OCL presents Stages Festival at 10 branches

TOMS RIVER –  New Jersey Theatre Alliance’s “Stages Festival”  will present seven programs at 10 Ocean County Library branches in March. These programs will mark the 16^th anniversary of the library’s partnership with the Alliance.

The Festival brings professional, Broadway-quality programs to communities throughout the month, and Ocean County Library presents them to the public free of charge.

Throughout the years the performances have touched people of all ages and this year will be no different.

Preschoolers can enjoy programs like “Stone Soup and Other Tales” and “Frog and Toad.”  Seniors and families will be entertained by “Victorian Magic” and “IRL.”

“If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” presented by Centenary Stage Company, is an adventurous, fun-filled performance complete with slap-stick comedy. In this family program an innocent milk-and-cookie snack time goes from mishap to calamity to catastrophe faster than the twitch of a whisker.

The performance will be held:

Tue. March 5 at 6 p.m. in the Manchester branch, (732) 657-7600

Sat. March 9 at 11 a.m. at the Pt. Pleasant Borough branch, (732) 295-1555

Tue. March 12 at 6 p.m. at the Pt. Pleasant Beach branch, (732) 892-4575.

“IRL: In Real Life,” presented by George Street Playhouse, examines the perils of cyber-bullying when four students encounter anonymous text message, secret photos, and threatened online conversations. The program, for teens (ages 11-17) and adults, investigates how students can take an active role to end cyber-bullying.

The performance will be held Tue. March 19 at 7 p.m. at the Jackson branch, (732) 928-4400.

“Schoolhouse Rock, Live!” by Surflight Theatre, is a pop culture phenomenon that has come to the musical stage. The Emmy Award-winning 1970s cartoon series that taught history, grammar, math, science and politics through clever songs comes to life at the Toms River branch, (732) 349-6200, Sat. March 9 at 2 p.m.

“Stone Soup and Other Tales,” presented by Pushcart Players, is a charming blend of carefully selected folk tales from around the world. Supporting the literacy movement’s emphasis on the joy of reading, this dynamic and participatory program is not to be missed by young viewers and families.

The performances will be held:

Fri. March 15 at 3:30 p.m. in the Lakewood branch, (732) 363-1435

Sat. March 23 at 2:30 p.m. in the Long Beach Island branch, (609) 494-2480.

“Let Freedom Ring,” presented by Pushcart Players, is a robust musical review that celebrates our nation’s birth and development. It is a compilation of authentic folk songs and vignettes that will appeal to children ages 5 and older.

It will be performed Sat. March 23 at 10:30 a.m. in the Little Egg Harbor branch, (609) 294-1197.

“A Year with Frog and Toad,” presented by Surflight Theatre, follows two friends, the cheerful and popular Frog and the grumpy Toad, through four fun-filled seasons. Neighboring squirrels, birds, moles and even a snail-with-the-mail all help to make this theatrical adventure a treat for children of all ages.

It will be performed at the Barnegat branch, (609) 698-3331, Sat. March 23 at 2 p.m.

“Victorian Magic,” presented by East Lynn Theater Company, brings actor Robert Aberdeen to the stage where he will delight audiences of all ages with his magical sleight-of-hand. Be careful, this family performance includes audience participation!

The performance will be held Sat. March 30 at 2 p.m. at the Stafford branch, (609) 597-3381.

Registration is required for the programs.  To register telephone the branch or go to the library Web site www.theoceancountylibrary and click on “Events and News” then on “Calendar of Events.”

Lakewood library branch to host free US citizenship classed for adults

TOMS RIVER – Ocean County Library’s Lakewood branch, 301 Lexington Ave., will host a seven-session class to prepare people who want to take the test for US citizenship.

The class is appropriate for adults 18 years and older who have lawful and continuous permanent residency in the United States for a minimum of five years.  Those attending should have been physically present in the United States for thirty months, with at least three months living in the same state or district. 

Anyone with questions about whether their individual circumstances would qualify should call Richard Potter at the library (732) 363-1435.

