Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Moms Menotring Moms!
Parents of high school students: Join us at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, January 19 for an opportunity to interact with other parents to provide support and insight as we wade through the high school years with our children. [Both Moms and Dads are welcome.] Bring a bag lunch. Free. Advance registration is requested at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/. This group will also meet February 16 and March 16.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Liverpool Singer to Appear at Bernardsville Library
Singer and acoustic guitarist Kenny Cunningham will perform in free concert at Bernardsville Public Library on Sunday, December 12 at 3:00 pm. [Doors open at 2:45 pm.] Funded by the Friends of the Bernardsville Public Library, the program is part of the Sundays at Three concert series. There is no charge to attend and no advance registration is necessary.
Mr. Cunningham will present a program of holiday music befitting the season along with popular tunes from the 1960's and ‘70's. He hails from Liverpool, England and is known for interacting with his audience with his special brand of Liverpool humor. He has performed across Europe and the Caribbean as well as in many libraries, clubs and at special events in the United States. Known for his extensive repertoire and engaging personality, he is recognized among New Jersey musicians for his musical talent and a certain flair that only true British singer songwriters display.
Although heavily influenced, as he says, by “his hometown lads, the Beatles,” his inspiration to buy his first guitar (and sell his motor bikes) came in 1967 after having seen the movie and hearing the acoustic songs of Simon & Garfunkel on the soundtrack of "The Graduate." Arriving in the United States in 1979, Mr. Cunningham had planned to stay only for the summer, but extended his stay over the decades. “Music became an integral part of my life,” he says, “And my ambition now involves enjoying the creativity of music and sharing this experience with [my audience].”
There is no charge to attend this program and no advance sign-up is needed. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.
Mr. Cunningham will present a program of holiday music befitting the season along with popular tunes from the 1960's and ‘70's. He hails from Liverpool, England and is known for interacting with his audience with his special brand of Liverpool humor. He has performed across Europe and the Caribbean as well as in many libraries, clubs and at special events in the United States. Known for his extensive repertoire and engaging personality, he is recognized among New Jersey musicians for his musical talent and a certain flair that only true British singer songwriters display.
Although heavily influenced, as he says, by “his hometown lads, the Beatles,” his inspiration to buy his first guitar (and sell his motor bikes) came in 1967 after having seen the movie and hearing the acoustic songs of Simon & Garfunkel on the soundtrack of "The Graduate." Arriving in the United States in 1979, Mr. Cunningham had planned to stay only for the summer, but extended his stay over the decades. “Music became an integral part of my life,” he says, “And my ambition now involves enjoying the creativity of music and sharing this experience with [my audience].”
There is no charge to attend this program and no advance sign-up is needed. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Parents, visit our Pre-School Fair!
Choosing a pre-school for a child can be a daunting experience. To make the task a little easier, Bernardsville Public Library will host its third Pre-School Fair on Thursday and Friday, December 9 and 10 to allow parents with young children to gather information about local pre-schools in one convenient location. Representatives from more than twenty pre-schools and enrichment programs will be present. Parents can take this opportunity to speak to them and ask questions about subjects such as curriculum, programs and registration. Specific questions about family needs or special requirements will also be answered.
Each pre-school will set up a table at the library with literature and photos. The fair will be open on Thursday, December 9 from 12:00 pm to 8:30 pm and on Friday, December 10 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
There is no charge to attend the program, and no sign-up is necessary. Call the library at 908-766-0118 for further information.
Each pre-school will set up a table at the library with literature and photos. The fair will be open on Thursday, December 9 from 12:00 pm to 8:30 pm and on Friday, December 10 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
There is no charge to attend the program, and no sign-up is necessary. Call the library at 908-766-0118 for further information.
Monday, November 22, 2010
17th Annual Giving Tree @ Bernardsville Library
Books for Kids is a program sponsored during the holiday season by the New Jersey Library Association to collect books for needy children of all ages. Again this year, Bernardsville Public Library is joining the effort. Members of the community are invited to bring a new, unwrapped book (or books) to the Library to be placed under the annual Giving Tree. Books for infants through teens are needed and will be collected from Monday, November 22 through Wednesday, December 15. The books are distributed to children and teens throughout New Jersey who have limited access to books, including those at the Martin Luther King Youth Center in Bridgewater and the Resource Center for Women.
“Community members have always been very generous with their book donations,” said Michaele Casey, Youth Services Librarian. “We know the children look forward to receiving the books each year, and for some children this may be the only book in their personal library. All the book donations are gratefully accepted.”
“Community members have always been very generous with their book donations,” said Michaele Casey, Youth Services Librarian. “We know the children look forward to receiving the books each year, and for some children this may be the only book in their personal library. All the book donations are gratefully accepted.”
Saturday Samplers Book Group to Meet
Bernardsville Library’s book discussion group, Saturday Samplers, will meet on Saturday, December 4 at 3:30 pm to discuss The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers (2007) by Harry Bernstein.
The book, written when Mr. Bernstein was 97 years old, tells the story of his family’s struggles to make ends meet on the eve of World War I in a small Lancashire mill town in England where there was an “invisible wall” dividing Jewish and Christian families. His father was a tailor, who spent most of his wages drinking and gambling. His mother was illiterate, fiercely devoted to her children, and persistently begging relatives in Chicago to send money for the family’s passage to the United States. The “love story” is about Bernstein’s older sister who did the unthinkable: falling in love with a Christian boy. The New York Times reviewer wrote of the book, “A Romeo and Juliet drama gradually unfolds…The small events of family life and the daily dramas on the street take on a shimmering, timeless quality… Mr. Bernstein, with great economy and skill, maneuvers an extensive cast of characters onto his small stage and lets their stories play out within the larger historical and social context. In the end, that little street turns out to be very big indeed.”
Led by Readers’ Services Assistant, Evelyn Fischel, Saturday Samplers is a book discussion group dedicated to sampling various kinds of literature, including short stories, nonfiction, new and old novels, and even teen fiction. Its goal is to search out interesting, noteworthy, and sometimes overlooked books. Readers can find information about the group and about the books and authors on the reading list at http://saturdaysamplers.blogspot.com/. No sign-up is needed to join the discussion. Call the library at 766-0118 for more information.
The book, written when Mr. Bernstein was 97 years old, tells the story of his family’s struggles to make ends meet on the eve of World War I in a small Lancashire mill town in England where there was an “invisible wall” dividing Jewish and Christian families. His father was a tailor, who spent most of his wages drinking and gambling. His mother was illiterate, fiercely devoted to her children, and persistently begging relatives in Chicago to send money for the family’s passage to the United States. The “love story” is about Bernstein’s older sister who did the unthinkable: falling in love with a Christian boy. The New York Times reviewer wrote of the book, “A Romeo and Juliet drama gradually unfolds…The small events of family life and the daily dramas on the street take on a shimmering, timeless quality… Mr. Bernstein, with great economy and skill, maneuvers an extensive cast of characters onto his small stage and lets their stories play out within the larger historical and social context. In the end, that little street turns out to be very big indeed.”
Led by Readers’ Services Assistant, Evelyn Fischel, Saturday Samplers is a book discussion group dedicated to sampling various kinds of literature, including short stories, nonfiction, new and old novels, and even teen fiction. Its goal is to search out interesting, noteworthy, and sometimes overlooked books. Readers can find information about the group and about the books and authors on the reading list at http://saturdaysamplers.blogspot.com/. No sign-up is needed to join the discussion. Call the library at 766-0118 for more information.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Memoirs & Coffee Book Discussion Group to Meet
The next meeting of Bernardsville Library’s book discussion group, Memoirs and Coffee, will be held on Tuesday, November 30 at 10:30 am in the library’s Community Room. Pat Kennedy-Grant, Readers’ Services Coordinator for the library, will lead the discussion of Thinking in Pictures and Other Reports from My Life with Autism (1995) by Temple Grandin. [The author will not be present.]
Ms. Grandin writes about what it is like to live with autism and to be among the few people who have broken through many of the neurological impairments associated with autism. In the foreword, Dr. Oliver Sacks says of the book, “Thinking in Pictures is a deeply moving and fascinating book because it provides a bridge between our world and hers, and allows us a glimpse into a quite other sort of mind.”
Ms. Grandin has a PhD in animal science from the University of Illinois and, with her unique empathy for animals, is renowned for designing humane livestock handling facilities in the United States and abroad. In 2010, she was included in the 2010 TIME 100, the magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. She also lectures on autism at meetings and conferences. Using her own experience, she explains how people with autism perceive and process visual and sensory information, experience and express emotions, and develop social skills.
There is no charge to attend the book discussion, and no sign-up is needed. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.
Ms. Grandin writes about what it is like to live with autism and to be among the few people who have broken through many of the neurological impairments associated with autism. In the foreword, Dr. Oliver Sacks says of the book, “Thinking in Pictures is a deeply moving and fascinating book because it provides a bridge between our world and hers, and allows us a glimpse into a quite other sort of mind.”
Ms. Grandin has a PhD in animal science from the University of Illinois and, with her unique empathy for animals, is renowned for designing humane livestock handling facilities in the United States and abroad. In 2010, she was included in the 2010 TIME 100, the magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. She also lectures on autism at meetings and conferences. Using her own experience, she explains how people with autism perceive and process visual and sensory information, experience and express emotions, and develop social skills.
There is no charge to attend the book discussion, and no sign-up is needed. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Film Screening: "I Can Dance: Four Stories"
Bernardsville Library is pleased to present “I Can Dance: Four Stories,” a feature documentary film produced and directed by Paul G. Sanderson III of Our Town Films, Inc., on Tuesday, November 30 at 7:00 pm. The film is an inspirational look at the world of Pro-Am Ballroom dancing in the United States as seen through the personal stories of two amateurs and two professionals. Mr. Sanderson is an award-winning filmmaker, will introduce the film and answer questions afterward.
The film follows four dancers: Lydia, who saw an ad in the local paper for dance lessons that led her to meet Angelo a larger-than-life dance instructor who would change her life forever; John, who has danced since he was six years old before burning out as top-flight professional, only to rediscover his love of dancing while being a judge and a teacher; Tillie who is ninety-one years old and is inspired to keep on living after the tragic loss of her daughter who leaves her a trust fund which finances her dance lessons; and beautiful Larinda who discovered her destiny while dancing with a complete stranger in college and became a champion professional who now teaches amateur men while also coaching a championship college ballroom team.
These four stories are woven around the ins and outs and the ups and downs of real life ballroom dance competitions that take place all over the country every weekend. Judges, teachers, organizers, hairdressers, DJ's, MC's and the dancers themselves all describe what it’s like to be in their shoes. “I Can Dance: Four Stories” introduces the viewer to a wonderful carnival-like world full of great dancing and wonderful characters.
As producer/director and president of Our Town Films, Inc., Paul Sanderson has enjoyed considerable success in creating television documentaries and educational programs. Since founding Our Town Films in 1992, Mr. Sanderson has won over 30 national awards, including nine CINE Golden Eagles. The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. has honored Mr. Sanderson by placing one of his films in its permanent collection. His programs have appeared on NBC, PBS, The Discovery Channel, A&E Network, The History Channel and CNBC. His films have premiered at Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the American Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian.
There is no charge to attend the library program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
The film follows four dancers: Lydia, who saw an ad in the local paper for dance lessons that led her to meet Angelo a larger-than-life dance instructor who would change her life forever; John, who has danced since he was six years old before burning out as top-flight professional, only to rediscover his love of dancing while being a judge and a teacher; Tillie who is ninety-one years old and is inspired to keep on living after the tragic loss of her daughter who leaves her a trust fund which finances her dance lessons; and beautiful Larinda who discovered her destiny while dancing with a complete stranger in college and became a champion professional who now teaches amateur men while also coaching a championship college ballroom team.
These four stories are woven around the ins and outs and the ups and downs of real life ballroom dance competitions that take place all over the country every weekend. Judges, teachers, organizers, hairdressers, DJ's, MC's and the dancers themselves all describe what it’s like to be in their shoes. “I Can Dance: Four Stories” introduces the viewer to a wonderful carnival-like world full of great dancing and wonderful characters.
