Local artists will have their work displayed at the Edison Arts Society’s fifth annual “Garden of the Garden State” art and photography exhibit April 28-30 on the lower level of the Nordstrom wing at the Menlo Park Mall in Edison.
This year’s exhibit will feature 45 pieces of art along with the 35 photographs that inspired it. Hours of the show are noon to 9 p.m. April 28, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 29 and noon to 5 p.m. April 30.
Among the local artists whose work will be exhibited are Elinor Winstanley of the Avenel section of Woodbridge; Rachelle Karger of the Fords section of Woodbridge; Frank Gubernat and Joan Katen, both of the Colonia section of Woodbridge; Carol Funk of New Brunswick; George Christopoulos of Metuchen; and Edison residents Loretta Brower, Tonette Campbell, Harriet Charatan, Allison Doatch, Laura Grozovsky, Tom Martin, Mary Pazdan, Sherri Orenburg-Ruggieri, Christiane Silla and Barbara Sturm.
For additional information, contact the arts society at (908) 753-2787, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Girls’ monthlong tech camp starts July 5
Middlesex County College (MCC) is looking for participants to attend a free summer camp program for high school freshman girls.
The day camp, titled TechXploration, is a four-week program in which teen girls design, develop and construct a working model of fairgrounds ride, visit a theme park to better understand how amusement park rides work and learn from female mentors who are working in engineering fields. They will also practice karate as part of the program.
There is no charge for the camp, which is for freshman girls about to enter their sophomore year of high school. Camp will take place July 5 through Aug. 2.
The camp is being organized by NJCATE, a National Center for Advanced Technological Education. It will be held at the state-of-the-art Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies on the MCC campus in Edison.
Any interested high school freshman girl should visit www.njcate.org/techxploration and fill out the online application.
For more information, contact Karen Ford, project coordinator at NJCATE, at [email protected] or call (732) 906-7735.
Trash and Treasure Sale at local church April 22
The Women’s Association of the Oak Tree Presbyterian Church, 45 Plainfield Road, Edison, will hold its annual Trash and Treasure Sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 22. No early birds will be admitted. Household goods, small appliances, toys, games, books, jewelry, sports memorabilia, baby and children’s items, holiday decor and baked goods will all be available. Proceeds will go to the church.
Arts Society announces poetry contest winners
The Edison Arts Society has announced the 2006 winners of its annual middle and high school poetry competition. More than 250 poems covering a wide range of topics were submitted from four area high schools and four area middle schools.
The following is a list of the 2006 winning poets: Sixth-grader Ajit Unnam, Thomas Jefferson Middle School; seventh-grader Dweep Mehta, Woodrow Wilson Middle School; eighth-grader Erik Pasierski, Edgar Middle School; ninth-grader Olga Kislyanova, J.P. Stevens High School; 10th-grader Victoria James, Metuchen High School; 11th-grader Luming Li, J.P. Stevens High School; and 12th-grader Matthew Strom, Metuchen High School.
Each winner and runner-up will receive a booklet containing the winning poems along with the list of honorable mentions. All winning poets are invited to read their poems at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in the Menlo Park Mall at 7 p.m. on April 27.
Edison Garden Club to host High Tea April 29
The Edison Garden Club is sponsoring a High Tea from 1:30 to 4 p.m. April 29 at the Edison Main Library, 340 Plainfield Ave. The event will feature a variety of tea, sandwiches and pastries; a professional flower-arranging demonstration by Pamela Jaynne, owner of Pocketful of Posies in Morristown; door prizes; and a gift boutique. Cost is $15 per person, with all proceeds to benefit the scholarship fund for students at Edison High School, John P. Stevens High School and Cook College at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Attendance is limited. For reservations, call Mary Lou Mooney at (732) 287-0695.
Funeral home providing free bereavement support
The Costello-Runyon Funeral Home, 568 Middlesex Ave., Metuchen, continues to offer a bereavement support group. Ongoing sessions are held every Wednesday and Thursday morning from 10:30 a.m. to noon, as well as Wednesday evening from 7-8:30 p.m. The program, which is free of charge, takes place at the funeral home.
