Community Bulletin Board
Fords-Keasbey Seniors Club lines up events

The Fords-Keasbey Seniors Club holds meetings at 2 p.m. every Friday in the cafeteria at Our Lady of Peace Church, Amboy Avenue, Fords section of Woodbridge. Membership is open year-round to those ages 60 and older who live in Woodbridge and do not belong to any other township senior club. Applicants must appear at the meeting by 1:30 p.m. The Fords librarian is present on the first Friday of each month. Blood pressure is taken on the third Friday of the month. A trip to Caesars Casino in Atlantic City is planned for every third Wednesday.

Upcoming events include an overnight to Delaware Aug. 24-25, featuring lunch at Dover Park, a wine-and-cheese party, and dinner at Three Little Bakers Dinner Theater in Wilmington, Del., where “Bye Bye Birdie” will be presented. On the return trip, the group will stop at the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City. Call Helen at (732) 738-4907. Also, the first meeting of the school year is scheduled for Sept. 9, and a picnic at the Annex is planned for Sept. 30. Oktoberfest at Platzl Brauhaus in Pomona, N.Y., is slated for Oct. 11.

AARP Chapter 3869 plans meeting, trips

Woodbridge AARP Chapter 3869 has scheduled the following events for the remainder of the summer, with all trips open to the public:

Aug. 22 — A trip to Trump Plaza Casino in Atlantic City is planned. Cost is $16, which includes food voucher and coin bonus.

• Sept. 8 — A trip is scheduled to New York Botanical Garden, the Bronx, N.Y. Cost is $65, which includes lunch voucher and a tram ride to view the gardens.

• Sept. 14-16 — A three-day, two-night outing has been planned to the Georgian Luxury Resort in Lake George, N.Y. Cost is $279, which includes four meals, transportation, entertainment and a steamboat cruise on the lake. On the return trip, the group will visit the Empire State Plaza in Albany, N.Y. For the Atlantic City trip, call Ruth at (732) 634-8489. For all other trips, call Mary Alice at (732) 855-1514.

Woodbridge seniors to resume meetings in Sept.

The Woodbridge Senior Citizens Club has scheduled the following events, with trips open to nonmembers:

• Aug. 17 — A trip to Smithville is planned.

• Sept. 8 — Meetings resume at 1 p.m. in McCorristin Hall at St. James Church, 145 Grove St., Woodbridge. Dues will be collected, and new members are welcome. Blood pressure is taken the first meeting of every month.

For socials, call Helen at (732) 636-2796. For trip information, call Ruth at (732) 382-1926 or Lucille at (732) 634-7096.

VSA/NJ seeks authors for Wordsmith contest

The Unlimited Potential Theater Company (UPTCo), a project of VSA arts of New Jersey (VSA/NJ), is seeking poems, essays and plays by New Jersey residents, 18 years of age or older, for its 12th annual Joyce Indik New Jersey Wordsmith Competition.

The contest is open to all writers; submissions by writers with disabilities are especially encouraged. All works will be considered by a panel of judges who are professionals in the field of theater and/or literature. Selected works will be showcased at the New Jersey Readers Theater, which will be followed by a reception to honor the authors. Deadline for submissions is Oct. 14.

VSA/NJ, a nonprofit organization that is an affiliate of the international VSA arts network, is dedicated to promoting the creative power of people with disabilities. UPTCo, a project of VSA/NJ, is an inclusive program designed to involve individuals with physical disabilities in all aspects of the performing arts.

Funding for UPTCo is provided by the Henry H. Kessler Foundation; the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs; the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission; United Way of Central Jersey; and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. The content of the program was developed in part through funding provided by the central office of VSA arts, under an award from the U.S. Department of Education.

For an application and more information, call VSA/NJ at (732) 745-3885, (732) 745-5935, or (732) 745-3913 (TTY); log on to vsanj.org; or write to VSA arts of New Jersey, 703 Jersey Ave., New Brunswick, NJ 08901.

