'Is Your Mama A Llama?' Author to Visit Barnegat

Deborah Guarino, author of a well-known rhyming picture book, will sign copies for kids and families at the Barnegat Library and read from her next story.

Deboarh Guarino's "Is Your Mama A Llama," a rhyming picture books for toddlers and preschoolers, has been in print for 23 years, in five different editions from hardcover and paperback, to board book format and animated reading. The book has been recommended by the Oprah Book Club for young people in 2000, endorsed by a well-known movie actress, translated into French and Spanish, and incorporated into dialogue on TV shows. The School Library Journal called the story "an enchanting animal guessing game." But the book's most awe-inspiring accomplishment? Two years ago the title of "Is Your Mama a Llama" was used as a clue in "Jeopardy." "It's what impresses my family the most," said Guarino, laughing. Guarino is coming to the Barnegat …

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Rock Greats in Chickenfoot Coming to Atlantic City

Group consisting of ex-Van Halen members, Chili Peppers drummer, Joe Satriani playing House of Blues Friday

Chickenfoot consists of three members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a master guitarist. But don’t call the band a super group. “We’re a real band that just happens to have to work around each other’s schedules,” bassist Michael Anthony said. “We enjoy playing music together so we’re going to do it whenever we get the chance.” Chickenfoot — Anthony and singer/former Van Halen bandmate Sammy Hagar (Rock Hall Class of 2007),  Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith (inducted in April) and guitarist Joe Satriani – performs Monday, May 21, in Manhattan. Kenny Aronoff is sitting in on drums for Smith, who is on tour with the Chili Peppers. Chickenfoot’s status as a full-fledged band as opposed to an all-star experiment is backed by its …

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Lighthouse International Film Festival To Host a Sneak Peek At This Year's Movie Selections

Saturday night's event will also feature food and wine tasting, door prizes and movie trivia.

Area residents wishing to celebrate international and independent film again with the Lighthouse International Film Festival this year, can sample movies along with food and wine this Saturday. The Long Beach Island-based organization are inviting the community to "celebrate the spirit of independent film" on May 5, 6:30 to 9 p.m., at the Bayberry Inn, 13th Street and Long Beach Island Boulevard in Ship Bottom. The Festival's big event -- the biggest of the year is the festival itself, a three-day-long showcase of 55 cutting-edge award-winning independent movies from all around the world that this year will take place June 1 - 3. The festival features a mix of documentaries, short films, student films, feature films and children's films …

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Beyond Beach Reads

Is Art Alive In Our Area? A Guide to Local Culture

Local artists, writers and poets have plenty of outlets and plenty of company.

Barnegat is not exactly Greenwich Village. But that doesn’t mean that art is dead in southern Ocean County. When people think of centers for culture and arts, Southern Ocean County may not be the first locale that comes to mind. According to the U.S. Census 2006-2010 data for Ocean Acres (a residential area that encompasses parts of Barnegat and parts of Manahawkin), the number of high school graduates living here is high — 91.4 percent — compared to 87.3 percent statewide. But when it comes to college, 21.9 percent of the population ages 25 or higher got their Bachelor’s degree, which is slightly below the state average of 34.6 percent. Some people living in other parts of the state consider the Pines and the southern Jersey Shore “the …

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Weekend Preview

Victorian Extravaganza Comes to Historical Society Saturday

This year's annual event features bee-keeping demos and more

The science of bee-keeping, the art of floral arranging and the necessity of soap-making are some of the skills on display this weekend at the Victorian Extravaganza at the Ocean County Historical Society. The inaugural Victorian Extravaganza is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 28. Betsy Dudas, chairperson for the event, said there also will be a bee-keeping demonstration given all day by representatives of Uriah Creek Apiaries and the historical society will be conducting a plant sale featuring both house and outdoor plants. Beekeeper Mike Long explained he will bring different sized beehives along with some specialized equipment to illustrate what's involved in getting honey from the bee. "Everyone knows you get honey from bees," he said, "…

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Wedding Road Show to Feature Unique Barnegat Businesses

Wedding vendors from all over the area will showcase their products and services Sunday.

