Welcome to our Online Newsletter and Virtual Bulletin Board!

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

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Gear Up for September Programs at Bridgewater Library

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

Summer is nearing its end – but the fun continues at Bridgewater Library with lots of exciting September programs!

Do you have an imaginary friend – or wish you had one?  Join us Wednesday Sept. 2nd as we share the Caldecott-winning book The Adventures of Beekle, the Unimaginary Friend then CYOF (Create Your Own Friend!) (Ages 4-9) 10 a.m. sign up HERE, 11:15 a.m. sign up HERE.

 

Teen Lock-In: Glow in the Dark (Grades 7-12) Friday, September 4th,  7:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Registration is required. Get locked in the library, play games, watch movies, eat delicious snacks, and make crafts. We'll dim the lights and wear glow in the dark attire!  Please note: No admittance after 7:15pm. Advance notice required if a teen must leave early.

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Baby Times, Toddler Times, and Story Times
resume after Labor Day.

We request you only attend one age-appropriate each week  per child. For example, if you have a one-year-old and a four-year-old, you are welcome to attend both a Baby Time and a Storytime (You may bring both children to each program.) 

We want storytimes to be happy times and understand children have their ups and downs.  If your child is unhappy or very disruptive, please try taking them out of the story room for just a few minutes and then bringing them back in.  Sometimes everyone just needs a bit of a break or a chance to stretch their legs and lungs a bit! 

If your child has special needs or would do better in a quieter, slower-paced setting, consider also coming to our Sensory Friendly School Daze Singalong (All Ages) on Sept. 12th at 10 a.m.  Registration required. Celebrate a new school year with fun songs. A sensory friendly program for children in a judgment-free environment.

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Click HERE to register for the programs below

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Click HERE to sign up for these programs.

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"A good library will never be too neat, or too dusty, because somebody will always be in it, taking books off the shelves and staying up late reading them." ― Lemony Snicket


Source: http://hillchildrens.tumblr.com/ quoting: http://books-are-my-life17.tumblr.com/post/124185799051

essexcountylibrary:<br /><br />What does Library mean to you? - We asked,<br />and our library community responded. Here is what we heard you tell us!  Woodslee!Woodslee … Your community branch<br />is an AMAZING place to visit.  With Friendly Staff and FUN technology the library is an all-around AWESOME experience.<br />Visit us again!

from: essexcountylibrary

Just over a week left of Summer – Get outside and enjoy it!

NJ Playgrounds Worth Traveling To

Bored with your local swingset? Here are a few amazing New Jersey playgrounds worth driving to.  (Note, Bridgewater’s very own “Kidstreet” is #3!
Around the Community:
Best NJ Places to Take Preschoolers in August

From Sunflower Mazes to Pirate Boat Rides, Here Are the Best Spots to Take Little Kids This Month read_more2.jpg

Let your little one live out their pirate fantasy, or have them get lost in a sunflower maze. These are the best spots for preschoolers this month.

 

Happy Family Art

Check out 50 Free & Inexpensive Places for Family Fun In and Around New Jersey HERE.

Looking for more things to do with your kids?  How about a hike or a planetarium or a theater show?  Check out these and many more ideas on the events permalinks on the right hand side of our website: bwlibys.blogspot.com.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Bridgewater Library Blog–End of Summer Edition -- Last Day to Record Time for Prizes in Our Summer Reading Clubs is this FRIDAY August 21st.

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

A Reminder: The Last Day to Record Time for Prizes in our Summer Reading Clubs is August 21st.

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http://somerset.lib.nj.us/new/summerreading.html

Summer Readers – Don’t Miss Our Carnival This Thursday!

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or Our Teen Party a Week from Tuesday!

End of Summer Teen Party (Entering Grades 7-12) Tuesday, August 25, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Registration is required and begins August 4.

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PLEASE NOTE: Volunteers must sign up by Friday, August 21 to receive their volunteer certificate at the party. Otherwise, certificates can be picked up on or after September 8th.

See “Amelia Earhart” at Somerville Library on Saturday.

Families with children over seven are invited to Meet Amelia Earhart performed by The American Historical Theatre at the SOMERVILLE Library this Saturday, August 22, 2015 , 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Pat Jordan as Amelia EarhartPortrayed by Pat Jordan

Learn about her friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt and her meeting with Orville Wright.

Find out why she would not wear the typical flying gear of the time and why she was called Lady Lindy.

Learn all about her life and the heroic path she paved for women in aviation.

This will be a program for adults , teens and children over 7 years of age. Please register in advance.