The class will instruct the students on all topics covered by the test for US citizenship, including civics and American history, and offer practice exercises on English reading and written vocabulary. 

The test itself will not be administered as part of the class.  The test for US citizenship is only administered by US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The class will be held on Wednesdays April 17, 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

at 6:30 p.m. at the branch. It is free of charge.

Registration is required because of the limited class size.  Registration begins March 11.

For more information or to register, please contact Richard Potter, Senior Librarian, at (732) 363-1435 or rpotter@theoceancountylibrary.org . 

3 Manchester programs: ADD, Senior issues, Borrow a book with your Nook

MANCHESTER BRANCH LIBRARY TO HOLD PROGRAM ABOUT ADULTS LIVING WITH ADD/ADHD

MANCHESTER –   Representatives from CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) will show the film “ADD and Loving It?!”at the Manchester library branch Monday March 11 at 5 p.m..

The film documents the experience of adults living with ADD and ADHD. After the film there will be a panel discussion on the topic and questions from the audience will be answered by the panel members who will include the spouse of someone with ADHD and a professional working with adults with ADD/HD.

The program is part of the library’s “Chapters of Health” series and is open to the adult public, free of charge. Please register online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org or telephone (732) 657-7600.

 The Manchester branch is located at 21 Colonial Drive in Manchester Township.

MANCHESTER BRANCH LIBRARY TO HOST “LUNCH & LEARN: BENEFITS CHECKUP/ADVANCED DIRECTIVES AND LIVING WILLS”

MANCHESTER, NJ – Find out from the National Council on Aging how simple strategies and additional benefits can help seniors survive these difficult times and increase their economic security. In the same program, there will be a discussion of advanced directives and living wills. Learn about the “Five Wishes” living will and how to document how you would like to be treated if you should become seriously ill.

A light lunch will be served.

The program will be held at the Manchester library branch Tuesday March 11 at 11 a.m.

This event is part of the library’s “Chapters of Health” series and is open to the adult public, free of charge. Space is limited. Register online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org of by telephone (732) 657-7600.

 

LEARN TO USE YOUR NOOK TABLET

TO BORROW LIBRARY BOOKS   

MANCHESTER –  Learn how to use your Nook Tablet to borrow library books during a program offered at the Manchester library branch Tuesday March 12 at 2 p.m. Participants must have an email account and library card.

Registration for this free adult program is required! Call (732) 657-7600 or go online to reserve your seat at www.theoceancountylibrary.org. 

Poet & storyteller Lorraine Stone @ Pt. Pleasant Boro Wednesday

The Point Pleasant Borough library branch, 834 Beaver Dam Road, will present performance poet and storyteller Lorraine Stone Wednesday Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.

Stone will give a dynamic reading of African American poetry from such luminaries as James Weldon Johnson, Paul Laurence Dunbar and Langston Hughes.

Lorraine Stone is a New Jersey native with an extensive repertoire, frequently performing for the Dunbar Repertory Company and her own performance group, WisdomKeeper. 

For more information telephone (732) 295-1555.

OceanFirst contributes to Ocean County Library Foundation

OceanFirst Foundation representative Patricia Siciliano presented Ocean County Library Foundation President Joseph A. Guzzardo with a $10,000 check Feb. 21, demonstrating its continued support of the library’s mission of “Connecting People, Building Communities.”

Also pictured (left to right) are Foundation members (front row) Mary O. Malagiere, Elaine H. McConnell, Laura Benson, Siciliano, Guzzardo and Library Director Susan Quinn; (back row) Steven E. Yost, Benjamin J. Keogh, Jerald A. Jellets, and James F. Fosbre, Jr.

Christie Administration Announces Series of Tax Assistance Events for Sandy Victims in Ocean County

TOMS RIVER –  Governor Christie’s ongoing effort to bring government services directly to those who suffered damage or disruption in their lives due to Superstorm Sandy will move forward with a series of free tax assistance events around the state during February and March.

The events, organized by the State Treasury Department’s Division of Taxation, will help individuals and businesses prepare their 2012 tax returns.

