2nd Annual Silent Auction in Flemington to Benefit the Trillium Foundation for Education

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

Hunterdon County Chamber Announces New Consumer Show this Spring in Flemington

The Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce would like to announce it's newest consumer show coming this spring, 2010. Mark your calendars the First Annual Health & Wellness Fun Fair will be held on Saturday, April 24 at HealthQuest in Flemington from 11:00am - 3:00pm. Similar to the Chamber's Fall Business EXPO, the Health & Wellness Fun Fair will feature exhibitor booths and interactive things to do and see. Visitors and vendors alike will make face-to-face connections with local, county and regional audiences.

Consider exhibiting if you are in the:

Health/wellness field

Recreational field

Educational field

"The Health & Wellness Fun Fair will be a great opportunity for Hunterdon County businesses to get face-to-face interaction and connect directly to consumers in and around the county," says Chamber President, Chris Phelan.

If you have a consumer-driven business, the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce Health & Wellness Fun Fair is the place to showcase your company. There will be 50 exhibitor booths available as a platform for your business and they are selling quickly! Call the Chamber at 908-782-7115 for your registration form. Prices on the main floor for a 8' x 10' booth is $375 for Chamber Members and $525 for Non-Members.

To view sponsorship packages, register to be an exhibitor, or for more information, call 908-782- 7115 or visit www.hunterdonchamber.org. Sponsorships starting at $750 and includes an exhibitor booth! The Health & Wellness Fun Fair is sponsored by: Hunterdon Prevention Resources, Supporting Sponsor; HealthQuest, Supporting Sponsor; Hunterdon County YMCA, Program Sponsor; and Home Instead Senior Care, Program Sponsor. Visit www.hunterdon-chamber.org for up-to-date details.

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

Hunterdon Youth Choir partners with NBCS Concert Chorus to benefit Voices For Charity!

On Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 4 PM, the Hunterdon Youth Choir is once again performing to benefit Voices For Charity. This year the Hunterdon Youth Choir will be joined by the Concert Chorus of the Newark Boys Chorus School (NBCS) in a performance to be held at JP Case Middle School in Flemington. We hope you will join us for this special performance. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children and seniors. Proceeds will benefit Voices For Charity as well as the Newark Boys Chorus School, both of which are 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. A reception will immediately follow the concert.

A workshop preceding the concert will provide the opportunity for the two choirs to practice together and get to know each other. This is an important musical and cultural event, because it brings together two long-standing New Jersey youth choirs that have been of great importance to their respective communities.

About the Ensembles:

Hunterdon Youth Choir has performed statewide in youth festivals, community concerts, and benefits for local charities for more than 10 years. It is part of Hunterdon Academy of the Arts in Flemington. Hunterdon Youth Choir has grown over the years, and now comprises three distinct sections to accommodate choristers of different age groups and skill levels: Training Choir (grades 1-3), Advanced Choir (grades 4-6) and Bel Canto Singers (Grades 7-12).

Training and Advanced Choirs are directed by Kimberly Hill, and their focus is on learning proper vocal techniques (diction, proper breathing technique, etc.), voice development, as well as gaining experience in part-singing, sight-singing, and musical interpretation.

Founded in 2008 and directed by Rosemary Nagy, Bel Canto Singers is the Concert Choir of Hunterdon Youth Choir. Bel Canto Singers represents a women-only group comprised of up to 30 highly motivated, ambitious young singers, grades 7 and up. Striving for excellence in choral performance, this ensemble requires an audition for new members. Many of Bel Canto Singers also take voice lessons and are very strong singers.

NBCS Concert Chorus

The NBCS Concert Chorus is a renowned performing group, recognized widely for its artistry. Comprised of students in 6th, 7th and 8th grades, the Concert Chorus is conducted by NBCS Music Director, Donald C. Morris. Students in 4th and 5th grades make up the Apprentice Chorus, directed by Michael SanFlippo. Both choruses have stylistically diverse repertoires that include African folk songs, classical music (Renaissance to 20th century), spirituals, contemporary show tunes, pop music, and jazz.

