Book club to meet
The Eckankar book discussion group will meet Thursday, May 8 at 7:15 p.m. at the Ocean City Library’s Headley Room, 1735 Simpson Ave. Book discussed “How to Survive Spirituality in Our Times” by Harold Kemp (Chapter 6: The Window of Heaven – Your ECK Initiation and Chapter 7: A New Face on Old Truths.) Facilitator is Brian Darden. Call 645-2512 for more information. All are welcome to attend.

Say It with Color exhibit
Ocean City Arts Center, 1735 Simpson Ave., presents “Say It with Color,” recent works by award winning artist Lou Castagna, throughout the month of May. The exhibit is ongoing through May 30, with an opening reception on Friday May 9, from 6-8 p.m. Members of the public are invited to meet the artist at the opening reception, there is no charge for admission.

Youth orchestra to perform
The Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey will entertain at the Music Pier Saturday, May 10 at 2 p.m. Admission is free. The group will perform works by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Gabrieli and Mendelssohn and others. The concert will include the first public performance of "Voyage" by Kiri Murakami. YOCJ brings together some of the finest young musicians from New Jersey and Pennsylvania representing over 15 school districts. For more information visit http://www.yocj.org.

Home & school group meets
The Ocean City High School Home and School Association will have its May general meeting at the high school library at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 14. Attendees enter on the Atlantic Avenue front entrance. Guest speaker will be Dr. Joseph Davidow, the school psychologist, addressing the topic “Is my kid normal?”

Greek exhibit at OCFAL
“The Greek Spirit Lives on through Greek Life Now and Then” the paintings of Anthe Capitan Valais at the Ocean City Fine Arts League, 608 Asbury Ave., through May 31. A portion of the proceeds from this exhibit will benefit the survivors of Greece’s tragic 2007 wild fires. For more information, call 814-0308, visit www.oceancityfineartsleague.org or www.anthe.com. 

Toast the artist
Treasures of Ireland, a collection of photographs depicting the old world charm of the Emerald Isle by photography artist Joanne Bernardini, will be on display at the Ma France Creperie, 506 Ninth Street, in Ocean City through the month of May. A “toast the artist” reception will be held at the Creperie on May 15 at 8 p.m. To receive an invitation to this complimentary event, call Franc at 214-9232 or Joanne at 399-8190. Space is limited.

Ocean City AARP meets
Ocean City AARP chapter 1062 will be holding its spring luncheon May 16 at noon at the Port-O-Call, 1510 Boardwalk. Tickets are available for $25 by calling Betty Massimo at 399-4525. Plans will be finalized for the AARP “Divided We Fail” Boardwalk march on Sunday, May 25 and the “Divided We Fail” pledge table at the library atrium May 27-19. This will be the last meeting until September. All are welcome.

American Red Cross blood drive
There will be an American Red Cross blood drive Wednesday, May 21 from 1-7 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 10th and Central Avenue. Parking is available in the church lot at 950 Central Ave. Appointments are preferred, but walk-in donors are always welcome. Appointments can be made by contacting Scott Ruch at 399-7391, e-mail ocblooddrive@aol.com. Drive is open to the public and anyone over 17 years of age and weighing more than 110 pounds is eligible. Drive is held every eight weeks. The Red Cross requires a minimum of 56 days between donations. Online appointments can be made at pleasegiveblood.org. Drive code is 8K40, or look up the donation site. 

School retirees lunch
PASR South Jersey chapter will meet at the Crab Trap at noon on Thursday, May 22. Speaker will be Patricia Ferry of the Ocean City Home Bank speaking about identity theft. President Diane Rossi will attendees up to date on the progress of a PA pension COLA. New members are welcome. For more information or reservation, call 398-1280.

Senior luncheon
Best of Life will meet on Tuesday, May 13 at 11:15 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist’s church hall, Marmora. Bring a casserole to share and a friend. The Ocean City High School choir will present the program. Can goods are needed for the Upper Township Food Cupboard.

