Friday, December 28, 2012

50 Book Challenge Group to Meet

Reading fifty books in fifty-two weeks may seem daunting, but share the goal with a supportive group and it can be a lot of fun. Community members are invited to come to the next meeting of the 50 Book Challenge on Saturday, January 12 at 3:00 pm in the library’s Community Room. At the meeting, which will include animated discussion, reading suggestions and snacks, ambitious readers will trade notes on their progress as well as book recommendations. New members are welcome at any time during the year and will be invited to additional events in the coming months.
The fifty books in fifty weeks are suggested, not required, for participation in the program. Each reader will choose which reading “counts” as part of the total. There are no limitations as to which formats can be read: downloaded books, audio books, e-books and graphic novels are all acceptable.
For more information and resources for the 50 Book Challenge, go to the library's homepage, www.bernardsvillelibrary.org, and click on Adult Programs and then Book Discussions and 50 Book Challenge. You can sign up from this webpage or by calling the library at 908-766-0118.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Pre-School Fair @ Bernardsville Library

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 fourth Pre-School Fair on Wednesday, January 9 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm (snow date: January 16) to allow parents with young children to gather information about local pre-schools in one convenient location.  Parents can take this opportunity to speak to representatives from many area ­­­­­­­pre-schools and enrichment programs, and to ask questions about subjects such as curriculum, programs and registration.  Specific questions about family needs or special requirements will also be answered. There is no charge to attend and no sign-up is necessary.  Call the library at 908-766-0118 for further information.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Splendid Life Meditation

Learn to manage stress, be happier and more creative under the guidance of Fauzia Burke at 10:00 am at Bernardsville Library. Free. No sign-up is needed. This group meets monthly.

Images of Land & Sea: Paintings by Carol Johnson On Display at Bernardsville Library in January

Oil paintings on canvas by Carol Johnson will be on display in the library’s Community Room during the month of January in an exhibition titled "Images of Land and Sea."  The public is invited to the artist’s reception on Sunday, January 6 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. 

Ms. Johnson creates her landscapes from photographs she has taken in her travels throughout the United States, Europe and the Caribbean.  Other subjects of her focus include local birds and the houses and pets of her friends and family. 

Ms. Johnson has studied the art of landscape oil painting at various times over the past 35 years, and she has been pursuing her art career more actively since her retirement from Chubb and Son as a computer programmer and data architect.  She started painting while earning a B.A. in Music Education at Douglass College and is currently studying with Eleanor Morehouse of Somerset.  Her work has also been influenced by classes taken in Italy using egg tempera and watercolor with Fred Wessel and Jeremiah Paterson of the Hartford Art School.   

As a member of the Morris County Art Association, she exhibits her work in their shows as well as having had her own exhibits in 2008 at the Bridgewater Library, in 2009 at the Mendham Borough Library and 2010 at the Atlantic Rehabilitation Hospital in Morristown.  She has also participated in juried art shows in Tewksbury and Bernardsville Public Library. 

This exhibition will be on view in the library’s Community Room during regular library hours unless a meeting is in progress.  For further information, please call the library at 908-766-0118.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Latin Jazz Ensemble to Perform @ Bernardsville LIbrary

Frank & 3 To Clave, a Latin jazz ensemble headed by Frank Villafañe, will perform in free concert at Bernardsville Public Library on Sunday, December 9 at 3:00 pm.  Part of the “Sundays at Three” series, this concert is funded by the Friends of the Bernardsville Public Library.  Doors open at 2:45 pm.  No sign-up is needed. 

Frank Villafañe is a pianist, composer, and music arranger.  He plays piano "con clave" in the styles of Eddie Palmieri, Peruchin and Sergio Mendes.  The other members of his ensemble are bassist Victor Mendoza, drummer Larry Evans, and percussionist/vocalist Jose Chavarria.   

Born in Bremerhaven, Germany, Mr. Villafañe grew up in the United States and Europe and experienced multi-culturalism first-hand.  Musically, his upbringing was eclectic.  He was exposed to Latin, jazz, calypso, folk, and the classics early on, and began piano lessons at the age of eight.  At twelve, he moved to Puerto Rico and was quickly exposed to the infectious music known as "salsa."  But hearing an original copy of Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag" played by Scott Joplin himself changed him forever.  After moving back to the United States, Villafañe studied ragtime music and earned his first paying "gig" as a professional musician at the age of 14, performing ragtime favorites for the Whiteman Air Force Base Officers’ Club.  He attended Rutgers University and played piano for a number of jazz and Latin "conjunto" style bands and orchestras, while studying piano with Kenny Barron.  He later formed “Jazz Y Clave,” an eight-piece “conjunto.” 

Frank & 3 to Clave has performed at various venues throughout New Jersey, including Trumpet’s Jazz Club, Rutgers University, Moonstruck in Asbury Park, and Restaurant Village in Long Valley, among others. 
 

