Thursday, January 29, 2015

Saturday Crafters to Meet at Bernardsville Library

Saturday Crafters, the monthly craft group organized by Bernardsville Public Library, will meet on Saturday, February 21 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.

Public Relations Assistant Evelyn Fischel will showcase 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.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Monthly Meditation at Bernardsville Library

Come meditate in a circle of consciousness at Bernardsville Public Library on Friday, February 13 at 10:00 am. Bernardsville resident Gail Mardfin leads these monthly guided meditation sessions in which different types of meditation are explored and then followed by a time of sharing for those who are so inclined. First timers and those with any meditation experience are welcome. 

There is no charge to attend the program, and no sign-up is required.  No experience in meditation is necessary.  For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.

Introduction to T'ai Chi Chih

T’ai Chi Chih (pronounced tie-chee-cha) is a practice of 19 movements completely focused on activating, circulating and balancing one’s vital energy (Chi). Learn more about it from Angela Calogero, an accredited teacher, at Bernardsville Public Library on Tuesday, February 10 at 7:00 pm. She will explain how T'ai Chi Chih is practiced softly and gently, requires no special athletic ability, and can be done from a seated position. It is often thought of as a moving meditation because of the calming effect on mind and emotions, and the release of tension throughout the body.

"T'ai Chi Chih can help with concerns about balance, coordination and other health issues," said Ms. Calogero, "All that is needed is a desire to access the body’s natural inclination to balance the energies of Yin and Yang. It is not a martial art, but rather an inner discipline." The full form is taught by an accredited teacher in eight weekly, 1¼-hour sessions. 

T’ai Chi Chih has been endorsed by The Arthritis Foundation, The Mayo Clinic and other reputable health organizations.

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, January 20, 2015

Shore/Lines: Recent Paintings by Philip Kennedy-Grant

Opening Reception: Sunday, February 8, 2:00 to 4:00 pm

Barrier Island
Philip Kennedy-Grant has recently concentrated on painting abstractions in oil, acrylic, and watercolor, continuing a career marked by extensive and accomplished architectural drawings. This exhibit consists of paintings depicting land and sea and sky in idealized and imagined settings. Executed variously on canvas, board, paper, and acrylic sheet, the effect differs even as the subject is largely unchanged. 

Supplementing the paintings, a selection of sketchbooks, small paintings, and drawings will be exhibited in the lobby display cases. This collection, spanning thirty years, suggests the sometimes direct, often roundabout, route from idea to execution. On view: February 2-27, 2015.

Saturday Samplers Book Group to Discuss "The Keeper of Lost Causes"

Bernardsville Library’s book group, Saturday Samplers, will meet Saturday, February 7 at 3:30 pm to discuss “The Keeper of Lost Causes" (2011) by Jussi Adler-Olsen. [The author will not be present.]

This novel was an international bestseller and the first installment of Jussi Adler-Olsen's bestselling Department Q series. It tells the story of Carl Mørck who used to be one of Copenhagen’s best homicide detectives. Then a hail of bullets destroyed the lives of two fellow cops, and Carl—who didn’t draw his weapon—blames himself. A promotion is the last thing he expects, but Department Q turns out to be a department of one, and Carl has been put out to pasture with only a stack of Copenhagen’s coldest cases for company. His colleagues snicker, but Carl may have the last laugh, because one file keeps nagging at him: a liberal politician vanished five years earlier and is presumed dead. But she isn’t dead … yet.

Mr. Adler-Olsen is Denmark's #1 crime writer. His books routinely top the bestseller lists in Europe, and he has won many prestigious Nordic crime-writing awards. The Guardian called this book "gripping storytelling."

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.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Live Your Most Fulfilling Life: New Workshop Series


Andrea Mastrobattista
The first meeting of Andrea Mastrobattista's new inspirational workshop series, "Life Your Most Fulfilling Life," will be held at Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, January 28 at 7:00 pm. This workshop is designed to help people who feel they are not yet living the life they were meant to live, or have aspects of their lives that need improvement. Ms. Mastrobattista will take the group on a thought-provoking journey of conversations and brainstorming sessions throughout the year that will take participants beyond limits, beyond expectations and beyond their imaginations where they will discover their most fulfilling lives. In this first session, there will be a conversation about what it means to live a fulfilling life and an overview of the entire workshop series.

