COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Week of May 19

Mexican buffet at New Egypt Elks
   Friday, May 20 — New Egypt Elks will have a Mexican-themed dinner buffet from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Elks lodge, 105 Lakewood Road, New Egypt.
   The expected menu is chicken and beef fajitas, nachos, chicken quesadillas, beef burritos, black beans, chicken nuggets, french fries, salad, dinner rolls and dessert. There also will be crafts and games for the kids.
   Tickets are: adults, $10; seniors (60+), $8; children 3-12, $6; and children under 3, free.
   For more information, call 609-758-8700 or visit www.facebook.com/newegyptelks2457.
UFREF’s annual 5K Run/Walk
   Saturday, May 21 — The Upper Freehold Regional Education Foundation (UFREF) will host the third annual 5K Run/Walk and One- Mile Children’s Fun Run on Saturday, May 21.
   The race registration will begin at 4 p.m. at Allentown High School with the One-Mile Fun Run starting at 5 p.m. and 5K Run/Walk starting at 6 p.m. The state police and Allentown police will handle traffic detours along the 5K route.
   Proceeds will help the UFREF fund programs, projects, activities and equipment to enhance the educational experience of children in the school district.
   For more information on the race, contact Kathy Cary at [email protected] or 609-208-1694.
   To volunteer, support and donate, visit www.ufref.org or write: UFREF, P.O. Box, 109, Allentown, NJ 08501.
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.
Allentown parade
   Monday, May 30 — The Allentown Lions Club Memorial Day parade will be held rain or shine, starting at 10 a.m. at Main and High streets. Arrive by 9:30 due to Main Street and High Street road closures.
   A memorial service will follow the parade on the Allentown Grammar School grounds.
   Visit www.AllentownLions.com for more details.
Plumsted parade
   Monday, May 30 — The Plumsted Memorial Day parade will begin at 1 p.m. on North Main Street at Bright Road. The American Legion headquarters on Meadowbrook Lane will be the end point.
   Parade officials urge participants to arrive at Bright Road, from Evergreen Road, by noon for the parade. Bright Road will be closed to non-parade vehicles between noon and 1 p.m. North Main Street, Main Street and Jacobstown Road will be closed between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. for the parade.
   The American Legion, in conjunction with other organizations, will host the Memorial Day services when the parade concludes. Refreshments will be served. The public is invited and welcome to attend the Memorial Day services.
   Anyone interested in being part of the Memorial Day parade is asked to contact Peter Ylvisaker at 609-758-7539, ext. 132.
Garden tour
   Saturday, June 4 — Home gardens in Allentown and surrounding areas will be open to the public as part of the Allentown Garden Club’s sixth Hidden Gardens Tour.
   The tour will be held from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., rain or shine. Maps with the locations of all the gardens will be distributed to ticket holders the day of the tour.
   Advance tickets can be purchased for $10 at the Allentown Library, Woody’s Restaurant and the La Preferita Bakery or by mail at Allentown Garden Club P.O. Box 74, Allentown, N.J. 08501.
   On the day of the event, tickets can be purchased for $15 at the Keris Tree Farm, 842 Route 524 East in Allentown.
   Proceeds from the tour will help fund the club’s community beautification, scholarship and speaker programs.
   For directions and further information, go to www. allentowngardenclub.org, or call Terry Brown at 609-259-0334.
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 June 6.
   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.
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