General Events

• Evolve Music And Arts Festival, Hidden Valley, Augusta, (973)896-9312. Live music, yoga, visionary art, environmental educators and the community in a lively exchange of ideas, 9/3-9/6.
• Fossil Discovery Center, Sterling Hill Mining Museum, Ogdensberg, (973)209-7212. Those intrigued by fossils and minerals will have a great time attending Fossil Discovery Center. A paleontologist is available for young people to go fossil hunting with. Digs take place ever half hour, 9/11, 10am-12:30pm.
• 5th Annual 5K Race and Fun Run, Swartswood State Park, (973)383-4787. If you like to run or walk, then we have the event for you! 5th Annual 5k race and fun run, a ‘fun-draiser and awareness day for our agency, 9/12, 9am.
• Seventh Annual Grape Expectations, Lafayette House, (973)827-8911. Samaritan Inn Signature Event Wine tasting, wines provided by Wine Country Franklin and Newton, NJ. Fine Food and Live Auction For more information or for a sponsorship opportunities please call the Samaritan Inn, 9/12, 3-7pm.
• Free Training for Volunteer Medicare Counselors, Sparta Health and Wellness Center, (973)579-0555 ext. 1135. The Sussex County Department of Human Services, Division of Senior Services is pleased to announce that it will be hosting FREE 5-Day training course for volunteers who wish to serve as Counselors for the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (S.H.I.P.) S.H.I.P. provides an in-depth training program designed to give volunteers the answers and resources needed to assist Medicare beneficiaries. Participants will learn the complexities of the Medicare program and related insurance plans, so they can help Medicare beneficiaries get accurate health care information. Up-to-the-minute information is an integral part of S.H.I.P. services and ongoing support and resources keep counselors current with respect to Medicare provisions and services, 9/14-10/12, 9am-4pm.
• 8th Annual Champion of the Grill, Sussex County Fairgrounds, Plains Road, Augusta. A family fun day that includes, a grilling competition, vendors, exhibits, blues band, car show and more, 9/19, noon-5:30pm.
• Sussex County Farmers Market, Sussex County Fairgrounds, Plains Road, Augusta, Farmers sell their products, from cheese, to produce, plants & flowers, beef, jams & jellies, soap and much more! Saturdays until October, 9am-2pm.

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Parks and Nature

• Kittatinny Valley State Park, Andover, (973)786-6445, kittatinnyvalley@earthlink.net. THE MAGIC OF MONARCHS: Adults and children ages 6-12 spend a year in the life of a monarch butterfly— from egg to flying creature, 9/1; HIKE: Share the afternoon hiking with your little one under age 5 on a one-mile guided hike, 9/2, 9/16 and 9/30: WHAT’S IN MY BACKYARD?: This event for children 6-12 answers all questions about the natural world lurking in your backyard, 9/15.
• Fair Acres Farm, 1343 Route 23, Wantage, (973)875-6613. The plant department offers a selection of annuals, perennials, grasses, shrubs and trees. At the garden center, they plant a variety of containers for finished sales as well as offer the plants for you to create your own, there or at home. Most plants are grown on the farm. Call for tours and details.

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Museums

• Franklin Mineral Museum, 32 Evans St., Franklin, (973)827-3481, Give your kids an experience to remember at the Franklin Mineral Museum! The Franklin Mineral Museum is a nonprofit educational institution that serves as the home to the world’s most famous zinc mines. The Franklin mine is especially famous for mineral fluorescence and a variety of rare species. Please call for museum hours and admission prices.
   

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Ongoing: Support Groups, Workshops & More