There is no charge to attend the concert and no sign-up is needed.  For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Yoga! Your 60-Minute Holiday Vacation



Press the "reset" button and take an opportunity to really connect with the feeling of the holiday season.  Make an appointment with yourself for 60 minutes of soothing music, gentle stretching, rejuvenating yoga poses and calming relaxation at Bernardsville Public Library on Tuesday, December 11 at 7:00 pm.  Through the benefits of Classic Hatha Yoga, your body and mind and heart can be filled with peace, patience and well-being. 

Marsha Stablein, a teacher at the School of Royal Yoga in Chester, will lead the class and show participants how yoga is much more than physical exercise; it benefits the whole person.  Please dress comfortably and bring a yoga mat or towel.  All are welcome – current students of yoga or anyone considering a yoga program.

Marsha Stablein has been teaching yoga at The School of Royal Yoga for over 16 years and is certified to teach all ages (prenatal to senior) and train others to become yoga instructors.  She is a speaker and facilitator for international yoga seminars and workshops, and produced the video “Complete Yoga: An Introduction to Yoga.”

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested.  Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Library Partners with Bernardsville Recreation to Offer Basic First Aid Class

Bernardsville Public Library and Bernardsville Recreation are partnering to offer a class on basic first aid, CPR and how to use an AED (automated external defibrillator) on Thursday, December 6 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.  "We never know when an emergency will strike, so it's always best to be prepared," said Library Director Karen Brodsky, "We saw that in many ways during Hurricane Sandy, and this class is an outgrowth of our desire to give our residents an avenue to be trained so they'll be ready when the need arises."   

This course will be taught by Mine Brook Search and Rescue, Inc., which is based in Far Hills, and the cost is $70/person.  With course completion, attendees will earn an American Heart Association Heartsaver First Aid/CPR/AED Course Completion Card that is valid for two years.

The class will be held in the library's Community Room; registration is through the Borough website’s Community Pass portal: https://register.communitypass.net/bernardsville.  For further information, call Borough Recreation at 908-766-2546 or the Library at 908-766-0118.

 

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Basking Ridge Author to Read @ Bernardsville Library


Basking Ridge author Jacqui Boulter will be at Bernardsville Public Library's Saturday morning Story Time to read her book, "Where Horses Fly," on Saturday, December 8 at 10:30 am.  The book, which is her first, was published earlier this year by Vineyard Stories.  It tells the tale of a little girl named Caroline whose heart is broken from the loss of her beloved horse.  During a summer visit to her grandparents on Martha’s Vineyard, Caroline catches the brass ring on the Flying Horses carousel.  The magical ride that follows, to the place where horses fly, helps Caroline heal from her loss.  The book includes a foreword about the Flying Horses on Martha’s Vineyard, a National Historic Landmark and the oldest operating platform carousel in the United States.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.  There is no charge to attend the program, and no sign-up is needed.  This program is especially for children ages 2-1/2 to 5 years old, but families are welcome.  Call the library at 908-766-0118 for further information. 

Monday, November 19, 2012

Take Back Your Garage in a Weekend

Get started early on New Year's Resolutions—especially that one about cleaning out your garage.  On Monday, December 3 at 7:00 pm, Professional Organizer Amara Willey will speak at Bernardsville Public Library on how to develop a workable plan to de-clutter, sweep out, give away, donate, and find clear space in your garage.  With a doable plan, everyone can join in to get the garage clean in a weekend.  It’s not just about organizing; it’s about being empowered to make the decisions to get rid of the belongings you no longer use or need.  Listeners will learn a step-by-step process to attack their clutter and conquer it once and for all.  At the end of the evening, they will be motivated to turn their garages into useful, functional storage. 

Certified Professional Organizer® Amara Willey has been helping people put their lives in order since 1993.  She believes that everyone can discover his or her own personal organizational style.  Her hands-on approach is supportive and non-judgmental.  A member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD), she is also managing partner of Time to Get Organized LLC, whose services include financial, home, and office organization; time and paper management; storage solutions; and space design.  

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested.  Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up. 

 

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Saturday Samplers Book Group to Meet

 
Bernardsville Library’s book discussion group, Saturday Samplers, will meet on Saturday, December 1 at 3:30 pm to discuss Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith (2004) by Jon Krakauer.  [The author will not be present.]
 
The book traces the events that surrounded the 1984 murder of a woman and her child by fundamentalist Mormons Ron and Dan Lafferty who insisted that they received a revelation from God commanding them to kill their blameless victims.  Krakauer explores the belief systems and traditions, including polygamy, that mark the faith's most extreme factions and what their practices reflect about the nature of religion in America.  He is also the author of "Eiger Dreams", "Into the Wild," and "Into Thin Air" and is editor of the Modern Library Exploration series.
 
Led by 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.

“On the Spot” Figure Sketches at Bernardsville Library


Are you looking for the perfect holiday gift for a grandparent or a keepsake to capture your child’s appearance this year?  Harding artist Tine Kirkland Graham’s quick pen and ink sketches with watercolor highlights capture the essence of a person’s form, and she will be at Bernardsville Public Library on Saturday, December 1 from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm ready to draw sketches on the spot.  The cost is only $10/figure on paper ($20/figure on canvas), and a percentage of proceeds from the event will benefit the library.  Call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up for a timeslot in advance.  Ms. Graham can also work from a photograph if a child is not available on December 1st, and she draws dogs and cats from photographs as well.  Photographs may be dropped off in advance.

