Ocean County Library presents two Human Trafficking programs

TOMS RIVER  –  Ocean County Library will present two programs about human trafficking in January and will discuss ways that individuals can halt its spread.

The Barnegat Light Area Branch and the Northern Ocean County Branch of the American Association of University Women have chosen to campaign against and raise awareness about human trafficking by sponsoring these programs. 

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery whose victims include men, women and children of all ages and ethnicity.  It is also a first-degree crime with a penalty of 20 years to life in prison.

There are two types of human trafficking: labor trafficking where people are forced to work for no pay; and sex trafficking.

Because of its geographical location, New Jersey has the potential to be a major entry, transit and destination for human trafficking. And because of the Super Bowl in February, many law enforcement officials fear an increase in sex trafficking in New Jersey.

New Jersey has passed a stringent new law that will aid law enforcement in the apprehension and conviction of those persons caught engaging in it, and have created a Human Trafficking Task Force and website to educate the public in ways to identify and help victims.

Learn more about human trafficking at these two Ocean County Library locations:

7 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 15 at the Long Beach Island branch, 217 S. Central Avenue, Surf City, NJ  08008. Their telephone number is 609-494-2480. The speakers will be Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove and Vilma Applegate, president of the Barnegat Light Area Branch of the AAUW.

6 p.m. Thursday Jan. 23 at the Toms River branch, 101 Washington St., Toms River, NJ  08753. Their telephone number is 732-349-6200 or 609-971-0514. Senior Assistant Prosecutor Roberta DiBiase will speak at that session.

The program is free but people must register to attend. Register by telephoning the branch or on the library’s website www.theoceancountylibrary.org .

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is January 11, 2014.

Waretown: Say Cheese!

Jennifer Klein, registered dietician with ShopRite of Manchester, and Waretown branch’s new  manager Erin, welcomed a roomful of enthusiastic students ready to nosh and learn about cheese.  A variety of cheeses from different categories were made available, along with explanations and recommendations on storage, presentation, and pairings.  At the end of the hour, attendees became better informed cheese consumers and satiated turophiles. 

Barnegat performer brings Jane Austen to life at Toms River Branch

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Trish Chambers of Barnegat portrays English novelist Jane Austen during a program held on Dec. 16 at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library. The event marked the 238th birthday of Jane Austen.

TOMS RIVER  – For an author who just turned 238, Jane Austen is doing rather well.

Barnegat resident Trish Chambers brought the noted English writer back to life just in time for her birthday on Dec. 16 in a program at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library.

Austen was born in 1775 and died on July 18, 1817. The English novelist’s work of romantic fiction, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature.

Chambers portrayed Austen wearing a period costume and spoke to an audience of nearly 40 people about the realities of English Society at the time of Austen’s life.

Austen’s realism, biting irony and social commentary earned her historical importance among scholars and critics alike. The author lived her entire life as part of a close family located on the lower fringes of the English landed gentry. Austen was educated primarily by her father and older brothers as well as through her own reading.

Chambers noted that Austen lived in a world of contradictions where English society embraced freedom of speech but often burned the books of those authors whose message they disagreed with.

“They hated the French and yet they embraced French fashion. It was a time where the British really did feel superior to everyone else,’’ Chambers said.

Chambers said that the steadfast support of her family was critical to her development as a professional writer.

Austen’s artistic apprenticeship lasted from her teenage years into her thirties. Her major novels were released from 1811 to 1816 and includes “Sense and Sensibility” (1811), “Pride and Prejudice” (1813), “Mansfield Park” (1814) and “Emma” (1816).

She wrote two additional novels, “Northanger Abbey” and “Persuasion” that were both published after her death in 1818. Austen began to write a novel called “Sanditon”, but she died before it was completed.

Her works were first published anonymously and brought her little personal fame. She received few  positive reviews during her lifetime. After the publication of her nephew’s “A Memoir of Jane Austen” in 1869 her popularity began to grow.

