Community Bulletin Board

Ocean County Library customers in Toms River will have an added convenience when they want to return audio-visual materials after the branch closes. The Toms River branch has installed a media return box in front of the building located at 101 Washington St. and will soon place one behind the building on Horner Street and Wilsey Way.

In the past our customers had to return the media inside the building," said Chief Librarian Christine Matteo. For some it was inconvenient to return the items during the hours the branch is open.

The bins eliminate the need for customers to synchronize their schedule with the library's schedule.

Library customers have been asking for the media return bins for a long time, she added, but they have only been manufactured recently.

The special media return bins have been in place at the Berkeley, Brick, Lakewood, Long Beach Island and Stafford branches.

"The response has been positive," Matteo said of the five media drop-bins," and our customers have had no problem distinguishing between the two types."

Customers who borrowed media material from the Barnegat branch have also returned them to the Stafford branch after hours, she added.

The media return bins cost about $4,200 each and will be phased in over the next year at six additional branches: Jackson, Manchester, Upper Shores, Lacey, Point Pleasant Borough, Barnegat and Little Egg Harbor.

Brick banker graduates from banking school

Brick resident Annette Larson, vice president and loan review manager of The Provident Bank, has returned to her bank duties after receiving a diploma from the National School of Banking of America's Community Bankers.

Larson was one of the 50 members of the Class of 2006 who took part in the commencement ceremonies at the Regina Quick Center for the Arts of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn.

America's Community Bankers represents the nation's community banks of all charter types and sizes. ACB members pursue progressive, entrepreneurial, and service-oriented strategies in providing financial services to benefit their customers and communities.

The National School of Banking consists of three 10-day resident sessions spread over two years at Fairfield University. Students are also required to complete numerous intersession research assignments. More than 3,500 financial industry executives have graduated from the school since its founding in 1960.

With $3.9 billion in deposits, The Provident Bank serves its customers via a network of 76 branches throughout northern and central New Jersey. The Provident Bank is the wholly-owned subsidiary of Provident Financial Services Inc., which reported assets of $5.9 billion as of June 30, 2006.

Adopt-a-Shelf volunteers needed at library

The Ocean County Library is looking for a few good people to adopt a shelf.

The library system is accepting applications from young people and adults who volunteer to maintain the book shelves in many of its branches.

Those branches include Barnegat, Berkeley, Jackson, Lacey, Little Egg Harbor, Long Beach Island, Manchester, Plumsted, Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant Borough, Stafford, Toms River and Upper Shores.

"The volunteers will work through a coordinator at the branch,'' said senior library assistant Jenny Scro, Toms River. "Together they will develop a schedule that fits the needs of the volunteer and the library."

Volunteers are asked to devote a few hours each month.

Students benefit from the volunteer program by adding to their community service hours, a requirement for graduation in many high schools. The library tracks their hours and can certify their time for college applications and rsums.

Adults benefit by helping their community. Volunteers who meet the minimum hour requirements are also recognized in an annual celebration and certificate presentation.

"The Adopt-a-Shelf program has been around 10 years and was started in the Manchester branch," said Marilyn Bass, volunteer coordinator for the library system. "Since its inception, more than 850 people have participated."

People who would like to adopt a shelf can contact the volunteer liaison at any participating branch or call the main branch at (732) 349-6200, ext. 5501. Details: www.oceancountylibrary.org.

Brick PAL to host 'Amazing Raffle' race

The Brick Township Police Athletic League (PAL) will host a fund-raising event Aug. 26, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Brick PAL building located at 60 Drum Point Road in Brick. Team of four will travel from location to location at their own pace completing various activities. However, all teams that complete an activity location will be given a clue to the next location. When a team completes all locations it will get a raffle ticket for a chance at the "Amazing Raffle." The winning team will receive four American Express gift cards that may be used for travel. The raffle drawing will be held at a dinner at the PAL building at 7 p.m.

Registration forms may be obtained at the PAL building; Investor Savings Bank, 273 Brick Blvd.; Jersey Paddler, 1756 Route 88 west; Camille's Sidewalk Caf, 66 Brick Blvd., Friday's, 709 Route 70; and Mike's Pizza, 319 Drum Point Road.

