Fearless Females, Family Fun and Forensics in Nina Simon’s Ocean County Library Virtual Author Talk

TOMS RIVER – Crime fiction is the least likely place to look for wholesome, breezy, family-centered content, and that’s why Nina Simon has cornered the market with her debut novel, Mother-Daughter Murder Night. Nina will discuss her bouncy new mystery novel in her Ocean County Library Virtual Author Talk, 7 PM Wednesday, May 8.

Mother-Daughter Murder Night, a New York Times bestseller, Reese’s Book Club selection and a “Best of 2023” choice for Library Journal and CrimeReads, is available in print, audiobook and digital versions at the Ocean County Library.

Meet Lana Rubicon, a cancer patient convalescing at her daughter Beth’s home in a tony town far from the Los Angeles real estate turf she inhabits. When Beth’s daughter Jack stumbles across a corpse, she lands in the crosshairs of investigators. Lana summons her strength in a bid to track down the killer and reclaim her power. Dark secrets in the serene town that the three willful women uncover place them in spiraling danger, forcing them to do what they avoid – depend on each other.

Nina Simon has said that the novel is a “love letter” to her mother and to strong women everywhere. The writer’s fascinating résumé includes stints as a NASA engineer, slam poet, game designer, museum director, and nonprofit CEO. Her community efforts were chronicled by NPR, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and TedX.

Please register at https://libraryc.org/theoceancountylibrary to attend this free program, to view the upcoming schedule, and to view previous talks. Registrants will receive links to the program by email and may submit questions for the author when signing up.

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

Hear Valerie Vaughn’s Pine Barrens Music and Lore at Four Ocean County Library Branches

TOMS RIVER – Explore the rich history, songs and legends of the Pine Barrens with “New Jersey’s Troubadour.” The Ocean County Library is pleased to present “Tunes & Tales with Valerie Vaughn” at four OCL branches.

• Long Beach Island Branch – 2 PM Saturday, April 20, 217 South Central Avenue, Surf City, (609) 494-2480. Register at https://tinyurl.com/OclLbiValerie.  
• Waretown Branch – 6 PM Monday, May 6, 112 Main Street, (609) 693-5133. Register at https://tinyurl.com/OclWaretownValerie.  
• Jackson Branch – 2:30 PM Monday, May 13, 2 Jackson Drive, (732) 928-4400. Register at https://tinyurl.com/OclJacksonValerie.
• Upper Shores Branch – 6 PM Wednesday, May 15, 112 Jersey City Avenue, Lavallette, (732) 793-3996. Register at https://tinyurl.com/OclUPValerie.

Valerie has performed throughout New Jersey in a distinguished career. She is among the inaugural recipients of the New Jersey Heritage Fellowships from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Her evocative songs earned the Ocean County Commission’s Special Award and the Pine Barrens Festival Award for preserving “the culture, heritage, and natural beauty” of the Pinelands.

She has appeared at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and in televised specials, shared the stage with the legendary Pete Seeger, and spun musical tales in England.

In addition to performances and dialogues on YouTube, Valerie is featured on the Tuckerton Seaport website and teaches at Tuckerton’s Jersey Shore Folklife Center.

The performances are part of the Ocean County Library’s Neighbors Connecting Series of Programs and are sponsored by a grant from the OceanFirst Foundation and the Ocean County Library Foundation.

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

Author Douglas Brunt Bares a WWI Mystery in Ocean County Library Virtual Talk

TOMS RIVER – As war clouds gathered over Europe in 1913, a brilliant inventor inexplicably vanished as the machine he crafted forever changed transportation. Bestselling author Douglas Brunt will reopen the case of Rudolf Diesel and his compelling conclusion in an Ocean County Library Virtual Author Talk, 3 PM Wednesday, May 1.

Brunt’s newly published bestseller The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power and Deception on the Eve of World War I, is available in print, audiobook and eBook versions at the Ocean County Library along with his novels Ghosts of Manhattan and Trophy Son.

Diesel garnered fame and fortune through his formidable engine that required no petroleum-based fuel, which he believed would improve the world. He also gathered two colossal enemies – Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II, who sought the engine to power submarines and challenge Great Britain’s naval supremacy, and Standard Oil founder John D. Rockefeller, the world’s wealthiest man.

On September 29, 1913, aboard the steamship Dresden as it steamed between Belgium and England, Diesel disappeared without a trace. Headlines around the globe fueled speculation of whether it was an accident, suicide, or murder.

Prior to his life in literature, Philadelphia native Brunt was Chief Executive Officer of the Authentium, Inc. security firm. He now hosts the Sirius XM podcast series Dedicated with Doug Brunt.
   
