#b#In Town#/b#
West Windsor Arts Council is seeking artisans who make or sell innovative handcrafted pieces of jewelry, ceramics, fiber art, woodcraft, candles, clothing, or handmade soap for “Off the Wall: An Affordable Art Exhibit and Artisan Market” on Sunday, November 22.
Submit samples by E-mail to wwacexhibits@gmail.com by Thursday, September 10, at 6 p.m. Visit westwindsorarts.org for prospectus, or call 609-716-1931 or E-mail info@westwindsorarts.org.
Mercer County Community College and Mercer County Technical Schools offer programs in arts and communication for high school seniors. Programs include TV/Radio Production, Criminal Justice, Culinary, Theatre/Dance, Fire Science, Exercise Science, Advertising Design, Communication, Entertainment Tech: Theatre, Entertainment Tech: Musical Production, Fashion/Apparel Design, Fashion Merchandising, Game Design, New Media and Journalism, Photography and Visual Arts.
The enrollment process begins when students are high school juniors. As they develop their schedules for their senior year, they can apply to participate in the Career Prep program, which typically includes four college classes — two in the fall and two in the spring. As seniors they will complete their required high school classes in the morning and take transportation provided by the county to MCCC for afternoon classes. Visit www.mcts.edu for information and contact the high school’s guidance counselor.
Jewish Community Youth Foundation brings together nearly 200 teens in grades 8 through 12 from the greater Mercer County area. The Jewish Community Youth Foundation is a project of Jewish Family & Children’s Service and funded by the Ricky and Andrew J. Shechtel Philanthropic Fund and the Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks. The program is designed to have teens learn about, experience, and act upon Jewish values.
Each participant contributes $120, which is then matched by the Shechtel Philanthropic Fund and the Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks. The contributions are pooled together and each group of participants is responsible for allocating thousands of dollars to worthy causes. The students meet six times between October and March in the Princeton area to discuss Tzedakah, assess the kinds of programs and issues they wish to explore, invite specific agencies to apply for funding, and arrange for site visits to those agencies. At year-end, each group decides how their dollars will be donated.
The curriculum begins with incoming eighth graders who focus on local Jewish agencies that provide assistance to those in need. Each year progresses to a different focus, as ninth graders explore regional and national agencies, tenth graders investigate Jewish arts and culture, eleventh graders focus on outreach and advocacy, and twelfth graders learn about philanthropy in Israel.
Visit www.jfcsonline.org/jcyf, call Celeste Albert at 609-987-8100, or E-mail celestea@jfcsonline.org for information.
HomeFront of Mercer County needs help to replenish the food pantry. Items of non-perishable food can be dropped off at West Windsor’s municipal building or senior center.
Pennington Players seeks actors for “Violet,” a musical by Brian Crawley and Jeanine Tesori. The show will be performed at Kelsey Theater in West Windsor in November. Auditions are Wednesday, August 19, 7 to 10 p.m.; and Saturday, August 22, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.,in the communications building adjacent to the theater. Prepare one complete song from musical theater and bring sheet music in the correct key. No dancing will be required at the initial audition. Visit www.penningtonplayers.org or call 609-737-PLAY.
Good Grief relies upon volunteers- to provide free programs for grieving families working to rebuild their lives. Facilitators for support groups are in the Princeton area. Training will be Friday to Monday, August 7 to 10, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 5 Mapleton Road, Plainsboro. An orientation session is Thursday, July 30, at 6 p.m. E-mail volunteer@good-grief.org.
#b#Auditions#/b#
Beth-El Theater Productions has auditions for a new play about a mother suffering from ALS and the effect it has on her family. Auditions will be held at 50 Maple Stream Road, East Windsor, on Wednesdays, August 12 and 19; Thursdays, August 13 and 20; and Monday, August 17, 6 to 9 p.m. E-mail jmilstein13@aol.com to set up an audition date and time. All roles are open including stage manager, props, lighting, and more. Bring a headshot and resume to the audition. Monologues not needed.
