Stafford library’s creative writers group to meet-register!

December 30, 2010

CONTACT: Francine Everson (609) 597-3381 feverson@theoceancountylibrary.org

CREATIVE WRITING GROUP

MANAHAWKIN – The Stafford branch of the Ocean County Library’s Creative Writing Group will meet on Wednesday, January 19th from 1:00 – 2:30 PM.

What is creative writing? It’s an expression of the writer’s thoughts and emotions, rather than merely conveying information.

If you love to write in any form – fiction, screenplays, etc., – this is a chance to meet others with the same passion. Share ideas and information, with the option of bringing in a one-page sample of your work with some copies for others to read.

The group is limited to five participants so register early.

The Stafford branch is located at 129 N. Main St. in Manahawkin.

This program is free and open to the public. Please register in person, by calling the branch at (609) 597-3381, or online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org.

If you have any questions, call the branch for specific information.

2 lifestyle programs @ PP Boro

 

PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT: Nicole DeMatteo, Branch Manager                Karen Monahan, PR Liaison

            ndematteo@theoceancountylibrary.org                kmonahan@theoceancountylibrary.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 Nutrition, Bone Health, and a Healthy Lifestyle

 

POINT PLEASANT BOROUGH – The Point Pleasant Borough branch of the Ocean County Library, 834 Beaver Dam Road, will present the program “Nutrition, Bone Health, and Healthy Lifestyle” on Thursday January 20 at 7:00 pm.

The program will be led by Dr. Sue Shapses, Professor of Nutrition Sciences at Rutgers University.  She will share information on how healthy nutrition can contribute to bone health.

This program is free and open to the public.  Please register online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org or call (732) 295-1555. 

 Numerology: A Pathway to Greater Understanding of Oneself

 

POINT PLEASANT BOROUGH –  The Point Pleasant Borough branch of the Ocean County Library, 834 Beaver Dam Road, will present the program “Numerology: A Pathway to Greater Understanding of Oneself on Saturday January 8 at 11:00 am.

The program will be led by Numerologist and Life Coach Michael John Fierro who will discuss the ancient science developed by Pythagoras which uses numerals and letters from a person’s birth date and name to discover talents, abilities, personality traits, and trends in one’s life.

This program is free and open to the public.  Please register online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org or call (732) 295-1555.

OCL Foundation distributes Nooks for 85th anniversary

Rose Pero (left) and Lynn Jacobs (center) receive their Nook from from Foundation Chair Joseph Guzzardo.

In celebration of the library system’s 85^th anniversary, the Ocean County Library Foundation has purchased and presented electronic readers to eight lucky library customers.

The winners all qualified for the drawing by answering questions about the library’s history.  The questions ranged from general information about the system to specific questions about the branches.

Four of the winners picked up their e-reader, the Nook, at the Dec. 16^th foundation meeting.  The four were Rose M. Pero, Lynn Jacobs, Samantha Wilber, and Jess Jannsch.

The Nook was chosen because it is WiFi-ready and customers can download written and audio books available through the library.

“I never win things and this was a big surprise,” said Rose M. Pero, Toms River.

Pero, who visits the library at least three times each week, considers herself an eclectic reader that reads many mystery novels.

Lynn Jacobs, Lanoka Harbor, visits the Lacey branch at least twice a week.  She enjoys reading historical novels, mysteries and nonfiction.

“I’ve always loved to read,” she said, “and I’m excited to try something news.  This is a way for me to keep up with the new technology.”

Sixth-grader Samantha Wilber, Island Heights, has been visiting the library since she was a toddler, participating in many of the library’s children programs.  She enjoys reading series books, especially The Clique series, whose main characters are four teen-aged girls attending a private school.  She was excited to receive her Nook.

“It is on a lot of classmate’s Christmas list,” she said.