As producer/director and president of Our Town Films, Inc., Paul Sanderson has enjoyed considerable success in creating television documentaries and educational programs. Since founding Our Town Films in 1992, Mr. Sanderson has won over 30 national awards, including nine CINE Golden Eagles. The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. has honored Mr. Sanderson by placing one of his films in its permanent collection. His programs have appeared on NBC, PBS, The Discovery Channel, A&E Network, The History Channel and CNBC. His films have premiered at Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the American Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian.
There is no charge to attend the library program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
“On the Spot” Children’s Portraits at Bernardsville Library
Looking for the perfect holiday gift for grandparents or a keepsake to capture your child’s appearance in 2010? If so, make an appointment to come to Bernardsville Public Library on Saturday, November 20 between the hours of 10:30 am and 2:30 pm when Harding artist Tine Kirkland Graham will be on hand to draw portraits “on the spot.” Mrs. Graham’s quick pen and ink sketches with watercolor highlights capture the essence of a person’s form and will be available for only $10/figure. (She can also work from a photograph if a child is not available on November 20.) Proceeds from the event will benefit the library.
“I love to sketch people of all ages, all sizes and all shapes,” says Mrs. Graham, “With their colorful garb, their different hair styles and attitudes, they all have a story to tell and I try to get the feel of each person.” She also writes books which she illustrates with her colorful drawings—about dogs and children’s stories with illustrations set in Nantucket, Bay Head and Florida. Her latest book, “Big Bossy Betty,” is an old-fashioned book about manners, which, she recounts, many people who are tired of the bad manners displayed when driving a car or at a dining room table encouraged her to write. It’s an instruction book filled with fun and lively illustrations. “Big Bossy Betty” will be on sale at the library event, and Mrs. Graham will enter personal inscriptions upon purchase.
Describing herself as a “late in life artist,” Mrs. Graham is a self-taught artist who took some courses at The Center for Contemporary Art (formerly the Somerset Art Association) and the Summit Art Center. She began with pastel portraits of children and then moved on to large, wild beach and ocean scenes. Her work is represented in two galleries in Nantucket, as well as one in Bay Head, New Jersey and one in Florida.
Call the library at 908-766-0118 to reserve a timeslot or request further information.
“I love to sketch people of all ages, all sizes and all shapes,” says Mrs. Graham, “With their colorful garb, their different hair styles and attitudes, they all have a story to tell and I try to get the feel of each person.” She also writes books which she illustrates with her colorful drawings—about dogs and children’s stories with illustrations set in Nantucket, Bay Head and Florida. Her latest book, “Big Bossy Betty,” is an old-fashioned book about manners, which, she recounts, many people who are tired of the bad manners displayed when driving a car or at a dining room table encouraged her to write. It’s an instruction book filled with fun and lively illustrations. “Big Bossy Betty” will be on sale at the library event, and Mrs. Graham will enter personal inscriptions upon purchase.
Describing herself as a “late in life artist,” Mrs. Graham is a self-taught artist who took some courses at The Center for Contemporary Art (formerly the Somerset Art Association) and the Summit Art Center. She began with pastel portraits of children and then moved on to large, wild beach and ocean scenes. Her work is represented in two galleries in Nantucket, as well as one in Bay Head, New Jersey and one in Florida.
Call the library at 908-766-0118 to reserve a timeslot or request further information.
Monday, November 8, 2010
A Life Well Lived: Workshop
Inspirational speaker Andrea Mastrobattista will lead her on-going discussion group, A Life Well Lived, at Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, November 10 at 7:00 pm.
“A well lived life has little to do with monetary wealth and material possessions,” said Ms. Mastrobattista. “It’s about the experiences you have and the person you are becoming each day. If you feel like you need something more in your life, but are not quite sure what, then this monthly workshop is for you. Enjoy lively conversation with a supportive group of people who will help you enrich your life in countless, and perhaps unexpected, ways!”
There is no charge to attend the library workshop, but advance registration is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org, and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
“A well lived life has little to do with monetary wealth and material possessions,” said Ms. Mastrobattista. “It’s about the experiences you have and the person you are becoming each day. If you feel like you need something more in your life, but are not quite sure what, then this monthly workshop is for you. Enjoy lively conversation with a supportive group of people who will help you enrich your life in countless, and perhaps unexpected, ways!”
There is no charge to attend the library workshop, but advance registration is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org, and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Meditation Group To Meet
Basking Ridge resident Fauzia Burke will lead the next monthly guided meditation session at Bernardsville Public Library on Friday, November 12 at 10:00 am. Ms. Burke’s style of meditation incorporates many cultural traditions and uses the power of word and imagery to facilitate a meditative experience; there is no right or wrong way, no particular way to sit, or words to say. Each experience is honored as unique and can help reduce stress, generate creativity, and create positive energy.
“Our intention for these gatherings is to find peace and serenity through a practice of regular meditations, and to develop a community for support and friendship,” says Ms. Burke. She has been meditating for 12 years and leading meditation groups for eight years. By day, she is the President and Founder of FSB Associates, an Internet marketing firm that promotes books and authors on the Web. She lives in Basking Ridge with her husband and two daughters, and volunteers to lead the Splendid Life meditations in an effort to help others achieve the peace of mind and inspiration that she has found through mediation.
There is no charge to attend the program, and no sign-up is required. No experience in meditation is necessary. Bring a journal and pen, and wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.
“Our intention for these gatherings is to find peace and serenity through a practice of regular meditations, and to develop a community for support and friendship,” says Ms. Burke. She has been meditating for 12 years and leading meditation groups for eight years. By day, she is the President and Founder of FSB Associates, an Internet marketing firm that promotes books and authors on the Web. She lives in Basking Ridge with her husband and two daughters, and volunteers to lead the Splendid Life meditations in an effort to help others achieve the peace of mind and inspiration that she has found through mediation.
There is no charge to attend the program, and no sign-up is required. No experience in meditation is necessary. Bring a journal and pen, and wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.
Bernardsville Library is a STAR Library
Library Journal, the long-established professional publication which reports news about the library world, has released its latest public library rating report, and once again, Bernardsville Public Library is at the top of the list with five stars as the #1 Public Library in New Jersey in its budget category ($400,000-$900,000) and the #2 Public Library in New Jersey overall. The ratings are based on four per-capita service indicators that are reported annually to state agencies: library visits, circulation, program attendance and public Internet computer uses. In libraries in its budget category, Bernardsville Library ranks fifth nationwide. The Library Journal Index of Public Library Service 2010 divides libraries into nine peer comparison groups based on total operating expenditures. Libraries are evaluated on each service indicator relative to the performance of other libraries in their peer group. All four indicators receive equal weighting.
Director Karen Brodsky says that one reason Bernardsville ranks so highly is due to community involvement. “We have many multi-talented library volunteers who are as dedicated to library service as our staff members,” she said, “And the library has received many generous gifts from community members that are used to fund specific initiatives.” The Somerset Hills Education Foundation (SHEF) has just made a $2,000 grant to the library for audiobooks for the library’s Youth Services collection to support the school curricula. The grant will be matched by an equal amount from the Friends of the Bernardsville Library which provides funding for programs and projects from local donations. Students and families of the Somerset Hills School District will benefit from these twin grants, and library staff members hope to continue to serve these library users at the level they have enjoyed in past years. Ms. Brodsky continued, “In difficult economic times, it is more essential than ever that the library find ways to partner with community groups with similar missions to maintain services for residents.”
In recent years, the library has also been the recipient of generous grants from St. John on the Mountain Outreach Commission which benefit the English-As-A-Second-Language program, and library volunteer Maud Thiebaud has just offered a scholarship to a qualifying staff member to underwrite a substantial portion of tuition for attaining a graduate library science degree (Master of Library Science or Master of Library and Information Science). “Staff development is important to maintain the library’s current level of excellent service,” said Ms. Thiebaud, “It also helps retain the caliber of personnel so necessary for patron support.”
Director Brodsky agreed, “Underwriting staff development is an effective, long-term gift to the community because the staff member must make a commitment to work at Bernardsville Library after graduation and the community benefits while he/she is in school. We are also fortunate that the Friends of the Library dedicate funds annually, as their budget permits, toward staff development.”
Director Karen Brodsky says that one reason Bernardsville ranks so highly is due to community involvement. “We have many multi-talented library volunteers who are as dedicated to library service as our staff members,” she said, “And the library has received many generous gifts from community members that are used to fund specific initiatives.” The Somerset Hills Education Foundation (SHEF) has just made a $2,000 grant to the library for audiobooks for the library’s Youth Services collection to support the school curricula. The grant will be matched by an equal amount from the Friends of the Bernardsville Library which provides funding for programs and projects from local donations. Students and families of the Somerset Hills School District will benefit from these twin grants, and library staff members hope to continue to serve these library users at the level they have enjoyed in past years. Ms. Brodsky continued, “In difficult economic times, it is more essential than ever that the library find ways to partner with community groups with similar missions to maintain services for residents.”
In recent years, the library has also been the recipient of generous grants from St. John on the Mountain Outreach Commission which benefit the English-As-A-Second-Language program, and library volunteer Maud Thiebaud has just offered a scholarship to a qualifying staff member to underwrite a substantial portion of tuition for attaining a graduate library science degree (Master of Library Science or Master of Library and Information Science). “Staff development is important to maintain the library’s current level of excellent service,” said Ms. Thiebaud, “It also helps retain the caliber of personnel so necessary for patron support.”
Director Brodsky agreed, “Underwriting staff development is an effective, long-term gift to the community because the staff member must make a commitment to work at Bernardsville Library after graduation and the community benefits while he/she is in school. We are also fortunate that the Friends of the Library dedicate funds annually, as their budget permits, toward staff development.”
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
New Jersey’s Modern Politics
What better time to survey New Jersey’s modern politics than right after the November election? On Tuesday, November 9 at 7:00 pm, William Gillette, Professor of History at Rutgers University, will present an analysis of New Jersey’s politics at Bernardsville Public Library. He’ll discuss the state governmental institutions created under the Constitution of 1947 and also survey our state’s modern governors.
Dr. Gillette earned his Masters at Columbia University and a PhD from Princeton. He has taught at Rutgers since 1967. His special areas of interest are the Civil War and Reconstruction, New Jersey history, American political history, and American Western history. At Rutgers, he often teaches the history of New Jersey, and he is the author of many chapters or articles, including nine recent articles in The Encyclopedia of New Jersey. In 2008, Prof. Gillette was a Senior Fulbright Lecturer, and in 2009, he was appointed by the Governor of New Jersey to the New Jersey Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
This program is funded by the Horizons Speakers Bureau of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. There is no charge to attend, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Dr. Gillette earned his Masters at Columbia University and a PhD from Princeton. He has taught at Rutgers since 1967. His special areas of interest are the Civil War and Reconstruction, New Jersey history, American political history, and American Western history. At Rutgers, he often teaches the history of New Jersey, and he is the author of many chapters or articles, including nine recent articles in The Encyclopedia of New Jersey. In 2008, Prof. Gillette was a Senior Fulbright Lecturer, and in 2009, he was appointed by the Governor of New Jersey to the New Jersey Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
This program is funded by the Horizons Speakers Bureau of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. There is no charge to attend, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Bernardsville Author Will Sit Down to Autograph Books
Maribeth Southworth celebrated her fiftieth birthday. Irresponsibly. Her children deserted her in pursuit of their education. Selfishly. She sat down with a latte, a laptop and some leftovers and let her mind wander. Dangerously. She started a private blog, “FiftyandFeisty,” inviting a few friends to follow it and provide feedback. Now it’s all in a new book, She Finally Sat Down. Come meet the author and listen to a few stories, including some set in Bernardsville, at Bernardsville Public Library on Tuesday, November 9 at 1:30 pm and Saturday, November 20 at 1:30 pm.
