Ranney School, Tinton Falls, held its first Earth Week Festival in late April during which electronics were turned off for one full day in the upper school, and one hour each day in the lower school to show the importance of conserving energy. The effort was spearheaded by the Environmental Students Taking Action club (ESTA), which organized contests, guest speakers and movies during the week. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. was among the guests invited to speak. ESTAalso sponsored a “trash war” to see which grade could throw out the least amount of refuse in a week. Clubmembers in green T-shirts kept track of trash removed, and the winning class received lunch from a local organic market. Middle and lower school students took part via a door-decorating contest, planting pansies and decorating Earth Day bags. Ten Thousand Villages, a local store, will join fair-trade stores and organizations around the world in observingWorld Fair Trade Day on May 10.
Ten Thousand Villages, 69 Broad St., will celebrate the day with refreshments, live entertainment, special discounts, and giveaways.
Through fair trade, artisans, farmers and textile workers receive a fair price for their quality, handcrafted products and crops. When artisans and farmers receive fair prices for their work, they find dignity and hope for the future.
Fair trade helps alleviate poverty for small-scale producers by providing markets for their goods and developing their financial independence.
Ten Thousand Villages in Red Bank is one of more than 100 Ten Thousand Villages stores across North America, selling international handicrafts from more than 30 countries.
Ten Thousand Villages, the oldest and largest fair-trade organization in the United States, reports that it has provided fair prices, working capital and a market for artisans around the world for 60 years.
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The Red Bank Chapter of Deborah Hospital Foundation will a bus trip to Trump’s Taj Mahal Casino-Hotel in Atlantic City.
The trip will take place May 15, and the bus will be departing from Shrewsbury Plaza on Route 35 and Shrewsbury Avenue at 9 a.m.
The bus will return to the plaza at 6:30 p.m. and the cost of the trip is $28 with a casino giveback of $26, plus $5 toward food. For reservations call (732) 542-3247.
***** The Community YMCA’s Family Health and Fitness Center, 166 Maple Ave., Red Bank, will host two “dive-in” movies for families May 3 from 6-10 p.m. The movies “Shark’s Tale” and “Finding Nemo” will be shown at Bodman pool and Huber pool, respectively. There will also be refreshments and a silent auction with prizes. The event is open to members and nonmembers, and show times are 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $6.25 a person, $12.50 a couple, and $25 for a family of four, with proceeds benefiting the Y’s Strong Kids campaign. For more information, call Shean at (732) 741-2504, ext. 23 or visit www.TheCommunityYMCA. org.
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Tinton Falls Public Library, 664 Tinton Ave., will hold its annual Mother’s Day plant and bake sale May 10, andMay 12-May 17 from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Featured will be perennials and home-baked goods. For more information, call (732) 542-3110.
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The Chelsea at Tinton Falls, 1 Hartford Drive, is holding a food collection drive to benefit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey through June 4. Donations may be dropped at The Chelsea. Needed are items such as canned fish/meat, powdered milk and infant formulas, stews and meaty soups, peanut butter and other items. For information, visit www.chelseaseniorliving. com.
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St. Margaret’s Guild, Church of the Holy Communion, Fair Haven, will host a luncheon May 16 at Merri- Makers, Sea Bright. A talk on women’s nutrition will be presented. There will also be a gift auction, 50/50 and door prizes. Cost is $25 per person. For time or reservations, call (732) 842-0988.
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Little Silver PTOWill host “The Little Silver Palate Kitchen Tour,” May 16 from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. The tour will visit 11 kitchens in Little Silver. Culinary delights will be offered by several restaurants. Area decorators will present tablescapes complemented by floral designs by area florists. Following the tour, the PTO will host “The Kitchen Is Closed” cocktail party from 7 to 10 p.m. Tour tickets are $40 in advance, and combination tickets are $75. Proceeds benefit the PTO’s education programs. Sponsorships are also available. For tickets or sponsorship information, visit www.LittleSilverKitchen- Tour.com.