In Town
West Windsor Police offer training for the community emergency response team (CERT), the program designed to train citizens to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations. Members will be able to give critical support to first responders including police, fire, and emergency medical services. Training, including disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression, basic disaster medical operations, shelter operations, search and rescue, benefits citizens in the community as well as at home. Applicants must be 18 or older, live or work in West Windsor, and have a valid driver’s license. Applications are available at police headquarters, 20 Municipal Drive. The free course runs on Mondays, March 12 to May 14, from 7 to 9 p.m. For questions call Patrolman Sam Dyson at 609-799-1222 or E-mail sdyson@westwindsorpolice.com.
West Windsor Senior Center offers free income tax assistance for low and moderate income older adults in the area. Trained and certified volunteers will assist in the preparation of federal and state income tax returns. Appointments are available on Monday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon, from February 5 to April 9. Call 609-799-9068.
Plainsboro Recreation Department seeks shadow buddy volunteers to assist children with special needs during recreational activities. No prior experience required. Ages 13 and up. Call 609-799-0909, ext. 352.
DaddyGeorge Productions seek male and female actors through age 70 for “Mac and Moses,” a film about friendship. Call Sharon Seeman at 609-448-8238 to arrange a private audition at Mercer College. Bring a photo and resume. Monologue optional. Sides for cold readings provided. Shooting will be February to April in the Mercer County area.
Cell Phones for Soldiers is collecting unused cell phones at Liberty Tax Service, 2025 Old Trenton Road, Princeton Arms Shopping Center, West Windsor. The organization recycles the phones in exchange for cash to purchase pre-paid calling cards and video phones for units in the Middle East to call their families. All models and phones and accessories are accepted during normal business hours. Call 609-426-0100 for information. www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com##M:[more]##
Volunteers Needed
Mercer County Wildlife Center seeks community volunteers to provide support services. Volunteer orientation and training days are Saturday, March 3, and Sunday, March 11, from 10 a.m .to noon. To work directly with the animals you must be 18 or older and make a commitment to a regular, once-a-week, four-hour shift from April to October. Call Nicole Bencivengo at 609-397-8435 to register or for information.
Womanspace needs volunteers for the domestic violence victim response team and sexual assault support services advocate team. Members meet with victims at police stations or hospitals to provide support, information, and referral. Trained volunteers are on call for two to four shifts per month. Must be 18 old older, have a valid driver’s license and transportation, pass a criminal background check, and attend mandatory meetings and trainings. Bi-lingual individuals are encouraged to apply. Deadline is Friday, March 2. Contact Heidi Mueller at 609-394-0136.
Singing Valentines
Princeton Garden Statesmen is accepting bookings to sing to your sweetheart in four-part harmony for Valentine’s Day. Quartets will be traveling throughout the area on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 13 and 14. Formally attired in tuxedos they will serenade your special someone at home, at work, in a retirement or nursing facility, in a hospital or convalescent center, or at your favorite restaurant. They will sing two love songs, present a red rose, chocolate, card, and photo of the event for $50. Proceeds are used to support ongoing activities including the support of area school’s choral music programs. Call Bob Thomas as 609-883-3942.
Auditions
Bucks County Playhouse has auditions for adults ages 16 and over on Saturday, February 24. Musicals in the 2007 season include Godspell, Seussical the Musical, Bye Bye Birdie, West Side Story, Crazy for You, 42nd Street, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Pippin. All roles are paid positions. Bring a headshot, resume, and sheet music. Be prepared to sing a 16-bar vocal selection from one of the shows in the season. Sign up begins at 9:30 a.m. Male singers, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; female singers, 1 to 4 p.m.; male and female dancers, 4 to 6 p.m. Productions will not travel to Pocono Playhouse and area actors are encouraged to audition. www.buckscountyplayhouse.com.
Villagers Theater seeks three men and three women to play somewhere between late teens and early 30s for “Schoolhouse Rock.” Be prepared with music or a CD for a verse and chorus of an uptempo pop, rock, or gospel song. Improvisational scenes and a dance combination will be given at the audition. Headshots requested. E-mail jc@villagerstheatre.com. Auditions are Sunday, February 4, at 7 p.m.; and Wednesday, February 7, at 7:30 p.m. in Somerset. www.villagerstheatre.com.
Seeking Artists
New Brunswick Community Arts Council calls for New Jersey artist submissions for international juried competition. The Co-Existence Festival takes place from April 28 to May 20 with the centerpiece of the traveling outdoor exhibit created by the Museum on the Seam in Jerusalem. The festival includes performing, visual, and cultural arts groups, as well as academia and the pubic school systems. Open to ages 18 and up. Images should stimulate public opinion and motivation to create dialogue across the boundaries. Send electronically as well as on a compact disk. Visit www.coexistencefestival.org or call 732-317-2660 for specific instructions. The award of $1,”000 also enters the work in the permanent exhibition. E-mail artcompetition@coexistencefestival.org. Deadline is Friday, March 5.