It all began last December when Ms. Southworth turned fifty. She reassessed her life and, with an empty nest, decided to pursue something she'd never had time for before. With a demanding full-time career as a senior reimbursement manager at Genentech, Inc., she knew it had to be something she could do at home, at night and on the weekends, or while traveling. “I decided to ‘finally sit down’ and write,” she said, “as one of my life's goals had been to write a novel. I had no idea what would come out when I put hands to keyboard, but wrote to a select group of family and friends and said I was going to write each night and I'd like them along for the journey.....on a private blog...where they could give me feedback.” She continued, “The book I had planned to write....a novel....never came to life for me. I had so many non-fiction stories to tell, I wrote what flowed from my heart and head.” The book’s website is http://www.shefinallysatdown.com/.
Books will be signed and available for purchase at the library events. Proceeds will benefit the library. There is no charge to attend, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
It all began last December when Ms. Southworth turned fifty. She reassessed her life and, with an empty nest, decided to pursue something she'd never had time for before. With a demanding full-time career as a senior reimbursement manager at Genentech, Inc., she knew it had to be something she could do at home, at night and on the weekends, or while traveling. “I decided to ‘finally sit down’ and write,” she said, “as one of my life's goals had been to write a novel. I had no idea what would come out when I put hands to keyboard, but wrote to a select group of family and friends and said I was going to write each night and I'd like them along for the journey.....on a private blog...where they could give me feedback.” She continued, “The book I had planned to write....a novel....never came to life for me. I had so many non-fiction stories to tell, I wrote what flowed from my heart and head.” The book’s website is http://www.shefinallysatdown.com/.
Books will be signed and available for purchase at the library events. Proceeds will benefit the library. There is no charge to attend, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Saturday Samplers Book Group to Meet
Bernardsville Library’s book discussion group, Saturday Samplers, will meet on Saturday, November 6 at 3:30 pm to discuss Strapless: John Singer Sargent and the Fall of Madame X (2003) by Deborah Davis. [The author will not be present.]
The book examines the history and background of the painting called “Madame X,” John Singer Sargent’s portrait of twenty-three-year-old Virginie Amélie Gautreau. Mme. Gautreau was the talk of Paris in the early 1880’s, and the painting was shown at the 1884 Paris Salon. It caused a sensation, but while Sargent, the American son of vagabond parents, rose to lasting stardom, Gautreau was ridiculed and then forgotten. The reason was how Gautreau was depicted in the original, later repainted. Ms. Davis, a writer and veteran film executive who has worked as story editor and analyst for Warner Bros., Columbia TriStar, Disney, Miramax, and the William Morris Agency, drew on documents from private collections and other previously unexamined materials, to write her book which features a cast of characters including Oscar Wilde, Henry James, Sarah Bernhardt and Richard Wagner.
Led by Readers’ Services Assistant, Evelyn Fischel, Saturday Samplers is a book discussion group dedicated to sampling various kinds of literature, including short stories, nonfiction, new and old novels, and even teen fiction. Its goal is to search out interesting, noteworthy, and sometimes overlooked books. Readers can find information about the group and about the books and authors on the reading list at http://saturdaysamplers.blogspot.com/. No sign-up is needed to join the discussion. Call the library at 766-0118 for more information.
The book examines the history and background of the painting called “Madame X,” John Singer Sargent’s portrait of twenty-three-year-old Virginie Amélie Gautreau. Mme. Gautreau was the talk of Paris in the early 1880’s, and the painting was shown at the 1884 Paris Salon. It caused a sensation, but while Sargent, the American son of vagabond parents, rose to lasting stardom, Gautreau was ridiculed and then forgotten. The reason was how Gautreau was depicted in the original, later repainted. Ms. Davis, a writer and veteran film executive who has worked as story editor and analyst for Warner Bros., Columbia TriStar, Disney, Miramax, and the William Morris Agency, drew on documents from private collections and other previously unexamined materials, to write her book which features a cast of characters including Oscar Wilde, Henry James, Sarah Bernhardt and Richard Wagner.
Led by Readers’ Services Assistant, Evelyn Fischel, Saturday Samplers is a book discussion group dedicated to sampling various kinds of literature, including short stories, nonfiction, new and old novels, and even teen fiction. Its goal is to search out interesting, noteworthy, and sometimes overlooked books. Readers can find information about the group and about the books and authors on the reading list at http://saturdaysamplers.blogspot.com/. No sign-up is needed to join the discussion. Call the library at 766-0118 for more information.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Classical Indian Dancer to Appear at Bernardsville Library
Divya Nayar, a professional dancer trained in Bharatanatyam, an ancient classical dance form that originates from Southern India, will perform at Bernardsville Public Library on Sunday, October 24 at 3:00 pm. [Doors open at 2:45 pm.] Funded by the Friends of the Bernardsville Public Library, the program is part of the Sundays at Three series. There is no charge to attend and no advance registration is necessary.
Bharatanatyam is performed by a highly trained dancer who combines precise and intricate footwork with sculpturesque poses and fluid facial expressions to tell stories of mythology and folklore. The dancer wears a silk sari and jewelry, and with specialized facial makeup, performs to a traditional orchestra of vocals, flute, and percussions. Bharatanatyam originated in the Temples of South India and was performed as a ritual and form of worship to the Lord; these motifs of dedication and spirituality are carried through by Bharatanatyam dancers, even today.
In the presentation, Natya Nivedanam (a dedication of mind, body and soul to dance), Ms. Nayar will perform dances from the traditional Bharatanatyam repertoire, some that were choreographed by great masters of Bharatanatyam over three decades ago, and others that are fresh and innovative yet uphold the roots of tradition.
Ms. Nayar was awarded “Young Achiever Award” in 2009 by Kerala Association of New Jersey for her contribution to Fine Arts in the community. She was the cultural representative of Kerala Association of New Jersey during 2008 and 2009. In 2007, she won first place in the East Coast regional solo classical dance category at the youth festival organized by the Federation of Kerala Associations in North America (FoKANA).
There is no charge to attend this dance recital and no advance sign-up is needed. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.
Bharatanatyam is performed by a highly trained dancer who combines precise and intricate footwork with sculpturesque poses and fluid facial expressions to tell stories of mythology and folklore. The dancer wears a silk sari and jewelry, and with specialized facial makeup, performs to a traditional orchestra of vocals, flute, and percussions. Bharatanatyam originated in the Temples of South India and was performed as a ritual and form of worship to the Lord; these motifs of dedication and spirituality are carried through by Bharatanatyam dancers, even today.
In the presentation, Natya Nivedanam (a dedication of mind, body and soul to dance), Ms. Nayar will perform dances from the traditional Bharatanatyam repertoire, some that were choreographed by great masters of Bharatanatyam over three decades ago, and others that are fresh and innovative yet uphold the roots of tradition.
Ms. Nayar was awarded “Young Achiever Award” in 2009 by Kerala Association of New Jersey for her contribution to Fine Arts in the community. She was the cultural representative of Kerala Association of New Jersey during 2008 and 2009. In 2007, she won first place in the East Coast regional solo classical dance category at the youth festival organized by the Federation of Kerala Associations in North America (FoKANA).
There is no charge to attend this dance recital and no advance sign-up is needed. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.
Children’s Book Festival @ Bernardsville Library
Children and parents will have the chance to meet award-winning authors and illustrators Danny and Kim Adlerman, Pat Cummings, Doris Ettlinger, Megan Halsey, Dar Hosta, Trinka Hakes Noble, Lena Shiffman, and Javaka Steptoe on Sunday, November 7 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm at Bernardsville Public Library during the opening of an exhibition of original illustrations from popular children’s books. This is an opportunity to speak with the authors and illustrators, purchase books and have them autographed. The exhibition will be on view throughout the month of November.Husband and wife team Danny and Kim Adlerman, who live in Middlesex, NJ, often write under the pen name Kin Eagle. Their Africa Calling, Nighttime Falling was named a New Jersey State Library Pick of the Decade 1995-2005. Together they have created a series of award-winning books, many of which are accompanied by musical CDs. Their collaboration, Oh No, Domino, was written and illustrated by Mrs. Adlerman and is accompanied by a CD featuring Mr. Adlerman singing “Oh No, Domino” with their daughter singing background. Another collaboration by the Adlermans is How Much Wood Could A Woodchuck Chuck? The manuscript was inspired by a song on Mr. Adlerman’s CD, One Size Fits All, which won a 2001 Children’s Web Award. Their most recent book, Mommy’s Having a Watermelon, was published last year.
Author and illustrator Pat Cummings grew up traveling with her military family all over the world. She found inspiration in the many different cultures she experienced, developing a fondness for fantasy as well as a commitment to diversity in her work. After graduating from the Pratt Institute in New York City, she received her “break” in book illustration with the book Good News by Eloise Greenfield. Since then she has written and illustrated many books, including Jimmy Lee Did It, C.L.O.U.D.S., Petey Moroni’s Camp Runamok Diary, Carousel, and “C” is for City. Cummings also illustrated Just Us Women and My Mama Needs Me, both recognized for excellence by the American Library Association. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Doris Ettlinger is an illustrator whose work features fine draftsmanship as well as use of traditional media, including watercolor and pencil. Ettlinger began her career as a magazine and newspaper illustrator, but has been illustrating children’s books for over twenty years. She illustrated Sugar Snow and A Little House Birthday, both adapted from the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Ettlinger has also illustrated many other books, including Pilgrim Cat by Carol Antoinette Peacock, G is for Garden State by Eileen Cameron, and, most recently, The Orange Shoes, by Trinka Hakes Noble. Her next picture book, A Book for Black-Eyed Susan by Judy Young, is scheduled for release in March 2011. Ettlinger lives, works and teaches art in an old grist mill in Warren County, New Jersey.
Megan Halsey began her study of art in eighth grade, majored in printmaking and illustration in college, and received her Masters in studio art and illustration from Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She has been illustrating children’s books for over eighteen years and has illustrated over 40 books, including Two Blue Jays, Pumpkin Day, Pumpkin Night, Four Seasons Make A Year. She has also authored several books herself, including Circus 1-2-3 and 3 Pandas Planting, to be released in February 2011. Halsey has received many awards throughout the years, including Bank Street College Book of the Year, National Publications Gold Award, and the Children’s Choice Award. She teaches at Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia and at Marywood University. She lives in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania.
Dar Hosta lives in the Flemington area and is an author and collage artist. Her If I Were a Tree won the Teachers’ Choice Award, National Arbor Day Foundation’s Media Award, and American Horticultural Society’s “Growing Good Kids” Book Award. Other award-winning books by Ms. Hosta are I Love The Alphabet and I Love the Night.
Trinka Hakes Noble of Bernardsville is an author and illustrator specializing in picture books. Her titles include the popular Jimmy’s Boa series, illustrated by Steven Kellogg. The Scarlett Stockings Spy was awarded an IRA Teacher’s Choice, 2005. Her most recent titles are The Legend of the Cape May Diamond, which was placed on the Keystone to Reading Book Award List 2008-2009, and The Orange Shoes. A member of the Rutgers University Council on Children's Literature, she was awarded Outstanding Woman 2002 in Arts and Letters in the state of New Jersey for her lifetime work in children's books.
Illustrator Lena Shiffman grew up in Sweden and cannot remember a time when she didn’t draw or paint. Her first book, Keeping a Christmas Secret, won a Christopher Award in 1989. She has also illustrated My First Book of Words and many of Scholastic’s “Hello Readers” series, including the book Dancing With Manatees, which has sold over half a million copies. Her most recent books are When I Lived With Bats and Playing With Dolphins by Faith McNulty. She is working on writing her first book, based on her Scandinavian roots.
Brooklyn resident Javaka Steptoe is an author and eclectic young artist, designer and illustrator, specializing in dynamic cut paper and mixed media collage using everyday objects. His book, In Daddy’s Arms I Am Tall, won the Coretta Scott King Award for best illustrator, as well as the Firecracker Alternative Book Award. It was named both a PBS Kids Recommended Book and a PBS Parents Recommended Book. His most recent books, Do You Know What I’ll Do by Charlotte Zolotow and A Pocketful of Poems by Nikki Grimes, received starred reviews from both Publisher’s Weekly and the ALA Booklist. His newest book, Amiri and Odette, a hip hop version of “Swan Lake” written as a poem by Walter Dean Myers, features Steptoe’s collage-on-cinderblock illustrations.
