#b#In Town#/b#
West Windsor Water Works is accepting memberships to the aquatic complex. Contact West Windsor Recreation. Resident and non-resident, individual, family, and senior memberships are available. The office is open Monday to Friday in the municipal building.
Plainsboro Library offers assistance in obtaining health coverage on Tuesday, February 10, from 5 to 8 p.m. Meet certified counselors who will help you enroll in plans to fit your budget. Plans that will cover emergencies, doctor visits, prescriptions, hospitalization and maternity care, as well as pre-existing conditions, are all available. Bring proof of lawful residency including a green card, work authorization, Social Security card, proof of state residency (rental receipt), proof of monthly household income (pay stubs, unemployment payment stubs), and copies of your 2013 tax returns. Call 609-275-2898 to register.
#b#Sports for Causes#/b#
New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders seeks walkers for NJ Walks for TS, Sunday, March 29, at Mercer County Park in West Windsor. Proceeds benefit the Education Outreach Program, which delivers faculty and peer in-service presentations at schools, trainings at hospitals statewide, and college scholarships for graduating high school seniors with TS. Call 908-575-7350 for information.
Machestic Dragons of Mercer County is accepting registration for teams to participate in Paddle for Pink, the annual dragon boat festival at Mercer County Park Lake in West Windsor, on Saturday, June 13.
The breast cancer survivor’s dragon boat team celebrates the ninth anniversary of the race and festival with activities on and off the water. Visit www.paddleforpink.org to register to race and raise funds for Breast Cancer Resource Center of Princeton and Cancer Institute of New Jersey in New Brunswick.
#b#Income Tax Assistance#/b#
Many sites throughout Mercer County offer free income tax preparation assistance to help residents prepare and file their 2014 taxes. The deadline for filing 2014 tax returns for both state and federal taxes is Wednesday, April 15.
AARP Foundation provides Tax-Aides to assist people with low to moderate incomes at Mercer County Connection, libraries, and other sites. Visit www.aarp.org. Most request registration.
West Windsor Senior Center, 271 Clarksville Road, Princeton Junction; Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. English, Chinese, and Mandarin bilingual assistance. Call 609-799-9068.
Mercer County Connection, 957 Route 33, Hamilton; Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 609-890-9800.
Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street, Princeton; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. English/Spanish bilingual assistance. Walk-ins welcome.
Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton; Mondays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 609-924-9529.
Princeton Senior Resource Center, 45 Stockton Street, Princeton; Fridays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 609-924-7108.
RWJ Fitness and Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Road, Mercerville; Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 609-584-5900.
Individuals are reminded to bring copies of their 2013 federal and state income tax returns as well as the 2014 information necessary to complete the 2014 tax returns (W-2 and 1099 income forms, property tax bills, itemized deductions such as medical bills and charitable contributions, etc.).
#b#Volunteer#/b#
Fresh Air Fund seeks volunteer host families for the summer. An independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.8 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. The children are boys and girls, from six to 18 years old. Children on first-time visits are six to 12 years old and stay for one or two weeks. Children who are reinvited by host families may continue with the program through age 18. Visit www.freshair.org or call 908-420-6194 for information.
#b#Donate#/b#
Cotsen Children’s Library at Princeton University is hosting a food drive to benefit Crisis Ministry of Mercer County. Bring your canned and boxed goods to Cotsen (in Firestone Library) through Thursday, February 12.
Suggested items (no glass) include canned vegetables, chunk light tuna, beans, soup: fruit and pudding cups, cereal, peanut butter, pasta, juice boxes, coffee, tea, boxed macaroni and cheese, and granola bars. Call 609-258-2697.
#b#Wellness#/b#
NAMI offers several classes this spring. Family to Family is a 12-week class for family members of adults with mental illness. The first class is Thursday, February 26, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. NAMI Basics is a six-week class for parents or primary caregivers of children or adolescents with challenging behaviors. Classes begin in early March. WRAP, a wellness recovery wellness plan for people recovering from mental illness, is an eight-session workshop beginning Wednesday, March 4, at 6 p.m. All classes are at 3371 Brunswick Pike, Suite 124, Lawrenceville. Visit www.namimercer.org or call 609-799-8994.
#b#For the Young#/b#
Old Barracks Museum invites New Jersey’s fourth and fifth grade students to participate in George Washington’s Birthday Essay Contest. Two winners from each grade will be invited to meet the Father of Our Country, share his birthday cake, and enjoy a complimentary tour of the museum with their families. Entries must be received by Friday, February 6. The winning essays will be chosen based on content, style, originality, and grammar. Winners will be notified by phone and/or mail by Wednesday, February 11. Visit www.barracks.org or call 609-396-1776.
Terhune Orchards offers two day camps for ages 7 to 12 to experience life on the farm. Future Farmers Gardening camp has one week sessions beginning July 6 and 27, and August 3. Summer Camp on the Farm begins July 13 and 20. Camp sessions run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each weekday. Visit terhuneorchards.com or call 609-924-2310 for information.
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation offers a scholarship challenge for advanced middle school students. Every eligible seventh grade student who successfully completes one of the five selected edX courses will secure a semi-finalist position in the Young Scholars Program.