“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.  

Describing herself as a “late in life artist,” Mrs. Graham is self-taught and 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 sign up or to get further information.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Library to Collect Storm Stories for Local History Archive

Bernardsville Public Library, which houses a large collection of local history archives, photos and memorabilia in the Edwin S. Spinning Local History Room, is now collecting stories from local residents about their experiences during Hurricane Sandy.  Given the massive impact of the storm on our community, these stories will be important to historians.  They will be compiled and saved for examination and reflection in the future, along with photographs of the devastation wrought by the storm.

To accomplish this, the library has created a special webpage, www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/stormstories, from which residents can link to a blog to record their memories.  "We encourage residents to document their experiences during Hurricane Sandy--how it affected you, your family, your friends, and your town," said Library Director Karen Brodsky, "We would like to create an important record of the event."  To participate, please go to www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/stormstories and click on the link in the yellow bar: “Tell us your storm stories here.”

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Caregiver Resources from the VNA


The next program in Bernardsville Library's C.A.R.E.S. (Community Assistance Resource & Educational Services) series will feature a panel discussion on Wednesday, November 28 at 7:00 pm by representatives from the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills.  The focus will be on family caregiving issues and suggestions for reducing the stress associated with caregiving.

The panelists will include Claire L. O’Brien, MSW, LCSW, Director of Community Services; Karen Ellis , RN, BSN, Community Health Programs Manager; and Debra Massa, RN, BSN, Somerset County Respite Care Coordinator.  The speakers will also share information about services provided by the VNA and resources available through other programs that support those caring for a loved one in our community. 

There is no charge to attend the library program, but advance registration is requested.  Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org, and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.

The University of "Can-Do"

The next session of "The University of Can-Do,” led by inspirational speaker Andrea Mastrobattista, will meet on Wednesday, November 28 at 7:00 pm at Bernardsville Public Library. "Do you have a goal that you think you can't make happen?" asks Ms. Mastrobattista, "Well, you can, because you have what it takes to accomplish it."


This workshop has run throughout the year, and each month participants discover how to cultivate and maintain the "can-do" determination to make a dream come true.  At this meeting, Ms. Mastrobattista will review the key lessons learned throughout 2012 for leading the CAN-DO way of life and reveal what is in store in “The University of Can-Do Masters Program” in 2013. Those who have worked on vision boards throughout the year should bring them to the meeting.

There is no charge to attend the library workshop, but advance registration is requested.  Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org, and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.

Memoirs & Coffee Book Group to Meet


The next meeting of Bernardsville Public Library’s book discussion group, Memoirs and Coffee, will be held on Tuesday, November 27 at 10:30 am in the library’s Community Room.  Pat Kennedy-Grant, Readers’ Services Manager for the library, will lead the discussion of "Zeitoun” (2010) by Dave Eggers. [The author will not be present.]

The book is the true story of one family, caught between America’s two biggest policy disasters: the war on terror and the response to Hurricane Katrina.  It tells about Abdulrahman and Kathy Zeitoun who run a house-painting business in New Orleans.  In August of 2005, as Hurricane Katrina approaches, Kathy evacuates with their four young children, leaving her husband to watch over the business.  In the days following the storm, he travels the city by canoe, feeding abandoned animals and helping elderly neighbors.  Then, on September 6th, police officers armed with M-16s arrest Zeitoun in his home. Told with eloquence and compassion, “Zeitoun” is a riveting account of one family’s unthinkable struggle with forces beyond wind and water.

The book was a New York Times Notable Book, an O, The Oprah Magazine Terrific Read of the Year,  and a New Yorker Favorite Book of the Year.  Andrew Ervin of The Miami Herald called it "A major achievement and [Egger's] best book yet."

There is no charge and no sign-up is needed to join the discussion.  Call the library at 766-0118 for more information.

###

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Understanding Property Taxes in New Jersey

If you'd like to better understand how your property taxes are calculated and how they are used, come to Bernardsville Public Library on Monday, November 26 at 7:00 pm. Dr. Henry Coleman, faculty member in the Public Policy program at the Bloustein School at Rutgers, and an expert on state and local public finance, will explain the basics, discuss issues, the future outlook, and answer questions.  This program is a joint effort of the Borough Finance Committee and Bernardsville Public Library to help community residents understand their taxes. "We often get questions about property tax bills," said Ralph Maresca, the Borough's Administrator, "This program should help clarify the different portions of the bill and how property taxes fit into the overall picture of tax collection in the state of New Jersey." 

