O.C. Library Director Honored as “Woman of Wonder”

By MADDY VITALE Ocean City Free Public Library Director Karen Mahar was honored Thursday as one of three 2019 “Women of Wonder” during a luncheon at the Flanders Hotel. The award is from the Atlantic Cape Community College Foundation and Cape May County Women’s Commission. The other recipients are Stormy Freese, of Cape May Court House, and Shirley “Becki” Wilson, of Seaville. More than 200 attendees joined the honorees for the event. The event was opened with remarks by ACCC President Dr. Barbara Gaba, who told the audience that the women selected are fine examples representing the community and that the goal of providing scholarships to students so that they could receive a college education is one of the motivations of the award. On behalf of the program, the ACCC Foundation presented a $10,700 check to go toward scholarships. For Mahar, who has a long list of accolades for helping make the library such a success among residents and visitors to the resort, the honor was humbling. “I am so happy and honored to be here today. I congratulate Stormy and Shirley and I stand here with great company,” Mahar said, her voice choking with emotion. “Community connections are happening all the time in the library.” Karen Mahar, of Ocean City, tells the audience that she is in great company with the other two honorees. Under Mahar’s leadership, the library staff works closely with the community. The library partners with the City of Ocean City, the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, the police department, the Ocean City School District and local businesses. Throughout her career as library director, Mahar is responsible for all library programs and departments, helps establish and recommend policies to the Library Board of Trustees and prepares and plans the library budget. In addition, she recruits, hires, trains, supervises and evaluates a library staff of over 45 employees. Mahar offered some words of wisdom that she takes with her every day. “I try to maintain a positive attitude,” she said. “You have a choice every day of what your attitude will be. You cannot change the actions of others. You cannot change the inevitable. The only thing you can change is your attitude. Thank you for everything you have done to make our library a success.” She also thanked her family for being her “constant source of strength and motivation.” Prior to Mahar accepting her award, Cape May County Women’s Commission member Jacqueline Simonsen said a few words about her friend. “She is well-known and well-loved in the community. As director of the library, she fosters relationships and key partnerships,” Simonsen said. “Police are here because she has thought to herself, ‘I need to make sure kids are safe coming to the library,' and she started a relationship with them. Libraries are alive, in part, because of people like Karen Mahar. … She is so deserving of this award.” For Shirley Wilson, whose career in social work spans many years, and her list of volunteerism is just as long, she told the crowd she is so honored and that she loves helping people. She has been a commissioner on the Delaware River and Bay Authority Commission since her appointment in 2012. She has also been active in a host of organizations and committees throughout her career. ACCC and Cape May County Women's Commission members, along with Cape May County Freeholder Will Morey, pose alongside the scholarship fund check. Wilson serves as a member of the Atlantic/Cape May Supreme Court Committee on Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement, the Mid-Atlantic Center for Arts and Humanities, Center for Community Arts Board of Directors and is the co-founder of REUNITE. The other honoree, Stormy Freese, is a microbiologist at the Cape May County Department of Mosquito Control. Freese began her career as a laboratory assistant at the county’s Mosquito Control Commission in May 2014 and became a full-time employee in January 2015. Since she began working at the commission full time, Freese has been involved with promoting STEM careers. She organized a Super Mosquito Scientist class for the Girl Scouts and has attended several career and STEM days at Dennis and Lower Township schools. She told the audience that she devotes time to telling young women it is OK to explore other career paths, as she did. “My family has been a huge support system,” said Freese, who had a baby just last week and insisted she would attend the ceremony. “I just hope to continue to do great things. It's really an honor to be here with these two extraordinary women.” President of the Library Board of Trustees Jennifer Shirk, Karen Mahar, and Board of Trustees member Ron Denney share a light moment.