Community Bulletin Board
Angel Sharing Tree at church during December

Holmdel Community United Church of Christ, 40 Main St., will hold its “Angel Sharing Tree” at the church during December.

The tree will be decorated with angels representing donations to the Calico Cat Food Pantry. Gift certificates and food certificates will be purchased and given to needy families, and financial contributions are also accepted.

Sorting of the clothing for the Bridges program will be Dec. 13 at 6 p.m., with the Christmas run of the program Dec. 15. Volunteers will distribute supplies of food and clothing to the homeless in New York City. Volunteers are also needed to help make bagged lunches, which should consist of a sandwich, drink (juice packs are best), a goodie (chips or cookies), and piece of fruit (preferably softer fruit). A note of some kind is also requested for the recipient. Lunches should be brought to fellowship hall Dec. 15 from 1-6 p.m.

A children’s Christmas pageant will be Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. All are welcome, and children in the church are invited to participate. For more information, call (732) 946-8821 or e-mail holmdelchurch@verizon.net.

‘Christmas Song and Dance’ Dec. 16, 17

The youth group of Jesus the Lord Roman Catholic Church, 123 Broad St., Keyport, will present the original Christmas play, “A Christmas Song and Dance,” Dec. 16 at 8 p.m., and Dec. 17 at 4 p.m. Children are admitted free and adults are asked to make a small donation. Light refreshments will be provided.

For more information, call the church at (732) 739-0323.

Santa to visit Matawan streets Dec. 13-15

Matawan Recreation has announced Santa Claus will visit Matawan streets Dec. 13-15 from 6-9 p.m. Santa will visit Matawan Avenue, Hillside, Angela, Oak Knoll, Sutton, Aberdeen Road, Union, Chestnut, Daniel, Essie, Ned, Marc and Colonial on Dec. 13.

The route Dec. 14 will consist of roads Route 34, Edgewater, Beechwood, Crestwood, Northfield, Overhill, Belleview, Maple, Middlesex, Christine, Matawan Green, Ravine, Morristown, Rustic, Union, Fredwood, Indian, Fawn, Mohawk, Union, Roberts, Harding, Liberty, Sonia, Oakland, and Grant.

The route for Dec. 15 will consist of Little, Ravine, Jackson, Fountain, Church, Wyckoff, Spring, Main, Route 34, Washington, Monroe, Franklin, Main, South, Broad, Park, Orchard, Little, Johnson, and Atlantic.

For more information, call Deborah Dow at Recreation at (732) 566-3898, ext. 130.

House decorating contest to be judged Thursday

The Keyport Recreation Commission will be judging homes for its holiday house decorating contest on Thursday evening. This contest is open to all residents and no registration is required. To participate, residents are asked to have their decorative lights turned on and be sure that their house number is visible.

Prizes for the winning homes will be announced Jan. 1, at the Borough Council reorganization meeting, to be held at noon at the Central School, 355 Broad St.

Holiday concert Dec. 13 in Atlantic Highlands

The Atlantic Highlands Historical Society will present a holiday concert Dec. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Strauss Mansion, 27 Prospect Circle, Atlantic Highlands. Seasonal songs will be performed by the a cappella choir from Henry Hudson Regional School. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call the historical society at (732) 291-1861 or visit http://atlantichighlandshistory.org/.

Passaggio Youth Chorale to sing at church Dec. 15

Monmouth Chinese Christian Church, 189 Holland Road, Middletown, will present a free Christmas concert by the Passaggio Youth Chorale Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. The chorale has been invited to sing at the White House pageant of peace Dec. 17.

For more information, call (732) 739-2187 or visit www.mccc.org.

M’town students’ work displayed at area library

Paintings and drawings from Monmouth County Arts High School students are on display through December at Sea Bright Public Library, 1097 Ocean Ave.

Area students selected for the exhibit are Cassandra Bernadini, Middletown High School South; and Jessica Chepauskas and Emily Hueston, Middletown High School North. Students are admitted to the Arts High School program via audition and participate weekly in courses taught by professional artists.

For more information, call the arts and education center at (732) 566-2787.

Dec. 21 registration

for Hazlet Rec classes

Hazlet Recreation is offering gymnastics for girls and boys for 16 lessons Wednesdays beginning Jan. 3.

The program will be at Cove Road School, Hazlet. One hour lessons will be at 5:40 p.m. for ages 6-8, 6:50 p.m. for girls age 6-8, and 8 p.m. for girls age 9-14. Cost is $57. Body conditioning for adults will be offered for six weeks Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:15-10:15 a.m. beginning Jan. 2. Cost is $50, and sneakers, an exercise mat or towel, and water bottle are required. Registration deadline for the above is Dec. 21, with a $15 late fee thereafter.’