The Concert Chorus performs at venues throughout the state and region and tours internationally every third year. Its travels have included Japan, Australia, South Africa, Russia, China, New Zealand, Finland, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and England and Wales.

About Voices For Charity:

Voices For Charity has been living the dream to make a difference in the world through music since it was founded in 1996. The all-volunteer non-profit organization has donated nearly $100,000 to various Hunterdon County and central New Jersey charities from the proceeds of special events, concerts, recordings and community contributions. Our benefiting charities for 2010 are: Briteside Adult Day Centers, Good News Home for Women, Hunterdon County Teen Arts, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Meals on Wheels, and Safe in Hunterdon.

For more information about the concert, Voices For Charity and other fundraiser, please call 908-806-3719 or visit our website at www.voicesforcharity.org. Inquiries and donations may be sent to: Voices For Charity, P.O. Box 188, Stanton, NJ 08885.

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

Open House this weekend at Acorn Montessori School in Clinton Township

The greatest investment you can make in your children's future is their education. At Acorn Montessori School we believe that education is much more than basic academics. Established in 1984, Acorn Montessori School is a community of compassionate teachers and staff providing students with a blend of love, respect and academic excellence to foster a life-long love of learning.

This "whole-child" approach -- coupled with our commitment to provide a strong academic foundation in an age-appropriate setting -- has helped our children go on to become motivated learners, effective leaders, and active citizens.

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

Huge Charity Barn sale in Flemington to benefit the Shannon Daley Memorial Fund

On Saturday and Sunday, March 13 & 14th, the Edgewood Farm Barn at 125 Cole Road, Flemington will be open from 8-4 to treasure hunt. This will be RAIN or SHINE. The friends of the league have a great assortment of household items, antiques, gently used books and baby toys, along with a card table, dorm refrigerator, new Tivo, old windows, baseball cards, Nordic Track, and picnic table. There is an industrial sewing machine , a changing table, crib and jogger stroller.

Things are priced to sell and all proceeds go to the Shannon Daley Memorial Fund. There will be coffee and cookies by Ellie Kowal.

The charity was established by the Readington Mens basketball League and it is strictly all volunteer. The mission is to assist local seriously ill children and their families who are experiencing financial hardship. Their basketball game held last week raised almost $100,000. This year the recipients of the fund are Damien Giammarco from Bridgewater, Joseph Delli Santi of Readington and Taliah Gresham of Somerset. For information of events and to see updates on past recipients, go to www.shannonfund.org

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

Central Liqours in Flemington Pours Support for Agency

A wine tasting will be held at Copper Hill Country Club on March 21, 2010 from 2 to 4:30 pm, The wine tasting will feature the top 64 wines personally chosen by the staff of Central Liqours in Flemington New Jersey. The staff will be on hand to pour and discuss the wine with attendees. Copper Hill Country wil be offering light food to complement the wine. Shoprite of Flemington has donated a selection of cookies and Brownies and also Attorney Joe Mulherin has donated a wide variety of chocolates to enhance the wine tasting experience as well as finish the afternoon with a sweet treat.

Tickets can be purchased by emailing Carl Weber at carlweber@rcn.com.

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

“FREEDOM SHRINE” UNVEILED AT CLINTON TOWNSHIP MIDDLE SCHOOL

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

Readington Community Theatre in Whitehouse Station presents a Musical

Readington Theatre presents their next musical, "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten," on April 23 and 24 at 7 p.m., and April 25 at 2 p.m. The show will be presented at Whitehouse School, 50 Whitehouse Ave. in Whitehouse Station. Tickets are $10 at the door, and may be purchased in advance by calling 908-938-6965.

This is the stage adaptation of the best-selling book by Robert Fulghum. It is a story-telling piece about ordinary people offering an insightful perspective on everyday life.

