One-on-one job hunting assistance is available by appointment in the Career Information Center at the Eastern Branch of the Monmouth County Library on Rt 35 in Shrewsbury.  Call 1-866-941-8188 for an appointment.  Computer Information Center resources are also available online at

Thanks to generous Library Patrons, Monmouth County Foster & Adoptive Family Services has been able

to brighten the hearts of children living in foster homes during the holidays.

Please continue your support this year, so children in our area can experience the same warmth and love we all desire during this season.

Please select a tag and attach it to your new, unwrapped gift or gift card and return it here to Library Headquarters

by Friday, December 13.

Happy Holidays! 

Beaded necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more by Gloria Gross, Lincroft.

Attention: E-Reader Owners! Free Tutorial!

Does your Nook, Kindle or other electronic device leave you feeling frustrated and hopeless?

In less than 20 minutes, you will know how to download free E-books from the Monmouth County Library.

Call our Ref.Desk *732-264-7164* to schedule a free, one-on-one tutorial.

Past Pleasures: Nostalgic Children's Books on Display
Relive your youth with a visit to the Monmouth County Library-Headquarters Lobby, where an exhibit of children's literature, mostly from the 1950s and 1960s, will be on view in the month of December. 

SCORE provides free, confidential, one-on-one counseling for owners and would-
be owners of small businesses.  Appointment required; call 1-866-941-8188.

Read a winter story and create your own craft using leftover supplies used throughout the year!

Registration is required for children ages 2 and up beginning Monday, November 18.

Do you want to speak English? Come and join the English conversation classes:

• To listen and practice English.
• Learn language to help you at work, at home, and in the community.
• Meet and speak with others who are learning English.

September 19, 26, October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, November 7, 14, 21, December, 5, 12, 19

Join the fun as Leslie Clare instructs on a variety of choreographed dances. Demonstrations are provided and moves are taught in easy to follow segments which include a variety of popular line dances done to country, Latin, Irish, reggae, pop and other types of music.  Wear flat, comfortable shoes that will enable you to glide on a carpeted surface.

Try all or as many classes as you can.

Directed by: Louis Letterrier

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo

An FBI agent and an Interpol detective track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money.

115 minutes.

SHIP is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) with volunteer counselors to help those with questions regarding: Medicaid, Medicare and other insurance and drug plans.

Dates for December, January, February and March 2014 are: 12/5, 12/19, 1/2, 1/16, 2/6, 2/20, 3/6, 3/20.

SHIP Volunteer Counselor's schedule is coordinated through RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Services Program) a division of Family & Children’s Service of Monmouth County. This agency's direct phone number is 732 728 1331.

No appointment is needed at Library Headquarters location, just walk-in for first come, first served information.

Directed by Rene Clair.Starring Barry Fitzgerald,Walter Huston, Louis Hayward, Roland Young and Judith Anderson.

       This classic Agatha Christie Mystery takes place on a desolate island off the coast of English coast where ten strangers have been invited to spend the evening. And one by one the guests are murdered until there were none.     98 minutes     (c) 20th Century Fox

A Career Information Center Computer Classroom Session

Pre-registration required; to register, call 866-941-8188

Capitol policeman John Cale has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service. Not wanting to let down his little girl with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House. When the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group, it's up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country.  Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx and Maggie Gyllenhaal star in this suspenseful thriller. 137 minutes

Listen to a story and build a Lego creation at the library’s fun and exciting Lego Storytime! This month’s theme is…the North Pole!  Welcome to the club! Lego’s will be supplied.

Wind in the Willows- movie and craft

All ages

Thursday, December 5 @ 4pm

Come join us for a Wind in the Willows afternoon.  There will be a movie, craft and a drawing to win tickets to the show at the Two River Theatre in Red Bank.

Decorate and design your own cool sand art pictures!

Space is limited. Registration is required beginning Thursday, November 21.

This program is intended for children Grades K and up.

Conceal a surprise toy inside a soap snowball!

Please bring a 1-2" plastic or rubber toy to hide in the soap.

Grades K and up. Registration is required. Please choose only one session: Tuesday, December 3, or Thursday, December 5.

Come join us at the Colts Neck Library as we discuss The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes.

This intense novel follows Tony Webster, a middle-aged man, as he contends with a past he never thought much about—until his closest childhood friends return with a vengeance: one of them from the grave, another maddeningly present. Tony thought he left this all behind as he built a life for himself, and his career has provided him with a secure retirement and an amicable relationship with his ex-wife and daughter, who now has a family of her own. But when he is presented with a mysterious legacy, he is forced to revise his estimation of his own nature and place in the world.

This book discussion will be moderated by Colts Neck Librarian Stephanie Laurino. Refreshments will be served and all are welcome to attend, however registration is preferred. Stop by or call the library to reserve your copy of the book today.

Directed by Rene Clair.Starring Barry Fitzgerald,Walter Huston, Louis Hayward, Roland Young and Judith Anderson.

       This classic Agatha Christie Mystery takes place on a desolate island off the coast of English coast where ten strangers have been invited to spend the evening. And one by one the guests are murdered until there were none.     98 minutes     (c) 20th Century Fox

The Monmouth County Library Teen Advisory Board meets monthly at Headquarters in Manalapan. You can earn Community Service Hours by joining this great group. Come out and meet new friends, have a snack and share your ideas for teen programming, teen collections, and more.

Teams of local high school students debate complex ethical situations, basing arguments on simple ideas such as honesty, fairness, human dignity and ethical living. The contest promotes the study of philosophy and development  of clubs? business?  understanding the importance of good business ethics.

Greater Monmouth Chamber of Commerce co-sponsors this event with the Library.

http://greatermonmouthchamber.com/pages/TeamChallenge/

A First Friday for Seniors Program

Fascinating but little known facts about the SCR-270 radar, which was present during the "Day of Infamy". This "new" system had been under development by the Army at Camp Evans and had the potential to provide early warning of enemy air attack. The audience will learn specific details about its development by the Army Signal Laboratory, Camp Evans, and how it was used at Pearl Harbor- and missed opportunities.

