Community Bulletin Board

Live art auction by Ross Galleries slated for March

The Women's Association of Allentown is hosting a live art auction by Ross Galleries on Saturday, March 24 at the Cream Ridge Golf Club, 181 Route 39. There will be a preview from 7-8 p.m. and admission is $15 per person or $25 per couple. Hors d'oeuvres, wine, dessert and coffee will be served. Call Melinda at (609) 259-4670 or Debbie at (609) 410-5524 for further information and advance tickets. Master Card, Visa, Discover and AmEx will be accepted.

May 19 Thunder baseball game to benefit Redbirds

The Allentown High School baseball team will take on Hightstown High School's baseball team May 9 at Mercer County Waterfront Park. Admission to the event is free.

To help offset the cost of the game, players will sell tickets to a May 19 Trenton Thunder game against the Harrisburg Senators. The game will start at 7:05 p.m., with fireworks to follow.

The cost is $10 per ticket, with all proceeds benefiting Allentown Redbird baseball. Make checks payable to A-Town Baseball and send ticket request and payment to Allentown High School, attention Brian Nice, 27 High St., Allentown, NJ 08501.

Public invited to attend Horsemen's meeting

The public is invited to attend the Horsemen's Association of Millstone Township monthly meeting, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in the Community Center, Route 524 (Stagecoach Road), Millstone. Upcoming trips and the spring tack sale will be discussed. Refreshments will be served. The group is open to both horse owners and those without who would like to see horses remain a presence in our community.

Membership has singles, couples and families. Activities include informational speakers, trail rides and group outings. For more information call Marion (evenings only) at (732) 866-1641.

Gallery owner to speak

at Art Guild meeting

This month's meeting of the Allentown Art Guild will be Feb. 16 from 7-9 p.m. and will feature a presentation by gallery owner, C. J. Mugavero of the Artful Deposit Gallery, Bordentown. Mugavero will speak about the working relationship between galleries and artists.

The guild meets at the barn studio of Jeff Martin Photography, 78 North Main St., Allentown. Attendance for nonmembers is $20. For more information call Elizabeth Roselius at (609) 259-0455 or visit the Guild's Web site at www.AllentownArtGuild.org.

Families invited to pasta night at Hope firehouse

The Hope Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary will hold an all-you-can-eat pasta night, March 9 from 3-8 p.m. at Hope Fire Company, 82 Route 526, Allentown. Sit-down only. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages five through 12 and free for children four and under. For more information call Gerri at (609) 208-0127. Celebrate NJ launches 2007 poster contest

In an effort to highlight New Jersey talent, Celebrate NJ, a grassroots movement to instill pride in the Garden State, is accepting entries for its 2007 Poster Contest as part of the "365 Reasons to Celebrate NJ" campaign. The contest invites participants to design a poster that reflects their reason to Celebrate New Jersey. The winning entry will become the Official 2007 Celebrate NJ poster, widely distributed throughout the year. Selected designs will also be featured as part of the Celebrate NJ media and advertising campaign. The top three winners will receive cash prizes, with a grand prize set at $500. Nine other entries will receive honorable mentions.

Karen Hatcher, president of Celebrate NJ, says, "We have had such a wonderful response to the '365 Reasons to Celebrate NJ' campaign. So far, more than 1,000 people from all over the state have told us their reasons to celebrate New Jersey. Now we're asking New Jersey artists to get in on the fun. With all the talented folks who live here, I know the entries are going to be amazing!"

All posters submitted must address one or more reasons to celebrate New Jersey, in keeping with the "365 Reasons to Celebrate NJ" campaign. Entries must be e-mailed to Celebrate NJ by March 31. A completed and signed entry form must also be attached. There is no age limit for entrants. For complete contest details, visit www.celebratenj.org.

Celebrate NJ invites everyone who has a Reason to Celebrate NJ to log on to www.CelebrateNJ.org and enter that reason. No deadlines have been set. Reasons are being released on a monthly basis. Entry cards are also available at over 350 libraries across the state, which are promoting the campaign. The best 365 reasons will be published as part of an advertising and media campaign, which will take place on outdoor ads across the state and through radio, television and newspaper promotions. A select number of entries will be chosen to participate in feature stories for various publications across New Jersey. Band to host ice skating party in Mercer County

Come skate with your friends or family as the Allentown High School Band hosts its sixth annual ice skating party on Feb. 19, 4-7 p.m. at the Mercer County Ice Skating Rink on Old Trenton Road in West Windsor. Cost is $5 per person and includes skate rental. Tickets can be purchased at the door, from the band office at Allentown High School or through any band member. Call (609) 259-2160, ext. 422. Millstone MOMS club

looking for new members

The MOMS Club of Millstone Township, which holds monthly meetings in the Millstone Township Community Center, 463 Stagecoach Road, is seeking new members. Mothers and children from Millstone and Roosevelt are welcome to join the international/local support group. The group plans activities including play groups, play dates, service projects and a monthly MOMS Night Out. Contact Niesa at (732) 761-8831 or Josie at JVG224@hotmail.com. Perrineville Jewish Center announces new events

Perrineville Jewish Center, located in the heart of Millstone Township on Perrineville Road near Perrineville Lake, will hold the following events:

On Saturday night, Feb. 17, Perrineville Jewish Center's adult members will take a trip to Catch a Rising Star comedy club, Princeton. The per-person cost is $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers, plus a two-item minimum in the club. Advance reservations are required. Those interested should contact Howie at (732) 446-0794.