St. John’s preschool thank you dinner
Calling All St. John's preschool alumni students and parents. There will be a thank you dinner for Sue Richards and Melissa Kleva Friday, May 16 at 6 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church Hall. RSVP for tickets: Arlene’s On Asbury, 624 Asbury Ave., Kelley at 335-2284, Sue at 399-2622. To share memories, pictures, or for tickets, call Karen at 398-5678. Adult tickets are $40. Children’s tickets are $15. All net proceeds fund the newly established St. John’s Preschool Alumni Scholarship Fund. Limited seating.

Dinner theater
Ma France Creperie, 506 Ninth Street, Ocean City, presents “Laughter & Tears" dinner theatre. Short plays, comedy and drama. Wednesday, May 21 and Thursday, May 22. Cost is $38 includes three course dinner, show and complimentary beverage. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. Call 399-9955 or 214-9232 for reservations.

Best of Broadway trip
Join the Mature Adult's Club from the Church of the Resurrection in Marmora for an afternoon of song and dance at Tropicana's musical review ''Best of Broadway'' Tuesday, June 3. The package includes the show, $10 cash back and transportation. Cost is $20. Pick-up is 10:30 a.m. from the church parking lot. Contact Terry or Joe at 624-1110.

Christian women’s club to meet
All ladies are invited by the Cape-Atlantic Christian Women's Club to attend the "Color Your World" luncheon at Stumpo's Restaurant in Somers Point on Wednesday, May 14, at noon. The all inclusive price is $15. A free nursery is available. Reservations are required. Ginger Foglio, of Foglio's Abbey Flooring in Marmora, will show how color affects us from our faces to our floors; what we wear and how we decorate. Heather Peterson will entertain with some beautiful songs. The speaker will be Jennifer Ebaugh, an avid runner.
For reservations call Christine at 390-4317 or Pat at 965-4840. 

Fun on Wheels bus trips
On May 15, there will be a trip to the Delaware history museum, includes tram tour of the Hagley Estate, Swedes Church and a luncheon at Hotel DuPont, all in Wilmington. The cost is $72. On June 17, there will be a Bucks County tour to William Penn’s colonial estate, Andalusa mansion, Shady Brook Farm market and a buffet luncheon at Belle Voir. The cost is $60. October 15 tickets for “Gypsy” are also being sold now. Fun on Wheels is a non-profit bus program that benefits the Cape-Atlantic chapter of the Sunshine Foundation which grants last wishes to terminally ill children. Call Marie at 398-1488 for more information.

Finger Lakes trip
Come join us on this relaxing get-a-way to Finger Lakes situated on the Canadian Lake border near Rochester, N.Y. Monday, Sept. 23 through Friday, Sept. 26, five days and four nights. Cost is $650 for double occupancy, inclusive. Tour two local wineries. Relax and enjoy on the refreshing dinner cruise, tour a real Castle and stay for dinner perhaps in the Great Hall. Price includes deluxe motor coach, several tours and visits to attractions and meals and lodging. Donation will be made to the St. Vincent De Paul Society For information, call Kathy Farrell at 390-8999 or e-mail kathysfuntravel@aol.com.  

Roger LaRosa golf fundraiser
The Exchange Club of Ocean City is hosting the second annual Roger LaRosa Golf Klassic on Monday, June 9 starting at noon at Avalon Golf Club. This event benefits the high school scholarships' fund. Deadline for reservations is May 19. Cost for this foursome scramble event is $90 per person, which includes greens fee with cart, lunch, deluxe buffet supper, and prizes. For a donation (suggest $100), you can sponsor a hole. For the registration flyer and more information, call Warren Hughes at 399-4647.

Acorn Garden Club meeting
The Acorn Garden Club will meet Wednesday, May 14 at 1 p.m. at the Upper Library in the meeting room. The agenda includes the group’s annual tea with a Victorian table setting presentation. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served. Call Jean at 390-1322 for more information.

Attention MTHS Class of '83
MTHS class of 1983 will hold a 25-year reunion Oct. 4 at the courtyard at Atkinson's Restaurant & Tavern. Need help locating classmates. Call Linda Plitnick at 465-8759 or e-mail MTHS83@yahoo.com.