Please join us as we recognize these achievements and observe Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

Dorothy Sikora and Robert Elinson, of Joy of Music, will perform holiday favorites on their harp and flute. Dorothy will be performing on her 100-year-old Wurlitzer harp.

Come and play Mah Jongg! Bring your set. Fridays throughout the month, unless the Library is closed.

This presentation will walk you through the information on your medicine labels. We will break down each section of the label and provide you with the tools to identify how and when to take your medications, determine the number of refills that remain and the amount of medicine in each pill. We will also talk about how to safely store and dispose of your medications and making the most of your resources.

We'll also offer health and wellness activities! All activities are free.

Call the library to register at 732-938-2300.

Each month the group reads a selection from The Seven Deadly Sins Sampler edited by Daniel Born and Mike Levine, a collection of short stories that, without moralizing, allows readers to peer into the hidden recesses of sinful thought and behavior and use fiction to explore our all too human thirst for good and evil while provoking lively conversation and sober contemplation.

New dates…Make a Note!  The Great Books Book Club now meets the first Friday of each month.  Monthly selection titles are available at the Circulation Desk.

Unfortunately, this class has been cancelled.  Please check back for future dates (www.monmouthcountylib.org) !

SAT – PSAT – Math … if just thinking of the SAT or PSAT Math test induces shivers and brings beads of sweat to your brow… join us for a session on general techniques to help prepare for the Math portion of the SAT or PSAT Test. Bring some paper, a pencil, an open mind and specific questions.

Presenter Michael Carlin is a Mathematics Professor who regularly tutors students in preparation for the SAT and PSAT Tests, a key component in the college admissions process.

Attend one or as many study sessions as you can.  
 

Come meet the artists at the Opening Reception on Friday, December 6^th from 7-9pm.  There will be refreshments with wine provided by 4JGs Winery located right here in Colts Neck. 

It’s time for the 14^th Annual Colts Neck Friends of the Library Fine Art Show and Sale, December 7 & 8, and 14 & 15, 2013. This is a terrific opportunity to see the talent that abounds in our local area and do some one-of-a-kind Holiday shopping.  What better gift than a piece of original artwork for newlyweds or a housewarming gift?  Give the gift that keeps giving year round and makes them think of you fondly every time they walk into the room!  Or snap up that unique piece that speaks to you to warm up your décor.  With a great selection of artists and styles to choose from, there is surely something for everyone.  Varied prices on watercolors, oil paintings, hand thrown pottery and wood carvings will be available.

The exhibition will be open both weekends from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. Additional viewing times can be arranged by appointment.

Come play chess & "Go" every Saturday throughout the month when the Library is open.

It’s time for the 14^th Annual Colts Neck Friends of the Library Fine Art Show and Sale, December 7 & 8, and 14 & 15, 2013. This is a terrific opportunity to see the talent that abounds in our local area and do some one-of-a-kind Holiday shopping.  What better gift than a piece of original artwork for newlyweds or a housewarming gift?  Give the gift that keeps giving year round and makes them think of you fondly every time they walk into the room!  Or snap up that unique piece that speaks to you to warm up your décor.  With a great selection of artists and styles to choose from, there is surely something for everyone.  Varied prices on watercolors, oil paintings, hand thrown pottery and wood carvings will be available.

The exhibition will be open both weekends from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. Additional viewing times can be arranged by appointment.

Those with diabetes face many challanges during the holiday season, including tempting sweets, alcohol, and the stress of endless holiday shopping.  Find out how to enjoy your favorite treats and manage stress to minimize the ups and downs of diabetes during this joyous season.  Presented by Denise Surman, RD.

This presentation by Cashflow Credit Counseling and Collections, LLC will cover the 5 main components of a credit score, how to use credit, and the uses of free sites such as mint.com, Credit Karma, and Credit Sesame.  A Q&A session will follow.

Join us as classical guitarist, Phillip Lester, combines his classical guitar rendition of popular songs of the Christmas season with background information on their origins. The program includes traditional Hanukah songs as well. 

It’s time for the 14^th Annual Colts Neck Friends of the Library Fine Art Show and Sale, December 7 & 8, and 14 & 15, 2013.  This is a terrific opportunity to see the talent that abounds in our local area and do some one-of-a-kind Holiday shopping.  What better gift than a piece of original artwork for newlyweds or a housewarming gift?  Give the gift that keeps giving year round and makes them think of you fondly every time they walk into the room!  Or snap up that unique piece that speaks to you to warm up your décor.  With a great selection of artists and styles to choose from, there is surely something for everyone.  Varied prices on watercolors, oil paintings, hand thrown pottery and wood carvings will be available.

The exhibition will be open both weekends from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. Additional viewing times can be arranged by appointment.

Stories and Songs for ages 10-23 months. Siblings Welcome.

Film showing "Wind in the Willows" (2009) Disney.

Participants will be entered in a raffle for free tickets to see the stage production of "Wind in the Willows Christmas" at Red Bank's Two Rivers Theater.

Decorate and design your own cool sand art pictures!

Space is limited. registration is required beginning Thursday, November 21.

This program is intended for children Grades K and up.

Join Amy Zambrano of Amy's Yogabilities for a Yoga Yuletide Special for joy, balance and peace! Get ready to open your hearts during this season of giving.

Suggested for children grades K - 4. Registration required and space is limited. Bring your own yoga mat and get ready for some fun!

Beauty is only skin deep but beautiful healthy skin begins with clean skin. Learn how to make awesome cool custom scented soaps that not only clean but smell great and become your personal at home spa treatments. This session will focus on making luxury spa soaps for the perfect pedicure and personal scrubbie soap to keep your skin glowing and soft through the winter. You get to take your two beauty creations  home to use right away.

For teens in 6th-12 grade only.

Please register thru our online calendar posted below.