By the 1940s she had become widely accepted in academia as a great English writer and the emergence of a Janeite fan culture.

Trish Chambers writes and produces various historical presentations that deal with business and life situations that effect women and business professionals at various stages of their careers. She presents historical programs that include The Civil War, Black History, and women’s studies.

The Ocean County Library has many Jane Austen books, audio-books and DVDs about the life of the English author and the work she produced in the early 1800s.

A healthier you in 2014

Does your New Year mean a resolution or two for a better, healthier you?

Experts from Meridian Health will present an informative lecture on good health, nutrition and exercise Monday Jan. 13 at 10 a.m. at Ocean County Library’s Manchester branch, 21 Colonial Drive.

Free health screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, body mass index and pulse will be available for free but people must register in advance for a limited number of openings.

Register by telephoning the branch at 732-657-7600 or by visiting the library’s website www.theoceancountylibrary.org .

Learn to deal with stress, find relief strategies at OCL program

Stress, that internal reaction a person experiences from trying to cope with one’s environment or interpersonal relationships, has been demonstrated to make a person sick and even lead to health complications that can kill.

Ocean County Library will present a program by Khadi Madama about managing stress, keeping up morale, and remaining motivated in these challenging times.

Madama, a self-described stress relief advocate, said, “Stress will make you old, stress will injure you and make you sick and stress will kill you if you don’t get a hold of an easy to use means, both on the job and off, to manage it. Stress relief is the new gold and your life may depend on it.”

Her relief program, “Being Successful and Stressed,” has been used by a branch of the U.S. Navy’s Fleet and Family Services as part of their suicide prevention program, as well as for relieving the stress of the families of deployed military.

She was also the host of the television show “Yours Truly, Yoga,” a twice-weekly, 30-minute program that aired between 1996 and 2000.

Madama will speak at the following library branches:

Toms River, 101 Washington St. 732-349-6200 or 609-971-0514, 7 p.m. Mon. Jan. 6.

Jackson, 2 Jackson Dr. 732-928-4400 7 p.m., Mon. Jan. 13.

Lacey, 10 E. Lacey Rd. 609-693-8566, 7 p.m. Tue. Jan. 14

Pt. Pleasant Borough, 834 Beaver Dam Rd., 732-295-1555,  7 p.m. Tue. Jan. 30 .

These programs are free and open to the public but registration is required. To register, telephone the branch or go to the library’s website www.theoceancountylibrary.org and click on News & Events.

Manchester branch to screen “The Lone Ranger” Jan. 8

MANCHESTER – The Manchester branch will screen the film, “The Lone Ranger”  Wednesday January 8 at noon, 3 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. See this popular action/adventure/western on a large screen without paying the admission fee of a movie theater!  

Native American warrior Tonto recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid, a man of the law, into a legend of justice. The idealistic Reid rides with his brother and fellow Texas Rangers in pursuit of the notorious Butch Cavendish. Ambushed by the outlaw and left for dead, Reid is rescued by Tonto at the insistence of a mysterious white horse and offers to help him to bring Cavendish to justice. Becoming a reluctant masked rider with a seemingly incomprehensible partner, Reid pursues the criminal against all obstacles. However, John and Tonto learn that Cavendish is only part of a far greater injustice and the pair must fight it in an adventure that would make them a legend.  The cast includes Johnny Depp

This PG13-rated movie is part of the library’s Feature Film Series. It is 149 minutes long. Although registration is not required, early arrival is recommended.

The Manchester branch of the Ocean County Library is located at 21 Colonial Drive in Manchester Township. Call (732) 657-7600 for more information or go online to theoceancountylibrary.org.

Manchester Teen Advisory Board Meeting Jan. 6th

MANCHESTER – Teens in grades 7 through 12 are invited to the monthly meeting of the Manchester Branch Library’s Teen Advisory Board (TAB) on Monday, January 6 starting at 6:00 pm. Participants can earn community service while volunteering at the library! Help plan future teen activities at the library, decorate the Teen Zone, and assist the library staff with projects as needed.