Dr. Coleman has been a faculty member at Tufts University, and has held adjunct faculty positions at The American University, the University of Maryland at College Park, and at George Mason University.  He was a Brookings Economic Policy Fellow and Visiting Scholar at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  In New Jersey, he served as the executive director of the New Jersey State and Local Expenditure and Revenue Policy Commission, and as the assistant director for operations and research in the New Jersey Office of State Planning.  He also served as a senior policy adviser in Governor Florio’s Policy Office.  He has also served on the board of several non-profit, professional, and civic organizations, including the New Jersey Public Policy Research Institute, New Jersey City University, New Jersey Policy Perspective, New Jersey Future, Citizens for the Public Good, the Regional Planning Partnership, the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Gateway Institute at Kean University, and the Coalition for Affordable Housing and the Environment. 

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested.  Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up. 

Friday, October 26, 2012

Craft Group to Meet @ Bernardsville Library


Saturday Crafters, a monthly craft group organized by Bernardsville Public Library, will meet on Saturday, November 17 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. They can also take advantage of the many books available at the library on different types of crafts.

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, October 23, 2012

CANCELLED: Winning the Literary Lottery: Meet Author Maryann McFadden


When Maryann McFadden finally landed a major publishing contract at auction, writers’ blogs called it “winning the literary lottery.”  If only it were that easy.  On Sunday, November 11 at 3:00 pm at Bernardsville Public Library, Ms. McFadden will tell the inspiring story of her ten-year publishing journey--how she decided to publish her book herself and prove it was worthy, and she did.  This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Bernardsville Library.

Ms. McFadden self-published her first novel, "The Richest Season," in 2006 after five years of rejection and shelving it three times.  Championed by independent booksellers, she soon found herself attached to a literary agent who believed her novel should be published.  It sold at auction to Hyperion Books (ABC/Disney) and an expanded version was released in hardcover in June 2008.  It was recognized as an Indie Next Pick and Target Breakout Novel.  Since then, her books have been translated into German, Italian and Spanish.

Her third novel, "The Book Lover," debuted in May of this year and was also selected as a nationwide Indie Next Pick by the American Booksellers Association.  Publisher’s Weekly described "The Book Lover" as "the subtly complex tale of an aspiring author, a struggling bookseller, an Iraq War veteran, and the pursuit of a dream that brings them all together...a believable story of self-discovery.”  Ms. McFadden's advice to aspiring writers with a dream: "Work hard, persevere, and believe!"

Ms. McFadden is also a speaker and writing coach, and loves to chat with book clubs and writers.  She lives in Northwest New Jersey where she is working on her fourth novel.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested.  Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Local Self-Published Authors Fair


On Saturday, November 3, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, Bernardsville Public Library, with co-sponsor The Bookworm, will host its first "Local Self-Published Author Fair."  The public is invited to meet local authors who have published their own work: a great opportunity to talk shop with writers of all genres—fiction, non-fiction, adult, young adult and children’s.  Books will be available for purchase and signing.  Just drop in.  No sign-up is necessary.  For further information, call the Library at 908-766-0118.
[Note: Participating authors have applied and been selected in advance of the date.]

Saturday Samplers Book Group to Meet


Bernardsville Library’s book discussion group, Saturday Samplers, will meet on Saturday, November 3 at 3:30 pm to discuss Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith (2004) by Jon Krakauer.  [The author will not be present.]

The book traces the events that surrounded the 1984 murder of a woman and her child by fundamentalist Mormons Ron and Dan Lafferty who insisted that they received a revelation from God commanding them to kill their blameless victims.  Krakauer explores the belief systems and traditions, including polygamy, that mark the faith's most extreme factions and what their practices reflect about the nature of religion in America.  He is also the author of "Eiger Dreams", "Into the Wild," and "Into Thin Air" and is editor of the Modern Library Exploration series.

Led by 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.

Solar Energy 101

If you have questions about the practicality of installing or leasing a residential solar energy system for your home, come hear Christal Rosenka and Sean Barr of Independent Solar discuss the basics of residential solar energy systems on Saturday, November 3 at 11:00 am at Bernardsville Public Library.  They will explain how a solar PV system works and speak about tax credits, federal and state incentives, current legislation, whether such a system adds to the value of your house and what the advantages and disadvantages are to leasing or buying.

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Clinton, NJ, Independent Solar specializes in solar and renewable installations in Hunterdon, Warren, Morris, and Somerset Counties.  They also act as a boutique distributor of source materials to other solar installers from Massachusetts, to Virginia and Ohio.  Independent Solar specializes in the use of American made solar panels and accessories.

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.

Splendid Life Meditation

Join us for Splendid Life Meditation under the guidance of Fauzia Burke: Friday, November 2 at 10 am.  Learn to manage stress, and be happier and more creative. Free. No Sign-up is needed.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Met Museum Lecture on George Bellows Exhibition


Bernardsville Public Library will present a Metropolitan Museum lecture on Tuesday, October 30 at 7:00 pm on the up-coming retrospective of the work of George Bellows, an important member of the group of early 20th century American artists that came to be called the Ashcan School.  Vivian Gordon from the Museum’s Education Department will give listeners a preview of the show which opens on November 15 in New York. 

