As April brings mild temperatures, spend some time outside this month enjoying the fresh air, getting exercise, and experiencing spring.  This month's opportunities include Reservation conservation, hikes, book discussions, health and safety talks, day trips, technology assistance, the Ideas Festival, Makers Mayhem, and more!

                                                     On-going Events                                                Spring 2022 Tech Teens Helping Seniors
Every 1st & 3rd Saturday in April, May, and June
South Orange Public Library, 65 Scotland Road
Have Tech Questions? Seniors can work one-on-one with a knowledgeable teen volunteer to provide technology assistance. You can learn to Set Up a Device, Configure Your Email, Print Files, Organize Photos, Download eBooks, Set Up Social Media(FaceTime, Zoom, etc.) and more!  Sessions will be held indoors, or outside of the library as the weather permits.To sign up, call and speak with a Reference librarian, 973-762-0230, or send an email to librarian@sopl.org.

Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar, and Cholesterol Health Screening, Monthly on Mondays, 2 – 3:30 pm (dates provided below)   Free
Maplewood Senior Center, 106 Burnett Avenue, Maplewood
The Maplewood Health Department and Braven Health have collaborated to offer free wellness blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol screenings once a month.  Open to all Maplewood and South Orange residents, 18 and up.  The service will be provided on Mondays from 2 to 3:30 pm on  No registration needed.


Thursday, May 5^th, Friday, May 6^th and Saturday, May 7th
Selection includes vegetables, herbs, annuals, hundreds of perennial, house plants, shrubs, and shade trees organized by shade, part-shade and sun. Maplewood pool parking lot. Check their website for details, https://maplewoodgardenclub.org/. Plant sale hours are:
Thursday, May 5^th, 8 am to 8 pm
Friday, May 6, 8 am to 8 pm
Saturday, May 7^th, 8 am to 4 pm

Saturday, May 7th, 1 - 4 pm  Free
Morrow Church, 600 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood
Bring your beloved items in need of repair. Our volunteer experts will lend their talents to fix lamps, jewelry, bikes, small electronics, clothing, furniture and more, as well as sharpen knives! Please contact the SOMA Two Towns office at 973-558-0863 or soma2towns@gmail.com identifying what you need repaired and the time you plan to arrive.
 


Trail Work Crew Volunteer Day, 9am-12pm. Free
South Mountain Reservation, South Mountain Conservancy
Meet at: Locust Grove Parking Lot off Glen Ave in Millburn.
(Best parking is across the street in the commuter lot near the library.)
The group will be working on improving the area near the Fairy Trail.
Trail work can be physically challenging. Participants must be 15+ years. Participants younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Participants should plan on bringing gloves, though backup gloves will be available. Tools, water, and a snack will be provided. (Registration is not required).  For more details visit www.somocon.org/events/
 
Treasure or Trinket? Antiques Appraisals, 2 to 4 pm   Free
Durand Hedden House and Garden at The Woodland, 60 Woodland Rd
Learn more about how to assess the value of your antiques with expert appraiser Nick Dawes. Nick, a Millburn resident, is Senior Vice President of Heritage Auctions, and a regular on Antiques Roadshow.
Important visitor guidelines:

• Limit 2 items per person
• Do bring ceramics, glass, metalwork, and small pieces of furniture
• Don’t bring books, coins, jewelry, paintings, or prints  

For more information go to durandhedden.org.
  Cherry Blossom Ride Through Branch Brook Park, 10:30 am, $5
With over 4,000 cherry blossom trees, Branch Brook Park outranks every other cherry blossom collection in the world. Enjoy the ride, take in the beauty of the blossoms, and have light refreshment at the Senior Center upon return. The bus will depart from DeHart Community Center at 10:30 am. Seats are limited so registration is required Go to Programs (recdesk.com).
 
