Community Bulletin Board

Arts Society to present its ‘Harvest of Poetry’

The Edison Arts Society will present its “Harvest of Poetry,” a free reception and reading celebrating the fifth-anniversary edition of the Edison Literary Review (ELR), from 3-5 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Sheraton Edison Hotel Raritan Center, 125 Raritan Center Parkway. Refreshments will be provided by the hotel, with a cash bar available as well.

The cover of the society’s fifth-anniversary issue features the work of Patrick McDonnell, one of Edison’s own. In 1994, McDonnell, a graduate of Edison High School, created “Mutts,” a comic strip that appears in more than 600 newspapers and is published in 20 countries. The strip’s stars, ELR cover boys Mooch and Earl, are also featured on state license plates through the New Jersey Animal Friendly License Plate Program.

In addition, the anniversary issue depicts works by 35 writers, including one by Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Dunn. Among those scheduled to read at this year’s Harvest of Poetry are contributors Stacey Balkun, Amanda Berry, Jessica deKoninck, Tony Gruenewald, Charles Johnson, Adele Kenny, Diane Lockward and Edwin Romond. The literary review may be purchased for $5 through the arts society. For more information, call the society at (908) 753-2787.

Clothing drive to

benefit band program

The J.P. Stevens Band Parents Association will hold a clothing drive to benefit the band program, Sept. 9 from 8-10 a.m. in the school’s parking lot, 855 Grove Ave., Edison. Donations of gently used clothing, linens, accessories, shoes and stuffed animals will be collected. All donations should be placed in large plastic bags and dropped off between 8-10 a.m. that day. For more information, call Anne at (732) 906-0772.

Neve Shalom to hold blood drive Sept. 10

Congregation Neve Shalom, 250 Grove Ave., Metuchen, will be sponsoring a blood drive in memory of Michael Allan Thompson from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 10. Donors can make an appointment for either whole-blood donation or automated blood collection (ABC), also known as apheresis, by contacting Bruce Levin, blood drive chairperson, at (732) 906-1922 or [email protected].

Russian ensemble Lyra

to perform in Metuchen

Lyra, a world-renowned Russian vocal ensemble, will perform at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Metuchen, Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and include dessert and coffee after the concert.

The event is the first in a three-concert series planned, featuring the Brass Roots Trio on Nov. 18 and a third concert to be announced in February. Series tickets for all three concerts are $50. The church is located at 17 Oak Ave., at the corner of Middlesex Avenue (Route 27). For reservations and further information, call (732) 548-4308.

Arts Society sponsoring two visual art exhibits

The Edison Arts Society (EAS) is sponsoring two upcoming visual art exhibits whose deadlines are quickly approaching.

The Members Only 2006 Exhibition requires digital entries in “jpg” format only and is open to EAS members ages 16 and older. Deadline for submissions is Sept. 8. Jurors for this exhibit include artists Lisa Pressman, of West Orange, and Charlee Swanson, of Montclair. A $15 fee must be included with the disks. This exhibit opens in November at the EAS Gallery, Sheraton Edison Hotel, 125 Raritan Center Parkway.

In addition, New Jersey residents are invited to submit up to two photographs of their gardens or segments of it for the “Gardens of the Garden State” Art and Photography exhibit by Sept. 15. Photos will be juried and placed on the EAS Web site, www.edisonarts.org, by Oct. 2, when artists are invited to select one that inspires them to create. Photographs must be clearly marked on back with a name, address and phone number, and must include a $10 check payable to EAS. The sixth annual “Gardens of the Garden State” exhibition will take place in the spring at the Menlo Park Mall in Edison. For prospectuses on either exhibit, e-mail [email protected] or call (908) 753-ARTS (2787), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, for more information.

Perth Amboy H.S. 60th reunion slated Sept. 16

The Perth Amboy High School class of 1946 is holding its 60th reunion on Sept. 16. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of former classmates can send people’s names and addresses to Dixie Sandler Hirner, 84 Wolff Ave., Edison 08837.

