A variety of upcoming programs will be offered at the Monroe Township Senior Center, 1 Municipal Plaza. For more information and to register for events, call the center at (732) 521-6111, unless otherwise indicated.

Henry Rand will take participants on an armchair visit through the Sonoran Desert at 1:30 p.m. on June 1 at the center. The unusual desert, which extends from Arizona through Mexico, is 5,000 feet above sea level. Advance registration is requested.

Lori Morrell will offer "Bodies in Motion," a new exercise program designed to improve muscular strength, flexibility and balance, beginning at 9 a.m. on June 4. Registration is required. Phone requests only will be accepted from individuals who are not currently registered in an exercise program at the center. Space is limited. Students must bring their own set of hand weights.

"Bon Appetite for the Mind," an interactive discussion group designed to stimulate and sharpen the thinking process, is set for 2 p.m. on June 5 at the center. Presenter will be Judy Kalman. Advance registration is requested.

A board-certified surgeon and member of the medical and dental staff at Princeton HealthCare System will offer a presentation titled "Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) and Medicare Benefit" at 1:30 p.m. on June 6. Discussion will focus on the causes and risk factors for AAA, what can be done to prevent a rupture, how to detect AAA and how to treat it. Advance registration is requested.

Fred Miller will present a musical and anecdotal overview of the life and works of composer Cole Porter at 1:30 p.m. on June 7. Advance registration is requested.

An "All-American Songfest" sing-along is set for 10:30 a.m. on June 8. Stanley Preiser will provide piano accompaniment. Advance registration is requested.

"Are You Heart Smart?" is planned for 1:30 p.m. on June 8. Family physicians Linda Girgis, M.D., and Moris Girgis, M.D., will discuss methods to prevent a heart attack and methods to manage one's health after a heart attack. Advance registration is requested.

Seniors are invited to attend the monthly meeting of the Friends of the Senior Center set for 1:30 p.m. on June 12 at the center. The event will feature refreshments and entertainment by the Princeton Dance and Theater Group. Free blood-pressure screenings are available from 1-3 p.m. on a first-come basis. For more information, call the Friends at (732) 521-2101.

The Monroe Township Senior Center Green Thumbs, a group of houseplant enthusiasts, share their love of plants and discuss related issues at 11 a.m. on the second Wednesday of every month.

Vendors sought for

church garage sale

Holy Trinity Church, 90 Leonardine Ave., South River, will hold a Forgotten Treasures Garage Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 9. Rental cost is $15 for table and space, $10 for space only. Vendors will be accommodated on a first-come basis. Proceeds will go to the church youth group's upcoming trip to Biloxi, Miss. For more information and to reserve, call Jim McConnell at (732) 613-0132.

S.R. Library Friends

will meet on May 31

The South River Friends of the Library will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on May 31 in the basement of the library, 55 Appleby Ave. The event is open to the public. Prospective members are welcome. For more information, call the library at (732) 254-2488.

EBPD will sponsor Youth Police Academy

The East Brunswick Police Department (EBPD) is accepting applications for its second annual Youth Police Academy to be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., June 25-29, at Churchill Junior High School, Norton Road.

The academy is open to youngsters in sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Applications are available at police headquarters.

The weeklong academy will feature field trips to the New Jersey State Police Museum, the police training facility and other locations within East Brunswick.

The program can accommodate 40 students; spots will be filled on a first-come basis for youngsters who have not previously attended. If openings remain when registration ends, spots will be available to repeat students. Applications must be received by June 15.

A $60 fee will cover the cost of academy uniforms and graduation. The youngster/cadet will be required to wear the department-issued uniform each day. A formal graduation ceremony is set for 7 p.m. on June 29 at Churchill School.

For more information, call Patrolman Michael Knoll at (732) 390-6938 or Patrolman Frank LoSacco at (732) 390-6958.

Milltown rec sponsoring trips, summer program

The Milltown Department of Recreation will offer several upcoming events. All trips and programs are open to residents and nonresidents.

