Holiday Inn Clark - Newark Area by IHG

Join us for a Special Joint Chamber Networking Party at the Holiday Inn in Clark! We’re teaming up with the <a href="https://cranfordareachamber.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Cranford Chamber of Commerce</a> for a fun and engaging evening of networking, connection, and collaboration!
📍 Holiday Inn (36 Valley Rd., Clark, NJ) 🍽 Your ticket includes a full dinner 🍷 Cash bar available
This highly anticipated annual event brings together members from both chambers for a wonderful evening of networking and summer fun. It’s the perfect opportunity to expand your network beyond our chamber community and connect with professionals, business owners, and leaders from Cranford as well. Whether you are looking to grow your business relationships, meet new people, or simply enjoy a fun evening with the local business community, this event is one you won’t want to miss! Use the link below to register!<a href="https://www.gwaccnj.com/events/#!event/2026/7/29/patio-party-with-the-cranford-chamber" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Patio Party with the Cranford Chamber</a>

Local Event: Patio Party

Union County

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Patio Party

Join us for a Special Joint Chamber Networking Party at the Holiday Inn in Clark! We’re teaming up with the Cranford Chamber of...

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Woman in Media – Newark (WIM-N) proudly announces the 17th Annual Women's International Film Festival (WIFF), taking place July 30–31 and August 1 and 6, 2026, with virtual screenings on August 7, 2026. The festival will showcase powerful independent films from around the world that illuminate the experiences of women and explore themes of justice, identity, resilience, environmental stewardship, and social change.
For seventeen years, the Women's International Film Festival has provided a platform for emerging and established filmmakers whose work amplifies women's voices and inspires meaningful dialogue. Through compelling storytelling, the festival brings together filmmakers, advocates, artists, students, and community members to examine issues that shape our world while celebrating the creativity and leadership of women.
Among this year's festival highlights are three acclaimed feature documentaries:
<ul>
 <li>The Delivery Line: Midwives on the Frontline, directed by Nance Ackerman, chronicles the extraordinary courage of Ukrainian midwives who continue delivering babies while navigating the realities of war. The film is a moving testament to resilience, compassion, and the unwavering commitment of healthcare workers on the front lines.</li>
 <li>The Bengali, directed by Kavery Kaul, is a deeply personal exploration of identity, migration, and belonging. The Bengali tells the untold story of ties between South Asians and African-Americans in the U.S. In the late nineteenth-century, men from India arrived in the United States and married African-American women. The men were Muslims; the women were Christian. Together, they built families in an America that held them all at arm’s length.</li>
 <li>A Beast Touch the Mountain: Mountain Valley Pipeline and the Fight for Appalachia examines the ongoing struggle of Appalachian communities to protect their land, water, and way of life, highlighting the determination of local women activists confronting one of the nation's most controversial energy projects.</li>
</ul>
These films exemplify the festival's commitment to presenting stories that challenge audiences, foster empathy, and encourage dialogue about the issues affecting communities around the world.
As part of the festival, Woman in Media – Newark will also honor five extraordinary women whose leadership and service have made a lasting impact on their professions and communities. The 2026 Trailblazing Women are: Desiree Hadley, Newark Mayor’s Office of Film and Television; Rev. Eyesha Marable, Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center; Elizabeth Parchment, New Jersey Motion Picture &amp; Television Commission; Theresa Perry Lewis, Educator, producer/director; Diane Raver, founder, Garden State Film Festival.Each honoree embodies the spirit of courage, innovation, and service that the Women's International Film Festival seeks to celebrate.
"Our festival is about more than film," said Pamela Morgan, Executive Director of Woman in Media – Newark. "It is about creating a space where stories can build understanding, inspire action, and connect communities across cultures. We are equally proud to recognize this year's Trailblazing Women, whose leadership continues to strengthen our communities and inspire future generations."
Since its founding, the Women's International Film Festival has remained committed to making independent cinema accessible to everyone. Festival events are designed to encourage community participation, elevate underrepresented voices, and celebrate the transformative power of storytelling. Admission is free and open to the public, reflecting Woman in Media – Newark's commitment to ensuring that these important stories are available to all.
For the complete festival schedule, film descriptions, honoree information, and registration, visit: <a href="https://bit.ly/wiff2026" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/wiff2026</a>
About Woman in Media – Newark
Woman in Media – Newark is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, empowering, and advocating for women through film, media, and the arts. Through the Women's International Film Festival and year-round programming, the organization supports independent filmmakers, promotes civic dialogue, and recognizes women whose work advances equity, creativity, and positive social change.

Local Event: Women's International Film Festival

Newark

Women's International Film Festival

Woman in Media – Newark (WIM-N) proudly announces the 17th Annual Women's International Film Festival (WIFF), taking place July...

Patricia M Kuran Cultural Arts Center

To celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial, nonprofit Jersey Central Theatre Company will be performing a staged reading of a new play highlighting New Jersey history on SUNDAY, AUGUST 2nd, 3:00 PM, at the Patricia M. Kuran Cultural Arts Center (The Carriage House) next to Fanwood Borough Hall. 
“THE FRANKLIN PLAY: or, More or Less a Play About Benjamin Franklin” by Alaina Tennant. Set in 1775 and 1776, when Ben Franklin's son William was the Royal Governor of New Jersey. A large portion of the play takes place at William’s mansion in Perth Amboy. In taking on a new, more nuanced look at the American Revolution, Perth Amboy becomes a place of sympathy and belonging for these characters. Located between the very patriotic Philadelphia and the very loyal-to- the-crown New York City, New Jersey faced a unique conflict in 1776, and that conflict becomes personified here.
The cast will feature members of Actors’ Equity Association, the professional actors’ union. 
Alaina Tennant is a playwright from Akron, Ohio. Her work often deals with questions in history and humanity. She is a BFA Playwright student at Ohio University and an Alumna of The Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center’s National Theatre Institute. Recent awards include the ACTF Region V Julie Jensen Playwriting Award (2026), Bela Kiralyfalvi Student Playwriting Award (2025), and International Thespian Excellence Award for Playwriting (2025). In addition to writing, Alaina is a museum studies student who greatly values her time spent volunteering with local archives and military history museums. 
Doors will open at 2:30 PM. Suggested cash contribution is $10.00 per person. No reservations; limited open seating.
The Patricia M. Kuran Cultural Arts Center is located next to Borough Hall at 135 Watson Rd. (off Martine Ave.), Fanwood, NJ, just one block north of the historic Fanwood Train Station on NJ Transit’s Raritan Valley Line.
In partnership with the Fanwood Cultural Arts Commission. For further information, or to be added to their email list, visit Jersey Central Theatre Company at <a href="https://www.jerseycentraltheatre.com." rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">jerseycentraltheatre.com.</a>
This program is made possible in part by a 2026 HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant from the Union County Board of County Commissioners.

Local Event: New Play Honoring NJ History for America 250

New Play Honoring NJ History for America 250

To celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial, nonprofit Jersey Central Theatre Company will be performing a staged reading of a...

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Patio Party

JUL

29

5:30 PM

Holiday Inn Clark - Newark Area by IHG, 36 Valley Rd, Clark, NJ

Patio Party

Women's International Film Festival

New Play Honoring NJ History for America 250