Holiday Happenings at Bridgewater Library and Around our Community

Please note: The library will close at 5 p.m. on Wed. Nov. 27th and be closed Thanksgiving.  We reopen on Friday Nov. 29th. 

On Thursday Dec. 5th, the library will open at noon.

Programs for Children @ the Bridgewater Library

Turkey and Latkes Sing-Along (All ages) Wednesday, November 27 10am. No registration required. Usher in both Thanksgiving and Hanukkah with fun songs celebrating families and holiday cheer!

Music and Movement (Birth to 3 Years) Monday, Dec. 2nd  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.

 
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Storytime (For Ages 2-6) No Registration Required.  Tuesdays  through Dec.17th,  10:30 a.m. Second session at 1:30pm. 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 through Dec.18th, 10:00 a.m., repeats at 11:00 a.m.  Also Thursdays through Dec. 19th, 10:30 a.m.    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 through Dec. 19th, 9:30 a.m. An interactive lap-sit program of songs, rhymes and a story designed to introduce your baby to language and promote early literacy.

Friends Of The Library Lobby Concert -- Odarka (Harpist) (All Ages) Lobby Concert.
Friday, December 6 11am-3pm No registration
Join acclaimed local harpist Odarka Stockert for an afternoon of holiday music played on her antique harps!

 

Play Group (ages Birth to 3 years) Monday Dec. 9th and 16th  10:00 AM to 10:30.  No registration required. Come and play with toys, dance to music, and make new friends!

 

Rocket Readers 'Monkey and Elephant Get Better' (Grades 1-2) Monday, December 9th  4:30-5:30pm  Registration required.  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: 'Monkey and Elephant Get Better' by Carole Lexa Schaefer. Monkey and Elephant are friends with a lot in common, until they get sick and find there's more than one way to enjoy hay and water.  **Students should read the book prior to the program.  Copies of the book will be available at the Youth Services Reference Desk.**

Drop-In Winter Craft (For ages 3 and up) Wednesday, December 11from 1:00-3:00pm. No registration required. Celebrate the winter season with a fun craft. Just drop in between the listed times to make a great craft to take home.  One craft per child--while supplies last.

 

Tail Waggin' Tutors: Children Reading to Dogs (For Children of All Ages)  Thursday, December 12th  4-5pm  Phone or In-Person Registration Only. Registration begins Dec. 2.   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.Therapy Dogs International (TDI®) is a volunteer organization dedicated to regulating, testing and registration of therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers for the purpose of visiting nursing homes, hospitals, other institutions and wherever else therapy dogs are needed.  For more information, please visit www.tdi-dog.org.

Special Needs Lego Day (For ages 3-10)Saturday, December 14  from 2:00-2:45 pm.  Special Needs Lego Day (For ages 11-18)  Saturday, December 14 from 3:00-3:45 pm.  Registration is required and begins December 2.   Program size is limited.  Join us as we build and create with the library's LEGOs and Duplos and give kids 3 to 10 with special needs experience with social interactions while encouraging creativity, cooperative play and fine motor skills. Siblings welcome.  The LEGOs belong to the library, so parents are encouraged to bring a camera to take home a picture of the child's creations. 

Snack Attack (Grades 3-4) Monday, Dec. 16th at 4:00pm.  Registration required and begins Dec 2nd. What do you get when you combine delicious snacks and can't-put-down books? The best book club ever! At Snack Attack Kids Club, we'll work on a food project (like decorating cookies or making gingerbread houses) while we discuss awesome new books, movies, video games, and music. Come prepared to tell us about at least one book you read recently.

The Dark is Coming! (For Grades K-5)  Thursday, December 19 from 4:30-5:30 pm.  Registration required and begins December 4. Is there a moment quite as keen or memory as bright as light and fire and music sweet to warm the winter's night?—Adam Christiansen
Join us as we ward off the winter's chill with winter solstice songs and stories from around the world. We'll also work on a cozy craft to keep the chills away!

It's a Wrap! (Ages 3-10) Monday, December 23 1:30-2:30 pm Registration required and begins Monday, December 9. We'll share stories & songs about gifts and giving, then create our own wrapping paper and cards. Please wear old clothes or bring a smock as we will be using paint.

 

 

@ Bridgewater Library for Tweens and Teens:

Practice SAT (Grades 7 - 12) Practice SAT (Presented by Kaplan)Saturday, December 7  from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. Registration required and begins November 15

**THIS IS A PRACTICE TEST ONLY**

Taking the SAT this spring?  A FREE practice test is one of the best ways to get ready for the real thing!  By taking this practice test, you will learn exactly what to expect on test day and receive a complete individual analysis of your results (which will be mailed to you 7-10 business days following the test). Don't forget a #2 pencil and calculator!  PLEASE NOTE: No admittance after 9:15 am.

