Muslim Community Center receives approval for mosque in South Edison
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NJ Today: Central Jersey Daily Rundown, Saturday, June 16

Brad Wadlow
Courier News and Home News Tribune
“Oak Tree Home” by Linda Arnold.

Art exhibit honors Great White Oak Tree

Farmstead Arts is presenting an art and cultural exhibit honoring the Basking Ridge Great White Oak Tree. The exhibit can be seen in the farmhouse galleries now through Sunday, Aug. 5, with a reception from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 17. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, or by appointment. Farmstead Arts is at 450 King George Road, Basking Ridge section of Bernards. For information contact Farmstead Director Kathy Harris at admin@farmsteadarts.org. Visit farmsteadartscenter.org.

World Refugee Day event

Refugee Assistance Partners (RAP) of New Jersey will be hosting a World Refugee Day program at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, at Willow Grove Church, 1961 Raritan Road, Scotch Plains. RAP, a nonprofit, volunteer organization of Union County, recognizes and salutes the tenacity and gifts, skills and talents of refugees worldwide. The program will include a viewing of the short documentary film, “Refugee” rated PG. Also featured in this program will be musical performances by locally resettled refugees. Light refreshments will follow. Free; optional donations are accepted. Visit www.refugeeassistancepartnersnj.org.

The Musical History of the '50s

Joey G. will present a live musical story on how the 1950s musical trends would evolve from big band, to pop, to rock and roll at the Hunterdon County Library, Route 12, Flemington, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 20. Joey G. has been singing professionally since the age of 13 and opened for Broadway stars Andrea McArdle (Annie on Broadway), Paul Williams, and many of the top acts of the 50’s, among them Bobby Rydell, The Drifters, The Earls, and more. To reserve, call 908-788-1434 or visit the Events Calendar at www.hclibrary.us.

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados

Granados to be honored on June 17 

Union County Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados has been selected by the Friends of New Jersey Legacy Foundation to be honored with their Outstanding Community Service Award at the 2018 Juneteenth Family Reunion on Sunday, June 17. This year’s Juneteenth celebration will be held at the Elizabeth Waterfront Pier and Marina at the foot of Elizabeth Avenue from 2 to 7 p.m. The event is free. The theme of this year’s Juneteenth event is “Celebration of Our African American Men.” The celebration will honor 45 active men who have been influential in their communities. Visit ucnj.org.

Celebrate Father's Day at Alba Vineyard

Celebrate Father’s Day at Alba Vineyard from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 17.  Wine tasting, food for purchase, live music and crafters. Admission includes entrance to the event, parking and music. Cost is $10 for adults 21 and over, $5 for ages 13 to 20, and children 12 and younger are free. No reservations; pay at the entrance Gate. Wine tastings are available for an additional $10 per person, 21 and older, which includes eight samplings of Alba Vineyard's estate wines and an Alba Vineyard tasting glass. Bring a lawn chair, blanket, or beach umbrella. Call Alba Vineyard at 908-995-7800
or email wine@albavineyard.com. For GPS use 269 Riegelsville Warren Glen Road, Milford or visit www.albavineyard.com.

CASA SHaW information session

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Somerset, Hunterton and Warren counties (CASA SHaW) is holding a June information session for individuals who want to learn more about the program and how they can become a volunteer advocate for children living in foster care. It will be held at noon Wednesday, June 20, at the CASA SHaW office, 150 Boulevard, Washington. Other dates and locations are posted at www.casashaw.org. Call Karen Cassano, volunteer trainer, at 908-689-5515 or email Karen@casashaw.org for more information. Visit www.casaofnj.org.

50th anniversary celebration

A celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Iselin Branch of the Woodbridge Public Library is scheduled for Tuesday, June 19, at 1081 Green St., Iselin section of Woodbridge. The kickoff begins at 1 p.m. with the J.F. Kennedy High School marching band, followed at 2 p.m. with Mayor John McCormac cutting the ribbon and welcoming all to the newly-renovated library. Visit the Library Calendar at www.woodbridgelibrary.org or call 732-634-4450.

Westfield Historical Society Walking Tour: What Makes a Great House and Neighborhood? will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 23, at Boulevard, between Park and Washington street, Westfield.

