How to grow your family tree online

by Mary-Ellen Mess

The past decade has seen a growing interest in genealogy research with an explosion of services offering DNA testing and online research platforms, most of which require paid subscriptions. However, there are resources available for free that can help you get started on your quest for family history.

Heritage Quest is one search option that you may access via the Red Bank Public Library website. This library edition from Ancestry has limitations (you cannot for instance save your family tree here) but it does provide a way to search census, immigration, and military records from the U.S. and around the world.

Using the navigation menu at the Red Bank Public Library website, go to Resources, then Research Databases. Scroll down and click on the Heritage Quest icon. From there, enter your library card number and PIN to gain access to the database. While you can’t save documents on the platform, you may email them to yourself.

Family Search is a non-profit genealogy website affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints otherwise known as the Mormon Church. Here you may sign-up for an account that lets you create and save a family tree for free. As your family tree grows, you may upload photos and documents and attach them to family member profiles.

Since the Mormon Church encourages members to research and record their genealogy, this website provides a wealth of data. By entering in some basic info about an ancestor, connections may pop up that surprise you if someone else has been researching another branch of your family tree. The records of deceased persons are public while those of living persons are masked to protect privacy. You can even message other researchers about their sources and findings.

So if you happen to have some time on your hands, this may be a great time to put those family stories to good use. By piecing together clues from the past, you have the opportunity to develop a greater understanding of your own family’s odyssey from past to present.

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Working at the RBPL is a second career for Mary-Ellen, who spent 30 years managing youth programs in Newark, NJ.  In anticipation of her retirement from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, Mary-Ellen returned to school and earned a MLIS in 2013.  A part-time Reference Librarian at RBPL, she resides in Red Bank with her husband.  Mary-Ellen considers herself fortunate to have raised two sons in Red Bank, a diverse community with great public schools.  

What's the library been doing during the shutdown?

by Barbara Pickell

Although libraries are always associated with books and they are certainly are an important part of what we still do, I see the real library mission as connecting people to the resources and materials each person needs for whatever is most important to them.  As the world has changed, so have libraries, providing more and more resources electronically and reaching beyond the walls of the library to where people are.  In this time of sheltering in place, it has been a challenge and an opportunity to find even more innovative ways to continue that mission of connection.

From print to electronic resources

Sharing print materials isn’t possible at this time, but you can still get a book, magazine, music or movie from the library, and it is still free.  All you need is a library card and your device.  If you don’t have a library card, go to My Account on the Catalog page and apply online.  The library has several sites that provide books, including ELibraryNJ (Overdrive & Libby), Hoopla (with no waiting list) and Freading (Ebooks only, no audio book titles).  As with regular book checkout, there are limits on the number of items that can be checked out at one time and how long you can keep them.  Check each source.  

In addition, many of the library online databases will take you to books as well as magazine articles, in full text.  This is particularly useful if you want to learn something new or explore a new idea.  Go to JerseyClicks, and select a database.  They are offering Expanded Database offerings at the top of the page during the pandemic.  Masterfile Elite offers coverage of a wide variety of topics, but databases covering specific subject area, such as Literary Reference Center, with many classic titles, and Small Business Reference Center, with business material, can be very helpful.

For electronic copies of magazines, try RB Digital.  Hoopla also has movies and music as well as books.  Freegal provides a wide variety of music to download.  You can find all of these resources from the library web page main menu — click “Resources” and scroll down to click on the 24-hour library.

Research and online learning

A number of sites can help you with research, such as JerseyClicks databases on many subject for everyone from children (Explora Primary) to academic (Academic Primary).  But there are many specific databases covering topics like business, health and legal information as well.  From the library web site, go to the drop down menu and select Resources, then click “Research Databases.”  

Try something different, such as learning a language from Rosetta Stone.  Trace your family history through Heritage Quest.  Or select a class from Universal Class for lifelong learning, even from home.  The Local Resources link will connect you with local services.  

For children and teens, check the Children’s Room under Departments in the drop down menu.  They have provided links to many sites with fun and educational sites.  

Special resources for this time

In response to the most important questions people have now, the library has created some special resources.  The COVID-19 Resources (scroll down the front page) can help connect you to the services you need at this time.  If you are looking for a job, try the Employment Resource page, under Resources on the drop down menu.  

But something that has been very exciting for us, many of the Red Bank Library staff have been adding special online programs, something we have never tried to do before.  Miss Sira (she’s the best) has been providing daily story time for the preschool crowd.  If you have a young one in the household this is a must.  If you have children a little older, Miss Jaime does Power Play every Tuesday for kids.  Miss Maria is doing a variety of programs for teens.  And you can catch the adult version of Power Play on Friday.  Keep up on Facebook with new programing every day.  The library has also added recordings of their Let’s Talk About Race and Sustainable Red Bank programs to its YouTube feed.  Just search for Red Bank Public Library on YouTube to see them all. And check the calendar on the library web page to see upcoming programs, like the virtual Book Club each month.

More connections

One of the most fun activities at this time has been finding and sharing connections to online activities available to everyone.  Follow us on Facebook as we share the serious, like census information and government updates, and the fun, like virtual museum tours and fun shares.  Library staff searches the web for activities and sites to pass along for our users of all ages.  They have also been sharing their own stories and views from their windows with all of you.  And we welcome your input if you find something you think we should share.  

In a time when many people are feeling cut off and isolated, it is nice to have the ability to use Facebook and other electronic resources to continue the connection.  We love when you like a posting or share a video.  We love to hear your comments.  And we want to know that you are well and what you are doing.  Let us know if you would like a call or chat.  Call 732-842-0690 and leave a message if you would like to hear from the library staff, or email us at redbanklibrary@gmail.com.  We want to keep that connection.

What more can we do?

We would also like to hear from you if you have other ideas of what we can do during this sheltering time.   We welcome your ideas and would love to have you fill out the survey below to share your thoughts.  In the mean time, we begin thinking about and planning for the time when the doors of the physical library can open again in a time of new normal.  We all look forward to being able to see you in person, hopefully soon.  

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Barbara Pickell is a reference and local history librarian at the Red Bank Public Library.

Edible plants you can forage in the Red Bank area

by Eryka Andrex

Lots of plants are coming up now because it's spring. I wanted to share some information on edible wild plants, AKA weeds.  I am an avid gardener and I'm interested in food permaculture.  I am also a fan of foraging, which is collecting wild plants for various uses.  Many of our local "weeds" here in New Jersey are actually edible.  Today I'm sharing information on plants that I find, pick, and use on a daily basis in Red Bank, New Jersey.  I am also including links to articles and recipes about these plants.

If you want to try collecting wild plants, make sure you pick plants from a location that IS NOT sprayed or treated with any type of chemicals (pesticide, herbicide, like Round Up, or fertilizer, etc).  Ask the owner, park staff, landlord, resident etc., or look in your own yard.  Make sure you wash all plants, and harvest carefully, so you are only picking the plant you are interested in. Make sure you are absolutely positive you KNOW what a plant is before you eat it! 

My favorite way to use foraged wild greens is in smoothies, but they can also be added to salads, soups, stews, and stir frys.  

There are many plant identification apps now available for Androids and iPhones.  

If you ever get the chance, Wildman Steve Brill gives great foraging walks/tours in NJ and NY.

1. Violets (New Jersey State Flower)

The flowers and leaves of the violet plant are edible.  Wild Violets grow abundantly all over New Jersey.  People use the flowers to make candied blossoms, syrups, and jelly.  You can make lemonade and add violet syrup as the sweetener, and it turns a beautiful red-violet color.  Violet leaves are mild tasting and I use them in: smoothies, salads and soups.  Wild violet blossoms are usually purple, but also come in other colors.  The purple violet flowers are most prized for making candied violet flowers and violet syrup.

