Sept. 30
• A Taste of Spain: The Dances, Wines and Tapas of Spain, sponsored by the Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre, 6-9:30 p.m., at Little Spain Restaurant, 582 New Brunswick Ave., Fords section of Woodbridge. Tastings of Spanish regional wines and tapas (little dishes of appetizers), flamenco and classical Spanish guitar music by Jared, flamenco dancing by the Alborada dancers, all in an atmosphere emulating the “tablaos” of Spain. Wine contests throughout the evening. Tickets cost $45 person. Call Eva Lucena at 848-230-3420; email [email protected]; log on to www.alboradadance. org.
• Uniform Sale, sponsored by Raritan Bay Medical Center Old Bridge Auxiliary, 7 a.m.- 4 p.m., in Auxiliary Hall B and C, lower level of the Medical Arts Building, adjacent to the hospital’s Old Bridge division, off Ferry Road, between routes 9 and 18. Portion of proceeds benefits patient-care services. 732-324-5006.
• Tricky-Tray Auction, to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 7-10 p.m., at the Grand Marquis, 1550 Route 9 south, Old Bridge. Tickets cost $50; includes buffet dinner, two sheets of auction tickets, goodies and giveaways from local businesses. Email Suzanne Egan at [email protected]; log on to http://tnttrickytray2010.weebly.com.
Sept. 30-Dec. 1
• Holiday Toy and Gift Drive, to benefit youngsters in foster care in Middlesex County, sponsored by Lisa, Richard and Danielle De- Marco, in cooperation with Middlesex County Foster and Adoptive Family Services (FAFS). Donations may be dropped off at The Bird House, 1020 Route 18, East Brunswick. New toys, books, clothing for youngsters from infancy age 17 are sought. Donations will be distributed to children in the foster-care system in Middlesex County. Monetary contributions welcome. Make checks payable to Middlesex County FAFS and mail to The Bird House, 1020 Route 18, East Brunswick, NJ 08816. 732-651-7300.
Oct. 1
• Friday-Night Rock ’N’ Roll Oldies Dance, sponsored by Spotswood Knights of Columbus, 8-11 p.m., at the council home, 30 Crescent Ave. Dancing to the sounds of the ’50s- ’80s, music by a DJ. Soda, coffee, tea, dessert provided. Door prizes; 50/50; cash bar for beer, wine, mixed drinks. Donation is $10 per person. All welcome. Call Rich at 732-251-4049.
• Golf Outing, sponsored by the Monroe Wolverines, 1 p.m., at Concordia Golf Club, Monroe. Buffet dinner, including prime rib and lobster, will follow at the Cambridge Inn, Summerhill Road, Spotswood. Cost is $125 per player; foursomes welcome. Hole sponsors sought; cost is $100. Participant and sponsor forms available at the Monroe Township Community Center, Monmouth Road. Proceeds go to the Monroe Wolverines Pop Warner program. 732-723-5000.
Oct. 1-3
• Our Lady of Lourdes School Fall Festival, 5-10 p.m. Oct. 1, noon-11 p.m. Oct. 2, noon-6 p.m. Oct. 3, rain or shine, outdoors on the school grounds, 44 Cleveland Ave., Milltown. Food; homebaked goods; boardwalk games; children’s crafts, activities; money wheel; wheels of chance; beer garden; music; vendors; demonstrations; 50/50; doo-wop music featuring Sidewalk Serenade, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.; children’s entertainer Mr. Ray, Oct. 3 at 2 p.m.; Tricky Tent winners drawn 4:30 p.m. Oct. 3. [email protected]; 732-828-0011; www.ololschoolnj.org.
Oct. 1 & Fridays through Oct. 15
• Cruisin’ for the Kids Cruise Nights/Car Shows, sponsored by the Just Us Cruisers classic car club, 6-9 p.m., at the Peterpank Diner, Route 9 north, South Amboy/Sayreville. Classic cars, customs, trucks, custom motorcycles. Trophies; children’s games; DJ offering music from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s,’80s; free door prizes, food; more. Proceeds benefit the Camp Dill Foundation, Sayreville Brain Injured Children Association, Sayreville DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. 732-525-0412, www.cnjcca.com.
Oct. 2
• “Murder at the Hop,” a murder-mystery comedy show and ’50s dance, sponsored by St. Bernadette’s Knights of Columbus Council No. 8478, doors open at 6 p.m., event runs 6:30-10:30 p.m., at St. Bernadette’s Lourdes Center, 20 Villanova Road, Parlin section of Old Bridge. Dancing, contests and prizes for hula-hoop twirling/bubble-gum blowing, ’50s best dressed. Buffet dinner, soft drinks, beer, wine, coffee, tea, dessert. Tickets cost $37 per person; tables of eight or more may be reserved. Call George at 732-525-9373, Scot at 732-721-7868, Ed at 732-727-0685.
