Gangwise Project: protecting our youth

TOMS RIVER -  Three branches of the Ocean County Library will present “The Gangwise Project: What our Community Needs to Know” during May.

Presented by Edwin Torres, a retired State law enforcement Lieutenant and juvenile gang expert, attendees will learn the general warning signs of gang affiliation. He will also discuss why kids join gangs and offer a brief history of modern gangs.

Torres will give advice to parents and teens about avoiding gangs and reporting on local gang activity. He will also tell where parents can go for help if they know their child is involved with a gang.

The program will be held:

• May 7 at the Brick branch, 301 Chambers Bridge Rd.,  (732) 477-4513
• May 16 at the Little Egg Harbor branch, 290 Mathistown Rd.,  (609) 294-1197
• May 20 at the Lakewood branch, 301 Lexington Av.,  (732) 363-1435.

The program is suitable for teens, ages 12 and up, their parents, and other interested adults such as educators, clergy and people who work with youth. Professional Development Certificates will be provided.

The programs are free and light refreshments will be served. Registration is required. Telephone the branch or go to the library’s Web site www.theoceancountylibrary.org .

Sign-in for each program begins at 6 p.m. and the program will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m.

The programs are funded through a community collaboration of the OC Board of Chosen Freeholders; OC Youth Service Commission; OC Health Department; NJ Superior Court; the Ocean County Library; the Municipal Alliance Project, and the NJ Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.

First of 3 State Treasury events aids in tax preparation

Ocean County Library hosted the first of three of Governor Christie’s tax assistance event for Sandy victims Thursday Feb. 28 at Little Egg Harbor. 

It will also be held Monday March 18 6-8:15 p.m. at Toms River branch and Tue. March 26 6-8:30 p.m. in the Brick branch.

The event, organized by the State Treasury Department’s Division of Taxation, helped individuals and business prepare their 2012 tax returns.

The Department also assisted people with questions about reporting Sandy-related personal and business losses and offered help recovering lost tax documents.

“It was a BIG success!” said Judy Macaluso.   Almost 60 people attended the program.

Jennifer D’Autrechy, Deputy Chief of State – Dept. of the Treasury, and Roger Cohen, Assistant Treasurer for Tax Policy & Revenue Analysis – Dept. of the Treasury, were present.

Judy spoke with people from the state. They told her:

“Awesome Turnout.”

“The previous 3 event were minimally attended –in fact a few times there were more of us that the public”

“Outstanding!”

“We are looking forward to the Brick & TR events!”

Judy added, “Many thanks to the Kelly and the LEH staff for their promotion with customers/community and for helping the state reps that night.  And thanks to PR/Larry for the extra push the last week.”

Ocean County Library Celebrates Diversity Month

In October, the Ocean County Library celebrates the different heritages and people through Diversity Month. To celebrate, the library will be holding several programs though the month of October.

The Toms River branch will host a special Columbus Day performance featuring La Takkarata, a folk music and dance group from Fragneto Monforte in Italy, Fri. October 5 at 1 pm. This program is sponsored by the Ocean County Columbus Day Parade Committee.

New Jersey’s premier Spanish dance company the Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre will perform several styles of dance from Spain, including flamenco, regional and classic, at the Manchester branch (21 Colonial Dr.) October 8 at 3 p.m. They will performing the rhythmic dramas “El Amor Brujo’ and “Tribute to Garcia Lewis.”

This program is sponsored in part by an OceanFirst Foundation Arts and Cultural Grant and the Ocean County Library Foundation.

Families can come to the Little Egg Harbor branch (290 Mathistown Rd.) to learn about percussion and rhythm with Arts Forward on October 13 at 2 p.m.. This interactive program teaches African, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean drumming and music. The session is sponsored by the Friends of the Little Egg Harbor Library.

The Teen Advisory Board of the Plumsted branch (119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt) will host an evening of international desserts on Wed., Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring their own international sweets to share.

These programs are just a small selection of the Diversity Month Programs that the Ocean County Library is hosting for Diversity Month. They are all free and open to the public.

To register, visit the library’s website http://www.theoceancountylibrary.org or telephone (732) 349-6200 or (609) 971-0514.