The Arts
Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey is accepting applications for its summer professional training program for ages 18 and up. The program include the acting apprentice company and the intern company. Both run from May 27 to August 13. Deadline is Friday, May 4. www.shakespearetraining.org or call 973-408-3806.
Health
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation asks that you phone loved ones on Valentine’s Day to remind them to call 2-1-1, a hotline to learn about breast cancer, find a screening center, and make an appointment or a mammogram. www.reachout4life.org.
Participate Please
Mercer County has launched a new recycling program, MercerMax, a free online materials exchange program available to Mercer County residents and business to obtain materials or discard unwanted materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill. The program offers an outlet to dispose of materials that somebody, somewhere could probably use. www.mercermax.org or call 609-278-8086.
For Teens
Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies seeks high school students for the fourth annual “New Jersey Business Idea Competition.” Each region recognizes five finalists and 10 semi-finalists who will be awarded $150 and $100, respectively. Winners from each region will receive $250 each. Deadline is Friday, February 16. www.fdu.edu/rothman or call 973-443-8842 for more information.
Princeton Public Library seeks teens in eighth grade or high school who would like to learn more about reporting. “Primary Source,” a new program brings teens and journalists together for workshops during which the teens would hone writing, interviewing, and video production techniques. The library is also looking for professional journalists to participate in a one-session workshop. Call Susan Conlon at 609-924-9529, ext. 247.
Princeton Public Library is accepting submissions of original works by teens through March 1 for inclusion in its Youth Works Festival and Exhibit, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, March 22 and 23. Entries may include research projects, community service projects, social activism, work in the arts including clothing, graphic design, essays, scenes from plays, poetry, spoken word, music, dance, photography, film, and video. Entries may be dropped off in person in the Youth Services Department accompanied by an entry form available at www.princetonlibrary.org/teen.
Film Submissions
Princeton Public Library is accepting submissions for its Princeton Student Film & Video Festival to be held on Wednesday and Thursday, July 18 and 19. Short films, 20 minutes or less, including animation, commercial, documentary, feature, experimental, or PSA. Visit www.princetonlibrary.org/teens or call Susan Conlon at 609-924-9529, ext. 247. Deadline is Friday, June 15.
Bucks Fever Filmfest has a call out for aspiring high school, college, and emerging filmmakers in a juried independent short film and video festival, with screenings of the winning entries to be held Sunday, June 10, at the County Theater in Doylestown. All winning films will also be featured on Comcast on demand. Visit www.bucksfeverfilmfest.org or call 215-348-3913.
Classes
Vagabond Vistas Photography offers “Vacation Photography Workshops” at the Straube Center in Pennington on Tuesdays, February 6 and 13, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. $125. Register. www.vagabondvistas.com.
Evergreen Forum offers spring adult education courses in literature, the arts, international affairs, food, history, financial resources, and science. Each course meets once a week in Princeton for approximately eight weeks. Visit www.theevergreenforum.org or call 609-924-7108.
Maidenhead Studio offers Friday morning drawing class for adults, and after school programs on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. $15 per class. 609-896-2200. Located at 11 Gordon Avenue, Lawrenceville.
Northeast Academy of Martial Arts offers Mom and Baby Fitness Fun, a group exercise class for both. $20 drop in fee. 609-587-6644. 4054 Quakerbridge Road, Lawrenceville.
Trip
Arts Council of Princeton is coordinating a trip to Brooklyn galleries and studios including DUMBO Arts Center, Momenta Art, Pierogi, Smack Mellon, and Safe-T Gallery on Saturday, February 10. Snow date is Saturday, February 24. Bistro-style lunch included. Register. $90. Visit www.artscouncilofprinceton.org or call 609-924-8777, ext. 101.
Camp
Howell Living History Farm offers week-long summer day camps that involve children in farming and country life as it was in rural Mercer County a century ago. Camps are offered from late June through mid-August for ages 6 to 15. Activities include animal care, gardening, crafts, nature walks, hayrides, and hands-on-history experiences. $200 per week. One session per child. www.howellfarm.org. 609-737-3299.
Sports
Ten Star All Star Basketball Camp is open to boys and girls ages 10 to 19 as well as for ages 6 to 18 in the summer program. All skills welcome. Call 704-373-0873.
MSM Baseball Leagues of New Jersey is forming spring teams for individuals and teams, 18 years and up of any skill level. 20-game season followed by playoffs. Call Dave at 973-699-8336 or E-mail mabl3@msn.com.
Bruce Cook seeks male and female softball players over 21. Call 609-721-4358.
