In Town
Westminster Conservatory, the community music school of Rider University’s Westminster College of the Arts, will offer its early childhood music program in West Windsor for the first time. Classes will meet weekly for 10 weeks on Tuesdays, beginning on March 20, at Princeton Presbyterian Church, 545 Meadow Road, in West Windsor. The programs are for children four months to nine years of age. For information visit www.rider.edu/conservatorykids, call 609-921-7104, or E-mail LuAnn Longenecker, the director, at Llongenecker@rider.edu.
Rubik’s Cube Challenge seeks more than 500 people who can solve the puzzle in one hour or less to break the current Guinness Book of World Record. The Rubik’s Cube is a 3D mechanical puzzle with six different colors on each side that can be shuffled. For many people, it is hard to turn it back into its original layout. The current world record is set by 300 people. All ages invited. Lessons given on Thursdays, from 6 to 7 p.m., at High School North, 90 Grovers Mill Road, Plainsboro (except for April 5 and 12). Visit recordcubers.blogspot.com for information. The event will be held Monday, May 19, at 4 p.m. on the football field at High School North.
Youth Services Department of the West Windsor Library will be holding open auditions for its upcoming Spring Playfest. Four short plays, including “Dollhouse Blues,” “My Secret Admirer,” “Cookie Crazy,” and “The Book of Spells” will be performed on Friday to Sunday, May 18 to 20. Roles are for actors ages 8 to 13, with a few roles for older teens or adults. The auditions will take place on Sunday, March 25, from 2 to 4 p.m., and Thursday, March 29, from 7 to 9 p.m. Auditions will consist of readings from the scripts. Scripts will be available at the reference desk or can be sent by E-mail. Auditions will take place at the West Windsor Branch, 333 North Post Road. Rehearsals will begin in early April. Volunteers are needed for makeup, costumes, and set construction. Contact Michael Kerr by E-mail to mkerr@mcl.org or call 609-275-8901.
West Windsor Arts Council presents “Thinking with the Whole Brain and Body,” an art and science camp for ages 5 to 10, from Monday to Friday, April 9 to 13. The innovative camp program is a result of collaboration between professional artists at the center and scientists from ScienceSeeds. Campers will design and build their own machines and explore movement from a variety of perspectives as they develop characters and stories with their creations.
Children will work in groups led by one artist and one scientist, so that each of the activities draws on the expertise of both fields, and the teachers can more easily reinforce concepts that come up throughout the day. Some concepts that will be explored include mechanical motion, centers of gravity, balance, movement qualities, hydraulics, storytelling, and circuitry. Children will document the process through photography, video, and journaling. $50. Visit www.westwindsorarts.org or call 609-716-1931 to register.
West Windsor Arts Council invites artists between the ages of 13 and 33 to submit works that explore, connect, or break down the barrier between sight and sound. WW 33 is open to artists between the ages of 13 and 33 who either reside or attend school in Mercer County (Middlesex residents are eligible if they attend a West Windsor-Plainsboro school). Applicants may submit up to three images for jury review. All works entered must be original. Current West Windsor Arts Council members may submit their artwork for free; non-WWAC member fees are $5 per image submitted.
Submission deadline is April 1. For submission guidelines and prospectus visit westwindsorartscenter.org/Call-to-Visual-Artists.html, E-mail wwacexhibits@gmail.com, or call 609-716-1931.
West Windsor Plainsboro Soccer Association offers recreational soccer and a technical development academy. An eight-week program for ages 3 to 5 will be held on Saturday mornings beginning April 21 ($110). A 10-week program for kindergarten to grade 12 meets on Saturday mornings beginning April 14 with an optional practice session on Wednesday evenings ($85). A pre-TDA program for ages 5 and 6 meets for 10 weeks with two evening practices and a weekly Saturday game session ($200). The TDA program for ages 7 to 10 meets for 10 weeks beginning March 19 with weekly game sessions every Saturday ($270). Visit www.wwpsa.org.
University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro invites photographers to participate in a photo contest that showcases the mission, beauty, and technological excellence of the new facility at 1 Plainsboro Road, Plainsboro. Open to photographers of all levels. Criteria for winning photos includes a creative aesthetic quality that goes beyond a basic architectural representation. Awards and cash prizes for the top three exterior and top three interior photos.
Register to gain access for taking photos by Friday, April 20. Dates for interior and exterior photo shoot sessions are Saturday, May 12, noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday, May 15 and 16, noon to 7 p.m. Any photos with people must include signed permission from all individuals in the pictures. No one under the age of 18 may be included in a photo.
Entrants may submit up to three photos per category. Deadline for submission is Friday, June 1. Specifications are color, digital photos, JPEG format, minimum of four by six inch, 300 pixels per inch. Include the photographer’s last name as the last word in each photo title. E-mail photo to photocontest@princetonhcs.org. One photo per E-mail, maximum file size of 5 MB. To submit by mail send CD or other data storage device to Pam Hersh, Vice President for Government and Community Affairs, c/o Debbie Nixon, Executive Assistant, University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro, One Plainsboro Road, Plainsboro 08536.
