Union library offers events for month of June

Union Public Library is celebrating Caribbean American Heritage, Juneteenth, LGBTQ Pride and African American Music Appreciation Month in June.

• Union County Department of Aging, table event in-person at Main Library, Thursday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to noon: Do you have questions about services for seniors or their caregivers? Speak to a specialist and get answers about pharmaceutical assistance, home energy assistance/USF, cooling assistance, home care, home delivered or congregate meals, Medicaid eligibility, Social Security, caregiver relief programs and transportation.

• Keep Your Balance, in-person at Main Library, Thursday, June 1, at 10:30 a.m.: Yasmin Ofek's noimpact classes can help you establish a better connection between the brain and body while gently strengthening the muscles that keep your body upright and balanced in different situations.

• Meditation, virtual on Zoom, Thursdays, June 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, at 11:30 a.m.: Join Bindu Bhatt for a virtual meditation session. No experience is necessary. Bindu has practiced meditation for more than 30 years and wants to share her insight.

• Friends of the Library meeting, in-person at the Main Library, Thursday, June 1, at 6 p.m.: Join the Friends of the Library at its monthly meeting. New members are always welcome. Come and support your library.

• The Sixties: The Motown Story, in-person at Vauxhall Branch, Saturday, June 3, at 1 p.m.: Vinnie Bruno takes attendees on a musical journey of the history of Motown Records. Motown, established by Berry Gordy in 1960, has been described as the greatest pop music hit factory in recording history. Explore how the “Motown Sound” was created and how it has become a worldwide phenomenon beloved by millions to this day, from the

“hit machine” songwriting teams to the in-house studio band to the extraordinary roster of recording artists, including Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Supremes, Four Tops, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and countless others. The influence of the house that Gordy built is still standing with 201 No. 1 worldwide hits and counting.

• Drop-In and Knit with Beyond Yarn, in-person at Main Library, Monday, June 5, at 6:30 p.m.: Whether you're an expert knitter or want to learn how, this is your chance to talk with an expert, bring your materials and projects and join us. Adults and teens are welcome. Registration is required, as space is limited.

• Drop-In and Knit with Beyond Yarn, in-person at Vauxhall Branch, Tues, June 6, at 10:30 a.m.: Whether you're an expert knitter or want to learn how, this is your chance to talk with an expert, bring your materials and projects and join us. Registration is required, as space is limited.

• LGBTQ Characters on T.V.: A Talk with Video Clips, virtual on Zoom, Tuesday, June 6, at 7 p.m.: LGBTQ people's lives and rights have changed profoundly since the mid-20th century. This talk uses clips from U.S. television comedies and dramas to explore how popular culture reflected those changes during the 20th century. In honor of LGBTQIA+ Month.

• Walk in Wednesdays, in-person at Vauxhall Branch, Wednesdays, June 7, 14, 21 and 28, from 12:30 to 2 p.m.: Do you need help navigating the many resources that the library has to offer? Learn to navigate HOOPLA, Freegal, and Kanopy to download and enjoy e and audiobooks, music and movies, and so much more.

• The Wide World of Spices, in-person at Main Library, Thursday, June 8, at 6:30 p.m.: Join Kerri Goad-Berrios, vice president of sales at Kalustyan, a world leader in the spice and herb industry. She’ll cover their extensive product line, services and commitment to the community. Following the presentation, Goad-Berrios will discuss emerging trends and offer attendees spice samples and other freebies. Kalustyan's headquarters are in Union.

• Caribbean American Concert and Celebration, inperson at Vauxhall Branch, Monday, June 12, at 6 p.m.: JuanMa Morales, founder of the musical group Sonido Costeño, will perform on guitar a high-energy fusion of Latin music and salsa of many classic artists. Morales’ unique sound appeals to broad audiences from all generations. This program is in honor of Caribbean American Heritage Month.

• National African American Jazz Legacy Museum, virtual on Zoom, Wednesday, June 14, at 7 p.m.: In honor of Juneteenth and Black Music Appreciation Month.

• Off the Shelf Book Club, in-person at Main Library, Thursday, June 15, at 6:30 p.m.: New members are always welcome. This month's title is “The Henna Artist,” by Alka Joshi.

• Madam C.J. Walker: The First Black Female Millionaire, in-person at Vauxhall Branch, Saturday, June 17, at noon: Madam C.J. Walker was the first African-American female millionaire, transcending poverty and prejudice to create a line of beauty care products for black women in the United States, even though her parents were formerly enslaved. Rick Feingold tells all about her.

• Movie of the Month, in-person at Vauxhall Branch, Tuesday, June 20, at noon: Call the library for the exact title being shown that month.

For more information about other programs, call Adult Services at 908-851-5450, ext. 3, visit the website at uplnj.org or the Main Library at 1060 Stuyvesant Ave.