The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Newark, is now accepting early registration for its fifth annual “Young Artist Talent Search.” Applications postmarked on or prior to Jan. 1 are $15, and $20 from Jan. 2-Feb. 1. Auditions will be March 25 and 26 at the NJPAC.

The contest is for middle, junior high and high school students in New Jersey. Winners of the search will qualify for one of more than 250 openings in the NJPAC’s five arts training programs. Interested students may take part in an audition workshop Feb. 23 and 27 in preparation for the talent search.

A full-day professional development workshop for educators will be at the NJPAC Jan. 19. The workshop is open to all educators and consists of six workshop sessions relating to using arts in studying children’s literature, puppetry, dance, and theater games to enhance language arts, social studies, science, math, cultural traditions and creative and self expression.

New Jersey Education Association members will receive a 10 percent discount on registration fee. For fees, times or more information, call (973) 297-5836.

Applications due Jan. 1 for Master Gardener class

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County is accepting applications for its seventh Master Gardener class through Jan. 1.

The 11-week session will be held Tuesday and Thursday mornings and begins in mid-February. Classes are at the Extension’s Office on Kosloski Road, Freehold. The class is for individuals interested in volunteering with the community, gardening, and horticulture. There is a $200 fee for the course, and a 60-hour volunteer requirement to become a certified Master Gardener.

For more information, call the Extension at (732) 431-7262.

Notes

Red Bank RiverCenter announced that through Dec. 26, parking at all street meters in the downtown will be free for four-hour shopper parking.

On each street meter, there will be signage indicating the free four-hour parking, which will be strictly enforced.

The meters in the municipal parking lots will continue to be paid parking and are not part of the free holiday parking program.

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The Shrewsbury Borough Council will hold its reorganization meeting on Jan. 3 beginning at 7 p.m., followed by a regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the municipal center, 419 Sycamore Ave.

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A representative of Silva Orchids will discuss orchid culture and growing techniques at the Deep Cut Orchid Society monthly meeting Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Monmouth Reform Temple, 332 Hance Avenue, Tinton Falls.

Each meeting features a show table of flowering orchids grown by members. There will be refreshments, a plant raffle and a door prize. There is no charge for the meetings, which are held on the second Tuesday of each month except August. For information, call (732) 531-5058.

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One dollar can pack a powerful punch when it buys a winning ticket in the “Let Heaven and Nature Sing” raffle for the benefit of Christ Church in Shrewsbury. The lucky ticket holder could win $250 worth of tickets to his favorite sports, theater, or other entertainment event in the form of a gift certificate for Ticketmaster. Or, that dollar could translate into a variety of goodies through a $150 gift certificate to Monmouth Mall. Or, it could mean hours of top movie viewing in the form of a $100 gift certificate to Loews Cineplex. Those are the three prizes, and the winner does not have to be present to win.

Tickets are available now at the church, 380 Sycamore Ave., or by calling (732) 531-0288. The drawing will be Jan. 1 at the church.