Call for Artists
Hopewell Valley Arts Council seeks artists, painters, sculptors, craftsmen, multi-media artists, and other creative people to join the “Hopewell Valley Stampede” and submit proposals for embellishing, adorning, and otherwise decorating the fiberglass oxen that will roam the Hopewell Valley in the fall of 2014.
The public art exhibit is expected to transform into an open air museum of one-of-a-kind, life-sized oxen sculptures, painted and embellished by artists of all ages, backgrounds, and interests. The decorated oxen will graze in public places throughout Hopewell Valley including streets, parks, business sites, and schools in Pennington Borough, Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township, Titusville, and more.
Artists must register by Tuesday, December 17, and design submissions are due by Friday, January 17. Selected artists will have from March to June to fully complete his or her oxen. Submissions are open to all artists, and designs can be created individually or as teams. Each design that is chosen will receive an honorarium of $750. Visit www.hvartscouncil.org.
Seeking Playwrights
Premiere Stages, the professional theater company in residence at Kean University, is accepting submissions for the 10th annual play festival. Seeking unproduced scripts for developmental and production opportunities to four playwrights born or living in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, or Connecticut. Deadline is Wednesday, January 15. The focus is on scripts that tackle social and political issues and challenge the audience to re-examine the world around them. No fee to enter the competition. Visit www.kean.edu/premierestages/play.asp.
Volunteer Please
Drumthwacket Foundation is looking for volunteer docents to lead weekly tours of Drumthwacket, the official residence of the Governor of New Jersey. Docents educate the public and students about the house, its rich history, and contents. The mission of the foundation is to increase a sense of community and pride in New Jersey by preserving the Drumthwacket properties and broadening access, furthering awareness and support of the foundation and its activities, expanding civic understanding amongst New Jerseyans.
Docents work on average two Wednesdays per month and occasional weekends. E-mail your letter of interest to info@drumthwacket.org.
Literati
MCCC’s 2013 Kelsey Review features 22 works of fiction, poetry, and art by 17 area contributors who live, work, or study in Mercer County. Free copies are available at public libraries. Visit www.mccc.edu/kelseyreview.
The cover art is by Tim Fitzpatrick of Hamilton. Writing contributors include Vida Chu, Robert Hebditch, James Hockenberry, and D.E. Steward of Princeton; Gail Gaspar and Lois Marie Harrod of Hopewell; Ken Jaworowski of Princeton Junction; Gwen Jones and Lavinia Kumar of Plainsboro; Rice Lyons, Carolina Morales, and Joe Preneta,of Trenton; George Point of Lawrenceville; and Wanda S. Praisner of Bedminster. Contributors of artwork include Tim Fitzpatrick of Hamilton, and Avani Palkhiwala and Mimi McBride of Hamilton.
Editors include Edward Carmien, a professor of English at MCCC; Roberta Clipper, a professor of English at Rider University; Luray Gross, author of three collections of poetry; Ellen Jacko, a teacher of English at Allentown High School; and Edyta Kuciapa, a graphic designer and photographer.
Kelsey Review welcomes new friends on its Facebook page. Those interested in submitting items for future editions will find the latest news, criteria and deadline information. The deadline for submissions for the 2014 edition is Thursday, May 15. E-mail Kelsey.review@mccc.edu or visit www.mccc.edu for information.
Donate Please
Crisis Ministry of Mercer County seeks food and volunteers for its annual “CAN-U-Copia” event during the Thanksgiving season. The community effort helps fill the shelves of the nonprofit organization’s three food pantries and raises awareness and funds to support its hunger prevention initiatives.
Yes We CAN! will conduct a food drive at Pennington Quality Market on Saturday, November 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Contact Mark Smith at marks@thecrisisministry.org or Sarah Unger at sarahu@thecrisisministry.org, visit www.thecrisisministry.org, or call 609-396-9355 for information.
Pennington Family Chiropractic is collecting coats, hats, scarves, gloves, and more for Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Anchor House, and Womanspace. All items may be left in the foyer during normal business hours. Location is the Pennington Circle. Call 609-737-3737 for information.
PEAC Health & Fitness is a collection site for the Marine’s Toys for Tots program from Friday, November 29, to Saturday, December 21 at 1440 Lower Ferry Road in Ewing. Drop off new, unwrapped toys to be distributed at Christmas to local, underprivileged children. PEAC’s collection is in conjunction with Battery G 3rd Battalion 14th in Fort Dix. Call 609-883-2000, E-mail ctentilucci@peachealthfitness.com, or visit www.peachealthfitness.com for information.
Monroe Township Library seeks donations of new hardcover and paperback books for distribution to disadvantaged children throughout Middlesex County. Books will be collected at the Monroe Township Public Library through December 15. Distribution of books is done through service clubs and social service agencies, including day care centers, soup kitchens, and Head Start programs. Checks payable to Libraries of Middlesex may be sent to Leah Wagner, Monroe Township Public Library, 4 Municipal Plaza, Monroe 08831. Deadline is Sunday, December 15.
Meeting Space
South Brunswick Public Library offers meeting space for a study group, book discussion, visit with friends, a meeting with your craft group, board game friends, or bridge club at Grover’s Mill Coffee House & Cafe at the library.
Free wi-fi. Hot and cold beverages, sandwiches, candy, and pastries available. The War of the Worlds-themed decor is furnished with several wood table and chair sets suitable for small groups. 110 Kingston Lane, Monmouth Junction, 732-329-4000, ext. 7290.
Academics
Mercer County Community College has announced the launch of the American Honors program, a national program that will enable high-achieving MCCC students to transfer to some of the top four-year universities in the country. Mercer is the first college in New Jersey to offer the American Honors program. American Honors, a selective two-year program, provides students seeking bachelor’s degrees an opportunity to complete their first two years at a community college at a reduced cost. The program begins in the fall of 2014.
Visit AmericanHonors.org or E-mail admissions@americanhonors.org. Representatives from American Honors and MCCC will be available on Thursday, November 14, at 4 p.m. at the Conference Center, at 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, during the college’s annual open house event.
Musical Notes
Holicong Studio: Blue Door is offering “The Art of Recording,” a free workshop with Lon Van Eaton, a writer, producer, and recording artist, on Sunday, November 17, at 1 p.m. in New Hope, PA. Van Eaton has recorded with George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Carly Simon, Ben Vereen, and Stevie Wonder. Register by E-mail to constive@aol.com.