Violet Syrup Recipe

2. Chickweed

This early spring plant is everywhere right now in New Jersey.  Chickweed has little white flowers and is quite invasive, meaning it grows fast and everywhere.  The leaves, stems, and flowers of Chickweed are edible.  Chickweed is fairly mild tasting (some people find it to taste like sweet corn).   Chickweed stems are a little bit crunchy and I think they make a good salad with lettuce and baby spinach.  I use chickweed in  smoothies for my kids, because it is not as bitter as other wild greens.

Chickweed Pesto Recipe 

3. Purple Dead Nettle

Purple Dead Nettle is a beautiful little plant that is a quick growing ground cover.  Purple Dead Nettle can be found all over New Jersey.  The leaves, flowers, and stems of Purple Dead Nettle are edible.  Purple Dead nettle is not a type of nettle plant.  It is actually in the mint family, but it doesn't taste minty.  Purple Dead Nettle has an earthy flavor and some people find it bitter.  The flowers tops are beautiful in salads.  I use Purple Dead Nettle as an ingredient in smoothies.  It is also used as a salad green, in soups, and to make an herbal tea.

Purple Dead Nettle Soup Recipe

4. Mallow

Mallow is a plant that can be found growing wild in many yards and open spaces in New Jersey.  Mallow has white, lavender or yellowish flowers which are followed by little fruits that sort of resemble tiny pumpkins or cheese wheels. Mallow is sometimes called "cheese plant" because of the appearance of the fruits. It does NOT taste like cheese.  Mallow contains a lot of mucilage, similar to okra, and it is slimey/slippery.  The stems, flowers, seeds, and leaves of mallow are edible. The flavor is earthy but mild, and mallow takes on flavor of other stronger things in a stir fry (like garlic)! Mallow is also good for thickening stews because of the mucilage. I'm told the roots are edible too, but I have never tried them.  I found this plant growing in my front yard and use the leaves in smoothies.  

Mallow Patty (Chubeza)  Recipe

5. Dandelion Greens

Dandelions grow everywhere.  The leaves have a strong earthy and bitter flavor.  The leaves are mildest when small (like the ones in my photo), less than 6 inches long.  I use dandelion greens daily in my smoothies.  My kids don't like raw dandelion greens in smoothies or salads because of the strong bitter flavor. However, the greens are very tasty when sauteed in a little bacon fat, and then we eat them with rice or potatoes.  You can also eat the dandelion flowers, or make them into herbal tea, fritters, jam, or wine.  I'm making dandelion wine for the first time this year.  The roots of dandelions are also edible and can be used to make herbal tea/coffee substitute. Dandelions are everywhere and reproduce with white puff ball flowers, sometimes called "wish flowers." Dandelion greens are my favorite foraged greens in the early spring.  I always make sure to leave some dandelion flowers for the bees, because the flowers are one of the earliest sources of food for bees in the springtime.

Tasty Dandelion Greens Recipes

Dandelion Fritter Recipe

Dandelion Wine Recipe

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Eryka Andrex teaches Zumba and Belly Dancing classes at the Red Bank Public Library. She and her daughter Natalya (an RBPL employee) are also currently making facemasks for the community.

TASTE IT OR TOSS IT? How long can I keep food before it needs to be tossed?

Storing food the right way can help your food last longer.  It can also keep you from getting sick. Foods that are not stored safely can be a good place for germs to grow. And during these trying times it can help reduce how often you need to get out to shop. It is important to remember: no food lasts forever. Once a food has gone bad, you should not eat it.  You should throw it away and since you do not want to waste food you want to do everything you can to keep it fresh as long as you can. 

To keep your food safe, food stored in your refrigerator or freezer should be stored in foil, plastic bags, plastic wraps, or airtight plastic containers. If you are reusing packaging the food came in, be sure it is airtight.

For cold foods, keep your refrigerator below 40°F. For frozen foods keep your freezer at 0°F or below.  Germs grow most quickly between 40°F and 140°F so you want to be sure to keep cold foods below 40°F in your fridge.  It is best to keep a refrigerator/freezer thermometer in both spaces to be sure the proper temperature is being maintained. 

To keep your cold food safe:

• Freeze anything you do not plan to eat in 3 to 4 days.

• Store cooked leftovers in shallow, air-tight containers.  A large container can take a long time to cool to the right temperature, and the food may spoil.

• For leftovers, write the date on a piece of tape and stick it on the container and put the container in a place in the refrigerator or freezer where you can see it, so you do not forget to eat it.

A quick note about thawing food.  Foods that were left to thaw on the counter should always be tossed because they have been in the microbial growth DANGER ZONE between 40º and 140º for too long. There are 3 safe ways to thaw your foods:

1. Thaw food in a bowl or pan on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator.  This is to ensure that juices from defrosting food will not drip on other foods/containers in your refrigerator.  Thawing this way will prevent food from entering that 40°-140° temperature range.

2. Place food in your microwave on a low or defrost setting. However, since there is some warming during this process, it is best to cook food after defrosting this way, so it does not enter the microbial growth “danger zone.”

3. Thaw frozen meat, poultry or fish in a bowl of cold water.  Change the water every 30 minutes so the water does not get warm….until the food is thawed.  Cook the food right away since food might enter the “danger zone”

To keep your dry or packaged foods safe:

• Keep them stored in airtight packages.  

• Do not store them in direct sunlight or next to a heat source. 

• Keep food in cabinets or closets that are cool (less than 85° F) and dry. Storing food in extremely hot (over 100° F) or cold (near freezing) temperatures is harmful to canned goods and reduces quality in packaged foods. 

• Avoid storing food near ovens, ranges, water pipes, hot water heaters, or other heat sources. These are not good places because heat and moisture can cause food to spoil more quickly. 

• Packaged food should be tightly closed. You want to protect packaged food from insects. It can happen to anyone, even in the cleanest homes. If you find insects in a food, throw it out.  Foods most likely to get insects include cereals, flour, seeds, baking mixes, spices, candy, dried fruits, and dry pet foods. 

• Avoid purchasing damaged packages of food; also storing food in tightly sealed glass, metal, or plastic containers can help. Insects can get into food in warehouses, stores or homes. 

To keep canned food safe:

• Cans should be free of large dents. Small dents are okay if they are not along the seams of the cans. Never buy a can with a dent on a seam, top or side.

• Tops should be flat. Glass or plastic jars should have tight, flat lids.

• Do not buy canned or jarred food with bulging tops. 

• Watch out for crushed or dented cans.  The food inside these cans is safe to eat if the cans do not explode, bulge out or leak. If the food inside is moldy, bubbling, has changed color or smells funny, do not taste it—just toss it! 

• Do not store canned food under the kitchen sink or in direct sunlight. Canned foods should not be placed in the freezer.  They can swell when frozen and might present health problems. 

• If cans of food accidently become frozen, they must be thawed in the fridge at a temperature below 40º. If they are thawed at a higher temperature they should be discarded.  

Even if stored properly, foods stored for a long time can lose quality.

Canned foods are great because they last much longer than fresh foods. 

Acidic canned foods like tomatoes, grapefruit and pineapple will last 12-18 months in the cupboard.  Other canned foods like meats, fish and vegetables will last about 2-5 years when stored in a cool, clean, dry place. 

What about vegetables and fruits?

Most fruit is best stored in your refrigerator, though some should be ripened on the counter first.  Many fruits can also be frozen.  

The same is true of most vegetables, though some are recommended to be stored in a cool dry place (tomatoes, potatoes), however they will last longer in the refrigerator though it may affect quality or flavor. Many vegetables can be frozen as well.  

The best way to know how to store your produce, is to check the FoodKeeper app at the government’s food safety site. This app has information on food storage for all different categories of food: meat, poultry, sea food etc. as well as produce, dairy, grains and beans, deli foods, baby food and many more categories. 

