Plainsboro Public Library News

2008-05-06T09:22:00.000-07:00

LEAVE A LEGACY...BUILD A LIBRARY campaign news!

Here is the latest news: As of 3/12/2008, we have raised $1.4 million with a goal of $2 million. We'll update here every week. For more info and forms, see our website at http://www.lmxac.org/plainsboro/HTML/PPLFrame-Capital.html

Our thanks to the following pace-setting donors, who have laid the foundation for our dynamic 2007 campaign:

BUSINESS COMMUNITY
Align Chiropractic
Art Nail Spa
Bagel Street
Bank of America
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Cando Fitness and Koi Spa
Casa Rosario's
CME Associates
Comag Marketing Group, LLC
The Digital Group
Easy Street Hair Cuttery
Elitech, Inc.
Firmenich
1st Constitution Bank
Goldcore Jewelers, Inc.
Harmony School
IH Engineers, PC
Ivy Realty
Kroll Direct Marketing
M3 Realty
MMMassage
McCarthy and Schatzman, P.A.
National Business Parks
Noto Insurance
Novo Nordisk
Patrinely Group, LLC
Plainsboro Liquors
Princeton Courtyard
Princeton Forrestal Village, LLC
Princeton PartnersPrinceton University
Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals
RE Cap
Romeo's
Salt Creek Grille
SES
Shawnee
Smith Pizzutillo, LLC
Sugar and Sunshine Bakery
Tooth Fairy Dental Spa
UPS
Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village
Winston Hotels, Inc
Zargis Medical Corporation

INDIVIDUALS
Anil and Reena Arora
Gary Appleby
Jinny and Bill Baeckler
Lewis Barringer
Howard Becker
Marjorie Behrens
Consuelo A. Bonillas
Deborah Brett
Ray and Gigi Burton
Edgar and Elizabeth Buttenheim
Mayor Peter and Gale Cantu
Iris Chang
Russell and Donna Culin
William Damron and Faye Best-Damron
George and Joan Denzer
Anjana Desai
Michael Doney
Diane and Michael Ford
Ginger Gold
Hope Goldstein
Richard Gould
Lee and Robert Gunther-Mohr
Jeanette H. Haggerty
Tom Hall
Dorothy Hanle
Stuart Chen Hayes
Bin He
Virginia Herring
Yvette O. Higa
Gerald and Patricia Hullfish
Mary T. Hunsicker
Minhong Ji
Greta Kiernan
Paul and Leslie Kiernan
Kim Klinger
Nilesh and Neera Kothary
Jeanne V. Kuhlman
Ruth and Julian Levy
Dr. Neil and Nancy Lewis
Kevin and Ying Liu
Jeffrey Jian Lou and Huiling Chen
Pat Luther
Phyllis Manuel
David and Rosalie Markowitz
W. Marshall and Cornelia C. Schmidt
Clifford and Sara Maurer
Shalini-Munish Modgil
Ed Moeller and Betty Harris
Demirkaya Mustafa
Narasimhan and Revathy Ravichandran
Jane Nowakowski and Kevin Mulcahy
Richard and Elizabeth Orth
Phaneendra S. Pannala
Carol and Don Quick
Ravindran and Sapna Jeevan
Dr. Frances Reichl
Betty Rimalover
Bob and Robyn Ringler
Arthur and Gloria Jean Ryba
Julie and Kevin Sawchuk
Robert Schwartz
Donald and Francine Shames
K. and Anbuselvi Shanmuganandamurthy
Henry K. Smith
Brian Stevens
Chris Tarr
Emily and Guy Townsend
Harvey and Jan Trabb
Richard and Lori Watson
Jeanette and John J. Wiegartner
Dr. Barbara Wright
Drs. Jinn and Ze Al C. Wu
Rong Xiao
Cheri and Jeffrey Zaro
Bixing Zheng