Let Your Fingers Do More Walking:

New NJ Car Seat Laws

New NJ Car Seat Laws Go Into Effect September 1. Here's What to Know read_more2.jpg

Think you know the rules about backwards-facing seats and booster seats? Think again. New laws start on September 1. Make sure your car seat is up to code.

How Children Learn To Read

BY MARIA KONNIKOVA

CREDITPHOTOGRAPH BY SEAN GALLUP/GETTY

Why is it easy for some people to learn to read, and difficult for others? It’s a tough question with a long history. We know that it’s not just about raw intelligence, nor is it wholly about repetition and dogged persistence. We also know that there are some conditions that, effort aside, can hold a child back. Socioeconomic status, for instance, has been reliably linked to reading achievement. And, regardless of background, children with lower general verbal ability and those who have difficulty with phonetic processing seem to struggle. But what underlies those differences? How do we learn to translate abstract symbols into meaningful sounds in the first place, and why are some children better at it than others?  Read MORE.

Helping a New Reader learn to read? – Try this chart!

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Thursday, August 13, 2015

4H Fair Continues thru Friday August 14th & Summer Reading is Winding Down–Last Day to Record Time is August 21st, Superhero Carnival on August 20th, Teen Party on the 25th, RVCC Planetarium offers meteor shower viewing Friday 8/14.

 

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

A Reminder: The Last Day to Record Time for Prizes in our Summer Reading Clubs is August 21st.

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http://somerset.lib.nj.us/new/summerreading.html

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End of Summer Teen Party (Entering Grades 7-12) Tuesday, August 25, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Registration is required and begins August 4.

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PLEASE NOTE: Volunteers must sign up by Friday, August 21 to receive their volunteer certificate at the party. Otherwise, certificates can be picked up on or after September 8th.

Join us at the 4H Fair through Friday!

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"Did you ever see a goose kissing a moose?  Did you ever see a fly wearing a tie?  Did you ever see a bear combing his hair?  Did you ever see a whale with a polka-dotted tailDid you ever see llamas eating their pajamas? Did you ever see a spider drinking apple cider? Did you ever have a time when you couldn't make a rhyme...down at the fair!

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SCLS Bridgewater Branch Librarian Carol Simon Levin performing a variation of Raffi's song "Down by the Bay" at the 4H Fair using a "human flannel board" --  Bridgewater kids Jon & Laurel plus Zack & Emma and their mom, Fran.

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Sharing the singable book “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
and puppet play-acting “My House is a Squash & a Squeeze”

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Maps and schedules of daily events such as dog, horse and livestock shows are available in the information tent. Twirling, go karts, rockets, magic, model airplanes, R.C. cars, model trains and other 4-H clubs compete and perform. The Arts Tent, Science Tent and Prep Tent (for the youngest 4-H'ers) are packed with exhibits, activities for visitors, demonstrations and performances. Ten other 4-H tents house a variety of animals including dairy cows, beef, alpaca, horses, dogs, herpetology, sheep, goats, poultry, rabbits and small animals. Most animal tents have a petting area and information about how to join 4-H.   More INFO.

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Perseid Meteor Shower Watch Friday, Aug 14  9 pm - midnight

"A shooting star is not a star; is not a star at all.  A shooting star's a meteor that's headed for a fall!" 

The planetarium is hosting a viewing night this Friday, August 14th!  Join us outside the Planetarium, on the grass by the Observatory.  Bring a lawn chair or blanket, and just hang out with us to watch the sky.  The Observatory will also be open to look at Saturn and other deep sky objects.

Come join us outside the 3M Observatory as we view the Perseid Meteor Shower!  Watch as up to 60 meteors per hour zip through the sky.  Meteors are little bits of icy rock and dust, debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle that passed by years ago. Earth is currently moving through this trail of debris, creating a meteor shower.  Though the shower peaks  August 12th, it's actually good to view for nearly two weeks.  Often fireballs, bigger meteors, are seen after the peak. 

More programs at the planetarium here.

The EARTH Center, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County - Garden Field Day/Open House

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On Saturday, August 16, The EARTH Center, home to Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County, will host their Garden Field Day/Open House from 11 AM to 3 PM. The event will take place in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, 42 Riva Ave. South Brunswick, NJ and is great day of fun for the family in a beautiful park setting. (Raindate will be August 17) The Extension Agriculture Department as well as Rutgers Master Gardeners will be on hand, offering sound advice on horticulture and environmental stewardship while guiding visitors through their various teaching gardens and learning projects. Examples of their work include the Children’s Garden with Green Roof playhouse, an enormous vegetable display garden, environmentally conscious rain garden and the popular Butterfly House.  More.

Remember, we are collecting school supplies till Saturday August 15th.

