Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre will celebrate its 25th anniversary with its 16th annual gala, Gala de Espana, from 4-8:30 p.m. on March 15 at Ria Mar, 25 Whitehead St., South River.
Honorees include Lisa Botalico, assistant director and principal dancer; Gisele Assi, Flamenco singer and principal dancer; Krystina Moreno, principal dancer; Teresa Rodriguez, Flamenco soloist; and Catarina Carrasco, featured dancer.
There will be an all-Spanish banquet with sangria and desserts. Dance to the music of Donny Pesce. Wear a Flamenco costume or Spanish-themed dress for a best outfit prize.
Tickets are $75 per person or $700 for a table of 10.
To order online, visit www.eventbrite.com.
For more information, call 732-598-3979.
The South Amboy Elks will honor veterans with a dinner and tricky tray auction from 5-8 p.m. on Feb. 23 at the lodge, 601 Washington Ave., South Amboy.
Members will welcome residents of the New Jersey State Memorial Home at Menlo Park. The dinner is open to the public.
Menu includes roast pork loin, mashed potato, vegetable, cranberry sauce, dessert, coffee and tea.
Cost is $15 in advance or $17 at the door.
Interested parties who cannot attend can donate a ticket for a veteran.
For more information, call 732-727-7170.
In recognition of Black History Month, the Old Bridge Library will host the following programs which seek to explore the Black experience.
Jack Sherrod Lives! will be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 13. Historian Alvin Q. Corbett will present the story of his ancestor Sherrod, an enslaved person, Civil War soldier and free landowner. Corbett, the great-great-grandson of Sherrod, will present more than 30 years of research.
A film screening of “Blacks & Jews: The Psychology of Victimization and Media Exploration” will be shown at 7 p.m. on Feb. 17. Scholars and critics probe the history and psychology of victimization shared between Black and Jewish groups and their exploitation by the media.
African Americans and American Jews: Partners in Social Justice, Spirituality & Song will be presented at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 23. Members of Monroe’s Congregation Etz Chaim Cabaret Ensemble will use narrative and music to explore the enduring bond which exists between African American and Jewish communities.
The Old Bridge Library is located at 1 Old Bridge Plaza at the corner of Route 516 and Cottrell Road in the Municipal Center. For more information, visit www.oldbridgelibrary.org or call 732-721-5600, ext. 5033.
The South Amboy-Sayreville Rotary invites fathers, uncles, grandparents and step-dads to spend quality time with the young ladies in their lives at the 15th annual Dad-Daughter Date Night, set for 7-10 p.m. on Feb. 21 at the VFW Hall, Jernee Mill Road, Sayreville.
The cost is $70 per couple plus $35 for each additional child.
Make checks payable to South Amboy-Sayreville Rotary and mail to P.O. Box 3001, South Amboy 08879.
For more information, call 732-721-0400 or email [email protected].
Song and Dance of the Roaring ’20s will be performed at 2 p.m. on Feb. 15 at the Old Bridge Library, 1 Old Bridge Plaza.
Singer Christine DeLeon will share the music of the Jazz Age and will lead discussions about American culture and musical icons of the decade,
Attendees are asked to bring a donation for the Old Bridge Food Pantry to this free event.
Five spectacular gardens will enhance the 31st annual New Jersey Home & Garden Show Feb. 21-23 at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Ave., Edison.
The show added “& Garden” to its name this year, and 4,500-square-feet of landscape design, plants, water features and more.
The highlight will be TV personality Doug Wilson of “Trading Spaces” sharing tips on how to achieve high-end flair on realistic budgets.
Attendees can take painting classes, browse and purchase the work of artisans and craftsmen, enjoy a model Tiny Home and study life-size mood boards designed for small rooms. In addition to a classic car auction, visitors will meet more than 200 remodelers, contractors, interior designers, landscapers, and kitchen and bath designers.
Hours are 3-8 p.m. on Feb. 21, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Feb. 22 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 23.
Tickets are $10 for adults; children 16 and under are free.
For more information, visit www.newjerseyhomeshow.com or www.facebook.com/NJHomeShow/
One in 8 Middlesex County residents are food insecure – meaning they don’t have reliable, affordable access to nutritious foods and necessities.
