Out and About in Central New Jersey: Read to a Dog, Dress Up for Halloween, Learn Homework Survival Skills and More at Bridgewater Library and Around our Area.

Special Surprise: Come into the library this month for a “Halloween” take home craft. Available while supplies last.

@ Bridgewater Library for Children

Tail Waggin' Tutors: Children Reading to Dogs (For Children of All Ages) Thursday Oct. 24th. 4-5pm. Phone or In-Person Registration Only. Repeats Tuesday Nov. 5th & 12th. 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. Sign-ups will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Call 908 526-4016 x126 for reservations.

Sept.- Oct. Series ends the week of October 15th. Nov.-Dec. series begins week of Nov. 5th.

**Due to the popularity of our early childhood programs, we appreciate your cooperation in attending only one storytime program per week for each of your children. Please attend the storytime program most age-appropriate for your child; if you have several children, you may attend one in each child’s age category and bring along the other siblings. **

Storytime (For Ages 2-6) No Registration Required. Tuesdays Nov. 5th-Dec.17th, 10:30 a.m. Second session at 1:30pm. Story Well. Join us for stories and songs for the whole family! This program is aimed at families and is designed for children 3 and up (younger siblings welcome.) Toddler Time (For Ages 18 months-36 months) No Registration Required. Wednesdays Nov. 6th-Dec.18th, 10:00 a.m., repeats at 11:00 a.m. Also Thursdays Nov. 7th-Dec. 18th, 10:30 a.m. Story Well. Clapping and singing and listening to books... introduce your toddler to the beginnings of storytime!
Baby Time (For ages birth - 18 months) No Registration Required.
Thursdays Nov. 7th-Dec. 18th, 9:30 a.m. Story Well. An interactive lap-sit program of songs, rhymes and a story designed to introduce your baby to language and promote early literacy.

Special Needs Yoga (All ages) Saturday, October 19 from 10:00 am - 10:30 am. Registration required and begins October 4. Join instructor Gabriela Chabrier for a yoga class designed specifically for children and teens with special needs. Please note: You must print out and sign a copy of our Program Release form, located here: http://www.sclsnj.org/PDFs/SCLSrlsformchild.pdf.

9th Annual SCLS Car Show Saturday October 19, 2013. The 9th Annual Classic Car Show will take place at the Bridgewater Public Library on Saturday, October 12th from 12 noon – 3 pm. Approximately 60 vintage cars will be on view in the library’s parking lot, as visitors vote on criteria such as Best in Show, Best Restoration, Best Paint Job, among other categories. The rain date is Saturday October 19th.

Toddler Dance Party (Ages 2-6) Monday, October 21 at 4:30 pm Registration required and begins October 7 Read, rock, and roll at the library! Toddlers, ages 2-6, and their caregivers are invited to get their groove on at the library. Shimmy and shake to your favorite toddler tunes!

Soul Sweat Yoga (Ages 8-12) Tuesday, October 22 from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Registration required and begins October 8 Forget everything you thought you knew about yoga and come ready to get sweaty in this fun and dynamic Soul Sweat class! Gabriela Chabrier will be taking you through a class filled with music, dancing, and, of course, basic yoga postures. Soul Sweat will help de-stress, while building confidence in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Please note: You must print out and sign a copy of our Program Release form, located here: http://www.sclsnj.org/PDFs/SCLSrlsformchild.pdf.

Halloween Storytime (All ages) Wednesday, October 23
at 10:00 am & 11:00 am No registration required. Wear your costume and get a head-start on Halloween with gloriously ghoulish tales and songs.

Garden Club presents: Pumpkin Fun! (For ages 3+) Saturday, October 26 from 10:00 am - 11:30 am Registration required and begins October 11 Join the Bridgewater Garden Club for the annual pumpkin-decorating program! Create a fun, magnificently decorated pumpkin – you bring the pumpkin and we’ll supply the materials! Please note: Be sure to wear a smock or old shirt as paints will be used. Please bring a box to carry home your pumpkin.

Halloween Hootenanny (All Ages) Monday, October 28 from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm No registration required Join us for a special Halloween sing-along celebrating our favorite howl-iday! Please feel free to come in costume.

Parent-Teacher Workshop: Huntington Learning Center Homework Survival Guide Monday October 28, 2013 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM A WORKSHOP FOR EDUCATORS, PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS Homework: A Survival Guide Workshop Objectives
Huntington Learning Center will discuss the most prevalent problems
facing parents when dealing with their child’s homework. You’ll learn
practical, step-by-step solutions to end homework hassles.
Choose your date and location:
Wednesday, October 23, 7:00 pm: Hillsborough Library
Monday, October 28, 7:00 pm: Bridgewater Library
The workshop is free of charge and open to the public. 1 ½ professional development hours will be awarded to attendees.

Snack Attack (Grades 3-4) Wednesday, October 30 at 4:00 pm Registration required and begins October 16. Do you have the best taste in books, movies, video games, and music? Then you need to be part of our Club! We’ll make an awesome display of our reviews that will help other kids know what to check out of the library. And of course, there will be snacks to munch on! Come prepared to tell us about at least one of your favorite books.

Drop-In Trick or Treat! (All Ages) Thursday, October 31 All day
No registration required. Stop by the library wearing your Halloween costume for a special library Halloween treat!

