It’s Prom Time
One Simple Wish will offer free prom gowns to teens in foster care and those in need for the fourth year. All gently worn gowns, including designer gowns from brands like Vera Wang and BCBG, as well as many gowns with tags still attached, are available for everyone else for $10 at the Wish Shop at 228 Scotch Road in Ewing. Costume jewelry, clutches, shoes, and scarves are also available, all for less than $5. The shop is open Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., through June 14.
One Simple Wish is seeking volunteers to staff the shop as well as hair stylists, make-up artists, crafters, food vendors, and others who wish to donate their services to the teen clientele. Donations of gently worn prom dresses and costume jewelry are now being accepted. Visit www.onesimplewish.org.
For Young Musicians
Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra has open auditions for the 2014-2015 concert season. The orchestras include Prep Winds/Prep Strings for students with at least one year of instrumental study; and Concert Orchestra and Symphonic Orchestra, both full symphonic orchestras. All ensembles are led by artistic director Kawika Kahalehoe or conductor Arvin Gopal.
A choir for high school voices will be performing diverse literature under the direction of conductor Jennifer Sengin. Visit www.gpyo.org/auditions to complete the online form and register for an audition. E-mail Mark Morris at mmorris.gpyo@gmail.com.
Summer is Coming
West Windsor Arts Council offers scholarships to summer programs. Scholarships are open to any child in need who lives in the region and can provide their own transportation to camp. Donors can also choose to fund a share of a camp or class in smaller amounts. A donation of $400 can fully fund a week of camp for a needy child, including all art materials, snacks, and daily lunch.
“We are hopeful that we’ll be able to secure funding to provide camps for at least 10 children this year,” says Corinna Bisgaier, director of education.
Call 609-716-1931, E-mail corinna@westwindsorarts.org, or visit www.WestWindsorArts.org.
Paper Mill Playhouse is offering a no audition summer theater camp for ages 8 to 13 in July. The non-competitive musical theater workshop will focus on acting, singing, and dancing skills. Classes from July 1 to 24 will meet Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Morning from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for ages 8 to 10, and afternoons from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. for ages 11 to 13. Tuition is $625 for the four week session. E-mail Michelle Tempkin at MTempkin@papermill.org.
Tabby’s Place in Ringoes offers a new summer camp for junior cat lovers. The cat sanctuary is offering the program for ages 8 to 11. The one week programs are July 7 to 11 or July 14 to 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The children will learn about animal care in a sanctuary setting, take care of animals, make crafts for the cats and themselves, learn from animal welfare experts, read, write and sketch about cats, and more. The fee of $200 a week is a donation to Tabby’s Place to help the cats. Contact Angela Townsend at 908-237-5300, ext. 235, or E-mail at@tabbysplace.org.
For Teens
Princeton Area Community Foundation is offering scholarships for high school students to participate in the work of area communities through the Rebecca Annitto Service Opportunities for Students Fund. Recognizing that students sometimes must choose between working for pay and an enriching volunteer experience, the fund offers three awards of $2,000 each to allow motivated, service-oriented young people paid work experiences at nonprofits.
Annitto thought it would be great if students could find local volunteer opportunities that matched their interests, abilities, and schedule. She died in a car crash in 2005 at the age of 14.
Submit a resume or overview of your activities and volunteer commitments; a one-page essay describing the opportunity you want to pursue and why it is meaningful to you, including contact information for a staff member at the proposed employer who can verify the details of your project; and a letter of recommendation from a person familiar with your prior volunteer work.
Send to the SOS Fund, Community Foundation, 15 Princess Road, Lawrenceville 08648. Deadline is Friday, May 2.
Princeton Splash presents its second annual event on Saturday, April 26, at Princeton University. This event, open to all high school students, is a day-long learning extravaganza where high school students take classes taught by Princeton students. The courses cover a wide variety of interests and skill levels that range from highly technical math courses to engaging hands-on activities.
Elizabeth Yang, a 2012 graduate from WW-P High School South, is the director of the student-run program. E-mail princeton@learningu.org. Visit princeton.learningu.org for details, course selection, program costs, and registration.
Nominations Invited
American Heart Association and American Stroke Association are seeking nominations for the American Heartsaver Awards. The awards recognize individuals who make a rescue effort to save the life of someone experiencing a cardiac emergency or people, organizations, and businesses that take extraordinary steps to strengthen the American Heart Association Chain of Survival.
The awards will be presented on Wednesday, June 4, at the Conference Center at Robert Wood Johnson Hamilton Center for Health and Wellness in Mercerville. Call 609-223-3734 or visit www.heart.org/newjersey. Deadline for nominations is Wednesday, April 30.
Literati
NAMI New Jersey Expressive Arts Poetry Program is hosting a poetry contest and readers may vote on the top 10 poems. The top three poems will receive cash prizes of $100, $75, and $50 respectively.
The theme is mental health. Poems should be no longer than 40 lines. All poems should be original and unpublished. Entries should be typewritten and contain a cover letter with your name and contact information. No name should be in or on the poem itself.
Send to NAMI NJ Poetry Contest, 1562 Route 130, North Brunswick 08902 or E-mail to jacquesearmstrong@hotmail.com. Deadline is Wednesday, April 30.
Volunteer Please
American Diabetes Association seeks volunteers for the Princeton Tour de Cure on Sunday, June 8, from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Educational Testing Services, 660 Rosedale Road, Princeton. A fundraising cycling event for riders of all experience levels, the goal is to raise funds for diabetes research, education, advocacy, the camp for children with diabetes, and finding a cure.
Volunteers are needed for decorating, registration, cheering section, finish line personnel, greeter, lunch and breakfast duty, parking, rest stops, set up, breakdown, and more. Contact Shana Vono at 732-469-7979, ext. 3524, or E-mail svono@diabetes.org.
Literacy NJ seeks volunteer tutors to help with programs in Mercer County. Call 609-587-6027.
55-PLUS seeks someone with basic computer experience to add summaries to the speaker database twice a month. The summaries of talks are available for anyone to browse. The database program and one-on-one instruction will be provided. E-mail Bob Robinson at rgr0813@aol.com or call 609-683-1104 for information.
Washington Crossing Park Association New Jersey and the New Jersey Sierra Club partner for spring clean-up at Washington Crossing Park in Titusville. The work program is to prepare the grounds prior to the New Jersey State History Fair slated for Saturday, May 10. Trail clean up takes place on Sunday, April 27, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rain or shine.
Check in for volunteers is at the Stone Barn (follow signs for the Johnson Ferry House). Volunteers will sign-in and get assignments. Participants should wear work clothing and comfortable shoes. Bring hand tools and gloves for clearing brush and for picking up trash. No power tools are permitted. Volunteers will clean trails and park grounds at the arboretum, along the Delaware River, at Sullivan’s Grove, and the grounds aside the visitor’s center. Volunteers may work in two-hour shifts or the entire day. Call 973-271-8333, visit www.washingtoncrossingparkassociation.com, or E-mail Joe Carney @rebelworx@yahoo.com.
Farm to School
Department of Agriculture wants to recognize the schools and farmers who are making efforts to increase students’ consumption of Jersey Fresh produce. There is a new program to recognize schools and farmers who work together to ensure students have access to healthy Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables in their school cafeterias. Applications are available to schools and farms who regularly participate in farm to school activities. Visit www.nj.gov.