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 their corresponding promotional materials (such as business cards and brochures) 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.

"Flying Higher: A WASP Takes Wing"

On Tuesday, January 27 at 7:00 pm at Bernardsville Public Library, Carol Simon Levin will present “Flying Higher: A WASP Takes Wing.” It's the story of the amazing WASPs, the women airforce service pilots of World War II, told through the eyes of Ann Baumgartner Carl, a Jersey girl who spent her teenage years in Bernardsville and who trained as a WASP. She became the only American woman to test-fly experimental planes during the war and the first woman in the world to fly a jet airplane!

During World War II, more than one thousand women volunteers completed the WASP military pilot training program. Graduating WASPs piloted every kind of military aircraft, tested new and overhauled airplanes (some with defective parts or dangerous reputations), delivered more than 12,000 planes, and flew over 60,000,000 miles (sometimes towing targets that soldiers shot at with live ammunition!) Thirty-eight of them died serving their country. Then they were told that men needed their jobs, and they were dismissed and forgotten. Carol Simon Levin, a Youth Services Librarian, author, storyteller and program presenter based in Bridgewater, NJ, aims to rectify that situation.

Ms. Levin has always been particularly fascinated by the history of technology and women’s history. Whether she is impersonating the woman who helped to build the Brooklyn Bridge, telling the amazing stories of early women in aviation, expanding on the mathematical and artistic possibilities of a simple square, or sharing the story of a dolphin who learned to swim with an artificial tail, she always strives to create exciting programs that engage her audience’s interests and expand their horizons. She is a member of the New Jersey Storytelling Guild, the New Jersey Library Association, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

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, January 13, 2015

Memoirs & Coffee Book Group to Discuss "Etched in Sand"

The next meeting of Bernardsville Public Library’s book discussion group, Memoirs and Coffee, will be held on Tuesday, January 27 at 10:30 am in the library’s Community Room. Manager Pat Kennedy-Grant will lead the discussion of “Etched in Sand: A True Story of Five Siblings Who Survived an Unspeakable Childhood on Long Island” (2013) by Regina Calcaterra. [The author will not be present.]

In this story of perseverance in the face of adversity, Ms. Calcaterra recounts her childhood in foster care and on the streets—and how she and her savvy crew of homeless siblings managed to survive years of homelessness, abandonment, and abuse. It is an emotionally powerful memoir which reveals how she rose above her past while fighting to keep her brother and three sisters together. An inspiring coming-of-age story, it is one of tenacity and triumph.

"Etched in Sand" appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers lists for 16 weeks during 2013-14 rising to #2 on the New York Times and Wall Street Journal’s Non-Fiction E-Books Best Sellers list and #6 on the New York Times Non-Fiction Combined Print & E-Books list. It was also selected for One Book/One College reads and integrated into college and high school curriculums. Kirkus Reviews called it "riveting from start to finish."

For the past twenty-six years, Ms. Calcaterra has spent her policy, managerial and legal career in both the private and public sector. She is presently an attorney working for the State of New York. She was appointed executive director of New York's Moreland Commission on Utility Storm Preparation and Response by Governor Andrew Cuomo after she assisted in the recovery of Superstorm Sandy in her capacity as chief deputy executive for Suffolk County.

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

Screening of "Disruption" at Bernardsville Library


Join us at Bernardsville Public Library on Sunday, January 25 at 2:00 pm for a free screening of “Disruption,” a fast-paced cinematic journey through the wild world of climate change: the science, the politics, the solutions, and the stories that define this crisis at this pivotal point in human history.  

The movie, produced and directed by Kelly Nyks and Jared P. Scott, explains that we are living through an age of tipping points and rapid social and planetary change. We are the first generation to feel the impacts of climate disruption, and the last generation that can do something about it, according to the producers. The film enlarges the issue beyond climate impacts and makes a compelling call for bold action that is strong enough to tip the balance to build a clean energy future.

