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.

Juan Gonzalez of Plainfield and Skyla Choi of Fort Lee, seniors at The Wardlaw-Hartridge School, show second graders the proper way of adjusting a seat belt on Elijah Ojo of Rahway during their safety presentation. (Photo by Rudy Brandl of Fanwood / Wardlaw-Hartridge)

EDISON — The Safety Ambassador Program at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is a learning experience that will help children understand the importance of practicing safe behaviors at home, in the car, and at play.

The Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s Injury Prevention Program received a grant from the New Jersey Office for Prevention of Developmental Disabilities four years ago to implement the Safety Ambassador Program, which teaches key safety messages and presentation skills to juniors and seniors from Middlesex County high schools.

Once trained, the Safety Ambassadors develop lesson plans and teach first and second graders about four important safety topics: falls prevention, pedestrian safety, safety in and around cars and wheeled sports helmet use.

Wardlaw-Hartridge safety ambassadors Abigail Siegel of Maplewood, Janissa Delzo of Middlesex, Juan Gonzalez of Plainfield, Arturo Martinez of North Plainfield, Skyla Choi of Fort Lee, Kush Mody of Edison, Ashni Mehta of Piscataway and Krystal Sonson of Plainfield made a presentation to the second grade classes on Feb. 7. The safety ambassadors really engaged the students and made the presentations fun and interactive.

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.

Seated (L to R): High school seniors Shannon Soto of Linden; Casleny Augustin of Rahway; Patrycja Potocka of Linden; and Marco Bautista of Elizabeth. Standing (L to R): Kimberly Alvarez of Elizabeth; Michael Rosa of Rahway; Malaica Beaubrun of Roselle; Maria Camila Cuevas of Elizabeth; and Debra Mallamace, Berkeley College Campus Operating Officer, Woodbridge. The students received scholarships to attend Berkeley College. (Photo courtesy of Berkeley College)

UNION COUNTY — Berkeley College President Dario A. Cortes, PhD has announced that high school seniors from Union County have received scholarships to attend Berkeley College.

“We are proud to recognize the academic accomplishments of these high school seniors by awarding them scholarships to attend Berkeley College,” said Dr. Cortes. “As a college that values diversity, fosters academic growth and recognizes the potential of each student, Berkeley College looks forward to welcoming these scholarship recipients to our campuses in the coming year.”

The following students from Union County have received scholarships to attend Berkeley College:

• Kimberly Alvarez of Elizabeth, Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. Leadership Academy
• Jossmarie Anaya of Elizabeth, Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy
• Casleny Augustin of Rahway, Rahway High School
• Marco Bautista of Elizabeth, Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. Leadership Academy
• Malaica Beaubrun of Roselle, Abraham Clark High School
• Lissett Benitez of Elizabeth, Thomas A. Edison Career & Technical Education High School
• John Calva of Elizabeth, Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. Leadership Academy
• Khadijah Cook of Elizabeth, John E. Dwyer Technology Academy
• Maria Camila Cuevas of Elizabeth, Elizabeth High School Upper Academy
• Karla Gallardo of Linden, Linden High School
• Erick Munoz of Elizabeth, Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. Leadership Academy
• Patrycja Potocka of Linden, Linden High School
• Michael Rosa of Rahway, Rahway High School
• Shannon Soto of Linden, Linden High School
• Valeria Valencia of Union, Union High School
• Minoska Zapata of Linden, Linden High School

Berkeley College scholarships are awarded annually to high school seniors who demonstrate a high level of achievement in high school. Scholarships are renewable based on the recipient’s cumulative grade point average at the end of each academic year and continued enrollment as a full-time student.

A leader in business education for 80 years, Berkeley College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and enrolls more than 8,700 students — including more than 800 international students — in its Baccalaureate and Associate degree programs. The College has four New Jersey locations — Woodland Park, Paramus, Woodbridge, and Newark. And in New York there are four locations — Midtown Manhattan, Lower Manhattan in the Wall Street area, Brooklyn, and White Plains. Berkeley College Online also offers full degree programs.

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.

Seated (L to R): High school seniors Brianna Simmons of New Brunswick; Peter Byrne of South Amboy; Shantel Mason of Perth Amboy; Shannon Sprauer of Edison; Zachary Wilson of South Plainfield; Remilder Hatcher of Avenel. Standing (L to R): Paige Chrzaszcz of South Amboy; Jabeth Roca of New Brunswick; Dianne Rios of Avenel; Christian Alape of Piscataway; Katherinn Romero of Perth Amboy; Melissa Tarver of Perth Amboy; Jasmine Luyando of Edison; and Debra Mallamace, Berkeley College Campus Operating Officer, Woodbridge. The students received scholarships to attend Berkeley College. (Photo courtesy of Berkeley College)

MIDDLESEX COUNTY — Berkeley College President Dario A. Cortes, PhD, has announced that high school seniors from Middlesex County have received scholarships to attend the school. “We are proud to recognize the academic accomplishments of these high school seniors by awarding them scholarships to attend Berkeley College,” said Dr. Cortes. “As a college that values diversity, fosters academic growth and recognizes the potential of each student, Berkeley College looks forward to welcoming these scholarship recipients to our campuses in the coming year.” The following students from Middlesex County have received scholarships to attend Berkeley College:

• 

  High school seniors Tahira Ahmed and Brian Persaud of Port Reading; Arth Patel and Chrisann Scafe of Piscataway; and Debra Mallamace, Berkeley College Campus Operating Officer, Woodbridge. The students received scholarships to attend Berkeley College. (Photo courtesy of Berkeley College)

