LBI returns to its regular hours

Ocean County Library’s Long Beach Island branch, 217 S. Central Avenue, Surf City, has resumed its regular open hours.

The branch will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Many of the regular programs, such as Brain Games, the writers’ group, needle workers and the Joint Council of Taxpayers’ Associations will restart in December. All children’s programs are resuming immediately. The watercolor drop-in programs will resume in January.

The special programs scheduled for December have been cancelled.

For more information telephone the branch (609) 494-2480 or visit the library’s Web site, www.theoceancountylibrary.org .

LBI library branch opens today, Monday

Ocean County Library’s Long Beach Island branch (217 S. Central Av., Surf City) will open today (Nov. 19) and tomorrow at 10 a.m. and remain open until 5 p.m.

This marks the opening of the library’s first branch on the barrier islands since Hurricane Sandy struck New Jersey. Eighteen of its 21 locations are now open.

Library customers can access the Internet with free Wifi and recharge their electronic devices at charging stations in the library.  They can also borrow CDs,  DVDs and books.

For more information about the Ocean County Library and its branches telephone the operator at (732) 349-6200 or (609) 971-0514.

The library’s Website and databases are available 24/7 at www.theoceancountylibrary.org . The Website also contains contact information and links to resources for recovery from the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

Enjoy the Sounds of Wall to Wall Klezmer At The Ocean County Library

Ocean County Library will host two special Klezmer music concerts on Tuesday, October 16 as part of it’s “Neighbors Connecting” series of programs.

Klezmer is a combination of energetic dance tunes and instrumentals that originated by Eastern European Jewish musicians in the nineteenth century. This special brand of folk music made its mainstream American pop culture debut in the 1964 Broadway musical “Fiddler on the Roof”, and was propelled further into the spotlight in the 1971 film version.

The Wall to Wall Klezmer is more than just a concert; these programs also share the history of Klezmer, examples of Yiddish culture, and even reenact a traditional Jewish wedding.

In order to accommodate a larger audience, the Long Beach Island branch is partnering with the Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island to hold the program at their community center (2411 Long Beach Boulevard, Spray Beach) at 3 p.m.

The program will be held at the Lakewood branch (301 Lexington Avenue) later that day at 5:30 p.m.

Wall to Wall Klezmer is part of Ocean County Library’s “Neighbors Connecting” series of programs that celebrate the many rich communities of Ocean County. This program is made possible in part by the generous sponsorship of an OceanFirst Foundation Arts and Cultural Grant and with additional funding from the Ocean County Library Foundation and the Ocean County Library.

These programs are 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.

Behind the scenes @ Carlo’s Bakery

 

The LBI branch hosted Elizabeth White, head decorator for Carlo’s Bakery on TLC’s “Cake Boss” shared her insights from the television show and served up some of her great creations for children and adults.  Audience participation also played a part in her presentation, learning some tips and techniques about cake decorating.

 

 

Historical Hiawatha presentation at two library branches

TOMS RIVER –   People can be forgiven if they mistake the Hiawatha of poetic lore with the historic Native American who was credited with forming the Iroquois Confederation.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “The Song of Hiawatha” presented Hiawatha as a Native American female whose sole connection to the historical figure is a common name.

The historic Hiawatha lived about 500 years ago in the area that later became New York. Along with the Prophet Daganawida, The Great Peacemaker, he created a constitution known as the Great Law of Peace that enabled the Iroquois peoples to become one of the strongest forces during America’s Colonial period.

Key to Hiawatha’s success in uniting the groups is the lesson of forgiveness.

Two branches of the Ocean County Library will present a children’s program (ages 5 to 12) based on the early life of the Iroquois hero.

Hiawatha is portrayed in the program as a curious youngster who decides to disobey his grandmother and seek a vision alone in the forest. There he finds a sacred cave and enters a magical world full of talking animals and fantastic spirits. There he also meets The Peacemaker, a wise Mohawk, who teaches him a wonderful lesson.

The Catskill Puppet Theatre uses full sets, exquisitely crafted puppets and Native American flute and drum recordings to tell how Hiawatha, with help from his friends Bear and Turtle, discovers the pathway he must follow to become a great leader.

“Hiawatha” will be presented at the Long Beach Island branch Friday July 20 at 11 a.m. and later at the Lakewood branch at 3 p.m.

The programs are sponsored in part with funding from an OceanFirst Foundation Arts and Cultural Grant and the Ocean County Library Foundation.

This program is free and open to the public.  Registration is required.  For more information or to register go to the Web site www.theoceancountylibrary.org or telephone (732) 349-6200 or (609) 971-0514. Registration for the LBI program begins July 6 and for the Lakewood program July 7.

