Start the New Year with exciting dance classes, play group, a benefit concert for Newtown CT and more at the Bridgewater Library.!

Making room for new things after holiday gift-giving?  The library would love to add some wooden bricks to our play area.  If anyone has any to donate, please bring them to the Youth Services Reference Desk – Many thanks!

 

@ the Library: Programs for Children:

Gotta Dance Classes: Angelina Ballerina (Ages 4-5) Monday, January 7 from 3:30 pm - 4:15 pm Registration is required and begins December 26 Story and dance class led by an instructor from the Gotta Dance school.

Gotta Dance Classes: Brontorina (Ages 6-8) Monday, January 7 from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Registration is required and begins December 26 Story and dance class led by an instructor from the Gotta Dance school.

 

Storytimes resume the week of January 7th. Family Storytimes (ages 2-6) Tuesdays at 10 and 1:30, Toddler Times (ages 18-36 months) Wednesdays at 10 & 11 and Thursdays at 10:30 & 11:30, Baby Times (Birth-18 months) Thursdays at 9:30. No registration is required but we ask that you only attend one session each week. Full details are posted our January Calendar or you can call us at 908 526-4016 x126. We also offer a satellite storytime/craft on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. at the Neshanic Station Library.

Rocket Readers: 'Poppleton in Winter' (Grades 1-2) Wednesday, January 9 from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Registration is required and begins December 19 An exciting program for brand new readers! At each program we will discuss a book, play some games or create a story related craft. Students should read the book prior to the program. Copies of the books will be available at the Youth Services Reference Desk. Poppleton In Winter By Cynthia Rylant Join Poppleton the pig in three wintery adventures. Learn how he makes a new friend after an icicle accident, creates a bust of Cherry Sue, and gets a pleasant surprise from his pals.

Tail Waggin' Tutors: Children Reading to Dogs (For Children of All Ages) on Thursday, January 10th. 4-5pm. Telephone or In-Person Registration Only starting Dec. 27th. Call the library at 908 526-4016 x126 for more information. Did you know that dogs like listening to stories as much as kids do?Come to the Bridgewater Library for Tail Waggin’ Tutors, our new program where children will have the opportunity to practice their reading skills by reading a story to Xena the Therapy Dog, a friendly, six-year-old chocolate labradoodle. Each child will have 10 minutes to read a favorite story to his or her new, canine friend. For more information, please visit www.tdi-dog.org.

Lego Club (Grades K-6) Thursday, January 10 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Registration is required and begins December 27. Hey LEGO fans, here's a club just for you! Get together with other LEGO-maniacs, share
ideas and tips on building, and have a great time! Library LEGOS will be available for building, so you do not need to bring your own.Please Note: Parents are welcome to stay; however, younger siblings cannot be permitted to join this program.

Music with Miss Jamie (Ages 2-5) Saturday, January 12 10:30-11 am, repeats from 11:15-11:45. Registration is required and begins December 28. Join Jamie Fawcett as she helps shake away what’s left of the winter blues with some upbeat, fun, and exciting music that’ll have you up and dancing around in no time!

Kids' Club (Grades 3-4) Tuesday, January 15 from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Registration is required and begins January 2 This month, we will get together for games, including Apples to Apples and Would You Rather.

Local Hero Storytime (All Ages) Saturday, January 19
at 10:30 am Registration is required and begins January 4 Listen to tales of heroism and adventure from our own local heroes — a firefighter, a police officer, a soldier and teacher, and a Seeing Eye trainer and dog!

Let it Snow (Ages 3-8) Wednesday, January 23
from 4:30 pm - 5:15 pm Registration is required and begins January 9 Celebrate winter with songs, stories and a seasonal craft.

Incredible Adventures: 'The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Ages 5-12) Saturday, January 26 at 10:30 am Registration is required and begins January 11. Join us as we listen to the story of a 14-year-old boy in an African village who figured out how to build a windmill from items in a local junkyard, then help us make collage art and take apart some broken appliances to reassemble the pieces into other forms.

There are ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS at other system libraries for children & teens…find their online calendars under the “events/programs” tab on our home page. Planning ahead for the rest of January? -- Check out our library calendar.

If you register for a program and realize that you won’t be able to come, please call (908 526-4016x126) or email us (bwljuv@sclibnj.org) as early as possible so we can make someone on the waitlist very happy. Next time that waitlisted participant might be your child!