TRIBUTES AND MEMORIALS

IN CELEBRATION OF NEIL LEWIS' 60th Birthday
Gail and Dennis Alba
Assaf and Francine Amir
Michele Alperin
Sally and Dan Brent
Barbara Brubaker
Peter and Gale Cantu
Hilary Charney
Eve Coulson
Arlene and Stanley Dorfman
Michele and Jeffrey Epstein
Richard and Sheryl Feinstein
Louise and Spencer Forman
Martha Friedman
David and Andrea Gaynor
Linda and Michael Greenstein
Jonathan and Susan Gross
Dany Harel
Harold Heft
Barbara and David Kalmus
Seva and Peter Kramer
John and Jo Ethel Kendall
Henry L. Kent-Smith
Greta Kiernan
Mindy and Corey Langer
Arthur J. Lehrhaupt
Joan and Mark Levin
Amy and Jeffrey Mattes
Nelson Obus
Nancy A. Osborn
David Pallotta
Gilda and Stephen Paul
Melvin and Sydell Ruth Schulman
Steven Sheriff
Assia Shvartz
Michael T. and Stephanie M. Weaver

IN MEMORY OF EVELYN LEWIS
Sally Steinberg-Brent
Peter and Gale Cantu
Martha Friedman and Harold Heft
Helaine and Hanan Isaacs
Rhoda Besso Stein
Michael T. and Stephanie M. Weaver
Drs. Jinn and Ze Al C. Wu

IN MEMORY OF CHARLES HAYES

Helene M. Cox

COMMUNITY GROUPS
Anonymous Donor
Central Jersey Chinese American Association Women's Club
Friends of Plainsboro Public Library
Harmony School at Forrestal Village
Millstone River School
Plainsboro Public Library
Staff and Patrons of 1st Constitution Bank
Wicoff School
Windrows Library Committee

IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS
Ace Hardware
Deborah Stern
Dmitri and Caroline Karetnikov
Harrison Conference Center and Hotel
Hermitage Press
It's a Grind
Plainsboro Wine and Liquors
Princeton Partners
Sharbell Development Corporation
Super Fresh
Tre Piani
UPS
Village Store
Wireless n You/11 Schalks Crossing Road
Wyndham Princeton Forrestal Hotel and Conference Center

FOUNDATIONS
F.I.S.H.
Integra Foundation
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Weingart Family Fund of the Community Foundation of New Jersey
The PNC Foundation

GOVERNMENT GRANTS
Middlesex County
NJ Department of Treasury
NJ Department of Community Affairs

We urge you and your family, your workmates and ANY group you are a part of, to make a pledge and join in the many ongoing fundraising efforts!

CHANGE FOR CHANGE: Here's a great chance for kids to see that every little bit saved, makes a BIG difference! Get into the habit of bringing your change to the VORTEX at theLibrary, or to the change counter at 1st Constitution Bank at 11 Schalks Crossing Road, or the PNC branch at the corner of Schalks and Plainsboro Road. If you have a large jug of coins, we can give you a tax receipt! Toothfairy Dental Spa kicked us off with their water jug at $1,184.30! Our Kick0ff at 1st Constitution raised $959.63. Every child and parent at Harmony School and Wicoff School have filled their very own cup with coins. Village School has just come on board with cups for every classroom! Our current total is $9126.41! Would your group like cups, bottles or donation boxes to help with the effort? Call us! 609-275-2897

MC CAFFREY'S RECEIPTS: Bring them to the Library, put them in the collection box, and we'll turn them into $$, thanks to the generosity of McCaffrey's.

GOOD SEARCH: Why google, when you can Goodsearch. Just log onto goodsearch.com (a yahoo product) and pull down the scroll bar to verify you are searching for Plainsboro Public Library. They'll donate a penny for every search!

Sugar and Sunshine Bakery supports Library Campaign with dyn-o-mite treats!

Gigi and Ray Burton, owners of the brand new bakery in town, managed to cover their store AND help the library by donating a delicious array of fresh-baked goods for Founder's Day. Volunteers were kept jumping, as folks lined up for the "from scratch" brownies, chocolate chip cookies and cupcakes! BIG thanks to them both. The whole community--and especially the Library--are the richer for this nifty community minded duo.

Jammie Day at Wicoff
School Rules!

