RAHWAY — Arts Guild New Jersey presents ROAD TRIP: MY AMERICA, an exhibition exploring America through the creative viewpoints of eleven artists. The show will be held at 1670 Irving Street, Rahway. The exhibition opens with a free, public reception on Sunday, Feb. 12, 1-4 p.m., and runs through March 15. Gallery hours are Saturdays and Sundays, 1-4 p.m., and during regular office hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The exhibit is wheelchair accessible.

Participating artists include: Susan Marie Brundage (Pa.), Walter Chandoha (Annandale), Don Edler (Brooklyn, N.Y.), William Graef (New York, N.Y.), Neal Korn (Union), Marianne McCarthy (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Nancy Ori (Berkeley Heights), Hannah Rappleye (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Rocco Scary (New Jersey), Robin Stein (Seattle, Wa.), and Sue Zwick (Summit).

In the last century, traveling by back road and interstate has been one of the most popular ways of seeing destinations throughout the United States. “In much the same way a true American road trip links together national landmarks, roadside attractions, and cultural hotspots over the course of many miles, ROAD TRIP: MY AMERICA weaves together a number of uniquely American themes”, says curator Rachael Faillace.

Touching on everything from roadside architecture to the concept of the American Dream, ROAD TRIP: MY AMERICA examines America from a variety of sometimes contradictory perspectives.

Walter Chandoha’s photographs of New York City show a historic and now perhaps sentimental view of America in the 1950’s. After the close of WWII, Chandoha roamed the streets of New York as a college student, capturing the sights and sounds of city life in photographs that still resonate with us today.

Rocco Scary shows “Bye, Bye My Coney Island Baby”, a sculptural work made of handmade paper and wood, and “Coney Island Souvenir Book”, a small book of handmade paper. Both pieces reference the billboards, posters, and hand-painted signage from Coney Island’s boardwalk and speak of a bygone era.

By contrast, Don Edler turns a critical eye on consumerism in modern American society in his piece “Fast, Cheap and…What do I stand for?” A video monitor replaces the stars of an American flag constructed out of drywall. The screen scrolls through TV commercials hawking automobiles and fast food. Edler describes the piece as “an attempt at understanding what drives middle class America”.

Susan Marie Brundage paints landscapes of rural America, but skips over the pastoral scenes of rolling fields and farmland, opting instead to paint mobile homes, highway signage, and r.v. parks. Brundage is interested in sensitizing viewers to “the social realities that exist around them, even though they represent something most Americans would rather ignore.”

Robin Stein shows photographs from his series “Trace” recording a move from West to East Coast. This exploration retraces in reverse the routes of passages used through the early frontier of the Northwest Territory. Stein calls it “an exercise exploring the discontinuity between expectations and the in situ experience of a place.” In this context, his photographs depict odd landmarks and forgotten places chronicling his cross-country expedition.

Sue Zwick shows photographs taken during return trips ‘home’ to Herrin, IL, the hometown of her husband and his family. Paying homage to this small Mid-western town, Zwick’s images memorialize familiar landmarks and a way of life that changed slowly over 40 years.

Marianne McCarthy’s Modern Stone Age series makes use of unusual perspectives of a theme park attraction based on The Flintstones, a popular television cartoon from the 1960’s. A flying raptor, crumbling concrete and steel palm tree, and ‘bedrock’ mound stand out against a vivid blue sky in these panoramic photographs.

Nancy Ori’s photographs depict scenes from the American Southwest. Ori ‘s keen eye composes thoughtful juxtapositions of imagery and content. In one picture, a door decorated with painted hand prints frames the American flag that hangs in its windows. A sticker pasted to the glass is of a Native American man and says, “Man Belongs to the Earth, The Earth Does Not Belong to Man”.

Neal Korn’s “Liberty Bell” illustrates an American icon of freedom drawn from various unique perspectives, giving the impression that the bell is ringing. He shows two other collaged drawings of landmarks from unusual points-of-view: The Orioles baseball stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, and a Civil War-era cannon war memorial in Union, New Jersey.

Looking closely at William Graef’s “Tread” sculpture series, the familiar salutations “Welcome to…”or “Greetings from…” America’s tourist destinations can be seen. Using fragments of torn truck tires, Graef stamps and imprints the bold, illustrated lettering from vintage postcards into the rubber treads. He addresses the concept of ‘the road’ both literally and figuratively in his use of materials and imagery.

