Common calendar, Packet papers, March 19

Ongoing

The West Windsor Arts Council Member Show: Floral Persuasion will take place through May 14, with a virtual opening reception planned for 7:15-9 p.m. March 19.

The exhibition is on view at westwindsorarts.org and the gallery by appointment.

Jurors Thomas Kelly and Megan Uhaze are commissioners from Hamilton Township Cultural and Performing Arts Advisory Commission.

The exhibition was an open call to WWAC members and featured prize winners, chosen by the jurors.

Exhibiting artists include Zakia Ahmed, Sherri L Andrews, Clara S Beym, Tom Chiola, Connie Cruser, Jayme Fahrer, Janet Felton, Michael F. Graham, Jeanette Gaston Hooban, Joy Kreves, Lori Langsner, Sonya Legg, Eleni Litt, Concetta A. Maglione, Hetal Mistry, Abelardo Montano, Tatiana Oles, William Plank, Maia Reim, Martin Schwartz DDS, Christine Seo, Deirdre Sheean, Margaret Simpson, Sally Stang, Zina Umyn and Janet Waronker.

 

The Hopewell Township Police Department will hold its Youth Police Academy this summer for any Hopewell Valley resident presently completing the seventh or eighth grade.

Class times are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 16-20. Graduation will be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Hopewell Township Municipal Building, 201 Washington Crossing Pennington Road, Titusville.

The classroom curriculum will include such topics as criminal law, arrest search and seizure, criminal investigation, traffic stops/motor vehicle law, physical fitness training, the court system, juvenile law, crime prevention, evidence collection and patrol practices. There will be demonstrations on the use of police equipment, radar and drug identification.

Application are available for pickup at the Timberlane Middle School Main Office, 51 S. Timberlane Dr., Pennington; the Hopewell Township Police Department in the same complex as the municipal building; or at www.hopewelltwp.org.

All applications must be completed and returned to the Hopewell Township Police Department no later than 4 p.m. June 18.

The class will be limited to 20 students.

COVID-19 protocols will be in place (mask usage, social distancing, sanitizing, etc.). If it becomes necessary to cancel the academy as a result of COVID-19, enrollees will be notified immediately.

Questions should be directed to Sgt. Louis Vastola at 609-737-3100, ext. 5320.

 

 

Residents can join the East Windsor Community Garden at the Disbrow Hill Road open space area, adjacent to the playing fields and across from Etra Lake Park.

Residents can plant fruits and vegetables in the spring and fall, beginning in April.

Plots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Detailed information and guidelines are available at www.east-windsor.nj.us or by calling 609-443-4000, ext. 238.

 

 

JFCS of Greater Mercer County announces the Rose & Louis H. Linowitz Mensch Award.

This is a merit-based award for deserving Jewish eighth grade and high school senior students living in Greater Mercer County.

Candidates should exemplify what it means to be a mensch – a person of integrity and honor, a doer of good deeds, and an all-around good person.

Students must be nominated by a member of the community such as a rabbi, educator, youth group advisor, secular school guidance counselor, teacher, parent, etc.

Eighth grade Mensch-In-Training award is $300 and high school senior Mensch Award winners will receive $1,500.

This is not a need-based scholarship.

Applications are due by April 30.

For more information or to nominate a student, visit www.JFCSonline.org, or contact Joyce at 609-987-8100 or JoyceW@JFCSonline.org

 

 

The Princeton Public Library is increasing the number of mobile hotspots available to borrow starting March 19, and will also begin lending Chromebooks that day. Kits containing both devices may also be borrowed.

The additional devices are part of an ongoing effort to expand internet access to cardholders who do not have connectivity at home, a service that became vital to the community when the library building closed at the start of the pandemic last March.

There will be five hotspots, 10 Chromebooks and 10 kits available to borrow.

The library began circulating six mobile hotspots last summer and also extended the reach of its free high-speed WiFi to cover all of Hinds Plaza.

Library cardholders may borrow a mobile hotspot or Chromebook for two weeks. The hotspots can support up to 15 simultaneous connections with unlimited 4G LTE service. Cardholders will be able to request a mobile hotspot, Chromebook or kit through the online catalog, by phone or in person.

Cardholders will be required to sign a lending and internet-use policy agreement prior to checking out a device. A parent or guardian must sign the agreements for cardholders under the age of 18.

Additional details about borrowing devices at Princeton Public Library can be found at princetonlibrary.org 

 

 

 

The Mercer County Park Commission announced the third year of “Eyes on Eagles” programming to celebrate the four pairs of bald eagles that nest in Mercer County, including two pairs that have chosen county parks for nest sites.

The Park Commission, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey (CWF) and the Wildlife Center Friends are partnering to host both in-person and virtual eagle viewing programs throughout the spring nesting season.

In-person public nest viewing programs will be held at the West Picnic Area at Mercer County Park. Naturalists and guides will be on hand to help the public safely view bald eagles with spotting scopes for a closer look.

“Eyes on Eagles” in-person nest viewings will be held on the second Sunday and fourth Friday of the month, from 1-3 p.m., through May 9.

Masks and social distancing are required. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

Two virtual “Eyes on Eagles” panel discussions will offer an even closer look at life in the nest on April 29 and June 3 at 7 p.m. The Park Commission will air up-to-date video footage of the nest featuring two important stages in eaglet development.

During the Zoom-based program, expert panelists will supply commentary on eagle behavior, biology and conservation.

Registration is required for these free public programs by visiting http://mercercountyparks.org/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#!/activities/eyes-eagles

For the safety of the eagles, all viewing will be done from a distance. Bald eagles and many bird species are sensitive during their nesting season. Park patrons must remain on marked trails at all times; disturbance to wildlife will cause harm, where they may refuse to return in the future.

Public programs will provide important tips to park users on “eagle etiquette,” including information on federal regulations prohibiting the disturbance of bald eagle nests.

Local and regional wildlife photographers are encouraged to share their images of the breeding eagles through email or social media. Images can be emailed to parksinfo@mercercounty.org with the photographer’s name, or shared through social media by tagging or mentioning the Mercer County Park Commission on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If posting pictures of eagles in Mercer County parks, tag the Park Commission and use the hashtag #capitalcountyeagles. Credit will be given to the photographers if outside photos are shared.

To learn more about bald eagle programming opportunities, visit www.mercercountyparks.org or www.conservewildlifenj.org.

 

 

 

 

Stuart Country Day School’s Summer Camp registration is open.

Stuart is planning for an in-person and online camp experience for boys and girls ages 2-16 from June 7 to Aug. 6.

Campers will explore Stuart’s 55-acre wooded campus at 1200 Stuart Road, Princeton, develop new athletic skills, discover the artist within, hone their writing and leadership skills, and find their voices both on paper and on stage.

Summer programs are taught by Stuart faculty and coaches.

Sibling discount granted automatically beginning with the second child.

Lunch through the FLIK dining service.

Before and after care will not be offered out of an abundance of caution.

Register at www.stuartschool.org/summer.

 

 

Summer programs at Princeton Day School (PDS), 650 The Great Road, Princeton, will be offered from June 14 to Aug. 9, with co-ed full-day and half-day programs for campers pre-K to Grade 12.

This year PDS varsity coaches will lead camps in squash, basketball and baseball.

Or, take part in Crazy for Clay, tennis, chess, other sports, water play and more.

New offerings include Piñatas & Parties, Bridges & Towers, and Puppetry & Storytelling.

Campers do not have to be PDS students to attend.

Pre-camp and extended day options are available.

Visit www.pds.org/summer-programs/ or call 609-924-6700, ext. 1342 for more information, or to register.

 

NAMI In Our Own Voice (NAMI En Nuestra Propia Voz) is a program by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) New Jersey chapter geared toward community education and reducing the stigma of mental health, as trained volunteers share their lived experience of mental health recovery.

To schedule a presentation at a school, PTA meeting, congregation, town hall, support group or professional training, email ioov@naminj.org

Presentations are available in English and Spanish.

 

 

Friday, March 19

“Symbols from within, and symbols from without: The Celtic Revival and the Harlem Renaissance,” presented by Princeton University’s Fund for Irish Studies, will take place at 4:30 p.m. March 19 via Zoom.

A lecture by Tara Guissin-Stubbs of Oxford University considers James Weldon Johnson’s assertion in his preface to “The Book of American Negro Poetry” (1922) that the Black poet needs to find “symbols from within rather than symbols from without” in order to find a suitable form; in so doing, Johnson contends, the poet will be doing “something like what Synge did for the Irish.”

Guissin-Stubbs’ talk will discuss overlaps between the Celtic Revival and the Harlem Renaissance, to try to understand just what Johnson meant, and what this means for society now.

Free and open to the public; no registration required.

This event will be live captioned. Viewers in need of other access accommodations should contact the Lewis Center at least two weeks in advance at LewisCenter@princeton.edu

For more information and the Zoom link, visit https://arts.princeton.edu/events/fund-for-irish-studies-lecture-by-tara-guissin-stubbs/

 

A.R. Willey, owner of Stony Brook Gardens in Hopewell Township for the past 32 years, will answer questions about gardening by seniors at 1 p.m. March 19 Brown Bag Lunch Program offered by the Older Adult Ministry Committee of the Pennington Presbyterian Church.

 

Willey has two primary messages about gardening by seniors. First, gardening can be easy, regardless of how big or small your garden area is and regardless of your age. And second, there are lots of health benefits for the body and for a general sense of well-being.

 

Call the church office at 609-737-1221, ext. 10 to register and receive the Zoom link.

