Author Readings, Blood Drive, Music Festival This Week

Author readings: A series of public readings by acclaimed authors is coming to Drew University in Madison next week. The readings, all by Drew alumni, take place 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in Mead Hall as part of Drew's "Sentences 5" conference. The conference explores the genres of fiction, creative non-fiction, memoir and journalism.

Summer Seminar Series: The 29th Summer Seminar Series at the Madison Public Library continues with two more lectures this week: one at 2 p.m. Monday discussing the history of American photography, and another at 10:30 a.m. Thursday on Benjamin Franklin. The lectures are free and open to the public.

Blood drive: Donate blood during a 1 p.m. Tuesday drive at the Madison Volunteer Ambulance Corps and you'll receive a pair of New York Mets tickets as a "thank you." You'll also have a chance to win a pair of tickets to the Super Bowl.

Madison Farmers Market: The farmers' market is open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday on Green Village Road off Main Street.

Jersey Voices: The Chatham Community Players' 19th annual Jersey Voices One-Act Festival, which continues with performances at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Chatham Playhouse, includes a play by Madison resident Karen Howes, "The 5564 to Toronto."

Music Festival: An annual Summer Music Festival sponsored by the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey kicks off Sunday with the Fresh Breezes Orchestra Concert at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the College of St. Elizabeth.