As we FINALLY start enjoying warmer weather this week, there are a few, out-of-the-ordinary events to keep on your radar screen. No. 1 is to vote this week in the election for three new Board of Education members and the school budget. Polls will be open Wednesday between 2 and 9 p.m. If your are not sure where to vote, check with the township to determine which district is yours, and see the following for the polling locations. Ridge Oak Senior Housing—District 3 Bernards Township Library—Districts 1 and 6 Basking Ridge Firehouse—Districts 2 and 7 Liberty Corner Firehouse—Districts 12 and 14…

Pink, blue, yellow, orange, green, purple and more. Thousands of pastel-colored plastic eggs housing goodies for the kids will dot the landscape at the Liberty Corner School next Saturday. Sponsored by the Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church, the 20th annual Easter Egg Hunt will kick off at 11 a.m. Kids will have a memorable time scurrying around collecting their eggs while adults can enjoy the communal atmosphere with friends and neighbors. For communing with the Easter Bunny, head over to William Annin Middle School. The Junior Women’s Club of Somerset Hills will host a benefit that includes…

Bernards Township public schools are on spring break this week and the Department of Parks & Recreation has once again provided free, fun-filled activities to get the kids out and about in the warmer weather. On Monday, kids (and adults) can join with other like-minded enthusiasts and race their remote control cars around the Rebel Hill tennis courts. On Wednesday, they can gather at Dunham Park to create some harmless grafitti with chalk drawing and window painting (chalk and paint provided).  Come Thursday, new and experienced kite flyers can launch their kites (BYO kite) at Pleasant Valley…

Art or nature, indoors or outside, springtime events are plentiful this coming Saturday. Rain or shine, the Bernards Township annual fishing derby will start at 9:30 a.m. at Southard Park.  Each year, the Department of Parks and Recreation hosts this early spring event, stocking the pond with trout and offering prizes for the largest fish caught. All residents are invited and fishing licenses are not required. For something a little more fashionable and certainly less fishy, the Good News Home for Women is hosting “Moving Forward,” a fashion and talent show fundraiser at Liberty Corner …

April arrives this week. It’s hard to believe, but April 1 (a.k.a. April Fools Day) hits the calendar on Friday). With temperatures still in the 30s and 40s, it seems like the joke is on us. It certainly isn’t feeling like April. Nonetheless, the croci have bloomed, the daffodil sprouts are a good 6 inches tall, and the forsythia buds are forming. With new beginnings pushing up from the ground, it's only logical that April is Earth Awareness month. The Environmental Education Center (EEC) is celebrating on Sunday, April 3 with Project E.A.R.T.H., an afternoon of earthy fun including a …

Three cans of periwinkle blue paint dated 2002 that my daughter used to paint her bedroom when in high school, a half-dozen dead batteries and two large containers of used motor oil from when my husband used to change the oil (himself). I don’t know about you, but I am pretty happy to see that the hazardous waste drop-off is scheduled for next Saturday at the Bernards Township Public Works Garage (277 W. Maple Ave.). Add in the balmy warmer weather we had on Friday and I am in full spring cleaning mode. It’s funny how things accumulate in the basement and garage. I'm sure I thought I would l …

Our busy lives of work, raising families and managing households often make it hard to find the time for civic involvement. This week, however, there are a slew of township meetings where residents can weigh in on the topics at hand. Starting off the week on Monday, the Board of Education will meet at Oak Street School.  There will also be municipal meetings this week on the environment, the sewerage authority, the shade tree commission, the board of health and deer management issues. All meetings are open to the public.On Saturday, residents are invited to meet personally with Mayor John …

We may take it for granted, but the Bernards Township Library is impressive. Every Sunday in The Week Ahead, we list the various programs for all ages, infant on up. During school vacations, even more programs populate the schedule to keep the kids busy. But what many may not realize is the depth of reference resources available that can help in so many ways. Perhaps you have a hobby or sport you would like to know more about. More importantly, perhaps you, a friend or a relative is looking for a job. This Tuesday the Library is hosting “Your 24/7 Job Search Resource.” Reference librarian …

Not to be missed this week is the Ridge High School production of "Rent," the Tony award-winning rock musical that stunned audiences in the 1990s.  "Rent" opened off Broadway in 1996, the day after the sudden death of its author and composer, Jonathan Larson. With its skyrocketing popularity, it moved to Broadway several months later. The play become an iconoclastic show depicting a year in the life of a group of young friends living a bohemian lifestyle in New York City and supporting each other through coming-of-age challenges. Ridge High School students will perform the school edition of "…

Township schools out for recess this week, and once again the Bernards Township Library and Environmental Education Center comes through with plenty of programs to keep the kids, tweens and teens occupied. The library is showing two movies: “Ramona and Beezus” and “Easy A.” It also has scheduled two video game events. Wednesday night’s will be a vintage video game night with nostalgic favorites like Mario Brothers. Something to remind today's gamers of the good ole days! At the Environmental Education Center, most of the programs are, naturally, nature-centric. On Sunday, however, at “Chew on…

