Horse show
Wednesday, May 11, through Sunday, May 15 Free admission and parking is offered to visitors this year at the New Jersey Horse Park’s international horse show.
Horses from around the world will compete in dressage, cross country and event jumping. In addition, there will be tailgating Saturday and Sunday. A tailgate contest is open to anyone wishing to compete. Contestants can use a color theme, costume period, holiday or other. Interested participants can call 732-505-9700.
Vendors, food, 4-H, antiques, country fair and a salute to wounded warriors will highlight the event. Details are at www.horseparkofnewjersey.com. The park is at Exit 11 off Interstate 195 in Upper Freehold.
Garden club meeting
Thursday, May 12 The topic will be “house plants” when the Allentown Garden Club meets at 7 p.m. at the Allentown Methodist Church on Church Street (next to LaPiazza).
Presenter Leslie Dempsey will be the guide through the general principles and practices of the indoor garden. Attendees may bring in house plants so that problems can be identified and addressed. All are welcome to attend.
For further details, visit www.AllentownGardenClub.org or call presidents John and Susan Brandauer at 259-7640.
Kayak and canoe race
Saturday, May 14 The Crosswicks-Doctors Creek Watershed Association is sponsoring the third annual Kenneth H. Francis Kayak and Canoe Race and Tour on the Crosswicks Creek at 9 a.m. The start of both events is at Oakford Lake in New Egypt.
Experienced and non-competitive paddlers are urged to participate. The race course covers a 9.1-mile, downstream, Class-I section of the Crosswicks Creek. Varied widths, depths, twists and turns make this a challenging event. Touring paddlers will be guided upstream from the lake and back on a wide and slow-moving section of the creek (great for kids and first-timers). Life vests are required for both events.
Registration is $40 for the race and $30 for the tour. Discounts are available for groups, youths and seniors. Boat rentals are available for $25 (includes life vest and paddles). All participants receive a long-sleeve T-shirt and post-event refreshments. Shuttle will be provided for racers back to the start.
All proceeds will benefit the Crosswicks-Doctors Creek Watershed Association (a 501(c)(3) organization) and the Kenneth H. Francis Environmental Scholarship Fund.
For more information and online registration, visit www.ccdcgreenway.org or call Marc Covitz at 609-752-1832 or Bill Lewis at 609-775-7134.
New Egypt Day
Saturday, May 14 New Egypt Day, sponsored by Main Street New Egypt and Plumsted Township, will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Festivities will be split between Oakford Lake Park and the Presbyterian Church grounds on Front Street. A scenic pedestrian bridge over the lake links the two sites.
There will be face painting, pony rides, inflatable rides and a giant swing. There also will be paddle boat rides available that day, along with food, music and lots of vendors.
For more information or to request a vendor application, contact Peter Ylvisaker at Main Street New Egypt at 609-758-7539, ext. 132, or by e-mail at [email protected].
Senior Center open house
Saturday, May 14 The Robbinsville Senior Center’s fifth annual open house will be held from 1 to 4 p.m.
The day will include: tours, refreshments, food, music, bocce and give-a-ways. Bring a friend or neighbor and experience what the Senior Center has to offer.
The Senior Center is located at 1117 Route 130 (at the Municipal Complex next to the Robbinsville Branch of the Mercer County Library). For more information, call 609-259-1567.
Brothers in Harmony spring show
Saturday, May 14 Brothers in Harmony, the Hamilton Square Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, will present its annual spring show, “Musical Masterpiece XVII,” at 7:30 p.m. at the Robbinsville High School, 155 Robbinsville-Edinburg Road.
The chorus also will feature the 2010 International silver medalist quartet Old School.
Tickets are $20 ($15 for seniors and $10 for students). Call 732-940-0224 or e-mail [email protected]. Visit the website www.brothersinharmony.org for credit card orders. There is a $5 discount for all tickets purchased before April 16.
Dangers of drunken driving
Monday, May 16 Ellen Lurig will speak about the dangers of drunken driving in memory of her son, who was a victim of a fatal car crash caused by a drunken driver, at 6:30 p.m. at New Egypt High School, 117 Evergreen Road, New Egypt.
This presentation is for parents of all ages and other adult community members.