• Spanish Story & Song Time/Chinese Story & Song Time: At The Language Workshop for Children- 596 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, 45-M Story & Song Time for ages 2-6 kids hear stories in a new language, watch felt board play, and build a repertoire of foreign words and phrases. Youngsters also get to sing a few of the LWFC’s multi-award winning, vocabulary-building songs. Open to the public. $10 for Non-LWFC Students, FREE for LWFC students. For details visit www.languageworkshopforchildren.com. Call (800)731-0830 to reserve. Spanish: Tuesday at 2:45. Chinese: Fridays at 2:45pm.
• Caregivers Support Group Meeting, Sussex County Homestead Auditorium, 129 Morris Turnpike, Newton,. Meeting are held on the last Tuesday of every month from 5:30-6:30pm.
• SWIMSMART, Sussex County Adult Swim Team (SCAST), Sussex County YMCA, Hardyston. This is a group of swimmers over the age of 18 who enjoy swimming for exercise and competition, Saturdays, 7am-8:30am.
• Mommy & Me: Fitness & Fun, Imagine Health & Fitness, 4 Vernon Crossing Road, Vernon, (973)459-9772, www.imaginefitnessnj.com. This program introduces the concepts of physical fitness, socialization, positive play behaviors, self-esteem and sensory awareness, along with fine and gross motor skills. For ages 6 months through 5 years old, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:15am.
• Adult Public Health Clinic, Sussex County Health Center (Homestead Nursing Home), 129 Morris Turnpike, County Rt. 655, Frankford Township, (973)579-0570. Clinics will be held from 11am to noon on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Children’s clinics are held the third Tuesday of the month, 2-6pm.
• Mothers Of Only Children of Northern NJ- Are you a Mother of an Only Child?? Join together with other families of Onlies!! Our group has 80+ families from all over Northern NJ. We have activities such as getting together with the other Moms or fun outings with the kids!! We have also been featured in the New York Times. For more information please contact Joanne at jkowalski_makeovers @yahoo.com.
• Writer’s Meeting, New Jersey Writer’s Society Meeting, Sussex County Library, Main Library, Frankford, (973)948-3660. This new nonprofit organization helps writers connect and encourage one another. The first Monday of every month, 6-8pm.
• Divorce Mediation for Parents, Authentic Empowerment, LLC, Rt. 23, Hamburg, (201)921-5649. Have you decided to get a divorce? Resolve your conflict in a cost effective timely manner that protects your children from unnecessary distress. Free Consultation when you mention you read PARENTGUIDE.
• Coping with Loss, Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 99 Sparta Ave., Newton. Free support group for dealing with the loss of a loved one. The second Monday of every month, 7-8pm.
• Mental Health Support Group, First Baptist Church of Sussex Fellowship House, Main Street and Route 23, Sussex. Those attending may enjoy refreshments, socialize, obtain educational materials on mental illness and community resource listings and participate in a rap session. Meets on Mondays, 3-6pm.
• Natural Childbirth Education, Tri-State Yoga, LLC, 74 George Hill Road, Branchville, (973)702-4063, A natural childbirth method in which the birthing mother uses her own natural birthing instinct to deliver her baby. Eliminate the Fear-Tension-Pain syndrome throughout your birth experience. Classes run every five weeks for two-and-a-half hours, Sunday-Friday.
• Support Group for Loss of Child, Our Lady of the Lake Church, Sparta, (973)729-6107, A support group for any one who has lost a child. Meets on the third Tuesday of each month, 7:30pm.
• Fiction Writers Workshop, The Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council, 9B Moran St., Newton, (973)383-0027, Fiction Writers Workshop is a monthly fiction writer’s critique workshop. Meets on the second Wednesday of each month.
• Nicotine Anonymous Meetings, St. Francis de Sales Church, Vernon, (973)702-2497, Every Wednesday, 7-9pm.
• Poetry, Common Ground, Franklin, (973)383-0027, Poetry Night is held monthly on the third Wednesday of the month. Call for more information.
• Pregnancy Yoga, Tri-State Yoga, LLC, Sparta Health & Wellness Center, Suite 205, (973)702-4063, info@tristateyoga.net, Women can enjoy yoga through all stages of pregnancy. Learn breathing techniques and yoga postures that can help with delivery. Classes are every Tuesday, 6:30pm.
• Franchise Opportunity, Thinkertots, (877)TOTS-444, www.thinkertots.com, Who says work can’t be fun? Thinkertots provides age-appropriate education and creative stimulation for children from birth to 5 years of age. Founded by a mom who’s a child development professional, Thinkertots classes are fun and enlightening for children and their parents alike. A Thinkertots franchise is easy to open and operate. If you love helping kids learn and would enjoy spending time with your own children while working in your own challenging, flexible and close to home business, Thinkertots will teach you everything you need to know.
• Depression and Bipolar Support Group, Redeemer Lutheran Church, 37 Newton-Sparta Road, Newton, (973)948-6999, A weekly meeting is held for those suffering or know someone who is suffering from depression. Weekly meeting on Wednesday, 7:30-8:30pm.
• Lady’s Day, Expresso Yourself, 21 Main St., Sparta, (973)729-0055, Ladies are welcome every Thursday at a discounted rate to sip on some gourmet specialty drinks and partake in pottery painting— and yes you can keep them too, 8am-9pm.
