Sat., May 14
Elephant & Piggie Party will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Hightstown Memorial Library, 114 Franklin St. in Hightstown. Celebrate the release of Mo Willems’ last Elephant & Piggie book with games, a craft and light refreshments. For ages 3-8. Register online at www.mcl.org.Sun., May 15
Beth El Synagogue Genealogy Club will present a program to all interested in discovering a family’s Jewish roots and the journey one person took to get there at 7:30 p.m. at the synagogue. Wanting to know and understand more about his European relatives deported from their homes in Germany, and sent to their death in Poland’s concentration camps during the Holocaust, Ryan Lilienthal embarked on a mission to examine the past by traveling to his family’s town of origin in Germany. This program is dedicated to Holocaust Memorial Day – Yom Ha Shoah. Beth El Synagogue is at 50 Maple Stream Road, East Windsor, N.J., 08520; 609-443-4454; www.bethel.net.
The Cranbury Museum, 4 Park Place East, will feature the exhibit, “Merchants of Main Street: A Stroll Through the Shoppes of Cranbury’s Past,” from 1 to 4 p.m. The exhibit celebrates the creativity, hard work and entrepreneurial skills of the Main Street Merchants of the 18th, 19th & 20th centuries. Come take a stroll down Main Street, visit our merchants and view their wares and services. This exhibit will be displayed through August 2016.
Mon., May 16
The Mystery Book Club will be meeting at 7 p.m. at the Hickory Corner Branch, Mercer County Library System, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor N.J. The group will be discussing “A Suitable Vengeance” by Elizabeth George. No registration necessary; new members are always welcome.
Book Café with local guest author Lo Anne Mayer will be held at 3 p.m. at the Plumsted Branch of the Ocean County Library. Ms. Mayer will present her book “Celestial Conversation.” Books will be available for purchase and light refreshments will be served. The Plumsted Branch is at 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt. Stop in, call the branch at 609-758-7888, or check the website: www.theoceancountylibrary.org to register and find out about all the monthly programs.
Tues., May 17
The Beth El Synagogue of East Windsor Werner Lecture Fund presents “Art in the Afternoon – Marc Chagall in Paris” at noon. Join us for a light lunch followed by a guest lecturer, Barbara Tomlinson. The fee is $10. Reservations are required by May 9, 2016. Beth El Synagogue is at 50 Maple Stream Road, East Windsor, N.J., 08520; 609-443-4454; www.bethel.net.
Excel for Beginners will be taught at 7 p.m. at the Hickory Corner Branch, Mercer County Library System, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor, N.J. Come to learn the basics of the popular spreadsheet program. Call the library to register at 609-448-1330.
Join the Plumsted Quilting Club at 1 p.m. at the Plumsted Branch of the Ocean County Library. Bring your new and old projects to work on. Beginners are welcome. The Plumsted Branch is at 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt. Stop in, call the branch at 609-758-7888, or check the website: www.theoceancountylibrary.org to register and find out about all the monthly programs.
Wed., May 18
Microsoft Word for Beginners will be taught at 1:30 p.m. at the Hickory Corner Branch, Mercer County Library System, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor, N.J. Come to learn the basics of the popular word processing program. Call the library to register at 609-448-1330.Thurs., May 19
The Beth El Synagogue of East Windsor Seniors’ Group will present an afternoon of prayers, folk songs and songs that are sung on joyous occasions at 1 p.m. Learn about the melodies’ origins as well as their translations, including sources and meanings. Enjoy some light refreshments while you sing along to the familiar melodies. Beth El Synagogue is at 50 Maple Stream Road, East Windsor, N.J., 08520; 609-443-4454; www.bethel.net.
Coloring for Adults will be held at 2 p.m. at the Hickory Corner Branch, Mercer County Library System, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor, N.J. Coloring pages, pencils and markers provided. Lucy, the therapy dog, will attend most sessions. No registration required!
Fri., May 20
Drum and Percussion Circle will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Hickory Corner Branch, Mercer County Library System, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor, N.J. Join musician and teacher Reed Thomas to create simple rhythms using hand held drums and percussion instruments (provided). No experience necessary.
Mon., May 23
Dealing with Dizziness & Vertigo will be discussed at 7 p.m. at the Hickory Corner Branch, Mercer County Library System, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor, N.J. Linda Lucuski, MPT, Cert. MDT, Rehabilitation Director and Certified Vestibular Rehabilitation Specialist at the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Network, will discuss the anatomy and physiology of the inner ear, common causes of dizziness, vertigo and loss of balance, and how vestibular rehabilitation can help. Call the library to register at 609-448-1330.
Tues., May 24
First Presbyterian Church will have a concert at 12:30 p.m. featuring vocalist Zack Alexander in its Fellowship Hall, 22 S. Main St., Cranbury. Mr. Alexander sings in the style of Frank Sinatra. The concert is free. For reservations, call 609-395-0897 by May 19 and leave your name and phone number.
Wed., May 25
Ten Best Websites will be taught at 1:30 p.m. at the Hickory Corner Branch, Mercer County Library System, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor, N.J. Discover fun and useful websites and apps to use on your PC, Smartphone or tablet. Great class for practicing Internet skills and increasing your overall skill and comfort. Call the library to register at 609-448-1330.
The Hickory Corner Book Discussion Group will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Hickory Corner Branch, Mercer County Library System, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor, N.J. The group will be discussing “Let the Great World Spin” by Colum McCann. No registration required and new members are always welcome.
