The Friends of the Jamesburg Public Library, 229 Gatzmer Ave, will hold a gift wrapping evening from 5-8 p.m. on Dec. 19 at the library, 229 Gatzmer Ave., Jamesburg.
Call 732-521-0440 for more information.
Helmetta Mayor Chris Slavicek is collecting socks for the homeless through Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.
Donations will be accepted at the mayor’s office or at the clerk’s office in borough hall, 51 Main St., Helmetta.
The American Red Cross will hold blood drives from 2-7 p.m. on Dec. 26 at Sunrise of East Brunswick, 190 Summerhill Road, East Brunswick; and from 2-7 p.m. on Dec. 30 at VFW Post No. 133, 485 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.
For more information, visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit Twitter at @RedCross.
Aldersgate United Methodist Church will hold a children’s Christmas pageant, potluck dinner and stories with Santa at 5 p.m. on Dec. 22 at the church, 568 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick.
Families are asked to bring a meal to share.
Advent crafts, treats, hot cocoa and dinner will be provided.
All are welcome.
Free will offering will be accepted.
For more information, visit www.aldersgateumcnj.org or call 732-254-7361.
The St. James Knights of Columbus Council 6336 will hold its annual Free Throw Tournament from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 5 at the Monroe Township Recreation Center, 120 Monmouth Road, Monroe.
All boys and girls ages 9-14 (as of Jan. 1, 2020) as eligible to participate.
Winners for each gender and age group will advance to the district competition, with the chance to advance further to the regional and state levels. Winners will also receive a free dinner certificate for the 2020 St. James KofC Fish Fries.
For more information, call 732-521-3366.
East Brunswick Hadassah’s annual gift wrapping booth inside the Brunswick Square Mall, 755 Route 18, East Brunswick, gives local residents the opportunity to support groundbreaking medical research.
The gift-wrapping service will operate through Dec. 24. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays; and noon to 9 p.m. Sundays through Christmas Eve. The booth is located in the Macy’s court inside the mall.
Prices begin at $3, depending on the size and complexity of the gift.
Proceeds benefit research at the Hadassah Medical Organization in Israel in women’s health, gene therapy, bone marrow transplantation, stem cells, cancer immunotherapy and other areas.
For more information, email [email protected].
The Jamaica Organization of New Jersey (JON-J) will hold its annual Pre-New Year’s Ball from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Dec. 28 at The Imperia, 1714 Easton Ave., Somerset.
Proceeds benefit the organization’s scholarship fund for awards to local high school graduates who are going on to college and for a donation to Hampton School in Jamaica towards infrastructure improvements.
Tickets are $110. Cash bar.
For tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com.
T A Sprinkler, Inc. will hold its annual Winter Wonderlights Spectacular through Jan. 5 at the Middlesex County Fairgrounds, 655 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.
There will be Christmas lights, food, hot chocolate and photo opps with Santa.
The South River Police Department will hold its fourth annual Chili Cook-off & Tasting from noon to 2 p.m. on Jan. 25 at the South River VFW, 31 Reid St., South River.
Admission for tasting is $10, or $5 for ages 12 and under. Tasting tickets are limited and sales at the door are subject to availability. For advance tasting tickets, call Diane at 732-254-1150, ext. 102 or Adam at 732-754-6043.
Contestants must be at least 16 years old. Any type of chili is allowed, meat or vegetarian. Contestants must provide a means to keep chili warm. Chili must be cooked off premises and be ready for judging on site by noon. Contestants are asked to provide enough chili for approximately 100 samples of 1 ounce each.
Proceeds from the event help fund the South River Police Department’s community policing programs and community events.
Playhouse 22 announced its 2019-20 season lineup:
“A Christmas Carol” will be through Dec. 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 on select dates through Dec. 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.
Learn about finance and physical fitness for seniors at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 9 at the Monroe Township Public Library, 4 Municipal Plaza, Monroe.
This is the first in a monthly series of programs at the library. January is the New Year’s Resolution event. Greg Shannahan of Putnam Investments will discuss Medicare and healthcare. Jon Gallo, fitness author and owner of Results Boxing and Fitness in the Brunswick Square Mall in East Brunswick, will discuss physical fitness for seniors.
For more information, call 732-521-5000 or visit www.monroetwplibrary.org.
East Brunswick resident Khristi Adams is the author of “Parable of the Brown Girl.”
She is teaming up with Brown Kids Read to sponsor an essay contest for the release. The contest is open to girls from the New Jersey area. There will be winners in two age groups who will receive $250, a certificate of recognition and a signed copy of “Parable of the Brown Girl.” Honorable Mention honorees will be recognized with a certificate of recognition, a signed copy of “Parable of the Brown Girl” and a gift box.
Winners may also be invited to participate in a panel discussion at Barnes and Noble on Feb. 15.
For more information, visit brownkidsread.org/tellusyourstory/
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.
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.
Central Jersey SCORE, a non-profit resource partner of the Small Business Administration, is seeking volunteers to assist people looking to start a business or grow an existing small business.
The organization is recruiting retired or current business owners and executives who want to share their experience and knowledge with today’s up-and-coming entrepreneurs. The Central Jersey Chapter of SCORE serves Middlesex, Somerset and Hunterdon counties.
Central Jersey SCORE provides in-person mentoring at a wide variety of locations and also presents seminars at local venues. In addition, the SCORE website offers tools and templates on a wide variety of topics related to organizing and managing a business and numerous online courses and webinars to assist small business owners through every aspect of business development. Services are offered free of charge.
For more information, visit www.centraljersey.score.org.
The High School Equivalency Program is currently running and will conclude in May. Classes are held from 6-8:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at East Brunswick High School, 380 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. Classes prepare attendees for TASC; not a testing center.
The Citizenship Program is currently running and will conclude in May. Classes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays in Meeting Room 3 at the East Brunswick Library, 2 Jean Walling Civic Center Dr. Classes run either from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or from 12:30-3 p.m. dependent on class level.