Winning photos become the property of Princeton HealthCare System. Potential uses of winning photos include permanent art collection at the hospital; hospital promotional and marketing materials, including the hospital website; and publicity in local media. Winners will be announced in June. For information or to register, E-mail photocontest@princetonhcs.org or call Pam Hersh, 609-430-7106, or Debbie Nixon, 609-497-4161.
Kelsey Theater needs assistance backstage during the run of “Hairspray” including dressers for quick changes, hair and make-up assistants, and general backstage work such as scene changes, props, etc. Experience is preferred, but not necessary. Dates for technical rehearsals and productions are from Sunday, April 1 to 22. Contact Tracy Antozzeski by E-mail to projects@mccc.edu or call 609-570-3566.
Poster Contest
Mercer County Soil Conservation District’s annual poster contest, “Soil to Spoon,” is open to Mercer County students in grades 2 through 12. The contest is designed to help students explore the connection between healthy environments and the food they eat. Deadline is Tuesday, April 17. Visit www.mercerscd.org/education/contest.htm or call 609-586-9603 for information.
Volunteer Please
Har Sinai Temple seeks volunteers to prepare and serve an annual outreach meal to some 200 needy adults and children at the Church of the Sacred Heart, 343 South Broad Street, Trenton, on Sunday, March 25. Volunteers are needed to help assemble the meals, serve them, and clean up afterwards. Monetary donations from $3 for one meal to $72 for 24 meals are also welcome. Food preparers are needed at Titusville’s Union Fire Company, 1396 River Road, on Sunday, March 25, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Volunteers are also needed at the Church of the Sacred Heart from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for food preparation and serving, and from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. for serving and cleanup. Call 609-730-8100.
Meals on Wheels of Trenton/Ewing is seeking volunteers to deliver meals to the homebound in the Trenton/Ewing area Monday through Friday. Volunteers partner with the clients’ families to ensure they remain healthy and independent. After a short training session, volunteers have the option to serve as a runner, delivering meals directly to the homebound, or they can choose to drive the runners to each home. Volunteers can commit to one day a week, one day a month, or on an as needed basis. Routes are available in Trenton and Ewing. Visit www.mowte.org, E-mail volunteer@mowte.org, or call 609-695-3483 for more information.
Free Golf
Mercer County offers a free day of golf to all current golf card holders on Saturday, March 31, starting at 7:30 a.m. Courses include Mercer Oaks East and West in West Windsor, Mountain View in Ewing, and Princeton Country Club in West Windsor, will all be open, weather permitting. Internet reservations may be made with both Mercer Oaks courses and Mountain View. Card holders can walk-on at Princeton Country Club. Visit www.mercercounty.org or call 609-882-2177 for information and registration.
Volunteer Please
Health Care Ministry of Princeton, a non-profit organization serving the elderly, needs volunteers to drive clients to health and medical appointments. The time commitment is very flexible and fits the volunteer’s schedule. Volunteers utilize their own cars and provide rides within a 10-mile radius of Princeton. Contact Carol Olivieri at 609-921-8888 or info@healthcareministry.org to sign up or for more information.
For Singers
Paper Mill Playhouse invites singers 18 and older to participate in ensemble singing in the new adult chorale. Members of the company will explore the world of American popular music including contemporary, standards, and Broadway tunes. They meet on eight Mondays, beginning April 2, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The cost to participate is $80. There will be a showcase and other performance opportunities available. For more information or to register call Mickey McNany at 973-315-1669 or visit www.papermill.org for the registration form.
For Fire Fighters
The organizers of Rock, Ribs & Ridges Music and Food Festival kick off the event by seeking 12 fire departments to enter one firefighter each for a rib eating contest on Saturday, May 12. The winner’s firehouse will receive $500, with the individual winner receiving a pair of general admission tickets to the festival at the Hidden Valley Club in Vernon on Saturday and Sunday, June 9 to 10.
Each participating firehouse will receive $100 and the individual contestants will each receive one free general admission ticket to the festival. The contest is free and will take place at 3 p.m. at the Franklin Sussex Auto Mall, 315 Route 23 North, Sussex. Contact Brett Matak via E-email at bmatak@balloonfestival.com, call 973-882-5464, ext. 12, or visit www.rockribsandridges.com.
Reunion
Hamilton High School Class of 1951 has a reunion on Saturday, March 31, at Mercer Oaks in West Windsor. Lucia DiPolvere of West Windsor is one of the committee members. The luncheon features music by Rick Koreyva. Tickets are $45. Call 609-586-2684 or E-mail jdpeeney@msn.com to register.
Art and Poetry
Trenton Museum Society and Trenton Artists Workshop Association present opportunities for artists and poets. Both events at Ellarslie Museum are free. Register by E-mail to tawaexhibits@aol.com. Visit www.ellarslie.org for more information and directions.
Workshops for artists will be on Saturday, March 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sessions include Using Social Networks to Promote Art, Grant Writing Basics for Artists, Press Release Writing for Artists, Arts Grant Opportunities, and more.
“Capital Voices: Readings and Conversation” is Saturday, May 31, from 1 to 4 p.m. Readings by poets and discussions exploring collaborations between writers and artists featuring Ellen Foos, publisher of Ragged Sky Press.
