Ongoing
While decorating for the holidays is a tradition, too often strings of burnt out or damaged holiday lights end up being tossed out with household garbage.
There is a greener way to properly dispose of these decorations. Instead of discarding non-working lights in the trash, the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders want residents to give them a second life by bringing them to the county’s Resource Recovery Complex, where a permanent electronics disposal center is staffed from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and from 7-11:30 a.m. Saturdays.
The Resource Recovery Center is located at 22000 Burlington-Columbus Road on the Florence-Mansfield border.
Holiday lights are most often made of plastic, glass and copper and all three materials can be easily recycled. Also, some light strands may contain lead or mercury, so tossing them in the garbage can be hazardous.
Unwanted lights should be placed in cardboard boxes or clear bags when delivering them to the Recovery Complex.
Lights should not be discarded in curbside recycling containers.
For more information about proper disposal of electronics, call 609-499-1001 or email [email protected].
Burlington County residents are encouraged to bring their live Christmas trees to the Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex at 22000 Burlington-Columbus Road on the Florence-Mansfield border where they will be chipped and composted.
All stands, lights, tinsel, wires, ornaments and garland must be removed.
The county’s “treecycling” service is offered at the complex from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and from 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
The complex cannot recycle artificial, bagged or flocked trees.
Several municipalities also offer curbside collection and or a drop-off for discarded trees. Residents should contact their local municipality to verify when collections occur and any special requirements or restrictions.
Information about curbside tree collections is also available on the county’s RecycleCoach app. The free app has information about the county’s recycling program and accepted materials, as well as updates and alerts about collection schedules for each town and tips and advice about recycling.
The RecycleCoach app can be downloaded from iTunes or the GooglePlay app store. For residents without smart phones, a PC/laptop version is available at www.co.burlington.nj.us/1602/Recycle-Coach.
For more information, call 609-499-1001, ext. 271 or 272, or email [email protected].
“Perspectives on Opera,” “Exploring the Great Outdoors in Art,” and “Great Decisions” are just a few of the courses that will be offered for the spring 2021 session of the Evergreen Forum, a program of the Princeton Senior Resource Center.
Starting Feb. 22, the program will offer 24 courses for adults, all on Zoom, that focus on science, literature, art, history, social studies and culture. Classes meet once a week for two hours.
Registration is a first-come, first-served system. Online registration is available at princetonsenior.org. Electronic brochures are available online on the PSRC website.
Fees are $95 for a 6- to 8-week course, and $70 for a 3- to 5-week course. Senior Scholarships are available to those for whom the fee is a hardship. To apply, contact Shifra Vega at [email protected] or at 609-751-9699, ext. 116.
The Princeton Senior Resource Center is a community nonprofit where aging adults and their families find support, guidance, education and social programs to help them navigate life transitions and continue to be active, healthy and engaged in the community.
The Evergreen Forum is an affiliate of the Road Scholar Institute network. The Evergreen Forum corporate sponsors for spring 2021 are Capital Health, NightingaleNJ Eldercare Navigators, Homewatch CareGivers, Penn Medicine Princeton Health & Home Health, and Stark & Stark Attorneys at Law.
The Princeton Festival’s 15th annual piano competition is open to pianists from around the world, with an entry deadline of April 19.
To enter the competition, artists must submit a video of themselves performing a designated piece of music. Participants compete for cash prizes and certificates, plus the Richard Tang Yuk award, named for the festival’s founding artistic director, given to the best performer overall.
The professionally adjudicated competition is organized into seven categories:
- Four age categories for solo performers from 6 to 18 years old.
- Open Class I for soloists and Piano Four-Hands for all competitors up to 25 years old
- Open Class II, new for 2021, for solo professionals and lifelong amateurs 26 or older
Full information and an entry application is available at https://princetonfestival.org/2021-piano-competition-rules/.
Winners in all categories will be announced after the Finalists’ Concert, which will stream online on June 6.
Thursdays, throughout January
Burlington County Health Department will offer seasonal flu vaccines to county residents every Thursday through January at clinics throughout the county.
Adult drive-thru clinics will be held for adults and teenagers 13 years or older. Children’s clinics will be for children age 6 months to 12 years old.
Signed consent forms will be required and residents are encouraged to print out and bring the completed form with them to the clinics. The form is available online at www.co.burlington.nj.us/355/Flu-Information.
The Health Department accepts Medicare Part “B” to cover the cost for the seasonal flu vaccines. A donation of $15 for seasonal flu vaccine is recommended by those not covered by Medicare if residents can afford it.
For more information on the flu, contact the Burlington County Health Department at 609-265-5533 or at www.co.burlington.nj.us/health.
Additional information can be accessed online at www.cdc.gov/flu or www.flu.gov.
The Burlington County Health Department’s Raphael Meadow Health Center is located at 15 Pioneer Blvd. in Westampton within the county complex.
The Nature Center at Washington Crossing State Park in the Titusville section of Hopewell Township is offering programs this winter free of charge.
Pre-teens and adults can hike Baldpate Mountain from 1:30-4 p.m. Jan. 10.
