“On September 2, 2008, the Berkeley Branch held a Food Fear Factor, where teens ate bizarre combinations of food for bragging rights and prizes. Sample dishes included “Spam-a-lot” (Hickory Smoked Spam), “Surf and Turf” (chocolate ice cream, anchovies, and black licorice), and “Sailing the Seas of Gross” (red beets, herring, and 1000 Island Dressing). Over 30 teens and parents took part in the event, and all enjoyed palate-cleansing sherbet afterward.”
Library continues effort to provide phone time for military personnel
Published September 3, 2008 Uncategorized 0 CommentsTags: "Ocean County Library"
PRESS RELEASE
What: OCL joins “Cell Phones for Soldiers” effort
Where: 18 OCL branches (see list below)
CONTACT: Larry Meegan, 732-349-6200, ext. 5906
lmeegan@theoceancountylibrary.org
Library continues effort to provide phone time for military personnel
TOMS RIVER – The Ocean County Library is participating in the national “Cell Phone for Soldiers” program by distributing postage-paid envelopes for shipping cell phones at 18 of its branches.
“The public’s response has been overwhelming,” said Senior Librarian Meagan Toohey. “We had to place a second order for the prepaid envelopes to meet the demand.”
The local distribution of the envelopes began in August and will end Wednesday October 1, said Toohey.
“Cell Phones for Soldiers” is a 501.c.3 non-profit organization. It sells the collected cell phones to ReCellular, Inc. which recycles the units. Each donated cell phone purchases one hour of talk time. A receipt for cell phone donations will be available at the branches.
“Cell Phones for Soldiers” will accept any make or model cell phone, cell phone chargers, batteries, accessories, Blackberry PDA’s and pagers.
“Americans will replace an estimated 130 million cell phones this year,” said Mike Newman, vice president of ReCellular, “with the majority of phones either discarded or stuffed in a drawer. Most people don’t realize that the small sacrifice of donating their unwanted phones can have a tremendous benefit for a worthy cause like Cell Phones for Soldiers.”
Information for removing data off a donated cell phone can be found at www.recellular.com/recycliing/data_eraser/default.asp .
The money the organization collects from selling the phones is used to purchase prepaid calling cards that are distributed to military personnel. Since the organization was formed in 2004 by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from Norwell, Mass., it has raised more than $2 million and purchased more than 500,000 cards. That equals nearly 18 million minutes of talk time, according to the group’s Web site www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com .
“Cell Phones for Soldiers started as a small way to show our family’s appreciation for the men and women who have sacrificed the day-to-day contact with their own families to serve in the U.S. armed forces,” said the teens’ father Bob Bergquist. “Over the past few years, we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of others. But, we have also seen the need to support our troops continue to grow as more troops are sent overseas for longer assignments.”
The prepaid envelopes can be picked up at the following locations: Barnegat; Bay Head; Beachwood; Brick; Berkeley; Island Heights; Jackson; Lacey; Lakewood; Little Egg Harbor; Manchester; Plumsted; Point Pleasant Borough; Stafford; Toms River; Tuckerton; Upper Shores (Lavallette); and Waretown.
CONTACT: Francine Everson, 609-597-3381
email: feverson@theoceancountylibrary.org
MOVIES AT THE LIBRARY
MANAHAWKIN – Join us at the Stafford Branch of the Ocean County Library on Saturday, September 13th at 2:00 PM for our Family movie – Ratatouille – an animated comedy where Remy loves fine French food, which is a problem since he happens to be a rat. He lives in an expensive French restaurant and desires to become a chef despite the disapproval of his father and brother who are happy eating garbage. He has adventures every day with a rat-despising staff that wants him gone in this riotous family film. 2007. 110 minutes. Rated G.
Our Feature Film will be shown on Monday, Sept, 22 at 6:30 PM. National Treasure II: Book of Secrets – an action adventure about a treasure hunter who is looking for the truth behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He finds John Wilkes Booth’s diary and is determined to uncover the mystery within the 18 missing pages. 2007. 118 minutes. Rated PG.
The Stafford Branch is located at 129 N. Main St. in Manahawkin, 609-597-3381, or visit our website at www.theoceancountylibrary.org. These movies are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. No need to register.
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Books With Bite: A Short History of Horror and Some Words on Publishing
Published September 2, 2008 Uncategorized 0 CommentsTags: Jackson
JACKSON – Horror and dark fantasy short story writer Rita Oakes will present an overview of some of her favorite scary tales, will talk about what it takes to write and get published, and will read a selection from one of her latest stories. Come to the library Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 7:00 pm and enjoy this exciting program to celebrate Teen Read Week. Free Door Prizes!
This program is free and open to teens in grades 9 – 12; adults are also welcome. Please register by calling the Jackson Branch at (732) 928-4400 or register online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org
“At the Chairman’s Table” fundraiser dinner to benefit the library
Published September 2, 2008 Uncategorized 0 CommentsTags: "Ocean County Library", BookFest 2008
The Ocean County Library will host “At the Chairman’s Table,” a fund raiser to benefit the expansion of the Brick library branch, at 7 p.m. Friday Sept. 26 in Mancini Hall, Toms River.
“At the Chairman’s Table,” a prelude to the library’s annual BookFest, will feature some of Frank Sinatra’s favorite recipes from the famous Patsy’s Italian Restaurant in New York City along with Sal Manzo singing many of the songs made famous by Sinatra.
Specially selected wines will accompany the meal.
Reservations for the dinner can be made by contacting Harry Applegate at (732) 914-5408 before Sept. 12. Tickets for the fund raiser dinner are $100 each.