The cast consists of Paul deWolfe, Jennifer Leta, David Holzwarth, John Kunka, Marie Comerford, and Dennis Johnson as the narrator. Producing the musical include: director Joe Systo, music director Emily Bengels, and producer Rob Nonni.

For information, call 908-938-6965 or visit www.rctnj.org.

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

Hunterdon Chamber Announces New Consumer Show Coming this Spring in Flemington

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

Family Money Savings Event in Flemington

The US Department of Agriculture estimates that it takes $190,000 to raise a child. With food and gas prices heading up and home values heading down, what's an average hardworking family to do? With the spring and summer season quickly approaching yet another assault on the family budget. Families are looking for ways to stretch their hard earned dollars and that's where the Kidzsignment's children's consignment sale comes in. The brainchild of Flemington mother of 3, Laurie Owens, the semi-annual sale brings quality, gently used children's items to the market. The next sale will March 18-20 at the Hunterdon (Staples) Shopping Center in Flemington. As founder Laurie Owens, who has been recognized in the Wall Street Journal for her entrepreneurial skills, said "I always knew how stretch a dollar and thought this would be a great idea to help other families. The sale really focuses on keeping down the cost of growing up." The event provides an excellent outlet for families to shop for children's items at a fraction of what it would cost to buy the items new. "We only accept items in excellent condition We inspect everything before we offer it for sale shoppers will find great deals on name-brands like Gymboree, GAP, Little Tikes, Fisher Price Peg Pergo and many others." Owens also says that the sale helps benefit those less fortunate. Unsold items are donated to local and inner city charities at the end of the sale.

The first sale was held in the spring of 2005 and drew 41 sellers and over 250 shoppers. Since then, each sale has seen even more buyers and sellers, with the fall sale hosting over 300 sellers and thousands of shoppers. Items run the gamut from sports equipment, to DVDs, to nursery furniture, infant gear, toys, shoes, books, and of course clothing. This event also features a special first-time mom pass to new or expectant parents whose oldest child is 18 months or less (space is limited and pre-registration is required). Kidzsignments donates thousands of unsold items to local charities and NJ based impoverished city organizations. Any local organization interested in receiving unsold items can contact Owens at laurie@kidzsignmensts.com or 908-788-0433.

The sale will be held from March 18-20 at the Hunterdon (Staples) Shopping Center (next to Pier One and Staples) in Flemington.

For more information, including directions, on the upcoming sale visit the Kidzsignments website today at www.kidzsignments.com or contact Owens at laurie@kidzsignments.com or 908-788-0433.

Kidzsignments was founded by Laurie Owens in 2005 and has been running semi annual consignment sales since. Kidzsignments has been featured in the Wall Street Journal.

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

Hunterdon & Somerset County to Partner on Non-Profit Symposium in Branchburg

The Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce, with the Somerset County Business Partnership, the Somerset County United Way, United Way of Hunterdon County, and the Boards of Chosen Freeholders of Somerset and Hunterdon Counties will collaborate for the presentation of "Business Perspectives In Non-Profit Management" on Monday, March 8, 2010. The full-day symposium will run from 8:00 A.M. to 3:15 P.M. at Raritan Valley Community College, 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, New Jersey.

The presentation is geared to non-profit organization leaders, board members, staff, and volunteers. The discussion will focus on strengthening organizational missions, stimulating strategic thinking, and creating dialogue that will improve management practices to enhance business performance and service delivery.

The morning keynote speaker will be Dr. DeForest Soaries, Jr., Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset New Jersey. The afternoon keynote will be delivered by Dr. Donald Scarry, Principal Economist for New Jersey Economics, in addition to over 30 years experience as a research economist for the New Jersey Department of Labor and the New Jersey Business & Industry Association.