Hannah Rappleye looks squarely at the concept of the American Dream in her photography series by the same name. Ten photos taken in Washington D.C. on the same day capture two demonstrations with very different agendas.

For more information on the exhibition or gallery, call 1-732-381-7511 or visit www.agnj.org. A catalog for the exhibition will be available at the Arts Guild during and following the opening reception.

EDISON — Twenty new camp programs have been added to Camp Middlesex for the summer of 2012. The camp, located on the Middlesex County College campus in Edison, is for kids 6 to 18 years old. It runs from June 25-August 17.

An open house, at which prospective campers and their parents can meet staff, learn about all the programs and register, will be Sunday, March 4 from 1-4 p.m. in Billy Johnson Hall. A raffle will be held for a $100 gift certificate toward camp.

Camp Middlesex is actually many special interest camps. Campers can pick their activity from a list of dozens, including theater, robotics, chess, magic, karate, sports, video game creation, art, cooking, fashion, computers, and many more. Each session runs for one week, mornings or afternoons, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. Most kids pick two camps for a full-day experience. There is also a pre-camp option starting at 7:30 a.m. and an after-camp program that goes until 6 p.m.

The cost varies by program but most are $175 per half-day camp.

“Parents love the variety of programs,” said Elaine Berlin, the Camp Middlesex coordinator. “They tell me ‘Who else offers theater, painting, sports, science and cooking, all in one place?’ This is a great option for working parents who want their children to be doing something fun and fulfilling. It’s affordable, and all our instructors are certified classroom teachers who care about each child. We have a full-time nurse should the need arise. Plus, the classrooms are air-conditioned and the campus is beautiful. It’s a wonderful experience.”

New programs include Movie Maker, TV and Screen Acting, Forensics, Boys Rock, Comedy Camp, A Sample of 5 Languages in 5 Days, Tie Dye, Making Your First 3D Video, and Angels, Ghosts and Goblins, among others.

For a brochure that details all the camps, or for more information, call 1-732-906-2556 or visit www.middlesexcc.edu/camp.

CRANFORD – In colleges and universities nationwide, basketball teams are promoting and supporting breast cancer awareness during the month of February. Union County College is participating and is hosting a “Play 4Kay Breast Cancer Awareness” event. Both teams will be selling Breast Cancer Awareness bracelets for $3 each. All proceeds from the bracelet sale will be donated to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is a charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women’s cancers through raising money for scientific research, assisting the underserved and unifying people for a common cause.

The Men’s Basketball team will wear pink during their home game on Feb. 14, against Gloucester. The game will begin at 7 p.m. The Women’s team, the Lady Owls, will wear pink during their home game on Feb. 21, against ASA. The game will begin at 6 p.m.

Bracelets will be on sale at both games. Entrance to the games is free. The college’s gym is located on the Cranford campus at 1033 Springfield Avenue. Parking is also free.

TRENTON – Tonight’s Powerball jackpot is worth up to $310 million. No one has won the game’s top prize since a Pennsylvania couple claimed the jackpot worth $128.8 million in the Christmas Eve drawing last year.

The new Powerball game structure minted its first New Jersey millionaire when that player matched the 5 white balls selected on Feb. 8. Under the new rules, when a player correctly selects the 5 white balls the win is worth $1 million compared with $200,000 in the original game. If that player had also added the Power Play feature to their ticket purchase, their prize would have doubled to $2 million.

Six lucky New Jersey Lottery players each won $10,000 in Wednesday’s drawing. Another third prize winners had purchased the Power Play option and increased that win into $40,000.

The $40,000 winning ticket was purchased at Mr K Stationery in Teaneck. One of the $10,000 winning tickets was sold by 7-11 #18024 (N) in Elizabeth, while the others were sold by stores in Westwood, New Milford, Williamstown, Jersey City, South Brunswick and Forked River.

According to New Jersey Lottery Executive Director Carole Hedinger, 83,471 other New Jersey players took home $441,321 in prizes ranging from $4 to $200.

The winning numbers for the Wednesday, Feb. 8 drawing were: 17, 28, 38, 39, and 51. The Red Power Ball number was 33.

Tonight’s 11 p.m. Powerball drawing will be shown live on the New Jersey Lottery’s website, NJLottery.net.

The multi-state Powerball game is played in 44 states and jurisdictions.