A 12-lesson cardio kickboxing class will be offered Mondays and Wednesdays from 7-8 p.m. beginning Jan. 8. Needed are a mat or towel, water bottle, and 3- to 5-pound hand weights. Cost is $50, with a $15 late fee after Jan. 5. Latin dance classes will be offered for 10 Thursdays from 7:30-8:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 11. Attendees should bring a water bottle and wear comfortable shoes. Cost is $50, with a $15 late fee after Jan. 10.

Cardio kickboxing for beginners will be offered for 12 Saturdays from 9:30-10:30 a.m. beginning Jan. 13. Cost is $50 with a $15 late fee after Jan. 12. A mat or towel, and water bottle are required. The above classes are at James J. Cullen Center, 1776 Union Ave., Hazlet, unless otherwise noted.

A limited number of tickets are available for the following bus trips: “Chorus Line,” Jan. 14, $98; “Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” Feb. 25, $96; “Legally Blonde,” April 13, $86; “King Tut’s Tour,” June 29, $44; and “Jersey Boys,” July 12, $106.

Recreation will be closed Dec. 25 and will reopen Jan. 2. For more information, call Recreation at (732) 739-0653.

Vendors sought for Bayview School show

Bayview Elementary School, 300 Leonardville Road, Belford section of Middletown, is seeking vendors and crafters for its “Shop ’Til You Drop” March 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Crafters and vendors must supply table; the cost is $50 for a 6-foot space or $75 for two. For more information, call (732) 495-4454 or e-mail Mdavatelis@yahoo.com.

‘Stop Smoking’ meetings to begin Dec. 18

Aberdeen Township will present “Stop Smoking” meetings for Aberdeen residents beginning Dec. 18 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Aberdeen Township Municipal Building, 1 Aberdeen Square.

The free monthly meetings will feature representatives from the Quit Smoking Center, New Brunswick; Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel; and John Ralph Karate.

For more information, call (732) 583-4200, ext. 217.

‘Evening With Whitman’ at college Dec. 13

Brookdale Community College’s English department will present “An Evening With Walt Whitman” Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at Room 208 of the Warner Student Life Center, Newman Springs Road, Lincroft section of Middletown. Walt Whitman impersonator Darrel Blaine Ford will give a reading and performance celebrating the life and work of the American poet.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, e-mail bkenney@brookdalecc.edu.

Senior center announces December events

The Middletown Senior Center’s monthly birthday party will be held Dec. 14 at 1 p.m. The event will feature a program of holiday music by Rich Marzec and Friends, which includes members of the Happy Days String Band. Refreshments will be served.

A pre-New Year’s party will be held Dec. 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Shore Casino, Atlantic Highlands. The sit-down luncheon will feature entertainment by DJ Donny Pesce. The cost is $25, and preregistration is required by Dec. 19. The senior center is located at 900 Leonardville Road, Leonardo section of Middletown. For more information, call (732) 615-2265.

Teacher’s plays on stage in NYC Dec. 15, 16

Alexis Kozak, a drama and English teacher at Middletown High School South, is producing his two original plays, “A Graveyard Where Dead American Playwrights Go” and “Dog Papers” off-off Broadway, Dec. 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. at Polaris North, 245 W. 29th St., New York City. Both were inspired by Kozak’s mother, who passed away last January. “Graveyard” tells the story of an unknown playwright waking up in a cemetery with famous playwrights, and “Dog Papers” deals with a college professor trying to break off her relationship with a charming Russian man. Kozak will star in both plays.

Tickets are free, but reservations are highly recommended. For reservations, call (732) 207-5573.

‘Funny Thing Happened’ puppet show Dec. 15

The Peter Puppets will perform “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Census” Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Keyport, 45 Main St. The event is free, and refreshments will be follow the puppet show.

For more information, call the church at (732) 264-0735.

Matawan resident’s photos at center through Dec. 16

Monmouth Beach Cultural Center, 128 Ocean Ave., will exhibit works by Peter Lopez, Matawan, through Dec. 16. Lopez has been photographing living nature, seascapes and landscapes for several years. He is an associate member of the Guild of Creative Art, Shrewsbury, and a member of The Raritan Photographic Society and The Art Alliance of Monmouth County, Red Bank.

The center is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call the center at (732) 229-4527.