Garden Club’s ‘Grow and Share’ supper Sept. 11

The Edison Garden Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 11 (not Sept. 12) for its annual “Grow and Share” supper. Members are asked to bring dishes prepared with fresh fruits and vegetables from their gardens.

To promote its membership drive, the club will also participate in the Metuchen Country Fair on Oct. 1. Its booth will feature a variety of dried-flower bouquets for purchase.

The club meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of the month in the conference room at the Edison Main Library, 340 Plainfield Ave.

Edison AARP slates next meeting Sept. 18

Edison AARP Chapter No. 3446 will hold its next general meeting at 1 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Edison Job Corps Academy, 500 Plainfield Ave. Dues for September 2006 to September 2007 are now due. Program will feature a choral arrangement by the Old Bridge senior choral group, which sings at local nursing homes and other clubs. New applications are being accepted for those New Jersey residents who belong to the national AARP. Members are also asked to bring at least one canned or packaged food, along with toiletries, to help restock the Middlesex County food bank. Both day trips and shows are currently being planned.

Also, the Knitting and Crocheting Club will meet at 10 a.m. Sept. 15 at the Stelton Community Center, 328 Plainfield Ave., Edison. For more information, call Kay McCormack at (732) 548-1976.

Congregation Beth El offers weekly bingo

Congregation Beth El, 91 Jefferson Blvd., Edison, conducts weekly bingo games on Wednesday evenings at 7:15 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome. Admission is $1 per person. Refreshments may be purchased. For details, call the synagogue at (732) 572-2766.

St. Luke’s to hold first health expo Sept. 23

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 17 Oak Ave. (at Route 27), Metuchen, is hosting a health expo for the whole community titled “Body and Soul: A Health Expo” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 23 in Fryer Hall. Various complementary medical practitioners from the area will be present to speak about their specialties. St. Luke’s clergy will also offer two healing prayer services during the day, at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. An a la carte lunch will be available for purchase, along with snacks and drinks. Luncheon speaker will be family-practice physician and standup comic Dr. Anil Maheshwari. Call the church at (732) 548-4308, ext. 10.

JFVS announces elder care now available

The Jewish Family and Vocational Service of Middlesex County announces the availability of an elderly care program for those with memory loss and varying degrees of dementia.

Transportation is provided. Fees are charged on a sliding scale. Program includes meals, snacks and activities. For more information, call (732) 777-1940.

There’s summer savings at church thrift store

Wesley United Methodist Church, 5053 Woodbridge Ave., Edison, continues its thrift store hours for the summer. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Thursdays; and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. It will be closed on Saturdays in August. The thrift store features men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, knick-knacks, toys, jewelry and a “bargain room,” where shoppers can fill a bag for $1. Donations of clean, usable items are being accepted during open hours. Call (732) 738-0232 for more information.

Children’s film festival at Edison library Sept. 8, 12

The Edison Public Library will present its monthly children’s film festival, which is open to children from preschool age through sixth grade.

September will feature two superhero films for the whole family; call the library at (732) 738-0748 for the title of the two films.

While there is no registration, attendance is open only to Edison residents; attendees will be required to present their Edison library card at the desk to receive a movie ticket. The films will be shown Sept. 8 at 1:30 p.m. and Sept. 12 at 6 p.m., at the Clara Barton Branch, 141 Hoover Ave.

Synagogue announces film, Selichot services

Congregation Neve Shalom, 250 Grove Ave., Metuchen, will hold Selichot services at 11 p.m. Sept. 16.

Earlier that evening, at 9 p.m., the synagogue’s Adult Education Committee will present the Israeli film “Ushpizin.” The movie, which will be shown in Hebrew with English subtitles, is about an Orthodox Jewish couple whose faith is tested after praying for a child on the Sukkot holiday.

Admission is free, and refreshments will be served. Call the temple at (732) 548-2238 for further information.