The East Brunswick Friends of the Library are holding the Chocolate Friend-zy, an afternoon of confections discussion and samplings, at 2 p.m. on Nov. 17 at the East Brunswick Library, 2 Jean Walling Civic Center, East Brunswick.
This special event features John Cunnell, of Birnn Chocolates. His wife, Andrea, is the great-granddaughter of Charles Henry Birnn, who started Birnn Chocolates in 1932. Located at the corner of Cleveland and Madison avenues in Highland Park, Birnn Chocolates has been making traditional chocolate treats for more than 87 years.
Cunnell is giving a presentation about the company’s history and offering samples of their products. After the discussion, he will answer questions about chocolate, candy and desserts.
Guests will be able to enjoy a reception of over 25 homemade desserts to sample provided by the Friends of the Library.
Birnn Chocolates will also have confectionery treats available for purchase.
Admission is $10, and all proceeds benefit the East Brunswick Public Library.
Tickets are available at the library’s circulation desk, at www.ebpl.org/friends or at the event.
The Friends of the Jamesburg Public Library are holding a bus trip to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 7.
Observe decorations in the atrium, explore the grounds, see the fountains (weather-permitting), have dinner and experience the holiday lights after dark.
The bus will leave at noon from the library, 229 Gatzmer Ave., and will return by approximately 9 p.m.
The cost is $70 per person and includes admission to the gardens, transportation, driver gratuity and a $10 meal card good at either the cafeteria or the on site restaurant 1906; reservations required for the restaurant using Open Table.
Tickets can be reserved by calling 732-521-0440 or stopping by the library. Payment is due when making the reservation.
Deadline for reservations is Nov. 23.
Choir will also sing ‘O How Amiable’ by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
reception.Then, a spaghetti dinner and light opera will be held at 6 p.m. on Nov. 22.
See Shea Velloso or call the church office at 732-828-0610 for tickets.
The South River Historical & Preservation Society will hold its annual meeting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 20 at the South River Museum (Old School Baptist Church), 64-66 Main St., South River.
The November meeting program titled “The HMT Rohna Attack – It’s time to tell the truth” will be presented by filmmaker and South River resident Jack Ballo. He will talk about his upcoming documentary “Rohna: Classified” and the connection it has to a South River World War II soldier. Sgt. Joseph Pisinski was killed in the first radio-guided missile attack ever launched against the United States. The high tech missile sank the HMT Rohna, killing 1,015 U.S. soldiers and became the largest loss of life at sea by enemy action in the history of U.S. war. The War Department classified the Rohna attack indefinitely ordering all survivors to remain silent in a cover-up scandal that left the Pisinski family, along with one thousand other Gold Star families, in the dark.
The program is free to the public and light refreshments will be served.
The Monroe Township Public Library is collecting completed fidget quilts and twiddle muffs to donate to Parker Adult Day Center in Monroe through Dec. 16.
Library officials are looking to exceed their goal of at least 20 quilts/muffs to donate to residents in Monroe.
For more about the project, visit www.monroetwplibrary.org/news/fidget-quilts-to-donate/.
The Monroe Township Police Department will hold its sixth annual toy drive to benefit the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.
Drop off an unwrapped toy or non-monetary donation for children of all ages at the Monroe Township Police Department, 3 Municipal Plaza, through Dec. 8.
Due to infection control and allergy issues, the hospital can only accept new toys and cannot accept stuffed animals.
Specific toys requested by the hospital can be found at amzn.com/w/2FHTSA5I133KI
Ingrid Reed, Princeton educator and community service leader, will speak at the Monroe Township League of Women Voters General Meeting at 1 p.m. on Nov. 18 in the municipal courtroom, 1 Municipal Plaza, Monroe. She will discuss the implications and impact of New Jersey’s state election results.
For more information, visit lwvmonroetwpnj.org
The East Brunswick Woman’s Club will partner with the New Jersey State Federation of Woman’s Clubs on their 125th anniversary with a Day of Service from 9-10:30 a.m. on Nov. 16.
Area clubs will meet at federated headquarters, 55 Labor Center Way, New Brunswick, on Rutgers’ Douglass campus to collect new items for Embrella, which will distribute the items to college students who have aged out of the foster care system.
