Briefs: New Jersey Needs Blood, Summer Films, Music Workshops

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks & Community Renewal are hosting another “Family Fun and Flix” event.  The free summer outdoor entertainment and film series will join up with National Night Out to show the movie “G-Force” Aug. 2 at Meisel Park in Springfield.

“Family Fun and Flix begins at dusk, but come early to the park to enjoy interesting preview activities at 7:30 p.m. that are fun for the whole family,” said Freeholder Chairman Deborah Scanlon. “Bring a blanket or beach chair to claim your spot on the lawn or save a seat in the bleachers – either way, the early birds are sure to like the preview activity before each movie.”

Come to Meisel Park at 7:30 p.m. and participate in “National Night Out” sponsored by PBA Local #73 before the feature film “G-Force” on August 2. At dusk, sit back and watch the 2009 spy-fi Disney 3-D comedy about a team of superspy guinea pigs who do battle with a mad billionaire intent on conquering the earth by programming all the home appliances to follow his instructions. The movie features the voices of Penelope Cruz, Tracy Morgan, Nicolas Cage, Zach Galifinakis and many other actors.

The other dates and locations for this summer’s Family Fun and Flix are:

• Tuesday, August 9 at Meisel Park in Springfield: Make a fishy craft project before the showing of the animated Disney/Pixar comedy-adventure, “Finding Nemo.”
• Friday, August 19 at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside: Enjoy a classic car show by G-Wiz Auto Entertainment and the Garden State Chevelles before the animated adventure comedy, “Cars.”

All movies start at dusk, weather permitting. For more information, call the Union County Department of Parks and Community Renewal at 908-527-4900. For program and rain information call 908-558-4079 after 3:00 p.m. on the day of the show.

 Music Workshops

The Summit Chorale is offering a mini-workshop with members of The Western Wind Ensemble from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 1 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 587 Springfield Ave in Summit. Individuals or groups of six or more are invited to participate. The workshop is open to singers at all levels – professionals and amateurs, soloists and ensemble performers, conductors and music teachers. Attendance is limited to 100 participants and subject to availability. Please visit Summit Chorale’s website (www.summitchorale.org/“Concerts and Events”) for details and registration forms.

In other Summit news, Jennifer Paytas, a breast cancer survivor from Summit, took the ride of her life with her husband, Leo Paytas, in the Horizon BCBSNJ Blimp to support the Horizon BCBSNJ and Susan G. Komen for the Cure "Get a Mammogram" initiative. Mammogram awareness and breast cancer education is part of the Horizon Blimp's “Screen for Life” tour this summer, touting the importance of timely preventative health screenings to catch deadly diseases early.

New Jersey Needs Blood

New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS), a division of the New York Blood Center (NYBC) is facing big challenges this season to maintain an adequate and safe blood supply for hospital patients. Any company, community organization, place of worship, or individual may host a blood drive. NJBS also offers special community service scholarships for students who organize community blood drives during the summer. Blood donors receive free mini-medical exams on site including information about their temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure and hemoglobin level. Eligible donors include those people 17 years of age, or 16 with parental permission, who weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, are in good health and meet all Food & Drug Administration and NJ State Department of Health donor criteria. People over 75 may donate with a doctor’s note. To schedule your own blood drive, call Marie Forrestal at  732-220-7184 or email Mforrestal@nybloodcenter.org.

If you cannot donate but still wish to participate in bringing lifesaving products to those in need, consider volunteering at a local blood drive. Contact: Jan Zepka, Manager, Community Relations & Volunteer Services at  732-616-8741 or email rzepka@nybloodcenter.org.