A bus trip to the Showboat Casino, Atlantic City, is set for June 10. The bus will depart at 9 a.m. from Milltown Borough Hall, Washington Avenue. Return is set for 5 p.m. Cost is $25 per person.

An excursion to American Girl Place, New York City, is planned for June 22. Cost is $75 per person and includes bus transportation, show and lunch. The bus will depart from Borough Hall at 11 a.m. Lunch will be at 2:30 p.m. Show time is 4 p.m.

Registration is now going on for the Milltown Summer School-Age Child Care (SACC) program. A full-day summer schedule with a five-day or three-day option will be offered at two sites. The program includes indoor/outdoor play, swimming, snacks, arts and crafts, bus trips, lunch outings, special events and more.

A nine-week Spring Youth Art Odyssey, open to ages 4-16, will be offered from June 9-Aug. 11. Call the rec office for times and pricing.

Reservations are being accepted for the 7 p.m. Aug. 11 New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game. Cost is $40 and includes game ticket and bus transportation from Borough Hall. Tickets are limited.

For more information and to reserve, call (732) 828-2100, ext. 141.

Book and Bake Sale

coming to S.R. Library

The Friends of the South River Library will host a Book and Bake Sale from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 2 in the basement at the library, 55 Appleby Ave.

The event will feature used books, magazines, assorted music, DVDs (50 cents each) and VHS tapes (25 cents each). Shoppers will have the opportunity to fill a box for $5 or a bag for $3. All sales are final.

Homemade baked goods will be available for purchase.

All proceeds benefit library programs and services.

For more information, call the library at (732) 254-2488. Prospective Friends members are sought.

OLV Knights to host June 3 blood drive

Our Lady of Victories Knights of Columbus Council No. 2061 will hold a blood drive from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 3 at the council home, 775 Washington Road, Parlin section of Sayreville. Donors are needed.

Registration under way for Garbarini golf event

The Milltown Fire Department will present the fifth annual Charles Garbarini Golf Outing on June 11 at Cranbury Golf Club, 49 Southfield Road, West Windsor. The shotgun scramble will begin at 10 a.m.

Charles Garbarini, a lieutenant with the New York City Fire Department, was lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

Cost for the event is $135 per person, which includes doughnuts, coffee, lunch and buffet dinner. There will be door prizes and prizes for winning teams, longest drives, closest to the pin and "Beat the Hunky." Proceeds will benefit charities and other causes requested by the Garbarini family. Spaces are limited. For more information, call Jules at (732) 803-8691 or log on to www.milltownfire.org.

Dance team seeking

donations, vendors

Vendors and donations are sought for the Special Kays Dance Team Flea Market set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 23 outdoors at the New Jersey Center of Dance, 475 Marlboro Road, Old Bridge. In the event of rain, the event will be moved indoors. Rental fee is $20 per space, $30 per space and table. Proceeds will go to the dance team. For more information and to reserve, call Crystal at (732) 213-1026.

E.B. Jewish Center

offering child care

The East Brunswick Jewish Center, 511 Ryders Lane, is now providing child care from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for children ages 2 1/2-4 years.

For more information, call the temple at (732) 257-7070 or e-mail ssolomon@ebjc.org.

Ladies guild to sponsor dinner and gift auction

The St. Anne's Guild of Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church will hold a Ladies Night Out Dinner and Gift Auction at 6 p.m. on June 1 at the church, 9 Jeffrie Ave., South River. Donation is $25 and includes buffet dinner, appetizer, refreshments and dessert. The event also will feature games and prizes. Tables of 10 may be reserved in advance. For more information and to order tickets, call Karen Berezniak at (732) 754-0033 or e-mail kberez@comcast.net. Seating is limited. Individuals under age 18 will not be admitted.

Fundraiser at Applebee's will aid library, literacy

The East Brunswick Area chapter of the MOMS Club will sponsor a Dining to Donate fundraiser from 11 a.m. to closing on June 3 at Applebee's of Milltown, Ryders Crossing Shopping Center, Milltown Road and Ryders Lane.

Applebee's will donate 10 percent of diners' bills (excluding alcoholic beverages, tips and taxes) to aid the East Brunswick Public Library and the Middlesex County Books to Keep program, which provides new books to disadvantaged youth. Diners must present an event flier at the restaurant in order for the donation to count.

Fliers are available at the library, Jean Walling Civic Center, or on the library's Web site, www.ebpl.org, in the library news area.

The MOMS Club is a support group for stay-at-home home moms and mothers who work part time. Internationally, the club has more than 2,000 chapters in seven countries and represents more than 100,000 members. The East Brunswick Area chapter serves mothers living in East Brunswick, Helmetta, Milltown, South River and Spotswood.

For more information on the fundraiser, call Applebee's at (732) 651-8151.

Meatloaf Dinner set at Spotswood church

The Elizabeth Circle of the Spotswood Reformed Church, Main Street, will hold a Meatloaf Dinner fundraiser from 5-7 p.m. on June 2 at the church. Takeouts will be available beginning at 4:30 p.m.

The menu will include meatloaf, mashed potatoes, tossed salad, green beans and a variety of beverages and desserts.

Admission is $9 for adults; $8 for seniors; $5 for children ages 5 to 12; children under age 5 will be admitted free of charge. Tickets are available at the door or in advance from any member of the Elizabeth Circle or by calling the church office at (732) 251-9277.

Residents invited to natural-garden seminar

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County will present a Natural Landscape Workshop for interested residents from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 2 at the EARTH Center, 42 Riva Ave., in Davidson's Mill Pond Park, South Brunswick.

The event will offer several gardening techniques that homeowners can use to invigorate their plants without relying on chemical fertilizers. One method that will be explored in-depth is the use of native plants and choosing the right plant for the right place. The workshop also will introduce the concept of using integrated pest management on the home front, as well as simple practices, such as the use of compost to improve soils, that can go a long way toward achieving a healthy landscape.

Cost is $35. Advance registration is required. Class size is limited.

For more information and to reserve, call (732) 398-5262.

Senior class seeking

used printer cartridges

South River High School Class of 2007 Project Graduation is collecting empty inkjet- and laser-printer cartridges.

Donations may be dropped off at 19 Leonardine Ave., corner of Garden and Leonardine. For more information or to make other drop-off arrangements, call Debbie at (732) 238-2849.

Amato Kick Cancer event to benefit children

Special Teams Solutions will sponsor its first Joanne J. Amato Kick Cancer fundraiser, to benefit the Institute for Children With Cancer and Blood Disorders/Embrace Kids Foundation, New Brunswick, on June 2 at the Middlesex County Fairgrounds, Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. Registration will begin at 10 a.m. The clinic will conclude at 2 p.m. following an awards ceremony.

Football players ages 8-14 will receive instruction from Special Teams Solutions kicking coaches and current college football players. The clinic will include instruction in the fundamentals of kicking, punting and long snapping, as well as drills, tips and competition. Registration fee is a minimum $35 donation to the Institute for Children/Embrace Kids Foundation. The fundraiser also will feature a silent auction, music and food.

The Kick Cancer clinic is dedicated to the memory of East Brunswick resident Joanne J. Amato, B.S.N., R.N.C., a pediatric and infertility nurse who dedicated her life to the well-being and care of children. Before her death from ovarian cancer in 2005, Amato helped thousands of children and their families through her work at Margaret Hague Hospital, Saint Peter's University Medical Center, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey. Amato was the mother-in-law of Lee McDonald, founder of Special Teams Solutions.

To register, log on to www.TheInstituteForChildren.org and click on Kick Cancer. For more information, call (732) 406-6409 or e-mail Lee@SpecialTeamsSolutions.com.

Library schedules

Memorial Day closing

The East Brunswick Public Library, Jean Walling Civic Center, will be closed on May 28 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.

For more information, call (732) 390-6767 or log on to www.ebpl.org/> www.ebpl.org.