Needed items include bedding sets (twin XL), blankets, hygiene items, antibacterial gel, soaps, body wash, sunscreen, hair products, toothpaste, brushes, deodorant, socks and t-shirts.
For more information, call Linda at 732-522-1314.
The evening starts with a reception of light refreshments before Dr. Leming’s presentation at 7 p.m.
The non-member price to attend the event is $15. Reservations are necessary by calling Allison at 732-656-8904.
New Beginnings Animal Rescue of East Brunswick will hold a Fall Harvest Shenanigans event on from 6-10 p.m. on Nov. 16 at Sayreville VFW Post 4699, 575 Jernee Mill Road, Sayreville.
There will be a buffet dinner, dessert, DJ Mike the Apeman, trivia, games, tricky tray and a 50/50 raffle.
Must be 21 or older to attend.
Tickets are available at ww.nbarnj.org
For more information, contact Kim at [email protected].
St. Mary’s Altar Rosary Society will hold its Thanksgiving babka sale through Nov. 17.
The cost is $11.50 for cheese, cinnamon crumb, prune, raisin, poppy seed or chocolate. The cost is $13 for apricot and cheese or raspberry and cheese.
Orders, with payment, may be left during normal business hours at the parish office; enclosed in an envelope and dropped in the collection basket at church during all Masses; or mailed with checks made payable to St. Mary’s Altar Rosary Society, 30 Jackson St., South River.
Babkas will be available for pickup only from 3-6 p.m. on Nov. 21 in the Parish Center.
For more information, call Christine at 908-391-3355.
The Sons of American Legion Post 25 will hold an All You Can Eat Breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon on Nov. 17 at the post, 4 JFK Blvd., Milltown.
The menu features pancakes, French toast, pierogies and an omelet bar.
Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children under 10, and free for children under 5.
For more information, call 732-828-7125.
The East Brunswick Public Library and the East Brunswick Arts Commission will offer a multicultural dance workshop series at the East Brunswick Community Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Road.
The series ends on Nov. 17 with an Israeli dance workshop. Led by Vera Galleid, the program shares circle, line and partner dances set to Israeli music, for ages eight and up.
All three dance workshops start at 12:30 p.m. These programs are free and open to the public.
For more information, visit www.ebpl.org.
A New Jersey Sales Tax Seminar and Online Businesses and New Jersey Tax Seminar will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Nov. 15 at the Monroe Township Library, 4 Municipal Plaza, Monroe.
The combined course will teach you about the taxability of products and services, New Jersey exemption certificates, collecting New Jersey sales tax, sales inside and outside of New Jersey, shipping products, and filing sales and use tax returns.
Register at the Welcome Desk.
For more information, call 732-521-5000 or visit www.monroetwplibrary.org
“Veterans’ Voices” is a new documentary film (2019, 84 minutes) made by Central New Jersey 16-year-old Theodore Blume. The film captures stories of service spoken by nearly two dozen Monroe residents serving during World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
“Veterans’ Voices” premieres at 1 p.m. on Nov. 17 at the Monroe Township Public Library, 4 Municipal Plaza, Monroe.
Preview the film at m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=9cNhLjN4_Mk
The Monroe Township Cultural Arts Commission, in collaboration with the Monroe Township Public Library, will present Boheme Opera, with a lecture by Jerry Kalstein, at 1 p.m. on Dec. 11 at the Monroe Township Public Library, 4 Municipal Plaza, Monroe.
“From Opera to Broadway” focuses on the origins and development that occurred over the centuries that begin with classic opera, change into Victorian era operetta and then become classic and modern Broadway. Focus will be given to both the style and form that begins with operatic arias and becomes modern songs. Composers will include Mozart, Puccini, Lehar, Strauss, Kern and Gershwin.
Admission is free.
Travel through creepy-crawly musicals from the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” to “The Addams Family” at 11 a.m. on Nov. 22 at the Monroe Township Library, 4 Municipal Plaza, Monroe.
Register at the Welcome Desk.
For more information, call 732-521-5000 or visit www.monroetwplibrary.org.
The Altar Rosary Society of Immaculate Conception will hold a fall festival and craft fair, formerly known as Granny’s Cellar, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 30 at the church, Manalapan Road, Spotswood.
There will be photos with Santa.
