Simpson United Methodist Church will hold a pumpkin patch through Oct. 31 at the church, 2095 Route 516, across from the YMCA, Old Bridge.
A variety of shapes and sizes of pumpkins will be for sale, as well as gourds and other items.
Hours are 3-8 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays.
Trunk-or-Treat is planned for 2-5 p.m. Oct. 31.
St. Thomas the Apostle Knights of Columbus Council 4815 will hold a breakfast fundraiser from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 31 at the Old Bridge Columbian Club, 61 Pine St., Old Bridge, to benefit the Knights of Columbus Chapter 4 organization to raise funds for a new ultrasound machine for Life Choices in New Brunswick.
Breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, cereal, assorted fruit, coffee, tea and juice.
Cost is $10 per adult or $5 for children age 12 and under. Receive a $1 discount if reservation is made before Oct. 24.
Reservations are not required but appreciated. Contact Rob Wright at [email protected] or 908-510-6328.
Christ Church will hold a Grab Bag Children’s Sermon at 10 a.m. Oct. 31 at the church, 220 Main St., South Amboy.
Come to church dressed in a Halloween costume.
Before the service, there will be a collection for the grab bag. During the service, children will pick two or three items from the bag and the priest will incorporate them into the sermon. You will get back what you put in after service.
For more information, call 732-721-6262 or visit www.facebook.com/christchurchsouthamboy
The Old Bridge Food Bank and the Old Bridge Township Department of Public Works have partnered to host a drive-thru coat drive from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 6.
Drop off gently used coats, hats, scarves and gloves at the recycling center, 1 Old Bridge Plaza.
For more information, visit www.oldbridge.com/foodbank
The St. Bernadette Knights of Columbus Council 8478 is hosting a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 7 in Odea Hall under St. Bernadette’s, 20 Villanova Road, Parlin section of Sayreville.
Cost is $7 for adults or $3 for children under 12.
Trinity Episcopal Church in Matawan is having a Goods and Services Auction on Nov. 13.
Preview and bidding begins at 6 p.m. The raffle starts at 7 p.m.
Admission is $15 and includes 10 Tier 1 tickets for raffles.
There are two tiers of prizes: Tier 1 value of $25-$75 and Tier 2 value of $75.01 to $250.
Interested parties can call the church at 732-591-9210.
The church is located at 18 Ryers Lane, Matawan.
South Amboy’s Biz Fair will take place 4-8 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Sadie Pope Dowdell Library, located off John O’Leary Boulevard, adjacent to South Amboy Middle High School. Snow date is Dec. 13.
This will be an opportunity for local businesses, home-based businesses, online businesses, entrepreneurs, non-profit organizations or corporates who would like to reach local markets.
Businesses who participate will be included in the event’s Business Directory.
To register, email [email protected] or call 732-721-6060 or visit www.dowdell.org.
A $25 donation is requested per table.
Hot cocoa will be served and holiday cookies may be purchased.
This year’s Friends of South Amboy fundraising event will be held on Dec. 18 at South Amboy Middle High School, 200 Gov. Harold G. Hoffman Plaza, South Amboy.
It will feature local high school basketball games, as follows:
2 p.m. South Amboy girls vs. Highland Park
4 p.m. South Amboy boys vs. Spotswood
6 p.m. Sayreville boys vs. Johnson high school
8 p.m. St. Thomas Aquinas boys vs. St. Joe’s Metuchen
Tickets can be purchased at the door.
The proceeds from this year’s event will benefit families in need.
Middle school students and their parents can find out about opportunities in career and technical education at upcoming open houses on the five campuses of the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools.
MCVTS offers 36 career majors, as well as a traditional academic curriculum, to Middlesex County students, along with interscholastic sports and extracurricular clubs and activities.
The East Brunswick Campus will hold in-person open houses on Dec. 11 and Jan. 22, 2022, both from 10 a.m. to noon.
The Perth Amboy Campus open houses will be Dec. 18 and Jan. 29, 2022, from 10 a.m. to noon.
The Piscataway Campus schedule is Oct. 23, Dec. 4 and Jan. 29, all from 10 a.m. to noon.
The Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies in Edison and the Middlesex County Academy for Allied Health and Biomedical Sciences in Woodbridge will hold virtual open houses on Zoom. The Woodbridge Academy open house will be Oct. 23 at 9 a.m.
Students are offered admission to the MCVTS based on academic achievement, vocational technical evaluation, interviews, and the recommendation of the guidance counselor from the local school district. The application, and a video explaining how to apply, are available at www.mcvts.net.
There is an admission test in reading, math and writing for the Edison and Woodbridge academies. The deadline for applications is Nov. 24, with the admission test scheduled for Dec. 11. Qualified applicants will be invited for an interview.
No tuition is charged to residents of Middlesex County.
New Jersey Youth Soccer (NJYS) announced the Frank Bollaci Memorial Scholarship.
