COMING UP IN FEBRUARY
HISTORICAL MUSEUM CHILDREN’S TEA (Feb. 9): The ever-popular Ocean City Historical Museum Children’s Tea will be held 11:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Ocean City Community Center (1735 Simpson Ave.). The theme of this year’s event for girls and boys is “Pirates and Scallywags.”
Festivities begin in the museum with fun-filled facts about pirates. After the program, attendees will proceed to the Senior Center for activities and a “high tea” featuring all types of sweets, sandwiches, tea and punch. Tickets are $10 each, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased at the museum or call 609-399-1801.
MARK SOIFER POETRY READING (Feb. 20): Ocean City’s longtime public relations director – the mastermind behind events from Martin Z. Mollusk Day to the Miss Crustacean Pageant – will read poems from his 10th book of verse, “Pair of Dice Lost,” 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Ocean City Library (1735 Simpson Avenue). The book is illustrated by artist Jerome Lukas, who will attend the reading and demonstrate his talents. Admission is free.
LIBRARY TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH:
The Ocean City Free Public Library will be host to a series of events in celebration of Black History Month. One dynamic storyteller – Michelle Washington Wilson – will give the first two presentations.
At 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, she will present “The Food and the Folks of the Great Migration,” stories of the widespread migration of African Americans in the 20th century from rural communities in the South to large cities and some rural communities in the North, including towns and communities at the Jersey Shore. This program is for adults only and registration is required. Call Julie at 609-399-2434, ext. 5222 to register.
At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, she will present “Quilts of Faith.” Before there were cell phones, or any kind of phones, people exchanged messages by symbols and codes, through songs and signs with hidden meanings. Imaginations were captured by a tale of African Americans weaving secret codes into quilt patterns in the 1800s to pass on clues and directions to runaway slaves on their dangerous journey to freedom. Quilts of Faith combines the legacy of quilting with stories and songs, and this program also has local ties. This family program is for all ages. Registration is required. Call the Children’s Department at 609-399-2434, ext. 5241.
Other events include “Learn About Infobase Research Databases” to teach about the library’s research tools, particularly as they relate to African-American history. This event is 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19. Call 609-399-2434, ext. 5222 to register.Story Hour (10:30 a.m. Feb. 15), Toddler Time (10:30 a.m. Feb. 25), Story Train (1:30 p.m. Feb. 25) and a free film screening of “Selma” (12 p.m. Feb. 26) are also part of the schedule.