InJersey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 18, 2011

Press Contact: Lisa Bogart
Somerset County Library System
908-526-4016 ext. 188
lbogart@sclsnj.org

Outspoken Library Comes to the Somerset County Library System

Bridgewater, NJ April 21, 2011 – The New Jersey State Library Talking Book & Braille Center’s (TBBC) “Outspoken Library” kiosk is available at the Bridgewater Library, a branch of the Somerset County Library System (SCLS). The kiosk is designed to demonstrate to veterans and New Jersey residents who have impaired vision, a physical disability that makes it difficult to hold a book, or a learning disability the services available from the TBBC. Once registered for the program with TBBC, which can be done at the Bridgewater Library, users will then be able to access the National Library Services Braille and Audio Reading (BARD) Program from home. The Bard service offers over 18,000 downloadable audiobooks and 42 magazines.

The SCLS will debut the service during an open house to be held at the Bridgewater Library on Thursday, April 21 from 1 – 4 pm. Demonstrations will allow patrons to see how the audiobook readers work while application forms will be available for qualification for the program.

“This initiative will help us expand the services of the Talking Book and Braille Center to new, underserved populations in New Jersey,” said Adam Szczepaniak, director of TBBC. “It will help to make a difference for those who, for whatever reason, have difficulty reading printed material.”

Bridgewater Library staff will be available to demonstrate how the kiosk works, explain eligibility, provide applications and walk applicants through the process. Once certified by TBBC, users will receive a login ID and password to access BARD at home. Users will receive a free digital player provided by the Library of Congress. New Jersey teens who are registered will be able to participate in a pilot program where TBBC will provide a smaller player the size of a cell phone.

“We are delighted to be able to participate and offer the resources of the Outspoken Library to our patrons who are print challenged. Reading often opens up new vistas and now SCLS can extend this experience through audiobooks to patrons who might not otherwise be able to experience this,” commented Brian Auger, Director of the Somerset County Library System.

Patrons with further questions can call SCLS at (908)526-4016 or enter the website at http://www.somerset.lib.nj.us/. The Somerset County Library System has branches in Bridgewater, Bound Brook, Hillsborough, at the Mary Jacobs Library in Rocky Hill, North Plainfield, Peapack-Gladstone, Somerville, Warren Township and Watchung.

Organizing The Clutter In Your Parent’s Life

How do you begin to get control over your parent’s affairs and all the clutter that they have accumulated over the years? And – how do you do this in a way that is collaborative and allows you to deal with the stress without going crazy?

Attend this workshop and discover:
- The 3 Golden Rules to managing the clutter.
- It takes a Village to downsize a home: tips for collaborating on CLUTTER CONTROL.
- How critical is it, really? The art of letting go.
- SURVIVAL TIPS for managing your time and stress.

Date: April 6, 2011, 7:30-9:00 pm.

Registration Required. Complete details at:
http://www.centerforlifetransitions.net/elder-care/organizing-clutter/

They Just Seem Different: Dealing With The Changing Behaviors Of Elderly Parents

It’s hard to determine when parents need us to step in. And then once the need is recognized, the question becomes what to do, how to do it and who to work with? The burden of answering these questions and putting systems in place can seem overwhelming.

Attend this workshop and discover:
- What to expect: signs and symptoms of dementia.
- Three KEY SIGNS that additional help is needed and how to get it.
- Understanding changing roles, relationships and responsibilities.
- ENCOURAGING a healthy, active lifestyle for an aged loved one.

Date: March 30, 2011, 7:30-9:00 pm in Bridgewater, NJ.

Registration Required. Complete details at:
http://www.centerforlifetransitions.net/elder-care/changing-behaviors/

”Coffee And Conversation For Caregivers” support group meets again on Tuesday, March 22, 2011.

This support group meets monthly from 7:00-8:30pm at the The Center for Life Transitions “Hope House,” 191 Church Road, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807

Attendance is free. Registration is required.

Full details available online at:
http://www.centerforlifetransitions.net/elder-care/caregivers-group/

5 Secrets To Starting (and Finishing!) Tough Conversations

It can be very difficult to have the tough conversations with our parents about decisions to be made in their best interest; especially when everyone seems to have a different opinion about what best means. Attend this workshop and discover:

- Step by Step STRATEGIES to get the conversation started.
- How to create an emergency plan (before an emergency happens!).
- Lending SUPPORT when you live far away.
- Getting everyone in the family on the same page about elder care plans.

