Historic Happenings Blog

Saturday, June 22 – Somerset County Staged Reading of A Human Being Died That Night   at Franklin Library   Franklin Township Public Library is proud to host the Oldwick Community Players as they present a staged reading of  A Human Bering Died That Night  on Saturday, June 22 at 2 p.m. This performance of an anti-apartheid play by Nicholas Wright adapted from the book by Dr. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela is free and open to the public. Actors include Christopher Rollins and Leonie Infantry.  Directed by Merry LaRue.      Registration is requested but not required .   Synopsis: Eugene de Kock was a paid white political assassin nicknamed 'Prime Evil' for his crimes against anti-apartheid activists. While he served his two life sentences, black psychologist Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela went to interview him, hoping to seek humanity and forgiveness within the government-sanctioned monster.  The thought-provokin...

Sunday, June 2 – Somerset County Project Trio Performing   at Franklin Library     Franklin Township Public Library is proud to host  Project Trio on Sunday, June 2 at 2 p.m. This concert is free and open to the public.  To listen, visit  http://www.projecttrio.com/ Combining the virtuosity of world-class artists with the energy of rock stars, Project Trio is breaking down traditional ideas of chamber music. Blending their classical training with an eclectic taste in musical styles, they make a big impact on audiences of all ages.  The genre-defying Trio is acclaimed by the press as “packed with musicianship, joy, and surprise” and “exciting a new generation of listeners about the joys of classical and jazz music.”     Registration is requested via the library’s online events calendar at www.franklintwp.org or call (732) 873-8700 ext. 111. The Franklin Township Public Library is located at 485 DeMott Lane, Somers...

Wednesday, April 17 – Somerset County Documentary Screening of Alice’s Ordinary People and Discussion with the Filmmaker at Franklin Library      Join us for a film screening of  Alice's Ordinary People  and an opportunity to meet with the filmmaker on Wednesday, April 17 at 6:45 at Franklin Township Public Library.         The documentary is about Alice's Tregay's Life: Ordinary people effecting extraordinary change for human rights.  It documents five decades of fearless activism and the continuing relevance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the ongoing fight for justice.      See the film. Meet the filmmaker. More information about the movie can be found at  http://imaginevideo.org/alices-ordinary-people/     This program is free and open to the public. The Franklin Township Public Library is located at 485 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873 in the ...

Sunday, April 7 – Somerset County Blues with SaRon Crenshaw Band at Franklin Library (Somerset) Come enjoy a blues concert with SaRon Crenshaw and his band at Franklin Township Public Library on Sunday, April 7 at 2:00 pm. This concert is free and open to the public. Registration is requested but not required.  SaRon Crenshaw learned to play guitar at the age of ten and travels the country playing jazz and rhythm and blues. He has shared stages with talented recording artists such as Lee Fields, Roy Roberts, Denise LaSalle, Bobby Rush, Jessie James, Tyrone Davis, and Chuck Roberson. Crenshaw plays a Gibson 'Lucille' model guitar signed by B.B.King himself and is a regular at Terra Blues in New York City. He puts on a show that is not to be missed! For more information about the musician, visit  http://www.saroncrenshaw.com/.  For more information, visit the Library’s online events calendar at www.franklintwp.org or call (732) 873-8700 ext. 111. The Library...

Now through March 29 – Somerset County Quilt Display at Franklin Library (Somerset)     Franklin Township Public Library is proud to host a  collection of beautiful quilts by the Pieced Together Quilters  through March 29, 2019.       The quilts were designed in response to a “Paint Chip Challenge” in which quilters are given a paint chip and must make a quilt with the colors in the chip, and one other color—either white, cream, or black.    The Pieced Together Quilters offers members opportunities for inspiration, education, and friendship with other quilters, and a chance to share their talents with their local community through their charitable endeavors.     The group meets at the Green Knoll Rescue Squad at 608 North Bridge Street, Bridgewater, NJ. Meetings are from 7:00-9:30 p.m. on the 2 nd  and 4 th  Wednesday of each month from September to June, and once a month during July...

