General Events

• Duke Island Walkers, Duke Island Park, Bridgewater, (908)722-1200, ext. 226. Start your new year by joining this weekly walking group which will meet every Wednesday in Parking Lot B adjacent to the Duke Island Park Visitor Center. Dress for the weather. Warm up in the Visitor Center with coffee, tea, and treats following the walk. 1/4-12/26/12.
• Winter Yoga, North Branch Park, Bridgewater, (908)722-1200, ext. 226. Come and enjoy the benefits of classic Hatha Yoga on Wednesday evenings in this ten week program. Wear comfortable clothes and bring a yoga mat or purchase one on the first day of class. 1/18-3/21, 5:30-6:30pm (beginner), 7-8:30pm.
• Maple Sugaring, Environmental Education Center, Basking Ridge, (908)766-2489. This free event offers the history of and a hands-on experience of centuries old process, on-site at sugar shack. 2/4-3/11.
• Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center, 775 Talamini Road, Bridgewater, www.ssbjcc.org. The Jewish LIFE Program: The program presents editor Mary Zamore in a discussion of The Sacred Table: Creating a Jewish Food Ethic (CCAR Press). Explore Kashrut, the historic Jewish approach to eating while Zamore presents visitors with her knowledge of Judaism, food and implementing values, such as ethics, community and spirituality, into daily dietary practice. 2/9, 7pm. OPEN HOUSE: The Blaustein Early Childhood Center and JCC Camp Ruach hosts an Open House for new preschool and summer camp registrations. 2/21,6:30-8:30pm.
• Garden State Home Show, Garden State Exhibit Center, 50 Atrium Drive, Somerset, www.gsec.com. This year’s Garden State Home Show offers attendees new home ideas, products, and meetings with the people that can help you make your next remodel, addition, renovation, landscaping or decorating project a breeze. Plus, browse more than 250 displays from the region’s top professionals. 2/10, 1pm, and 2/12, 11am.
• Twenty-fifth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Villagers Theatre, 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset. This hilarious musical comedy celebrates the mania of competition among the funniest, most lovable and, unquestionably, the most sardonically nerdy contestants ever to vie for the title of Spelling Bee Champion. Six wacky adolescent misfits strive to make a name for themselves, in spite of the challenges of puberty and the often misplaced encouragement of their offbeat families. 2/12, 2pm, 2/17, 8pm, 2/18, 8pm, 2/19, 2pm.
• I Heart Horses Valentine Trail Ride, Lord Stirling Stable, Basking Ridge, (908)766-5955. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a trail ride on a four-legged friend. Riders at Intermediate 2 level and above may participate in this one-hour ride, which is walk/trot only, as weather conditions and footing permit. 2/12, 11am-noon.
• Art and Photography Exhibit, Leonard J. Buck Garden, Far Hills, (908)234-2677. Admire the greenery and flora of Far Hills’ Leonard J. Buck Garden at this exhibit. The event features works by talented artists who used photos, paintings and drawings to showcase the four seasons at the locale. 2/27-3/16.

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Ongoing: Support Groups, Workshops and More...