Technology Assistance Senior for Older Adults, 3 to 4 pm   Free
Mondays and Tuesday in April
Morrow Church, 600 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood
SOMA Two Towns for All Ages is pleased to work with Seton Hall University again to delivery technology assistance for our older adult SOMA community. Each workshop session will include a 10-minute presentation followed by 1:1 assistance with any questions you have about using your cell phone, tablet, or laptop. The classes are interactive so please bring your device with you!  Workshop dates are:You can register for as few or as many sessions as you like. To register, Contact SOMA Two Towns to register, 973-558-0863 or soma2towns@gmail.com.
 
Sherlock Holmes Returns, $75
Musical Comedy bus trip, Hunterdon Hills Playhouse
Transportation, performance, and lunch are included. Call Michelle Wesley at the Maplewood Senior Center, 973-763-0750, to reserve a spot. Bus departs at 10:30 am.
 
Poetry Reading with Tina Kelley and Marina Carreira, 7 pm   Free
DeHart Community Center
Join our Maplewood Library in celebration of National Poetry Month with readings by local poets Tina Kelley and Marina Carreira.
 
Won’t You BEE My Neighbor, 7:30 pm   Free
Maplewood Garden Club at The Woodland, 60 Woodland Avenue, Maplewood.
Adriana Compagnoni, a local beekeeper, will share fun facts about bees that she learned in her years of beekeeping, some little-known facts about bees and beekeeping, and recommendations on what suburban gardeners can do to help the bees. Adriana’s presentation will follow a brief business meeting and conclude with a Q&A session. For meeting details, please go to MGC’s website, www.maplewoodgardenclub.org.
  How To Be An Anti-Racist Book Discussion, 5 to 6 pm, Virtual  Free
Join Seton Hall University Associate Professor Jon Radwan as he leads a discussion of the 2019 New York Times Best-Seller, How To Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi.  Kendi combines personal memoir with clear text-book style definitions of terms to explain his own journey out of a racist mindset into anti-racist action. All are welcome to attend.  For more information and to register, go to  https://events.shu.edu/view/event/date/20220405/event_id/19013.
 
The ABC’s of ASL (American Sign Language), 7 to 8 pm  Virtual  Free
South Orange Public Library
Led by Laura Bacine with Laurellie Jacobs-Martinez. Register here https://tinyurl.com/abcsofasl.
 
G(r)ay Matter Book Group, 7 pm (virtual)  Free
Our April title is The Natural Mother of the Child by Krys Malcolm Belc 
For more information go to maplewoodlibrary.org 
  Creative Writing, 1 pm outdoors (weather permitting) and virtually   Free
Using a prompt you will find your inner writer. This event will be held outside the library (weather permitting) and virtually on Zoom. Click here to join.
  Read Around the World:  Cuba, 7 pm (virtual)  Free
Our April title is The Cuban Comedy by Pablo Medina.  For more information go to maplewoodlibrary.org 
  Special Conversations lecture series, 1 pm  Virtual   Free
South Orange Public Library
Join the discussion on American Poetry and the Spirit with guest speaker John Wargacki, Professor of English at Seton Hall University. Click here to join.
 
Reservation Hike, 10 am to 12 pm   Free
Enjoy a 4-mile hike w/Gail Waimon
Registration is required. For details & registration go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oakdale-no-swan-boats-for-us-wgail-waimon-tickets-304152788177 (registration closes Thurs., April 7 @ 5pm)
  Yarn & Fiber Arts Group, 10-noon   Free
Maplewood Library Hilton Branch
An in-person gathering for people who knit, crochet, quilt, sew, embroider or do other creative things with yarn or fabric.
  Reservation Hike: 3.5-4 miles w/Lou Nocito, 10 am -12:30 pm    Free
Registration is required. For details & registration go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oakdale-from-mayapple-wlou-nocito-tickets-304158735967. (registration closes Fri., April 8^th)

Books Now and Then Book Group. 7 pm (virtual)   Free
A reading and discussion of selected classic and contemporary poetry. For a copy of the selections, please email programs@maplewoodlibrary.org after registering. REGISTER.
  Now in its 8th year, the Maplewood Library Ideas Festival celebrates the talent and creativity of our community and will include both in-person and virtual events. In-person events will follow Township safety guidelines and protocols. As always, all programs are free and open to the public.  The full line-up of events follows below, but highlights will be the presentations of the Literary Award and Carol Buchanan Award. This year, the Library is pleased to announce Ibi Zoboi as the recipient of the Maplewood Literary Award and the 2022 Carol Buchanan Award for Outstanding Contribution to Civic and Intellectual Life will be presented to Nancy Solomon.