Come enjoy an evening of holiday music performed by Howell High School's renowned acapella singing groups, Rebel Yell, rebelettes & Rebelation.  These groups are all star, mixed, acapella vocal teams that perform songs from many styles of pop music. Mr. Joseph Cantaffa will conduct the group as they perform holiday favorites for the audience.

This free computer workshop presented by the library's Career Information Center will help you to boost your job search and optimize your LinkedIn profile.

Regina Rosenthal, PT, MA, and author of The Heart of Healing: Discovering the Secrets of Self-Care will discuss body-mind self-care practices, stress reduction, keeping an Awareness Journal, and other simple, cost effective practices which can be used  to maximize health and well-being at any stage of life.

State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) helps those with questions regarding: Medicaid, Medicare and other insurance and drug plans.
SHIP Volunteer Counselors are coordinated through RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Services Program) a division of Family & Children’s Service of Monmouth County, and come to the library on the second Tuesday of the month.  Please call SHIP at 732-728-1331 to schedule an appointment.

Actress Reese Holden has been offered a small fortune by a book editor if she can secure for publication the love letters that her father, a reclusive novelist, wrote to her mother, who has since passed away. Returning to Michigan, Reese finds that an ex-grad student and a would-be musician have moved in with her father, who cares more about his new friends than he does about his own health and well-being.  Directed by Adam Rapp.  Starring Ed Harris, Zooey Deschanel, and Will Ferrell.

Drama/Comedy – 98 minutes.

It’s Holiday Time at the Movies

In the weeks leading up to Christmas 1977, Maryanne Kinkade has fallen behind in her mortgage payments and is about to lose her small house in Placerville, a town in California's gold country in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Her son Thom, who attends art school and is in his 20s, is determined to make the transition from amateur to professional painter to help save the family's home by seeking advice from an aging mentor.  This film is a biographical look at the inspiration behind Thomas Kinkade's painting The Christmas Cottage and how the artist was motivated to begin his career and help save his family home.

96 minutes.

Work in groups or individually to create your own LEGO^® designs based on this month's theme: Circus, Circus!

Grades K and up. Registration is required. LEGO^® bricks will be provided by the library.

Make a work of art using odd craft items contained in a paper bag.

K and up

 In person registration begins on Wednesday, November 27 at 9:00 am.  Phone registration begins at 3:00 pm.

Beauty is only skin deep but beautiful healthy skin begins with clean skin. Learn how to make awesome cool custom scented soaps that not only clean but smell great and become your personal at home spa treatments. This session will focus on making luxury spa soaps for the perfect pedicure and personal scrubbie soap to keep your skin glowing and soft through the winter. You get to take your two beauty creations  home to use right away.

For teens in 6th-12th grade only.

Please register thru our online calendar below.

David is a pot dealer in need of a fake family to use as a cover story in order to smuggle drugs from Mexico into the U.S. He is in major debt with his supplier and is desperate for the money to pay him back. He hires a stripper to be his fake wife, a runaway as his pretend daughter, and a goofy counterfeit son. Antics and madcap adventure ensue as this faux-family attempts to cross the border with the loot.. Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. Starring Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, and Emma Roberts.

Comedy- 110 minutes.

Do you want to speak English? Come and join the English conversation classes:

• To listen and practice English.
• Learn language to help you at work, at home, and in the community.
• Meet and speak with others who are learning English.

All classes are free and meet on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 - 8:30 pm.
 

Learn how to make beaded necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and more!

 A representative from the Surrogate’s office will be at the Library to provide you free and confidential help with all probate matters. Please schedule an appointment by calling 732-431-7330 x 7337.

Lost & Found Bereavement Group on Wednesdays is devoted to  parents who have lost children.

Lost & Found Bereavement Group on Thursday evenings is devoted to all  who have lost a loved one.

Meets on Second and Fourth Wednesdays in the morning
and on the last Thursday at 7pm
 

This peer led volunteer support group is for those who are actively looking for work and would like to begin or re-invigorate their job search.  Anyone in career transition, recent college grads, laid-off workers, unemployed or underemployed professionals, persons re-entering the job market, struggling small business owners, and retirees looking for part time or volunteer work are invited to attend.  Group members assist each other in techniques and suggestions to improve job search, offer support, and help with personal and  professional networking to find a position.  Additional resources are available in the library's Career Information Center.

An alcoholic ex-screenwriter journeys to Las Vegas to drink himself to death after his wife leaves him and he gets fired. He falls in love with a prostitute, but her love isn't enough to renew his desire to live. Part of the "Visit Vegas" series. 112 minutes.

A fast-lane investment broker offered the opportunity to see how the other half lives, wakes up to find that his sports car and girlfriend have become a mini-van and wife. Starring Nicolas Cage, Tea Leoni, and Don Cheadle. 125 minutes.

Holiday Ornament Make and Take project.  Children can drop in the children's room between 3:45 and 5:00 to decorate a holiday ornament for the holiday.  Children in Kindergarten and up.  

Are visions of sugar plums dancing in your head? Enjoy stories to celebrate the holidays and make a sweet treat too!

For Grades K- 4.  Parent or guardian must remain in library.

Read to A Therapy Dog for the Howlidays

Wednesday, December 11 @ 4pm K and up

Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog.

December 4 - The Wonderful World of Disney - Film

December 11 - Noah's ark - Animal Friends - Storytime

K and up

 In person registration begins on Wednesday, November 27 at 9:00 am.  Phone registration begins at 3:00 pm.

The Building Blocks of Creative Writing
 
The objective of this course is to teach and strengthen skills that will allow an author to write a strong short story or novel. General rules that lead to dynamic communication will be emphasized. Instructor Dr. Lewis Preschel has compiled the best practices about writing drawn from the most authoritative sources.

Each session will end with an exercise related to the topic of that session. In-class evaluations by the writer’s peers will be performed as time allows for the exercises performed in the class.
This is meant to be a learning experience in a friendly atmosphere.
Class will be on 9/11, 10/9, 11/11 and 12/11, 2013.

 Registration is strongly recommended.

