AROUND CRANBURY: Mothers Day craft session at the library, Lions Club senior awards given out, and Strawberry Festival set for June.
By: Lorraine Sedor
The Cranbury Golden Age Neighbors will meet Saturday at noon in the Cranbury School cafeteria. Because the club doesn’t have a sponsor for this month’s meeting, club members will provide the entrée, rolls, butter, beverages and dessert. All members and guests are asked to bring their own place setting and a covered dish to serve about eight to 10 people. Also, each participant is asked to bring a non-perishable food item to contribute to Skeet’s Pantry, which assists local residents in need. At the club’s next monthly meeting in June, Peter Wise, Executive Director of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen will discuss the work of this worthwhile organization. Anyone who would like to become a member of the Cranbury Golden Age Neighbors may join at any meeting for just $7 a year.
Also Saturday, kids young and old can stop in the Gambino Room of the Cranbury Public Library between 10 a.m. and noon to make a special Mother’s Day card. Sponsored by the Friends of the Cranbury Public Library, the workshop will include everything needed to make a beautiful memento for Mom. Parents and caregivers are invited to enjoy a cup of coffee while their children create their cards.
The Student Library Council of the Cranbury Public Library presents "Pirates of the Caribbean The Curse of the Black Pearl," as part of its on-going high school movie series Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Library. Admission, snacks and a chance to get together with Cranbury friends are all free! Community service and volunteer opportunities with the summer reading club will be discussed.
Peter Hyman of Cranbury is in training for a strenuous bike ride for a great cause. The Angel Charitable Trust is an all-volunteer organization, with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to children afflicted with cancer and their families. Proceeds are shared with the "Hole In The Wall Gang Camp" which was founded by actor Paul Newman. This year’s bike ride takes place over Memorial Day Weekend, May 27 and May 28.
Both of Peter’s daughters, 17-year-old Erica and 15-year-old Rachel, have volunteered and will be working throughout the event supporting the riders in general and their dad in particular and they’ll need all that support and more!
Last year’s ride stretched 135 miles over two days with a 9,750-foot vertical climb through the Berkshire Mountains which is the equivalent of riding almost half way up Mount McKinley. Last year, Peter rode over 1,000 miles just training for this event. And this year will be no different. Thanks to the help and support of friends, family, and clients, Peter raised $2,850 dollars in 2005. This year, his goal is $5,000 dollars.
More information about Peter Hyman, the trust, photos, and ways to support the bike ride can be found on the following Web site: http://angel.peterhyman.com.
The Cranbury Lions have announced the winners of their annual student awards for 2006. The Dr. David C. Tudor Memorial Scholarship is given annually to a Cranbury high school senior who will major in Science at an accredited college and/or to Cranbury college students already with a major in Science. This year’s award was presented to Mario Fiorentini. The Todd M. Beamer Memorial Scholarship is given annually to a Cranbury high school senior who has best demonstrated citizenship, with this year’s award going to Nicole Yesalavage. The Stan Thomas Community Service Award is given each year to one Cranbury youth who exhibits the spirit of Community Service that Stan Thomas exemplified. This year’s award was presented to Vrajesh Modi.
The Lions will also sponsor a high school student to the World Affairs Seminar, held at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater from June 11 – 17. Cranbury student Patrick Finn will join over 1,000 students from the U.S. and 50 other countries from around the world to take part in a forum of future leaders to discuss global issues and problems in a safe and non-threatening environment.
The Princeton Girlchoir (PGC) presents its 17th Annual Spring Concert on May 21 at 4 p.m. at Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University. The first half of the program offers a mix of traditional American favorites, international classics and hits from American musical theatre. The concert will conclude, as is PGC’s tradition, with "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" by John Rutter, performed on stage by all choristers and PGC alumnae in attendance. All seats are reserved and priced at $15 adults and $10 students. To purchase tickets, contact the Richardson Box Office in Frist Campus Center at (609) 258-5000, or visit www.princeton.edu/richaud/. For information about The Princeton Girlchoir and patron tickets, please call the PGC office at (609)688-1888 or visit www.princetongirlchoir.org.
The Annual Strawberry Festival at the Presbyterian Church will be held June 3 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. (rain or shine). A fun event for kids of all ages, the festival is great place to have the kids participate in some good ol’ fashion fun. The strawberry festival has been a Cranbury tradition for over 50 years!
There will be unlimited games, pony rides, face painting, food for purchase, tours of a fire truck and police car, music and of course tons of fresh strawberries, ice cream and cakes.
You can purchase a family pass for $25 until May 21 at the church office. The Strawberry Festival supports the Deacon’s Benevolence Fund. Even if you cannot attend it is a nice way to make a contribution to the church and the community. Individual tickets will be on sale the day of the festival for $7 for kids and adults and $5 for seniors.
Upcoming yard and rummage sales in Cranbury include the First Presbyterian Church sale on May 20 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., which benefits Hurricane Katrina victims; Girl Scout troop 1467 sale at 50 South Main Street on May 19 and 20; and the annual Evans Tract multi-family sale on June 3.
A memorial service is planned by Company H, 14th NJ Volunteers Civil War re-enactors at the Civil War Soldiers Monument, Brainerd Cemetery on Memorial Day at 11 a.m. This service has been held annually by Company H in recognition of the sacrifices of Cranbury’s Civil War soldiers. The monument is located behind the First Presbyterian Church.
Residents can reach Ms. Sedor by phone at (609) 655-3386, by e-mail at [email protected] and by mail at 32 Evans Drive, Cranbury, N.J. 08512.

