Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Keyed In: 7 Keys to Transform Your Life

"Self-improvement has never been so easy when the 'keys' are revealed, the stories are shared, and an action plan is in place." So writes Bernardsville author and lifestyle coach Carla Hugo, who recently published "Keyed In: 7 Keys To Transform Your Life." Meet her and her editor and Bernardsville Middle School English teacher Kimberly Flynn at Bernardsville Public Library on Thursday, December 11 at 7:00 pm, when Ms. Hugo will address some common challenges, talk about solutions, and include a glimpse into the lives of clients who utilize these keys. Listeners will go home with their desire to achieve their personal goals re-ignited and with strategies to implement immediately. The book will be available for purchase and signing.

Hal Edward Runkel, a renowned expert on helping families face conflict and create great relationships, wrote of Ms. Hugo's book, "In 'Keyed In,' are the tools to create awareness, release stress, and ignite your imagination through visualization and affirmation. Read 'Keyed In,' and unlock the source of your own personal success."

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. 

Bernards High School Madrigal Ensemble

Join us at Bernardsville Public Library on Tuesday, December 9 at 3:30 pm when the Bernards High School Madrigal Ensemble, under the direction of Matthew LaPine, will fill the library rotunda with beautiful holiday music. Enjoy holiday cookies, compliments of the Friends of the Bernardsville Library, as well. Free. No sign-up is needed.

Going Gluten-Free for the Holidays

For those who maintain a gluten-free diet, the holidays can be a particularly challenging time. On Tuesday, December 9 at 7:00 pm, Nicole Cerillo, a Registered Dietician and Celiac Program Clinical Manager at the Kogan Celiac Center of Barnabas Health, will guide listeners on how to go gluten-free for the holidays and how to navigate the diet (and all those holiday parties) with ease.

Ms. Cerillo will share some great tips for creating simple, healthy, gluten-free dishes that the whole family will enjoy. Recipes and samples will be provided. Also on the program will be a brief overview of the signs, symptoms, current diagnostics, labeling laws, and the basics of managing Celiac disease.

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 24, 2014

Sundays at Three: The History of Jazz Through Song

Join us at Bernardsville Public Library on Sunday, December 7 at 3:00 pm for a free concert, "The History of Jazz Through Song." Trumpeter, flugelhornist and vocalist Gordon James and his quartet will take listeners on a journey through the different eras of jazz with words and song.

This lecture and performance, inflected with humor, will cover the origins of jazz music, Ragtime, the Blues, Dixieland Jazz, and the Big Band Era, and include big band singers, Latin Jazz, Bebop, Cool Jazz, Jazz Fusion and Smooth Jazz. Songs from each era will be performed and some of the artists covered will be Scott Joplin, W.C. Handy, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Glen Miller, Benny Goodman, Count Baise, Frank Sinatra, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Dave Brubeck.

This concert is funded by the Friends of the Bernardsville Public Library.  It’s free and no sign-up is needed. There will be light refreshments.  Doors open at 2:45 pm. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Tech Update: Open Source Software

What is open source software and who can benefit from using it?  To find out, come to Bernardsville Pubic Library on Thursday, December 4 at 7:00 pm.
  
Because many open source programs can be obtained at no cost or at a very low cost while purchasing software and upgrades is expensive, many people choose to use open source for their word processing, spreadsheet and web design needs.  It is reliable, free, and has a history of being secure because its developers, volunteers who collaborate online, are constantly fixing flaws.  In this program taught by Programs Plus, a software training company, listeners will learn how to take advantage of easily accessible open source software.  

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.

Saturday Samplers to Discuss Garcia Marquez Novella

Bernardsville Library’s book group, Saturday Samplers, will meet Saturday, December 6 at 3:30 pm to discuss “No One Writes to the Colonel” (1961) by Gabriel García Márquez, a winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.
  
This novella is a masterly story about life in a decaying tropical town in Colombia and the cycles of hope and despair, tragedy and comedy that grip the inhabitants with the regularity of the rains and the heat that dominate their lives. The Colonel is a Quixotic character who languishes on the faded dreams of his revolutionary past, the false hopes of his pride, and his one tangible asset, a fighting cock which has become a symbol for him and, indeed, for the whole town.

Led by Program/PR 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.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Intellectual Property: A Competitive Tool

On Wednesday, December 3 at 7:00 pm at Bernardsville Public Library, Brian R. Tomkins, Esq. will discuss intellectual property (IP) and how it is both a competitive tool and a valuable asset for businesses. He will provide attendees with useful tips on protecting their intellectual property and for developing pragmatic and cost-effective strategies consistent with their business goals.

Mr. Tomkins is an associate with Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP, a boutique intellectual property law firm in Westfield, NJ. His practice covers all aspects of IP including worldwide procurement, due diligence and clearance, litigation, and acquisition and licensing.

This program is sponsored with SCORE Central Jersey small business mentors who help owners establish and grow their businesses. SCORE is a national all-volunteer, nonprofit resource partner of the Small Business Administration. The Central Jersey Chapter serves Middlesex, Somerset and Hunterdon Counties. 

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.

