AROUND CRANBURY: Take a marvelous Peruvian adventure

AROUND CRANBURY By Lorraine Sedor Cranburians: Find out how to join area teachers on a fabulous trip.

   Congratulations go out to eighth-grader Drew Holland. Drew won the Cranbury School’s Geography Bee a few months ago and was one of only 100 students invited to the state competition.
   Geographically speaking, the location of the April 1 state competition was Rutgers University in New Brunswick. The National Geographic Society competition began in 1989 when it was discovered that only one in five Americans were able to find the USA on a map. Although Drew didn’t make it to the national level, I’m assured that he can locate America on a map.
   Good job Drew.

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   Last year, Cranbury resident and Princeton High School Spanish teacher Marty Hayden took a group of 27 students on a trip to her native Peru. Many of those students were from Cranbury. The trip was so successful that Ms. Hayden is repeating the trip for 32 PHS students in June.
   Now, due to popular demand, she is putting together a trip for anyone in town who’d like to experience Peru first-hand. The group will depart from Newark on July 25 and return Aug. 3.
   The trip will include a two-day visit to Lima, Ms. Hayden’s hometown, a town rich in colonial heritage, great restaurants and some of her favorite sights. Then it’s on to Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire and the fortress of Sacsahuaman, Ollantaytambo, the salt mines of Maras and beautiful Moray where the Incas experimented with their crops.
   All of these sights have the majestic snowcapped Andes as their backdrop. The highlight of the trip is, of course, Macchu Picchu, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. There will be the option of a one-day hike or a scenic train ride to visit this incredible site.
   Ms. Hayden has carefully chosen hotels and restaurants that are picturesque and off the beaten path. She is looking forward to sharing a little bit of Peru with her fellow travelers.
   The cost of the trip is $2,150, which includes flights, most meals, hotel accommodations, tours and tips.
   For more information contact Marty Hayden at (609) 655-2346 or e-mail her at [email protected]. Space is limited.

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   The Friends of the Cranbury Public Library will hold its annual spring book sale beginning today (Friday) from noon to 5 p.m. The sale will continue on Saturday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday, April 24, from 1-4 p.m.
   The Friends will have large number of reasonably priced books, fiction and non-fiction, appropriate for all ages. In addition, the Friends will have a number of specially priced books that include hard-to-find titles and collectibles.
   Proceeds from the sale benefit programs sponsored by the Friends.

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   The fifth annual Women’s Tea at the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury will take place on Sunday, May 1, from 3-5 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.
   This year’s featured speaker is the Rev. Shannan Vance-O’Campo of the Presbyterian Church of Rumson. The Rev.Vance-O’Campo’s topic will be "Glimpses of God’s Grace" and will include her experience and work with Presbyterian women and Cuban missions.
   The tea features tea sandwiches and desserts served at tables beautifully set with china from members’ homes. Admission is free for this afternoon of spiritual renewal and childcare will be provided upon request.
   Women are invited to bring a friend, daughter or mother to share this special afternoon. To RSVP, contact Rosellyn Cassidy at (609) 409-7669 or the church office at (609) 395-0897. When responding, please mention if childcare will be needed.

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   The Cranbury Area Mother’s Club and the Friends of the Cranbury Public Library invite children to attend a special morning of sharing on Wednesday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
   Children will help assemble Mother’s Day gift bags for clients of HomeFront and will decorate them with paper flowers. The Friends and the Mother’s Club are pleased to be able to support the women of HomeFront and to introduce the value of caring for others to the children who attend.
   The gift bags will contain donated toiletry items, including items from Bath & Body Works. After putting together the gift bags, the children will be treated to a special Mother’s Day story time.
Residents can reach Ms. Sedor by phone at (609) 655-3386, by fax at (609)655-1613, by e-mail at [email protected] and by mail at 32 Evans Drive,Cranbury, N.J. 08512.