Welcome to our Online Newsletter and Virtual Bulletin Board!

Question or Suggestion? Contact cslevin59 (at) gmail.org.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Peer Tutors Sought for Somerville Library Program, History Fun in Somerset & Morris County Parks this Weekend, Free Admission at the State Museum & Planetarium. Safety Tips if You Encounter a Bear.



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Teens – Looking to earn community service hours and make a difference?  Sign up to be a Peer Tutor
at Somerville Library
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Teens & Tweens Can Make a Difference
at Bridgewater Library Too:

Tween Advisory Board (Grades 4 - 6)  Tuesday, September 23  6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Registration required.  Make the library a better place for you and your fellow Tweens! We’ll talk about the books you’re reading now, and your favorite movies and video games. You’ll even get a chance to talk about what programs you’d like at the library! Community service hours will be awarded for attendance.

Teen Advisory Board (Grades 7 - 12) Tuesday, September 23
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm  Registration required.
TEENS: YOUR OPINION MATTERS! Do you have suggestions for programs, new books, movies, or video games? Then come to one of our TAB meetings! Community service hours will be awarded for attendance and snacks will be served!

Tween Volunteers (Grades 4 - 6)
Monday, October 6 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Registration required. TWEENS: Make a difference by volunteering at the library! We need your help with special projects including creating bookmarks for young children, organizing and tidying up the Children’s Room, and much more!

 

Library Programs for Parents & Teachers:

Advocacy: Meeting the Needs of a Child with Autism Thursday, October 9 from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm. Registration required. It has been said that "if you meet one person with autism, you have met one person with autism." Autism is a spectrum disorder, and as such, the needs of those with autism can vary greatly.

In this program, attendees will learn how to access services and supports often needed by those with autism across service delivery systems. Attorneys will describe how to access and advocate for specialized services in educational settings, family support services, adult services, health services, housing and other areas. We will focus on school-based supports, including ABA services, home programming, extended school year services, transition services and accessing effective and appropriate adult services.  Presented by Maria Fischer, esq., an attorney at Hinkle, Fingles, and Prior. 

Parent - Teacher Workshop--Hands On: Promoting Fine Motor Skills in Preschool and Kindergarten Classrooms  Monday, October 06, 2014 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Registration Required.  Learn about the role that fine motor skills have on the academic success of young children and how to help your students who are displaying difficulties with fine motor skills. This program will provide an overview of fine motor skills development, current fine motor programs, and current research. Presented by Laurie Donovan and Alison Hales, NJ state licensed occupational therapists and members of the American Occupational Therapy Association. The workshop is free of charge and open to the public. 1.5 professional development hours will be awarded to attendees.

 
Click HERE for information on other
programs for Children, Teens & Families
@ the Bridgewater Library
 
COMMUNITY EVENTS THIS WEEKEND:
 
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www.morrisparks.net

 



20 Free Things to Do in Jersey this Fall

You don’t need to be a big spender to have an awesome September!  Check out this great list.

An apple a day: 15 places to pick your own in N.J.

apple-picking-nj-terhune.jpg

Looking to take your family apple-picking?  Check out these area locations.

Free and Almost Free Places For Family Fun
in New Jersey And The Surrounding States  2014

Here are some of the amazing places in New Jersey area that the family can go for free, or at a very small cost.  NJ and the surrounding states are abound with some wonderful places for families to have a break from the everyday routine.  Each place is amazing and fun, definitely worth a visit!   MORE.

 

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New Jersey efamily news

60+ Fall Festivals in New Jersey

Throughout NJ

Fall has returned to the Garden State and, with it, one of our favorite family traditions--festivals! Check out these fairs near you for tons of fall fun.

Friday, September 26 - Saturday, September 27

Harvest Moon Hayrides & Night Corn Maze

Chester, NJ
Explore the corn maze (bring your flashlight!), hop on a hayride, pick your own pumpkins, dance to country music and roast marshmallows around the campfire.

