Community Bulletin Board

Allure of Chocolate

scheduled for Jan. 28

The Historic Village of Old Bridge Community Group (HVOBCG) and the New Jersey Museum of Agriculture will sponsor the fourth annual Allure of Chocolate from 1-4 p.m. on Jan. 28 at the New Jersey Museum of Agriculture, 103 College Farm Road, North Brunswick. Birnn Chocolates, Highland Park, will co-sponsor the event.

Highlights will include a presentation on the history and processing of chocolate, demonstrations, tasting samples and a variety of packaged chocolates for purchase.

Tickets cost $20 in advance, $25 at the door (if still available). Advance payment is due by Jan. 20. Only 100 tickets will be sold. Checks should be made payable to 2007 Chocolate Program and sent to Susan Luczu, 42 River Road, East Brunswick, NJ 08816. Name, address, telephone number and number of tickets ordered should be noted. Admission cost will include demonstrations, tastings, refreshments and door prizes. Proceeds will be shared by the HVOBCG and the Museum of Agriculture to offset programming expenses.

For more information, call (732) 257-6424.

Adult-ed catalog

available for preview

The Spring 2007 East Brunswick Adult and Community Education Program catalog, soon to be mailed to East Brunswick residents, also is available by logging on to www.ebnet.org and clicking on Community Programs, then Spring Catalog. Information on registration also will be offered. More than 20 new classes will be offered in the spring.

Milltown Lions Club plans Spaghetti Dinner

The Milltown Lions Club will hold a Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser from 5-8 p.m. on Jan. 19 at the Milltown Senior Citizens Center, Violet Terrace.

Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $2 for children. Wine, beer and soft drinks will be available. Proceeds will benefit the visually impaired. For more information, call (732) 329-7600.

Curtain to rise on 'Fools' at MTHS

The Monroe Township High School (MTHS) Footlights Club will present "Fools," a comic fable in two acts by Neil Simon, at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 11, 12 and 13 in the auditorium at Monroe Township High School, 1629 Perrineville Road, Monroe. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $7 for senior citizens, $5 for students. For more information, call the school at (732) 521-2882.

Simon's 'Rumours'

coming to SRHS

The Montgomery Street Players, South River, will present Neil Simon's "Rumours" at 7 p.m. on Jan. 19 and 20 in the auditorium at South River High School, Montgomery Street.

Tickets cost $5 for students, $7 for adults. Refreshments will be sold during intermission. For more information, call (732) 613-4014. Volunteer tutors needed to aid township youth

The East Brunswick Public Library, Jean Walling Civic Center, is seeking college students, educators and other adults with expertise in an academic subject area to serve as volunteer tutors and help township youth study for upcoming midterm exams.

Cram sessions, intense study and exam-preparation evenings for students in Churchill Junior High School and East Brunswick High School, will be held at the library from 7-10 p.m. on Jan. 24, 25 and 28. Tutors will be on hand to provide assistance to motivated students. There is no charge for the service. Refreshments will be served. For more information or to volunteer, call the library youth services desk at (732) 390-6789.

Free health events set at Office on Aging

The South River Office on Aging, 11 William St., will offer a variety of upcoming free health events for seniors age 60 and above.

An AARP-sponsored drivers' safety course is set for Jan. 17 and 18. Fee is $10. Registration is required.

Glucose testing with a representative from the Visiting Nurse Association is planned for Jan. 29.

An Alzheimer's disease seminar will be held on Jan. 31.

Representatives from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick; will offer a Pharmacy Brown-Bag Program on Feb. 6.

Hearing tests will be administered on Feb. 16. Call (732) 257-2340 for appointment. For more information and exact times for all events, call (732) 257-2340.

Circle Players to stage two plays in January

Circle Players, 416 Victoria Ave., Piscataway, will present "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You" and "The Actor's Nightmare," two plays by Christopher Durang, through Jan. 21, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Jan. 14 and 21 at 3 p.m.

"Sister Mary" tells the story of a strict nun confronted by her former students, with startling results. "Actors Nightmare" is the story of George, who thinks he might be an accountant, and finds himself on stage, expected to perform in a play, but he hasn't rehearsed, doesn't know the lines, or even which play he is in. Karen Root plays Sister Mary and David Neal appears as George.

For reservations and information, call (732) 968-7555, or visit www.circleplayers.com.

Tree identification next up at Cheesequake

A "Bark and Buds" program will begin at 1 p.m. on Jan. 14 at Cheesequake Park Interpretative Center, Gordon Road, Old Bridge.

Participants will learn how to identify trees during the winter months, when leaves are not present and the bark and buds are often the only clues to unlocking the mystery. The event is free of charge. Individuals ages 8 and up are invited. For more information, call (732) 566-3208.

Alliance to sponsor events for children, adults

The Monroe Municipal Alliance Committee will offer a variety of free events aimed at increasing self-esteem in youngsters and adults. All events will be held at the Monroe Township Community Center, 120 Monmouth Road, unless otherwise indicated.