Volunteers sought to help domestic violence victims

The Woodbridge Township Domestic Violence Response Team is seeking new members. Any interested persons who want to make a difference in the lives of domestic violence victims will be asked to fill out an application form. A criminal background check and interview is part of the process. All applicants must possess a valid driver’s license and have their own transportation to police headquarters for assistance calls. Team members are required to be available for 12-hour shifts from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., or from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Call (732) 634-4500, ext. 2802, for more information, or mail your name and phone number to the Woodbridge Police Department, Attn.: Domestic Violence Response Team, 1 Main St., Woodbridge 07095.

‘Library friends’ program encourages book donation

Friends of the Libraries of Woodbridge Township is sponsoring a program through which members of the community can donate a book in honor of someone. Individuals can specify that a book be purchased for a particular branch or age group. The donated book will carry a bookplate honoring the recipient and naming the donor, and participants will be able to present the recipient with a gift certificate informing him or her of their donation. Forms may be picked up at any Woodbridge library branch and should be submitted with a check for $25 or more. Final selections will be made by the library staff.

Iselin AARP slates show trips for July, Aug., Nov.

The Iselin AARP Chapter No. 3810, Woodbridge, has planned several trips for members and other interested seniors. Schedule is as follows:

• Aug. 20 — Lunch and Las Vegas variety show at Lily Langtry’s Restaurant and Showplace in King of Prussia, Pa. Departure time: 9:30 a.m.

• Nov. 10 — A 1:30 p.m. matinee of “The King and I” at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark. Departure time to be announced.

All trips leave from the Knights of Columbus parking lot, 116 Grand St., Iselin. Early registration is encouraged, as space is limited. For more information, call (732) 283-2790.

‘Dreamgirls’ next up for Plays-in-the-Park

Middlesex County’s summer theater, Plays-in-the-Park, will continue its 43rd season of musicals with a production of “Dreamgirls” set for 8:30 p.m. Aug. 10-20 at the Stephen J. Capestro Theater in Roosevelt Park, Edison. There will be no performances on Sundays.

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.

N.J. Blood Center urges community to give blood

The Blood Center of New Jersey, a community, nonprofit organization supplying blood and blood components to more than 35 hospitals in northern and central New Jersey, has announced opportunities for residents to donate blood to help ease current critical shortages. A donor must be at least 17 years of age (no upper age limit), know his or her Social Security number and provide a signed or photo form of identification. All donors throughout the summer will receive a blood center thank-you gift upon registering. Edison blood drives will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 13 at Moose Lodge, 410 Talmadge Road, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 14 at St. Matthew’s Church, 81 Seymour Ave. Other area blood drives are listed on the center’s Web site, www.bloodnj.org. Sponsors are also needed for the drives. Anyone belonging to an organization or business who is interested in running a drive should call 1-800-BLOODNJ (1-800-256-6365), ext. 140. For more information, call the 1-800 number or visit the Web site.

Dinner will benefit Jimmy Moran Fund

The Red Knights New Jersey Chapter XI International Firefighters Motorcycle Club will sponsor a Jimmy Moran Family Fund benefit dinner from 7-11 p.m. on Aug. 28 at Palm Plaza, Matawan.

Jimmy Moran, age 36, a riding member of South Amboy Mechanicsville Hose Company No. 1, has been a volunteer firefighter since he was 16 years old. Recently diagnosed with lung cancer, Moran is undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. He is employed by Waste Management, Matawan, but has been unable to work due to his illness.

Donation for the dinner is $60 per person. Proceeds will go to the Jimmy Moran Family Fund.

For more information and to reserve, call Kevin B. Williams at (732) 283-1521, e-mail RKNJXI@yahoo.com; Edward Sena at (732) 738-6897, e-mail biged1430@aol.com; Jackie Julian at (732) 727-5511 or (732) 727-1274; or Suzanne Anan at (973) 392-5788 or (732) 280-3406.

