In Town
The Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton request donations to “Valentines for Food” drive through Thursday, February 14. A purchase of a Valentine for Food at McCaffrey’s will be matched by the store. Checks may be sent to 123 East Hanover Street, Trenton 08608 or donate at www.thecrisisministry.org. Bring non-perishable foods to collection points including West Windsor-Plainsboro Community and Grover middle schools, and Village and Town Center elementary schools.##M:[more]##
Audition
Somerset Valley Players has auditions scheduled for “For the Love of Juliet” on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 26 and 27, at 7:30 p.m. Two women and two men, ages 20 to 40, are needed. 689 Amwell Road, Hillsborough. Call 609-369-7469 or visit www.svptheatre.org.
Communiversity
Arts Council of Princeton seeks artists, crafters, vendors, and performers for Communiversity, Festival of the Arts. Saturday, April 26, from noon to 5 p.m. in downtown Princeton. Rain or shine. Visit www.artscouncilofprinceton.org or call 609-924-8777. Deadline is Friday, March 14.
Young Art
Arts Council of Princeton invites students through grade 12 to submit original poetry, short prose, or artwork to “Under Age: An Anthology of Poetry, Prose, and Artwork.” Poetry and prose in both English and Spanish acceptable. Deadline is Friday, March 14, at 5 p.m., at the Contemporary Arts Center in the Princeton Shopping Center. Visit www.artscouncilofprinceton.org or call 609-924-8777 for submission guidelines.
Prevent Child Abuse-NJ presents a singing competition open to students, ages 6 to 22. NJFame Game. Individuals should submit a one-minute a cappella video footage of a song of their choosing by Thursday, February 28.
Participants will be judged according to age groups. Five finalists for each age group will be invited to compete at the live event featuring karaoke style. The winner of each age category will receive a $500 scholarship or cash prize.
Complete the online entry form and E-mail video to njfamegame@hollyrockmiller.com. The $10 entry fee payable to Prevent Child Abuse-NJ and a completed parental consent form should be mailed to NJ Fame Game Contestant, HollyrockMiller, 117 Rockingham Row, Princeton, NJ 08540. A DVD of your video may also be sent. Visit www.njfamegame.com for information and forms.
George Street Playhouse offers “Writing for Performance 101,” a three-week class for teens, beginning Saturday, February 16, at 9 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. The sessions include theater games and improvisational techniques. Register. $85. Visit www.gsponline.org or call 732-846-2895, ext. 115.
Community Conservatory seeks aspiring school age acting students and filmmakers. Brian Kelly and Paul Gold are blending two classes to create a hands-on experience. 4459 West Swamp Road, Doylestown, PA. Visit www.communityconservatory.org or call 215-340-7979 for information.
Trips
Temple Micah offers a guided tour of two synagogues, Congregation Ohab Zedek and Congregation Shearith Israel, and a tour of Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Lunch and the afternoon in New York City on your own. Bus departs from Cranbury Sunday, March 30, at 8:30 a.m. and leaves NYC at 4 p.m. $65, $25 for children. Send checks payable to Temple Micah to Bruce Kirschner, 180 Old Cranbury Road, Cranbury 08512. Call 609-448-0033 or E-mail bigbkirsch@gmail.com for information.
Fraternal Military Association of the USA will tour Normandy invasion beaches, London, Bastogne, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Paris, department from New York on Tuesday, June 17. Current, past military personnel, dependents, friends, and the general public are invited to participate in the journey to commemorate the 64th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944. Call Sy Canton at 561-865-8495 for information.
Top Chef?
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition benefit, the Teal Tea, seeks competitors in this year’s top chef competition. Each competitor is asked to prepare hors d’oeuves, a finger food entree, and a dessert for a table of 10 plus five judges. The event will be held at Educational Testing Service on Sunday, May 4. Visit www.tealtea.org or call Barbara Matthews at 609-372-4527.
The Arts
Edison Valley Playhouse presents acting and directing classes on Saturdays, beginning February 23. The directing class is $215. The acting class is $195. E-mail Rob Pherson at stgdirector4@yahoo.com or call 732-668-6698. Both classes culminate in performance before an invited audience.
Clued In Press is accepting entries for its mystery short story contest, “Dressing for Success Can Be Murder.” Must be original, unpublished, and less than 2,”000 words. Submit in standard manuscript format and include a title sheet with name, address, E-mail, and phone number. Send four copies of each story with a check of $10 to Adele Polomski, 40 Brook Drive, Milltown 08850. For complete guidelines E-mail Daria Ludas at dludas@comcast.net.
Gallery 125 seeks submissions in all media for spring exhibit opening Friday, April 11. Send digital files of artwork on CD to Gallery 125, 125 South Warren Street, Trenton 08608. Include $20 check for up to five submissions payable to TDA Gallery 125. Include name, address, phone number, E-mail, and a brief biography. Accepted work must be for sale, properly framed, and wired for hanging. Visit www.gallery125.com or call 609-989-9119.
Good Causes
New Jersey Ride Against AIDS, a three-day, 250-mile bicycle ride covering the length of New Jersey, will be held Friday to Sunday, September 26 to 28. The organization is recruiting riders, volunteers, and sponsors. Visit www.njrideagainstaids.org or call Pat Sherman at 732-988-6593.
Book Club Program
George Street Playhouse offers a theater and book package for book clubs in conjunction with “Oscar and the Pink Lady.” Patrons receive a ticket to the show, a copy of Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt’s novella, and the opportunity to have a member of the staff speak at their book club. $50. Call 732-846-2895, ext. 134, or E-mail mbergamo@georgestplayhouse.org.
Health
One Yoga & Wellness Center offers a yoga retreat from Friday to Sunday, March 14 to 16. Kateri Environmental Center in Wickatunk. Register. $325. www.oneyogacenter.net or call 609-918-0963.
Tax Assistance
Democracy House, Middlesex College’s service-learning program, offers students to assist in preparation of tax returns. Fridays and Saturdays, from noon to 5 p.m., by appointment, at the New Brunswick Center, 140 New Street. Call 732-745-8866.
Emanuel Community Development Corporation, 908-938-2481, and Elijah’s Promise Soup Kitchen, 732-545-9002, also offer free tax preparation services.
Volunteer
New Hope Arts seeks volunteers for benefits, exhibitions, distribution of posters, computer input, and general activities. The group also requests professional services, donations of materials such as paint, office equipments, and pro bono legal and financial advice. Call 215-862-5463 or E-mail lgcrilley@comcast.net.
Olympics
USA Gymnastics is selling tickets to the 2008 Olympic Team Trials in gymnastics, scheduled for Thursday to Sunday, June 19 to 22, at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. All-session tickets prices range from $100 to $500. Visit www.comcasttix.com or call 800-298-4200.
Guide to Bucks
Bucks County Visitors Bureau offers a guide featuring entertainments, shopping, dining, lodging, and services. Free. Visit www.buckscounty.travel or call 800-836-BUCKS.
Snapshot Exhibit
Newark Museum seeks digital snapshots for an continually changing exhibition opening Wednesday, February 13. The display, presented on 18 flat screen monitors, will feature snapshots of friends, family, pets, vacations, birthday parties, and other events. Up to 10 digital photos may be uploaded per day through Sunday, May 11. www.newarkmuseum.org.