Date: March 23, 2011, 7:30-9:00 pm

Details and registration:
http://www.centerforlifetransitions.net/elder-care/tough-conversations/

Laughter is the ultimate stress reliever; helping you remember that life is often frustrating and ridiculous – and that it isn’t your fault. Attend this engaging and informative evening and learn:

- Specific ways to use humor to deal with life’s challenges, both big and small.
- Revisit the carefree “child in you” as you participant in humor exercises for a deeper state of relaxation.
- Discover the 10 powerful benefits of laughter, seldom prescribed by doctors.
- Love what you’re experiencing and enjoy the company of others for this hour!

Date: March 16, 2011, 7:00-8:00pm

Details and registration:
http://www.centerforlifetransitions.net/taking-care-of-yourself/laughter-best-medicine/

Deadlines Approaching for November General Election

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey reminds all citizens that New Jersey’s General Election will take place on November 2, 2010.

The deadline to register to vote or to submit a change of name or address for the November 2 election is Tuesday, October 12. The registration form is available on the League of Women Voters of New Jersey’s web site, http://www.lwvnj.org. Voter registration forms must be received by your county Commissioner of Registration/Superintendent of Elections no later than Tuesday, October 12.

Evening registration hours are available to register in person or hand deliver registration forms and can be found on the New Jersey Division of Elections website, http://www.njelections.org. If you are not sure if you are registered you can look up that information on the New Jersey Division of Elections website by entering your name and birth date.

In New Jersey, any voter can vote by mail, using a “Vote by Mail” ballot (formerly absentee ballot) in any election, but the deadlines for applying are quickly approaching. Applications can be found on the League of Women Voters of New Jersey web site, http://www.lwvnj.org. If you choose to send your application by mail, it must be received by your County Clerk no later than Tuesday, October 26. There is a 3 p.m. deadline on November 1 to apply for a “Vote by Mail” ballot in person at the County Clerk’s office.

For additional information or clarification about the November 2 General Election, go to http://www.lwvnj.org or call the League of Women Voters of New Jersey’s toll free voter information line, 1-800- 792-VOTE.

Bowling with the New York Jets
The David Clowney Foundation and Santonio Holmes’ III & Long Foundation have teamed up to have a good time and for a good cause. Come enjoy a night of food, bowling and the New York Jets. The David Clowney Foundation will be hosting its second annual Bowling with the New York Jets fundraiser. Proceeds will go to support the David Clowney Foundation and Santonio’s III & Long Foundation which benefits children and families suffering from Sickle Cell Anemia. Each participant will receive a t-shirt, dinner sponsored by Applebee’s ® and Chevy’s ® and two-hours of bowling with some of your favorite New York Jets players.

Registration/Dinner

6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Bowling

7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Ticket Price Includes:

David Clowney Foundation and Santonio Holmes III & Long Foundation presents Bowling with the New York Jets T-shirt

Meal sponsored by Applebee’s ® and Chevy’s ®

2-hours of bowling with New York Jets Players

Silent Auction

Autographed player photos

Autographed player jerseys

Autographed footballs

Invited Players

Mark Sanchez

Nick Mangold

Vernon Gholston

Bart Scott

Braylon Edwards

Kyle Wilson

Shonn Greene

D’Brickashaw Ferguson

Dustin Keller

Brad Smith

The Advanced Child Learning and Development Center will be having an Open House Saturday (10/2) from 9 – 11 am. The center is located at 431 Country Club Road, Bridgewater, NJ

Please join us.

Children need the math and social skills that will propel them ahead in school and throughout their lives.

Brainobrain – Bridgewater uses our proven program of advanced abacus training to develop mental math techniques and to build a solid foundation of math skills that has our students completing complex mathematical calculations without a calculator.

Our program includes Neuro-Linguistics programming (NLP) to help children to gain the leadership, communication and interpersonal skills and combining these skills with good academics are essential to be successful in today’s competitive world.

It is never too late to develop the skills that will carry you through life with confidence, concentration and creativity.