 Lewis Preschel, M.D. will be the instructor for this course, adding to his extensive list of titles, including doctor, orthopedic surgeon, librarian, writer, author, blogger and now, writing instructor. 
The course is based on authoritative sources which he has read in preparation to write his first novel.  A bibliography of sources will be given out at the first meeting. 
A founding member of the Monmouth Creative Writer’s Group, Dr. Preschel has participated in two author’s critiquing groups over the last four years, is an active member of the Writer’s Coffee House in Willow Grove, PA and of Liberty States Fiction Writers. 

 

Holiday Magic Show featuring magician Matt Cadabra. All ages. Lots of fun in store for you!

Drum Circle open to anyone interested in drumming, percussion, dancing, hooping, etc.

In this lecture, learn to quickly and easily use the Internet to find relevant web pages, news articles, pictures, and other resources. Easy-to-follow examples show you how to effectively use most of the Internet's popular search engines and directories. From navigation buttons to URLs and from bookmarks to browsers, basic search strategies and advanced search features will be discussed.

The lecture will run for approximately one hour and is followed by 30 minutes of Q&A.

Kids Music Round with Miss Dianne Adler

Thursday, December 12 @ 10:30am  Ages 6 and under

A musical program for parents and children Sing, dance and rock to music with drums, bells shakers, sticks and Miss Dianne’s guitar.

Do you want to speak English? Come and join the English conversation classes:

• To listen and practice English.
• Learn language to help you at work, at home, and in the community.
• Meet and speak with others who are learning English.

September 19, 26, October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, November 7, 14, 21, December, 5, 12, 19

Directed by: Paul Andrew Williams

Starring: Terence Stamp , Gemma Arterton

Grumpy pensioner Arthur honors his recently deceased wife's passion for performing by joining the unconventional local choir to which she used to belong, a process that helps him build bridges with his estranged son, James.

93 minutes.

Ages 3 ½ - 5 years old and not in kindergarten.  In person registration begins on Wednesday, November 27 at 9:00 am.  Phone registration begins at 3:00 pm.

Directed by W.S.Van Dyke.  Starring Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Robert Montgomery, Billie Burke, and Rosalind Russell.

Forsaking All Others features Joan Crawford and Clark Gable in a great romantic slapstick comedy. They are childhood pals and remain close friends as young adults. Gable comes home from a trip abroad and learns to his dismay that Crawford and Montgomery are about to be married. When Montgomery leaves Crawford at the altar and weds his ex-girlfriend, Crawford is devastated and turns to her best buddy Gable for comfort and some needed laughs.     82 minutes     (c) MGM

Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston star in this hit comedy about a small-time criminal who puts together a fake family in order to make a big score.  Emma Roberts and Ed Helms co-star. 110 minutes

A Career Information Center Computer Classroom Session

Pre-registration required; to register, call 866-941-8188

Read to A Therapy Dog for the Howlidays

Thursday, December 12 @ 4pm K and up

Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog.

 Have fun and make your own  unique bracelet or necklace!

This program is intended for children Grades 1 and up. Registration is required and begins Thursday, December 5.

Prevention Coalition of Monmouth County, and affiliate of Prevention First, presents a Town Hall Meeting, beginning at 6PM.   Presentation topics to be discussed:

Underage Drinking Laws

Alcohol and How it Effects the Brain

How to Keep Your Child Alcohol Free

More information available at www. preventionFirst.net or call Jennifer  732 663 1800 x212

Directed by W.S.Van Dyke.  Starring Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Robert Montgomery, Billie Burke, and Rosalind Russell.

Forsaking All Others features Joan Crawford and Clark Gable in a great romantic slapstick comedy. They are childhood pals and remain close friends as young adults. Gable comes home from a trip abroad and learns to his dismay that Crawford and Montgomery are about to be married. When Montgomery leaves Crawford at the altar and weds his ex-girlfriend, Crawford is devastated and turns to her best buddy Gable for comfort and some needed laughs.     82 minutes     (c) MGM

Come and play Mah Jongg! Bring your set. Fridays throughout the month, unless the Library is closed.

Ages 5 years old and Up

Come learn and master the art of chess.  Conducted by experienced instructors.

The chess classes are held the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month.

Please call the Library for information.

Come learn the art of knitting.  Please bring medium needles and medium yarn (knitting worsted).

Registration is required.  Please call the Library at 732-291-1956.

Come play chess & "Go" every Saturday throughout the month when the Library is open.

It’s time for the 14^th Annual Colts Neck Friends of the Library Fine Art Show and Sale, December 7 & 8, and 14 & 15, 2013.  This is a terrific opportunity to see the talent that abounds in our local area and do some one-of-a-kind Holiday shopping.  What better gift than a piece of original artwork for newlyweds or a housewarming gift?  Give the gift that keeps giving year round and makes them think of you fondly every time they walk into the room!  Or snap up that unique piece that speaks to you to warm up your décor.  With a great selection of artists and styles to choose from, there is surely something for everyone.  Varied prices on watercolors, oil paintings, hand thrown pottery and wood carvings will be available.

The exhibition will be open both weekends from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. Additional viewing times can be arranged by appointment.

Bring your family and enjoy the entertaining live theater performance of  "A Christmas Carol" by "The Traveling Lantern Theater Company." It is the classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, the old geezer who only cares about money.  Join him as he embarks on a journey that melts his icy heart and teaches him the joys of caring and giving to others.

Suitable for ages 4 and up, and their families.

Lower Level

Free tickets are necessary and will be available beginning at 9:00 am on Wednesday, November 27 at the children’s desk.

The McDermott’s Handy Christmas music program is an extension of their passion for the wonderful varieties of Irish traditional music and their talent for synthesizing the rich cultural lore of the season into a rollicking holiday house party, right in front of the audience. This is not the music you’re likely to hear at the mall!