The holidays are over but the need for food donations has not ended. MCFOODS (Middlesex County Food Organization and Outreach Distribution Services) is running low on items such as macaroni and cheese, rice, spaghetti, peanut butter, tuna fish, canned fruits and vegetables.
Consider hosting a food drive with your business, school, civic group or athletic team. MCFOODS can provide containers and transportation of items back to the warehouse. A flyer is attached that can be used or personalized to promote a collection.
Individual donations can be dropped off at the libraries in East Brunswick, Edison, Metuchen, Monroe, Piscataway, Plainsboro and Woodbridge.
MCFOODS is also in need of volunteers to help at the warehouse, offer professional expertise, assist at local events and host a food drive.
For more information, contact Jennifer Apostol, MCFOODS director, by calling 609-409-5033, emailing [email protected] or visiting www.mciauth.com
Old Bridge High School is seeking active duty or reservist military personnel who are alumni for the Military Wall of Honor expected to be established this year.
The wall is meant to commemorate graduates who have given their lives to honor their country and shine a light on the importance of veterans within the Old Bridge community.
Residents are urged to assist with the project by spreading the word of the proposed military wall. The high school is looking for graduates from 1995 through the present.
To submit information, visit docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSev1sK7AIQ6KvNb2iqUz6l7UgFmPBJXBpMbkAR2IuRwkUeVQQ/viewform or contact Guy Lassen at [email protected].
The First Presbyterian Church of Sayreville is seeking vendors for its annual flea market, set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 6 at the church, 172 Main St., Sayreville.
Spaces are available for $15 for one space or $25 for two. There are a limited number of tables to rent for an additional $5. No food vendors.
For more information, leave a message on the church answering machine at 732-257-6353 or email [email protected].
IRS-certified volunteers with AARP will offer free tax preparation services from 10:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, through April 9, at the Old Bridge Library, 1 Old Bridge Plaza, corner of Route 516 and Cottrell Road, Old Bridge.
The service is available to low- and moderate-income taxpayers of all ages, with special attention given to seniors 60 and older. It is not necessary to be a member of AARP to use the service.
Appointments are required by calling or texting 732-705-7463, or emailing [email protected]. When making an appointment, taxpayers must provide their name, phone number and preferred appointment date and time. Tax-Aide will then return the call with a confirmation or alternative time slot.
More information, including necessary paperwork and documents needed for the appointments, can be found at www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/.
United Way of Central Jersey received a grant from the Office of Faith Based Initiatives, a Division of Programs in the Department of State, which hosts the New Jersey Complete Count Commission to continue its advocacy efforts for a complete 2020 census count within Middlesex County.
United Way will focus on increasing the count of young children ages 0-5 and their families residing within neighborhoods designated as Hard to Count (HTC) based upon responses to the 2010 census.
United Way invites all potential community partners to meet at 10 a.m. on Feb. 21 at its office at 32 Ford Ave. in Milltown to outline the outreach plan approved by the Complete Count Commission and determine the specific outreach schedule in terms of kiosk and mobile support center locations and rotation among partners.
The Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office will hold an 8-week-long Sheriff’s Civilian Academy for residents of Middlesex County in the spring.
The Sheriff’s Civilian Academy is designed to educate Middlesex County residents on the various functions and duties of the Sheriff’s Office.
Applications are being accepted for the program, which will be held at the Middlesex County Fire Academy in Sayreville.
The first session is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. on April 14. Classes will continue weekly on Tuesdays. One Saturday class will be held. The program culminates with a graduation ceremony scheduled for June 2.
Each session will highlight functions of Sheriff’s Office including: Defensive Tactics, K-9, Transportation, SWAT, Courts, Civil Process and Foreclosures among others. Participants also will tour the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office and the Main Courthouse located in New Brunswick.
Applications are due no later than Feb. 28. Applicants must be at least at 18 years old, reside within the County of Middlesex, have no felony convictions, not be wanted for any crime, and submit to a limited background check.
For more information, contact Sgt. Frank Sautner at 732-745-5909 or [email protected].
For more information on the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, call 732-745-3382.
