- Buddy Ball Game Day to celebrate 10th anniversary
East Brunswick Fast Break Basketball will hold its 10th annual Findley Urban Buddy Ball Game Day beginning 2 p.m. Feb. 25 at Churchill Junior High School, 18 Norton Road, East Brunswick. Organizers suggest arrival by 1:30 p.m. due to the size of the expected crowd.
Both the program and the game day offer special-needs players (children and adults), referred to as “buddies,” a chance to interact with “pals,” or volunteers who help the players learn various skills and develop an understanding of the game of basketball. The event, which is a culmination of the Fast Break season, gives approximately 60 buddies a chance to showcase their newly learned skills and competitive spirit. The program is open to children and adults from all areas; East Brunswick residency is not required. Approximately 110 high school students assist with the program.
Mayor Brad Cohen of East Brunswick and several members of the Township Council and Board of Education are scheduled to attend. Other guests will include Jax from “American Idol” and Greg T from Z100 radio. Representatives of the East Brunswick Woman’s Club, the East Brunswick High School boys basketball team and Bishop Ahr High School, Edison, are set to present donations to the Buddy Ball program. Popcorn for the People, a small business in the Brunswick Square Mall, East Brunswick, that employs special-needs young adults, also will be on site.
All are welcome to attend. Admission is free of charge.
For more information, call Jon Alba at 908-812-8129 or log on to www.fastbreakbasketball.org and follow the links for Buddy Ball.
- Community-education classes slated in Monroe
Registration is open for Monroe Township Community Education Program spring classes scheduled to run March 14-May 25.
In addition to the traditional 10-week courses, registration will be ongoing for several one- to three-week classes designed to enrich lives professionally and personally. The spring program includes more than 40 courses and features many new offerings.
Hard copies of the spring brochure may be obtained at the Monroe Township Library or Municipal Building, both Municipal Plaza; or the Senior Center, Halsey Reed Road. A list of offerings also is available online by logging on to www.monroe.k12.nj.us and clicking on Monroe Community Education Program under Site Shortcuts. Registration also may be called in to 732-521-1500, ext. 5248.
- ‘Laramie Project’ to be staged Feb. 24 at MCVTS
Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School (MCVTS), 112 Rues Lane, East Brunswick, will host a staged reading of “The Laramie Project,” a play about the 1998 murder of gay student Matthew Shepard, 7 p.m. Feb. 24 in the school auditorium.
MCVTS, East Brunswick, is one of 49 locations around the nation scheduled to hold staged readings of the play. The number 49 was chosen to honor the 49 people killed last June at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. The play, written by Moises Kaufman, is based on interviews conducted during the trial of the killers of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming. It was first performed in 2002.
Members of the Gender and Sexual Minorities and Allies Club at MCVTS and students in the school’s theater program are involved in the production. Director is Maria Aladren, MCTVS theater instructor.
The reading is free of charge and open to the public.
For more information, log on to www.mcvts.net.
- Goddard to collect new and gently used books
The Goddard School, 1480 Englishtown Road, Old Bridge, will hold a book drive 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Feb. 27-March 10 to help support Reach Out and Read, a nonprofit organization that gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating books into pediatric care and encouraging families to read aloud together. Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry will help kick off the drive by reading. to students and talking about the importance of reading.
The collected books will be distributed to children through the Chandler Health Center, which is owned and operated by Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick. Goddard hopes to collect 1,000 new or gently used books during the drive.
With access to families with young children, Reach Out and Read medical providers give books to children at more than 10 well-child visits from infancy until the youngsters start school.
For more information, call 732-416-9600.
- St. Pat’s Dinner-Dance scheduled at Knights
Our Lady of Victory (OLV) Knights of Columbus Council No. 2061 will hold its St. Patrick’s Day Dinner-Dance 7 p.m.-midnight March 18 at the Knights hall, 775 Washington Road, Parlin section of Sayreville.
The event will feature a full traditional Irish dinner, an open bar and live entertainment including music by the Around the House band and performances by bagpipers and Irish step dancers. Cost is $40 per person.
For tickets or more information, call Joe Campbell at 646-483-2883, the council home at 732-257-2061, Jeff Brophy at 732-266-5097 or Joe Crisafi at 732-721-8045.
- Program to shed light on crime prevention
The Monroe Township Police Department will host a community presentation on crime prevention 7:30 p.m. March 1 at the Monroe Township Senior Center, 12 Halsey Reed Road.