Permission to wear your p.j.s to school? YES! Students at Wicoff School enjoyed a fun filled day of stories and learning in their jammies, for a small contribution! This year's charitable donations, well over $600, went to Plainsboro Library's Change for Change Campaign! If ever there is a question that pictures = thousands of words, Jammie Day is proof! Enjoy a vibrant selection provided by Laura Bruce, administrator in training at Wicoff School! OUR THANKS TO the entire Wicoff School staff, students and families for your great support and esprit!
Clockwise: Arpun Bains from Mrs. McClendon's first grade; Jessica Xu from Mrs. Larsen's Kindergarten class;
Morgan Walters and members of Mrs. Cox and Mrs. Weaver's 32rd grade Team;
Steven Le and Sebastian Smith in Mrs. Perry's kindergarten class!

...and PNC Bank rewards Wicoff 's work!
Branch Manager Nevin Harfouche
promised to match the first $500 of Wicoff School's Change for Change campaign. Against the backdrop of Shakespeare's Henry the Fourth production at the Library, she presented a check to Wicoff teacher Terri McClendon, and students Drew McClendon, Darrah McClendon and Lea Goldhammer. A joyous occasion for all, especially Director Jinny Baeckler.

Central Jersey Chinese American Association Women's Club Contribution

Library Director Jinny Baeckler greeted the Year of the Pig by receiving a personally delivered donation from officers and members of the Central Jersey Chinese American Association Women's Group. The Library is VERY grateful to the organization for both its committment to the Library's cultural programs and its financial assistance with the largest program we have undertaken in our history--building the NEXT great library! (in the photo, left-right: Amy Horng, staff member Wei Gao, Vickie Gao, Director Jinny Baeckler, Winnie Wang, Xinwan Huang and Jane Chen)

HARMONY SCHOOL VISITS the VORTEX!

There was great excitement as the three and four year old classes of Harmony School at Forrestal Village visited the library for a bit of science and a great donation! All together, the children put hundreds and hundreds of coins into the vortex, totalling $162.54! Our thanks to Lisa Forrester, the parents, AND the future scientists!
JOSH LEVY'S SCOUT SERVICE nets $86.30 FOR THE NEW LIBRARY!

Library visitors were delighted to take Josh up on his offer of a cup of tea one recent weekend! The price was right, and the money all went to a great cause--building the new library!

Our thanks to the dynamic rep from local scout troup 759!

THE JOYS OF GIVING!
Check out the size of this donation! Thanks to all the little people who are joining in the Change for Change campaign. Do you have your cup?

Coming Soon: Information about our Fall Flea Market, Plainsboro Idol Contest and engraved building bricks! Give us a call at 609-275-2897; or e-mail plibrary@lmxac.org to volunteer!

2008-04-11T13:26:00.000-07:00

THESPIANS WANTED!

Romeo and Juliet is coming to Plainsboro Public Library and we need you to make it happen! You've read the play in school. Now put that knowledge to use and be a part of an amazing cast! For kids who are entering 10th grade through 12th grade graduates!

WHEN? Rehearsals every day June 23rd - June 25th; June 30- July 3rd; and July 7-11 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Performance on Saturday, July 12th. You've heard of 10 minute Shakespeare? This is 2 week Shakespeare, under the direction of dynamic YA coordinator Robin Black! Call 609-275-2897 or e-mail rblack@lmxac.org.

2008-03-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

The BOOK and the COOK returns!

Enjoy a rare opportunity to explore books and experiment with quick and easy cooking ideas! Registration opens on April 4th, for kids in grades 4, 5 and 6! Sessions with chef wizard and story master Robin Black will be held on Friday afternoons, April 11,18, 25 and May 2nd from 4-5 p.m. Call the Library at 609-275-2897 for details and/or to register. Be sure to note any food allergies or restrictions that might apply! Bon appetit!

2008-03-11T09:38:00.000-07:00

HOLI !!

Our thirteenth annual celebration welcomed Spring as never before. Deputy Mayor Neil Lewis enjoyed the festivities with a huge crowd of all ages. See you next year! Thanks to everyone for the joy...the memories...

2008-03-10T12:02:00.000-07:00

ROBOTICS News!!