There is no charge to attend the event on November 7 and no sign-up is needed. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.
*Photo: Trinka Hakes Noble reading her book for Bernardsville Library's Totsline (908-953-TOTS).
Friday, October 8, 2010
Where Does My Resume Go? An Inside View of the Corporate Hiring Process
Where does your resume go when you click the “Submit” button? Find out at a free workshop for job seekers which is designed to provide insight and tips for navigating today’s tight job market. Bernardsville Library is pleased to present this popular program again, this time in the evening, on October 13 at 7:00 pm.
In this interactive presentation, Tiffany Elliott, SPHR, MBA, will share insight gained from 15 years of human resources leadership at global 500 corporations. Her program will include an overview of the typical hiring process, what applicants should expect at each stage, and suggested preparation tips and strategies to help get noticed in the sea of competition. It is designed for job seekers in every phase of their careers—new college graduates, people entering the workforce after raising a family, and current working professionals looking for their next assignment or desiring a career change.
Ms. Elliott’s career has included extensive experience across a spectrum of industries including pharmaceutical, global commerce, telecommunications, electronics manufacturing, healthcare and aerospace. This year she established her own consulting firm to focus her experience and interest in the area of career coaching.
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
In this interactive presentation, Tiffany Elliott, SPHR, MBA, will share insight gained from 15 years of human resources leadership at global 500 corporations. Her program will include an overview of the typical hiring process, what applicants should expect at each stage, and suggested preparation tips and strategies to help get noticed in the sea of competition. It is designed for job seekers in every phase of their careers—new college graduates, people entering the workforce after raising a family, and current working professionals looking for their next assignment or desiring a career change.
Ms. Elliott’s career has included extensive experience across a spectrum of industries including pharmaceutical, global commerce, telecommunications, electronics manufacturing, healthcare and aerospace. This year she established her own consulting firm to focus her experience and interest in the area of career coaching.
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Monday, October 4, 2010
About Face: Five Centuries of Self-Portraits
The 19th-century French painter Henri Fantin-Latour once helped explain the draw of self-portraits when he said that "the model is always ready, submissive, and one knows him before painting." How and why great painters represent themselves holds a special fascination for viewers. Is the artist mingled in a crowd or the lone subject? How is he - or she - dressed? Is the self-portrait true or self-promoting? Such topics will be examined by Vivian Gordon from the Education Department of The Metropolitan Museum of Art at Bernardsville Public Library on Tuesday, October 12 at 7:00 pm.
Ms. Gordon will explore different approaches to the self-portrait using examples from the museum’s collection to illustrate her talk. Works from the Renaissance to Pop Art will be discussed and will include paintings by Durer, Caravaggio, Rubens, Rembrandt, Degas, Van Gogh, and Andy Warhol's eerily foretelling Last Self-Portrait.
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Ms. Gordon will explore different approaches to the self-portrait using examples from the museum’s collection to illustrate her talk. Works from the Renaissance to Pop Art will be discussed and will include paintings by Durer, Caravaggio, Rubens, Rembrandt, Degas, Van Gogh, and Andy Warhol's eerily foretelling Last Self-Portrait.
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
*Rembrandt Self-Portrait (1660)
*Photo by Photograph Studio, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
“Expect the Unexpected” with Author Eric Gustafson
Eric Gustafson will speak about and sign copies of his book, Expect the Unexpected: Adventures of a Westerner Sitting in the Lap of Mother India, at Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, October 6 at 7:00 pm. The book is a personal telling of his experiences on visits to India where he has traveled 15 times over the past 11 years. His travels have brought him to varied locales, and he has captured many of the unique aspects of this vast sub-continent in his book.
Gustafson had originally planned to go to India for the Millennium, then to Thailand the next year, followed by Cambodia, and Vietnam in ensuing years. But there was always something more he wanted: to understand the religions (with nuances elusive to a Westerner), to familiarize himself with the thousands of Hindu gods, and learn insights into Indian behavior, and mores and concepts foreign to him.
During the program, Gustafson will offer travel advice too, because traveling in India can be dangerous as well as uncomfortable. He’ll provide tips on train travel, advice on whether to travel by bus (and what kind of bus) or by train or car. There are many pitfalls that the average tourist can and should avoid. Tips on how to maneuver most comfortably, economically and safely in this complex environment will be the thrust of his talk. Interaction with Indians while travelling involves many do's and don'ts. “A trip within India can be unforgettably thrilling,” Gustafson says, “But ill-advised behavior can invite disaster. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Gustafson had originally planned to go to India for the Millennium, then to Thailand the next year, followed by Cambodia, and Vietnam in ensuing years. But there was always something more he wanted: to understand the religions (with nuances elusive to a Westerner), to familiarize himself with the thousands of Hindu gods, and learn insights into Indian behavior, and mores and concepts foreign to him.
During the program, Gustafson will offer travel advice too, because traveling in India can be dangerous as well as uncomfortable. He’ll provide tips on train travel, advice on whether to travel by bus (and what kind of bus) or by train or car. There are many pitfalls that the average tourist can and should avoid. Tips on how to maneuver most comfortably, economically and safely in this complex environment will be the thrust of his talk. Interaction with Indians while travelling involves many do's and don'ts. “A trip within India can be unforgettably thrilling,” Gustafson says, “But ill-advised behavior can invite disaster. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tea & Conversation with Author Amy Ferris
Join us for tea and conversation as Julie Maloney, Director of WOMEN READING ALOUD, conducts an up-close and personal interview with the charismatic writer and speaker Amy Ferris at Bernardsville Public Library on Sunday, October 17 at 2:00 pm. Ms. Ferris is the author of Marrying George Clooney: Confessions of a Midlife Crisis, a book which explores her life and the range of emotions she experiences through this life-altering period. At the library, audience members will have a rare opportunity to ask questions about what it takes to write the "hysterical, the heartbreaking and the unflinchingly honest truth." A short reading and book signing will follow the interview.
Amy Ferris is a writer and playwright from New York City and rural Pennsylvania. She is working on the adaptation of her successful memoir for an upcoming off-Broadway show. She is also on the Advisory Board of The Women's Media Center (founded by Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem, and Robin Morgan), serves on the Executive Board of Directors at Peters Valley Art, Education, and Crafts Center, and is a member of New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT).
Marcia Yermen of the Huffington Post wrote of Marrying George Clooney, "Amy Ferris has successfully combined a rip-roaringly funny page-turner, with an unvarnished account of the personal history that formed her. This gut-wrenching look at intimate relationships will resonate with readers because of the universality of its raw emotion, clarity of vision, and self-revealing courage."
Interviewer Julie Maloney has worked in the arts as a performer and educator her entire life. She is a poet and writer, photographer and teacher who has taught writing on both the high school and college levels. She is founder and director of Women Reading Aloud (WRA), a not-for-profit organization that promotes women writers in New Jersey and beyond. WRA holds special events, weekend writing retreats, conferences and on-going writing workshops in spring and fall during which women writers of all genres hone their work in a salon type setting.
Amy Ferris is an author, screenwriter and editor. She is on the Advisory Board of The Women's Media Center (founded by Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem, and Robin Morgan), she serves on the Executive Board of Directors at Peters Valley Art, Education, and Crafts Center, and is a member of New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT). She primarily writes about all things women. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her husband.
There is no charge to attend the program at the library, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Amy Ferris is a writer and playwright from New York City and rural Pennsylvania. She is working on the adaptation of her successful memoir for an upcoming off-Broadway show. She is also on the Advisory Board of The Women's Media Center (founded by Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem, and Robin Morgan), serves on the Executive Board of Directors at Peters Valley Art, Education, and Crafts Center, and is a member of New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT).
Marcia Yermen of the Huffington Post wrote of Marrying George Clooney, "Amy Ferris has successfully combined a rip-roaringly funny page-turner, with an unvarnished account of the personal history that formed her. This gut-wrenching look at intimate relationships will resonate with readers because of the universality of its raw emotion, clarity of vision, and self-revealing courage."
Interviewer Julie Maloney has worked in the arts as a performer and educator her entire life. She is a poet and writer, photographer and teacher who has taught writing on both the high school and college levels. She is founder and director of Women Reading Aloud (WRA), a not-for-profit organization that promotes women writers in New Jersey and beyond. WRA holds special events, weekend writing retreats, conferences and on-going writing workshops in spring and fall during which women writers of all genres hone their work in a salon type setting.
Amy Ferris is an author, screenwriter and editor. She is on the Advisory Board of The Women's Media Center (founded by Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem, and Robin Morgan), she serves on the Executive Board of Directors at Peters Valley Art, Education, and Crafts Center, and is a member of New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT). She primarily writes about all things women. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her husband.
There is no charge to attend the program at the library, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Saturday Samplers Book Group to Meet
Bernardsville Library’s book discussion group, Saturday Samplers, will meet on Saturday, October 2 at 3:30 pm to discuss Interpreter of Maladies: Stories (1999) by Jhumpa Lahiri. [The author will not be present.]
The book won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award in the year 2000 and has sold over 15 million copies worldwide. It was also chosen as The New Yorker's Best Debut of the Year and appears on Oprah Winfrey's Top Ten Book List. Nine wonderful stories cover a range of maladies both accurately diagnosed and misinterpreted, matters both temporary and life changing, relationships in flux and unshakeable, unexpected blessings, sudden calamities, and the powers of survival.
Jhumpa Lahiri was born in London and grew up in Rhode Island. She has traveled several times to India, where both her parents were born and raised, and where a number of her stories are set. Lahiri received her B.A. from Barnard College; she received an M.A. in English, and M.A. in Creative Writing, an M.A. in Comparative Studies in Literature and the Arts, and a Ph.D. in Renaissance Studies from Boston University. She has taught creative writing at Boston University and the Rhode Island School of Design and has been a fellow at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Led by Readers’ Services Assistant, Evelyn Fischel, Saturday Samplers is a book discussion group dedicated to sampling various kinds of literature, including short stories, nonfiction, new and old novels, and even teen fiction. Its goal is to search out interesting, noteworthy, and sometimes overlooked books. Readers can find information about the group and about the books and authors on the reading list at http://saturdaysamplers.blogspot.com/. No sign-up is needed to join the discussion. Call the library at 766-0118 for more information.###Library contact:Madelyn EnglishBernardsville Public Library1 Anderson Hill RoadBernardsville, NJ 07924908-766-0118menglish@bernardsvillelibrary.org
The book won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award in the year 2000 and has sold over 15 million copies worldwide. It was also chosen as The New Yorker's Best Debut of the Year and appears on Oprah Winfrey's Top Ten Book List. Nine wonderful stories cover a range of maladies both accurately diagnosed and misinterpreted, matters both temporary and life changing, relationships in flux and unshakeable, unexpected blessings, sudden calamities, and the powers of survival.
Jhumpa Lahiri was born in London and grew up in Rhode Island. She has traveled several times to India, where both her parents were born and raised, and where a number of her stories are set. Lahiri received her B.A. from Barnard College; she received an M.A. in English, and M.A. in Creative Writing, an M.A. in Comparative Studies in Literature and the Arts, and a Ph.D. in Renaissance Studies from Boston University. She has taught creative writing at Boston University and the Rhode Island School of Design and has been a fellow at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Led by Readers’ Services Assistant, Evelyn Fischel, Saturday Samplers is a book discussion group dedicated to sampling various kinds of literature, including short stories, nonfiction, new and old novels, and even teen fiction. Its goal is to search out interesting, noteworthy, and sometimes overlooked books. Readers can find information about the group and about the books and authors on the reading list at http://saturdaysamplers.blogspot.com/. No sign-up is needed to join the discussion. Call the library at 766-0118 for more information.###Library contact:Madelyn EnglishBernardsville Public Library1 Anderson Hill RoadBernardsville, NJ 07924908-766-0118menglish@bernardsvillelibrary.org
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Where Does My Resume Go? - An Inside View of the Corporate Hiring Process
Where does your resume go when you click the “Submit” button? Find out at a free workshop for job seekers which is designed to provide insight and tips for navigating today’s tight job market. Bernardsville Library is pleased to present this program on September 30 at 10:30 am and again on October 13 at 7:00 pm.