METUCHEN — The Metuchen-Edison Historical Society presents its 22nd annual Local History Day on Sunday, Feb. 12, from 1:30-4 p.m. in the community room of the Metuchen Library, 480 Middlesex Avenue.

Because Feb. 12th is former President Abraham Lincoln’s actual birthday, the theme of this year’s event is “The Civil War”, with related items among the many artifacts from the collections of the Society on display.

In addition, old maps, photographs, post cards, and gravestone rubbings, will be on display, providing residents with the opportunity to research their homes and learn about their community’s diverse and interesting history, which includes Revolutionary War battlefields, fascinating architecture, and famous people.

The Society will also have books, maps and other paraphernalia for sale to those who have an interest in the history of our area.

Local History Day is free and open to the public with parking in the library parking lot on Library Place and on the surrounding streets.

UNION — The Union Public Library will host a French film series with four selections beginning Tuesday, Feb. 14, and continuing through March 6. The films will be screened on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. Admission to the programs is free.

The following feature films will be shown: “Midnight In Paris,” “Paris 36,” “MicMacs,” and “Rumba.”

The Union Public Library is located at 1980 Morris Avenue. For further information and a schedule of film titles, call the reference department at 1-908-851-5452.

Theatre • Feb. 10-26 – Playhouse 22, located at the East Brunswick Community Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Rd., East Brunswick, will present a production of Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and students. Info: 1-732-254-3939.

Guitar Night • Feb. 10 from 5:30-8 p.m. – Raritan Bay Coffee Company, located inside the Perth Amboy train station, 233 Smith St., will host a guitar night with music by Alejandro Ataucusi and Paul Kosar. Info: 1-732-343-1717.

Live Music • Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. – The New Standard Jazz Quintet will play at the Salem Roadhouse Café, at Townley Presbyterian Church, 829 Salem Rd., Union. Admission is $15 ($10 students) and includes hot and cold snacks, beverages and desserts. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Info: 1-908-686-1028.

Night of Dance • Feb. 11 from 7-11 p.m. – Enjoy an evening of dining and dancing featuring New Jersey competitive ballroom dancers Terry & Leilani Viney at the Berkeley Plaza, 735 Springfield Ave., Berkeley Heights. Tickets are $75 per person and $150 per couple. Proceeds benefit the United Way of Greater Union County’s Summit Area Special Response Fund. Info: 1-908-353-7171 ext. 129

Art Exhibit • Feb. 12-March 15 – Arts Guild New Jersey, 1670 Irving St., Rahway, will present a new exhibit “Road Trip: My America.” Opening reception on Feb. 12 from 1-4 p.m. Free admission. For info & gallery hours, call 1-732-381-7511.

Sports Card Show • Feb. 12 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – The Rahway Senior Citizens Center, 1306 Esterbrook Ave., will host a sports card and collectibles show. Suggested donation: $1. (Children under 10 accompanied by an adult are admitted free.) Info: 1-732-827-2094.

Valentine’s Tea • Feb. 12 from 11-3 p.m. – The Proprietary House, 149 Kearny Ave., Perth Amboy, will host a Valentine’s Tea. Suggested donation: $7. Includes tour of the former Royal Governor’s Mansion. Info 1-732-826-5527.

Preschool Open House • Feb. 12 from noon-2 p.m. – Bright Beginnings Preschool at the JCC of Middlesex County, 1775 Oak Tree Rd., Edison, will hold an open house for parents of prospective students, ages 2 ½ to 5. Info: Joan Green, 1-732-494-3232 x625

Thanksgiving in February • Feb. 12 from 2- 6 p.m. – Woodbridge Elks Lodge #2116, 665 Rahway Ave. will host a Thanksgiving in February “All You Can Eat” turkey buffet dinner. Admission: $10 for adults, $5 for children 5-10.

Chicken Casserole Contest & Dinner • Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. – First Presbyterian Church of Iselin, 1295 Oak Tree Rd., Iselin, will host a Chicken Casserole Contest and Dinner. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and kids ages 5-12. Judging will be held at 4:45 p.m. Info: 1-732-283-1188.

ESL Classes • Feb. 13 – The JCC of Middlesex County, 1775 Oak Tree Rd., Edison, will offer English as a Second Language classes in February and March. Testing for new students will take place during the week of Feb. 13; classes begin on Feb. 28. The cost is $100 ($10 per class) Info: Sharon Katz, 1-732-494-3232 x. 619.

