In Town
West Windsor Arts Council is seeking two-dimensional artwork offered at prices not exceeding $300 for its Off the Wall exhibit. Artwork may be literally taken off the wall at the time of purchase throughout the exhibit and will also be sold at a one-day artisan market on Saturday, December 7. Artwork must be brought to the gallery for jury review by Heather Christensen Smith on Sunday, November 17, from 9 to 11 a.m.
Artisans who sell innovative handcrafted pieces of jewelry, ceramics, fiber art, and more are sought for the juried one-day market event on Saturday, December 7. Artisan market submissions for jury review must be submitted electronically by Friday, November 8, at 6 p.m.
Visit www.westwindsorartscenter.org, E-mail info@westwindsorarts.org, or call 609-716-1931.
Pierrot Productions and Theater To Go seek actors for “The 39 Steps.” Patrick Barlow’s adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps” is a fast-paced re-creation with four actors portraying some 150 roles. Prepare a comic monologue. Bring resume and headshot. Auditions are Sunday and Monday, October 27 and 28 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Mercer Community College’s communications building. E-mail Pierrotatkelsey@gmail.com for appointment. Visit www.TheaterToGo.com or www.facebook.com/TheaterToGoNJ.
Kelsey Theater seeks actors ages 7 and up for “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Auditions are Sunday, October 20, from noon to 3 p.m.; and Monday, October 21, from 6 to 9 p.m. Roles include Clement Moore’s daughters, townspeople, narrators, and dancers. Clement Moore, Eliza Moore, Mr. Kringle, and Diana Mouse are all precast.
Prepare a short monologue or Christmas poem (no longer than 1 minute) and a short song with sheet music (Christmas carols preferred). Be prepared to dance. Bring resume and photo if you have them. Bring a list of all conflicts between Tuesday, October 22, and Monday, December 9. E-mail KelseyTwas@gmail.com with your name and preferred audition day. Minors should include age.
DanceVision offers the Amazing Race in which groups of dancers will compete in physical and mental challenges. Must be 9 or older. $20 per contestant. Saturday, October 19, from 5:30 to 10 p.m., at the studio in Forrestal Village, Plainsboro. E-mail info@dancevisionnj.org. Deadline is Sunday, October 13.
Sinfonietta Nova invites young musicians to compete in the Youth Concerto Competition. Open to New Jersey residents under the age of 18 and open to all orchestral instruments, excluding piano. Written application must be postmarked by Friday, October 18, and include a non-refundable application fee of $45. A YouTube or video recording of the applicant must be submitted to auditions@sinfoniettanova.org by Friday, November 8. The selection shall be a work for solo instrument with orchestra, and shall not exceed 20 minutes in length. All selections must have an orchestral accompaniment available. Visit sinfoniettanova.org.
Central Jersey Men’s Support Group, a group of middle-aged men in Central New Jersey who usually meet every three weeks to talk about what’s going on in their lives, invites new members. Contact Jeff at 732-277-4775 or E-mail unemainlente@gmail.com.
Mercer County seeks images for “My Mercer,” a photography exhibit in conjunction with the county’s celebration of its 175th anniversary. Photographs submitted must depict the people, places, events, and things that make Mercer County a special place. This juried show is open to photographers aged 18 or older who live, work, or attend school in Mercer County. All work entered must be within the last two years. The exhibit will take place at the Gallery at Mercer Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Live jurying will take place on Saturday, November 9. Drop-off of work is 9:30 a.m. to noon. Pick-up of work not selected takes place from 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Show dates are November 19 to December 20. E-mail C&HNewsletter@mercercounty.org.
Mercer County’s Public Ice Skating Center opens Saturday, November 9. The center, located at Mercer County Park in West Windsor, is open to the public seven days a week to the middle of March. Registration for group skating lessons will be held on Saturday and Sunday, November 2 and 3, from 9 a.m. to noon. Mailed-in registration must be postmarked by Friday, October 25. Visit www.mercercountyparks.org or call 609-371-1669 or 609-371-1766.
