By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
From apple pie to fortune cookies, Lawrence Township residents who turn out for the fourth annual Diversity Day — set for Sunday — will have a chance to make new friends and learn about other cultures.
The event, which will be held at the Lawrence Senior Center at 30 Darrah Lane, runs from noon to 4 p.m. It is sponsored by the township’s Human Relations Committee and the Lawrence Township Office on Aging.
“We want to make people aware of the diversity in the township, help people to understand other cultures and have a party. It’s nice to have exposure to other cultures and broaden your view of the world,” said Art Hull, who is co-chair of the event with Chris Peterson.
Visitors to Diversity Day can watch Kulei’s Hawaiian song and dance group and listen to Jorge Gomez play Andean pipe music. Dr. Cora Gaffar will offer Filipino folk songs and the Lia Fail Pipe Band will play the bagpipes.
The Sikh Sabha of New Jersey, which has a house of worship and community center on Lawrence Station Road, will offer drumming and dancing. The members will demonstrate how to tie a turban, Mr. Hull said.
“Tying a turban is not something you think about too often, but it is one thing that some people have a lot of anxiety about because they don’t understand (the significance of a turban),” he said.
Children’s activities range from face painting to Chinese paper folding, Mr. Hull said. There will be a demonstration of Chinese calligraphy, and for adults, the Lawrence Township Health Department will offer health screenings.
And, of course, there will be plenty of refreshments — dishes from Mexico, the Philippine Islands, China, India, Italy and the United States, Mr. Hull said.