Our goal is to cultivate the minds of our future leaders in science, business, the arts, whatever direction your child may take, they must have the confidence and skills to succeed.

The Advanced Learning and Development center is currently enrolling students. If you would like more information or to register your child in our Brainobrain program please call us on
908 725 2776 or email will.davis@brainobrainusa.com.

5 Secrets To Starting And Finishing Tough Conversations With Your Aging Parents

It can be very difficult to have the tough conversations with our parents about decisions to be made in their best interest; especially when everyone seems to have a different opinion about what best means.

The Center for Life Transitions is pleased to partner with community minded experts like the Somerset County Office on Aging and Disability Services in order to provide valuable advice to our community.

A free workshop, ”5 Secrets To Starting (and Finishing!) Tough Conversations,” will be held Tuesday, October 5, 2010, 7-8:30 PM in Bridgewater, NJ. This event features expert advice from Susanne Mueller, owner of Bright Star Healthcare, and Laurie Rowe, Eldercare Educator for the Somerset County Office on Aging.

Attendees will learn how to talk to their parents about decisions to be made in their best interest, while getting everyone in the family on the same page about eldercare plans. The advice and expertise being offered is not just for the caretakers, but for those who are being taken care of, as senior care is a family affair.

The workshop is free of charge, but registration is required due to limited seating. For complete and to reserve a seat, please visit http://www.heartfeltstrategies.com/tough-conversations or call (908) 203-0088.

The Center for Life Transitions, Inc. is dedicated to serving people at ”crossroads” in their personal, professional and spiritual lives. Located at 191 Church Road in Bridgewater, New Jersey, the center resides in a pre-civil war house located on the banks of the North Branch of the Raritan River. The building has been carefully maintained to reflect the enduring character of its age while providing comfortable, inspired space for the Center’s programs, counseling and services. For more information the Center’s upcoming events and projects, please visit http://www.centerforlifetransitions.net or call (908) 203-0088.

A reminder to foodies and peach lovers, food historian Judith Krall-Russo presents “Peachy Keen in New Jersey” at the Hunterdon County Library, Rt. 12, Flemington on Wednesday, August 11 at 7:00 pm.

A juicy sun-kissed peach captures the flavor of summer and is one of the most popular fruits of the season. A native of China, the peach was first introduced to the New World by Spanish explorers in 1571. By the 1600’s peaches had become an important crop in New Jersey. This is the time of year when local orchards are bursting with juicy, ripe peaches. Come and spend a relaxing evening and learn the history and folklore of this New Jersey summertime favorite.

Free. For more information please call (908) 788-1434 or visit the Library website’s Events Calendar at http://www.hclibrary.us.

Bring a chair or blanket and join us by the outdoor stage of the Hunterdon County Library, Rt. 12 for some great rock music tonite at 6:30 pm. The BassBoards come to you from Central New Jersey delivering a wide variety of classic rock from the 60’s to the present as well as blues styles from blues/rock and good-time honky-tonk boogie. The band is made up of highly seasoned musicians fronted by Jessica Lyn Smith on lead vocals. The concert is free. It will be moved indoors in case of rain.

Here are some tips on how to keep your car in good car for the Summer, http://drivepenskeblog.com/how-to-keep-your-used-car-in-good-care-for-the-summer/

Thursday morning reminder to vote for us in the Pepsi Refresh Challenge:http://pep.si/cGaUr8
Thanks. we have moved from 173 down to 169. We’re moving in the right direction!

The local cancer education charity I work for is trying to get a grant from Pepsi. It’s a $250,000 project to help save lives by getting drugs in clinical trials to those that really need them. We need help getting the votes. Can everyone vote for us for the next 25 days? here is the link: http://pep.si/cGaUr8
Please tell everyone you know
We really need the money to help save soe lives and hundreds of folks are counting on us.

The Charlie Dourney Memorial 5K for the Blazeman Foundation. Thursday, July 29th 7:00 PM at the Somerset Hills YMCA in Basking Ridge. All proceeds benefit the foundation for ALS (Lou Gehrigs) research. Register at active.com, raceforum.com or bestrace.com.

TD Bank in Raritan donated water bottles and coloring books to Bradley Gardens Little Loop’s Phillies Baseball team. The Little Loop’s Phillies play their final game of the season on Friday, June 18.