This concert is a blend of lively dance tunes, songs with the kind of choruses to make you sing along, and poignant stories about some of the customs that are now part of the holiday season tradition.   Songs of the season they will perform include The Wren Song, The Holly & the Berry; Dark December; Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cake; Christmas Eve Reel; Oiche Nollaig; Drive the Cold Winter Away and Auld Lang Syne

Kathy DeAngelo and Dennis Gormley are the husband-wife duo who has been performing traditional Irish music together in the Delaware Valley as McDermott’s Handy since 1979. These talented multi-instrumentalists combine their strong vocals and equally strong backing accompaniment with a enjoyable stage presence.

With a huge repertoire they’ve built over 35 years of playing traditional music, they sing in Irish and English. Kathy mainly plays harp and fiddle and occasionally adds 5-string banjo and bodhran. Dennis plays guitar, flute and tinwhistle and can be counted on to add in mandolin or bouzouki when the arrangement requires.

McDermott’s Handy is named in honor of Edward McDermott, a fine fiddler from Ballinamore, County Leirim, Ireland.

Howell Library Presents the 4th Annual "Home for the Holidays" Concert with the

Billy Lawlor Trio

• Billy Lawlor - Piano & Vocals
• Tommy LaBella - Saxophone
• Gary Mazzaroppi-Bass

Join us for Billy's jazzy renditions of your holiday favorites. Billy Lawlor has been a mainstay at the Jersey Shore music scene since the late 70's as leader of the Billy Lawlor Band, a keyboardist, a vocalist & an entertainer. Tommy LaBella has been a notable presence on the Jersey Shore music scene since 1974. LaBella established himself as a versatile and talented saxophone player during a time when the "Sound of Asbury Park" was emerging. "Gary Mazzaroppi is one of the bass players who leave you wondering how such a talented artist can remain virtually unknown." - Los Angeles Times jazz critic Leonard Feather.

The Friends of the Howell Library will provide light refreshments after the concert.

Audience members are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations for the Howell Food Pantry.

It’s time for the 14^th Annual Colts Neck Friends of the Library Fine Art Show and Sale, December 7 & 8, and 14 & 15, 2013.  This is a terrific opportunity to see the talent that abounds in our local area and do some one-of-a-kind Holiday shopping.  What better gift than a piece of original artwork for newlyweds or a housewarming gift?  Give the gift that keeps giving year round and makes them think of you fondly every time they walk into the room!  Or snap up that unique piece that speaks to you to warm up your décor.  With a great selection of artists and styles to choose from, there is surely something for everyone.  Varied prices on watercolors, oil paintings, hand thrown pottery and wood carvings will be available.

The exhibition will be open both weekends from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. Additional viewing times can be arranged by appointment.

Join us at a special time (1pm) to meet Randy Cohen, three-time Emmy^(R) Awarding-winning writer and author, for his talk: Being The Ethicist.  Cohen wrote the popular New York Times Magazine column, The Ethicist, from 1999 to 2011.  He has recently published a book, Be Good: How to Navigate the Ethics of Everything.  He won his Emmy Awards as a writer for the David Letterman Show where he was the "inventor" of the Letterman's show Top Ten List. Cohen is currently the popular host of a groundbreaking discussion series at the 92nd Street in New York, as well as hosting Person, Place, Thing on public radio. A book signing opportunity will follow.

Mr. Cohen will be followed by a panel discussion co-sponsored with the Monmouth Center for World Religions and Ethical Thought.  Three panelists from different religious tradtions will discuss how their traditions guide their ethical behavior and understanding. The panelists will be Milton Ziment (Reform Judaism), Patty Whyte (Baha'i), and Usame Tunagur (Islam).  Usame comes to us from Peace Islands Institute (www.peaceislands.org).  Joe Ritacco of MCWRET will moderate the panel discussion.

Come learn the art of knitting.  Please bring medium needles and medium yarn (knitting worsted).

Registration is required.  Please call the Library at 732-291-1956.

Stories and Songs for ages 10-23 months. Siblings Welcome.

Sharpen your reading skills by reading to a furry friend!

Space is limited. Registration is required beginning Monday, December 9.

Use chemistry to make scented Holiday gift wrap. All ages.

Bring your family and enjoy an entertaining live theatre performance! "A Christmas Carol" is the classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, a nasty, snarly old geezer who only cares about money. Join him as he embarks on a journey that melts his icy heart and teaches him the joys of caring and giving to others.

Suitable for ages 4 and up, and their families.  Everyone welcome!

Beauty is only skin deep but beautiful healthy skin begins with clean skin. Learn how to make awesome cool custom scented soaps that not only clean but smell great and become your personal at home spa treatments. This session will focus on making luxury spa soaps for the perfect pedicure and personal scrubbie soap to keep your skin glowing and soft through the winter. You get to take your two beauty creations  home to use right away.

For teens in 6th- 12th grade only.

Please register thru our online calendar below.

This free computer workshop presented by the library's Career Information Center will help you stand out to recruiters and find key contacts and target LinkedIn groups.

We will be discussing Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald

A forum for teens 6th grade and up to discuss books
The books will be available at the circulation desk

It begins with a free and joyful act--but from then on, Michael finds it impossible even to remember what it felt like to be free and joyful.  When he fires his new rifle into the air on his seventeenth birthday, he never imagines that the bullet will end up killing someone.  But a mile away, a man is killed by that bullet as he innocently repairs his roof.  And Michael keeps desperately silent while he watches his world crumble.

Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, the National Book Award, and New York Times Notable Book, this gorgeous novel by the celebrated author of When the Emperor Was Divine tells the story of a group of young women brought from Japan to San Francisco as "picture brides" nearly a century ago. This is a spellbinding novel about identity and loyalty, and what it means to be an American in uncertain times.

Copies available at the circulation desk beginning November 19.

This peer led volunteer support group is for those who are actively looking for work and would like to begin or re-invigorate their job search.  Anyone in career transition, recent college grads, laid-off workers, unemployed or underemployed professionals, persons re-entering the job market, struggling small business owners, and retirees looking for part time or volunteer work are invited to attend.  Group members assist each other in techniques and suggestions to improve job search, offer support, and help with personal and professional networking to find a position.

