Community Bulletin Board Littoral Society to offer divers workshop Dec. 2 The American Littoral Society, Sandy Hook, will hold a symposium for divers Dec. 2 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Brookdale Community College Ocean Institute, Sandy Hook. The event will be presented by educators, divers and scientists and is designed for novice and experienced divers. Topics will include the role of divers as marine science observers and new opportunities to contribute to science, identifying fish and other ocean life, and issues surrounding access to dive sites. Underwater photographer Herb Segars will discuss his work and how divers can make the most of digital photography. The fee is $45 and includes breakfast, lunch, and all materials. Space is limited to 30. Preregistration is required, and may be done by calling (732) 291-0055 or online at www.littoralsociety.org. Pearl Harbor services at VFW Post Dec. 3 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post No. 2179 and its Ladies Auxiliary, Port Monmouth section of Middletown, will hold Pearl Harbor remembrance services Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. at the Post home, 1 Veterans Lane. The public is invited to attend. For more information, call Mary at (732) 787-3620. Program will focus on fathers and daughters The Women's Ministry at Lincroft Bible Church will hold its Circle of Friends for Encouragement & Education program Dec. 7 beginning at 9:30 a.m. The Rev. Greg Comfort will explore the relationship between fathers and daughters. All women are invited to attend the free program, and refreshments will be served. Free child care is available for children up to age 5. The church is at 790 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft section of Middletown. For details, call (732) 747-1231. Mid'twn Library to host 'Book Brunch' Dec. 1 Middletown Township Public Library, 55 New Monmouth Road, will hold a "Book Brunch," with Pat Squire giving mini book reviews, Dec. 1 at 11 a.m. Red Bank native Squire will show and review approximately 25 to 30 books. She will bring a collection, most new, that she enjoys and wants to share. The library will provide coffee and pastry. The event is free and open to the public; reservations are required. Reservations may be made by calling the library at (732) 671-3700, ext. 333, or e-mail programs@mtpl.org. Mid'twn PBA No. 124 toy drive under way The Middletown PBA No. 124 has announced its 2006 toy drive, with new, unopened toys to be given to Middletown Helps Its Own, the Rainbow Foundation, and 180 Turning Lives Around. Toys may be dropped off at Middletown Police Headquarters, 1 Kings Highway. For more information, call Cpl. Keith Macdonald at (732) 615-2136. American Boychoir at Matawan church Dec. 3 Matawan First Presbyterian Church, 883 Route 34, will welcome the resident training choir of the American Boychoir for the 17th consecutive year Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. The choir consists of fifth- and sixth-grade students of the nonprofit American Boychoir School. The choir tours nationwide and is also called upon to perform with some orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children and seniors, and can be purchased at the door. Tickets are discounted $1 when purchased in advance. For more information, call (732) 566-2663. Tickets now available for candlelight house tour The Keyport Historical Society will present the 2006 "Candlelight House Trolley Tour" Dec. 9 from 4-9 p.m. The tour will feature several of Keyport's Victorian-era homes, museums, churches and properties will be open for the tour. Two vintage trolleys with guides will transport ticketholders to tour stops, and the tour will be held rain or shine. Downtown stores will be open late during the tour, and some will be serving refreshments. Tickets are $18 in advance, and $20 day of event. For ticket locations or more information, call (732) 739-6390, or visit www.keyportonline.com. Christmas tree, menorah lighting in Holmdel Dec. 3 Holmdel Parks and Recreation has announced the annual Christmas tree and menorah lighting will be Dec. 3 at 4:30 p.m. at town hall at Crawfords Corner Road. The event will feature entertainment by second grade students from Village School, W.R. Satz School students, band members from Holmdel High School, and Holmdel Cub Scout Packs No. 131 and 331. Refreshments will be served, and a surprise visitor will be on hand. The "North Pole Mailbox" is now set up outside the Recreation office at town hall, and all letters submitted by Dec. 15 will be answered. Children should include full name and address. For more information, call Christine at (732) 946-2820, ext. 1225. Center announces blood drives slated for December Central Jersey Blood Center, Shrewsbury, has announced the following local blood drives: • Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Temple Beth Shalom, 5 Ayrmont Lane, Aberdeen • Dec. 4 from 6-9 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Matawan, 883 Route 34 north • Dec. 5 at International Flavors & Fragrances, 1515 Route 36 north, Hazlet • Dec. 6 from 6-9 p.m. at Lincroft Fire Company, Newman Springs Road (T-shirts for all donors) • Dec. 21 from noon to 4 p.m. at Conexant, 100 Shults Ave., Lincroft section of Middletown. The donation process takes about an hour. Donors must also complete a medical history interview and have a mini-physical (temperature, iron, pulse and blood pressure screening). Interested donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. All donors must present signature ID at time of registration. Donations may also be made at Central Jersey Blood Center, 494 Sycamore Ave., Shrewsbury. To schedule an appointment, call the center at (732) 842-5750. Poetry readings slated in Keyport Dec. 3 The Traveling Poets Society will present poetry readings by Noreen Braman, Michael Brett and Gretna Wilkerson Dec. 3 from 3-5 p.m., with an open mic beginning at 4:30 p.m. The event will also mark the release party of Brett's "In the Basement With Rosie" CD. It will be at Espresso Joe's, 50 W. Front St., Keyport. For more information, call (732) 203-9499. Holiday bazaar at Calvary UMC Dec. 2 Calvary United Methodist Church (UMC), Third and Osborn streets, Keyport, will hold a holiday bazaar Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will also be available. Library's Needlework Circle to meet Nov. 30 The Needlework Circle of Middletown Township Library will meet Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. at the library at 55 New Monmouth Road. Attendees may bring a project to work on or show, and enjoy coffee, dessert, and conversation. Pat Koziol will also give a short demonstration of needlepoint and embroidery techniques. The circle meets the third Thursday of each month except December, and needle crafters are welcome to attend. For more information, call (732) 671-3700, ext. 333, or e-mail programs@mtpl.org. 