Hospice Program of Princeton HomeCare presents a new bereavement support group that will meet on Thursdays in October and November at University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro. The group, to be led by chaplains and licensed clinical social workers, is open to community members who need support and assistance in coping with grief and loss. Meetings will be held October 17, 24, and 31; and November 14 and 21. Contact Sherri Goldstein at 609-819-1226 to request either an afternoon (1 to 2:30 p.m.) or evening (6:30 to 8 p.m.) session. Free.
Jack-O-Lantern Contest
Morven Museum & Garden is hosting a jack-o-lantern contest from Tuesday, October 22, to Tuesday, October 29. Carve your pumpkins at home, drop them off at Morven, and return to see the full display and cast a vote for your favorite.
Drop-off your jack-o-lantern on Saturday or Sunday, October 19 or 20, between noon and 4 p.m. on the back porch of the museum. Attach your name, address, phone, and E-mail securely to the back of the pumpkin on an index card or piece of paper.
Pumpkin pick-up is Wednesday, October 30, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Any pumpkins not picked up will be composted. All ages are encouraged to participate. Contact Marlee at 609-924-8144, ext. 113, or E-mail info@morven.org.
Phone Scam
Mercer County Division of Consumer Affairs is warning residents about a telephone scam in which individuals pretending to be PSE&G employees threaten to shut off electric or gas service if payment is not made that day. The callers demand that customers make a payment within hours using a Green Dot Money Pak, a type of pre-paid card available at pharmacies and convenience stores. PSE&G offers a variety of payment options but does not accept these cards. PSE&G customers scheduled for disconnection due to nonpayment receive written notice on their bill at least 10 days in advance, according to the utility. Call 609-989-6671 to report a phone call. Call 800-436-7734 for PSE&G.
Road Trip
Arts Council of Princeton presents DepARTures Storm King on Sunday, October 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join ACP executive director Jeff Nathanson, a resident of West Windsor, on a bus trip to one of the world’s leading sculpture parks, Storm King Art Center, located in the Hudson Highlands, approximately two hours from Princeton.
John Stern, president of Storm King, will lead a tour of the premier collection of more than 100 sculptures situated on the 500 acre landscape. $110 includes lunch and park admission. Meal options and logistics will be shared with participants after registration. Visit www.artscouncilofprinceton.org or call 609-924-8777 to register.
Good Cause
Women with a Purpose, a grassroots initiative to support individuals, children, or families in distress, gets together once a month to choose a cause. The organization will also benefit through purchases made at a fall consignment boutique at Sweet Repeats, 3 Bromley Court, Lawrenceville. Wednesday to Friday, October 16 to 18, 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, October 19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, October 20, from noon to 5 p.m.
Lighthouse Challenge
Lighthouse Challenge of NJ weekend is Saturday and Sunday, October 19 and 20. Take the challenge, tour the state, and visit each participating lighthouse over the weekend to help raise funds for continued lighthouse preservation. Begin the challenge at any of the 11 participating New Jersey land-based lighthouses, two museums, and two life-saving stations. Purchase a souvenir for $1, which will be proof of your visit at each lighthouse and commemorate your participation in the event.
Lighthouses and museums include Absecon Lighthouse, Barnegat Lighthouse, Barnegat Lighthouse Historical Museum, Cape May Lighthouse, Cape May County Museum, East Point Light, Finns Point Light, Hereford Inlet Light (and Delaware Bay Lights Virtual Tour), Sandy Hook Lighthouse, Navesink/Twin Lights, Sea Girt Lighthouse, Tatham Life Saving Station 35, Tinicum Light, Tucker’s Island Light at Tuckerton Seaport Museum, and U.S. Life Saving Station 30. Night climbs will be offered at Absecon, Cape May, Sandy Hook, and Tinicum and Tucker’s Island Light at Tuckerton Seaport.
Visit www.lighthousechallengenj.org, www.njlhs.org, or www.visitnj.org for hours of operation at each site. Visit Lighthouse Challenge of NJ on Facebook.
