Latest news with #OceanCountyLibrary
CBS News
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Toms River mayor says he wants Jon Bon Jovi's charitable restaurant gone
The mayor of one New Jersey town says the charitable efforts of rock star Jon Bon Jovi and his wife are creating problems, but others in the area say they're not to blame. Through the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, the couple established JBJ Soul Kitchen , a nonprofit community restaurant that serves those in need with locations in Red Bank, Toms River, Newark and Jersey City. "Where those who are unable to pay volunteer their time. Those who can pay, pay for their meal and donate to pay it forward," Dorothea Bon Jovi said in an Instagram video. In February, the couple opened a temporary pop-up food kitchen inside the Ocean County Library in Toms River, and the following month, Bon Jovi and his wife celebrated the milestone 200,000th meal served at their restaurants. One patron named Michael, who has fallen on hard times and is unsheltered, says it has been a blessing. "It's something that you feel from the heart where someone has done something for the community," he said. "It's just a really nice place for us when we are hungry," a patron named Devon said. But the pop-up restaurant could be "livin' on a prayer" if Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick has his way. "I definitely want it gone, and I want the county to stop dropping people off in Toms River," he said. Rodrick says Bon Jovi's restaurant is making his township a haven for people experiencing homelessness, claiming nonprofits are gathering people from across the state and bringing them to the township. "We certainly don't think that the library is a good place. The issue was never Bon Jovi. It was Ocean County Board of Commissioners who engaged with these nonprofits," he said. "It's a real safety concern. These folks aren't vetted." Ocean County Commissioner Robert Arace said the county isn't busing anyone to Toms River and that Bon Jovi's pop-up will be at the library until May. "He's saying that incidents have increased? We have data that they have not increased. It is not a soup kitchen," Arace said. The Bon Jovis released a joint statement last week, saying, "The JBJ Soul Foundation and JBJ Soul Kitchen are committed to ending homelessness through real solutions. We are not here to just move people around or force them into the shadows. Our foundation has built nearly a thousand units of affordable and supportive housing."
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bon Jovi feuds with Jersey Shore mayor over eatery for the poor
On a silver horse he rides to the rescue of the homeless and hungry. Jon Bon Jovi is not backing down in his mission to feed the poor even after a mayor in his home state slammed the singer for turning a public library into a 'day shelter and soup kitchen.' Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick bashed county commissioners for allowing Bon Jovi's JBJ Soul Kitchen to operate temporarily as a pop-up at the Ocean County Library, telling the Shore News Network its attracting homeless people and disturbing residents. 'These people are being dropped by in our community by agencies pretending to be homeless advocates who get paid by the head to import homeless people into our town from all over the state and the East Coast,' Rodrick complained. 'These agencies are making millions of dollars importing homeless. Their plan is not about compassion; it's about people wanting to profit off the homeless issue.' The pop-up café, which opened on Feb. 11, shares the mission of JBJ Soul Kitchen's three other New Jersey locations — allowing diners to pay it forward and cover the suggested $12 cost for those who cannot afford their meal. Patrons who can't pay are able to volunteer at the eatery — which is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays — in exchange for sandwiches, wraps, bowls and salads. Bon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea, who run the nonprofit restaurant chain, told The Post they will continue to advocate for those less fortunate — and their restaurant will remain there through May. 'The JBJ Soul Foundation and JBJ Soul Kitchen are committed to ending homelessness through real solutions. We are not here to just move people around or force them into the shadows. Our Foundation has built nearly a thousand units of affordable and supportive housing,' they said in a joint statement on Friday. 'Through our JBJ Soul Kitchen, we connect people to resources and services. Whether they need employment, mental health support, or housing, we try to remove the barriers that are keeping them from thriving, not just surviving.' The power couple — who opened the first JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, NJ in 2011 — also clapped back at Rodrick's funding claims. 'We are unsure where the mayor thinks millions of dollars are trading hands, but we are completely unaware of any such programs and receive no such funding,' they insisted. 'We invite anyone to the BEAT Center in Toms River or to the JBJ Soul Kitchen Pop Up to see what we are doing to end homelessness and hunger in our community.' Rodrick claimed he has gotten numerous complaints about the increasing number of homeless men near the township's municipal parking garage and on the benches across from the library. 'They've completely ignored all of our complaints and concerns,' Rodrick said of the county officials. 'Mothers shouldn't have to walk through large gangs of intoxicated and mentally ill men with their children to borrow a book.'
