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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.
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.
On July 30, 85 teens came to the Toms River branch to celebrate the upcoming release of Breaking Dawn, the fourth book in the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. The party’s theme was “Bella & Edward’s Engagement Party,” in keeping with the end of the third book.
Party-goers entering the 2nd floor Teen Zone were greeted by a night-sky backdrop and black, white, and red decorations – all thanks to party-planning and decorating assistance from teen S.A.I.L. (Service and Achievement in the Library) volunteers. Teens enjoyed a “Twilight Jeopardy” trivia contest, patch-painting and coffee filter rose craft stations, refreshments including an “engagement cake,” voting station (will Bella become a vampire or won’t she?? Jacob or Edward??), fortune telling (based on quotes from the books), temporary tattoos, and a viewing of the trailer for the Twilight movie (due out December 12, 2008). Anticipation for the August 2 book release ran high!
