Auditions
Sourland Hills Actors Guild has auditions for “Shrek the Musical” on Friday, January 17, and Thursday, January 23, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at the Otto Kaufmann Community Center, 356 Skillman Road, Skillman. All ages, from 8 to 80, are welcome to audition. Performances will be in early April. E-mail info@sourlandhills.org or visit sourlandhills.org.
Actors’ Net of Bucks County has auditions for “Julius Caesar” on Monday and Tuesday, January 20 and 21, at 7 p.m., at the Heritage Center, 635 North Delmorr Avenue, Morrisville. Auditions will be cold readings from the script. Bring a resume if you have one. Contact aaronwexler@comcast.net.
For Seniors
Princeton Senior Resource Center offers free tax assistance for low and moderate income people in the area, with special attention to those age 60 plus. IRS trained volunteers from AARP will be available to prepare individual New Jersey state and federal returns. Returns may be filed electronically. Volunteer preparers are familiar with tax regulations and rebate programs that affect seniors. Assistance is available by appointment on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Suzanne Patterson Building, 45 Stockton Street, Princeton, beginning February 7.
Bring copies of 2012 federal and New Jersey tax returns, as well as all necessary 2013 tax information, including W-2 and 1099 income forms, unemployment statements, SSA-1099 Social Security forms, forms indicating federal tax paid, property tax bill, dependent care provider information, and receipts for itemized deductions such as medical bills and charitable contributions. Call 609-924-7108.
AARP tax aides will also be available at Princeton Public Library on Mondays and Nassau Presbyterian Church on Saturdays.
Evergreen Forum, a daytime adult study program under the auspices of PSRC, is accepting registration for 21 spring courses. Led by faculty from area universities and professionals in their fields, classes are organized to focus on intellectually engaging dialogue between student and teacher.
Highlights include “The Dark Side of the Enlightenment” with John Fleming, a former professor at Princeton University; “What’s So Great about Art?” with Marcie Bader, “Scientists against Time — The Role of Allied Scientists in WWII,” a look at the work of two postwar Japanese novelists, Ishiguru and Murakami; “Great Decisions,” and “Shakespeare Off the Page.”
Classes begin Friday, March 7. Enrollment is open to adults in the greater Princeton area. Most courses run for eight weeks, cost $60, and are held at the Princeton Senior Resource Center. Visit www.TheEvergreenForum.org or call 609-924-7108.
For Singers
New Hope-Solebury & Lambertville Community Choir invites singers and would-be singers of all shapes, sizes, and varieties to join the group. There is no audition. Rehearsals are held on Tuesday evenings in New Hope.
“We truly are a community choir, made up of a wide variety of people and personalities, with a wide variety of musical skill sets,” says Rick Rosen, the director of the choir. “The idea is to sing an equally wide variety of music, to match the music to our abilities while still challenging ourselves, and to then end up with quality music and a truly fun, enjoyable, and rewarding experience.” Call 650-219-2748 or visit the group’s Facebook page.
Hopewell Valley Chorus welcomes all who love to sing. There are no auditions. “The Road Home” is the theme of its 54th season. An open rehearsal takes place on Monday, January 13. Rehearsals take place from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Hopewell Valley Central High School, 259 Pennington-Titusville Road, Pennington. Dues are $45 a season. Visit www.hopewellvalleychorus.org, E-mail hopewellchorus@aol.org, or call 609-737-3177.
Faith
Church of Saint Ann in Lawrenceville offers a five-week program for adults that will focus on Pope Francis’ new Apostolic Exhortation. All sessions will be facilitated by Pastor R. Vincent Gartland. Each session covers a chapter from “The Gospel of Joy” on Mondays, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 1253 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville. Free.
The schedule includes “The World We Long For” on January 13, “The World We Live In” on January 20, “The World Where Heaven and Earth Meet” on January 27, “The World We-In Union with God-Are Called To Create” on February 3, and “The Joy Filled Evangelist” on February 10. Contact Gary Maccaroni at 609-882-6491, ext. 116 or E-mail gmacc@churchofsaintann.net.
For the Young
Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County offers “Social Skills for Children” for ages 7 to 10. Participants will be placed in a specific social skills group best suited to meet their needs following an intake screening by the facilitator. The program includes games, modeling, and specific lesson plans to learn targeted skills. Facilitated by Robby Devery, founder of Fun in Motion Occupational Therapy Services.
The eight week program takes place on Thursdays, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., at West Windsor Arts Center, from January 16 to March 6. The fee is $275. It may be covered by insurance and no one will be turned away due to inability to pay. Call Lara Wellerstein at 609-987-8100 or E-mail laraw@jfcsonline.org.
Good Causes
Institute of Wonderful Women Working for Empowerment offers a benefit theater event featuring a performance of “Fences” on Sunday, January 12, at 2 p.m. at McCarter Theater in Princeton. Tickets are $80. Visit www.wonderfulworkingwomen.org or call 609-388-1867.
Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County is a volunteer-powered nonprofit organization that serves hundreds of homebound elderly and people with disabilities through its Neighbors Helping Neighbors program each year.
Services include friendly home visiting, phone calls, respite care, transportation to medical and other appointments, administration and clerical assistance, shopping, paperwork, light housekeeping, meal preparation, outdoor chores, home repairs, and health and wellness education. E-mail roz@icgmc.org or call 609-393-9922.
Community Options offers employment and housing opportunities to people with developmental disabilities. The STEP program (School to Employment) has clients who work throughout Mercer and Middlesex counties. They interact with trained job coaches on a daily basis. Meghan Hunter, the manager of STEP, is looking to expand the program through the job coach team. Contact her at 609-951-9900, ext. 165.
PEAC Health & Fitness will host a collection of items for the Rescue Mission of Trenton on Wednesday, January 29, from 9 to 11 a.m. at 1440 Lower Ferry Road, Ewing. All clothing donations go directly to the Rescue Mission, either to be sold in the Mission Store at 100 Carroll Street, Trenton, or given to needy members in the community through the courtesy shop.
The organization serves needy men and women who have no place to turn for shelter, food, and clothing. The Mission provides a safe, clean, warm refuge for the homeless, the hungry, the transient, and the addicted. Donations needed include coats, gloves, hats, scarves, clothing, shoes, pajamas, undergarments, business suits, professional attire, linens and towels, housewares, and furniture. They will not accept sofa beds, mattresses, wall units, baby toys, high chairs, pack and plays, and cribs. Visit www.rmtrenton.org or call 800-528-8825.
Art Workshops
Morven Museum & Garden offers three workshops in conjunction with Arts Council of Princeton.
“Pastels at Morven” led by Ray Brown includes the opportunity to work indoors or outdoors, Thursdays, February 13 to March 6, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Ages 16 plus. $165.
“Painting on Silk led by Lian Sawires focuses on techniques of painting on silk, Mondays, January 27 to February 10, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ages 15 plus. $145.
“Alla Prima Painting” for ages 16 and up of all levels of experience will be held Thursdays, January 16 to February 6, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. $165.