 

The Zoom room will open at 12:45 p.m.

 

Through Saturday, March 20

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of New Jersey holds a fundraising campaign each spring for Student of the Year, recognizing the student(s) who raise the most money in a 7-week competition to benefit blood cancer patients and their families.

Students from Hopewell Valley Central High School (HVCHS) have participated in this campaign for the last 5 years, raising over $220,000.

In two of those years, HVCHS students won the competition which, in addition to raising much-needed funds for blood cancer research and patient services, provides a college scholarship and other awards to individuals and teams that participate.

This year there are two teams from HVCHS participating. The first is Bulldogs Bite Back, which is considered a legacy team. Brothers Will and Danny Rollo were nominated as the legacy candidates to take over from Michael Stivala and Hailey Addonizio, the 2020 Student of the Year first runners-up. These brothers participate in memory of their mother, Ann Rollo, who passed away from colon cancer in December of 2019.

The second candidate is Sofie Ragins, a junior at HVCHS. Sofie was also nominated by Michael Stivala. Her team name is Red and Black Fight Back.

To donate to Bulldogs Bite Back, visit https://events.llsorg/nj/snjsoy21/bbiteback. To donate to Red and Black Fight Back, visit https://events.lls.org/nj/snjsoy21/rfightback.

The competition ends on March 20 with a virtual grand finale.

 

The 101: Fund, Princeton High School’s (PHS) college scholarship fund, invites the community to join its first-ever Spring Pet Parade.

Community members can snap a cute or funny picture of their pets to send via Instagram at @101fund or via email to info@fund101.org

Three winning photos from the following categories will be selected by the 101: Fund Student Auxiliary leaders: Best matching, classic Princeton, St. Patrick’s Day, school spirit, and sleeping.

The virtual Pet Parade of photos will be posted throughout the week of March 14 via the 101: Fund’s Instagram and Facebook accounts.

All photo submissions must be received by 2 p.m. March 20.

Winners will be announced on the 101: Fund website by the morning of March 22. Prizes from local pet-oriented businesses will be distributed to the winners.

There is no entry fee, but participants are encouraged to make a donation of any amount at www.paypal.com/paypalme/101fund

Donors who give $100 or more may sign up for a photo portrait session (with or without their pets) with local photographer Amy Rogers from noon to 3 p.m. March 20 under the arch at Princeton High School. Rain/snow date will be March 27.

In addition, one free portrait giveaway will be awarded. Submit your pet photo before 6 p.m. March 18. The winner will be announced that evening.

 

 

Saturday, March 20

The Miss New Jersey-New York Collegiate USA inaugural pageant will be held at the Hyatt Regency Princeton in Princeton on March 20.

Young ladies, ages 13-29, will participate in collegiate and high school divisions.

All contestants receive a college scholarship sponsored by Marymount University and the opportunity to win additional cash scholarships and awards.

The annual event, its national pageant celebrates and rewards young women who are college-bound, current degree seekers with higher education exposure, or seeking help to pay student loan debt with career opportunities, cash and college scholarships. The pageant aspirations are to recognize and incentivize young women to receive scholarships for higher education, and become positive role models, all while building a strong sisterhood.

The New Jersey-New York Pageant is a preliminary to the Miss Collegiate USA National event to be held this summer in Greenville, South Carolina.

Winners of the state pageant will receive the official state crown, rhinestone embroidered state banner, her entry fee into the national pageant, a cash scholarship, prize package and become eligible to compete in the inaugural 2021 Miss Collegiate USA/Miss High School National Pageant for an opportunity to win a $40,000 college scholarship to Marymount University, $5,000 cash scholarship, and many other awards.

In 2021 the organization anticipates to award over $500,000 in scholarships, cash and awards.

In addition, a university fair is scheduled during the week of the national pageant. For additional information on the fair, visit www.misscollegiateusa.org/universityfair

Apply for the pageant at www.misscollegiateusa.org/nj-nypageant

For more information, visit www.misscollegiateusa.org

 

 

Paceeducation.org is a Princeton-based, nonprofit organization formed and staffed by teachers, counselors and medical professionals who have one mission in mind: closing the education gap.

On March 20 from 9:30-11 a.m., they will hold the Spring into Fitness fundraiser with Apart and Together in Motion at Athleta in Princeton Market Fair, 3535 Route 1.

The event will include kickboxing, Zumba, Barre and Hula hooping for the whole family.

Athleta will offer everyone who donates 20% off one item and entry into their shop card raffle. People can browse either indoors or at the pop-up shop cabana outdoors at the event.

Minimum donation is $25.

 

 

 

 

Burlington County will continue to distribute free food to county households with help from members of the Burlington County Women’s Advisory Council and New Jersey Senators Troy Singleton and Dawn Marie Addiego.

The drive-through food pantry event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon March 20 in the parking lot of the Burlington County Institute of Technology’s Westampton Campus, located off Woodlane Road.

Burlington County residents in need of assistance are eligible for free groceries and produce on a first come, first served basis while supplies last.

 

 

Hightstown’s Got Talent will take place on March 20 via Zoom.

For a preview of the 2021 showcase, visit www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR276xd_HaKJMv1CHdS_B3PgDltotaQ-jt0scdITAnmnxSAnU0mFf4_zbWM&feature=youtu.be&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&v=bVMG6bFqKqo

 

 

First and third Saturdays, through April

Every first and third Saturday through April, the West Windsor Community Farmers Market is held outdoors, rain, snow or shine, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at MarketFair on Route 1 in West Windsor/Princeton.

Available is fresh produce, coastal seafood, farm fresh eggs, artisan cheese, fresh pasta and sauces, soups and chili, pastured meats and poultry, gluten-free baked goods, alpaca fiber wear, and more.

Yes We Can! food drive volunteers are set up at the outdoor market, where they collect cash donations from visitors to buy fresh produce from the farmers.

The dates are March 20, and April 3 and 17.

Enter the market from the Meadow Road side parking lot in front of the AMC Theater.

For more information about the market, visit westwindsorfarmersmarket.org.

For information or to volunteer for Yes We CAN! Food Drives, visit https://arminarm.org/yeswecanfooddrives/.

 

 

 

 

Sunday, March 21

The Dryden Ensemble will celebrate Bach’s 336th birthday at 3 p.m. March 21 with a streaming of their live concert of Bach’s “St. John Passion: The Mardi Considine Spring Concert” recorded on March 13, 2020, at All Saints Church in Princeton.

The intimate production of this masterpiece uses a choir of eight singers, as Bach did, with a small orchestra of 18th-century instruments.

The ensemble is led by Scott Metcalfe, the acclaimed director of “Blue Heron.”

Ticket prices range from $10-$50.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit drydenensemble.org.

 

The Princeton Girlchoir’s (PGC) annual United in Song concert will take place March 21, with a premier performance at 3 p.m. and an encore performance at 7 p.m.

Both performances will be streamed on Westrick Music Academy’s YouTube channel.

In lieu of tickets, there is a suggested donation of $10, but any amount is appreciated.

This special concert is a once-a-year opportunity to see all seven choirs of Princeton Girlchoir united through music.

United in Song will be led by PGC Artist Director Dr. Lynnel Joy Jenkins. With the guidance of Stage Director Matt DiCarlo, singers have crafted a unique story of what it means to be “United in Song,” which will be narrated by PGC alumna and Broadway star Eryn LeCroy.

The program includes pieces performed by each choir and culminates in a joint performance of Benjamin Britten’s “A New Year Carol” by the combined choirs.

The girls of PGC range in age from 8 to 18. Selected by audition, they come from numerous schools in central New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania and attend weekly rehearsals.

For more information, visit westrickmusic.org/upcoming

 

Rise Food Pantry of Hightstown will partner with Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) to host a drive-thru food distribution event at 10 a.m. March 21 in the Modway Warehouse parking lot, 329 Wyckoff Mills Road, East Windsor.

Food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Families will remain in their vehicles to drive through the contact-free distribution line to collect a variety of fresh and packaged goods.

For more information, contact Michelle Wexler at 609-695-5456, ext. 117 or michellew@trentonsoupkitchen.org.

 

Through Monday, March 22

The League of Women Voters of Lawrence Township (LWVLT) will offer its annual Youth Leadership Award for 2021.

The LWVLT will award one high school senior $1,000 for exemplifying youth leadership in their community. Graduating high school seniors should highlight how they have shown civic leadership in their community.

The requirements are intentionally broad to offer opportunity to non-traditional ideas of civic action; however, preference will be given to projects that align with the League values and mission.

The League will present one or more awards in late May.

Submissions are due by March 22. Email LWVofLawrence@gmail.com with either a one-page essay, a one-minute video, or any other creative work to be considered.

For more information, visit www.lwvlt.org/

 

 

Tuesday, March 23

Artis Senior Living at Princeton Junction will feature “I’ll Do the Remembering: A Daughter’s Journey Through Alzheimer’s,” presented by Ashley Campbell, singer, songwriter, Alzheimer’s advocate and daughter of Glen Campbell.

Campbell will share insights and experiences from caring for her father at 5:30 p.m. March 23 via a free webinar.

Register by March 22 by visiting theartisway.com/princetonevents

 

 

 

“The Working Women of World War II: Rosie and Beyond” will be presented at 7 p.m. March 23 courtesy of the Lawrence Library.

Storyteller Madge Powis (Garden State Storytellers) will provide insight into the contributions of women during World War II. One such story will be that of her own Aunt Helen, who worked as a welder. Her stories will be aided by photographs and memorabilia.