Cholesterol Screening • Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Overlook Medical Center professionals will conduct cholesterol screenings at Overlook Downtown, 357 Springfield Ave., Summit. Call 1-800-247-9580 to register. There is a $10 fee.

Blood Pressure Screening • Feb. 15 from 5-7 p.m. – Overlook Medical Center health care professionals will conduct blood pressure screenings at the Westfield YMCA, 220 Clark St. Call 1-800-247-9580 to register.

Blood Pressure Screening • Feb. 16 from 10 a.m. – noon – Overlook Medical Center health care professionals will conduct blood pressure screenings at Whole Foods Market, 2245 Springfield Ave., Vauxhall. Call 1-800-247-9580 to register.

Medicare/Medicaid Seminar • Feb. 16 from 1-3 p.m. – The state Bar Foundation will sponsor a free public seminar on navigating the “Medicare-Medicaid Maze” at the New Jersey Law Center, One Constitution Square off Ryders Lane in New Brunswick. To register, call 1-800-FREE-LAW.

Flower & Garden Show • Feb. 16 from 1-8 p.m., Feb 17 &18 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Feb. 19 from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. – The New Jersey Flower & Garden Show, offering garden displays, a flower show and a garden marketplace, will be held at New Jersey Convention Center, Edison. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $6 for kids 12-17. Info:1-732-449-4004

Book Discussion • Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. – The Carteret Public Library, 100 Cooke Ave., will host a meeting of its Reading Club. They will discuss “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. Info: 1-732-541-3830.

Estate & Income Tax Seminar • Feb. 16 from 7-9 p.m. – The state Bar Foundation will sponsor a free public seminar on Estate and Federal Income Tax at the New Jersey Law Center off Ryders Lane in New Brunswick. To register, call 1-800-FREE-LAW.

Open Mic Night • Feb. 16 from 7-9 p.m. – The Raritan Bay Coffee Company, located inside the Perth Amboy Train Station at 233 Smith St., will host an open mic night for music, song and spoken word. There will also be an art reception for local artist Juan Valdez. Info: 1-732-343-1717.

Fish & Chips • Feb. 17 from 5-8 p.m. – The Rahway High School Band Boosters will sponsor a fish and chips dinner by Argyle Restaurant at the American Legion Hall, 581 Maple Ave., Rahway. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children under 10 years old. Call 1-732-882-8745 or 1-732-208-4633. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Blood Drive • Feb. 18 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Lafayette Lodge #27, 1550 Irving St., Rahway, will host a blood drive. All donors will receive a complimentary cholesterol screening. Info: 1-732-388-0309

Great Backyard Bird Count • Feb. 19 from 11 a.m. –2 p.m. –Rutgers Master Gardners of Middlesex County invite you to take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park. Bring your binoculars and field guides. RSVP to evans@AESOP.Rutgers.edu

Chug Ivrit • Feb. 19 at 11 a.m. – Raritan Valley Chapter’s Chug Ivrit (Hebrew Club) will meet at the home of Rachel Weintraub, 120 Highland Ave., Edison. Info: 1-732-819-9298.

Concert • Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. – The New Jersey Workshop for the Arts Concert Band will play selections ranging from Renaissance to Ragtime favorites at Temple Emanu-El, 756 East Broad St., Westfield. Admission is $10 per person. Info: 1-908-789-9696.

Missionary Sunday • Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. – Calvary Assembly of God, 953 West Chestnut St., Union, has invited David and Cheryl Greco to the church’s monthly “Missionary Sunday” service to discuss their work in Mexico. Info: 1-908-694-1133.

Dance • Feb. 19 from 7 – 11 p.m. – Woodbridge Widows Or Widowers will hold an open dance at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Morrisey Ave., Avenel. Refreshments, all welcome. Admission: $10 members, $12 guests. Info: 1-732-381-3255 or 1-908-757-0515.

Singles • Feb. 19 at 8 p.m. – Steppin’ Out Singles will hold an upscale dance party at the Woodbridge Hilton Grand Ballroom, 20 Wood Ave. South, Iselin. Ages 40+; no jeans/t-shirts/sneakers. Admission: $17. Info: 1-732-656-1801. Directions: 1-732-494-6200.

