Discover Lakewood’s Sports Glory and Railroad Heritage at the Ocean County Library Lakewood Branch

LAKEWOOD – Learn about athletic prowess and a heralded passenger train, both ingrained in Lakewood’s past. The Lakewood Historical Society will present “Sports-in-the-Pines: 100 Years of Athletic Competition in Lakewood” and “Take a Ride on the Blue Comet” at the Ocean County Library Lakewood Branch, 7 PM Tuesday, February 20.

Richard Wolpin, docent of the Sheldon Wolpin Lakewood Historical Museum, will give an account of professional, amateur and scholastic sports teams that made their marks in the township, and also of famous athletes and teams who trained in Lakewood.

Lakewood Heritage Commission Chair Steve Wexler, a retired township police detective, will offer a retrospective of the Central Railroad of New Jersey’s luxurious Blue Comet which contributed to Lakewood’s growth, whisking countless visitors to town on its run between the New York metropolitan area and Atlantic City starting in 1929.

Please register at https://bit.ly/OclLkwdHistory for these free programs. For more information, stop by the OCL Lakewood Branch, 301 Lexington Avenue, call (732) 363-1435, or visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events.

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Ocean County Library Toms River Branch to Present Guild Theatreworks in Belles

TOMS RIVER – The Ocean County Library Toms River Branch is pleased to present the Guild Theatreworks production of Mark Dunn’s bittersweet dramatic comedy Belles in Mancini Hall, 6:30 PM Wednesday, February 21.

Appearing will be Corey Crawford, Jeri Georger, Diane Hand, Kelly Lindstrom, Gail Sheehan, Janet Lynn Spahr, and Michele Vittorioso. The director is Janet Lynn Spahr.

Considered Dunn’s most popular play, Belles features six sisters who try bridge the distance between them via telephone through the course of a weekend and in the process come to terms with their fragmented family history.

The nonprofit troupe, which began as the Brick Community Players, is in its 34th year of performing musicals, dramas, comedies, and improvisations. The group operates in the Robert Anstett Cultural Arts Center in Brick and maintains an active Facebook following.

Belles is sponsored by the Friends of the Ocean County Library – Toms River. The Friends are volunteers who support the Library through advocacy, fundraising, and programs. New members are always welcome. Applications can be found at all OCL branches and at https://www.theoceancountylibrary.org/oclfriends.
 
Please register at  https://bit.ly/OclTrBelles for this free program. For more information, stop by the OCL Toms River Branch, 101 Washington Street, call (732) 349-6200, or visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events.

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Big Bargains on Terrific Titles at Ocean County Library Toms River Friends’ Popup Sale

TOMS RIVER – Warm up your winter with some fresh, hot reads! The Friends of the Ocean County Library – Toms River invite you to browse for bargains during their popup used book sale in the OCL Toms River Branch, 11 AM until 3 PM Saturday, February 17.

The Friends will display a large selection of gently used hardcovers and paperbacks, along with compact discs and DVDs. All items have been generously donated.

Transactions are on a cash-only basis. Each sale helps the Friends support the Library through programs, fundraising and donations. New members are always welcome. Applications can be found at www.theoceancountylibrary.org/oclfriends or at any OCL branch.

For more information, stop by the OCL Toms River Branch, 101 Washington Street, call (732) 349-6200, or visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events.

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Ocean County Library Toms River Branch to Feature Kenneth Farr’s ‘Thoughts Realized on Canvas’

TOMS RIVER – “Thoughts Realized on Canvas,” a collection of oil paintings by Ocean County artist Kenneth Farr, is on display in the Ocean County Library Toms River Branch through Thursday, February 29.

The oils on canvas and canvas board will be featured in the first-floor McConnell Gallery.

Farr is a member of the Ocean County Artists Guild, Island Heights, and the Toms River Artist Community (TRAC). His works have been familiar sights in Ocean County venues including Point Pleasant’s “Art in the Park” and “Sailfest” in Island Heights. In Monmouth County, his work has been seen in Red Bank’s Street Fair and Craft Show.

The artist’s intent is to uplift and inspire viewers of his pieces. “Happiness is knowing that you have created something that you are proud of,” Farr said, “but also gives others enjoyment – even if only for a moment.”

“Thoughts Realized on Canvas” is free of charge and can be seen during normal Branch operating hours. For more information, stop by the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington Street, call (732) 349-6200, or visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events.

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Holocaust Survivor’s Tale Rescheduled at Ocean County Library Toms River Branch

TOMS RIVER – His kindly face and manner reveal nothing of the horrors Manny Lindenbaum and his family endured early in his life which remain relevant today. Owing to inclement weather, “Combatting Hate: A Conversation with Holocaust Survivor Manford Lindenbaum” in the Ocean County Library Toms River Branch is rescheduled to 6:30 PM Tuesday, January 23.