Registration with an email address is required in order to receive the link to connect through GoToMeeting.

Email hopeprogs@mcl.org

 

Princeton University Art Museum will hold a members event, The Artist’s Intent and the Paradox of Art Restoration, at 5:30 p.m. March 23.

Restoration is the action of returning something to a former condition. This definition raises many questions when applied to the restoration of historical artifacts and objects of art: What exactly was the former condition of an object? Do we know the artist’s original intention? And why do we restore works of art at all?

These are some of the technical issues and philosophical themes that Chief Conservator Bart Devolder will present in this talk based on conservation treatments carried out at the art museum.

Registration is required to attend this virtual event, open exclusively to members.

To set up free membership, visit

 

Event details and registration here.

 

 

 

Wednesday, March 24

The Somerset County Library System of New Jersey will partner with the Somerset County Youth Services Commission for a virtual program that caters to educators and caregivers at 5 p.m. March 24 focusing on the early warning signs of mental health exhaustion and to teach attendees techniques that aid in developing healthy habits.

For more information, or to register: sclsnj.libnet.info/event/4718473.

 

A reading by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah and seniors from the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Creating Writing will take place at 6 p.m. March 24 via Zoom.

The C.K. Williams Reading Series through Princeton University showcases senior thesis students of the Program in Creative Writing with established writers as special guests.

Free and open to the public.

Viewers in need of access accommodations should contact the Lewis Center at least two weeks in advance at LewisCenter@princeton.edu

For more information and the Zoom link, visit https://arts.princeton.edu/events/c-k-williams-reading-by-nana-kwame-adjei-brenyah/

 

Join Mercer County’s senior land steward virtually at 7 p.m. March 24 to learn about the invasive spotted lanternfly and how to participate in the fight against its spread.

The first 100 to register will be eligible to pick up a pre-made circle trap from the Park Commission in April, courtesy of  Ned B., an aspiring Eagle Scout.

To register, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Iq-K6dSiSCKbsSRXGXi8jw?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

 

Mercer County Wellness Wednesdays continues on March 24 with Seafood and Healthy Living, Part Two.

At 2 p.m., learn about the nutritional value of seafood consumption, mercury content of seafood and how to read labels.

To register, visit https://rutgers.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-8lY5l-URA6o-4Lm_-Liqw

 

 

Thursday, March 25

The Trolley Car in the House: The Rescue of Trenton Transit No. 288 will be presented at 7 p.m. March 25 via Zoom.

J.R. May will present a program on the trolley, which was found embedded in a Hamilton home that was being demolished. It was rescued and is in the process of being restored.

The program will include information about finding the car, the history of the car, moving of the car, efforts to develop drawings of the missing elements of the car and opportunities for the public to volunteer to assist with the effort.

The talk will also mention inspiration and experience gained from the restoration of a Pennsylvania RR 1915 N6b caboose, or “cabin car” which, like the 288, is a wood body on a steel frame.

Registration is required at tinyurl.com/TrentonTrolley288

Co-sponsored by Hopewell Branch of the Mercer County Library, Hopewell Valley Historical Society and the Hopewell Museum.

 

 

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey will present “15-Minute Child Break” at 7 p.m. March 25, co-hosted by the Cranbury Municipal Alliance, The Cranbury School and the Cranbury Police Department.

Parents who talk to their children about their activities an average of 15 minutes per day have children who are 67% less likely to try marijuana.

The Child Break presentation will encourage and empower adults on how to effectively communicate with children about the dangers of underage drug and alcohol use.

Specific topics will include underage substance abuse, the opiate/heroin crisis, vaping and e-cigarettes, risk and protective factors, and specific strategies parents can use when talking with their children.

There will be a panel discussion and Q&A featuring Cranbury Township Police Chief Michael Owens, Dr. Sara Jane Ward of the Center for Substance Abuse Research and Department of Pharmacology at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University; Bill Lillis of the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey’s Parent Education Program and Workplace Program; certified addiction recovery coach and former addict Skip Bailey; and Robyn Skeete of Treehouse Community LLC.

To access the Zoom webinar link, visit https://cranburyschool-org.zoom.us/j/6856392177?pwd=TTV3cU95b0F5WnhjL0Y4Tjk2MEdNQT09#success

The meeting ID is 685 639 2177 using passcode Cr@nbury5#

 

 

 

 

Friday, March 26

Amy Weintraub, who starred as Amalia in the musical comedy “She Loves Me” during the 2019 season of the Princeton Festival, will perform recent and classic songs from Broadway and the popular repertoire in “Something Wonderful,” an exclusive, live-streamed benefit concert at 7 p.m. March 26.

Weitraub will be accompanied on guitar by Shane Lonergan.

The audience will get to meet the artists and raise a virtual toast at the end of the concert.

Tickets are available at www.princetonfestival.org/benefit, or by calling 609-759-1979.

Proceeds from the concert help fund the Festival’s 2021 season.

 

“We’re All in this Together: Hillsborough’s Hidden Talents” will take place April 23 and 24 as a live streamed fundraising event.

Open to the entire Hillsborough community: students, residents, teachers, staff, business owners and others, of all ages.

Participate by submitting a video of a hidden talent, such as singers, bands, jugglers, comedians, plate spinners, poets, silly human tricks, etc.

Videos can be a maximum of 5 minutes.

The deadline for submissions is March 26. Send to borotalentshow@gmail.com

Tickets costing $5 each will benefit the Hillsborough/Millstone Municipal Alliance and BoroSAFE.

For more information, email boroaware@gmail.com or visit tinyurl.com/cizjq9v2

 

 

 

Saturday, March 27

Mercer County will hold a Hazardous Waste Collection and Electronics Recycling Event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 27, rain or shine, at the John T. Dempster Fire School, 350 Lawrence Station Road, Lawrence Township.

No registration is required, just proof of Mercer County residency.

Residents can dispose of aerosol cans, used motor oil, propane gas tanks, pesticides, herbicides, car batteries, paint thinner, oil based paints, stains and varnishes, gasoline, anti-freeze, driveway sealer, insect repellents, and fluorescent and compact fluorescent bulbs.

Used electronic equipment, including computers, printers, copiers, fax machines, stereos, televisions, and microwaves will be accepted.

For more information, visit www.mcianj.org or call 609-278-8086.

 

 

The Bessie Coleman Story will be told at 8 p.m. March 27 in honor of Women’s History Month.

Coleman (1892-1926), a young woman who arose from the poverty of the Texas cotton fields, became the first African American woman to earn a civil aviator’s license. She barnstormed around the country, thrilled audiences and inspired later generations.

Find “The Legend: The Bessie Coleman Story” on hoopla at www.hoopladigital.com/title/12192160

 

 

Formerly the RWJUH Hamilton Auxiliary, the Community Impact Alliance (CIA) of RWJUH Hamilton is hosting their inaugural event virtually, Cooking & Booking with the Easter Bunny, at either 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. March 27.

Attendees will enjoy a cooking demonstration with Chef Janet of JADE Grill & Cafe in Hamilton, story time with Patti McDougall featuring “How to Catch the Easter Bunny” by Adam Wallace, and an appearance by the Easter Bunny.

Hosted in partnership with the RWJUH Hamilton Foundation, proceeds will benefit the CIA, which supports RWJUH Hamilton and its community.

Register online at www.rwjbh.org/hamiltonbunny

 

 

 

 

Sunday, March 28

Liberty Lake Day Camp will hold an outdoor community seder on the second night of Passover on March 28 with Cantor Scott Borsky at the camp, 1195 Florence Columbus Road, Bordentown.

Doors open at 1:30 p.m., seder begins at 2 p.m., with the meal beginning at 3 p.m.

Guests will sit with their families at picnic tables separated by a safe distance from other tables.

Braised brisket, roast chicken, matzah ball soup and more will be brought to tables.

For more information, visit https://liberty-lake.square.site

Monday, March 29

The Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber will hold an Albert Einstein Memorial Lecture from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 29.

Presenter Professor May-Britt Moser will speak about brain systems for space and navigation.

Free and open to the public.

Advance registration required. To register, visit https://web.princetonmercerchamber.org

 

 

Rowan College at Burlington County’s “Global Studies Lecture Series,” hosted by RCBC instructor and program coordinator of Sociology and Anthropology, Brandon Chapman, aims to invite scholars and researchers to discuss and engage with students about various global issues.

“Organizing Online Influence Efforts: Evidence from Chinese, Russian and Venezuelan Troll Campaigns” includes a guest appearance by Dr. Jacob Shapiro, professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University, from 3:30-5 p.m. March 29.

Shapiro will explain the study and how it makes a difference in preventing the spread of misinformation online, and how different countries organize their misinformation campaigns targeting the U.S. and other democracies.

The study, which consists of researchers from Princeton University, New Jersey Institute of Technology and New York University, traced the patterns of misinformation in the accounts and after a series of tests, identified accounts that were part of a foreign influence campaign. However, the method has its flaws, but the study itself shows that it is possible to still discover these accounts accurately and put a stop to their activities.

For more information on how to access the event, visit https://rcbc.edu/events/rcbc-global-studies-lecture-series-organizing-online-influence-efforts-evidence-chinese

 

Tuesday, March 30

Play readings and a panel discussion on Federal Theatre Project Negro Unit will be presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Theater in collaboration with CLASSIX at 7:30 p.m. March 30 via Zoom.

Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts launches a partnership with New York City-based CLASSIX, a collective of Black theater artists and scholars dedicated to expanding the classical theater canon through an exploration of dramatic works by Black writers.