Follow a county park trail from its trail head near Church Road to the top of the hill. Meet at the parking lot by Niederer’s Pond.
Bring a water bottle and wear hiking shoes.
Aerobic hikes will be offered at 1 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 14, 21 and 28, weather permitting.
The 2-3.5 mile brisk guided hikes will move along selected trails in the state park. Routes to be determined. Meet at the Nature Center.
Bring a water bottle and wear hiking shoes. The trails are quite wet in sections.
All programs will require advanced registration in order to manage social distancing. Face coverings are required at all events. Attendance is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
All children must be accompanied by an adult.
In the event of inclement weather, some programs might be canceled; call ahead before coming out.
These events are available to families and individuals only. Programs for scouts, schools, home school groups and other groups are available and scheduled separately by special arrangement. Call 609-737-0609.
Fri., January 8 – Sun., January 10
Quail Brook Golf Course on New Brunswick Road in Somerset will be open for play from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 8-10.
Tee time reservation will be available to golfers registered for 2021.
Spooky Brook Golf Course at Colonial Park in Somerset, the Neshanic Valley Championship and Academy courses will be open during the winter as weather permits.
Information on all golf facilities may be obtained by calling the Somerset County Park Commission at 908-722-1200, ext. 5428 or online at www.somersetcountyparks.org.
Saturdays, January 9 through March 13
The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory’s (PPPL) 36-year tradition of offering weekly informative talks on a wide variety of science subjects continues with a live online version.
The Ronald E. Hatcher Science on Saturday Lecture Series resumes from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturdays, Jan. 9 to March 13, on the Zoom virtual meeting platform.
The series kicks off with a lecture on “The Renaissance of the Stellarator Fusion Concept,” by PPPL physicist David Gates, head of Advanced Projects. Stellarators, a type of fusion energy facility that has twisty coils, were invented by PPPL founder Lyman Spitzer in the 1950s. The complex devices have been a less popular choice for fusion experiments than donut-shaped tokamaks but are making a come-back as scientists find new approaches to stellarator design.
Other highlights include a talk by Geeta Govindarajoo, professor of chemistry at Rutgers University, on the intersection between chemistry and art. Govindarajoo will discuss the role of chemistry in creating and restoring art and detecting forgeries.
Post questions for the speaker by tweeting to @PPPLsSciEd or #scionsat.
The January schedule is:
- Jan. 9: David Gates, PPPL, “The Renaissance of the Stellarator Fusion Concept”
- Jan. 16: Arvind Narayanan, a computer scientist and professor at Princeton University, “How to Recognize AI Snake Oil”
- Jan. 23: Geeta Govindarajoo, of Rutgers University’s Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, “Chemistry and Art: Like Dissolves Like. How Solubility Influences Creating and Restoring Art, Forgery and Telling a Good Story”
- Jan. 30: Cristian Galbiaiti, of Princeton University’s Department of Physics, “From studying the Sun, to searching for dark matter, to fighting COVID-19”
Recordings of the talks will be posted on the Science Education website a few weeks after the initial viewing.
The complete schedule will be posted on the Science on Saturday website.
For more information, visit energy.gov/science.
Through Sun., January 10
Morven Museum & Garden’s Festival of Trees is a juried collection of trees and mantles decorated by area garden clubs and non-profit partners displayed in the museum’s galleries throughout the mansion-turned-museum.
The trees will be on display through Jan. 10.
Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton St., Princeton, is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Festival of Trees is included with museum admission of $10; $8.00 for seniors; free for Friends of Morven and children 6 years old and under.
For more information and associated Festival of Trees programming, both virtual and in-person, visit morven.org/
The Princeton Symphony Orchestra will present a virtual concert featuring the music of Mozart and Saint Georges at 4 p.m. Jan. 10.
The program spotlights Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s dramatic Serenade for Winds in C Minor, K. 388 and Joseph Bologne, Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges’ Symphony No. 1 in G Major.
Ukrainian-born virtuoso pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk performs selections for solo piano.
For tickets, visit princetonsymphony.org.
The Dryden Ensemble will present a virtual concert, “Extraordinary Tunings,” at 4 p.m. Jan. 10.
Virtually unknown repertoire from 1620-50, featuring Daniel Swenberg.
For Zoom tickets, visit www.drydenensemble.org or call 609-466-8541.
Mon., January 11 to Fri., February 26
The West Windsor Arts Council will present a virtual exhibit, Harmony Art Show, from Jan. 11 to Feb. 26.
WWAC invites artists to explore the idea of balance disrupted and harmony restored as it relates to personal experience, beliefs, or observations.
The online opening reception will be from 7:15-9 p.m. Jan. 15.
For more information, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkfu-qrTspHt0TTfednaklYy6cktleZ66w
Tues., January 12
Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart invites families of boys interested in grades 5-8 to virtually join a Middle School Admission Webinar at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 12.
Hear from students and drop into classrooms with teachers.
