Farmer Jason rocks the Ocean County Library Toms River branch

Children’s music star Farmer Jason was at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library on Tuesday, Oct. 20for a morning of catchy songs and good times.

Bookfest 2009 Teen Tent

At Bookfest, our own cooking expert, Gigi Hayes taught our teens that eating on the run does not have to involve processed product and fast food. Tempted with couscous, chicken salad and yogurt smoothies, they learned how to prepare a quick healthy meal in 15 minutes.

Inauguration shown in Mancini Hall

Today’s inauguration of President Barack H. Obama was braodcast on a large screen in Mancini Hall this morning. More than 100 people from the area sat and watched as the President and Vice President Joe Biden were sworn into office. Refreshments were served.
Unlike the crowds in Washington, D.C. our group did not have to contend with the cold temperatures. But like the Washington crowd we were able to share the historic moment as a community. Thanks to Colleen and TR programming for putting the program together.
The Asbury Park Press has an article on their Web site about our program. It can be found at their Web site:  http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/B3/20090120/OBAMAINAUGURATION10/90120085/-1/OBAMAINAUGURATION

They also posted a video taken at the library.  It can be seen at http://www.app.com/section/VIDEONETWORK&videoID=1007398365

Toms River Library Offers Broadway and Classical Music Concerts 1/7/09

December 22, 2008

CONTACT: Ocean County Library, Toms River Programming Team 732-349-6200 x5100
Carol Zsiga, czsiga@theoceancountylibrary.org
Colleen Goode, cgoode@theoceancountylibrary.org

Toms River Library Offers Broadway and Classical Music Concerts
To Help You Unwind After the Holidays

TOMS RIVER – Once the hustle and bustle of the holidays are over, why not treat yourself to a musical retreat? During the month of January, the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library will host two very special free musical performances to soothe the soul.

On Wednesday, January 7th at 7:00pm, take a musical journey to the footlights of Broadway as Nina Deutsch performs “Classic Broadway with a Twist.” Ms. Deutsch, an international performer and Juilliard and Yale-trained pianist, will bring to life the music and personalities of great composers such as Gershwin, Kern, Berlin, Rodgers and Porter. Audience participation is encouraged.

The “Classic Broadway with a Twist” program is offered through the Horizons Speakers Bureau of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

On Sunday, January 11th at 2:00pm, Piotr Filochowski and Ania Filochowska will perform a classical music concert, “Sibling Strings.” The brother and sister child prodigies have studied under Maestro Itzhak Perlman and performed nationally and internationally, winning numerous scholarships and awards. Since their professional debuts at ages 10 and 11, they have traveled the world, from Afghanistan to Europe and Carnegie Hall. The violinists extraordinaire formerly played for Poland’s National Philharmonic and are currently attending Juilliard. They will visit Ocean County courtesy of Toms River residents, Mr. and Mrs. George Leoniak.

To register for these free concerts, please call 732-349-6200 or go to the Ocean County Library’s website: www.theoceancountylibrary.org.
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Scarey times in Toms River

Twenty children in Halloween costumes arrived at the Toms River branch Wednesday night. They first enjoyed a scary story time with books that included “When a Monster is Born”  (Sean Taylor), “Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich” (Adam Rex), ”Monster Museum” (Marilyn Singer), and “Goodnight Good: A Petrifying Parody” (Michael Rex).

Storytime was followed by a trick-or-treat parade through the library where the Darth Vaders and Harry Potters received an OCL pencil from Circ and a candy bag of goodies from Information Services. Then it was back to the Discovery Room for some creepy crawly snacks (spiders made from an Oreo cookie mounted on a sugar cookie with Twizzler legs and M&M eyes).

Two games rounded out the evening: Pin the Spider on the Web and Monster Memory Matching. Winners went home with pumpkin carving kits while two runner ups received a handmade, embroidered pillowcase just in time for Halloween.

County Agencies Partner To Prevent Youth Depression

Psychiatric/mental health nurse Bev Cobain has dealt with the effects of depression both personally and professionally. Three of her family members committed suicide; the youngest was her twenty-seven year old cousin Kurt Cobain, front man of popular band Nirvana.

Her family’s tragic losses have ignited a passion to educate professionals, lay people and youth about depression and the significant public health issue of suicide.

Cobain will present two special workshops for teens and adults based on her acclaimed book “When Nothing Matters Anymore: A Survival Guide for Depressed Teens” at the Ocean County Library Toms River branch, 101 Washington Street, Toms River, on Thurs., Nov. 13.

Her first workshop “The Power of Thoughts” starts at 6 pm, and is presented to teens (ages 12 and up). This workshop shows teens how they can find better ways to overcome and communicate their struggles with depression.

The second workshop “Listening With Your Heart” begins at 7 pm and is meant for parents, educators, clergy, youth workers and interested adults. It will provide them with information on how to detect teen depression and how to intervene. Continuing education certificates will be available for this workshop.

Cobain is a nationally recognized speaker on the issues of youth depression awareness and suicide prevention and intervention. She was presented the Youth Suicide Prevention Award for the State of Washington by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the National Mental Health Association’s Green Ribbon Award for her efforts on behalf of youth depression awareness.

