Festival of Scarecrows
to be held at street fair
Area businesses, local organizations, families, individuals and groups are invited to participate in the 2nd Annual Community Festival of Scarecrows, being held in conjunction with the 28th Annual Historic Village of Old Bridge Street Fair on Sept. 28.
The theme of the 2002 Community Festival of Scarecrows is The Wizard of Oz. All interested parties are invited to participate and enter a Scarecrow for display and judging.
Individuals can submit entries that represent one of more characters from this Oz theme for judging and prizes.
The categories are: traditional harvest figure, humorous scarecrows, and contemporary scarecrows. There is a $10 registration fee for each entry and must be received by Sept. 15.
Cash prizes and ribbons for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places will be awarded in all categories. A trophy and cash prize will also be awarded for a People’s Choice award.
The fair is in the Historic Village of Old Bridge in East Brunswick, at the corner of Old Bridge Turnpike, Main and Kossman streets, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Community Festival of Scarecrows is sponsored by the local homeowners association. Rain date is Oct. 5.
Advanced registration is required. Requirements and entry forms can be obtained by calling Kathie Waite, fair chairperson, at (732) 254-2225.
VSA/NJ seeks authors for
Wordsmiths Competition
The Unlimited Potential Theater Company (UPTCo), a project of VSA arts of New Jersey (VSA/NJ), is seeking poems, essays and plays by New Jersey residents, 18 years of age or older, for its ninth annual New Jersey Wordsmiths Competition.
The contest is open to all writers; submissions by writers with disabilities are especially encouraged. All works will be considered by a panel of judges who are professionally affiliated with theater and/or literature. Selected works will be showcased at the New Jersey Readers Theater, which will be followed by a reception to honor the authors. Deadline for submissions is Oct. 15.
VSA/NJ, a nonprofit organization which is part of the international VSA arts network, is dedicated to ensuring that the arts are available and accessible to people with disabilities. UPTCo, a project of VSA/NJ, is a touring ensemble of actors with and without physical disabilities.
Major funding is provided in part by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission, United Way of Central Jersey, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and the central office of VSA arts, under an award from the U.S. Department of Education. VSA arts is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C.
For an application or more information, contact Karen Singer, VSA arts of New Jersey, 703 Jersey Ave., New Brunswick, NJ 08901; telephone (732) 745-3885, (732) 745-5935 or (732) 745-3913 (TTY).
St. Mary’s Parish
welcomes faith inquiries
St. Mary’s Parish in South Amboy is now accepting registrations for any adult (age 14 or older) who is interested in preparing for Baptism, First Communion or Confirmation.
Sessions will be held on Sundays, led by the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) team. This will be the only preparation available for adults this year.
The RCIA begins with several weeks of inquiry. Following this period, participants are led through a gradual process of Scripture-based formation in the teachings of the Catholic Church; this includes faith sharing by team members and support from the entire parish community. No prior knowledge of the Bible is necessary.
The RCIA program is for anyone who has ever considered joining the Catholic Church or is already a Catholic but has not celebrated First Communion or Confirmation. For further information or to register, call Mary O’Brien at (732) 721-0199.
Museum to host lecture on ‘olde time’ drinks
A lecture on "Olde Time Summer Beverages" will be presented at 2 p.m. July 13 at the Metlar/Bodine House Museum, 1281 River Road, Piscataway.
Judith Krall-Russo, food and tea historian, is the lecturer. Samples of "olde time" drinks will be available, and light refreshments will be served after the program.
The fee is $8, $6 for members, and reservations are required. To R.S.V.P, call (732) 463-8363.