It is requested that payment be mailed no later than Aug. 13. Checks should be made payable to Jimmy Moran Family Fund and sent to Edward Sena, 14 Lillian St., Fords, NJ 08863.

Woodbridge WOWs lines up meeting, dance social

The Woodbridge Area Chapter of Widows or Widowers (WOWs) has scheduled a business meeting and social hour at 7 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Main Public Library, George Frederick Plaza, Amboy Avenue, Woodbridge. Light refreshments will be served.

The chapter will also hold a dance social for members and guests — featuring live music by the Bill Gerry Duo — from 7:30-11:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Elks Hall, 665 Rahway Ave., Woodbridge. Cost is $8. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call (732) 297-1775.

American Legion post slates Aug. blood drive

American Legion T. Nulty Post 471, 25 Brown Ave., Iselin section of Woodbridge, is sponsoring a blood drive from 2:30-8 p.m. Aug. 31 at the post home. Appointments can be made by calling the post lounge at (732) 636-9524 or the office at (732) 634-9119. Walk-ins are also welcome.

JFVS offering services

to those affected by 9/11

The Jewish Family and Vocational Service (JFVS) of Middlesex County — with the support of a Sept. 11 recovery grant from the American Red Cross Liberty Disaster Relief Fund — is offering additional services to those individuals and families directly affected by 9/11. Services include counseling, support groups, educational groups and family activities, as well as vocational counseling and job placement services. In partnership with United Way of Central New Jersey, JFVS will also be assessing people’s eligibility for financial assistance. For more information or to set up an appointment, call Lauren Balkan at JFVS at (732) 777-1940.

Glory days of rock ’n’ roll return to Woodbridge

The Mayor’s Summer Concert Series, featuring classic pop groups from the 1950s and ’60s in an outdoor setting, kicked off July 11 with the Duprees, with New York City Swing & Jobonanno’s Godsons of Soul set to perform on July 18. The concerts — whose prime sponsors are Woodbridge Center and ShopRite — are free and take place Monday nights on the grass field behind Woodbridge High School. The schedule for the remainder of the summer is as follows:

• Aug. 15 — Brooklyn Reunion Show

• Aug. 22 — Kenny Vance & The Planotones

• Aug. 29 — The Fabulous Greaseband

Festivities begin at 6 p.m. with a disc jockey; the concerts start at 7:30 p.m. Audience members are urged to bring blankets and lawn chairs, which can be set up after 4 p.m. Refreshments are available at the new food court booths. Guests who bring nonperishable food items for the Woodbridge Food Bank Committee will receive one chance per donated item to win a prize. In the event of inclement weather, call (732) 602-6045 after 5:30 p.m.

Special Strides seeks donations for fund-raiser

Special Strides Therapeutic Riding Center for children with special needs, Monroe, will hold its annual fund-raiser at 7 p.m. on Sept. 17 at Congress Hill Farm, 118 Federal Road, Monroe.

The community-based event is usually attended by more than 300 supporters. Special Strides is looking for individuals and businesses who are interested in donating items to be raffled off at the fund-raiser. Many of the donated items that have been raffled off in previous years were bundled in theme baskets that were packaged by one of the nonprofit organization’s volunteers.

“Our thought was that as people entertain during the summer months, they can suggest that their guests bring ‘theme’ items (kitchenware, sporting goods, health and beauty products, etc.) in lieu of a cake or dessert,” said Laurie Landy, founding partner of Special Strides. “Our volunteers would then assemble the baskets for the event.”

The money raised at the annual fund-raiser subsidizes every child who participates in the Special Strides program, which aids youngsters who have a wide range of disabilities from cerebral palsy to spinal-cord injuries to autism, experience improvement in their flexibility, balance and muscle strength. Special Strides provides specialized therapy using horses as a strategy to achieve neuro-developmental goals. Occupational, physical and speech therapists provide the assistance.

For more information, to donate, or to volunteer for the fund-raiser, log on to www.specialstrides.com or call (732) 446-0945.