A note about condiments – ketchup, mustard mayonnaise, etc. Most are shelf stable and can be stored in your pantry.  However, refrigeration of commercially produced versions of sauces and condiments helps them stay fresh for a longer period.  Check the FoodKeeper app above for more detailed information and for information about other kinds of condiments like soy sauce, jelly, honey, and many, many, more. There are almost 40 different items in this section of the FoodKeeper app.

Even foods that have been stored properly and look and smell fine may be full of bacteria and there are some obvious signs that your food has spoiled, and it is time to “toss it.” 

• If the food smells (this is a big one).  This is usually more obvious with protein foods like fish, meat, eggs and dairy products which can spoil more easily than other foods. 

• If you see slime, fuzz or a milky or foamy liquid on your food it may be moldy. Molds can be different colors, like green, blue or white. Mold tends to grow on foods like bread, fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies and canned foods when they age.

When you have stored your food properly and there are no clear signs that a food has spoiled, checking the date on the package, if there is one, can sometimes help you decide if it’s time to “toss it.” Foods with an expiration date that has passed should always get tossed unless they have been kept frozen in a freezer that is 0°F or below.

So, what do all the letters/package dates really mean?

Some of the different types of dates found on products are: 

• Sell-by-date: This is the last day a store can sell the product. Foods are safe to eat after this date but may not taste as fresh. Examples: breads and baked goods

• Use-by-date: The last date you should use a product. 

• Best if used by: This tells you how long a product is at its best flavor or quality. It is NOT a purchase by or safety date.   

• Expiration or “Do Not Use After”: The last day the product should be eaten. This may be a quality or safety issue depending on the product.

• Random series of numbers and or letters are manufacturers code that they use to track their products. Unless you know the coding system the manufacturer uses there is no way this code will mean anything to the consumer.

NEVER taste any food that you think might be spoiled.  When in doubt about a food’s safety, throw it out! One more important thing to do when handling food: Don’t forget to wash your hands before handling food.  You should also wash all prep and cooking surfaces and cooking utensils before they touch food.  You also should consider wiping down all purchases with soapy water (and wash your hands as well) or some other cleanser before storing them, though Public Health officials do not feel that this is a major source of COVID-19 transmission.  

For more information, check out the links below:

• FoodKeeper App Home Storage of Foods: Refrigerator and Freezer Storage. Rutgers New Jersey Experimental Station (NJAES). April 2020

• Home Storage of Foods: Shelf Storage. Rutgers NJAES. April 2020

• FoodSafety.govHealthy Eating in the Time of Covid 19. Rutgers NJAES. April 2020

Questions? Contact me at: JKGiunta@lmxac.org

Making Masks for the Community

by Natalya Andrex

During the COVID-19 global health crisis, masks are in short supply.  Medical personnel don't have enough N95 masks or surgical masks.  All types of disposable face masks have become increasingly hard to find/super expensive.  The disposable masks, even if you have them, are not made to be washed and reused.

Here in New Jersey, our governor issued an executive order that everyone needs to wear a face covering when on essential outings/work, and there are not enough face masks available.  Sewing a washable mask or using a cotton bandanna or t-shirt scrap is a possibility.  However, many people do not have the materials or resources.

Many home seamstresses and crafters have started making washable face masks.  There are countless blogs and YouTube tutorials on a huge variety of mask construction methods, depending on what materials you have to work with. 

During this time, my mom, who teaches dance and fitness classes, is unable to work, like many of the people in our state.  She started sewing face masks for our family and friends, and then connected with other people sewing and donating masks on social media. 

Many states now have Facebook mask maker groups that are all volunteers.  The members sew masks and other Personal Protective Equipment, (like making face shields with cricut machines and 3D printers, and crocheting connectors with ear saving buttons), and get them to people and facilities in need.  Even if you don't sew, there are many people donating and trading supplies, driving masks and supplies to and from locations,  researching design and material options, finding out where masks are needed, collecting and shipping orders of masks, and organizing people to make everyone able to get masks! 

The Red Bank Public Library has offered to help facilitate getting masks to people in our community, and we were able to make masks for the Parker Family Health Clinic on Shrewsbury Ave.  You can contact the Red Bank Public Library at redbanklibrary@gmail.com for more information.

In Monmouth County New Jersey, there is a group called: SOSmatters Face Mask Sewing Group

Please consider joining the public Facebook group if you would like to help in the mask making efforts!

Link to Face Mask Sewing Group:

SOSmatters Face Mask Sewing Group Public Group | Facebook

Hi guys, I'm one of the founders of the open source covid19 medical supplies (OSCMS) subgroup in North Jersey. Our group operates under the same umbrella as OSCMS global group with same principles of making DIY/3D PPE to support North Jersey (and eventually NY frontlineres.

This group uses google docs to organize requests, offers, members etc.  Here is the link to the google doc for requesting face masks:

Click here for the Face Mask Request Form.

ENTER INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS or on behalf of a LARGE FACILITY: The form is super simple. Include organization or hospital the masks are going too if applicable. After you fill out this request form, we will contact you to arrange delivery. Pick up is preferred for obvious reasons. We will try our best to accommodate your needs but understand that this is an all volunteer operation.

*Understand that these are handmade and are not NIOSH approved N95 face masks.Stay safe. Contact us at info@sosmatters.org

How to make a Song Ball

by Maria Ramirez

If you are stuck at home and are trying to think of fun activities for you children, this could be something fun to do!

This can be either a song ball and activity ball — it can be anything you wish it to be. For library purposes we use it as a song ball. Throwing it up in the air and choosing a song this way is super fun.

Materials:

• Dodecahedron. This can be purchase at the dollar store, or you can click here for a printable version of it.

• Markers

• Scissors

• Pencil

• Glue dots (glue gun)

• Ruler

• Tool for scoring or a knitting needle (the tip is helpful to score the paper)

Step 1:

Take out the shapes and cut along the scissor line. Afterward, use a scoring tool (if you don’t have one you can use a knitting needle) to score along the dotted lines. (The shape to the right is what your shape should look like.)

You should have 12 in total.

Step 2:

Pick your songs and start writing them down on the cut shapes. You can draw pictures or you can print, cut, and then glue them in.

Step 3:

Once they are finished they should look something like this:

Step 4:

Start gluing them. First you want to glue them together to make a 5 petal flower. 

Step 5:

Once you have made both flowers you are going to start making a half-ball shape.

This is how they should look like now they have been glued:

Step 6:

Glue halves together.

And you are FINISHED!

ENJOY!

An online stroll down Red Bank's memory lane

by Mary-Ellen Mess

When I moved here more than 30 years ago, Red Bank was a small town that had fallen victim to the exodus of stores and customers to highway shopping malls. Many storefronts on Broad Street were empty. Most of the remaining downtown merchants had been here for decades: Clayton & Magee clothiers, Miller Shoes, Carroll’s Stationary, and Steinbach’s drew patrons from throughout the county in Red Bank’s heyday. My in-laws, who grew up in Scranton, PA, were thrilled to find Woolworth’s and Fannie Farmer Candies here and my mom was amazed there were no parking meters on Broad Street!

Fast forward to 2020 and Red Bank is trendy and “hip.” Many of the old buildings, businesses, and families are long gone along with the “Dead” Bank moniker. But you can still catch a glimpse of old-time Red Bank by perusing issues of the Red Bank Register on our library website. There you will find ads for local businesses, notices of social events and tidbits about the most mundane happenings in Monmouth County.

The good old days also had a fair share of conflict, crime, and skullduggery as chronicled in the pages of the Register. The cost of real estate was astounding. An egg-throwing contest won by a young Gertrude Ederle, a local performance by Count Basie and His Orchestra featuring Billie Holiday, and rabbits wandering on Hudson Avenue are all found to be of note in the Red Bank Register, published from 1878 until 1991.

