In Town
West Windsor Library has announced “Nature at its Best,” an amateur photo contest with entries to be evaluated for composition and artistic creativity by an independent panel of judges. The competition is open to all cardholders of the Mercer County Library System. The deadline for submitting entries is Sunday, September 30. Each contestant is allowed up to two entries. The first three winners will receive prizes that include a Nikon Coolpix L26 16.1 MP Digital Camera, a Kodak Playsport Zx5 HD Waterproof Video camera, and a digital photography book on the art of taking good pictures. Three honorary mentions will win 8×10 photo frames. Submit entries at the library on a CD or flash drive, or E-mail jpeg attachments to wwnjlibrary@gmail.com. Contact Nita Mathur, senior reference librarian, at 609-275-8901.
Flea Market and Silent Auction, Prudential Fox & Roach, 44 Princeton-Hightstown Road, West Windsor. Saturday, September 22, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. “For the Love of Stacey” is a benefit for Greater Philadelphia ALS Chapter in honor of one of the co-workers, a 55-year old Lawrenceville woman being treated for ALS. Donations of items to sell and gift cards from businesses to use in the silent auction are invited. 609-915-0913. www.prufoxroach.com.
West Windsor Farmers Market seeks 10 suitable art and crafters for the market on Saturday, October 20. Hand crafters works include jewelry, photographs, paintings, sculptures, and more. E-mail wwcfm@yahoo.com with a one-page description of what you make, how to contact you, and pictures of your work. Vendors must provide their own tent, table, and chair. The fee to participate is $10.
Princeton Dance & Theater Studio has auditions for “The Snow Queen” on Saturday, September 8, at Forrestal Village, 116 Rockingham Row, Plainsboro. Ballet attire is required. Be prepared to learn choreography. For ages 6 and up. Open class available for dancers 12 and over. All parents must attend an information meeting. A completed registration form and payment are due at the the audition. Visit www.dancevisionnj.org or call 609-514-1600.
JW Actors Studio offers morning workshops for adults presented by Jody Wood. The workshop will focus on skill building techniques for those who have some acting experience, those looking to finally tap into the actor within, or those looking to return to actor after having children or retiring. Acting skills include improvisation exercises and games, scene study, and monologue work. The 12-week sessions begin Wednesday, September 12, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Forrestal Village, Plainsboro. Call 609-466-1432, E-mail info@jwactorstudio.com, or visit www.jwactorstudio.com.
Kelsey Theater has auditions for “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” on Saturday, September 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Monday, September 10, 7 to 10 p.m. Dance auditions for will be held at callbacks. Prepare a one-minute monologue or Christmas poem; a short Christmas song (bring sheet music), and share information about an unusual talent that might work for North Pole’s Got Talent. Must be 7 or older to audition. E-mail Amy at bessella@mccc.edu to schedule. Indicate date and time preferred, age, and contact information.
Calling All Kids
McCarter Theater seeks actors ages 5 to 13 to audition for its annual production of “A Christmas Carol.” All children are encouraged to audition regardless of their previous acting experience.
Sign-ups for auditions will be held Wednesday, September 19, in Matthews Theater lobby, 91 University Place, Princeton. Children will be screened, measured, and given appointments for the actual auditions. Detailed information on the audition, callback, rehearsal, and performance processes will be available at sign-ups.
All children seeking to audition must be present at sign-ups and accompanied by an adult. No audition will be given without an appointment made at sign-ups. Rehearsals begin on Thursday, November 8. Performances begin Sunday, December 2, and conclude on Saturday, December 29. E-mail casting@mccarter.org.
Volunteer Please
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children of Mercer County seeks volunteers to speak up in court for the best interests of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect. CASA works through trained community volunteers to insure that needed services and assistance are made available while helping to move a child in foster care into a safe and permanent home. Advocates must be over 21, have a driver’s license, and a desire to help children. Fall training begins in October. Upcoming information sessions will be held at 1450 Parkside Avenue, Suite 22, Ewing, on Thursday, September 20, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; and Tuesday, September 11, and Thursday, September 27, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. E-mail lklionsky@casamercer.org, call 609-434-0050, or visit www.casamercer.org.
For Book Clubs
George Street Playhouse offers Read. Talk. See. for book clubs in conjunction with “Good People,” a play by David Lindsay-Abaire. The package includes a ticket to see the show, the published script, a study guide, and an optional discussion with a representative from the theater, costs $58. Contact Michelle at mbergamo@georgestplayhouse.org or call 732-846-2895, ext. 134.
Auditions
Sourland Hills Actors Guild has auditions for “Seussical the Musical” on Wednesday and Friday, September 19 and 21, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Otto Kaufmann Community Center, 356 Skillman Road, Skillman. Roles are open for Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie, a little boy or girl with a big imagination, and ensemble and character actors from ages 8 to 80. Prepare 16 bars from a Broadway musical and be prepared to dance in a movement audition (not all roles require dancing). E-mail sourlandhills@gmail.com.