This kickoff event features recorded readings by professional actors of excerpts of plays written by artists in the New Deal-era Federal Theater Project’s Negro Units.

The readings serve as a springboard for a panel-led conversation on this moment in African American and theatrical history.

Cosponsored by Princeton’s Humanities Council.

Free and open to the public; advance Zoom registration is required.

The recorded readings will be closed captioned and the conversation be live captioned.

Viewers in need of other access accommodations should contact the Lewis Center at least two weeks in advance at LewisCenter@princeton.edu

For more information and the Zoom registration link, visit https://arts.princeton.edu/events/play-readings-and-panel-discussion-on-federal-theatre-project-negro-unit/

 

 

Through Wednesday, March 31

Bordentown Township is hosting a Virtual Spring Coloring Contest.

Children ages 3-9 may choose one of four pages to download and color. Scan or take a picture with the phone, and email to a.sauro@bordentowntwp.org. Submit only one entry per child.

The contest concludes on March 26.

Winners will be notified by email by March 31.

The Easter Bunny will distribute winning prizes (filled Easter baskets) on April 1 from 3-4 p.m. in front of the Bordentown Township Municipal Building, 1 Municipal Dr.; or from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 5 in the lobby of the building.

For more information, visit www.bordentowntownship.com/upcoming_events

 

 

 

Teens across the state can begin submitting entries for the 26th Annual New Jersey Teen Media Contest, which highlights the New Jersey Human Services’ mission to support families, especially during these challenging times.

The contest, run by the Division of Family Development, is open to all New Jersey middle and high school-aged children.

The 2021 contest challenges teens to illustrate – through art or the written word – how they and their loved ones have supported each other through all of the changes that have happened this year, from remote schooling to finding new ways to stay connected to friends and family.

All entries must be postmarked no later than March 31.

Staff from the Division of Family Development and its Office of Child Support Services will judge the contest. Winners will be selected in first, second, and third places in both the middle and high school groups, for each of the two entry categories. Typically, winning students are recognized at an awards ceremony in mid-May, but a final decision on an awards ceremony will be made at a later date based on the status of the public health emergency and related health and safety guidelines.

Winning entries from the contest will be included in the 2022 Office of Child Support Calendar, as well as potentially being included as part of the office’s marketing materials. A number of honorable mention entries will also be selected for possible inclusion in both areas.  

The 2021 calendar can be viewed or downloaded from the contest homepage, www.NJTeenMedia.org, to serve as inspiration for the teens. The website also provides the official rules, frequently asked questions, entry forms, a look at the winners and honorable mentions from previous contests and other important contest information.

Teachers and administrators can register their school by visiting www.NJTeenMedia.org or by contacting Matthew Cossel at 937-207-7627 or matthew.cossel@efkgroup.com. School registration is not required for direct student entry.

For complete submission guidelines, visit www.NJTeenMedia.org.

For more information about child support services, call 1-877-NJKIDS1 or visit www.NJChildSupport.org.

 

 

New Jersey American Water is accepting applications for green project funding through its Environmental Grant Program.

The program offers grants of $1,000 to $10,000 for qualifying innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies throughout the company’s service areas.

New Jersey American Water will award the grants on a competitive basis and select projects based on various criteria including goals, impact, innovation, design and sustainability. The nature of the project’s collaboration with other community organizations as well as its overall community engagement will also be considered.

All applicants are expected to outline specific, measurable goals for projects in their proposals. At the conclusion of the grant project, the lead organization must provide a written report on the project results/impact.

Grant recipients will be notified in mid-April.

More information and application requirements can be obtained directly at newjerseyamwater.com/community.

 

 

 

 

The New Jersey Department of Transportation announced that grant applications are being accepted for the Youth Corps Urban Gateway Enhancement program. The program provides employment opportunities to underserved youth and young adults through community-service projects.

NJDOT’s Division of Civil Rights and Affirmative Action administers the Youth Corps program and is soliciting applications from local government agencies, non-profits, and other community-based organizations with established youth programs for participation in this seasonal program.

The application deadline is March 31.

The program provides employment opportunities with on-the-job training to at-risk youth and young adults ages 16-25 who have experienced barriers to employment. The participants will receive life skills training and employment experience in transportation enhancement projects through paid summer/fall employment.

Participants will gain work experience that may help them succeed in future efforts to obtain jobs. Communities will benefit from projects that create attractive gateways for residents and visitors.

Grant proposals should focus on enhancing aesthetics in areas near state roads. Preference will be given to applications that address urban communities.

Approved proposals will receive a federally-funded grant of up to $32,000 for their community gateway project. Each grant will support stipends for approximately ten young adults and a supervisor, as well as equipment and supplies.

To apply, visit http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/community/cleanupnj/youth.shtm

Or, contact NJDOT’s Division of Civil Rights and Affirmative Action by phone at 609-963-2047 or email at DOT-CRAA.YouthCorpsProgram@dot.nj.gov.

 

 

 

 

East Windsor is sponsoring a gun safety program, through which gun locks will be distributed free of charge to any East Windsor resident.

The program will run through the end of March.

Township residents can obtain free safety locks at the township police/court facility located at 80 One Mile Road, by contacting Detective Brian Gorski at 609-448-5678, ext. 236.

The gun locks are made available to the township at no cost through Project ChildSafe. Project ChildSafe is the nation’s largest firearms safety program, and is sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

 

 

Wednesday, March 31

 

Enable, Inc. is partnering with On the Border for a Dine & Donate Fundraiser.

Visit the Princeton location at 3567 Route 1 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. March 31 and 20% of the cost of the order will be donated toward launching a virtual music program headed by Jim Caven, CEO and founder of Key of Awesome Music.

Every $75 raised will go toward 30 minutes of virtual music education and therapy for individuals with disabilities who are enrolled in the residential and day services programs at Enable’s Princeton facility.

Meals can be take out or pick up, ordered by phone or at the restaurant. Call 609-681-5656 and mention the fundraiser.

RSVP at www.groupraise.com/events/182603 to receive the email necessary for the contribution.

The meal will only happen if at least 20 commitments are made by March 28.

 

Through April

To register for Little League Baseball and Softball in Cranbury, Plainsboro and West Windsor, visit www.wwll.org and click the “Register Today” tab.

The season is expected to begin in mid-April and end in mid-June. Those dates will remain flexible.

COVID-19 protocols will continue to be firmly in place for the spring, and full compliance with all protocols is expected of everyone in the program.

If a family has a credit from last Spring, that credit will be manually applied by the league after registration. Parents cannot apply the credit during the online registration process. Once WWLL applies the credit, the parent will receive a receipt reflecting that the credit has been applied and any remaining balances/credits.

Hillsborough Township Public Schools is accepting Kindergarten registration for the 2021-22 school year.

Families wishing to register their child(ren) for Kindergarten for the coming school year should visit www.htps.us to complete the pre-registration form.

Upon completion, a school staff member will be in contact to complete the registration process.

Parents who are unsure of their zoned elementary school may contact the district’s Transportation Department at 908-431-6600, prompt 6 for details.

All children who reside in Hillsborough and were born on or before Oct. 1, 2016, are eligible to register for Kindergarten for the 2021-22 school year. A birth certificate (original preferred), immunization records and residency documentation are required to be uploaded at the time of registration.

Parents may request information on the Children at Play (CAP) Program during the pre-registration process. The CAP Program is a tuition, thematic-based, play-centered program designed to provide parents with an option to extend the second half of their child’s day in school.

 

 

Through Thursday, April 1

The former John Witherspoon Middle School has been known as the Princeton Unified Middle School since August 2020.

Princeton residents – whether or not they have students enrolled in the district – may weigh in on the selection of a new name for the school, thanks to a community survey being distributed by the Princeton Public Schools on its website at princetonk12.org.

The deadline to vote is April 1.

The options are Albert Einstein Middle School, John Lewis Middle School, Michelle Obama Middle School, Paul Robeson Middle School, Ruth Bader Ginsberg Middle School, Elizabeth Stockton Middle School, Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Nation Middle School, Shirley Satterfield Middle School and the Walnut Lane Middle School.

The Princeton Public Schools Board of Education will announce the new name of the middle school in May, based on the results of voting by Princeton Unified Middle School students and community members.

 

Thursday, April 1 – Friday, April 30

Hillsborough is joining towns across the country for the 10th anniversary of the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation by asking residents to make a long-term commitment to manage water resources more wisely.

The annual challenge, from April 1-30, is a non-profit national community service campaign that encourages leaders to inspire their residents to make a series of simple pledges at mywaterpledge.com to use water more efficiently, reduce pollution and save energy, according to the statement.

To participate, residents go to mywaterpledge.com, and then make a series of online pledges to conserve water on behalf of Hillsborough. 

Cities with the highest percentage of residents who take the challenge in their population category have a chance to win $3,000 toward their home utility bills, and hundreds more eco-friendly prizes. In addition, residents can nominate a deserving charity from their city to receive a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

The foundation has also created a new digital tool called MyVolunteer Water Project, in support of the program, that gives residents a unique way to do hands-on home, community, and workplace projects year-round in support of their city’s sustainability efforts.

For more information, visit www.wylandfoundation.org

 

April 1 to November 30

East Windsor encourages community groups to participate in the 2021 Township Adopt-A-Spot Program.

Under this program, participating groups “adopt” a public property and keep it clean during the year. A placard is erected on the site indicating that it has been “adopted by” with the name of the group.

The groups are expected to perform cleanup three times per month from April 1 through Nov. 30.