A long-time president of the South Brunswick Soccer Club, Bollaci was also a coach and seasoned referee with the NJ State Referee Committee.
Beginning this fall, the Frank Bollaci Memorial Scholarship will award $1,000 to a deserving college-bound senior.
All applications, along with a short essay and high school transcript, must be received by Dec. 18. The essay should give an explanation of what soccer means to the applicant and how soccer has impacted his/her life. Also describe community service.
Scholarship winners will be notified by NJYS by Jan. 4, 2022. Winners will receive an award and also have the opportunity to be recognized via a press release and online interview promoted by NJYS.
The recipient of the scholarship will also receive recognition of the accomplishment through the NJYS Annual Awards presented by RWJBaranbas Health, which will take place in early 2022.
Applications are being accepted at www.surveymonkey.com/r/GQSLK9L
The Kosher Meals on Wheels program through Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County is in need of substitute drivers to deliver meals, sometimes with limited notice.
Currently, there are openings on Mondays along the Highland Park route and along the Edison/Metuchen route. Areas include Woodbridge, Edison, Metuchen, Highland Park, East Brunswick and Old Bridge.
Call 732-777-1940 for information on how to apply.
NJ Transit will conduct virtual hearings on Oct. 28 regarding the Senior Citizen & Disabled Residents Transportation Assistance Program: at 5 p.m. for the southern region, at 6 p.m. for the central region, and at 7 p.m. for the northern region.
The program funds capital, operating, and/or administrative expenses for locally coordinated paratransit services for senior citizens and people with disabilities. It also funds accessibility improvements to NJ Transit’s fixed route bus and rail system, the provision of technical assistance to the counties, and the administration of the statewide program.
To join the meeting by phone, dial 862-294-4371 and use phone conference ID 625 900 084#.
Written comments for the record may be sent to Public Hearing Comments 2021, NJ Transit, Local Programs 8 Community Transportation, 1 Penn Plaza E., 4th Floor, Newark 07l05-2246; or via email to [email protected] by Oct. 28.
For further information on the hearing, including login information, visit https://northbrunswicknj.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/October-28-2021-Public-Hearing.pdf
John Anagnostis, regional vice chair of the Middlesex County Republican Organization, is seeking poll workers from Perth Amboy, Sayreville and South Amboy for the upcoming General Election on Nov. 2.
If interested, call 732-371-9967 and leave a message.
The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Veteran’s Diversion Program, is hosting a Veteran’s Response Training Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16 at the Middlesex County Fire Academy, 1001 Fire Academy Dr., Sayreville.
There will be discussions and presentations from various veterans organizations and individuals who work to ensure that the mental health and well-being of veterans in the community do not go unnoticed.
To register, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/2021/VRTConf
Middlesex County mayors will meet with members of the business community to share economic development opportunities.
This year’s topics include arts and culture, travel and tourism, sustainability, and economic development.
Meet the mayors of Old Bridge, South Amboy, Sayreville, South River, East Brunswick and Spotswood in February 2022.
Hosted by the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
For more information and to register, visit https://www.mcrcc.org/
The Pinelands Preservation Alliance’s Annual Juried Photo Exhibition has a scheduled opening for March 26, 2022.
All photographs must be made within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve. The reserve is found in portions of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties. All wildlife, flora and fauna must be photographed in their natural environment.
Submission date is Jan. 30, 2022.
More than $2,000 in cash prizes will be awarded: $1,000 for First Place Best in Show; $350 each for First Place Landscape, Flora & Fauna, and Other (People, Towns, Architecture, Culture, History, Recreation, etc).
Photographs submitted for exhibition will be selected by a credentialed jury with final selections chosen by Michael Yamashita, an acclaimed National Geographic photographer.
Acceptance notification is planned from Feb. 14-18. Awards, including cash prizes, will be announced at the reception on March 26.
All selected photographs will be exhibited at the historic Bishop Farmstead in Southampton from March 28 through April 30, and all submitted photos will be on display in the online gallery opening by April 15.
Open submissions are $30 for up to three images and $5 per image for each additional image. A total of six images can be submitted per photographer.
All participants must use the Smarter Entry system to register. Photos must be JPEG format, and files cannot exceed 8MB in size.
Learn more at www.PinelandsPhotoExhibit.org or email [email protected].
Ongoing
The Central Jersey Chapter 148 of the Korean War Veterans extend an invitation to any veterans, regardless of the branch of service, who served during the Korean War from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953, in any location; or who served in Korea from July 27, 1953, to the current date.
The group meets at 10 a.m. for a breakfast meeting the second Wednesday of every month from May to December at the Monroe Township Municipal Building, downstairs on the first floor.
Requirements for membership include paying dues of $25 to the Korean War Veterans Association and $10 to the chapter each year.
Korean War Veterans National Life membership if one is over age 80 is $75.
