Celebrate Black History Month with Ocean County Library and Toms River Area NAACP

TOMS RIVER – Savory sounds, tasty treats and high spirits will greet you when the Ocean County Library and Toms River Area NAACP team up for a Black History Month Celebration in OCL’s Toms River Branch, 12 PM Saturday, February 17.

The three-hour event in Mancini Hall will feature delectable foods and a performance by Rhonda Denét and the Silver Fox Songs Trio. “Songs of Liberation & Love” pays homage to African-American jazz, gospel, soul and pop stars who uplift, educate and Inspire.  

Also a composer and music historian, Rhonda will be accompanied by keyboardist Mike Bardash, bassist Gene Torres and drummer Chuck Batton in timeless songs popularized by Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway, Mahalia Jackson, Curtis Mayfield, Nina Simone, Dina Washington, Stevie Wonder and other legends.

The showcase is one of 19 in the Newark-based performer’s Silver Fox Songs Series, created in 2010 to celebrate the rich tapestry of music from the 1920s to the ‘90s. Learn more about it through Rhonda’s website and more than 100 videos on YouTube.

Please register at https://bit.ly/3TFC1ZF to attend this free program sponsored by the Friends of the Ocean County Library – Toms River. The Friends are volunteers who support the Library through fundraisers, programs, and advocacy. New members are always welcome. Applications are available at every OCL branch and at https://www.theoceancountylibrary.org/oclfriends.

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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Learn the ABCs of CPR at the Ocean County Library Toms River Branch

TOMS RIVER – When a health crisis occurs, some simple procedures can help to avert a tragedy. Adults can learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) basics from a professional at the Ocean County Library Toms River Branch, 6:30 PM Tuesday, February 13.

Cherie Garrison Horhay, owner of Brick Township’s Hands-On CPR, will lead the Friends and Family CPR instruction. It is not a CPR certification class, but it is a user-friendly, video-centered presentation for adults that follows guidelines of the American Heart Association.

Cherie will guide participants through hands-on CPR, and she’ll also illustrate steps to relieve choking for adult, child, and infant victims. Hands-on practice is encouraged but not required. Attendees will receive instructional booklets and participation cards.

A CPR trainer for more than 25 years, Cherie notes on her web page that she has taught “a wide variety of groups, from dentists and physicians to concerned parents and babysitters.”

Please register at https://bit.ly/OclTrCpr 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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Adults, Express Your Hopes with Vision Boards at the Ocean County Library Toms River Branch

TOMS RIVER – Adults and seniors, bring vivid form to your hopes and dreams through the art of collage. Create vision boards at the Ocean County Library Toms River Branch, 11 AM Thursday, January 25.

“Imagine and Achieve: Vision Boards for Adults and Seniors” in the Branch’s Makerspace is an enriching experience of mixed media creative expression. Vision boards are depictions of aspirations, goals and desires, fed by the creator’s imagination.

Materials will be supplied. Attendees are encouraged to enhance their vision boards with their own special pictures and images.

Please register at https://bit.ly/OclTrImagine to attend 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.

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

The Constitution Clarified at the Ocean County Library Stafford Branch

STAFFORD TOWNSHIP – The Constitution is firm enough to hold America together, flexible enough for all its people, and still vibrant as it reaches 235 years of age. Take a refreshing view during a Friends Adventure, “A Citizen’s Look at the U.S. Constitution,” 10 AM Thursday, February 1 at the Ocean County Library Stafford Branch.

John Imperiale, newly installed Mayor of Harvey Cedars, will conduct a whirlwind tour of the Constitutional Convention followed by a deeper examination of the Constitution’s evolution and resilience.

Imperiale will explain how the Constitution defined – and yet did not define – America’s three branches of government, how each branch has adapted, and how amendments, Supreme Court decisions and practical applications have tested and proven its resilience.

Please register at https://bit.ly/OclStaffordFriends to attend this free program, sponsored by Friends of the Stafford Library. The Friends are volunteers who support the library through programs, fundraising, and donations. New members are always welcome. Applications can be found at https://www.theoceancountylibrary.org/oclfriends.  

For more information, stop by the OCL Stafford Branch, 129 North Main Street, Manahawkin, or call (609) 597-3381.

