Fall Community Education class registration is underway
By: Casha Caponegro
The school district is anticipating another informative, fun-filled season for the Cranbury Community Education program.
This year’s slate includes old favorites, like Tai Chi and Cooking, along with some new additions, including a Faux Finishes workshop and SAT/PSAT Practice Tests.
In addition, Community Education has brought back the popular World Dialogue Sessions, which was introduced last year as a way to inform the Cranbury community about national and international issues.
"It burst out of the whole Sept. 11 experience," said Sue Leson, who co-directs Cranbury Community Education with Marty Hayden. "Marty and I felt that we needed to get ourselves and our neighbors informed."
Last year’s World Dialogue Sessions dealt with issues such as terrorism and religious fundamentalism. Each installment drew about 20 people.
"The attendance was much higher than any other single program we have ever done," Ms. Leson said.
This year’s World Dialogue Sessions will discuss patriotism from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 13 and the Latin community in the U.S. from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 27. Both discussions will be moderated by David Abalos, a faculty fellow in the politics department at Princeton University.
Another World Dialogue speaker will be U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, who will moderate a discussion Nov. 10 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on a to-be-announced topic of national interest.
"We are delighted to have him," said Ms. Leson. "This is a great opportunity for Cranbury."
Ms. Leson said Rep. Holt will choose an issue-oriented topic to open his discussion, "which he is very good at doing. He understands the issues and cares deeply about what his constituency thinks about them," she said.
Residents of all ages are invited to participate in the World Dialogue program. There is no fee for these sessions.
In addition to the world dialogue sessions, Community Education will offer two cooking courses, appetizers from around the world on Nov. 5 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Great Grains from 7 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 12. Both courses will be taught by Tamsen Granger and will cost $15.
"Tamsen has done cooking classes for us before and now she is back again," said Ms. Leson.
Community Education will offer a free SAT/PSAT preparation workshop for parents and students on Oct. 15 from 7 to 8 p.m. The workshop will be led by the Princeton Institute for Quality Education.
A new addition this year is the SAT/PSAT real practice tests, which will be administered by the Princeton Institute for Quality Education from 8 to 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 26. The test costs $20 and is open to high school students preparing to take the SAT and PSAT and to middle school Johns Hopkins talent search candidates.
"All students could benefit from this," said Ms. Leson.
Ms. Leson said practice tests will be administered like the actual tests. PIQE staff members will be on-hand for individual consultation after the tests have been hand-scored.
Barbara Mosley will return for an eight-session installment of Tai Chi: The moving meditation, which starts Oct. 7 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The cost for the course is $65.
A two-session course on cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, taught by Libby Crall, will be held Oct. 17 and 24 from 7 to 10 p.m. This course costs $15.
Local artist Donna Senopoulos will teach the six-session watercolor workshop starting Oct. 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. Cost for this course is $75.
Muralist Lisa Walsh will teach a three-session course on faux finishes: Using color and texture successfully in your home from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 6, 13 and 20. It will cost $35.
Ms. Leson said the courses are open to everyone.
Mail-in registration for any Community Education programs is due by Oct. 4.
To register by phone call (609) 395-1700 ext. 409. An in-person registration will be held at the Cranbury Public Library on Oct. 3 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

