– Environmental bike tour set for Sept. 21
The Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership (LBWP) will sponsor its 14th annual Water Wheels Bicycle Tour beginning at 9 a.m. Sept. 21 at the Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership Headquarters, 85 Washington Ave., Milltown. Registration is set for 8:30 a.m. The event will take place rain or shine.
The 26-mile ride to view the natural and historic features of the area will include optional add-on loops to the Plainsboro Preserve. Registration fee is $5 by Sept. 15, $10 on the day of the event; a $2 discount is available for students, seniors and LBWP members. Riders may follow a leader or go at their own pace. Helmets are required.
To register, call Michael at 732-828-3275, email [email protected] or log on to www.lbwp.org.
– Master Gardener classes set to begin
A new season of Master Gardener classes will be starting soon at the Middlesex County EARTH Center, Davidson Mill Pond Park, 42 Riva Ave., South Brunswick.
Master Gardeners are community volunteers trained in earth-friendly gardening and environmental principles.
Outdoor, hands-on garden classes will meet weekly for three hours each from mid-April through mid-September and every other week in the summer. Topics covered will include sound gardening techniques, composting, creative methods of conserving resources and horticulture therapy.
The 60 to 70 hours of classroom instruction include practical field experience. New students create and care for large demonstration vegetable and herb gardens.
The program also requires participants to volunteer some hours of service toward Cooperative Extension Services projects, activities and events throughout the year.
Optional orientation sessions are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 11 for the Thursday evening class and 9:30 a.m. Sept. 12 for the Friday morning class. Classes begin Sept. 18 or 19.
To register, call 732-398-5278 or visit www.co.middlesex.nj.us/extensionservices.
– Fundraiser to feature food of many nations
A Passport Around the World dinner fundraiser for Zachary Nemeth, a child with multiple disabilities, is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at Elks Lodge No. 2370, 21 Oakmont Ave., East Brunswick.
The menu of foods from around the world will include beef bourguignon (from France), buttered parsley noodles, kielbasi and cabbage (Poland), roasted chicken with rosemary gravy on the side (Germany), champ mashed potatoes (Ireland), green beans with garlic bits (South America), roasted carrots (Spain), mixed green salad (Italy) and crusted bread. Desserts will feature apple pie with vanilla ice cream (United States), Joanne’s trifle (New Jersey), St. Clement’s pie (England), honey yogurt cheesecake (Greece), baklava (Turkey), arroz con leche (rice pudding from Mexico) and green tea cookies (Japan).
Cost is $15 for adults, $6 for youngsters ages 4-10; children ages 3 and under will be admitted free of charge.
Reservations are required. For more information or to reserve, call 732-238-3733 and leave a message or email [email protected] (note the numeral 0 after the JL in the address).
– Call for chefs to enter Flo’s Chili Cook-Off
The fifth annual Flo’s Chili Cook-Off is set for 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 20 at American Legion Post No. 253, 60 Devoe Ave., Spotswood.
All proceeds and donations will benefit the education programs and services for brain-tumor patients and their families at JFK Brain Tumor Center, Edison.
The daylong event will feature live entertainment by Bonefide and the Basso Brothers, face painting, a horseshoe competition and homemade chili.
Admission is $20 for adults, $8 for ages 13-17, free of charge for children under age 12.
Awards for best chili will be $500 for first place; $250, second place; $125, third place; People’s Choice Best Chili, $100. Best Showmanship awards will be $200 for first place, $150 for second, $75 for third. Any chili — red, white, vegetable, turkey, beef, etc. — will qualify.
To enter the cook-off, log on to www.floschilicookoff.com and register by Sept. 14.
– ‘Flamenco Tap’ coming to stage
The Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre will present its production of “A Flamenco Tap Happening” 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Crossroads Theatre, 7 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick.
The performance will highlight the cultural similarities and communal rhythmic patterns and language involved in Spanish flamenco and American tap dance.
Tickets (general seating) cost $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students.
For ticket orders by credit card, log on to Brown Paper Tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/712063 or call 800-838-3006.
For ticket orders by check or for more information on the performance, call the Alborada office at 732-598-3979 or email [email protected].
– Family picnic to raise funds for Polish school
A family picnic to support the Polish ZPA Supplementary School is scheduled for noon-9 p.m. Sept. 13, rain or shine, at the Polanka picnic grounds, 209 William St., South River.
The event, which is sponsored by Polish Army Veterans Association of America Post No. 208, will feature Polish-American food, music by a DJ, activities for children and adults, a volleyball tournament, a campfire and a movie at dusk.
