Editor’s note: In light of recent events related to coronavirus, some organizations have decided to cancel their upcoming programs. Please check the status of any event before attending.
The East Brunswick Public Library is holding its annual short story contest.
The “73 Words in the 732” short story contest seeks original short stories that contain 73 words or less. Whether the inspiration is about current events or fantastical creatures, there is no set theme or topic. A panel of library staff will select the best short stories, which will appear on the library’s website.
All ages are welcome to participate. Contributors can submit their stories online at www.ebpl.org through May 26.
The First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen (FPC) cancelled its annual spring rummage sale in April but rescheduled it for 5-8:30 p.m. on Sept. 25 and 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 26 in the FPC Social Center, 270 Woodbridge Ave., Metuchen.
FPC will accept donations from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 21-24 in the church office.
Women’s Voices seeks to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women achieving the right to vote through artwork that depicts the power that arises when women use their voices to demand change.
Send up to three JPEGs per person to transformations491@gmail.com. Must include the artist’s name and title of the piece in the file name.
This is a juried exhibit; submission does not guarantee exhibition.
Entry deadline is May 1. Notification of artists is May 8.
The show runs at Transformations Gallery in Metuchen from June through December.
One in 8 Middlesex County residents are food insecure – meaning they don’t have reliable, affordable access to nutritious foods and necessities.
The holidays are over but the need for food donations has not ended. MCFOODS (Middlesex County Food Organization and Outreach Distribution Services) is running low on items such as macaroni and cheese, rice, spaghetti, peanut butter, tuna fish, canned fruits and vegetables.
Consider hosting a food drive with your business, school, civic group or athletic team. MCFOODS can provide containers and transportation of items back to the warehouse. A flyer is attached that can be used or personalized to promote a collection.
Individual donations can be dropped off at the libraries in East Brunswick, Edison, Metuchen, Monroe, Piscataway, Plainsboro and Woodbridge.
MCFOODS is also in need of volunteers to help at the warehouse, offer professional expertise, assist at local events and host a food drive.
For more information, contact Jennifer Apostol, MCFOODS director, by calling 609-409-5033, emailing ja@mciauth.com or visiting www.mciauth.com.
The Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce has released dates for its 2020 events:
– Spring street fair, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 17
– Cruise nights, 6-8:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month from May to September (May 6, June 3, July 1, Aug. 5, Sept. 2)
– Restaurant Week, July 13-19
– Metuchen Country Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 3
For details or vendor/sponsor information, visit www.metuchenchamberexchange.com.
The 74th annual Bernie Cohn Golf Classic will be held on May 14 at Forsgate Country Club, 375 Forsgate Dr., Monroe, by the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Tee off is 9 a.m.
Sign up at mcrcc.org.
The Barron Arts Center will present Suffragette State, The Politics of Art & Culture, featuring the Diane Perry Folk Ensemble, at 7:30 p.m. on May 8 at the center, 582 Rahway Ave., Woodbridge.
Free admission, but reservations are required by calling 732-634-0413.
Cruise Nights are scheduled for 6-8:30 p.m. May 6, June 3, July 1, Aug. 5 and Sept. 2 in Downtown Metuchen, sponsored by the Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce. Rain dates are the following Wednesdays.
Call 732-548-2964 or email metuchenchamber@optimum.net for more information.
Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County will hold its One Community Gala for 2020 at 5 p.m. on June 14 at Classical Caterers at Congregation B’Nai Tikvah, 1001 Finnegans Lane, North Brunswick.
Dinner, dancing and auction.
Honorees include community leaders David and Ellen Rabinowitz, BCB Bank and Vincent Davis, and Bill Neary.
Sponsorship opportunities and journal ads are available.
For more information, email JeanieJ@jfsmiddlesex.org or JudyC@jfsmiddlesex.org, or call 732-777-1940.
The Winter Farmers Market in Metuchen will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 9 at St Luke’s Episcopal Church, 17 Oak Ave., Metuchen.
The New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning and PNC Bank are inviting New Jersey students in grades 2-12 to take part in the 17th annual PNC Bank “American Patriot Essay Contest” by writing a short essay on the topic “What the American Flag Means to Me.”
The Grand Prize winner will receive the opportunity to take a ride in a 75-foot-tall hot air balloon in front of their classmates at their school in June and then fly in one of the 100 hot air balloons at this year’s 38th annual balloon fest, scheduled for July 24-26 at Solberg Airport in Readington.
The Festival VIP Grand Prize package includes a hot air balloon ride for two, four Blue Sky Club VIP tickets, and the opportunity to meet one of this year’s concert headliners.
This year’s winning student’s immediate classmates will each receive one complimentary general admission ticket to the Festival. Second-place and third-place prizes consisting of festival admission and merchandise will be also awarded. The winning student’s teacher and school principal will each receive two Blue Sky Club VIP tickets.
All teachers in the state who submit a group of 15 essays or more on behalf of their students will receive two free general admission tickets to the festival regardless of whether one of their students submits the winning essay.
The essays must be 100 words or less. They will be judged by a panel of representatives from PNC Bank and the balloon festival. Winning essays will be selected based on creativity, poignancy and clarity with consideration given to the grade level of the contestant.
Entries should be mailed to Essay Judges, New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning, 363 Route 46 West, Suite 200, Fairfield 07004; or emailed to pncessay@balloonfestival.com. Entries should include the student’s name, grade and age; the school name, address and telephone number; and the name of their teacher and the teacher’s school email address.
The deadline to enter is May 1.
Additional information may be found at www.balloonfestival.com/pncessay.
The fourth annual Celebrate Middlesex County event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 13 at Roosevelt Park, Parsonage Road, Edison.
Enjoy roller skating, a fishing derby, live music, entertainment, food trucks and hands-on activities.
For more information, visit middlesexcountynj.gov/celebrate.
The Redhawk Native American Arts Council will hold its annual Raritan Pow Wow from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., rain or shine, on June 20 and 21 at the Middlesex County Fairgrounds, 655 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.
There will be Native American dancers, singers, artists, vendors, crafts, performing groups and food.
Grand entry of dancers is at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. both days.
The cost is $12 for adults and teens, $8 for children ages 6-12, $10 for seniors age 65 and older, $10 for students, and $35 online only for family four-packs.
Parking is free.
Bring lawn chairs. Leashed pets welcome.
For more information, visit www.redhawkcouncil.org. For tickets, visit raritanpw2020.eventbrite.com.
The 11th annual Metuchen Rescue Squad Benefit Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 9 at Metuchen High School, 400 Grove Ave., Metuchen.
Pre-registration cost is $10 by Aug. 5. Day of, cost is $15.
Spectators are free.
For more information, visit www.metrescuesquad.com.
