Editor’s note: In light of recent events related to coronavirus, some organizations have decided to cancel their upcoming programs. Please check the status of any event before attending.
The third annual Sam Liss Memorial 5K Run/Walk will be held virtually on Oct. 18 to benefit Breaking the Chain Through Education, a non-profit organization based in New Jersey that is dedicated to eradicating child slavery in Ghana.
Sam Liss, Metuchen High School Class of 2010, was one of the founding members; he passed away from cancer in 2017.
To register or make a donation, visit btcte.org
Metuchen is holding a Halloween decorating contest for houses, condos and apartments.
Choose to include your address in the online map of “must scream” sites for socially distant viewing.
Submissions are due by Oct. 23.
Winners will be announced on Oct. 30 with prizes of swag and gift cards.
For more information, call 732-632-8502 or email [email protected]
Sponsored by the Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce.
***
The Woodbridge Farmers Market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of town hall, 1 Main St., Woodbridge.
Free parking is available at the NJT Eleanor Street parking lot and at the NJT Parker Press parking lot.
Visit www.twp.woodbridge for more information.
The Edison Farmers Market is open from 1-3 p.m. every Wednesday at the Jade Dynasty parking lot, 925 Amboy Ave., through October.
The vendors include Asprocolas Acres, La Bonbonniere Bake Shop, Fresh Honey and Honey Products, Bebe’s All Natural and Elcha’s Eats.
For more information about pre-order and pickup, visit Asprocolasacres.com, la-bonbonniere-bake-shoppe.myshopify.com, www.countrybirdandgarden.net, bebesallnatural.com, and elchaseats.com.
The Metuchen Farmers Market is on, rain or shine, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Town Plaza, corner of New Street and Pearl Street, June to November.
Visit www.metuchenfarmersmarket.com
The YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge & South Amboy (MEWSA) is offering virtual learning support for children in grades K-8.
Childcare professionals and staff will help children complete school assignments through one-hour, live, one-on-one virtual tutoring sessions.
Also, coming soon is a Kindergarten Readiness Program that will provide learning activities in a small virtual class setting to help develop social-emotional, cognitive and language skills.
To register, visit www.ymcaofmewsa.org/child-care/distance-learning-support
***
The Middlesex County Office of Career Opportunity will hold a drive-thru job fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 15 in the parking lot of the Grand Marquis, 1550 Route 9 south, Old Bridge.
Job seekers will receive packets with information about available career opportunities, and job training from more than 75 employers that are participating in the event.
To comply with CDC guidelines, residents will be able to pull into the Grand Marquis parking lot, roll down their window, and receive a job listing packet from Career Opportunity staff.
Residents are also encouraged to drop off their resume which will be entered into a job matching database.
The event is being held in collaboration with the Township of Old Bridge, Central Jersey Partners, and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Concurrent events are also being held in Monmouth, Ocean, and Somerset Counties.
The Middlesex County Office of Career Opportunity is funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 and has offices in New Brunswick and Perth Amboy.
For more information about this event, call 732-745-3601.
The Community Health Law Project (CHLP) has extended the deadline for nominations of candidates for the Ann Klein Advocate Awards and Mike Lione Accessibility Award to recognize those who dedicate themselves to improving the lives of people living with disabilities through Oct. 17.
The Ann Klein Advocate Award is given to a group of select individuals and organizations, nominated by the public, who have performed exemplary work as advocates for people living with disabilities and/or vulnerable populations.
The award is named in memory of Ann Klein, former commissioner of the NJ Department of Human Services, whose career as a public servant, legislator and social worker paved the way for significant advances in the human services systems throughout the State of New Jersey.
The Mike Lione Accessibility Award was established in 2013 in memory of longtime Community Health Law Project Board Member and former Chair Mike Lione. This award is presented to an individual or entity that has performed exemplary work as an advocate for accessibility on behalf of persons living with disabilities.
For more information, visit www.chlp.org or call 973-275-1175.
Women Aware will mark 40 years of service to individuals and families in Middlesex County affected by domestic violence with a 40th anniversary Virtual Candlelight Vigil from 7-8 p.m. Oct. 21.
The event will remember victims whose lives were ended by domestic violence and to honor survivors moving beyond abuse.
During the vigil, the organization will honor Women Aware shelter founders Diane Palladino and Ellen Koteen; volunteer advocate Ruth Hague; and Paul Sansone Sr., founder of Sansone Auto Group, Paul Sansone, Sr.
The candlelight vigil is open to the public and free to attend. Visit https://givebutter.com/WomenAware40th
For information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Susan Dyckman, director of development, at [email protected] or 732-249-4900, ext. 0428.
To donate online, visit https://givebutter.com/WomenAware40th
Text to donate 202-858-1233 Code WA40
Mail a check payable to Women Aware; mail to Women Aware, 40th Anniversary, 250 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick 08901
Follow Women Aware on social media: Facebook @womenawareinc or Instagram @womenaware or Twitter @Women_Aware
Ride a cycling course of your choosing to help support and raise funds for more than 26,000 Special Olympics New Jersey athletes.
This year’s route and mileage are up to each participant.
Through Oct. 24, register and complete your ride.
All registered participants will receive a long sleeve t-shirt, ride bib and finisher medal.
Fundraising incentives are available to those who reach specific milestones.
To register and for more information, visit www.BikeSONJ.org.
The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, in conjunction with the NJ Reentry Corporation of New Brunswick, will hold a clothing drive to benefit men and women reentering the workforce.
Lightly used clothing items, as well as toiletries and hygiene products, will be collected from Oct. 26-29 at the following locations:
- Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, 25 Kirkpatrick St., Second Floor, Wade Baker Conference Room, New Brunswick. Contact Amber Gibbs at [email protected] or Sara Lucas at [email protected] to set up a drop off time.
- Office of the Clerk of the Board, 75 Bayard St., First Floor, New Brunswick. Contact Daniele Reitsma at [email protected] to set up a drop off time.
- Director’s Office, 1001 Fire Academy Dr., Sayreville. Contact Ginny Rizzo at [email protected] to set up a drop off time.
All items will be delivered to the NJ Reentry Corporation on Oct. 30.
The Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth will hold the 17th annual Suicide Prevention Conference, focusing on “Reaching for Hope,” from 8:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 3, via WebEx.
Speakers include Susan Klebold, author and activist; and Vanessa L. McGann, clinical psychologist
To register, visit https://rutgers.cloud-cme.com/course/courseoverview?P=5&EID=7116
Cost is $49 per person.
Dove Hospice Services of New Jersey seeks compassionate volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families.
Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes, which can also be nursing facilities or assisted living facilities, at least once a week. They read to the patient, reminisce about their lives, play cards, help with letter writing and provide respite for caregivers.
Visits can be virtual, and are either during the day or early evening.
Volunteers may also assist with administrative work within the hospice office.
Patient care volunteers complete an application and attend a virtual volunteer training program that covers the role of a hospice volunteer. Day and evening virtual training programs are offered.
To sign up for the next virtual training class, contact Volunteer Coordinator Deborah Adams at 732-405-3035 or email [email protected].