The third annual Fly Fishing Show kicks off the 2020 angling season Jan. 24-26 at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Ave., Edison.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 24; 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 25; and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 26. Parking is free.
There will be manufacturer and retail store displays of fly rods, reels, lines, boots, waders, clothing and flies, plus guide services and lodges.
Show visitors can view continuous seminars and trip presentations; the show will have about 15 seminars, demonstrations and Destination Theater presentations each hour.
Among the 50 how-to-do-it seminars are An Introduction to Trout Spey by Tim Flagler, Mastering the Short Game with Landon Mayer, Mountain Trout with Joe Humphreys, Really Matching the Hatch with Gary Borger, Streamer Tactics 2.0 with George Daniel, and Introduction to Saltwater Fly Fishing with Jeff Currier.
Casting demonstrations include those by Humphreys, Borger, Cathy Beck, Currier, Mac Brown, Simon Gawesworth and Landon Mayer.
Featured fly tiers include Henry Cowen, Philip Rowley, Pat Dorsey, Tim Cammisa, Ed Engle, Flagler and Borger.
A continuous Women’s Fly Fishing Showcase will feature women-centered discussions, learning opportunities and discussions along with separate exhibitor venues with specialty booths catering to female anglers.
There will be 35 classes with experts. Class registration is $85 except for an 8-hour advanced casting class with Borger and Brown on Jan. 23. Tuition is $625.
Scouts in uniform can earn credits toward a fly fishing merit badge.
The regional premiere of the 2020 International Fly Fishing Film Festival is Jan. 24 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.
Fly Fishing Show admission is $18 for one day, $28 for two days and $38 for three days. Children under age 5 are free as are Boy and Girl Scouts under age 16 in uniform. Children 6-12 are $5. Active military with an ID are $10.
For a complete list of fly-fishing films, classes with experts, seminars, door prizes, demonstrations and the Scout Merit Badge program, visit flyfishingshow.com/edison-nj/ or call 814-443-3638.
Learn about CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) of Middlesex County and the role of the volunteer advocate during free information sessions from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Jan. 15, 6-7 p.m. on Jan. 22 and 10-11 a.m. on Jan. 25 at The Coffee House, 931 Amboy Ave., Edison.
RSVP to Nora Siklosi Szabo at [email protected]
For more information, visit www.casaofmiddlesexcounty.org/events.
The Edison Arts Society will showcase the oil paintings of artist Priya Shah during January at the Edison Arts Society Gallery, located on the third floor of the Municipal Building, 100 Municipal Blvd., Edison.
The gallery is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the business week.
To schedule an appointment, visit tinyurl.com/GiveBloodNJBS and use sponsor code 09116. Walk ins welcome.
All donors will also receive a $10 Houlihan’s coupon.
Eat and drink beforehand. Bring a photo ID.
January is National Blood Donor Month.
For more information, call 1-800-933-BLOOD.
Saxophonist and flutist Lew Tabackin will perform with his trio on Jan. 26 at the Greek on Main, 419 Main St., Metuchen, at the corner of New Street.
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for ticketed Jazz and Brunch event. The $50 all-inclusive includes music and choice of entrée. For tickets call 732-515-9457 or stop by the restaurant for a ticket.
The Greek on Main and The Metuchen Arts Council are co-sponsors of the program.
For more information, visit www.metuchenarts.com or call 732-632-8502.
The fourth annual Middlesex County Association of Chiefs of Police Coach Bingo/Tricky Tray fundraiser to benefit the four children’s hospitals in Middlesex County will be held on Feb. 8 at St. Stan’s School gym, 221 MacArthur Ave., Sayreville.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and games begin at 7 p.m.
Cost is $30 per person, which includes 12 games of bingo (three boards per game), coffee, tea and dessert.
There will also be a 50/50.
All guests are invited to bring their own food and refreshments.
For tickets, call Gina at 732-432-8361.
The Circle of Single Jewish Friends, for age 50 and older, will hold a meet-and-eat lunch at noon on Jan. 19 at the Jade Dynasty Chinese Restaurant, 925 Amboy Ave., Edison.
Cost is price of meal off menu/tip, plus $3.