 

Saturday, September 27

Lincoln Park Day Festival

Lincoln Park, NJ
Live entertainment, inflatable rides, a giant flea market--Find all this, plus more, at this free fair!

Saturday, September 27 - Sunday, September 28

16th Annual Oktoberfest

Chester, NJ
Head to this carnival for traditional German music, dancing and food, plus bounce houses, games and pony rides.

Enterovirus D68 Case Confirmed in NJ

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that enterovirus D68, a rare respiratory virus, has now spread to New Jersey. Here's what you need to know.


5 Tips To Get Your Child To Talk About Their Day

Do your kids turn into mutes when you ask "how was school?" Here are five tricks to get more from your dinner table queries when "how was your day?" doesn't work.


Black Bear Kills 22-Year-Old Rutgers Student

Last weekend, when many families were out enjoying fall forests, a Rutgers student was killed by a black bear. Here's what you need to know if you encounter one.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Speak like a Pirate/Make a Pirate Hat at the library this Friday 9/18. Head to Princeton Children’s Book Festival on Saturday and/or Family Storytelling Festival at Grounds for Sculpture Sunday -- plus many other Fall Frolics at Bridgewater Library and Around Our Community.



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Come to the children’s department Sept. 19th and make your very own pirate hat!

Also check out our online language learning possibilities – Mango languages (for adults and school age children) and  Little Pim (for birth-age 6).  The library also has an extensive World Language Collection of books &  media – ask a librarian for assistance.


Love books and reading and storytelling? 

Check out the Princeton Children’s Book Festival this Saturday!   9th Annual Children's Book Festival
September 20, 2014, 11 - 4 p.m.  Details and a list of authors/illustrators at:
princetonlibrary.org/bookfestival.


Also  Storytelling Festival this Sunday at
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Park is likely to be very crowded, storytelling begins at noon, but visitors are advised to arrive an hour or two earlier to guarantee admission.
 

Programs for Children & Families @ the Bridgewater Library:


Storytime (For Ages 3-6, siblings welcome) Tuesdays  10:00 a.m. Second session at 1:30pm. 
Toddler Time (For Ages 18 months-36 months) Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m., repeats at 11:00 a.m.  Also Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.   
Baby Time (For ages birth - 18 months) Thursdays  9:30 a.m. No Registration Required for any of these.  Join us for stories, songs, movement and fun!  Please come to the program most age-appropriate for your child.

 

Baby Loves to Boogie! (Ages birth to 18 months)  Monday, September 22  at 4:30 pm. Registration required.   Babies get your groove on! Join us for this new program that unites creative movement and storytime songs. Caregivers please wear comfortable clothing and shoes as you will be moving just as much as your child!



Lego Club (Ages 5-12)  Thursday, September 25  4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Registration is required. 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!


Toddler Dance Party (Ages 2-6) Saturday, September 27 at 10:30 am. No registration required. 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!

Music & Movement (Ages birth-3 years) Monday Sept 29, 9:45 am.  Registration required. Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and feel the beat of a fun, lively music class!  Led by Beth Stone of Kids' MusicRound.  Also at 10:30 a.m.

Lego Club (Ages 5-12) (for ages 5-12) Saturday, October 4 From 10:00 am – 11:00 am. Registration required and begins on September 19.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.

Parent - Teacher Workshop--Hands On: Promoting Fine Motor Skills in Preschool and Kindergarten Classrooms  Monday, October 06, 2014 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Registration Required.

Learn about the role that fine motor skills have on the academic success of young children and how to help your students who are displaying difficulties with fine motor skills. This program will provide an overview of fine motor skills development, current fine motor programs, and current research. Presented by Laurie Donovan and Alison Hales, NJ state licensed occupational therapists and members of the American Occupational Therapy Association. The workshop is free of charge and open to the public. 1.5 professional development hours will be awarded to attendees.

