- September 18, 2025
- October 9, 2025
- November 13, 2025
(2025-2026)
Thursday, September 18, 2025, 1:30 PM
(Was held at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan 07726)
September is National Fall Prevention Month, and our speaker, Certified Fall Prevention Specialist Valerie Pena, presented her program, “In Autumn, The Leaves are Falling, But You Don’t Have To.”
Valerie has been an Occupational Therapist for 40 years and is dedicated to helping people of all ages and abilities gain the confidence, strength and balance they need to reduce their fall
risk. We will all benefit from the strategies she will teach us, since falls are the leading cause of injuries and accidental death among people over age 65.
Thanks for joining us
Thursday, October 9, 2025, 1:30 PM
held at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters
125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan 07726
Brookdale Professor of History Jane Scimeca spoke about her current writing project: the biography of Geraldine Thompson. Geraldine Thompson, who grew up during the Gilded Age, is a Monmouth County legend. She was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2024. Her induction, in part, “Her accomplishments in public health, prison reform, child welfare, politics and philanthropy place her among the greatest women of her generation. She became known for her relentless advocacy to protect the helpless and for fearlessly compelling officials to serve and protect the community.” She also donated the land that is now Thompson Park.
Professor Scimeca, the recipient of the Brookdale Community College Baringer Award, discussed how to research women’s history, how to find the story, and why Geraldine Thompson is still relevant today.