For the convenience of the public, the events will be held in towns that suffered heavy damage during Sandy. In Ocean County they will be conducted at three library branches and have been scheduled during weekday, evening hours.

Twelve to 16 representatives from the Office of the Governor and the State Treasurer’s Office, along with the IRS, will assist residents with questions about reporting Sandy-related personal and business losses on their federal and New Jersey tax returns. They will also assist residents recover lost tax documents and reconstruct lost personal or business records.

Representatives from the Office of Unclaimed Property will assist with searches for such items as forgotten stock money, lost paychecks, and bank lock box contents.

The State’s Division of Taxation, Local Property Tax office will assist residents with questions about property tax and appeal rights due to damages caused by the storm.

Along with tax assistance, the events will also offer opportunities for out-of-state contractors and other businesses working temporarily in New Jersey on post-Sandy clean-up and reconstruction projects to register their businesses with Treasury’s Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services.

The three library branches will provide a mobile computer lab with eight computers and free WiFi access for those who bring their own laptops or mobile devices.

To register online go to the Web site https://www.state.nj.us/treas/taxation/contactus_tytstormsandyrelief.shtml or send an email to outreach.tax@treas.state.nj.us , or telephone (609) 633-6015 and leave a message. Walk-ins are also welcome to participate.

“These tax assistance events will provide New Jersey residents with the opportunity to obtain free in-person guidance from tax professionals from the Division and the Internal Revenue Service on a wide range of Sandy-related issues,” said State Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff.

The events are also being supported by the AARP’s Tax-Aide program and the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

In Ocean County the events will be held:

• Thursday February 28 at 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Ocean County Library branch in Little Egg Harbor (609) 294-1197
• Monday March 18 at 6 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. in the Ocean County Library branch in Toms River (732) 349-6200
• Tuesday March 26 at 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Ocean County Library branch in Brick (732) 477-4513.

The same program will be held at the Fairview Public Library: the Hoboken Municipal Building; the Keyport Municipal Building; the Ridgefield Public Library; and the Sea Bright Gym in Bradley Beach.

Toms River hosts annual Black History Month celebration

The Toms River NAACP and Friends of the Toms River Library sponsored Black History Month celebration Saturday Feb. 16 in Mancini Hall.

More than 70 people enjoyed a delicious soul food buffet prepared and served by the NAACP members.

South Toms River Mayor Joseph M. Champagne Jr. delivered a biography of the martyred Civil Rights leader Medgar Evers, and told how Evers faced the threats against him and his family. He presented the humanity of Evers, the fears he felt, and his commitment to his beliefs in the freedoms of people.

The library friends sponsored the performance by Norman Taylor, an acoustic Blues guitarist who was New Jersey’s representative to the 2011 and 2012 International Blues Challenge. Taylor not only played music that spanned the history of the Blues, he spoke about the unassuming giants who nurtured the nascent form and their effects upon today’s music.

 

OCL offers winter’s reading program: “Red Hot Reads”

The Ocean County Library once again offers “Red Hot Reads,” its adult winter reading program.

Participants will have until March 30^th to read one book each from five of ten categories, fill out and return a bookmark from the library, and be entered into a drawing for one of ten mugs at each location.We will accept only one entry per person.

The categories include:

*        Biography, Auto-biography, Memoirs, Non-fiction

*        Mystery, Thriller, Action

*        Award-winning or Classic

*        Not Made in the USA: author or setting

*        Self-help/Health

*        Young Adult or Children’s Books

*        Romance

*        Historical or Western Fiction

*        Science-Fiction or Fantasy

*        New or New to you

For more information and a bookmark, stop by your local branch. And remember, you have until Saturday March 30^th to return those bookmarks.

Ocean County Library Student Film Festival Accepting Entries

The Ocean County Library Student Film Festival is accepting original film works by high school and college/film industry students up to age 26.

The deadline for submission is March 20. Entries must be original work and can be submitted via US mail or electronically to OCLFilmFest@gmail.com.

Films will be shown at a red carpet event at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library on Saturday, April 27 at 6 p.m.

