The Holiday Season begins and over the next few weeks there will be plenty of festivals, programs and events in town to keep you smiling and in the holiday spirit. Each week we will highlight one of our favorites, but make sure you read the entire list to not miss out. The Friends of Lord Stirling Stable (FLSS) will host their annual Winter Holiday Festival next weekend at the Lord Stirling Stable. The festival is fun for the entire family. The children can clamor for the pony and hay rides (both free) and can even visit Santa's house for arts and crafts. Adults can watch the equestrian shows…

Scheduled activities are light this week as we prepare for one of our favorite holidays of the year, Thanksgiving. A truly American holiday, people will travel far to be with relatives and friends or go to great lengths to host the perfect meal. It is a time for community and family, but particularly a time to give thanks for all that we have. Schools will be closed commencing Wednesday with abbreviated schedules, as will the library beginning at 5 p.m. The YMCA is on program break this week and will be closed on Thursday. The great outdoors, however, is always available, weather permitting. …

Each week when I compose this column I am continually impressed by the rich assortment of programs offered at the Bernards Township Library; programs for all ages from infants, kids and teens, to baby boomers and senior citizens. Programs focusing on the arts, current issues and hobbies. Many of the programs run regularly each week: The Knitters & Crocheters, Poetry Workshops and children's story time sessions are just a few. Then there are other ad hoc programs that relate to seasonal events and community needs. This Monday morning, for example, Denise Sikora, a patient advocate, will walk …

Local residents can become a part of Bernards Township's history on Saturday by attending the 250th Anniversary Time Capsule Ceremony at Town Hall. This is one of the highlights of the township's yearlong celebration commemorating British King George II's 1760 signing of a charter to create the Township of Bernardston.  Students, community members and township officials have worked throughout the year to collect and create tokens to be placed in a square metal time capsule and buried for the next 100 years. The festivities will include speeches and a performance by the Ridge High School …

This week brings several noteworthy events. No. 1 is Election Day on Tuesday. Media pundits have been espousing various theories on whether the House will flip to a Republican majority and just how many shifts might occur in the Senate. For information on where you can vote check the New Jersey elections website. On Thursday and Friday, the public schools will close so teachers can attend the annual NJEA convention. For many residents, this is a great time for a quick getaway. With fewer crowds than on many national holidays, traveling to a theme park or visiting popular museums can be a …

The excitement is building. By now, the kids have hopefully settled on their costume choices, the pumpkins have been carved, and the bags of candy are stowed in the cupboard awaiting the trick-or-treaters on Sunday. (If they survive the nibbling beforehand!) For many, Halloween is second only to Christmas as one of the their favorite holidays of the year. With all those goodies to look forward to, who can argue with that? And its not just kids who love this holiday. Witness the extensive spooky and ghoulish decorations adorning homes and storefronts; cobwebs, skeleton, witches and more.To …

Sweater weather is back and with it the delightful sights of fall in full splendor. Just this past week the leaves started turning color and our editor, Linda Sadlouskos and Patch photographer Terry Boudreau, treated us to a photo tour of Bernards Township in autumn glory. While it's sad to finally stow away the flip flops until spring, I'm happy to opt for a cozy scarf and a mug of hot mulled cider. This week offers some timely events to enjoy. On Wednesday, the library will host a free program for high school students and parents in the throes of the college application process. A …

As you fill up your calendar this week, note that Election Day, Nov. 2, is fast approaching. The deadline for voter registration is this Tuesday, Oct. 12. If you are new to the area or recently turned 18, legal voting age, the forms can be easily accessed online at the township website and submitted to the County Clerk's office in nearby in Somerville. Other community/civic minded activities this week include history programs, volunteer opportunities and a fundraiser with steak and ale.  A highlight of the week is "Memories of Bernards," one of the major events of the yearlong 250th …

Programs at the library alone could keep everyone busy this week. Story times for tots and preschoolers, anime and yoga for teens and tweens, and plenty of crafts, hobbies and discussion groups for adults. On Friday, Oct. 8, however, residents will have the chance to hear two esteemed Ivy League school, A Cappella groups sing at St. Mark's Episocpal Church. The Colgate Thirteen and the Tigertones (from Princeton) will perform at the Ridge Light Opera of New Jersey's 14th annual production of an A Cappella Jamboree. These young men are known for their fabulous tone and entertaining …

