Come see a Bridgewater Firefighter and escape the “Smoke House” Fire Safety Truck at the Library Tuesday morning (July 28th). Also information about “Tools for Schools” donation drive and a sensory-friendly rock ‘n roll concert this Friday in Rahway.

Having trouble viewing this email?  Read it online. 
(You will also find links to great websites for families there.)

Superhero Spectacular Craftacular: Local Heroes: Firefighters (Suggested for Ages 3-6) 10:00 a.m.  .  Superhero Spectacular Craftacular: Local Heroes: Firefighters (Suggested for Ages 6-10) 11:30 a.m.  NOTE: Registration requested but not required.  If you have “almost” 3 year olds, feel free to bring them along to this special event.

 

THE BRIDGEWATER LIBRARY IS COLLECTING SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR STRUGGLING FAMILIES IN OUR COUNTY – PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION.

Donation box at the entrance to the Youth Services Department.  Donations will be accepted through Saturday August 15th.

 

ROCK OUT & BEAT THE HEAT @ SENSORY-FRIENDLY FAMILY CONCERT

BRADY RYMER & THE LITTLE BAND THAT COULD

WHEN: Friday, July 31, at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM
WHERE: Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving St,  Rahway
TICKETS: $8 per person and seating is general admission.
Group discounts are available for groups of ten or more.
All tickets can be purchased through the Union County Performing Arts Center at ucpac.org or by calling the Box Office at 732-499-8226.
The UCPAC Box Office, located at 1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM and is also open late on Thursdays until 8:00 PM.

Bring the entire family to rock out with two-time Grammy nominees Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could singing songs that celebrate children of all abilities.

Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could "might just be the best-sounding band in children's music," according to NPR's All Things Considered. First class, all-American roots/rock with a feel-good R&B foundation is Rymer's calling card - he creates a warm, optimistic, rollicking back-porch vibe that gets children and their families up and dancing, and smiling from ear to ear. Kids love the energy and Rymer's magnetic, good-times-guy charm, and his musicianship is something even the most discerning music-loving parent can appreciate.

Autism Friendly Spaces (AFS)  implements the supportive atmosphere at each of the Sensory-friendly performances. AFS provides specialists to train staff and volunteers on working with children with autism and other special needs during Sensory Friendly Theatre performances, while providing comfort and help to families.

For each of the special performances in the Sensory Friendly Theatre series, the theatre environment at the Union County PAC will be adjusted to provide a sensory-friendly, comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming for all families. For more information on what to expect at a Sensory Friendly Theatre performance visit ucpac.org.

Animals & Firefighters coming to visit plus other upcoming programs at the Bridgewater Library; Mary Poppins comes to Pleasant Valley Park this weekend plus tantalizing new Reading Research and Kid’s Safety Tips.

Having trouble viewing this email?  Read it online. 
(You will also find links to great websites for families there.)

Don’t forget to log your minutes in the Summer Reading Clubs!
Summer Reading Clubs!   Keep track of the time you spend reading this summer, play games, attend programs, have fun, learn a lot and win prizes!

Upcoming programs for Kids @ Bridgewater Library:

Click here for a complete listing with registration links for upcoming programs for kids, tweens, and teens at the Bridgewater Library.

Eyes of the Wild presents: Nature's Heroes (Grades K-5)

Superhero Spectacular Craftacular: Local Heroes: Firefighters (Suggested for Ages 3-6) 10:00 a.m.  Registration Required.  Superhero Spectacular Craftacular: Local Heroes: Firefighters (Suggested for Ages 6-10) 11:30 a.m.  Registration Required.

Youth Stages: The Little Red Hen (Ages 3-5) Registration required.

Youth Stages: Anansi & the Moss-Covered Rock (Ages 6-9) Registration required.

 

(Come to the Library tent at the 4H Fair Wednesday August 12th between 10-2 for more stories & songs.)

Superhero Spectacular Craftacular: Take Flight/Sky High! (Suggested for Ages 3-6)  10 a.m.  Superhero Spectacular Craftacular: Take Flight/Sky High! (Suggested for Ages 6-10)  11 a.m. Registration required and begins July 28.

Check back for more programs later this summer.