Please register for this free teen program! Call (732) 657-7600 or go online to http://www.theoceancountylibrary.org.

The Manchester branch of the Ocean County Library is located at 21 Colonial Drive in Manchester Township.

Tune in to Old Time Radio Saturday @ Manchester

Members of the WREP players present a recreation of a live old-time radio show during a program held on Dec. 15 at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library.

 

TOMS RIVER If you remember the days when radio was the center of home entertainment, or if you wish you had experienced those days, you will probably enjoy a program by the WREP Players set for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Manchester branch of the Ocean County Library.

WREP are a group of performers who bring a recreation of what live radio play drama was all about. The group provides a glimpse back into the world of live radio through original scripts written during the heyday of radio shows.

More than 40 people enjoyed their program on the afternoon of Dec. 15 at Mancini Hall at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library.

WREP Players said that their group pays homage to many shows that define the era when radio was the most powerful media going.

Eight members of the group of breathed life back into classic comedies and dramas and took the Mancini Hall stage. 

The first adventure they presented was “The Green Hornet” in the case of “The Corpse That Wasn’t a Corpse.’’

Other dramas in the two hour program included a holiday themed episode of the crime drama “Dragnet” and the comedy “Baby Snooks and Daddy.’’

In addition to providing voices, performers also handled the special sound effects including a miniature door for a door slam, popping a balloon for a gun shot and a spray can was used to replicate the sound of the Green Hornet’s signature gas gun.

Other radio programs that WREP recreates include “The Lone Ranger,” “Life of Riley,” and “Easy Aces.”

Ocean County Library Special Events Coordinator Scott Rodas said that WREP visits the library several times a year and that they always draw a large crowd at any branch they are present at.

Rodas said that during the fall their recreation of Orson Welles 1938 version of “War of The Worlds” that scared the nation was a big hit.

“A lot of people enjoyed that program,’’ Rodas said.

Saturday’s program will feature “The Green Hornet”, “Dragnet” and “Baby Snooks and Daddy” the same show as Dec. 15, so for those who missed it, you have another chance to see how old radio shows were done. For those that would like to see it again, you’ll have a second chance.

Members of the WREP players present a recreation of a live old-time radio show. Re-enactments for a program to be held at 2 pm at the Manchester branch of the Ocean County Library include “The Green Hornet,’’ “Dragnet,’’ and “Baby Snooks and Daddy.’’

NJ Philharmonic Glee Club brings holiday cheer on a rainy night

Members of the NJ Philharmonic Glee Club perform a holiday concert on Dec. 14 at Mancini Hall at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library.

TOMS RIVER Sounds of the holidays and other musical favorites were heard on the evening of Dec. 14 at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library where the North Jersey Philharmonic Glee Club performed. 

The North Jersey Philharmonic Glee Club was formed in 1939 by Dolores Collins Benjamin and is one of the oldest continuously singing all male groups in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The club has entertained audiences for decades from different cultures, social classes and neighborhoods with their dedication to using the value of song to foster a spirit of community.

 Despite the rainy weather the free concert drew a good sized crowd to the library’s Mancini Hall. Songs ranging from gospel hymns to spirituals to non-holiday favorites were performed.

 The program was made possible in part by the generous sponsorship of an OceanFirst Foundation Arts and Cultural Grant and with funding from the Ocean County Library Foundation and the Ocean County Library.

For videos and more information about the group visit njpgc.com

More photos from the event can be found on our Flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/oceancountylibrary/

TR hosted Michele Knotz at anime program

Michele Knotz, anime voice artist from the series Pokémon holds up a copy of her demo that earned her voice work on the popular Japanese animation series. Knotz was a guest at Anime Nation an annual gathering for anime enthusiasts held at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library on Dec. 13. The event was sponsored by the Ocean County Library and several anime clubs based in Ocean County and drew more than 200 people.

