Sat. Dec. 17 and Sun. Dec. 18 – From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the big man in red will be visiting the Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 to take pictures with local children.
For more details, visit www.hillsboroughfireco2.com.
‘BOBO’ Food Drive
Fri. Dec. 16 — The next “Buy One, Bring One” collection of food for Somerset County families and individuals in need will be held Friday, Dec. 16.
The program has collected more than 30 tons of donations in the past six years.
To make a donation of canned or boxed items, look for the blue BOBO Fridays bins at these county locations: Somerset County Administration Building, 20 Grove St., Somerville; Park Commission Headquarters, 355 Milltown Road, Bridgewater; and Lord Stirling Stable, 256 S. Maple Ave., Basking Ridge.
Local libraries hosting the bins include the Bound Brook Memorial Library, Bridgewater Library, Manville Library, Mary Jacobs Memorial Library (Rocky Hill), North Plainfield Library, Peapack-Gladstone Library, Somerville Public Library, Warren Township Library and Watchung Library.
Towns that have BOBO Fridays bins in their municipal buildings are Bedminster, Bound Brook, Franklin, Green Brook, North Plainfield and Raritan.
Although the “BOBO Fridays” collection date is the third Friday of every month, the bins are always available, so donations may be dropped off at any time during regular business hours at all locations.
For examples of healthy foods to donate, visit http://bit.ly/DonateHealthy
NJ Youth Ballet’s Nutcracker
Sat. Dec. 17 – The New Jersey Youth Ballet’s Nutcracker is THE Nutcracker to see if you have children. This Nutcracker is fully narrated and abridged so children and adults of all ages can enjoy.
The ballet is danced entirely by children and teens. Dolls and sweets come to life, mice and toy soldiers do battle and snowflakes dance in a beautiful snow covered forest. Come and enjoy this beautiful story, the precision and grace of these beautiful young dancers.
For more information call The New Jersey Youth Ballet at (908) 874-8800 or visit www.NewJerseyYouthBallet.org.
You can see the Nutcracker at: Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College, Children and Seniors $14, Adults $16. Saturday Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday Dec. 18 at 1 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Pancake breakfast with Santa Claus
Sat. Dec. 17 — The 12U Hillsborough Heat Baseball Team is hosting a special holiday themed pancake breakfast to support their coming season.
From 8-10 a.m. on Dec. 17, the team will host Santa Claus at the Applebee’s located at 315 Route 206. Though proceeds will go to support the team, they will also be collecting new toys for Toys for Tots.
Tickets cost $9 and attendees must arrive by 9:30 a.m. to be served.
Contact hillsboroughheatbaseball@gmail with any questions.
Chanukah Shop Sale
Temple Beth-El at 67 Route 206 South in Hillsborough is holding a Chanukah gift shop sale Sunday Dec. 18 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and on Monday Dec. 19 and Wednesday Dec. 21 from 4:40 to 7 p.m.
A very large assortment of beautiful Chanukah and other Judaica items are available.
For more information contact the Temple office at 908-722-0674.
First Roots Music and Movement
Mon. Jan. 9 – This class enhances a child’s natural love of music. Open to kids aged six months to five years old, the weekly Monday class lets children develop their roots in a stimulating, music-rich environment.
Singing, dancing, instrument play, prop play, stories, rhymes and rhythms help children grow and learn. Caregivers are required to stay onsite with their child.
Classes will take place at the Hillsborough Municipal Building side multi-purpose room from 9-9:45 a.m. The dates are as follows: Jan. 9, 23, 30; Feb. 6, 13, 27. Registration fee: $55.
Smartphone photography classes
Thurs. Jan. 12 – Students between the ages of 9 and 13, as well as adults, will explore the art of photography using their smartphone cameras in the Municipal Building’s Rear Multipurpose Room. Each week, we will discuss and review famous photos, learn about lighting, camera operation and controls, and apply the skills during our weekly photo shoots.
Participants must bring a smartphone (it does not have to have cellular service, just a working camera). On the final class, students can invite their friends family to our Photo Gallery event.
Classes will take place on Thursdays from 7:15-8:15 p.m. Dates include: Jan. 12, 19, 26; Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23; and March 2. A $125 fee is required.
Princeton ballet holding auditions
Sat. Jan. 21 – Princeton Ballet School, the official school of American Repertory Ballet, announces its nationwide audition tour schedule for its highly celebrated Summer Intensive program held in Princeton, N.J., from June 26-July 28, 2017.