  Tahira Ahmed of Port Reading, Woodbridge High School

• Christian Alape of Piscataway, Piscataway High School
• Yasmeen Bethea of Piscataway, Piscataway High School
• Donald Boley of Avenel, Colonia High School
• Peter Byrne of South Amboy, South Amboy Middle High School
• Paige Chrzaszcz of South Amboy, South Amboy Middle High School
• Michael Dambra of Fords, Woodbridge High School
• Victoria Golaszewski of Carteret, Carteret High School
• Osman Guzman of Woodbridge, Middlesex County Vocational Technical High School
• Remilder Hatcher of Avenel, Colonia High School
• De’Asia Keitt of Woodbridge, John F. Kennedy High School
• Jasmine Luyando of Edison, Edison Township High School
• Shantel Mason of Perth Amboy, Middlesex County Vocational Technical High School
• Arth Patel of Piscataway, Piscataway High School
• Brian Persaud of Port Reading, Woodbridge High School
• Dianne Rios of Avenel, Colonia High School
• Jabeth Roca of New Brunswick, New Brunswick High School
• Katherinn Romero of Perth Amboy, Middlesex County Vocational Technical High School
• Saul Rosa of Perth Amboy, Middlesex County Vocational Technical High School
• Gagandeep Sandhu of Carteret, Carteret High School
• Chrisann Scafe of Piscataway, Piscataway High School
• Brianna Simmons of New Brunswick, Middlesex County Vocational Technical High School
• Shannon Sprauer of Edison, Edison Township High School
• Melissa Tarver of Perth Amboy, Middlesex County Vocational Technical High School
• Edison Taveras of New Brunswick, New Brunswick High School
• Zachary Wilson of South Plainfield, South Plainfield High School

Berkeley College scholarships are awarded annually to high school seniors who demonstrate a high level of achievement in high school. Scholarships are renewable based on the recipient’s cumulative grade point average at the end of each academic year and continued enrollment as a full-time student. A leader in business education for 80 years, Berkeley College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and enrolls more than 8,700 students — including more than 800 international students — in its Baccalaureate and Associate degree programs. The College has four New Jersey locations — Woodland Park, Paramus, Woodbridge, and Newark. And in New York there are four locations — Midtown Manhattan, Lower Manhattan in the Wall Street area, Brooklyn, and White Plains. Berkeley College Online also offers full degree programs.

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.

ONE SIZE FITS ALL ... Native American Indian Beverly Friend helps Sydney Rose of North Plainfield try on a fox skin hat during her presentation to the fourth graders. (Photo by Rudy Brandl of Fanwood/Wardlaw-Hartridge)

EDISON — The fourth grade classes of Ellen Colandrea and Ellen Ritz welcomed a special guest speaker on Thursday, Feb. 2. Beverly Friend, a Native American, spoke to the students about the Lenape Indian tribe.

Friend brought many artifacts with her including bear, deer, and fox skins. She also brought woven baskets and gourds, which were originally used as containers for water. She emphasized during her talk how the Lenape were among the very first environmentalists. They used almost every part of the animals they killed and respected the land. Since they used nothing harmful to the environment, they left the land as they found it.

At the conclusion of her talk, the students participated in a game played by the Lenape children, made necklaces and learned a dance. This program was the culmination of a study of the fourth grade’s annual study of the Lenape Indians in New Jersey.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY — Middlesex County Clerk Elaine M. Flynn encouraged homeowners who were part of a home foreclosure between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2010 to take advantage of a new review program being offered by the federal government.

The Independent Foreclosure Review program is being offered through the Federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Homeowners who were part of a foreclosure during that time period are eligible to request an independent review of their foreclosure process.

If the review finds that financial injury occurred to the homeowner as a result of errors, misrepresentations or other deficiencies in the servicer’s foreclosure process, the homeowner may be eligible for compensation. Where a borrower suffered financial injury as a result of such practices, the consent orders require remediation to be provided.

“If you underwent a foreclosure in 2009 or 2010, I urge you to take advantage of this process,” Flynn said. “This review will help determine if you suffered undue financial injury due to errors or other problems during your home foreclosure process.”

Under enforcement actions taken by the OCC, the Federal Reserve and the Office of Thrift Supervision in April 2011, 14 large mortgage services were required to correct deficiencies in their servicing and foreclosure processes and to engage independent firms to conduct a multi-faceted independent review of foreclosure actions that occurred in 2009 and 2010.

“I would like to thank the County Clerk for bringing attention to this program and for looking out for the best interests of our residents,” said Middlesex County Freeholder Blanquita B. Valenti chair of the County’s Community Services Committee.

“This program will help determine instances where our residents may have been mislead or faced undue costs during an already difficult time,” said Middlesex County Freeholder Director Christopher D. Rafano. “Helping to spread the word about programs such as this, is another way we can serve our citizens.”

Nationally, more than 4 million letters were mailed to potentially eligible borrowers with request-for-review forms and instructions on how to complete and return them. If you did not receive a form in the mail, you can request a form by calling 1-888-952-9105, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The form needs to be returned by April 30, 2012.

Flynn added: “You can begin the process today by completing a form and making sure to submit it by the April 30, 2012 deadline.”

For additional information and answers to basic questions about the review process, visit www.IndependentForeclosureReview.com.