In this interactive presentation, Tiffany Elliott, SPHR, MBA, will share insight gained from 15 years of human resources leadership at global 500 corporations. Her program will include an overview of the typical hiring process, what applicants should expect at each stage, and suggested preparation tips and strategies to help get noticed in the sea of competition. It is designed for job seekers in every phase of their careers—new college graduates, people entering the workforce after raising a family, and current working professionals looking for their next assignment or desiring a career change.
Ms. Elliott’s career has included extensive experience across a spectrum of industries including pharmaceutical, global commerce, telecommunications, electronics manufacturing, healthcare and aerospace. This year she established her own consulting firm to focus her experience and interest in the area of career coaching.
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
In this interactive presentation, Tiffany Elliott, SPHR, MBA, will share insight gained from 15 years of human resources leadership at global 500 corporations. Her program will include an overview of the typical hiring process, what applicants should expect at each stage, and suggested preparation tips and strategies to help get noticed in the sea of competition. It is designed for job seekers in every phase of their careers—new college graduates, people entering the workforce after raising a family, and current working professionals looking for their next assignment or desiring a career change.
Ms. Elliott’s career has included extensive experience across a spectrum of industries including pharmaceutical, global commerce, telecommunications, electronics manufacturing, healthcare and aerospace. This year she established her own consulting firm to focus her experience and interest in the area of career coaching.
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Preserve Now – Protect Forever: Art Exhibit Honoring The Land Conservancy of New Jersey
The land preservation work of The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is being honored in October with an innovative art exhibition highlighting some of the state’s most beautiful landscapes. Preserve Now - Protect Forever, An Artistic Perspective will feature the artwork of fourteen selected artists who have spent the past year creating a variety of paintings of land preserved by the Conservancy.
This exhibition of landscape paintings will run from September 29th through October 29th in two locations: Bernardsville Public Library (1 Anderson Hill Road) and Studio 7 Fine Art Gallery (5 Morristown Road) in Bernardsville. The Studio 7 portion of the show will be featured in the monthly Bernardsville Art Walk on October 1st from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. The library show will be on view during regular library hours unless a meeting is in progress.
The exhibition was the brainchild of artist Gerry Heydt, who has long been aware of the importance of preserving New Jersey’s landscape heritage. She paints landscapes outdoors and in her studio from sources found in natural areas, preserved farms, rivers, and streams of New Jersey. The bulk of her work, and that of many artists she knows, is derived through public access to preserved land. In May 2009, Ms. Heydt contacted The Land Conservancy of New Jersey with the idea of dedicating an exhibition to their efforts, showing artists’ work inspired by properties preserved with their assistance. A spectrum of fourteen New Jersey artists, with work embodying an affinity for the landscape, were invited to paint landscapes from a group of properties, largely with public access, preserved through the office of the Conservancy.
“I depend almost entirely upon open space with public access for my landscape painting work in New Jersey,” said Ms. Heydt. “Without public land I would be setting up my easel on sidewalks, the shoulders of country roads, or on private property with permission from the owner, severely limiting my access to New Jersey’s beautiful natural, coastal and rural landscapes. The work of The Land Conservancy of New Jersey directly benefits me and other landscape painters in New Jersey by furnishing access—a small side benefit to the procurement and preservation of open space, but not inconsequential to sustaining a recognized segment of New Jersey’s arts community.”
Some of the locations that will be represented include a 13-acre stretch of the Pequest River in Green Township; Dower Farm, a scenic 47 acres overlooking the Sourland Mountains in Peapack-Gladstone; Camp Hudsonia, an 82-acre former Girl Scout camp in Rockaway Township; and the Craigmeur Cliffs, a 61-acre property with striking views of the Green Pond Valley located in Rockaway Township. In addition to Heydt, the artists who will show their work in the show are Jared Clackner, Denise Fleming Deutschman, Tim Gaydos, Diana Gibson, Gary Godbee, Donna Grande, Seth Ruggles Hiler, Dannielle Mick, Robert Pillsbury, Joel Popadics, Edward Sprafkin, John Reilly, and Alana Van Rensselaer.
The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is an accredited land trust dedicated to preserving and protecting New Jersey’s vital natural lands and water resources. The organization has been working for the past 29 years to inspire and empower individuals and communities to take action to save the land that is so important to our state. The Conservancy has preserved over 17,000 acres of land and helped towns receive $202 million in grants to purchase and protect land throughout New Jersey. The Conservancy has worked with more than 76 municipalities in 13 counties, impacting over half of New Jersey’s counties and benefiting millions of residents throughout the state.
For further information about the show, call Bernardsville Public Library at 908-766-0118 or Kathleen Palmer at Studio 7 Fine Art Gallery at 908-963-0365.
This exhibition of landscape paintings will run from September 29th through October 29th in two locations: Bernardsville Public Library (1 Anderson Hill Road) and Studio 7 Fine Art Gallery (5 Morristown Road) in Bernardsville. The Studio 7 portion of the show will be featured in the monthly Bernardsville Art Walk on October 1st from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. The library show will be on view during regular library hours unless a meeting is in progress.
The exhibition was the brainchild of artist Gerry Heydt, who has long been aware of the importance of preserving New Jersey’s landscape heritage. She paints landscapes outdoors and in her studio from sources found in natural areas, preserved farms, rivers, and streams of New Jersey. The bulk of her work, and that of many artists she knows, is derived through public access to preserved land. In May 2009, Ms. Heydt contacted The Land Conservancy of New Jersey with the idea of dedicating an exhibition to their efforts, showing artists’ work inspired by properties preserved with their assistance. A spectrum of fourteen New Jersey artists, with work embodying an affinity for the landscape, were invited to paint landscapes from a group of properties, largely with public access, preserved through the office of the Conservancy.
“I depend almost entirely upon open space with public access for my landscape painting work in New Jersey,” said Ms. Heydt. “Without public land I would be setting up my easel on sidewalks, the shoulders of country roads, or on private property with permission from the owner, severely limiting my access to New Jersey’s beautiful natural, coastal and rural landscapes. The work of The Land Conservancy of New Jersey directly benefits me and other landscape painters in New Jersey by furnishing access—a small side benefit to the procurement and preservation of open space, but not inconsequential to sustaining a recognized segment of New Jersey’s arts community.”
Some of the locations that will be represented include a 13-acre stretch of the Pequest River in Green Township; Dower Farm, a scenic 47 acres overlooking the Sourland Mountains in Peapack-Gladstone; Camp Hudsonia, an 82-acre former Girl Scout camp in Rockaway Township; and the Craigmeur Cliffs, a 61-acre property with striking views of the Green Pond Valley located in Rockaway Township. In addition to Heydt, the artists who will show their work in the show are Jared Clackner, Denise Fleming Deutschman, Tim Gaydos, Diana Gibson, Gary Godbee, Donna Grande, Seth Ruggles Hiler, Dannielle Mick, Robert Pillsbury, Joel Popadics, Edward Sprafkin, John Reilly, and Alana Van Rensselaer.
The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is an accredited land trust dedicated to preserving and protecting New Jersey’s vital natural lands and water resources. The organization has been working for the past 29 years to inspire and empower individuals and communities to take action to save the land that is so important to our state. The Conservancy has preserved over 17,000 acres of land and helped towns receive $202 million in grants to purchase and protect land throughout New Jersey. The Conservancy has worked with more than 76 municipalities in 13 counties, impacting over half of New Jersey’s counties and benefiting millions of residents throughout the state.
For further information about the show, call Bernardsville Public Library at 908-766-0118 or Kathleen Palmer at Studio 7 Fine Art Gallery at 908-963-0365.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Book Signing: Saul Cooperman to Speak @ Bernardsville Library
Bernardsville resident Dr. Saul Cooperman will speak about and sign copies of his new book, Eddie and Me: A Story of Friendship, at Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, September 29 at 7:00 pm.
In his book, Dr. Cooperman, a former New Jersey Commissioner of Education under Governor Tom Kean, chronicles his 14-year mentoring relationship with an inner city African American boy named Eddie. Cooperman was a sixty-year-old grandfather and Eddie an 8-year-old child when they first met through the 10,000 Mentors program which Cooperman had founded in 1995. The two existed in two completely different worlds, driven by different cultures and different beliefs, and it took them a while to get to know and trust each other. This book portrays their real life together in all its unpredictable, funny and frustratingly dysfunctional moments as Cooperman attempts to step into Eddie’s world. Former U.S. Senator and Pro Basketball Hall of Fame player Bill Bradley described the book as “a touching story of hope and joy finding common ground.”
At the library, Dr. Cooperman will speak about his experiences with Eddie and how he came to write the book. There will be copies available for purchase and signing. There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
In his book, Dr. Cooperman, a former New Jersey Commissioner of Education under Governor Tom Kean, chronicles his 14-year mentoring relationship with an inner city African American boy named Eddie. Cooperman was a sixty-year-old grandfather and Eddie an 8-year-old child when they first met through the 10,000 Mentors program which Cooperman had founded in 1995. The two existed in two completely different worlds, driven by different cultures and different beliefs, and it took them a while to get to know and trust each other. This book portrays their real life together in all its unpredictable, funny and frustratingly dysfunctional moments as Cooperman attempts to step into Eddie’s world. Former U.S. Senator and Pro Basketball Hall of Fame player Bill Bradley described the book as “a touching story of hope and joy finding common ground.”
At the library, Dr. Cooperman will speak about his experiences with Eddie and how he came to write the book. There will be copies available for purchase and signing. There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Memoirs & Coffee Book Discussion Group to Meet
The next meeting of Bernardsville Library’s book discussion group, Memoirs and Coffee, will be held on Tuesday, September 28 at 10:30 am in the library’s Community Room. Pat Kennedy-Grant, Readers’ Services Coordinator for the library, will lead the discussion of A Mountain of Crumbs: A Memoir (2010) by Mary Gorokhova. [The author will not be present.]
In A Mountain of Crumbs, Gorokhova re-creates a world that both oppressed and inspired her. Readers learn about Russia in the second half of the 20th century as well as the personal story of one rebellious citizen whose love of a foreign language (English) finally transported her to a new world. The author grew up in St. Petersburg, Russian (formerly Leningrad). At the age of 24, she married an American and came to the United States with one small suitcase to start a new life. She now lives in New Jersey. Frank McCourt wrote about Gorokhova’s book, “This is a rich experience—a personal journey paralleled by huge national changes and ending in a deeply satisfying portrait of peace in America.”
There is no charge to attend the book discussion, and no sign-up is needed. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.
In A Mountain of Crumbs, Gorokhova re-creates a world that both oppressed and inspired her. Readers learn about Russia in the second half of the 20th century as well as the personal story of one rebellious citizen whose love of a foreign language (English) finally transported her to a new world. The author grew up in St. Petersburg, Russian (formerly Leningrad). At the age of 24, she married an American and came to the United States with one small suitcase to start a new life. She now lives in New Jersey. Frank McCourt wrote about Gorokhova’s book, “This is a rich experience—a personal journey paralleled by huge national changes and ending in a deeply satisfying portrait of peace in America.”
There is no charge to attend the book discussion, and no sign-up is needed. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.
Basics of Estate Administration in Surrogate’s Court
Is your will in order? Are you familiar with what should be included in an estate plan? To answer these questions, Somerset County Surrogate Frank Bruno will speak at Bernardsville Public Library on Tuesday, September 28 at 7:00 pm. He will give an overview of issues that are important to know, particularly what to expect when probating a will in Somerset County.
Mr. Bruno has been Somerset County Surrogate since 2001. The Surrogate is Judge of the Surrogate’s Court, and the many duties include the probate of wills; appointment of estate administrators; appointment of guardians of minors; acting as Deputy Clerk to the Superior Court of New Jersey in contested probate actions; and the processing of adoptions. In addition, the Surrogate is responsible for recording and preserving records of the proceedings in the Surrogate’s Court and making those records available to the public. Surrogate Bruno is also a Board Member of the National College of Probate Judges.
