Ongoing
New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS), a division of New York Blood Center, which provides blood for local patients, is looking for a few good volunteers.
The blood drive volunteer is an integral member of our team whose tasks include assisting donors with registration and/or at the refreshment area. No medical background necessary. Volunteers should be outgoing to provide friendly customer service, be able to perform tasks as needed and must provide proof of COVID Vaccination prior to volunteering. Must have transportation. All training is provided including additional precautions for the safety of our team and blood donors. For additional information call or text Sharon Zetts, manager of NJBS Volunteer Services at 732-850-8906 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday.
The Mercer County Nutrition Program for Older Adults has resumed in-person lunches at nine of its locations.
The Nutrition Program for Older Adults provides a daily nutritionally balanced meal Monday through Friday, except for county and/or municipal holidays.
All meals meet the required one-third of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) daily referenced intake of nutrients for an individual 60 years or older.
Meals are available to Mercer County residents age 60 or older and their spouses (regardless of age), any county resident with a disability whose primary caregiver is a program participant, anyone volunteering in the program, and the personal care aides of program participants when they accompany a participant to the site where the meals are provided.
In-person services will be hosted at: Jennye Stubblefield Senior Center and Sam Naples Community Center in Trenton, Lawrence Township Senior Center, Princeton Café for Older Adults, John O. Wilson Neighborhood Service Center in Hamilton, Hamilton Senior Center, Hopewell Valley Senior Center, Hollowbrook Community Center in Ewing, and Robbinsville Senior Center.
Most meal services begin at 11:30 a.m., although times may vary by location, so call 609-989-6650 or inquire at a local site.
No payment is required for a meal; however, there is a suggested donation of $1 for each meal provided.
Reservations are required; call 609-989-6650 to reserve a spot.
Monthly menus can be found on the Nutrition Program for Older Adults web page.
If transportation is a barrier to participating in the congregate meals, Mercer County TRADE may be able to help; call 609-530-1971 or email [email protected]. Some of the sites also may have transportation options for its participants.
There may be home-delivered options.
For more information, call 609-989-6650 or email [email protected].
The Bordentown Township Police Department offers Straight to Treatment on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Insurance is not necessary to receive assistance. Neither is residency in Burlington County. No appointment is needed.
For more information visit www.straighttotreatment.com or email [email protected].
The Hightstown and the East Windsor Police Departments in partnership with Womanspace Inc. is currently accepting applications for volunteers from the greater Hightstown and East Windsor areas to become members of the Womanspace/Mercer County’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Victim Response Team.
Training of the response team is scheduled to begin on March 14. For those interested and for more information contact Womanspace at [email protected] or [email protected].
Somerset County’s Volunteer Services and AARP are teaming up again to provide the Tax-Aide program to help residents prepare their taxes. The free tax-counseling service is available to all county residents, but designed specifically for older adults, residents with disabilities, and lower-income residents who need help preparing federal and New Jersey income tax returns. To make an appointment, call the Somerset County Office of Volunteer Services at 908-541-5710.
The 23rd season of Girls on the Run of Central New Jersey (GOTRCNJ) is underway as registration for the spring opened March 1. Volunteer coaches are always in demand and details can be found at http://www.gotrcnj.org.
Coaches do not need to be runners or athletic. The goal of the coaches is not to teach the girls how to run. The key takeaway from the curriculum is for the girls to learn about confidence, character, caring, connection, and contribution to community. The girls learn to build self-worth, recognize their inner power to make positive decisions in their lives, while celebrating their uniqueness. These dynamic lessons instill valuable life skills including the important connection between emotional and physical health.
There is still time to volunteer as a coach or to start a new site for the spring season. For information go to www.gotrcnj.org or contact [email protected].
The Sourland Conservancy – all year round – is thankful for every single member, volunteer, partner, and supporter for everything they do to save the Sourland Region’s important history and ecology.
Sourland Conservancy is at 83 Princeton Avenue, Suite 1A, Hopewell.