Also on the RBPL website is the Historic Red Bank Walking Tour which includes a map and legend of notable sites around town. You may let your fingers do the walking online or use the interactive map to guide an actual walk around town.

I may never find out the story behind the enigmatic Root Beer & Checkers Club above Mickey’s Donuts at the end of Broad Street. But it’s nice to know that the “good old days” are never more than a few clicks away if you know where to look.

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Working at the RBPL is a second career for Mary-Ellen, who spent 30 years managing youth programs in Newark, NJ.  In anticipation of her retirement from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, Mary-Ellen returned to school and earned a MLIS in 2013.  A part-time Reference Librarian at RBPL, she resides in Red Bank with her husband.  Mary-Ellen considers herself fortunate to have raised two sons in Red Bank, a diverse community with great public schools.  

A recommendation for a cookbook you can check out electronically

by Karen Cronin

I’ve been perusing Hoopla and Libby (RBPL’s digital platforms for eBooks, audiobooks, music, movies, & TV) these last few weeks looking for cookbooks.  While I do cook from cookbooks, I also “read” cookbooks!  I will read the cookbook cover to cover before I make anything from it. There is usually an introduction which tells what to expect from the cookbook and many recipes have a brief blurb explaining their origin or how the author may have come up with that particular recipe. I’ll also read the title of each recipe and just scan the ingredients to get an idea if it’s something I might be interested in. I follow this process whether I buy, borrow, or download a cookbook.  

 In Hoopla the other day, I was searching for Mediterranean cookbooks. Several came up, the one I chose to “read” was The Forest Feast Mediterranean by Erin Gleeson. I was familiar with this author because I have her first cookbook which is called The Forest Feast. I love this cookbook, and not just for the recipes! Erin Gleeson is a vegetarian, a watercolor artist, photographer, and she lives in a cabin in the woods of northern California. All of these aspects of her life show up in all her cookbooks. What makes her cookbooks a little different from others, is her recipes are not in a typical recipe format. She mixes her hand-lettering, typing, artwork and photos to create what she calls “photographic recipe illustrations.” By laying out recipes visually, in my opinion, they are easier to read and they look beautiful! 

But now, back to The Forest Feast Mediterranean. I knew I would love this cookbook for the recipes and for the visual layout. But this book also has beautiful photographs of Erin Gleeson’s 3-month trip to Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy. Her recipes in the book are inspired by meals she ate on her travels.                            

I “read” this cookbook over the course of 2 days and was sorry when I was finished, I really enjoyed it! The recipes are simple and look delicious. The recipe at left, Burst Tomatoes & Torn Mozzarella, was inspired by the cherry tomato vines Erin saw at farmers markets in Antibes, France. You can see the watercolor and hand-lettering on the recipe page that is typical throughout the book.  

Since my current travel right now consists of walking up and down the stairs of my house, I found this book a great escape! If you like to cook, love art, love photography or love to travel, “read” this cookbook! 

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Karen Cronin is a Library Assistant at the Red Bank Public Library. She currently moderates the library’s monthly Cookbook Club.  Karen is Rutgers University alumnae (go Knights!).

Snacks to make while you're stuck at home

by Judy Klavens-Giunta

In my previous post about reducing stress and eating healthy while staying home, I mentioned keeping healthy snacks available to make it easy to have something to grab when hunger hits between meals. Below are some resources to guide you in making homemade, healthy snacks for and with your family. For those of you with children at home, try to make this a fun family/group activity,

The most important thing about making any recipe is engaging your kids in the preparation. One benefit of including kids in cooking food is that they are more likely to try new things (and maybe eat more vegetables and fruit) that they helped prep/cook. This can also be a group activity where everyone spends time together doing something fun. Have kids prep alongside you or assist in prep (if they are too young to use equipment like knives by themselves). Below are links to kid-friendly healthy snack recipes, some with short videos showing you each step in making a featured recipe. 

Kid-friendly snacks

One of my favorite resources for kid friendly recipes in general is the Chop Chop Family of magazines including Chop Chop and Sprout. Chop Chop’s vision is “[t]o enrich the lives of families by inspiring and teaching them to cook and eat real food together, while having fun and learning essential skills for a full life.” Sprout is a magazine “published in English and Spanish, [and] is a nutrition education resource for low-income families with children up to five years old.” The Chop Chop family of magazines is child focused and its healthy, fun and tasty recipes include information on all the equipment needed and recipe preparation instructions that are easy for everyone to follow.

Here is a link to a Chop Chop page with “7 Healthy On-The-Go Snacks Kids Can Help Make.” You can also check out their online recipe page with loads of other recipe ideas for snacks, soups and dishes that are all healthy and kid preparation friendly. Some of my favorites on this page are: “Apple Mint Granita,” “You-Made Fruit Leather,” and “Green Egg Bake.” Here’s one for zucchini pancakes (but you can use other shredded vegetables as well.)

Another favorite resources for healthy, kid friendly snacks is dietitian/mom Holley Grainger who has some great snack ideas accompanied by short videos showing you all the steps at: Virtual Snack Dates-The Answer to What’s for Snack. There, you can find videos for preparation of “Mini Carrot Pancakes with Vanilla Greek Yogurt,” “No cook Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Balls” (you can substitute almond butter or sunflower seed butter if someone has a peanut allergy – still very tasty), “Pantry Popcorn Snack Mix,” and the old standby “Fruit and Veggie Bugs” using a lot of healthy fruits and vegetables to make snacks that look like bugs. Holly also has a link on this page to additional snack idea videos and a daily 2PM video on Facebook at Cleverful Living with Holley Grainger. You can find also go to NJFamily for “Snacks to Make with the Kids While You Are Stuck Inside.” This page includes “Nachos” made from cauliflower.

If you can, use snacks to increase daily fruit and vegetable servings. Homemade snacks are also most often healthier, lower in added sugar, saturated fat and salt than processed/packaged snacks. Make things as colorful as possible – a rainbow of colors – including yellow and white (cauliflower). The more different colors of fruits and vegetables, the more different healthy nutrients: vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals, your child will have a chance to eat. 

Most importantly make this a fun activity!!  Cooking with kids can be messy, but so what, messes can always be cleaned up and you can make clean-up a fun activity as well. Clean-up is a lot easier, and can be more fun and less stressful, if everyone takes part. These kinds of family/group activities can be a good distraction from the crazy out there and encourage positive family interaction. Good luck, stay safe and HAVE FUN!

Downsizing, simpler living, and Hygge

By Claire Lomack-Phelps

I've been exploring the ideas of simpler living, downsizing and minimalism for a while. Pinterest, You Tube, TEDx talks and other websites provide all kinds of information and demos on living with less, reduced consumption and its benefits including saving more money, happiness and better quality of life. Like many people, I enjoyed shopping, and had accumulated much over the years. With social distancing, stores and malls are now closed. We are shopping less, sheltering at home and slowing down. This may be a good time to re-evaluate what we really need, to appreciate loved ones and value what we already have. We can ask questions such as: What is valuable to us? What kind of life do we want to go back to?  I've recently done some downsizing and donated, sold and repurposed items. I'm not there yet, but it's been a satisfying work in progress.

Hygge,  pronounced "HOO-gah"  is a Danish word and concept for feelings of coziness, comfort, and joy with the simple things. Normally applied during the winter months in some countries, in Denmark, it's a year-round concept. The emphasis is on quality time with family, friends, pets or alone. 

Here are some websites that may be of interest. Also, check YouTube.

• Love and Renovations

• Becoming Minimalist

• Simple Living

• Hygge Life

And check out these Pinterest and Instagram pages:

View this post on Instagram

Less is more. ⁣⁣ —————————⁣⁣⁣ Feel free to share our quotes, but please always credit @theminimalists and @minimalismlife.

A post shared by Minimalism Life (@minimalismlife) on Apr 18, 2020 at 4:01am PDT

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Claire is a Library Assistant in Circulation and the Children's Room at the Red Bank Public Library.

