– Ethnic food on menu at church Fall Festival
Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church will host its annual Fall Festival 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 17 in the church hall, 9 Jeffrie Ave., South River.
The event will feature homemade ethnic foods, sales of religious and ethnic items, church tours 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., a tricky tray, a balalaika orchestra and Russian folksingers.
Admission is free of charge.
– Fire company plans Oct. 10 open house
Cheesequake Volunteer Fire Company, Old Bridge, will hold its annual open house noon-4 p.m. Oct. 10, rain or shine, at Fire Station No. 1, 113 Highway 34, next to Cheesequake Elementary School.
The event will include live fire exhibits, motor vehicle extrication demonstrations, membership information, fire-prevention information, an equipment/apparatus show-and-tell, antique fire engines, refreshments and a barbecue.
For more information, log on to www.cheesequakefire.com or email info@cheesequakefire.com.
– Library offers talking children’s e-books
The Old Bridge Public Library recently acquired TumbleBooks Premium, a collection of online children’s animated, talking picture books with fiction, nonfiction and foreign-language titles (including French, Spanish, Chinese and Russian). The titles offer guided reading with highlighted text, sound effects and vocabulary assistance.
TumbleBooks Premium also presents math stories, read-alongs (chapter books with sentence highlighting and narration but no animation), graphic novels, videos from National Geographic, puzzles, games, and TumbleTV, which consists of pre-set play lists of a sequence of books. Each title has recommended reading levels by grade and lexile measure and has Accelerated Reader information.
The books may be accessed online in the library branches or remotely on any computer or device with Internet access. An Old Bridge Library card is needed. Patrons should log on to www.oldbridgelibrary.org and click on the TumbleBooks icon.
The Old Bridge Library Main Branch is located at 1 Old Bridge Plaza, Route 516 and Cottrell Road. The satellite Laurence Harbor branch is located at 277 Shoreland Circle; phone, 732-566-2227.
– Participants sought for juried art show
The Monroe Township Cultural Arts Commission will sponsor its annual Juried Art Show Oct. 19-28 at the Monroe Township Library, 4 Municipal Plaza.
Artists should present their work 3-7 p.m. Oct. 13 in the conference room at the library. Artwork not accepted must be picked up 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 16.
Show judge will be Bernie Oberoski, a sculptor and supervisor at the Seward Johnson Atelier, Hamilton. Artists of all ages are invited to participate. All work must be original and not done from kits.
To obtain an entry form, log on to www.monroetownshipculturalarts.com. For more information, call 609-395-0934; do not call the library for information.
– Date change for pet-shelter yard sale
The New Beginnings Animal Rescue Super Yard Sale, originally set for Oct. 4, has been rescheduled to 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 11 in the shelter parking lot, 706R Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.
A variety of merchandise will be offered. Proceeds will benefit the shelter’s medical and spay/neuter funds.
For more information, call Sharon at 732-257-3145 or New Beginnings at 732-238-1348.
– Fire Safety Day event scheduled for Oct. 10
Home Depot, 401 S. Main St., Milltown, will present its annual Fire Safety Day 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 10.
The event will include participation from local fire departments, a children’s workshop with craft projects, games, prizes and refreshments.
For more information, call 732-432-0500.
– Annual photo contest open to adults
The Freehold Soil Conservation District is sponsoring its annual photo contest of the beauty and uniqueness of the natural environment found within Middlesex and Monmouth counties.
Photos must be 8-by-10 inches or larger, be taken by adults age 18 and older and be accompanied by an entry form.
Photos can be submitted by mail or in person to Freehold SCD, 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold, NJ 07728, or by email to hreynolds@freeholdscd.org.
Photos will not be returned, but the photographer does retain all rights.
Contest prizes are $200 for first place, $100 for second place and $75 for third place. Entry deadline is Oct. 16.
– Community invited to outdoor rosary event
A Public Rosary Rally is set for 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 10 outdoors at Immaculate Conception Parish, 23 Manalapan Road, Spotswood. The event is sponsored by America Needs Fatima.
The rosary and other prayers for the United States will be said in front of the sign near the convent. Chairs will be provided. All are welcome to attend.
For more information, call Nora Steen at 732-723-9139.
– Oldies band to appear in concert at library
The Jersey Sound oldies band will perform a free concert 2:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Old Bridge Public Library Main Branch, Route 516 and Cottrell Road.
The group will perform a blend of doo-wop, classic oldies, Motown, rhythm and blues, British Invasion and pop selections.
The event, which is funded by the Old Bridge Cultural Arts Committee, is part of the library’s Second Saturday Concert Series. All are welcome.
For more information, log on to www.oldbridgelibrary.org or call 732-721-5600, ext. 5033.
– Spanish-conversation class on tap at temple
Congregation Beth Ohr will sponsor a 12-week course titled “Beginners Conservational Spanish” 11 a.m. on Wednesdays beginning Oct. 14 at the temple, 70 Route 516.
Terrie Polovsky will teach the weekly sessions. The course is free of charge for Beth Ohr members. Nonmembers are welcome; however, a $50 registration fee is required.
For more information or to register, call Terrie Polovsky at 732-566-5210.
– ‘This Olde House’ dinner party Oct. 21
Brunswick Women’s Connection of Stonecroft Ministries invites women to attend the “This Olde House” dinner party 7-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 21 at Pierre’s of South Brunswick, 532 Georges Road, Monmouth Junction. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Interior designer Heather McManus will discuss how to “Love Where You Live,” while inspirational speaker Georgia Basko will share her story of “Choices, Changes and Challenges: How Do We Cope?’
The cost is $24 for dinner and speakers. RSVP to Judy 732-254-8362 by Oct 14. Advance payment is required.
– ‘Flamenco/Tap’ to hit stage Oct. 16
The Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre will present its production of “A Flamenco/Tap Happening!” 8 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts, Ocean County Community College, College Drive, Toms River.
Tickets cost $29 for adults, $26 for seniors, $24 for subscribers. To reserve, call the box office at 732-255-0500.
For more information, log on to www.alboradadance.org or call 732-598-3979.