Craft Group to Meet at Bernardsville Library

Saturday Crafters, a monthly craft group organized by Bernardsville Public Library, will meet on Saturday, February 15 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.

Great Ways to Sell Your Stuff Online

You can sell just about anything online, but how do you know where to start and what site to sell it on?  Find out at a "Tech Update" at Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, February 12 at 7:00 pm.  

Get the scoop on favorite hassle-free sites to sell your stuff.  Anything goes–from old phones to clothes to crafts!  We’ll look at favorite sites such as E-bay, Amazon, Etsy and Facebook, to name a few. The class will be taught by Programs Plus, a software training company.  

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. 

Guide to Hip & Knee Replacements

There are some 600,000 knee replacements in the United States every year now, and if you are considering surgery for a hip or knee replacement, there are some things you should know first.  Learn what they are at Bernardsville Public Library on Tuesday, February 11 at 7:00 pm when Mike Boulos, a Physical Therapist at Kessler Rehabilitation Center in Bedminster, will guide the audience through planning, preparation and what to expect after surgery.  

Mr. Boulos is a graduate of Ohio State University where he earned his degree.  He has twenty years of orthopedic experience and has treated countless patients with joint replacements.  While working for the nation's largest provider of rehabilitation services, he has been a clinical coordinator, an administrator, a regional insurance clinical liaison, and a center manager. 

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.

To commemorate National Poetry Month, April 2014, the Raritan Valley Federation of Libraries, of which Bernardsville Library is a member, will publish its second annual Poetry Month Celebration Anthology.  Local poets are invited to submit up to two poems to Bernardsville Library by Friday, March 7 in order to be considered for the anthology.  This year’s theme is “Our Town,” commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the play by Thornton Wilder.  This theme can be used as an inspiration, but is not a required poem subject.  The poet who best uses the “Our Town” theme will receive one pair of tickets to “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder at the George Street Playhouse. 

For details on submitting poems, a Poetry Submission Form is available at the Library or can be downloaded from the library’s website, www.bernardsvillelibrary.org.  

Local poets whose work is chosen for the Anthology will also be invited to read their poem(s) at the library’s Poetry Month Reading on Tuesday, April 22 at 7:00 pm.  An open mike will follow for members of the audience who wish to read their own poems to the assembled group.

The libraries participating in the Raritan Valley Federation Anthology publication include: Bernards Township, Bernardsville, Dunellen, Middlesex, New Brunswick and Raritan. 

For further information on Bernardsville’s program, call the library at 908-766-0118 and ask for Madelyn English.

Julia Child Says "Bon Appetit"

Julia Child was an American cook, author and television personality who introduced French cuisine and cooking techniques to America.  Join us to watch actress Linda Kenyon bring Julia to life and then discuss her personal history, her husband and her cooking, at Bernardsville Public Library on Sunday, February 9 at 2:00 pm. 

Julia Child was in the vanguard of "foodies," who, by changing America's taste, helped create modern American culture.  While her public face and voice became familiar to all of us, this play by Clay Teunis focuses on her private side, especially her relationship with her husband, Paul Child.  As Ms. Kenyon takes on Julia's hair, makeup, dress, voice and demeanor, it is clear that this play is a love story! 

Ms. Kenyon is an experienced television, stage and film actress whose special skills include impersonations of Eleanor Roosevelt and Babe Didrikson as well as Julia Child.  She received her training on the Arena Stage (Norman Gevanthor), the Folger Theatre (Franchelle Dorn), and the Poet & Peasant Professional Actors’ Workshop.

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 Book Group to Meet

Bernardsville Public Library’s book discussion group, Saturday Samplers, will meet on Saturday, February 1 at 3:30 pm to discuss two novels by Julie Otsuka, "When the Emperor was Divine" and "The Buddha in the Attic." [The author will not be present.]

"When the Emperor Was Divine" (2003) was Otsuka's first novel.  It tells the story of a Japanese-American family's internment in a Utah enemy alien camp during World War II.  The New Yorker review described it as "exceptional" and continued, "The implicit questions about culpability resonate with particular power right now, but Otsuka's incantatory, unsentimental prose is the book's greatest strength."  Her follow-up novel, "The Buddha in the Attic" (2011) tells the story of a group of young women brought from Japan to San Francisco as "picture brides" nearly a century ago.  Kirkus Reviews described the book as “A lovely prose poem that gives a bitter history lesson.” 

Julie Otsuka was born and raised in California.  She is a graduate of Yale University and received her M.F.A. from Columbia.  She lives in New York City.  She has received numerous awards including the Asian American Literary Award, the American Library Association Alex Award and a Guggenheim Fellowship.

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.

Splendid Life Meditation Group To Meet at Bernardsville Library

Basking Ridge resident Fauzia Burke will lead the next monthly guided meditation session at Bernardsville Public Library on Friday, February 7 at 10:00 am.  Ms. Burke’s style of meditation incorporates many cultural traditions and uses the power of word and imagery to facilitate a meditative experience; there is no right or wrong way, no particular way to sit, or words to say.  Each experience is honored as unique and can help reduce stress, generate creativity, and create positive energy.  