Open Auditions • Feb. 20 & 21 at 7 p.m. – Playhouse 22, East Brunswick’s Community Theater, will hold open auditions for its spring production of “Gypsy” at the East Brunswick Community Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Rd. Info: 1-732-254-3939 or www.Playhouse22.org.

Shrove Tuesday Potato Pancake Supper • Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. – The Reformed Church of Linden, 600 N. Wood Ave., will host a Shrove Tuesday Potato Pancake Supper. Tickets (advance only – Feb. 17 cutoff) are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Info: 1-908-486-3714.

Heart Health • Feb. 22 from 5:30-7 p.m. – A Trinitas Regional Medical Center cardiologist will speak at a “Joyful Heart” tea, which will include a light, heart-healthy dinner, at Echo Executive Plaza, Suite 1A, 899 Mountain Ave., Springfield. To register, call 1-908-994-8939.

Dining To Donate • Feb. 23 from 2-8 p.m. – Broadway Bistro, 26 North Broadway, South Amboy, will hold a Dining To Donate fundraiser for the Dowdelll Library Foundations. If patrons present a flier for the event, 10% of their check will be donated. Fliers are available from the bistro and the library. Info: 1-732-316-1078.

Book Signing • Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m. – Author Cristina Guarneri will sign copies of her novel “See No Evil” at Rock N Joe, 339 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell. Info: 1-888-361-9473

History Lecture • Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. – Stephen Schoeman, Ph.D., will lecture on the history of the U.S. Presidency from colonial times to the present at the Union Public Library, 1980 Morris Ave. Info: 1-908-851-5450 ext. 5452.

Elizabeth AARP • Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. – Elizabeth AARP Chapter 5439 will hold their monthly meeting at the Stephen Sampson Senior Center, 800 Anna St., Elizabeth. New members welcome. Info: 1-908-342-6920.

Black History Month • Feb. 24 from 6:30-9 p.m. – United Way’s African-American Leadership Initiative’s “Making A Mark” event will celebrate A Journey of Black Dance, with a performance by the Plainfield High School Dance Ensemble with special guests, The New Jersey Orators Group. Tickets for the event, which will be held at Kean University’s University Center Little Theater, 1000 Morris Ave., Union, are $25. Info: 1-908-353-7171 ext. 136.

Art Workshop • Feb. 25 – Arts Guild NJ, 1670 Irving St., Rahway, will present an Encaustic Painting Workshop. Fee: $70 + $25 materials fee. Registration required; call 1-732-381-7511.

Spaghetti Dinner • Feb. 26 from 4-8 p.m. – Middlesex County 4-H will host a spaghetti dinner fundraiser at the County 4-H Center, 645 Cranbury Rd., East Brunswick. Tickets are $8 per person, and proceeds will help pay for needed repairs at the Middlesex County 4-H Center. The Hub Kings will play soul/jazz music during part of the evening. To reserve your seat, call 1-732-398-5261.

Green Living Group Meeting • Feb. 27 from 7-9 p.m. – Rutgers professor Dr. Joseph Heckman will present “Anonymous Commodity Producer or Artisan Farmer with a Face: Who is Your Farmer and Why? At the East Brunswick Public Library, 2 Jean Walling Civic Center, in meeting room 1. Info: www.friendsebec.com.

Women’s History Month Film Festival • March 1-3 – Women in Media-Newark will present “FootPrints in the City” with a kickoff event at the Newark Public Library and films at the Paul Robeson Student Center, Rutgers-Newark, on March 2 & 3. Info: www.wim-n.com

Gift Auction • March 2 at 7:30 p.m. – The Parents Guild of Mother Seton Regional High School. Valley Road, Clark (GSP Exit 135) will sponsor a “Bon Voyage” Gift Auction. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Admission: $15. No tickets sold at the door. For tickets and info, call 1-732-382-1952.

Craft & Vendor Fair • March 3 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Middlesex County 4-H will hold a craft fair fundraiser at the 4-H Center on Cranbury Rd., East Brunswick. Info: 1-732-723-9968.

Art Workshop • March 3 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Arts Guild NJ, 1670 Irving St., Rahway, will present an Alla Prima Painting Technique Workshop. Fee: $70. Registration required; call 1-732-381-7511.

Book Signing • March 4 from 1-4 p.m. – Author Dominick Mazzagetti will sign copies of his book, “True Jersey Blues” at the Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, 45 Macculloch Ave., Morristown. Museum admission required. Info: 1-973-538-2404.