The program, a selective pre-college scholarship for high-performing middle school students with financial need, includes academic advising, financial support, and a pathway to the foundation’s $40,000 per year college scholarship. Visit www.jkcf.org/edx.
Mercer Council has received a grant from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to offer two research-based prevention education programs to Mercer County schools and youth groups. They include Botvin’s Life Skills Training Program and Protecting You/Protecting Me. Call 609-396-5874, ext. 204.
#b#Calls for Art#/b#
Communiversity ArtsFest applications to participate are available to artists, crafts, performers, and merchants. The celebration of the music, dance, art, and crafts attracts more than 40,000 people to Princeton every spring. This year’s festivities take place on Sunday, April 26, from 1 to 6 p.m.
Visit www.artscouncilofprinceton.org for an application. Deadline is Monday, March 2. Call 609-924-8777 or E-mail communiversity@artscouncilofprinceton.org.
Bucks County Project Gallery and Bucks County Audubon Society invite photographers to enter works for “Landscapes and Wildlife of the Delaware Valley,” a juried photography exhibition, from April 18 to May 3.
All photographic processes are welcome. Submit up to three photographic images in JPEG format, 72 ppi at full size. Each file must be labeled with your name, E-mail, and title of your work. Send to info@buckscountyprojectgallery.com. Deadline for digital entries is Sunday, March 15. Send check for $25 to Flash Graphics Inc., 3692 Dogwood Lane, Doylestown, PA 18902.
#b#For Young Professionals#/b#
Grounds For Sculpture has launched Emerging Patrons Circle for young professionals who are eager to get involved in supporting local arts and culture. The first event is a free workshop on Thursday, February 26, titled, “The Art of the Selfie: How to Look Good From Every Angle” presented by professional photographer Kacy Jahanbini.
Programming includes networking, galas, and social events, and seminars on “How to Start Collecting Art” and “Giving with Your Family.” Emerging patrons will also receive invitations to New York and Philadelphia galleries, previews, art fairs, private tours, and art-inspired day trips. Visit www.groundsforsculpture.org.
#b#Chinese Immersion#/b#
Pearl S. Buck International offers a summer China culture and language immersion trip for high school seniors and college students. Sunday, July 12, to Saturday, August 8. The itinerary immerses students into the Chinese culture, customs, language, geography, and history through experiences. Call 215-249-0100, ext. 110; or E-mail psbi@pearlsbuck.org.
For the Young
Raritan Valley Community College is offering a variety of youth engineering classes in February and March at the Branchburg campus. Junior Mechanical Engineering for ages 5 to 7, Saturday, February 28, from 10 a.m. to noon. Apprentice Mechanical Engineering for ages 8 to 12, Saturday, February 28, from 1 to 3 p.m. Junior Aerospace Engineering for ages 5 to 7, Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to noon. Apprentice Aerospace Engineering for ages 8 to 12, Saturday, March 7, from 1 to 3 p.m. Each class is $40.
The school is also offering a variety of youth enrichment classes in February and March. Study Skills, Saturdays, February 28 to March 21, grades 4 to 8, $90. Fashion Sewing for ages 8 to 12, Sundays, March 1 to 22, 9 a.m. to noon, $175. Speak Out: Public Speaking for Kids, ages 9 to 12, Saturdays, March 7 to 28, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., $99.
Visit www.raritanval.edu/youth, E-mail youth@raritanval.edu, or call 908-526-1200, ext. 8404.
Princeton HealthCare System invites children in kindergarten through eighth grade to join the seventh annual Kids Marathon. Participants will begin marathon-related activities on their own in April and come together on Saturday, June 27, for a 1.2-mile fun run at Educational Testing Service, 660 Rosedale Road, Princeton.
Participants will strive to walk, run, or roll a total of 25 miles during a 10-week period from April to June.
Visit www.princetonhcs.org/kidsmarathon. $25 with proceeds for programs that work to promote wellness and prevent obesity and chronic disease in children.
JCC of Princeton Mercer Bucks seeks Jewish athletes, ages 9 to 10, to try out for the 2015 Mini Maccabi Games; and Jewish athletes, ages 10 to 12, to try out for the 2015 Junior Maccabi Games. $140 includes practice facilities, coaching, entrance to games, medals, delegation apparel, lunch for the athletes, and pre-game events. Openings in boys basketball and baseball, boys and girls soccer, swimming, and tennis. Deadline is Saturday, February 28. E-mail Maccabi@jccpmb.org.
#b#Wellness#/b#
One Yoga offers a training workshop for Yoga 4 Sobriety, a support system for those learning how to walk through life using the Twelve Steps of Recovery.
Program includes an understanding of the 12-Steps and the language of recovery, as well as yoga philosophy, postures, meditations, energies, and proper sequencing. Saturday, February 7, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, February 8, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $399. 405 Route 130 North, East Windsor. E-mail Cinderellamom96@comcast.net.
#b#For Singles#/b#
Professional and Business Singles Network offers a mid summer getaway cruise from New York City with ports at Halifax and Boston on the Queen Mary 2, July 30 to August 4. Visit www.PBSNinfo.com or E-mail pbsn@aol.com.
