Ocean County Library to Present ‘Sabrinna Dias: Pride in Her Voice’

TOMS RIVER – In recognition of Pride Month, the Ocean County Library is pleased to present gifted Brazilian-American singer-songwriter-musician Sabrinna Dias in concert. “Sabrinna Dias: Pride in Her Voice” will be presented at two OCL branches.

• Point Pleasant Beach Branch – 3 PM Thursday, June 20, 710 McLean Avenue, (732) 892-4575. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclPSabrinna starting June 1.
• Lacey Branch – 2:30 PM Saturday, June 22, 10 East Lacey Road, Forked River, (609) 693-8566. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclLaceySabrinna starting May 31.

Born and raised in Newark’s Brazilian community, Sabrinna merged American and Brazilian cultures into a unique musical palette. Sabrinna was the first drummer to win the Star-Ledger Performing Arts Scholarship, has given concerts here and abroad and achieved national notice as a contestant on Season 21 of The Voice.

Sabrinna also applies her passion to teaching music, having earned two Bachelor’s degrees and Master’s in education.

For more information about these free programs, stop by or call either participating branch, or visit the Library’s online Calendar of Events.

Keep up with Library programs and events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, and on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.

Welcome Summer with the Custom Blend Band at the Ocean County Library Brick Branch

BRICK TOWNSHIP – The weather’s warmed up, and the Custom Blend Band will perform some hot acoustic licks to start the summer season at the Ocean County Library Brick Branch, 6:30 PM Tuesday, June 18.

The group has a vast repertoire of country, bluegrass, light rock and folk selections, many of which can be seen on YouTube. Guitarist Joe Zavacki, mandolinist Maria Petrone, and Paul Petrone on guitar, banjo and fiddle have entertained audiences together since they met at Albert Music Hall in Waretown in 2009.

They quickly became familiar faces at the Bluegrass and Oldtime Music Association of New Jersey in Little Silver and Barnegat’s Town Gazebo, as well as farmer markets, country clubs, and performing platforms in Ocean, Monmouth and Atlantic Counties.

Joe Zavacki, a member of the Acoustic Musicians Guild, has performed for more than 30 years in Ocean County communities including Brick Township, Point Pleasant and Island Heights.

Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclBrickBlend to attend this free program. For more information, stop by the OCL Brick Branch, 301 Chambers Bridge Road, call (732) 477-4513, or visit the Library’s online Calendar of Events.

Hear the Legacy of Juneteenth at the Ocean County Library Brick Branch

BRICK TOWNSHIP – Juneteenth is a day to celebrate emancipation, and to pay homage to countless individuals whose sacrifices great and small made it possible. Join Storyteller Michelle Washington Wilson for “When the Cavalry Came to Call” at the Ocean County Library Brick Branch, 3 PM Monday, June 17.

Juneteenth National Independence Day is the federal holiday that commemorates emancipation and celebrates African American culture. Ms. Wilson’s intriguing tales and poems will form a verbal tapestry of the people whose pursuit of freedom are their legacy.

Now in her fourth decade as a Motivational Storyteller, Michelle Washington Wilson is an active member of the New Jersey Storytelling Network (NJSN) and the National Association of Black Storytellers (NABS).

In 2023, the Newtonville native and Monmouth University alumna was named one of four prominent “Women Who Tell Our Stories” by the Atlantic County Advisory Commission on Women. She is featured in Legendary Locals of the Pine Barrens of New Jersey and Small Towns, Black Lives, available at the Ocean County Library

Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclBrickCavalry for this free program, recommended for older teens and adults and sponsored by a generous donation from the Ocean County Library Foundation (OCLF).

The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that enhances Library services, programs and facilities in support of OCL’s commitment to community engagement.

For more information, stop by the OCL Brick Branch, 301 Chambers Bridge Road, call (732) 477-4513, or visit the Library’s online Calendar of Events.

Keep up with Library programs and events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, and on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.

Drive into the Future: ‘EV 101’ at the Ocean County Library Toms River Branch

TOMS RIVER – Why are electric vehicles (EVs) rapidly becoming major factors in our mobility, ecology, and economy? What should we know about them? Join Mara Starr of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for “EV 101” at the Ocean County Library Toms River Branch, 6:30 PM Tuesday, June 18.

Mara Starr is an Environmental Specialist in the NJDEP’s Bureau of Mobile Sources. Her presentation will include the expanding electric vehicle market, performance, battery range projections, charging infrastructure and economic incentives.

If you have considered “making the switch” but have questions about affordability, practicality, endurance, maintenance, or environmental impacts, this discussion can provide answers and illustrate how EVs can fit into your lifestyle.

Please register at  https://tinyurl.com/EvTrOcl to attend this free program. For more information, stop by the OCL Toms River Branch, 101 Washington Street, call (732) 349-6200, or visit the Library’s online Calendar of Events.

Keep up with Library programs and events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, and on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.

Carry On Keith Haring’s Art Legacy at The Ocean County Library

TOMS RIVER – The late Keith Haring’s graffiti-inspired drawings helped to re-define modern art and are known the world over for their brightness, optimism and impact on the LGBTQ+ community. Learn about his life and create a keepsake in his style during “Radiant Hearts: A Keith Haring Workshop” at two Ocean County Library branches.

• Long Beach Island Branch – 2:30 PM until 4 PM Friday, June 7, 217 South Central Avenue, Surf City, (609) 494-2480. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclLbiHaring.
• Brick Branch – 2:30 PM until 4 PM Friday, June 14, 301 Chambers Bridge Road, (732) 477-4513. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclBrickHaring.

Beginning with chalk drawings in New York City subways, Haring (1958-1990) drew attention to AIDS and anti-drug awareness, inclusion, and social conscience. Haring created more than 50 public works and hosted many children’s workshops in his brief life. His art appears in museums and exhibitions worldwide.

