Call for Poetry
In celebration of National Poetry Month, the Mercer County Library System (MCLS) has announced the 2026 Haiku Contest.
The contest is open to residents of all ages who live, work, or attend school in Mercer County. Entries (limited to one per person) will be accepted from Thursday, January 1, through Monday, February 9, 2026, via the MCL website: mcl.org.
The haiku must be original and unpublished (not previously printed, posted online, or under consideration elsewhere) and follow the traditional 5-7-5 syllable structure. A panel of judges will choose the finalists.
Winners will be chosen by Alicia Ostriker, professor emerita of English at Rutgers University, 2018 Poet Laureate of New York, and Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets from 2015 to 2020. Prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place. A reading and prize ceremony will take place Thursday, April 9 at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch.
For full contest guidelines and submission details, visit www.mcl.org.
Looking for Tiny Tims
This year marks a milestone for McCarter Theatre Center’s A Christmas Carol, first introduced to audiences in 1980 by then-Artistic Director Nagle Jackson. To honor this occasion, the theater is seeking former cast members who played the beloved character of Tiny Tim to reconnect as part of its 45th-year celebration.
If you were a Tiny Tim at McCarter, or know someone who was, please reach out to Dan Bauer, communications director, at dbauer@mccarter.org. The theater is looking to reconnect with these past cast members.
The tradition continues under Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen with a production adapted and directed by Lauren Keating, featuring Cameron Knight as Ebenezer Scrooge. A Christmas Carol runs December 9 through 28. For tickets, visit mccarter.org.
Call for Donations
This holiday season, Millhill Child & Family Development is spreading joy by collecting gifts for its families. Your generosity will bring smiles and create lasting memories for the community.
Many families rely on Millhill’s support to make the holidays special, and your contribution will help make their season brighter. Here are some ways to get involved:
Shop Online: Visit the link below to purchase gifts directly and have them shipped to Millhill. You’ll receive a donation receipt via email. The nonprofit’s online drive runs through Tuesday, November 25, to ensure timely delivery to Millhill: yougivegoods.com/drive-landing/d3atfguhj59qexq9ux2ixw1sl.
Collect and Donate In Person: If you’d like to prepare a donation collection and join in person, please contact Angie McManimon at amcmanimon@millhillcenter.org. The in-person collection runs through Monday, December 8.
Make a Monetary Donation: If you’re unable to contribute with gifts, you can also make a monetary donation to support holiday programs and help bring joy to more families in need.
For more information or to get involved, contact Angie at amcmanimon@millhillcenter.org or 609-989-7333 ext. 131.
Call for Proposals
The City of Trenton’s Department of Housing and Economic Development has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking qualified developers and preservation partners to help restore and adaptively reuse one of Trenton’s oldest surviving structures — the historic “Stone Canal House” at 48–54 Passaic Street.
Believed to date back to the early 1700s, the building originally served as a stone barn along the Delaware & Raritan Canal, reflecting Trenton’s early industrial and colonial roots. Over the centuries, it evolved into a row of townhouse-style residences.
“This is a rare opportunity to bring a truly historic property back into use while preserving the craftsmanship and character that make Trenton unique,” said Yolanda Vazquez, director of Housing and Economic Development. “We’re inviting creative developers, builders, and community partners who value history and revitalization to step forward.”
The City’s RFI encourages proposals that preserve the building’s historic character, provide quality residential housing, and contribute to neighborhood revitalization. Interested parties are asked to submit an Expression of Interest by Wednesday, December 3.
Full details are available in the RFI document, posted on the City’s website and available by contacting: Frank Davis Department of Housing and Economic Development at 609-815-2192 or fdavis@trenton.org.
