Community Bulletin Board: the North and South Brunswick Sentinel (for November 20)

The South Brunswick Area Interfaith-Clergy Association will hold its annual Thanksgiving service, titled Serving Our Community Better Together, at 7 p.m. on Nov. 24 at Congregation B’nai Tikvah, 1001 Finnegans Lane, North Brunswick

In addition to inspiring messages and music of thanksgiving from clergy, there will be a community-wide service project.

Individual congregations collected hygiene and cleaning products, and volunteers will create packages of donations to distribute through South Brunswick Social Services.

All are welcome. 

 

The North Brunswick Woman’s Club’s Basket Auction/Craft Show is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 23 at Our Lady of Peace Church, inside the church hall, 1740 Route 130 at Washington Place, North Brunswick.

More than 140 baskets will be part of the auction. Calling begins at 1 p.m. Must be present to win.

There is no entry fee into the craft show.

 

 

 

Get one-on-one Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance enrollment assistance from 4-7:30 p.m. on Nov. 25 at the South Brunswick Library, 110 Kingston Lane, Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick.

Open enrollment for ACA plans ends on Dec. 15.

Registration for this assistance is required. Call 732-329-4000, ext. 7638 or email [email protected] to set up an appointment.

Join the Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands for their annual Thanksgiving Day morning exploration of the Mapleton Preserve, scheduled for 10 a.m. on Nov. 28 beginning at the Mapleton Preserve/D&R Canal State Park, 145 Mapleton Road, Kingston.

With the aid of magnifying glasses, attendees will look for often overlooked natural things and enjoy the beauty of late fall.

Free and open to all, but call 609-683-0483 to RSVP.

Visit fpnl.org/ for more information or directions.

 

 

The North Brunswick Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services will hold its annual Winterfest celebration beginning at 6:15 p.m. on Dec. 2 at the North Brunswick Municipal Building, 710 Hermann Road, North Brunswick.

Planned activities include a tree lighting, caroling, pictures with Santa, skating and refreshments.

Bring a donation of food items or gift cards to local food stores for the North Brunswick Food Bank.

For more information, call 732-247-0922, ext. 475.

 

 

 

 

North Brunswick PBA Local 160 is holding its fourth annual toy drive.

Through Dec. 20, drop off new, unwrapped toys for local families in need to police headquarters, 710 Hermann Road, North Brunswick.

For more information, contact Sgt. Ryan Uzunis at [email protected].

 

The North Brunswick Heritage Day Committee will hold a Pancakes and Pajamas fundraiser from 8-10 a.m. on Dec. 7 at the Green Turtle, Main Street off Route 1 north, North Brunswick.

The cost is $10 per ticket.

 

 

North Brunswick Volunteer Fire Co. No. 3 will hold Breakfast with Santa from 8-11:30 a.m. on Dec. 15 at the firehouse, 1470 Cozens Lane, North Brunswick.

Full breakfast buffet.

Bring a camera. Every child will receive a gift from Santa.

The cost is $15 for adults, $5 for children under 10, and free for children under 2.

For more information, visit www.nbvfd3.net or Facebook.com/nbvfd3.

 

Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County (JFS) is seeking volunteer drivers to deliver kosher meals to homebound seniors.

The immediate need is for meal pickup one day per week at 11 a.m. at JFS, 32 Ford Ave., Second Floor, Milltown, for delivery in North Brunswick.
JFS kosher meals are available to Middlesex County homebound seniors age 60 and over who are unable to shop or prepare meals for themselves due to physical or cognitive impairment.
For more information, call 732-777-1940 or email [email protected].

 

American Legion Post 401’s annual food drive in support of the South Brunswick Food Bank is ongoing.

Area residents may drop off non-perishable food donations any time after 4 p.m., seven days a week, at the post home, 148 Major Road, Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick.

Items needed include coffee, tea, water, Parmalot milk, vegetables, canned and boxed potatoes, rice, canned meats, beef stew, chili, canned and boxed pastas, cereal and oatmeal, boxed macaroni and cheese, boxed cake mixes and icing, pie crusts and filling, brownie mixes, muffin mix and soups.

For more information, call 732-329-9861.

 

 

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Middlesex County launched a new ambassador program, and is seeking volunteers.
CASA supports children in foster care. In this new role, volunteers will help CASA build connections with local organizations and community groups and assist in growing their volunteer pool so they will be able to serve more children.
Activities of the CASA ambassador include connecting with community groups and local businesses, representing CASA at community events, distributing brochures or posters, or organizing a fundraising activity.
Ambassadors commit to three ambassador activities per year. The ambassadors will gain new skills and meet new people while they are making a difference for children in their community.
The first training will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 12 at the CASA of Middlesex County office, 77 Church St., New Brunswick.
For registration or more information, email [email protected].

 

 

 

 

The South Brunswick Senior Center will hold a food drive during November and December at the center, 540 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick.

Needed items include coffee, canned tomatoes, boxed milk, canned fruit, canned meat, prepared noodles, rice mix, macaroni and cheese, whole wheat pasta, peanut butter and jelly, hearty soups, canned tomatoes, canned vegetables, juice boxes, pancake mix and syrup, oatmeal, cereal and toiletries.

