Chris Kelly Ryan Pereira, 6, of Long Branch participates in a giant finger-painting project under the direction of Ocean Township artist Kelly Sullivan at Seashore Day Camp in Long Branch on Monday.
The Long Branch library invites all families and residents to the finale of Two Books, One City, Long Branch Reads Together, on Aug. 11 from 3-7 p.m. This is an event for all ages and admission is free.
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The Long Branch Fire Department, which was hammered with over 200 emergency calls due to the storm last Friday, lifted its newest policy to not incur additional overtime. Because county officials declared a state of emergency, all paid firehouses had to be manned even in the event that a fireman may have been absent and some firefighters would have to be paid overtime. The city is hoping to circumvent the expenses incurred by requesting reimbursement from the county and possibly the state.
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Chris Kelly An unfamiliar sight along the NJ Transit rail line, this turtle slowly trudges his way through Long Branch Monday.
All Nations Day in Long Branch, planned for Saturday, Aug. 3, was canceled because of the damage caused by the thunderstorm, which damaged the electrical wires. Businesses on lower Broadway remained closed for the entire weekend and on into the work week.
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The African American Achievement Committee in Long Branch is sponsoring a back-to-school outing Sept. 7 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Bucky James Community Center on Wilbur Ray Avenue. Kids in pre-K through eighth grades are invited to enjoy games, hot dogs and hamburgers, and a chance to win some cool prizes.
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Mary Bonn
The Latino Chamber of Commerce of Monmouth Inc. will host its first annual luncheon Sunday, Aug. 11 from 1-4 p.m. at the Manhattan Steak House, 2105 Route 35 north in Ocean Township. The guest speaker for the event will be Juan J. Fret, and the topic of his presentation will be "The Entrepreneur in the 21st Century." Admission price for the luncheon is $50. For more information, call Dimas Montalvo at (732) 229-4655.
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Long Branch Boy Scout Troop 148 will hold its annual car wash at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, at the corner of Washington Avenue and Broadway, Aug. 17 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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The Long Branch Recreation Commission, in conjunction with the Long Branch Housing Authority, is starting a Double Dutch program for youth in grades three and up. The program needs at least 30 youths, plus coaches and parent facilitators, to be run. For information, call (732) 571-6545 or (732) 870-3117.
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The Holy Trinity Rosary Altar Society, Long Branch, will be taking a break for the summer, but will resume its meetings Sept. 16 in St. Joseph’s church hall at 7:30 p.m. under the guidance of Mary Stout, president.
A bus pilgrimage to Mount St. Mary’s seminary and the Motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity in Emmitsburg, Md., will be sponsored by the Rosary Altar Society and Father Dan Swift. The bus will depart at 8 a.m. Oct. 17, and return at approximately 9 p.m. The cost is $40. Pilgrims will enjoy a buffet lunch and have time to visit the basilica of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton at the Motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity, as well as the Grotto of Lourdes. Call Blondie for more information, (732) 935-0992.
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The Greater Long Branch Chamber of Commerce’s annual golf outing will be held Aug. 15 at the Colts Neck Golf Club. The fee is $145, which includes green fees, golf cart, locker room facilities, a golf shirt, a Continental breakfast, a barbecue lunch and awards. There is a limit of 100 golfers. The fee for the outing is $20. For more information, call (732) 222-0400.
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In Ocean Township, volunteer drivers are needed for Meals on Wheels. The program assists homebound seniors in the township. For more information, call Bob at human services at (732) 222-7737.
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The Greater Long Branch and Ocean Township chambers of commerce will present a "Day at the Races" on Aug. 29 starting at noon at Monmouth Park Racetrack. Cost per person is $35 which includes admission, program and a buffet lunch. Seating is limited so hurry and call for reservations at (732) 222-0400.
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The Ocean Township Historical Museum is selling memorial bricks to raise money. The bricks will be used to construct new pathways on the grounds of the museum, and the money raised will support preservation of the 200-year-old Woolley Homestead as a museum. The bricks are priced at $100 each. For information, call the museum at (732) 531-2136, or the bricks committee chairman at (732) 531-9187.
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Elks Lodge 742 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2140, both of Long Branch, will be holding a luau that will include Hawaiian dancers Aug. 19 from 1-6 p.m. at the Elks club at 150 Garfield Ave.
The event will also offer horseshoes, volleyball, a kissing booth, a Hawaiian photo booth and horse-racing games. The cost per person is $20. Kids ages 8-16 get in for $10; kids under age 8 enter free. For information and to buy tickets, call (732) 870-2224 or (732) 222-9742.
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The Monmouth Reform Temple, Tinton Falls, will host an open house Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon and Aug. 29 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.For more information, contact Rabbi Sally J. Priesand or Cantor Gabrielle J. Clissold at (732) 747-9365, or visit the temple’s Web site at www.monmouth. com/~mrt/.
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St. Mary’s Parish and School community will present its 39th Gaudeamus, "Aloha Hau’ Oli" (Hello and Rejoice) on Aug. 10. This year’s Gaudeamus has a Hawaiian theme and includes a luau catered by Creative Caterers, Ocean Township. The night will include a DJ and dancing; a silent auction with such items as a dinner party for eight, Yankee tickets, and sports memorabilia on the block; and a 50/50 raffle. Tickets are $75, and all proceeds will benefit St. Mary’s School in Ocean Township. For reservations and information, contact Marie Acampora at (732) 493-1670.