Girls’ night out fundraiser
The Shore Memorial Health Foundation’s Leaders Alliance is holding Girls’ Night Out—Shop for CHOP on Thursday, May 15 from 4-9 p.m. at Greate Bay Country Club. Sponsored by Bernie Robbins Fine Jewelers, the event features complimentary manicures, a complimentary martini bar, live chef demos, Angel Card readings by Mind, Body & Spirit, a chance auction and music by DJ Sparkles. Vendors include the best in fashion, beauty, accessories, home essentials, health and wellness and gourmet treats. For a complete list of participating vendors or to purchase tickets, call 653-3800, or visit www.shorememorial.org/gno.  Admission is $5 until May 14 and $10 at the door.

Questers’ tea & card party
There will be a tea, game and card party given by the Richard Somers chapter of the Questers on Friday, May 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Frances Cabrini Church, Culliney Hall, Second and Atlantic Avenue, Ocean City. Tea, light lunch and dessert served. Cost is $10 per person. Call Pat Crowley at 398-2882 to reserve your table.

OCHS class of ’83 reunion
The OCHS class of 1983 will hold its 25th class reunion the weekend of Aug. 1. Lots of activities for you and your family. Visit Classmates.com for details or contact jengasue@aol.com for reunion information.

Plant sale set
The annual plant sale of the Green Thumb Garden Club of Somers Point will be held on May 17 at 301 W. New York Ave., Somers Point, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Home grown plants and attic treasures will be available.

Attention OCHS class of 1998
The 10-year reunion for Ocean City High School class of 1998 will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 at Yesterday's. Visit http://www.myspace.com/ochs10yearreunion for more information.

**Broadway for a day"
The Ocean City Gardens Civic Association is hosting a day in New York City on Wednesday, Oct. 22 to see “Young Frankenstein.” The cost is $140 per person and includes bus transportation and snacks. For information or reservations, call Edith Little at 398-0028 or Marilyn Curley at 398-3576.

Local band performing
Local band Kickin’ Bear will be performing every second Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. now through the summer at Stumpo’s in Somers Point.

Junior volunteers needed
If you are a student interested in helping others and gaining valuable volunteer experience, consider applying for Shore Memorial Hospital’s summer junior volunteer program. Applications for the program will be accepted until May 12. Volunteers are needed in several hospital areas including assisting with patient needs, clerical positions and in the gift and thrift shops. There are several requirements for the program. Any student interested in volunteering in direct patient care areas must be at least 16 years old, going into his or her junior year of high school and express an interest in the medical field. All other volunteers must be at least 14 years old to apply. Once complete application packets are submitted, potential volunteers will be contacted by the volunteer office for an interview. For more information or to request an application, contact the volunteer office at 653-3543.

Calling all artists
Rental space is available to exhibit and sell your work at the Ocean City Fine Arts League, 608 Asbury Ave., in Ocean City. Volunteers are also needed for summer months at this non-profit organization. Call 814-0308 for more information.

Compassionate Friends group
The Compassionate Friends is a world-wide, support group for parents, grandparents and siblings of children who have died at any age. The local chapter meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, Dawes Avenue and Shore Road, Somers Point. For more information, call 653-8451 or 399-2451.

Mothers’ Club seeks members
Are you looking for a playgroup for your child ages 0-5? Then join the Mothers’ Club of Upper Township/Ocean City. Playgroups are always forming, meet other moms, get involved in the community and lots of events for you and your children. Check out the Web site at www.mothersclub.8m.net or call Pam Leypoldt at 545-0362 for more information.

Ocean City AARP meets
Ocean City AARP chapter 1062 meets at noon on the third Friday of each month at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 30th and Bay Avenue.

String band seeks players
The Cape May County String Band is looking for banjo, drum and saxophone player. Call George at 886-7400 for more information.

Foster grandparents needed
The Woodbine chapter of the AARP has joined with the Woodbine Developmental Center’s institutional volunteer services to provide foster grandparent services to the elementary school children in the Head Start program. Volunteers are Elaine Carmichael, Marie Martell and Helen Wakefield and volunteer services coordinator, Sheila Harris. If you would like to volunteer as a foster grandparent, contact Sheila Harris at 861-2164. If you would like to become a member of the Woodbine chapter of the AARP, contact Julia Hankerson at 861-2400.