Upper Shores Friends program: Brain Wash

The Upper Shores branch celebrated National Friends of the Libraries Week Oct 24 with the Brain Wash Game Show. Eric Dasher hosted the trivia game show with video, music, facts, pop culture and puzzles. The theme? Broadway or Bust!

 

Jersey Strong! We’re rooting for your return Upper Shores!

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.

Mummers Strut Their Stuff at the Upper Shores Branch

The Mummers helped celebrate 2012 at the Ocean County Library Upper Shores Branch. This special concert was sponsored by the Friends of the Ocean County Library Upper Shores Branch. You can view photos from the event here.

OCL partnering with AARP for free tax help

OCL partnering with AARP for free tax help

Six branches of Ocean County Library will partner with AARP from February 1 through mid-April and offer free one-on-one counseling and assistance to help individuals prepare basic tax forms.

AARP Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service. It is available to taxpayers with low- and moderate-incomes and gives special attention to people age 60 and older.

Eligibility: Seniors 60+ and those with low to moderate income. Seniors will be given priority since it is sponsored by AARP.

BRANCH DAY Time Notes
Jackson Thursdays 9am – 12pm by APPT Call (732) 928-4400

Lacey Tuesdays 1 pm -5pm by APPT Call (609) 693-8566

Lakewood Fridays 9am -1pm by APPT Call (732) 363-1435

Plumsted Wednesdays 1pm – 4:15pm by APPT Call (609) 758-7888

Toms River Thursdays 9am – 12pm Walk-ins (using sign-up sheet)

Upper Shores Thursdays 1030 am-2:30pm by APPT Call (732) 793-3996

The program has grown greatly since it started in 1968 with four volunteers into a nationwide program. The IRS has helped train approximately 34,600 AARP Tax-Aide volunteers. The volunteers help more than 2.6 million taxpayers file their federal, state and local tax returns each year.

The AARP Tax-Aide program is offered at approximately 6,500 locations nationwide in community and senior centers, libraries, and other locations.
For more information visit the library’s Web site http://www.theoceancountylibrary.org or call (732) 349-6200 or (609) 971-0514.

Day of the Dead Sugar Skulls

On Saturday, October 28, 2011, families at the Ocean County Library Upper Shores Branch enjoyed the Sugar Skull Workshop, celebrating El Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead. Enjoy this sampling of festive sugar skulls created at the branch!

Upper Shores’ Psychic Fair

The Upper Shores Branch and their Friends group teamed up to hold a Psychic Fair this past August. This special fundraiser benefited the Friends group. Branch Manager June Schneider took us on a tour of this mystical day.

 There was also a handmade jewelry sale featuring the work of Debra Curcura! Now isn’t that pretty!

A complete gallery of pictures from the day can be found here.

Ringing in the New Year with Tea!

Upper Shores hosted an afternoon tea complete with scones, jam & lemon curd, finger sandwiches, English tea & dessert to celebrate 2011.

Staff served the 3-course luncheon to a crowd of 60 attendees seated at tables that were finely dressed with china.

Totally Tea: An 18th Century Tea Experience with History on the Hoof’s Stacy Roth, was funded by the Horizons Speakers Bureau of the NJ Council for the Humanities.

Refreshments were funded by the generous Friends of Upper Shores. The unique costumed presentation of tea lore, history, songs & poetry was educational, enjoyable and brought the history of tea to life.

Upper Shores hosts summer camp

Upper Shores was proud to host the summer camp from Hugh J Boyd school, Seaside Heights for a story time and craft. S.A.I.L. was there to lend a hand reading and assisting our visitors. Fun was had by all!

Wacky Wet Wednesday MUD Sculpture party

Upper Shores hosted a Wacky Wet Wednesday MUD Sculpture party. Everyone got “down and dirty,” and the mom’s had a good time too.

4th Annual Battle of the Bands @ Upper Shores

The 4th Annual Battle of the Bands @ Upper Shores brought out the crowd as music lovers cheered for their favorite teen competitors.  Seven bands ‘rocked the lot’ from atop the County Stage.  1st place was awarded to Definite No, 2nd place went to A House Apart, and the rest of the fabulous contenders included Lost Intentions, The Funky Sons, Dear Night Sky, Reveche, and Axis. Thanks to all our sponsors & judges–see you again in 2011!