Thanks to the Driven Nuts and Bolts, who warmed up for the National FIRST competition here at the Library! Their project--to gather up rings, and return them to base! Look closely, and you'll see several methodologies at work! Congratulations and thanks to these super teams!

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN: Beginner robotics registration is now open for a 4 week session starting May 14th. No previous experience necessary. For people 9 years and up. No exceptions.

2008-03-08T13:53:00.000-08:00

CHEMISTRY OF THE TUMMY..

Students enjoyed a wonderful series with Dr. Lavinia Kumar, discovering what really happens when milk and cereal and eggs and other stuff gets mixed up with the chemicals in the stomach! We promised fun and hands-on experiments! Looks like Dr. Kumar delivered! Our profound thanks!

2007-10-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

AUTOGRAPHED TREASURES...

Sorry, Norman Rockwell is gone. But we have a super selection of 150+autographed and inscribed books at bargain prices. We even have Harry S. Truman in our cache! Check out the complete list at the Library. We can e-mail the database to you! Send requests to plibrary@lmxac.org, or call 609-275-2897. Better yet, come to our monthly booksales on the last Saturday of every month...All proceeds go to keeping the library open on Sundays!

2007-10-12T12:38:00.000-07:00

THANKS TO OUR LAUNDRY TEAM!

Dave Kuna, Senior Property Manager at Princeton Forrestal Village donated all the coins from their fountains for our Change for Change Campaign. BUT, we needed to clean off the corrosion in order for them to pass freely through the coin counters! It all began with a two week bath in coke! Then two hour dunk in vinegar! Then a team of SUPER volunteers started buffing! And fan drying! The reward? A pizza lunch, with oranges and..you guessed it...COKE for everyone! OUR THANKS TO YOU ALL!!! PLAINSBORO PEOPLE ARE TERRIFIC!

AND THANKS TO ASHLEY WILLIAMS at 1st Constitution Bank.. because when we got the coins to the bank, the counting machine was feeling very grumpy! VERY grumpy. She tweaked and poked and finally got every single coin through...with a smile! Our thanks to Dave for a donation of $363.34! And the winner of the competition guessing the amount deposited: Seema Gupta, with a prediction of $400, who wins a $25 gift certificate to It's a Grind! Congratulations!

Pic notes left to right: Coin Counter tray with CLEAN coins!; Ashley Williams and Dave Kuna; Library Business Manager Wei Gao with the final tally!

2007-10-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

GIVE YOUR BLOOD!

YOU CAN SAVE LIVES!

New Jersey Blood Services has notified the library that New Jersey is 15% behind where we should be! Please plan to roll up your sleeves and make this lifesaving donation! Take advantage of the Library's crew of volunteers for FREE babysitting while you give blood.

Sunday, May 11, 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

New Jersey Blood Services will be at the Library to receive your gift! Donors must be at least age 17, weigh a minimum of 110 and be in generally good health. All donors receive free mini medical exams and information about their temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure and hemaglobin level.

Factoid: Only 2% of New Jersey's eligible donor population gives blood. The National average is 5%. Consequently, the supply for New Jersey is not sufficient to meet needs, and thousands of units of blood must be purchased and imported to the area.

Thanks for your part in this amazing community service! Our next 2008 drives are scheduled for July 13, September 14, November 9.

Personal note: If you have never given blood before, you are welcome to drop in to observe and ask questions. It is an exciting confirmation of the caring community in which we live and serve. As one who has had a child's life saved by countless transfusions, I can affirm that it is truly the gift of life. Jinny Baeckler, Library Director

2007-10-02T15:08:00.000-07:00

2008 Story Times!

Plant the seeds of literacy for a lifetime of learning and enjoyment. We love ALL ages to come--Moms, Dads, cousins, big brothers...bring along a crowd for a wonderful time.

SCHEDULE:

Tuesdays: 10:30 a.m. Science Rocks! and 7 p.m. Musical Stories

Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m. Baby Basics starting April 2nd!

Thursdays: 10:30 a.m. Art Explorations

Fridays: 10:30 a.m. Moving Stories and 4 p.m. Book n' Cook (Registration required)

Saturdays: 10:30 Stories alive for all ages!