Tail Waggin' Tutors (All Ages)  Tail Waggin’ Tutors: Children Reading to Dogs  Tuesday, October 7th 4-5pm.  Registration in-person or by phone 908 526-4016 x126 only.  Registration required.  Come to the Bridgewater Library for Tail Waggin’ Tutors, where children will have the opportunity to practice their reading skills by reading a story to Xena the Therapy Dog, a friendly, eight-year-old chocolate labradoodle.  Each child will have 10 minutes to read a favorite story to his or her new, canine friend.

Picture This: Art Exploration for Kids: Gods in Color – The Art of Ancient Greece (Grades 1-5) Wednesday, Oct. 8th From 4:30-5:30 pm. Registration required and begins September 24. Travel back in time with us to Ancient Greece where you will meet the Gods from Mount Olympus and hear about a surprising discovery scientists made about the sculptures there, then create your own statue!

Advocacy: Meeting the Needs of a Child with Autism Thursday, October 9 from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm. Registration required. It has been said that "if you meet one person with autism, you have met one person with autism." Autism is a spectrum disorder, and as such, the needs of those with autism can vary greatly.

In this program, attendees will learn how to access services and supports often needed by those with autism across service delivery systems. Attorneys will describe how to access and advocate for specialized services in educational settings, family support services, adult services, health services, housing and other areas. We will focus on school-based supports, including ABA services, home programming, extended school year services, transition services and accessing effective and appropriate adult services.  Presented by Maria Fischer, esq., an attorney at Hinkle, Fingles, and Prior. 

Friends of the Bridgewater Library presents mr. RAY – Kids Music That Rocks (Ages 2+) Saturday, October 11 From 11:00 am – 11:45 am.  Registration opens Friday, September 26  Join mr. RAY as he performs a mix of his own catchy, rock-influenced tunes and “warm n’ fuzzy” classic rock songs from the Beatles to Bob Marley.  With his colorful stickered guitar, his songs of friendship, dinosaurs, rainbows and messages of non-bullying will have everyone up and dancing.  Come experience this new style of KINDIE (Kid + Indie) music.  mr. Ray was Billboard’s 10th best-selling kids artist for 2013.


 

Rocket Readers (Grades 1-2) Tuesday, October 14  From 4:30 – 5:30. Registration required.  Diary of a Worm: Teacher’s Pet by Lori Haskins Houran  (Based on the books by Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss) Worm makes a surprising discovery -- teachers have birthdays! That means Worm and his friends have to find the perfect present for their teacher, Mrs. Mulch. We will discuss the 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.

Pumpkin Fun (Ages 3+) Saturday, October 18  10:00 am Registration is required and begins October 3. 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 decorating materials! Please note: Be sure to wear a smock or old shirt as we will use paint. Please bring a box to carry home your pumpkin.

Play Group (Birth to 3 years) Monday, October 20.  No registration required. Come and play with toys, dance to music, and make new friends!


@ Bridgewater Library for Tweens and Teens:
 


 

image_thumb_thumbPractice PSAT - Presented by Kaplan (Grades 7 - 11) Saturday, September 20  9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Registration required.  Are you taking the PSAT on October 15th or 18th? Here’s your last chance to practice before the real thing! Even if you’re not taking the real test this year, a free practice test is one of the best ways to prepare 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.

Tween Advisory Board (Grades 4 - 6)  Tuesday, September 23  6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Registration required.  Make the library a better place for you and your fellow Tweens! We’ll talk about the books you’re reading now, and your favorite movies and video games. You’ll even get a chance to talk about what programs you’d like at the library! Community service hours will be awarded for attendance.

Teen Advisory Board (Grades 7 - 12) Tuesday, September 23
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm  Registration required.
TEENS: YOUR OPINION MATTERS! Do you have suggestions for programs, new books, movies, or video games? Then come to one of our TAB meetings! Community service hours will be awarded for attendance and snacks will be served!

Open Mic Night (For ages 13+) Thursday September 25 From 6:45-8:30pm
Registration required to perform and begins on Sept. 11. 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.