  
5th & 6th Grade Volunteers Monday Dec. 9th 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!

TAB Meeting (Grades 6-8)  Tuesday Dec. 10th, 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!

Friends of the Library Concert Series: Madison Brass Quintet  Friday December 13, 2013 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM  Meeting Room. Come and enjoy the festive and captivating sound of a brass quintet.  This concert is FREE and everyone is invited to attend.  No sign-up is needed.

Special Needs Lego Day (For ages 11-18)  Saturday, December 14 from 3:00-3:45 pm.  Registration is required and begins December 2.   Program size is limited.  Join us as we build and create with the library's LEGOs and Duplos and give kids 3 to 10 with special needs experience with social interactions while encouraging creativity, cooperative play and fine motor skills. Siblings welcome.  The LEGOs belong to the library, so parents are encouraged to bring a camera to take home a picture of the child's creations. 

Open Mic Cafe Night (Ages 13+) Thursday, Dec. 19th from 6:45-8:45pm.  Registration required and begins Dec. 4th. 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.

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

Around the Community:

Registration is required by Dec. 2nd.  Forms are at: http://somerset.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h/pdfs/4h-2013-Sugo-December.pdf

 

The Somerset County Commission on the Status of Women (SCCSW) is conducting its fourth annual “Project Warm Your Heart” to collect new or gently-used coats, mittens, gloves, scarves and hats for needy children.  Donations are requested by Dec. 6. Children of families served by the Food Bank Network of Somerset County will benefit from this winter-clothing drive, which follows the commission’s recent collection of school supplies held during the summer months. Donations may be dropped off to the Somerset County Freeholders’ Office on the third floor of the county administration building at 20 Grove St., Somerville, now through Friday, Dec. 6.  The office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except holidays on 28 and 29.  Free parking is available in the adjacent Bernie Field Parking Deck off East High Street. “Project Warm Your Heart” co-chairs are Commission members Elizabeth Savage, Jane O’Donnell and Felecia Nace.  For more information, contact them at jod9302@aol.com

THE THEATER PROJECTS PRESENTS A HOLIDAY CARD TO LOCAL AUDIENCES

It’s a Wonderful Life—The Radio Play

WHEN: One performance only on Saturday, November 30, at 2 PM; A pre-show sing-along begins at 1:45 PM
WHERE: Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Durand Rd, Maplewood
ADMISSION: Adults $20; Children attend free of charge
American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is also provided|
If inclement winter weather forces a cancellation, the “snow date” will be Sunday, December 1, at 2 PM.
Complete information is available at www.thetheaterproject.org
973.763.4029

The Theater Project will present its holiday production of “It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play.” The Theater Project’s company of local professional actors will recreate the Lux Radio Theater circa 1947 as twelve actors, a musician and one extremely overworked sound technician prepare for the big radio broadcast of the story made famous in the Frank Capra film of the same name.

“Every year, some of our favorite actors come together and donate their time to create this event as a gift to our supportive community,” says Mark Spina, Artistic Director of The Theater Project. “It allows us say thank you, to our audiences and to each other, for celebrating theater together all year long. It’s our living holiday card.”

Top: The cast of IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: THE RADIO PLAY (photo by Kevin Sebastian)

 

CHRISTMAS CLASSIC RETURNS TO BASKING RIDGE BY LIGHT OPERA OF NEW JERSEY

Amahl and the Night Visitors
Music and Lyrics by Gian Carlo Menotti           
Directed by Joanna Hoty Russell

WHEN: Friday, December 13, at 5 PM and 7 PM; Saturday, December 14, at 5 PM and 7 PM
WHERE: St. Mark’s Episcopal Church at 140 South.Finley Ave in Basking Ridge
TICKETS: $20 ($10 for children 12 and under)
www.LightOperaOfNewJersey.org or by calling 973.219.3106

This Christmas classic, Amahl and the Night Visitors, has the distinction of being the first opera written for television back in 1951. The story deals with Amahl, a young peasant shepherd boy who can only walk with the aid of a staff, and his widowed mother who is doing her best to look after him.  Amazing things transpire when the two are visited by three royal kings on their way to see the Christ child in Bethlehem. This operetta is a sweet warm story and is especially well suited for children.

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For more information, go to: http://www.morrisparks.net/ (above links won’t work.)

For more information: http://www.morrismuseum.org

For more information: http://www.raritanval.edu/comm/planet/public.html#December

Let Your Fingers Do More Walking…

Read More: http://www.wnyc.org/story/programming-families-how-kids-like-software-what-the-government-could-learn/

Looking for books for gift-giving.  We have a list in the library and you can also take a look at this list from Imagination Soup! http://imaginationsoup.net/2013/11/childrens-books-gift-guide/