The New York Times has asked There is Strangeness in the Universe to participate in a cartoon caption contest for the inaugural issue of its local on-line edition, "The Local", starting Monday, March 2nd. See notice below:

INTRODUCING THE LOCAL

www.nytimes.com/maplewood
www.nytimes.com/millburn
www.nytimes.com/southorange

Friday, March 6, 2009
6:30 to 8:00 PM
The Burgdorff Cultural Center
10 Durand Road
Maplewood, NJ

The Local is a community Web site by you and for you, mentored by The New York Times. It's launching midday on Monday, March 2.

Come hear about this new opportunity to write, contribute, shape and support this new
venture --and to meet Maplewood resident Tina Kelley, the Times reporter at the helm.

You can also meet and hear from contributors:

Claudia Trupp, South Orange author, reading from her new book, Hard Time & Nursery Rhymes: Explaining My Work to My Daughters

Wayne Pollard, blogger, riffing on parking in Maplewood

A reading from a play, "On His Steps," by blogger Hilding Lindquist

And more…


But don't come empty-handed! Bring ideas, content, creations, advice, concerns.

And in the spirit of community, do bring a can of food. It will be donated to the Community Food Bank of NJ.

For more information contact SouthMountainLocal@nytimes.com