Guidelines for the annual NAMI NJ (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Dara Axelrod Expressive Arts Mental Health Poetry Contest include:
* Poem should be in keeping with the theme of how your superpowers helped you battle your challenges with mental illness
* Poem must be typewritten. If sent electronically, do not send PDF files.
* Poem should be no longer than 40 lines.
* Fill out a media release form to accompany your entry.
* Provide a cover letter that includes your name, email (if available), mailing address and phone number.
The contest submission deadline is March 25.
Mail typed entries to NAMI NJ Poetry Contest, 1562 Route 130, North Brunswick 08902. Or, email your entry with the signed media release form to [email protected].
April is the National Poetry Month and May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
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 2020 Progressive Insurance Saltwater Fishing Expo will showcase more than 200 exhibitors selling saltwater fishing products, from new boats and kayaks to an array of accessories including fishing rods, reels and lures, from noon to 8 p.m. on March 13, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 14 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 15 at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Ave., Edison.
The annual event includes a seminar on filleting and preparing fish, a Fishing 101 Interactive Center, a 50-foot casting pond, a fishing simulator and free fishing for children 11 and younger.
Tickets are $13 for adults, $3 for children ages 6-11, and free for children 5 and younger when accompanied by an adult. All children 11 and under will receive free admission on March 15. Rods Go Free on March 13 – anyone named Rod or any variation of the name will receive free admission with a valid form of ID.
Tickets are on sale at saltwater.sportshows.com/.
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 Old Bridge High School community is seeking Wall of Fame nominations to recognize and honor outstanding graduates of all high schools in Old Bridge.
Online nomination forms must be completed by March 31. To be eligible for consideration for the Wall of Fame, candidates must have graduated from one of Old Bridge’s high schools: Madison Township, Madison Central, Cedar Ridge, Old Bridge Adult High School, or Old Bridge High School; achieved notable employment/career achievements within their chosen fields; exhibited civic and/or community accomplishments through service, volunteer work, philanthropic endeavors, or have received notable local, state, or national honors; and graduated a minimum of five years prior to nomination.
Nomination forms may be completed online at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLjN-s0VtXNs1KgrwyjLpFhiCYsTOBF3-uk8TMZTh6fcqNkQ/viewform?c=0&w=1
For more information, contact Old Bridge High School Vice Principal Sally Fazio at 732-290-3900 ext. 3902 or email [email protected].
Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar launched its fourth annual Above and “BEE”yond Teacher Essay Contest, which will recognize top teachers nominated by their students.
The contest is offered at Applebee’s restaurants in New Jersey owned and operated by local franchisee Doherty Enterprises: Brick, Bridgewater, Butler, Clark, Clifton, Edison, Flemington, Garfield, Hackensack, Hackettstown, Hillsborough, Howell, Jersey City, Jersey Gardens, Kearny, Lacey, Linden, Manahawkin, Manalapan, Manchester, Middletown, Milltown, Mt. Olive, Newark, Newton, North Bergen, Northvale, Ocean, Paramus, Parsippany, Phillipsburg, Piscataway, Rockaway, Tinton Falls, Totowa, Union and Wall.
Applebee’s will award four winners from separate regions with a $500 sponsorship check to use toward their classroom for the 2020-21 school year, along with an end-of-year party for their current class.
To nominate a teacher, students must submit an essay in-person at their local Applebee’s explaining why their teacher deserves to be Teacher of the Year. Students who enter will receive a free ice cream certificate (one per entrant).
Contest submissions will be accepted through March 1. Winners will be announced on April 6.
For more information about, visit www.dohertyinc.com/community-connection.
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.
Participants can purchase a $14 box lunch when registering or bring their own bag lunch.
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.
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.
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.
Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County will hold its One Community Gala for 2020 at 5 p.m. on June 14 at Classical Caterers at Congregation B’Nai Tikvah, 1001 Finnegans Lane, North Brunswick.
Dinner, dancing and auction.
Honorees include community leaders David and Ellen Rabinowitz, BCB Bank and Vincent Davis, and Bill Neary.
Sponsorship opportunities and journal ads are available.
For more information, email [email protected] or [email protected], or call 732-777-1940.