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Mr. Bruno has been Somerset County Surrogate since 2001. The Surrogate is Judge of the Surrogate’s Court, and the many duties include the probate of wills; appointment of estate administrators; appointment of guardians of minors; acting as Deputy Clerk to the Superior Court of New Jersey in contested probate actions; and the processing of adoptions. In addition, the Surrogate is responsible for recording and preserving records of the proceedings in the Surrogate’s Court and making those records available to the public. Surrogate Bruno is also a Board Member of the National College of Probate Judges.
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Saturday Crafters Group to Meet
Saturday Crafters, a monthly craft group organized by Bernardsville Public Library, will meet on Saturday, September 25 at 3:00 pm. Individuals are invited to bring their own handwork projects to the Library and work together in a comfortable, communal setting while enjoying the benefits of shared tips and conversation. The next meeting of the group will be on Saturday, October 16 at 3:00 pm.
Readers’ Services Assistant Evelyn Fischel will showcase different project ideas and books at each meeting. A long-time crafter, Ms. Fischel will encourage such interests as knitting, crocheting, paper arts, hand sewing, embroidery and other needlework, as well as any other craft the group wishes to cover.
There is no charge to attend the meeting, and no sign-up is needed. For more information, call the library at 908-766-0118.
Readers’ Services Assistant Evelyn Fischel will showcase different project ideas and books at each meeting. A long-time crafter, Ms. Fischel will encourage such interests as knitting, crocheting, paper arts, hand sewing, embroidery and other needlework, as well as any other craft the group wishes to cover.
There is no charge to attend the meeting, and no sign-up is needed. For more information, call the library at 908-766-0118.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
"Mysterious New Jersey"
Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Mystery of Marie Roget” was inspired by the real-life murder of a young woman whose body was found floating in the Hudson River near Hoboken, and ever since then, the Garden State has been a fertile source of ideas for mystery writers. Join author Peggy Ehrhart at Bernardsville Public Library on Tuesday, September 14 at 7:00 pm for a tour of mystery novels whose settings range from New Jersey's Pine Barrens and Chesapeake Bay region to the state's cities, suburbs, and small towns. Ms. Ehrhart will discuss the work of authors such as Janet Evanovich, Harlan Coben, Robin Hathaway, Chris Grabenstein, and Richard Price.
Peggy Ehrhart is a former college English professor who lives in Leonia, New Jersey, where she plays blues guitar and writes mysteries. She has won awards for her short fiction, and her stories have appeared in Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine and numerous e-zines. Sweet Man Is Gone (2008), whose title comes from a Muddy Waters tune, was her first mystery. As Margaret J. Ehrhart, she has also published widely in the field of her academic specialty, medieval literature. She is a longtime member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. As a guitar player, she has performed with The Last Stand Band and other bands in the New York/TriState area.
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Peggy Ehrhart is a former college English professor who lives in Leonia, New Jersey, where she plays blues guitar and writes mysteries. She has won awards for her short fiction, and her stories have appeared in Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine and numerous e-zines. Sweet Man Is Gone (2008), whose title comes from a Muddy Waters tune, was her first mystery. As Margaret J. Ehrhart, she has also published widely in the field of her academic specialty, medieval literature. She is a longtime member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. As a guitar player, she has performed with The Last Stand Band and other bands in the New York/TriState area.
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Library Summer Reading Club Finale: September 11
Make a Splash @ your library, Bernardsville Library’s Summer Reading Club, will come to a grand finale for club members on Saturday, September 11 at 1:30 pm when scientist John Lyga gives an interactive demonstration of the properties of water. This program promises to be “wet and wild”! Mr. Lyga runs the popular Sunday Science program each month at the library. He has been teaching these hands-on science programs for over fifteen years to stimulate involvement in science by both parents and children.
This year, 438 readers (Kindergarten through Grade 12) joined the library’s Reading Club and read more than 391,000 minutes in the course of ten weeks. Over the summer, the library’s Youth Services staff led many activities connected to water and liquids, including re-creating a boardwalk at the library and inviting Starfish Enterprises to bring a 59-foot inflatable whale that literally filled up the library’s Community Room. Youth Services Librarian Michaele Casey said that one of the most popular events was a smoothie/root beer float and milkshake contest. Library visitors were asked to judge the entries and loved the creative taste combinations that the young contestants came up with. Children also “fished” for laughs, made yellow submarines, a yarn octopus and faux scrimshaw, and created a little bit of ocean in a jar.
Once again this summer, the library was filled with imaginative decorations designed and made by volunteer Keiko Matsuura. A huge shark created by the students at Bedwell Elementary School came on special loan. It hung from the ceiling in the Children’s Area and terrorized not a few small children!
There is no charge to attend the Summer Reading finale, but advance sign-up is required. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Kid Stuff, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
This year, 438 readers (Kindergarten through Grade 12) joined the library’s Reading Club and read more than 391,000 minutes in the course of ten weeks. Over the summer, the library’s Youth Services staff led many activities connected to water and liquids, including re-creating a boardwalk at the library and inviting Starfish Enterprises to bring a 59-foot inflatable whale that literally filled up the library’s Community Room. Youth Services Librarian Michaele Casey said that one of the most popular events was a smoothie/root beer float and milkshake contest. Library visitors were asked to judge the entries and loved the creative taste combinations that the young contestants came up with. Children also “fished” for laughs, made yellow submarines, a yarn octopus and faux scrimshaw, and created a little bit of ocean in a jar.
Once again this summer, the library was filled with imaginative decorations designed and made by volunteer Keiko Matsuura. A huge shark created by the students at Bedwell Elementary School came on special loan. It hung from the ceiling in the Children’s Area and terrorized not a few small children!
There is no charge to attend the Summer Reading finale, but advance sign-up is required. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Kid Stuff, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Photos by Linda Bock-Hinger on Display
Linda Bock-Hinger, a Bedminster photographer who loves to travel and record people and places around the world, will display her photos at Bernardsville Public Library during the month of September (Sept. 1-24).
Her photos chronicle her global travels, but for this show she has turned her attention to revisiting the USA. Her exhibition will have two foci: the Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque and the architecture of the American Southwest.
Bock-Hinger states, “It started with thinking about what it means to live here, what our hopes, dreams, values, and general lifestyles are. I started to think about the many origins of people in this country and that in turn lead me to learning more about the Native Americans.” To understand more about their current life and customs, she attended the Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque and photographed Native Americans in tribal dress and performing traditional dances and rituals. The “Great Chief” led several thousand Native Americans from all over North America in the Grand Entrance of the PowWow. Their attire, demonstrated by bold colors, elaborate feathers and exquisite beadwork, was designed to tell their story.
The architecture of our American Southwest owes its heritage to Native Americans, Mexicans, Spaniards, and influences from the early settlers who used whatever materials were at hand. The use of natural building materials and environmental orientation reflected the unique method of the Pueblos. These qualities of Native American tribes inspired the Spanish settlers who entered the Southwest in the 16th century.
Ms. Bock-Hinger explains, “It starts with opening the mind and heart along with the eye to capture a feeling, then I catch it with my camera.” Her photographs aim to make the viewer feel a connection to her subjects and thereby experience their lives and places in the world. Bock-Hinger’s work has been shown in solo exhibitions, juried art and photography shows, public buildings and museums, private homes, corporate offices, and several publications in the United States and other countries. Her international photographs have won many awards and prizes.
Bock-Hinger went from photography as avocation to profession after her retirement in 2000 from a career in education. She has studied photography and art and now combines them into artography, which uses photographs as the cornerstone of her mixed media work.
Her photos chronicle her global travels, but for this show she has turned her attention to revisiting the USA. Her exhibition will have two foci: the Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque and the architecture of the American Southwest.
Bock-Hinger states, “It started with thinking about what it means to live here, what our hopes, dreams, values, and general lifestyles are. I started to think about the many origins of people in this country and that in turn lead me to learning more about the Native Americans.” To understand more about their current life and customs, she attended the Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque and photographed Native Americans in tribal dress and performing traditional dances and rituals. The “Great Chief” led several thousand Native Americans from all over North America in the Grand Entrance of the PowWow. Their attire, demonstrated by bold colors, elaborate feathers and exquisite beadwork, was designed to tell their story.
The architecture of our American Southwest owes its heritage to Native Americans, Mexicans, Spaniards, and influences from the early settlers who used whatever materials were at hand. The use of natural building materials and environmental orientation reflected the unique method of the Pueblos. These qualities of Native American tribes inspired the Spanish settlers who entered the Southwest in the 16th century.
Ms. Bock-Hinger explains, “It starts with opening the mind and heart along with the eye to capture a feeling, then I catch it with my camera.” Her photographs aim to make the viewer feel a connection to her subjects and thereby experience their lives and places in the world. Bock-Hinger’s work has been shown in solo exhibitions, juried art and photography shows, public buildings and museums, private homes, corporate offices, and several publications in the United States and other countries. Her international photographs have won many awards and prizes.
Bock-Hinger went from photography as avocation to profession after her retirement in 2000 from a career in education. She has studied photography and art and now combines them into artography, which uses photographs as the cornerstone of her mixed media work.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Bernardsville Library to Honor Two Long-Time Volunteers
Bernardsville Public Library will honor two long-time volunteers at a reception in the library hosted by the Board of Trustees on Sunday, September 12 at 2:00 pm. These exemplary volunteers are Theo Mulgrum, who has taught in the library’s English-As-A-Second-Language (ESL) program for more than ten years, and Esther Warner, who has helped with processing books, DVDs and other materials in the Technical Services department for more than fifteen years.
Esther Warner has lived in Bernardsville for 30 years. Among the many tasks she has undertaken in the Technical Services area are processing new materials (books, DVDs, and audiobooks for both children and adults), working with revolving collections of books and DVDs that come in for short periods from other libraries, weeding out books that don’t circulate, shelving, and searching for misplaced items. “Esther’s very creative and a really important cog in the machine,” says Technical Services Librarian Rosalie Baker. “She uses her imagination in creative ways to package materials for circulation, and I can always depend on her to work until the job is done.” About her long tenure at the library, Ms. Warner says, “I started volunteering when I retired because I am a big believer in the public library. I learn new things and meet interesting people at the library.” A highly skilled knitter, Ms. Warner is a big contributor of beautiful, miniature sweaters which dress teddy bears at the library each holiday season. These teddy bears are then donated to disadvantaged children through the Salvation Army. She also volunteers at Leonard J. Buck Garden, the NJ Audubon Society, and for the Friends of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Bernardsville Public Library gratefully acknowledges the contributions of these two special volunteers as well as those of the many others who serve the library on a regular basis.
Ms. Mulgrum has lived in Bernardsville since 1972. Before her retirement, she was a Spanish teacher at Bernards High School. As such, she and ESL teacher Maureen Underwood were aware of the need for English lessons among their students’ parents. A proposal for classes was subsequently approved by the Board of Education, and they began running in the old library building on Thursday nights. This was at the same time that a community service requirement was instituted at the High School and provided a steady stream of high school students who taught under the guidance of Ms. Mulgrum and Ms. Underwood. “Teaching these classes is so rewarding,” said Ms. Mulgrum. “I fall in love with my students every year. Some stay in the program for many years. I even enlisted my husband as a volunteer teacher.” Because she is always willing to take on a new task, the library staff has also called on Ms. Mulgrum to translate library materials into Spanish and, for a short period, to teach them Spanish. In addition, she has helped with interpreting for Spanish speakers who seek help through the library’s VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. Ms. Mulgrum also helps out at Morristown Hospital where she serves as an interpreter in the prenatal and postnatal clinic and leads bilingual tours of the Labor and Delivery area of the hospital for expectant mothers.