Find Upcoming Programs for Tweens & Teens at Bridgewater Library here.

 

Tween Volunteers (Entering Grades 4-6) Make a difference by volunteering at the library! Help us prepare for our summer carnival and earn community service hours. Registration is required. Wednesday, August 5, 2015 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Tween Advisory Board (Entering Grades 4-6) Tuesday, August 11
7:00 pm-8:00 pm. Registration is required.

Tween Lock-In: Literary Legends (Entering Grades 4-6) Friday, August 14, 2015. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM.  Registration required.

AROUND THE COMMUNITY: 

State Theatre    15 Livingston Ave         New Brunswick, NJ 08901

How to Train Your Dragon 2
Tue, July 28 at 10:30am and 7pm
Info >

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
Tue, August 4 at 10:30am and 7pm
Info >Tickets for both movies are FREE and no reservation required.  Groups of 20+, those planning a bus trip, or patrons requiring accessible seating please call 732-246-7469 or click here >

ONE MORE WEEKEND TO SEE “MARY POPPINS” FLY INTO PLEASANT VALLEY PARK, BASKING RIDGE

JR. VERSION OF “CHILDREN OF EDEN” TO PREMIERE @ SUMMIT PLAYHOUSE

Kaleidoscope Theater for Youth and the Summit Playhouse to Present Premiere of

Children of Eden, Jr. By Stephen Schwartz

WHEN: Friday, July 24 (7:30 pm), Saturday, July 25 (7:30 pm), Sunday, July 26 (2:00 pm); Friday, July 31 (7:30 pm), Saturday, August 1 (7:30 pm), Sunday, August 2 (2:00 pm)
WHERE: The Summit Playhouse, 10 New England Ave, Summit
TICKETS: $20
Tickets are available at Brown Paper http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1707762 and for more information visit http://www.pixiedustplayers.org/

SEE FREE SHAKESPEARE IN HOBOKEN PARK THROUGH AUGUST 9!

A Midsummer Night's Dream
by William Shakespeare

WHEN: July 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, August 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 9; 8 PM
WHERE: Frank Sinatra Park in Hoboken, NJ.
ADMISSION: Free 

Set in the 1950’s, in the rough and tumble world of the Hoboken waterfront, Mile Square Theatre revives its critically acclaimed 2007 production of Shakespeare’s comedy of teen love, magical fairies, and clownish mechanicals.

LAST CHANCE TO SEE “LOVE’S LABOUR LOST” THIS WEEKEND

Pictured: Bruce Cromer
Photo: Jerry Dalia
Click here to view the Know-The-Show Guide

HOLMDEL THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS “TWELFTH NIGHT”

William Shakespeare’s
TWELFTH NIGHT

WHEN: Friday, July 24, through August 8; WHERE: Holmdel Theatre, Duncan Smith Theatre, 36 Crawfords Corner Rd., Holmdel, New Jersey in front of the Holmdel High School.
TICKETS: $22 general public ($17 for seniors and $12 for students). Reservations may be made via the website at www.holmdeltheatrecompany.org.

DRAWINGS BY ROGER DUVOISIN ON VIEW @ THE ZIMMERLI ART MUSEUM IN NEW BRUNSWICK

Life Lessons from Animal Friends: Children’s Book Illustrations by Roger Duvoisin

WHEN: July 11, 2015, through June  26, 2016, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
WHERE: Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers. The museum is located at 71 Hamilton Street (at George Street) on the College Avenue Campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

Celebrate classic children’s literature with original drawings by Roger Duvoisin, the acclaimed illustrator of more than 140 books who lived and worked in New Jersey for nearly five decades. The Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers is pleased to present Donkey-donkey, Petunia, and Other Pals: Drawings by Roger Duvoisin. The exhibition spans Duvoisin’s entire career— from his first book, A Little Boy Was Drawing, to his last, The Happy Lioness—and includes images from the Caldecott Medal winner White Snow, Bright Snow. Nearly 40 works chronicle the adventures, antics, and epiphanies of his characters—both animal and human—whose timeless life lessons resonate from generation to generation.