TOMS RIVER More than 200 anime fans crowded Mancini Hall on Dec. 13 to share their love of Japanese animation, manga (Japanese comic books) and to meet a noted voice artist associated with the popular anime series Pokémon.

Anime Nation was held at Mancini Hall at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library. The event ran from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and was a project of the branch’s teen-services department and several county based anime clubs.

The special guest of the evening was Michele Knotz of Holmdel, works for New York-based studios such as TAJ Productions, Headline Sound, and Central Park Media.[

Knotz does recording work at DuArt Film and Video, where she provides the voices for various characters in the Pokémon anime.

A New Jersey native, Knotz studied acting at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania before transferring to study television and radio production at Marywood University in Scranton, Pa.

She won the Anime Idol voice acting contestant 2003 held at the Big Apple Anime Fest convention in New York City and debuted in the role of Hajime Yagi in The World of Narue.

Since 2006, she has been the voices of May, Nurse Joy and Team Rocket’s Jessie in Pokémon.

“I’ve been doing this for 10 years now. I was actually working for MSNBC doing writing and audio work when I attended the Big Apple Anime Fest and they had a contest to win a role on a Japanese Anime show. I did a monologue and a scene and read from a script. That is how I got started,’’ Knotz said.

“I loved shows like Voltron, Speed Racer and others and I went to Anime conventions in college. First I was an attendee, then I became a staff member of the convention committee and now I attend conventions as a guest,’’ Knotz said.

Her appearance at Anime Nation 2013 is her second library event. “My first was at the public library in Middletown near my home and it was a lot of fun.’’

Knotz also does a lot of telephone prompt work and provides voices for video games. “I work free-lance so getting video game work is more difficult as the industry is mostly in California. I may move out west to get closer to that industry.’’

When asked what she liked most about the anime genre she said “I love the music and unlike American animation where there tends to be a lot of action, Japanese animation focuses a lot on relationships and the feelings of the characters which is why I think teens can relate to them more as they are going through some of the same things that the characters are going through,’’ Knotz said.

Knotz said she has also provided her voice for several audio books such as “Blood of the Pride” by Sheryl Nantus and “Revolution World” by Katy Stauber.

 “For those they send you the book via e-mail and you are also provided a guide to find out how to pronounce certain words and names. It is fun but hard work,’’ Knotz said.

When she’s not doing voice work Knotz said she enjoys writing scripts. “Many of us in this business have side jobs and since I have to pay the bills I do some script writing.’’  She said she also enjoys using her voice for singing work at birthdays and special events.

Knotz enjoys meeting fans and had many of them come up on stage with her to demonstrate their talent. She brought along various free items such as Pokémon water guns and posters to those who took part in her panel contest.

She said she is looking forward to attending two anime conventions in June, one based in Somerset NJ and another in Tennessee.

The event included a cosplay runway that featured fans dressed in costumes from various anime favorites.

Amanda O’Lear, 16, of Brick came to the event dressed in pink as a character from the 2002 anime film “Spirited Away.” She joined her 15-year-old brother Daniel who dressed as another character from Spirited Away.

Mary Rose Eckert of Lacey was dressed as “Derpy Hooves a character from “My Little Pony.”

“I started watching it when I was young and loved it. It got me into enjoying anime,’’ Eckert said.

Toms River Teen Services Librarian Mary Jean Collacott, Mary Jean Collacott said she knew Knotz would be a very popular guest among fans.

“This is always a well-attended event. We had 200 people already signed up earlier in the week and we had more on the night of the event,’’ Collacott said.

More photos can be seen on our Flickr pages http://www.flickr.com/photos/oceancountylibrary/

Amanda O’Lear, 16, of Brick, left, is dressed in pink as a character from the 2002 anime film “Spirited Away.” She is joined by her 15-year-old brother Daniel who dressed as another character from the film. Mary Rose Eckert, 16, of Lacey sports wings as “Derpy Hooves a character from “My Little Pony” during the Dec. 13 Anime Nation program held at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library.