Breakout sessions throughout the day will focus on "Creating a Board Culture for Success," "Non-Profit Leadership," "Benefiting from Strong Media Relations," "Fundraising: Strategies that Work," "Attracting & Retaining Great Board Members," and "Which Social media Outlet is a Fit for Your Non-Profit."

Fee for the full-day session is $10 if pre-registered and $25 at the door. Reservations are requested by Friday, February 26, 2010. Payment may be made to the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce, One Church Street, Suite 73, Flemington, New Jersey 08822. Registration is also available online at www.hunterdon-chamber.org. For information call 908-782-7115.

The symposium is sponsored by TD Bank.

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

Men Mentoring Men Announces New Book & Workshop: Fathering Through Divorce in Flemington

Men Mentoring Men, the non-profit New Jersey organization dedicated to re-defining the concept of masculinity will hold a workshop for men entitled "Fathering Through Divorce" on Tuesday evening, March 23 from 7:30 to 9:30 at the Spring Run School, 11 Minneakoning Road in Flemington, NJ. Designed to help men navigate through the painful emotional and complicated process of divorce and fathering after the breakup, the workshop will be facilitated by Flemington relationship coach Dr. Richard Horowitz. Also participating in the workshop panel discussions and sessions will be men whose real stories are told in the new book "Fathering Through Divorce: A Handbook for Men Dealing with Divorce and its Impact on Parenting" ($9.95, 120 pages). The book, written by Carol Patton, was published by Men Mentoring Men to guide men dealing with divorce and its impact on parenting. A free copy of the book is included in the $15 workshop fee. Men who attend the workshop will learn strategies to cope with this life transition and will experience the empowerment of sharing their journey with men in similar circumstances. "Men who share their life experiences with other men can find the support they need when dealing with the difficulties of divorce and parenting," says Dr. Horowitz. "This valuable workshop and book meld the valuable expertise from psychologists, counselors and attorneys with stories from men who have experienced feelings of failure, guilt, bitterness and anger associated with their divorce." "Fathering Through Divorce" offers these tips for dads in problem solving and making decisions associated with divorce:

-Avoid name-calling, killer statements and put-downs.

-Meet in a public place or email each other to resolve issues about the children.

-Steer clear of history lessons bringing up the past should be taboo.

-Place of photo of your children next to you during phone calls or while emailing to help you stay focused on what's best for your children.

-Email your concerns in advance of each meeting so both of you will have time to think them through.

-Stay on topic and focus on one problem at a time.

-Create an agenda. -Be flexible. -Brainstorm solutions.

To register for the "Fathering Through Divorce" workshop, visit www.menmentoringmen.org.

The "Fathering Through Divorce" workshop and book were made possible through a grant from Men Mentoring Men Trustee Dr. Howard Greenberg in honor of his father Irv Greenberg. For more information, contact Dr. Richard Horowitz, (732) 261-6724.

About Men Mentoring Men (M3)

Men Mentoring Men, located in Somerville and Lambertville, NJ is a self-sustaining council of thoughtful men dedicated to participation in and appreciation of the triumphs and failures of life's journey by enriching the lives of each other, those they love and the community at large. Mentoring is an honest and shameless exchange of acquired wisdom encompassing the exploration of the myth, mystery and magic of life.

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

Trillium Charter School Unanimously Approved by Flemington Planning Board

Flemington, Feb. 28 2010 -- The Flemington Planning Board has unanimously approved the Trillium Charter School to be located at One East Main Street in downtown Flemington. School Founders and administration will now begin working on converting the former town administrative offices to the Trillium Charter School. Individual classrooms, common areas, an outdoor garden and more will all be built.

Parent Advocate, Michael Karpinski, who attended the planning board meeting said, "The meeting was very positive. Board members and town residents were excited and pleased with the proposal. They hope the school will bring more life and business to a once bustling downtown Flemington."