The kitchen will be open for breakfast and lunch.
Free admission and parking.
Learn more about colorectal cancer during a presentation at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 3 at the Monroe Township Library, 4 Municipal Plaza, Monroe.
Kathleen Iannuzzo of Saint Peter’s University Hospital Community Health Services will make the presentation. Registration is not required.
For more information, call 732-521-5000 or email www.monroetwplibrary.org.
The East Brunswick Library and the East Brunswick Human Relations Council will present a screening of the PBS documentary “American Creed” at 7 p.m. on Dec. 4 at the library, Civic Center Drive off Ryders Lane, East Brunswick.
The screening will be followed by a community conversation facilitated by Sylvia Chan-Malik, Ph.D., of Rutgers University.
A complete schedule of upcoming programs at the library can be found at www.ebpl.org/calendar.
For the fourth consecutive year, residents can anticipate South River police officers and staff members sporting mustaches and beards to raise money and awareness for cancer.
Coming on the heels of the department’s breast cancer awareness initiatives during October, No-Shave November is about embracing hair, which many patients lose during cancer treatment. Money typically spent on razors and shaving during the month is instead donated to charity for cancer research and to aid those fighting cancer battles.
Each participating officer has personally made a monetary donation to the cause.
Donations can be made directly to No-Shave.org under the South River Police Department team. The goal of the department is to raise $2,500. Visit www.no-shave.org/team/srpd
Playhouse 22 announced its 2019-20 season lineup:
“Bye Bye Birdie” through Nov. 25.
“A Christmas Carol” will be Dec. 13-22.
“The Mystery of Edwin Drood” will be Feb. 7-23.
“Harvey” will be March 20 to April 5.
“Camelot” will be June 12-28.
All performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays.
Tickets for the main stage are $22 for adults or $20 for seniors and students.
A season subscription of three shows is $63 per person, or $57 for seniors and students. A select package of four shows is $80 per person or $72 for seniors and students. An elite package of five shows is $95 per person, or $85 for seniors and students.
Special times will be announced for “A Christmas Carol.” All tickets to “A Christmas Carol” and other special events and concerts are $15.
Playhouse 22 is located at the Community Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.
For tickets, visit www.playhouse22.org.
One Steep at a Thyme will hold its seventh annual Dickens’ Christmas Tea from Dec. 6-22 at the tea room, 170 Gatzmer Ave., Jamesburg.
Evening, twilight or brunch tea service with a one-hour reading of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens by professional actors.
Evening and twilight teas include seven courses at $75 per person, all-inclusive. Brunch teas are five courses at $60 per person.
For the complete schedule and to make reservations, visit www.onesteepatathyme.com. For more information, visit www.travelingliteracytheater.com.
Spotswood Reformed Church is seeking crafters for a craft fair planned for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the church, 429 Main St., Spotswood.
Handmade crafts only. Tables are $25 each.
Call 732-251-9277 for reservations or more information.
The United States Census Bureau is seeking applicants for jobs for the 2020 Census.
For information on how to apply, visit 2020census.gov/jobs or call 1-855-JOB-2020.
T A Sprinkler, Inc. will hold its annual Winter Wonderlights Spectacular from Nov. 30 to Jan. 5, 2020, at the Middlesex County Fairgrounds, 655 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.
There will be Christmas lights, food, hot chocolate and photo opps with Santa.
The 10th annual Hugs for Brady Foundation Winter Gala will be themed “Oh What a Night!,” featuring entertainment from the stars of Broadway’s “Jersey Boys,” on Jan. 25 at The Palace at Somerset Park
The gala honors individuals who have made significant contributions to help those affected by childhood cancer. This year’s honorees are The 2020 Gala Committee as the Ellen Gambatese Pediatric Cancer Volunteer of the Year; Roy G. Svenson as the Brady Buggy Wagon Volunteer of the Year; Steven K. Libutti, director of the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, as the Dr. Randy Siegel Pediatric Cancer Medical Humanitarian of the Year; and Kevin Cummings, chairman and CEO of Investors Bank, as the Hugs for Brady Foundation Pediatric Cancer Humanitarian of the Year.
For more information, tickets, sponsorship information, to donate or to take part in the silent auction, visit www.hugsforbrady.org.