Art techniques you can try at home

by Natalya Andrex

All you need is a pencil and paper.

These five techniques are for fun and improving general art skills through rewarding practice!

1. One line drawing

Practice drawing without lifting your pencil from your paper.

Drawn here: Coffee cups

2. Draw without looking at what you’re drawing

Like it says! Draw while looking at something. Don’t look at your paper. Only look down when you’re done.

Drawn here: scissors, jar, fork and spoon

3. Draw with your non dominant hand

Draw with your non dominant hand. It might be frustrating because it’s awkward, but have fun making something silly!

Drawn here: mug, scissors, fork

4. Blind one line drawings

A combination of doing a one line drawing and not looking while you’re doing it. Very fun to do. Don’t worry about how it turns out, I enjoy doing this the most when I’m drawing something from life!

Drawn here: bowl with spoon, phone, scissors

5. Drawing the same thing from 10 angles

You might think this sounds boring, but it’s surprisingly informative by the time you're done. Take drawing a fork from ten angles, at first you’ll think it’s easy but by the time you get to drawing number four or five, you’ll be surprised!

Drawn here: fork

Here’s a list of common household items that could be used for these exercises:

1. Silverware

2. Glasses

3. Phone

4. Remote Control

5. Toothbrush

6. Scissors

7. Shoes

8. Cups

9. Flashlight

10. Vacuum cleaner

In all of these exercises, don’t worry about making a perfect finished project. These drawings are to help improve control and technique. If you end up with something funny and squiggly looking, don’t worry, because that’s the idea. I hope you enjoy finding different things around your home to draw, and have fun.

If you want to combine these five exercises in more ways than listed here, please do. If you know other techniques you think would be fun to combine with them, all the better!

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Natalya Andrex is a Library Assistant at the Red Bank Public Library and an artist.

This week's Library Horoscopes

Editor’s Note: We apologize for not posting these last week, but a rogue black hole caused an odd case of time dilation in a specific Red Bank apartment. It had nothing to do with the blogmaster forgetting that he wasn’t supposed to work on Good Friday.

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by Eleni Glykis, Library Director and resident star child

Aries (March 21- April 19)

Today you could look in the mirror and panic about your appearance, Aries.  Organic Body Care Recipes and similar titles provide some much needed self-care.  Treat yourself!

Taurus (April 20 - May 20)

You may be feeling sporty this week and while getting out there and shooting some hoops might be somewhat of a challenge, using Hoopla’s collection of sports films is not. 

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

A shocking revelation will shake you to the core of your being this week---you never got a library card! No worries, you can apply for a temporary card online. 

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

A creative energy fills you this week – so why not celebrate MakerDay at home and create to your heart’s content. 

Leo (July 23 - Aug 22)

Wild sounds of laughter will fill your home this week as you spend time watching Trevor Noah’s You Laugh But it’s True. 

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sept 22)

The story of the universe has always fascinated you, let your curiosity take over. Explore the library’s collections of Astrophysics ebooks. 

Libra (Sept 23 - Oct 22)

A deadly game of cat and mouse will play out this week when you spend several hours browsing the Library’s online true crime collection. 

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21)

You certainly have love on the brain as April begins. Overdrive’s got you covered with their top romance novels. 

Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21)

An odd overwhelming surge of childhood energy engulfs you this week. Give in, enjoy being a child again and kick back with Miss Sira’s Virtual Storytime or play along with Jaime during Online Power Play on the Library’s Facebook. 

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19)

This week’s Libra Full Moon blooms in your  8th House of Mystery and the Lisas of crime fiction  (Gardner, Lutz, Scottoline, Unger, etc) won’t disappoint! 

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18)

People love being around you, but it can drain your energy this week Aquarius.  Find time to love yourself and celebrate with Bad Bunny’s Yo Perreo Sola.  

Pisces (Feb 18 - Mar 20)

The moon illuminates your ninth house which centers on learning and growth.   Could an online class boost your skills? The only way to know is to check out Universal Class.    

Thrifty Cooking: How to Stretch One Meal into Five

by Linda Hewitt

I am a bad vegetarian, meaning I mostly eat a plant-based diet, however I still eat fish and occasionally poultry. 

I’ve cooked for a family of five, three of whom were always-hungry growing boys and later men, for many years. I cooked meat when they were young, and let them decide whether they would include meat into their diets as they grew up. One is vegetarian today, so – not a bad rate of conversion.

Whether eating meat or not, home cooking has always been an essential value in the family, but often my budget was tight. As a result, I learned to make things stretch. Now, faced with the responsibility of social distancing and the perils of going to the supermarket, it is time to realize more-than-ever how to make our supplies last.

For example, I recently had a rotisserie chicken and prepared the following meals:

Night One

• Warmed Chicken

• Baked potatoes stuffed with sour cream, butter and chives*

• Carrots in lemon, honey and tsp butter sauce 

*Potato Note: You can do any kind of stuffed baked potatoes, adding things like cheese, yogurt, raw or cooked vegetables. In England, they are called “jacket potatoes.” I baked the potatoes in a 400 degree oven for 1 hour. Then, while hot, I took out the meat of 3 potatoes by slicing them in half (lengthwise) and removing with a medium-sized spoon, before whipping with diced chives, butter, and sour cream (also could use yogurt) to taste. I then returned the mixture back into the skins to bake for an additional 10-15 minutes.

Night Two

• Warmed Chicken with arugula (and other greens, mixed lightly with Mayonnaise) Sandwiches

• Large Salad with greens, carrots, radishes, grapefruit, grapes, grated cheese, and vinaigrette dressing

Night Three

• Warmed Chicken

• Beans and White Rice (both great pantry staples)

• Left-over salad

Night Four

We were tired of chicken and so skipped a night and instead ate vegetarian hot dogs with homemade sauerkraut.

Night 5

• Linda’s Chicken Soup

I put the remaining chicken carcass in a huge pot filled with water to make a rich stock by cooking on a low light for a couple of hours. 

Then I added finely chopped celery and onions, cooking on a low light for an additional hour or so. I put in carrots, cut into pieces, a few quartered onions, pieces of celery, (one stalk should provide at least 5 pieces), and the secret ingredient, trimmed brussels sprouts. I finished by adding fresh herbs from my garden--chives, rosemary, and sage, as well as chopped carrot leaves and salt and pepper to taste.

I served over cooked egg noodles.

Soups and stews are meant to use up the leftovers in your refrigerator. Clean out your refrigerator and have some fun. We should always get the most from our food purchases by saving vegetable scraps from the trash can.

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Linda Hewitt is the Circulation Supervisor and the Adult Programming Manager at the Red Bank Public Library.

Online Puzzles for Killing Time

by Mary-Ellen Mess

So we are in this together... as the television ads keep reminding me. And if you are like me, there are probably a lot of worthwhile things to do around your home or apartment: organizing photos, cleaning out the closet or basement, learning to dance salsa. I have many projects that have literally been languishing for years, junk collected for well-intentioned repurposing ideas that I had seen on HG TV.

But honestly, sometimes I just don’t have the inclination to do the things I should be doing to make this down time productive. Sometimes I like the kind of activities that just make time pass quickly. Getting lost in a good book is always an option. But if you have exhausted your reading material, already finished that dusty old puzzle, or don’t have an opponent for board games; here are a few of my favorite ways to kill time online at no charge.

Jigsaw Explorer

Jigsaw Explorer is one of my favorites. This site offers a large selection of puzzle options and you can opt for various levels of difficulty. Choose from scenic landscapes, still life drawings, or puppies and kittens. There is a puzzle of the day feature or your own favorite photo may be uploaded. Once the image is selected, you can choose the number of puzzle pieces to work with. I have completed puzzles on my tablet and on my desktop computer. A larger screen is better of course, but you can even do this on your phone.