In a galaxy far, far away…

On July 27^th, the Long Beach Island library held a Star Wars program called “Feel the Force: Jedi Training!” The program was a craft party. The children made crafts such as: paper bag Yodas, paper bag Chewbaccas, light sabers, TIE fighters, and Jedi masks. There was also a raffle in which one child won a goodie bag filled with Star Wars books. Each child also received a Jedi Certificate at the end of program, earning them the title of Jedi Knight. We had two special guest appearances: a life-size R2D2 and a storm trooper. We had a blast!

Revolutionary War hero to be feted @ LBI & TR/to be joined by Just Us Books

Ocean County Library and the Toms River branch of the NAACP will present Noah Lewis and his portrayal of Edward “Ned” Hector, a black Revolutionary War soldier in two library locations.

 This dramatization of Hector’s participation in the Battle of Brandywine (Pennsylvania) will appear at the Long Beach Island branch (217 S. Central Av, Surf City) Saturday Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.

 It will also appear at the Toms River branch (101 Washington St.) Saturday Feb. 19 at 2 p.m.  The Toms River program will be followed by a sampling of soul food.

 Ned Hector was a teamster and artilleryman with Colonel John Proctor’s 3rd Pennsylvania Artillery Regiment. 

 This unit was positioned near Chad’s Ford. Late in the afternoon of September 11th, 1777 the British and Hessians began to overrun the American positions on the east side of Brandywine Creek and the order was given to abandon the guns, wagons, and horses and “save yourself”.

Hector is reported to have said, “The enemy shall not have my team; I shall save my horses and myself.” He then grabbed up a stack of abandoned weapons, threw them into his wagon and escaped with his wagon-the only salvage from his company.

Hector was never granted a pension as were many Continental soldiers. Finally, years after his service, a “grateful” Pennsylvania Legislature granted him a donation of $40 for his heroics.

Hector lived in the Norristown area where he died in 1834 at the age of 90.

Wade and Cheryl Hudson, publishers of Just Us Books, will also be on hand at Toms River Feb. 19 to showcase children’s books they sell that reflect the diversity of Black history, heritage and experiences. 

Just Us Books is one of the nation’s few Black-owned publishers and is the only one exclusively dedicated to producing Black children’s books.

They started their publishing house in 1988 and have earned top industry honors including the Coretta Scott King Honor Book Award for illustration in 2008.

These programs are free and open to the public.  For more information or to register for them go to our Website www.theoceancountylibrary.org or telephone the operator (732) 349-6200 or (609) 971-0514.

Ned Hector: Revolutionary War hero

Ocean County Library and the Toms River branch of the NAACP will present Noah Lewis and his portrayal of Edward “Ned” Hector, a black Revolutionary War soldier in two library locations.

This dramatization of Hector’s participation in the Battle of Brandywine (Pennsylvania) will appear at the Long Beach Island branch (217 S. Central Av., Surf City) Saturday Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.

It will also appear at the Toms River branch (101 Washington St.) Saturday Feb. 19 at 2 p.m.  The Toms River program will be followed by a sampling of soul food.

Ned Hector was a teamster and artilleryman with Colonel John Proctor’s 3rd Pennsylvania Artillery Regiment. 

This unit was positioned near Chad’s Ford. Late in the afternoon of September 11th, 1777 the British and Hessians began to overrun the American positions on the east side of Brandywine Creek and the order was given to abandon the guns, wagons, and horses and “save yourself”.

Hector is reported to have said, “The enemy shall not have my team; I shall save my horses and myself.” He then grabbed up a stack of abandoned weapons threw them into his wagon and escaped with his wagon-the only salvage from his company.

Hector was never granted a pension as were many Continental soldiers. Finally, years later, a “grateful” Pennsylvania Legislature granted him a donation of $40 for his heroics.

Hector lived in the Norristown area where he died in 1834 at the age of 90. He was truly an unsung and unrewarded hero of the Battle of Brandywine.

Vote early!

Girl Scouting provides a lifetime of experiences for residents who read to succeed and make our county a better place to live. 

Girl Scout Troop 504 enjoys camping, cooking and crafts with information from the Little Egg Harbor branch of the Ocean County Library.   

Girl Scout Troop 504 spent this past Saturday afternoon at the Little Egg Harbor Library creating their entry for the 2010 Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce Scarecrow Contest.  Their entry is #14. 

To vote, please visit the Long Beach Island & Southern Ocean County NJ Vacation Guide website, http://www.visitlbiregion.com/phototour.cfm and click on the “Vote for your favorite Scarecrow” link on the right side of the screen.