Register at https://bit.ly/3aWGK2t
Princeton Academy is located at 1128 Great Road, Princeton. Call 609-921-6499 or visit
www.princetonacademy.org
Wed., January 13
The Princeton Family YMCA’s weekly online interview series for students, Paths to Success, will feature Natasha Sullivan, a senior financial analyst with KPMG, at 6 p.m. Jan. 13 via Zoom.
As a senior financial analyst, Sullivan performs a variety of financial activities including budgeting, forecasting, building financial models, assisting with financial planning, performing research and analysis, preparing reports, and more.
She is currently working on completing her MBA.
Princeton Public Schools students receive community service hours for participation.
Students in sixth grade and up can register at https://forms.gle/4vimjpR6rjyuHe1VA
or email Mike Roseborough at [email protected]
The Zoom link will be sent after registration.
Thurs., January 14
A lecture on “Art Nouveau: Humanity in Harmony with the Natural World” will be presented virtually be the Pennington Public Library at 7 p.m. Jan. 14.
Art Nouveau is an elegant decorative style that revolutionized visual art and architecture across Europe and the United States at the end of the 19th Century and into the 20th. Art Nouveau designers believed that all the arts should work in harmony to create a “total work of art”; or Gesamtkunstwerk—paintings, graphic art, buildings, interior design, furniture, textiles, clothes, ceramics, glass art, metal work, and jewelry—all inspired by graceful, natural forms.
Registration required by visiting http://penningtonlibrary.org
Through the Princeton Photo Workshop, learn how to make a good image at 10 a.m. Jan. 14.
Learn about composition and light, the critical components of making a good image, as well as more camera functions, the difference between RAW & JPEG, and using different lenses to make the pictures you envision.
For more information, visit princetonphotoworkshop.com/classes
Thursdays, Jan. 14 to Feb. 11
NonProfitConnect, a nonprofit committed to strengthening nonprofits and their boards, is offering a series of four sessions focused on building skills to serve on a nonprofit board and ending in a chance to connect with a board that matches the participant’s interests.
The BoardConnect program trains professionals to become active, productive and high impact nonprofit trustees by providing them with an understanding of board roles and responsibilities and giving them a realistic understanding of the Central New Jersey nonprofit landscape.
Participants are guided through topics of governance, legal and fiduciary responsibilities and fundraising by nonprofit experts in the community. The training is then followed by a Meet & Greet Nonprofit “Fair” where NonProfitConnect facilitates introductions to area nonprofits in need of skilled and effective board members.
BoardConnect will be held on five consecutive Thursdays, starting Jan. 14, from 4-5:30pm.
BoardConnect also provides a custom board training for area corporations or businesses looking to enhance their corporate citizenship platforms.
To learn more about the BoardConnect training, board training or other capacity building programs for nonprofits, visit NonProfitConnectNJ.org or contact the executive director, Allison Howe, at [email protected] or 609-921-8893.
Through Fri., January 15
Submissions are being accepted for the 2021 Princeton Environmental Film Festival (PEFF), a signature Princeton Public Library event featuring films and filmmaker presentations which explore sustainability and environmental issues.
The festival will be presented in two main sessions in 2021 with special screenings taking place throughout the year.
Entries received by Jan. 15 will be considered for both the all-virtual session in April, and the festival’s second session in October. The October session will also be presented in a virtual format but will feature some live events if restrictions on public gatherings are lifted. The submission deadline for the October session is July 15.
An entry form and additional information about PEFF is available at princetonlibrary.org/peff. There is no fee to submit a film for consideration.
The Princeton Environmental Film Festival is under the direction of Susan Conlon and Kim Dorman, whose focus is to present films with local, regional and international relevance. Screenings are free and made possible through funding from the Church & Dwight Employee Giving Fund, The Whole Earth Center of Princeton and others.
The West Windsor Arts Council will present the opening reception of the “Harmony” art show at 7:15 p.m. Jan. 15.
This show explores the way in which balance and harmony are restored through art.
To register, visit https://westwindsorarts.org/event/harmony-art-show/
Beginning Fri., January 15
The first full production of “Unbecoming,” a new play by Princeton University alumna Emma Catherine Watkins (Class of 2018) that is inspired by the story of the real-life Lady Charlotte Guest, a Victorian housewife and mother, will begin streaming by the Lewis Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. Jan. 15.
There will be subsequent screenings at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Jan. 16 and at 2 p.m. Jan. 17.
Live conversations to follow the broadcasts.
Much to her husband’s dismay, Charlotte aspires to become the first person to translate the “Mabinogion,” a collection of ancient Welsh stories, into English. Through her translation, she encounters Blodeuwedd, a woman conjured from flowers as a wife for her creator and punished for her infidelity. As Charlotte struggles to reconcile her creative ambitions with 19th-century expectations of marriage and motherhood, she must also confront the power and responsibility she holds in retelling Blodeuwedd’s story.
Performed by a cast of six Princeton students – who lived as a quarantine pod through the fall – in a unique outdoor setting and presented as a filmed theatrical production.