 

July 25–26  New Jersey Renaissance Faire

Come be a part of history in the re-making at the premier Renaissance Faire in the state at the Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center. There will be fun food, activities and a mystery guest—past visitors have included Robin Hood, King Arthur and The Three Musketeers.

QuickChek Festival of Ballooning

Head to The Solberg Airport in Whitehouse Station to watch tons of hot air balloons float into the sky. Plus enjoy concerts, a 5K race, crafters, food, fireworks and lots more.

More ideas in our blog  here.

Check out NJFamily’s picks for the best  Things To Do In NJ This Weekend

LET YOUR FINGERS DO (MORE) WALKING:

Big Recall: IKEA Recalls Kids’ Dressers: What You Need to Know

IKEA has recalled the Malm chest after two fatalities involving furniture that tipped over. Here’s all the info you need to figure out if your child’s dresser is affected.

Summer Is Filled With Junk Foods, Too Much Screen Time and Swimming Dangers. Here's How to Protect Your Kids.

Vacation time makes it easy to let the kids slip into a host of bad habits. Here's how to keep them healthy this summer. 

The Test That Can Look Into A Child's (Reading) Future

If this isn't an honest-to-goodness crystal ball, it's close.

Neurobiologist Nina Kraus believes she and her team at Northwestern University have found a way — a half-hour test — to predict kids' literacy skill long before they're old enough to begin reading….Kraus herself says the test is nothing short of "a biological looking glass into a child's literacy potential."  Read MORE.

On the other end of the spectrum:

Which N.J. public university has most grad student debt in the nation?

A Rutgers graduate waits under High Point Solutions stadium for the opening processional during the Rutgers University Commencement in Piscataway in a 2012 file photo. (John O'Boyle | The Star-Ledger

Upcoming Invention Programs at Bridgewater and the Children’s Museum, delightful Theater Under the Stars, Planetarium Shows and More Activities for Children, Teens, and Families in Somerset County.

Having trouble viewing this email?  Read it online. 
(You will also find links to great websites for families there.)

Don’t forget to log your minutes in the Summer Reading Clubs!

Summer Reading Clubs!   Keep track of the time you spend reading this summer, play games, attend programs, have fun, learn a lot and win prizes!

Look what we’ve been doing at the library!
Pictures from our July 7th Superheroes Program:

Click here to see more pictures.

Speaking of Superheroes – check out this real-life superhero:
Ballwin mom changes lives with her superhero capes for sick and disabled children

Bryce McAllister, 3, of St. Peters, gets a lift from his mother Amey as he watches sea lions swim at the St. Louis Zoo. Bryce wears a cape created by Robyn Rosenberger of TinySuperheroes, who donates capes to children facing obstacles in life. Photo by Robert Cohen. Read More.

Are your little superheroes bored? Looking for something fun to do this summer?Check out 50 Free & Inexpensive Places for Family Fun In and Around New Jersey HERE.

 

 

A sampling of upcoming programs for Kids @ Bridgewater Library:

Click here for a complete listing with registration links for upcoming programs for kids, tweens, and teens at the Bridgewater Library.   A sampling:

Turtle Dance Music: Concert for Little Superheroes (Ages 4 and up) No registration required

Check back for more programs later this summer.

Find Upcoming Programs for Tweens & Teens at Bridgewater Library here.
A sampling:

Teen Advisory Board (Entering Grades 7 - 12)Tuesday, July 21 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Registration required and begins June 30.
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!

Check back for more programs later this summer.

AROUND THE COMMUNITY: 

Last chance to register for our new hands-on science camps!

View this email in your browser

Register today!

Great programs for your children, offered by The Children's Museum

Registration for our August programs -- Summer Science for 3-8 year olds and Maker Camp for 8-12 year olds -- will CLOSE on Tuesday, July 21 at 5 pm! To participate, please be sure to email somersetcminfo@gmail.com or call 908-595-0001 ASAP! Just $135/child for 5 days of hands-on science and technology fun!

Learn more about our camps at http://childrensmuseumnj.org/

Monday, August 3 to Friday, August 8, 9 am to 12 pm. For children ages 3-8 years old, now just $135/child/week at The PeopleCare Center 120 Finderne Avenue, Bridgewater, NJ
A new, fun theme every day of the week. Tons of get-up-and-move, hands-on learning. Lots of building, creating and exploring. Caring, certified teachers.

