In Town
West Windsor Police, West Windsor Lions Club, and American Legion Post 76 are holding the annual toy drive for children in the West Windsor vicinity. Drop off new unwrapped toys at the police department on Clarksville Road before December 20. Call Patrolman Sam Dyson at 6090799-0452 for more information.
West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance seeks to appoint two students to its advisory board to communicate youth concerns. The one-year term is intended to provide students with a hands-on local leadership service role and give a voice to youth concerns in the community. Applicants must be able to attend WWBPA meetings; participate in and help coordinate student volunteer sign-up for events including West Windsor Bike Fest, Pedals for Progress Bike Drive, and International Walk to School Day; and help communicate bicycle and pedestrian access and safety issues to the youth community through educational outreach efforts. The term of service begins in February. Applications are available at www.princetononline.org/wwbpa. Deadline is Friday, January 5.
Plainsboro Recreation offers ESL classes for Plainsboro residents ages 55 and older. In-person registration is Wednesday, December 13, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building. ID required. $10. Call 609-799-0909 for information.
Plainsboro Township Police Department and P.B.A. Local #319 are accepting donations for the 16th annual Toys for Tots program. Donations of new unwrapped toys may be brought to SuperFresh, Plainsboro Police Department, or Hunters Glen leasing office, all in Plainsboro; or to Al’s Sunoco in West Windsor. Final pickup is Friday, December 15. Call Officer Michael Kelly at 609-799-2331, ext. 681 for questions.
West Windsor Community Policing Unit, West Windsor Lion’s Club, and West Windsor American Legion Post #76 seek new and unwrapped gifts for children. Drop off boxes are at the West Windsor Police headquarters on Clarksville Road, Al’s Sunoco on Princeton-Hightstown Road, and PNC Bank at the corner of Princeton-Hightstown Road and Alexander roads. Call Officer Sam Dyson at 609-799-1222 for information. Deadline: Wednesday, December 20.
Emack & Bolios, located in Southfield Shopping Center, West Windsor will donate a percentage of their sales of ice cream pies and cakes to HomeFront to aid homeless people. Emack and Bolio are the names of the two homeless people that founder Bob Rook did pro bono work for.
Cheng/Ferrara Productions has auditions on Saturday, December 9, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Kelsey Theater. for Frank Wildhorn’s “For the Glory (The Civil War Musical).” Call Frank Ferrara at 609-499-1388 for appointment. Performances are Friday, February 9 to 18. The show will involve participation by Wildhorn and musical direction by his assistant, Nicholas Cheng.
Literacy Volunteers in Mercer County offers gift wrapping at Barnes & Noble, MarketFair, on Sunday, December 10, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Like 40 Productions has auditions for “Breaking Legs on Sunday, December 17, noon to 4 p.m. at Kelsey Theater. Prepare a two-minute comedic monologue. Bring photo and resume. E-mail Tracy Antozzeski at tba169@comcast.net for appointment.
The Arts
Princeton Pro Musica is offering the opportunity to conduct Handel’s Messiah on Saturday, December 16, in Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University. The highest bidder will have a conducting session with the conductor, participation in two rehearsals, and one performance. Visit www.ebay.com from Saturdays, December 2, to December 9. Search on “Conduct Messiah.”
Student Center Stage seeks participants for drama group performing plays at area nursing homes in Mercer County. The current play is “Wuthering Heights.” Group rehearses every Friday evening in the Princeton area. Call 732-672-6213 or E-mail achappo@pds.org.
Trinity Cathedral seeks spoken word artists and poets for the CAST Poetry Slam Competition to be held on Saturday, January 13, at 7 p.m. Submit a brief (four-minute maximum) audition tape or CD by Friday, December 15. www.castconcerts.org.
Easthampton Board of Education seeks an artist to execute a watercolor painting of the primary school they are commissioning. Send three to five jpg images or a website link with images to Regan Young at rgy@ryebread.com. Call 609-265-2652 for information.
Villagers Theater has auditions for “Music from a Sparkling Planet” on Monday and Wednesday, December 18 and 20, at 7:30 p.m. 415 Demott Lane, Somerset. www.villagerstheatre.com for specifics. Readings from the script. Bring a headshot and resume. For information E-mail the director Tina Lee at tina@villagerstheatre.com.
McCarter Theater is seeking male and female puppeteers, 20 and over, for educational theater tour of “The Arabian Nights. Must have puppetry and mask work experience plus a good sense of humor and ability to shift quickly from character to character. Tour runs January 8 to March 16. Submission deadline is Tuesday, November 28. Prepare a one-minute classical monologue. Must be non-equity. Send resume and photo to Arabian Nights Casting, McCarter Theater, 91 University Place, Princeton 08540. No phone calls or E-mails.
Roxey Ballet auditions for 2007 season will be held at the Ailey Studios, 405 West 55th Street, New York, on Sunday, March 4, 12;30 to 7 p.m. 212-405-9000. www.roxeyballet.com.
On the Ice
Mercer County Public Ice Skating Center is open to the public seven days a week through March for general public skating sessions, family night sessions, birthday party, and ice time for hockey. Group and private lessons, skate rentals, and a skate sharpening service. $6 adults; $4 children. www.mercercounty.org or 609-371-1669.
Donate Please
Greater Good Thrift Store, a program of Community Action Service Center that serves families in the Hightstown and East Windsor communities, opened its doors recently. Donations of clothing, household goods, and furniture, are accepted on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 413 Mercer Street, Hightstown, or at storage trailer behind ShopRite on Route 130 in East Windsor. Pick-ups of larger items including furniture may be arranged by calling 609-448-2702.
Middlesex County 4-H is collecting clothing, toys, games, and other items suitable for children for Project GIFT, a holiday shopping event for families with limited resources. All donations should be new. Drop off on Monday, December 4, and Wednesday, December 6, from 6 to 9 p.m., at 645 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. 732-398-5261.
Good Causes
Princeton Airport seeks new unwrapped gifts of clothing, books, or toys for needy children. They will be distributed through the Mercer County Board of Social Services. Personal checks payable to “Foodbank of Somerset County” are also welcome. 609-921-3100.
Hamilton Township Police Athletic League is raising funds to serve more than 2,”000 in the community. A Jon Bon Jovi autographed Fender guitar will be raffled off on Friday, December 22. $10 donation. Call 609-888-2600.
Kelsey Theater’s annual Theater Appreciation Cruise is a nine-day trip to the Caribbean departing Friday, August 10. Fares begin at $1,”149. A portion of the proceeds benefit the theater. Visit www.cruiseone.com/crobinson or call 609-275-0335.
Volunteers Needed
Literacy Volunteers in Mercer County offers two winter tutor training courses. Tuesday evenings from February 13 to March 27, at ETS from 6 to 9 p.m.; or Tuesday mornings from January 9 to February 20, at 3535 Quakerbridge Road, Hamilton, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 609-587-6027.
World Wide Phone Calls
Merrill Lynch offers seniors and disabled persons the opportunity to call family members anywhere in the world for the holidays. Each person can make up to one hour of calls on Saturday, December 16, 11 a.m. to noon, at Pennington office. Call Princeton Resource Center at 609-252-2362 by December 6.
Seeking History
Justin Online Military Oral History Collection seeks the stories of military veterans, merchant marines, war industry workers, and all others who supported the troops on the home front during World War II, the Cold War, Korea, Vietnam, and other eras, for publication to the online historical resource. E-mail James F. Justin at jfjmuseum@aol.com.
For Kids
Disney Career Start Program seeks recent high school graduates for participation at Walt Disney World. Must be 18 or older. www.disneycareerstart.com.
