Community Bulletin Board: Criterion Sentinel (for December 18)

Join Congregation Neve Shalom for a special musical Havdalah led by song leader Lincoln Richman and cantorial student Shirel Gidekel from 6:30-8 p.m. on Jan. 4 at the temple, 250 Grove Ave., Metuchen.

The event is free.

RSVP to 732-548-2238, ext. 12.

For more information, email Wendy Kushner at whkushner@gmail.com.

The Around the World in 60 Minutes Food & Drink Festival will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Jan. 25 at the First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen Social Center, 270 Woodbridge Ave., Metuchen.

The cost is $20 for those 21 and over, $10 for adults 20 and under, and free for children under 2.

Children 10 and younger require adult supervision.

Proceeds will benefit ongoing community immigration work.

Sunrise Senior Living will collect new men’s, women’s and children’s socks for the homeless and needy through The Joy of Sox at the facility, 1801 Oak Tree Road, Edison, through Dec. 23.

For more information, call 732-767-1031.

A Book & Breakfast Event will be held at 10:15 a.m. on Jan. 12 at the Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County, 1775 Oak Tree Road, Edison.

Meet Susan Shapiro Barash, aka Susannah Marren, the author of “A Palm Beach Wife”.

Registration is required by calling 732-494-3232. Early bird registration by Jan. 3 is $10 for light breakfast and lecture; a cost of $18 includes light breakfast, lecture and book.

Regular pricing is $15 for light breakfast followed by lecture; $23 includes light breakfast, lecture and book.

No refunds.

The Edison Main Public Library will offer free blood sugar and blood pressure testing at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 13 at the branch, 340 Plainfield Ave., Edison.

Testing is being done by Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick.

Registration and fasting are not required.

Local Haunts, presented by New Jersey Paranormal, will be held at 7 p.m. on Jan. 15.

Members will talk about the equipment and techniques they use when researching and investigating the existence of energy and spirits in the hereafter. Attendees will also have the opportunity to see evidence of what they captured from local haunts.

For more information, call 732-287-2298 or visit www.edisonpubliclibrary.net.

The Jamaica Organization of New Jersey (JON-J) will hold its annual Pre-New Year’s Ball from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Dec. 28 at The Imperia, 1714 Easton Ave., Somerset.

Proceeds benefit the organization’s scholarship fund for awards to local high school graduates who are going on to college and for a donation to Hampton School in Jamaica towards infrastructure improvements.

Tickets are $110. Cash bar.

For tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com.

The North Edison Public Library will hold a program called Protecting Yourself in the Age of Cyber Security, presented by Manhattan Ridge Advisors, at 7 p.m. on Jan. 14 at the branch, 777 Grove Ave., Edison.

Learn about evolving cyber threats. Learn the steps to identify online dangers and how to protect yourself in the digital world.

The Joy of Backyard Bird Feeding with Peter Axelrod, an Educational and Community Outreach coordinator at Wild Birds Unlimited, will discuss how to use bird feeders, water, and shelter to attract native birds at 7 p.m. on Jan. 8. Attendees will learn ways to discourage nuisance animals and make properties bird-friendly.

For more information and to register, call 732-287-2298 or visit www.edisonpubliclibrary.net.

Abstract paintings by Ray Skibinski will be on display through Dec. 22 at the Gallery at the Metuchen Library, 480 Middlesex Ave., Metuchen.

Formerly an illustrator for various periodicals, newspapers and books, Skibinski now devotes his creative energy to his own painting and to teaching a weekly watercolor class, the Oak Tree Watercolor Group.

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

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 Foundation Pediatric Cancer Humanitarian of the Year.

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

Middlesex County will hold its annual conference for young men, aimed at instilling leadership, wellness and prevention of drug and alcohol abuse, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 17 at Middlesex County College in the College Center, 2600 Woodbridge Ave.

The program will feature interactive workshops designed to provide students with opportunities to learn about a healthy and empowered lifestyle. It will focus on setting and achieving goals and avoiding negative influences. Participants will also learn to identify resources and tools that can be shared with their peers.

For more information, email bicskoj@mcvts.net or call 732 257-3300, ext. 1930.

The Edison Public Libraries will hold a series of events during Black History Month.

The current schedule is as follows:

* Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin Film Viewing, 3 p.m. Feb. 3 at Clara Barton Library, 141 Hoover Ave.

* Housing in New Jersey through the Lens of Race, 7 p.m. Feb. 3 at Edison Main Library, 340 Plainfield Ave.

* Wrongful Convictions & Race, 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at North Edison Library, 777 Grove Ave.

* Freedom Summer Film Viewing, 3 p.m. Feb. 10 at Clara Barton Library

* Jack Sherrod: Slave, Solider, and Savvy Landowner, 7 p.m. Feb. 11 at North Edison Library

* The Underground Railroad in New Jersey, 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at Edison Main Library

* New Jersey Black History, 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at North Edison Library

* Before & After: Tupac, Biggie, and the Birth of Hip Hop from a Man Who Was There, 7 p.m. Feb. 19 at Edison Main Library

* West Africa on the East Coast, 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at Edison Main Library

For more information, call 732-287-2298 or visit www.edisonpubliclibrary.net.

The Edison Public Library will kick off its month-long series of events in honor of Black History Month by unveiling the newest stamp from the Black Heritage series.

For 2020, the United States Post Office will honor late journalist and newscaster Gwen Ifill. The NAACP Metuchen-Edison Area Branch will award the library and Mayor Thomas Lankey with a plaque for their dedication to diversity. Additionally, Mr. Clarence McKnight, member of The Ebony Society of Philatelic Events and Reflections, will lead a discussion about the Black Heritage series and also look at stamps throughout the history of the Civil Rights

All are welcome to attend this event at 7 p.m. on Feb. 4 at the Edison Main Public Library, 340 Plainfield Ave., Edison.

Refreshments will be served.

For more information, call 732-287-2298 or visit www.edisonpubliclibrary.net.

Central Jersey SCORE, a non-profit resource partner of the Small Business Administration, is seeking volunteers to assist people looking to start a business or grow an existing small business.

The organization is recruiting retired or current business owners and executives 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 at a wide variety of locations and also presents seminars at local venues. In addition, the SCORE website offers tools and templates on a wide variety of topics related to organizing and managing a business and numerous online courses and webinars to assist small business owners through every aspect of business development. Services are offered free of charge.

For more information, visit www.centraljersey.score.org.