Adult Education School Accepting Sign-ups, School Board and Twp. Committee to Meet

It's time this week to get busy with things that you might have wanted to do, but haven't gotten around to doing.

Sign-ups for more than 30 initial adult education classes for a pilot program being launched this fall at Ridge High School begin on Friday, with classes to begin in October.

The expansion of the Adult School of Chatham, Madison and Florham Park has been discussed at a number of Board of Education meetings in the past year, and received positive feedback from both board members and in public comments.

The Adult School now is offering classes in Bernards Township at Ridge High School as part of a pilot program to bring class offerings to the area. The classes, including Spanish and Italian language classes, computer and internet education classes, a class on watercolor painting, local and worldwide history sessions and more are detailed on the Adult School's website.

Students from throughout the Somerset Hills area, including adults and teens, who are interested in improving their skills and taking a continuing education class will now have the opportunity to do so locally.

Brochures for the Adult School were mailed last week to residents of Bernards Township and surrounding communities. Those who have not received the brochure may go on the website at www.theadultschool.org for more information regarding courses and registration.

Still spots available

There are still plenty of spots available in many classes, according to an announcement from the school, with offerings from ballroom dancing to interior design to jewelry-making, to yoga, gardening, photography, languages, computers and more. Besides going to the website, those who are interested can call the school at 973-443-9222, or go to this link and follow the Bernards tab: http://www.ssreg.com/chatham/.

In partnering with the Adult School, the Bernards school board and school officials, in cooperation with township resident Laura Begg, joined forces to present some what Begg said are some of the more popular programs at Ridge for this fall pilot.

Another deadline looming is the purchase of flags for this year's Field of Honor, in which flags honoring veterans in particular and general will be flown at the Bernards Township municipal building around Veterans Day.

The Bernards Township Beautification Committee is again organizing the display and will hold a dedication ceremony at 1 p.m. on Nov. 4, on the front lawn at the municipal building at 1 Collyer Lane. At that time, attendees may walk through the field to view the flags — which must be ordered by Sept. 30, or when the supply runs out.

Laura Begg, who also initiated that program, said individuals and organizations may buy a limited number of the 3 feet by 5 feet American flags, which will be displayed on a 6-foot pole. Cost per flag is $30 and proceeds go to Community Hope of Parsippany, which has developed programs for homeless veterans at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in the Lyons section of Bernards Township, Begg said.

Begg said those who wish to fly a flag in a veterans' honor should purchase one now. "There are a limited number of flags available," she said, adding she must order the flags in bulk by October. Flags will be sold until they run out, or September 30, whichever comes first, Begg said.

There also are a number of meeting scheduled this week:

• The Bernards Township Board of Education is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. on Monday in the auditorium at the 70 Quincy Road, Basking Ridge.

• The monthly meeting of the Bernards Township Library Board is scheduled to be held at 7:30 p.m. on Monday at the 32 S. Maple Ave., Basking Ridge.

• The Bernards Township Committee is set to meet at 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Bernards Township municipal complex, 1 Collyer Lane, Basking Ridge.