“Our intention for these gatherings is to find peace and serenity through a practice of regular meditations, and to develop a community for support and friendship,” says Ms. Burke.  She has been meditating for over 15 years and leading meditation groups for twelve years. By day, she is the President and Founder of FSB Associates, an Internet marketing firm that promotes books and authors on the Web.  She lives in Basking Ridge with her husband and two daughters, and volunteers to lead the Splendid Life meditations in an effort to help others achieve the peace of mind and inspiration that she has found through mediation. 

There is no charge to attend the program, and no sign-up is required.  No experience in meditation is necessary.  Bring a journal and pen, and wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.  For further information, call the library at 908-766-0118.

Paintings by Lynn Eberenz on Display at Bernardsville Library

Spring at the Iris Garden

Bernardsville Public Library is pleased to present an exhibition of paintings by Lynn Eberenz during the month of February.  

Born and raised in New Jersey, Ms. Eberenz, who now lives in Mendham, has enjoyed art – whether drawing, painting, or other artistic pursuits – from a very young age.  While her “day job” as a marketing communications manager makes use of her creative skills, after a 15-year absence from painting, she has rediscovered the unmatched joy and freedom painting gives her. It provides the creative outlet for her emotions and thoughts – whether it’s capturing the transcendence and emotion of light and colors in a traditional still life, the beauty of nature, or a more abstract expression. “In our fast-paced, multi-tasking world, the concentration and single-mindedness painting demands also provides a release as well as its inherent challenges,” she states.  

In 2010, Ms. Eberenz began studying at the Morris County Art Association with Diana K. Gibson, a recognized and award-winning painter who studied under internationally known artist John Phillip Osborne. She has enjoyed working both solo and surrounded by other artists. “Consulting with other artists provides fresh ideas and perspectives that push me to do things I wouldn’t have tried on my own, helping me to grow and discover new inspiration,” she says.

Of her painting, Ms. Eberenz writes, “At the core of all my paintings is the desire to capture the simple beauty of the things I see – with color and its interplay with light being the thing that captivates me. To me, color is one of life’s greatest gifts. Some of my earliest memories are strongly associated with colors. And the intensity of color found only in nature inspires me most. While most of my work to date has been traditional in subject and style, I have recently begun to explore more abstract and contemporary styles including the expression of emotions utilizing color and abstractions of images in nature. Sharing my passion for art and its gifts is one of my lifelong desires.”

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.

Practitioner Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST): What You Need To Know

Recent legislation now allows individuals to indicate their preferences for life-sustaining treatment via the Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form.  Learn about this important new document from Rita Truex, RN, MSN, of the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills, on Thursday, January 30 at 10:30 am at Bernardsville Public Library.  

The POLST form allows all health care providers to know and honor a patient's care preferences during serious and life-limiting illness.  It becomes part of the patient’s health record, and is an important step towards ensuring that his or her wishes are followed.  

Speaker Rita Truex, RN, BSN, is Manager of Staff Education at the VNA of Somerset Hills.  She has worked in home health and hospice for 13 years.  As a staff educator, she frequently speaks about regulatory and clinical issues, including end of life care and hospice philosophy.

This program is part of the library’s on-going CARES (Community Assistance Resource & Educational Services) series. 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. 

"Can-Do" Connection Workshop

With the New Year, a new workshop series, "The Can-Do Connection" will kick off at Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, January 29 at 7:00 pm.  This workshop is an outgrowth of last year's "The University of Can-Do Master's Program."  Led by Professional Inspirer Andrea Mastrobattista, the first session will define the "Can-Do Connection" and describe how it can be helpful: "The year 2014 promises to be one of reconnecting," she said.  "Whether it be on a personal, professional and/or spiritual level, the Can-Do Connection workshop series will help participants "reconnect" with whatever dreams they have for themselves."   

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.

Meet the Author of "Storming the Gates of Bedlam"

Meet Meredith Platt, author of "Storming the Gates of Bedlam: How Dr. Nathan Kline Transformed the Treatment of Mental Illness," at Bernardsville Public Library on Tuesday, January 28 at 7:00 pm. Ms. Platt will read from her book and talk about her research in writing it.  Books will be available for purchase and signing.

Why would a poet from a wealthy New Jersey family choose to spend his life working in an insane asylum?  Dr. Nathan Kline never revealed the painful secret about his own family that determined his destiny, but that secret is revealed in "Storming the Gates of Bedlam."  Everyone whose life has been touched by mental illness will be interested in how he transformed the treatment of mental illness, emptied asylums across the country, and changed how we think about mental illness. 

Ms. Platt was born in Ridgewood and now lives in Dumont.  She earned a bachelor’s degree from Hunter College and a Ph.D. in biopsychology from the City University of New York.  “This is a very readable book,” she says.  [It] “is a very human story that is an important part of our history.”

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. 