Slave to spy: Mary Bowser, an American patriot

Mary Elizabeth Bowser, born a slave in Virginia about 1839 and emancipated in 1843, served the Union during the American Civil War as a spy in the Confederate White House.

The Ocean County Library will host a program recognizing her patriotic mettle during four programs in February.

Dancer, poet and performance artist Lorraine Stone will bring Bowser’s story to life and reintroduce this hero to county residents.

Though a free woman, Bowser chose to remain a servant in the Van Lew household, fiercely loyal to the family matriarch, abolitionist and Quaker Elizabeth Van Lew. Miss Van Lew, recognizing Bowser’s educational abilities, sent her to the Quaker School for Negroes in Philadelphia in the late 1850s.

Returning from Philadelphia just before the Civil War began, Bowser was recruited as a spy by Van Lew and found herself working in Confederate President Jefferson Davis’s household as a domestic servant. From there she was able to obtain sensitive information and passed that along to Van Lew.

That information immediately went to Generals Benjamin Butler and Ulysses S. Grant.

Bowser was honored for her work in the Civil War with an induction into the Military Intelligence Corps Hall of Fame in Fort Huachuca, Az. in 1995.

 Lorraine Stone, dressed in clothing patterned from the era, will present Bowser’s story at three library locations:

Upper Shores branch, 112 Jersey City Av., Lavallette Wed. Feb. 1 @ 4 p.m.

Little Egg Harbor branch, 290 Mathistown Road, Thur. Feb. 9 @ 7 p.m.

Lakewood branch, 301 Lexington Av., Mon. Feb. 13 @ 6:30 p.m.

Barnegat branch, 112 Burr St., Thur. Feb. 16 @ 7 p.m.

A similar program will be sponsored by the NAACP. Kati Beddow’s “Eyes of Spies: Women of the Civil War,” will be held in the Toms River branch, 101 Washington St., Sat. Feb. 25 @ 2 p.m. The program will also include a soul-food tasting prepared by NAACP members in honor of Black History Month.

All these programs are offered free and open to the public but registration is required. For more information or to register for any of these programs telephone the operator at (732) 349-6200 or (609) 971-0514, or visit the library Web site http://www.theoceancountylibrary.org .

Please be aware that some programs may have waiting lists or may be at capacity at the time of your call. Register early.

Dale and Amy’s Silly Song Sing-Along

On Saturday, January 21, Dale and Amy’s Silly Song Sing-Along brought in a total of 65 children and adults for an afternoon of fun at the Ocean County Library Little Egg Harbor Branch!

The program was sponsored by the Friends of the Little Egg Harbor Library in memory of Robert Olszewski.  Sparks interacted with Dale and Amy during the program adding to the silly song activities.  Refreshments were also provided by Friends.  Two of the daughters of Robert Olszewski were in attendance and took the Thank You poster that everyone signed.  Everyone had a good time!

Get Loud and Rowdy at OCL

Are your children getting cabin fever and refuse to move off the couch? Then you need to bring them to “Loud and Rowdy Story Tales” at several branches of the Ocean County Library in February.

While most people think the loudest thing heard at a library is the librarian shushing a high whisper “Loud and Rowdy Tales” definitely breaks that mold.

Pasquale a New Jersey resident has performed ballet, modern dance, Shakespeare, musical theater and was even a clown. Her fast paced and animated performance includes her past experiences certain to get audience members dancing, stomping, moving and shaking.

Professional Story teller Julie Pasquale will perform “Loud and Rowdy Tales” at the following Ocean County Library branches:
Barnegat branch: 112 Burr St; Wednesday February 1 at 4 P.M.
Little Egg Harbor branch: 290 Mathistown Road, Wednesday February 1 at 6:30 P.M.
Manchester branch: 21 Colonial Drive, Saturday Feb. 4 at 2 P.M.
Stafford branch: 129 N. Main St. Manahawkin, Wednesday February 15 at 4 P.M.
Toms River branch: 101Washington St. Wednesday, February 15 at 7P.M.

