will play a show at
borough high school
Oct. 12 concert to support
community alliance efforts
R&B band The Fins
will play a show at
borough high school
By linda denicola
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — Organizers of the second "Big Night Out" event are hoping that the rhythm and blues group The Fins will have such musical appeal that it will draw an audience from across all ages and cultures.
They just may be right on.
"The Fins are really quite a well-known urban rhythm and blues big band in New Jersey and down the East Coast," said David Singer, a member of the Freehold Community Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, the organization that is presenting the fund-raiser scheduled for Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Freehold Borough High School theater, Broadway and Robertsville Road, Freehold Borough.
Proceeds from the fund-raiser will go toward helping the volunteer organization combat the use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
"We want it to be our largest fund-raiser of the year. We’re extremely concerned about the rise in drug, alcohol and cigarette use among teens and preteens. These funds help to educate kids, families and other community residents and help prevent the onset of these abuses," Singer said.
The Fins have brought together several rich musical styles to form one powerful, hard-driving sound. Since the group’s inception, they have performed and shared the stage with such legends as Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Robert Cray, John Mayall, Johnny Winter, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, A.C. Reed and Koko Taylor.
In fact, Singer said, at the request of former President Bill Clinton, The Fins performed at his 1993 inaugural gala in Landover, Md.
The Freehold Community Alliance — which serves the communities of Freehold Borough and Freehold Township — is part of a statewide program of municipal alliances that are aimed at the prevention of drug abuse. Freehold’s municipal alliance is a coalition of Freehold Township and Freehold Borough schools, Freehold Community Counseling Service, Freehold Regional High School District, Freehold Township and Freehold Borough police departments, the Township Committee in Freehold Township and the Borough Council in Freehold Borough. It also includes local clergy, civic and social associations, and other community-minded and concerned citizens.
Primary funding is derived from the Drug Enforcement Demand Reduction Fund, which is comprised of fines on convicted drug offenders. Partial funding is provided by the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.
The majority of the alliance’s activities are supported by grants and fund-raising activities such as the "Big Night Out" and a golf outing that was held a couple of months ago.
Freehold Township supports the activities of the alliance with additional funding. Earlier this summer, the governing body passed a resolution amending the 2002 budget to reflect a slight increase in the alliance’s grant. The funding went from $36,862 to $37,050.
Freehold Borough is supporting the alliance with funding of $10,000 in its 2002 municipal budget, according to the borough administrator’s office.
General admission for the Oct. 12 "Big Night Out" is $20; $15 for seniors and students. According to Singer, another way of getting tickets is to advertise in the event program and ad journal.
For further information, tickets and sponsorship opportunities, all of which will help support the Freehold Community Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, call (732) 409-6260.