Walking tour on June 23

Westfield Historical Society Walking Tour: What Makes a Great House and Neighborhood? will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 23, at Boulevard, between Park and Washington street, Westfield. The walking tour will discuss residential architecture of the early 20th century, including scale, proportions and materiality of homes, as well as comparison to adjacent styles. Twenty attendees maximum. RSVP by noon Friday, June 22, to 908-654-1794 or email westfieldhistoricalsociety@gmail.com. A donation of $10 to the Westfield Historic Society would be appreciated. Call 908-654-1794 or visit www.westfieldhistoricalsociety.org.

Edison AARP Chapter 3446 to meet

Edison AARP Chapter 3446 will meet at 11:30 a.m. Monday, June 18, at the Pines Manor, Route 27, Edison, and will feature the annual installation of officers luncheon, as well as presentation of the “Community Service Award” for outstanding service to AARP and the community. Canned food for MCFOOD will be collected at the luncheon. Visit www.edisonaarp.org.

Explore the color story of Somerset County artist Sien Lewis at the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey’s (SCLSNJ) Warren Twp. Library branch, located at 42 Mountain Blvd in Warren Twp. The exhibition will be available through July 31. Artists interested in exhibiting in the Art Space at Warren, should contact Kathy DeCristofaro at kdecrist@sclibnj.org.

Works by Lewis on view at library

Explore Warren Township artist Sien Lewis’s color story at the Art Space at Warren in the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey’s (SCLSNJ) Warren Township Library branch, 42 Mountain Blvd., Warren Township, until Tuesday, July 31. The 15-piece collection of acrylic paints on canvas displays art with an emphasis on color. The glass-enclosed display case also houses examples of Lewis’s jewelry line. The exhibition will be available to the public during normal Library hours. Artists interested in exhibiting in the Art Space at Warren located in SCLSNJ’s Warren Township Library branch, should contact Kathy DeCristofaro at kdecrist@sclibnj.org. 

Mari Kashiwagi, award-winning poet.

Kashiwagi at Princeton Public Library

Mari Kashiwagi, an award-winning poet, is coming from Japan to give a reading of her “Butterfly” poems on Sunday, June 17 at the Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon St., Princeton. The poems were inspired by this month’s Princeton Festival production of  Puccini’s "Madama Butterfly." The event, co-sponsored by the Festival Guild and the library, opens with a light brunch at 11:30 a.m., to be followed at noon by the reading and discussion with Kashiwagi and her translator, Takako Lento. Admission is free. Visit https://princetonfestival.org/event/2018-poetry-mari-kashiwagi/. For a listing of all Princeton Festival events, visit www.princetonfestival.org, or call 609-258-ARTS (2787).

Twisted Sistah Trunk Show on June 19

The Delaware Valley Bead Society will sponsor a Twisted Sistah Trunk Show with Marti Brown on Tuesday, June 19. Brown is representing Leslie Pope, founder of Twisted Sistah, which specializes in Japanese seed beads. Among the many trays, you will find Paisley duos, GemDuos, SuperDuos, SuperUnos, Tilas, silkies, Kheops par pucas, two hole triangles, lentils and crescents as well as the newer four-hole beads. In addition to the beads, there will be the threads, fibers, needles and other supplies needed to create your beaded treasures. The program will be held at the Hunterdon County Senior Center Cafeteria in Flemington. Registration for attendance is required. Visit www.delawarevalleybeadsociety.org.

Woodbridge Township celebrated its 350-year history with a gala held at the Woodbridge Community Center on June 1. Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac greeted guests, including representatives from Berkeley College, who joined in the celebration. Berkeley College, which has a campus at 430 Rahway Ave. in Woodbridge, was among the sponsors of the event celebrating the “Best Town Around.” Period actors shared stories of the township’s progress through the centuries. (Left to right) Elibelka Bueno, associate director, Financial Aid; Carol Fine, career counselor; Michael Russo, campus operating officer, all of Berkeley College in Woodbridge; Mayor John McCormac; Angela Harrington, vice president, Communications and External Relations, Berkeley College; 18th-century period actor; Berkeley College alumna Melody Rivera of Perth Amboy; Shefali Patel, director, Center for Academic Success; Samuel Rivera, director, Building and Grounds; Rovena Passero, career counselor; and Tiffany Alderson, learning specialist, Center for Academic Success, all of Berkeley College in Woodbridge.

READ: NJ Today: Central Jersey Daily Rundown, Friday, June 15

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