Do you know kids that love to create, build, and innovate? Maker Camp is the perfect experience to help them develop their skills, learn new things, and share their interests with others!  Monday-Friday, August 3-7, 1 to 4 pm, For students ages 8 -12. Now just $150/student at The PeopleCare Center, 120 Finderne Avenue, Bridgewater, NJ

Copyright © 2015 The Children's Museum of Somerset County, All rights reserved.

ONE MORE WEEKEND TO SEE “MARY POPPINS” FLY INTO PLEASANT VALLEY PARK, BASKING RIDGE

FREE FAMILY PERFORMANCE OF “A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM” OUTDOORS IN HOBOKEN

A Midsummer Night's Dream  by William Shakespeare

WHEN: July 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, August 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 9, 8 PM
WHERE: Frank Sinatra Park in Hoboken
TICKETS: Free.  The production runs 90 minutes without intermission.

Beginning July 22, Mile Square Theatre (MST), Hudson County’s premiere professional theatre company, will produce William Shakespeare’s beloved comedyA Midsummer Night’s Dream. [Jen Rabbitt Ring (Puck), Aaliyah Habeeb (Titania), and Matthew Lawler (Bottom). Photo by Craig Dale.]

Set in the 1950’s, in the rough and tumble world of the Hoboken waterfront, Mile Square Theatre revives its critically acclaimed 2007 production of Shakespeare’s comedy of teen love, magical fairies, and clownish mechanicals.

MST Artistic Director Chris O'Connor (Art, Scapin) will direct the project, which features MST Associate Artistic Director Matthew Lawler (House of Cards, God’s Pocket with Philip Seymour Hoffman) as Bottom. Also joining the cast is Dillon Heape (American Conservatory Theatre) as Oberon, Aaliyah Habeeb (Mixed Blood Theatre) as Titania, and Lou Carbonneau (Grey’s Anatomy, Law and Order) as Peter Quince.

“We are thrilled to bring this production back this year, which marks Frank Sinatra’s 100 birthday,” says director Chris O’Connor. “The show is set during Sinatra’s heyday and is underscored with his music. The world of Theseus is the Rat Pack and the young lovers are bobby soxers. We are performing the show on the very site where On the Waterfront was filmed, so we’ve made the mechanicals longshoremen. The setting of the production puts a new spin on Shakespeare’s comedy and at the same time embraces our local history. Audiences will have a great time watching the show, feeling a summer breeze come off the Hudson River, and watching the moon rise over the Manhattan skyline. It’s really a magical setting!”

 

 

REACH FOR THE STARS AT THE RVCC PLANETARIUM THIS SUMMER! (Reservations recommended for all shows, more info. HERE.)

FREE SUMMER MOVIES AT THE STATE THEATRE IN NEW BRUNSWICK

FREE SUMMER MOVIES AT THE STATE THEATRE

WHEN: July 21, July 28, and August 4; 10 AM & 7 PM
WHERE: State Theatre, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick
TICKETS: Free
Ticket Office: 732-246-SHOW (7469)
Groups of 20 or more must call the Ticket Office at 732-246-SHOW to make a reservation. No reservations are required for groups under 20.

 

 

Big Hero 6
July 21, 2015 at 10 AM & 7 PM

 

Click here for additional films.

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Camp-for-a-Day & Camp-by-the-Week

July and August 2015  Join us for camp at the Morris Museum! This July, our camps feature Magic, Art & Fashion, Science, LEGO and Prehistoric New Jersey. These programs are perfect for children entering grades 1-4. Email programs@morrismuseum.org to reserve you child's space. For more details, visit morrismuseum.org.

 

www.morrismuseum.org Morris Museum | 6 Normandy Heights Road | Morristown | NJ | 07960

Visit the museum for free (you still need to pay for theater admissions) using the library museum pass if available. The Morris Museum also participates in the Bank of America Museums on Us program. During the first full weekend of every month, each Bank of America card holder is entitled to one free general admission to the Museum. For further information, visit museums.bankofamerica.com/

 

Don't miss these family friendly shows!