It was also on Jesse Jannsch’s list.  Jannsch, New Gretna, also enjoys reading books series, and his love of reading was instilled in him by his mother, he said.  Winning the Nook was a complete surprise, he added.

Ocean County Library marked its 85^th-anniversary Sept. 19 and will continue the celebration throughout the year. 

The library, “Connecting People, Building Community,” serves the more than half-million residents of Ocean County with books, electronic media, entertainment and informative programs.

Last year the library circulated nearly 5 million items.  It has more than 350,000 library cardholders

The library received The National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums.  IMLS chose Ocean County Library as one of the nation’s five best libraries in 2007.

The library was also received the nationally-recognized John Cotton Dana Public Relations Award, presented by the American Library Association, for the library’s “Hurricane Katrina-Partners in Caring” project.  Ocean County Library employees conducted several events to raise funds for food and supplies for the Hancock County, Mississippi libraries.  The staffs of both library systems established special bonds that helped them offer emotional support during the cleanup and recovery from the hurricane.

People can visit any one of the 21 locations or its Website www.theoceancountylibrary.org for a complete listing of programs, library news, electronic databases, and virtual tours of its branches.

Jesse Jannsch (left) receives his Nook from OCL Foundation Chair Joseph Guzzardo.

Samantha Wilber (left) receives her Nook from OCL Foundation Chair Joseph Guzzardo.

Oh Freedom: TR to host “Blacks in the Revolutionary War” program

At the dawn of the American Revolution, the chains of enslaved and oppressed blacks clanged while cries for political freedom from British rule rang. Perhaps blacks could earn their freedom through serving in the impending War? 

Their stories are told in “Oh Freedom, Blacks in the Revolutionary War,” the NJ Department of State’s travelling exhibit that will be displayed at the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St.  January 5 through February 24.

 This unique exhibit is the culmination of nearly five years of research into the role that African Americans played in the many battles fought in New Jersey.

 The display features copies of documents, details about both British Loyalist and American rebel freedom fighters, and references authentic documents from the New Jersey State Library and Archives along with other sources, including newspaper articles. It was also culled from lists of black men and women who served on both sides and includes a narrative of their struggles both during and after the war.

 It may be a surprise to modern New Jerseyans, but many of those enslaved people lived in this state and the quest for their personal independence played an important part in New Jersey’s role on both sides in the American Revolution.

 Blacks took a chance, siding with either the British Loyalists or the American rebels –whomever they believed offered the best prospects for freedom.  Blacks were present at all of New Jersey’s key battles and served on both sides.

 The exhibit is free and open to the public during regular library hours.

 For further information go to the library Web site www.theoceancountylibrary.org or call (732) 349-6200.

Chess challenges @ the library

For more than 500 years players have been trying to capture their opponent’s king on a civilized battlefield – the chess board.  And Ocean County Library offers residents the opportunity to join in or improve their skills in that growing field of strategists.

A chess game is played on an eight by eight square board.  Each player has 16 pieces, ranging in importance and rank from the lowly pawns to the king.  The object of the game is to capture your opponent’s king before yours is captured.

The Little Egg Harbor branch (290 Mathistown Road) offers lessons to children, ages seven and up, Saturday afternoon, Jan. 8.  Interested adults, siblings and care-givers are also invited to attend the classes.  Chess players with any experience are invited to attend and assist the new players.  Class size is limited so call the branch (609) 294-1197.

The Jackson branch (2 Jackson Dr.) will host a chess night for teens in grades 5 through 12 Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m.  and give students a monthly opportunity to play.

The Point Pleasant Borough branch (834 Beaver Dam Rd.) chess club offers games for players of all ages and skill levels.  The club meets Thursday, Jan. 13 and Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.

The Brick branch (301 Chambers Bridge Rd.) offers opportunities for chess players to play a game with similarly skilled chess players Wednesday Jan. 26 beginning at 5:30 p.m.  Whether one is the next grand chess master or a casual player, the night will be a fun event and offer a chance to learn a thing or two about the game.