Gift Auction • March 4 at 2 p.m. (snow date: March 11) – Divine Mercy Parish, 213 Pershing Ave., Carteret, will host its annual gift auction. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Admission: $8 (no one under 18 admitted.) For info or tickets, call Lori at 1-732-541-5616 or Debbie at 1-732-541-5736.

Widows Or Widowers • March 5 at 7 p.m. – Middlesex East Widows Or Widowers will hold a business meeting at the Carteret Community Center, Pershing & Cooke Aves. All widows or widowers are invited to attend. Info: 1-732-969-2228 or 1-908-757-0515.

Business Seminar • March 7 from 7-9 p.m. – The state Bar Foundation will hold a free public seminar, “Starting and Succeeding with a New Business” at the New Jersey Law Center, One Constitution Square, off Ryders Lane in New Brunswick. To register, call 1-800-FREE-LAW.

Singles • March 9 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. – The Professional and Business Singles Network will hold a casual singles social at Snuffy’s Famous Steak House, 250 Park Ave. at Rte. 22 in Scotch Plains. $18 admission, cash bar. Sharp casual business attire. 40+ age group. Info: 1-610-348-5544.

Gift Auction • March 9 at 8 p.m. – The St. John the Apostle Parent Faculty Guild is sponsoring a gift auction at the school’s auditorium. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $12 at the door or $10 in advance. The school is located on Valley Road, Clark. Info: 1-908-276-0498.

Art Workshop • March 10 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Arts Guild NJ, 1670 Irving St., Rahway, will present a Dynamic Figure Drawing and Anatomy Workshop. Fee: $95. Registration required; call 1-732-381-7511.

Farmers Market • March 10 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – The first East Brunswick Winter Farmers Market will be held a the East Brunswick Community Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Rd.

ONE VOICE Coalition Breakfast • March 10 at 10 a.m. – The Italian-American ONE VOICE Coaltion will hold a special breakfast for new members at Brix Tapas Bar & Grill, 371 Franklin Ave., Belleville. Breakfast is $25; ONE VOICE membership is $60. Info: 1-973-759-9259.

CD & Record Show • March 11 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – The Greater NJ Record Show returns to Hotel 304 West on Route 22 West in Springfield. Dozens of music dealers will sell records, CDs, DVDs and memorabilia. Admission: $6 for adults, $3 for kids. Info: GNJRecordShows@yahoo.com

Purim Carnival • March 11 from noon-3 p.m. – The Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County, 1775 Oak Tree Rd., Edison, will hold a Purim Carnival Extravaganza. Free admission and games. Come in costume & receive two prize tickets. Info: 1-732-494-3232 ext. 621.

Blood Drive • March 13 from 12:30-6:30 p.m. – The Linden Public Library, 31 East Henry St., will host a blood drive in the Columbia Bank Room. Info: 1-908-298-3830 ext. 11 or 1-800-NJBLOOD.

St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon • March 14 – St. Genevieve’s Leisure Group will hold their St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon at the Kenilworth Inn, at a cost of $32. Reservations may be made by calling 1-908-352-6942.

Landlord/Tenant Issues Seminar • March 15 from 7-9 p.m. – The state Bar Foundation will sponsor a free public seminar on Landlord-Tenant Issues at the New Jersey Law Center off Ryders Lane in New Brunswick. To register, call 1-800-FREE-LAW.

St. Patrick Happy Hour • March 16 from 5-7 p.m. – Ken Vercammen is inviting Central Jersey business owners and professionals to a St. Patrick Happy Hour at Bar Anticipation, 703 16th Ave., Lake Como / Belmar. RSVP to VercammenLaw@Njlaws.com and bring a canned food donation.

Fishing Flea Market • March 17 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. – The Rahway Fishing Flea Market, now in its 16th year, returns to St. Thomas Church Hall, 1400 St. Georges Ave. Saltwater & freshwater fishing items and boating items will be for sale. Admission: $4 (Children under 12 free) Info: 1-732-381-2165.

St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance • March 17 from 7:30-11:30 p.m. – Knights of Columbus #4815, 61 Pine St., Old Bridge, will hold a St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance. Tickets are $25 (advance only) and include a traditional dinner, wine/beer/soda, and desserts. Cash bar. DJ music by Tony V. Info: 1-732-251-0970.

