It Will Boo Spooktacular!

Halloween lurks around the corner to wrap up a spooky month during which we've celebrated several famous ghosts! A literary ghost, Sir Simon de Canterville, has haunted us this October while we've enjoyed the communal reading of Oscar Wilde's short story, "The Canterville Ghost," chosen as our One Book Bernardsville selection. In addition, there's also our very own library ghost, Phyllis, to whom we must pay homage. Said to haunt the old library building, Phyllis has her own extended history of paranormal activity! Both ghosts have been featured in a number of fascinating library programs this month. We hope you've attended a few of them.

To cap off October, we invite you to attend the Friends of the Bernardsville Public Library fundraiser, Dinner with Author L'Aura Hladik. Spirits will be raised for sure with so many exciting evening events planned for you! Paranormal investigator L’Aura Hladik Hoffman, author of “Ghosthunting New Jersey,” will discuss - what else? - ghosts and will sign her book for you. Following a delicious fall dinner, enjoy dancing to music from local celebrity DJ Charlie Zavalic, participate in a 50/50 and silent auction, and experience some shivery goosebumps as ghost stories are told! The kids can have their trick or treat; we've got this spooktacular event! Please link here for information about ticket options, the purchase of which enables the Friends to continue their ongoing support of our library.  

One Book Bernardsville

This month Bernardsville Library and its community will be enjoying a shared reading experience called One Book Bernardsville. We will be reading "The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken" by Laura Schenone, discussing the book at three different book group meetings, and participating in an interesting and varied assortment of programs related to Italian culture, cuisine, and ethnic history.

Our first program offers insights into the Italian community in Bernardsville which provided skilled artisans for the Mountain Colony estates they helped build at the turn of the 20th century. While the stately homes are known to many, the history of this Italian community, Little Italy, is less well appreciated. Learn about Bernardsville's Little Italy at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, and hear how you can connect to your own family's history through Ancestry.com, as well.

If you love Frank Sinatra standards, come back again the next day for a jazz singer's rendition of the tops hits when Maggie Worsdale sings Sinatra at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 11. This concert is funded by the Friends of the Bernardsville Public Library. On Sunday, October 25, at 2 p.m., we offer a completely different musical program featuring world class tenor Salvatore Chiarelli. You'll find yourself entranced as Mr. Chiarelli sings a lovely selection of classical, popular, and traditional Neapolitan/Italian songs.

For a taste of Italy, attend our two free programs on cuisine and wines! Diane dePalma will teach us how to make ravioli and provide a tasting, too, on Saturday, October 24 at 2 p.m. Follow that up on Wednesday, October 28, 7 p.m. with a free Italian Wine and Cheese Pairings program presented by Gary's Wine and Marketplace.

And to tie this all together, we will host the author of our One Book Bernardsville selection when Laura Schenone comes to the library to talk about her book and her quest for that lost family recipe. She'll be here on Wednesday, October 14, at 7 p.m., so feel fee to ask her a few questions. Copies of her book will be available for purchase and signing. We hope you'll attend at least a few of these wonderful free programs and that you'll enjoy discussing this book with your neighbors, the library staff,  and your own book groups. Please refer to the website for dates when we offer library book group discussions.

"I come from Des Moines. Somebody had to."

In October, Bernardsville Public Library will host a month-long community reading event known as One Book Bernardsville.  The memoir A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson has been selected as our One Book.  To become better acquainted with the author, please view the enjoyable video posted below.

Bill Bryson's 1989 book, The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America, begins with the words "I come from Des Moines. Somebody had to."  That opening line also kicks off this video about the author's childhood.  Aired in the United Kingdom on Melvyn Bragg's South Bank Show in 2006 (South Bank Show – Bill Bryson itv.com/southbank,) the video features Bryson's recent return visit to his hometown to discuss what it was like growing up in Iowa. Included in it are numerous charming clips from home movies his father took.  Bryson's mother appears in it as well as high school friend, "Katz," who accompanied Bryson on part of his Appalachian Trail hike. That attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail is recounted in our One Book Bernardsville selection, A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, to be read and discussed by the community during the month of October. Please click here for information about A Walk in the Woods and about the One Book Bernardsville events our library has planned throughout October. Now, enjoy the video!