Faculty Musicale

By: centraljersey.com
The Hopewell Valley school district’s faculty and staff will present a Faculty Musicale at 7 p.m. on Jan. 21 at Central High School’s Performing Arts Center. The event will feature over 50 faculty and staff members from all six district’s schools. The event is presented by the CHS Music and Theatre Parents Association. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens. Call: 1-866-967-8167 or Order Online: www.ShowTix4u.com to reserve tickets. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and the public is encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time.Refreshments will be available. All proceeds will benefit music and theatre enrichment activities at the high school. The Performing Arts Center is located at 259 Pennington-Titusville Road.
Free movie night
On Jan. 21, Princeton Community Church (Route 31 N and Brandon Road) is holding a free Pajama/ Movie night at 7 p.m. "How to Train Your Dragon" will be shown and popcorn will be served. Wear favorite PJs and bring a sleeping bag and pillow. Admission is one can of food for the East Trenton Center food bank. Call 730-1114 to sign up.
Blood drive
Hopewell Presbyterian Church, 80 W. Broad St., Hopewell, is sponsoring its annual blood drive on Jan. 22 from 8 a.m.- noon. Call to schedule appointment to donate blood: Kathy Walker at 333-0558 or Linda Mesh at 737-1858. Walk-ins will be welcome. For donor eligibility guidelines or to schedule appointment online, see www.redcrossblood.org.
Rabbi’s Movie Night
Har Sinai Temple is offering dinner, a movie and discussion on Jan. 22. Known as Rabbi Stuart Pollack’s annual Movie Night, the program begins with a 6 p.m. supper at the temple, 2421 Pennington Road. The movie, "The Lemon Tree," begins at 7 p.m. It will be followed by a panel discussion with Mideast experts. The movie is based on the book by Sandy Tolan. Rabbi Pollack suggests reading the book before attending the movie night. To assure seating, reservations are required by calling 730-8100. A donation of $15 per person is suggested.
Winter family fun
Preschoolers and their families are invited to an afternoon of fun activities at Har Sinai Temple, 2421 Pennington Rd. at Denow Road West, on Jan. 23 beginning at 12:15 p.m. Designed for ages 2-5, the Winter Family Fun event will feature arts, crafts, songs, snacks and a treasure hunt. The cost is $5 per child. Find out about the temple’s classes for children. To make a reservation, call 730-8100.
Blood drive set
PEAC Health & Fitness will host its annual American Red Cross Blood Drive on Jan. 24 from 1-7 p.m. PEAC is at 1440 Lower Ferry Road, in Ewing. Persons can donate blood every 56 days, and every unit of blood collected helps three people. The Blood Mobile will be on site to accommodate donors. The drive is open to the public. Bring photo identification, eat a healthy breakfast and drink plenty of fluids before donating. In order to assist in preparation and efficiency, call to schedule an appointment at 883-2000, visit www.peachealthfitness.com or go online to www.redcross.org to register online. For more information, e-mail: [email protected].
Book sale set
The Friends of Hopewell Township Branch Library will hold a Book Sale Jan. 25 to 30. Most books are priced at $1 or less. The sale will open with a preview on Jan. 24 from 6-8:30 p.m. when a $5 entrance fee will be collected. Beginning on Jan. 25, entrance is free and hours will be 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Jan. 30, from 1-4 p.m. will be Bag Day when the library will be open only for the sale and a grocery bag of books may be purchased for $3. The library is located next to Hopewell Valley Central High School at 245 Pennington-Titusville Road. Call 737-2610 for directions.
Groundhog Day Bash scheduled
The Hopewell Township Democratic Committee invites interested Hopewell Township residents to its first annual Groundhog Day Bash on Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Hopewell Valley Golf Club. The event will feature hors d’oeuvres, entertainment and talk. The cost is $15 per person with a cash bar. Entertainment is planned. Anita Wise is a comedienne who has toured nationally and appeared on Seinfeld and the Tonight Show. The Mountainview Band will play bluegrass and country music. For more information and to RSVP, contact Ray Disch at 306-2765.
Brown Bag Lunch
On Feb. 4, there will be a "Brown Bag Lunch" at 12:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Older Adult Committee of the Pennington Presbyterian Church, it will be held at 13 S. Main St, Pennington. Kurt Marttila, of "Seniors Helping Seniors," will speak at 1 p.m. about in-home services that provide seniors with the ability to choose an independent lifestyle by matching them with caring, compassionate seniors who want to help. A variety of services are offered to help seniors remain in their own homes. Bring a sandwich. Beverages, fruit and a light dessert will be provided. All are welcome. Call to make a reservation, 737-1221.
Super Bowl Meatball Sale
The Hopewell Knights of Columbus will hold a Super Bowl Meatball Sale on Feb. 5 from 2-6 p.m. and Feb. 6 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at St. Alphonsus Church, Hopewell. Quart containers of six meatballs in sauce for $5 will be available as well as trays for parties. To preorder trays, contact Tony Muscente at 575-5707. Trays can be made of any quantity (25-500 meatballs in sauce) and large or cocktail size. Large meatballs are $75 per 100. Small meatballs are $65 per 100. All meatballs will be made fresh in homemade sauce that weekend. For more information, visit: www.kofc7103.org.