The schedule is as follows:

+ Jan. 17 and 24 - "Cute, Inside And Out (CIAO) Program," session one for youngsters in fourth-sixth grades, session two for sixth-ninth grades, designed to help young people learn the importance of first impressions, cell-phone etiquette, good posture and personal care, table manners and more (call for session times);

+ Jan. 11, 18 and 25 - "CIAO Program: Be a Kool, Kind Kid," session one for preschoolers, session two for youngsters in kindergarten-third grade, session three for grades 4-6, with a focus on manners, talking and listening skills, phone manners and table manners (call for session times);

+ Jan. 16 at 11:30 a.m. - "Successful Parenting: Session One" (lunch included), focusing on the basic needs of every child, the importance of strong social skills in children, communication, active listening, problem-solving, coping skills, and how to deal with a child's positive and/or negative feelings;

+ Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. - "The Emperor's New Clothes," a live theatrical production for all ages, focusing on friendship, respect, self-esteem and honesty.

All programs are free of charge.

For more information, exact time of each CIAO session, and to register, call (732) 723-5000.

The alliance will hold its monthly meeting at 4 p.m. on Jan. 16 at the community center. Parents, teachers, senior citizens, religious leaders, students in sixth grade-college and all community members are welcome to attend.

Movie, science show next up in Helmetta

The Helmetta Recreation Depart-ment will sponsor two upcoming events.

A Movie and Popcorn Night is planned for 7 p.m. on Feb. 12 at Borough Hall, Main Street. The film "Air Buddies" will be shown.

A Mad Science Show and Ice Cream Sundaes event will be offered at 2 p.m. on Feb. 14 at Holy Trinity Church, 100 Main St.

Participants in both events are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for donation to the local food bank.

For more information, call (732) 521-4946, ext. 100.

Recipes sought for

Taste of Monroe

The Monroe Township Library is seeking recipes for its Taste of Monroe, a culinary contest open to all library patrons.

The categories are: January, soups/stews; February, desserts; March, appetizers. Tastings will take place at 1 p.m. on Jan. 26, Feb. 23 and March 30. Cooks must be present to dish out a taste of their original recipes.

Chefs from Fiddleheads Restaurant, Jamesburg, will judge January recipes. Prizes will be awarded to the top three recipes at each tasting. Prize-winning recipes will be published, and entrants will have their recipes published in the library's "First Patrons Cookbook."

Entry forms and information on contest deadlines and rules are available at the circulation desk. For more information, call (732) 521-5000.

Tricky tray planned for Jan. 21 in South River

South River Loyal Order of the Moose and Women No. 165 and No. 884 will hold a joint tricky tray beginning at 2 p.m. on Jan. 21 at the Moose Lodge, 49 Reid St. Doors will open at noon.

Admission is $5 and will include one sheet of tickets. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call Joan at (732) 251-2044 or the lodge at (732) 254-5522.

Etz Chaim to sponsor Jan. 15 Magic Show

Congregation Etz Chaim Monroe Township Jewish Center will present its annual Magic Show from 3-5 p.m. on Jan. 15 at the Monroe Township Community Center, Monmouth Road.

The event will feature clowns, magic, illusion, juggling and more. Tickets are free of charge for children ages 12 and under, when accompanied by an adult. Admission is $5 for adults. For more information, call (732) 251-1119.

Service will honor life

of the Rev. King

Union Baptist Church and the South River community will commemorate the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in a community celebration service set for 7 p.m. on Jan. 17 at Union Baptist Church, 76 Washington St., South River.

The Rev. Jeffery Broughton Sr., pastor, Union Baptist, will participate in the services. Guest preacher will be the Rev. Reginald T. Jackson, pastor of St. Matthew AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Church, Orange, and executive director of the Black Ministers Council of New Jersey. For more information, call (732) 651-2770.

Carnival on tap for

Jan. 14 at temple

The Early Childhood Learning Center at Temple B'nai Shalom, Fern and Old Stage roads, East Brunswick, will sponsor a Carnival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 14.

The event will feature games, food, a tricky tray and prizes. Cost is $5 in advance for 15 tickets to be used at the carnival, $5 at the door for 10 tickets. The public is welcome. For more information, call (732) 251-4300, ext. 227. Young actors sought for 'High School Musical'

Auditions for Triple H Productions' upcoming performances of "Disney's High School Musical" will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 23 for students in grades K-5, Jan. 26 for grades 6-12, at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 221 MacArthur Ave., Sayreville. Participants should use the church's back entrance. Sign-ins will begin at 6:15 p.m. High-school students are especially encouraged to audition. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Students are asked to prepare 16 bars of a song in the style of the show or from the show. For more information, call Wilfredo Hernandez Jr. at (732) 254-1535 or log on to www.triplehproductions.com.