George Bellows is best known today for his dynamic paintings of boxing matches.   But in a career cut short by his early death at age 42, he produced a prodigious amount of work on a great variety of other subjects including the tenements and working poor of his adopted city New York, excavations for the building of Penn Station, polo and tennis matches at wealthy resorts, seascapes of Maine, and moving images of the horrors of World War I.  At the time of his death, Bellows (1882–1925) was regarded as one of America's greatest artists.  In his brief life, he created an extraordinary body of work totaling approximately six hundred oil paintings, hundreds of drawings, and almost two hundred lithographs.  This landmark loan exhibition highlight his achievements in all media.  Comprising some 140 paintings, drawings, and lithographs, the exhibition invites the viewer to experience a dynamic and challenging period—the first quarter of the twentieth century—through the eyes of a brilliant observer.  The exhibition is the first retrospective of Bellows's career in more than three decades.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested.  Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.

Tea & Conversation with Author Caroline Leavitt


Join us for tea and conversation as Julie Maloney, Director of Women Reading Aloud, conducts an up-close and personal interview with award-winning New Jersey author Caroline Leavitt at Bernardsville Public Library on Sunday, October 28 at 2:00 pm. Audience members will have a rare opportunity to ask the author questions about her work and her writing process.  A short reading as well as a book signing will follow the interview. 

Caroline Leavitt is the author of nine novels, including Pictures of You, Girls In Trouble, Into Thin Air, and Meeting Rozzy Halfway.  A number of her books have been optioned for film, translated into different languages, and condensed in magazines.  Her 2011 novel Pictures of You went into three printings months before publication and is now in its fourth printing.  A New York Times bestseller, it is also a Costco "Pennie's Pick," and a San Francisco Chronicle Editor's Choice "Lit Pick."

Ms. Leavitt's essays, stories and articles have appeared in Salon, Psychology Today, New York Magazine, Parenting, The Chicago Tribune, Parents, Redbook, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and numerous anthologies.  She won First Prize in Redbook Magazine's Young Writers Contest for her short story, "Meeting Rozzy Halfway," which grew into the novel.  The recipient of a 1990 New York Foundation of the Arts Award for Fiction for Into Thin Air, a 2003 Nickelodeon Screenwriting Fellow Finalist, and a semi-finalist in the Fade In/Writer's Net Screenplay competition, she was also a National Magazine Award nominee for personal essay.

A senior instructor at UCLA Writers Program online, where she teaches "Writing The Novel," Ms. Leavitt also mentors privately.  She is a book critic for The Boston Globe and People, and in 2005, won an honorable mention, Goldenberg Prize for Fiction from the Bellevue Literary Review, for "Breathe," a portion of Pictures of You.  She lives in Hoboken, New Jersey. 
   
Interviewer Julie Maloney has worked in the arts as a performer and educator her entire life.  She is a poet and writer and founder/director of Women Reading Aloud (WRA), a not-for-profit organization that promotes women writers in New Jersey and beyond.  WRA holds workshops, special events, writing retreats, conferences and an on-going writing workshop series each spring and fall during which women writers of all genres hone their work in a salon type setting.  The annual Writer’s Weekend Retreat is held each April in Sea Girt, NJ.  In June, WRA returns for its 3rd Greece Writer’s Retreat on the island of Alonnisos in the North Sporades. Visit: www.womenreadingaloud.org

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 from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.

Craft Group to Meet @ Bernardsville Library


Saturday Crafters, a monthly craft group organized by Bernardsville Public Library, will meet on Saturday, October 27 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. They can also take advantage of the many books available at the library on different types of crafts.

There is no charge to attend the meeting, and no sign-up is needed.  For more information, call the library at 908-766-0118

Memoirs & Coffee Book Group to Meet


The next meeting of Bernardsville Public Library’s book discussion group, Memoirs and Coffee, will be held on Tuesday, October 23 at 10:30 am in the library’s Community Room.  Pat Kennedy-Grant, Readers’ Services Manager for the library, will lead the discussion of Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, And Hope In A Mumbai Undercity” (2012) by Katherine Boo. [The author will not be present.]

In "Behind the Beautiful Forevers," which is based on three years of uncompromising reporting, a bewildering age of global change and inequality is made human.  With intelligence, humor, and deep insight into what connects human beings to one another in an era of tumultuous change, the book carries the reader headlong into one of the twenty-first century’s hidden worlds, and into the lives of people impossible to forget.  Janet Maslin of The New York Times wrote of the book, “[An] exquisitely accomplished first book. Novelists dream of defining characters this swiftly and beautifully, but Ms. Boo is not a novelist. She is one of those rare, deep-digging journalists who can make truth surpass fiction, a documentarian with a superb sense of human drama. She makes it very easy to forget that this book is the work of a reporter. …. Comparison to Dickens is not unwarranted.”

Katherine Boo is a staff writer at The New Yorker and a former reporter and editor for The Washington Post. Her reporting has been awarded a Pulitzer Prize, a MacArthur “Genius” grant, and a National Magazine Award for Feature Writing. For the last decade, she has divided her time between the United States and India. This is her first book.