This program is free and open to the public. Please register online at http://www.theoceancountylibrary.org or call (732) 349-6200 or (609) 971-0514

Celebrate Kwanzaa at the Ocean County Library

Toms River – Ocean County Library will host several programs marking the Kwanzaa holiday.

Kwanzaa, which means first fruits of the harvest, is a time of reaffirming African American of their ancestors and their traditions. The first Kwanzaa was celebrated in 1976 and is celebrated during seven nights of candle lighting.

The Seven Guiding Principles represented are Unity, Self-Determination, Responsibility, Co-operative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith honors the values of ancient African cultures and inspires African Americans.

“Share the Kwanzaa Spirit” is an introduction to this December holiday. Song and dance, together with an understanding of Kwanzaa’s symbols and customs, allow everyone to share in the holiday spirit. This program is made possible in part by the generous sponsorship of an Ocean First Foundation Arts and Cultural Grant and with funding from the Ocean County Library Foundation.

Share the Kwanzaa Spirit – the Seven Principles will be presented at the following branches.

Little Egg Harbor branch, 290 Mathistown Rd, Wednesday Dec. 28 at 2 p.m.
Lakewood branch, 301 Lexington Ave, Wednesday Dec. 28 at 7p.m.
Barnegat branch, 112 Burr St, Thursday Dec. 29 at 2 p.m.
Toms River branch, 101 Washington St. Thursday Dec. 29 at 7 p.m.

For more information contact the Ocean County Library at http://www.theoceancountylibrary.org or by telephone at (732) 349-6200 or (609) 971-0514

Visit The World Of Maurice Sendak At The Ocean County Library Little Egg Harbor Branch

Ocean County Library Little Egg Harbor Branch (290 Mathistown Road) celebrates the life of famed author/illustrator Maurice Sendak by hosting the nationally touring exhibit In A Nutshell: The Worlds Of Maurice Sendak.

Sendak is best known as the illustrator of more than 100 picture books including Where The Wild Things Are and In The Night Kitchen. Born to Polish immigrants in Brooklyn, Sendak’s body of work mixes elements of his heritage with his experiences growing up in 1930s New York.

This exhibit shows the how his own family’s history, his Jewish identity and American culture were a combined influence on his works.

To celebrate the opening of In A Nutshell, exhibit curator Patrick Rodgers of the Rosenback Museum and Library in Philadelphia will discuss the life of and work of Sendak on Wednesday, November 2 at 6:30 pm.

This lecture explores the motivations behind the illustrator’s artwork, featuring recent interview footage with Sendak that is as intriguing and humorous as his art. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Little Egg Harbor Library.

In addition, the Little Egg Harbor branch is screening Spike Jonze’s film adaptation of “Where The Wild Things Are” on Tuesday, December 13 a 6 pm.

For more information, contact the Little Egg Harbor branch at (609) 693-5133. This exhibit and related programs are free and open to the public at the branch through December 16, 2011.

In A Nutshell is curated by Patrick Rodgers of the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia, and developed by Nextbook, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Jewish literature, culture, and ideas, and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. 

The national tour of the exhibit has been made possible by grants from the Charles H. Revson Foundation, the Righteous Persons Foundation, the David Berg Foundation, and an anonymous donor, with additional support from Tablet Magazine: A New Read on Jewish Life.

SAIL sculptures @ LEH

SAIL volunteers at the LEH branch  were able to exercise their creative abilities thanks to Little Egg Harbor friends.  They made this Shrinky Dink sculpture that was inspired by the artist Dale Chihuly, who is known  for his blown glass sculptures.  Each volunteer designed a sheet, which was heated to create the unique shape and then the SAIL coordinator, Lauren Shockley, glued them together.  This piece currently sits on the Information Services desk and is enjoyed by all.

Mr. Scott the Music Man & Sparks visit Little Egg Harbor Library

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Scott the Music Man and Sparks the Library Mascot entertained a group of adults and children at the Little Egg Harbor Library on Tuesday evening.

There was jumping, dancing, singing, playing with scarves and then even more jumping. Everyone enjoyed Sparks’ antics and the wiggling of his bottom. The children kept up with Mr. Scott’s movements and everyone had a great time.

Thank you to the System Programming Committee for scheduling the event.