To participate, interested groups should send a letter to East Windsor Clean Communities Committee, ATTN: Mayor Janice S. Mironov, 16 Lanning Blvd., East Windsor 08520.

 

First Thursdays, April 1 through June 3

The Sourland Conservancy will kick off a new monthly series of live music shows featuring New Jersey artists.

The Sourland Mountain Happy Hour will be offered via Zoom on the first Thursday of each month, from 6-7 p.m. through June 3.

The current schedule is April 1 Jake Thistle, May 6 AS IS Jazz, and June 3 James Popik & Supernova.

Tickets are on sale for $10. Ticket holders will receive a link to the event.

Sign up via http://tiny.cc/SCHappyHour.

 

 

Through Saturday, April 3

The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) will present Textured Waters: Paintings by Léni Paquet-Morante and Susan DeConcini, on view in their Taplin Gallery through April 3.

Artists Susan DeConcini and Léni Paquet-Morante share an interest in water as a subject matter. DeConcini’a watercolors on paper explore her interest in the movement and textures of ocean waves and other water surfaces in motion. Painted at a variety of water environments, Paquet-Morante’s plein air landscape interpretations inform her studio work. Together, these artists’ works provide a contemplation of water as both a familiar subject and intriguing metaphor.

Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Visit artscouncilofprinceton.org for more information.

 

Saturday, April 3

The Phillips Mill Photo Committee’s first-ever member show will go live April 3, albeit virtually.

For this year’s show, each of three dozen Phillips Mill Photo Committee members will submit up to eight fine art photographs to display in the show.

All photographs are for sale.

The show is viewable at www.phillipsmillphoto.com

For more information, call Spencer Saunders at 267-229-2846.

 

 

Saturday, April 3 & Sunday, April 4

Hop on over to Terhune Orchards in Princeton on April 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. for the Bunny Chase, a non-competitive event for children 2-10 years old.

Follow hand-drawn clues around the farm in a self-guided treasure hunt.

At the end of the hunt, children can choose to do bunny-themed craft activities and meet Terhune’s real bunny rabbits.

There will be children’s games, pedal tractors and a children’s play area in the barnyard and pony rides in the pasture.

The food tent will have snacks and lunch for sale.

There will be live music on both days.

The Terhune Orchards Vineyard & Winery will be open with open air, distanced seating. Tasting flights are available.

The farm store and outdoor farm market will have produce, apples, herbs, flowering plants and baked goods for sale; place an order ahead of time online for curbside pickup.

Admission fee is $10; children under 3 are free. Crafts activities are $5.

All entry to farm on Cold Soil Road, Princeton, including the winery and farm store, must be purchased in advance with online timed admission tickets. Tickes are valid for three hours after entry.

Visit www.terhuneorchards.com

 

 

 

 

Sunday, April 4

The public is invited to an outdoor Easter Luncheon event at Liberty Lake Day Camp, 1195 Florence Columbus Road, Bordentown.

The park opens at 11 a.m., with activities including boating, mini-golf, rock climbing, fishing (bring your own tackle), a limited Easter egg hunt, and pictures with the Easter Bunny.

Guests will sit with their families at picnic tables, or on their own blankets, separated by a safe distance from other families.

Baked ham, roasted turkey and sides will be served buffet-style by catering staff.

Families may bring in their own alcoholic beverages.

For Easter picnic tickets, visit http://easter-libertylake.square.site

For more information, email kurtis@libertylakepicnic.com or call 609-499-0432.

 

 

Tuesday, April 6

The regularly scheduled meeting of the East Windsor Township Council set for 5:30 p.m. April 6 will include a municipal consent hearing on the Comcast renewal application for consent to own, operate, extend and maintain a cable television and cable communication system in the township.

Members of the public who wish to participate via Zoom can join the meeting by visiting https://zoom.us/j/95466318433?pwd=NnFBejM5TWZTcE11dWtVVHdjemhYZz09 using Meeting ID 954 6631 8433 and passcode 770239.

Members of the public who wish to join by telephone can call 646-558-8656 using the same ID and passcode.

Copies of the application are on file with the municipal clerk and can be reviewed by appointment only from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. For more information, call 609-443-4000.

 

The Arts Council of Princeton will hold a virtual tutorial from 7-8:30 p.m. April 6 called “Your Cutting Board, Your Palette: The Art of Presenting Sunday Brunch” with celebrity Chef Nick Liberato.

Free registration is available at www.eventbrite.com/e/the-art-of-sunday-brunch-with-celebrity-chef-nick-liberato-tickets-142568130115 or artscouncilofprinceton.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Through Tuesday, April 6

The NAMI NJ Dara Axelrod Expressive Arts Mental Health Poetry Contest will be based on foods and the memories they evoke. Weave those thoughts into a poem.

 

The poem should keep with the theme; be typewritten in a Word file; be no longer than 40 lines; be accompanied by a media release form; and include a cover letter that includes your name, email address, mailing address and phone number.

 

Contest submission deadline is April 6.

 

Email the entry to poetry@naminj.org. Or, mail typed entries to NAMI NJ Poetry Contest, 1562 Route 130, North Brunswick 08902.

 

Poems will be open to public voting for the Top 10. The Top 3 will win a cash prize and the top poems will also be published on the NAMI NJ website for others to read.

 

Tuesdays, April 6, 13 & 20

Mercer County is offering a series of free webinars addressing maternal health on Tuesdays, April 6, 13 and 20.

Nutrition and Physical Activity for the Childbearing Years: A 3-Part Series from Pre-Conception Through Baby’s First Year will be led by Michelle Brill, Family and Community Health Sciences educator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County.

Preconception and inter-conception (between pregnancies) health matters. A healthy diet and ample physical activity are important for women planning a pregnancy. Register for the 2 p.m. April 6 workshop at https://go.rutgers.edu/pc0ns8km

Learn about the latest nutrition, physical activity and wellness guidance for pregnant women at 2 p.m. April 13. Register at https://go.rutgers.edu/ldq9dlc6

After delivery, a woman’s body’s nutritional needs change, particularly if breastfeeding. Learn about nutrition, physical activity and wellness for postpartum women at 2 p.m. April 20. Register at https://go.rutgers.edu/kaw5n26q

All sessions are free and available on Zoom.

Registration is required and sessions will be recorded for later viewing.

Email brill@njaes.rutgers.edu for more information.

 

Wednesdays, April 7 to May 12

Michelle Brill, Family & Community Health Sciences educator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, in partnership with the Hunterdon & Mercer Regional Chronic Disease Coalition and the Elixir Fund, is offering a free Cancer Thriving & Surviving series available virtually for Mercer County residents.

Offering peer support, information and strength. Learn to better manage challenges including symptoms, the effects of treatment, emotions, relationships and living with uncertainty.

Registration is open for this 6-week series on Wednesdays, April 7 to May 12, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. via Zoom. Space is limited.

Call Hunterdon Healthcare to register at 908-237-2328.

For more information, email brill@njaes.rutgers.edu.

 

 

Thursday, April 8

A 2-3.5 mile brisk guided hike on selected trails in Washington Crossing State Park, 355 Washington Crossing Pennington Road, Titusville section of Hopewell Township, will be held at 1 p.m. April 8, weather-permitting.

Open to pre-teens and adults.

Route to be determined. Meet at the Nature Center.

Bring a water bottle and wear hiking shoes. The trails are quite wet in sections.

Free.

Advanced registration is required.

For more information, call 609-737-0609.

 

 

 

Second Fridays, from April 9

Those who are eager to expand their knowledge of educational, cultural and community issues can join the YWCA Princeton Area Newcomers & Friends for Friday with Friends, either socially distanced and masked in person, or virtually via Zoom.

Listen to acclaimed speakers from business, political, civic and educational circles talk from 1-3 p.m. every second Friday of the month unless there is a holiday conflict.

The current schedule includes a talk by Trish Chambers on Supreme Court justices on April 9, a spring events for members only on May 14, and a year-end picnic for members only on June 11.

RSVP required. Email newcomersmembership@ywcaprinceton.org or visit www.ywcaprinceton.org/newcomers for more information.

 

 

Friday, April 9 & Saturday, April 10

A rescheduled Valentine Comedy Show will be held at 8 p.m. April 9 by the Brook Arts Center, 10 Hamilton St., Bound Brook, featuring comedians Adam Oliensis, Brian Scott McFadden and Regina Dicicco.

Then, on April 10 at 8 p.m., We May Be Right will pay tribute to the music of Billy Joel.
Reserved socially distance seats are available at www.brookarts.org
Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

 

 

Saturday, April 10

Mercer County and the Park Commission will hold a bicycle drive at several locations throughout the county from noon to 4 p.m. April 10. Rain date is April 17.

Locations include the Historic Hunt House, 197 Blackwell Road, Pennington; Ranger Headquarters, Mercer County Park, West Windsor; and Tulpehaking Nature Center, 157 Westcott Ave., Trenton.

Old bikes, no matter the condition, will be given to the Trenton Bike Exchange, a volunteer organization that collects, repairs and sells used bikes at a very low price.

The mission of the Bike Exchange is to help low-income families get decent bikes and to raise money for our local Boys and Girls Club.

The donation is tax-deductible.

For more information, visit www.bgcmercer.org/bgc-bike-exchange?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

 

 

A free rabies vaccination clinic for cats and dogs will be held from 9-11 a.m. April 10 at the Pennington Borough Public Works Garage, 301 N. Main St., Pennington.

All humans must wear masks, follow social distancing markings, and enter one household at a time.