English conversation group celebrates holidays

The English Conversation group of Toms River celebrated the holidays at the Toms River branch December 21st. The members each brought a food from their native culture to share at the celebration.

The group of eight to nine have met regualy on Tuesdays for two years is for people who speak English as a second language. The group lead by Evelyn Gelbstein, uses informal conversation for improving their language skills.

Daisy Martinez visits OCL @ TR

Holidays are a time for memories and traditions, said television-chef Daisy Martinez during a special program Tuesday evening at the Ocean County Library’s Toms River branch.  And the process of creating those memories can become a memory all its own.

Daisy introduced her newest book, the just released “Daisy’s Holiday Cooking: delicious Latin recipes for effortless entertaining,” and she shared some recipes and memories from her holidays.

“Memories are the glue of a family,” she said, and they evolve as we grow older.  “Every family has those stories.”

Like her son Mark shouting “Amber” each year when they cut down their family Christmas tree in Connecticut.  Or the best practical joke another of her sons pulled, involving a misunderstanding and banana peel, while they toured Mexico.

Some of her earliest memories involve cooking with her mother and grandmother in the family kitchen, soaking up their wisdom and learning responsibility.

“Then, when I became a parent I was the biggest kid in the house,” Daisy said.

As her children grew she realized that her family could experience the same fragmentation that other families went through, and she resolved not to let that happen.

While other families were so busy that they neglected eating together, it was a tradition she stuck with.  And what better way to maintain that tradition than to vacation together, where they could eat three meals together each day?

 “What Mom and Dad are going to give you are memories,” she told the family, and the misadventures began!  And so did the new memories.

And she shares them in “Daisy’s Holiday Cooking.”

A slideshow of 8 photos from her visit can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/oceancountylibrary/sets/72157625486601275/show/

OCL enables teens to create!

Local teens will have several new opportunities to express their creative side at the Ocean County Library this winter through classes presented by Youth Stages. 

Founded in 1996 by Jean Prall Rosolino, Youth Stages is an arts-in-education organization that connects professional artist-educators with libraries and other community organizations serving young people and their families. 

It will offer Glee Club at the Brick branch, 301 Chambers Bridge Rd., Wednesday Jan. 5, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.  The program is loosely based on the hit television show.  Teens will act, sing, create scenery and then join it all together with movement to create a fabulous glee-filled concert!

Teens will be encouraged to create believable characters and make up dialogue for scenes in “Whose Library is it Anyway?”  an improvisational acting take-off of a popular cable TV program.  Programs will take place on:

Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at the Little Egg Harbor branch, 290 Mathistown Rd.

Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the Lacey branch, 10 E. Lacey Rd.

Monday, Feb. 28, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at the Island Heights branch, 121 Central Av.

Wednesday, Mar. 23, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the Toms River branch, 101 Washington St.

The Plumsted branch, 119 Evergreen Rd., will present “Murder on the Ship,” a night of creative drama themed games Monday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m.

 All programs are free and open to the public.  Please contact the individual branches for more information.   Please register in-person or online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org.

Seafood expert schools visitors @ Waretown

Angela Cooper teaches seafood cooking safety

The Waretown patrons who attended this evening’s “Become a Seafood Expert” program had many questions and concerns about seafood;  ranging from the serious (concerns about mercury consumption) to the aesthetic (whether to serve the whole fish).   Fortunately, Angela Cooper, owner of Ahearns Seafood Market in Waretown, fielded these questions with a calm and sometimes amusing authority.  Attendees left with a few classic recipes and more confidence in their seafood choices.   

Little Egg Harbor branch host string concert

The Little Egg Harbor branch enjoyed a string concert from the George J. Mitchell Elementary School and the Frog Pond School students on Wednesday December 15. Ms. Robin Soden, the string teacher conducted the students as they played Holiday music that was enjoyed by everyone.