For more information, call 732-521-0222.
- Temple program to focus on immigrants’ experience
Congregants who emigrated from Nigeria, Haiti, Romania, Poland and Israel will explain why they left their native lands, what they expected to find in the United States and what they have actually experienced, at a program set for 10 a.m. March 5 at Congregation Beth Ohr, 70 Route 516, Old Bridge.
The event, presented jointly by Beth Ohr’s Sisterhood and Men’s Club, is sponsored by the Herman and Frieda Lipp Memorial Fund in memory of Barbara Lipp. A complimentary bagel breakfast will be served. All are invited. RSVP is not required.
For more information, email Ed Mendlowitz at [email protected].
- St. Patrick’s Day meal on tap at church
Sayreville United Methodist Church, 406 Main St., will hold its fundraising St. Patrick’s Day Dinner 6-8 p.m. March 18.
Guests will have a choice of corned beef or spaghetti and meatballs. Boiled potatoes, cabbage, carrots, bread, a beverage and dessert also will be served.
Tickets cost $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, students and children.
To reserve or for more information, call Winsome at 723-432-9072.
- Fish Fry Dinners will return to legion post
Spotswood American Legion Post No. 253 will hold its annual Fish-Fry Dinners beginning at 4 p.m. Fridays, March 3-April 7, at the post home, DeVoe Avenue.
For more information on the menu and prices, call 732-251-1030 or 732-251-1221 or email [email protected].
- Bunny to appear at April 2 breakfast in South River
- The Level Club of South River and Philo Lodge No. 243 will host its Breakfast With the Easter Bunny 8 a.m.-1 p.m. April 2 at the Philo Masonic Lodge, 120 Old Bridge Turnpike, South River.
The event will feature an all-you-can-eat country breakfast and photographs with the Easter Bunny.
Cost is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $4 for youngsters ages 12 and under; children under age 2 will be admitted free of charge.
For tickets, call Don at 732-672-3294 or email [email protected].
- Pickleball tourneys on tap at two YMCAs
The YMCA of Western Monmouth County will hold Pickleball Madness tournaments March 15 at the Old Bridge YMCA, 1 Mannino Park Drive, and March 16 at the Freehold YMCA, 470 East Freehold Road.
The tournaments, which are open to the community and to other YMCAs throughout New Jersey, will include men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. Prizes will be awarded for first place. Refreshments will be served.
Pickleball, a racquet sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis, was invented in the mid-1960s as a children’s backyard pastime, but recently has become popular among adults.
Entry fee for each contest is $30 per team, $15 per individual. Proceeds will go to the Ycares Financial Assistance Program. All funds raised through Ycares are used to offer programs and services at reduced rates to all members of the community, regardless of their financial status.
For more information, log on to www.ymcanj.org or call Ken Cardullo at 732-727-0704, ext. 305.
- Legion auxiliary to host ‘Elvis Rocks’ fundraiser
The Joyce Kilmer American Legion Auxiliary, Milltown, will present its “Elvis Rocks” fundraising show, starring Craig Newell, March 18 at the post home, 4 John F. Kennedy Drive, Milltown. Doors will open at 6 p.m. The show will begin at 8 p.m.
A buffet dinner will be provided. All proceeds will go to Rebuilding Warriors, an organization that provides service dogs for wounded veterans.
Tickets cost $20 in advance, $25 at the door. To reserve, call June at 732-246-2298 or Nancy at 732-227-1018.
- Church to present murder-mystery dinner
The United Methodist Church at Milltown will host “Till Death Do Us Part,” a murder-mystery dinner, 6 p.m. March 25 at American Legion Post No. 25, 4 JFK Drive, Milltown.
The Murder Mystery Company, a professional theater company, will perform. A catered buffet dinner will be provided. Proceeds will benefit the United Methodist Church at Milltown Youth Group program.
Tickets cost $50 each and must be purchased in advance. To order, call Robin at 732-422-7743 or Randi at 732-406-8196.
- Tickets available for trip to Tropicana
The Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Post No. 253, 50 DeVoe Ave., Spotswood, will sponsor a March 19 fundraising bus trip to the Tropicana Casino, Atlantic City.
Cost is $30 per person. To reserve or for more information, log on to www.facebook.com/events/1842688082645092, email [email protected] or call 732-251-1030 or 732-251-1221.