RSVP to Roberta by calling 908-668-8450 or emailing [email protected]
The Around the World in 60 Minutes Food & Drink Festival will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Jan. 25 at the First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen Social Center, 270 Woodbridge Ave., Metuchen.
The cost is $20 for those 21 and over, $10 for adults 20 and under, and free for children under 2.
Children 10 and younger require adult supervision.
Proceeds will benefit ongoing community immigration work.
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.
Rabbi Levi Azimov of the Chabad Jewish Center of South Brunswick in South Brunswick will offer Judaism’s Gifts to the World, a new six-session course by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI).
Beginning Jan. 28 from 7:45-9:15 p.m., attendees we discover how common ideas of personal responsibility, the inherent sanctity of human life, institutionalized universal education, human equality, the dignity of a day of rest and devotion to family and a sense of purpose have their origins in ancient Judaism.
All JLI courses are open to the public, and attendees need not be affiliated with a particular synagogue, temple, or other house of worship.
Interested students should call 732-398-9492 or visit www.myJLI.com for registration and for other course-related information.
Members of the Edison Fire Department will present safety tips at a Clara Barton Neighborhood Watch meeting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 13 at the Clara Barton First Aid Squad, 1079 Amboy Ave., Edison.
For more information, email [email protected] or visit www.ClaraBartonNeighborhood.org.
The Edison Public Libraries will hold a series of events during Black History Month.
The current schedule is as follows:
* Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin Film Viewing, 3 p.m. Feb. 3 at Clara Barton Library, 141 Hoover Ave.
* Housing in New Jersey through the Lens of Race, 7 p.m. Feb. 3 at Edison Main Library, 340 Plainfield Ave.
* Wrongful Convictions & Race, 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at North Edison Library, 777 Grove Ave.
* Freedom Summer Film Viewing, 3 p.m. Feb. 10 at Clara Barton Library
* Jack Sherrod: Slave, Solider, and Savvy Landowner, 7 p.m. Feb. 11 at North Edison Library
* The Underground Railroad in New Jersey, 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at Edison Main Library
* New Jersey Black History, 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at North Edison Library
* Before & After: Tupac, Biggie, and the Birth of Hip Hop from a Man Who Was There, 7 p.m. Feb. 19 at Edison Main Library
* West Africa on the East Coast, 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at Edison Main Library
For more information, call 732-287-2298 or visit www.edisonpubliclibrary.net.
Meet Anthony Wilkerson, executive and artistic director of the Avenel Arts Center, at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 28 at the Jewish Community Center Middlesex County, 1775 Oak Tree Road, Edison.
A New York native, Wilkerson is a graduate of New York Unviersity’s College of Arts and Sciences for English Creative Writing. He started his career as an intern writer at ABC’s daytime soap opera “One Life to Live” in 1996. During his 14 years there, he worked his way up to the position of associate director, earning three daytime Emmy Awards, seven nominations and was a two-time recipient of the Director’s Guild of America Awards.
The meet-and-greet is free and open to the community. Pre-registration is requested.
For more information, contact Sue Horwitz at 732-593-5958 or [email protected].
The Edison Public Library will kick off its month-long series of events in honor of Black History Month by unveiling the newest stamp from the Black Heritage series.
For 2020, the United States Post Office will honor late journalist and newscaster Gwen Ifill. The NAACP Metuchen-Edison Area Branch will award the library and Mayor Thomas Lankey with a plaque for their dedication to diversity. Additionally, Mr. Clarence McKnight, member of The Ebony Society of Philatelic Events and Reflections, will lead a discussion about the Black Heritage series and also look at stamps throughout the history of the Civil Rights
All are welcome to attend this event at 7 p.m. on Feb. 4 at the Edison Main Public Library, 340 Plainfield Ave., Edison.
Refreshments will be served.
For more information, call 732-287-2298 or visit www.edisonpubliclibrary.net.
The Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County will host an evening of stories, learning, cooking and eating with Jesse Reitner, food maven and former owner of Lox, Stock and Deli in East Brunswick, at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 20, 1775 Oak Tree Road, Edison.
Cost is $30 for members or $38 for non-members.
Menu includes Cape May salad, panko chicken cutlet, rice medley, oven roasted vegetables en croute and dessert.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Yasher LaChayal, an organization that supports soldiers in the Israeli Defense Forces.