"Disruption" takes an unflinching look at the devastating consequences of inaction. This exploration lays bare "the terrifying science, the shattered political process, the unrelenting industry special interests and the civic stasis that have brought us to this social, moral and ecological crossroads." The film also takes viewers behind the scenes of the efforts to organize the largest climate rally in the history of the planet during the UN world climate summit.

The movie is about an hour long and there is no charge to attend. 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, January 9, 2015

Bernardsville Library to Join NJ Makers Day 2015

The maker movement in the United States isn’t just a hobby; it’s having a significant impact on school curriculum development and growing local economies. To celebrate making and maker culture, residents throughout New Jersey will come together on Saturday, March 21, 2015 in libraries, schools, museums, homes, and other community locations for the first annual NJ Makers Day.

NJ Makers Day is designed to be a statewide single-day event that celebrates, promotes, and in many cases may introduce maker culture, as well as the values associated with making, tinkering and STEM-based learning. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “employment in occupations related to STEM -- science, technology, engineering, and mathematics -- is projected to grow to more than 9 million between 2012 and 2022. That’s an increase of about 1 million jobs."

Maker spaces across the state are having a significant impact on education and job skills development by providing access to people, information, resources, and tools that facilitate making to a wide variety of skill levels. Popular equipment in these spaces include 3D printers, single board microcontrollers like Arduino and Raspberry Pi, robotics, digital media production, computer programming, textile and handicrafts and more.

“We are delighted to be able to bring this type of programming to the Bernardsville  community,” said April Judge, Bernardsville Library's Director. “We are committed to finding ways to help people to learn new skills and to work collaboratively on exciting hands-on projects. Bernardsville Library is proud to be a participating site for the first ever New Jersey Makers Day on March 21, 2015! Community members of all ages are invited to join us for an exciting day filled with activities focusing on maker culture."

There is no charge to attend, and no sign-up is needed.  Just drop in! Maker Day at Bernardsville Public Library will be open from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, March 21. A variety of displays, exhibits and interactive activities are planned ranging from squishy circuits and makey makey to origami, painting, and printmaking.

For more information, please contact Madelyn English at 908-766-0118 or visit the library website, www.bernardsvillelibrary.org. Find out more about NJ Makers Day at www.njmakersday.org.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Saturday Crafters to Meet at Bernardsville Library

Saturday Crafters, the monthly craft group organized by Bernardsville Public Library, will meet on Saturday, January 24 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.

Public Relations Assistant Evelyn Fischel will showcase 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.

Learn to Identify Your Backyard Birds

Do you ever wonder about the birds in your backyard? Now you can get acquainted with many of our local, common backyard birds when Naturalist Christa Wood, from the Somerset County Park Commission, speaks at Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, January 21 at 7:00 pm.

During this program, listeners will learn the essentials of backyard bird watching, basic identification skills, what to feed backyard birds, as well as when and where to place feeders in their yards. Armed with this information, they will then be able to participate in the annual Backyard Bird Count, an international Citizen Science project, which will be held February 13-16, 2015. Ms. Wood will explain how to join in this count.

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, January 7, 2015

50 Book Challenge

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 first meeting of this year's 50 Book Challenge on Saturday, January 17 at 3:00 pm in the library’s Community Room. There will be animated discussion, reading suggestions and snacks, and our readers will trade notes on books they have enjoyed and books they didn't. New members are welcome at any time during the year and can prorate their goal till the end of the year if they join later. The group meets quarterly.

The fifty books in fifty-two 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 resources and for email updates for the 50 Book Challenge, go to the library's webpage, www.bernardsvillelibrary.org /50_book/.  There is no charge to attend the meeting, and no sign-up is needed. For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.   

Monday, January 5, 2015

ESL Classes Begin at Bernardsville Library

Bernardsville Public Library’s next session of English-As-A-Second-Language (ESL) classes will begin on Monday, January 19. Classes will be offered on Mondays and Thursdays at both 3:00 pm and 7:15 pm and will run for twelve sessions (through April 16). There is no charge to attend and students may attend classes in more than one timeslot if they wish. 

At the first session, students will be divided into small groups based on their native language and their facility with English. The classes will follow a variety of formats including lessons and practice, and conversation and role playing daily tasks that have to be executed in English. Trained volunteers teach the classes. Community members who would like to volunteer as teachers are encouraged to call the library at 908-766-0118.