CNN
08-03-2025
- General
- CNN
New Jersey woman returns her grandfather's library book 99 years overdue
When Mary Cooper downsized her home, she brought boxes of her late mother's belongings to her new home. Sorting through them after the move, Cooper, 81, discovered an artifact — a library book 99 years past due. 'I was looking through the books and found one about (building) toys for boys and girls,' Cooper, who lives in Berkeley Township, New Jersey, told CNN. 'I thought, 'That's a neat book. Maybe my son would like it — he loves to build things.'' But Cooper's son isn't the only one with an interest in craftsmanship: Her grandfather, Charles Tilton, who had originally checked out the library book, was a boatwright and carpenter. When Cooper opened the book 'Home-Made Toys for Girls and Boys' by A. Neely Hall, she realized it was checked out in March 1926 from the Ocean County Library system in New Jersey — the year before Tilton died. The book, published in 1911, is a manual of illustrated instructions for simple toys made from wood, metal and household items. 'He had a little girl, my mom. I figured he would want to build her some toys,' Cooper said. While Cooper doesn't have any personal memories with her grandfather because he died before she was born, her mother often shared stories about Tilton. She remembers her mother saying he built her toy wooden sailboats, which Cooper later donated to the Bay Head Historical Society in New Jersey. When Cooper found the book, she knew it was time to return it. 'I thought, I don't have grandchildren, and my kids are getting older. Even if my son took it, I didn't know what they'd do with it,' she said. 'I figured it belongs to the library.' Walking into the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library, Cooper did not know what to expect but hoped the library would want the book back. She never imagined the excitement it would stir, especially in light of the library system's centennial date approaching in September. Cooper was also worried the library would charge her a late fee, which staff joked would have added up to $18,000 if they still charged fines, according to CNN affiliate WPVI. 'I said, 'I think you want to look at this book.' So, (the staff member) took it,' Cooper said. 'And then she goes, 'Oh my God, this book is almost 100 years old.' She said, 'Don't move. Don't go anywhere.'' Cooper spent the next few hours digging into her grandfather's ancestral records and flipping through the book with library staff. At one point, Cooper recalled, they came across an image of a boat in the book – the same toy boat her grandfather had made for his daughter and Cooper had donated to the historical society. She believes that connection is why her mother held onto the book for so many years. 'At least 10 people came over and wanted to see the book and touch it,' she said, including the library's janitor. Now, the book is on display for anyone to view with other mementos, kept in a locked case at the library in Toms River, WPVI reported.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New Jersey woman returns her grandfather's library book 99 years overdue
When Mary Cooper downsized her home, she brought boxes of her late mother's belongings to her new home. Sorting through them after the move, Cooper, 81, discovered an artifact — a library book 99 years past due. 'I was looking through the books and found one about (building) toys for boys and girls,' Cooper, who lives in Berkeley Township, New Jersey, told CNN. 'I thought, 'That's a neat book. Maybe my son would like it — he loves to build things.'' But Cooper's son isn't the only one with an interest in craftsmanship: Her grandfather, Charles Tilton, who had originally checked out the library book, was a boatwright and carpenter. When Cooper opened the book 'Home-Made Toys for Girls and Boys' by A. Neely Hall, she realized it was checked out in March 1926 from the Ocean County Library system in New Jersey — the year before Tilton died. The book, published in 1911, is a manual of illustrated instructions for simple toys made from wood, metal and household items. 'He had a little girl, my mom. I figured he would want to build her some toys,' Cooper said. While Cooper doesn't have any personal memories with her grandfather because he died before she was born, her mother often shared stories about Tilton. She remembers her mother saying he built her toy wooden sailboats, which Cooper later donated to the Bay Head Historical Society in New Jersey. When Cooper found the book, she knew it was time to return it. 