The Old Guard of Long Branch recently installed new officers for 2002 at a luncheon held at the Barchat, Belmar. Pictured are (l-r) Assistant Secretary Emanuel Gold, Chaplain John Speck, Second Director Russ Bodine, First Director Alfred DeSantis, Director Raymond Mancini, Secretary Chester Newman, Assistant Treasurer James Burns and Treasurer John Macalusa.
Word had it that Santa was going to pay a pre-Christmas visit to the Woodmere section of Eatontown Dec. 22. He was expected to arrive in a fire engine, with the sirens wailing, about 4:45 p.m. and visit about 100 houses over the next four to five hours to drop off an early present for the boys and girls in them. "We’re noisy all night long," said elf Eileen as she anticipated Santa’s appearance. Neighborhood residents Bill Thomack and Carl Sohl planned to ride on the fire truck with Santa to give him an assist. Three minivans filled with elves to help distribute gifts were to follow.
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The West Long Branch Borough Council has thrown down the gauntlet. It issued the first challenge for its soon-to-be-built bocce courts to the Long Branch City Council. "We’re challenging them now — especially Fazz," said Councilman Joseph DeLisa at the Dec. 19 council meeting. Fazz is a reference to Long Branch Councilman John Zambrano, who happens to be the brother of West Long Branch Mayor Paul Zambrano. Added Mayor Paul Zambrano, with confidence: "We’re not going to lose this year."
West Long Branch plans to tear up the tennis courts at the end of Lakeview Avenue, which are worn and in disrepair, and replace them with bocce courts, the borough’s first. The work is expected to be completed this spring.
VERONICA YANKOWSKI Sarah Miller (above) sings “Silent Night” at the Jersey Shore Center in Eatontown on Dec. 18. (Below) Kelly Brody and Rachel Parmelle perform for the center’s residents.
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Susan A. Doctorian, associate vice president of public affairs at Monmouth University, has been nominated by acting Gov. Donald T. DiFrancesco to be a member of the state’s Local Finance Board. Her appointment must be confirmed by the Senate. Doctorian lives in Middletown and is the wife of Sen. Joseph M. Kyrillos Jr. (R-Mon.), the state Republican chairman.
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The new Broadway Borough Hall in West Long Branch is coming closer to reality. The borough has advertised for bids on the interior renovations to convert the former church into a modern office space. The bids are due back Jan. 10. The borough hopes to have work completed this summer.
Chris Kelly This utility pole on Myrtle Avenue, Long Branch, was almost broken in half when a truck hit it on Dec. 20.
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The long-awaited detour on Cedar Avenue in front of Monmouth University to allow for construction of an underground pedestrian walkway was expected to begin Dec. 27. The street was to be closed to all traffic, going both ways, at 8 p.m. Dec. 26, so that it could be set up for one-way traffic, then was to be reopened at 2 a.m. Dec. 27 to eastbound traffic only. Westbound traffic is being diverted north on Norwood Avenue to Beechwood Avenue, west on Beechwood Avenue to Pinewood Avenue, and south on Pinewood Avenue back to Cedar. The detour is supposed to last 20 days.
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The Organ Club of America, a music school for mature adults, is having an open house at its studio in Monmouth Mall Jan. 3. Organ Club of America’s "Golden Age Players" will be performing a free concert in the studio at noon. The "Golden Age Players" are all senior citizen students who have learned how to play the organ. A brief description of the lesson program will be offered for those interested in joining the club. For information and to R.S.V.P., call (732) 578-1311 or visit the organization’s Web site at www.organclub.com.
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The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a fiscal year 2002 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations conference report that will provide $160,000 for renovations at the Guggenhein Memorial Library at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, according to Rep. Frank J. Pallone Jr., D-N.J. Pallone, who had requested the funding, explained the conference report reconciled differences between separate bills passed earlier this year in the House and Senate. The conference report now goes to the Senate for final approval before being sent to the President.
Pallone noted that the Guggenheim Memorial Library, a national historic registered building, will ultimately be renovated and fully restored to accommodate the collection of over 250,000 resources it currently holds. An addition to the present facility, to relocate the library stacks, will complete the renovation project and allow the library to be utilized for external activities.