The Jackson resident will speak candidly of the anti-Semitism that he and his family faced in their native Germany, what became of his family, and the ordeal of escaping oppression as a boy younger than 10 years of age.

Born in the town of Unna in 1932, Manny faced an uncertain future when his father was arrested. He and his siblings were placed with a non-Jewish family while his parents, Otto and Frieda Lindenbaum, and sister Ruth were destined for the infamous Auschwitz prison camp.

Manny and his brother escaped to Poland where they found a path to survival in the Kindertransport (1938-40), which relocated thousands of refugee children to Great Britain. Manny emigrated to the United States in 1946. He and his brother were taken in by an aunt and uncle who owned a chicken farm. He has lived in Ocean County since 1960.

Registered attendees need not re-register for this free program. Registrations are still being accepted at https://bit.ly/OclTrCombattingHate. For more information, stop by the OCL Toms River Branch, 101 Washington Street, call (732) 349-6200, or visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events.

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Pete Wagula to Play Winter ‘Homecoming’ Concert At the Ocean County Library Lacey Branch

LACEY TOWNSHIP – The Ocean County Library Lacey Branch will present local musician Pete Wagula, Saturday, February 17, at 2:00 PM.

Join us for a relaxing acoustic guitar concert featuring musician Pete Wagula. 
Pete will be playing classic tunes along with new music from his latest album, ‘Homecoming’.

“Bitten by the guitar bug” at age five, Pete Wagula began playing professionally with Kucharik’s Dream Child, Bob Geiger, Ghost Town, and Local 69, studied with jazz legend Tal Farlow, wrote for Guitar Player magazine, formed a blues trio, and went solo in 2004.

Wagula’s evening guitar classes at the Ocean County Vocational-Technical School are considered among New Jersey’s best. Mixing live guitar looping into his original 
instrumentals,

Wagula showcases his bottleneck proficiency on dobro and classic and contemporary metal- and wood-body guitars.

Please register at www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events to attend this free program. 
This program is for Adults. 
For more information, visit the OCL Lacey Branch, 10 East Lacey Road, Forked River, or call (609) 693-8566.

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

Families Can Create ‘Snow Cones with Love’ at the Ocean County Library Lacey Branch

LACEY TOWNSHIP –  The Ocean County Library Lacey Branch invites you to join them for this Snow Cones with Love program on Friday, February 9, at 3:30 PM

Come join us as we show our love for family and friends by creating frosty colorful snow cones treats while watching a Valentine’s Day themed film. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided during the event. This program is for Teens and Adults.

Please register at www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events to attend this free program. For more information, visit the OCL Lacey Branch, 10 East Lacey Road, Forked River, or call (609) 693-8566.

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

Get Real About Food with Dr. Robert Lustig in Ocean County Library Virtual Author Talk

TOMS RIVER – Healthy New Year to you, courtesy of Dr. Robert H. Lustig. The outspoken critic of “Big Food, Big Pharma and Big Government” will take part in an Ocean County Library Virtual Author Talk, 2 PM Tuesday, January 30.

The neuroendocrinologist offers a radical perspective on the confluence of nutrition, health and disease, medicine, environment and society in Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine, available in print, audiobook, and eBook versions through the Ocean County Library.

On his website, Dr. Lustig contends that sugar-laden processed food has placed minds and bodies in an endless cycle of feeding and needing, obesity and disease, which can be broken simply through natural foods.

His book supports the ideas that chronic disease medicine treats only symptoms, chronic diseases aren’t “druggable” but are “foodable,” and that our eating habits raise the risks of chronic diseases, a bankrupt health care system, and environmental consequences.

The doctor offers a plan in which real food is the core component to restore health and to boost immunity to viruses such as COVID-19.

Please register at https://bit.ly/OclLustigVirtual 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, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.
 

Rajiv Nagaich to Reveal Retirement Plan Traps in Ocean County Library Virtual Author Talk

TOMS RIVER – Your post-working life will require more adjustments than simply filling time. A large portfolio, estate plan, and long-term care insurance offer no guarantees against financial catastrophes. Attorney Rajiv Nagaich will spotlight retirement planning pitfalls in his Ocean County Library Virtual Author Talk, 2 PM Tuesday, January 23.

The author of Your Retirement: Dream or Disaster achieved national renown in more than 20 years of elder law practice; hosted two public television specials, Master Your Future and The Path to Happily Ever After, and hosts the AgingOptions radio show. He is a founding partner of Life Point Law in Washington State.

Nagaich extracted the most efficient components of multiple retirement plan processes to develop his LifePlanning approach, coordinatomg fiscal, legal and housing matters to safeguard against circumstances that can lead to unforeseen institutionalized living, financial dependency and family upheaval.

Please register at https://bit.ly/OclRetirementVirtual for 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, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.