The Metuchen Cultural Arts Commission will present the Brio Symphonic Band in an Independence Day concert at 5 p.m. July 2 (not July Fourth) in the Metuchen Senior Citizen Center parking lot, 15 Center St. The concert will feature patriotic music, classic band tunes and selections from the American Musical Theater.
The Brio Symphonic Band, whose members are professional musicians from Local 204-373 of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) in New Brunswick, is conducted by Metuchen resident Edward Logue, former music coordinator and band director of the Metuchen public schools.
Local vocalist Barbara Smith will also perform several selections with the band. A graduate of Metuchen High School, Smith has performance degrees from Westminster Choir College at Rider University, Lawrenceville section of Lawrence, and The Juilliard School in New York City.
The concert is free of charge, but guests are asked to bring their own lawn chairs. The program is funded by the borough of Metuchen and the Music Performance Fund (formerly The Recording Industries Music Performance Trust Funds) provided through the AFM’s Local 204-373.
Synagogue’s Men’s Club slates barbecue dinner
The Men’s Club of Congregation Neve Shalom, 250 Grove Ave., Metuchen, will host a barbecue dinner at 6:30 p.m. July 21, followed by an outdoor Friday Night Alive Shabbat service (weather permitting) at 7:45 p.m., featuring singing and musical instruments. Cost for dinner is $12 for adults and $6 for children ages 3-12. Children under 3 are free. For additional information, contact Hazzan Levin at (732) 548-2238, ext. 14, or [email protected]. Participants should mail their dinner payments as soon as possible and notify the congregation of any special dietary needs (food allergies, vegetarian meals, etc.).
Local Lutheran church has Sat. thrift shop hours
St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, located at the top of the hill on Pleasant Avenue (off Amboy Avenue), Edison, has announced its thrift shop hours. The store is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, where shoppers can find bargains on clothing, household items and gifts. Donations are accepted during hours of operation. Call (732) 738-0887.