b"a small dent in that, its a feel-goodgifts everything from holiday orna- Events That Matter March/Aprilstory.Labiancacontinues,Forin- ments to a hummingbird feeder, many stance, a friend had antique windowsmembershaveputtogetherwholeMarch 29 7PM Poetry-in-the-Round Hosts Nathan Oatesfrom the reno on her Victorian. Androoms with furnishings from Commu-DETAILS Seton Hall University, Walsh Library,400 South Orange my friend, Paul Lewis is the local win- nity Gifting.Avenue, South Orange, 973-761-9000, ext. 5151; events.shu.edu/dow guy and owner of a salvage store,Zollman herself is a good exampleevent/22983-poetry-in-the-round-hosts-nathan-oates2GFN[2GuysfromNewstead].Iof how the Community Gifting groupApril 5 9:30AM Bhagavad Gita Guest Lectureintroducedthemandvoila!Nothingrallies to a cause. Zollmans son is a Star DETAILS Seton Hall University, Walsh Library, 400 South went to the landfill. Wars fan, and wanted his bedroom toOrange Avenue, South Orange, 973-275-2170; events.shu.edu/reflect that. Almost everything in hisevent/23675-bhagavad-gita-guest-lectureroom is something I found on Com- Bhagavad Gitamunity Gifting, says Zollman. HisSouth Orange SymphonyStarWars-themedbed,beanbag, books, artwork, and even his light fix- April 303PM Free Spring Concert with music by ture and night-light were furnished us- Wagner, Delibes and Schumanning Community Gifting. DETAILS South Orange Middle School, 70 N Ridgewood Road, Community Gifting does not allowSouth Orange, 973-820-1788; southorangesymphony.orgmembers to pay for items received. A gratitude post is the norm after anSouth Mountain Conservancyitem goes to its new home. March 217:30PM Annual Public Meeting, Learn about Besides helping to furnish homes, the local online swap groups also offer aprograms and discover ways to volunteer in 2023place for others to reuse items that stillDETAILS Millburn Free Public Library, 200 Glen Avenue, Millburn; have some utility. SOMA is a conscien- somocon.orgtious place and many people are con-Carla Labianca helped find a new homecerned about sending things to landfillsSouth Orange-Maplewood Adult for antique windows from a Victorian renovation. that could still have some life left.School MostSOMAresidentsagreethatMarch 13-May 15 (various dates) 7:30PM Arthouse thecharacterandbeautyofthese CommunityGiftingSOMA(for- homes are well worth the effort of find- Film Festival at SOPAC, premiering some of the best merly Buy Nothing), is another localing the right furnishings. Local onlinefilms before they are released to the publicFacebook swap group with a slightlygroups not only build community butMarch 227PM Wine-Pairing Dinner at Village Hall differenttwist:Itsallaboutsharingalso offer the perfect modern solutionRestaurantthingstobuildcommunity.Moreto the challenge of making old housesMarch 277:30PM The Best of Likely Stories: Great than 3400 members strong, residentsfeel like home.Actors. Great Writers. Great Stories.of Maplewood and South Orange canAdriannaDonatisafreelancewriterApril 3-79:15AM Spring Break Golf Camp for Juniorsjoin after they answer three questionswhose 117-year-old home had no over- April 1510AM Enhance your Home: Be Smart with and are approved by a moderator. Itshead lighting when her family moved in.What You HaveAbout page states, We are a hyper- Thanks to online groups, she was able toApril 277PM Nancy Solomon: Dead EndA New localgivinggroupthatutilizesthefind light fixtures that work in her home acts of sharing, giving, and gratitudewithout breaking the bank.Jersey Political Murder Mysteryto form better relationships with ourDETAILS 973-378-7620; somadultschool.org real-lifeneigh-bors.ModeratorSouth Orange & Maplewood Girl Hannah ZollmanScoutsemphasizes, ThisMarch 1812PM Girl Scouts in cooperation with SOMA group is different becauseitsnotCelebrates Women will be collecting food and period transactional.Itsproducts for the Our Lady of Sorrows Food Pantry and all about creatingMENDrelationshipsinDETAILS Our Lady of Sorrows Parking Lot (Prospect/4th Streets) ourcommunity;South Orange, email somgirlscouts@gmail.com for more no money chang- information and a list of priority donationses hands. We onlySouth Orange Public Libraryask our members tosharetheirMarch 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 3112PM Lunchtime gratitude with theBach Concerts: The Well-Tempered Clavier 1 & 2 group. featuring local pianist, Birgit Matzerath;AndevenHannah Zollman, moderator of the Community Gifting SOMA Facebook page, was able to furnish her sons Star Wars themedDETAILS The South Orange Public Library Meeting room, 65 though this grouproom from items offered by group members. Scotland Road, South Orange, bachinthesubways.orgcont'd on p. 36feature story /33"