'Picasso at the Lapin Agile' to begin Dec. 1 Monmouth Players will present a Not Necessarily the Players presentation of Steve Martin's "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9 and 15 at 8:15 p.m.; and Dec. 3 and 10 at 2 p.m. at the Navesink Library Theater, Sears and Monmouth avenues, Navesink section of Middletown. All tickets are $12, and coffee and homemade desserts will be available. Reservations are required and may be made by calling Lori at (732) 291-9211 or at the Web site at www.monmouthplayers. Hazlet post office taking part in Toys for Tots The United States Postal Service, Hazlet, at 65 Hazlet Ave., is taking part in the Toys for Tots program sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. The post office will accept new toys for needy children through Dec. 17. For more information, call Frank Ceravolo, postmaster, at (732) 264-7068. Instant admit day slated at Brookdale Dec. 5 New Jersey City University will present an open house/instant admit day Dec. 5 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Brookdale Community College, Newman Springs Road, Lincroft section of Middletown. Students starting classes next spring need to bring a transcript to the event for an instant admission decision, and will have application fee waived. Topics of discussion will include the admissions process, teacher certification, and the transfer process. Preregistration is required, and may be done by calling (732) 280-7090. The Center for World War II Studies and Conflict Resolution will present the film "Tora, Tora, Tora" Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in the student life center. Naval veteran and historian Paul Frisco, Middletown, will provide insight into the movie. A question-and-answer session will follow, and light refreshments will be served. Event code XWWTS 140. For fee or to register, call (732) 224-2315. A holiday international chance auction will be Dec. 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the student life center, and will feature items from around the world and a raffle. For information, call Sherri at (732) 224-2410 or e-mail swest@brookdalecc.edu. The college's visiting writers series will present readings by poets Gerald Stern and Anne-Marie Macari Dec. at 7 p.m. at Warner Student Life Center. A $3 donation for the English Club is requested. Stern is the recipient the National Book Award, the Lamont Prize. His most recent book is "What I Can't Bear Losing: Notes from a Life." Macari is author of "Ivory Cradle," winner of the American Poetry Review's Honickman's First Book Prize. Her second book is "Gloryland." For more information, call Laura at (732) 224-2053 or e-mail lmccullough@brookdalecc.edu. Deadlines announced for mailing to troops overseas The United States Postal Services has issued its deadlines for mailing items to troops stationed overseas. New Jersey postal officials are encouraging military families and friends sending packages and letters to mail early to make sure packages reach destinations in time for the holidays. Military mailing deadlines for military mail addressed to Express Mail Military Service for APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092 are Dec. 19, APO/FPO AE ZIP 093 N/A, APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098 Dec. 19, APO/FPO AA ZIPs 340 Dec. 19, and APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966 Dec. 19. Deadlines for (EMMS) First Class Mail letters/cards Priority Mail are APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092 Dec. 11, APO/FPO AE ZIP 093 Dec. 4, APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098 Dec. 11, APO/FPO AA ZIPs 340 Dec. 11, and APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966 Dec. 11. Deadlines for Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) are: APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092 Dec. 4, APO/FPO AE ZIP 093 Dec. 4, APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098 Dec. 4, APO/FPO AA ZIPs 340 Dec. 4, and APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966 Dec. 4. For more information, visit the Military Postal Service's Web site at hqdainet.army.mil/mpsa/. For information on Express Mail Military Service (EMMS), call (800) 275-8777. The U.S. Postal Service offers a military care kit to make it easier to send care packages to troops stationed overseas. To order a free kit, call (800) 610-8734. Live nativity begins Dec. 2 at Hazlet church St. John's United Methodist Church, 2000 Florence Ave., Hazlet, will present a live nativity scene Dec. 2-29. There will also be a "lights and sound" show, a children's video show, coffee house, a wreath-making craft activity and holiday concert during December. The show will feature a replica of Herod's temple and a 40-foot model of Israel with a light show including more than 120 lighting changes depicting the first Christmas. For event schedules or more information, visit www.stjohnshazlet.org or call Debbie at (732) 264-1236. Ramanessin Brook Greenway walk Dec. 2 The Holmdel Environmental Commission will hold a Ramanessin Brook Greenway end-to-end hike Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A half-day option will end at 12:30 p.m. Walkers should meet at the shelter building at Holmdel Park. The hike will follow the entire length of the greenway from Phillips Park to Cross Farm Park. Walkers should bring a day pack with lunch and rain gear. For more information, call the Commission at (732) 946-2820, ext. 1341 or visit www.holmdelenviro.org.