Paper Holiday Wreath Workshop

You've heard of “shop local” for the holidays, but how about “make local”? On Wednesday, December 3 at 4:00 pm, Laura Shabazz will lead a paper holiday wreath workshop at Bernardsville Public Library. During this maker activity, attendees will learn how to use discarded books to create unique paper wreaths—perfect hostess or teacher gifts!  After learning the process at the library, more can be created at home using scrapbook, magazine or wrapping paper to add a splash of color.

This program is for adults and teens. All workshop supplies will be provided. There is no charge to attend, but space is limited and advance sign-up is required. 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, November 7, 2014

Gardens of the Garden State

Meet Nancy Berner and Susan Lowry, authors of the beautiful new book, “Gardens of the Garden State,” at Bernardsville Public Library on Sunday, November 16 at 2:00 pm. Their book takes readers on a glorious photographic tour of 28 public and private gardens of New Jersey–from historic formal gardens of estates, to suburban gardens, horticulturists’ havens, and fresh takes on front yards. Representing gardens in Ringwood in the north to Cape May in the south, the book gives an intimate, inside look at gardens that range from understated to elegant, to bold and brassy— illustrating the ways in which New Jersey’s long garden traditions are upheld to this day. The authors will give an illustrated talk followed by a question and answer session.

New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation, one of the original thirteen, home to the largest public iris garden in the country, and the glacier-swept endpoint of the last Ice Age.  For the authors, who look to gardens as an entry to the history and culture of a region, our state presents an array of surprising diversity. Its temperate climate makes it possible to grow a wide range of plants, while its complex topography—ranging from mountains to rolling hills and flat basins, the scrubby Pine Barrens and the rich Coastal Plain—demands innovative approaches to design.

Nancy Berner and Susan Lowry are an accomplished writing team whose previous book collaborations include the "Garden Guide to New York City" and "Gardens of the Hudson Valley." Susan Lowry is a member of the board of directors of the Garden Conservancy as well as of Greenwood Gardens.

Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event which is sponsored with The Bookworm of Bernardsville. 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, November 5, 2014

High Tea with Friends

The Friends of the Bernardsville Public Library will host a tea party fundraiser on Saturday, November 22 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. This multigenerational event will be held at the library and delicious savories, scones, sweets and, of course, tea, will be served. It's a perfect opportunity to share an afternoon with friends and family, and learn about tea etiquette at the same time.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children 12 and under. All proceeds will benefit the programs and services that the Friends of the Bernardsville Library provide, such as children's programs, the bi-monthly newsletter, Sundays at Three, and much more. Tickets may be purchased until Monday, November 17, either at the library or by mailing a check, payable to the Friends of Bernardsville Library, to 1 Anderson Hill Road, Bernardsville, NJ 07924.

The Friends of the Bernardsville Public Library was established in 1902 and consists of a group of volunteers who are committed to providing special programs and services that benefit all users of the library and all members of the community. If you have questions about this fundraiser, please contact Madelyn English at the library at (908) 766-0118.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

The Can-Do Connection

The next meeting of The “Can-Do” Connection will be held at Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, November 19 at 7:00 pm. Join us at this workshop led by Professional Inspirer Andrea Mastrobattista to hear a preview of the series she will be teaching in 2015 to help you live your most fulfilling and inspiring life!

Ms. Mastrobattista has been leading her inspirational workshops on Wednesday evenings at the library since 2006. She heads a company called Operation INSPIRATION and also facilitates workshops in the Somerset Hills such as "Facing Your Fears" and "Transforming Negatives Into Positives" in which she helps people to fully form their goals and develop a strong can-do attitude for achieving them. Her core belief is that, no matter what circumstances people face, they have the strength and ability to create and live fulfilling and inspiring lives. She also owns Golden Slipper Productions, a company which creates websites and promotional materials for small and mid-sized businesses.

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, November 3, 2014

Understanding the Common Core

Jeanne Clements
If you need more information on the new Common Core Standards and the PARCC tests being implemented in New Jersey public schools this year, come to Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, November 19 at 7:00 pm to hear Jeanne Clements dispel the myths. Ms. Clements will explain how the standards will impact your children’s education and how they differ from the old standards. She will also discuss what new skills will be required and assessed, what to expect from your children’s teachers, how to help with homework, and how to guide your children over the new obstacles that will challenge them toward their academic goals.

Attendees will be encouraged to ask questions and seek clarification on matters such as taking the test on-line as opposed to the past pencil and paper tests, having test scores in middle school become part of a student’s permanent record and transcript, how the PARCC scores will affect college acceptance, how a new emphasis on non-fiction will change the English classroom, and how the new standards will change our existing curriculum.

Teacher, parent, author, inventor, educational leader, and innovator are some of the titles that Jeanne Clements has comfortably wielded in her professional career. Recognized as an expert on the Common Core and PARCC tests, she has published articles in and been interviewed by many media outlets throughout the United States. Most recently she has conducted workshops on the Common Core and PARCC tests for educators in over 40 districts throughout New Jersey and at the New Jersey Educational Association (NJEA).

After serving in the public school system for over 25 years as an English, drama, and theater arts teacher; public relations liaison; and curriculum developer; she accepted the post of lead teacher of the English Department at Morris Knolls High School where she oversaw and mentored a department of 25 teachers. Currently, she is serving as president of the Association of Language Arts Teachers of New Jersey, a non-profit organization which she founded and is dedicated to preserving the strength, beauty, and power of the English language and Language Arts education. 

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.