For more information, call 732-329-4000, ext. 7670.

 

 

The South Brunswick Senior Center will introduce the following new programs in December for its resident members age 55 and older:

A Podcast Café will be held from 2:30-3:30 p.m. on Mondays.

The Write Away Club will be held from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Creatively Yours will be held from 1-2:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.

The Dance Zone will be held from 2:30-3:30 p.m. on Fridays.

Call the Senior Center at 732-329-4000, ext. 7670 for more information on each program, or to register.

  

 

 

 

 

The theme of NAMI NJ’s 2019 conference on Dec. 7 is “Prevention Recovery Wellness: Hope for the future.”
The National Alliance on Mental Illness conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fairbridge Hotel and Conference Center, 195 Davidson Ave., Somerset.
Topics will include the eight dimensions of wellness, crisis planning for individuals and families, legal issues in mental illness, a Q&A with a psychiatrist, employment and recovery, and self care.
Special keynote speaker is filmmaker Lucy Winer, who will discuss “Kings Park: Stories from an American Mental Institution.”
Early bird registration ends Nov. 15 for non-members and professionals. Discounts available for NAMI members.
To become a sponsor, exhibitor or advertiser, visit www.naminj.org.
The Friends of the South Brunswick Senior Center will hold a Winter Wonderland event from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Dec. 12 at the Senior Center, 540 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick.
Doors open at 10:15 a.m. Lunch will be served at 11:15 a.m. Music with Pam & Steven begins at 12:15 p.m.

South Brunswick resident members age 55 and older should sign up at the Senior Center.

For more information, call 732-329-4000, ext. 7670.

The North Brunswick Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services will hold its annual menorah lighting at 6 p.m. on Dec. 23 at the municipal building, 710 Hermann Road, North Brunswick.

Bring a donation of food items or gift cards to local food stores for the North Brunswick Food Bank.

For more information, call 732-247-0922, ext. 475.

 

 

T A Sprinkler, Inc. will hold its annual Winter Wonderlights Spectacular from Nov. 30 to Jan. 5, 2020, at the Middlesex County Fairgrounds, 655 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.

There will be Christmas lights, food, hot chocolate and photo opps with Santa.

 

 

Blue Jersey Band will perform at the South Brunswick Jazz Cafe at 8 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the South Brunswick Municipal Complex Herb Eckert Auditorium, 540 Route 522, Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

“Jazz & Django” will include traditional, swing, blue, new and gypsy jazz by Frank Ruck on guitar, mandolin, banjo and vocals; Ellen Ruck on guitar and vocals; and Ian Young on bass and trombone.

Admission is $6 at the door. Light refreshments included.
For more information, call 732-329-4000, ext. 7635 or visit www.sbarts.org/jazz-cafe/

 

South Brunswick has scheduled the following blood drives:

Dec. 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Community Center, Woodlot Park, New Road

Dec. 30 from 1-7 p.m. at the library, 110 Kingston Lane

For more information, visit southbrunswicknj.gov

 

With President Donald Trump’s signature on the LEGION Act (Let Everyone Get Involved in Opportunities for National Service), the ongoing declared period of war was extended back to Dec. 7, 1941, making all honorably discharged veterans eligible for membership in the American Legion.

Eligibility now spans from Dec. 7, 1941, until a time when the United States is no longer at war, as determined by Congress.

Veterans wanting to join American Legion Post 401 in South Brunswick, or any other post, may request an application by emailing [email protected] or by stopping by the post at 148 Major Road, Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick, any day after 4 p.m.

 

 

Homework Buddies Peer Tutoring has begun at the South Brunswick Library, 110 Kingston Lane, Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick.
The sessions will be held from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. No appointment is necessary.
Select high school students volunteer to help students in kindergarten through 12th grade with homework and studying concerns.
Tutoring is not available on school holidays or early closing days.

Any mothers with children up to age five are invited to join MOPS, Mothers of Preschoolers, who meet from 9-11:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of the month from October through June at the North Brunswick Library, 880 Hermann Road, North Brunswick.

Childcare will be provided.

For more information, visit www.meetup.com/middlesex-county/mops

 

 

The MOMS Club of North Brunswick is a group of stay-at-home or part-time working mothers of children of all ages who are interested in support, cultivating friendships and fun for the children.

For more information, visit momsclubofnorthbrunswick.blogspot.com.

 

 

The United States Census Bureau is seeking applicants for jobs for the 2020 Census.

For information on how to apply, visit 2020census.gov/jobs or call 1-855-JOB-2020.

 

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, 333 Davidson Ave., Somerset.

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 Founation Pediatric Cancer Humanitarian of the Year.

Sherrie and Michael Wells of South Brunswick started the Hugs for Brady Foundation in 2009, shortly after their 13-month-old son, Brady Michael, was diagnosed with non-differentiated acute leukemia. In 2010, Brady passed away at 23 months old, after he had battled the disease for 10 months.

For more information, tickets, sponsorship information, to donate or to take part in the silent auction, visit www.hugsforbrady.org.