Logic Puzzles

If you enjoy exercising your brain, try Logic Puzzles. These puzzles offer a series of clues needed to complete a grid composed of different categories and options that may be matched only once to reach a unique solution. Once again, you may select a level of difficulty.

Cryptogram

For aspiring code breakers, another puzzle suggestion is the Cryptogram in which each letter of a famous quote is replaced by another letter. I happen to be good at this type of puzzle so I enjoy playing.

Once again, these puzzles are available online for free. For those of you who thrive on competition, all have a timer that allow you to measure your skill against that of other players. Should you choose to go down the rabbit hole of online puzzles, RBPL will be here when you emerge on the other side.

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Working at the RBPL is a second career for Mary-Ellen, who spent 30 years managing youth programs in Newark, NJ.  In anticipation of her retirement from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, Mary-Ellen returned to school and earned a MLIS in 2013.  A part-time Reference Librarian at RBPL, she resides in Red Bank with her husband.  Mary-Ellen considers herself fortunate to have raised two sons in Red Bank, a diverse community with great public schools.  

Como el completar su censo ayudará a Red Bank

por Barbara Pickell

Ha estado sentado al lado de la computadora durante las últimas dos semanas, el formulario de censo en papel y la tarjeta con instrucciones para completarlo en línea. Durante el fin de semana, se me acabaron las excusas y decidí hacerlo, mordí la bala y completarla en línea. Resulta que, en realidad, solo tomó unos minutos y fue tan fácil como dijeron. ¿Quién lo dijera?

¿POR QUÉ ES TAN IMPORTANTE EL CENSO?

Conozco todas las razones por las que es tan importante obtener un recuento lo más preciso posible. Sé, en primer lugar, que la ley exige un recuento cada diez años, está escrito en la Constitución. Y es importante asegurarse de que todos obtengamos la cantidad de representación en el gobierno que merecemos. Los distritos legislativos estatales y federales se basan en este recuento, la razón principal por la que la Constitución lo exige.

Pero en nuestro mundo moderno, el censo se usa para mucho más. Los fondos estatales y federales para instituciones realmente importantes como escuelas y programas de almuerzos escolares, departamentos de bomberos, Medicare, programas sociales, carreteras y mucho más se distribuyen en función de la información del censo. Si subestimamos nuestra comunidad, eso podría significar menos fondos para ayudar a mantener nuestra comunidad fuerte y resolver problemas.

NADIE PUEDE USAR SU INFORMACIÓN PERSONAL EN EL CENSO, NI SIQUIERA LA POLICÍA

Además, la información estadística del censo está disponible al público y es utilizada por el gobierno local, empresas y grupos sin fines de lucro para tomar decisiones que moldeen su futuro. Pero solo la información estadística porque la información personal que proporciona es confidencial por ley.

Sí, eso es correcto. Nadie, ni siquiera la policía, puede acceder a la información personal. Los datos privados están protegidos y las respuestas no pueden ser utilizadas en su contra por ninguna agencia gubernamental o tribunal. De hecho, nadie podrá ver estos registros durante 72 años, cuando la mayoría de nosotros ya no estará presente.

Y no hay una pregunta de ciudadanía en el censo de 2020. Todas las personas que viven en los Estados Unidos deben responder, pero no se le preguntará sobre su estado de ciudadanía. El censo está disponible en español, de hecho, está disponible en 13 idiomas diferentes.

Puede responder completando el formulario en papel o conectándose en línea. Incluso puede responder por teléfono. Así que tómate 10 minutos y completa el censo si aún no lo has hecho. Y convence a un amigo para que haga lo mismo. Es una manera fácil de hacer algo importante para su comunidad, incluso mientras espera en casa.

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Barbara Pickell es una bibliotecaria de referencia e historia local en la Librería Publica de Red Bank.

How filling out your Census will help Red Bank

by Barbara Pickell

It’s been sitting there next to the computer for the last couple of weeks, the paper census form and the card with instructions for filling it out online. Over the weekend, I ran out of excuses and decided to do it, just bite the bullet and fill it out online. Turns out, it really did take only a few minutes and was as easy as they said it would be!  Who knew? 

Why the Census is so important

I know all the reasons it is so important to get as accurate a count as possible. I know, first of all, that a count every ten years is required by law, in the Constitution no less. And it’s important to make sure we all get the amount of representation in government we deserve. State and Federal legislative districts are based on this count, the primary reason this is required by the Constitution.

But in our modern world, the census is used for so much more. State and Federal funding for really important institutions like schools and school lunch programs, fire departments, Medicare, social programs, highways and so much more is distributed based on the census information. If we undercount our community, that could mean fewer funds to help keep our community strong and solve problems.  

No one can use your personal information in the Census — not even law enforcement

In addition, the statistical information from the census is available to the public and is used by local government, businesses and non-profit groups to use in making decisions that shape their future. But only the statistical information because the personal information you provide is confidential by law.  

Yes, that’s right. No one, not even law enforcement, can access the personal information. Private data is protected and answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court. In fact, no one will be able to see these records for 72 years, when most of us won’t be around any longer.  

And there is no citizenship question on the 2020 census. Everyone living in the United States is required to respond, but you will not be asked about your citizenship status. The census is available in Spanish, in fact it is available in 13 different languages.  

You can respond by completing the paper form or go online. You can even respond by telephone. So take 10 minutes and complete the census if you haven’t already. And convince a friend to do the same. It’s an easy way to do something important for your community even while waiting at home. 

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Barbara Pickell is a reference and local history librarian at the Red Bank Public Library.

The RBPL Cookbook Club's Recommended Tabbouleh Recipe

by Karen Cronin

Did you know — the Red Bank Public Library has a Cookbook Club!  The club meets once a month and discusses a cookbook in our library system that is chosen at the previous month’s meeting.  All members of the Cookbook Club make something from the cookbook. At our meeting we sample the recipes and discuss what we thought of the cookbook in general, our particular recipe, and the taste of the food.  

The Cookbook Club discussed wanting to delve into Mediterranean cooking.  The Mediterranean style of eating is supposedly one of the most healthful ways of eating, according to the American Heart Association.  On the AHA website they explain, “a Mediterranean-style diet typically includes:

• plenty of fruits, vegetables, bread and other grains, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds

• olive oil as a primary fat source

• dairy products, eggs, fish and poultry in low to moderate amounts.”  

Click on the photo to place a hold on it in our system! Holds will not come through until the library reopens.

We chose a cookbook by Michael Psilakis,  Live To Eat:  Cooking the Mediterranean Way.  Michael Psilakis is a Greek-American chef, restaurateur, and author.  

This cookbook was a big hit for our Cookbook Club.  Every recipe we made was delicious. One of the best dishes and most versatile, was the Greek Tabbouleh.  I personally have made this several times since our last meeting in February.

While this recipe calls for bulgur as its grain, you could substitute almost any other type of small size grain/starch.  I have a wheat sensitivity so I use couscous. You could also use quinoa, rice, or farro. The herbs called for could also be substituted for whatever you have on hand. Or add some shredded spinach or kale.  While you can eat this Tabbouleh as a side dish as is, you could also add shrimp, chicken, steak, or any other protein to your liking to make it a main dish. I added shredded rotisserie chicken to my Tabbouleh for a dinner last week.  The recipe calls for dressing this dish with a red wine vinaigrette, but you could use balsamic or white wine vinaigrette or simply a drizzle of olive oil.  

I hope this dish proves to be as delicious and healthful to you as it has been for the Red Bank Cookbook Club!