The free public school will open its doors this September with to up to 152 students from the sending districts of Flemington-Raritan, Delaware Township, and East Amwell Township and surrounding areas. The school, which will be the first charter school in Hunterdon County, will enroll students for Kindergarten through Grade Four, and grow by one grade each year to ultimately serve Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. Applications are currently being accepted for September enrollment and are available at http://school.trilliumeducation.org.

The school's mission is to educate according to three commitments: to each learner as an individual, each learner as a member of families and communities, and to the Earth. The school will focus on supporting the development of the whole child: intellectually, physically, socially, and emotionally. Small class sizes and project-based learning are two of the ways that Trillium Charter School will achieve this mission.

Rose King, Lambertville resident, educator, and Lead Founder of Trillium Charter School, "In the last three years, we've been amazed at the level of public interest in our mission. Many people collaborated in the chartering process and we believe that Trillium Charter School will be an outstanding public school option for students and their families."

Families interested in learning more about the school can attend the school's monthly information sessions, held at the Hunterdon County Library Headquarters, at 7:00pm on the second Tuesday of each month. They can also attend the Silent Auction scheduled for March 20th at 7:30pm at the Shaker Caf in Flemington. More information about these events and the school is available at http://school.trilliumeducation.org

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

RAC Cheer in Hunterdon County takes off running

RAC Cheer is a brand new competitive cheer program that is dedicated to giving each cheerleader the ultimate cheerleading experience. We strive to get to know each individual, help them set and reach goals, learn the value of commitment and team work and ultimately see their dreams become a reality. We are located out of the Raritan Athletic Sports Center, 97 River Road in Flemington NJ. RAC Sports center is a facility for volleyball and basketball, as well as promoting other extra curricular for local children, teens and young adults.

The RAC's coaching staff's mission is to offer the best technical cheer and tumbling training possible for these young athletes. RAC Cheer teaches them to be exceptional people. Focusing on teamwork, integrity, and structured safe workouts, RAC team members learn how to encourage one another while building their self-confidence. Our program has been designed to enable Hunterdon County's Pop Warner cheerleaders and cheerleaders in similar programs, continue to build and strengthen their cheerleading and tumbling skills to prepare them for future years as High School Cheerleaders.

In our inaugural season, we have developed a team consisting of 15 members, ranging from ages 8-13. In our first competition, the RAC Cheer team has won honors at the TNT Allstars Ultimate Blast-Off 3 winning first place in their Youth Intermediate Division.

Team Members include: Sabrina Besser, Leigh Ann Cook, Leah Creter, Hannah Davis, Emily Huddy, Olivia Huddy, Kassandra Ibrahim, Josie Libero, Grace Marciniak, Katherine Mensching, Kelly Mensching, Jessica Munday, Kaitlin Redling, Alexa Restaino, Tori Rozansky.

Assistant Coaches: Erica Searfoss, Shaina Hawkins.

Heach Coach/Co-Owner: Laura Jo Vitale-Bender

Director/Co-Owner: Deborah Libero

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

Hunterdon & Somerset to Partner on Non-Profit Symposium

The Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce, with the Somerset County Business Partnership, the Somerset County United Way, United Way of Hunterdon County, and the Boards of Chosen Freeholders of Somerset and Hunterdon Counties will collaborate for the presentation of "Business Perspectives In Non-Profit Management" on Monday, March 8, 2010. The full-day symposium will run from 8:00 A.M. to 3:15 P.M. at Raritan Valley Community College, 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, New Jersey.

The presentation is geared to non-profit organization leaders, board members, staff, and volunteers. The discussion will focus on strengthening organizational missions, stimulating strategic thinking, and creating dialogue that will improve management practices to enhance business performance and service delivery.

The morning keynote speaker will be Dr. DeForest Soaries, Jr., Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset New Jersey. The afternoon keynote will be delivered by Dr. Donald Scarry, Principal Economist for New Jersey Economics, in addition to over 30 years experience as a research economist for the New Jersey Department of Labor and the New Jersey Business & Industry Association.

