The Weekend — K5, Music, Horticulture, Star Gazing, and Championship Soccer

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will sponsor a Household Hazardous Waste Collection event on Saturday, June 16, 2012. Union County residents can get rid of outdated or unwanted household chemicals, mercury thermostats, propane tanks, and automobile tires in an environmentally safe manner.  The collection will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Union County College campus located at 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford, opposite Nomahegan Park. Residents of Union County are eligible to participate at no cost. Pre-registration is not required for this special Saturday collection. Cranford, Saturday, Free, 9 a.m.

The UCPAC is hosting an evening with Ronnie Spector ‘Beyond the Beehive.’ This performance will take place this evening at 8 p.m.  Tickets are $50, $35, $25 & $20. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.ucpac.org or call 732-499-8226. Rahway, Saturday, $20 - $50, 8 p.m.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Trailside Museum Association are sponsoring landscaping classes at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside. This program will be held from 11 am – 12 noon.  Adults, ages 18 and older are invited to participate. Pre-registration is preferred.  Walk-ins are welcome as space permits. There is no fee for these classes but donations are appreciated. Mountainside, Saturday, Free, 11 a.m.

Hwang Karate Studio, 20 Millburn Ave, Springfield is hosting "try a class of our choice for FREE." This event for children and adults will take place this week beginning June 16-23, 2012. Reservations are required. For more information on offered classes and to make a reservation, call 973-467-3939.  Springfield, Saturday, Free, All Day

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce the start of a new program that enables County residents to recycle scrap metal free of charge.  A wide variety of metal goods, from household appliances to gutters and sheds, are included in the program.  Starting on Thursday, June 7, the program will be open on the first Thursday of each month and the third Saturday of each month, from 9 am to 12 noon. Scrap metal from any municipality may be brought to any of the following four drop-off centers:

Clark: Oak Ridge Park, 36 Oak Ridge Road (the Oak Ridge Service Yard).

Mountainside: Watchung Reservation, Tracy Drive (the Loop parking area).

Rahway: Rahway Park, Rahway Service Yard (across from the pool).

Westfield: Westfield Conservation Center, 1300 Lamberts Mill Road.

Clark, Saturday, Free, 9 a.m.

Hear Imperial Brass perform musical favorites from movies and other well-known classics on Sunday, June 17, 2012 at 7 p.m. at its home base, Willow Grove Presbyterian Church in Scotch Plains. The 30-piece Imperial Brass is widely acclaimed for performing a diverse array of musical numbers.  Celebrate Father’s Day listening to “Over the Rainbow” and other favorites, such as “76 Trombones.” Scotch Plains, Sunday, Tickets are $15, $12 for seniors, children 12 and under free, 7 p.m.

Temple Sha’arey Shalom of Springfield is proud to host a special Klezmer Shabbat with the popular Hester Street Troupe on Friday, June 15 at 8 p.m. This fun, engaging musical Shabbat evening honors Rabbi Joshua Goldstein, who retires from Temple Sha'arey Shalom on June 30, 2012, after 30 years as its religious and spiritual leader.  Springfield, Friday, Free, 8 p.m.

The Trailside Nature and Science Center is hosting weekly solar watches.  Amateur Astronomers, Inc., AAI and members from the Miller Sperry Observatory, Cranford will be on hand for this event. Ray Shapp of the AAI will conduct weekly solar viewing sessions with the use of a Hydro-Alpha 60 mm sidewalk astronomy telescope.  The solar viewing session will involve a discussion on the safety issues of looking at the sun. Sessions will last approximately one hour and are free, weather permitting. For more information, visit www.ucnj.org/trailside or call 908-789-3670. Mountainside, Saturday, Free 1 p.m.

The UEFA Euro Cup has once again arrived! Come to Kilkenny House to support the Republic of Ireland or your favorite UEFA European soccer team! We will be showing all the games live on our big screen TVs. Cranford, Friday and Saturday, Free, 12 p.m.

Save the Date "Art for Hope" Simply...Project Home Silent Auction Event. Cranford, Friday, Free 7 p.m.  

Summit Animal Rescue will host a Cat/Kitten adoption at Pet Valu in Garwood NJ (Kings Shopping Center on South Ave) 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Please stop in and see some wonderful kittens and cats looking for loving homes. We have many kinds of wonderful felines looking for love!  If you can open your heart and home to one of these kitties in need, please stop in and talk to us. To all who support Animal Rescue - thank you for making a difference in these animals lives! www.sararescue.petfinder.com 908-464-1203 / 908-578-4354 Garwood, Saturday, Free, 10 a.m.  

Come down and visit one of the largest, most detailed railroad models in the area. A new garden railroad is being developed to join the N-scale and HO-scale layouts already in operation. The HO layout measures 128' x 68' - with new track being laid and new cities coming to life on a weekly basis.  The N-scale railroad is double layer, great for the little ones. Union, Saturday, $5, 1 p.m.  

The Polish Cultural Foundation (PCF) is hosting their 2012 Miss Polonia Pageant during the “St. John’s Night Dance (Sobótka)” this evening at 8 p.m.  Admission is $45 in advance and $50 at door.  Cost include hot buffet  The purpose of the Pageant is to select a young lady of Polish descent to represent the Foundation at ethnic events during the course of the year.   For more information and tickets reservation please call the PCF office at 732-382-7187. Clark, Saturday,  $45 advance/$50 at door, 8 p.m.

St. Agnes Church, 332 Madison Hill Road, is hosting an evening of music with the Ondrick Chorale.  This concert will take place at 7:30 p.m.  Attendance is free-will donation. Clark, Saturday, Free Will Donations, 7:30 p.m.

The Union County’s Watchung Stable is offering guided trail rides at the Watchung Reservation for riding enthusiasts nine years of age and older. These rides are held on Sundays during the summer at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., weather permitting. Groups of 15 or more people ride along the bridle trails in part of the 2,065-acre Reservation in Mountainside. The rides are on a first come, first served basis and are available to people nine years of age and older, with or without experience. Cost is $28 in-county - $39 out-of-county. Mountainside, Sunday, 1 p.m., $28  

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that the 2012 Teen Arts Touring Exhibit has opened this year’s tour at the Springfield Public Library, located at 66 Mountain Avenue in Springfield. The art exhibit will be on display through June 28, 2012 during regular library hours. Springfield, All Weekend, Free

The Mountainside PAl is hosting their 3rd Annual "Bring Your Ride to Mountainside".  All proceeds from this Father's Day event are donated to the Overlook Foundation and NJ Hospice. We invite all makes and models/years of cars and motorcycles to participate. Registration of a car or bike is $20 on the morning of the show and $15 in advance at mountainsidepal.com. Registration starts at 11 a.m.  We are featuring live music by THE NERDS, who will play at two one hour sets beginning at 1:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. There will also be a DJ, great food by Flannery's Pub, a beer and wine tent, dunk tank, etc.  Tickets for spectators are $3 in advance on the website or $5 on the day of the show.  This event is from 12 noon - 6 p.m. Mountainside, Sunday, $3 advance, $5 day of, 12 Noon – 6 p.m.

Scotch Plains Policeman’s Benevolent Association Local 87 will be holding a 5K run/walk to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project on Saturday, June 16th.  The event will take place at 430 Park Avenue, Scotch Plains.  The race fee is $35.00 and registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. www.woundedwarriorproject.org. Scotch Plains, Saturday, 8:00 a.m.,  $35