Horsemen’s meeting
Tuesday, May 17 The Horsemen’s Association of Millstone Township (HAMT) will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at the Millstone Community Center on Stagecoach Road (next to the firehouse).
HAMT is an organization dedicated to horse-related recreation and education, and its members include Western and English riders as well as carriage drivers. The meeting is open to all who enjoy horses you do not need to own a horse or live in Millstone. So far in 2011 the HAMT has had several trail rides, participated in the Trenton St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and held a night at the races and a square dance. The public is invited to attend the meeting and learn about upcoming trail rides and special events.
For more information, visit www.hamt.org.
Field dedication
Wednesday, May 18 The Robbinsville Lacrosse Association invites the community to attend a dedication ceremony for Christian Regulski Memorial Field at 6:30 p.m. at Blakely Park on Meadowbrook Road, Robbinsville (adjacent to the Tantum Park baseball fields).
The newly lighted field and scoreboard will be dedicated in memory of former RLA lacrosse player and Pond Road Middle School student Christian Regulaski.
Library Movie Night
Wednesday, May 18 The Plumsted Branch of the Ocean County Library will host a 6:30 p.m. viewing of “Snow Falling on Cedars,” Academy Award-nominated director Scott Hicks’ daring cinematic translation of David Guterson’s best-selling novel set in 1954 on an island in the Pacific Northwest. Rated PG-13.
This program is free and open to the public. No registration is needed. The library is located at 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt. For more information, call 609-758-7888.
Annual 5K Race and Pet Expo
Sunday, May 22 The fourth annual Hair of the Dog 5K Race and Pet Expo will be held at Silver Decoy Winery, 610 Windsor-Perrineville Road, on the Robbinsville-East Windsor border.
The event is organized by Tri State Weimaraner Rescue and Res-Q-Pets Animal Rescue, and all proceeds will benefit homeless pets. The event features food and drink, prizes and giveaways, pet rescues, vendors and more. Admission to the Pet Expo is free.
The fee for runners and walkers is $30. They will receive complimentary goody bags (available on a first-come, first-served basis), snacks and water, automatic entry in a raffle and a free Silver Decoy Winery wineglass and free wine taste for those 21 and older. Pre-registrants are guaranteed a long-sleeved T-shirt. The race begins at 10 a.m., followed by the Pet Expo.
For more information, visit www.hairofthedog5k.com or call 609-213-7132.
Asian Pacific Month stories and craft
Monday, May 23 Learn about Asian Pacific heritage through books and activities at 4 p.m. at the Plumsted Branch of the Ocean County Library, 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt. For children in kindergarten and up.
This program is free and open to the public. Register in person, by phone at 609-758-7888 or online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org.
Annual open space Clambake Fundraiser
Sunday, June 5 The Millstone Township Open Space and Farmland Preservation Council will host its fifth annual Clambake Fundraiser at Wagner Farm Park in Millstone, with seatings at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Limited tickets are available and must be purchased in advance. Tickets are $25 per adult and $10 per child and can be purchased by contacting Lori Maher at 732-446-4249, ext. 1103 or [email protected]. For more information: www.millstone.nj.us/2011_Save_the_Date-Clambake.pdf.
Qasim & Ahad 5K Run
Saturday, June 11 The second annual Memorial Qasim & Ahad 5K Run will be held at 9 a.m. at Robbinsville High School. Check-in begins at 7:30.
The 5K race/1-mile walk benefits the scholarship fund established in memory of RHS student Qasim Muzaffar and his younger brother, Ahad, who both died during a family vacation in Pakistan in 2010.
Cost is $18 for runners and $16 for walkers (commemorative T-shirt included). Registration deadline is June 8.
For more information, go to the Robbinsville School District website at www.robbinsville.k12.nj.us.
Community Festival in Robbinsville
Saturday, June 11 Robbinsville Township will sponsor its annual Community Festival beginning at 2 p.m. at Community Park, West Manor Way and Gordon Road, Robbinsville (rain date is June 12). Admission and parking are free.
There will be a kids play zone and amusements, games and contests, live music, pony rides, a food court, clowns and entertainers, “prize alley,” and much more for the whole family.