This group meets every Tuesday in the downstairs large meeting room of the library.

Straightaway
By Mark Wisniewski

Mark Wisniewski's "Straightaway" will lure the reader in instantly, almost like a mystery story, as we seek to figure out exactly what is inside the "drum" that these three young black men, billing themselves as waste-disposal workers for hire, receive from a woman who pays them $3000 dollars to remove it. Throughout the story the author keeps this secret at bay, urging the reader on and inspiring his nerves as the characters grow increasingly more worried.

It’s Holiday Time at the Movies

Susan Lucci stars as Elizabeth Scrooge, the manager of Dobson's Department Store in this updated retelling of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol. Lucci plays the ruthless business-woman and shopping store owner Elizabeth "Ebbie" Scrooge who is visited by the three ghosts and taught the true spirit of Christmas. Fans of the daytime soap diva will enjoy this refreshing yet respectful twist on an old classic.

96 minutes.

Practice reading aloud to certified therapy dogs who really listen! Bring your favorite book, or borrow one of ours.

Grades K and up. Registration is required. Please choose one session: 4:15 - 4:30 pm or 4:35 - 4:50 pm.

Do you want to speak English? Come and join the English conversation classes:

• To listen and practice English.
• Learn language to help you at work, at home, and in the community.
• Meet and speak with others who are learning English.

All classes are free and meet on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 - 8:30 pm.
 

Directed by:  Brian DePalma

Starring: Rachel McAdams, Noomi Rapace, Rainer Bock

An intense power struggle between an icy advertising executive and her timid assistant turns deadly in director Brian De Palma's stylish remake of Alain Corneau's Crime d’Amour (2010). A cultivated beauty with expensive tastes and a serious kinky streak, Christine (Rachel McAdams) holds a top office at one of the world's biggest international advertising agencies. She didn't get ahead by shrinking into the shadows, so when her coy but incredibly creative assistant Isabel (Noomi Rapace) dreams up a wildly popular marketing campaign, Christine takes full credit for the idea. Simultaneously repulsed and intrigued by her boss' shameless candor over the incident, Isabel ignites an all-out war against Christine. Later, when Christine turns up dead after humiliating her assistant in front of the entire company, the perceptive Inspector Bach (Rainer Bock) struggles to sort through the clues as Isabel grows increasingly unstable, and her story seems to change with each new interview. 102 minutes.  Studio: Entertainment One ©

 A representative from the Surrogate’s office will be at the Library to provide you free and confidential help with all probate matters. Please schedule an appointment by calling 732-431-7330 x 7337.

Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, the National Book Award, and New York Times Notable Book, this gorgeous novel by the celebrated author of When the Emperor Was Divine tells the story of a group of young women brought from Japan to San Francisco as "picture brides" nearly a century ago. This is a spellbinding novel about identity and loyalty, and what it means to be an American in uncertain times.

Copies available at the circulation desk beginning November 19.

Facebook is a social networking site that allows you to make connections and share your life with them. In this lecture, learn how to set up your Facebook profile, protect your privacy, search for (and find!) friends on Facebook, post on the Timeline, set up your Newsfeed and upload pictures. We will not discuss apps, the mobile version, and advertising on Facebook.

This peer led volunteer support group is for those who are actively looking for work and would like to begin or re-invigorate their job search.  Anyone in career transition, recent college grads, laid-off workers, unemployed or underemployed professionals, persons re-entering the job market, struggling small business owners, and retirees looking for part time or volunteer work are invited to attend.  Group members assist each other in techniques and suggestions to improve job search, offer support, and help with personal and  professional networking to find a position.  Additional resources are available in the library's Career Information Center.

Winter International Film Series

Drug dealer Alex finds hope for a new start when his cousin offers him a job in Israel. Now he must make the final score, while balancing a new romance, a past lover, a lifelong friendship and his brother's addiction. Directed by Elie Wajeman. Starring Pio Marmaï, Cédric Kahn, and Adèle Haenel.

In French with English subtitles. 88 minutes.

An elite FBI squad in a game of cat and mouse against 'The Four Horsemen', a super-team of the world's greatest illusionists. 'The Four Horsemen' pull off a series of daring heists against corrupt business leaders during their performances, showering the stolen profits on their audiences while staying one step ahead of the law. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo and Morgan Freeman. 115 minutes.

A wildly imaginative film adaptation of the classic pop culture novel by Hunter S. Thompson as a writer embarks on a savagely funny journey down a road that runs a not-so-straight-and-narrow path into the heart of the American Dream. Part of the "Visit Vegas" series. 128 minutes.

Two women troubled with guy problems swap homes in each other's countries where they each meet a local guy and fall in love. Starring Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, and Jack Black. 138 minutes. 

Children in Kindergarten and up will make and decorate their own special house with candy treats to take home. Registration is required -- Space is Limited.    Please call for avalibility.  Grades K and up.

Grades 1 and up. Come in and read a favorite story to a dog friend.
The dogs will love listening to you.

Sign-ups are required. Please choose one session.  
In-person registration begins on Thursday, December 5 at 9:00 am.  
Phone registration begins at 3:00 pm.
 

Raise your paw if you agree - our therapy dog Jack and his trainer Dianne are the best listeners in town!  If you haven't met Jack, stop by, shake his paw and read him your favorite "tail." Choose a wintery story from our collection, or bring a book from home.  Non-readers can share picture books or make up their own story.  Our dogs are trained and certified by the Monmouth County SPCA.

Registration a must, beginning December 2.  Please stop by the library or call 732-222-5993.

For Grades K- 4.  Parent or guardian must remain in library.

Santa Visits the Library

December 18 @ 4pm  All ages

Let’s sing songs and listen to holiday books with Santa at our library.

You can read any book for this club. The suggested title is "This is Spiderman" by Thomas Macri. Read the book, discuss it, and make a lego creation.

Grades 1 and up. Come in and read a favorite story to a dog friend.
The dogs will love listening to you.

