In Town
Plainsboro Recreation & Community Services is offering an array of programs for infants through senior citizens. Registration is now open.
Music, movement, ballet, nature, fitness, and playtime are available for the young. Children in grade school through middle school have choices of chess, art, sports, public speaking, and nature. Teen programming includes, cooking, volleyball, and hip-hop dance. Adult classes include yoga, Zumba, bollywood style classes, and more. Senior citizens have exercise and social programs offered free of charge. Plainsboro has classes for the special needs population including a partnership with Special Olympics.
All classes will take place in the Plainsboro Recreation & Cultural Center, 641 Plainsboro Road, otherwise known as the former Plainsboro Library. Winter session begins January 6. Visit www.plainsboronj.com for information.
West Windsor Arts Council, the private non-profit organization that provides community arts programming to the greater West Windsor area, seeks donations to reach its annual fund goal of $20,000.
“It’s a giving season and a time to be grateful,” says West Windsor Arts Council Executive Director, Arin Black. “As a small arts non-profit, we can’t exist without support. That’s why were so grateful for all those that donate.”
Contributions to the annual fund provide resources for carrying out the mission to be an incubator of community arts. “Donating to the annual fund helps us make a place for the arts in our community,” says Black, who points out that investment in the arts pays dividends. “From higher literacy, better problem solving, stress relief, and a clear economic impact, investing in the arts rewards.”
A contribution of $10 buys paintbrushes for an art class, $60 provides two hours of mentorship to a student intern, $100 brings an artist to Autumn Arts Afternoon, $250 enables a film screening, $500 funds an art exhibit opening, $1,000 makes the Spring Awakening literary event a reality, $1,500 provides financial support to hire a professional artist as a teacher, and $5,000 supports a live performance.
“Check with your employer’s human resources department to see if your generosity will be made even greater through a match by your employer,” says Black. Donations are tax deductible. Visit www.westwindsorartscenter.org for information.
Cranbury Bookworm, owned by Andrew Feldman, WW-P High School, Class of 1998, is collecting food and clothing to benefit TASK and Mercer Street Friends on Saturday, December 7, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, December 8, noon to 5 p.m. Bring a minimum of five cans of non perishable food or a shopping bag full of gently used clothing to receive a voucher for a 50 percent discount on anything in the store. Passes will be given to customers who donate, but do not have time to shop or do not find what they are looking for. Passes will be good through Tuesday, December 31. Donations will be accepted even if you do not want to shop. Bring donations to 79 North Main Street, Cranbury. Call 609-655-1063 or visit www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cranbury-Bookworm/181191737810.
SnapOne is also collecting donations for Toys for Tots. Donate an unwrapped toy through Monday, December 16, from 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 3490 Route 1, Building 16, West Windsor. Call 609-720-1900 for information.
More Good Causes
Mercer County invites residents, businesses, civic groups, and county employees to donate to the annual holiday toy drive. This year’s recipient is Toys for Tots. Unwrapped toys and gifts may be dropped at the following locations through Wednesday, December 18. Mercer County McDade Administration Building, 640 South Broad Street, Trenton; Mercer County Park Commission, 197 Blackwell Road, Hopewell Township; Mercer County Park Ice Skating Center, Mercer County Park Tennis Center, Mercer County Park Ranger Headquarters, Mercer County Equestrian Center, Mercer County Wildlife Center, Howell Living History Farm, and Mercer County Connection, Route 33 at Paxson Avenue, Hamilton. Call 609-303-0700 or visit www.mercercounty.org.
Salvation Army West Central NJ Region seeks volunteers for a day bell ringing at one of its 55 locations throughout the area. Businesses, civic clubs, individuals, and families volunteer to keep the bell ringing with five teams of two ringing the bell for two hour shifts between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Money raised from the kettles benefits more than 900 families registered to receive holiday assistance through the Christmas Distribution Program which includes more than 4,000 children. Call 609-599-9373, E-mail sunita.hall@use.salvationarmy.org, or visit www.salvationarmynj.org/westcentral for information.
