THE GLOUCESTER COUNTY Cultural and Heritage Commission at Rowan College of South Jersey recently announced grants totaling $9,976 for the Harrison Township Historical Society’s exhibitions and programs at Old Town Hall Museum and Richwood Academy Cultural Center. Funds regranted from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the New Jersey Historical Commission will underwrite 12 lectures and concerts as well as a new exhibition at the museum, Back to the Fifties, focusing on the township’s mid-century history.
The 1950s represented a critical moment in Harrison, South Harrison and Elk Townships’ history. While agriculture still dominated the local economy, the population was growing and new houses were popping up along the edges of the farms and forests and the decade was bracketed by the opening of new, modern schools in Mullica Hill and Harrisonville. The new exhibition at the museum will explore these changes through objects, photographs, ephemera and film from the era. The exhibition opens on Sunday, March 26 and continues 1-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through June 10 at the Old Town Hall Museum, 62 S. Main St., Mullica Hill.
Programs at the Richwood Academy Cultural Center will complement this theme with presentations focusing on music, television and the civil rights movement in New Jersey. The series opens at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 5 with a program celebrating the accomplishments of Irene Hill Smith of Mullica Hill. Always at the civil rights forefront, she worked with Dr. Martin Luther King and was one of the community leaders called by President Lyndon Johnson to help craft the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act. Family members and friends will gather to discuss her life and work. The Cultural Center is at 836 Lambs Road in Richwood. For more information call 478-4949.

NEWFIELD YOUNG AT HEART Seniors are planning a bus trip to see “MOSES” at Sight and Sound Theater. Trip is set for Tuesday, March 28. The bus will leave at 9:30 a.m. from the Newfield United Methodist Church, stop for lunch, attend the show and then return around 7:30 p.m. Cost is $105 and includes a seat for the show and round trip bus. Call Dawn Weikel at 697-5059 or Jim Heisler 697-4110. This is an open event. Guests don’t have to be a senior or member of the church.

AARP TAX AIDE will be offered to senior citizens from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays in March at the Mullica Hill Branch Library, 389 Wolfert Station Road. Call 223-6000 for more information.

ADULT READING CHALLENGE is back at the Franklin Township Library. Complete the challenge each month and submit the logs by Dec. 30 and earn a prize. Books must match the description of the month.
February: Biography about an African American
March: Book that has won a major prize (Pulitzer, Edgar, etc…tell the prize)
April: Collection of short stories or poetry
May: Features a library
June: Takes place in New Jersey
For more information call the library at 694-2833. It is located at 1584 Coles Mill Road, Franklinville.

DELSEA REGIONAL High School will host its prom 6:30-10:30 p.m. Thursday, April 6 at The Grove at Centerton in Pittsgrove Township. Theme is “Enchanted Garden!” Information on ticket sales will be released in March.

18TH ANNUAL GLOUCESTER County Cares About Hunger Food Drive continues through Sunday, Feb. 26. Since 2006, this initiative has collected over 234,367 pounds of food to help our neighbors fighting food insecurity. This collection will support the Food Bank of South Jersey Gloucester County food pantries, as well as restock the shelves at several local non-profit organizations; The Lighthouse Community Center, St John of God Community Services, Emmanuel Cancer Foundation, Greater Woodbury Cooperative Ministries, South Jersey Dream Center, and Your Place at the Table. Employers, non-profits, social groups, schools, retail stores, etc. interested in participating are asked to contact Brittany Beyer at the United Way of Gloucester County, 845-4303 ext. 130. Most needed items are canned tuna, chicken, corned beef, ham, salmon, hot/cold cereal, complete pancake mix, canned meals, canned vegetables, and canned 100 percent fruit juices. No glass bottles or jars. For more information visit www.uwgcnj.org

MARK THE CALENDAR…the Annual Delsea Renaissance Crusader Classic Car Show has been scheduled for Saturday, April 29. Pre-registration will begin in February both online and via mail. Visit tinyurl.com/delsearenaissance for more information.

HOME GARDENING SCHOOL presented by the Gloucester County Certified Gardeners is 9 a.m. every other Wednesday (March 15) at the Gloucester County Clayton Complex, 1200 N. Delsea Dr. Experienced gardeners or novices are invited for these seminars on houseplants, vegetables, composting, and more. Cost is $15 per class or $10 for five classes or more. Register by contacting the Gloucester Office of Land Preservation at 224-8045.

COUNTRY GARDEN CLUB, home to more than 50 members from Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland counties, will host The Roaring 20s detective murder mystery dinner theater from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 18 at StarCross Fire Hall, 4231 Tuckahoe Road, Franklin Township. Cost is $50. The dinner will benefit the club’s student scholarship fund. There will also be raffle tickets for sale. Call Barbara at 404-4974 or Phllis at 358-0007.

THE DELSEA ARMY JROTC recently finished its annual Toys For Tots campaign by going to the Gloucester County Toys For Tots warehouse in Clarksboro to deliver and sort toys donated by Delsea HS cadets, teachers and staff, as well as toys from Janvier Elementary School, Delsea Middle School, Main Road School, Reutter Elementary, Aura Elementary School and the local community. The cadets delivered more than 400 toys.

HOUSEPLANT CARE Home Gardening School will be presented at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22 at the Gloucester County Clayton Complex, 1200 N. Delsea Dr. It will be hosted by the Gloucester County Certified Gardeners. Experienced gardeners or novices are invited for these seminars on houseplants, vegetables, composting, and more. Cost is $15 per class or $10 for five classes or more. Register by contacting the Gloucester Office of Land Preservation at 224-8045.

ASH WEDNESDAY MASS will be held at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Parish of Saint Michael the Archangel’s Nativity Church, 2677 Delsea Dr., Franklinville. A 4 p.m. distribution of ashes will also be held at the Parish’s Saint Catherine of Siena Church, 700 N. Delsea Dr., Clayton.

PANCAKE SUPPER IS planned for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22 at the Glassboro Methodist Church, 61 N. Academy St. Ash Wednesday service follows at 7 p.m. A praise madness concert is also planned for 6 p.m. March 4.

ADULT CRAFTERNOON will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Franklin Township Library. This month’s craft is maknig a wreath. All materials supplied. Registration is required and space is limited. Call the library at 694-2833, ext. 1 to register. Adults only.

COVID-19 vaccination clinics will be held 1-5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Gloucester Health Department, 204 E. Holly Ave., Sewell. All vaccines and doses will be available. Call 218-4101 for more information.

LUNCH & A MOVIE is noon Monday, Feb. 27 at the Monroe Township Library, 713 Marsha Ave., Williamstown. Celebrate Black Hisotyr Month with “Till.” No registration required. Call 629-1212 for more information.

ADULT CRAFT SUPPLIES SWAP will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27 at the Glassboro Branch Library, 2 Center St. Call 881-0001 for more information.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS is held at 7 p.m. Fridays, March 3, 17 & 31 at the Parish of Saint Michael the Archangel’s Nativity Church, 2677 Delsea Dr., Franklinville. Stations of the Cross will also be held 7 p.m. Fridays, March 10 and 24 at the Parish’s Saint Catherine of Siena Church, 700 N. Delsea Dr., Clayton.