If you have planted any native plants and trees at your home or business, please email the Conservancy to let them know. They would like to highlight the efforts of private citizens in planting native to help connect green spaces and provide habitat for native and migratory species. For more information, visit their website www.sourland.org or email [email protected].
The Woman’s Club of Cranbury High School Student Community Service Scholarship Award is open for candidates. The scholarship is for $2,000, and the deadline to apply is April 30. For information visit https://womansclubofcranbury.org/scholarships
Take-Home rapid COVID-19 test kits
Take-home rapid COVID-19 test kits are available at all Mercer County Library System branches. Mercer County residents may request up to three kits at a time. The kits are Lucira brand over-the-counter rapid molecular nasal swab test comparable to a PCR test.
The Historical Society of Princeton (HSP) has launched a new in-gallery interactive in which museum visitors can listen to stories about Albert Einstein directly from his Princeton friends and colleagues. It’s just in time for the celebration of Einstein’s 144th birthday.
The Historical Society of Princeton’s Updike Farmstead museum, located at 354 Quaker Road, is open Thursday through Saturday, noon to 4:00 pm. Admission is $4.
HSP is also offering several Einstein-related programs as part of the annual Pi Day Princeton festivities. On March 11, in partnership with the Princeton Public Library, author Dan Gutman will talk about his recent Albert Einstein biography for kids. Participants can join this hybrid event at 1:30 p.m. in the Library’s Community Room, or via Zoom.
Between 2:30-4:30 p.m., drop in for puzzles, games and crafts, as well as to see some games that belonged to Einstein himself. On March 14 at 7 p.m., in the Library’s Discovery Center, HSP will offer an “Open Archive,” sharing artifacts from its collection that capture the human side of Princeton’s most famous resident.
March at Gourgaud Gallery
The month of March celebrates National Youth Art. Cranbury School will be celebrating youth art at the Gourgaud Gallery at Town Hall. The show will run through March 29.
Stacey Crannage, art teacher at the Cranbury School, has chosen art pieces from grades K-8 to be showcased. Student artwork will include paintings, drawings, clay sculptures, and more.
The gallery is located in Town Hall in Cranbury 23 A North Main Street and is free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Gallery in Town Hall is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.
As part of a non-profit Cranbury Arts Council, The Gourgaud Gallery donates 20% of art sales to the Cranbury Arts Council and its programs that supports arts in the community. Checks made out to the artist, or cash are accepted as payment. For more information visit https://www.cranburytownship.org/about/pages/gourgaud-gallery and visit https://www.cranburyartscouncil.org.
Princeton Symphony Orchestra 2022-23 season
Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) 2022-23 season is open. Upcoming dates include:
March 11, 12 – Seven Decisions of Gandhi – Showtimes are 8 p.m. March 11, 4 p.m. March 12.
May 13, 14 – Harold in Italy – Showtimes are 8 p.m. May 13, 4 p.m. May 14.
The PSO’s 2023 Princeton Festival – June 9-25 – will include an opera, orchestral concerts, chamber music, Broadway tunes, a Baroque performance, and much more.
Silva Gallery of Art at The Pennington School
The Silva Gallery of Art at The Pennington School will host an exhibition – “The Bond of Inspiration” – featuring the work of internationally acclaimed artist J. Seward Johnson II through March 30.
The exhibit will feature Seward Johnson’s Midnight Snack Art trays, alongside India Blake Johnson’s photography, in the Silva Gallery of Art on the campus of The Pennington
School. A reception, open to the public, was held on Feb. 9. The exhibit is also open to the public by appointment.
The Silva Gallery is located on the School’s campus at 112 W. Delaware Ave., Pennington. For further information, call the Silva Gallery at 609–737–4133 or email gallery director Dolores Eaton at [email protected] or [email protected].
