Spring Programs at the Holmdel Public Library

As Holmdel Librarian Karen Nealis says, if you have not yet seen the new Holmdel Public Library in the spring, that alone makes it worth paying a visit! The view from the windows is breathtaking and serene with the trees in bloom. Perhaps that is part of the reason that the Holmdel branch has been voted the best place in Monmouth County to study. And the library is offering a number of varied programs for the month of May that you can enjoy while taking in the beautiful surroundings.

For Children

Story Times for children continue throughout the month on Mondays and Thursdays. Please call for times and ages.

For Teens

A Virtual Reality Series will be held on Mondays, May 6, 13, and 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. This emerging industry has many unique possibilities. The class will cover practical and industrial level uses, as well as virtual reality’s place in digital media. Digital media includes creative facets such as photography, videography, coding, software, and more, which can readily contribute, along with virtual reality, to teens’ creative and professional futures. Please bring along your laptop for this program. Registration is required at https://bit.ly/MonCoLibraryTeenEvents.

For Adults

The Holmdel Library Book Club will meet on Monday, May 6 from 7 to 8 p.m. Come for an evening of collaborative discussion with the book of the month, The Promise by Ann Weisgarber. Books are available at the circulation desk.

Want to shake things up a bit? A Belly Dance Class will be held on Wednesday, May 8 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. If you’ve been wanting to try belly dance, now is your chance! Join instructor Evadne Sarai and learn the basic elements of this beautiful, ancient dance. You’ll burn calories, improve balance and flexibility, boost your confidence, and tone your muscles while having a ton of fun with new friends. No dance experience required; beginners are welcome and all sizes and shapes are celebrated, so come join the fun! Evadne Sarai is a professional belly dance performer and instructor based in New Jersey. From a young age, she studied several forms of dance, including tap and ballet, until she found her true passion in the art of belly dance. She has studied the intricacies of the dance with a myriad of esteemed international belly dance artists and instructors, and loves to share her shimmies with audiences and students alike. She has performed at legendary venues such as the Grisly Pear and Lafayette Grill in NYC, as well as many other restaurants, haflas, and parties in the tri-state area. Currently, she is honored to perform as the house dancer at Lemon Mediterranean Restaurant in Freehold.

A special Author Event will be held on Saturday, May 18 at 1 p.m. The library is excited to welcome local author Phyllis Ameduri as she presents her new novel, Never Ruled by Man. Join her as she discusses the story of Mary Ann Bascombe, a real-life anomaly and a dynamic woman who lived in 19th century Stapleton, New York – a bustling Staten Island community that boasted a busy waterfront, world-renowned breweries, and a vibrant downtown business center. Born in 1840 in the working class section of Stapleton called Rocky Hollow, orphaned at the age of 12, and forced into work as a housemaid, Mary Ann Bascombe went on to become a savvy businesswoman, lay lawyer, neighborhood activist, local politician, and a humorous and eccentric personality. Never Ruled by Man resurrects her rich and fascinating life during the free-spirited independent days of Staten Island before it became part of Greater New York.

Before becoming a longtime Monmouth County resident, Phyllis Barone Ameduri was born and raised not far from the Staten Island neighborhood where Mary Ann Bascombe lived, and spent many days walking those same streets a century later. Never Ruled by Man is the culmination of years of meticulous research and deep appreciation for family roots, a woman who defied all odds, and the fascinating history of the area from which so many others can trace their lineage.

Copies of the book will be available for sale at the May 18 author event. Looking for a great Mother’s Day gift and don’t want to wait till then? This richly detailed, true story of a strong and inspiring woman makes a perfect present for the woman in your life! Never Ruled by Man is now available in hardcover, paperback, Nook, and Kindle formats at www.barnesandnoble.com and www.amazon.com. To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/NeverRuledbyMan.

About the Library

The Holmdel Library and Learning Center is located at 101 Crawford Corner Road in Holmdel, on the first floor of the Bell Works atrium. For information about the library or its programs and events, call 732-946-4118.