Awards will be presented to the winners in the following categories: animation, commercial, documentary, full feature, news, sports short, commercial, P.S.A, short feature, experimental, and music video. Feature films should be no longer than 20 minutes in length.

Applications with guidelines for film submission are available at www.theoceancountylibrary.org or at all Ocean County Library branches.

The festival’s judging panel is comprised of film media educators, artists, librarians and various film industry enthusiasts.  Judging criteria is based on several factors including originality, editing, audio quality and whether the film achieves its stated goal.

Students do not need to attend school in Ocean County to submit a film. Last year, the festival received more than 120 films submissions from national and international independent filmmakers.

5 programs @ Stafford

BRAIN GAMES

 MANAHAWKIN –   The Stafford branch of the Ocean County Library will present the program Brain Games on Wednesday, March 6th from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

People consistently express their fears about decreasing mental ability such as loss of memory, difficulty in concentrating, inability to adapt to new situations, etc.  Keeping your mind active improves its performance. It responds to intellectual stimulation by being fit and in good condition. 

Just as you do physical exercises to keep your body in shape, doing mental exercises stimulates different parts of your brain and helps it retain mental acuity. We’ll provide the brain games and the fun! 

The Stafford branch is located at 129 N. Main St., Manahawkin. This program is geared toward adults and is free and open to the public. Please register either in person, by calling: (609) 597-3381, or by visiting our website at www.theoceancountylibrary.org   

 

JUNE MERRIFIELD – ARTIST AND MUSICIAN

MANAHAWKIN   –   The Friends of the Stafford branch of the Ocean County Library will host “June Merrifield – Artist and Musician” on Thursday March 7th, at 10:30 a.m. 

Merrifield will demonstrate how her art and music talents inspire her as she paints. She will demonstrate various watercolor techniques while encouraging the audience to “pick up a brush and see where it takes you.”

Art in its many forms is recognized as significantly benefiting the body, mind and spirit through its creative process. The painting she creates will be matted, framed and raffled off.  

STRING OF PURLS – KNIT AND CROCHET GROUP

MANAHAWKIN –   The Stafford branch of the Ocean County Library will host the program String of Purls – Knit/Crochet Group on Thursday, March 7th from 1 to 3 p.m., and Saturday, March 16th from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Whether you’re just learning to knit, crochet, or embroider, or if you already know how, then join our group where experts will be available to answer your questions.  Find that creative streak you know you have with this craft that has recently enjoyed an explosion of interest. For beginners, bring size 10 knitting needles and light-colored 4-ply worsted yarn. To crochet, bring the same type of yarn, and a size “I” crochet hook. If you’re more advanced, bring the project you’re working on. This is also an excellent way to exchange ideas.

 

MOVIES  AT  THE  LIBRARY

 

MANAHAWKIN –   The Stafford branch of the Ocean County Library will show the feature film “Premium Rush” on Saturday March 9th at 2 PM.

A\In this movie a routine delivery for one of New York’s agile and aggressive bicycle messengers turns into a life or death chase through the streets of Manhattan.  It is rated PG-13. 

The family movie “Frankenweenie” will be shown Saturday, March 23rd at 2 p.m.

After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life – with just a few minor adjustments. Animated.  Rated PG. 

RUTGERS  COOPERATIVE  EXTENSION,  MASTER  GARDENERS  OF  OCEAN  COUNTY:  LANDSCAPING  YOUR  YARD

MANAHAWKIN –   Keavy Franzoni, from The Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Master Gardeners of Ocean County will present “Landscaping Your Yard,” Monday, March 11^th at 2:30 p.m. at the Stafford branch of the Ocean County Library.

Learn how to assess your site and develop a plan based on sun, partial sun, or shade, as well as level of maintenance, water needs, multi-season interest, and where to place ground cover or a lawn.  There will be a Q&A session before and after the talk. 

The Master Gardener team will be at the library from 1:30 to 4 p.m.  Bring in your dying or diseased clippings for a plant diagnosis and possible remedy.