No Way Out will kick things off with an array of pop/rock hits. No Decision, a reggae band, will follow at 4:30 p.m., and 2U, a U2 tribute band, will take the main stage at 7 p.m. and lead into a fireworks display, which will conclude the festivities.
This year’s main sponsors are The Bank, RWJ University Hospital at Hamilton, First Choice Bank and Capital Health System.
For more information, call 918-0002, ext. 120, or visit www.robbinsville-twp.org.
Continuing events
Flamingo fashion-ation The Allentown Public Library is kicking off a flamingo-decorating contest. Adopt one of the library’s used flamingos for $35 and give it a makeover. Paint it, dress it, decorate it … have fun and use your imagination.
Then enter your newly fabulous flamingo by June 23 for a best makeover contest. Your flamingo will be on display for public voting at the Freedom Fest State Fair on July 15, 16 and 17.
Details are available at the Allentown Public Library, 16 S. Main St., Allentown.
Wanted: used books The Friends of the Plumsted Township Library will be collecting used books for its book sale in November. Fiction, nonfiction, large print, children’s, CDs, DVDs, audio books and jigsaw puzzles.
Do not donate soiled, mildewed items. No videotapes, Readers Digest Condensed books, magazines or encyclopedias.
Drop off books behind the Plumsted Township Library on Evergreen Road the first Saturday of each month: June 4, Aug. 6, Sept. 3 and Oct. 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Do not leave items if no one is present.
For more information, call 609-758-0009 or 732-580-5600or e-mail [email protected].
Mid-day Toastmasters Club The group meets the second and fourth Tuesdays each month from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Robbinsville Branch of the Mercer County Library System, 42 Allentown-Robbinsville Road. The next meeting is May 24.
For more information, call Jim, 732-631-0114, or e-mail [email protected] or visit http://midday.freetoasthost.net/.
Toastmasters International is the leading nonprofit dedicated to effective oral communication. Members meet to deliver and evaluate prepared and impromptu speeches in an effort to overcome their fear of public speaking, and to improve as speakers and as leaders. Visit www.toastmasters.org.
Job Seekers Toastmasters The group meets the first and third Mondays each month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Robbinsville Branch of the Mercer County Library System, 42 Allentown-Robbinsville Road. The next meeting is May 16.
Group members exchange leads, discuss job-seeking ideas and enhance their communication and leadership skills. For more information, call Jim, 732-631-0114, or e-mail [email protected] or visit http://midday.freetoasthost.net/.
Good Neighbor Fund The Allentown Good Neighbor Fund assists area residents with emergency needs such as utility, rent and medical bills.
To make a donation, mail your check payable to the Good Neighbor Fund to Good Neighbor Fund, c/o Allentown Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 122, Allentown, NJ 08501.
Plumsted TNR Committee Join the Plumsted Trap, Neuter and Return Committee every Sunday from 7 to 10 a.m. at the New Egypt Flea Market, 933 Route 536, New Egypt.
MOMS Club of Upper Freehold/Allentown This club holds its monthly meetings the first Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. at the Allentown Presbyterian Church, 20 High St.
The club offers low- or no-cost monthly calendar events for all age groups that include day trips, play groups, clubs, community service projects and MOMS Night Out.
The public is welcome to come meet the club members and learn about the international, nonprofit organization that offers local, stay-at-home and part-time working moms support and the opportunity to share activities and experiences with other local moms and their children.
For more information, contact Barbara Nissinger or Jen Domen at [email protected].
Millstone MOMS The MOMS Club of Millstone Township holds its monthly meeting at 10 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month. For more information, contact Melanie Sullivan at 732-851-5559 or [email protected], or www.millstone.nj.us/Moms_Club.html.
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.
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.
Community events, meeting notices, public announcements and other items of local interest appear regularly in this column at no charge. Send to [email protected] or Community Calendar, c/o The Messenger-Press, P.O. Box 350, Princeton, NJ 08542. Or fax to 609-924-3842.
Short e-mail submissions are preferred. Information in typed sentence format will be given priority, as opposed to fliers and handwritten material. Releases must include time, date, location, full street addresses and admission fee, if applicable. Submission of an item does not guarantee publication.