Breakout sessions throughout the day will focus on "Creating a Board Culture for Success," "Non-Profit Leadership," "Benefiting from Strong Media Relations," "Fundraising: Strategies that Work," "Attracting & Retaining Great Board Members," and "Which Social media Outlet is a Fit for Your Non-Profit."

Fee for the full-day session is $10 if pre-registered and $25 at the door. Reservations are requested by Friday, February 26, 2010. Payment may be made to the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce, One Church Street, Suite 73, Flemington, New Jersey 08822. Registration is also available online at www.hunterdon-chamber.org. For information call 908-782-7115.

The symposium is sponsored by TD Bank.

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

Quest Property & Development Announces Grand Opening

You are cordially invited to the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for Quest Property & Development, LLC, on Wednesday, February 17, from 4:00 6:00pm, 57 Main Street, Flemington, NJ.

The event will be officiated by the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce. A catered Open House with refreshments will follow the Ribbon-Cutting ceremony.

To learn more about the Open House or to register for the event on February 17, 2010, please contact the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce at 908-782-7115 or register online at: www.hunterdon-chamber.org.

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

Premier College Ribbon Cutting

The Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce officiated a ribbon cutting for Premier College Funding on Wednesday, January 20 at their new Main Street office in Flemington.

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

CONGRESSMAN LANCE TO ADDRESS CENTRAL JERSEY REMODELERS GROUP

Congressman Leonard Lance of New Jersey's 7th District will be addressing the monthly dinner meeting of the Central Jersey National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) at 6:00PM on Wednesday, February 17 at Mangia Bene Restaurant, 250 Highway 202/31, in Flemington, NJ.

"Congressman Lance will be specifically updating us and taking questions regarding the upcoming health care legislation and what the ramifications can mean to small business owners," says Central Jersey NARI President Rob Faucett. "He will also be updating us on other upcoming legislation that could affect the building industry. This legislation could mean huge changes to the way small business operates."

NARI is the leading source of information and education for remodeling contractors, subcontractors, architects and designers. "Our members represent the most highly trained and professional people in the remodeling industry," says Faucett. "We are honored that Congressman Lance has agreed to address our members about an issue so vital to their businesses."

The meeting is open to NARI members and guests but does require advanced sign up, either by calling 908-442-6040 or by registering online at www.cjnari.org. Dinner costs for members is $40, non-members $50 and additional guest of members $25 each.

NARI is a professional association whose members voluntarily subscribe to a strict code of ethics. Consumers may wish to search www.cjnari.org to find a quality professional NARI member. Consumers can also call the NARI National hotline at 800-611-NARI and request a free copy of NARI's brochure, "How to Select a Remodeling Professional," or visit www.Remodeltoday.com and click on the homeowner's guide for more information.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is the only trade association dedicated solely to the remodeling industry. NARI members voluntarily sign and uphold a code of ethics. The Central Jersey Chapter meets monthly in Flemington. For further information, please contact us at (908)442-6040.

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

Readington Community Theatre presents a Bagel Junction Coffeehouse

Readington Community Theatre presents the next installment of the coffeehouse concert series: "British Invasion - Unplugged: An Evening of Acoustic Rock" on Saturday, March 6, 7:30 p.m. at the Rockaway Reformed Church, 115 Main Street in Whitehouse Station. The coffeehouse is sponsored by Bagel Junction located at King's Plaza, Whitehouse Station. Tickets are $10 per person, including refreshments, and will be available in advance or at the door. For tickets and information, call (908) 938-5965.

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !

Black History Month Event Planned in Flemington

The Community Diversity Council of Hunterdon County will be celebrating Black History Month on February 20th at 6 pm at James Toyota Scion Kia at 174 Route 202 in Flemington.

This evening will be a journey from the past to the present and the future. It promises to be a fun-filled evening with African dances, fashions, artifacts and a sampling of food from West Africa. Everyone is invited to this free community event.

Read more from this author at MyCentralJersey.com: !