Tween Volunteers (Grades 4 - 6)
Monday, October 6 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Registration required. TWEENS: Make a difference by volunteering at the library! We need your help with special projects including creating bookmarks for young children, organizing and tidying up the Children’s Room, and much more!

Tween Craft: Haunted Gingerbread Houses (Grades 4 - 6)Wednesday, October 8  from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Registration required.
Gingerbread houses are not just for winter! Make a creepy creation as we put a haunted twist on this classic craft. We’ll provide the materials, you provide the creativity.


Tween Lock-In: HallowTWEEN Party (Grades 4 - 6) Friday, October 17  6-8pm. Registration required and begins September 26 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 and snacks!  No admittance after 6:15 pm.



Want more info about upcoming programs?
Check out the  October calendar here.


Around the Community:

FREE SUNDAY @ HUNTERDON ART MUSEUM: CREATE A GIANT CHALK PORTRAIT WITH YOUR FAMILY

KATHERINE TRUBEK SUNDAYS ON THE TERRACE
Free Katherine Trubek Sundays on the Terrace events: 

October 5: 3-D Doodle. Using rolled paper participants will create a doodle sculpture. What would appear as a scribble on a piece of paper will be brought off the paper and will fill the Terrace.

October 19: Pop Art Candy Objects. Using a variety of materials participants will create sculptures resembling large scale candy and food.

WHERE: Hunterdon Art Museum, 7 Lower Center Street, Clinton
ADMISSION: Free

This series is supported by a gift from the Trubek family.  This series honors Katherine Bell Trubek (1904-1991), one of the artist founders of the Museum. Her art is currently on display in the Artist Founders of the Hunterdon Art Museum show.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE @ THE PRINCETON UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM

Princeton University Art Museum

Family Fun

Artful Adventures

WHEN: Drop in anytime!

Join us on a trip around the world and through the ages. This series of self-guided tours and activities is available for families to enjoy at their own pace. Pick up your Passport to Adventure at the Museum information desk and choose from our many Artful Adventures activity guides. Once you complete your adventure, visit the information desk to collect a sticker for your passport.

 


CIRCUS, CIRCUS, CIRCUS @ RVCC

Circus at RVCCArts

It's circus, circus, circus at RVCC this season. Circus from the Czech Republic; circus from Montreal and circus from China.

And, if physical theatre is your thing, since three shows make a subscription, you could tumble into some savings. No need to jump through hoops; just call the box office (weekdays, 11-4), download a subscription form, or order on-line.

DANCE PROGRAMS @ RVCC ARTS: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

Dance at RVCCArts

If you are a fan of dance, we have a varied lineup of terrific performances that will keep you coming back all season long. We are pleased to welcome back our New Jersey companies 10 Hairy Legs, American Repertory Ballet and Lustig Dance Theatre. We'll celebrate the season by offering Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker—children's roles performed by students of Gotta Dance. We'll close our season with an amazing display of step and tap when The StepCrew takes the stage. So, if dance is what moves you, just call the box office (weekdays, 11-4), download a subscription form, or order on-line.

WHERE: The Theatre at RVCC, 118 Lamington Rd., Branchburg
908.725.3420

logo Planetarium at RVCCRVCC Planetarium

Public Star Shows





 

 

20 Free Things to Do in Jersey this September

You don’t need to be a big spender to have an awesome September!  Check out this great list.

An apple a day: 15 places to pick your own in N.J.

apple-picking-nj-terhune.jpg

Looking to take your family apple-picking?  Check out these area locations.

Free and Almost Free Places For Family Fun
in New Jersey And The Surrounding States  2014

Here are some of the amazing places in New Jersey area that the family can go for free, or at a very small cost.  NJ and the surrounding states are abound with some wonderful places for families to have a break from the everyday routine.  Each place is amazing and fun, definitely worth a visit!   MORE.

  Thanks to Ruth Ross of njartsmaven.com for some of these listings.

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