Mercer CASH Campaign is seeking volunteers during the upcoming tax season, to staff free tax preparation sites throughout Mercer County. Training programs will be held Friday and Saturday, December 6 and 7, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, December 13 and 14, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Training is at the New United Way Conference Room, Crossroad Corporate Center, 3150 Brunswick Pike, Suite 230, Lawrenceville. Contact Michelle at mewilliams@merceralliance.org calling 609-844-1008.
Goodwill Home Medical Equipment merged with Your ReSource and accepts donations of home medical equipment and unopened medical supplies from individuals, families, medical offices, clinics, health care facilities, and community organizations. Donors receive a tax receipt for the items donated.
Accepted items include wheelchairs, scooters (battery operated), power wheelchairs (battery operated), seat cushions, portable ramps, hospital beds, vinyl covered mattresses, bedrails, Hoyer lifts and slings, trapeze bars, sliding boards, recliners and lift chairs, canes, walkers, crutches, bath chairs, commodes, safety rails, hearing devices, and more.
Items NOT accepted for donation include prescription medications, oxygen or helium tanks, machinery that contains mercury, and expired medical supplies.
The items are refurbished and cleaned as needed. The store is open to individuals, caregivers, family members, neighbors, health care professionals, school teachers, church members, or social workers looking for medical and rehabilitation equipment for a reasonable price. The store is located at 18 Arctic Parkway, Ewing. Call 609-225-4509 or E-mail info@goodwillhomemedical.org for information
Art Grant
The Artists-in-Education Consortium announces the 41st annual Artists-in-Education residency grant program. Any New Jersey public, private, charter or parochial school serving grades Pre K to 12 is eligible to apply for funding to bring an artist-in-residence to their school. Grants range from $6,000 to $10,000 and support residencies for 20 days or more.
The mission of the Artists-in-Education Program is to make the arts a basic part of a sound, quality education for all students and to provide quality professional development for teachers through long-term residencies with professional teaching artists.
AIE residencies focus on direct learning about the arts and the processes of creating art, including the skills, techniques and concepts of the art form. Residencies are offered in all disciplines including the visual, literary, and performing arts and at all grade levels.
The deadline for applications is Monday, March 3. Technical assistance workshops are offered in December and January to assist schools in preparing applications. Visit www.njaie.org for information, guidelines, and application.
College Planning
United Way of Greater Mercer County will be hosting a series of free college financial aid information sessions in Mercer County. The sessions will kick off the free FAFSA service that is a part of the United Financial Empowerment Partnership to help students and families apply for college financial aid for free. The information sessions are an opportunity to see how you can help a student on the path to higher education, come ask questions, and learn what is required to complete college financial aid, how you submit the application, and the free services UWGMC offers. This service is in addition to free tax prep for individuals and families earning less than $50,000. For a complete listing of locations, dates, and times visit www.uwgmc.org/fafsa or call 609-896-1912.
Musical Notes
Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra has auditions for young musicians to take part in the GPYO Orchestra Festival on March 2, at Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Arts in Philadelphia, and the June performance at Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University. Preparatory Strings and Winds are ensembles designed for students with as little as one year of experience. Concert Orchestra and Symphonic Orchestra serve the needs of students with more advanced performance experience.
GPYO is also accepting applications to audition for the GPYO Chorale. Students in grades 8 to 12 will perform works from a large number of time periods in a multitude of styles. Register at www.gpyo.org or contact Mark Morris at mmorris.gpyo@gmail.com.
Be Prepared
Mercer Community College presents personal emergency preparedness training beginning in February. Community Emergency Response Team training is designed to teach people how to take care of themselves and their families and assist neighbors in a large-scale disaster or emergency. The nine session course begins on the evening of February 12.
Upon completion of the training, students will receive a CERT bag with basic safety equipment. Students will also have the ability to join their municipal-based CERT program or just use the knowledge they have gained to be prepared for an emergency for themselves and their family. Tuition is provided through the Mercer County Homeland Security grant. There is a $5 fee. Visit www.mccc.edu.