Storytime Scrapbook:

This issue, featuring Tuesday Night Music with Emily Vorp and John Gross. You've got the words on paper, the magic of John's virtuoso piano accompaniment, and the jumpin'joy of a roomful of folks, young AND old!

2007-10-02T13:23:00.000-07:00

The Kitchens of Plainsboro Township

Thanks to many residents and corporate good neighbor Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, our benefit Plainsboro cookbook will be on sale for $10, starting December 1st!

Stop by the Library to check out this treasure trove of delightfully international recipes! Many have "back stories" that make for great reading, even if you're not in the mood to cook. There are tantalizing contributions from Executive Chefs Jim Weaver of Tre Piani, and Jason Henslee of Salt Creek Grill; and a nucleus of work from the eighth grade social studies classes of Maria Pyle and Deb Kline at WW-P Community School.

Kudos to our editor, Deborah Stern; our layout/graphics whiz Dimitri Karetnikov; and to freelance artists Caroline Karetnikov and Carol Dugan for their line drawings and photographs.

Orders will be taken by phone: 609-275-2897; e-mail campaign@lmxac.org; or in person at the Library and selected local stores. What better way to give everyone a taste of this wonderful world called Plainsboro?

2007-10-02T09:12:00.000-07:00

PING PONG FOR ADULTS! 2008 has MORE playing time than ever

Brush off the paddles and prepare for year round ping pong on the SECOND AND FOURTH FRIDAYS of every month, from 7-10 p.m. and the FIRST AND THIRD SATURDAY AFTERNOONS from 2:30-5:30 p.m. (Sorry, there will be no ping pong on January 19, May 17 and December 7, due to scheduling conflicts) Meet in the Plainsboro Municipal Building. Thanks to a collaboration between the Libary and the Recreation Department, high quality ping pong is exploding! The unstructured program does NOT require sign-up. Players will rotate after sets.
Call the Library at 609-275-2897 or the Recreation Department 609-799-0909, ext 332 with questions.

2007-09-04T14:09:00.000-07:00

ARTS FESTIVAL ! Another fabulous event! See you next year, SEPTEMBER 20th, 1-5 p.m. Filled with tradition, creativity and fun, here is a partial visual sampling of the 12th annual Plainsboro Festival of the Arts! Thanks to all the staff, artists and volunteers who make this wonderful event "work" for the community.

2007-06-23T07:39:00.000-07:00

Library CARDBOARD CANOE RACE makes YouTube! Check it out! (with thanks to the Ed Murray and the Star Ledger for covering the WHOLE event!)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cxlju5tJFZ4

Come on July 26, 2008 10-12 and join this annual invention challenge! See what one sheet of cardboard, one knife, one roll of tape and one razor knife can create in just one hour!!! See the engineering! See the fun! You TOO might win a trophy!

2007-01-20T04:58:00.000-08:00

Artist Trading Card Exhibit a Hit! New Club Forms...

A FIRST for the area! Seventeen artists from as far aways as Singapore participated in an eye-popping exhibit, coordinated by Plainsboro artist and resident Liz Adams in January 2007. Those from near and far who are interested in the fun packed art form can catch up with Liz via e-mail at ladams1@juno.com; or Contact Jennifer Mehlman at pwrpointranger@hotmail.com about the new club that has formed and plans for major hands on demonstration at the Library's Festival of the Arts on September 15th.

2006-08-02T05:36:00.000-07:00

AND THE ANGEL IS....

Dr. P. Radhakrishnan of Children's Preferred Care, shown here with office manager Esme Dayaratna, presenting Library Director Jinny with a generous donation to support community programming. Dr. Rad's annual donations enable the library to present large scale Diwali and Holi celebrations, with hands-on workshops, professional performances and opportunities for everyone to master traditional Indian crafts. Our thanks to a wonderful Plainsboro resident.

2006-06-15T14:54:00.000-07:00

PLAYAWAYS!

What? You haven't tried one? Digital books for mobile users! No tapes to change. No cd's to fumble with! Plug in the earphones, push a button and you're set! Recorded at three speeds for those in a rush! Great for kids AND adults on long car trips!