Sign-ups are required. Please choose one session.  
In-person registration begins on Thursday, December 5 at 9:00 am.  
Phone registration begins at 3:00 pm.
 

Read to Koda, PJ and Styx. Bring your favorite book to read.

Winter International Film Series

Drug dealer Alex finds hope for a new start when his cousin offers him a job in Israel. Now he must make the final score, while balancing a new romance, a past lover, a lifelong friendship and his brother's addiction. Directed by Elie Wajeman. Starring Pio Marmaï, Cédric Kahn, and Adèle Haenel.

In French with English subtitles. 88 minutes.

Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, the National Book Award, and New York Times Notable Book, this gorgeous novel by the celebrated author of When the Emperor Was Divine tells the story of a group of young women brought from Japan to San Francisco as "picture brides" nearly a century ago. This is a spellbinding novel about identity and loyalty, and what it means to be an American in uncertain times.

Copies available at the circulation desk beginning November 19.

Miss Melissa's Aardvarks is a rock and roll music program for children ages 6 months to 5 years. There will be two programs - one from 10:00-10:30 am and the other from 11:00-11:30 am. Please sign up for only one beginning December 5. Space is limited.

Seniors are invited to join this book discussion club which meets every third Thursday of the month.

Mudbound by Hillary Jordan  

Mudbound is a story of betrayal, murder and forbidden love set in the Mississippi Delta in 1946, during the height of the Jim Crow era. The story is told by the members of two families: the McAllans, the white family that owns the farm; and the Jacksons, a black family that works for the McAllans as share tenants. When sons from each family, return from fighting World War II, the unlikely friendship of these brothers-in-arms sets in motion a harrowing chain of events that test the faith and courage of both families.

A House Is Not a Home: A Book Series

It seems like mutual good luck for Abigail Taylor and Dara MacLeod when they meet at university and, despite their differences, become fast friends. Years later they remain inseparable: Abigail, the actress, allegedly immune to romance, and Dara, a therapist, throwing herself into relationships with frightening intensity. Now both believe they've found "true love." But luck seems to run out when Dara moves into Abigail's downstairs apartment. Suddenly both their friendship and their relationships are in peril, for tragedy is waiting to strike the house on Fortune Street.  Told through four ingeniously interlocking narratives, Margot Livesey's The House on Fortune Street is a provocative tale of lives shaped equally by chance and choice.

We meet the third Thursday of each month (unless otherwise noted) at 10:30 am and welcome new members.  Books are available at the Circulation Desk.

Do you want to speak English? Come and join the English conversation classes:

• To listen and practice English.
• Learn language to help you at work, at home, and in the community.
• Meet and speak with others who are learning English.

September 19, 26, October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, November 7, 14, 21, December, 5, 12, 19

Directed by: Christian Carion

Starring: Diane Kruger, Benno Furmann

On Christmas Eve during World War I, the Germans, French, and Scottish fraternize and get to know the men who live on the opposite side of a brutal war, in what became a true lesson of humanity.

116 minutes.

SHIP is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) with volunteer counselors to help those with questions regarding: Medicaid, Medicare and other insurance and drug plans.

Dates for December, January, February and March 2014 are: 12/5, 12/19, 1/2, 1/16, 2/6, 2/20, 3/6, 3/20.

SHIP Volunteer Counselor's schedule is coordinated through RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Services Program) a division of Family & Children’s Service of Monmouth County. This agency's direct phone number is 732 728 1331.

No appointment is needed at Library Headquarters location, just walk-in for first come, first served information.

Directed by Amdrew Stone, Starring Lena Horne,Bill(Bojangles) Robinson, Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra, Fats Waller and the Nicholas Brothers.

       This movie offers the chance to see some of the most noteworthy African-American performers of the twentieth century on the “big screen”. It is a brilliant showcase of musical and dancing talent and it is exceptionable and truly remarkable. The Nicholas Brothers tap dancing number is one for the ages.

77 minutes     (c) 20th Century Fox

In this critically praised film based on the classic novel by Henry James, a young girl is caught in the middle of her parents' bitter custody battle.  Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgard and Onata Aprile star in this moving drama.  98 minutes

A Career Information Center Computer Classroom Session

Pre-registration required; to register, call 866-941-8188

It’s that time of year again! Come hang out and practice your reading skills with real, trained therapy pooches at the library! Read to all of our furry friends and collect a special prize. Not reading yet? No worries! These dogs love to look at pictures from your favorite book, too! Please register by calling the Atlantic Highlands Library at (732) 291-1956.

Santa Visits the Library

December 19 @ 4pm  All ages

Let’s sing songs and listen to holiday books with Santa at our library.

The Atlantic Highlands Library proudly presents Violinist, Joel DeWitt and Flutist, Kate Lukach.  They will both perform light classical music, including Mozart, as well as a few Christmas duets.

Novice through expert writers and those who want to be inspired... Join award winning creative individuals to discuss your current works in a supportive and constructive environment. Tips on getting published. (Meets monthly on the third Thursday of each month)

Directed by Amdrew Stone, Starring Lena Horne,Bill(Bojangles) Robinson, Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra, Fats Waller and the Nicholas Brothers.

       This movie offers the chance to see some of the most noteworthy African-American performers of the twentieth century on the “big screen”. It is a brilliant showcase of musical and dancing talent and it is exceptionable and truly remarkable. The Nicholas Brothers tap dancing number is one for the ages.

77 minutes     (c) 20th Century Fox

For Christmas, Charley Mason's father granted him a trip to Paris, all expenses paid. It should have been a lark, but on his first night Charley meets a woman whose story will forever change his life. For Lydia has seen tragedy. The Russian Revolution displaced her family, left her homeless, fatherless. And for reasons that elude Charley, Lydia pines for a man half a world away--a dope dealer and murderer whose sins Lydia seeks to absolve through her own self- destruction.  Haunting, this story explores two souls capsized by compassion--and the confusion that engulfed a generation in the days between the Great Wars.