'I thought, I don't have grandchildren, and my kids are getting older. Even if my son took it, I didn't know what they'd do with it,' she said. 'I figured it belongs to the library.' Walking into the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library, Cooper did not know what to expect but hoped the library would want the book back. She never imagined the excitement it would stir, especially in light of the library system's centennial date approaching in September. Cooper was also worried the library would charge her a late fee, which staff joked would have added up to $18,000 if they still charged fines, according to CNN affiliate WPVI. 'I said, 'I think you want to look at this book.' So, (the staff member) took it,' Cooper said. 'And then she goes, 'Oh my God, this book is almost 100 years old.' She said, 'Don't move. Don't go anywhere.'' Cooper spent the next few hours digging into her grandfather's ancestral records and flipping through the book with library staff. At one point, Cooper recalled, they came across an image of a boat in the book – the same toy boat her grandfather had made for his daughter and Cooper had donated to the historical society. She believes that connection is why her mother held onto the book for so many years. 'At least 10 people came over and wanted to see the book and touch it,' she said, including the library's janitor. Now, the book is on display for anyone to view with other mementos, kept in a locked case at the library in Toms River, WPVI reported.
CNN
08-03-2025
- General
- CNN
New Jersey woman returns her grandfather's library book 99 years overdue
When Mary Cooper downsized her home, she brought boxes of her late mother's belongings to her new home. Sorting through them after the move, Cooper, 81, discovered an artifact — a library book 99 years past due. 'I was looking through the books and found one about (building) toys for boys and girls,' Cooper, who lives in Berkeley Township, New Jersey, told CNN. 'I thought, 'That's a neat book. Maybe my son would like it — he loves to build things.'' But Cooper's son isn't the only one with an interest in craftsmanship: Her grandfather, Charles Tilton, who had originally checked out the library book, was a boatwright and carpenter. When Cooper opened the book 'Home-Made Toys for Girls and Boys' by A. Neely Hall, she realized it was checked out in March 1926 from the Ocean County Library system in New Jersey — the year before Tilton died. The book, published in 1911, is a manual of illustrated instructions for simple toys made from wood, metal and household items. 'He had a little girl, my mom. I figured he would want to build her some toys,' Cooper said. While Cooper doesn't have any personal memories with her grandfather because he died before she was born, her mother often shared stories about Tilton. She remembers her mother saying he built her toy wooden sailboats, which Cooper later donated to the Bay Head Historical Society in New Jersey. When Cooper found the book, she knew it was time to return it. 'I thought, I don't have grandchildren, and my kids are getting older. Even if my son took it, I didn't know what they'd do with it,' she said. 'I figured it belongs to the library.' Walking into the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library, Cooper did not know what to expect but hoped the library would want the book back. She never imagined the excitement it would stir, especially in light of the library system's centennial date approaching in September. Cooper was also worried the library would charge her a late fee, which staff joked would have added up to $18,000 if they still charged fines, according to CNN affiliate WPVI. 'I said, 'I think you want to look at this book.' So, (the staff member) took it,' Cooper said. 'And then she goes, 'Oh my God, this book is almost 100 years old.' She said, 'Don't move. Don't go anywhere.'' Cooper spent the next few hours digging into her grandfather's ancestral records and flipping through the book with library staff. At one point, Cooper recalled, they came across an image of a boat in the book – the same toy boat her grandfather had made for his daughter and Cooper had donated to the historical society. She believes that connection is why her mother held onto the book for so many years. 'At least 10 people came over and wanted to see the book and touch it,' she said, including the library's janitor. Now, the book is on display for anyone to view with other mementos, kept in a locked case at the library in Toms River, WPVI reported.