2013 Tax Help Available at Bernardsville Library

VITA volunteers will be available to help community residents with their 2013 state and federal tax returns starting Monday, February 3 at Bernardsville Public Library.  [VITA stands for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance.]  Over the years, many people have taken advantage of this service; to make an appointment, call the library at 908-766-0118.  A translator is also available for Spanish speaking residents.  

Robert Baker is the coordinator of the program, and he says that, in addition to personal appointments at the library, there are other ways to get help with taxes.  "There is easy-to-use online software that is perfect for people who have simple returns and are comfortable using a computer," he said.  "It's offered through United Way which partners with MyFreeTaxes to provide community members with a free online service to do their federal and state taxes from their personal computer."  Families and individuals with a combined income under $58,000 in 2013 are qualified to use this new website: www.MyFreeTaxes.com/UnitedWayOfNorthernNewJersey.   Help while filing a return is available by calling 1.855.My.Tx.Help (1-855-698-9435) where callers will be connected with a qualified tax volunteer who can answer questions.  This helpline is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00am to 10:00pm.

Mr. Baker is also seeking experienced tax preparers who have time on their hands to help out this year.  The program requires only a few hours a week for about eight weeks.  Volunteers will receive training from specialists to refresh their knowledge of the subject.  Interested volunteers should call Madelyn English at 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, January 28 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 Cooked Seed” (2013) by Anchee Min.  [The author will not be present.] 

In 1994, Anchee Min made her literary debut with a memoir of growing up in China during the Cultural Revolution.  "Red Azalea" became an international bestseller and propelled her career as a successful, critically acclaimed author.  Twenty years later, Min returned to the story of her life with "The Cooked Seed," the next chapter.  It is an immigrant story that takes her from the deprivations of her homeland to the sudden bounty of the promised land of America—without language, money, or a clear path.  Kirkus Reviews called the book, "Moving...An uplifting work of incredible grit and fortitude." 

Anchee Min was born in Shanghai in 1957.  At seventeen she was sent to a labor collective, where a talent scout for Madame Mao's Shanghai Film Studio recruited her to work as an actress in propaganda films.  She moved to the United States in 1984.  Her first memoir, “Red Azalea,” was named one of the New York Times Notable Books of 1994 and was an international bestseller, published in 27 countries.  She has since published six novels, most recently “Pearl of China.”

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

Medicare Basics for Baby Boomers

Are you approaching Medicare eligibility? Do you know at what age you must apply for Medicare, even if you’re still working and even if you’re not eligible for Social Security? Do you know the difference between original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medigap Supplement?  

In this program at Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, January 22 at 7:00 pm, learn the facts, in easy-to-understand terms, from Neil Berger, a Human Resources professional with 35 years’ experience. Find out what Medicare covers, when to apply, penalties for late enrollment, the options available to you, and much more. Mr. Berger developed this seminar as a result of information he acquired for a large portion of his employees who had incorrect, outdated, or non-existent information regarding their government-provided benefits.

This program is part of the library’s on-going CARES (Community Assistance Resource & Educational Services) series. There is no charge to attend, but advance sign-up is requested.

Join us at Bernardsville Public Library on Sunday, January 19 at 3:00 pm for a tribute to Les Paul and Mary Ford performed by Tom Doyle and Sandy Cory Doyle. Les Paul played many styles of popular music, from country to jazz, and in the 1940s he was a sideman for Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby.  He joined up with Mary Ford to form a popular 1950s husband-and-wife duo in which he played the guitar and she sang. In 1951 alone, they sold six million records! This concert is funded by the Friends of the Bernardsville Library.  Free.  Doors open at 2:45 pm. No sign-up is needed.

Fifty Book Challenge at Bernardsville Library

Join us at Bernardsville Public Library on Saturday, January 18 at 3:00 pm to kick off the 2014 New Year Challenge: to read 50 books this year. Hear what other members have been reading in their quest, and enjoy conversation and refreshments. Free. Advance sign-up is requested.

Tech Update: Craigslist

Explore the features of Craigslist, the network on online communities, and find out how to use it safely and effectively, from the free online classified advertisements, to job postings, housing, personals, sales, and services. Taught by Programs Plus, a software training company, at Bernardsville Public Library on Wednesday, January 15 at 7:00 pm. Free. Advance sign-up is requested.

Yoga Basics

Tuesdays, January 14-February 18 at 1:00 pm. 
Suitable for all students, this class offers an integrated sequence of poses designed to warm up the body and then work toward a specific intention within the natural movements of the spine. Pranayama (breath work) and a final deep relaxation are integral to every class. Instructor: Julie Shaw of Lotus Mind and Body. The total cost for the 6-week session is $30.00. Bring a yoga mat or towel. This program is a partnership between Bernardsville Library and Bernardsville Recreation. Register through Bernardsville Recreation’s Community Pass portal. Register at https://register.communitypass.net/bernardsville.

English-As-A-Second-Language Classes

English-As-A-Second-Language (ESL): 
Classes will be offered on Mondays and Thursdays at 3:00 pm and 7:15 pm from January 13 through April 7. Free. Advance sign-up is requested at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org/english.