QUICK PICKS

By:Staff

Blood drive

   The First Presbyterian Church of Hightstown will sponsor a Red Cross blood drive from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. today in the church’s fellowship hall, 320 North Main St., Hightstown. For an appointment, call 443-3260 or 448-0055.
Christmas Shoppe

   Cranbury United Methodist Church, 21 North Main St., Cranbury, will hold a kids-only Christmas shoppe from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Children will be able to find gifts for everyone priced from 50 cents to $4. Wrapping will be provided at no charge.
   While the kids shop, adults can visit the ornament/holiday boutique or relax in the coffee shop.
Free throw contest

   The 29th annual Elks Hoop Shoot will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at St. Anthony’s Parish Hall, Hightstown. The contest is open to local boys and girls ages 8-13; there will be three age divisions in the competition. Each contestant will have 25 shots at the hoop.
   The boy and girl with the best scores in each age group will advance to the district competition in January. For more information, call Frank Hampton, 443-3553.
Indian cultural program

   The India Foundation of Metropolitan Princeton is holding its annual cultural program and dinner, beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday at Hightstown High School.
   The theme of this year’s program is "Bharat Darshan," or "Glimpses of India," and will feature traditional dances from the different parts of India.
   For more information, call Pramod Khanna at 443-8608.
Opera singer

   Soprano Dora Schnur will present a benefit program of arias and songs by composers of Jewish heritage at 8 p.m. Saturday at Beth El Synagogue. The program will include works by Bellini, Rossini, Mahler, Ravel and others. Ms. Schnur will be accompanied by pianist Sandra Milstein-Pucciatti.
   Tickets are $10. Reservations can be made by calling the synagogue office at 443-4454.
Folk concert

   Outta Sights and Sounds and the East Windsor Recreation Department will present Susan Werner with Vance Gilbert in concert at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Grace Norton Rogers School theater, Stockton Street and Oak Lane, Hightstown. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door.
   For tickets and information, call 259-5764.
Chabad trip

   Chabad of the Windsors has organized a full-day trip to Jewish sites of interest in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Sunday. The group will depart by bus at 11 a.m. and return at about 7:30 p.m. The trip will include a visit to Chabad’s worldwide headquarters, a Jewish art institute, scribe and more.
   Several seats still are available. For more information, call 448-9369 or click here to visit the Web site.
Christmas tea

   Members and guests of the Hightstown-East Windsor Historical Society are invited to attend its annual Christmas Tea from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Guests will be greeted on the front steps of the Ely House Museum, 164 North Main St., by the brass ensemble, "The Certain Sound." The Madrigals, a choral group led by the Rev. Fred Doscher of the First Presbyterian Church of Hightstown, also will perform.
   The Rev. Kathryn Avery of the Methodist Church will play a melodeon, a small reed organ from the 1800s. Society ladies dressed in period costume will serve homemade Christmas cookies and hot apple cider.
   The public is invited to visit the newly-refurbished Sara Hutchinson West Educational Center and see the John Bull train display. The historical society encourages volunteers from the community to help work on the scenery and buildings needed to complete this work in progress.
Hadassah fund-raiser

   The East Windsor Chapter of Hadassah will hold a silent auction from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Hightstown Elks Club, Hickory Corner Road, Hightstown. All are welcome.