• Kid’s Day, Expresso Yourself, 21 Main St., Sparta, (973)729-0055, Kids under 18 are welcome every Friday to have fun a great time while decorating pottery. Every Friday, 9am-9pm.
• Attention Andover, Byram, Green, Fredon & Sparta Residents!, Hello Neighbor, Our Community’s Greeting Service, (973)726-0865, pineapple_lady@tellurian.net, Have you recently added a new child to your family? Have you just moved into your town? This service is designed to visit you with gifts from local merchants & civic information to make your move a happy one! Call to schedule a visit or to find out more.
• Baby Songbirds, Fitness Connections of Hopatcong, (973)601-0022, Parents of children ages newborn-12 months old are invited to strengthen their parent/child bond and expand their social circle by enjoying a morning play-date filled with traditional children’s songs, gentle and stimulating routines and more! Fridays at 9:30am.
• Belly Dancing Classes, The Champagne Girls Dance Studio, 4 Vernon Crossing Road (inside Pace Karate), Vernon, (201)247-0897, www.dancingchampagnegirls.com, Belly dancing classes are held weekly on Tuesdays at 7pm.
• Circle of Yarns, Sparta Township Woman’s Club, Sparta, (973)726-0394, The Circles of Yarns of the Sparta Woman’s Club meets to create piece that will be donated to various charities and hospital in the area, Yarn, needs and instructions are free; no experience needed. Weekly on Thursday, noon-5pm.
• Mom & Me Yoga, Tri-State Yoga, LLC, (973)702-4063, A yoga class from moms or caretakers of babies 6 weeks to crawling. Bond with your baby and learn songs and exercises you can do together. Weekly on Wednesday, 11am-noon.
• Parents of School-Aged Children, Project Self-Sufficiency Career Center, Newton, (973)383-5129. This project offers parenting workshops between parents and children, while emphasizing positive discipline and improved communication. Weekly on Tuesday, until 4/15, 6:30-8:30pm.
• Computer Classes, Brookside Business & Technical Institute, Sussex, (973)875-4445, www.bbti.edu, Formerly known as The Training Experts at CNC, Brookside Business & Technical Institute is a progressive computer training company for both individuals and businesses. Classes are available either at the school or at your own facility and include Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels of applications such as Word, Excel or Photoshop. Career courses range from Medical Administrative Assistant to MCSE. Call for course schedules and registration info.
• Feel The Difference!, Garden of Life Therapeutic Massage & Yoga Center, 7-11 Main St., Hamburg, (973)827-1799, www.1gardenoflife.com, Leave the rest of the world behind and step inside this comfortable, relaxing center to feel the difference that massage and yoga can make. Caring, professional massage therapists and yoga teachers are committed to providing the best treatments to help you attain and maintain harmony and balance in body and mind. A full range of massage therapy, yoga, and skin services for all ages and stages of life are available, including First Baby Massage, Pre & Post Natal Yoga and Custom Moms Club Relaxation Parties. Open seven days a week, with evening hours available for your convenience.
• For Parents: Tips That Work, (973)726-6218, Moms and dads of children in pre-k through grade 5 are encouraged to take part in these helpful workshops that provide tips and suggestions, so that they can help their children with organization, homework, reading & comprehension, writing, math & problem solving, writing, test taking, focusing and more. Workshops are presented by Faye Simon Harac, a certified, experienced teacher who has worked as a parent coordinator and has lead parent workshops both for large PTA groups and small groups. Space is limited, so advance registration is important! Private sessions are also available. Call to find out more.
• The Moms Club of the Stanhope Area, (973)601-0656, A non-profit national organization with over 1,500 chapters, The Moms Club of Stanhope is looking for new members. Monthly meetings with speakers and discussions, park play dates, field trip-like outings for mothers and children and Mom’s Nights Out are just a few of the ongoing activities. Activities are held during the day and children are always welcome. Call for more info.
• The MOMS Club of Hampton/Frankford/Lafayette is a support group for Mom’s who choose to stay at home to raise their children. Friendships, support and fun activities for children and Mom’s are all offered. For more information please call Lisa at (862)534-3819 or send an e-mail to lisamvo@embarqmail.com.
• “Working Moms Secrets to Success” Coaching Group. Are you a professional Mom with young children? Don’t just survive – learn to THRIVE at work and home!!! Come join our telephone coaching group, run by two experienced personal and professional coaches. Through guided discussions and information sharing, you will learn strategies to find 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 course of this group. Through specific exercises, structure, and support, our group will help you stay focused and on track towards achieving your goals! For more information, e-mail newyorkaddcoach@rcn.com or call Catrina at (800)929-7176.
• Donate Like a Rockstar, Cancer Patients Team Up at www.imermanangels.org, a free one-on-one cancer support group that connects a cancer fighter with a cancer survivor— providing opportunity to ask personal questions and receive encouragement from someone uniquely familiar with the situation. To sign up or to donate, log on now.
   

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