@ Bridgewater Library for Teens:

5th & 6th Grade Volunteers Monday January 7th from 7-8pm Registration required. ATTENTION STUDENTS IN GRADES 5 AND 6: Here is your chance to make a difference by volunteering at the library! You can help the library with special projects including creating bookmarks for young children, organizing and tidying up the Children’s Room, and much more!

Play With Your Food (Grades 6-12) Monday, January 14 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Registration required and begins December 26 An entire program dedicated to playing with food! We’ll be building edible snowmen, making candy necklaces, decorating cookies, and even trying candy sushi. We’ll also be building and testing our very own marshmallow launchers!

Open Mic Night presents: A Night for Newtown Thursday January 17, 2013 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM  A Concert Benefiting the Families of Newtown, CT.

The events of December 14th, 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT sent a shock wave across the nation as we learned of a senseless tragedy that took the lives of 26 innocent victims, most of whom were children.  Our hearts and our thoughts have been with the families who continue to mourn, as many of us ask what we can do to help.

On Thursday, January 17th, a very special presentation, sponsored by the Bridgewater Library’s Open Mic Night program, will aim to do just that. “A Night for Newtown: A Concert Benefiting the Families of Newtown, CT” will be an evening of music performed by New Jersey talent who were equally struck by these events, including many performers from Bridgewater Library’s monthly Open Mic Night roster.  We are also lucky to announce a special guest appearance by local folk legend Spook Handy, as well as many other great artists.

The concert will begin at 6:30pm with nearly two hours of music to follow.  Light refreshments will be made available, as will several ways to make a contribution to help benefit the victims’ families as they attempt to make sense of a life without their loved ones.

All proceeds from the concert will benefit the Newtown Memorial Fund, the Newtown Youth and Family Services, and the Sandy Hook School Support Fun sponsored by the United Way. For more information on how you can help or how to participate, please contact Kyle Pucciarello at (908) 526-4016 ext. 197 or kpucciar@sclibnj.org. 

TAB Meeting (Grades 6-8 Tuesday, January 22nd 5:30-6:30pm TAB Meeting (Grades 9-12) Tuesday, January 22nd 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM Registration required Do you want to make a difference at your library? Do you have suggestions for programs, new books, movies, or video games? Then come to one of our upcoming T.A.B. meetings! Community service hours will be awarded for attendance and snacks will be served!

Talk it Up: Pop Culture Edition (Grades 5-8) Tuesday, January 29
from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm  Registration is required and begins January 15  Join us as we talk about your favorite books, TV shows, movies, video games, music and Web sites of last year. You can earn a community service hour if you bring in a typed or handwritten review (must be at least one page) of one of the topics mentioned above. Let us know what you would recommend to a friend.

Want more info about upcoming programs? Check out our January teen calendar here.


Around the Community:

 

The Children's Museum (of Somerset County NJ) The museum is in the cafeteria of the PeopleCare Center, 120 Finderne Avenue, Bridgewater (just south of Rt 28); entrance is in the back of the building. Admission to the program is $3 per child; there is no charge for those in need. For additional information, please call the museum at 908-595-0001.

Center for Contemporary Art Children’s and Adult classes available. Check out their offerings in their brochure. More information about exhibitions and classes also available on their website. http://ccabedminster.org/

RVCC Planetarium Shows  -- Reservations recommended for all shows. Information at: http://www.raritanval.edu/comm/planet/public.html#January

Magic Tree House: Space Mission
Saturdays, January 5, 12, 19, and 26
3:00 p.m. Join Jack and Annie as they discover the secrets of the Sun, Moon, planets, space travel, and more.  Who can help them answer the questions left for them by the mysterious "M"?  This show is based on the same-titled, best-selling series of novels. Recommended for ages 5 and older.

Laser Mania
Saturdays, January 5, 12, 19, and 26
4:00 p.m. Listen to songs such as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the Tokens, "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction, and "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas while lasers draw pictures on the dome overhead. Recommended for children age 6-12.

Winter Skies
Saturdays, January 5, 12, 19, and 26
7:00 p.m. The brightest stars of the year are clusted in the winter night sky.  Join our educator in the planetarium to learn how to use Orion as a guide to finding other stars and constellations this season.
Recommended for children age 8-adult.