Please register at https://libraryc.org/theoceancountylibrary to attend this free program, to view the upcoming schedule, and to view previous talks. Registrants will receive links to the program by email and may submit questions for the author when signing up.

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

Enjoy Mother’s Day Melodies at the Ocean County Library Jackson Branch

JACKSON TOWNSHIP – This year marks the 110th anniversary of Mother’s Day across America. Let Fred Lehotay and The Ragtimers whisk you back to the holiday’s early times in a concert at the Ocean County Library Jackson Branch, 2 PM Saturday, May 11.

Enjoy tunes from the Roaring ‘20s such as “Baby Your Mother,” “Second Hand Rose,” “My Little Margie,” “Sweet Georgia Brown” and a host of other melodies that are sure to fill you heart with love, nostalgia, and mirth.

Saxophonist Fred Lehotay, guitarist Bob Estler, banjoist Tom Rittenhouse and bassist Gary Nokes have performed rousing ragtime and sentimental favorites throughout the tri-state area since 1968. Fans view the group’s videos on YouTube.
 
Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclJacksonLehotay for this free program, sponsored by Jackson Friends of the Library.

The Friends are volunteers who support the Library through programs, fundraising and advocacy. New members are welcome. Applications can be found at any OCL branch or at https://www.theoceancountylibrary.org/oclfriends.

For more information, stop by the OCL Jackson Branch, 2 Jackson Drive, call (732) 928-4400, or visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events.

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

Learn the History Behind the Holocaust at the Ocean County Library Toms River Branch

TOMS RIVER – When the threat of genocide ran rampant in Europe and around the globe during World War II, was American intervention adequate, or even possible? See the Holocaust in the context of the time during “Combatting Hate: America and the Holocaust” at the Ocean County Library Toms River Branch, 6:30 PM Tuesday, May 7.

Many historians agree that forceful American rescue efforts might have saved lives but they differ over feasibility. Steps taken by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, his advisors and cabinet, and religious leaders were affected by the Great Depression, immigration opponents and the German American Bund including New Jersey’s Camp Nordland.

Professor Barbara Krasner, Juvenile and Young Adult author and Director of the Mercer County Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Center at Mercer County Community College’s West Windsor campus, will lead this second presentation in OCL’s continuing “Combatting Hate” series.

The history, novel, and poetry writer holds a Ph.D. in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from Gratz College in Pennsylvania. She has introduced young adults and children to concepts such as politics and genocide in more than 40 books.

Her juvenile books about Jewish and Russian immigrants, the impact of the 1918 flu epidemic and native nations of the Northeast, the Great Basin and Plateau and the Southwest are available at the Ocean County Library.

Please register at https://bit.ly/OclTrHolocaust to attend this free Young Adult-Teen program in OCL’s ongoing “Combatting Hate” series. For more information, call (732) 349-6200, stop by the OCL Toms River Branch, 101 Washington Street, or visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events.

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

Spend a Refreshing Day in Cape May with the Friends of the Brick Library

BRICK TOWNSHIP – Join the Friends of the Brick Library for a tour of Cape May, 8:15 AM until 5 PM Thursday, June 13.

The trip includes a trolley ride of the city and a visit to the Emlen Physick Estate, plus gratutities. Please keep in mind that the estate is not equipped for handicapped access.

The bus will leave the Brick Target parking lot at 8:15 AM and will let riders off at the Washington Street Mall, where you can buy lunch.

The cost per ticket is $100. To purchase a ticket, contact Catherine, (732) 673-4451. This trip is sponsored by the Friends of the Brick Library.

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

Welcome the Birds of Spring at the Ocean County Library Lacey Branch

LACEY TOWNSHIP – Warming temperatures in Ocean County mean the annual return of our globetrotting feathered friends from faraway places. Join us for a look at “The Birds of Spring” at the Ocean County Library Lacey Branch, 2 PM Wednesday, May 8.

In this one-hour program for adults and seniors, Ocean County Parks & Recreation Department Chief Park Naturalist German Georgieff will discuss song birds, game birds and waterfowl that settle at the Jersey Shore in spring and their migratory patterns.

In his more than 30 years of service to Ocean County, German Georgieff has assumed numerous roles related to the Barnegat Bay estuary, Pinelands ecology, and traditions that spring from them. He coordinates the annual Old Time Barnegat Bay Decoy and Gunning Show in Tuckerton, at Tip Seaman Park and Tuckerton Seaport.