Dogs must be leashed, cats in a carrier.

No children under age 7 will be permitted inside.

For more information, call Montgomery Township Animal Control at 908-359-8211, ext. 2247.

 

Sunday, April 11

With the breeding season underway, several species of common cavity-nesting backyard birds will be looking for places to nest.

Children ages 6-11 years old, accompanied by an adult, can build a simple nest box from 1:30-3 p.m. April 11 at the Nature Center inside Washington Crossing State Park, 355 Washington Crossing Pennington Road, Titusville section of Hopewell Township.

Bring a hammer.

Fee is $7 per box, exact cash.

Advanced registration is required.

For more information, call 609-737-0609.

 

 

Through Thursday, April 15

 

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program will not be offered this tax season at any site in Mercer County because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, AARP is offering an alternative this year called the AARP Alternative Tax Preparation program (ATP). The ATP program provides direct taxpayer access to free online tax software for this year’s taxes as well as video and/or phone assistance with a certified AARP tax assister.

Rather than doing the tax return for taxpayers, certified AARP tax assisters help taxpayers prepare their own online returns.

Taxpayers can get more information about the Alternative Tax Preparation program at aarpfoundation.org/taxaide.

The Tax-Aide program intends to resume preparing tax returns at Mercer County sites next year.

United Way of Mercer County’s (UWGMC) Free Tax Preparation Program serves individuals and families struggling to make ends meet.

For more than a decade, households earning less than $65,000 per year have relied on this service. Despite being under a pandemic, UWGMC is making this vital program available through April 15 at the United Way office in Lawrenceville and The Salvation Army in Trenton.

To access the tax preparation service or schedule an appointment visit www.uwgmc.org/freetaxprogram or call 609-896-1912.

Information is also available in Spanish.

 

United Way of Central Jersey is continuing to provide VITA services to prepare taxes this season for individuals and families making $65,000 or less.

All taxes will be prepared remotely via video conferencing and/or phone.

To schedule an appointment, visit https://uwcjtaxprep.as.me/schedule.php

For VITA Lockbox locations, visit https://tinyurl.com/VITALockbox

To prepare your own taxes for free, visit www.myfreetaxes

 

 

 

Third Thursdays, from April 15

YWCA Princeton Area Newcomers & Friends holds Social Coffee as a way to learn about the organization, meet members and find opportunities to explore interests and community.

The sessions are held from 9:30-11 a.m. every third Thursday of each month unless there is a holiday conflict. The next scheduled dates are April 15, May 20 and June 17.

This will be a virtual gathering via Zoom.

For more information, email newcomersmembership@ywcaprinceton.org  or visit www.ywcaprinceton.org/newcomers

 

Through Friday, April 16

The annual Sylvia Weiss Senior Citizen Award for Outstanding Service as a Volunteer is open through April 16 for East Windsor residents. 

Nominees must be at least 60 years of age and residents of East Windsor. Nominees should be persons who are outstanding volunteers in community service. Such service may be on behalf of senior citizens, the schools, churches, service organizations and/or the general public. This service may be in leadership or in direct service.

A form is available for submission of nominees, and must be sent to Sylvia Weiss Senior Volunteer Award, Attn: Mayor Janice Mironov and Council Members, East Windsor Municipal Building, 16 Lanning Blvd., East Windsor 08520. 

For more information and the nomination form, visit www.east-windsor.nj.us or call the Municipal Clerk’s Office at 609-443-4000, ext. 237.

The award is named after Weiss, a former East Windsor Township Council member, past council senior citizen advisor and chairperson of the Commission on Aging, who was instrumental in the original formation of the senior citizen program.  

The presentation will be made by the township at a ceremony in May as part of Older Americans Month.

 

Friday, April 16

“Cabernet Cabaret – Emerge from the Dark: Songs to Spring Forth” will be held virtually by the Arts Council of Princeton from 7:30-8:45 p.m. April 16.

Cabernet Cabaret 2020 was the last live show that Sarah Donner performed prior to the pandemic lockdown. Raise a glass and join Donner and her cast of friends for a virtual evening of show tunes celebrating new beginnings and the light at the end of these dark days.

Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cabernet-cabaret-emerge-from-the-dark-songs-to-spring-forth-tickets-142913021695

 

Saturday, April 17

Tomahawk throwing for adults only will be held from 1-3:30 p.m. April 17 at the Nature Center inside Washington Crossing State Park, 355 Washington Crossing Pennington Road, Titusville section of Hopewell Township.

Try throwing a small hatchet into a wooden target.

Free.

For more information or to register, call 609-737-0609.

 

Cranbury Township will hold a stream cleanup from 9-11 a.m. April 17, rain or shine, at Village Park, Maplewood Avenue and Westminster Place, Cranbury.

Bring a reusable water bottle and gloves.

Masks required.

Pre-registration for all attendees is required to eliminate physical sign-in. Current guidelines limit outdoor gatherings to 25 people or less, so there will be staggered start times. Twenty-five volunteers may register to arrive at 9 a.m., with another 25 volunteers beginning at 10 a.m.

Participants can access the link by visiting thewatershed.org/stream-cleanups

 

 

 

 

 

Through Monday, April 19

The Princeton Festival’s 15th annual piano competition is open to pianists from around the world, with an entry deadline of April 19.

To enter the competition, artists must submit a video of themselves performing a designated piece of music. Participants compete for cash prizes and certificates, plus the Richard Tang Yuk award, named for the festival’s founding artistic director, given to the best performer overall.

The professionally adjudicated competition is organized into seven categories:

• Four age categories for solo performers from 6 to 18 years old.
• Open Class I for soloists and Piano Four-Hands for all competitors up to 25 years old
• Open Class II, new for 2021, for solo professionals and lifelong amateurs 26 or older

Full information and an entry application is available at https://princetonfestival.org/2021-piano-competition-rules/.

Winners in all categories will be announced after the Finalists’ Concert, which will stream online on June 6.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Burlington County Women’s Advisory Council will once again honor the outstanding contributions and leadership of women in the local community, including those who have served on the front lines during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Applications for the 2021 Outstanding Women of Burlington County Awards will be accepted through 4 p.m. April 19.

 

The council is seeking women who have made significant contributions in their chosen field, as well as having demonstrated their support of women in our community.

To be eligible for an award, nominees must have lived or worked in Burlington County for at least one year. The awards are sponsored by the Women’s Advisory Council and the Burlington County Board of County Commissioners.

 

This year’s awards will feature three new categories: health care, first responder and frontline worker. The latter category seeks to recognize a deserving woman who performed essential services during the pandemic, such as grocery store, warehouse or utility worker.

 

The other categories are mentorship, volunteerism, law/law enforcement, education, community service, corporate leadership, diversity/inclusion and government.

Winners will be announced later in the year.  

Guidelines and nomination forms can be obtained by visiting http://co.burlington.nj.us/263/Womens-Advisory-Council.

For any questions or to submit nominations forms, email womenscouncil@co.burlington.nj.us.

 

The Burlington County Women’s Advisory Council is accepting nominations to recognize and present scholarships to three outstanding 12th grade female students in Burlington County through 4 p.m. April 19.

The scholarships will include the Alice Paul Champion Award, the Celeste Arties Memorial Award and the Elizabeth Coleman White STEM Award.

Each scholarship will be $1,000.

Winners will be announced later in the year. 

Guidelines and nomination forms can be obtained by visiting http://co.burlington.nj.us/263/Womens-Advisory-Council.

For any questions or to submit nominations forms, email womenscouncil@co.burlington.nj.us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, April 19

Alex Meakem, soprano, and Michael Banks, baritone, will present vocal selections “a piacere,” or “as we like it,” drawn from the late 19th and 20th centuries, at 7:30 p.m. April 19 through a concert by Voices Chorale NJ.

The concert will feature works by Puccini, Sondheim and Lloyd Weber, with commentary by Dr. David McConnell.

Admission is $15.

Sign up at www.voiceschoralenj.org

 

Wednesday, April 21

Nancy Sheehan and Rachel Weiss of Cranbury Therapeutic Massage will offer a virtual wellness session at 7 p.m. April 21 featuring chair yoga.

All-level stretch.

Bring a sturdy chair and towel or yoga strap.

 

 

 

Thursday, April 22

A 2-3.5 mile brisk guided hike on selected trails in Washington Crossing State Park, 355 Washington Crossing Pennington Road, Titusville section of Hopewell Township, will be held at 1 p.m. April 22, weather-permitting.

Open to pre-teens and adults.

Route to be determined. Meet at the Nature Center.

Bring a water bottle and wear hiking shoes. The trails are quite wet in sections.

Free.

Advanced registration is required.

For more information, call 609-737-0609.

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, April 23 & Saturday, April 24

“We’re All in this Together: Hillsborough’s Hidden Talents” will take place April 23 and 24 as a live streamed fundraising event.

Tickets costing $5 each will benefit the Hillsborough/Millstone Municipal Alliance and BoroSAFE.

For more information, email boroaware@gmail.com or visit tinyurl.com/cizjq9v2

 

 

Saturday, April 24

A stream cleanup co-sponsored by The Watershed Institute and East Windsor Township will be held from 9-11 a.m. April 24 at at Etra Lake Park, 9 Disbrow Hill Road, East Windsor, rain or shine.

The Watershed Institute is developing a detailed plan to ensure everyone’s safety, with precautionary measures including required mask wearing, social distancing, provision of hand sanitizer and mandatory pre-registration in accordance with all state and federal guidelines. The full program will be shared when finalized by The Watershed Institute.