The film will be closed captioned and the conversations will be live captioned. Viewers in need of other access accommodations can contact the Lewis Center at least two weeks in advance by emailing [email protected]
For information, registration and access to the film, visit https://arts.princeton.edu/events/unbecoming/2021-01-15/
Sat., January 16
“Make Better Pictures with Your iPhone & Other Smartphone Cameras” will be presented virtually by Frank Veronsky from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 16, courtesy of Princeton Photo Workshop.
Learn to make phone snapshots into inspired first-rate images that look like they were shot with a DSLR camera. Veronsky will discuss phone camera functions and adjustments, basic photo editing, in-phone and app filters, sharing favorites with friends and family, as well as the basics of composition and lighting.
Students will have hands-on practice during class.
The cost is $69.
To register, visit https://princetonphotoworkshop.com/classes/iphone-mpdjx
Sat., January 16 to Mon., January 18
Community volunteers, partner nonprofits and teen leaders of Hopewell Gives Back (HGB) will observe the Martin Luther King Day of Service by volunteering Jan. 16-18 through the Sourland Conservancy.
This year, the HGB teen leaders planned a virtual event to invite families and individuals of all ages to pick up a project kit to complete at home.
Each project will benefit one of four local nonprofits: I Support the Girls (feminine hygiene packs), Seeds to Sew International (decorating paper bags/boxes), The Rescue Mission of Trenton (making no-sew fleece blankets or face masks), and the Sourland Conservancy (assembling native seed packets).
For more information, email [email protected]
Mon., January 18
In partnership with the African American Parent Support Group, West Windsor Human Relations Council, and West Windsor-Plainsboro People of Color Advocacy (WW-P POC), the West Windsor Arts Council will present both a virtual panel discussion and a day of service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 18.
The panel discussion will begin at 2 p.m. and will be led by the WW-P POC Advocacy group.
To register, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZclduitpzgvGNJ-leZOkLiQO_lA96O3-qqq?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
In addition, the council has several service projects to make MLK Day a “day on, not a day off.” These projects will require advance preparation followed by delivery to the West Windsor Arts Center on Jan. 18.
For more information about the Day of Service projects, visit www.eventbrite.com/o/west-windsor-arts-council-9372549786?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
In order to adhere to COVID-19 safety guidelines, participants will be asked to pre-register for a drop-off time. Projects will serve neighbors in need from RISE Community Services, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Send Hunger Packing WWP, and Jennye Stubblefield Senior Center in Trenton.
Tues., January 19
Tuesdays, January 19 to February 16
Begin writing your life story two pages at a time, using in-class activities and weekly themes to stimulate memories and structure writing. No previous writing experience is necessary.
This course creates a comfortable environment for students of all levels. Beginners appreciate the simple tips designed to stimulate their writing. More experienced writers welcome the regular assignments that keep them moving forward. Participants share their weekly two page vignettes in small groups and provide mutual support and encouragement.
Anyone who wants to leave a written legacy, start a memoir, gain perspective on a life transition, or is otherwise interested in exploring their life through the medium of story should attend.
The instructor is Julie Feibush of the Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies
There are limited openings. Inquire by emailing [email protected]
Participation fee is $15.
For more information, visit http://penningtonlibrary.org
Thurs., January 21
“Revolutionary Princeton 1774-83: The Biography of an American Town in the Heart of a Civil War” will be presented virtually via GoToMeeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 21.
The story of Princeton between 1774 and 1783 is a microcosm of the struggles faced by ordinary Americans during the Revolution, struggles intensified by Princeton’s geographic location within the state which saw more military activity than most and on a road constantly used to move troops and their supplies. This case study of a small New Jersey town located at the crossroads of the Revolution reveals the very human consequences, costs, and benefits of the war experienced by “ordinary” people.
The talk is based on Larry Kidder’s research for his recent book of the same title.
Co-sponsored by Hopewell Valley Historical Society, The Hopewell Museum and the Hopewell Branch of the Mercer County Library.
Visit HopewellValleyHistory.org to register.
Attendees will set new career goals, expand the networking circle, and find a few pick-me-ups to get through the next few months.
All members are encouraged to invite a friend or two.
Princeton University Art Museum will offer a writing workshop, “A Long Look at Love: ‘Venus and Amor’ by Lucas Cranach the Elder,” at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 21.
In this interactive writing workshop, participants will discover that a slower, closer look at Cranach’s complex mythographic portrait of Venus and Amor exposes an extraordinary range of subjects. They will examine and engage these subjects through a guided program of prompts, writing responses to Cranach’s work.
Presented by Sarah M. Anderson, lecturer in English, the Medieval Studies Program, and the Freshman Seminar Program, Princeton University.
Details and free registration available at https://artmuseum.princeton.edu/calendar/2021-01/long-look-love-%E2%80%98venus-and-amor%E2%80%99-lucas-cranach-elder
Fri., January 22 through Sun., January 24
Princeton Photo Workshop will offer a live photo boot camp, with sessions scheduled for 6-8:30 p.m. Jan. 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (with a break for lunch) Jan. 23 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (with break for lunch) Jan. 24.
This introductory workshop offers new photographers a deep dive into the skills needed to make better pictures with a camera.
