Pride: Continued From Page 1

appeared in the sky on July 25. The appearance left many to wonder if it held a predictive message that Pride Day would go off the following day without interference.

Local resident Billy Wyrsch organized the first Pride in the Park sponsored by Stafford NJ Pride in 2021. Held at Manahawkin Lake Park, this year’s three-hour event included live music provided by Girl Band, a Southern Regional graduate, and Kelly Zuzic, a local music teacher.

Love and unity filled the air, enveloping the crowd in a heartwarming atmosphere. Among the various tables, one organization was dedicated to sharing a unique, heartwarming form of affection.

Dragons:

Continued From Page 1 released earlier this year, the Ocean County Library is providing a “Dungeons & Dragons Crash Course” at several branches this summer.

Dungeons & Dragons (commonly abbreviated as D&D) is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. (TSR) and derived from miniature wargames, with a variation of the 1971 game Chainmail serving as the initial rule system.

“We a re Free Mom Hugs, a national organization and from the Ocean County chapter,” a representative said. “We support and help anyone who needs it. If somebody needs a mom at a wedding or prom, we will step up and support them.”

Notably, one dad was also available to offer hugs to all who needed them.

Representatives from Saint. Francis Counseling Community Center on Long Beach Island were also at the Pride Day event to provide information about their services. When asked, one of the therapists indicated they are not affiliated with the church itself.

The LBI-based counseling center has a contract with Ocean County to help victims of sexual assault. They attend events like the pride one to advocate for those who don’t have voices.

“We’re more concerned about the peo-

D&D’s publication is commonly recognized as the beginning of modern role-playing games and the role-playing game industry. It influenced video games, especially the role-playing video game genre. It departs from traditional wargaming by allowing each player to create their own character to play instead of a military formation.

The created characters embark upon adventures within a fantasy setting – lofty mountains, jungle ruins, and mighty castles.

The recent film was based on the tabletop role-playing game and as a result there has been a resurgence in interest to playing the game not that it ever went out of style.

The library’s six-branch program is being ple than their sexuality,” Rachael Manzo shared.

Counseling services offered by the group are not just limited to sexual assault. Professional psychotherapy sessions can be set up for a wide range of issues. They are available to residents of Southern Ocean County from Lacey to Tuckerton on a sliding scale basis.

A group of students from Southern Regional High School’s Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) was also on hand and shared why they set up a table.

Sixteen-year-old Finch Benitez said she and the other students thought it was important that everybody should be able to accept their identity no matter how old or young they might appear.

The weather wasn’t the only thing that threatened the success of the initial date of conducted by Manchester Librarian Assistant Brendan Cahill who developed the presentation. “Last year I ran this during FanNation (an annual event in Toms River that brings together individuals interested in science fiction, fantasy, horror, gaming and comic books).”

“I was contacted to see if I would do it as a program for other branches as it is a very popular,” Cahill said. “I first got into (D&D) by playing with my family around five years ago. My siblings and I really like to play and I got my aunt, uncle and mother into it.” the pride event. When word circulated that a “drag show” was part of the entertainment, someone proposed bringing a group of protesters in on loud motorcycles “in support of protecting children.”

“I played a number of campaigns with my friends. It is me being the DM (Dungeon Master) and this way I am the person who runs the world. I am God,” Cahill said with a chuckle.

“There are no people in lingerie,” Wyrsch said prior to the event. “There is no largescale show. It is one performance by an incredible young man and local Southern grad with a confetti cannon and songs from The Greatest Showman.”

Unfortunately, “Stiletta,” the performer, encountered scheduling conflicts that prevented him from attending. Whether the protestors were aware of this or lost interest, the celebration remained undisturbed.

“It is simply a night for local people to feel like they belong. For young people, like me, to feel welcome and know they have support,” Wyrsch added.

Cahill’s 90-minute course is aimed toward those who want to learn how to play or run a D&D campaign and teaches gamers the basics of D&D 5th edition. It includes how to create a character, filling out their attributes in pencil and paper. If someone wants to run a campaign as a Dungeon Master, he offers tips on that as well.

He explained, “the 5th edition is the easiest one to get into by far. It isn’t as complex as older editions. There is a lot of different stuff for D&D.” He brought along several reference books such as “Balder’s Gate,” “Ghosts of Salt Marsh” and the “Monster Manual” all of which are available to take out from the (Dragons - See Page 6)