Hundreds of brides, grooms, their wedding parties, families and friends from all over the state and country are expected to attend this weekend's 4th Annual Long Beach Island Region Wedding Road Show to help plan their destination weddings. The event is sponsored by the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce and the Long Beach Island Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) and will feature 56 area businesses associated with weddings -- everything from banquet halls and florists to videographers and bands. "We're rolling out the red carpet so people see Long Beach Island as a wedding destination," said Lori Pepenella, Destination Marketing Director for the chamber.  "To get on a plane to fly to an island isn't in everyone's budget.  You…

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Despite Recent Bankruptcy, Fire Damage, Surflight Opens Season With High Hopes For The Future

Presenting its first performance of the season today, theater has bold plans for the future, asks community for continued support

After fire damage to one if its buildings just ten days ago, and bankruptcy more than a year ago, Surflight Theatre starts its 63rd season today. The fire, which affected mainly the Gables Inn structure on 112 Centre Street, also damaged the roof of its neighboring building belonging to Surflight, which accommodates its Show Place Ice Cream Parlour, a costume shop and nine bedrooms meant for housing 20 performance and production staff. "It was the roof to what we call 'the tech house," said Tim Laczynski, Surflight's executive producer. "It’s sustained some fire damage, and as a result of the smoke and the water damage the entire house is uninhabitable." However, only six Surflight staff members were affected at the time, and Long Beach …

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Holocaust Remembrance Events at Ocean County College

A series of events will take place April 16 to April 20

The Ocean County College Center for Peace, Genocide, and Holocaust Studies will present a series of events for Holocaust Remembrance Week – April 16 to 20, OCC Main Campus, College Drive, Toms River.  The theme is You are the Future.  All events are free and open to the public. On Monday, April 16 you can visit the Memorial Flag Display on the Main Campus Mall, which honors all victims of the Nazi Holocaust.  Tuesday, April 17 at 12:30 p.m. in the Solar Lounge College Center (Building #15 Naomi Miller, singer/actress, will present You Are the Future.  This inspirational program will feature song, acting, personal narrative, and storytelling.  With tears and laughter, Miller will honor the culture and people who perished during the …

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Speaker Deciphers Social Media for Writers and Enterpreneurs

Writers from all over the area came to listen to social media expert at the Barnegat Library

If you write, or need to promote your work in any way, are you on Facebook? Do you have a Twitter profile? If the answers to these questions are "yes," that's just the beginning, according to Don Lafferty, a Pennsylvania-based marketing and public relations consultant who came to Barnegat Wednesday night to conduct a free workshop for writers and other business types on navigating the ever-changing landscape of social media, which Lafferty called "a whole ecosystem of activity." Sixty people from all over Ocean County — and some from beyond — crammed into the small meeting room in the back of the library, where Lafferty shared his tips on how to make the world aware of your — or your product's — existence. "If you don't present a …

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Don Lafferty

7:55 pm on Thursday, April 12, 2012

Thanks for coming, Katia. If there's ever anything I can do to help, hit me. And you're right, I could have gone on longer. ;-)   more ›

Ocean Professional Theatre Company Partnering With Three Barnegat Restaurants

The Barnegat-based theater’s first season in town will start next month

As it readies itself for the start of the first season, the Ocean Professional Theatre Company, a new theater production group in Barnegat, is partnering with area restaurants — three of them in town — to create dinner-and-a-show packages for theater-goers. Theater-goers can choose to either attend a show and then dine at the restaurant, or have a meal before the performance, the theater's managing director said. “We send a mailing out to group leaders, it’s a brochure listing all the shows and the pricing, as well as the menus for 12 partner restaurants for both lunch and dinner,” said Ruth Blankemeyer, the theater’s managing director. “And the group leaders call and tell me what show they’d like to see and how many people they’ll be …

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