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Greek Tabbouleh – from Live to Eat:  Cooking the Mediterranean Way by Michael Psilakis

Ingredients

• 1-1/3 cups dry bulgur

• Boiling water

• 2 heirloom tomatoes, cored & diced

• 2 medium cucumbers, diced

• 1 large red onion, diced

• 1-1/3 cups chopped roasted red peppers

• 1-1/3 cups chopped pitted Greek olives

• ½ teaspoon dried oregano

• ½ cup chopped mixed fresh herbs (parsley, mint, dill)

• 2/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

• Salt & pepper

Instructions

Put the bulgur in a bowl & pour enough boiling water over it just to cover.  Cover & let sit until all of the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes.

Combine the bulgur, tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, roasted peppers, olives, oregano, herbs & feta in a large bowl & toss.  Add dressing of choice, salt, & pepper, & toss to thoroughly coat. Serve at room temperature. Will keep tightly covered, in the refrigerator for 3 days.  Serves 4. 

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Karen Cronin is a Library Assistant at the Red Bank Public Library. She currently moderates the library's monthly Cookbook Club.  Karen is a Rutgers University graduate (go Knights!).  

Your Library Horoscope for the Week of March 30th

by Eleni Glykis, RBPL Director and Resident Starchild

Aries (March 21- April 19) |You will feel extra spiritual this week. Maybe take time to explore meditation or listen to the audiobook of Marianne Williamson's Manifesting Abundance: Talks on Spirituality And Modern Life. 

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) | Cooperation not competition is the motto for today. Give in to the kids and let them pick the next Hoopla selection.  

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) |Think about expansion of some sort, because it's a good week for that. It's easy to expand your access to ebooks, movies, comics, audiobooks, tv shows, magazines and music; you just need a library card! Don't have one - get a temporary one. 

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) | Action oriented Mars nears your tenth house of career, making you seek out ways to be more assertive and focused on what you want professionally. Browse Hoopla's Conquer Your Career collection to help you along the way. 

Leo (July 23 - Aug 22) | Mars and Saturn meeting up in your seventh house it’s best to give social outings a break, put on  your head phones and clean the house while jamming out to some retro hits. 

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sept 22) | If you've been thinking about starting a new creative project, Virgo, today is the day! Check out the replay of Power Play for Adults and make an excellent collage. 

Libra (Sept 23 - Oct 22) | There's a heavy energy with a partner or significant person now as Mars and Saturn meet in your opposite sign. Don't fret Libra, use Freegal's Bachata Playlist to set the mood for an exotic date night without leaving your home! 

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21) | There is a creative spark to your point of view that is quite different from the rest, express your creative talents this week by entering the Library's Red Bank Always Beautiful Photo Contest.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21) | With Mars and Saturn meeting up in your tenth house, it's time to snuggle up with a powerful story of love and romance try Her Victory by Alan Sillitoe 

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19) | Following the rules makes the most sense for the time being. So why not follow the rules on How to Be A Better Baker with this month's issue of Bon Appetit. 

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18) | WIth Mars aligning with Saturn this week, your desire to take practical action or to fill a responsibility can emerge. Go ahead, download () Marie Kondo's Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and knock something off your long to do list. 

Pisces (Feb 18 - Mar 20) | This is a good time for healing, regenerative activities, particularly to do with the mind/thinking. Curl up on the coach with a good ebook through one of the many resources available on the 24 Hour Library.

Eating healthy is the best defense

by Judy Klavens-Giunta, RDN

Most of us are stuck at home, stressed and anxious. We're worried about our health and the health of our family. This can distract us from being mindful about what we are eating. Usually stress eating involves sugary, highly processed foods and drinks. They taste good and make us (at least initially) feel good. However, according to a Psychology Today blog post in 2013, sugar can make symptoms of anxiety worse. It also makes it harder for us to handle stress. Even without poor food choices, stress can undermine our health and make us more likely to get sick.

So before we even talk about immune-boosting phytochemicals and antioxidants in our fruits and vegetables and healthy eating patterns, there are some simple things we can do to reduce anxiety and stress. This a good place to start the road to feeling better and supporting our immune system, because if we are less anxious, it will be easier for us to make healthy food choices.

First: Breathe.

So, first: take a deep breath. In fact, take several. You might want to check online for videos about deep breathing/alternate nostril breathing which can help you calm down.

Lolly, a Mind-Body Specialist, shows us three breath work techniques that you can use in your relaxation modalities.

Drink calming herbal teas (add a little honey to feed your sweet tooth). There are herbal teas formulated for calm and anxiety available in most grocery stores. Just be sure you are not allergic or sensitive to any of the herbs they contain. 

Go easy on the alcohol and take mental health breaks

For those of you who drink alcohol, an occasional glass of red wine can sometimes ease anxiety and has some cardio/immune protective plant chemicals. However, keep in mind that alcohol affects brain chemistry, and more than a glass now and then can increase anxiety and the CDC does not recommend it.

Some things the CDC is recommending is: take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news about COVID-19; try to take part in other activities that you enjoy like working on puzzles or playing games with family; exercise (there are tons of online videos for exercising at home); and be sure to connect with family and friends by phone, Skype, FaceTime, or social media. Social connection is more important than ever. And, don’t forget to get plenty of sleep. 

More plants, less processed foods and sugars

Now about eating well: I am not saying eliminate all the “sometimes” foods — the sweet and/or processed cakes, ice cream, chips etc. — we really enjoy, because we enjoy them, and we deserve a reward during these troubling times. But don’t forget the word “sometimes.” Most of these foods are highly processed, which means they are high in sugar, sodium and hydrogenated fats. Remember sugar can often leave us more stressed and anxious, and saturated fats and sugar can actually weaken the body’s immune system.

On the other hand, eating a low-fat, low-added sugar, plant-based diet with plenty of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, fish, healthy oils and lean protein like chicken supplies our body with many nutrients that can help boost immune response.

“When it comes to vegetables and fruits, it’s important to eat produce with as many different colors as you can. ”

Vegetables and fruits are a great source of immune boosting vitamins like C and A, minerals, and antioxidants/phytochemicals the body needs to keep all systems working well, including your immune system. When it comes to vegetables and fruits, it’s important to eat produce with as many different colors as you can. The phytochemicals that give each different type of produce its distinctive color are important to good health.

Whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, teas, oils like olive oil and, yes, dark chocolate all have phytonutrients that support good health as well.

Quick tips for eating healthy

Here are some tips:

• Eat a variety of whole unprocessed vegetables and fruits and be sure to include dark green, red and orange vegetables, legumes (beans and peas), and some root vegetables (sweet potatoes, beets, turnips, onions, carrots) as well.  

• Fresh or frozen… but if only canned is available, rinse before eating to remove as much sodium (or added sugar in canned fruit) as possible. 

• Limit fruit juice to one 4-6 ounce serving a day or dilute it in water.  Juice is high in sugar, so whole fruit is best.

• Eat whole grains at least half of the time you eat grains.  They have vitamins and phytochemicals that are good for your body as well.

• Use fat-free or low-fat dairy, including milk, yogurt, cheese, and/or fortified alternative beverages like soy, almond, oat or coconut milk.

• Eat a variety of lean low-fat protein foods, including seafood, beans and legumes to lower your intake of saturated fat.

• Include small amounts of seeds and nuts which have healthy oils.

• Some oil is okay but limit saturated fats and added sugars and sodium. Try to eat little or no trans-fat — anything that has hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils on the ingredients label. There is no safe amount that is healthy.

• Keep healthy choices easily available to encourage healthy eating.

• Keep cut up fruit and vegetables easily available to “grab” whenever the urge hits.  Make a dip with low-fat yogurt.

• Make a fruit and/or vegetable salad and keep in an air-tight container for easy access.

• Use dark chocolate as a treat.

Most importantly don’t forget to take care of yourself and be good to you. Breathe! Keep connected and be kind in any way you can. This will pass. We will come out the other end hopefully a stronger and wiser nation.

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Judy Klavens-Giunta is a library assistant at the Red Bank Public Library and a retired registered dietitian. She mainly worked as a public/community health dietitian, educating the population in health and wellness. She was also an advocate for nutrition-focused legislation.

