-in, with assistance from Dr. J.A. Kawarsky.

Area singers are invited to attend the event free of charge. After brief warm-ups and practice of a few tricky passages, the assembled chorus and soloists will sing through the Requiem, cover to cover. Singers may bring their own score or borrow one at the event. The event is not a performance, but rather an informal opportunity to bring music to life on a summer evening.

Singers may, if they wish, audition for the group before or after the sing. Appointments may also be made for a later audition.

For more information, call Sandy Duffy at (609) 799-2211, e-mail sandy.duffy@comcast.net.

Voices is supported in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and by funds from the Mercer County Executive and the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Church will sponsor

vacation Bible school

Old Bridge Baptist Church, 21 Kossman St., East Brunswick, will host a vacation Bible school from 6:30-9 p.m., July 18-22.

Classes will be available for youngsters age 3-sixth grade and for adults. This year’s theme will be “The Kingdom of the Son Prayer Safari.” Highlights will include Bible crafts, stories, snacks and music.

The sessions are free of charge. A free-will offering will be accepted at the close of the program.

For more information or directions, call the director at (732) 679-4452 or the church at (732) 257-7959.