The estimated population of Ocean County exceeded 569,000 in July 2008 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The latest numbers were published by the Ocean County Department of Planning. This number reflects a 0.8% increase for Ocean County outdistanced New Jersey’s state wide increase of just 0.3%.

Ocean County Library numbers have also increased “System-wide, we had an increase of 16% of materials borrowed from December 2007 to December 2008” said Susan Quinn Toms River Branch Manager. The number of Ocean County Library cards totaled over 371,000 (including reciprocal borrowers cards issued to Monmouth and Burlington county residents) for the year ending June 2008.

Barnegat township                    22,255
Barnegat Light borough                838
Bay Head borough                       1,265
Beach Haven borough               1,391
Beachwood borough               10,835
Berkeley township                   42,754
Brick township                           78,419
Eagleswood township                1,675
Harvey Cedars borough               393
Island Heights borough            1,871
Jackson township                      52,587
Lacey township                          26,381
Lakehurst borough                     2,707
Lakewood township                 70,983
Lavallette borough                      2,754
Little Egg Harbor township    20,699
Long Beach township                 3,546
Manchester township                41,629
Mantoloking borough                    452
Ocean township                             8,993
Ocean Gate borough                     2,136
Pine Beach borough                      2,078
Plumsted township                        8,215
Point Pleasant borough             20,139
Point Pleasant beach borough   5,418
Seaside Heights borough             3,342
Seaside Park borough                   2,311
Ship Bottom borough                    1,449
South Toms River borough        3,709
Stafford township                         26,520
Surf City borough                           1,558
Toms River township                  95,933
Tuckerton borough                        3,876

Singer-pianist Eddie Smith will perform at the Lakewood branch of the Ocean County Library, 301 Lexington Av. 7 p.m. Wednesday July 15. 

 The Lakewood performance will be an intimate one, as Smith plays and sings a selection of American popular songs from the last 50 years. 

 Born and raised in Toms River, Smith began his career as a child soloist.  He went on to become a music teacher in local schools and later embraced live theatre performance. 

 Smith’s most recent theatrical credits include a long stint in the national and international touring company productions of Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida.”  Smith played the role of King Amonasro for nine months in a 35-city tour around the United States in 2006-7.  He repeated the role during a three-month tour of north China and Mongolia in 2008.

 The performance is free and open to the public.

Representative John Adler (NJ-3) spoke to more than 60 people during a “town hall” style meeting Tuesday morning.  He (holding the microphone) and a panel discussed health care issues with the audience which included several health care professionals.

Toms River Youth Services kicked off the summer reading program with a summer festival of fun June 23. The program was held in the courtyard area included many fun events and games water balloon toss, sand art, sidewalk chalk art and the popular Miss Rose’s Limbo and Chicken Dance.

On June 22 The Little Egg Harbor branch held an artists reception for the George J Mitchell after School Art Club. The After School Art Club created a mural for the branch under the direction of Art Teacher Mrs. Kathy Czipkay. The students researched animals native to the Pine Barrens, drew sketches, then they transferred their animals to the final mural canvas. The mural will be displayed in the Children’s Department of the Little Egg Harbor branch.

The mural was sponsored in part by the Friends of the Little Egg Harbor branch.

Race car driver Jeff Marcucci talked to the children and adults about his hobby: racing at the New Egypt Speedway.  Jeff explained his car and safety equipment to thr crowd.  A fun time was had by all.

Marble Painting June 26, 2009 The kids got their creative juices rolling by painting with marbles at Beachwood’s Creation Station. They created wonderful pictures full of color and texture and none of us lost our marbles in the process.

Beachwood Welcomes The Amazing V!

On June 23, magician extraordinare The Amazing V performed his fantastical tricks at the Beachwood Branch. Everyone was delighted with the chance to help The Amazing V put on quite a show by saying the magic words. Some of the kids in the audience even got a chance to come up on stage and be an assitant for a few of his tricks. It was a fun morning filled with laughter and applause!

The upper Shores branch Of the Ocean County Library, 112 Jersey City Ave., Lavallette hosted its third annual “Battle of the Bands” Saturday June 13. Seven local bands vied for title and prizes. “Axis” was chosen the winner by the competitions judges. Other groups that participated included, Dear Night Sky, Stealth Nelson, The Ire Sounds, Alterations, Lost Intentions and Day After Yesterday.

"Lost Intentions"

"Day After Yesterday"

"Alterations"

The Soul Street Dance Company gave two performances June 3 and everyone who attended said they enjoyed the shows a lot!  We had more than 65 people at Lakewood and 130 at Toms River.  And the audiences were a great mix: teens, older adults and children joined in the dancing!

Between dance routines Soul Street taught the history of hip-hop music, social responsibility and an appreciation for the art form.  They even involved people from the audience by teaching some dance moves and then performing those moves to the crowd.

The performances are part of the Neighbors Connecting series sponsored in part by a grant from the OceanFirst Foundation Arts and Cultural Grant.

The hyperactive group was tough to capture in photos, seemingly traveling at faster than the speed of light.  Okay, that is an exxageration.  But almost, as the photos will attest.  Photos of the Lakewood performance can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/22036136@N07/sets/72157619160224337/