5 Things You Need to Know About This Weekend

Here are five local events happening this weekend that you need to know about:

Saturday, Feb. 19 - Historical Tour

The Lawrence Historical Society will host a tour of the Port Mercer Bridge Tender's House on the Delaware & Raritan Canal from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 19. The house is located at 4378 Quaker Rd., not far from Mercer Mall. No registration is required. For more information, call the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park office at (609) 924-5705. The historical society's website offers this about the tour: "At one time many canal company houses dotted the landscape along the main route from Bordentown to New Brunswick. Today precious few remain. Come to this winter open house, learn about the canal's past from the D&R Canal State Park's historian and experience the 19th century first-hand."

Saturday, Feb. 19 – Theater

The Fine Arts Department of Rider University will perform the play "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot" in the Yvonne Theater, located in the Fine Arts Building on the Rider campus at 2083 Lawrence Rd. (Route 206). Performances will be given at 8 p.m. on Feb. 19, 25 and 26. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students or seniors and are available through the theater box office at (609) 896-5303. It should be noted that the play is for mature audiences only, due to language and violence. A preview performance will be given Friday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. with reduced-priced tickets ($10 for adults and $5 for students or seniors) available at the door.

Sunday, Feb. 20 – Women in Islam Adult Education Forum

At 11:15 a.m. on Feb. 20 the Peacemaking Committee of Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church, at 2688 Main Street (Route 206 or Lawrence Road), will host a talk by Nuray Yurt about the role of women in Islam. Holding a doctorate in economics from the University of Arizona, she has been director of the Interfaith Dialogue Center (IDC) in Central Jersey since 2005. Her presentation will “integrate her knowledge of the Koran with historical factors that have influenced practices within the Islamic faith over time.” The talk is free and open to the public. 

Sunday, Feb. 20 – Baby Time

The Lawrence Township headquarters branch of the Mercer County Library will host “Baby Time,” a program for children ages 6 to 22 months that includes age appropriate books, songs, nursery rhymes and puppets to encourage early literacy. The library is located at 2751 Brunswick Pike (Business Route 1) at the corner of Darrah Lane.

Sunday, Feb. 20 – Winter Concert

Rider University Chorale will host its “Winter Concert” in Gill Chapel on the university campus at 2083 Lawrence Rd. from 3 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 20. Works by Felix Mendelssohn, Antonio Estevez, Walter Cecil MacFarren and others will be performed. Admission is free.

Okay, so these aren’t taking place this weekend and their inclusion here contradicts the “5 Things” headline, but the following are important upcoming events that you should know about and pencil into your calendars. Consider this a bonus “5 Things.”

Wednesday, Feb. 23 – Relay for Life Kick-Off Celebration

Relay for Life of Lawrence Township will hold a “Kick-off Celebration” in the Commons at Lawrence High School, 2525 Princeton Pike, at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23. A fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, the Relay for Life is described as “a life-changing event that brings community together with the common goal of eliminating cancer. [At the relay] teams of people take turns walking around a track – with every step, we are helping save lives.” The second annual Lawrence Township Relay for Life will be held at the high school from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on May 20.

Saturday, Feb. 26 – Nature Walk

Naturalist Rick Dutko will host a walk through Drexel Woods during which he will discuss the many different types of trees and how to identify them. The walk will begin at 9 a.m. on Feb. 26 from the Lawrence Nature Center at 481 Drexel Ave.

Sunday, Feb. 27 – Historical Presentation

Lawrence Township Historian Dennis P. Waters will give a presentation about the two trolley lines that operated in the township between 1899 and 1940. His talk, which will be accompanied by historical photographs, will take place during the annual meeting of the Lawrence Historical Society to be held at 2 p.m. on Feb. 27 in the Commons at Lawrence High School, 2525 Princeton Pike. The meeting, which is open to the public, will also feature a birthday cake celebrating Lawrence Township’s 314th Birthday.

Wednesday, March 2 – School Open House

Saint Ann School, at 34 Rossa Ave., will host two open house tours on March 2. Tours will be given at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., with both tours beginning in the nearby Faith Development Center of the Church of Saint Ann. A previous open house scheduled for Feb. 2 during Catholic Schools Week had to be cancelled due to inclement weather. Anyone with questions should call the school office at (609) 882-8077 extensions 213 or 214.

Sunday, March 13 – Indian Spring Mini PowWow

Venture Crew 414, a youth development program for young men and women affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America, will host a performance of the Gold Feather and Cuwe Native American dance teams at 1 p.m. on March 13 at the American Legion Post 414 at 100 Berwyn Place. The cost is $12 per person and includes pizza and root beer. Funds raised by the event benefit Venture Crew 414. For more details, contact Cathi by email or phone at (609) 915-7016.