Through March 13
Mercer County, New Jersey Veterans Services is seeking photos of those who served the U.S. during Vietnam. Submit photos to [email protected]. You can drop off images to Mercer County Veteran Services, 1440 Parkside Ave., Ewing or Mercer County Connections, 957 Highway 33, Hamilton.
Through May 16
Burlington County Sheriff’s Office is holding a Senior Citizens Police Academy on Tuesdays from April 11 through May 16 from 1-3 p.m. at the Bordentown Senior Citizen Club, 3 Municipal Drive, Bordentown. Call 609-265-5785 to register.
Princeton Plasma Physics presents:
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory’s (PPPL) Ronald E. Hatcher Science Saturday lecture series began Feb. 4.
March 11 – 9:30-11 a.m. – “High-field Tokamaks: The Fastest and Surest Path to a Fusion
Energy Power Plan.”
Visit https://www.pppl.gov/events/science-saturday for additional information.
Princeton Public Library
Princeton Public Library presents authors, technology classes, book groups, job seekers sessions, kids and teens, writers’ groups and other events throughout March at the library 65 Witherspoon St., Princeton.
Seeking Submissions for Youth Art Exhibit
Youth in grades K-12 are invited to submit original art or poetry for “See the Trees,” an exhibit in association with the Princeton Environmental Film Festival. Submissions expressing “why trees matter to you and our world” will be accepted through March 15. See princetonlibrary.org/peff for details.
For more information visit www.princetonlibrary.org.
Gallery at Mercer County Community College
The Gallery at Mercer County Community College (MCCC) present “Paintings and Sculptures by Leroy Johnson.” The exhibition will be on view through March 24.
The Gallery is located on the College’s West Windsor campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road in the Communications Building. Gallery hours are Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from noon to 7 p.m.
March at Princeton Resource Center
Princeton Senior Resource Center offers programs in-person, hybrid or virtual. Visit princetonsenior.org.
The center will hold its spring fundraiser event with Keith Spencer Trio in Concert at 7 p.m. April 30, 1025 Bunn Drive, Princeton. A dessert reception will follow the concert. For more information visit princetonsenior.link/2023-SpringFundraiser
Princeton University Concerts (PUC) presents:
PUC launched a brand-new initiative: Do-Re-Meet – Social events for Music Lovers. The first program of its kind, Do-Re-Meet encompasses a variety of pre-concert events including a speed dating session; Find Your Friends, a “speed friending” event for people seeking a concert-going community; and an LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) Single Mingle, presented in partnership with the Princeton University Gender and Sexuality Resource Center.
March 26 – 4-5:30 p.m. Find Your Friends social event – 6 p.m. concert featuring the Chiaroscuro Quartet
April 12 – 7-8:30 p.m. Speed Dating social event – 9 p.m. concert featuring jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant
For tickets or more information visit puc.princeton.edu.
Registration for McCarter Theater Summer Camp is open:
McCarter Theater Summer Camp will offer students from ages 5 to 15, the chance to immerse themselves in a creative process. Online registration began Feb. 17.
Camp runs Monday through Friday in five sessions. Session 1 runs from June 19-23, Session 2 runs from June 26 to July 7, Session 3 runs from July 10-21, Session 4 runs from July 24 to Aug. 4, and Session 4 runs from Aug. 7-11. For more information visit Summer Camp 2023 | McCarter Theatre Center
Morven Museum & Garden presents:
The 2023 Grand Homes & Gardens Speaker Series: Trailblazers and Trendsetters sponsored by Hiltons Princeton.
March 15 – 6:30 p.m. – Discover Bartram’s Garden.
For all program related questions, please contact Greer Luce, Curator of Education and Public Programs at [email protected] or 609-924-8144 ext. 106.
Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton St, Princeton, is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
West Windsor Arts
West Windsor Arts Council, located at 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor, is hosting a number of events.
March 11 – 7-9 p.m. – Music Night and Super Jack and Guy DeRosa.
Registration for Summer Arts Camps – June 26-Sept. 1 and Spring Break Camp – April 7, April 10-14 – are open.
