Community Bulletin Board
Beth El now accepting registration for fall

Congregation Beth El, 91 Jefferson Blvd., Edison, is accepting registration for its Sunday Funday program for children ages 4-7, as well as for Hebrew school (ages 8-13) and Hebrew high school (ages 13-18). Other programs include Kadima and USY youth groups, the Sisterhood, the Men’s Club, and softball and bowling teams.

To register, call the synagogue at (732) 985-7272 and leave a message for Rabbi Rosenberg.

St. James Church to hold free concert on Sept. 11

St. James Episcopal Church, 2136 Woodbridge Ave., Edison, is hosting a free concert at 4 p.m. Sept. 11, featuring music by Altared Ego, a bluegrass, country, gospel and original-music band from the New Egypt section of Plumsted.

A brief prayer service will take place prior to the concert. Guests are asked to bring lawn chairs.

In the event of rain, the concert will be held indoors. A free-will offering will be taken.

Call the church at (732) 985-2023 for more information.

Find out what it’s like to be a local police officer

The Metuchen Civilian Police Academy’s fall semester class will begin in the first week of September. The free evening class teaches residents what it is like to be a Metuchen police officer through role-playing scenarios, officer ride-alongs, and regular classroom lectures.

To find out more about the academy or for information on how to register, contact Capt. Robin Rentenberg at Rrentenberg@metuchenpd.org or (732) 632-8548. The class meets Wednesday evenings and is open to Metuchen residents only.

School crossing guards needed for school year

The borough of Metuchen is looking for school crossing guards. Applications are available at police headquarters in Borough Hall.

Full-time positions are available, three hours a day, five days a week. Substitutes are also needed; hours and days vary. Retirees are welcome. Guards must be able to provide their own transportation. Starting pay is $9.50 an hour.

Adult book club being offered through YMCA

The Metuchen Branch YMCA, 65 High St., has formed a book club for adults, which meets at 7 p.m. the last Wednesday of each month. There is no charge to participate.

To register, call the YMCA at (732) 548-2044, or e-mail nicole.miller@metuchen-edisonymca.org.

Beth El to host open family services Aug. 26

Congregation Beth El, 91 Jefferson Blvd., Edison, will hold open family services for new and prospective members at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26, followed by Oneg Shabbat. The congregation is Conservative Egalitarian. Freeholder David Crabiel will be honored for his services on behalf of the community. Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg and Dr. Darryl Yoblick will host the oneg in honor of their birthdays. For details, call Iris at (732) 572-5738.

Congregation Beth El offers weekly Bingo

Congregation Beth El, 91 Jefferson Blvd., Edison, conducts weekly Bingo games on Wednesday evenings at 7:15 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome. Admission is $1 per person. Refreshments may be purchased. For details, call the synagogue at (732) 572-2766.

JFVS announces elder care now available

The Jewish Family and Vocational Service of Middlesex County announces the availability of an elderly care program for those with memory loss and varying degrees of dementia.

Transportation is provided. Fees are charged on a sliding scale. Program includes meals, snacks and activities. For more information, call (732) 777-1940.

Local Lutheran church has Sat. shop hours

St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, located at the top of the hill on Pleasant Avenue (off Amboy Avenue), Edison, has announced its thrift shop hours. The store is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, where shoppers can find bargains on clothing, household items and gifts. Donations are accepted during hours of operation. For more information, call (732) 738-0887.

Local church announces its thrift store hours

Wesley United Methodist Church, 5053 Woodbridge Ave., Edison, has announced its thrift store hours. The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. It features men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, knickknacks, toys, jewelry and a “bargain room,” where shoppers can “fill a bag for $1.” Donations of clean, usable items are now being accepted during open hours. For more information, call (732) 738-0232.

Library branches offering

a ‘fire-breathing’ program

The children’s department of the Edison Public Library is holding registration in person or by phone for children ages 5-9 for “There be Dragons!” Presented by the group Snakes-N-Scales and Turtle Tales, the program examines why people believed in dragons and also visits creatures that were mistaken for dragons in the past. In addition, children will actually have the opportunity to meet some slithery and scaly creatures at the library. Registration is limited and open to Edison residents only. Programs are as follows:

• Edison Main Library, 340 Plainfield Ave. — 10:30 a.m. Aug. 24;

• North Edison Branch, 777 Grove Ave. — 10:30 a.m. Aug. 25; and

• Clara Barton Branch, 141 Hoover Ave. — 1:30 p.m. Aug. 25.

To register, sign up at the circulation desk or call the appropriate library. Edison Main Library — (732) 287-2351, ext. 3; North Edison Branch — (732) 548-0845, ext. 230; and Clara Barton Branch — (732) 738-0748, ext. 28.

Somerset temple to host Women’s League seminar

Temple Beth El Sisterhood will present a professional workshop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 28 at the temple, 1489 Hamilton St., Somerset. The training seminar will be led by Sharon Steinberg of the Women’s League of Conservative Judaism. A bagel brunch will be served starting at 9:30 a.m. All Sisterhood members are invited; Sisterhood executive board members, general board members and committee chairs are required to attend. R.S.V.P. before Aug. 21 by calling the temple office at (732) 873-2325.

Metuchen Seniors slates annual dinner Aug. 28

The Metuchen Seniors Inc. will hold its 12th annual dinner — featuring entertainment and door prizes — at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at Kiddie Keep Well Camp, Schreiber Hall, 35 Roosevelt Drive, Roosevelt Park, Edison. The building is handicapped-accessible and air-conditioned, and parking is free. Dress is casual. Menu will be provided by Fresco of Metuchen. Cost is $20 per person (all ages are welcome). Checks should be made payable to the Metuchen Seniors and mailed to Metuchen Seniors Inc., 15 Center St., Metuchen 08840. Guests should include their telephone numbers and the names of the people who will be seated at their table. Groups can purchase an entire table, which can accommodate up to eight people. Tickets will be sold in sequence by table. Seats should be reserved by Aug. 16. For further information, call Bob Flaherty at (732) 548-3651.