Donation is $5 per adult; children will be admitted free of charge.
– Taxidermied animals to be shown at meeting
The Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership (LBWP) will host a meeting 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Milltown Senior Center, 60 Violet Terrace. The public is invited to attend.
Members and friends of the environmental group will present birds and mammals from the LBWP’s taxidermied-animal collection. The event also will feature bird songs and bird sounds.
For more information, call Alan Godber at 732-846-4476.
– Elks are offering Trunk-Raffle tickets
Jamesburg Elks Lodge No. 2180 will hold its annual Trunk Raffle beginning at noon Sept. 14 at the lodge, 74 W. Railroad Ave. Only 500 raffle tickets will be sold.
Grand prize is $12,000 (40 percent of tickets sold); second prize, $1,500 (5 percent of tickets sold); third prize, $900 (3 percent of tickets); every 25th ticket pulled, $30 (1 percent). One raffle ticket will admit two adults and one child to the event; a home-style barbecue and beverages are included. Winners need not be present to win.
Tickets cost $60 and may be purchased by calling Amy at 732-598-2430 or by seeing the bartender at the Elks lodge.
– Sept. 13 Poker Run to benefit veterans
The Sons of the American Legion Post 253 will sponsor its annual Poker Run to benefit veterans Sept. 13, rain or shine, at 60 Devoe Ave., Spotswood.
Sign-in will be 9-11 a.m., with festivities noon-6 p.m.
Admission is a requested donation of $20 and includes food and entertainment. Vendors will also be on-site. For more information, call 908-227-0129.
– VFW post to sponsor fundraising dinner
East Brunswick Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post No. 133 will host its Spaghetti Dinner to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society 2-7 p.m. Sept. 14 at the post home, 485 Cranbury Road, behind University Radiology.
The menu will feature salad, bread, spaghetti and meatballs, desserts, coffee and tea. Cost is $8 for adults, $6 for ages 5-12; youngsters under age 5 will be admitted free of charge.
For more information, call the post at 732-254-8864.
– Benefit motorcycle run scheduled for Sept. 13
The Riders for Christ Motorcycle Ministry (RFCMM) of Calvary Chapel, 123 White Oak Lane, Old Bridge, will hold its first Hope for a Child Run Sept. 13, rain or shine. Registration will take place 9-10:45 a.m. Kickstands up is scheduled for 11 a.m. Coffee and doughnuts will be provided at registration.
The 40-mile ride, which will begin at the chapel and end at Branning Auto Body, 99 Crow Hill Road, Freehold, will be held in memory of RFCMM founder Bruce Comins. Proceeds will benefit Solutions Pregnancy and Health Center, Shrewsbury.
There will be food and music 1-4 p.m. at the alcohol- and drug-free event. Families are welcome. Food tickets may be purchased by nonriders.
Registration is $20 per rider, $5 per passenger. Free T-shirts will go to the first 50 individuals to register.
For more information, log on to www.ridersforchristmm.org.
– Donations sought for church yard sale
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Milltown, will hold its Indoor Yard Sale 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 26 and 27 at the parish school building, 44 Cleveland Ave.
A variety of household items, books and toys will be offered for purchase. Donations of clean, gently used or new items are sought for the sale.
For drop-off information, call Ann Marie at 732-745-4694.
– Curtain to rise on ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’
The Main Street Theatre Company will present the classic comedy “Arsenic and Old Lace” Sept. 12-27, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., at the Main Street Theatre, 3018 Bordentown Ave., Parlin section of Sayreville.
Tickets cost $20 for adults, $16 for seniors and students, $12 for ages 12 and under. For reservations, call 732-553-1153 (check or cash only). To order tickets using a credit card, log on to www.smstc.org.
– ‘Music Journalist’ author to visit library
Author Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta will share her experiences writing her book “On the Guest List: Adventures of a Music Journalist” in a program set for 2-4 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Sayreville Public Library, Washington Road.
The book is an upbeat memoir about a girl who loves music and life. Although the event will take place during the Creative Writing Group, everyone is welcome to attend. The program will appeal to writers and music enthusiasts alike.
For more information or to register, call Alaina at 732-727-0212, ext. 25, or email [email protected].
– Talk to shed light on Raritan River history
Jason J. Slesinski will offer a free public lecture titled “Along the Raritan River in Pictures” at the next meeting of the Sayreville Historical Society set for 7 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Sayreville Senior Center, 423 Main St.
The program will be followed by desserts, coffee and signings of Slesinski’s new book, “Along the Raritan River: South Amboy to New Brunswick.”
For more information, log on to www.sayrevillehistory.org.