New Jersey Rocks laser concert
Saturdays, January 5 and 19
8:00 p.m.

All artists, from Bruce Springsteen to Frank Sinatra, have a New Jersey connection.

Classic Rock laser concert
Saturdays, January 12 and 26
8:00 p.m. Listen to artists including the Grateful Dead, the Beatles, and Rush while lasers draw pictures on the dome overhead.

 

Laser Mania
Saturdays, January 5, 12, 19, and 26
4:00 p.m.

Listen to songs such as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the Tokens, "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction, and "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas while lasers draw pictures on the dome overhead.
Recommended for children age 6-12.

Rockin' Rocket Ride
Sunday, January 13  2:00 p.m. Put on your space suit and blast-off into outer space to visit the Moon, Sun, and planets.  A lively experience for young people with selected music from the "Journey into Space" CD by Jane Murphy.
Recommended for children ages 3-8.

SkyLights
Sunday, January 13 3:00 p.m. Our youngest audience members can sing along with songs by mr. RAY (Family Ride, Kalien the Alien) and Jane Murphy (Moon Rock Rock, The Planet Song).  Some songs are illustrated with lasers and other songs feature video images. Recommended for children ages 3-8.

The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket
Friday, January 18  6:00 p.m.Travel with two adventurous youngsters in their cardboard rocket as they explore the Sun and the planets of the solar system.
Recommended for ages 6-12)

 

Laser Kids
Friday, January 18
7:00 p.m.  Our popular show has gotten a new song list.  Songs include "Supercalifragilisticsexpialidocious" and "Yellow Submarine," to name just a few.
Recommended for ages 6-12)

 

Special Events

The Sky Above
A planetarium show for families with children on the Autism Spectrum or with other developmental disabilities.

Sunday, January 13, 2013,  Sunday, February 10, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013      4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Ticket Price: $5.00 per person

All ages are welcome to this one-hour sensory-friendly program. The show will provide a comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming to all families. The doors will remain open so that children will be able to come and go. Lights will be left dim and audio will be lowered and at a consistent level. The sky show will include: music, videos, planets, the Moon, constellations and laser lights.

Please call 908-231-8805 to make a reservation as we are limiting the number of visitors for each show.

Family Resources

Night of Lasers Come see one or up to FOUR laser concerts in one marathon event!  Friday, February 1

   7:00 p.m.     Beatles
   8:15 p.m.     ELO
   9:30 p.m.     Led Zeppelin
   10:30 p.m.   Best of Pink Floyd

$7 for one show, $12 for two shows, $16 for three shows, $20 for all four shows in one night.

And at RVCC Theatre:  20% off sale through Jan. 7th, info HERE.

Tom Chapin & Friends
Friday, January 25 at 7PM
Ages: 8 & up
Tickets: $20 & $25
Adult albums and kids’ albums, contemporary folk and pop, three-time Grammy winner Tom Chapin’s concerts and music span styles and generations. With 22 recordings and hundreds of songs in his repertoire, Chapin serves up a tasty mix of his family music, story songs, sing-alongs, old-time folk classics and a favorite song or two of his late brother Harry’s. Adults and kids alike are part of the action, as they lend their voices, sing a round, learn a song in sign language and discover the music of a didgeridoo. Tom will be joined on stage by extraordinary musicians Jon Cobert and Michael Mark.

Ramona Quimby
Two Beans Productions
Sunday, January 27 at 1 & 3:30PM
Ages: 5 & up
Tickets: $10 & $12
Ramona's life is a mess! Her older sister Beezus is a pain, her Aunt Bea may marry a dork, and her Dad just lost his job. Life is no picnic, and growing up isn't easy. But with the help of her loving and patient family and friends, Ramona faces these challenges. Follow the latest breathless adventure of the world's most animated elementary school student. Ramona, the exasperating but lovable third-grader, has delighted young readers for over fifty years through the books of Newbery Medal-winning writer Beverly Cleary. Now, she comes to life on the stage in Ramona Quimby.

There are lots more things to do around our community. Look at the “Useful Websites for Families” (on the right side of this blog – click the headline if you are reading this as an email) for many more options!

Let Your Fingers Do More Walking:

Here’s an idea for the new year: