~ Notes Around Town ~


Ocean Township High School senior Chris Donohue plays with the school’s band one last time during the graduation ceremony June 24.Ocean Township High School senior Chris Donohue plays with the school’s band one last time during the graduation ceremony June 24.

Monmouth University can’t win. After the debacle of the graduation held outdoors on the Great Lawn in the rain on May 21, the university tried to make amends by holding a reception for graduates and their families this past Saturday and Sunday afternoons in Wilson Hall and the adjoining garden. The fountains would be turned on and photo ops would abound. But, alas, it rained all day on Saturday and threatened to rain and drizzled off and on on Sunday, putting a damper on what should have been a joyous occasion.

Few graduates showed up, leaving the cavernous and richly restored rooms at one point Saturday afternoon entirely to the wedding party of an earlier graduate for picture-taking. The bride, who holds a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees from Monmouth University, said she came back to be photographed there on her wedding day because of her love for the school.

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Graduation exercises for the eighth grade at the Frank Antonides School in West Long Branch were held on Friday at the Pollak Theatre at Monmouth University. Ninety-five graduates received their diplomas in the ceremony. The commencement speakers were Morgan Hennessey and Timothy Lee, who submitted the winning essays on "What America Means to Me" in a writing competition. Several awards were presented to the students.


FARRAH MAFFAI David Calderon, 7, plants foxglove in the ABC garden at Meadowbrook School last week.FARRAH MAFFAI David Calderon, 7, plants foxglove in the ABC garden at Meadowbrook School last week.

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The Monmouth Beach School held its eighth-grade graduation at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the school gymnasium. Thirty-five students received their diplomas, which were presented by Steven Adams, vice president of the Board of Education. The valedictorian was his son, Steven Adams, and the salutatorian was John Kuhlthau. Awards were presented by Neil Frankenfield, the school superintendent. The ceremony was opened with the flag salute led by David Mahoney, president of the eighth-grade class, the "Star Spangled Banner," and greetings from Mayor James P. McConville III.

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The Memorial School in Eatontown held its graduation exercises in the Performing Arts Center at Monmouth Regional High School in Tinton Falls at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Diplomas were awarded to the 147 students by Pamela Clarke, president of the Board of Education, and Robert J. Soprano, the superintendent of schools. The pledge of allegiance was led by Christine Chan, president of the student council, and student addresses were given by Lindsay Corcione and Nicole Bianco. Greetings were delivered to the graduates by Eatontown Mayor Gerald J. Tarantolo. A number of awards were presented in subject areas and by community organizations.

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Eatontown will hold a "Fireworks for Freedom" display at Fort Monmouth on July 2. The celebration begins at 5 p.m. and will include music, kiddie rides and food. The Eatontown Municipal Band will perform at 8 p.m., followed by the fireworks at 9 p.m. Access to the base will be restricted to Nicodemus Avenue, across from St. Dorothea’s Church. The rain date is July 3. For more information, call Eatontown Borough Hall at (732) 389-7621.

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West Long Branch will hold its Fourth of July fireworks on July 4 at Franklin Lake Park. The rain date is July 5.

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The Eatontown Municipal Band, under the direction of John J. Collins, is preparing for the July 2 performance at the fireworks at Fort Monmouth and for the weekly concert series that will follow in Wampum Memorial Park. The "Music in the Park" concert series begins at 8 p.m. on July 7 and will continue at 8 p.m. every Monday evening in July — on the 14th, 21st and 28th — at the gazebo in the park. The performances are free, and each week will feature a different musical program from the band’s ever-expanding repertoire. Musical selections will include medleys ranging from Hollywood hits to Broadway shows with a few other surprise pieces. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy. In case of rain, the concerts will be held at the Eatontown Community Center, 68 Broad St., instead of in the park.

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Sea Bright will hold a Beach Bash, a beach party to benefit the borough’s recreation program, from 4 to 9 p.m. June 28 on the municipal beach. The party will feature local bands and family activities such as volleyball, tug of war, and sack races. Door prizes donated by local businesses will be awarded to lucky ticket holders. Hamburgers and hot dogs from the grill, chips, soda and Ralph’s Italian Ices will be available. Tickets are $15 per person for adults, $5 for children under age 12. The rain date is June 29. To reserve tickets, call John Kerwin, Sea Bright recreation director, at (732) 842-0099, Ext. 27.

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Sea Bright will hold its Fourth of July fireworks display on the beach on July 4. Tim McLoone and The Shirleys will provide entertainment beforehand. The rain date is July 5, but only for the fireworks.

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St. Dorothea’s Guild, in Eatontown, will sponsor a "Christmas in July" luncheon and gift auction at noon on Sunday, July 27, at the Old Orchard Manor, 54 Monmouth Road, in Eatontown. Tickets are $25 if prepaid by July 19 and $28 afterward. For tickets or more information, call (732) 542-5559, (732) 542-6091 or (732) 842-8713.

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Nunzio Merla, 21, of West Long Branch, who will be a senior at Rowan University this fall, just visited Italy as part of an educational and cultural program sponsored by the National Italian American Foundation. The son of Charlie and Diane Merla, of Hollywood Avenue, he participated in a 10-day trip to Italy beginning May 26 as part of the foundation’s program, "The Gift of Discovery: Learning Exchange, Italy and America." Eighty Italian-American students were chosen, from out of 500 who applied, for the all-expenses-paid program to increase their understanding of Italy and their Italian heritage. The program participants met with teachers and students at the University of Cosenza, mingled with local officials at receptions in various cities, toured the museum in Calabria, and had a briefing with representatives of the editorial office of RAI-3, Italy’s radio and television system. Diane Merla is president of the Shore Regional High School Board of Education.

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The 14th annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth County Golf Classic will be held Sept. 18 at the Spring Lake Golf Club in Spring Lake. The fee for individual golfers is $325. A corporate foursome costs $1,800. For questions, call Big Brothers Big Sisters in Eatontown at (732) 544-2224, ext. 16.

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The 49th annual sidewalk sale will be held in downtown Red Bank July 25, 26 and 27. Red Bank RiverCenter, which sponsors the sale, promises this sidewalk sale will be the biggest ever, stretching over three days from Friday through Sunday. Friday and Saturday hours will be 9 a.m.- 8 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.

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Family & Children Service will host its 53rd summer party July 16 at 3 p.m. An afternoon tea will take place under a tent at the Navesink Country Club. A highlight of the event will be silent and gift auctions. Each auction will consist of in-vogue, new and vintage original handbags donated by design houses including Ferragamo, Kate Spade, Prada and others. Proceeds of the event will benefit the FCS, which is the oldest and largest social services agency in Monmouth County. Tickets are $50, and $35 for those 13-18 years of age. For more information, contact Linda Steele at (732) 531-9111 or [email protected].

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Sea Bright has a new zoning official. She is Mary Tangolics, of Ocean Grove, who is an architect and certified planner. The Borough Council approved the hiring of Tangolics at its June 17 meeting. She started work the next day and replaces Ray DiPasquale, who left to take a job in Montana. Tangolics will also serve as the assistant code enforcement official.

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Sea Bright Councilman Andrew Mencinsky said the summer recreation program being developed for adults and children under the borough’s new recreation director will include karate, squash, and beach volleyball, most offered on a fee basis.

He noted how the borough has a beautiful (privately owned) squash club in its midst, which was totally renovated last year.

Mencinsky also reminded everyone about the borough’s upcoming Beach Bash on Saturday, which is being held as a fund-raiser for the recreation program. The party will take place from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the municipal beach and will feature music by local bands, family activities such as volleyball, tug of war, and sack races, and hamburgers and hot dogs served from the grill.

Tickets are $15 per person; $5 for children under age 12.

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Liberty Extravaganza, the always eagerly awaited Fourth of July concert presented every year by the First Presbyterian Church of Red Bank, will be held on July 6. It will be kicked off with a strawberry festival on the patio from 5 to 7 p.m., which will be followed by the concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. Featured will be annual favorites such as "We Need A Parade," "God Bless America," and the "Salute to the Armed Forces" with the songs of each of the military services. The church’s Tower Hill Choir will be joined by singers from the community and other local churches, and a local brass ensemble, as well as Tower Hill’s high school bell ringers, in putting on the show which will conclude with the raising of the grand flag during the "Star Spangled Banner" finale. To join the Liberty Choir for the occasion, which begins practices June 25, call the church’s music office at (732) 747-1329.

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On Saturday, July 26, from 2-5 p.m., Celebration! Animation Art Gallery will host a gallery exclusive with special guest Kent Melton. Direct from California, Mr. Melton is an artist and sculptor for Disney, Warner Bros., Dream Works and other major film studios. He will be featuring his newest releases from the classic collections, Snow White and Pinocchio.

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Red Bank Regional High School’s senior class presented The Community YMCA Count Basie Achievement Branch with a $1,000 gift certificate to Borders Books to benefit the children in the after-school programs.