During the workshop, there will be informative and inspirational live presentations, alternating with shooting exercises that give the opportunity to test out the techniques being learned, and then a chance to come together after each exercise for Q&A and group discussion.
The instructor will be “in the room” for face-to-face instruction and feedback during all shooting activities.
Learn how the camera thinks, reacts and works; and learn the relationships among aperture, shutter speed, ISO and more. Explore what makes a good image, including composition, light and the photographer; getting comfortable with seeing and investigating subjects, whether people, objects or the natural world; and using what is learned during the weekend to expand from taking snapshots to making artistic images.
The course includes image review for feedback and examples of how a photographer uses post processing to enhance an image.
The cost is $339.
To register, visit http://princetonphotoworkshop.com/classes
Beginning Mon., January 25
Members of Voices Chorale NJ (VCNJ) have enjoyed learning through an Online Singer Education Program. VCNJ invites singers to hone singing skills and choral knowledge virtually on 10 Monday nights, from 7:30-9 p.m., starting Jan. 25.
The series of classes by VCNJ’s Artistic Director Dr. David A. McConnell and guest educators will include vocal development, sight singing, study of choral literature and composers across the eras, and more. Participants can look forward to valuable and delightful training for skilled amateur choral singers.
Additionally, VCNJ will host two special music events, including a sing-along “coffeeshop” with well-known Irish singer “Uncle” Gerry Dignan and an evening of Renaissance music with Riverview Early Music.
All members of the singing community are welcome to participate.
The cost for the ten-week educational program is $115.
Attendance for performances will be $15 each, with a discount offered to VCNJ members.
Interested singers should visit www.voiceschoralenj.org for additional information.
Mon., January 25 to Wed., January 27
The annual Princeton Community Works (PCW) conference focused on meeting the needs of volunteers, boards and staff of nonprofit organizations will take place online Jan. 25-27.
Offering words of inspiration, healing and hope on the opening night of the conference will be the Rev. Darrell LaRue Armstrong with his keynote address. He is the pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church, a community of faith that is rooted in the African American worship tradition. Shiloh serves nearly 600 families in the Greater Trenton Community and around the world. Rev. Armstrong also is an entrepreneur, having founded the Institute for Clergy Training, a research and training agency, which partners with multi-sector agencies on a variety of topics related to leadership, child and social welfare.
Overall, attendees can choose from one to eight workshops out of 32 options.
The 2021 workshop sessions cover a range of topics that are important to nonprofits. They include: virtual fundraising events, organizing for success and sustainability, legal challenges, building an engaged board, self-care, volunteer management, virtual programs, using data, measurement and metrics, teamwork, communicating effectively, diversity, equity & inclusion, strategic planning, youth-initiated service projects, sponsorship and corporate partnerships, social media (basic and advanced), budgeting basics, grant writing, tax matters, building audiences online, crowd sourcing, digital transformation, impactful surveys, storytelling donor development, video basics, and effective board governance.
The cost is $10 per person.
Full workshop descriptions, speaker biographies and registration information can be found at www.PrincetonCommunityWorks.org.
Mondays, January 25 to February 22
Mercer County Community College is accepting students for its new health-professions program: “Medical Cannabis Training.”
The 15-hour non-credit class will run Monday evenings, Jan. 25 through Feb. 22, from 6-9 p.m. via Zoom.
Anyone from the public age 18 and up may enroll.
The course will be offered through MCCC’s Center for Continuing Studies and students will receive a certificate upon completion of the course.
The Medical Cannabis Training course is intended for anyone who is interested in a career on the ground floor of the medical cannabis profession, or who is curious about this emerging industry in New Jersey.
The five-day course will introduce students to this highly regulated industry by bringing in a variety of subject-matter experts to discuss areas of import such as federal and state laws and regulations, the endocannabinoid system, cultivation basics, how cannabis products are made, as well as cover dispensary-technician training techniques such as dosing, administration and compliance.
The cost for the five-session live virtual course is $500.
For more information or to enroll, visit www.mccc.edu/healthprof or email registration@mccc.edu.
Thurs., January 28
“The Influenza Pandemic of 1918: The Story and Lasting Impact” will be discussed at 7 p.m. Jan. 28, courtesy of The Mercer County Library, Lawrence headquarters branch.
Dr. Rita King, a professor at The College of New Jersey, will help participants visualize the impact of the 1918 flu, particularly on families in the Tri-State Area. Her presentation will explore the vast social, economic, public health and other consequences of the 1918 pandemic. King’s presentation will also help participants learn how the globally connected society allows pandemics to spread quickly and easily, as well as how to apply lessons learned from the devastation of 1918 to describe current efforts.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Hopewell Branch Library.
Registration with an email is required in order to receive a link to connect through GoToMeeting, provided approximately 24 hours before the program.
For more information, email [email protected]
Fri., January 29
According to an article from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, “90% of teens ages 13-17 have used social media” and teens average “almost nine hours a day, not including time for homework” online.
On Jan. 29 at noon, the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey will partner with Somerset County Youth Services for a virtual social media wellness program for ‘tweens and teens with author and educator Ana Homayoun.