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Great historical program at Somerville Library this Saturday:

A Suffragette Heroine: Alice Paul(performed by Alisa Dupuy)

Alisa Dupuy from The Ladies of Historical Productions will play the part of Alice Paul. Saturday, August 15, 2015 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Somerville Public Library

Alice Paul was the architect of some of the most outstanding political achievements on behalf of women in the 20th century. Born on January 11, 1885 to Quaker parents in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, Alice Paul dedicated her life to the single cause of securing equal rights for all women.Few individuals have had as much impact on American History as Alice Paul. Her life symbolizes the long struggle for justice in the United States and around the world. Her vision was the simple idea that women and men should be equal partners in society.

Or a chance to adopt a canine (or feline) companion:Somerset Regional Animal Shelter's photo.

Somerset Regional Animal Shelter

Looking for a new family member for the new school year? If you have been putting off adopting, wait no longer!!! They want to find proper loving homes for as many animals as possible. Check them out from 11-4 this Saturday to find your new BFF and pay no adoption fee!! Refreshments served.

Upcoming program for Teens & Parents @ Bridgewater Library:

College Funding Workshop (Entering Grades 7-12 and parents) Monday, August 17 7:00-8:30 pm. Registration is required and begins July 27.

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Around the Community:

 

Looking for free or inexpensive outings to do with your kids before the summer ends?  How about a hike or a planetarium or a theater show?  Check out these and many more ideas on the events permalinks on our website: bwlibys.blogspot.com.

Best NJ Places to Take Preschoolers in August

From Sunflower Mazes to Pirate Boat Rides, Here Are the Best Spots to Take Little Kids This Month read_more2.jpg

Let your little one live out their pirate fantasy, or have them get lost in a sunflower maze. These are the best spots for preschoolers this month.


Morris Museum Logo


Camp-for-a-Day

August 19:  Lego Challenge II

August 26:  Inventors

Email programs@morrismuseum.org to reserve your child's space. For more details, visit morrismuseum.org.

Science Tuesdays!

Tuesdays, 1 - 2:30PM

Experiment with science and explore new ideas with fun hands-on activities, exciting demos, and more! Perfect for kids entering Grades 1 - 4. FREE with Museum admission. 

Nature Thursdays!

Thursdays, 1- 2:30PM

Learn something new each week about our natural world! From bugs and butterflies, to animal tracks and trees, the world is a beautiful, yet mysterious place that invites your discovery! Perfect for kids entering grades 1 - 4. FREE with Museum admission.

Remember, you can get free admission using our MUSEUM PASSES – details HERE.

HUB CITY SOUNDS SETS SCHEDULE FOR FREE FESTIVAL IN NEW BRUNSWICK: MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Hub City Sounds Festival - August 8 - September 26, 2015

HUB CITY SOUNDS
A Free Family Performing and Visual Arts Festival in Downtown New Brunswick

WHEN: August 8 – September 26, every Saturday, as well as some Sundays
WHERE:
various venues around Downtown New Brunswick
ADMISSION:  free of charge for all Hub City Sounds events.
Free parking is available for the Boyd Park events, exactly one block away at the Rutgers Public Safety Building, located at 55 Commercial Avenue.

New Brunswick Cultural Center, Arts New Brunswick, and Johnson & Johnson present the fourth annual Hub City Sounds series, taking place  this summer. This FREE family-friendly series includes music, dance, and much more from industry professionals, emerging artists, local theatre companies, and other artists. Festivalgoers are welcome to bring blankets or chairs for lawn seating at park events, and refreshments will be available for purchase.

HUB CITY SOUNDS SCHEDULE:


KIDS ROCK featuring Big Jeff and the StarFish band
Sat, August 15, 2015 at 3pm

Bring the kids and rock out with Big Jeff and the StarFish band! This performance of Kids Rock is part of the Hub City Sounds. Hub City Sounds is presented by New Brunswick Cultural Center/Arts New Brunswick / Johnson & Johnson. Info >

Kids Rock
Saturday, August 15, 3pm to 4:30pm
State Theatre, 15 Livingston Ave

Featuring Big Jeff & the StarFish band; a Rock band for kids ages 1 to 6.

Motion: Next Generation of Dance
Sunday, August 16, 2pm to 4pm
George Street Playhouse, 9 Livingston Ave
Featuring local dance student performances including B.A.M School of Performing Arts and NJ Ballet Arts Center, curated by coLAB Arts.

MORE.

 

 

Let Your Fingers Do More Walking:

 

 

NJ Family8 Things Teachers Expect Your Kid to Know by the First Day of Kindergarten

Lessons to teach children before the first day of school. Read more.(BTW, Library storytimes are great preparation!)

Check out a few of the things we’ve been up to at the library this week!

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