Sandy Closes Township, Schools County Facilities in Bernards

Update: Bernards Township offices also closed.

Bernards Township schools, the township library and the area's parks and recreational facilities have already been declared closed in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy, even as the first brisk winds stirred the area on Sunday evening. All township municipal offices are closed on Monday, except for the Department of Public Works and police department, said Township Administrator Bruce McArthur. On Sunday afternoon, township schools were declared closed for Monday, even though the storm is anticipated to be a two-day event. School officials reportedly had been mulling the decision earlier on Sunday whether to close for the day before the notice later went up on the school website. The Bernards Township Library announced late Sunday afternoon …

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Halloween Activities Saturday in Basking Ridge Center

Put on that costume and hurry over to downtown Basking Ridge for some Halloween fun.

Saturday is the day that the Bernards Township Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Bernards Township Library and the Bernards Township Department of Parks and Recreation mix together a brew of fun activities for local children to celebrate Halloween. All are free — it's a good chance to give your costume a dry run, to pick up some treats, and to meet friends for Halloween fun. For the chamber's annual safe Trick or Treat, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. local businesses will be open and tables will be set up along South Finley Ave to give out treats and information.

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Need Info? Text the Library

Bernards Township Library on Monday launches new 'text' and web reference service.

Noting that many people — especially young people — are relying more and more on phone texts to communicate, the reference desk at the Bernards Township Library has added text messaging as a reference service, effective on Monday.  Area residents now ask the library questions and obtain information either by text or by chatting with staff members via a widget on the library website. “Recognizing the increased use of text messaging by patrons of all ages, we felt it important to offer a way to communicate with the library via text messaging,” said Ruth Lufkin, Director of Bernards Township Library. “The new service provides an easy-to-use interface for our librarians and maintains the privacy of our patrons’ information.” Senior Reference …

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Deer Management Report, Rebel's Party This Week

Deer management advisory committee report to be presented to two governmental boards this week, library e-help.

Tuesday's Bernards Township Committee meeting agenda includes acceptance of this year's deer management advisory committee report, which recommends the extension of this year's deer hunting season from mid February thru end of March 2013, as had been done in the winter of 2012. The same report, which said that the deer harvest this year was 12 percent lower this year than the year before, for a number of reasons, is also scheduled to be placed before the Environmental Commission on Monday night. Even with the extended season, the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife reported that 374 deer had been harvested in 2012, compared with 436 in 2011. The report notes that Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease [EHD] infected and killed many deer in the …

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Performers Needed For Teen Coffeehouse!

Are you a musician? Poet? The Bernards Township Library wants you.

After the library closes on Friday, Aug. 10, the second teen coffeehouse, featuring the performances and presentations of other artistic talents by local teen ages 12 to 18, will come alive at the Bernards Township Library. "Come check some great music and poetry from local teen bands and performers," according to the invitation from the library, located at 32 S. Maple Ave. The event, scheduled for 6:30 to 8:45 p.m., also will include refreshments and teen artwork on display, according to the library. Performers needed for music or readings The library's first coffeehouse in June attracted five bands and a great audience, according to the teen library department. "If you are in band, play an insturment  or would like to read poetry (your …

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Get Out

EVENTS: Outdoor Plays Continue, 'Mango Tango' at Library

Pull up a lawn chair and enjoy outdoor theater right in your own backyard, Pleasant Valley Park, and explore the joys of mango at the Bernards Library.

Summer, of course, calls for outdoor events, such as this week's continuation of Plays in the Park at Pleasant Valley Park off Valley Road in Basking Ridge. "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" continues this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. But some indoor events also get a summery twist this week. For example, learn how to make sweet, cool mango lassi at the Bernards Township Library on Thursday night. Or enjoy jazz in the Morristown Library. Hope you enjoy browsing through the list below. Let us know in the comments section if we missed something of interest. Thursday Events at Bernards Library When/Where: No matter what your age, there's something for you this Thursday at the Bernards Township Library, 32 S. Maple Ave. "Music…

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Sen. Kean's Staff to Offer State Services Assistance in Basking Ridge

State Sen. Tom Kean's staff to hold office hours at library on July 25 to address residents' concerns with state matters.

The constituent services staff of N.J. Senator Tom Kean (R-District 21) will meet with Bernards Township residents who have concerns regarding state matters during office hours scheduled for Wednesday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Bernards Township Library, 32 South Maple Avenue, Basking Ridge. The team will travel this summer to various locations throughout the 21st District as part of its constituent service outreach program, according to an announcement from Kean's office. The staff will be available to assist residents with questions or concerns on state matters involving their New Jersey income tax account, motor vehicle registration, or difficulties they may be encountering with state departments such as Community Affairs, …

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High 90s, Heat Advisories and Library 'Cooling Centers' Back

Local officials point to libraries and give tips for heat as temperatures expected to climb to 95 or higher next two days.

Police in Bernards Township and Bernardsville are again pointing to their respective communities' libraries as potential "cooling centers" as very hot weather is expected to return to the region on Friday, Saturday and possibly into Sunday. The National Weather Service predicted a chance of showers and thunderstorms could hit the area on Friday morning, but much of the day was expected to be mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Saturday has a prediction of mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Sunday may also reach close to that temperature again, although there may be possible showers and thunderstorms on that day, the National Weather Service predicted. Bernards residents are encouraged to visit the temporary cooling center designated…

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Wed. Night: Chamber Meeting On Business Resources at Library

Library Director Ruth Lufkin will discuss resources available at the Bernards Library that can assist local businesses.

The Bernards Township Regional Chamber of Commerce invites business owners and business people from Bernards Township and beyond to attend a chamber meeting at 6:45 p.m. at which Bernards Township Library Director Ruth Lufkin will discuss library resources available to local businesses. Another aspect of the meeting will be a discussion of changing legislation and tourism in Cuba, including visits through Tauck Tours, according to information from the chamber. As always, the chamber meeting will include opportunities for networking. The library, a cool source of air conditioning on a hot day, is at 32 S. Maple Ave., Basking Ridge. The chamber, which seeks to attract members from throughout the Somerset Hills, has revamped its website, …

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Editor's Notebook

POLL: Will E-Books Ever Replace Print Books?

How many readers really prefer eBooks? What will happen if print books become rare?

Can eBooks ever replace print books — or that endangered species, the used book store? During his winter break from Ridge High School, I drove my son as far as Jiminy Peak Ski Resort in Massachusetts to let him have two days of skiing on natural snow, a rarity this winter. As he hit the slopes for several hours, I headed up to Bennington, Vt., in search of WiFi. I found what I was looking for, at the South Street Cafe, where computers pretty much seemed to have replaced books in this hub of New England intellectualism. And I ended up discovering another rarity. After filing a story or two, I'd left some time to explore the little villages in the northern Berkshires in Massachusetts. But as I trudged to my car in the (moderately) frigid …

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