$3.00 per person, no reservation required. For more information call 609-292-1382 or visit our website, statemuseum.nj.gov

Mad Science: Up Up and Away
July 23, 11:00 am
This event will capture the audiences' interest and show how exciting science can be. Included in the show are a variety of eye-popping demonstrations and experiments. There will be plenty of opportunity for hands-on audience participation in this event. Some of the topics and demonstrations include the three states of matter, air pressure (using the Madgeburg Sphere), a Hot Air Balloon, the Mad Science Hovercraft, a giant size vortex generator and finally the Big Sneeze demonstration. Suitable for ages 5-10 

The Crabgrass Puppet Theater: Jack and the Beanstalk
August 6, 11:00 am
Sent to the market to sell his old cow, Jack returns home with a measly handful of beans. Jack is in disgrace until... the beans become a beanstalk, the beanstalk leads to adventure, and Jack has a chance at fame and fortune. A feast of visuals and sound, with a stunning stage, big and beautiful puppets, a rhyme-spouting giant, a marvelous growing beanstalk, and a delightful musical score. Suitable for ages 3-10

Visit Website

 

Looking to cool down on a hot day?

Splash Park now open in Lepp Park in Somerville.
Across from 21 Park Avenue, Somerville NJ
** SPRAY PARK SUMMER OPERATING HOURS **
Currently, the timer is set from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm; seven days a week.
More Splash Pads here: www.jerseyfamilyfun.com/new-jersey-splash-pads

Looking for more area events?  Check out the Macaroni Kids Calendar here (though it says “Hillsborough,” it covers surrounding communities.)

Register Your Family For Somerset County's Amazing Race

Planning your summer activities? Looking for free fun? Love to win prizes? Sign up to participate in “The County Caper."

Planning your summer activities? Looking for free fun? Love to win prizes? Sign up to participate in “The County Caper”!

Once again the Somerset County park Commission Environmental Education Center is offering two County Caper events. The one-day family event will be on Sunday, August 23, 2015. Returning for 2015 is an adult only (15 years old and up) adventure called The County Caper Accelerated! This one day adult event will occur on Saturday, August 22, 2015.

The County Caper is a one-day game that takes families and friends on an interactive tour of Somerset County Parks and facilities. This local version of “The Amazing Race” will take teams to various destinations within Somerset County. Once they arrive they need to perform tasks, find clues or gather information. Each team will be given a journal to collect stamps and/or record their findings. Bring your camera!  The County Caper Accelerated! is a one day game that takes adults on an interactive tour of Somerset County Parks and facilities as well. Participants will be physically and mentally challenged while completing fun tasks and finding hidden clues throughout the day as their team races against the clock.

Participants will discover all Somerset County has to offer. Registration required for this free event. Please visit www.somersetcountyparks.org or call 908-766-2489.

Start your engines! Remember, it’s not just a game . . . it’s an adventure! Are you ready for the challenge?  The County Caper is designed to encourage everyone to explore, learn and protect our parks and other natural areas. Both events are rain or shine.

LET YOUR FINGERS  DO MORE WALKING:

Only 10 days left to enter National Geographic’s Engineering Exploration Challenge:

The 2015 National Geographic Engineering Exploration Challenge

The Engineering Exploration Challenge is back! National Geographic wants you to solve up to three big challenges that explorers often face when they are out in the field by using your own robot-like design. Your solution must collect information about its immediate environment and use that information to decide an action to take, the way a robot might. The resulting action can be as big or as small as you can imagine!  Choose one or more of the challenges below to work on. When you are satisfied with your solution, submit it to National Geographic by midnight, EST  August 1, 2015.  MORE.

How an iconic Jersey carousel landed at Disney's Magic Kingdom

Read More.

The most dangerous amusement parks in New Jersey

Read more.

 The state of New Jersey tracks water quality up and down the coast. See if your favorite beach is safe enough for swimming.

Two alarming surgery trends in youth sports highlighted at conference

Teenagers now account for the majority of "Tommy John" surgeries in the U.S. (Scott Faytok for NJ Advance Media) Read More.

Tests Find Asbestos in Kids’ Crayons, Crime Scene Kits

10 REALLY GOOD REASONS TO READ SHAKESPEARE: