Community Bulletin Board
Synagogue’s Men’s Club slates New Year’s bash

The Men’s Club of Congregation Neve Shalom, 250 Grove Ave., Metuchen, will be hosting a B.Y.O.B. New Year’s Eve party beginning at 9 p.m. on Dec. 31, featuring lots of food, fun and dancing. Music will be provided by Pulse Entertainment. Cost is $75 per couple and half price for singles. To R.S.V.P., call Lou at (732) 381-0014 or Abe at (732) 494-6427 by Dec. 11.

Candlelit concert to feature ‘The Messiah’

The St. Mary’s Choral Society and Chamber Orchestra will perform George Frederick Handel’s “The Messiah” in a candlelit concert planned for 7 p.m. on Dec. 16 at St. Mary’s Church, Augusta Street, South Amboy. The event is part of the Music at St. Mary’s concert series.

The oratorio on the life of Jesus Christ was composed for soloists, chorus and orchestra. The Christmas portion of the work will be performed in its entirety, along with excerpts from the second and third parts. Christopher M. Diebert will conduct.

The concert is free of charge; however, free-will donations will be gratefully accepted. The public is invited. For more information, call (732) 721-0179.

The program has been 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 of the Arts, through a grant provided by the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission, Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Chinese acrobat to soar at Hanukkah festival

Torah Links will present a Hanukkah Celebration, featuring well-known Chinese acrobat and juggler Yang Xiao Di, at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Churchill Junior High School, 18 Norton Road, East Brunswick.

The festival will include a hot dairy buffet, a jumbo menorah lighting, live music and raffles.

Cost is $8 per person, $30 per family. Reservations are required by Dec. 15.

For more information and reservations, call (732) 613-1613 or e-mail mdlsx@torahlinks.org.

Alzheimer’s support meetings held in area

The Alzheimer’s Association, Greater New Jersey Chapter, will hold caregiver support meetings Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. at Jewish Family & Vocational Service of Middlesex County, 515 Plainfield Ave., Edison; Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Woodbridge Public Library, Iselin Branch, 1081 Green St., Woodbridge; and Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. at Oak Woods Senior Housing, 700 Woods Lane, Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick.

For more information, call the helpline at (800) 883-1180.

Flu vaccine still available for residents

Mayor John E. McCormac announced that a supply of flu vaccine remains available to adult residents of the township through the Woodbridge Health & Human Services Department.

The Woodbridge Health Center, located at 2 George Frederick Plaza, Woodbridge, is open 2-3 p.m. every Monday for walk-in patients wanting to get flu shots. Additionally, residents can schedule an appointment for a convenient time by calling (732) 855-0600, ext. 5011. The clinic cost is $15 per flu shot, and free for Medicaid patients.

Individuals who should receive a flu shot include adults over the age of 50; health care providers and caretakers for high-risk patients; residents of nursing homes and other institutions housing long-term care patients; women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during flu season; and individuals with chronic heart and lung problems, diabetes and conditions that lower body resistance.

“We hope that residents take advantage of the opportunity to obtain a flu shot, as our Health Center staff is working hard to get the vaccine to those in need,” McCormac said.

Woodbridge WOWs lines up meeting, open dance

The Woodbridge Widows or Widowers (WOWs) will conduct a business meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 in the children’s room of the main library, George Frederick Plaza, Route 35, Woodbridge. Light refreshments will follow.

All widows and widowers are welcome to attend.

The WOWs will also hold an open dance, with refreshments, from 7:30-11:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at Woodbridge Elks Lodge No. 2116, 665 Rahway Ave.

All are welcome. Admission is $8 for members and $9 for guests.

For more information, call Gerry at (732) 381-7239 or Lois at (908) 757-0515.

JFVS announces elder care now available

The Jewish Family and Vocational Service of Middlesex County announces the availability of an elderly care program for those with memory loss and varying degrees of dementia.

Transportation is provided. Fees are charged on a sliding scale. Program includes meals, snacks and activities. For more information, call (732) 777-1940.

OLP planning

diamond jubilee

Our Lady of Peace Home and School Association, Fords section of Woodbridge, is planning the school’s 75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee festivities for 2007.

The association is seeking to locate as many of the school’s alumni as possible.

If you are an alumni or if you have the names and addresses of other alumni who may wish to be contacted, please send this information to OLP/HSA, P.O. 69, Amboy Avenue, Fords, NJ 08863-0069, or contact Michelle Rizzo at (732) 605-9215 or Patricia Guarino at (732) 225-1643, pguarino@verizon.net.

Choir concert and a visit

with Santa set for Dec. 16

The combined choirs of Colonia High School, located on East Street in the Colonia section of Woodbridge, will hold their annual “Winter Wonderland” concert from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 16 in the high school cafeteria.