Carol Burner, a certified grief recovery specialist, facilitates the program. A professional with a master’s degree in counseling from Seton Hall University, South Orange, she has spent the past eight years offering individual and group counseling to clients suffering from significant and tragic losses. For more information, call the funeral home at (732) 548-0149 or Carol Burner at (732) 562-8565.
Edison Garden Club to host High Tea April 29
The Edison Garden Club is sponsoring a High Tea from 1:30 to 4 p.m. April 29 at the Edison Main Library, 340 Plainfield Ave. The event will feature a variety of tea, sandwiches and pastries; a professional flower-arranging demonstration by Pamela Jaynne, owner of Pocketful of Posies in Morristown; door prizes; and a gift boutique. Cost is $15 per person, with all proceeds to benefit the scholarship fund for students at Edison High School, John P. Stevens High School and Cook College at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Attendance is limited. For reservations, call Mary Lou Mooney at (732) 287-0695.
All-Star Pro Wrestling comes to Edison May 5
The James Monroe Elementary School PTA and the Herbert Hoover Middle School PTO, both of Edison, will present a National Wrestling Superstars (NWS) All-Star Pro Wrestling Benefit at 7:45 p.m. May 5 in the gymnasium of Herbert Hoover Middle School, 174 Jackson Ave., Edison. For tickets, call (732) 888-1704.
Church continues thrift store hours into spring
Wesley United Methodist Church, 5053 Woodbridge Ave., Edison, continues its thrift store hours and is ready for spring. The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Thursdays; and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. It features men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, knick-knacks, toys, jewelry and a “bargain room,” where shoppers can fill a bag for $1. Donations of clean, usable items are being accepted during open hours. For more information, call (732) 738-0232.
JFVS announces elder care now available
The Jewish Family and Vocational Service of Middlesex County announces the availability of an elderly care program for those with memory loss and varying degrees of dementia.
Transportation is provided. Fees are charged on a sliding scale. Program includes meals, snacks and activities. For more information, call (732) 777-1940.
Metuchen H.S. plans Italian Dinner Night
The Metuchen High School Booster Club is hosting an Italian Dinner Night from 5-8 p.m. April 20 in the high school cafeteria. The school is located at 400 Grove Ave. in Metuchen. The homemade meal will consist of ziti or spaghetti along with salad, garlic bread, drinks and dessert. Cost in advance is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and children under 12. Cost at the door is $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and children under 12. Students involved in the high school athletics program will serve and entertain. Proceeds from the event will benefit the athletics program. For reservations, call (732) 321-8755.
Local synagogue to honor longtime members in May
Congregation Neve Shalom, 250 Grove Ave., Metuchen, will honor temple members of 18 or more years at its annual Chai Shabbat on May 19. Services begin at 8 p.m., followed by a gala Oneg Shabbat. For additional information, call (732) 548-2238.
Edison Scrabble Club announces new hours
The Edison Scrabble Club has changed the hours of its Saturday games at the Minnie B. Veal Community Center, 1070 Grove Ave., North Edison. Games will now be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, and will still take place from 7-10 p.m. on Tuesdays. Registration is not required, and there is no charge to participate.
All are welcome.
For more information, call Walt at (732) 721-9218 or Lois at (732) 906-5496.
Autism conference slated at high school April 26
April is National Autism Awareness Month. In their efforts to educate people about autism, the J.P. Stevens Key Club and the Kiwanis Club of Edison are teaming up to present a conference on autism titled “Understanding Autism: An Evening of Information, Education & Inspiration.” It will be held from 7-9 p.m. April 26 in the J.P. Stevens High School auditorium, 855 Grove Ave., Edison. Keynote speaker will be Yvette Janvier, M.D., director of Children’s Specialized Hospital in Toms River. Speakers from various other autism organizations will also be present. There is no charge for admission. For more information, call Denise at (908) 917-4100.
Edison Parade Committee readies for Memorial Day
The Edison Township Parade Committee is formulating plans for its annual Memorial Day parade, which will be held May 28 in the Stelton section of the township beginning at 2 p.m. Any organization or group interested in participating should contact Evelyn Kraszewski at (732) 548-4648.