For Teens
Monroe Township Public Library seeks youth volunteers for its math and reading buddies program. The program individually pairs high school volunteers with elementary and middle school students who need to practice math or reading skills. The buddies usually meet for up to one hour per week at the library. Visit www.monroetwplibrary.org or call the Youth Services Department at 732-521-5000, ext. 116.
GrandPals Program
Princeton Senior Resource Center has an introduction to its GrandPals program on Wednesday, September 19, at 10:30 a.m. at the Suzanne Patterson Building, 45 Stockton Street, Princeton. Experienced GrandPals will discuss the current program and the opportunity for expansion to more schools. The program matches older adult volunteers with children in the Princeton Public Schools to promote a love of learning. Volunteers are paired with one to two children for the school year. Most volunteers read once a week in the school library with kindergarteners at Littlebrook or Riverside schools. The pilot project at the Robbins School in Trenton continues and a pilot project with one kindergarten class at Community Park will be added. Volunteers come from Princeton, West Windsor, South Brunswick, Lawrenceville, Ewing, Cranbury, and Skillman.
Anyone 50 years or older who enjoys reading and the company of young minds can volunteer. The program is free. Refreshments will be served. Call Olivian Boon at 609-924-7108 to register.
Call for Art
Monroe Township Cultural Arts Commission seeks artists for its annual juried art show open to living artists of all ages. Work must be original (not from kits). Artists should present their work at Monroe Library’s conference room on Monday, October 15, from 3 to 7 p.m. The juror is Gail Bracegirdle. The show will be on view from Monday, October 22, through Monday, October 29. Visit www.MonroeTownshipCulturalArts.com or call 732-521-4400.
Call for Singers
Trenton Community Singers, under the direction of Richard M. Loatman, is seeking new members — especially tenors and basses. Music selections include an eclectic mix of styles. There are no auditions, dues, or music fees. Visit www.capitalsingers.org, call Suzanne Kazi at 609-799-5939 or E-mail newtcs.cst@gmail.com
Community Christian Choir is registering singers for the fall season. Children and adult singers will prepare “Hope for a Broken World,” a Christmas musical presented in a series of area benefit concerts. The program includes contemporary seasonal music as well as traditional favorites such as Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” Registration is Friday, September 7, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Hamilton Square Presbyterian Church, 3550 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square. Visit www.ccchoir.com, E-mail ccchoir@optonline.net, or call 609-587-7076.
Voter Registration
League of Women Voters wants to help people register to vote before October 16. People who need to register include anyone who will be 18 by election day; anyone new to the county who has lived here at least 30 days prior to election; and anyone who has moved since the last election. Registration forms and applications for a mail-in ballot are available at the clerk’s office in each municipality.
Forms and information will be available every Saturday in September at the West Windsor Community Farmers’ Market on Vaughn drive from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; at McCaffrey’s in the Princeton Shopping Center on Saturday, September 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; at the Montgomery Friends Farmers’ Market in the Village Shopper parking lot at 1340 Route 206 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Saturday, September 29; and at the Princeton Farmers’ Market in Hinds Plaza on Thursdays, October 4 and 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Election day is Tuesday, November 6. Visit www.state.nj.us/state/elections/voting-information.html or call 732-438-0945.
Donate Blood
New Jersey Blood Services is asking for the public’s help to maintain an adequate three-to-five day supply of O-negative blood. Call 800-933-2566 or visit www.nybloodcenter.org.
Musical Notes
Folk Project presents a musical retreat from Friday, October 5, to Sunday, October 7, near Hackettstown. The event includes concerts, more than 40 workshops, multiple jam sessions, and three days of one-on-one music. The mini-festival is for musicians, listeners, singles, couples, and families. Musicians include progressive Celtic fiddler Jeremy Kittel and his band; Toby Walker with blues and ragtime; Grover Kemble with swing, R&B, Latin, and jazz; and Magpie with folk music. Lodging, meals, workshops, and all concerts are included. Visit www.FolkProject.org or call 201-207-8696.
On the Seas
Kelsey Theater has a nine-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing from Bayonne on Friday, February 1. Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas has ports of call in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Samana, Dominican Republic; and Labadee, a cruise line private island. Call Colleen Robinson at 609-371-3494. A portion of the ticket prices benefit the theater.
For Artists
Cranbury Station Galleries offers “Women Watercoloring Workshops by the Sea” on Saturday and Sunday, October 13 and 14; or Thursday and Friday, October 18 and 19. $390 includes art materials, breakfast, and light snacks. Private room is an additional $50. Workshop includes studio and on site instructional painting, films, discussions, and more. Day tripper plan is $290. Call 609-921-0434.
Arts Council
Arts Council of Princeton is accepting registration for fall classes and workshops. Open house will be Sunday, September 9, from noon to 4 p.m. at Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. Visit www.artscouncilofprinceton.org or call 609-924-8777.
Drama for Kids
Bucks County Playhouse is offering classes for students in grades 4 to 12 on Saturdays, September 22 to November 17. Classes will be held in acting, musical theater voice, dance, playwriting, improvisation, and stage combat. $450 for a nine-week course. An open house will be held on Saturday, September 8, at 4 p.m. Visit bcptheater.org/education, E-mail sap@bcptheater.org, or call 609-460-4630, ext. 114.
