Blood drive
Friday, Dec. 16 St. Mary’s School, Elizabeth Street, Bordentown City, will sponsor an American Red Cross blood drive from noon to 6 p.m. The blood drive will be held at St. Mary’s Church Rectory on the second floor in the Parish Center.
For further information or to schedule an appointment, call Sue at 324-9082.
Trash or Treasure
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 16-17 Trinity United Methodist Church, 339 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown, will hold the monthly sale from 9 a.m. to noon. All Christmas items will be half-price. Lots of new items for that last minute gift.
Meet the artist
Saturday, Dec. 17 The Artful Deposit Gallery, 201 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown City, will host renowned Russian illustrator Gennady Spirin from 1 to 4 p.m. for book signings.
Original works from more than a dozen of Spirin’s illustrated books will be available, with unframed originals and signed prints through Jan. 3. Call 298-6970 for details.
Carriage rides
Saturday, Dec. 17 The Downtown Bordentown Association will sponsor Christmas carriage rides from 5 to 9 p.m. Historic tours originate at the Friends Meeting Home on Farnsworth Avenue. Last carriage leaves at 8:45 p.m. Call Deb Rausher at 324-8167 for tickets or details.
Sunday, Dec. 18 The Roebling Garden Club will host its third annual Home for the Holidays event and horse and carriage rides from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Roebling Fire Hall.
Festivities will include a social gathering with free refreshments, choirs, and a visit from Santa Claus. Carriage rides will be 15 minutes in length limited to six seats per carriage.
Cost is $12 per person for adults and children age 3 and over. Children 3 and under ride free (seated on parent’s lap). Horse and carriage tickets must be booked in advance. Call Sharon at 499-2456.
Christmas Cantata
Sunday, Dec. 18 Wesley United Methodist Church, 24573 East Main St., Columbus, will present "The Gift Goes On," a Christmas cantata, at 3 p.m.
The combined choirs of Hedding and Wesley United Methodist Churches will perform a community concert and light refreshments will be served after the performance. Call 298-2132 or 298-2893 for details.
Candlelight services
Sunday, Dec. 18 Fieldsboro United Methodist Church, 7 Second St., Fieldsboro, will hold a candlelit service at 7 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 18 Crosswicks Friends Meeting will hold its annual candlelight service at 7 p.m. in the Crosswicks Meetinghouse on the village square at Front and Church streets, Crosswicks.
Planned with families in mind, the service consists of readings, a children’s musical program, group singing of familiar carols and lighting of candles. Following the service, there will be refreshments and fellowship. Wrapped gifts for needy children and contributions are welcomed.
Poinsettias will be available for purchase with proceeds benefiting the Heifer Project. Bring a flashlight if you attend.
Patriots’ breakfast
Sunday, Dec. 18 The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 899, will hold its monthly patriots’ breakfast from 9 to 11:30 a.m. in the Bordentown Township Senior/Community Center next to the Municipal Complex.
The public is invited to come out and show appreciation for their service, say hello and have breakfast with soldiers from Fort Dix who recently served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A donation of $5 per person to cover costs is requested. Visit www.vva899.org or call 324-0455 for details.
Candlelight services
Saturday, Dec. 24 Trinity United Methodist Church, 339 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown, will hold a candlelight service at 7 p.m. All families in the community are invited to join in the reading of the scriptures, singing of the carols and special music.
Blood drive
Wednesday, Dec. 28 Temple B’nai Abraham and Sarah Seidel Sisterhood will sponsor an American Red Cross blood drive at the Carslake Community Center, Senior Services Room, 209 Crosswicks Street, Bordentown from 2:30 to 8:30 p.m.
To make an appointment to give blood, call 298-6485 or go to www.pleasegiveblood.org/donate and enter sponsor code 6Y44.
Kindergarten Round-up
Tuesday, Jan. 6 In an effort to plan for the implementation of new full-day kindergarten, the Bordentown Regional School District is announcing an early kindergarten round-up date.
Community members who have children who will be 5 years old as of Oct. 1, 2006, are asked to complete an enrollment form no later than Jan. 6, 2006.
Registration for both elementary schools will be held the week of Jan. 23, 2006. Additional information can be found at www.bordentown.k12.nj.us, select kindergarten registration.
Thomas Paine event
Sunday, Jan. 29 The Thomas Paine Society of Bordentown will sponsor the annual Thomas Paine Birthday Celebration. The all-day celebration will feature a 1:30 p.m. luncheon and lecture by Professor Robert Lorenzi on Thomas Paine’s Revolutionary pen.
Tickets cost $30 per person. Contact The Old Book Shop of Bordentown at 324-9909 for location and details.
35-year reunion
Florence High School’s Class of 1971 is planning its 35-year class reunion.
For information, contact Jim Flynn, Charmaine Holmes or Margo "Miller" Mattis at [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected].
What’s going on …
Community events, meeting notices, public announcements and other items of local interest appear regularly in this column at no charge. The Register-News encourages readers and community leaders to submit short, typed announcements for this space. Mail the announcement at least two to three weeks in advance.
Although every effort is made to publish all items, submission of an item does not guarantee publication. Send correspondence to Community Calendar, c/o The Register-News, P.O. Box 446, Allentown, NJ 08501. Fax: 259-1182. E-mail notices to [email protected].

