– Reservations available for New Year’s party
East Brunswick Elks Lodge No. 2370 will hold a New Year’s Eve party Dec. 31 at the lodge, 21-B Oakmont Ave., corner of Hardenburg Lane.
Doors will open at 7 p.m. for a cocktail hour. Dinner will be served at 8 p.m. There will be an open bar until 1 a.m., as well as a champagne toast and cold buffet at midnight.
Tickets cost $55 per person and must be purchased in advance by Dec. 26 by contacting Laura Good at 908-705-3984 or jessejacky@aol.com, or Jan Locklear at 732-238-3733 or banquestmanager@ebelks.com.
– ‘Tartuffe’ comedy, dinner set for Dec. 14
The Indian Cultural Society will present Molière’s comic masterpiece, “Tartuffe,” on Dec. 14 at North Brunswick Township High School, 98 Raider Road.
Seating for the pre-dinner performance will begin at 2 p.m., with the curtain rising at 2:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at 5 p.m. For the play only, seating begins at 6 p.m. for the 6:30 p.m. performance.
The cost for the dance, dinner and play is $26 for adult members, $31 for adult nonmembers, $13 for children age 3 to 12 who are members, or $16 for children who are not members.
The cost for the play only is $20.
To reserve tickets, call Vanita at 732-713-9804 or email indianculturalsocietynj@gmail.com.
– Visit with Santa to aid Toys for Tots
Parents and children are invited to visit with Santa and view the holiday lights and decorations at the Mahoney residence, 55 Valley Vale Drive, Old Bridge, 6-9 p.m. Dec. 12 and 13.
Interested parents should bring a camera to take their child’s photo with Santa. The event also will feature holiday lights, decorations, hot chocolate and baked goods.
A donation for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program is requested but not required. Toys should be new and unwrapped; a collection box will be on-site at the event.
– Festivities to celebrate Hanukah season
The Chabad Jewish Center of South Brunswick invites area residents to make their own Menorah at 2 p.m. Dec. 14 at Home Depot, 401 South Main St., Milltown.
There is no charge for the event.
There will also be a lighting of the 18-foot “Menorah of Freedom” held at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 16 in front of the Chabad, 1 Riva Ave., North Brunswick.
The Hanukah party will include hot latkes, doughnuts, dreidels, chocolate gelt, activities and live music by the Baker Brothers.
For more information, call 732-398-9492.
– Advent retreat set for Dec. 14-16
The St. Bartholomew Church Parish Mission is scheduled for Dec. 14, 15 and 16 at the church, 470 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick.
The Rev. Anthony J. Ciorra will lead the Advent retreat. Topic will be “Pope Francis’ Message of God’s Gifts: Mercy, Forgiveness and Healing.”
The sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered during the retreat.
For more information, call 732-257-7722 or log on to www.stbartseb.com.
– Scout spearheads Angel Tree drive
Independent Girl Scout and Spotswood High School student Mia Gahrmann, in conjunction with the Spotswood Public Library and the Salvation Army, will conduct the annual Angel Tree drive for local needy children Nov. 29-Dec. 15 at the library, 548 Main St.
Each angel tag on the tree is identified with a child’s name, age and clothing size. Visitors to the library may select an angel and purchase a gift for a youngster in need. All donations should be brought unwrapped to the library.
The Salvation Army registered 1585 children for holiday assistance this year. The number one request from parents has been the gift of a new coat; toys, games and books also are encouraged.
– S.R. church offering babkas for Christmas
Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Catholic Church, Whitehead Avenue, South River, is taking orders for Christmas babkas.
Cheese, chocolate, cinnamon crumb, prune, poppy, raspberry, apricot and raisin babkas cost $10.25 each. Raspberry/cheese, apricot/ cheese and chocolate/cheese varieties are available at a cost of $10.75 each.
To order, call Carol at 732-254-4979. Pickup is set for 3-5 p.m. Dec. 18 at the church hall.
Order deadline is Dec. 14.
