Community Bulletin Board
Woodbridge tree lighting to be held Dec. 7

Woodbridge Township will hold its holiday tree lighting ceremony Dec. 7 at 5:30 p.m. The ceremony will take place at Woodbridge town hall, 1 Main St., and will feature holiday chorus selections by the Menlo Park Terrace School 19 Chorus. Refreshments will be served on the second floor atrium of town hall.

Other holiday events include:

The holiday train display at the Barron Arts Center through Dec. 23; hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 2-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Photos with Santa will be offered on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Woodbridge Community Center.

A holiday concert by the Shrewsbury Chorale will be presented Friday, Dec. 15, at 8 p.m. at St. Cecilia's Church hall, 45 Wilus Way, Iselin.

Edison Symphony holiday

concert set for Dec. 10

The Edison Arts Society will present the Edison Symphony Orchestra's holiday concert Sunday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at the Middlesex County College Performing Arts Center, 2600 Woodbridge Ave., Edison. The orchestra, led by conductor Judith Morse, was designated in 2003 as the official symphony orchestra of Middlesex County.

Soloists featured at this year's concert include coloratura soprano Nina Hand, back for her second ESO performance. She has performed at the Tropicana in Atlantic City and in New York City. Dancers from Yvonne's School of Dance will present the "Dance of the Wooden Soldiers" with original Rockette choreography. Also, the "Hallelujah" chorus and other holiday selections will be performed with the orchestra by the Edison High School Choir, directed by Kenneth Brown, and the J.P. Stevens High School Choir, directed by Diane Wions.

Tickets are available at the Edison Arts Society for $25, with group rates available for 20 or more seats. Call (908) 753-2787 Monday through Friday between 9 am. and 4 p.m. to reserve seats. Visa and MasterCard will be accepted by telephone.

JFVS seeking donations of new toys, games, books

Jewish Family and Vocational Service of Middlesex County (JFVS) is seeking donations of new, unwrapped toys, games, videos, books and other holiday gift items for infants through teens.

The items will be distributed to more than 100 needy families in Middlesex County during JFVS' annual holiday drive. Donations and gift wrap can be brought to the JFVS offices at 515 Plainfield Ave., Suite 201, Edison, through Dec. 14.

For more information, contact E.J. Berman, volunteer and essential needs coordinator, at (732) 777-1940, ext. 122, or e-mail ej.berman@jfvs.org.

Woodbridge YMCA

to host holiday events

The YMCA at the Woodbridge Community Center will host a holiday celebration for all ages Dec. 8.

Choirs from the JFK and Woodbridge high schools as well as School 18 will perform a holiday concert at 1 p.m. Attendance is free, but attendees are asked to bring an unwrapped new toy donation for children in need. There will also be a karaoke session. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in attendance.

In addition, there will be a Santa Secret Shop, where children can shop for gifts; hours for the shop will be 7-9 p.m., with free admission. For more information call the YMCA at the Woodbridge Community Center at (732) 596-4170.

Edison AARP schedules Dec. meeting/luncheon

Edison AARP Chapter No. 3446 will hold its next meeting/holiday luncheon at noon on Dec. 17 at the Victorian Manor in Edison. Tickets for the luncheon are still being sold. Call Rose at (732) 738-8013.

Members are asked to bring at least one canned, packaged or toiletry item to the meeting for the Middlesex food bank. Also, dues are past due. Those who are not paid up will be dropped from the membership. New applications are being accepted for New Jersey residents who are members of the national AARP. A trip to Doolan's, Spring Lake, for dinner and a show is scheduled for Dec. 31. Call Mary Ann at (732) 287-3659. In addition, anyone who wishes to be put on a waiting list for the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn can do so by calling Claire at (732) 549-5316.

Woodbridge YMCA

to host holiday events

The YMCA at the Woodbridge Community Center will host a holiday celebration for all ages Dec. 8.

Choirs from the JFK and Woodbridge high schools as well as School 18 will perform a holiday concert at 1 p.m. Attendance is free, but attendees are asked to bring an unwrapped new toy donation for children in need. There will also be a karaoke session. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in attendance.

In addition, there will be a Santa Secret Shop, where children can shop for gifts; hours for the shop will be 7-9 p.m., with free admission.

For more information call the YMCA at the Woodbridge Community Center at (732) 596-4170.

Registration under way for boating basics course

American Legion Hall, 314 Berry St., Woodbridge, will host a "Boating Basics" course offered by N.J. Boating Classes Dec. 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The course meets the needs of boaters and personal watercraft (PWC) operators for an overview of boat and PWC operation, while meeting the New Jersey State Law requirements for boating safety education certification. For information, call (201) 291-5976 or visit www.njboatingsafetyclasses.com.

Concerto competition seeks young musicians

The Livingston Symphony Orchestra, Livingston, is issuing an invitation to talented young musicians in the area to participate in its 32nd annual concerto competition. The competition will be held Jan. 7 (snow date Jan. 14). The deadline for applications is Dec. 14. The winner will perform as soloist with the orchestra at a March 31 concert and will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Applications and rules may be obtained by contacting chairperson, Carmela Cecere at (973) 635-2345. Applicants must be legitimate residents of New Jersey, although they may be residing elsewhere temporarily for the purpose of studying at an institution of higher learning. The orchestra is under the direction of world-renown conductor Istvan Jaray.

Fashion show ... with a new perspective

A fashion show will be held 7-11 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Avenel Veterans of Foreign Wars post, 60 West Park Ave. The event will feature fashions by Shower of Roses, modeled by VFW members - men in women's clothing.

Advance tickets are $8 and tickets at the door will be $12. Admission includes coffee, tea and dessert. For reserved tickets, call Gail Bober, (732) 634-0391.

Blood and platelet donors needed

With the holiday season fast approaching, New York Blood Center (NYBC) is urging everyone eligible to consider giving the best gift of all this holiday season - the gift of life - with a blood or platelet donation.

Eligible donors include those people at least age 16 (in New York) or 17 (in New Jersey) who weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, are in good health, and meet all Food & Drug Administration and N.Y. and N.J. State Department of Health donor criteria.

Past and potential donors, and those who would like to host a blood drive at their job or in their community, are urged to call New York Blood Center at (800) 933-BLOOD or visit the Web site at www.nybloodcenter.org to find a convenient blood drive location or donation center in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley and New Jersey. Appointments can also be scheduled online.

NYBC, including its five regional operations, is one of the nation's largest nonprofit community-based blood centers and has been providing lifesaving transfusion products and services to the greater New York/New Jersey community since 1964. NYBC is also home to the Lindsey F. Kimball Research Institute and the National Cord Blood Program at the Milstein National Cord Blood Center.

Support group offered

weekly in Edison

The Jewish Family and Vocational Service of Middlesex County, 515 Plainfield Ave., Suite 201, Edison, offers a support group for newly separated or divorced adults at 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday. For more information, call (732) 777-1940.

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.

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.

Poets Wednesday continues with Laura McCullough

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.

Our Lady of Peace

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.