The dinner will be prepared by Chef Ian Smith and students from the Ocean County Vocational Technical School Culinary Arts Program. Smith and his students prepared last year’s seven-course meal recreated from the final dinner menu served aboard the R.M.S. Titanic.
Executive Chef Sal Scognamillo, author of Patsy’s Cookbook: Classic Italian Recipes from a New York City Landmark Restaurant,” will introduce each course and provide anecdotes about “The Chairman of the Board.”
Patsy’s Italian Restaurant serves traditional home made Neapolitan style food. It was founded in Manhattan in 1944 by Pasquale “Patsy” Scognamillo and has had only three chefs in its 64 years: founder Patsy; his son Joe, and Joe’s son Sal, who has been supervising the kitchen for the past 15 years.
Patsy’s opened a second restaurant in the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort this past June.
Frank Sinatra was one of many of Patsy’s high profile patrons. Others include Al Pacino, Placido Domingo, Alec Baldwin, Kim Basinger, Tom Hanks, Madonna, George Clooney, rappers Heavy “D” and Sean “Puff Daddy” combs, David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey, and Keanu Reeves.
Sparks cheers on the BlueClaws
Published August 28, 2008 Uncategorized 0 CommentsTags: "Ocean County Library", Lakewood BlueClaws
Sparks & Buster working the crowd!
Ocean County Library Mascot, Sparks, made a special guest appearance at Monday night’s game at First Energy Stadium in Lakewood during a BlueClaws game. Sparks signed autographs, handed out prizes and entertained fans young and old alike. He also helped library staff promote upcoming library programs and events at the information table on the concourse.
Buster promotes OCL thundersticks
The library distributed 15 pairs of tickets to lucky customers who entered their name in a free drawing. Ten pairs of tickets were distributed to library staff, too.
New library outreach program promotes literacy to foster children
Published August 28, 2008 Uncategorized 0 CommentsTags: "Ocean County Library"
Homebound & Volunteer Services of the Ocean County Library has launched Sparks’ B.F.F. Reading Club, a new County-wide outreach program.
B.F.F. stands for Best Friends Forever. This program will encourage children and teens to visit the library and take advantage of the many services and materials Ocean County Library has to offer. Sparks, the Library mascot, plans to visit the reading club participants at future State-sponsored Ocean County foster family events.
The program supports a partnership with two Ocean County regional offices of State of New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS). Spark’s B.F.F. Reading Club provides children and teens placed in foster care the opportunity to select several new books, stationery supplies, and a backpack from a collection housed at each of the two County offices. Generous financial backing for this program is being provided by the Friends of the Toms River Library.
DYFS’ mission is to ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of children and to support New Jersey’s families.
“Because the Library is continually looking for ways to reach out to our community we are excited to venture into this new partnership with our local DYFS resource offices. The Sparks’ B.F.F. Reading Club objectives include promoting Ocean County children and teen literacy while enhancing their self-esteem. This program continues the library’s mission of ‘Connecting People…Building Community.’ If we can help children and teens enjoy reading by providing them with a few good books to keep permanently then this program is a success,” said Elaine McConnell, Ocean County Library director.
Through the efforts and support of Toms River staff, the Homebound and Volunteer Services Department, and library volunteers, hundred of children’s and teens’ new or like-new books have recently been delivered to each of the two County sites. The S.A.I.L. (Service and Achievement in the Library) teens helped sort, label and prepare the books for distribution. Adult volunteers oversee the age-appropriateness of each book, ensure the books are in excellent condition and assist in the delivery and continued supply of books to the two Ocean County facilities. Various OCL departments such as Public Relations (backpacks), and Youth Services (donated books), and Young Adults Department (donated books) have also offered support. Initially, more than 350 books have been provided to the two local DYFS resource offices for children to select several to keep permanently.
“We would like to thank the Friends of the Toms River Library and all the volunteers for partnering DYFS on this project. The children and teens in foster care who will participate in the reading club will certainly benefit from its mission,” stated DYFS Director Christine L. Mozes, LSW.
Summer Sets SAIL in Style in Barnegat
Published August 26, 2008 Uncategorized 0 CommentsTags: "Barnegat
On August 23rd, the Friends of the Barnegat Library sponsored a fabulous going away party for our teen volunteers from both the SAIL and Reading Buddies programs. More than half of our volunteers returned to have a true Ocean County style beach party complete with limbo, line dancing, and a flip-flop piñata. Some of our young buddies even came back to hang out with the teens! Barnegat would like to extend it’s thanks to all of our fabulous teen volunteers- we hope to see them again next summer!
Self Defense for Women and Girls Jackson 8/30
Published August 22, 2008 Uncategorized 0 CommentsTags: Jackson
DATE: 8/1/2008
CONTACT: Freda Lehman, 732-928-4400 X12
flehman@theoceancountylibrary.org
101 Washington St., Toms River, NJ 08753-7625
Self Defense for Women and Girls – Don’t Be a Target!
Jackson – On Saturday, September 13, 10:00am-12:00pm, Jackson Library is offering a program for girls 12 years and older who want to learn to protect themselves from street attacks and personal assaults using leverage techniques for self-defense. Daughter and mother pairs are welcome too. College-bound teen girls should take advantage of this opportunity to prepare for personal safety The two-hour class will be taught by renowned black belt instructor Walter Miller. Class size is limited.
This program is free and open to the public. Registration for the program begins August 30. Please register in-person, by phone 732-928-4400, or online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org
