b"Events That Matter March/AFparlil free,community-lfocusedSTEAM Community Cafe(cont'd) eventwherekids andfamiliescan March 283-7PM Siendo Puente/Being a Bridge:cometogetherand Join for an afternoon of art, music, storytelling andget that analog sat-collective action to raise funds for Mi Patria PRsisfactionofmak-Art & Culture Programs and celebrate the power ofing something with creativity as a tool for healing, community and change theirhands.The DETAILS Community Cafe, 90 Laurel Avenue, Union; 646-580- event is in its 11th 1516, lumin-eco.com/events Siendo Puente year.The2026Kids collaborate on an art installation during Oh! Canary's themeisMak- Open Studio for ages 2 and up.The Theater Project ingCommunity. March 212PM Young Playwrights CompetitionLocalbusinessesandorganizations run interactive stations, from robots Presentation & Awards Ceremony: Come seeandbubblestowoodworkingand professional actors give life to winning entries fromthe popular tech-teardown table, ac-the annual Young Playwrights Competition andcording to Brian Glaser, a member of celebrate as the winners are awarded the board of trustees for the Achieve DETAILS Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Avenue,Young Playwrights FoundationofSouthOrangeand Cranford; thetheaterproject.org/young-playwrights-competition Competition Maplewood. Thats why its so valuable when a Cora Hartshorn Arboretum & Birdtown makes room for it. Sanctuary Bubers seen the hobby evolve first-April 14-24 Beak Weeks bird-a-thon is a friendlyhand. She learned needlepoint from spring fundraiser where participants of all agesher mom and grandmothers and re-and skill levels form teams and collect pledges formembers always being the youngest identifying bird species across New Jersey person in the room in a traditional April 84-6PM Draw a Bird Day: Nature lovers ofshop, not getting to choose her can-vas or colors. Now, she loves watch-all ages are invited to join environmental educatorsing it come back with a very modernBuber loves seeing needlepoint come at the Arboretum for a free, after-school event toback with a very modern energy. No Beak Week's energy. No matter what your niche,matter what your niche, hobby, interest celebrate birds and expression through artBird-a-thon hobby or interest is, there is a needle- is, there is a needlepoint for it, she says.DETAILS Cora Hartshorn Arboretum, 324 Forest Drive South,point for it, Buber says. Old school, Short Hills; 973-376-3587, hartshornarboretum.org modern, completely unhinged. thon. Their boards were not perfect. ThemodernversionsarealsoMaybetheywereslightlycrooked. Maplewood Community Music moreaccessible.Manylocalbusi- They were, in the most human way, April 237:30PM Maplewood Concert Bands Annualnesses offer kits and beginner work- clearly made by people with whole Spring Concertshops.lives happening.WhatmakestheMaplewoodAnd that was the point. For an DETAILS The Woodland, 60 Woodland Road, Maplewood;andSouthOrangewaveespeciallyhour or two, they were not consum-maplewoodcommunitymusic.org/eventscharming is that it is not just peopleing.Theywerenotreacting.They Achieve Foundation quietly crafting at home. It is peoplewere making. In 2026, that counts using creativity as an excuse to re- as self-care. April 2510AM-3PM The annual Maker Madnessenter community life. AlexKoenigwritesLocalLowdown STEAM fair is back for its 11th year and in addition toBackatthevisionboardtable,for Matters Magazine, spotlighting the making robots, bubbles, woodshop projects and lotsthegroupeventuallyglueddownsmallbusinesses,communitybuilders more, the focus remains on creating community their last clippings and leaned backand local energy worth showing up for.DETAILS Columbia High School, 17 Parker Avenue, Maplewood;liketheyhadcompletedamara-achievefoundation.org/maker-madness/ Maker Madness STEAM fairMRS. MESHUGGA OH! CANARYDurand-Hedden House & Garden NEEDLEPOINT Lacey BuccellatoApril 2510AM-4PM Commemorate the 250thLisa Buber 165B Valley Streetanniversary of our nations founding with a1875 Springfield Avenue South Orange Maplewoodreenactment of a Revolutionary War muster with themrsmeshugga.com ohcanary.comNew Jersey Blues, the Third New Jersey Regiment DETAILS Durand-Hedden House & Garden, 523 RidgewoodRevolutionary WarRoad, Maplewood; durandhedden.org muster reenactment In Partnership with: Mrs. Meshugga Needlepoint and Oh! Canary32/ matters magazine / hearth + home 2026"