In an effort to promote Disability Awareness Month, the Jackson Special Education Advisory Council and the Jackson Parent-to-Parent Support Group will hold a Disability Resource Fair on April 20 from 6-9 p.m. at the Crawford-Rodriguez Elementary School, 1025 Larsen Road, Jackson. All parents, caregivers, educators and providers are invited to attend. The fair is open to the public.
Exhibitors will be available to answer questions and provide information about their services. Resources for supporting individuals with disabilities such as autism, Asperger’s syndrome, attention deficit disorder and others will be available. Information about camps, social skills groups, life organizers, financial planning, advocacy and similar supports will also be on hand.
Children are welcome to attend and activities for them will be provided. For additional information or directions to the Crawford-Rodriguez School, contact Pattie Carollo at (732) 886-9584 or visit www.jacksonsd.org and click on Special Education.
Counselor in Training
program in Howell
The Howell Recreation Department will be offering a Counselor in Training program for summer camps. The program, for teens ages 14 and 15, will be held Monday through Friday for three weeks at two different locations. The program will take place July 10-28 at Howell Middle School South and July 24 through Aug. 11 at Howell Middle School North. The cost to attend the program is $40. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited spaces are available. Details: (732) 938-4500, ext. 2501.
Donations of yarn sought
for Tangled Thread class
The Howell Senior Citizens Center needs donations of yarn for its Tangled Thread class, a free knitting and crochet class offered at the center. Members of the class knit and crochet items for the needy children of Howell and surrounding areas, hats for chemotherapy patients who have lost their hair, items for homebound senior citizens, and items for victims of domestic violence.
Donations of four-ply, sport yarn or baby yarn are needed for the class. Donations may be dropped off at the senior center, located on the lower level of the Howell Municipal Complex at 251 Preventorium Road.
The Tangled Thread class meets at the senior center Thursdays at 1 p.m. The class is free and open to Howell residents age 60 and over. Details: (732) 938-4500, ext. 2550.
Arbor Day celebration
at Jackson library
All are invited to the Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, April 28 for several programs in honor of Arbor Day. At 10 a.m. the Ocean County Parks Department and Cattus Island Park will present “Radical Reptiles,” a program for children ages 4-7. Using live snakes and turtles, a park ranger will teach attendees how reptiles live in Ocean County’s environment. Friends of the Jackson Library will provide refreshments.
The Girl Scouts of America will be offering free tree seedlings, provided by the New Jersey Community Forestry program, to the first 90 people who arrive from 10 a.m. to noon.
Throughout the day a short film titled “Arbor Day: The Holiday That Makes a Difference” will be played in the lobby. The programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required for “Radical Reptiles.” Call (732) 928-4400 to register.
Jackson Food Pantry
distribution April 27
The Jackson Food Pantry, run by the Jackson Women of Today, announces its next food distribution date is April 27 from 5-7:30 p.m. The pantry, at 65 Don Connor Blvd., Jackson, is open once a month for food assistance on the fourth Thursday of every month except for winter holidays.
The pantry is open to registered clients and residents of Jackson in need of food. Proper ID is required (a utility bill, proof of address and income, children’s birth certificates). Anyone in need of emergency food should call (732) 833-6800; the call will be returned as soon as possible.
The pantry is in need of donations of the following items: pasta, can/jar red sauce, cereal, tuna, macaroni and cheese, all condiments, can soup/vegetables, apple juice, toothpaste, soap, toilet paper, shampoo, baby diapers (small, medium and large) and baby food. To schedule donation drop-offs or food drives, call (732) 833-6800. Monetary donations can be sent to Jackson Women of Today, attention Food Pantry, P.O. Box 1042, Jackson.
School slates zoo trip
The Jackson Community School is sponsoring a bus trip on May 7 to the Bronx Zoo. The bus will depart from Jackson Memorial High School at 9 a.m. Cost is $47 for adults, $45 for children and $43 for seniors. Contact the Jackson Community School at (732) 833-4647 for details and registration.
Howell summer program
accepting registration
The Howell Recreation Department is accepting registration for its summer program. Registration will be accepted through April 28. The program will run from July 5 through Aug. 11. The registration fee is $125. Late registrations will incur an additional $50 and will be accepted from May 1 through June 2. No registrations will be accepted after June 2. The program is open to children currently attending kindergarten through fifth grade and is held at Howell Middle School North and Howell Middle School South. Details: (732) 938-4500, ext. 2501.
Howell Recreation
earns state award
The New Jersey Recreation and Parks Association presented the Excel-lence in Therapeutic or Wellness Pro-gramming Award to Howell Recreation for its Teen Adventure program at its annual awards dinner March 22. Director Helene Schlegel and program coordinator Irene Plantz accepted the award. The Teen Adventure program services special-needs teens and focuses on socialization and life skills. Schlegel credits the entire staff as well as the partnership between the Recreation Department and the Community Service Division of the Howell Township Police Department for the program’s success. The program is held during the summer at Echo Lake Pavilion, Howell.
‘Go With the Flow’
will be staged in Brick
Brick Children’s Community Theater’s (BCCT) spring production, “Go With the Flow,” is a musical comedy with a message. While the show is woven around several themes, the main message is the need for all individuals to feel accepted by society. A mix of 1960s to 1990s show tunes are intertwined throughout the story. BCCT productions are performed by children and teens from Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Show dates and times for “Go With the Flow” are April 28-29 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8. All performances will be held at Veterans Memorial Elementary School, Hendrickson Avenue, Brick. Details and tickets (732) 920-9041.
Tour historic Lakewood
locations on May 9
The Lakewood Community School is accepting reservations for the Historic Tour of Lakewood scheduleded for May 9 from 10 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Tour guides Edith and Sheldon Wolpin will take participants to Lakewood recreational and municipal facilities, schools, churches, synagogues, the Strand Theatre, and more. Lunch will be included at Georgian Court University. The fee is $16. Details and reservations: (732) 905-3685.
Vendors sought for
Kids’ Stuff Flea Market
A Kids’ Stuff Flea Market will be held at Ocean County Park, Route 88, Lakewood, May 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vendors are being accepted to sell new and used children’s items. To reserve a spot for $10, send a check to: Ocean County Parks and Recreation, 1198 Bandon Road, Toms River 08753. The event will be held rain or shine. Details: www.oceancountyparks.org or (732) 877-OCPARKS.
Volunteers sought
for Cattus Island Park
Cattus Island County Park, Toms River, is seeking volunteers to work at the park. Education volunteers will assist naturalists in performing group programs for school children. All volunteers will receive on-the-job training, but experience working with children is a plus. Details: (732) 270-6960.
Howell Township
to celebrate Arbor Day
Howell Township, the Howell Township Shade Tree Commission and the Howell Township Library will celebrate Arbor Day on April 29 from 3-4:30 p.m. at the library, 318 Old Tavern Road. There will be crafts for children and a free tube seedling distributed to each child participant. Details: (732) 938-2300.
Congregation to host
summer trip to Israel
Congregation Achavat Achim, Howell, is sponsoring a trip to Israel from June 4-16. Tours will be included. All are welcome. Call Rabbi Michael Klein at (732) 1677 for details and reservations.
Youth mission trip will
aid elderly in New York
The Youth of DeBows United Metho-dist Church, Jackson, will be going on a youth mission trip to Auburn, N.Y., July 29 through Aug. 5.
The purpose of the trip is to help low-income and elderly people repair their homes. The youth group will be joined by 350 additional youngsters and adults.
Christian youth from the community are welcome to take part in the trip. For more information, call (732) 928-4475.