First held in 1982, Princeton Ballet School’s Summer Intensive is one of the oldest in the United States. The Summer Intensive program is one of serious study in a warm and companionable atmosphere. The faculty provides caring and careful instruction conducive to technical and artistic progress. In seeking to maintain a feeling of community, Princeton Ballet School purposely limits the number of students in class.
Auditions will be held at the Princeton Ballet School on Saturday, Jan. 21, with students 16 years of age and older registering at 12:15 p.m. for their auditions from 12:45-2:15 p.m. Students from 13-15 years old will register for auditions at 2:30 p.m. with their chance at making the cut running from 3-5 p.m.
There is an audition fee of $30 (with a pre-registration possible at $25). For those unable to make the in-person audition, a video audition is possible. For complete information on that process please visit: http://www.americanrepertoryballet.org/PBS/Summer-Intensive-2016-Audition-Information
Indoor farmers market
Sat. Jan. 21 — The Indoor Winter Farmers Market of Hillsborough believes in the importance of supporting our local food sources and businesses year round.
We desire to make local, sustainably grown food available to all in our community. We seek to develop a market consisting of local farms and artisans that not only provide quality goods to our general population but also enables families enrolled in the food bank program to be better served and nutritionally educated.
The market aims to: provide community outreach through education, engage our community with their local food system, give farmers and local artisans a winter outlet for their products and provide assistance to the Hillsborough food pantry.
The market will be held inside of the Peter J. Biondi Building, located at 379 South Branch Road on Saturday, Jan. 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Other dates include Feb. 18, March 18 and April 15.
The market is in partnership with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of NJ headquartered on River Rd in Hillsborough as well as the Hillsborough Township Agricultural Advisory Committee.
More details can be found on the Facebook page or online at www.KennetteProductions.com.
Run Around The Park
Sun. Apr. 23 – Come enjoy Hillsborough’s newest fun run at the Ann Van Middlesworth Park. The fourth annual Run Around the Park is a non-competitive, recreational, three-mile fun run/walk. Walkers are welcome.
This race is open to all ages, with check-in time starting at 8 a.m. and the race kicking off at 9 a.m. Sign up as an individual, or get a group of friends together and come as a team.
After the run, join us for breakfast and music. Pre-registration is required: Adults – $25, children under 12 – $20.
Continuing events
Outstanding Women Awards nominations: Do you know a Somerset County woman who has made extraordinary contributions to her career field or her community? The Somerset County Commission on the Status of Women is seeking nominations for its 2017 Outstanding Women in Somerset County awards program.
Nominees must be women who live in Somerset County. The commission’s selection committee will review all nominations.
Print a nomination form and guidelines from http://bit.ly/2017WomenAwards or call Commission Chair Janice Fields at 908-599-1637 if you do not have internet access.
Nominations must be received by Dec. 31. Email submissions are preferred. Send an electronic copy of the completed and signed nomination form, along with any supporting documentation, to [email protected]. Entries also may be mailed to the Somerset County Commission on the Status of Women, Attn: Janice M. Fields, Chair, 36 Darren Drive, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920.
Photos for 2017 calendar: Hillsborough Township is seeking to collect scenic photographs for their inclusion in the 2017 Town Planner Calendar.
Anyone interested in submitting photos should email their high resolution images to the township clerk at [email protected]. A photo release will need to accompany the photos. There is no guarantee that the photo will be used.
Advertising opportunities are also available in the calendar. Contact Jim O’Dowd at 973-650-2736 or [email protected].
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 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.
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.
Catholic divorcee program: The Mary, Mother of God Church, on Triangle Road, are offering a ministry for divorced men and women in the area.
Hosted by Deacon Jake and Mary McCormick, the 12-session program will feature 30-minute films each week based on the teachings of the Catholic church. The program is open to anyone.
Meetings will be held Monday evenings on the following dates: 12/12, 1/9, 1/23, 2/13, 2/27 and 3/13. There is a $15 entry fee.
For more details, contact Deacon Jake and Mary McCormick at 908-947-8665 or [email protected].
Swim lessons at HRC: The Swim Academy at HRC, located at 30 Brower Lane, Hillsborough, is offering swim lessons for all ages and levels. Call HRC Fitness at 908-359-3600 to register or visit www.hrcfitness.com for class schedules.
Send items to [email protected] or fax to 609-924-3842. For details, call 609-874-2163.
HILLSBOROUGH: Community calendar for the issue of Dec. 16
Santa visits Hillsborough fire company