CHESTERFIELD CHATTER: Dec. 18

   The Chesterfield Township Planning Board meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Chesterfield Township Municipal Building at 300 Bordentown-Chesterfield Road is being relocated to the Chesterfield Township Elementary School cafeteria at 30 Saddle Way in Chesterfield.
   For more information, call 609-298-2311 or visit www.chesterfieldtwp.com.
   The Crosswicks Friends Meeting’s annual “Christmas Candlelight Service” will be held 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 21, at the Crosswicks Friends Meetinghouse on Front Street in Crosswicks.
   Join in with family and friends for a quiet moment before Christmas. Hear songs of praise with the Bible story of the birth of Christ as music of Christmas fills the candlelit Meetinghouse.
   All are welcome. Also, wrapped gifts for needy children and contributions are welcome.
   Since the service is in candlelight, bring a flashlight. For more information, call 609-298-4362.
   The Crosswicks Library will present a winter story and crafts hour from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, at the library.
   The event is geared toward preschoolers, but is open to families of all ages. Registration is not required.
   For more information, call the library at 609-298-6271.
   The Chesterfield Township Environmental Commission meeting will be held 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 23, at the Chesterfield Township Municipal Building.
   For more information, call 609-298-2311 or visit www.chesterfieldtwp.com.
   The Crosswicks United Methodist Church Christmas Eve candlelight service will be held 7 p.m., Dec. 24.
   For more information, call 609-298-3290 or visit www.crosswicksumc.wordpress.com.
   The Chesterfield Township municipal offices will be closed Thursday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Dec. 26, in observance of Christmas.
   For more information, call 609-298-2311 or visit www.chesterfieldtwp.com.
   The Chesterfield Township Daisy Troop 23468 is working to complete its “Three Cheers for Animals Journey.”
   The girls will be holding Amazing Enya’s Animal Shelter Wish List Drive to collect much-needed wish list items for the Burlington County Animal Shelter.
   During this journey, the first-grade girls have learned how to care for animals by visiting the Burlington County Animal Shelter. They had a visit from Enya, an U.S. Customs & Border Protection Agriculture Products Detection dog rescued from a Georgia shelter before joining the force. They also learned to make their own dog toys from scrap fabric.
   The girls have placed collection bins in the Chesterfield Township Elementary atrium, Dickinson McNeill Veterinary Clinic and Golden Grange kennel. Deadline for collection is Saturday, Jan. 3.
   Wish list items can be found at www.friendsofbcas.org/ways-help/wishlist.
   Contact Melissa Hoffmann at [email protected] with any questions.
   The Crosswicks Book Club will meet 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the Crosswicks Library.
   This month, the club will discuss “The Red Tent” by Anita Diamant.
   The Crosswicks Book Club meets every month at 7:30 p.m. the last Tuesday of the month. New members are welcome.
   For more information, call Denise Koetas-Dale at 609-802-6039.
   The Crosswicks Community Association recently completed November renovations, including meeting room improvements, new stairs and a new floor covering, replacing carpet and tile.
   An upgraded fire safety system, including a new automatic fire alarm system and a new flame resistant stage curtain, have been installed. There also were accommodations for the disabled, including a two-story, three-stop lift providing accessibility to both main levels of the building and construction of a new accessible restroom with an alcove entrance.
   Planning and construction were funded by The Crosswicks Foundation; the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust through the New Jersey Historic Trust; the 1772 Foundation through the New Jersey Historic Trust; Community Development Block Grant Program made available by Chesterfield Township and the Burlington County Department of Community Development; The Paul E. Kelly Foundation; Plummer Construction; Mid-Jersey Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America; Families of the Country Roads Dance Academy; and other friends and neighbors through their participation and support of fundraising events and the Crosswicks Community Association.
   For more information, visit the Community Association website at www.crosswickscommunityhouse.org.
   Be sure to mark the calendar for the Union Fire Company annual Santa Run, which will be held Sunday, Dec. 21.
   Listen for the firetruck siren announcing the arrival of Santa in the neighborhood.
   For more information, visit www.crosswicksfire.org.
   The Chesterfield Township Elementary School Board of Education is rescheduling its reorganization meeting from Friday, Jan. 2, to Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Media Center at the Chesterfield Township Elementary School, 30 Saddle Way, Chesterfield.
   Formal action may be taken, and other items may be considered that may come before the board. This meeting may go into executive session, if needed.
   For more information, call 298-0307 or visit the school website, www.chesterfieldschool.com.
   The Crosswicks Library now has available canvas tote bags for sale.
   The tote bags have a sketch of the library on the front. Stop by the library to pick one up for $10.
   For more information, call 609-298-6271.
   The Chesterfield Township Police Department is asking for volunteers for the Domestic Violence Response Team.
   Volunteers receive free training (40 hours). Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, a resident of or employed in the Burlington County area and have a valid New Jersey driver’s license and access to transportation.
   For more information or to receive an application, call Sgt. Stefani at 609-291-0912.
   The Crosswicks Monthly Meeting has joined the reuse movement with Shoebox Recycling and SoleMate.
   It pays 50 cents per pound for good, reusable and re-wearable shoes that are collected. This collection will help the meeting earn a little money while clearing out closets and sharing with those in need. There are collection boxes in the Meetinghouse and First Day School on Front Street in Crosswicks.
   For more information, call 609-298-5616.
   The Crosswicks Library would like to announce new library hours: Monday and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
   The library is closed Friday.
   For more information, call 609-298-6271 or visit www.bcls.lib.nj.us/crosswicks.
   The Crosswicks Library invites all area residents and visitors to use the new Little Free Library book swap, which has been installed in front of the library.
   The book swap was designed, built and installed as an Eagle Scout project by Justin Albano of Troop 112. Find books that are free for the taking; leave a book for others to enjoy.
   For more information, call 609-298-6271 or visit littlefreelibrary.org.
   To contact Chesterfield Chatter guest columnist Nancy Mrzljak, send an email to [email protected], a fax to 609-298-3936, or call her at 609-298-0567. For more chatter, visit www.registernews.com.