All forms must be returned no later than Aug. 18. The cost will be $25 per person and $100 per team.

All proceeds from this event will support Brick PAL's scholarship program which helps the needy families of Brick participate in the organization's youth services programs.

KiteFest returns to

Brick Beach II Sept. 9

The seventh annual B-MAC KiteFest returns to Brick Beach II Sept. 9 at noon. Reserve a kite kit in advance or call (732) 262-1088 for information.

Council changes venue for last summer meeting

The Aug. 22 Township Council meeting will take place at 541 Broad St. at Seventh Avenue in Normandy Beach. The meeting, which will combine the council's workshop caucus meeting and regular meeting, begins at 7 p.m. The meeting will be televised.

Island Beach State Park Beach Plum Festival

The Friends of Island Beach State Park will host the ninth annual Beach Plum Festival Sept. 10 in Island Beach State Park, Seaside Park, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival provides the public the opportunity to participate in beach plum picking and the making of beach plum jelly. There will also be bird banding demonstrations, environmental exhibits, children's games, rock climbing, craft shows and beach walks. Programs will include a demonstration of the park's lifeguard program, birding in the park and a movie "The Return of the Peregrine Falcon," which was filmed at Island Beach Park. There will be several food vendors and a donated kayak will be raffled. The Beach Plum Festivals have attracted thousands of visitors for this annual friends group function, which is the major fundraiser for the park's interpretative educational operations and conservation programs. A $4 donation for car parking at the festival will be requested.

River Lady cruise to aid Animal Birth Control

A dinner cruise to benefit Animal Birth Control (ABC) will set sail from downtown Toms River on the River Lady from 7-10 p.m. Sept. 11. The cost for tickets is $50 per person and it includes dinner, a live DJ, dancing and a cash

bar. Call (732) 793-7489 for details and tickets.

All profits will benefit the ABC low-cost spay/neuter animal program. ABC is an all-volunteer, nonprofit animal welfare group, which has been helping people and their animals continuously at the Jersey Shore since 1969.

Golf outing to benefit Pioneer Hose Fire Dept.

Pioneer Hose Volunteer Fire Department of Brick will host its second annual golf outing Sept. 5 at Woodlake Country Club. The cost is $90 per golfer, which includes golf, cart and driving range, lunch and beer on the course. Registration begins at 7 a.m. with tee-off at 8 a.m. All levels of golfers are welcome to help support their local volunteer fire department. Details and registration: (732) 477-0280 or (848) 992-9246.

All of the day's proceeds will go toward rebuilding Station 22, which is located on Drum Point Road in Brick.

Serving the public since 1927, Pioneer Hose Co. No. 1 is the oldest of Brick Township's emergency services. Details: www.brickfire.org.

Community Players hold auditions for 'Annie Jr.'

Kidz-4-Kidz, the charitable arm of the Brick Community Players, will be holding auditions for the musical "Annie Jr." Aug. 19 beginning at noon at the Civic Center Plaza, 270 Chambers Bridge Road in Brick. Children and teens ages 5-19 are welcome to audition. Featured roles and chorus available. Production will be held Feb. 9 and 10.

Part of the proceeds will be donated to The Ashley Lauren Foundation, a non-profit organization in Brick, which brings hope and help to children with cancer.

"Annie Jr." is part of The Broadway Junior Collection Musicals, author-approved, condensed versions of Broadway's classic musicals that preserve the spirit and essence of the original full-length works. Details: (732) 458-4200.

Open mic coffeehouse night for teens Aug. 17

The Brick Municipal Alliance Committee (B-MAC) and Ocean's Harbor House are sponsoring a coffeehouse night for Brick residents ages 14-18 Aug. 17, from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Brick Civic Plaza, 270 Chambers Bridge Road. Admission is free but advance registration is required. Starbuck's of Sea Girt will be providing coffee for the night. The night will be centered on an open mic for poetry, music and interpretive dance. Details and reservations: (732) 929-4001.