Cancer Presentation • March 21 at 7 p.m. – The Northern NJ Affiliate of the Young Survival Coalition will sponsor an event, “Reinventing Your Life After Cancer,” with guest speaker Gail Tyrrell, executive director of the Ruby Heals Foundation, at Morristown Memorial Hospital’s Carol G. Simon Cancer Center. To register, call 1-201-843-6695.

Nonviolent Communication Workshop • March 31 from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. – The Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, will host “Moving Beyond Enemy Images in Peace & Justice Work” presented by Eliane Geren, CNVC Trainer. Registration is $60 and participants should bring a bagged lunch. Info: 1-973-838-8576.

Disabilities Awareness Day • April 15 from noon-4 p.m. – The North Brunswick Abilities Council will host its 4th annual Disabilities Awareness Day at North Brunswick Township High School, 98 Raider Rd. Free admission; refreshments. Info: 1-732-247-0922 ext. 619.

CD & Record Show • June 10 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – The Greater NJ Record Show returns to Hotel 304 West on Route 22 West in Springfield. Dozens of music dealers will sell records, CDs, DVDs and memorabilia. Admission: $6 for adults, $3 for kids. Info: GNJRecordShows@yahoo.com

CLARK – On Friday, March 9, St. John the Apostle Parent Faculty Guild is sponsoring a gift auction. It is to be held in the Sister Donna Marie O’Brien Auditorium, located at the school on Valley Road, Clark. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and drawings are to begin promptly at 8 p.m.

Come with friends for a night of great fun and fantastic prizes such as electronics, home décor, housewares, baskets of cheer, toys, sporting goods, Pot-O-Gold Mystery prize, gift cards, etc. The prizes include an iPad, XBOX Kinect and a Kindle 3G Touch. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. Kitchen will be open for light fare, as well.

Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling Linda at 1-908-276-0498. Admission is $10 in advance and $12 at the door. A free sheet of center table tickets comes with your admission. Call 1-908-276-0498 for tickets.

By Corinne Wnek

Before I was ten years old, I learned a lot of things about life from my parents. At seven or eight, I could remember the sit-downs with mom and dad that I thought would be about one thing but ended up being about something else. No matter what the conversation was about, there was always a natural segue into a discussion about my parent’s general expectations for us as a family.

I remember my father telling me as a little girl that every generation must try to do better than the one before it. He explained that he and my mother were first generation Americans since their parents emigrated from Europe. My grandparents, he told me, had all to do just to find work in their new country, raise children and learn English. And they did so without any help.

Because they were born here, my parents had the advantage of knowing firsthand all the opportunities that this country offered to anyone who was willing to work hard. And work hard they did. My parents really believed it was their responsibility to provide a variety of opportunities for their daughters, that growing up, they themselves did not have.

I often heard that, when I became a parent, I would be expected to do for my children everything I could do to make their lives even better than the good life my parents provided for me. To my parents, education was the key ingredient. No matter what, my sister and I would graduate from college and that was the end of that. Boyfriends, let alone husbands, were out of the equation until after graduation.

My parents practiced what they preached because my mother, at 86, is still making life better and easier in so many ways for her children and grandchildren. I took the words of my parents seriously. I understood what they meant about providing opportunities every time I had to write out a painful tuition check for my daughter’s pricey college education. Ouch. That hurt. But as my mother would say, “That was a happy pain you felt.”

Cut to my counseling office in the high school where I work. My last appointment for this afternoon is a requested college planning conference for the family of a student who is still waiting to acquire residency status in the United States. In came the mother, a disabled father and two older brothers who I thought might be about twenty-three or twenty-four old.

After I finished explaining how our American college system works and that, unfortunately, their child would not be eligible for any financial aid until she receives her green card, the brothers put their hands around Lucia’s shoulders proudly and said: “We no have opportunity to go college in Peru, but come here and work hard to have better life at least. Lucia is smart girl on honor roll and she want to learn. So she will go to college and we each pay half for her so she have better life later on.”

De ja vu.

ELIZABETH — Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski (right) and Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi discuss one of the displays at the opening of “Preserving the Union,” an exhibit to commemorate Union County’s role in the Civil War of 1861-65, in the Rotunda of the Union County Courthouse in historic mid-town Elizabeth. The Union County Civil War commemorative exhibit will be on display until 2015. The exhibit may be viewed weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)