Fundraisers

Jan. 4-13

* Book Sale, sponsored by the Spotswood Public Library, during regular hours, at the library, 548 Main St. Hardcover books, paperbacks, children's books, VHS videos, audiocassettes available. Paperbacks sell for 50 cents each or three for $1, hardcovers for 75 cents and up, videos for $1. "All-You-Can-Carry-for-$5" sale set for the last two days of the event. All sales final. Proceeds benefit the library and its programs. (732) 251-1515.

Jan. 4, 16 & 23

* Fund-Raising Evenings at T.G.I. Friday's, sponsored by the Sayreville War Memorial High School Bombers Bowling Team, 5-9 p.m., at Route 9 north, Old Bridge. Diners should tell their server they are there to support the bowling team. Call Debbie at (732) 257-7730 or Nancy at (732) 525-2498.

Blood drive slated for Jan. 13 at O.B. church

St. Thomas the Apostle Church, in cooperation with Knights of Columbus Council No. 4815, will hold a winter blood drive from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 13 in the parish auditorium, Route 18 south, Old Bridge.

Donors must be between the ages of 17 and 75, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in reasonably good health.

Activities planned at Monroe Senior Center

A variety of upcoming programs will be offered at the Monroe Township Senior Center, 1 Municipal Plaza. For more information and to register for events, call the center at (732) 521-6111, unless otherwise indicated.

Sally Drath will offer a step-by-step journey through Puccini's "La Boheme" at 1 p.m. on Jan. 16 at the center. The presentation is designed to ensure an enjoyable and fun operatic experience for participants. Advance registration is requested.

The office staff at the center invites seniors to join in celebrating the facility's 30 years of service at festivities planned for 2 p.m. on Jan. 18. The event will feature assorted refreshments, township dignitaries and entertainment by the Harmonikids. Admission is free of charge. Space is limited. Advance registration is requested.

Ruth Golush, Ph.D., will offer a presentation tiled "Positive Feelings and Energy Healing" at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 25. The experienced wellness consultant will demonstrate ways in which participants may train themselves to use optimism to attract what they want in life. Advance registration is requested.

Mike Ferreira will share a video concert titled "Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall" at 1 p.m. on Jan. 29 at the center. The video, which celebrates the professional life of composer Stephen Sondheim, includes performances by Liza Minelli, Betty Buckley, Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, Glenn Close and others. Advance registration is requested.

An AARP-sponsored drivers' refresher course is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 29 and 30. Course fee is $10, payable to AARP. Call for space availability.

Milton Paris, host of WCTC Radio's "Getting Ahead in Business," will present the classic movie "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" at 1 p.m. on Jan. 30. Refreshments will be provided. Advance registration is requested.

The Monroe Township Senior Center Green Thumbs, a group of houseplant enthusiasts, meets at 11 a.m. on the third Thursday of every month at the center to share a love of plants and discuss related issues.

Seniors are invited to play chess at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays at the center.

Mike Ferreira will share a video concert titled "Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall" at 1 p.m. on Jan. 29 at the center. The video, which celebrates the professional life of composer Stephen Sondheim, includes performances by Liza Minelli, Betty Buckley, Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, Glenn Close and others. Advance registration is requested.

An AARP-sponsored drivers' refresher course is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 29 and 30. Course fee is $10, payable to AARP. Call for space availability.

Milton Paris, host of WCTC Radio's "Getting Ahead in Business," will present the classic movie "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" at 1 p.m. on Jan. 30. Refreshments will be provided. Advance registration is requested.

The Monroe Township Senior Center Green Thumbs, a group of houseplant enthusiasts, meets at 11 a.m. on the third Thursday of every month at the center to share a love of plants and discuss related issues.

Seniors are invited to play chess at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays at the center.

Cancer Institute offers support groups

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) sponsors a variety of groups to support patients through all aspects of cancer. All meetings take place from 7-8:30 p.m. at the CINJ office, 195 Little Albany St., New Brunswick, unless otherwise indicated.

The January support-group schedule is as follows:

+ Jan. 8 - Breast Cancer Support Group, third floor, Saint Peter's University Hospital CARES Building, Easton Avenue, New Brunswick;

+ Jan. 10 - Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma Support Group, 1-2:30 p.m., Learning Room, second floor, CINJ;

+ Jan. 10 - Lesbians With Cancer Support Group, Women's Center Waiting Room, first floor, CINJ;

+ Jan. 10 and 24 - Living With Cancer Support Group, Waiting Room, second floor, CINJ;

+ Jan. 23 - Strength for Caring Support Group, Learning Room, second floor, CINJ.

All groups are free of charge.

For general questions about any of the groups, call the Social Work Department at (732) 235-6792. Confidentiality will be respected. Directions to CINJ may be found at www.cinj.org.

Support Group, Women's Center Waiting Room, first floor, CINJ;

+ Jan. 10 and 24 - Living With Cancer Support Group, Waiting Room, second floor, CINJ;

+ Jan. 23 - Strength for Caring Support Group, Learning Room, second floor, CINJ.

All groups are free of charge.

For general questions about any of the groups, call the Social Work Department at (732) 235-6792. Confidentiality will be respected. Directions to CINJ may be found at www.cinj.org.

Movies, book talks,

concert set at library

The Monroe Township Public Library, 4 Municipal Plaza, will hold several upcoming events for adults.

A series of "Walk-In Winter Films" are scheduled for the month of January. "Eight Below" is set for Jan. 4. "Sahara" will be screened on Jan. 11. "National Treasure" is on tap for Jan. 25. All films will be shown at 2 p.m. Admission is free of charge.