A virtual cleanup option also will be offered by The Watershed Institute.

For more information or to express interest, visit www.thewatershed.org or contact Erin Stretz at estretz@thewatershed.org or 609-737-3735, ext. 17.

 

Princeton Adult School will present “African Modernism in America” with Perrin Lathrop, doctoral candidate, Department of Art and Archeology, Princeton University, on April 27.

Lathrop will give a preview of the exhibition she and colleagues curated, “African Modernism in America, 1947-67.”

Lathrop’s research took her to Fisk University, which houses one of the most comprehensive collections of African modernism in the United States, and to Lagos, Nigeria where, in 2018, she began discussion with Nigeria-based artist Ndidi Dike whose newly-commissioned installation will appear in the exhibition.

Contributing artists such as Ben Enwonwu (Nigeria), Gerard Sekoto (South Africa), Ibrahim El-Salahi (Sudan), and Skunder Boghossian (Ethiopia) were responding to interlocking histories of civil rights, decolonization and the Cold War.

The 60 works in this exhibition are inventive, passionate, and irrefutably contemporary.

 

Sunday, April 25

Learn to identify and prepare some of the many native and introduced plants which earlier inhabitants of the area used to supplement their diets.

This program will be led by plant lore enthusiast, Pat Chichon of Lambertville, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. April 25 at the Nature Center inside Washington Crossing State Park, 355 Washington Crossing Pennington Road, Titusville section of Hopewell Township.

Bring a pair of plant clippers and a garden trowel.

Program fee is $2 per person; children under 6 years old are free. Bring exact change or a check.

Advanced registration is required.

For more information, call 609-737-0609.

 

 

Through Thursday, April 29

The Mercer County Library has partnered with Rider University for their first virtual Tournees Film Festival, to be held through April 29.

Rider will screen a series of six films drawn from across the French-speaking world, thanks to a grant from the FACE Foundation.

All screenings are virtual.

All screenings are free and open to the Mercer County Library and Rider communities.

Registration is required. Visit https://guides.rider.edu/tournees

 

 

 

Through Friday, April 30

 

 

The Woman’s Club of Cranbury is offering a $2,000 scholarship for a woman returning
to school and pursuing post-secondary education after experiencing some time away
from attending school.

The commitment to helping a woman who is pursuing post-secondary education fulfills the mission of The Woman’s Club of Cranbury by making a difference in the lives of women and helping them to increase their opportunities to grow and support themselves and their families.

This award is based on financial need, as well as the applicant being able to define her
goal in seeking further education.

The application is available at https://womansclubofcranbury.org/scholarships.

The completed application should be mailed by April 30 to The Woman’s
Club of Cranbury, Attn: Woman’s Scholarship Committee, P.O. Box. 94, Cranbury 08512.

For more information, call 609-395-0314.

 

The Work of Adrienne Kennedy: Inspiration & Influence has been extended through April 30, on-demand from McCarter Theatre in Princeton.

Each performance is $15, or purchase all four together as a bundle as have the handling fee waived.

Explore the festival at www.mccarter.org/adriennekennedy

 

Through May

Rowan College at Burlington County’s Dental Hygiene Clinic will offer free dental care to children ages 13 and under as a continuation of Give Kids a Smile.

Services include screenings, cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants to protect permanent teeth.

To schedule an appointment, call 856-291-4215.

For more information, visit rcbc.edu/dental.

Princeton University Concerts (PUC) is expanding its digital offerings for the remainder of the 2020-21 season to replace planned in-person concerts, many of which will be rescheduled to future seasons.

The university’s performing arts series has recast all of its virtual programming to directly address socially relevant topics. This includes: a new podcast series, Breathe in Music, bringing PUC’s popular Live Music Meditation series to a digital format; a new series of conversations with musicians and prominent arts thinkers about the impact of COVID-19 on the performing arts hosted by multidisciplinary artist and WNYC host Helga Davis; the release of new video episodes of mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato’s Sing for Today, in which the opera star responds to current events through the lens of song and conversations; and virtual performances and live Q&As with world-renowned musicians to continue PUC’s Watch Party series.

Most of this digital content will be available to the public at no charge.

For more information about Princeton University Concerts, contact Dasha Koltunyuk at dkoltuny@princeton.edu or 609-258-6024.

The Princeton Adult School is offering predominately online and a few in-person COVID-safe classes for the spring, presenting a selection of 152 courses, including:

• Lecture series on Africa, “Up Close and Personal: Africa;”

• History courses, such as “Nineteenth Century America Through the Prism of Five Extraordinary Elections” and closer to home “From Village to Town: The Transformation of Princeton between 1890 and 1910;”

• Writing skills for a variety of personal and professional reasons;

• Making objects with the hands – doodling, knitting, jewelry making, woodworking, photography;

• Making music by one’s voice, harmonica, ukulele, piano, mandolin;

• Playing games (bridge, MahJong, chess;

• Improving business and workplace skills;

• “Spring Wildflowers,” “Therapy Walks,” “Nature Walk” and “Name That Tree.”

To participate, visit www.princetonadultschool.org to register for classes. For assistance, call the office at 609-683-1101.

 

 

 

“Performing Healing: Rituals & Repetition,” an exhibition by Diana Chen, presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Visual Arts, will be viewable online at 185nassau.art through May.

The Princeton University senior will exhibit new work exploring the therapeutic role of rituals and repetition during times of crisis and change. Using found objects, personal items and other memorabilia, the work depicts healing as an alchemical performance in which we re-live, re-tell and re-enact through simple repetitions of movement. Drawing inspiration from Buddhism, Jungian psychology and creation myths, the work seeks to re-trace the symbolic journey from distress and fragmentation to healing and wholeness.

Free and available to the public.

For more information, visit https://arts.princeton.edu/events/healing-narratives-senior-thesis-exhibition-diana-chen/

 

Princeton Dance Festival Reimagined, presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Dance, will be viewable online through May.

The virtual edition of the annual Princeton Dance Festival recorded in December features diverse, professional choreographers bringing their aesthetics to the question of dance in the COVID era working with Princeton dance students.

In works led by Peter Chu, Francesca Harper, Rebecca Lazier, Dean Moss, Silas Riener and Olivier Tarpaga, students explored the intersections of dance and multimedia performance, digital animation, filmmaking, site-based work and music.

Each evening is a completely different and unique experience followed by a recorded question-and-answer session with the choreographers.

Free and available to the public.

Video content is closed captioned.

To view the recordings, visit https://arts.princeton.edu/academics/dance/past-events/2020-21/princeton-dance-festival-reimagined-2020/

 

 

 

“All Her Power: 50th Anniversary of Princeton Undergraduate Coeducation Theater Project,” presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Theater, will be held virtually online through May.

The first undergraduate co-ed class arrived at Princeton University in the fall of 1969. In celebration of this milestone in 2019, the Program in Theater facilitated journalistic research by three generations of Princeton women – current students, professional artist alumnae, and the first generation of graduating women – to culminate in a theatrical event exploring the experiences of women at the University. Students were paired with professional artist alumnae to research and create new, short performances about women who graduated from Princeton in the first few years of co-education at Princeton.

The process, led by Program in Theater Director Jane Cox and Lecturer in Theater and Princeton alumna Suzanne Agins ’97 working with student-alumnae pairs, culminates in this filmed archive of the work in collaboration with theater and visual arts alumna Milan Eldridge ’20.

Free and available to the public.

The film is closed captioned.

To view the film on demand and read more about the project, visit allherpower.princeton.edu

 

 

“These are Books, These are Posters,” will be presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Visual Arts at Princeton University.

The online virtual exhibition of poster designs and artists’ books by the seniors and juniors in the Program in Visual Arts, organized by faculty member Pam Lins, is viewable at 185nassau.art through May.

Free and open to the public.

For more information, visit https://arts.princeton.edu/events/vis-book-poster-show-sp-21/

 

“Natural and Conventional Signs,” an online exhibition tour by Ryan Gander, presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts, will be available on-demand, online, at arts.princeton.edu/gander through May.

U.K. artist Ryan Gander presents a selection of new works directly guided by his research at Princeton University undertaken during his time as a Hodder Fellow (2019-20) and made during a period of reflection while the world paused amid a global pandemic.

Gander invites the audience into his studio/gallery, Solid Haus in rural Suffolk, east of London, for a recorded guided tour and conversation with Princeton faculty member David Reinfurt.

Free and open to the public.

The recorded tour is closed captioned.

To view the video tour, visit https://arts.princeton.edu/events/natural-and-conventional-signs-exhibition-tour-by-ryan-gander/

 

 

 

Saturday, May 1

Bordentown Township will hold a shred day from 9 a.m. to noon May 1  at the Public Works Garage, 266 Crosswicks Road.

 

Grab Your Monet and Let’s Gogh! Virtual Art Auction will be held on May 1 by Villa Victoria Academy and Marlin Art.

The night of virtual fun begins at 7 p.m. with cocktails, followed by the live auction beginning at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.villavictoria.org

 

 

The Princeton University Art Museum’s 2021 gala, A Global Gathering, will be held at 7 p.m. May 1.

Celebrate the transformative power of great art with a live online presentation.

The annual gala is the museum’s sole fundraising event of the year. Proceeds support the wide range of education, engagement and scholarly programs that the museum offers free of charge each year.

For tickets and more information, visit https://artmuseum.princeton.edu/support/gala-2021-0

 

Thursday, May 6

The Somerset County Library System of New Jersey will partner with the Somerset County Youth Services Commission for a virtual program geared towards students in grades 6-12 and their caregivers, on May 6 at 5 p.m.