During the program, students in grades 6-12 and their caregivers will have the opportunity to digitally meet with Homayoun, who will offer tips on how to practice social media wellness during this unique school year.
In Homayoun’s 2018 book, “Social Media Wellness: Helping Tweens and Teens Thrive in an Unbalanced Digital World,” the author aims to help teens, parents, and educators better understand social media socialization, while providing practical tips on how to make better choices around social media use and overall wellness.
Register at sclsnj.libnet.info/event/4672496.
For more information about Somerset County’s Youth Services Department, visit www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/human-services/youth-services.
Through Sat., January 30
The Arts Council of Princeton rings in 2021 with a new exhibit “Travels: Domestic and aBroad,” featuring works by Krysia Kolodziej and Libby Ramage, in the Taplin Gallery through Jan. 30.
When Kolodziej and Ramage met in the early 1990s, Kolodziej was editing for Princeton University Press and writing poetry; Ramage was starting her work teaching art to very young children while making and exhibiting her own art.
Ramage’s mixed media pieces – with painting and drawing using acrylics and charcoal – were created from a scrapbook originally compiled by her stepfather’s mother, Hilda, a formidable woman who reigned over her family imperiously. Hilda saved everything from her once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe in 1957, hence the “aBroad” portion of the show’s title. Ramage rescued the scrapbook from the landfill and has been mining these materials for the past eight years, weaving one woman’s experience and the nostalgia of memories with her own sensibilities and creativity.
Kolodziej’s work, the “Domestic” in the title, uses domestic imagery (vintage fabrics, women’s jewelry, wrist watches, postage stamps, dressmaker’s patterns, zippers and buttons, thread, even the pieces of a broken-down piano) and techniques (sewing, for example) combined with mixed media techniques and collage to create visual poems. These reference the hours of unpaid labor of women not in the paid workforce–but for whom the home was/is the workplace–or that same labor expended after completing a full-time job. Items from the traditionally male domain are also present: pieces of wood, nuts and bolts, and/or electronic bits, all from Kolodziej’s late father’s workbench.
The Taplin Gallery hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
To learn more, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org
Sat., January 30
Howell Living History Farm will hold an Ice Harvest beginning at 10 a.m. Jan. 30 at the farm, 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township.
Neighbors once called Howell Farm the “ice farm” because they could buy ice from the pond to keep their milk cool on the way to the train station on Pleasant Valley Road.
In late January, visitors to the farm will learn about the tools and technology that made ice harvesting a successful business at the turn of the 20th century, and try their hand at using an ice saw on the pond.
Visitors can also help pull ice blocks up the ramp to the ice house, chip ice for ice cream, and make an ice candle to take home.
Programs will be modified to encourage social distancing and reflect current state guidelines for public events. Visitors are required to carry masks at all times, and wear them when social distancing isn’t possible.
For more information, call 609-737-3299 or visit howellfarm.org
Through Sun., January 31
Raritan Valley Road Runners, one of the largest running clubs in New Jersey, is accepting applications for a new scholarship program designed to help student runners in cross country or track and field who attend high school or community college in Middlesex and Somerset counties.
A one-time award of $1,000 will be made to each of two outstanding athletes enrolling in post-secondary education.
The scholarships are not based entirely on speed or competitions won, but rather on strong academics, sportsmanship, citizenship and financial need.
The scholarships are funded by individual donations, funds from club-sponsored races and business contributions.
Eligible applicants will be graduating from high school in Middlesex or Somerset counties in 2021 or currently attending community college in these counties. They will need to prove acceptance to a full-time (12 credits or more) associate or bachelor’s degree program. They will have a weighted GPA of 2.75 or higher as demonstrated by an unofficial transcript. And they will need to demonstrate passionate participation as a runner in a cross country or track and field in their junior and senior years of high school or while at community college. Participation in extracurricular activities and community involvement will also be considered.
For more information, application materials, or to donate to the scholarship fund, email [email protected].
The deadline to apply is Jan. 31. Scholarships will be awarded in April.
All dogs and cats in Cranbury Township must be licensed annually during January. Forms are available online at www.cranburytownship.org
The application may be mailed or returned directly to the drop box in front of Town Hall, 23-A N. Main St., Cranbury.
Fees are $10 for spayed/neutered pets, or $13 for those who are in tact.
To avoid a late fee or a summons, licenses must be obtained by Jan. 31. Afterward, a late fee of $5 per animal plus $1 per month for each month delinquent will be charged.
If a pet passes away, email [email protected] for the system to be amended and to avoid receiving a summons for an unlicensed pet.
Due to the current health emergency, the January rabies clinic has been postponed. Dates for 2021 clinics are to be determined.
Through Mon., February 1
High school students are invited to enter their substance use prevention messages through their original music as part of the music and song writing competition, “Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey,” sponsored by New Jersey Broadcasters and 959.9-FM WRAT.
The competition is designed to challenge New Jersey high school students to create original music and lyrics with powerful peer-to-peer substance use, misuse and prevention messages. Entries are accepted through Feb. 1.