All materials will be supplied. For more information about the free programs, stop by or call the OCL Long Beach Island or Brick branch or visit the Library’s online Calendar of Events.

Keep up with Library programs and events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, and on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.

Ocean County Library to Present Katy Tanis Adult Workshop: ‘Pride & Picture Books’

TOMS RIVER – Through gentle verse and colorful art, Katy Tanis introduces inclusivity to youngsters. Katy will share her methods and lead an art workshop for adults during “Pride and Picture Books,” a program that will be given at four Ocean County Library branches.

• Brick Branch – 6 PM Thursday, June 6, 301 Chambers Bridge Road, (732) 477-4513. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclBrickTanis.
• Berkeley Branch – 3 PM Saturday, June 8, 30 Station Road, Bayville, (732) 269-2144. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclBerkeleyTanis.
• Jackson Branch – 3 PM Monday, June 17, 2 Jackson Drive, (732) 928-4400. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclJacksonTanis.
• Little Egg Harbor Branch – 2 PM Thursday, June 27, 290 Mathistown Road, (609) 294-1197. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclLEHTanis.

The author and illustrator will share her experiences in the publication of children’s literature and the science and inspiration behind books such as Love Under the Stars and Love in the Wild, available at the Ocean County Library.

These books celebrate the joy of love by exploring LGBTQ+ themes in the animal kingdom based on scientific observations of non-binary gender expressions, adoption, and more.

Katy, who holds a Master’s degree in Biology, will shed light on her wildlife illustration process. Everyone who attends will be invited to create their own two-wing watercolor butterflies.

For more information, stop by or call any participating OCL branch or visit the Library’s online Calendar of Events.

Keep up with Library programs and events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, and on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.

Meet Plumsted Mayor Dominick Cuozzo at the Ocean County Library Plumsted Branch

PLUMSTED TOWNSHIP – The Ocean County Library Plumsted Branch is pleased to host “Meet the Mayor” with Plumsted Mayor Dominick Cuozzo, 10:15 AM until 12:30 PM Saturday, May 18.

This informal session enables township residents to ask questions and discuss issues with the Mayor in a relaxed setting.

“Meet the Mayor” is free and open to the public. To register and reserve a time, contact Mayor Cuozzo directly at (865) 604-3618.

For more information, stop by the OCL Plumsted Branch, 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt, call (609) 758-7888, or visit the Library’s online Calendar of Events.

Keep up with Library programs and events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.

A Stranger to Hydrangeas? Get Acquainted at the Ocean County Library Stafford Branch

STAFFORD TOWNSHIP – Thinking about hydrangeas for your yard? Did you know that this showy, versatile shrub comes in more than 500 varieties? Join Nancy Osterberg of the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Ocean County for “Hydrangeas: When, Why & How” at the Ocean County Library Stafford Branch, 10:30 AM Monday, June 10.

Hydrangea strains vary in their needs for healthy growth. Nancy will explain the intricacies of various types and will recommend steps to ensure their proper care.

Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclHydrangeas for this free program.

A Master Gardener for two years, Nancy brings a lifetime of experience to her vocation. She enjoys the challenge of meeting the needs of plants, a quality she exhibited in her former career as an elementary school educator who worked with special needs children.

Nancy lives in Whiting with her husband, dog, cat, chickens, worms and pond fish. The lifelong educator and learner recognizes the benefits of gardening and strives to share her horticulture passion and knowledge with others.

The Master Gardeners of Ocean County are trained, certified volunteers who assist the Rutgers Cooperative Extension staff in providing research-based information on sustainable horticulture to county residents.

Bring your plant and soil questions and specimens to the free “Ask a Master Gardener @ Stafford” diagnostic clinics, 10 AM until 12 PM on the second and fourth Monday of each month through September, except Memorial Day.

For more information, stop by the OCL Stafford Branch, 129 North Main Street, Manahawkin, call (609) 597-3381, or visit the Library’s online Calendar of Events.

Keep up with Library programs and events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.

Detect Drug Dangers at the Ocean County Library Lacey Branch

LACEY TOWNSHIP – Illicit drugs infest all parts of the world. Do you know which of them plague Ocean County? Are you, or is someone you know, vulnerable? Raise your awareness of menaces masquerading as medicine during “Drugs 101” at the Ocean County Library Lacey Branch, 6 PM Thursday, June 13. 

During this program for adults and seniors, Ocean County Health Department staffers will discuss legal and illegal stimulants, depressants, narcotics and mind-altering substances that take a degrading toll on the quality of life in Ocean County.

The talk will cover alcohol, marijuana, vaping, opioids, barbiturates, hallucinogens, and other substances that can lead to addictions, erode physical health and cloud reasoning ability.

Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclLaceyDrugs101 for this free program for adults and seniors. For more information, stop by the OCL Lacey Branch, 10 East Lacey Road, Forked River, call (609) 693-8566, or visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org.

Keep up with Library programs and events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.

Meet Artist Sandra Rabben at the Ocean County Library Long Beach Island Branch

LONG BEACH ISLAND – “Artistic Reflections,” an exhibit of acrylics by local artist Sandra Rabben, will be on display throughout the month of June at the Ocean County Library Long Beach Island Branch.

You’re invited to meet Sandra during her Artist Reception in the branch, 2 PM until 4 PM Saturday, June 8.

The exhibit and the reception are free and open to the public. “Artistic Reflections” can be seen during normal Branch operating hours.

For more information, stop by the OCL Long Beach Island Branch, 217 South Central  Avenue, Surf City, call (609) 494-2480 or visit the Library’s online Calendar of Events.

Keep up with Library programs and events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.