During the virtual presentation, attendees will explore the eight keys areas of wellness in life: emotional, physical, social, financial, spiritual, occupational, environmental, and intellectual; their significance; and how to enhance the areas that need improvement.

For more information, or to register: sclsnj.libnet.info/event/4718547.

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, May 15 – Monday, May 23

The Nassau Film Festival (NFF) screens short films and music videos (30 seconds to 20 minutes) in the categories of fiction, documentary, animation, student fiction, horror, music videos, trailers, and episodic. 

It will be held virtually this year from May 15-23, instead of at the Princeton Garden Theater.

Best of Festival Awards are given in each of the categories and attendees have a chance to network with actors, actresses, directors, writers, producers and directors of photography at a special festival event. Audience members will also have the opportunity to participate virtually in question and answer panel discussions with filmmakers whose films are selected to screen at the festival.  

Over the years, NFF has earmarked funds donated from patrons and sponsors each year to assist various non-profit organizations. Buy a festival pass or make a donation to Feeding America’s Community Food Bank of New Jersey, which has a COVID-19 Response Fund that is helping to ensure local food banks can feed those in need right now, including children who rely on school meals to eat.

For more information, visit nassaufilmfestival.org

 

Through June 1

The Hillsborough Dukes has opened registration for the 54th consecutive year for the 2021 Fall Football and Cheer Season.

Lady Dukes flag cheer is a free learn-to-love-cheer program for ages 5-7.

The Dukes tackle and flag football programs officially begin Aug. 2. Registration is free for both programs.

Cheerleaders who register early will receive a free Dukes fleece blanket while supplies last. There will also be a free football accessory for all players registered by June 1.

Free summer workouts will be offered to all.

For more information, visit www.hillsboroughdukes.com

 

Continuing events

 

Westrick Music Academy (WMA), home of Princeton Girlchoir and Princeton Boychoir, is currently enrolling students of all ages in a variety of music education classes, exploring new and engaging ways to build and strengthen musicianship skills.

For musicians in grades 3-12, there are a variety of classes for all levels. Learn how to relax and strengthen muscles while focusing on the slow, deep breathing used in singing with Yoga for Singers. In Musical Theater Fun, young artists will engage in activities focused on singing techniques, character development, acting skills and dance/choreography in preparation for a final showcase performance. In the Ukulele group class, students will build their musicianship while learning to play traditional songs on one the most delightful instruments.

Adults will also find opportunities for musical growth with WMA. In Group Ukelele for Adults, learn basic chords and strumming techniques.

WMA also looks forward to hosting a Comedy Improv Workshop this term. This highly interactive, one-day class is open to anyone of any experience level.

Find more information on WMA’s music education programs, register for a class, or learn more about WMA’s flagship choir programs at WestrickMusic.org/education.

 

McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton offers classes for students from Kindergarten to adult age, including Creative Drama, Story Jams, Playmakers, Dramatopia, and Improv and Sketch Comedy.

For more information, visit www.mccarter.org/onlineclasses

 

 

 

Central Jersey SCORE, a non-profit resource partner of the Small Business Administration, is looking for volunteers to assist people looking to start a business or grow an existing small business.

The organization is recruiting business owners and executives, both current and retired, who want to share their experience and knowledge with today’s up-and-coming entrepreneurs.

The Central Jersey Chapter of SCORE serves Middlesex, Somerset and Hunterdon counties.

Central Jersey SCORE provides in-person mentoring and webinars, both offered virtually in line with current pandemic restrictions. In addition, the SCORE website offers tools and templates on a wide variety of topics and numerous online courses and webinars to assist small business owners through every aspect of business development and management. Services are offered free of charge.

Anyone interested in volunteering with SCORE or seeking additional information should email marcia.glatman@scorevolunteer.org

 

 

French American School Princeton (FASP) is accepting enrollment.

At FASP, students in preschool (3 years old) through grade 8 benefit from a rigorous bilingual curriculum accredited by the Middle State Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools and the French Ministry of Education; personalized attention thanks to small class sizes; and a multicultural community with more than 30 nationalities represented.

FAPS is located at 75 Mapleton Road, Princeton.

Visit ecoleprinceton.org, call 609-430-3001 or email admissions@ecoleprinceton.org.

 

McCarter Theatre Center presents Fireside Chats to “spark” conversation in the community.

Filmed on the front lawn of the Princeton theater, student activities, Pulitzer Prize-winners, local business owners and others are interviewed by Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen.

To catch up on past episodes or to subscribe to the free YouTube channel, and to be notified when new episodes become available, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI3dS2j-mQA&list=PLqL4nAGyr4JT6UYYM99VHLHlmB2wXqSrF

 

 

 

Cranbury residents age 55 and older can exercise via Zoom.

Classes meet on both Mondays and Thursdays from 10-11 a.m. with instructors Helen and Robin. Zoom opens at about 9:45 a.m. so that members can talk with the instructor and other participants before class.

On the Township of Cranbury website there is a tutorial on how to use Zoom, prepared by the Cranbury Library.

To join, contact Connie Bauder, who will forward three registration forms to complete and return before being sent the invitation to join class.

There is no charge to participate.

Request and send completed registration forms to Bauder at fiddleheadfarms@comcast.net

The Township of Hillsborough is working with Town Planner to produce a 250th anniversary edition of the color printed 2021 calendar, which will be mailed out to every residence in Hillsborough.

 

 

 

The Mercer County Solidarity Network (MCSN) is a new mutual aid group designed to connect people in need throughout Mercer County with people who can help meet those needs.

The group is looking for individuals, families and businesses who would like to donate their time, resources or goods/services with people who have been affected by the pandemic and who request support. There is no minimum obligation – donors can specify whatever they feel they can provide and the group will match donors with individuals who have expressed a related need.

To sign up as a donor, visit www.mercersolidarity.org/ or email MercerCountyPOL@gmail.com.

 

 

 

Co-Dependents Anonymous Step Study Meeting. CoDA is a fellowship of men and women whose common purpose is to develop healthy relationships. Meetings are held every Friday evenings. The 24 Club, The 1860 House, 2nd floor, 124 Montgomery Road, Skillman. For more information, email fridayeveningcoda@gmail.com.

VFW Meetings: Monthly meetings of the Hillsborough Memorial VFW Post 8371 are held the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in the Somerset County Hillsborough Senior Center, 339 S. Branch Road. The post’s mission is Veterans and Military Support, Youth Scholarship Activities and Community Service. All veterans with foreign service are welcome as members to assist the post in achieving its mission. For information regarding membership, post activities or the youth scholarship programs, contact Commander Tom Cellilli via phone or text at 908-255-3669.

Alzheimer’s caregiver support group: Following the guidelines of the Alzheimer’s Association, the Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group is “a safe place for caregivers, family and friends of persons with dementia to meet and develop a mutual support system.” The group meets the first Monday and second Wednesday of each month at the Bridgewater United Methodist Church, 651 Country Club Road, Bridgewater. All are welcome.

Free weekly support groups: Carrier Clinic hosts free weekly support groups on the campus throughout the year. These support programs include:

Weekend Codependency Program, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Bright Futures for Kids, Sundays, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Parents Support Group, Mondays, 7-8:30 p.m.

Mood Disorder Support Group, Thursdays, 7:30-9:15 p.m.

For more information about these or other services and programs available at Carrier Clinic, visit CarrierClinic.org or call 908-281-1513. For more information, visit CarrierClinic.org/WhatToDo.

Midweek meals: The Wednesday midweek meals held in Asbury Hall, at the United Methodist Church of Bound Brook, have started back up. All seniors are invited for a full course meal for $4. Bring friends and family to enjoy a meal and fellowship.

Pop Warner: Calling all 5-7 year olds. Hillsborough Dukes Pop Warner is offering free Flag Football registration to first time players, including instructional and safe environment with fun training activities to teach core skills. Every child plays every game and the Dukes are the only organization that requires coaches to be USA Football Heads Up Certified. There are no tryouts or team drafting. Visit register.hillsboroughdukes.com to register. For more information, contact football@hillsboroughdukes.com.

Coping with addiction: Parents of Addicted Children helps parents understand and cope with drug problems they are facing, and will face, with their children. Meets first and third Monday of month, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Neshanic Reformed Church, 715 Amwell Road.

Alzheimer’s support group: The Alzheimer’s Association has a support group in Hillsborough. Family members and caregivers come together to share information and support in a safe, confidential atmosphere. Meetings are the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Brookdale Hillsborough, 600 Auten Road. Call 908-431-1300.

Mothers of Preschoolers: MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meets from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Fridays at the Fellowship Bible Church building, 109 New Amwell Road. The group says it meets to “laugh, cry and embrace the journey of motherhood.” Sponsored by Crossroads Community Church, it hears speakers, has a craft or project and lots of conversation and refreshment. Child care is provided. For information, see www.crossroadsnj.org/MOPS. Registration fee is required.

Divorce support group: A nondenominational support group to help separated and divorced people to a new beginning. The group meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 7-8:30 p.m. at Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, Route 206 at Homestead Road. Call 908-295-6740.

Swim lessons at HRC: The Swim Academy at HRC, located at 30 Brower Lane, Hillsborough, is offering swim lessons for all ages and levels. Call HRC Fitness at 908-359-3600 to register or visit www.hrcfitness.com for class schedules.

Send items to calendar@centraljersey.com. The deadline for submissions each week is 5 p.m. on Tuesday. For details, call 732-358-5200.