Ways to Enjoy Your Spring Break in Bernards

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 Park and create a kaleidescope of color in the sky. Fill in the gaps with some great programs at the Library and Environmental Education Center and it will be a busy week.

Of particular note at the library is a special all-day program on Wednesday to symbolically show support, but also raise money for those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

All community members are invited to stop by the library and create a paper crane that will be used as part of a larger mosaic. Each new crane will incur a $2 donation by the Bezos Foundation. The objective is 100,000 cranes ($200,000). A small individual contribution of your time when, combined with that of others, will be significant.

Monday

Remote Control Car Races—Rebel Hill Tennis Courts, 11 a.m. Bring your own car. Rain date 4/12. Open to all. Free.

Being the Real You–Somerset Hills YMCA, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Andrea Mastrobattista presents this workshop., $30 per member, $35 per potential member.

Leisure Learning–Continuing Education for Seniors, , 9 a.m. to noon. Program room B.

Cartooning Workshop–, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Grades 4 - 6. Registration required. Program room A.

Environmental Commission Meeting–Town Hall, Conference room, 7:30 p.m. Open to all.

Tuesday

Toddler Time (16-30 months)—, 9:30 to 10 a.m. Interactive story time for 16-30 month olds accompanied by an adult. Child's birthday should come between 7/1/08 and 9/1/09. Registration required. Program room A.

Preschool Story Time 3 1/2 - 5 years old—, 10:30 to 11 a.m. Stories, fingerplays, and songs for 31/2 - 5 year olds. Child's birthday should come before 7/1/07. Registration required. Program room A.

Junior Explorers ‘Earth Day Seeds'—, 4 to 4:45 p.m.. Ages 4 - 6. Program room A.

Spring Buggies—, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Ages 4-6. $9. Registration required.

Skeleton Mystery—, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Ages 7-9. $9. Registration required.

Poetry Workshop with Dianne Feula—, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Program room A.

Bridge (Seniors)—, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
 
Majong (Seniors)—, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Free Wellness Specialist Workout—Somerset Hills YMCA, 5:30 p.m.

BTSA Meeting—Town Hall, Conference room, 6:30 p.m. Open to all.

Township Committee Meeting—Town Hall, Conference room, 8 p.m. Open to all.

Wednesday

Chalk Drawing and Window Painting—Dunham Park, 11 a.m. Chalk and paint will be provided. Rain Date is 4/15.

Toddler Time (16-30 months)—, 9:30 to 10 a.m and 10:30 to 11 a.m. Interactive story time for 16-30 month olds accompanied by an adult.  Child's birthday should come between 7/1/08 and 9/1/09. Registration required. Program room A.

Preschool Story Time 3 1/2 - 5 years old— 1 to 1:30 p.m., and 2 to 2:30 p.m. Stories, fingerplays and songs for 3  1/2  - 5 year olds. Child's birthday should come before 7/1/07. Registration required. Program room A.

Paper Cranes for Japan—, 3 to 9 p.m. Help Japan by making paper cranes. These simple yet powerful gestures will trigger a $200,000 donation from the Bezos Family Foundation—$2 for each crane received - to Architecture for Humanity's reconstruction efforts in Japan. All Ages, Drop-in. Program room B.

Teen Advisory Board—, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Grades 7-12. Program room A.

Free Osteoporosis Seminar and Bone Density Screenings—, every Wednesday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For seniors, free of charge.

Zumba Gold for Seniors—, every Wednesday 1 to 2 p.m. For seniors, free of charge. Registration required.

Splish Splash (2 classes)—, ages 3-5 with parent, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and  ages 4-6, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Fee is $9.

Beary Interesting—, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Ages 7-9. Fee is $9.

Shade Tree Commission Meeting—Town Hall, Conference room, 7:30 p.m. Open to all.

Thursday

Kite Flying—, 11 a.m. Bring your own kite. Rain or shine!

Baby Time (Birth - 15 Months)—, 9:30 to 10 a.m. Songs, rhymes and stories. No registration required. Siblings are welcome, too. Program room A.

Tot Time Ages 2 1/2-3 1/2 years—, 10:30 to 11 a.m. Stories, rhymes and songs for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 year olds accompanied by an adult. Child's birthdate should come between 7/1/07 and 7/2/08. Registration required. Program room A.

Film series-Rabbit-Proof Fence—, noon to 3 p.m. Dr. Kalyan Ray, professor of English at County College of Morris, will offer commentary on returning or finding one's home. Feel free to bring a snack or lunch. Program room B.

Senior Flex Class—, 10:30 a.m. For seniors, free of charge.

Music to Move By—, 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Ages 3 and under. Program room B.

Board of Health Meeting—, 8 p.m. Open to all.

Board of Adjustment—Town Hall, Special meeting, Court room, 7:30 p.m. Open to all.

Friday

Tot Time Ages 2 1/2-3 1/2 years—, 9:30 to 10 a.m. and 10:30 to 11 a.m. Stories, rhymes and songs for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 year olds accompanied by an adult. Child's birthdate should come between 7/1/07 and 7/2/08. Registration required. Program room A.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows (Part 1)—, 1 to 3:30 p.m. Teens and adults. Program room B.

Friday Night at the Opera—, 7:30 to 9 p.m., With Dr. Robert W. Butts, Bellini’s I Puritani, Adults $25 for the series or $5 at the door.

Saturday

YMCA Healthy Earth Healthy Kids Day—Somerset Hills YMCA, 1 to 5 p.m. Music, games, organic home grown food and fun.

Star Lab Explore the Sky—, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., Ages 5 and up (with an adult). Learn all about the stars and constellations as you enter this inflatable planetarium.  Explore the night sky with astronomer John Miller. Program room b. Registration required.

Paws for Reading—, 2 to 3 p.m. Bring your favorite book to read for 10 minutes to a therapy dog from St. Hubert's. Children should be at least 6 years old to register. Program room A.

The Green Team—, 1 to 3 p.m. Ages 12-15. Free.

Story Hour—, 1 to 3 p.m. Ages 0-5 with parent. Free.

Dog Walks on the Equestrian Trails— 10:15 - 10:30 a.m. sign-in. Walk is from 10:30 - 11:30 a..m. $3 per dog, humans free.

Sunday

Nature Walks - , 190 Lord Stirling Rd., noon to 1 p.m. All ages. Children should be accompanied by an adult. No registration required. Free.

Ongoing

Cinder LeDell Art Exhibit—Farmstead Arts Center, 1 to 4 p.m. Art exhibit and sale at Farmstead Arts: Wanderlust: art of Cinder LdDell from her world travels. Gallery hours: Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday April 3 and 10 from noon to 2 p.m.,  Sunday April 17 from 2 to 4 p.m., Tuesday April 5, 12 and 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. The event is free. For more information, visit the center's website or call 1-347-927-8748 (1-347-9ARTS4U)