Boot Camp for CASA
Chris Amaro of Fit Body Boot Camp, Pennington, has announced the Jan. 20-Feb. 11 "Frowns Upside Down: Boot Camp for CASA," a fundraiser pledged to raise $400 to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Mercer County to ensure that children, suffering from abuse and neglect, are given the support they need to guarantee placement in safe, loving and permanent homes. The fundraiser will take place at 55 Route 31 South, Building C, Pennington. Activities include: total-body exercises, group training, cardio and core training for 45 minutes to burn fat and tone "problem areas" of the body. For more information on how to participate, call 877-250-9423. Or go to: casabootcamp.eventbrite.com .
Tax help offered
During the months of February and March, Rider University accounting students will offer free tax help through the Internal Revenue Services’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program for low to moderate income individuals and senior citizens. Sessions will be held in the Bart Luedeke Center, Room 14 (located next to the Rider Bookstore on the bottom floor) on the Lawrenceville campus on: Feb. 8, 15 and 22 and March 1, from 6-9 p.m.; Feb. 10, 17 and 24 and March 3, from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; and February 12, 19, 26 and March 5, from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Donald Shaw, adjunct professor of accounting and coordinator of the volunteer effort, said student volunteers must have successfully completed an upper-level taxation course and two January training courses. Tax returns are prepared using professional software on laptops. Individuals seeking assistance should bring pertinent tax documents such as W2 forms, interest statements, copies of last year’s return as well as any IRS tax item received in the mail.
Valley Chorus
The Hopewell Valley Chorus rehearses Mondays from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the Chorus Room at Hopewell Valley Central High School, 259 Pennington-Titusville Road. Membership is $35 per season. For further information, call 737-7960 or e-mail [email protected]. The website is: www.hopewellvalleychorus.org.
Baldpate closings
The Mercer County Park Commission will close Baldpate Mountain to all visitors on select days due to the annual deer management project. Those dates are: Jan. 20-22, 26-29 and Feb. 2-5, 9-12. Exact project dates also will be posted on the various gates leading into the area. Note that unauthorized persons entering the area on the above dates not only put themselves at extreme risk, but will also be cited. Questions? Call the Mercer County Park Commission at 989-6559.
YMCA summer camp registration
The Hopewell Valley YMCA is accepting registrations for Summer Camp 2011. The camp is a state-licensed day camp and accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). Campers are offered swim lessons four days a week, weekly trips, snacks, special events and activities. Attend an open house on Jan. 31 at Toll Gate Grammar School from 6:30-8 p.m. Register by Feb. 25 and receive a discount on registration per camper. For more information, call 737-3048, or [email protected]. Also visit: www.hvymca.org. The YMCA operates offices at 62 S. Main St., Pennington.
Robotics Team and course
The Straube Foundation is hosting a Robotics Team, which will meet every Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in room I-19 of building I-108. If interested in robots, this team will make you feel right at home. Beginners are welcome. There is a monthly fee to pay the instructor and maintain the robots. For fee and other information, go to www.straube.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 737-3322.
The foundation will begin a high school-level Robotics course, aimed to teach beginners the basics of robotics using LEGO Mindstorm Robots and modern programming methods, on Jan. 23 from noon-4 p.m. It will run weekly through Feb. 20 for a total of five Sundays. For cost information, to register or for more information, visit www.straube.org, e-mail [email protected] or call 737-3322.
Kindergarten enrichment
The Hopewell Valley After School Program is accepting registrations for a.m. and p.m. kindergarten enrichment taught by licensed teachers. HVASP is licensed by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. Enroll for full weeks, part-time weeks or drop-in care for any kindergarten child attending Bear Tavern Elementary, Stony Brook Elementary, Toll Gate Grammar or Hopewell Elementary. For more information, visit: HVASP.com, e-mail at [email protected] or call 730-1311.
Fellowship group
All community children in grades six-eight are invited to TGIF, an outreach ministry of The Pennington United Methodist Church. TGIF meets two Fridays a month from 7-8:30 p.m. as well as additional times for extra activities. Youth from several churches and those with no church affiliation and are from multiple communities are participating in fellowship, community service and exploring their relationships with God. Questions? Call Carla MacGuigan at 818-9281.
Yoga classes
One Spirit Yoga classes has returned to the Hopewell Railroad Station. Classes are Wednesdays at 9 a.m. Bring yoga mat, a water bottle and a willingness to stretch, relax and let go. For questions, call Nancy McCormack at 609-333-1188.
Memoir Group
The Memoir Group meets the third Thursday of every month at the Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing, 268 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville. Soup and cookies at 12:30 p.m. are followed by shared memoirs. A topic is assigned, but one may write on any topic or just eat and listen. All ages are welcome. Call Howard Bennett at 267-980-6518 for more information.
St. Michael’s mugs
The Hopewell Business Association’s St. Michael’s mugs are available for purchase at Hopewell Pharmacy. The price is $10 per mug. The supply is limited. Proceeds will benefit HBA and the D&R Greenway Land Trust’s St. Michael’s tract preservation efforts.
Hopewell Farmers market
The Hopewell Farmers Market is open Wednesdays from 2-6 p.m. at the Railroad Station, Railroad Place. Shoppers will find Olssons Fine Foods (international cheeses, Griggstown meats, international and local pantry items); Village Bakery (bread, cookies and pastries); North Slope Farm (vegetables and fruits); Highland Gourmet (all-natural beef, fresh mushrooms, homemade baked goods, local honey); WoodsEdge Wool Farm (alpaca and llama fashion); and Guzikowski Eggs (fresh local eggs).
Artists gatherings
Artists gather every Monday night (except the first Monday of the month) to paint and draw from 7:30-9:30. Bring art supplies and a project in mind. Table and chairs provided. This is a free Hopewell Borough recreation program. For information, contact [email protected] or call 466-0277.