– Teens will learn to code at library
“Hour of Code,” an event designed for teens who love programming, is set for 5-9 p.m. Dec. 12 at the East Brunswick Public Library, Jean Walling Civic Center. Participants will discover how to create apps and video games, learn about Arduino and more, all while learning to code.
Guest speakers will be Matt Monasch of Zynga and Katy Kasmai of Xocracry. The program also will feature refreshments, participant prizes and more.
To register, log on to Hour of Code. For more information, email Jessica Schneider at jschneider@ebpl.org.
– Breakfast With Santa scheduled at church
Sayreville United Methodist Church, 406 Main St., will hold its Breakfast With Santa 9-11 a.m. Dec. 13.
The menu will include pancakes, sausages, eggs, coffee, tea and juice. Tickets cost $5 for adults, $3 for children under age 12.
For more information, call Winsome at 732-432-9072.
– Preschoolers organize toy, clothing drive
Throughout December, students at The Learning Experience, 405 Route 18, East Brunswick, are being taught lessons on selflessness and giving as part of the philanthropy curriculum and program at the preschool level.
Preschoolers have organized a toy and clothing drive through Dec. 15 that will benefit people in need in the local area.
For more information, call 732-432-7605 or visit thelearningexperience.com.
– School of Rock will perform at fundraiser
Roxy & Duke’s Roadhouse, 745 Bound Brook Road, Dunellen, and School of Rock will host “Kids Helping Kids” 2-5 p.m. Dec. 14 as a fundraiser for Covenant House, a charity that helps homeless youth throughout the year.
A suggested donation of $10 will be collected at the door.
For more information, contact Noreen Dunn-Shanley at 732-406-0669.
– Job seekers to learn art of the interview
Dr. Colleen Georges will present a program titled “Acing the Interview” 6:30-8 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Sayreville Public Library, Washington Road.
The session will explore tips and techniques for interviewing and provide answers to some tricky interview questions.
To register or for more information, call Alaina at 732-727-0212, ext. 25; email alainad@lmxac.org; or log on to www.sayrevillelibrary.org.
– Elks to sponsor Breakfast with Santa
The East Brunswick Elks will hold its annual Breakfast With Santa 9:30-11 a.m. Dec. 14 at the lodge, 21 Oakmont Ave.
Cost is $10 per person for adults; children ages 10 and under will be admitted free of charge. Donations of canned goods would be appreciated for the lodge’s Feed the Hungry Campaign.
Reservations are required. To reserve, email banquetmanager@ebelks.com or call the lodge at 732-821-9527.
– Donations needed for soldiers, children, vets
American Legion Post No. 253, 50 Devoe Ave., Spotswood, is collecting items to be distributed for the holidays to deployed soldiers, the children of military families and the disabled veterans at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park, Edison. Donations may be dropped off at the legion post home 4:30-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, and 1-8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Dec. 13.
New, unwrapped toys are sought for youngsters. Items needed for soldiers and veterans include personal-hygiene products (travel size only) including wet wipes, deodorant, lip balm, sunscreen, body wash, shampoo, disposable razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste; snacks including granola bars, cookies, chocolate, jerky snacks, crackers, tuna/chicken pouches, instant soup, individually wrapped hard candy; and miscellaneous items including cards, letters, note paper, envelopes, pens, drawings from children or adults and iTunes or other gift cards.
For more information, call 732-991-9507.
– Meeting to feature watercolor workshop
Award-winning artist Robert Heyer will present a watercolor demonstration and mini-workshop at the next meeting of the Suburban Artist Guild of Central New Jersey (SAG) set for 2 p.m. Dec. 12 at the East Brunswick Library, Jean Walling Civic Center.
Participants should bring their watercolor supplies to the meeting. Heyer will share techniques including painting light and shadow, composing a successful painting and how to mix colors, as the group creates a winter snow scene.
For more information, call Allie Skislak at 732-257-0031.
– St. Thomas to host Christmas Carnival
St. Thomas the Apostle HSA will sponsor its Christmas Carnival 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 13 at the school, Route 18 south, Old Bridge.
The event will feature family activities including bounce houses, shopping, photos with Santa, face painting, boardwalk games and more.
For more information, call 732-761-0077.