Esther Warner has lived in Bernardsville for 30 years. Among the many tasks she has undertaken in the Technical Services area are processing new materials (books, DVDs, and audiobooks for both children and adults), working with revolving collections of books and DVDs that come in for short periods from other libraries, weeding out books that don’t circulate, shelving, and searching for misplaced items. “Esther’s very creative and a really important cog in the machine,” says Technical Services Librarian Rosalie Baker. “She uses her imagination in creative ways to package materials for circulation, and I can always depend on her to work until the job is done.” About her long tenure at the library, Ms. Warner says, “I started volunteering when I retired because I am a big believer in the public library. I learn new things and meet interesting people at the library.” A highly skilled knitter, Ms. Warner is a big contributor of beautiful, miniature sweaters which dress teddy bears at the library each holiday season. These teddy bears are then donated to disadvantaged children through the Salvation Army. She also volunteers at Leonard J. Buck Garden, the NJ Audubon Society, and for the Friends of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Bernardsville Public Library gratefully acknowledges the contributions of these two special volunteers as well as those of the many others who serve the library on a regular basis.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
VITA Program to Expand Under CARES Umbrella at Bernardsville Library
VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), a program at Bernardsville Public Library that has assisted residents in calculating and filing their income taxes for over 15 years, is now available to help all year around, not just in the first four months of the year. Coordinator Bob Baker and other volunteers can help with estimated taxes, tax filing extensions, and returns that are being filed under extension. Mr. Baker is also looking for volunteers for next year so that the number of residents served can grow. Although tax season may seem far away, it’s really only four months until training for the VITA volunteers takes place in January. Public appointments are scheduled starting in February. Becoming a VITA volunteer is easy and rewarding, but does require a time commitment of approximately three to four hours a week during tax season (February through April 15). For details on joining this special group of volunteers, contact Madelyn English at 908-766-0118.Michal Viola, another VITA volunteer, is also spearheading the development of a new library program called CARES: Community Assistance Resource and Educational Services. Scheduled to launch in January 2011, CARES will host seminars at the library on a variety of topics dealing with local, state and federal programs. The goal is to inform and educate local residents about programs for which they may be eligible and about which they have questions. Expert speakers and government representatives will be invited to speak.
For further information about these programs, call the library at 908-766-0118. For general information on the library and scheduled events, go to www.bernardsvillelibrary.org.
Pictured: Bob Baker (left) and Michael Viola (right)
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
New Language Resource Available
Bonjour...Hola....Ni Hao...Ohaiyogozaimasu
Most people know that each of these words is a form of greeting in its respective language. French, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese, in that order, to be exact. Most people probably wouldn't know how to say much else. But now, thanks to its Friends group, Bernardsville Public Library has added Mango Languages to its list of online resources. According to Mango, only nine percent of the population in the United States is bilingual while the number internationally is nearly 70%. Why is that number so low? It's not because people don't want to learn a second language. It's because people think it's too hard, or will take too much time, or will cost too much money.
With the Mango database, these barriers are removed. It’s is a simple, easy-to-use language learning program and is a very effective way to learn a language. It's not just about learning words and phrases. It's fun. The courses are presented with an appreciation for cultural nuance and real-world application that integrates components of grammar and culture. Students learn actual conversation, breaking down complex conversational elements within an audio-visual framework that allows the user to draw important connections between pieces of information they have already learned.
Mango is available in two versions. One is Mango Complete, a 100-lesson course that is designed to provide a full understanding of an entire language and its culture. It is available in nine foreign language and three ESL courses. The second is Mango Basic, which teaches everyday greetings, thank you’s, goodbyes and helpful phrases in a short period of time and is designed to appeal to a beginner in a new language. The courses, which require only two to five hours of time to complete, are currently available in 22 foreign languages and 14 English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.
"Language resources are expensive to purchase and making them available at the library saves people in the community a lot of money,” said Director Karen Brodsky. “We are very grateful to the Friends of the Bernardsville Library for funding Mango, which is an engaging and efficient tool."
To learn more about Mango and see what the program has to offer, visit the library's website, www.bernardsvillelibrary.org. Click on Online Resources and then Learn Languages. Even better, with a Bernardsville library card and an Internet connection, the actual courses can be accessed remotely from anywhere.
For more information, stop by the Circulation Desk at the Library. And, by the way, Au Revoir...Adiós....Zà i Jià n...Sayonara!
Most people know that each of these words is a form of greeting in its respective language. French, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese, in that order, to be exact. Most people probably wouldn't know how to say much else. But now, thanks to its Friends group, Bernardsville Public Library has added Mango Languages to its list of online resources. According to Mango, only nine percent of the population in the United States is bilingual while the number internationally is nearly 70%. Why is that number so low? It's not because people don't want to learn a second language. It's because people think it's too hard, or will take too much time, or will cost too much money.
With the Mango database, these barriers are removed. It’s is a simple, easy-to-use language learning program and is a very effective way to learn a language. It's not just about learning words and phrases. It's fun. The courses are presented with an appreciation for cultural nuance and real-world application that integrates components of grammar and culture. Students learn actual conversation, breaking down complex conversational elements within an audio-visual framework that allows the user to draw important connections between pieces of information they have already learned.
Mango is available in two versions. One is Mango Complete, a 100-lesson course that is designed to provide a full understanding of an entire language and its culture. It is available in nine foreign language and three ESL courses. The second is Mango Basic, which teaches everyday greetings, thank you’s, goodbyes and helpful phrases in a short period of time and is designed to appeal to a beginner in a new language. The courses, which require only two to five hours of time to complete, are currently available in 22 foreign languages and 14 English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.
"Language resources are expensive to purchase and making them available at the library saves people in the community a lot of money,” said Director Karen Brodsky. “We are very grateful to the Friends of the Bernardsville Library for funding Mango, which is an engaging and efficient tool."
To learn more about Mango and see what the program has to offer, visit the library's website, www.bernardsvillelibrary.org. Click on Online Resources and then Learn Languages. Even better, with a Bernardsville library card and an Internet connection, the actual courses can be accessed remotely from anywhere.
For more information, stop by the Circulation Desk at the Library. And, by the way, Au Revoir...Adiós....Zà i Jià n...Sayonara!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Bernardsville Library Sends Books to West Virginia
When Basking Ridge resident Neil Klingenburg visited his daughter Laura Peach in West Virginia, she told him that she didn’t have enough children’s books at different reading levels for her third grade students at the Mountain Ridge Intermediate School. So, shortly after returning home, Mr. Klingenburg visited Bernardsville Library and asked Youth Services Librarian Michaele Casey if she had any books she could spare to send to his daughter’s school. She did. For the past three years, Bernardsville Library staff members have been putting extra books aside (usually books donated by community members that the library already owns), and when Mr. Klingenburg drove down to visit his daughter, he took the books with him.
“The kids were impressed and so was I,” said Ms. Peach. “The books we received were good, high-interest reading. I even had to go out and buy additional bookshelves!” Ms. Peach, who married and moved from New Jersey to West Virginia with her husband, has been teaching at the Mountain Ridge School in Gerrardstown for four years. “I believe in giving the kids reading choices,” she said. “I have kids at all reading levels and abilities, and there was always something for everyone. This year I laid out all the books and let the children choose eight books to take home with them over the summer. I still have the largest book collection in my grade level, and the kids, some of whom don’t have many books at home, were thrilled to receive them. It has been such a blessing to receive the books all these years; I think it would be wonderful if people in your community/area knew what you have been doing and the impact it has made.”
A few months ago, the library received a class picture and eighteen hand-written thank you letters in the mail. “My new books are the best,” wrote a student named Anthony. “I love reading. I read here, there, everywhere. I read so much I can’t remembere [sic]. Again I love books there [sic] the best.”
Ms. Peach wrote, “Thank you…I hope that together we have developed some lifelong readers and learners.” Bernardsville Library staff members hope so too.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Learn about the Jersey Shore
If you have ever wondered why there is an elephant-shaped building on the beach in Margate or how some of the Jersey Shore towns got their unique names, come to Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, August 4 at 7:00 pm to listen to author Kevin Woyce give a colorful tour of Jersey Shore history.
Mr. Woyce will range from shipwrecks to lighthouses, from the first seaside resorts to today’s most popular boardwalks. His talk will be accompanied by slides of original photographs of landmarks and vintage images of historic sites, events and people.
The author of Jersey Shore History & Facts and Hudson River Lighthouses & History, Mr. Woyce is a lifelong resident of the Garden State who lives with his wife in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. His next book will be about historic places and events along the Connecticut coast.
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Mr. Woyce will range from shipwrecks to lighthouses, from the first seaside resorts to today’s most popular boardwalks. His talk will be accompanied by slides of original photographs of landmarks and vintage images of historic sites, events and people.
The author of Jersey Shore History & Facts and Hudson River Lighthouses & History, Mr. Woyce is a lifelong resident of the Garden State who lives with his wife in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. His next book will be about historic places and events along the Connecticut coast.
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
“Augustus Saint-Gaudens: Master of American Sculpture”
Theodore Roosevelt said in 1907 about the sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens: “There is no greater artistic genius living in this or any other country.” Bernardsville resident and award-winning filmmaker Paul G. Sanderson has produced and directed an acclaimed feature documentary film on Saint-Gaudens which was recently broadcast nationally on PBS and had its premiere at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mr. Sanderson will introduce the Director’s Cut of the film when it is shown at Bernardsville Public Library on Thursday, July 22 at 7:00 pm.Augustus Saint-Gaudens: Master of American Sculpture documents the life and work of this great American sculptor who was born in 1848 and lived into the 20th century. Trained in Paris and Rome, Saint-Gaudens is considered America’s premier sculptor of the 19th and early 20th centuries. During a career that spanned three decades, he created nearly 150 works of art including a number of major public monuments to heroes of the Civil War. Master of American Sculpture traces Saint-Gaudens’ life, both personally and professionally, from his birth in Dublin, Ireland to his work in New York City and Paris to his death in Cornish, New Hampshire. The film reveals him as a leader among artists who was one of the first to integrate architecture, landscape design and monumental sculpture as well as becoming the pre-eminent creator of bas-relief. Often compared to the great artists of the Italian Renaissance, he invigorated sculpture in the United States and raised it to new heights during his lifetime.
As producer/director and president of Our Town Films, Inc., Paul Sanderson has enjoyed considerable success in creating television documentaries and educational programs. Since founding Our Town Films in 1992, Mr. Sanderson has won over 30 national awards, including nine CINE Golden Eagles. The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. has honored Mr. Sanderson by placing one of his films in its permanent collection. His programs have appeared on NBC, PBS, The Discovery Channel, A&E Network, The History Channel and CNBC. His films have premiered at Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the American Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian.
There is no charge to attend the library program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
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NOTE: For further information about the film or Our Town Films, please call Mr. Sanderson at 201-401-3908.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
"Water Works" with Mad Science
Taking off from this year’s summer reading club theme, Make a splash @ your library, Bernardsville Public Library will offer a program called "Water Works," presented by Mad Science, on Friday, July 23 at 1:30 pm. This science class, designed for children aged three to five, is definitely not dry! Preschoolers will learn about what floats, what doesn’t and why. They’ll take a plunge into the science behind liquids, absorption, and surface tension. And each child will go home with a shimmering water tube.
Based in Pennington, NJ, Mad Science has more than 35 instructors reaching tens of thousands of children each year. The group’s goal is to engage, entertain and inspire the next generation of scientists. Mad Scientists clad in white lab coats demonstrate that there is much more to science than what children read in textbooks.
“Our goal is to spark the imagination of children and turn them on to science,” says Mad Science franchise owner Vance Fox, “We do this through a combination of dramatic hands-on fun [while] at the same time applying pure science principles. There is nothing more exciting than seeing a child grasp a scientific concept, have fun doing it and then wanting more.”
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is required. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Kid Stuff, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Based in Pennington, NJ, Mad Science has more than 35 instructors reaching tens of thousands of children each year. The group’s goal is to engage, entertain and inspire the next generation of scientists. Mad Scientists clad in white lab coats demonstrate that there is much more to science than what children read in textbooks.
“Our goal is to spark the imagination of children and turn them on to science,” says Mad Science franchise owner Vance Fox, “We do this through a combination of dramatic hands-on fun [while] at the same time applying pure science principles. There is nothing more exciting than seeing a child grasp a scientific concept, have fun doing it and then wanting more.”