All music genres are welcomed from students interested in sharing their talent and inspiring messages about shouting down drugs and raising up their voices to inspire their peers.
The winner of the New Jersey Shout Down Drugs competition, as decided by judges and announced at the end of the Prevention Concert, will receive a $5,000 music contract. The second- and third-place performers will receive $3,000 and $2,000 music contracts, respectively, with the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.
For rules and information on how to enter, contact Diane Higgins at 973-275-7985.
Sat., February 6
Samaritan will hold its annual Celebration of Life Gala, presented by Holman Enterprises, virtually at 7 p.m. Feb. 6.
“Be A Samaritan: Celebration of Life” will celebrate the dedicated work and success of the special people who comprise the Samaritan team, particularly honoring their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.
Samaritan offers hospice care, palliative (comfort) medicine, at-home primary care, grief support and counseling, advanced illness care, education and advocacy.
Samaritan serves people in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties who are coping with the stresses of aging, serious illness or grief in their homes, assisted-living or nursing home communities and through two inpatient hospice centers.
Individual tickets to the gala are $225 each.
Samaritan will also hold its annual Delightful Dining Raffle. Two raffle winners will be announced during the event – at $10 per ticket, this raffle offers the chance to win 12 $100 dining gift certificates to area restaurants.
Additionally, the event will feature an online auction. Bidding opens Feb. 1.
Tickets for the raffle and access to the online auction are available at www.SamaritanNJ.org/Gala.
For additional details, tickets or sponsorship information, visit www.SamaritanNJ.org/Gala or contact Julie Weitzman at 856-552-3239 or [email protected].
Fri., February 19
Karma Cat + Zen Dog Rescue Society and People for Animals will hold their quarterly Snip & Chip for Community Cats event on Feb. 19, where locals can bring in feral cats to be spayed/neutered and microchipped free of charge.
Do not bring any socialized cats, they will be turned away.
The event will be held at the People for Animals Clinic located at 1 Sharon Road in Robbinsville. All feral cats from Central New Jersey are welcome, with a limit of five cats per participant. All cats must be dropped off between 7 and 7:30 a.m. to receive treatment.
Snip & Chip will provide free spay/neuter surgeries (valued up to $55) which will include rabies & distemper vaccines, ear tip, injectable pain control, tattoo, and medical waste disposal for feral cats. Microchip insertion/registration will be available free of charge as well.
Additional services will be available for an additional charge, including post-op boarding.
All additional services must be pre-paid at the time of drop off.
Karma Cat + Zen Dog Rescue Society will accept cash or credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover). No American Express or checks accepted.
Registrations must be made by Feb. 8. To register, participants must fill out the form at https://karmacatzendog.org/snipchiprequest. If participants cannot fill out the form, email [email protected] with “Snip & Chip Reservations” in the subject line. Within the body of the email, participants must provide: full name, email address, mailing address, phone number, number of cats, what town the cats reside in, and a description of the colony.
The pickup date is Feb. 19 or 22; $15 boarding fee per cat to be paid to the rescue.
Opening Fri., February 19
“In Nature’s Realm: The Art of Gerard Rutgers Hardenbergh” will open on Feb. 19 at the Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton St., Princeton.
From the untouched land surrounding Barnegat Bay and the diverse wildlife that called it home, to the picturesque steeples and meadows around New Brunswick, Hardenbergh’s work provides a special glimpse into the Garden State on the brink of rapid development.
For more information, visit www.morven.org/upcoming-exhibitions
Through Fri., March 12
Recognizing the bravery and commitment of volunteer firefighters and first responders, New Jersey American Water announces its 2021 grant program for volunteer fire departments, ambulance squads and first aid squads located within the company’s service areas.
Grants may be used to cover the costs of personal protective equipment, communications gear, first aid equipment, firefighting tools, vehicle maintenance and other materials that will be used to support volunteer firefighter and emergency responder operations. Reimbursement for specific training courses, including the cost of training manuals, student workbooks, and instructors is also eligible.
To apply, organizations must complete the application available at www.newjerseyamwater.com under News & Community, Community Involvement.
The maximum grant amount awarded to any organization is $2,000.
The deadline to apply is March 12. Interested applicants can find more information and apply online at www.newjerseyamwater.com/community.
Grant recipients will be notified at the end of March.
Continuing events
Cranbury residents age 55 and older can exercise via Zoom.
Classes meet on both Mondays and Thursdays from 10-11 a.m. with instructors Helen and Robin. Zoom opens at about 9:45 a.m. so that members can talk with the instructor and other participants before class.
On the Township of Cranbury website there is a tutorial on how to use Zoom, prepared by the Cranbury Library.
To join, contact Connie Bauder, who will forward three registration forms to complete and return before being sent the invitation to join class.
There is no charge to participate.
Request and send completed registration forms to Bauder at [email protected]
The Township of Hillsborough is working with Town Planner to produce a 250th anniversary edition of the color printed 2021 calendar, which will be mailed out to every residence in Hillsborough.