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The Long Branch Historical Association is holding a luau and pool party at Seashore Day Camp Aug. 11 from noon-5 p.m. The cost is $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 7-12. Children age 6 and under will be admitted free. The day includes a Hawaiian buffet. For tickets, call (732) 229-9248.
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Long Branch Senior Center, 85 Second Ave., is now offering tai chi classes Wednesday mornings. There are two classes available, at 8:30 and 9:30 a.m., taught by professional instructor Robert Fisher. The sessions cost $2 with payment made directly to the instructor before the class begins. For additional information, call (732) 571-6542.
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Volunteers are needed by the Long Branch Senior Center to help with heating, packaging, serving and cleanup in the center’s nutrition program. The center serves both the homebound as well as seniors who attend the Dining-In Program at its Broad Street location. To volunteer, call either Pat or Cindy at (732) 571-6542.
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The Monmouth Conservatory of Music, a nonprofit music school in Red Bank, is accepting new members for the fall semester of its Children’s Opera Chorus. No singing experience is necessary, and the school offers performances, vocal training, and development of musical skills. The chorus is for children in grades 2-12 (grouped according to age and ability) and tuition is $150 per semester. A European tour is planned for the summer of 2003. Auditions for new members are being scheduled for Sept. 4 beginning at 7 p.m. Call (732) 741-8880.
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The Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross is holding its 11th annual Festival of Fashions Aug. 23 at the Toms River Holiday Inn on Route 37. The doors will open at 6 p.m. and fall fashions shown will be supplied by the Limited Too, Sales Unlimited, LJ’s Total Man, and Jordan Taylor Woman. Seating for the event is limited. Tickets cost $32 per person, and Aug. 12 is the deadline for ticket sales. The Festival of Fashions includes a dinner, cash bar, and a chance auction. For more information or tickets, call (732) 493-9100, ext. 222.
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The Ocean Township Italian American Association’s 26th annual Italian Festival, will be held at Joe Palaia Park, Deal and Whale Pond roads, Aug. 7-11. Rides, fireworks, games, raffles, food-eating contests, an Italian street band, nightly entertainment, and plenty of food will be available. Admission is free. On Aug. 7-8 the festival will run from 5-11 p.m., Aug. 9 from 5-11:30 p.m., Aug. 10 from 4 p.m. to midnight, and Aug. 11 from 4-11 p.m. For more information, call Carlo Gallello at (732) 517-1040.
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Nine women who became good friends when all lived in Monmouth Beach 25 years ago just enjoyed a reunion on a nine-day cruise to nowhere. Renate English, a resident of Navesink Drive in the borough, said she and her friends were making good on tickets purchased last year for a cruise to start Sept. 13.
"Nobody was going in and out of New York harbor" at that time, however, in the wake of the terrorist attacks two days earlier Sept. 11, she said. So they rebooked for this July, and set sail on The Royal Empress.
"We had a great time," English said. "We had solid girl time. We did our own version of the Red Hat group. Everybody wore red hats, and we had a table with a big, fat candle lady which the maitre d’ would light every night. Everyone wore purple underwear. We talked nonstop."
Others in the group, in addition to English, were Peggy Crowley, formerly of Shrewsbury Harbor Estates; Speedy Jennings of Cook Street; Trish Murphy, formerly of Wesley Street; Mary Ann Naima, formerly of Meadow Avenue; Barbara Stelma, formerly of Navesink Drive; Antoinette D’Annunzio, formerly of Monmouth Parkway; Sue Carey, formerly of Gull Point Road, and Cheryl Johnston of Sea View Avenue.
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Mary Bonn, 18, of Ocean Township, who just graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School, has won the Silver Award, the highest honor in Venturing, a Scouting program for youth ages 14 through 20. Mary, a charter member of Venture Crew 4, a unit sponsored by St. Jerome Church of West Long Branch, became the first Venturer in the Monmouth Council to earn the award. The award was presented by Ted Gray, the adviser to the Venture Crew 4, at a court of honor at St. Jerome Church. The daughter of Douglas J. and Jean A. Bonn, Mary will attend Alvernia College in Reading, Pa., this fall, studying occupational therapy. She has a strong family connection to Scouting. Her father is an Eagle Scout, as is her older brother, Christopher. Three of her uncles also are Eagle Scouts. Venturing is the newest Scouting program, having just been established in 1998. It is co-educational.
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The United Methodist Women of Old First United Methodist Church on Locust Avenue in West Long Branch will hold a one-day only clothes sales from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 15. Most men’s, women’s and children’s clothes will be sold for $4 a bag. Some exceptions are coats, jackets and suits which will be priced from $5 to $10.
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The SPCA in Eatontown has been paired with the Howell Wal-Mart on Route 9 in a new national pet adoption program. Launched by the American Humane Association along with Purina PetCare and Wal-Mart, the "Very Best Pet Network" is aimed at finding homes for up to 125,000 pets. Wal-Mart stores are partnering with 2,500 local animal shelters to help educate the public about the joys and responsibilities of adopting a pet. The stores will have information boards in their pet department which will hold pictures of dogs and cats looking for good homes.