• Giant Yard Sale, sponsored by the East Brunswick High School Drama Club, with the support of the Performing Arts Parents Association (PAPA), 8 a.m.-2 p.m., in the parking lot at the high school, 380 Cranbury Road. Vendors sought; $15 per space. Removal of unsold and unwanted items provided by the drama club after event. Donated items to be sold should be dropped off 6:30-8 a.m. on morning of sale. Club members serve as vendors for the donated goods; all proceeds benefit the 2010-11 dramaclub program. [email protected]; www.ebnet.org, click on Support Our Schools for a flier/registration form.
• Casino Night, sponsored by Corpus Christi Church, doors open at 6:30 p.m., event runs 7-11 p.m., in the church hall, 100 James St., South River. Prizes include 50-inch flat-screen television, 26-inch flat screen, Notebook computer, GPS, DVD player, camcorder, digital camera, more. Door prizes awarded every hour. Admission is $30 in advance, $35 at the door; includes coffee, cake, $100 in play money. Food, beverages available. 732-254-1800, ext. 10.
• Giant Yard Sale, sponsored by the Level Club of South River, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., on the grounds at the Masonic Temple, 120 Old Bridge Turnpike, South River. Rain date Oct. 3. Call Robert Szegeti at 732-390-5732.
• All-Day Book Fair/Art Competition, sponsored by East Brunswick Public Schools Special Education PTA (SEPTA), 9 a.m.-9 p.m., at Barnes & Noble, Brunswick Square Mall, Route 18 south, East Brunswick. District’s elementary school students participating in “A Special Mother” art contest. Appearance by Anne Ford and John-Richard Thompson, coauthors of “A Special Mother: Getting Through the EarlyDays of aChild’sDiagnosis of LearningDisabilities and Related Disorders.” Adults should register for the authors’ book talk and signing; email eddieweinersepta@ hotmail.com. Schedule: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. — story time for students in kindergarten-fifth grade; 10 a.m. — welcome talk by East Brunswick Public Schools director of special education, Sharon Weber-Oleszkiewicz; 2 p.m. — art contest winners announced; 3 p.m. — author talk/book signing with Anne Ford and John- Richard Thompson. Mention SEPTA at register; store will donate 15 percent of any purchase (books, CDs, Starbucks items, etc.) to SEPTA to buy books for the district’s special education program. www.ebnet.org, click on Support Our Schools.
• Indoor/Outdoor Flea Market, sponsored by Trinity United Methodist Church, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., rain or shine, at the church, 70 Manalapan Road, Spotswood. Vendors offering vintage jewelry, antiques, collectibles, new handbags, vintage dolls, clothing, “As Seen on TV” products, toys, household goods, glassware, etc. Refreshments, baked goods available for purchase. Outside vendor spaces offered at $10 for two-table space; vendors must provide their own tables. Call 732-251- 1449, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; 732-251-0815, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., Monday-Friday.
• Picnic, sponsored by American Legion Post No. 253, 1-6 p.m., at the post home, DeVoe Avenue, Spotswood. Food, music, activities, beer, soda, more. Cost is $20 per person; under age 12 admitted free. Public invited. Call 732-251-1030 or visit the post home after 3 p.m.
• Giant Spring Flea Market, sponsored by St. Lawrence Church, 6 a.m.-4 p.m., indoors and outdoors, at the church, 109 Laurence Parkway, Laurence Harbor section of Old Bridge. Parish kitchen open. Call Terry at 732-290-9231.
• Supplies Collection for Women Aware, New Brunswick, sponsored by the Spotswood Area Moms Club, outside ShopRite of Spotswood, 380 Summerhill Road. Women Aware provides emergency shelter for women and their children who are homeless as a result of domestic violence. The shelter offers a full range of services and is in need of donations.
• Friends and Neighbors in Action (FNA) 5K Race and Fun Walk, organized by FNA and sponsored by the North American Center for Continuing Medical Education (NACCME), registration at 9 a.m., in Thompson Park, Monroe. Net proceeds go to Operation Homefront (OH)-New York/New Jersey to benefit soldiers in the central New Jersey area. Awards ceremony for top finishers in 5K. Online and printable registration forms and additional race information, including a course map, available at www.FNA5K.com. Call Carol Frenkian at 609-371-1137; email [email protected].
Oct. 3
• Communion Breakfast, to honor Barbara Groncki, sponsored by the Rosary Altar Society of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, MacArthur Avenue, Sayreville, in the St. Stan’s School cafeteria after the 9 a.m. Mass at St. Stan’s Church. Donation is $8 per person for adults, $4 for under age 10. Tickets not available at the door. Call Kathie at 732-727-5544, Yvonne at 732- 257-4634, the church office at 732-254-0212.
• Octoberfest, sponsored by the St. Bartholomew Home School Association, 1-4 p.m., at the school, 470 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick. Cost is $10 per family; includes rides and games. Public invited.
• Pancake Breakfast, sponsored by the Morgan Lions Club, 8 a.m.-noon, at Eisenhower School, Ernston Road, Sayreville. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children. 732-721-4350