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Community Corner

'Reptile Man' Visits Manchester Library

An educational and fun program to close the summer reading program

of the Ocean County Library held an after-hours event to celebrate the end of summer reading program event last week.

“This is the big culmination of summer," said Sabrina La Spata, Youth Services Librarian. "The library closed at 5, but we reopen special for this program. So there are no adult services going on- just the program for the kids."

Allen Both, owner of Animal Kingdom, presented various types of reptiles to the children who participated in the library’s summer reading program during the Aug. 12 event. This was the third year that Both ran this program at the library.

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“The show is very interactive and educational. It is a really good time for everybody,” Both said.

As a herpetologist, Both began by telling the children that he has a great job because he gets to work with reptiles every day. He also joked that he is known as the “Reptile Man.”

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Both talked about each animal that he displayed, including a lizard, snake, turtle, frog and American Alligator.

At one point, Both asked the crown to raise their hands if they believed snakes were slimy. He then invited four children to come up and touch and hold the smooth boa constrictor. 

Animal Kingdom does much more than just the interactive children’s programs.

“We do the educational program and we breed certain kinds of rare reptiles," Both said. "We breed them to sell as pets, for shows, and to propagate rare species."

“I am very attached to the show animals because they are handled constantly. They are like my pets.” Both added.

Buster, the Lakewood BlueClaws mascot, and Sparks, the Ocean County Library mascot, also stopped by for a pre-show meet and greet with the children.

The Friends of the Library were also helping out at the event. 

“We are running a raffle for the kids. Every child received three tickets when they come in and then they pick the prize they would like to win,” said Mirabelle Stoedter, member of The Friends.

The prizes were baskets of DVD’s, books, toys and games donated by various companies and publishers.

“Hopefully, we won’t have too many tears if they do not win,” Stoedter joked.

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