Chris Kelly Alton Hovnanian, 14, Locust, stands next to his edible display of Noah’s Ark sticking out of Mount Ararat, Turkey. Alton took part in the Rumson Country Day School’s annual edible mapmaking contest last Monday.
Doggone if this isn’t a good deal! The Monmouth County SPCA Thrift Shop will hold a $5 Bag of Clothes sale Feb. 23 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The shop has beautiful men’s and women’s clothes in all sizes, and you get whatever you can squeeze into the bag for only $5. Proceeds benefit the homeless animals housed at the shelter. Donations for the thrift shop are accepted Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The shop and shelter are located at 260 Wall St., Eatontown. For more information, call (732) 542-5342.
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Brush off your fancy duds. The Woman’s Club of Red Bank will host a "Mardi Gras Gala and Silent Auction" March 9 at the Shadowbrook, Shrewsbury. The black-tie masquerade party will feature a silent auction and music by the VooDudes. Tickets are $150, and proceeds will assist in restoration of the Anthony Reckless Estate, the group’s clubhouse, and in expanding community service projects. For reservations, call Isabel Hernandez at (732) 212-0669.
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JERRY WOLKOWITZ The Rev. Jackie Seldon of Plainfield performs a spiritual dance during a “Keeping the Dream Alive” program at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank, on Jan. 7.
Robert R. Schillberg Jr., a partner in the Red Bank law firm of Barnes, Schillberg and Fiure, has been appointed to the Brookdale Foundation board of trustees. Schillberg is a former Middletown municipal court judge and is a past member of both the Middletown Board of Adjustment and Middletown Community Affairs Council. The foundation offers almost 50 endowed and sponsored scholarship programs, providing more than $100,000 annually for scholarships and grants.
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Women’s issues in Third World countries will be the topic of a talk sponsored by The American Association of University Women, North Monmouth County Branch. Kay Fraleigh, a nongovernmental organization representative to the United Nations, for the International Alliance for Women, will speak 7:30 p.m. March 4 at Monmouth Reform Temple, Hance Avenue, Tinton Falls. Fraleigh has worked at the Church Center at the U.N. since 1959 and for many years was a colleague of the late Esther Hymer of Shrewsbury. March 4 marks the opening of the 2002 Commission on the Status of Women, established by the U.N. in 1946. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call (732) 741-5121.
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Daffodils are a sign of spring and the American Cancer Society is offering them as a sign of hope. The ACS fund-raiser will sell the spring flowers to raise funds for cancer research, education, prevention and treatment programs for local patients and their families. Freshly cut bunches of daffodils can be ordered for $7, vases and potted flowers for $8. A fresh bunch of daffodils in a vase will be delivered to a health care facility designated by the ACS for $15. Advance orders will be taken until March 1, and flowers will be available for pickup during the week of March 18 at the ACS offices at 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury. To order, call 1-800-ACS-2345.
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You can help keep your community green by joining the National Arbor Day Foundation. Members, who join during February, will receive 10 free Colorado blue spruce trees as part of the foundation’s Trees for America campaign. The trees, which have a silver-blue color and a compact conical shape, will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting between March 1 and May 31, and planting instructions will be enclosed. The six- to 12-inch trees are guaranteed to grow, or they will be replaced. To become a foundation member, send a $10 contribution to Ten Free Colorado Blue Spruce Trees, National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE 68410 by Feb. 28.
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First there was Super Bowl, now the countdown is on for "Super Sunday," the annual tel-a-thon conducted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County. The event raised more than $200,000 last year. The 2002 Annual Campaign will be held March 17 at the Ruth Hyman Jewish Community Center in Deal. Seventy percent of the funds raised help feed the hungry, comfort the lonely and elderly, and educate Jewish children in schools and summer camps in Monmouth County. Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks, including making phone calls. For more information, call the federation at (732) 531-6200.
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A celebration of women and their unique spirits will take place March 22-23 at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1475 W. Front St., Lincroft section of Middletown. The third annual "Women’s Conference, Celebrating and Empowering the Feminine Spirit" is hosted by Holistic Healing, Sea Bright. The conference will take place from 6:30-9:30 p.m.; cost is $45 Friday; $85 plus $10 for materials Saturday; $100 plus $10 materials fee for both days. Registration by March 8 is $10 less. For registration and information, call (732) 530-9273.
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The New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners will hold its monthly dinner meeting Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. at Jumping Brook Country Club, 210 Jumping Brook Road, Neptune. The dinner speaker will be Barbara Zaccone, founder of Barbara Zaccone Associates, a Web design, e-commerce and marketing communications firm. Zaccone’s topic will be "Getting the Most Out of Your Web Presence." She will discuss topics, including maximizing use of company Web sites, including how to setup an online catalog, e-mail marketing and measuring Web site activity. A pre-meeting at 5 p.m. will focus on relationship marketing. Cost for reservations made before Feb. 25 is $30 for members, $35 for nonmembers or guests, and $40 and $45 after that date. For more information, call (732) 922-8200.
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The Red Bank Senior Center has begun offering assistance with tax returns, for borough seniors and center members. A tax consultant will be at the center, 80 Shrewsbury Ave., every Wednesday, until April 10. Help will be available for simple tax returns and for the Homestead Rebates, but an appointment is necessary. And each appointment is for 30 minutes. For more information, contact the senior center (732) 747-5204.