#b#Italian Classes#/b#
Dorothea’s House at 120 John Street, Princeton, offers Italian classes for adults and children at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels beginning September 1. Visit www.dorotheashouse.org or call 908-359-1564.
#b#Donate Please#/b#
St. David’s Episcopal Church in Cranbury seeks donations of backpacks and school supplies to be distributed to needy children K-12 for the coming school year. Gifts of school supplies will be accepted through August 4. There is a box for donations at 90 South Main Street, Cranbury. Call 609-655-4731 or visit www.stdavidscranbury.com.
Christine’s Hope for Kids Foundation, founded on the principle that every child deserves the chance to be a kid regardless of the circumstances, is celebrating five years of inspiring hope and changing lives. The Mercer County-based non-profit has given hope to tens of thousands of kids in the community.
Last year Christine’s Hope for Kids packed 600 backpacks for many deserving kids in New Jersey. This year they plan to pack 850 to 1,000. The foundation will purchase all the backpacks. Donations of $10 are requested to fill one backpack with folders, notebooks, pencils, and all the supplies a child needs to make the first day back at school a happy one. JM Group is also accepting donations at Nassau Street Seafood, Blue Point Grill, Witherspoon Grill, or Princeton Farmers’ Market. Visit christineshope.org or jmgroupprinceton.com.
#b#Calls for Art and More#/b#
Have you perfected a new skill or hobby this year? Maybe you started a project a while back and have finally finished it. Bring it to the 97th annual Mercer County 4-H Fair on Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2, at the Howell Living History Farm in Hopewell. Your special family recipe, homegrown vegetable, or creative project could earn a ribbon in an open division category.
This year’s theme is “4-H: Think Green, Live Green, Love Green.” There will be farm tours, animal shows, arts and crafts, and activities. Visit mercer.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h/fair for the exhibit book. Projects will be received from the general public for entry in the fair on Friday, July 31, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Howell Farm. Contact Altaira Bejgrowicz at 609-989-6833 or bejgrowicz@njaes.rutgers.edu.
New Hope Outdoor Juried Arts & Crafts is accepting applications for the annual festival taking place Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27.Artists who create with oils, watercolors, pastels, sculpture, drawings, photography, and a variety of crafts and mixed media are still needed. More than $3,500 in prize money will be awarded in six different categories. Visit www.newhopeartsandcraftsfestival.com.
Monmouth Museum seeks entries for a juried portrait exhibition opening in September. Deadline is Monday, August 24. Visit www.monmouthmuseum.org, call 732-224-1989, or E-mail cclark@monmouthmuseum.org.
#b#Wellness#/b#
Honor Yoga Therapeutics offers workshops, classes, and private instruction, to make yoga accessible and available to those recovering from, or living with, any injury or illness. Modifications and options will be created through the use of breath work (pranayama), poses (asana), and meditation. Visit www.honoryoga.com.
#b#Sports for Causes#/b#
Children’s Home Society of New Jersey has been named one of the charity partners of the Trenton Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K on Saturday, November 7. Run in the 5K (3.1 miles), 10K (6.2 miles), or 13.1 miles to benefit at-risk babies, children, and families of CHSofNJ. There will be a health and wellness expo, live entertainment, and children’s events. Register. $150. Visit www.crowdrise.com/CHSofNJTrentonHalf, E-mail pcipriano@chsofnj.org, or call 609-695-6274, ext.168.
#b#Vacation Bible School#/b#
Princeton United Methodist Church offers a “Love Your Neighbor” concept for vacation Bible school Tuesday to Thursday, August 11 to 13, 5:30 to 8 p.m. for preschoolers through sixth grade students. The sessions begin with a family meal.
Children will play games and make crafts related to the stories of Sarah and Abraham (hospitality), Ruth and Naomi (loyalty), the Good Samaritan (kindness), and do mission projects and learn about children in Nepal, Liberia, and Fiji. Free. Visit www.princetonumc.org, call 609-924-2613, or E-mail Kaleigh@princetonumc.org.