For more information visit westwindsorarts.org.
Saturday, March 11
A corned beef dinner with all the trimmings will be held at the South Branch Reformed Church, 870 River Road, Hillsborough, from 4-6:30 p.m. March 11. All tickets are $20 and you can dine in or take out. Bring your bag for takeout. For reservations call 908-369-4956 or visit app.gopassage.com/events/pork-dinner.
Sunday, March 12
The 61st Annual George Wah Scholar-Leader-Athlete Awards Dinner, hosted by the Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, will be held at 3 p.m. March 12 at the Princeton Marriott at Forrestal in Princeton. Over $30,000 in scholarships will be presented to 21 outstanding scholar-leader-athletes from area high schools.
The dinner will feature the presentation of its signature award, the Robert F. Casciola Distinguished American Award, to Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. The Chapter’s George O’Gorman Contribution to Amateur Football Award will recognize the football program at Bordentown Military Institute, while individuals from the coaching, collegiate and youth football ranks are also honored.
The stars of the program will be the Scholar-Leader-Athletes of the Delaware Valley, chosen by their respective schools based on their achievements in academics, in their community and on the playing field.
For more information contact Chapter President Eric Hamilton at [email protected] or visit www.delvalfootballfoundation.com.
In celebration of D&R Greenway Land Trust’s work to preserve the green in our local communities, Voices Chorale NJ is bringing Irish music and dancing to a benefit for both organizations just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. The event will take place in a restored barn on Sunday, March 12, from 3-6 p.m. at D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center, One Preservation Place, Princeton.
Storyteller Ron O’Reilly will be on hand to share his Irish tales, and The Kotelnicki School of Irish Dance from Hamilton will perform and teach Irish line dancing. Local musicians Bronwyn Bird and Justin Nawn from The Birdhouse Center for the Arts in Lambertville will entertain us with traditional Celtic. Irish harp music will set the “tone” as attendees are seated pub-style to partake beer, wine and Irish-themed food. A Silent Auction of
unique items will support these two partnering nonprofits.
To reserve your spot, visit https://www.drgreenway.org, https://www.voiceschoralenj.org or call 609-924-4646.
John Bianculli Trio “Live” with Daniel Mayer on bass and Tom Baker on drums during Sunday Brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 12 at the Americana Kitchen & Bar, 359 US Highway 130, East Windsor.
Princeton Makes, a Princeton-based artist cooperative, and Ragged Sky Press, a local publisher focused on poetry, will host a Second Sunday Poetry Reading at 4 p.m. March 12. The readings will take place at the Princeton Makes store in the Princeton Shopping Center, 301 N. Harrison St., Princeton.
Wednesday, March 15
Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello and her staff, in partnership with Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12), will be offering passport services at the Pennington Borough Municipal Building, located at 30 N. Main St., on Wednesday, March 15 from 2-5 p.m. Mercer residents interested in renewing or applying for a passport are encouraged to come out and take advantage of this outreach service. Passport photos are also available on site.
Appointments are recommended. Call 609-989-6473 to reserve your spot.
Thursday to Sunday, March 16-19
Hightstown High School will present Anything Goes March 16-19.
Showtimes are 7 p.m. March 16-18 and 2 p.m. March 19. For tickets visit https://events.ticketspicket.com/home.
Sunday, March 19
People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos will feature Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jennifer Egan for this year’s Gala Benefit “Notable Words: An Afternoon with Jennifer Egan.” The Gala Benefit is the organization’s primary yearly fundraiser. It will be held at 2 p.m. March 19 in the Mackay Lounge on the campus of the Princeton Theological Seminary, 64 Mercer St., Princeton. The afternoon will include a talk and reception, followed by book signing. Tickets are available at this link www.peopleandstories.org/gala2023
Cranbury PBA Local 405 and the Cranbury Township Police Department is holding Coffee with a Cop at Teddy’s Restaurant, 49 North Main St., Cranbury at 9 a.m. March 19.
Friday to Sunday, March 17-26
Pegasus Theatre Company will present its final show of the 2022-23 season — “Every Brilliant Thing” – from March 17-26 at the Old City Hall, 11 Crosswicks St., Bordentown.
Every Brilliant Thing stars Peter Alexander and is directed by Bordentown City resident Jonathan Martin.
Lewis Center for the Arts, Princeton University presents:
March 20-24 – An exhibition by senior Ay Marsh, presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Visual Arts at the Lucas Gallery, 185 Nassau St. Opening reception is at 6 p.m., March 20.
March 17-24 – Nucleus, but like of a spiral, an exhibition by senior Ari Riggins, presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Visual Arts at the Hagans Gallery, 185 Nassau St. Opening reception is at 4:30 p.m. March 17.
March 20 -24 – exceedingly small and fine (and mostly trivial), an exhibition by senior Annabel DuPont, presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Visual Arts. Opening reception at 5 p.m. March 24 at Hurley Gallery at Lewis Arts complex. Gallery open daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
March 24 – Atelier@Large: Conversations on Art-making in a Vexed Era with Bill Bowers, E.S. Glenn and Claudia Rankine, presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Princeton Atelier at 7:30 p.m. at the James Stewart Film Theater, 185 Nassau St.
March 24-25 – Dissonance, a dance concert, presented by Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Dance. Showtimes are 8 p.m. March 24 and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. March 25 at the Hearst Dance Theater at Lewis Arts complex.
March 27 – Reading by Ina Cariño, presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Creative Writing at 5 p.m. at the Drapkin Studio at Lewis Arts complex.
March 28 – Reading by Emma Cline and A. Van Jordan, presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Creative Writing at 7:30 p.m. at the James Stewart Film Theater, 185 Nassau St.
March 31 – “Uneasy Peace: The Good Friday Agreement 25 Years On,” presented by Princeton’s Fund for Irish Studies at 4:30 p.m. at the James Steward Film Theater.
Tuesday, March 21
Delaware River Greenway Partnership (DRGP) will host Paul W. Schopp, who will make a presentation on steamboats on the Upper Delaware River at 7 p.m. March 21. Visit pre-registration website at bit.ly/delawaresteamboats
The presentation is part of DRGP’s Delaware River Heritage Lecture.
Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Creative Writing presents a reading by Poet Marilyn Chin, a Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize-winning writer and 2022-2023 Holmes Poet at 5 p.m. March 21 at the Drapkin Studio at the Lewis Arts complex on the Princeton campus. It’s free and open to the public.
Mercer County Commission on the Status of Women is holding its Woman of Achievement Awards Reception at 6 p.m. March 21 at the Mercer Oaks Clubhouse, 725 Village Road West, West Windsor.
Registration for tickets is due by March 11. For more information visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/women-of-achievement-annual-cocktail-reception-tickets-525779529727?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Thursday, March 23
Housing Initiatives of Princeton (HIP) will host a conversation with Matthew Desmond, an honorary board member, and Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, introduced by Andrea Elliot, on “Poverty, by America” sponsored by Labyrinth Books at 6 p.m. March 23 at the Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau St., Princeton. For more information visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/poverty-by-america-matt-desmond-keeanga-yamahtta-taylor-tickets-518941115847
Thursday, March 30
The members of the Jupiter Ensemble make their debut at Princeton University Concerts (PUC) with an “All Vivaldi” concert at 7:30 p.m. March 30 at Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall. For more information visit puc.princeton.edu or call 609-258-9220.
Diabetes Education at Capital Health
Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell, One Capital Way, Pennington, will hold four evening sessions from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
The dates are April 4, 11, 18, 25; June 6, 13, 20, 27; Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26; and Nov. 7, 14, 21, and 28.
For more information call 609-537-7081.
Saturday, April 22
Hopewell Valley Bunny Hop 5K Run/Walk will be held rain or shine at 9 a.m. April 22 at Washington Crossing State Park. Proceeds benefit senior events for the Hopewell Valley Central High School Class of 2024.
T-shirts for all registrations received by April 1. For more information visit www.hvbunnyhop5K.com.
Thursday, April 27
Neshanic Garden Club invites the public to its spring luncheon from noon to 4 p.m. April 27 at the Somerville Elks Lodge, 375 Union Ave., Bridgewater.
Special guest speaker is Anthony Lund of Bartletts Tree Experts. For tickets contact Barbara Zielsdorff at 908-229-8148 or [email protected].
Sunday, April 30
The Montgomery/Rocky Hill Rotary (Rotary) and the Montgomery Business Association (MBA) announce the return of two iconic community events happening together on one day. The Run With Rotary and Montgomery FunFest joint event will be held in Skillman Park
(Main Boulevard) off Route 601, in the Skillman section of Montgomery, on April 30, starting at 8:30 a.m.
Runners can register as individuals or teams. Online registration ends April 26 at 11:59 p.m. at montgomeryrotary.org
If interested in volunteering email: [email protected] with your name and phone number by April 20.
Friday to Sunday, June 9-11
The American Repertory Ballet (ARB) will close its season at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, June 9-11, with PREMIERE3 featuring the company premiere and revival of Arthur Mitchell’s invigorating Holberg Suite set to the music of Edvard Grieg, as well as highly anticipated world premieres by Amy Seiwert and Ethan Stiefel.
For more information, contact Dan Bauer at [email protected] or 609-921-7758.
Monday, June 19
The Vince Lipani Memorial Golf Outing will be held at the Royce Brook Golf Club, 201 Hamilton Road, Hillsborough, beginning with an 11 a.m. registration, 1 p.m. shot gun start, followed by a 6 p.m. dinner.
Proceeds from the golf outing will be used by the Rotary Club of Hillsborough Foundation to support the Club’s charitable work, including an annual scholarship, named in Mr. Lipani’s honor.
Registration and additional information can be obtained at www.birdease.com/LipaniMemorialGolf23. For other questions, please contact Tod Mershon at 908-295-1368 or [email protected]
Continuing events
Hopewell Township officials remind residents about annual pet licenses, which are required by the state for all dogs and cats. A proof of rabies vaccination is required for the license to be issued.
The township’s pet licensing fees are $22.20 for spayed or neutered dog, and $21 for spayed/neutered cats. If an animal is not spayed or neutered, the fee is $3 more. Pet owners received a notice back in October, with a deadline for payment at the end of January.
The Burlington County Sheriff’s Department will perform safety seat inspections every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5-8 p.m.
No appointment required.
The service is offered free of charge to improve child safety.
A typical inspection takes about 20 minutes.
Inspections are performed at the Burlington County Administration Building, 49 Rancocas Road, Mount Holly. Residents can call 609-265-3788 when they arrive and ask for the on-duty child safety seat technician.
Dove Hospice Services of New Jersey is seeking volunteers who are willing to make a difference with individuals who are experiencing the challenge of end-of-life.
Dove Hospice Services is looking for individuals who can dedicate a small amount of time each month to provide companionship-friendly visits, life review, play cards, sewing, knitting or craft projects, music enrichment, pet therapy and office or administrative assistance, according to a press release.
Dove Hospice Services is expanding its “We Honor Veterans” program and is seeking motivated veterans who are interested in providing compassion, support and outreach to fellow veterans and their families.
Visits can be made to individuals living in facilities or private homes. Ongoing training is provided. Volunteers must be 18 or older and a COVID vaccine is required. For additional information, contact Michelle Rutigliano at 732-405-3035.
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties (CASA SHaW), which is dedicated to foster children in the region, is seeking applications from individuals in the community to serve on the CASA SHaW Board of Trustees.
Individuals who are interested in applying to become a member of the CASA SHaW Board of Trustees should send their resumes and credentials to CASA SHaW at [email protected].
CASA SHaW is part of a statewide network of community-based, non-profit programs that recruit, screen, train and supervise volunteers to “Speak Up for a Child” removed from home due to abuse or neglect. CASA is the only program in New Jersey that uses trained volunteers to work one-on-one with children, ensuring that each one gets the services needed and achieves permanency in a safe, nurturing home.
For more information, visit www.casaofnj.org.
Hillsborough Township’s Senior Chapters A and B each provide an experience for seniors looking to get out, mingle and experience new things. Trips, theaters, entertainment, card games, speakers, hobbies, talent shows, restaurants, history, and health screenings are some of the activities.
The first and second Thursdays of each month are designated for regular meetings at the municipal building for Chapter A and Chapter B, respectively.
Any Hillsborough senior age 60 or over who is interested in learning more can contact the Social Services Department at 908-369-3880.
The Monroe Township Jewish War Veterans Post 609 is collecting United States and foreign stamps, both on and off envelopes.
Stamps are used by veterans as a hobby and as therapy at VA medical centers nationwide.
The stamps are not traded or sold; they are forwarded to veteran patients at no charge.
Also requested are DVDs suitable for veterans at those locations.
Send all items to JWV Post 609, c/o Charles Koppelman, 6 Yarmouth Dr., Monroe Township 08831.
Volunteers are needed to help end domestic violence in Burlington County.
The Domestic Violence Response Team consists of volunteers who work with Providence House, domestic violence services and police departments to help people who experience domestic violence by empowering and advocating for survivors.
Must be 18 years of age or older, a resident or employee of Burlington County, have a valid New Jersey driver’s license and access to transportation, and no criminal history.
For more information, call 856-904-4344 or email [email protected]
East Windsor residents can volunteer for appointment to various township boards and committees, including the Clean Communities Advisory Committee, Commission on Aging, East Windsor Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse, Economic Development Committee, Environmental Commission, Health Advisory Board, Local Assistance Board, Planning Board, Recreation Commission, and Zoning Board of Adjustment.
The mayor and council will make appointments at the January reorganization meeting, as well as throughout the year as opportunities arise.
Residents interested in volunteering can obtain an application form from the Municipal Clerk or from the township website or send a letter of interest and a resume or information about their background to: Mayor Janice S. Mironov and Council Members, East Windsor Township Municipal Building, 16 Lanning Blvd., East Windsor 08520; or fax to 609-443-8303.
For an application form or further information, call 609-443-4000, ext. 238.
The U.S. State Department is experiencing longer than usual delays in the processing times of passports.
For those looking to travel and needing to renew their passports, it is advised to begin this process immediately. The current wait times for passport services is 10 weeks for expedited services and up to 14 weeks from the time of submission for a regular application. This delay is likely due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information regarding passports, visit the Mercer County Clerk’s website at www.mercercounty.org/government/county-clerk-/office-services/passports or call the clerk’s passport office at 609-989-6473; for Spanish, call 609-989-6131 or 609-989-6122.
Appointments at the Mercer County Connection, located at 957 Route 33, Hamilton, are available weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To schedule an appointment at the Mercer County Connection, call 609-890-9800.
All customers must have applications filled out, money orders and checks along with documentation and copies prior to appointment. Delays in appointment availability may be experienced due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Mercer County’s Swift911 system notifies the public in the event of an emergency or for sharing important information via phone, text or email.
All calls will have the caller ID of “Mercer County Alert.”
Personal information will not be provided to any outside agencies or companies.
To sign up, visit www.mercercounty.org/departments/emergency-management-public-safety/mercer-county-emergency-notification-system
For assistance with registration, email [email protected]
Mercer County posts regarding emergency closures are available at www.cancellations.com/ and www.fox29.com/closings
Central Jersey Chapter 148 of the Korean War Veterans extend an invitation to any veterans, regardless of the branch of service, who served during the Korean War from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953, in any location, including Europe; or who have served in Korea from July 27, 1953, to the current date.