In addition to being a practicing psychiatric nurse, she worked on media projects for Court TV, CNN and PBS.

The library’s program was created through a partnership of the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Ocean County Youth Service Commission, Ocean County Health Department, OCSC Juvenile Intake Unit, Ocean County Library and the Municipal Alliance Project.

This program is free and open to the public Registration is required by calling 732-349-6200 or online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org.

TR has full house twice over!

A Taste of Ocean County – NJCH Grant programs

Over 200 people enjoyed the NJCH grant programs on Wed. October 15, 2008 based on the theme “A Taste of Ocean County” which featured local beekeepers from Herbertsville Honey, a NJ Food Historian discussing the New Jersey Blueberry, and a tasting party including homemade baked goods, Häagen-Dazs ice cream, local honey, and Jersey Blues™ Iced Tea. View the photos http://picasaweb.google.com/meagansphotos/NJCHGrantProgram#

 Oktoberfest

There was standing room only at the Oktoberfest celebration at Toms River branch on Saturday, October 25th. All ages sang along to classic German folk songs by the Lakewood Maennerchor, watched couples dance the waltz and enjoyed authentic food by the local restaurant D.A. Barsch German Butcher Shop. View the photos http://picasaweb.google.com/meagansphotos/OktoberfestOceanCountyLibrary#

Local Journalist Don Bennett Shares Recent History of Ocean County

Local history enthusiasts, budding journalists, and curious newshounds, come hear reporter Don Bennett dish the scoop on stories he has covered in his 44-year career as a reporter for 4 daily and 12 weekly newspapers on Monday, November 10, 2008 at 7:00pm in the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library.

An award winning journalist, Bennett has written about people who governed Ocean County, crooks and crusaders, killers and cops, judges and lawyers, polluters and the polluted, civil rights and uncivil wrongs.

Mr. Bennett began his career before there was a nuclear power plant at Oyster Creek, a college in Toms River and a police department in Brick Township. Ciba-Geigy was still dumping the toxic soup from its Toms River dye works into the river, discoloring it and causing fish kills.

He recorded the toll on Barnegat Bay from early development that sliced its meadows into building lots and lagoons and disgorged septic wastes into the water, helping send the shell fishing industry into a decline from which it never recovered.

His “Monday Morning Commentary” in the Ocean County Observer, often recounting bits of history of the county was must reading for thousands of people as they began each week. Bennett was the senior member of the Editorial Board of that newspaper, the last daily exclusively devoted to the news of the county. He also worked for the Trenton Times, the Asbury Park Press, and the Ocean County Daily Times.

His work won numerous awards from the New Jersey Press Association, including a pair of Lloyd I. Burns public service awards for his Ciba-Geigy coverage and a third for his work on official corruption in Manchester Township.

Earlier this year he appeared in the Academy Award winning documentary “Freeheld” about Lt. Laurel Hester of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

His love of writing was encouraged at Toms River High School and in 2002 he was the first member of his 1959 graduating class to be inducted into the Toms River Regional School’s Hall of Fame. He continued to study writing at Stockton College in Pomona, where he earned a degree in literature and language.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear from one of our county’s most insightful reporters. A question and answer period will follow his talk.

Toms River branch is located at 101 Washington Street in downtown Toms River. This free event is open to the public. For more information or to register to attend this event, please call 732-349-6200 or visit our website, www.theoceancountylibrary.org.

We were on the radio!

A big thanks to WOBM’s Breakfast Club personalities Shawn Michaels and Sue Moll who helped raise funds for the Ocean County Cancer Coalition and awareness of breast cancer.  This afternoon they sold T-shirts for “Pretty in Pink” in front of the library.  Also a big thank you to Scott, Julie and Karen for offering at the last minute to help out with an outreach table we had in conjunction with Shawn and Sue’s appearance.   Thanks to everyone who participated in the fundraiser and visited them.  And don’t forget: wear pink tomorrow to show your support of the fight against breast cancer!

A Tribute to Gone with the Wind Toms River 11/3

CONTACT:    Ocean County Library, Toms River Programming Team

732-349-6200 x 5100

Valerie Haeder, vhaeder@theoceancountylibrary.org

 The Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library presents

Happy Birthday, Margaret Mitchell

a tribute to Gone with the Wind

Book Discussion & Movie

 

Toms River – Why fiddle-dee-de!  Second only to the Bible in popularity, Gone with the Wind has been readers’ and film-goers’ favorites for decades.

The Ocean County Library will present a Gone with the Wind book discussion on Monday, 3 November 2008, at 7:00 pm, at 101 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ.  Adults 14+ years and up are invited to read this masterpiece (pick up copies at the library now), and be prepared to discuss on the very day of Margaret Mitchell’s birthday.

 Later in the week, on Saturday, 8 November 2008, at 11:30 am, come back to the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library to watch the movie Gone with the Wind on the big screen.  Used by the military after World War II to inspire grit and survival among Europeans, Gone with the Wind has inspired and delighted audiences for years.  Whether it’s your first or 15^th time seeing it, you’ll be sure to enjoy the heartaches and triumphs of Scarlett O’Hara.

 To register for these free events, call 732-349-6200 or visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org.