Storytime Yoga with Miss Gaby (Ages 2-6) Friday, November 1 from 10:00 am - 10:30 am Registration begins October 18. Animal characters come to life as stories are read and acted out with yoga poses. Through the use of songs, puppets, and fun, animated poses, children will learn what it’s like to hop like a frog, slither like a snake and roar like a lion!
Please note: You must print out and sign a copy of our Program Release form, located here: http://www.sclsnj.org/PDFs/SCLSrlsformchild.pdf.

Music and Movement (Birth to 3 Years) Monday, Nov. 11th 10am. No registration required REPEATS AT 11:00 A.M. Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and feel the beat of a fun, lively music class! Led by Beth Stone of Kids’ MusicRound.

Lego Club (Grades K-6) Thursday, Nov. 7th 4:30 pm Registration required and begins Oct. 24th. 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.

Friends of the Library Concert Series: Starfish! (ages 3+) Saturday, November 9 11:00-11:45 am Registration required and begins October 25. Get ready to rock with this five-piece band as they play such lively songs as 'Stop, Drop and Rock and Roll,' 'Air Guitar,' and 'The StarFish Stomp.' Starfish features life-long musicians (most of whom are dads) who aim to bring a little bit of rock and roll to the little ones. Visit starfishrocks.com for more information.

Rocket Readers 'Katie Saves Thanksgiving' (Grades 1-2) Monday, November 11th 4:30-5:30pm Registration required and begins October 14 An exciting program for brand new readers! At each program we will discuss a book, play some games, or create a story related craft. This month's book: 'Katie Saves Thanksgiving' by Fran Manushkin

When a snowstorm causes the power to go out Katie and her parents think their Thanksgiving dinner with JoJo is and Pedro is ruined, but by being a good neighbor, Katie saves the day. **Students should read the book prior to the program. Copies of the book will be available at the Youth Services Reference Desk.**

Dan Gutman Author Visit Saturday November 16, 2013 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM Meeting Room. Registration begins on October 18. Dan Gutman, author of My Weird School, Genius Files, and Baseball Card Adventures, is coming to the Bridgewater Library! Come hear about his writing process and how he gets his ideas for new books. PLEASE REGISTER ALL ADULTS AND CHILDREN. AGES 5 AND UP.

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? -- 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 Tweens and Teens:

HallowTWEEN Party After Hours (Grades 4 - 6) Friday, November 1 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Registration required and begins October 18
Tweens, grades 4-6, wear your Halloween costumes and get locked in the library after hours! We'll have a Halloween movie, video games, crafts, snacks, and more! PLEASE NOTE: No admittance after 6:15 pm. Advance notice required if tween must leave the program early.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Theatrical Radio Show Saturday November 2, 2013 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM Registration begins October 18. Raconteur Radio presents a theatrical radio performance of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Kids and adults alike will have their imagination awakened on this deep sea adventure. Features a live sing-along of 'Whale of a Tale' and a post-show Q&A. PLEASE REGISTER ALL ADULTS AND CHILDREN. AGES 5 AND UP.

5th & 6th Grade Volunteers Monday Nov. 4th, 2013 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM Story Well 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 cluding creating bookmarks for young children, organizing and tidying up the Children’s Room, and much more!

Open Mic Cafe Night (Ages 13+) Thursday, November 7th From 6:45-8:45pm. Registration required and begins October 28th. Think you’ve got what it takes to get up on stage in front of your peers with nothing but your voice and guitar? Want to share your poetry, comedy, or original music? Not an artist, but would like to witness some of the most inspiring artists Somerset County has to offer? Then join us for this one of a kind experience, and help local musicians and writers have their voices heard.
Depending on registration, artists will receive ~ 10 minute slots to play music or recite poetry. Sign ups will be on a first-come, first-served basis. *Note: As ages of audience members range from children to adults, please consider the content of your performance. You will be asked to leave should your set contain indecent speech.

NANOWRIMO - QUICK CRITIQUES Thursday November 14, 2013 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Meeting Room Join us for an exciting evening with KidLit authors Charlotte Bennardo, Alissa Grosso, Nancy Viau, Alison Formento, and Kit Grindstaff. Some attendees will get the opportunity to present their queries or book synopses to the panel to receive tips and helpful feedback. Win the chance to have part of your manuscript or query letters critiqued with one of the authors after the event! Refreshments will be provided.

TAB Meeting (Grades 6-8) Tuesday Nov. 26th, 2013, 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. TAB Meeting (Grades 9-12) 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM Story Well. 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! 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!

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

Around the Community:

www.morrisparks.net

HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER IN BASKING RIDGE

HALLOWEEN FUN AT BRIDGEWATER MALL:

CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN WITH A SILENT FILM VERSION OF “PHANTOM OF THE OPERA” ACCOMPANIED BY LIVE ORGANIST ON REAL THEATER ORGAN AT CLASSIC THEATRE IN BOUND BROOK.

LOTS GOING ON AT THE RVCC PLANETARIUM THIS FALL:

Questions? 908-231-8805 Click here for Registration form.

4H OFFERS COLLEGE PLANNING PROGRAM:

Finding Colleges That Fit You, Monday, October 21

This seminar will be held in the 4-H Large Conference Room at 7:00 – 8:30 pm. It’s open to all high school students and their parents. There is no cost for this seminar. Please register directly with the 4-H Office at 908-526-6644 or somersetcounty4h@co.somerset.nj.us.