Featured Photo by Trang Doan

How to stay sane while working from home

by Matt Hershberger

Back in 2013, I quit my office job in Washington, DC, to become a freelance writer and editor for an online travel publication. It was a great move, in theory -- I'd always wanted to be a professional writer, and my soon-to-be wife wanted to move back to her home state of New Jersey. The writing job was entirely remote, it could be done from anywhere, which meant that we could move to Jersey without going totally broke and living in squalor.

So for the next five years, I worked from my laptop in my apartment. 

I want to say I loved it, but it was a pretty isolating experience. I did not know anyone in New Jersey, and my wife and I shared a single car which she took to work every day. I was, in effect, socially distancing for a full half of a decade, years before it became cool. I learned the hard way: having contact with only one person while staying inside all day can have very negative effects on your mental health. And once you get into a hole like depression, it can take a very long time to claw your way out. Part of the reason I left my writing job to work at the Red Bank Public Library was because working from home had gotten too draining for me.

Since huge swathes of America suddenly find themselves working from home and socially distancing, I figured it would be useful to share what I learned. It's much easier to be proactive about staving off mental illness than it is to wait until you realize something's wrong. Here are some tips I learned that may be useful to you:

1. Mental health is physical health

The western world likes to think of the mind as being separate from the body, but it really isn't. Your mental health is in many ways contingent on your physical health, so if you let your body go, your brain is going to have a harder time staying healthy. And to keep your body healthy, you just have to do two things: eat well and get exercise.

Our resident dietitian, Judy Klavens-Giunta, is going to write in more detail on Monday about best eating practices, but for me, it just meant decreasing my portion sizes and eating more fruits and vegetables. 

More important was developing an exercise routine. Since all the gyms in New Jersey are currently closed due to the COVID-19 epidemic, it's a good time to develop a home workout routine. My personal favorite is yoga. Yoga mats are super cheap online, and I can do it in the limited space of my apartment. YouTube has a ton of yoga classes on it; my favorite is Yoga with Adriene. She doesn't get too New Age-y in her instruction, which can be a turn-off to a lot of people, and she's much better than average at explaining how the poses work.

Practice this Energizing Morning Yoga Sequence to get the juices flowing! This yoga practice stretches and strengthens the muscles with a strong focus on bre...

Another really useful workout is the 7-minute workout, which requires no outside equipment other than a wall and a chair, just your body weight. In 2014, the New York Times reported that this workout had many of the same benefits of high-intensity endurance training. You can do the 7 minute workout more than once, but even just once will get your heart rate up.

Based on the article published in American College of Sports Medicine. It features 12 exercises deploying only body weight, a wall and a chair. From: http://...

Finally, if you can't do anything that intense, don't worry about it -- just go for a walk. As of this writing, the "Stay-at-home" order from the Governor does NOT prohibit going outside to get some exercise, so long as you are practicing social distancing. The National Academy of Sports Medicine has said: "Moderate exercise has been shown to be as effective as or more effective than anti-depressants for elevating mood and feelings of well-being. Walk at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes to see good results and as often as 7 days a week."

Nature walks in particular have been shown to have serious mental health benefits, so if you can, take a walk at one of Monmouth County's many parks, which as of this writing, remain open.

2. Make mental health a priority

Outside of physical exercise, you can do a number of things to keep your mind healthy. If your health insurance covers it, therapy is never a bad idea even if you don't have an immediate mental health crisis -- think of it as maintenance. During the COVID-19 epidemic, many therapists have moved to telehealth, which means you can have a therapy session in your own home.

If that's not happening for you, try mindfulness activities. I found the Headspace app to be particularly helpful. Mindfulness is a clinically proven treatment for anxiety and depression, and that aside, it's just really useful to know the way your mind works.

Also, a reminder from the Red Bank Borough website: "NJ Mental Health Cares, the state’s behavioral health information and referral service, is offering help to people dealing with anxiety and worry related to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. New Jerseyans can call 1-866-202-HELP (4357) for free, confidential support. NJ Mental Health Cares will be answered from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week by live trained specialists."

3. Go easy on the alcohol.

Liquor sales have spiked in many places during the pandemic, and while alcohol in moderation is perfectly fine, it's important to recognize that it is a depressant, and while it may help for soothing anxiety temporarily, it's still likely to color your mood the next day, even if you don't overindulge. There are different guidelines for how much you should drink on a daily and weekly basis, but the short of it is that you should try and limit your intake. Make it more of a treat than a part of a routine.

If you’re worried drinking or other drug use is becoming a problem, you can call 844-276-2777 for information and/or a referral. This line is available 24/7.

4. Find a way to get some social interaction.

The hardest part of working from home for me was the total lack of social interaction. My friends are scattered around the country, so when I moved to New Jersey, my only confidant was my wife. And, no offense to her, she's amazing, but we all need a community to interact with -- one person is not enough.

A lot of people during the pandemic have started doing activities like virtual Happy Hours, which are a great idea (so long as you keep an eye on the alcohol intake). My friends and I downloaded the app Discord, and once a week we do a conference call where we all play a video game together (usually Fortnite or Rocket League). I really can't overstate how great this has been for my mental health -- before we started doing this, I was seeing my best friends maybe once a year. Now, we're a part of each other's lives again. It’s a weekly pick-me-up.

It doesn't have to be drinking and video games, though: you could do a remote book club, you could use the Netflix Party plugin and watch a movie together, or you could just hop on the phone and talk. Find a way to interact with people you love, and try to make it somewhat routine. No man is an island.

5. Find activities that require you to be proactive.

It's easy to see the pandemic as an opportunity to catch up on all the TV you've missed. And while a certain amount of TV and movie watching is a great idea, it's also important to remember that this is a fairly passive activity. It doesn't ask that much of your brain.

Take some time for activities that require a bit of imagination or problem solving. Some ideas on that front:

• Books (try our 24-hour library)

• Puzzles

• Board games

• Crosswords

• Sudokus

• Some (not all) video games require problem solving, strategy, and learning (I particularly like Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Sid Meier's Civilization series)

The best thing you can do though, is something creative. Ideas:

• Write a story (prompts here, if you need them)

• Practice a musical instrument

• Draw something

• Paint something

• Cook something (I've found making my own bread to be particularly rewarding)

• Start a podcast

• Do some crafts (our resident craft librarian, Maria, will be posting ideas here and on our Facebook page over the next few weeks!)

• Rediscover Legos

• Have a dance party

• Fix something you've never learned how to fix

• Put on a puppet show for a toddler (you can do this over Skype, if you don't have a toddler immediately handy)

Pinterest is a great resource for getting ideas.

6. Open the windows

This one sounds almost insultingly simple, but if the weather allows, open the windows. The difference this makes is not necessarily going to be something that jumps out at you, but every time you exhale, you breathe a little bit of carbon dioxide into your surroundings. High concentrations of carbon dioxide actually limits brain function -- research shows an increase in carbon dioxide in your bloodstream may lower your problem solving capabilities. Put a few people in any room and it's not going to take long for the room to have a lot of CO2 in it. 

This is also a good argument for putting some plants in your apartment and for going outside more often. And science aside -- fresh air just feels nice.

The good news is that work from home doesn't have to drive you crazy -- if you're proactive and creative, you can make this work for you and come out the better for it. But if it's feeling overwhelming, there are resources available to you. Try the NJ Mental Health Cares line at 866-202-HELP. If you're having suicidal thoughts, call the NJ Hope Line at 855-654-6735.

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Matt Hershberger is the Red Bank Public Library’s Technical Assistant — you may have seen him at the reference desk, running the video game tournaments, or hosting the “Sustainable Red Bank” series. He’s originally from Cincinnati, has a Masters in Human Rights from the London School of Economics, and in a previous life was an editor for the Matador Network travel website.