There is no charge and no sign-up is needed to join the discussion.  Call the library at 766-0118 for more information.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Financial Skills for the Younger Generation

Parents all want their children to feel unburdened for as long as possible, especially when they are heading off to college and should be focusing on their upcoming studies and a bright future.  But four years goes by very quickly, and what better way to help them meet the challenges facing them upon graduation than to get them started early on their journey toward financial independence?

To this end, Bernardsville Library will host a presentation for high school-aged students, college-aged students and their parents by three experienced financial and investment advisors from R. Seelaus & Co. on Tuesday, October 23 at 7:00 pm.  During “Financial Skills for the Younger Generation,” listeners will learn the basics of investing as it relates to goal setting.  “We believe ‘saving’ is a lifestyle,” says Christina Gentile from R. Seelaus.  “Saving throughout your lifetime is a discipline that is similar to every other goal-oriented behavior, be it consistent study habits to attain a grade point average or practice for the team sport to win the championship.  Don’t treat the future with a low priority just because it hasn’t happened yet.”

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, September 26, 2012


Bernardsville Public Library is pleased to present a free concert on Sunday, October 14 at 3:00 pm by the newly formed jazz quartet Brynn, Grover & Jazz Jump, featuring both the single and double vocals of singer Brynn Stanley and singer/guitarist Grover Kemble.  Their sound specializes in arrangements of The Great American Songbook interspersing clever medleys with elements of swing and Jump/Blues from the 1940's. Extra highlights also include wonderful Latin American bossa nova stylings to round out a uniquely entertaining and enjoyable program.  The two singers will be backed up by Tim Metz on upright bass and John H’Vasta on drums.  This concert is part of the Sundays at Three concert series funded by the Friends of the Bernardsville Public Library.  Doors open at 2:45 pm.  No sign-up is needed to attend.  

In 2011, at a famous local jazz spot, a chance encounter between gifted young jazz singer, Brynn Stanley, and seasoned veteran jazz entertainer, Grover Kemble, led to a great friendship and a unique joint venture.  This fresh and adventurous musical act features both artists’ ample and diverse song styling.  Mr. Kemble’s popularity and notoriety stem from many years as a well-known jazz entertainer, vocalist, and guitarist. He has graced many famous concert halls, festivals, and venues, while Ms. Stanley has recently garnered glowing reviews for her remarkable voice, exuberant jazz sensibility, and presence.  Together, this swinging act makes for an enjoyable and varied musical event.  As a duo, they create a tapestry of songs ranging from Gershwin to Ellington.   

Brynn Stanley has been singing professionally for several years at special venues throughout the New York metropolitan area.  Upon graduating from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a fine arts major and a concentration in theatre, Ms. Stanley immediately embarked on a singing career.  She has been a featured performer at several events held at the New Jersey Governor's Mansion, most notably the "NJ Heroes" celebration.  She continues to perform at Shanghai Jazz in Madison, NJ and many well-known jazz concert series throughout the tri-state area.  Her smooth and soulful voice takes familiar songs and flips them into contemporary versions in a unique style that's all her own.  Focusing primarily on jazz, soul, and pop, Ms. Stanley’s collection of music continues to expand with the integration of original music into her performances.

Grover Kemble's unique and colorful interpretations of jazz, Latin, R&B, and original   compositions have garnered him considerable  attention and acclaim from music connoisseurs  and critics for well over two decades.  Mr. Kemble has been in constant demand as one of the New York metropolitan area's premier entertainers since he captivated audiences in the 1970's at New York City's The Bottom Line, The Other End  and the Newport Jazz Festival.  His career has been nationally highlighted with stints at The Roxy in Los Angeles, the Spoleto Arts Festival in Charleston, and the Wolf Trap Jazz Festival in Vienna, Virginia.  Internationally, Mr. Kemble has been a regular performer at the world famous Jazz Keller in Frankfurt, Germany.  He began playing professionally in his early teens and performed with numerous acts before touring nationally with the novel groups, Sha­na-na and Za Zu Zaz.  He has played in both duo and group settings with world-renowned jazz artist John Pizzarelli and accompanied his band in 2005 at the JVC Jazz Festival at Carnegie Hall. 

For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.

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Photo attachment (left to right): Tim Metz, Grover Kemble, Brynn Stanley, and John H'Vasta

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

An Evening with Bill Moyers



On October 26 at 7:00 pm, the Friends of the Bernardsville Public Library are proud to present "An Evening with Bill Moyers" at Dolce in Basking Ridge.  Mr. Moyers, host of Moyers & Company on PBS, former White House Press Secretary, and Bernardsville resident, will discuss the influence of the media on democracy.  


Tickets are $100 per person and proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Library whose mission it is to fund special programs and services at the Library including children's programs, English-As-As Second-Language classes, and Sundays at Three concerts, as well as computers, and books and materials that enhance the library's offerings to the community.  Light refreshments are included, and a selection of books by Mr. Moyers will be available for purchase and signing.  Tickets may be purchased at the library until October 15.  Seating is limited.  For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.