• Jewish Family Service of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties, 150-A West High St., Somerville, (908)725-7799. Hosting Support Group for Children Living with a Disabled Sibling offers siblings the opportunity to join together. At this group, sibling will have a place to express their feelings and emotion, and reduce feeling of stress and isolation that may arise when dealing with a disabled sister or brother. They will also be able to share common experiences with a group of peers in a safe, non-judgemental and confident environment. Call now for more information.
• Matheny to Offer Music Therapy Groups, Matheny Medical and Educational Center, 65 Highland Ave., (908)234-0011. Music therapy groups for children with special needs are offered on Thursday and Saturday mornings. Matheny is a special hospital and special education school for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities. Music therapy groups focus on fostering communication skills, social and motors skills for children ages 18 months - 4 years. Call for more information.
• “Working Moms Secrets to Success” Coaching Group, (800)929-7176. Are you a professional mom with young children? Don’t just survive— learn to thrive at work and home! Join a telephone coaching group run by two experienced personal and professional coaches. Through guided discussions and information sharing, you will learn strategies to plan quality time with your children, reduce stress and guilt, find more time for yourself, maintain friendships, better manage household chores and more. You will also have the opportunity to work on a personally meaningful goal during the course of this group. For more information, e-mail newyorkaddcoach@rcn.com.
• MOMS Club of Hillsborough East, Hillsborough Racquet Club, Amwell Road, Hillsborough, www.momsclubofhillsborougheast.com e-mail: momsclubhbe@yahoo.com. The Moms Club is an international nonprofit organization specifically for mothers who have chosen to stay home with their children. The club offers monthly meetings, play groups, moms nights out, field trips, casual get-togethers, a monthly newsletter and special interest clubs. The club meets the second Monday of every month.
• Computer Adventures, 1948 Washington Valley Rd., Martinsville, (732)377-3283. Benefit from computer classes for kids ages 2½ to adults. School year and summer camp programs are available, featuring Imagine Tomorrow Computer Classes for Kids, MicroWorlds text based graphical programming language, keyboarding concepts and all types of computing and software skills. Contact Janet at jamorris1@optonline.net to learn more.
• i9 Sports, Somerset, (732)828-0730, www.i9sports.com. This innovative and unique sports organization gives kids a fun experience with sports. It offers a wide variety of sports with absolutely no tryouts or drafts. Every kid gets to play and is made to feel like a winner regardless of skill level. Certified coaches lead the instruction portion, and registered referees ensure the rules are reinforced. All games and practices are conveniently scheduled as well.
• Literacy Volunteers of Somerset County, 120 Finderne Ave., Bridgewater, (908)725-5430. Literacy Volunteers is seeking to change lives by training people to be volunteers and matching each volunteer with an adult student or small group of students needing help with English reading, writing, conversation and listening skills in a one-to-one or small group learning partnership. Five mandatory training sessions in the Bridgewater area are required to obtain dual certification in Basic Literacy and English for Speakers of Other Languages. Call for more information.
• Free Morning Nature Walks, The Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, 11 Hardscrabble Rd., Bernardsville, (908)766-5787. Interested in birds, butterflies, wildflowers and trees? NJ Audubon naturalists lead informative nature walks at the sanctuary every week throughout the year. Bring binoculars or borrow a pair. Beginners are welcome. Fridays and Saturdays at 8am.
• Montgomery Center for the Arts, 124 Montgomery Road, Skillman, (609)921-3272, www.montgomerycenterforthearts.com. Here’s the perfect gathering place for anyone looking to stimulate their artistic side. The facility has continual art classes and nature programs for all ages and abilities. Inquire about exhibits, workshops, children’s summer camp sessions, performances and nature walks.
• Irish Folk Dance Lessons, The People Care Center, 120 Finderne Ave., Bridgewater, (908)218-9654. Strut your stuff during Irish folk dance lessons every Thursday from 7:30-9:00pm.
• Creative Programming, Raritan Valley Arts Association, Somerset County Library, North Bridge St. and Vogt Dr., Bridgewater, (908)722-1925. This nonprofit organization provides demonstrations in various media and holds exhibition of members’ work. Members receive dinners, a bus trip to a New York City art museum and two or three member shows a year.
• Local Story Time, League of N.J. Storytellers, Bridgewater Library, North Bridge St., (732)469-9327. Be part of a group of community members that shares stories in the oral tradition. Listeners enjoy a unique listening experience.
• Duke Farms, 80 U.S. Highway. 206 South, Hillsborough, (908)722-3700. Take a trolley tour through the 700-acre private park, which is open mid-April to mid-November, Wednesday through Sunday. Tours occur at 11am and 2pm for individuals and groups of up to 20 people. Call for ticket prices. Reservations are required.
• Dog Walks, Lord Stirling Stable 256 S. Maple Ave., Basking Ridge, (973) 635-8672. Dogs can revel in the company of other canines as they roam through the equestrian trails. All pets must be leashed and kept under control at all times. Every Saturday, 10:30-11:30am. Registration at 10am.
• Donate Like a Rockstar, www.imermanangels.org. Cancer patients team up at a free one-on-one cancer support group that connects a person fighting cancer with someone who has beaten the same kind of cancer. The relationship provides a fighter with the opportunity to ask personal questions and receive encouragement from someone who is uniquely familiar with the situation. To sign up or donate, log on now.
• ABC— After Baby Comes, Thomas the Apostle Church 5635 Berkshire Valley Rd., Oak Ridge, (973)208-3181, www.phpbbserver.com/abc/. This friendly non-religious group is comprised of mothers and their small children (preschool age and younger). Participants meet every week to share experiences, give support, find advice and make new friends. Moms relax while children play in a supervised age-appropriate environment with their peers, learning social skills and making new friends too. Tuesday mornings, 9:30 -11:30am.

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