On Sunday, March 4, at 9:30 a.m., the Hebrew school Megillah reading, telling the story of Purim, will be conducted. This will be followed by the Purim carnival (10 a.m. to noon), so children are invited to attend. There will be many children's games and prizes at the annual carnival. There will be a nominal fee per game, and refreshments.

The Perrineville Jewish Center, a historic temple, invites residents to celebrate the Jewish holidays, educate their children and meet other families in the Millstone area. Founded in 1910, PJC has been a meeting place for Jewish families in the Millstone area for nearly a century. Interfaith families are welcome and are encouraged to visit. Information about PJC can be found on its Web site at www.PJCMillstone.com or call Lori at 609-259-6479.

Benefit flea market slated for Rein Dancer center

Clean out the house and the barn or stock up for both.

A Horse, Barn and Home Flea Market will be held on Sunday, March 11, at the New Egypt Speedway on Route 539 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the New Egypt section of Plumsted.

The market will benefit Rein Dancer Therapeutic Riding Center, which provides therapeutic and recreational horseback-riding opportunities for children and adults with a wide variety of physical, mental and emotional challenges. The center, located on Archertown Road in New Egypt, is a registered nonprofit charity and a member of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association.

The market will feature new and gently used items for horses, barns and homes. Equipment, tack, collectibles, toys, clothing, antiques, household goods and crafts are all welcome. However, no livestock or pets will be permitted at the market.

Donations of items to be sold by volunteers from Rein Dancer are being accepted and may be dropped off at Rick's Saddle Shop in the Cream Ridge section of Upper Freehold.

Spaces are 10 feet by 20 feet and cost $12 if prepaid and $15 on the day of the market. Setup will be at 7:30 a.m.

Payment for spaces can be mailed to Rein Dancer TRC, 2 Surrey Drive, Cream Ridge 08514. Individuals are asked to include a telephone number on the check.

Rain date will be Sunday, March 18. Call (732) 928-7477 until Feb. 23 and (609)758-7624 after that date, or e-mail barbhani@msn.com.

Winter blood shortage critical in area hospitals

Due to a critical blood shortage in area hospitals, New Jersey Blood Services will be collecting blood at the Ocean County Mall on Feb. 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In an effort to encourage more donors to come forward and "Give the Gift of Life," each presenting donor will receive two free New Jersey Nets tickets.

The bloodmobile will be parked by the main entrance to the mall, near Boscov's. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are also welcome.

To give blood, donors must be in generally good health, weigh at least 110 pounds and be 17 years of age or older. Prior to donating, individuals should eat well, drink plenty of fluids and check their prescription medications.

Anyone who has had a body piercing is eligible to donate provided that the piercing was done under sterile conditions. Those who have gotten tattoos must wait 12 months before donating.

To schedule an appointment or inquire about eligibility, call the blood center at 1-800-933-BLOOD or visit www.NYBLOODCENTER.org.

Organization seeks veterans from all eras

The Veterans of the Vietnam War Inc. and The Veterans Coalition, Millstone-Jackson Post - 03, seeks all honorably discharged U.S. military veterans from all eras and current serving military to join.

Free "Support Our Troops" signs and stickers are available while they last. Those interested need to provide a copy of their DD-214 or discharge. Dues are $25 per year but dues are waived for current serving military showing ID.

Life membership is $200. Both organizations are nationally recognized veterans service organizations. The Veterans of the Vietnam War and The Veterans Coalition programs include veteran assistance, public school education programs, POW-MIA awareness, homeless veteran assistance through the Beacon House program, U.S. military support packages, community support and veterans honor guard. For more information visit www.theveteranscoalition.org or call Rick Brody, Post NJ-03 commander, at (732) 615-8987.

Parents of middle school students seek H.E.L.P.

A support group for parents of middle school students will meet Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at Upper Freehold Regional Elementary/Middle School, 27 High St., Allentown.

The group, Helping Middle School Parents (H.E.L.P.), formed as a result of parents expressing a need for support and ideas in raising their middle school children.

The adolescent years can be challenging for students and parents. Middle school students go through a great number of emotional, physical and social changes, and are faced with the challenges of meeting high-level expectations in school.

Students and parents can feel, and be, overwhelmed by such fast-paced and demanding years. Parents seeking support and ideas are encouraged to attend the Feb. 20 meeting.