To RSVP, contact Diane Mael at 732-494-3232, ext. 3619.
The Woodbridge Township Psychic Fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 7 at the Evergreen Senior Center, 400 Inman Ave., Colonia section of Woodbridge.
Readers scheduled to appear include Jane Doherty, Judy Kay, Jennifer Wood, Scotty The NJ Medium, Constance Elek, Intuitive April the Psychic Housewife of New Jersey, Dawn Strouse, Bonnie Edwards, Michele Germann Rothermel and Christine Barath. Palm readings by Shannon, Marie Gilbert and Jean Lee Brown Ramalho.
Admission is $5. Lectures are free.
The Heart of Oneness Holistic Expo will be held March 27-29 at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Ave., Edison.
Reiki, crystals, psychic readings, workshops and aura photography.
Hours are 5-9 p.m. on March 27, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 28 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 29.
Free tote for the first 150 attendees at the door on March 28 and 29.
For more information and tickets, visit www.heartofonenessholisticexpo.com.
Registration is open for the 44th annual Rutgers Home Gardeners School, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 21 at the Rutgers University Cook/Douglass campus in New Brunswick.
The Home Gardeners School is 40 individual workshop sessions that cover an array of horticulture topics. This format allows attendees to select the workshops that are most relevant to their gardening interests and create their own personalized schedule for a day of learning. Expert speakers from commercial horticulture and landscape design firms, as well as faculty and staff from Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE), will cover topics including landscape design, common problems and solutions, annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, beekeeping, hardscaping, best management practices and deer control methods.
The registration fee is $95, but early registration is $80 is being offered through Feb. 29. An additional discounted fee of $70 is available for Master Gardeners (certificate required) through Feb. 29.
Attendees are asked to bring food donations for Rutgers Against Hunger (RAH) or pet items for Scarlet Paws Rescue.
For more information or to register, visit www.cpe.rutgers.edu/hgs or call the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education at 848-932-9271.
Teens across the state can begin submitting entries for the 25th Annual New Jersey Teen Media Contest, which highlights NJ Human Services’ mission to support families.
The contest, run by Human Services’ Division of Family Development, is open to all New Jersey middle and high school-aged students. This year, the contest will accept entries in the hand-painted/hand-drawn and written word categories.
This year’s challenge to teens is to illustrate through art, including the written word, a valuable life lesson or moment that you will never forget. Teens are invited to show when parents and other loved ones provided valuable life lessons and teaching moments.
All entries must be postmarked no later than March 11. Staff from the Division of Family Development and its Office of Child Support Services will judge the contest. Winners will be selected in first, second, and third places in both the middle and high school groups, for each of the two entry categories, with each receiving a prize package at an awards ceremony in May.
Winning entries will be included in the 2021 Office of Child Support Calendar and be placed on display in the New Jersey State House in Trenton shortly after the awards event. A number of honorable mention entries will be selected for possible inclusion in the State House exhibit and possibly the calendar.
The 2020 calendar can be viewed or downloaded from the contest homepage, www.NJTeenMedia.org to serve as inspiration for the teens. The website also provides the official rules, frequently asked questions, entry forms, a look at the winners and honorable mentions from previous contests and other important contest information.
Entries can be submitted via the students’ art or English/language arts teachers, if their school is registered. Teachers and administrators can register their school by visiting www.NJTeenMedia.org or by contacting Matthew Cossel at 973-799-0200 or [email protected]. Teens whose schools are not registered can submit entries directly.
For complete submission guidelines, visit www.NJTeenMedia.org. For more information about child support services, call 1-877-NJKIDS1 or visit www.NJChildSupport.org.
The Antonia Maria Foundation and Day One Sober Living will hold their 2020 spring gala, Celebrate a New Day, from 7-11 p.m. on April 3 at the South Gate Manor, Freehold.
The second annual gala will launch the partnership with Day One to help revolutionize sober living care for women in New Jersey. Together, the two organizations will be opening Leo’s House, a recovery home for women following in the footsteps of Gracie’s House. Both are located in North Brunswick.
For information on tickets or sponsorship, call 732-823-8350.
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.