Thursday, March 19
History up close — Allentown resident Larry Gaylord will share his experience as a youth in war-torn England and his journey to the states at the monthly meeting of he Allentown-Upper Freehold Historical Society. The meeting is held at 7 p.m. at the Allentown United Methodist Church on Church Street.
Thursday, March 19
Time for a story —After school storytime will be held at 4:15 p.m. at the Robbinsville branch of the Mercer County Library System. Children are invited to come create a special craft and listen to artistic tales.
Pre-registration is required. To register, call the library at 609-259-2150.
Friday, March 20
Blinded by science — The Allentown/Upper Freehold Elementary School will hold a Science Night Live from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Science Night Live is an annual event where local scientists come and do hands-on experiments with the children ages kindergarten through fourth grade. Among those participating this year are the Lizard Guys, the Allentown High School Robotics Club, the Amateur Astronomers and Princeton Plasma Physics. There also will be a special presentation by an FBI forensics expert.
Saturday, March 21
Hot event — Allentown will hold its fourth annual chili contest from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Allentown First Aid Building on Waker Avenue/Route 526). Contestants must pre-register chili entries to be judged by calling Sandy at 259-6405. The event also will include entertainment for the whole family. Admission is $2 for children 3 to 12 years old and $5 for adults, with proceeds benefiting the Allentown First Aid Squad. It is sponsored by the Allentown Recreation Commission.
Saturday, March 21
What’s for breakfast? — Windsor United Methodist Church, 51 Church St., Windsor will hold its monthly Country Breakfast and Bake Sale between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Breakfast for adults and children over the age of 12 is $5. Children under 12 eat for free. For more information, call 609 448-0412.
Sunday, March 22
Mmmmm, sounds good — The Millstone Township Fire Co. ladies Auxiliary will hold a pancake and sausage breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the firehouse at 461 Stage Coach Road in Clarksburg. The cost is $5 for adults; $3 for children, 12 and under; and children 3 years old and younger eat for free.
Wednesday, March 25
Irish roots — Are you considering researching your Irish heritage but don’t know how or where to begin? Make the Robbinsville branch of the Mercer County Library System, your starting point. Catherine “Casey” Zahn will show you How to Research Your Irish Roots at 7 p.m. Pre-registration is required for all library programs. To register or to get more information, call the library at 609-259-2150.
Saturday, March 28
What a ham — The Plumsted Presbyterian Church, 14 Front St, New Egypt, will have a ham dinner from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The cost for adults is $12; children 5 to 12, $6; take-outs is $13; and children under 5 eat free. Call 609-758-8646 for more information.
Saturday, March 28
Double bill — Celebrate Women’s History Month at the Robbinsville branch of the Mercer County Library System at 2 p.m. with two unique American short stories performed by actress Michèle LaRue. Tales Well Told is a pairing of stories that explore two dilemmas that women still face. Kate Chopin’s poignant “A Pair of Silk Stockings” addresses the first: who comes first – me or my family?, as a widow takes an impromptu holiday from home. Edna Ferber’s “Representing T. A. Buck” confronts the other: where do I belong – at home or at work?, as a traveling saleswoman longs for life off the road.
Pre-registration is required. To register or to get further information, call the library at 609-259-2150.
Sunday, March 29
Dynamic duo – The Millstone Township Performing Arts Center welcomes CIRCO COMEDIA, starring the duo of Jean Saucier and Patrick Cote, all the way from Canada, to perform at 2 p.m. Following in the tradition of the Quebec Circus, Jean Saucier, master equilibrist, juggler, trick cyclist, acrobat and magician, performs his feats from dizzying heights while Patrick Cote, burlesque clown, expert roller skater and drummer, innocently tries his best to be the (imperfect) assistant. Ticket price includes admission to our pre-show circus party at the Performing Arts Center from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Contact the box office at 732-446-8480 or [email protected].
Thursday, April 2
Wellness in the workplace –The Robbinsville chapter of the Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold its breakfast meeting at 8 a.m. at Roma Bank headquarters, 2300 Route 33. The featured speaker will be Lindsay Vastola, fitness trainer and founder of Body Project Fitness & Health, who will analyze the quickly-growing trend of corporate wellness programs. Discover how to decrease your bottom line by investing in the health and wellness of your employees in a climate where bonuses and raises are scarce. For more information, or to be placed on the chapter’s e-mail list, contact Dru Gropp Damico at 609-394-7557, extension 113, or at drudamico@aol.
Saturday, April 4
Easter egg hunt – The Allentown Lions Club’s annual event starts at 9 a.m. sharp near the basketball court on Lakeview Drive. There will be many prizes for the youngsters. The rain date is Sunday, April 5 at 1 p.m.
Continuing events
Discussing books – The Plumsted branch of the Ocean County Library has a book discussion group that meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Registration can be done in person, by phone at 609-758-7888 or online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org.
C.A.M.P. program: The mid-week Children’s Arts and Music Program is held at the Allentown Methodist Church, located at 23 Church St./Route 526. This ecumenical program is for children aged 6 through sixth grade. It is held Wednesday evenings, provides a home-cooked meal and a rotation of activities to help children experience spiritual formation and character development through the arts. The winter session will run for ten weeks. Families are welcome to participate, regardless of religious affiliation. For additional information, visit www.ccchoir.com or contact Pat Weitz at 609-587-7076 or [email protected].
Tax help in Robbinsville: Every Wednesday, through April 15, volunteers from AARP will be available at the Robbinsville Branch, Mercer County Library to help anyone fill out basic income tax forms. Appointments are every hour on the half-hour starting at 9:30 a.m., with the last appointment at 12:30 p.m. The only requirement is that you bring last year’s completed form and this year’s income tax booklet. Registration is a must. You may call or stop at the library to arrange for an appointment. The library’s phone number is 609-259-2150.
ESL group in Allentown: English As A Second Language classes for adults meet every Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Upper Freehold Regional Middle School, 27 High St., room 203. A multi-media approach is used to teach English with a concentration on the English necessary for parents with children in school. No class if school is closed for the day.
Millstone Women’s Club: The Millstone Township Women’s Organization meets every fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. September through May at the Clarksburg Community Center, Stage Coach Road. All Millstone Township women are welcome.
For more information, visit MTWO.org or e-mail [email protected].
Robbinsville networking: The Robbinsville Business Networking Group meets at 9:30 a.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. The group is intended for entrepreneurs and business owners who have school-age children, and holds family-oriented community events, sponsored by members, at local establishments.
For more information, visit www.RobbinsvilleBNG.com. Call Deena at 609-945-7330 to be invited to an upcoming meeting.