Do you have a class clown?
The Trenton Circus Squad is ready to show your kids what life is really like in a circus. Registration is now open for Trenton Circus Squad’s winter program, where children ranging from ages 12 to 18 meet Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to learn about safety and circus art skills and will create performance pieces. Access to homework help and college prep will also be offered. A second program, which offers free in-school and after-school performances and workshops, provides participants with juggling scarves, clown noses, balances sticks, and sculpting balloons for $5 that can be used at home. For more information and to register your child for the circus, visit https://www.tfaforms.com/4943873.
Trenton asks residents for feedback to fulfill the downtown neighborhood grant
Let your voice be heard! Trenton needs its residents to complete a survey to help the city develop projects to revitalize the areas around State, Broad, Front, and Warren streets. This past October, the city received a five-year N.J. Department of Community Affairs Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) grant for $125,000 to receive information from local residents and businesses in order to assist with community and economic development in the downtown district. Led by the City of Trenton along with the nonprofit community development and environmental organization, Isles Inc. the goal is to address the needs of the community. Those who complete the online survey will be entered into a contest to win a $25 Love Local Downton Trenton gift card that can be used at any participating merchant in the area, such as Classic Books, The Big Easy, or Haute Nails & Co. This survey gives residents and businesses the chance to have their voices heard and to be a part of the change. The deadline to submit your survey is Friday, Dec. 31st at 12:00 a.m. You can take the survey here. For more information contact Chris Shimchick, NPP Coordinator at cshimchick@isles.org.
Mercer County Community College gears up for their holiday concert |
Kelsey Theatre presents winter concerts at Mercer County Community College this season
Are you in the holiday spirit yet? If you are and love listening to beautiful holiday tunes, you may be interested in what the music department at Mercer County Community College has to offer. The college is presenting three free winter concerts on its campus at the Kelsey Theatre. You can catch the MCCC Chorus on Wednesday, Dec. 15th at 7:30 p.m., the MCCC Jazz band directed by Scott Hornick, will offer its last performance of the series. This concert will feature the band covering the likes of Guns N’ Roses, Stoller, Leiber and King, Cincy Walker and Eddy Arnold. Additionally, the students will be joined by tristate area musicians. If you’re in the giving mood, a Toys for Tots collection will be taking place during each show. So, bring a toy and sit down and enjoy the sounds provided by the hardworking students. Reservations and tickets are not required for the free admission; however, the school is asking for masks to be worn inside of the theater and proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours is required.
Please call phone 609-570-3333 or visit http://kelsey.mccc.edu/ for more information.
Thomas Edison State University saves students more than $1 million in textbook costs
The cost of textbooks in college has always been a burden for many students. While some try to cut down on costs by buying used books, the price can still be expensive. This sometimes leads many students to forego textbooks altogether, which can negatively affect their education. Thomas Edison University (TESU) implemented Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) courses, which they recently noted has saved students more than $1.6 million this year. As the prices of textbooks increased over the years, TESU has obviously had their students’ best interest at heart, as they offered Open Educational Resources (OER) and other no-cost alternatives in place of standard textbooks through their ZTC courses. The OER resources are conveniently available online and feature many case studies, readings, and videos, related to the online courses. Right now, the college offers 94 ZTC courses, with more to come, as well as 14 courses that offer $25 or less course material and 120 courses with course material ranging from $26 to $75. In addition to the ZTC material being openly licensed online, the books are available to the student for future use as well. With the University’s expansion of the ZTC initiative, next year is sure to be another year of savings for its student population.