Lawrenceville Main Street Artists Network calls for poems up to 25 lines evoking imagery or emotion to translate into tangible art. The original poetry will be the inspiration for the artists to create artwork. “Art Inspired by Poetry” will be held Saturday, May 12, at the gallery. Poets will be invited to read their work. Send submissions as E-mail attachments to info@lmsartistsnetwork.com by Saturday, March 31.
The organization will also have an open critique of two and three dimensional artwork on Wednesday, March 28, starting at 7:30 p.m. at 2683 Main Street, Lawrenceville. Artists are invited to bring two pieces of their work to the gallery for a roundtable discussion and critique by the other artists attending. The critique process will be led by Rick DeFalco, a digital photographer, and Chris Cooper, an oil painter. Register by E-mail to info@lmsartistsnetwork.com. The group also has openings for artists in all media as members of the cooperative of local artists. Visit www.lmsartistsnetwork.com or call 609-512-1359 for information.
Volunteer Please
Special Olympics New Jersey is seeking volunteers for its Spring Sports Festival bowling competition on Saturday, March 31, at Curtis Lanes in Ewing. Assignments include lane manager, scoring monitor, and awards. Register at www.sonj.org. The online system allows volunteers to view available positions and sign up for the shift(s) they are interested in. Bowling positions are for volunteers ages 13 and above. For more information call Katy Lido at 609-896-8000, ext. 271.
For Young Women
At the Well presents Young Women’s Leadership Academy at Princeton University. The two week residential program Sunday, August 12, to Friday, August 24, is geared towards minority girls in underserved communities entering the tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grades of high school. It focuses on critical thinking, problem solving, self-confidence, personal growth, essay writing, math, and SAT test prep courses. Scholarships are available. Visit www.atthewellconferences.org for application and information.
For Parents
Simplicity Parenting support and enrichment group is for parents seeking a a less stressful family life. It is a group program based on the book, “Simplicity Parenting,” by Kim John Payne. Explore how to connect parenting style and skills with family values by simplifying environment, rhythm, scheduling, and filtering out media and consumerism. The seven session group begins Tuesday, March 20, at 7:30 p.m., at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, 50 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton. $135 includes materials for class. $80 for a parenting partner. Register with Lorraine Shiarappa, director of Lifespan Religious Education, UU Congregation of Princeton, at 609-924-1604, ext. 14.
Open Mics
Ewing Arts Commission seeks performers who sing, play a musical instrument, or are interested in reciting poetry, storytelling, or performing standup comedy. The new coffeehouse opens Thursday, April 19, at 999 Lower Ferry Road, Ewing, from 7 to 9 p.m. The open mic is for beginners and experienced performers. Visit ewingarts.weebly.com or call Bill Ulrich at 609-954-5235.
Donate Please
South Brunswick Food Pantry seeks help with Feinstein Foundation’s Challenge to Fight Hunger through Monday, April 30. The more donations made to the food pantry, the more money the pantry will receive from the Feinstein Foundation. Donations may be non-perishable food items or a check payable to the South Brunswick Human Intervention Trust Fund (memo should read the Feinstein Foundation). Each food donation is valued at $1. Bring donations to the municipal building or mail to South Brunswick Township, Box 190, Monmouth Junction 08852. Non-perishable food donations may also be dropped off in the South Brunswick Library.
Call for Art
The Delaware River Mill Society will be having an art exhibit featuring New Jersey’s historic heritage at Prallsville Mills, Stockton, from Saturdays, April 14 to 28. The all media show of artistic subjects should feature historic resources that provide public access. Historic sites administered by non-profit organizations or municipal, county, state, and federal governments are eligible. Subjects can be located within a state park or along one of our federally recognized scenic byways. Awards will be given for the top three positions, as well as best state-owned historic properties, best non-state owned historic property, best historic landscape, best architectural detail, best historic artifact, best interpretive use (programming, reenactors, encampments, etc), best historic monument or sculpture, best use of materials, and most innovative. The 12 recognized works will be exhibited at the Spirit of the Jersey State History Fair on Saturday, May 12, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Washington Crossing State Park, Titusville. Entries will be accepted on Saturday, April 7, and Monday, April 9, from noon to 5 p.m., at Prallsville Mill Saw Mill Gallery, 33 Risler Street, Stockton. Call 609-397-3586 for information.
Lawrence Library has a call for art for its third annual Trashed Art contest designed to encourage people to consider trash from a different viewpoint, and to create an awareness of the usefulness of garbage. Change trash into art. Artists are invited to submit one piece of original artwork in any art medium using a minimum of 75 percent recycled content. The criteria for recycled is something that has been manufactured and would otherwise be thrown away. The age categories include one for students in grades 7 to 12 and one for adults 18 and older who live in Mercer County. All accepted art entries will be publicly displayed throughout the library during the month of April. An artists’ reception will be held at the library on Thursday, April 26, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Items must be delivered to the library, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, by Friday, March 30. Prizes will be awarded. For more information contact Karen Serach at E-mail kserach@mcl.org or call 609-989-6922.
