Monthly Programs

Welcome Back - Fall Social

September 15, 2025 | 6:45 pm

Welcome back! What a wonderful time to reconnect with old friends and meet new members as we kick off the 2025-2026 program year! Please bring a sweet or savory to share. The Fall Social is hosted by the Kalmia Officers & Trustees. (Date and time changed from usual schedule.)

Preservation of the Kalmia Building

October 13, 2025 | 6:30 pm

Program Coordinator: Bet Flynn

Fundraising for Kalmia helps cover our scholarship program, but also helps us maintain our historic clubhouse. Annabelle Radcliffe-Trenner is the founding principal of Historic Building Architects, LLC, in Trenton, NJ, an award-winning firm specializing in historic buildings in the public realm. Recently Annabelle and her team conducted a very thorough condition assessment of our building and is here tonight to share the findings of the assessment and present a long-term, multi-phase Preservation Plan for our historic Kalmia clubhouse.

A Tugboat Captain’s Account of the 9/11 “Boatlift” in Lower Manhattan

November 10, 2025 | 6:30 pm

A story of courage, unity, and the power of ordinary people doing the extraordinary.  During the 9/11 “Boatlift,” after the World Trade Center attacks, over 500,000 people were evacuated from Lower Manhattan by a fleet of private and public boats. One of those tugboat captains was local resident Captain C. W. Davis, who with his wife Sheryl Simonitis, will share “Captain Bill’s” experience answering the call of all boats available to help with the evacuation of people from lower Manhattan.   They will tell an incredible tale of how the New York waterways became a lifeline in less than nine hours, making it the largest maritime rescue in history.   As a first responder, Captain C.W. Davis received the Medal of Honor for his efforts during 9/11.

The originally scheduled program, “Riding the River in a Canoe,” was canceled.

Holiday Social

December 8, 2025 | 6:30 pm

Program Coordinator: Officers & Trustees | New Location: The Elks Lodge, 66 Wilson Street, Lambertville

Our annual holiday party is here, a time for everyone to share in the merriment and good spirits of the season. Enjoy holiday music provided by our special guest musicians as they help us usher in the season. Members, please bring a sweet or savory to share. See the Dec. Newsletter for details.

Kalmia Book Night

January 12, 2026 | 6:30 pm

Program Coordinator: Laura Powers

Attention readers! Join other members as we continue the long-standing post-holiday tradition of sharing our favorite books. Plan to limit your selections to two books-there are always a lot to share! A list of all the books will be posted on the club website after.

View the Book Lists from the annual Kalmia Book Night

Morgan Grabarz Runway Show - Local Fashion Designer & Entrepreneur

February 9, 2026 | 6:30 pm

Program Coordinator: Caroline Armstrong

“Fashion design has been her passion since childhood, a dream that never faded.”

Morgan Grabarz, a New Hope native and two time recipient of the Shad Festival Art Scholarship, will be speaking about her story and experience starting a small business. Before she was an alumna of The Fashion Institute of Technology and NYU Stern, Morgan was a student at New Hope - Solebury High School, Class of 2018. From presenting at New York Fashion Week to dressing stars like Frankie Grande, Morgan now has a retail store for her women’s clothing brand located at 10 North Union Street in Lambertville. Join us to hear her fascinating story and view her Spring 2026 collection during a runway show! Q&A to follow.

The originally scheduled program, “The Garden State: Where Ideas Grow,” was canceled.

Nutritionist at Your Fingertips

March 9, 2026 | 6:30 pm

Program Coordinator: Polly Anderson

Susan Lang-Saponara is a dietitian at ShopRite of Flemington. In her role, she helps people in the community to make healthy food choices. We’re looking forward to her helpful tips! More details about the program will be available closer to the date.

Tips for Planning Your Next Big Trip

April 13, 2026 | 6:30 pm

Program Coordinator: Maria Souza

Local resident and traveler Erin O’Leary came from another career before becoming a travel agent. She will share how this change came to be, and some of the hotspots she has visited over the years.  And for those of you who have trouble booking your own trips, she will share why a travel agent may be more helpful in planning a trip than doing searches online.

A Doll and Lost Family in Germany

May 11, 2026 | 6:30 pm

Program Coordinator: Gwen Zack

Kalmia member Julie Davidson Meyers’ 6 year old daughter was given a homework assignment of sharing a doll with outside family members.  Having lost almost all of her family in the Holocaust, Julie was surprised when she received a letter from a German researcher, and he was willing to accept the doll being sent to him. He shared the doll  around Julie’s mother’s home town in Germany, and documented its adventures with many pictures sent to Julie. The story doesn’t end there, as Julie shares the further adventure of the doll, the award-winning homework assignment, reunions and more!

End-of-Year Social

June 8, 2026 | 6:30 pm

Program Coordinators: Officers & Trustees

Hello Summer! Come enjoy our year-end farewell gathering as we say good-bye for the summer!  Meet our scholarship winners and their families and welcome new Board members and Trustees. Members, please bring a sweet or savory to share.