There is no charge to attend the program, and advance registration is optional. Just come to the first class.  Registration can be accomplished online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org; follow the link under Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up or for more information.

Friday, January 2, 2015

Monthly Meditations To Begin at Bernardsville Library

Come meditate in a circle of consciousness at Bernardsville Public Library on Friday, January 9 at 10:00 am. Bernardsville resident Gail Mardfin will lead a new series of monthly guided meditation sessions in which different types of meditation will be explored with a time of sharing to follow for those who are so inclined. First timers and those with any meditation experience are welcome.  

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

A Tale of Sleeping Beauty

Bernardsville Public Library is pleased to present a free Trilogy Repertory production of "A Tale of Sleeping Beauty" on Saturday, January 10 at 1:00 pm. The play, written by Steve and Kathy Hotchner, is directed by Jaye Barre.

Children in the audience will participate in the production: the townspeople have deserted the Castle in the middle of the night…The curse of the evil fairy is about to come to pass…Today, the Kingdom will fall asleep forever. Who will save the Kingdom? Who will save Beauty? How can the curse be avoided? It’s up to the audience to help the Royal Family see that Beauty and the Prince find a happily ever after.

There is no charge to attend this family program, and no registration is needed. Please call the library at 908-766-0118 for further information.

Pre-School Fair at Bernardsville Public Library

Finding the right pre-school for your child can be daunting, and taking the time to schedule and visit multiple schools can be time-consuming and exhausting. To make the task a little easier, Bernardsville Public Library will host its fifth Pre-School Fair on Tuesday, January 13 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm (snow date: February 24) to allow parents and caregivers of young children to gather information about dozens of local pre-schools in one convenient location. Visitors will be able to move at their own pace with ample time to explore each school, talk with school representatives, and collect brochures and other information. Whether they are interested in quickly picking up brochures or having more in-depth conversations with school representatives, the Preschool Fair is designed to provide vital information and help ease the process of selecting a pre-school that is the best match for the child.

To accommodate a range of family schedules, the Preschool Fair is a drop-in program that is open to the public from 4:00-8:00 pm. There is no charge to attend and no registration is required. Please call the library at 908-766-0118 for further information.

Poetry and Prose Reading at Bernardsville Library

Bernardsville Public Library will host a poetry and prose reading by Marcia Ivans, Nancy Gerber, and Judith Hugg on Wednesday, January 14 at 7:00 pm. Ms. Ivans is a Chatham-based poet who wrote a collection of poetry called “Darkness on Sunny Days”; Nancy Gerber, a writer who lives in Montclair, will read from her new book, “Fire and Ice”; Ms. Hugg, a resident of Morristown, will read from “To See the Sky: Vignettes of Grace,” a humorous yet poignant memoir. 

Marcia Ivans's "Darkness on Sunny Days" mines a dark part of her life. Yet in the works that are included, she's programmed contrasts of light and dark, much as the sun plays hide and seek on partly cloudy days. The message of the book is that even within the days that seem most dark, there is still a glimmer of light. “Darkness on Sunny Days” is her third book of poetry. Ms. Ivans has been a member of Women Who Write for eight years, serving on the board for seven years. Her work has been published in literary journals such as Goldfinch, Morning Light, Raritan Valley Poetry Anthology and M Magazine. She has lectured and given workshops at College of St. Elizabeth, Caldwell College, and others.

Nancy Gerber’s "Fire and Ice" is a collection of poetry and prose that explores a mother’s dementia, coming of age, and the search for identity. The poems and vignettes explore the pain and beauty in our most significant relationships. Ms. Gerber received her doctorate in English from Rutgers University. Her writing has been published in Mom Egg Review and Adanna, as well as scholarly journals. She is an advanced clinical candidate at the Academy of Clinical and Applied Psychoanalysis in Livingston.

Judith Hugg published "To See the Sky" in 2011. It is a memoir which recalls emotional moments from her less-than-ideal childhood and also ponders the approaching unknowns of aging. Ms. Hugg calls herself a "child of the 1950s." Her first poem was published in The Sunday School times at seventeen. "To See the Sky" is her first book.

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.