The chapter is involved in various functions during the year, including fundraising to help veterans at the New Jersey State Veterans Memorial Home in Menlo Park, the Lyons Veterans Hospital Lyons, and the Vineland Veterans Hospital in Vineland.
For more information, contact membership chair Charlie Koppelman at 609-655-3111 or [email protected]
Middlesex County residents looking for local farmers, grocery stores or food pantries – as well as public transportation routes to get there – can download the interactive map-based Accessing Healthy Foods app.
Visit http://middlesexcountynj.gov/healthyfoodsmap
The Center for Therapy & Counseling Services is offering a Teen Girls Support Group.
This free group offers girls ages 13-17 a safe place to connect, share stories and be encouraging. The goal is to enhance self esteem, self confidence and communication skills.
Each group is led by trained facilitators.
Girls meet weekly at 7 p.m. Thursdays, virtually.
Registration is required by calling 732-254-0600.
Or, email [email protected] for more information.
The Center for Therapy & Counseling Services is located at 15 W. Prospect St., East Brunswick.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern New Jersey (BBBSCNNJ) is inviting Middlesex County residents to become a volunteer Big Brother or Big Sister to a local child.
BBBSCNNJ currently has 20 children on its Middlesex County waiting list, mostly boys.
BBBSCNNJ provides one-to-one mentoring for youth ages 6-18. Volunteer Big Brothers and Sisters spend quality time with their Littles each month, enjoying free or low-cost activities during which the child may learn new skills, explore new interests, or expand their experience beyond their family and neighborhood.
There are no special skills required, and BBBSCNNJ’s experienced staff provides continual support.
To be matched with a Middlesex County child, apply at mentornj.org.
Dove Hospice Services of New Jersey is seeking compassionate volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families.
Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their home, which can also be nursing facilities or assisted living facilities, at least once a week. Visits can be virtual and are during the day or early evening. Volunteers may also assist with administrative work in the hospice office.
To sign up for a virtual training class, contact Deborah Adams at 732-405-3035 or email [email protected]
The Madison-Old Bridge Township Historical Society is looking for middle school and high school yearbooks from Madison Township and Old Bridge Township to add to its collection.
Contact Jeff Kagan at 646-246-5598.
The yearbook collection is readily available for the general public to review at the Thomas Warne Museum located just across the street from the Old Bridge High School.
Right at Home of Central New Jersey can organize a Senior Citizen Prom for local facilities.
They will provide music and entertainment.
A prom king and queen will be crowned.
For more information on how to schedule a prom, call 732-967-0900.
Serving northern Middlesex, Mercer and Monmouth counties.
Sign up at https://forms.gle/nxuZUi5AMJe1RcyJ8
Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick has launched the Substance Abuse and Addiction Loss Support Group for families who are coping with loss due to addiction.
The free and confidential support group meets virtually on the second Thursday of every month from 7-8:30 p.m.
Inspired by Saint Peter’s Opioid Task Force, the Substance Abuse and Addiction Loss Support Group is for families and close loved ones of people who have passed away from addiction.
The support group is open to everyone in New Jersey and serves as a safe space for families to discuss their grief.
To join the Substance Abuse and Addiction Loss Support Group, call Jeanne Delacruz, a social worker at Saint Peter’s who facilitates the support group, at 732-745-8522 or email [email protected]
NAMI In Our Own Voice (NAMI En Nuestra Propia Voz) is a program by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) New Jersey chapter geared toward community education and reducing the stigma of mental health, as trained volunteers share their lived experience of mental health recovery.
To schedule a presentation at a school, PTA meeting, congregation, town hall, support group or professional training, email [email protected]
Presentations are available in English and Spanish.
Gain stability from an in-demand occupation; apply for a Women’s Center career training grant from Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County.
Qualified persons who are active members of the JFS Women’s Center must submit an application and attend an interview. Grants are available for short-term training programs for in-demand jobs.
Eligible candidates must qualify as a “displaced homemaker,” a woman who is a single mother, divorced, separated, widowed, or living with a disabled spouse/partner.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, email [email protected]
French American School Princeton (FASP) is accepting enrollment.
At FASP, students in preschool (3 years old) through grade 8 benefit from a rigorous bilingual curriculum accredited by the Middle State Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools and the French Ministry of Education; personalized attention thanks to small class sizes; and a multicultural community with more than 30 nationalities represented.
FAPS is located at 75 Mapleton Road, Princeton.
Visit ecoleprinceton.org, call 609-430-3001 or email [email protected].
Central Jersey SCORE, a non-profit resource partner of the Small Business Administration, is looking for volunteers to assist people looking to start a business or grow an existing small business.
The organization is recruiting business owners and executives, both current and retired, 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 and webinars, both offered virtually in line with current pandemic restrictions. In addition, the SCORE website offers tools and templates on a wide variety of topics and numerous online courses and webinars to assist small business owners through every aspect of business development and management. Services are offered free of charge.
Anyone interested in volunteering with SCORE or seeking additional information should email [email protected]