Monday, February 25 – Somerset County Poetry Reading: Jacquese Armstrong reads from Blue Legacy at Franklin Library (Somerset)     Poet and writer Jacquese Armstrong will be reading from her newest book of poetry,  Blues Legacy , on Monday, February 25 at 7 p.m. at Franklin Township Public Library in Somerset, NJ. This event is free and open to the public.      Blues Legacy  is Armstrong’s exploration of the relationship of African-Americans to music and their relationship to the United States. Her reading will center around some pieces from  Blues Legacy  relating specifically to music.     Jacquese Armstrong is the recipient of the 2019 Naomi Madgett Long Poetry award and resides in Central New Jersey. Her book,  Blues Legacy , was published this month from Wayne State University Press. Armstrong’s poetry chapbook,  dance of the shadows , was published in 2017. Her work has been seen in seve...

Saturday, February 9 – Somerset County Film & Discussion:  Hidden Colors 4: The Religion of White Supremacy  (2016) at Franklin Library (Somerset)      Join us at the Franklin Township Public Library on Saturday, February 9 at 2 pm for a film screening of  Hidden Colors 4: The Religion of White Supremacy (2016 ) followed by an opportunity for discussion.       Hidden Colors  is a documentary series about the real and untold history of people of color around the globe.  In this installment, the film explores topics such as the motivation behind European global subjugation, the history of rarely discussed vast West African empires, how germ warfare was used on melanated people, and the history of slave breeding farms in America.     Light refreshments will be provided. This program is offered in partnership with Melanated Minds. Registration is requested but not requ...

Tuesday, January 29 – Somerset County Astrophotography for the Rest of Us at Franklin Library,  Somerset, NJ,       Learn the basics of taking photographs of the universe at night, both with and without a telescope at Franklin Library on Tuesday, January 29 at 7 p.m. This introduction will focus on users who want to begin with their own cell phone and/or DSLR camera. It is open to teens and adults.    Professional photographer, Peter Alessandria, will present just how to shoot nightscapes, including the moon and star trails.      Amateur astrophotographer, Bob Graham, will introduce how to use a DSLR camera or cell phone to begin shooting celestial targets with a telescope.      The presentation is provided by the Franklin Astronomy Club.   Registration is requested but not required. Interested individuals can register via the library’s website at franklintwp...

Wednesday, January 23 – Somerset County Workshop for Census Jobs at Franklin Library,  Somerset, NJ,    The U.S. Census Bureau is hiring for the 2020 Census! Stop by Franklin Library on Wednesday, January 23 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. to learn how to apply for many opportunities offering excellent pay, flexible hours, and paid training! A recruiter will be available to answer questions. Registration is not needed. Walk-ins are welcome.     For information about census jobs, visit  2020Census.gov/jobs This program is free and open to the public. The Franklin Township Public Library is located at 485 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873 in the municipal complex.

Wednesday, January 23 – Somerset County Kitchens around the World --  Somerset, NJ  Join photographer and educator Jim DelGiudice for a tour of kitchens around the world  at  the Franklin Library on Wednesday, January 23 at 2 p.m.  This lecture will show, in a lighthearted but educational way, how form follows function-that food is one of the most important aspects of home life and most kitchens in the world, while decorated or set up differently, are actually similar in design. It is a travelogue of residential kitchens and how they have evolved.  Registration is requested but not required. Interested individuals can register via the library’s website franklintwp.org or by calling 732-873-8700.  This program is free and open to the public. The Franklin Township Public Library is located at 485 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873 in the municipal complex.

Sunday, January 13 – Somerset County Russian Folk Concert   at Franklin Library Somerset, NJ -  Franklin Township Public Library is proud to host the Russian Trio on Sunday, January 13 at 2 p.m. at the Franklin Township Public Library. This concert is free and open to the public.  Listen to a sample at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OvTAEyRwxc The Russian Trio consists of professional musicians who blend Russian and Eastern European, traditional world folk, as well as classical and contemporary music.     Well-known Tamara Volskaya (domra) and her husband Anatoliy Trofimov (bayan) comprise one of the most remarkable musical duos in the world. As 'Honored Artists of Russia,” winners of international and national competitions, and professors of the Mussorgsky Ural State Conservatory, they have toured throughout Russia, Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan, and recorded several CDs. Leonid Bruk (contrabass- balalaika) graduated from mus...