Brick celebrates 20th anniversary

The Brick Branch of the Ocean County Library celebrated its 20th Anniversary on Saturday, August 28. The day‘s festivities is included a children’s LEGOs activity, building a dream library, and a visit from Sparks.

At noon there was program with remarks by Assistant Director Valerie Bell and presentation of a Mayoral Proclamation and Town Council Resolution by Brick Township Mayor Stephen Acropolis. The governing body and the mayor declared Aug. 28 as “Brick Library Branch Day” in Bricktown.

The program ended with a special recognition of Brick Friends Life Members, Dorothy Epstein and Evelyn Klappholz and the cutting of the Anniversary Cake. In the afternoon everyone enjoyed a wonderful performance by Jim Murphy and the Pine Barons.

Throughout the day visitors viewed our time capsule and photo display and slideshow, an outdoor kite display made by our teen S.A.I.L. volunteers, and entered the raffles for seven themed gift baskets, two filled backpacks and three restaurant gift certificates.

A photo slideshow of the festivities can be viewed at the Flickr web site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22036136@N07/sets/72157624717270707/show/

Square Dancing at Upper Shores

Upper Shores branch had a great turnout for their recent square dance program. So many folks showed up the dance floor couldn’t hold them all at once

UP square dance lyrics… Grab a book, check it out..Promenade on your way out

Little Egg Harbor Friends recieves check from Manahawkin Walmart

Joyce Salow, Little Egg Harbor Friends President, accepts a check from the Manahawkin Walmart

Joyce Salow, Little Egg Harbor Friends President, accepts a grant from Walmart (above) in the amount of $1,000 at the grand re-opening of Walmart in Manahawkin, Friday, August 27.

Penny Hughes of the Greater Tuckerton Food Pantry also accepted a check (below) from the Manahawkin Walmart. Ms. Hughes is also a volunteer at the Little Egg Harbor Branch, with the branch’s English Conversation Group.

Penny Hughes of the Greater Tuckerton Food Pantry recieves a check from Walmrt in Manahawkin

Little Egg Harbor branch hosts blood drive

Eric Vinciquarra, TAB member, and Lauren Shockley, former TAB member and LEH’s SAIL Coordinator, enjoying the canteen after their donations.

The Little Egg Harbor branch hosted a successful blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross and the Little Egg Harbor Citizen’s on Patrol on Thursday, August 26. A steady stream of generous blood donors flowed into the library to contribute to this cause. The branch exceeded its goal, of 80 donations to help fill the current blood shortage.

Lakewood SMART program concludes with a celebration

The S.M.A.R.T. Kids Summer Extension Program ran for a total of eight weeks. The program, held every day from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m., started July 1st through August 20th. Daily activities included crafts, gaming, outside physical activities, movies, and cooking. A free lunch was provided daily by the Lakewood Board of Education. Raisa Gofman, a monitor at Lakewood, taught the children a Ukrainian dance that they performed at the closing celebration. School supplies were donated by the St. Andrew’s Methodist Church in Toms River and were handed out at the beach party, which ended the program.

A slideshow of photos taken by Erin can be viewed at the Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22036136@N07/sets/72157624687532327/show/

Motorcycle mavens in Waretown

Michelle Brzozowski & Alma Perez-Neary made a grand entrance onto the Waretown branch parking lot on their marvelous motorcycles. These mavens spoke of road safety, the differences in bike types, and their own personal stories. Thanks Michelle and Alma for making it fun for our young patrons to learn more about the role of motorbikes on the road.

TR Sail puppet show keeps ’em riveted

The SAIL volunteers put on a fantastic puppet show for young patrons of the library on July 15th. The stage, script , and acting were all done by the SAIL volunteers, and gave 32 patrons a show to remember.

Penguins in Waretown? Oh my!

Children who attended a special program at Waretown had a treat when they got the chance to meet Kringle, a real-live penguin, and his handler, Danni.
Both arrived in a specially-equipped van from Jenkinson’s Aquarium, Point Pleasant, to beat the summer heat.
The children also had the opportunity to learn some special things about penguins. For instance, did you know that penguins have feathers?

Shakespeare in the park at Point Boro branch

Customers enjoyed the romantic-comedy As You Like It performed under the trees in the “library park” behind the building at the Point Pleasant Borough Branch of the Ocean County Library. The fabulous Next Stage Ensemble, part of the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, had everyone laughing in no time. Sponsored by the Friends of the Pt. Pleasant Boro Library.

OCL assists with Rutgers pilot program in tourism & hospitality

Eleven students graduated from Rutgers University’s Summer Tourism and Hospitality Program, a pilot program that prepared them to work in the hospitality industry, and Ocean County Library helped by providing instructors and class room space.
The classes, an activity of the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Ocean County PIC, Inc., taught the students customer service skills, mathematics and public speaking. They also visited several field sites in the state.
Many of the students, who all ranged in age from 16 to 21, told how the classes prepared them for the business world.
“It’s hard work to run a business,” said one graduate, Dan. “I learned that you have to respect people.” He said his long-range goal is to become an auto mechanic and eventually open a shop of his own.
“I learned that you should never give up,” said Vicky, another graduate. “I also learned how to dress and prepare for a job interview and to do my very best at work.”
“A lot of people came together and made this a success,” said Toms River Branch Manager Cathi Finnen, who along with Judy Macaluso made the arrangements between the group and the library.
OCL’s Julie Tozer and Jeanne Collacott assisted with the program, instructing the students on how to access databases that will be important in their working career.
“They were excited to learn some real skills that they could use right away,” said Julie. “This was a unique opportunity to prepare them for their future.”
Mary Gatta, the Director of Gender and Workforce Policy, Center for Women and Work at Rutgers University said she hopes this collaborative arrangement with the library will continue into the future and thanked Library Director Sue Quinn for all the assistance the program received from our staff.
A slideshow of photos from the event can be viewed at the following Flickr address: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22036136@N07/sets/72157624542836921/show/
(you may have to copy and paste the address into your browser.)