Other veterans may join as associate members.
The group meets at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday of every month, from May to December, at the Monroe Township Municipal Building, 1 Municipal Plaza, in the court room.
Requirements for membership include paying dues of $25 to the Korean War Veterans Association and $10 to the chapter per year.
Korean War Veterans National LIFE membership is available for those 80 and older, and is $75.
The chapter is involved in various functions during the year, including fundraising to help veterans at the New Jersey State Veterans Memorial Home in Menlo Park, the Lyons campus of the VA New Jersey Health Care System, and the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland.
For more information, contact Charlie Koppelman at 609-655-3111 or [email protected]
The Burlington County Lyceum of History and Natural Sciences is turning into a wedding venue.
Burlington County Clerk Joanne Schwartz will begin performing weddings every Wednesday afternoon from 1-4 p.m. by appointment only, in the historic and picturesque Lyceum building on High Street in Mount Holly.
Burlington County couples interested in being married can make appointments online at http://co.burlington.nj.us/611/Marriage-Services.
There is no fee for the service, but couples must obtain a marriage license from the municipality where either the bride or groom resides or from Mount Holly, where the Lyceum is located. Obtaining a license typically takes 72 hours.
For more information, call the Clerk’s Office at 609-265-5142.
Bentley Community Services, a designated 501 (c) 3 charitable organization, has been helping working families in financial crisis regain self-sufficiency by providing a full range of grocery provisions and more each week, offsetting grocery bills.
Bentley also offers educational and informational workshops throughout the year facilitated by professionals.
Bentley Community Services is located at 4064 Route 1 north, Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick, but helps families in communities from the entire central New Jersey region, including Mercer, Middlesex, Hunterdon, Somerset and Monmouth counties.
For more information, call 908-227-0684 or visit www.bentleycommunityservices.org
Donations of perishable, non-perishable foods and toiletries are accepted throughout the year.
Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick has launched the Substance Abuse and Addiction Loss Support Group for families who are coping with loss due to addiction.
The free and confidential support group meets virtually on the second Thursday of every month from 7-8:30 p.m.
Inspired by Saint Peter’s Opioid Task Force, the Substance Abuse and Addiction Loss Support Group is for families and close loved ones of people who have passed away from addiction.
The support group is open to everyone in New Jersey and serves as a safe space for families to discuss their grief.
To join the Substance Abuse and Addiction Loss Support Group, call Jeanne Delacruz, a social worker at Saint Peter’s who facilitates the support group, at 732-745-8522 or email [email protected]
Sign up at https://forms.gle/nxuZUi5AMJe1RcyJ8
NAMI In Our Own Voice (NAMI En Nuestra Propia Voz) is a program by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) New Jersey chapter geared toward community education and reducing the stigma of mental health, as trained volunteers share their lived experience of mental health recovery.
To schedule a presentation at a school, PTA meeting, congregation, town hall, support group or professional training, email [email protected]
Presentations are available in English and Spanish.
Central Jersey SCORE, a non-profit resource partner of the Small Business Administration, is looking for volunteers to assist people looking to start a business or grow an existing small business.
The organization is recruiting business owners and executives, both current and retired, who want to share their experience and knowledge with today’s up-and-coming entrepreneurs.
The Central Jersey Chapter of SCORE serves Middlesex, Somerset and Hunterdon counties.
Central Jersey SCORE provides in-person mentoring and webinars, both offered virtually in line with current pandemic restrictions. In addition, the SCORE website offers tools and templates on a wide variety of topics and numerous online courses and webinars to assist small business owners through every aspect of business development and management. Services are offered free of charge.
Anyone interested in volunteering with SCORE or seeking additional information should 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].
Send items to [email protected]. The deadline for submissions each week is 5 p.m. on Tuesday. For details, call 732-358-5200, ext. 8233.