The pay-one-price admission fee for children is $10, which includes a visit with Santa, a photo with Santa (one per child), cookies and milk, a face-painting design, a holiday craft, an entry into a coloring contest (with three prizes to be awarded) and all games, complete with prizes. Adults may accompany their children free of charge, and there will be complimentary coffee available. Tickets can be purchased at the door, with only cash accepted (no checks). For additional information, call Alaine Bolton, the high school’s choir director, at (732) 499-6507.

Salon No. 28’s 8 and 40 to meet on Dec. 18

Middlesex Salon No. 28’s 8 and 40 will meet Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. at the N.J. Veterans Memorial Home, Menlo Park. The 8 and 40 is a subsidiary organization of the American Legion Auxiliary and its main purpose is to raise funds for children with respiratory diseases and funds for scholarships for nurses who care for them. Refreshments will follow the meeting.

Laura McCullough at Poets Wednesday Dec. 13

The Barron Arts Center in Woodbridge will continue the Poets Wednesday program with readings by Laura McCullough on Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. McCullough has been widely published in literary magazines such as Nimrod, Poetry East and Confluence. She has won a Geraldine R. Dodge Scholarship to attend the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. Her Book “The Dancing Bear” was published by Open Book Press in February 2006.

The event, which will include refreshments, is free to the public and is presented with support from the Woodbridge Township Cultural Arts Commission and audience contribution. For further information call Edie Eustice at (732) 381-7691.

Marines collecting for Toys for Tots til Dec. 23

The Avenel Detachment of the United States Marine Corps League is collecting toys for the Toys for Tots Children’s Fund at the Woodbridge Center Mall outside the Sears 2nd floor wing.

Collection will begin on Nov. 24 and last until Dec. 23 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Only unwrapped new toys will be collected and donations can be made.

JFVS seeks volunteers for ‘Chef for the Day’

Jewish Family and Vocational Service (JFVS) of Middlesex County, Edison, is seeking volunteers for its “Chef for the Day” volunteer program at Elderday. Volunteers are needed to prepare lunch for the elderly members of JFVS’ social adult day program, located in Edison. Those who are available one or more days a month between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and have a passion for cooking and nurturing others, are asked to call E.J. Berman at (732) 777-1940, ext. 122.

Quilt exhibit opening

at Arts Guild in January

The Arts Guild of Rahway will present “The Naked Truth: Quilted and Sewn Figurative Works and Nudes,” an art exhibit of sewn/quilted works by nearly a dozen local artists from Jan. 14-Feb. 9.

There will be a reception with the artists, open to the public on Sunday, Jan. 14 from 1-4 p.m. Admission is free and light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact the Arts Guild at (732) 381-7511 or by e-mail at artsguild1670@verizon.net.

Salon No. 28’s 8 and 40 to meet on Dec. 18

Middlesex Salon No. 28’s 8 and 40 will meet Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. at the N.J. Veterans Memorial Home, Menlo Park. The 8 and 40 is a subsidiary organization of the American Legion Auxiliary and its main purpose is to raise funds for children with respiratory diseases and scholarships for nurses who care for them. Refreshments will follow the meeting.

Woodbridge WOWs lines up meeting, open dance

The Woodbridge Widows or Widowers (WOWs) will conduct a business meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 in the children’s room of the main library, George Frederick Plaza, Route 35, Woodbridge. Light refreshments will follow. All widows and widowers are welcome to attend.

The WOWs will also hold an open dance, with refreshments, from 7:30-11:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at Woodbridge Elks Lodge No. 2116, 665 Rahway Ave. All are welcome. Admission is $8 for members and $9 for guests. For more information, call Gerry at (732) 381-7239 or Lois at (908) 757-0515.

Volunteers will aid

special-needs families

Helping Hands of Middlesex County is seeking mature volunteers to assist children with special needs and their families. The volunteers provide social and emotional support to the families through weekly visits.

Family members who care for children with special needs rarely have time to perform daily tasks such as going to appointments, and they seldom have time to relax. Helping Hands volunteers aim to change the lives of family members who feel overwhelmed by the everyday care of their children.

The volunteers, who use their special skills and lifetime experiences to enrich the lives of children with disabilities, may act as mentors, storytellers, listeners, tutors, recreational assistants, personal-care assistants and family friends.

Volunteers who are willing to commit two hours per week will receive a stipend of $10 per visit. Training is provided.

Interested applicants and family members should call Susan Nelson at the Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey, Lions Head Office Park, Brick, at (732) 262-8020.

Helping Hands is a special project of the Family Resource Network (EFNJ), funded by Johnson and Johnson/Rosalyn Carter Institute, Caregivers Program.

Iselin AARP meets the fourth Thursday of month

Iselin AARP Chapter No. 3810, Iselin section of Woodbridge, holds meetings on the fourth Thursday of the month at Knights of Columbus Council No. 3639, 116 Grand St., Iselin. The social hour begins at noon, with the regular meeting scheduled for 1 p.m. For trip information, call Blanche at (732) 283-2790.