Thurs., May 26
Oak Tree Elementary School is hosting a free “Healthy Living Night” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the school, 226 Applegarth Road, Monroe Township. Activities include kickboxing, family games, yoga and mindfulness, garden tours, ambulance tours, a Gnarly Gnome photo booth, scavenger hunt and more. Bring an unhealthy snack to trade for a healthy snack. For more information, call the school at 609-655-7642.
Thurs., June 2
The Beth El Synagogue of East Windsor Werner Lecture Fund presents, “Glickman – One Voice Changed the Sports World Forever,” at 7 p.m. The legendary voice of the New York Knicks, Giants, and Jets writes of his years as a Syracuse football star and a track Olympian who was denied his chance to compete in the 1936 Olympics due to anti-Semitism in Berlin, where he was dropped from the 400 meter relay team. Join us as we present the DVD and exchange stories of your watching and listening to Marty Glickman. Admission is free. Call the Beth El Synagogue office to RSVP. The synagogue is at 50 Maple Stream Road, East Windsor, N.J., 08520; 609-443-4454; www.bethel.net.
Sat., June 4
The annual Strawberry Festival, sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury Board of Deacons, will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Strawberries, cake, ice cream, hamburgers, hot dogs, music, games, face painting, a clown and more will be available. The church is at 22 S. Main St., Cranbury. The event will be held rain or shine and benefits the Deacons benevolence fund.
Mon., June 6
Concert by the First Presbyterian Church Brass Choir at 7 p.m. at the Parsonage Barn, 3 Cranbury Neck Road, Cranbury. Enjoy an evening of music at the barn. Arrive early or bring a blanket or chair.
Sat., June 11
“Remembering Downton Abbey” will be presented in the Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury, 22 S. Main St., Cranbury. This event will include team trivia questions about Downton Abbey and England, a silent auction of Downton Abbey memorabilia and other special items, door prizes, projected photos from the series, refreshments and a few surprises. Tickets at $12 each are available now by mailing a check by June 1, payable to The Woman’s Club of Cranbury to: WCC “Remembering Downton Abbey,” 4 Labaw Drive, Cranbury, N.J., 08512. Please include a self- addressed stamped envelope, for the return of your tickets, unless you would like them held at the door. Proceeds will benefit Woman’s Club of Cranbury charities, including their Scholarship Fund.
Continuing events
Spinning Yarns Craft Circle: This club meets the first and third Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Cranbury Public Library at 23 N. Main St. in Cranbury. Visit the Gambino Room for an hour of knitting, crocheting, crafts and conversation. All levels welcome.
The Monroe Township Police PBA #255 & SOA #203 is having its second annual toy drive between now and Dec. 9. Residents are asked to drop off an unwrapped toy or make a monetary donation for children of all ages at the police department, 3 Municipal Plaza. For more information, contact Lt. Lisa Robinson at 732-521-0222, ext. 149 or email lrobinson@monroetwppolice.org; or Officer Wesley Panckeri at 732-521-0222, ext. 210 or email wpanckeri@monroetwppolice.org.
Read It and Eat It! Cook Book Club: This club takes place the third Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. in the Cranbury Public Library at 23 N. Main St. in Cranbury. Call the library to reserve a copy of this month’s book or visit www.goodreads.com/topic/group_folder/264622.
Toddler Stay and Play: This event is held Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. in the at 23 N. Main St. in Cranbury. Early literacy story time helps prepare children with future reading skills. After singing, reading, and talking, children ages 12-24 months with a caregiver stay and play.
Movie Club: This club meets on the third Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. in the Cranbury Public Library at 23 N. Main St. in Cranbury Join the lively discussions about movies.
Central Jersey Chapter 148 of Korean War Veterans Association: Any veterans who served during the war from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953 or who have served in Korea from July 27, 1953 to the current date can join the group that meets at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday of every month (except January, February, March and April) at the Monroe Township Municipal Building. Requirements for membership include paying dues of $25 to the Korean War Veterans Association and a $10 chapter fee per year. The chapter is involved in various functions throughout the year including parades with color guard, flag raisings, Korean War memorial ceremonies, funerals and more. For more information, contact Charles Koppelman at 609-655-3111 or email him at KWVANJ@yahoo.com.
Holy Cross Lutheran Preschool: Registration for the 2015-16 school year for both Pre-K-3 and Pre-K-4 programs continues to be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Call Preschool Director Kathy Schroeder at 609- 298-2880 ext. 101 for availability.
Community dinner: Rise and the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen offer free hot meals at the First Presbyterian Church, 320 N. Main St., Hightstown, on Mondays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and the First United Methodist Church, 187 Stockton St., Hightstown, on Thursdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. All meals are provided free on an unconditional, no-questions-asked basis. Volunteers are welcome.
Food Pantry: The Rise Food Pantry is open 52 weeks a year from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and from 5 to 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month. Baby care items, personal products and all nonperishable and perishable food items are needed for local families. The pantry welcomes locally grown fruits and vegetables. Food can be donated directly to the pantry at 225 Franklin St., Hightstown, during operating hours or to the Greater Goods Thrift Store, 114 Rogers Ave., Hightstown. Contact info@rise-community-services.org for more information.
What’s going on
Community events, meeting notices, public announcements and other items of local interest appear regularly in this column at no charge. Send items well in advance to mmorsch@centraljersey.com or to Community Calendar, Windsor-Hights Herald, P.O. Box 350, Princeton, New Jersey, 08542.
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