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

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

Learn NAMI’s ‘Eight Dimensions of Wellness’ at the Ocean County Library Brick Branch

BRICK TOWNSHIP – Mental Health Awareness Month in May presents a valuable chance to recognize that wellness applies to much more than physical well-being. Join the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) New Jersey for “The Eight Dimensions of Wellness” at the Ocean County Library Brick Branch, 6:30 PM Tuesday, May 7.

Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner Jay Yudof, MS, will explain how people from many walks of life harness this highly regarded method, and how it can help people with mental health or addiction challenges focus on balance, meaning and purpose.

Jay has dedicated more than 20 years of his career as a rehabilitation practitioner and wellness coach to NAMI on the state and local levels.

NAMI’s “Eight Dimensions” model includes emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual aspects.

Jay’s discussion will also cover six physical wellness domains; the roles of peer support, recovery planning, and coaching techniques to improve self-perceived wellness and “subjective well-being;” and adult resources to help avoid mental health crises.

Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclBrickNAMI for this free program. For more information, stop by the OCL Brick Branch, 301 Chambers Bridge Road, call (732) 477-4513, or visit the Ocean County Library Online Events Calendar.

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

Ocean County Library to Host OceanFirst Foundation’s ‘Financial Literacy for Everyone’

TOMS RIVER – Master money management skills with help from the OceanFirst Foundation. Take part in “Financial Literacy for Everyone” at any one of 12 Ocean County Library branches.

• Brick Branch – 11 AM Monday, April 22, 301 Chambers Bridge Road, (732) 477-4513. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclBrickFinance.
• Lakewood Branch – 10 AM Tuesday, April 23, 301 Lexington Avenue, (732) 363-1435. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclLakewoodFinance.
• Lacey Branch – 2 PM Tuesday, April 23, 10 East Lacey Road, Forked River, (609) 693-8566. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclLaceyFinance.
• Long Beach Island Branch – 2 PM Tuesday, April 23, 217 South Central Avenue, Surf City, (609) 494-2480. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclLbiFinance.
• Upper Shores Branch – 1 PM Wednesday, April 24, 112 Jersey City Avenue, Lavallette, (732) 793-3996. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclUPFinance.
• Manchester Branch – 2 PM Wednesday, April 24, 21 Colonial Drive, (732) 657-7600. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclManchesterFinance.
• Jackson Branch – 2 PM Thursday, April 25, 2 Jackson Drive, (732) 938-4400. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclJacksonFinance.
• Little Egg Harbor Branch – 2 PM Thursday, April 25, 290 Mathistown Road, (609) 294-1197. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclLehFinance.
• Stafford Branch – 10 AM Friday, April 26, 129 North Main Street, Manahawkin, (609) 597-3381. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclStaffordFinance.
• Toms River Branch – 1 PM Monday, April 29, 101 Washington Street, (732) 349-6200. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclTrFinance.
• Berkeley Branch – 3 PM Monday, April 29, 30 Station Road, Bayville, (732) 269-2144. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclBerkeleyFinance.
• Barnegat Branch – 2 PM Tuesday, April 30, 112 Burr Street, (609) 698-3331. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/OclBarnegatFinance.

You’ll be able to engage directly with OceanFirst Foundation volunteers during the interactive presentations designed to help you develop or sharpen your spending, saving, banking and budgeting abilities.

For more information, stop by or call any participating Ocean County Library branch, call (732) 349-6200, or visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events.

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

Ocean County Library Jackson Branch to Present ‘Water Safety and Autism – How to Prevent Drowning’

JACKSON TOWNSHIP – Drowning is the leading cause of death for children with autism, yet it is 100 percent preventable. The Ocean County Library invites you to join Gary Weitzen, Executive Director of POAC Autism Services for “Water Safety and Autism – How to Prevent Drowning” in the OCL Jackson Branch, 6:30 PM Tuesday, May 7.

The workshop will help parents, guardians and caregivers reduce safety risks for children or students. Mr. Weitzen will discuss drowning misconceptions and myths, risk-reducing strategies, water survival skills, and a review of best practices water safety curricula, trainings, and educational material for parents, teachers, and aquatic professionals.

Brick Township-based POAC funded the first statewide program for early autism detection and intervention. The group maintains involvement in autism-related legislative matters and partners with school districts and organizations throughout New Jersey.

The organization’s many annual events include training for parents, educators, police and first responders, and recreational and support services for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families.

Please register at http://tinyurl.com/OclJacksonPOAC for this free program, sponsored by the Ocean County Library Foundation. Professional Development Certificates will be available. For more information, stop by the OCL Jackson Branch, 2 Jackson Drive, visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org/autism, or call (732) 928-4400.

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