This year, the twist is historic pictures to commemorate Hillsborough’s 250-year history. Individuals interested in submitting photographs for consideration can email their high resolution image to [email protected]. There is no guarantee any photo will be used.
A photo release will need to accompany the picture. The photo release form is found at www.hillsborough-nj.org
The printing of the calendar is funded through the various advertisements contained within the calendar. Contact Jim O’Dowd at 973-650-2736 or [email protected] for more information regarding advertising.
Dove Hospice Services of New Jersey seeks compassionate volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families.
Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes, which can also be nursing facilities or assisted living facilities, at least once a week. They read to the patient, reminisce about their lives, play cards, help with letter writing and provide respite for caregivers.
Visits can be virtual, and are either during the day or early evening.
Volunteers may also assist with administrative work within the hospice office.
Patient care volunteers complete an application and attend a virtual volunteer training program that covers the role of a hospice volunteer. Day and evening virtual training programs are offered.
To sign up for the next virtual training class, contact Volunteer Coordinator Deborah Adams at 732-405-3035 or email [email protected].
The Mercer County Solidarity Network (MCSN) is a new mutual aid group designed to connect people in need throughout Mercer County with people who can help meet those needs.
The group is looking for individuals, families and businesses who would like to donate their time, resources or goods/services with people who have been affected by the pandemic and who request support. There is no minimum obligation – donors can specify whatever they feel they can provide and the group will match donors with individuals who have expressed a related need.
To sign up as a donor, visit www.mercersolidarity.org/ or email [email protected].
Co-Dependents Anonymous Step Study Meeting. CoDA is a fellowship of men and women whose common purpose is to develop healthy relationships. Meetings are held every Friday evenings. The 24 Club, The 1860 House, 2nd floor, 124 Montgomery Road, Skillman. For more information, email [email protected].
VFW Meetings: Monthly meetings of the Hillsborough Memorial VFW Post 8371 are held the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in the Somerset County Hillsborough Senior Center, 339 S. Branch Road. The post’s mission is Veterans and Military Support, Youth Scholarship Activities and Community Service. All veterans with foreign service are welcome as members to assist the post in achieving its mission. For information regarding membership, post activities or the youth scholarship programs, contact Commander Tom Cellilli via phone or text at 908-255-3669.
Alzheimer’s caregiver support group: Following the guidelines of the Alzheimer’s Association, the Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group is “a safe place for caregivers, family and friends of persons with dementia to meet and develop a mutual support system.” The group meets the first Monday and second Wednesday of each month at the Bridgewater United Methodist Church, 651 Country Club Road, Bridgewater. All are welcome.
Free weekly support groups: Carrier Clinic hosts free weekly support groups on the campus throughout the year. These support programs include:
Weekend Codependency Program, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Bright Futures for Kids, Sundays, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Parents Support Group, Mondays, 7-8:30 p.m.
Mood Disorder Support Group, Thursdays, 7:30-9:15 p.m.
For more information about these or other services and programs available at Carrier Clinic, visit CarrierClinic.org or call 908-281-1513. For more information, visit CarrierClinic.org/WhatToDo.
Midweek meals: The Wednesday midweek meals held in Asbury Hall, at the United Methodist Church of Bound Brook, have started back up. All seniors are invited for a full course meal for $4. Bring friends and family to enjoy a meal and fellowship.
Pop Warner: Calling all 5-7 year olds. Hillsborough Dukes Pop Warner is offering free Flag Football registration to first time players, including instructional and safe environment with fun training activities to teach core skills. Every child plays every game and the Dukes are the only organization that requires coaches to be USA Football Heads Up Certified. There are no tryouts or team drafting. Visit register.hillsboroughdukes.com to register. For more information, contact [email protected].
Coping with addiction: Parents of Addicted Children helps parents understand and cope with drug problems they are facing, and will face, with their children. Meets first and third Monday of month, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Neshanic Reformed Church, 715 Amwell Road.
Alzheimer’s support group: The Alzheimer’s Association has a support group in Hillsborough. Family members and caregivers come together to share information and support in a safe, confidential atmosphere. Meetings are the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Brookdale Hillsborough, 600 Auten Road. Call 908-431-1300.
Mothers of Preschoolers: MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meets from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Fridays at the Fellowship Bible Church building, 109 New Amwell Road. The group says it meets to “laugh, cry and embrace the journey of motherhood.” Sponsored by Crossroads Community Church, it hears speakers, has a craft or project and lots of conversation and refreshment. Child care is provided. For information, see www.crossroadsnj.org/MOPS. Registration fee is required.
Divorce support group: A nondenominational support group to help separated and divorced people to a new beginning. The group meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 7-8:30 p.m. at Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, Route 206 at Homestead Road. Call 908-295-6740.
Swim lessons at HRC: The Swim Academy at HRC, located at 30 Brower Lane, Hillsborough, is offering swim lessons for all ages and levels. Call HRC Fitness at 908-359-3600 to register or visit www.hrcfitness.com for class schedules.
Send items to [email protected]. The deadline for submissions each week is 5 p.m. on Tuesday. For details, call 732-358-5200.