Come and play Mah Jongg! Bring your set. Fridays throughout the month, unless the Library is closed.

Come play chess & "Go" every Saturday throughout the month when the Library is open.

There will be music in the air as The Festive Flutes perform a medley of holiday favorites for their annual stop at Wall Library.  So relax from the holiday hustle & bustle and enjoy the group known as “the flute ensemble of the Jersey Shore” as they perform classical, traditional and modern favorites in the main library area.

This year The Festive Flutes are celebrating their 26th year with founder and director Marjorie Koharski of Neptune.  Featured classical works and seasonal pieces will include selections from the Nutcracker Suite, Greensleeves, Parade of the Wooden Soldiers, O Tannenbaum, March of the Toys, Let It Snow, Sleigh Bells, and more.

Drum Circle open to anyone interested in drumming, percussion, dancing, hooping, etc.

Drop in and create a holiday ornament for yourself or to give as a gift!  Happy holidays!

Reproduce the grandeur of Ancient Egypt by creating a variety of pharaoh-inspired artifacts!

Grades K & up. Registration is required. Please choose only one session: Monday, December 23, or Tuesday, December 24.

After inadvertently wreaking havoc on the elf community due to his ungainly size, a man raised as an elf at the North Pole is sent to the New York in search of his true identity.  Directed by Jon Favreau. Starring Will Ferrell, James Caan, and Zooey Deschanel. 

Holiday/Comedy- 97 minutes.

It’s Holiday Time at the Movies

A long awaited sequel to the 1983 film A Christmas Story written by humorist and author Jean Shepherd takes place five years after first movie, now Ralphie, a teenager, tries to get a car for Christmas.  Although the film will never replace the original, it is a funny and sweet follow-up of this famous family’s saga.  Daniel Stern stars.

85 minutes.

Reproduce the grandeur of Ancient Egypt by creating a variety of pharaoh-inspired artifacts!

Grades K & up. Registration is required. Please choose only one session: Monday, December 23, or Tuesday, December 24.

All branches of the Monmouth County Library are closed in observance of Christmas Day.

Lost & Found Bereavement Group on Wednesdays is devoted to  parents who have lost children.

Lost & Found Bereavement Group on Thursday evenings is devoted to all  who have lost a loved one.

Meets on Second and Fourth Wednesdays in the morning
and on the last Thursday at 7pm
 

HOLIDAY FAMILY FILM

Directed by: John D. Hancock

Starring: Sam Elliot, Cloris Leachman

Jessica, the daughter of an impoverished farmer, still believes in Santa Claus. So when she comes across a reindeer with an injured leg, it makes perfect sense to her to assume that it is Prancer, who had fallen from a Christmas display in town. She hides him in her barn and feeds him cookies, until she can return him to Santa. 

103 minutes.

Holiday Family Film

Directed by: John D. Hancock

Starring: Sam Elliot, Cloris Leachman

Jessica, the daughter of an impoverished farmer, still believes in Santa Claus. So when she comes across a reindeer with an injured leg, it makes perfect sense to her to assume that it is Prancer, who had fallen from a Christmas display in town. She hides him in her barn and feeds him cookies, until she can return him to Santa. 

103 minutes.

Retired C.I.A. agent Frank Moses reunites his unlikely team of elite operatives for a global quest to track down a missing portable nuclear device. Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, and John Malkovich star in this action comedy. 116 minutes

A Career Information Center Computer Classroom Session

Pre-registration required; to register, call 866-941-8188

Come and play Mah Jongg! Bring your set. Fridays throughout the month, unless the Library is closed.

Come play chess & "Go" every Saturday throughout the month when the Library is open.

Stories and Songs for ages 10-23 months. Siblings Welcome.

Directed by Richard Linklater; starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.

We meet Jesse and Celine nine years on in Greece. Almost two decades have passed since their first meeting on that train bound for Vienna.     109 minutes     (c) Columbia

K and up

 In person registration begins on Thursday, December 19 at 9:00 am.  Phone registration begins at 3:00 pm.

Directed by Richard Linklater; starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.

We meet Jesse and Celine nine years on in Greece. Almost two decades have passed since their first meeting on that train bound for Vienna.     109 minutes     (c) Columbia

Beth saves a bedraggled lost dog from the side of the freeway on a wintry day in Denver. Struggling with her distracted, self-involved husband Joseph and an empty nest at home, Beth forms a special bond with the rescued animal. When Joseph loses the dog after a wedding at their vacation home in the Rockies, the distraught Beth enlists the help of the few remaining guests and a mysterious young woman in a frantic search. Directed by Lawrence Kasdan.  Starring Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline, and Dianne West.

Drama - 103 minutes.

It’s Holiday Time at the Movies

Ashley Judd, Greg Kinnear, Hugh Jackman, Marisa Tomei and Ellen Barkin star.  Jane (Judd) is a producer of a popular daytime talk show and is in a hot romance with the show's dashing executive producer Ray. When Ray unexpectedly dumps her, she begins an extensive study of male behavior to try to find out what makes men tick. Her "research" leads her to become an overnight sensation/guru for single women everywhere. When Jane begins to use her womanizing roommate and co-worker Eddie (Jackman) as fodder for her research, she finds both humor and answers where they were least expected. Ashley Judd shows her comedienne talents in this satirical yet funny movie.

97 minutes.

Make a collection of useful and fun winter-themed crafts!

Grades K and up. Registration is required.

SCORE provides free, confidential, one-on-one counseling for owners and would-
be owners of small businesses.  Appointment required; call 1-866-941-8188.

To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Traveling Wilburys and their  Never Ending Tour, Mel of The Dylan Shrine will have their greatest hits  memorabilia for all to enjoy. 

The Traveling Wilburys (1988-1992) were made up of friends who happened to be the super musicians of their day. The original group was composed of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty.              

In the Library Headquarters' Display Cases. 

Listen to winter themed stories and make your own mitten wreath!

Ages 2 and up and their families, No registration is required.