LAWRENCE: News briefs

T’u Bishvat seder
   Adath Israel Congregation will host a seder service Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the synagogue’s social hall at 1958 Lawrenceville Road for the congregation and the community. The service will integrate T’u Bishvat and shabbat prayer, song and joy and a community dinner. Reservations are required by Jan. 21. Dinner is $16 for adults, $8 for ages 5-12, and free for children under 4. There is a $45 cap for families.
   For more information or to make a reservation, contact Lisa Perlson-Hernandez at 609-896-4977 or email [email protected], or visit www.adathisraelnj.org.
Free rabies clinic
   A free rabies vaccination clinic for dogs and cats that are at least 3 months old will be held Jan. 26 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the New Jersey Army National Guard Armory on Eggerts Crossing Road, rain or shine. All pets must be accompanied by an adult, and must be on a leash or in a suitable container. Children under 7 years old are not allowed at the armory. Visitors are required to stop at the gate and provide identification.
   All dogs over the age of 7 months are required to be licensed. The deadline to renew the annual dog license is Jan. 31. To obtain a license, the dog’s rabies immunization must be valid for the entire licensing period.
Science and Discovery Night
   The Lawrenceville Elementary School PTO will host Science and Discovery Night on Jan. 25 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the school at 40 Craven Lane. Children will have a chance to explore, with hands-on activities and demonstrations led by parents, scientists and engineers.
   The event is geared for children in kindergarten through 3rd grade. Admission is $5 per child, free for adults and children under 3 years old. For more information, please contact [email protected].
Mental illness support group
   NAMI Mercer is accepting registrations for Family-to-Family, which is a free 12-week education course for adult family members of persons living with mental illness. The course begins in February, and will be offered at sites in Lawrence and Hamilton townships.
   Participants learn about the biology of brain disorders, recent developments in brain research related to mental illness, and the latest medication and treatment options. They learn how to cope with the stress of caregiving and how to advocate for their loved ones. The program is taught by trained volunteers who have experienced mental illness in their own families.
   For more information and to register for the course, contact NAMI Mercer at 609-799-8994 or [email protected].
Sourlands screening at library
   The documentary film, “Sourlands, Stories from the Fight for Sustainability,” which explores global environmental issues from a local perspective and focuses on people working to make a difference in the Sourland Mountain region of western New Jersey, will be shown Feb. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Lawrence Library on East Darrah Lane.
   Film director Jared Flesher will be available to speak and answer questions after the film. Local environmental organizations will have information tables so viewers can find out how to make a difference in Mercer County.
   The free event, which is open to the public, is co-sponsored by Sustainable Lawrence and the Friends of the Lawrence Library. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 609-989-6920 or email [email protected].
   Soccer association meeting
   The Lawrence Hamnett Soccer Association annual general meeting will be on Monday, Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Lawrence Senior Center.
   All are welcome to attend.
Blood drive
   A blood drive will be held at Adath Israel Congregation Jan. 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the synagogue’s social hall at 1958 Lawrenceville Road. Donors should provide photo identification and proof of age. Donors who are 16 and 17 years old must have written permission from a parent or guardian. Appointments are encouraged, and can be made by contacting Bruce Levin at 732-906-1922 or registering online at http://tinyurl.com/adathisraelbd.
T’u Bishvat celebration
   Temple Micah will host a shabbat “teaching service” and T’u Bishvat seder and potluck dairy luncheon Jan. 26 in the chapel of the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville on Main Street, beginning at 10:45 a.m. The Jewish holiday is known as the new year or birthday of the trees, and it is customary for children to plant trees. To attend the seder and luncheon, please RSVP to [email protected] or call 609-731-9996 for more information.
Cooking demo
   Executive chefs from Blue Point Grill and Nassau Street Seafood will present a cooking demonstration and a sampling of recipes for Super Bowl snacks and appetizers Jan. 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. G’s TV & Appliances at 2960 Route1. The cost is $35 per person. Visit www.komencsnj.org/oysterbowl for more information.
Wassailing party
   The annual Wassailing Party at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road in Lawrence, will be on Sunday, Jan. 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. The party is free and open to the public.
   Wassail is an ancient Saxon word that means “health be to you,” and it’s the health of the trees that we will celebrate. the festivities will include dancing and singing by the Handsome Molly Dancers and re-enactments of traditional old English rituals.
   The Handsome Molly Dancers will dance among the trees and perform traditional British chants to drive away evil spirits. Everyone joins in with chanting and music making, hanging gifts of cider-soaked bread in the tree branches while chanting words of praise for the new year. (609) 924-1310.
Starting gardens indoors
   The Master Gardeners of Mercer County will host a program, “Jump Start Your Garden Indoors,” on Tuesday, Jan. 29, from 7 to 8 p.m. The program will be held at Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 930 Spruce Street, Lawrence, adjacent to the Trenton Farmers Market.
   Starting seeds this winter will produce annual flower and vegetable plants ready for transplant in the spring. Master gardener Bruce Young will talk about proper seed selection, sowing methods and care of seedlings, which will allow for both a larger selection of varieties and heartier plants at a lower cost. To benefit the Master Gardeners of Mercer County educational programs, a donation of $3 is suggested. To pre-register for this program, call (609) 989-6830.
   The Master Gardeners of Mercer County is a volunteer educational outreach program of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 930 Spruce Street, Lawrence. Master Gardeners participate in many volunteer programs throughout the county, as well as answer home horticulture questions through their Rutgers Master Gardener Helpline, (609) 989-6853, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
   For more information, contact Rutgers Cooperative Extension at 609 989-6830 or visit the Master Gardeners of Mercer County website at www.mgofmc.org.
Minstrel and storyteller
   The Minstrel and the Storyteller, featuring Gerard Edery and Peninnah Schram, will be presented at Adath Israel Congregation at 1958 Lawrenceville Road Feb. 2 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The musical event showcases stories and songs drawn from Ashkenazi and Sephardic sources. The event is free.
   For more information, contact Lisa Perlson-Hernandez at 609-896-4977, email [email protected] or visit www.adathisraelnj.org.
Grant received
   The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Mercer has received $56,000 in 2012 end-of-year grants from charitable foundations and a corporate employee giving fund. The money will help subsidize the wellness and recovery programs that NAMI Mercer offers free of charge to individuals and families affected by mental illness in Mercer County. For more information, visit www.namimercer.org.