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is required. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Kid Stuff, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Memoirs & Coffee Book Discussion Group to Meet
The next meeting of Bernardsville Library’s book discussion group, Memoirs and Coffee, will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday, July 20 in the library’s Community Room. Pat Kennedy-Grant, Readers’ Services Coordinator for the library, will lead the discussion of The Liars’ Club: A Memoir (1995) by Mary Karr. [The author will not be present.]
When it was published in 1995, the book received rave reviews: it was a National Book Circle Award Finalist and a PEN Nonfiction Award nominee. Selected as one of the best books that year by People, Time, The New Yorker and Entertainment Weekly, it quickly rose to the top of the bestseller list in 1996 when the paperback was released.
The book recounts Karr’s memories of a difficult childhood in a small East Texas town. Her alcoholic, at times psychotic mother married six times, and her father was also hard-drinking and frequently absent. Author Tobias Wolff wrote about the book, “The Liars’ Club is the vivid recollection of a childhood no one would have chosen, but such is the ferocity of Karr’s love for her family, and the gritty eloquence of her voice, that we enter her world with pleasure and leave it with regret.” The book has been credited with a dramatic revival in the literary form of memoir writing.
There is no charge to attend the book discussion, and no sign-up is needed. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.
When it was published in 1995, the book received rave reviews: it was a National Book Circle Award Finalist and a PEN Nonfiction Award nominee. Selected as one of the best books that year by People, Time, The New Yorker and Entertainment Weekly, it quickly rose to the top of the bestseller list in 1996 when the paperback was released.
The book recounts Karr’s memories of a difficult childhood in a small East Texas town. Her alcoholic, at times psychotic mother married six times, and her father was also hard-drinking and frequently absent. Author Tobias Wolff wrote about the book, “The Liars’ Club is the vivid recollection of a childhood no one would have chosen, but such is the ferocity of Karr’s love for her family, and the gritty eloquence of her voice, that we enter her world with pleasure and leave it with regret.” The book has been credited with a dramatic revival in the literary form of memoir writing.
There is no charge to attend the book discussion, and no sign-up is needed. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Mark Twain’s Wonderful Words
Mark Twain exhorted his readers, “Throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover!” These are among the many selections of “wonderful words” to be read by three professional actors from Toma Jama Productions at Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, July 14 at 7:00 pm.Dressed in traditional Reader's Theater attire (black pants and black shirt), the actors, Tom and Maggie Worsdale and James Dyne, will read selections from Twain’s essays and as characters in works such as The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer, and The Diaries Of Adam And Eve.
Born Samuel Clemens in 1835, Mark Twain grew up to become a newspaper reporter and celebrated writer. His time as a riverboat pilot led to his pen name: "mark twain" means the water is safe to navigate. Listeners will be transported back to a hot July evening, 150 years ago, on a glorious riverboat taking a ride down the ol' Mississippi at dusk.
Tom Worsdale has been acting and directing for the past 35 years. A native of Brooklyn, NY, he holds a B.A. from Clemson University in South Carolina and an M.A. from the University of Northern Colorado. He is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. As a Hollywood liaison, he advised on numerous films and helped coordinate Hollywood and celebrity functions associated with the military. Mr. Worsdale worked as producer and coordinator for Jay Leno's shows for the troops overseas and assisted on three Bob Hope events for both the stage and television. Currently, he is the head of public relations at Lakehurst Navel Base in Lakehurst, New Jersey.
James Dyne is a native of London, England and holds a degree in business and graphic design. Mr. Dyne has been associated with the theater for over 30 years designing and building sets for some 40 productions in New York and New Jersey. In his professional life, James is the director of corporate university global operations for a major telecommunications company.
Maggie Worsdale is a native of Hightstown, NJ and holds a B.A. in English and Theater from Marietta College, Marietta Ohio. She is an international cabaret singer and has worked with Bob Hope and George Burns. Having lived all over the country with her Air Force husband, Ms. Worsdale has done professional theater from coast to coast. She is now touring the country in a two-woman musical show, THE GAUDY GIRLS: Starring Mae West and Sophie Tucker.
There is no charge to attend the library program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up. This show is appropriate for ages ten and older.
Patient Advocacy in the Healthcare System
Learn how to advocate for yourself and your family throughout the healthcare system when Jacqueline O’Doherty of Health Care Connect discusses the topic at Bernardsville Public Library on Thursday, July 15 at 7:00 pm.
When a patient and his or her family are grappling with the stress of illness, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by treatments, medical options, follow-up care and insurance issues. Ms. O’Doherty will explain how people can navigate through confusing and complex medical situations, enabling them to make educated decisions after considering all their options. This includes the navigation of medical treatments from multiple providers, insurers, pharmaceuticals and other details that accompany healthcare.
Ms. O’Doherty will also talk about how to find the resources the patient needs to facilitate rehabilitation, follow-up care and long-term care options while stressing the importance of communication and coordination of care, as well as effective discharge planning. She’ll provide tips on managing the intricacies and complexities of the healthcare system.
Ms. O’Doherty came into Patient Advocacy after spending years in the medical industry, in medical device sales and then lab outreach, and seeing first hand the difficulties patients encountered when traveling the healthcare system. She says she “understands the guidance patients need to navigate the complex intricacies of our healthcare system.” She completed the Alpus Patient Advocacy Program at the University of Miami and now resides in Peapack-Gladstone where she runs her Patient Advocacy practice, Health Care Connect, LLC.
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
When a patient and his or her family are grappling with the stress of illness, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by treatments, medical options, follow-up care and insurance issues. Ms. O’Doherty will explain how people can navigate through confusing and complex medical situations, enabling them to make educated decisions after considering all their options. This includes the navigation of medical treatments from multiple providers, insurers, pharmaceuticals and other details that accompany healthcare.
Ms. O’Doherty will also talk about how to find the resources the patient needs to facilitate rehabilitation, follow-up care and long-term care options while stressing the importance of communication and coordination of care, as well as effective discharge planning. She’ll provide tips on managing the intricacies and complexities of the healthcare system.
Ms. O’Doherty came into Patient Advocacy after spending years in the medical industry, in medical device sales and then lab outreach, and seeing first hand the difficulties patients encountered when traveling the healthcare system. She says she “understands the guidance patients need to navigate the complex intricacies of our healthcare system.” She completed the Alpus Patient Advocacy Program at the University of Miami and now resides in Peapack-Gladstone where she runs her Patient Advocacy practice, Health Care Connect, LLC.
There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Saturday Samplers Book Group to Meet
Bernardsville Library’s book discussion group, Saturday Samplers, will meet on Saturday, July 10 at 3:30 pm to discuss Me Talk Pretty One Day (2000) by David Sedaris. [The author will not be present.]
Sedaris has been compared by The New Yorker magazine to Mark Twain, and this book is a collection of humorous essays that deal with the author’s unconventional life story. They include hilarious pieces, including the eponymous chapter, “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” about Sedaris’s attempts to learn French when he moved to Paris. His family is another inspiration.
Sedaris was discovered reading from his diary in a Chicago club by the radio host Ira Glass. This led to his appearance on Glass’s National Public Radio show, “The Wild Room,” and eventually led to his reading, in December 1992 on the NPR show Morning Edition, of his “SantaLand Diaries" in which he describes his stint working as a Christmas elf in SantaLand at Macy's department store. The piece was well-received and provided Sedaris with his first major break.
Led by Readers’ Services Assistant, Evelyn Fischel, Saturday Samplers is a book discussion group dedicated to sampling various kinds of literature, including short stories, nonfiction, new and old novels, and even teen fiction. Its goal is to search out interesting, noteworthy, and sometimes overlooked books. Readers can find information about the group and about the books and authors on the reading list at http://saturdaysamplers.blogspot.com/. No sign-up is needed to join the discussion. Call the library at 766-0118 for more information.
Sedaris has been compared by The New Yorker magazine to Mark Twain, and this book is a collection of humorous essays that deal with the author’s unconventional life story. They include hilarious pieces, including the eponymous chapter, “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” about Sedaris’s attempts to learn French when he moved to Paris. His family is another inspiration.
Sedaris was discovered reading from his diary in a Chicago club by the radio host Ira Glass. This led to his appearance on Glass’s National Public Radio show, “The Wild Room,” and eventually led to his reading, in December 1992 on the NPR show Morning Edition, of his “SantaLand Diaries" in which he describes his stint working as a Christmas elf in SantaLand at Macy's department store. The piece was well-received and provided Sedaris with his first major break.
Led by Readers’ Services Assistant, Evelyn Fischel, Saturday Samplers is a book discussion group dedicated to sampling various kinds of literature, including short stories, nonfiction, new and old novels, and even teen fiction. Its goal is to search out interesting, noteworthy, and sometimes overlooked books. Readers can find information about the group and about the books and authors on the reading list at http://saturdaysamplers.blogspot.com/. No sign-up is needed to join the discussion. Call the library at 766-0118 for more information.
Film Screening - “Augustus Saint-Gaudens: Master of American Sculpture”
Theodore Roosevelt said in 1907 about the sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens: “There is no greater artistic genius living in this or any other country.” Bernardsville resident and award-winning filmmaker Paul G. Sanderson has produced and directed an acclaimed feature documentary film on Saint-Gaudens which was recently broadcast nationally on PBS and had its premiere at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mr. Sanderson will introduce the Director’s Cut of the film when it is shown at Bernardsville Public Library on Thursday, July 22 at 7:00 pm.Augustus Saint-Gaudens: Master of American Sculpture documents the life and work of this great American sculptor who was born in 1848 and lived into the 20th century. Trained in Paris and Rome, Saint-Gaudens is considered America’s premier sculptor of the 19th and early 20th centuries. During a career that spanned three decades, he created nearly 150 works of art including a number of major public monuments to heroes of the Civil War. Master of American Sculpture traces Saint-Gaudens’ life, both personally and professionally, from his birth in Dublin, Ireland to his work in New York City and Paris to his death in Cornish, New Hampshire. The film reveals him as a leader among artists who was one of the first to integrate architecture, landscape design and monumental sculpture as well as becoming the pre-eminent creator of bas-relief. Often compared to the great artists of the Italian Renaissance, he invigorated sculpture in the United States and raised it to new heights during his lifetime.
As producer/director and president of Our Town Films, Inc., Paul Sanderson has enjoyed considerable success in creating television documentaries and educational programs. Since founding Our Town Films in 1992, Mr. Sanderson has won over 30 national awards, including nine CINE Golden Eagles. The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. has honored Mr. Sanderson by placing one of his films in its permanent collection. His programs have appeared on NBC, PBS, The Discovery Channel, A&E Network, The History Channel and CNBC. His films have premiered at Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the American Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian.
There is no charge to attend the library program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at http://www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/ and follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.
Photo: Sherman Monument, New York City
Pastel Society of New Jersey to Display Work at Bernardsville Library
During the month of July, Bernardsville Public Library is pleased to present the Fifth Annual Members Show of the Pastel Society of New Jersey (PSNJ). The public is invited to the award reception for Focus on Pastels on Thursday, July 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
Work by over forty artists will be exhibited, many of whom are signature members of the Pastel Society of America (PSA) and the PSNJ. [Being a signature member means that the artist must be juried into a certain number of the organization's shows.] The Pastel Society of New Jersey was founded in 2005 to promote public interest in the traditional medium of dry pastels.
The show will be on exhibit from June 28 to July 30 in the Community Room during regular library hours unless a meeting is in progress. For further information, please call the library at 908-766-0118.
Work by over forty artists will be exhibited, many of whom are signature members of the Pastel Society of America (PSA) and the PSNJ. [Being a signature member means that the artist must be juried into a certain number of the organization's shows.] The Pastel Society of New Jersey was founded in 2005 to promote public interest in the traditional medium of dry pastels.
The show will be on exhibit from June 28 to July 30 in the Community Room during regular library hours unless a meeting is in progress. For further information, please call the library at 908-766-0118.
Picture: "Fairview Farms" by Stephanie Amato
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