The Board of Directors of the Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce award recipients for the 59th Annual Installation Reception & Awards Ceremony scheduled for Saturday, March 10, 2012. The event will be held at The Pines Manor, located at 2085 Route 27 in Edison, from 6:00 - 8:30 pm. Tickets are $65 per person.

Officers for 2012 have been elected and will be officially sworn in at the ceremony. The officers are President Margaret (Maggy) Cook of Prudential NJ Properties, Vice President Judie Crawford of Keller Williams Elite, Realtors, Treasurer Louis Novia of Metuchen Savings Bank, and Secretary Jason Conway of The Provident Bank. Awards will be presented to Organization of the Year: The Garden Club of Metuchen, Citizen of the Year: Maria Araneo, and Chamber Distinguished Service Award: Robert Matland of the Black Belt Institute.

For more information or to make a reservation to attend the 59^th Annual Installation Reception & Awards Ceremony, please contact the Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce at 732-548-2964  or visit www.metuchenchamberexchange.com.

These guest artists and MHS students pose for a picture after the presentation of "Life After High School: Careers in Art"  that took place on January 27 & 30 at the Metuchen High School library.  The event, conceived and organized by art instructor Joyce Browning, presented local artists from The duCret School of Art including Mr, Ed Wetzel.  Pictured are the presenters for January 30, 2012.  They include local artist Machiko Caputo, MHS student artists, instructor Joyce Browning, Full Sail University representative, Nick Friday and on the right former MHS graduate Patrick Woodruff who is art school graduate and works in the cartooning field.

From Marafiki:

This Valentine's Day, treat your sweetheart and spread some love to artisans around the world by shopping Fair Trade!

To make shopping at Marafiki this Valentine's Day even more alluring , we will be hosting a special event - our first sale!  Please join us on Thursday, February 9 from 7-9 p.m. for an evening of romantic music, chocolate sampling, and one-night only special prices.  During this time everything in the store will be 10% off, except for items that are red, pink, or heart-themed - those will be 20% off!  If you want to be able to choose anything for 20% off, it's easy, just come wearing red or pink (a good amount of it - no cheating by throwing on a red scarf or pin - Linda and Deb reserve the right to judge how much Valentine's spirit is sufficient).  Gift wrapping and complimentary wine will be available.

Marafiki Fair Trade is located at 20 New Street, Metuchen.  Questions? Call us at 732-902-6300 or email us at info@marafikifairtrade.com. Happy Valentine's Day to our friends, families, customers, and Fair Trade partners everywhere!

From Campbell School:

The Spring BoxTop Collection begins at Campbell on January 30th and runs until February 24th. If you don't have a Campbell student in your family, surely you have a neighbor child who would love to have yours. Each BoxTop is worth 10 cents, but they add up fast. Campbell School raised over $2,200 in the fall contest, and hopes to exceed that in the Spring.

Join Neve Shalom's Men's Club as we celebrate WORLD WIDE WRAP XII - FEBRUARY 5, 2012. Celebrate the mitzvah of Tefillin with us. Learn about the uniquely Jewish Ritual. If it has been a long time since you have layn Tefillin OR If you have ever wanted to learn about Tefillin - JOIN US. We will be available to teach you. If you need to borrow a set, call and we will arrange it. Our Hai and Daled classes will be showing off their homemade Tefillin. Program begins at 8:15am - Services start at 9:00am Bagel and Lox breakfast to follow.  Admission is Free...All are welcome. Please RSVP so we know how much food to buy. For information, contact Stu Mantel (sr.mantel@gmail.com)

From the Metuchen Arts Council:

The Raconteur, The Forum Theatre, and The Metuchen Arts Council will present an evening with Oscar winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth that includes a screening and discussion of her powerful new documentary American Teacher on Saturday, January 28th at 8:00 p.m. at the Forum Theatre in Metuchen.

American Teacher is a heartbreaking study of what it's like to teach in America today. The film reveals the frustrating realities of today's educators, the difficulty of attracting talented new teachers, and why so many of our best teachers feel forced to leave the profession altogether.

Co-produced by Dave Eggers and Ninive Calegari and narrated by Matt Damon, American Teacher is, according to the Washington Post, "a film about education that gets it exactly right," and raising what Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan calls, "important questions about American teachers," and sparking " a much needed conversation." The Los Angeles Times says the film "ought to be seen by anyone concerned about the fate of the public school system, and the nation as a

whole."The screening will be followed by an on stage discussion between the director Vanessa Roth and select New Jersey educators with opportunity for questions from the audience.

For more information contact Nancy Goldberg at the Metuchen Arts Council at (732) 632-8502 or the Raconteur at (732) 906-0009. #

From Family Friends:

Feeling stuck inside this winter with a little one anxious to learn and play?  Want to get out yourself and meet other new parents?  Looking for a safe & inexpensive way to help your little one socialize before entering pre-school or Kindergarten?  Then check out Family Friends at our February Open House on Monday, February 6 and Wednesday, February 8 from (10 a.m. to 12 p.m. both days) at St. Luke's Fryer Hall, 17 Oak Avenue, Metuchen.  Watch your little ones play while you meet the other parents over coffee and a muffin.  We'll have membership information on hand and can answer any questions.

Family Friends is unique...

• Playgroups are held in the same common, neutral space twice a week, allowing children to focus on interactive play and socialization without the distraction of a new or over-stimulating environment.
• We are a non-profit, 100% volunteer-run organization, which keeps membership fees low (only $80 per family each year!) and parents/caregivers involved.
• We are non-sectarian and welcome a diverse range of members from all cultures, religions, denominations, ethnicities, and backgrounds; we reflect the society our children are entering.

For more information, visit our website at www.familyfriendsinc.org or contact the president, Kim, at familyfriendsinc@yahoo.com.