A meeting of the Cabin Fever Winter Reading Club is planned for Jan. 5. Participants who enter the book titles they read will be eligible for weekly prize drawings. Interested individuals should pick up a club packet at the circulation desk.

Vocalists Joan Aniano and Russell Fischer will perform a one-hour musical theater cabaret, with Dave Schlossberg on the piano, at 2 p.m. on Jan. 7. Tickets are available at the circulation desk; limit is two tickets per person.

The Monday Morning Book Club will meet at 10 a.m. on Jan. 8. Topic will be "The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House" by John F. Harris. Sylvia Deutsch will lead the discussion. Copies of the book are available at the circulation desk upon registration.

The Director's Cut Book Group will meet at 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 17 to discuss "Dreams From My Father" by Sen. Barack Obama. Library director Irene Goldberg will host the discussion. Books are available upon registration at the circulation desk.

Knitting instructor Tammy Knorr will help novice knitters with their projects at a meeting of the Knit-Lit Knitting Group set for 1 p.m. on Jan. 18. Participants will chat, meet new friends and discuss the latest knitting trends and books. The group meets on the third Thursday of every month. Registration is ongoing at the circulation desk.

All events are open to the public.

Library January Artists of the Month are students from Brookside Elementary School. The youngsters' works are on exhibit in the George Ivers Memorial Display Case.

For more information, call (732) 521-5000.

Free computer training offered to E.B. seniors

The Churchill Junior High School Computer Club, East Brunswick, is offering free personal computer training for East Brunswick senior citizens.

The next class is set for 9-11 a.m. on Jan. 20 in room 303 at Churchill Junior High School, 18 Norton Road. The program is free of charge. To register, interested individuals should call the Churchill Computer Club at (732) 613-6800, ext. 4346, and leave their name and a telephone number with a (732) area code.

High School, 18 Norton Road. The program is free of charge. To register, interested individuals should call the Churchill Computer Club at (732) 613-6800, ext. 4346, and leave their name and a telephone number with a (732) area code.

Tickets available for pro-wresting event

National Wrestling Superstars (NWS) will return on Feb. 9 to Sayreville Knights of Columbus Council No. 2061 Hall, 775 Washington Road. Bell time is set for 7:45 p.m.

Brutus the Barber Beefcake will wrestle in a loser-loses hair match. The CJ 8 Tag team Battle Royal also will be on the card.

For tickets or to make reservation, call Jack at (848) 228-0126 and leave a message.

in a loser-loses hair match. The CJ 8 Tag team Battle Royal also will be on the card.

For tickets or to make reservation, call Jack at (848) 228-0126 and leave a message.

Dining at Applebee's to aid EBHS Wrestling

The East Brunswick High School (EBHS) Wrestling Club Booster Association will sponsor a Dining to Donate fundraiser from 4 p.m. to closing on Jan. 16 at Applebee's of Milltown, Milltown Road and Ryders Lane.

Diners who eat in or take out should present a Dining to Donate flier at the restaurant. Applebee's will then donate 10 percent of supporters' bills to the booster association. The flier must be presented for the donation to count. For more information and to obtain a flier, call Nancy Williams at (732) 297-7004 or e-mail srvum21@aol.com.

Donations sought for Wounded Warrior Project

The Spotswood High School History Club and Octagon Community Service Club are supporting the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides returning amputee and wheelchair veterans with a backpack filled with personal and other needed items upon their arrival at a military hospital in the United States. The veterans have served in the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations around the world.

The contents of each backpack cost $99. The pack will display a luggage tag noting the name and address of the sponsor.

Donations may be given to club officers or left in Mary Dempsey's or Frank Yusko's mailbox at the school, Summerhill Road.

Approximately 3,000 U.S. soldiers have been killed in the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. More than 20,000 solders have been wounded, and a number have lost limbs or are in wheelchairs.

For more information on the Wounded Warrior Project, log on to www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Donations will be collected at the high school through the end of January.

Library schedules closing to honor the Rev. King

The Monroe Township Library, 4 Municipal Plaza, will be closed on Monday, Jan. 15 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

For more information, call (732) 521-5000.

Programs slated at Milltown Senior Center

A variety of upcoming programs are scheduled at the Milltown Senior Center, Violet Terrace.

Computer instruction, a free service for Milltown residents, will be offered on a first-come basis beginning at 10 a.m. on Jan. 9 at the center. An arts-and-crafts program also is scheduled for the same day; there may be a small fee for supplies.

A luncheon for Meals on Wheels volunteers, hosted by the Department of Social Services, is planned for 1 p.m. on Jan. 10. New and current volunteers are welcome. Interested individuals must sign up in advance on the center's bulletin board.

The Department of Social Services will sponsor a visit from a Visiting Nurse Association nurse from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 11. Interested Milltown residents must sign up on the bulletin board for an appointment.

The center's Men's Club will meet from 9-11 a.m. on Jan. 11. New members are welcome. Breakfast will be served.

Aerobics will be offered at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 12. Line dancing will follow at noon. Bridge and cards are set for 1 p.m.

Call Debbie Cuddy at (732) 296-0681 to register or for more information.

Crash course in Jewish history coming to temple

Congregation Etz Chaim Monroe Township Jewish Center, 11 Cornell Ave., will offer a crash course in Jewish history at 11 a.m. on Saturdays, Jan. 7-Feb. 4. The sessions are sponsored by the New Jewish Outreach Program.

The public is invited. For more information, call (732) 251-1119.

sessions are sponsored by the New Jewish Outreach Program.

The public is invited. For more information, call (732) 251-1119.