Lance’s office will host Veterans Administration
Tues., April 12 — Congressman Leonard Lance’s office at 425 North Ave. East, Westfield, will host office hours for the Veterans Administration, bringing agents specializing in assisting veterans directly to constituents.
Veterans, their families and advocates are encouraged to schedule a time between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to meet with caseworker managers and V.A. officials to tackle inquires regarding benefits, compensation, pension, insurance, loan guaranty, vocational rehabilitation and employment and education benefits.
Appointments are suggested. For information, call the office at 908-518-7733.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church holds Slavic ethnic dinner
Wed., April 13 — St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church holds its monthly dinner, 4 to 7 p.m., in the St. Mary Parish Center, 1900 Brooks Blvd. $14 for adults (ages 9 and up) and $5 for children (8 and younger). All-you-can-eat pirohi, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa and sauerkraut, mashed potatoes.
Dinners are on the second Wednesday of the month. Each time a special dish will be prepared by St. Mary’s chef John Pagano. Orders to go available. For information, call 908-725-0615.
Grand Staff Ensemble plays its spring concert
Thurs., April 14 — The Hillsborough Grand Staff Ensemble will have its spring concert at 7 p.m. at Auten Road Intermediate School, 281 Auten Road. Suggested donations at the door are $5 for adults, $2 for students/seniors or $10 for a family.
The ensemble is made up of staff and friends of the Hillsborough School District. The concert will feature favorites under the direction of Mark Angelone and Gary Smith.
Proceeds are awarded to a high school senior planning to pursue a degree in music. Donations are always accepted. Contact Patti Robbins at [email protected] for information.
Girl Scouts to show what they are all about
Fri., April 15 — Learn what Girl Scouts is about and what it means to be a troop volunteer at a “Spring into Girl Scouts” event from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hillsborough Municipal Building, 379 South Branch Road.
Girls will participate in some traditional Girl Scout activities. Crafts, games, songs and snacks will be served at the event, which is open to kindergarten through 6th grade girls and their parents/guardians. There will be an orientation and Q&A chance for parents.
Register before Monday, April 11, at www.bit.ly/newgirlscout. For information, contact Lisa at 908-904-1521 or [email protected].
Party launches episode of the ‘Creature Show’
Fri., April 15 — A party to launch Creature Show episode (full of timber rattlesnakes, corn snakes and northern pine snakes) will be held on the second floor of the Duke Farms Orientation Center, 1112 Dukes Parkway West, from 7-9 p.m. Learn about threatened and endangered snakes, ecological threats facing the Pine Barrens. Biologist Emile DeVito of the N.J. Conservation Foundation will talk about the value of protecting biodiversity. Classic country music from the Barncats. Buy tickets at $20 at http://bit.ly/1pdb.
Band parents collect used clothing, bedding
Sat., April 16 — Hillsborough Band Parents Association, which supports the high school band and color guard programs, will collect used clothing and other items from 10 a.m. to noon at the front entrance to the high school, 466 Raider Blvd. Usable and wearable clothing for all ages and seasons will be accepted in well-tied plastic bags. Bag shoes separately.
Also accepted will be pocketbooks, belts, hats, gloves, ties, backpacks, briefcases, baby utensils, blankets and bedding, and hard and soft toys.
Assemble scrapbooks and boost band programs
Sat., April 16 — The third annual Hillsborough Band Parents Association Scrapbooking “Band Crop” will be held from Band Croppers scrap from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the Hillsborough High School Commons.
Vendors, food, musical performances by students in the high school band and plenty of scrapbooking. Breakfast, lunch and dinner meals will be served along with all-day snacks and drinks, and plenty of desserts.
Registration forms are available for download on the website www.hhs-band.org or contact Janet Khashab at [email protected]. Cost is $50 per registration.
South Branch church to cook roast beef dinner
Sat., April 23 — A roast beef dinner will be held at the South Branch Reformed Church, 870 River Road, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Prices: Adults $15, $6 for children 6-10, and children 5 and under eat free. For reservations (not required, but recommended), call 908-369-4956. Takeouts will be available.
Rutgers Gardens director to speak to Neshanic club
Thurs., April 28 — Bruce Crawford, director of Rutgers Gardens, will speak on “New and Unusual Annuals of Summer” to the Neshanic Garden Club at its spring luncheon and basket auction at noon at Neshanic Valley Golf Club, 2301 South Branch Road. Tickets are available until April 7 for a $35 donation by calling Barbara Zielsdorff, 908-359-1750.
For information about club meetings, contact club president Marion Nation at 908-359-6317. For information, visit neshanicgardenclub.org.
Rock-roll band to play outside at Manville library
Sat., April 30 — Manville Library at 100 South 10th Ave., hosts an outside concert, 5:30-7 p.m., by the cover band The McGuineas, which plays jazz, swing and rock and roll from artists like Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley and Billy Joel, with the occasional Bruce Springsteen and Van Morrison. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. If the weather is inclement, the concert will be held inside the library. For information, call 908-722-9722 or visit SCLSNJ.org.
Business group to host township networking night
Wed., June 1 — The Hillsborough Economic & Business Development Commission will host a networking event in the Farmhouse Banquet Room of “The Landing” on Amwell Road from 6 to 8 p.m.
The cost is $10. There will be food and soft drinks provided and a cash bar will be available.
On-line registration is required, click here for registration. No payments will be accepted at the door. Tickets are non-refundable.
Businesses interested in donating door prizes are asked to contact Business Advocate David Kois at [email protected].
Continuing events
Community theater — Somerset Valley Players will present the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic musical, “Oklahoma” on weekends from April 8 to May 1.
Tickets are $22 for adults and $20 for senior citizens and students. For information, call 908-369-7469.
VFW meetings: Monthly meetings of Hillsborough VFW Post 8371 are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the county nutrition center, 339 South Branch Road. The post’s mission is to honor and help other veterans. All veterans with foreign service are welcome. For information about activities, contact Ron Miller at 908-369-5195.
Coping with addiction — Parents of Addicted Children helps parents understand and cope with drug problems they are facing, and will face, with their children. Meets first and third Monday of the month, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Neshanic Reformed Church, 715 Amwell Road.
Alzheimer’s support group — The Alzheimer’s Association has a support group in Hillsborough. Family members and caregivers come together to share information and support in a safe, confidential atmosphere. Meetings are the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Brookdale Hillsborough, 600 Auten Road. Call 908-431-1300 if attending.
Mothers of Preschoolers — MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meets from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays at the Fellowship Bible Church building, 109 New Amwell Road. The group says it meets to “laugh, cry and embrace the journey of motherhood.” Sponsored by Crossroads Community Church. it hears speakers, has a craft or project and lots of conversation and refreshment. Child care is provided. For information, see www.crossroadsnj.org/MOPS. Registration fee is required.
Divorce support group — A nondenominational support group to help separated and divorced people to a new beginning. The group meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, Route 206 at Homestead Road. Call 908-295-6740.
Send notices of community events to [email protected].