Steven A. Russell, director of the chorus, presents the hour-long concert of Broadway, traditional and original songs. It  will begin at 2 p.m.

The New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus regularly performs throughout New Jersey, the United States and Canada.  It is a member of the GALA Choruses, an international association of Gay and Lesbian Choruses.

The concert is free but registration is required.  To register telephone the operator at (732) 349-6200, or go to the library’s Web site http://www.theoceancountylibary.org and click on the “Events and News” icon.

Local journalist and long-time Toms River resident Don Bennett will moderate “Toms River Talks: A Living Oral History Event.”

The panelists include Barbara Carlino, Oscar Cradle, Manuel Hirshblond, Dave Johnson, Ferd Klebold, Rev. Larry Mattox and Mary Lou Sutton.

The panelists, who grew up, lived, worked and played in Toms River, will discuss events they witnessed that helped shape Toms River into the town it has become.

Do you have questions about some of the quirky characters that inhabited the county seat? Ever wonder how Toms River has changed since the Garden State Parkway opened it up fifty years ago? Or maybe you have some stories of your own to tell.

Join the fun with your questions and answers. The two-hour discussion will begin at 2 p.m.

The program is free and open to the public. Please note that it will be video recorded and archived so that future generations will be able to access these insights into Toms River history. It may also appear on the Internet.

Seating is limited so register by calling the operator at (732) 349-6200 or online at the library Web site www.theoceancountylibrary.org , then click on the events icon.

“THE GUILT TRIP”

MANCHESTER – The Manchester library branch will screen the film, “The Guilt Trip” on Wednesday, May 29, at three new times: noon, 3 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. See this popular comedy film on a large screen without paying the admission fee of a movie theater!  

As inventor Andy Brewster (Seth Rogan) is about to embark on the road trip of a lifetime, a quick stop at his mom’s (Barbara Streisand) house turns into an unexpected cross-country voyage with her along for the ride.

This 95-minute, PG13-rated movie is part of the library’s Feature Film Series. Although registration is not required, early arrival is recommended.

The Manchester branch is located at 21 Colonial Drive in Manchester Township. Call 732-657-7600 for more information or go online to theoceancountylibrary.org.

MANCHESTER BRANCH LIBRARY TO OFFER INSTRUCTION ON BORROWING LIBRARY BOOKS ON THE NOOK TABLET

 MANCHESTER – Learn how to use your Nook Tablet to borrow books from the Ocean County Library at the Manchester branch Thursday, May 30 at 2 p.m.

 Telephone (732) 657-7600 or go online to www.theoceancountylibrary.org to reserve your seat! In addition to signing up in advance, it is very important that you bring an Ocean County library card number and an email account username and password that you’ve set up prior to this free, adult workshop.

 MANCHESTER BRANCH LIBRARY TO SPONSOR JUNE ART EXHIBIT

 MANCHESTER  – The Manchester branch will host a reception for local artist Patty Maselli Saturday June 1 at 2 p.m..

 Maselli’s acrylic and oil paintings will be on display in the meeting room of the library throughout most of June. Drop in during the reception and meet the artist and  listen to her discuss her work. Refreshments will be served.

 There is no registration for this free event.

 Interested parties are also invited to stop by to view the exhibit during the library’s regular business hours whenever the meeting room is available until it is removed June 24. Telephone the library (732-657-7600) to check on its availability.

As always there were many information tables from local environmental and community groups such as the Barnegat Bay Partnership, Ocean County Master Gardeners, Girl Scouts, the Plumsted Township Environmental Commission/Plumsted Youth for Nature and the Environment, and many more.

In addition to the educational resources there were games and crafts for the children as well as a bake sale, a visit from Sparks, and the Tails and Scales program. Tails and Scales featured an Island Beach State Park Natural Educator presenting live animals and educating participants about the park.

Attached is a link to the Plumsted Branch’s Flickr account for all the pictures taken at the event. http://www.flickr.com//photos/95303893@N08/show/

Actor Linda Turash will allow the audience to share an intimate 1876 evening with Mary Lincoln as she reflects on the triumphs and tribulations of Lincoln’s life and demonstrate her resilience in the face of her grief.

Turash, as Mary, will share memories ranging from her courtship with Mr. Lincoln and her support of his political ups and downs, to her bereavement of their sons’ deaths and her husband’s violent assassination.

Mary will also recount the praise and criticism of her First Lady’s role in the White House.

Those reflections will continue with scandals of her life after the assassination, including her involuntary commitment to an asylum and her subsequent release.

The program will provide insight into yet another side of the Lincolns’ extraordinary role in American history.

The programs will be held at the following branches:

Manchester, 21 Colonial Dr., Sat. May 11 at 2 p.m.

Berkeley, 30 Station Rd, Bayville, Tue. June 4 at 7 p.m.

Little Egg Harbor, 290 Mathistown Rd., Wed. June 5 at 7 p.m.

Island Heights, 121 Central Av., Mon. June 10 at 7 p.m.

Plumsted, 119 Evergreen Rd., New Egypt, Wed. June 12 at 7 p.m.

Beachwood,126 Beachwood Blvd., Mon. June 24 at 7 p.m.

Tuckerton, 380 Bay Av., Mon. July 1 at 7 p.m.

Pt. Pleasant Borough, 834 Beaver Dam Rd., Wed. July 17 at 7 p.m.

These programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required. Contact the branch or register online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org .

On Monday, the Berkeley branch hosted the Deep Cut Bonsai Society for a bonsai workshop aimed at teens who are interested in this art form. Mark, Bill and Josh, members of the society,  brought plants for nine teens and showed them how to start their very own bonsai. The kids got right into it, getting their hands dirty and creating beautiful bonsai. Both teachers and students had a great time and we look forward to continuing to grow and mold our new bonsai.

The program was sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Library.

The Plumsted branch was happy to appreciate all of our volunteers during National Volunteer Week! Volunteers from the 12+ Program at the New Egypt High School visit the library weekly to help support their community while building life skills. In honor of their service they were presented with certificates of appreciation, enjoyed some light refreshments and honed their technology skills by using their school iPads or logging on to the library’s public computers. Thank you to all of the volunteers that support our branches and communities throughout Ocean County! 

The library’s databases and Web site www.theoceancountylibrary.org will be available during that time.

All branches will resume their normal business hours Saturday May 18.

Esther Nevarez, NJ Division of Civil Rights, will explain the state laws about harassment and present real case scenarios to educate people how to avoid many problems, including potential lawsuits. She will also answer participants’ questions.

Nevarez has presented this training throughout New Jersey.

The program is designed to help business owners, managers, and supervisors, educators, paraprofessionals, health service providers, corporate human resources officials, civil servants and nonprofit organizations prevent harassment in the workplace.

The program is cosponsored with the Ocean County College Office of Multicultural Services, Jersey Shore PFLAG, Ocean County Library, and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

Professional Development Certificates are available upon request.

The program is free of charge but registration is required. To register contact the library operator at (732) 349-6200 or (609) 971-0514 or go online to www.theoceancountylibrary.org and click on “Events and News.”

The Human Relations Commission is a volunteer group working under the auspices of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office in its effort to reduce and eliminate bias crimes and incidents.  The Commission is proactive in providing programs for the community that helps to increase understanding and respect between groups and individuals in Ocean County.

The Ocean County Library Barnegat branch held a spine poetry contest. Spine poetry is the art of arranging stacks of books in a way that combines the book titles to make a poem of sorts. It’s a fun way to creatively show what you are reading. You can view a complete gallery of all the submissions from the contest here.