A broadcast journalist for more than four decades, Bill Moyers has been recognized as one of the unique voices of our times, one that resonates with multiple generations.  In January 2012, at the age of 77, Moyers began his latest media venture with the launch of Moyers & Company on air and online at BillMoyers.com – providing “conversations on democracy” and explorations of contemporary culture, making sense of what matters to us all.

With his wife and creative partner, Judith Davidson Moyers, Bill Moyers has produced such groundbreaking public affairs series as NOW with Bill Moyers (from 2002 through 2005) and Bill Moyers Journal (from 2007 through 2010).  Since the company’s founding in 1986, other notable productions have included the landmark 1988 series, Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth, as well as Healing and the Mind, The Language of Life, Genesis, On Our Own Terms: Moyers on Dying, Moyers on Addiction: Close to Home, America’s First River, Becoming American: The Chinese Experience, Faith & Reason, and Moyers on America.

Moyers began his journalism career at age 16 as a cub reporter for his hometown daily newspaper in Marshall, Texas.  He was a founding organizer and deputy director of the Peace Corps and special assistant to President Lyndon B. Johnson.  Moyers served as Johnson’s press secretary from 1965 to 1967.  As publisher of Newsday from 1967 to 1970, he brought aboard writers including Pete Hamill, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and Saul Bellow, and led the paper to two Pulitzer Prizes.  In 1976, he was the senior correspondent for the distinguished documentary series CBS Reports and later a senior news analyst for The CBS Evening News.

For his work, Bill Moyers has received more than 30 Emmys, two prestigious Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Awards, nine Peabodys, and three George Polk Awards.  In the first year it was bestowed, Moyers received the prestigious Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts by the American Film Institute.  A Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he also received the Career Achievement Award from the International Documentary Association and has been honored by the Television Critics Association for outstanding career achievement.

Moyers was elected to the Television Hall of Fame in 1995.  A year later he received the Charles Frankel Prize (now the National Humanities Medal) from the National Endowment for the Humanities “for outstanding contributions to American cultural life.”  In 2005, Moyers received the PEN USA Courageous Advocacy Award for his passionate, outspoken commitment to freedom of speech and his dedication to journalistic integrity.  He has also been honored with the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Lifetime Achievement Award.  The Museum of Broadcast Communications calls Moyers, “One of the few broadcast journalists who might be said to approach the stature of Edward R. Murrow.  If Murrow founded broadcast journalism, Moyers significantly extended its traditions.”

Moyers’ books include such bestsellers as Listening to America, The Power of Myth, Healing and the Mind, The Language of Life, Moyers on America: A Journalist and His Times, and Moyers on Democracy. His most recent book, Bill Moyers Journal: The Conversation Continues, was published in May 2011.  He currently serves as president of the Schumann Media Center, a non-profit organization that supports independent journalism.

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“Bill Moyers has been and remains an essential voice in our national conversation … the living antithesis to an era of shocking superficiality in our discourse and media.” — Brian Williams

“Bill Moyers is everything I never aspire to be: calm, thoughtful, and informative.” – Stephen Colbert

Monday, September 24, 2012

Annuities – The Pros and Cons


You have probably been invited to free lunch or dinner seminars where you hear about the benefits of annuities (especially variable annuities) for retirement planning.  Perhaps you own annuities.  But do you really understand all of the benefits – and drawbacks – of owning them?  If you own an unattractive annuity, what can you do about it?  Come to Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, October 10 at 7:00 pm to get the answers to these questions when Eve Kaplan, a Certified Financial Planner at Kaplan Financial Advisors, LLC, will offer a presentation with an objective overview of these complex investment instruments.  

Ms. Kaplan is a Fee-Only (no products sold) advisor and she is in a unique position to look at annuities in an unbiased manner.  She has 28 years of investment experience; she formerly managed nearly $1billion of equity investments in overseas markets. This is her ninth year running Kaplan Financial Advisors in Berkeley Heights.  This presentation is relevant to individuals of all investment levels – from beginning to advanced.  There will be time for questions at the end of her presentation.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested.  Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up. 

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Saturday Samplers Book Group to Meet


Bernardsville Library’s book discussion group, Saturday Samplers, will meet on Saturday, October 6 at 3:30 pm to discuss The Lock Artist (2009) by Steve Hamilton.  [The author will not be present.]

A work of crime fiction, the book tells the story of Michael, who suffered a traumatic experience at the age of eight and hasn't spoken a word since.  His great talent is that he can crack any safe without the combination and any lock without a key.  Pushed close to a life of crime, he finally sees his chance to escape and go back home to unlock the secret that has kept him silent for so long. A New York Times Notable Crime Book of the Year, the Times reviewer wrote, "This one is too good for words."

Author Steve Hamilton attended the University of Michigan and won the prestigious Hopwood Award for writing.  His first novel, A Cold Day in Paradise, won the PWA/SMP Best First Private Eye Novel Competition.  It went on to win the Edgar and Shamus Awards for Best First Novel.  In 2006, he won the Michigan Author Award for his outstanding body of work, including his Alex McKnight series and the stand-alone novel Night Work.  His book The Lock Artist is the winner of the 2011 Edgar Award for Best First Novel.  He lives in Cottekill, New York with his wife and their two children.

Led by 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.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Daffodils—Now is the Time to Plant!



Master Gardener Beth Nardone from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension will speak about daffodils at Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, October 3 at 7:00 pm.  Join us to learn about the great variety of shapes and colors of the daffodil, a plant that that the deer absolutely will not eat. She will also discuss when and how to plant  daffodils for the best possible outcomes.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested.  Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up. 

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

On Sunday, September 9, two exhibitions of century-old photographs of the Somerset Hills opened—one at Bernardsville Public Library and the other in the Peapack-Gladstone Municipal Building. Pictured here are the volunteers of Bernardsville Library’s Local History Committee who spent many hours organizing the shows. The photos in the exhibition, taken by Fred Pitney Crater in the Somerset Hills around the turn of the 20th century, were printed from original negatives previously inaccessible to the public. They are now in the Local History collection of Bernardsville Library. The exhibits run through the month of September and can be viewed during normal business hours.

Standing (l-r): Kate Lincoln and Ann Breault Seated (l-r): Jean Hill, Mary Lee Waldron and Pat Bankowski

"Forks Over Knives" - Movie Screening @ Bernardsville Library

Come to Bernardsville Public Library on Sunday, September 30 at 2:00 pm to see a free screening of the documentary film "Forks Over Knives" in the library's Community Room. Focusing on research by two food scientists, "Forks Over Knives" reveals that despite broad advances in medical technology, the popularity of animal-based and modern processed foods have led to epidemic rates of obesity, diabetes and other diseases.

Chicago Sun-Times reviewer Roger Ebert described the movie as "a film that can save your life.” It examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods. The major storyline in the film traces the personal journeys of a pair of pioneering researchers, Dr. T. Colin Campbell, now Cornell Emeritus Professor of nutritional science, and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, a physician at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic. Their research led them to a startling conclusion: degenerative diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even several forms of cancer, could almost always be prevented—and in many cases reversed—by adopting a whole-foods, plant-based diet. "Forks Over Knives" will introduce viewers to the 'plant-strong' movement, something that may change the way they eat, look, and feel.

The 96-minute film will be followed by a Q & A session with the nutrient rich lifestyle expert, John Allen Mollenhauer. Plant-strong food samples will be served.

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

The next session of "The University of Can-Do,” led by inspirational speaker Andrea Mastrobattista, will meet on Wednesday, September 26 at 7:00 pm at Bernardsville Public Library. "Do you have a goal that you think you can't make happen?" asks Ms. Mastrobattista, "Well, you can, because you have what it takes to accomplish it."

This workshop runs throughout the year, and each month participants will discover how to cultivate and maintain the "can-do" determination to make a dream come true. This month's session will focus on what to do if you stop working toward a dream a number of times throughout your life. As hard as it seems, the important thing is that you start back working on it. At this program, the discussion will focus on getting over the guilt of giving up on your dreams and empowering you to begin again. Participants will also continue working on individual vision boards, or create one if they haven’t made one yet.

There is no charge to attend the library workshop, but advance registration is requested. Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org, and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Memoirs & Coffee Book Group to Meet

The next meeting of Bernardsville Public Library’s book discussion group, Memoirs and Coffee, will be held on Tuesday, September 25 at 10:30 am in the library’s Community Room. Pat Kennedy-Grant, Readers’ Services Manager for the library, will lead the discussion of “The Hare with Amber Eyes” (2010) by Edmund de Waal. [The author will not be present.]

A bestselling memoir, "The Hare with Amber Eyes," was shortlisted for numerous prizes and won the Costa Biography Award and the RSL Ondaatje Prize. It describes the story of a beautiful collection of 264 tiny Japanese wood and ivory carvings, called netsuke, which he inherited. In this extraordinarily moving detective story, he researches and discovers both the story of the netsuke and of his family, the Ephrussis, over five generations. A 19th century banking dynasty in Paris and Vienna, the Ephrussis were as rich as the Rothschilds, yet by the end of World War II, this collection of netsuke was all that remained of their vast empire. A reviewer for The New Yorker called the book "A family memoir written with a grace and modesty that almost belie the sweep of its contents: Proust, Rilke, Japanese art, the rue de Monceau, Vienna during the Second World War. The most enchanting history lesson imaginable."

Author Edmund de Waal is a world famous ceramicist whose porcelain has been displayed in many museum collections around the world. He has recently made an installation for the dome of the Victoria and Albert Museum. He was apprenticed as a potter, studied in Japan, and studied English at Cambridge. He is Professor of Ceramics at the University of Westminster and lives in London with his family.

There is no charge and no sign-up is needed to join the discussion. Call the library at 766-0118 for more information.