Income Tax Assistance
Income Tax Assistance Program will be available at the West Windsor Senior Center, 271 Clarksville Road, West Windsor, on Tuesday mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Tuesday, April 12. Individuals are reminded to bring copies of their 2014 federal and state income tax returns as well as the 2015 information necessary to complete the 2015 tax returns (i.e. W-2 and 1099 income forms, property tax bills, itemized deductions such as medical bills and charitable contributions, etc.). Call 609-799-9068.
Literati
Kelsey Review, the literary journal published by Mercer Community College, is now available online. It features 25 contributors who live, work and/or study in Mercer County and includes fiction, poetry, and cover art by Elke HP Hannel. The interactive digital format can be downloaded to computers, phones, and tablets.
Contributors include Vida Chu, Jason Conner, Marisol Cruz, Ilene Dube, Lauren Fedorko, G.L. Fields, Brett Gill, Elane M. Gutterman, Elke HP Hannel (cover art), Lois Marie Harrod, Ken Jaworowski, Annabelle Kim, Lavinia Kumar, Sima Kumar, Babette Levin, J.K. McCauley, Carolina Morales, Leonora Rita V. Obed, George Point, Wanda S. Praisner, Essence B. Scott, Nancy Scott, Greg Seals, D.E. Steward, John Symons, and more.
The deadline for submissions for the 2016 edition is May 31. Submissions may include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, art, photography, and reviews. E-mail Kelsey.review@mccc.edu or visit www.mccc.edu/kelseyreview.
Tennis for All
Mercer County Park Commission offers tennis classes and leagues for youth and adults. All registration is online. Visit www.mercercountyparks.org/facilities/tennis-center or call 609-448-8007.
Sports for Cause
Novo Nordisk New Jersey welcomes registration for its full and half marathons on Sunday, May 1, with both races starting at 7:30 a.m. The races are produced and presented by Life Time: The Healthy Way of Life Company. Athletes will run along the scenic New Jersey shore and through the diverse neighborhoods of Oceanport, Monmouth Beach, Long Branch, Deal, Allenhurst, Loch Arbour, Asbury Park, and Ocean Grove. Register at https://register.chronotrack.com/r/13270.
Passport Days
Mercer County will continue to host Passport Days across the county to make it more convenient for constituents. Individuals can also, visit the Mercer County Clerk on Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. as well as Wednesdays until 6:30 p.m. Mercer County Connection in Hamilton also processes passports Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays until 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both offices take photos. Visit travel.state.gov for application, www.mercercounty.org and click on County Clerk, or call 609-989-6464 for more information.
Auditions
Playhouse 22 has open auditions for “1776” on Sunday and Monday, March 6 and 7, in East Brunswick. Call 732-254-3939.
For the Young
QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning PNC Bank invite New Jersey students in grades 2 through 12 to take part in the “American Patriot Essay Contest” by writing a short essay on the topic “What the American Flag Means to Me.”
The grand prize winner will receive a visit to his or her school by a 75-foot-tall hot air balloon in June and a VIP package at the balloon festival in July. Second and third place prizes include admission and merchandise. Teachers who submit a group of 15 essays or more on behalf of their students will receive two free general admission tickets.
The essays of 100 words or less will be selected based on creativity, poignancy, and clarity with consideration given to the grade level of the contestant. Deadline is Saturday, April 30. Visit www.balloonfestival.com/pncessay or E-mailing information@balloonfestival.com for information.
Greenwood House seeks student volunteers for “Getting to Know You,” a multi-generational project. The purpose is to create short biographical sketches of residents. Volunteers will visit Greenwood House to spend time interviewing the residents to obtain information. Contact Carol Horowitz at 609-577-5692 or csh.msw@gmail.com for information.
For Singers
Sacred Harp of Central New Jersey will hold a singing workshop on Sunday, February 21, for those interested in the American tradition of four-part, a cappella hymn singing. Dean Jens will teach the basics of Sacred Harp singing, a four-shape notation system that was used in Colonial singing schools to teach sight-reading to people with no musical training. The workshop begins at 12:30 p.m. at the Lawrenceville School chapel, Route 206, Lawrenceville. Free. Loaner books will be available. Call 609-896-8094 or E-mail sacred.harp.princeton@gmail.com.
Call for Art
Rutgers University seeks entries for “Living in the Shadows: Underground Immigrant Communities” through the Center for Women in the Arts and Humanities. It is a group exhibition that will be on view from January to April, 2017. Artworks should focus on education, family, cultural connectivity, nutrition, health, safety, economics, housing, and labor issues. Visit cwah.rutgers.edu; call 848-932-3726; or E-mail womenart@rci.rutgers.edu. Submission deadline is Friday, April 8.
Call for Poetry
NAMI NJ seeks entries for the Dara Axelrod Expressive Arts Mental Health Poetry Contest. Send your entry about the positive aspects of having or being close to someone with mental health challenges. Poems must be typewritten and 40 lines or less. Provide a cover letter that includes your name, E-mail, mailing address, and phone number. Mail to NAMI NJ Poetry Contest, 1562 Route 130, North Brunswick 08902; or E-mail poetry@naminj.org. Deadline is Friday, April 1.
Call for Volunteers
Mercer County Wildlife Center is holding orientations for new volunteers at the facility in Hopewell Township. Volunteer orientation sessions Saturday, March 19; and Sunday, April 3, from 10 a.m. to noon. Volunteers must be able to commit to one, four-hour shift, once per week, from April until September. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and have a current tetanus vaccine, and are required to attend one orientation session. Volunteer duties are varied and include cage cleaning, diet preparation, laundry, and other behind-the-scenes opportunities. Contact Jane Rakos-Yates at 609-303-0552, ext. 103 or jrakosyates@mercercounty.org.
Princeton Learning Cooperative seeks volunteers to work with teen members in academic and non-academic areas through tutoring, leading classes, activities, or offering one-time workshops. Contact Alison Snieckus at alison@princetonlearningcooperative.org or 609-851-2522.
Howell Farm is accepting applications for parent/child enrollment in its spring hatchery program which begins in March. The program is designed to introduce children to life on the farm, while parents volunteer time helping the Howell Farm staff work with school group visits to the farm and other chores related to farming. One parent must work at the farm as a volunteer in exchange for one child’s participation in the program. No experience is necessary.
The program for children aged 3 to 5 years includes feeding farm animals, collecting eggs, storytelling, and taking a hayride ride. The program runs one morning per week for 12 weeks, on either Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays, March 16, 17,or 18 from 9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Parents may enroll by attending an organizational meeting on Wednesday, February 24, at 1 p.m. at 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell. Meetings are intended for parents only. Applications will not be accepted by mail or phone. Call 609-737-3299 or visit www.howellfarm.org for information.
Respite Care
Statewide Respite Care Program, in every county in New Jersey, is designed to provide assistance to families by giving unpaid caregivers a break from the daily responsibilities of caring for an elderly relative or friend.
Services available include companion; homemaker or home health aide, including personal care and housekeeping; caregiver directed option, permits qualified participants to be reimbursed for a broad array of purchased respite services; social or adult day health services; private duty nursing in home; adult family care, short-term placement in the home of a trained individual or family; in-patient care, short-term placement in a licensed medical facility; and campership, short-term placement in an accredited camp facility. Contact Tamika Lukas by phone at 609-987-5003, ext. 113, or by E-mail at admissions@enablenj.org.