Lunch and Learn: Rapid SOS, 11 am   Free
Maplewood Senior Center
Learn how to set up a free emergency profile so that in the event of a 911 emergency, dispatchers will have information, even if you are unable to speak. 

Creative Writing, 1 pm outdoors (weather permitting) and virtually  Free
Using a prompt you will find your inner writer. This event will be held outside the library (weather permitting) and virtually on Zoom. Click here to join.

Memory Screening, 10 am to 3 pm   Free
Essex County Division of Senior Services has 30 minute memory screening appointments available on the hour and half hour  at the Bauer Community Center in Taylor Park, Millburn.  Registration starts April 4th. No same day appointments.  Please call, 973-564-7091, or email  jhawkins@millburntwp.org  Appointments will be made on a first come basis.  A waiting list will be established, if necessary.
 
Special Conversations lecture series, 1 pm: Virtual Free
South Orange Public Library
Join this special session for a virtual discussion on The Art of Matchmaking: Centering Nature in Cities with distinguished guest speaker Tenisha Malcolm, Director of Cities Program at Nature Conservancy NJ. Click here to join.



  Makers Mayhem, 1 – 4 pm   Free
South Orange Public Library
The 7th annual Makers Mayhem will continue this year’s Makers Month theme, sustainABILITY: reuse, repurpose & reimagine. To create an interactive experience for everyone, there will be arts and crafts, an Earth Day celebration and more! Check the SOPL website for more information, sopl.org.

Book Discussion: "The Witch of Lime Street" by David Jaher, Virtual, 7 pm  Free
Join this literary group for a intriguing discussion.  Click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87584973112 to join. Contact book group moderator Nancy Janow at njanow@sopl.org with questions.
  Special Conversations lecture series, 1 pm: Virtual   Free
Join this special virtual discussion on Good Eggs: Writing the Generational Novel with Humor, Pathos, and Wit with distinguished guest speaker Rebecca Hardiman, local author of “Good Eggs”. Click here to join.
 
Maplewood Senior Center Outdoor Excursion to Ocean Grove
Get in the spirit of spring and summer. You are invited to enjoy the beach and boardwalk in Ocean Grove.  Transportation is free, you are on your own for lunch and shopping. To register, contact Michelle Wesley at (973) 763-0750 or MichelleW@twp.maplewood.nj.us.

Friends of SOPL Jewelry Sale
South Orange Public Library, 65 Scotland Road, South Orange, NJ 07079
The Friends of the South Orange Public Library will hold a Mother’s Day Jewelry Sale to benefit the South Orange Public Library on Saturday April 30, 2022, 1-5 pm and Sunday May 1^st, 1-4 pm in the library. The sale will feature a large selection of vintage and costume boutique jewelry in a moderate range of prices to suit any budget from $2 to $200. Pick up something special for everyone on your list and support the South Orange Public Library at the same time!
  Birdwatching Expedition, 7am-10am, rain or shine
Maplewood Memorial Park Conservancy (MMPC)
Join MMPC and a flock of bird nerds, lead by the very knowledgeable Robin M. We will be traversing Maplewood Memorial Park in search of birds passing through during spring migration, as well as looking for some of the usual suspects that reside here all year. The event is free but limited to 15 people. If interested, please email laratomlin.art@gmail.com to reserve your spot. Binoculars necessary and good walking shoes encouraged.