Community Corner

News in Brief: Arts Events at the Fanwood Library and the Blood Center in Scotch Plains

News items from July 6 through July 10.

The Fanwood Memorial Library is hosting a free summer drama class, the New Jersey Blood Services center in Scotch Plains is exhibiting local teenagers' artwork, the Watchung Stables are holding an open house and the Union County Rape Crisis Center is calling for volunteers.

Plus, important news for any Puerto Ricans living in Scotch Plains or Fanwood who possess Puerto Rican birth certificates: Puerto Rico voted to extend the validity of those documents until September. 

Here are the news briefs for this week: 

Find out what's happening in Scotch Plains-Fanwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Shh! It's a Library Drama Class

The Fanwood Memorial Library invited residents 18 years of age and older to a free weekly scene study and monologue class, in a press release it distributed Tuesday. The class will be led by Les Minski, a Fanwood resident who has starred in both a Broadway musical and local productions at the library.

Find out what's happening in Scotch Plains-Fanwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The class takes place every Tuesday, starting this week on July 13, from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. It continues through Aug. 17.

Participants will be able to work on audition pieces, address problems they have faced during theater productions, learn how to make scenes and performances more powerful and work in an environment where they will be able to experiment and try new challenges, the library said in the release. Participants can bring scenes and scripts to the classes.  

Les Minski most recently performed at the Fanwood Memorial Library on Valentine's Day, in A.R. Gurney's "Love Letters." He shared the stage with his wife, Ann.

Minski also directed "A View From The Bridge" and "Social Security" at Fanwood's Carriage House, and "The Sisters Rosensweig," "Sly Fox" and  "The Guys" at Circle Players in Piscataway.

He has performed across the United States, the library's press release said, from Maine to Chicago to Florida, in roles as diverse as Jamie Tyrone, Billy Bigelow and Daddy Warbucks.

He created the role of the Marquis St. Evremonde for both the world premiere and Broadway productions of Jill Santoriello's "A Tale of Two Cities, the Musical." According to the press release, he studied acting and directing with George DiCenzo, Polly Holliday and Milton Katselas in New York City.

To learn more, call the Fanwood Memorial Library at 908-322-6400.

Art and Arteries: Teens' Work Displayed in Gallery at New Jersey Blood Services Center in Scotch Plains

In case local residents needed another reason to donate blood, the New Jersey Blood Services facility on South Avenue in Scotch Plains is now playing host to Union County's 2010 Teen Arts Traveling Exhibit, according to a press release distributed by New Jersey Blood Service's parent group, New York Blood Center.

The art exhibit consists of 62 pieces, selected last March from more than 700 submissions from county teenagers. The works are being displayed in a gallery at the South Avenue facility, which rotates artwork every two months. It is the Teen Arts Exhibit's second stop in a yearlong tour of Union County.

"Our purpose is to encourage Union County residents to come out to view our exhibits…and to take time to donate blood," Marie Forrestal, manager of donor recruitment and retention at Ne w Jersey Blood Services, said in the release.

To learn more, call New Jersey Blood Services' South Avenue facility at 908-232-9231.

Open House at Watchung Stables

The Watchung Stables in Mountainside will host an open house Sunday, July 18 from one to 4:30 p.m.

The event will feature live country music, horseback rides for children, barn tours, riding performances by student members of the Watchung Mounted Group, hayrides and crafts, according to a press release distributed by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders on Wednesday.

Admission is free and refreshments will be on sale.

The Watchung Stables are located at 1160 Summit Lane in Mountainside, in the Watchung Reservation. For more information about the open house or other programs and activities at the stables, call 908-789-3665, email stablequestions@ucnj.org or visit the Union County website at www.ucnj.org.

Union County Rape Crisis Center Seeking Volunteers

The Union County Rape Crisis Center is looking for volunteers interested in becoming "volunteer confidential sexual violence advocates," the center announced in a press release it distributed Wednesday. The advocates provide a calming, reassuring presence during a time of crisis, the press release said, and they provide information about legal options.  All volunteers undergo a training course that helps prepare them to be effective advocates. 

The Rape Crisis Center, part of the Union County Department of Human Services, has served Union County since 1984.  It offers counseling for victims of sexual assault, as well as counseling for victims' families and significant others. Volunteers from the Rape Crisis Center are trained to advocate on behalf of rape victims, and may accompany them to hospital emergency rooms, police interviews, and court proceedings.

Interviews for prospective volunteers will be held this summer. The next training session will begin on September 21. For more information call the Rape Crisis Center hotline, 908-233-7273, or visit

www.unioncountyrapecrisiscenter.blogspot.com.

Puerto Rico Extends Validity of Birth Certificates

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reported in a press release Friday that the government of Puerto Rico approved an amendment that extends the validity of Puerto Rican birth certificates for three months, through September 30. The extension provides a transition period as Puerto Rico begins issuing new, more secure birth certificates.

The law to invalidate previously issued birth certificates was enacted by Puerto Rico after collaboration with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, according to the press release. The legislation called for issuing new, security-enhanced certificates to combat the unlawful use of Puerto Rico-issued birth certificates to commit fraud and identity theft.

Now, with the three-month window, "native Puerto Ricans living in Union County may use their current birth certificate, which will still be valid," Rajoppi said in the press release. "The extension gives…Puerto Rico-born citizens greater flexibility in applying for their new birth certificates which are often used for school enrollment, travel, new passports and other activities.

"An adult Puerto Rican who wants to renew a passport does not need a new birth certificate. But for a child's passport renewal, or for a first-time passport for any native Puerto Rican, a new birth certificate will be required."

According to the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, only those who need a birth certificate for an upcoming transaction or official purpose need apply right away, according to the release. Those who want to obtain a copy for their private records can do so at a later date to avoid an unnecessary rush of applications.

Native Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens at birth, are urged to visit the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration website at www.prfaa.com/birthcertificates/ or call 787-767-9120 for more information about the birth certificate law. Completed applications for a new birth certificate may be mailed to the Puerto Rico Vital Statistics Record Office, P.O. Box 11854, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00910.

For further information about passport applications and other services of the Union County Clerk's office, please call 908-527-4966.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here