Business & Career
Summer Workshops For Entrepreneurs. The New Jersey Small Business Development Center continues offering workshops for startups, entrepreneurs and established business owners throughout June and July.
The statewide organization provides practical training and consulting to help businesses launch, grow and adapt to changing market conditions.
Upcoming programs include New Tax Changes for Small Businesses on June 18, AI Unlocked: Empowering Small Business in the Age of Intelligence on June 25, Loan Ready or Not on July 2, Navigating Your Cash Flow on July 9, the Entrepreneur Certificate Program beginning July 11, a Smart Business Plan Workshop on July 17 and Government Contracting Opportunities in New Jersey on July 22. Most programs are offered virtually and are accessible to businesses throughout the state.
The workshops cover financing, taxes, government contracts, artificial intelligence, cash flow management, business planning and other topics commonly cited as challenges by small business owners. Participants can register for individual programs or build a customized summer curriculum.
For entrepreneurs considering a startup, the workshops provide a low-cost way to gain practical business knowledge. For established owners, the programs offer opportunities to strengthen operations, improve financial management and explore new technologies. njsbdc.com.
AI Workshop For Small Businesses. Artificial intelligence remains one of the most talked-about developments in business, and the New Jersey Small Business Development Center is offering a full-day workshop designed to help owners understand how the technology can be applied in practical ways.
The June 25 program at Middlesex College in Edison will focus on real-world uses for AI in marketing, customer service, administration, content creation and business operations. Organizers say the workshop is geared toward business owners rather than technology specialists.
Participants will hear from experts, learn about emerging tools and explore ways AI can increase efficiency without requiring extensive technical knowledge or large investments. njsbdc.com.
Arts & Creativity
Auditions Planned For Wonderland. Playful Theatre Productions and Kelsey Theatre are seeking performers for the New Jersey premiere of “Wonderland,” the Frank Wildhorn musical inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic stories.
The production follows a modern-day Alice who finds herself transported into a transformed Wonderland while struggling to balance family and career responsibilities. The musical features familiar characters from the original stories reimagined for a contemporary audience.
Auditions will take place June 10 and 11 from 7 to 10 p.m., with callbacks scheduled for June 13. All roles are open regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity or body type.
Performances are scheduled for Sept. 18 through 27 at Kelsey Theatre on the campus of Mercer County Community College. kelsey.mccc.edu.
Little Women Casting Call Opens. Off-Centre Stages is seeking performers for its fall production of “Little Women,” the musical adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel.
The production follows the lives of the March sisters as they navigate family, ambition, love and personal growth during the Civil War era. The show offers opportunities for performers of various ages and experience levels.
Auditions are scheduled for June 14 and 15, with callbacks planned for June 20. Performances will run Oct. 2 through 11 at Kelsey Theatre. Community theater performers from throughout the region are encouraged to audition. kelsey.mccc.edu.
Robin Hood Heads To Hillsborough. Somerset Valley Players is holding auditions for “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood,” a comedic adaptation of the legendary outlaw story.
Director Emily M. Muller is seeking performers ages 16 and older for a production that combines physical comedy, audience interaction and contemporary humor with familiar characters and storylines.
Auditions will be held June 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. and June 15 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Somerset Valley Playhouse. Rehearsals begin June 22 and performances are scheduled for Sept. 11 through 27.
The production includes a large cast and numerous opportunities for both experienced and first-time performers. svptheatre.org.
Film & Media
Environmental Film Festival Seeks Submissions. Filmmakers exploring environmental issues, sustainability and conservation topics are invited to submit work for consideration by the Princeton Environmental Film Festival.
Presented by Princeton Public Library, the festival features films and filmmaker presentations that examine environmental challenges and solutions from local, regional and international perspectives.
The festival has become one of the region’s better-known environmental film events and regularly attracts documentary filmmakers, educators, environmental advocates and community members interested in sustainability.
Submissions are currently being accepted for future programming. princetonlibrary.org.
Youth & Family
Summer Theater Camp Registration Continues. ActorsNET of Bucks County is accepting registrations for Summer Stars, a four-week theater day camp designed for students ages 7 to 17.
Participants receive instruction in acting, singing, improvisation, movement and stage performance while preparing for a final showcase. The camp is designed to serve both beginners and students with previous theater experience.
The program runs Aug. 3 through 27, culminating in a public performance Aug. 29. Tuition is $600, with scholarship opportunities and family discounts available. actorsnetbucks.org.
Teen Conservatory Returns To Bucks County Playhouse. Bucks County Playhouse is accepting applications for its Playhouse Institute Summer Conservatory, an intensive theater-training experience for students ages 13 to 18. This year’s conservatory, titled “No Map Home,” is inspired by Homer’s “Odyssey” and combines acting, movement, music and devised-theater techniques to create an original performance piece.
The five-week program runs July 6 through Aug. 7 and provides students with professional-level instruction from theater artists while encouraging collaboration and creative experimentation.
Need-based financial assistance is available. bcptheater.org.
Teen Volunteers Sought For Summer Reading. The Mercer County Library System is seeking volunteers ages 14 to 17 to assist with summer reading activities at library branches throughout the county. Volunteers help support children’s programs, assist library staff and earn community service hours while gaining experience in a public-service environment. Applications are due June 11. mcl.org.
Summer Reading Begins At Mercer Libraries. The Mercer County Library System’s annual summer reading program begins June 15 and continues through Aug. 8. The program is open to children, teens and adults and encourages participants to track reading while taking part in special events and activities offered at branches throughout the county.
Summer reading programs have long been used by libraries to encourage literacy, lifelong learning and family participation during the school break. mcl.org.
Kintsugi Workshop Planned In Yardley. Artists of Yardley will offer “Beautifully Broken: Kintsugi Golden Joinery Workshop” on July 25.
Participants will learn the Japanese-inspired art of repairing broken objects using decorative gold-colored joinery. The workshop combines traditional craft techniques with lessons about restoration and creative expression.
The program is intended for adults and older teens interested in learning a unique artistic practice with both practical and symbolic significance. aoyarts.org.
(Next section: Community Connections, Learning & Lifestyle, and Ongoing Access.)
Community Connections
Volunteer Opp ortunities Available Across Middlesex County. Middlesex County is encouraging residents to get involved through a wide range of volunteer opportunities supporting conservation, community services, public safety and the arts.
The county has launched a centralized volunteer webpage to help residents find programs that match their interests, schedules and skills. Volunteer categories include nature and conservation, community support, public safety and arts programming.
Nature and conservation opportunities include Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County, the Middlesex County Conservation Corps and Trail Patrol. Volunteers can help grow and harvest produce, mentor youth, support environmental stewardship projects, assist with planting and restoration, and help monitor trail conditions in county parks.
Community-support opportunities include REPLENISH, the county’s hunger-eradication program; the Senior Meals Program; survivor support programs; sexual-assault prevention outreach; and county advisory boards and councils. Public-safety