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

Online Dating and Sexual Health: Program for Older Adults at the Ocean County Library

TOMS RIVER – The need for companionship, love and intimacy doesn’t fade with age. Older adults can build new relationships with just a screen and a keyboard. The Ocean County Health Department will present “Connections Beyond Age: Embracing Online Dating and Sexual Health for Older Adults” at three Ocean County Library branches:

• Manchester Branch – 21 Colonial Drive, (732) 657-760, 2 PM Monday, February 5. Register at https://bit.ly/OclDatingManchester. 
• Island Heights Branch – Summit and Central Avenues, (732) 270-6266, 2 PM Tuesday, February 13. Register at https://bit.ly/OclDatingIslHeights. 
• Stafford Branch – 129 North Main Street, Manahawkin, (609) 597-3381, 2 PM Wednesday, February 14. Register at https://bit.ly/OclOnlineStafford. 

This empowering, informative program is designed to introduce seniors to the world of dating apps, and to provide skills and confidence for navigating online dating platforms safely while maintaining sexual health and well-being.

Learn more about this free program at www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events. For more information, contact or visit any participating OCL branch or call (732) 349-6200.

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

Decipher Sensory Processing Disorder at Ocean County Library Toms River Branch

TOMS RIVER – Bright lights, loud sounds, certain aromas, colors and textures can be problematic for people with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Learn its effects and ways to help loved ones cope in a workshop at the Ocean County Library Toms River Branch, 7 PM Thursday, February 8.

Parents and caregivers of children diagnosed with SPD are at a disadvantage if they’re uninformed. The workshop will define SPD, explain various types, highlight indicators, offer ways to offset possible adverse reactions and suggest treatment options.

The presenters are Dr. Elke van Hooydonk, Senior Occupational Therapist, and Dr. Patricia Faller, Pediatric Occupational Therapist of Children’s Specialized Hospital, Toms River, proponents of the Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) autism therapy model and collaborators with masters in the field including Dr. Zoe Mailloux and Dr. Roseann Schaaf.

European-trained Dr. Elke van Hooydonk conducted occupational therapy for children and young adults in Belgium and Switzerland for eight years before joining Children’s Specialized Hospital 22 years ago. She provides clinical guidance for therapists in numerous disciplines.

Dr. Patricia Faller, an alumna of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, participated in the randomized controlled trial that gauged the effectiveness of ASI and the Data Driven Decision Making model. She has a 31-year history in pediatric occupational therapy in school, outpatient and early intervention settings as well as in private practice.

Please register at https://bit.ly/OclTrSPD 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.

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

Ocean County Library Long Beach Island Branch To Host American Red Cross Blood Drive

SURF CITY – Start 2024 with a lifesaving act. The Ocean County Library Long Beach Island Branch invites you to make a difference during the American Red Cross blood donation drive in its meeting room, 1 PM until 6 PM Tuesday, January 30.

If you’re at least 17 years of age, weigh 110 pounds or more, and in good health, you are eligible to donate a pint of blood. In New Jersey, 16-year-olds with parental permission are eligible to donate. Potential donors younger than age 18 are subject to height and weight requirements.

Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Remember to bring photo identification. Set a donation appointment online at www.redcrossblood.org, or by phone at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

For more information, visit the OCL Long Beach Island Branch, 217 South Central Avenue, Surf City, or call (609) 494-2480.

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

Arm Yourself Against Human Trafficking At the Ocean County Library Manchester Branch

TOMS RIVER – January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Anyone of any age, anywhere, can become a victim. Learn its effects during “Human Trafficking: The Basics,” 7 PM Monday, January 22, in the Ocean County Library Manchester Branch.

Members of the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking will describe how the criminal enterprises grew to global proportions, how to identify it, and how to raise awareness.

Data compiled by the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking indicates that it entraps an estimated 25 million people worldwide, that 75 percent of victims are women and children, and that it generates about $150 billion in illegal profits each year.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline has fielded 5,544 reports from New Jersey since 2007. Of the 567 reports received in 2021, 151 were verified and involved 466 victims.

Please register at https://bit.ly/OclManchesterTrafficking to attend this free program. It is strongly recommended that elementary- and junior high school-age students be accompanied by adults.

For more information, stop by the Ocean County Library Manchester Branch, 21 Colonial Drive, call (732) 657-7600, or visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events.

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