Talent competition entries due Dec. 7       The Pollo Tropical Chicken on the Grill, 77 Route 1 south, will host its grand opening festivities Dec. 7 and 8, with carnival games and prizes, a visit from Santa and his elves, salsa dancing demonstrations, famous artist renditions, and prize drawings for over $1,000 in cash and prizes. More ... Donations sought for stainless-steel train       Sculptor Glenn Murgacz is still accepting donations for his Woodbridge Public Art Project - a 4-foot-wide, 13-foot-long, 6-foot- 7-inch-tall stainless-steel train, which weighs approximately a ton. Murgacz plans to permanently place the train in front of JJ Bitting Brewing Co., 33 Main St., befo... More ... County legal group to meet Jan. 16       The new chapter of the Middlesex Legal Professional Association will hold its next meeting 5:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 16, featuring Middlesex County Superior Court Ombudsman Sylvia L. O'Connor, LSW, at the Hampton Inn, 270, Route 9 north, Woodbridge. More ... Senior citizen club announces December events       The Woodbridge Senior Citizen Club will hold its business meetings at 1 p.m. Dec. 6 and 20 in McCorristin Hall, which is the basement of St. James Roman Catholic Church, Main Street and Amboy Avenue. People who are interested in joining the club must be 60 years old and belong to no other senior ... More ... Poet, singer to perform at Poetswednesday party       Kurtis Lamkin of Charleston, S.C., will be performing at the annual Holiday Poetswednesday Party at the Barron Arts Center, 582 Rahway Ave., Woodbridge, Dec 12 at 8 p.m. The poet and singer will accompany himself on the kora, a 21-string African harp. An open reading will follow; refreshments will... More ... Volunteers needed at model train display       Railroad buffs are needed to volunteer at the Barron Arts Center, 583 Rahway Ave., Woodbridge, through Dec. 29 for the 17th annual holiday 027-gauge model train running display. Help is needed weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends 2-4 p.m. More ... Elks sponsoring essay contest for 5th, 6th grades       The Woodbridge Elks No. 2116 Americanism Committee is sponsoring an essay contest for students in the fifth and sixth grades. The subject this year is "What Is an American?" Essays should be submitted by Jan 11 to Jane Bobel, Americanism chairperson at the Woodbridge Elks. For information, call (... More ... Metuchen Rec sponsoring trip to Radio City show       The Metuchen Recreation Commission is sponsoring a bus trip to New York City to see the Radio City Christmas show, featuring the Rockettes, on Tuesday, Dec. 11. The bus will depart from Metuchen Borough Hall, 500 Main St., at 2:30 p.m. for a 5 p.m. performance. The cost is $72 per person and inclu... More ... Woodbridge AARP schedules events       Woodbridge AARP Chapter 3869 has scheduled the following events: Dec. 5 - Meeting at 1 p.m. at St. Andrews Church hall, 244 Avenel St. Dec. 9 - Christmas dinner-dance at the Forge, 6-10 p.m., for members only. Feb. 19 - "Mardi Gras Madness" show at the Staaten in Staten Island, N.Y. Includes ... More ... Menorah, tree lighting, free events in Woodbridge       The Woodbridge mayor's office has announced the following free holiday events: • Holiday train display at the Barron Arts Center, 582 Rahway Ave., Woodbridge, through Dec. 29, Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 2-4 p.m. More ... Alzheimer's Assoc. to host area support groups       The Alzheimer's Association will be sponsoring the following area caregiver support groups this month: • Dec. 6 at 7 p.m., The Cranbury Center, 292 Applegarth Road, Monroe Township. • Support group for spouses only, Dec 17 at 9:30 a.m. More ... Violinist will perform in concert at St. Mary's       The Music at St. Mary's Concert Series will present violinist Joseph Puglia in concert at 8 p.m. on Dec. 7 at St. Mary's Church, 256 Augusta St., South Amboy. Puglia, who will perform solo violin works by Johann Sebastian Bach, is a graduate of The Juilliard School, New York City, and performs re... More ... Holiday gifts sought for hospitalized children       Magyar Bank has selected Children's Specialized Hospital, New Brunswick, as the beneficiary of its 2007 holiday gift program. Magyar, the hospital and Magic 98.3 have partnered to make this holiday season extra special for patients moving into the new PSE&G Children's Specialized Hospital in Dece... More ... Winter Wonderland to come alive in Milltown       Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Milltown, will present Winter Wonderland 2007: The True Meaning of Christmas from 8-11 p.m. on Dec. 7, 7-10 p.m. on Dec. 8, and 4-7 p.m. on Dec. 9. More ... Edison AARP to hold holiday party Dec. 17       The next general meeting of the Edison AARP Chapter No. 2246 will be held Dec. 17 at the Victorian Manor, 2863 Woodbridge Ave., Edison. There will be a short meeting starting at noon followed by the annual holiday party luncheon. For more information, call Rose at (732) 738-8013. More ... Discount tickets for garden show on sale now       The New Jersey Flower and Garden Show will have tickets to its 2008 show available at the discounted price of $11 per ticket through Dec. 31. The show will be held Feb. 14-17 at the N.J. Convention Center, Edison, and the theme will be "The Entertaining Garden Party … Among the Petals. More ... 'Memory Lane' at United Skates every Wednesday       United Skates of America, at the Woodbridge Community Center, 600 Main St., hosts "Memory Lane," featuring artistic skating and live organ music, 7:30-10 p.m. every Wednesday. "Memory Lane" is an evening of artistic and dance skating with a steady following of senior citizens in the tri-state are... More ... Giving tree helps to fulfill children's holiday wishes       As part of an annual holiday tradition, OceanFirst Bank is participating in the Salvation Army's Angel Giving Tree program. The program helps to fulfill the holiday wishes of children across Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties. More ...