With fall in full swing, the calendar is chock-full with an assortment of classes, meetings and events. Of particular note is the free electronics recycling event on Thursday at the Verizon Center overflow parking center, 1 Verizon Way in Basking Ridge, from  7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. What a great opportunity to rid yourself of old computer components, radios, LED monitors, computer mice and cables, telephones and answering machines, clocks, printers, cameras, and more. See what you have hidden in closets, basements, garages and attics.  If you had the chance to attend last week's digital camera …

When I read through this  week's "Week Ahead," column it says to me, "Try something new!" Perhaps it will be the photo workshop Monday night at the library where I could finally make some sense of all those confusing features on my digital camera. Or maybe the free yoga class at the Riverwalk YMCA where I would be introduced to the many facets and poses in yoga. On Thursday, the library will host a Retirement workshop—there is always something helpful to learn about future financial planning, and on Sunday I might breathe in the scents of fall during a trailride through the beautiful Lord …

Football games, apple picking and walks in the woods are a few of the activities that come to mind this time of year. But there are plenty of other activities and meetings going on this week in Bernards Township. There are nature programs ("Tree House Gang" and "Mother Monarch") for the children, creative programs (Poetry and Scrapbooking) for adults and an assortment of municipal meetings for the civic minded to attend.  St. Mark's Episcopal Church is holding its Fall Rummage Sale on Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All are invited to poke around and see what treasures they can …

With shorter days and cooler temperatures, it surely feels like the end of summer. Leaves are prematurely falling due to our lack of rain and enhancing the sense that fall is coming fast.  It's sad to see the summer end -- but we feel renewed with a sense of purpose as the kids go back to school on Tuesday, we go back to work, and summer is relegated to photos albums and family stories. Labor Day starts this week and everyone in Bernards Township are invited to the  to 19th annual Olde Mill Inn Tour of Basking Ridge bike races, presented by Liberty Cycle and Bernards Township. For early …

The weather forecast this week promises a few final days of sunshine and 90+ degree weather—still perfect for a day at the shore, tubing down the Delaware River and outdoor barbecues with friends and family.  The Bernards Township Library is gearing up for the fall—September is "Library Card Sign Up Month,"  and don't forget that registration for children's Story Time starts on Wednesday.  Ridge High School's new students and incoming freshmen will have orientation on Wednesday, and, for nature lovers, two new exhibits will open on Friday at the Lord Stirling Environmental Education Center. …

There's no doubt about it, things are feeling a bit quieter in town these days. With peak vacation season on hand, many residents have high-tailed it to the shore or some other fascinating destination. The plays in the park have played out, and the concerts have gone quiet. But there is still much to do in town, courtesy of the Bernards Township Library (and it's all free). While summer is the perfect time to catch up on a planned reading list there are also creative activities to enjoy. The movie, "The Water Horse," will engage viewers with tales of the Loch Ness Monster. Steve Woyce will …

Planning your week ahead? Make sure you don't miss the variety of entertainment being offered in town. For a dramatic evening, take a picnic to the Pleasant Valley Amphitheater for a night of "Macbeth" (three more performances August 5-7), or head to Bishop James United Methodist Church for lighthearted song and dance. Area youth will sing and dance  "Schoolhouse Rock." We hear it is a sell-out so get your tickets early.Monday August 2 The animated film, "Swimmy"and more - Bernards Township Library, 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Program Room B. Watch Leo Lionni's classic stories:  Swimmy, Fish is Fish…

There are no summer doldrums in town this week. Take a look ahead and plan which fun activities fit your schedule: free movies, concerts, games, and even magic! And, if you missed "The Music Man" last week, take your picnic dinner and blanket down to Pleasant Valley Amphitheater to enjoy one of the best musical comedies of all time.    Monday, July 19  1:30PM – 3:00PM, Community Center Activity Room, 289 South Maple Ave.,"Let's Bloom Together," Introductory gardening for Grades K-3. Register in advance with the Bernards Township Department of Recreation, 1 Collyer Lane, Basking Ridge. 2:00PM…