This is a great week to learn something new. Between the library, the environmental education center, the YMCA and the senior center, you can pick up a new hobby, explore different facets of nature and make  friends. Learning new things engages the mind and body. It stimulates and challenges us and provides us with opportunities to add to our accomplishments. It is also the best way to beat the winter blahs!This week you can learn how to play Bridge (an excellent game for the mind) or how to ski cross county (an excellent sport for right now). The Somerset YMCA is offering a free workshop on …

As soon as the Super Bowl parties are behind us, we can look forward to Valentine’s Day. In between figuring out what to get your special loved one and dropping your cards at the post office, note that there are several important dates on the calendar this week that might deserve your attention. For folks with children (grades K thru 5), take note that the lottery to register for the town Summer Recreation Program begins on Monday at 8:30 a.m. at Town Hall. Registration forms and payment will be accepted Monday through Friday each day until 5:30 p.m. and should be submitted in person so that …

While just about everyone is complaining about the snow, school closings and difficult commuting conditions, winter sports lovers are having the time of their lives. Who would have imagined so many opportunities for sledding, snowshoeing and cross county skiing right in our own backyards. As we slip-slide into February, the calendar reminds us that Wednesday, Feb. 2 is Groundhog Day; that anticipated day when a goofy little critter lets us know just how many more weeks of winter madness we will have.  One can’t help but wonder this year, with all the snow on the ground, how he will even make …

Anyone who has read my articles or columns in the past know that one of my favorite things about Basking Ridge is the Trilogy Repertory Company. Jaye and Hank Barre, along with other key members of the local theater company make an incredible contribution to the community by providing great entertainment as well as opportunities for area residents to perform. This coming Saturday, Trilogy will present “Treasure Island,” a children’s show recommended for ages 4-10, at the Bernards Township Library. The library has wisely scheduled three performances (last year’s show was SRO) and parents would…

There’s no excuse for cabin fever this week in Bernards Township. Programs relating to all types of hobbies and interests are underway at the library, the Environmental Education Center, the Senior Wellness Center and the YMCA.  While some require advance registration and fees, others are free and can be enjoyed on a drop-in basis. It’s a great time to try something new and expand your horizons. In addition, there’ s some interesting theatre to attend at the Ridge Performing Arts Center. From Friday through Sunday, the Front & Center Performing Arts School will present two very different …

Just about everyone I know is back in “work-out” mode. The parking lot at the gym was so crowded the other day you would have thought you were at the shopping mall on Christmas Eve; anxious exercisers cruised the lanes waiting for someone to pull out so they could quickly grab the spot. This week, several township fitness programs will commence with opportunities to burn calories, stretch, tone and flex. The Department of Parks and Recreation is offering Yoga classes at varying levels, open gym basketball at William Annin Middle School for ages 30 and above and an aerobic fitness program for …

The New Year's celebrations now are behind us. The decorations get stowed away, the kids go back to school and we vow to make more trips to the gym. With renewed purpose, we get organized for 2011. As part of your planning for the New Year, take note that is a week for many kinds of "registrations." Starting on Monday, the Bernards Township library opens registration for the popular Winter Children's Story Time and  Family Read Aloud Programs. Also on Monday,  the township's Department of Parks and Recreation will start accepting sign-ups for its adult winter fitness programs, and open gyms. …

With the first major snowfall of the winter upon us, sledding and shoveling are top priorities. When you can finally get out, take the kids to the Library or the Environmental Education Center for one of the several programs that are scheduled this week. On Tuesday, the feature film "Toy Story 3" will be playing at the township library, and on Wednesday there is Book Bingo (fun for the entire family and you can win a book). Children can learn about seasonal colors at the Environmental Education Center on Monday, and winter tracking skills on Wednesday. For the singers and dancers in the area…

It's a busy week ahead—the final few days before Christmas. With last-minute shopping, the kids home from school, wrapping, baking and decorating the tree. Take time away from the hustle and bustle with some holiday music or a walk in the woods. Tuesday marks the Winter Solstice (commonly known as the shortest day of the year). The Environmental Education Center is celebrating this first day of Winter with a Solstice Walk as the sun goes down. With a little bit of planning, and the proper clothes, outdoor winter exercise is invigorating and a perfect stress reliever for the holiday craziness…

Holiday music surrounds us. It may be playing on the car radio or piped through the shopping mall; it is there is the background reminding us of years gone by. Attending a live holiday concert, however, is a whole other experience, and an uplifting one at that. That is why my vote for this week's favorite "holiday happening" is the Ridge High School A Cappella Choir Concert at Bishop Janes United Methodist Church on Tuesday evening. Hosted by the United Methodist Women, this has become a favorite annual event where the entire community is invited to enjoy the talented teens of Ridge High …