The Atlantic City Historical Museum, presented by the Atlantic City Free Public Library, will unveil a new photo exhibit, Chicken Bone Beach — The Atlantic City Experience, in recognition of Black History Month.

The exhibit grand opening will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14 at the Historical Museum, which is located at South New Jersey Avenue and Boardwalk on Garden Pier. Henrietta Shelton, president of the Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation, will discuss the history of this Atlantic City beach, which was designated as a blacks-only beach until the 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed. Visitors will be invited to share their memories about their visits to the beach. Please call (609) 347-5839 for more information.

Teen February Book Club Challenge: African-American Authors — In February, pick any book by an African-American author and tell us your thoughts on the Book Club Board in the Teen Space area. Each participant gets to pick a prize. Ages 13-18.

Creative Crafts on Tuesday, Feb. 3 and 17, at 3:30 p.m. — Kids use their imagination to take home crafts with themes, including Black History Month. Ages 6-12.

Comic Drawing with Joe Del Beato on Thursday, Feb. 5, 19, 26 at 3:30 p.m. — Del Beato, a Marvel/DC Comic illustrator, will teach kids how to draw African American characters from comics, cartoons and graphic novels. No experience necessary. Ages 7-17.

Craft: Celebrating Work of Jacob Lawrence at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6 — Using the technique of Lawrence, who told stories by creating a series of paintings, participants will draw/paint their own series. Ages 18 and older.

After-school Program: Betcha Can’t Eat Just One on Friday, Feb. 20, at 3:30 p.m. — Kids are invited to a potato chip taste testing to honor the African-American who invented the chip, George Crum. Participants will vote for their favorite after a reading of “George Crum and the Saratoga Chip.” Ages 18 and younger.

Meet the Author: James Overmyer on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 2:30 p.m. — Overmyer will present his book “Black Ball and the Boardwalk: The Bacharach Giants of Atlantic City, 1916-1929.”  A discussion will follow. All ages.

The Atlantic City Free Public Library will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in January.

The library will hold its Second annual Dr. King Read-In on Saturday, Jan. 17, from 1-3 p.m. Special guests and library staff members will read some of Dr. King’s work and stories inspired by him. Selections will include: “I Have a Dream” speech, “Letter From a Birmingham Jail,” “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech, “Martin’s Big Words” by Doreen Rappaport and “My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” by Christine King Farris.

The program is free and open to people of all ages.

FOOD FOR FINES JAN 18-24
The Atlantic City Free Public Library will accept “Food for Fines” from Jan. 18 to 24 in recognition of Martin Luther King Day of Service.

For each non-perishable item donated, the accrued fines for one overdue item will be waived. The food will be donated to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey — Southern Branch.

 Please call (609) 345-2269 for more information.

The Atlantic City Free Public Library will continue a long-standing and popular tradition by holding a Kwanzaa celebration on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 2:30 p.m.
The 27th annual Kwanzaa program will feature a performance by Afro-One Dance, Drama and Drum Theatre. This event will combine song, music, and traditional and contemporary dance, while providing a history of Kwanzaa.
Kwanzaa is a holiday of African heritage and values and is celebrated from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.
Dr. Patricia Reid Merritt is the director of Afro-One Dance, Drama and Drum Theatre. A professor of Social Work and African-American Studies at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Dr. Reid-Merritt has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the NAACP Freedom Award.
Afro-One Dance, Drama and Drum Theatre was founded in 1974 and emphasizes dance, drama and music in the African-American arts. The group has performed at schools, colleges and universities, businesses and corporations, conferences, Kwanzaa celebrations, weddings, rites of passage, local festivals and community events.
Call (609) 345-2269, ext. 3112, for more information.

VIEW THE BLACK CANDLE
The Atlantic City Free Public Library will show the documentary “The Black Candle” at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26.
The film uses Kwanzaa as a vehicle to explore and celebrate the African-American experience. It traces the holiday’s growth out of the Black Power Movement in the 1960s to its present-day reality as a global, pan-African holiday embraced by more than 40 million celebrants.Maya Angelou narrates the film.

Mayor Don Guardian and the City of Atlantic City, and the Atlantic City Free Public Library will continue a holiday tradition by turning an Atlantic City Convention Center ballroom into a Winter Wonderland for children on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Tickets are free and required to gain admission into the event.
This fourth annual holiday event, which is for Atlantic City children ages 3 to 12, will be held in the Convention Center’s Hall A. All children attending the event must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets are limited and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Tickets will be distributed at City Hall, located at 1301 Bacharach Blvd., at the following dates and times: Dec. 2 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; Dec. 3 from 2-4 p.m., and Dec. 4 from 4-6 p.m.
Tickets will be distributed only to adults, who must show a proof of Atlantic City residency and photo ID.
This year’s Winter Wonderland will include magic shows, rides, games, moon bounces, toy giveaways, face painting, arts and crafts, cookie decorating and more.
The Atlantic City Winter Wonderland is presented by the City of Atlantic City and Atlantic City Free Public Library, and sponsored by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) and Atlantic County Toys for Kids Program. Also, 95.1 WAYV, 99.3 The Buzz, 96.1 WTTH The Touch and 100.7 WZXL will have giveaways.
For more information, please call the City of Atlantic City’s Recreation/Community Affairs Department at (609) 347-5643.