CHRIS KELLY Long Branch’s Edwin Torres Jr., 5, watches as the ASA Demo Team performs at Monmouth Park, Oceanport, on July 13.
The Monmouth Park Charity Ball will be held Saturday, Aug. 9, at the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands. The theme for this year’s ball is "A Celebration of Monmouth Park," with music provided by A Touch of Class. The festivities will begin with cocktails at 7 p.m., accompanied by a silent auction and games of chance at 7:30 p.m., and followed by dinner and dancing at 8:30 p.m. Tickets for the cocktail party and dinner begin at $150. For reservations, call (732) 571-5325, or 571-5326.
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St. Dorothea’s Guild, Eatontown, is sponsoring a "Christmas in July" luncheon and Chinese auction on Sunday, July 27, at noon at the Old Orchard Manor, 54 Monmouth Road, Eatontown. Tickets cost $28. To purchase tickets, call (732) 542-5559, (732) 542-6091 or (732) 842-8713.
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The Eatontown Municipal Band will hold its final outdoor concert in the Music in the Park series at 8 p.m. on Monday, July 28. A different musical program, drawn from the band’s ever-expanding repertoire, is featured each week. Musical selections include brand-new arrangements of medleys ranging from Hollywood hits to Broadway tunes, along with some other surprise pieces. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating. In the event of inclement weather, the performance will be moved indoors to the Eatontown Community Center, 68 Broad St.
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The Monmouth County SPCA will hold its annual summer gala from 5-8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 17, at the Deal Golf and Country Club. Honors this year will go to Rumson police Sgt. Scott Paterson for courageously saving the life of Cosmo, a border collie who fell into Polly’s Pond in Rumson. Additional honors will be awarded to Patrolman Robert Boyer and Animal Control Officer Bob Savoth for their assistance. Tickets cost $80 and include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a buffet dinner. All proceeds benefit shelter animals cared for at the Monmouth County SPCA until they find loving homes. For reservations or more information, call (732) 542-0040.
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An ordinance introduced at the last Ocean Township Council meeting amends an existing traffic ordinance to include traffic signs at every street intersecting Lake Avenue from Whalepond Road to Monmouth Road. Anyone familiar with traveling that road would know that the stop signs have been in place for years. Apparently the signs were not erected legally, meaning they were put up without an ordinance as required by law. To correct the oversight, the ordinance was scheduled to be adopted at the July 23 council meeting.
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The Ocean Township Council has agreed to hire Eric M. Bernstein of Bernstein and Associates, Warren, as its special counsel and conflict counsel. Bernstein has more time on his hands now since he is not handling a large caseload for Long Branch, where he is the labor counsel handling such cases as the Potter and Green suit, and Fitzpatrick vs. Long Branch. The city lost both suits. More recently Bernstein is handling a single case, Long Branch vs. Firefighter Joseph Hornick, which has been tied up in the courts for the last seven years. Attorney James Plosia is handling most of the labor cases in Long Branch.
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A resident of North Edgemere Drive, Ocean, asked the governing body during a public meeting last week if they would consider passing a resolution that would prohibit unnecessary idling of motor vehicles in the township. Jay Kearn cited that Monmouth County is rated as the fourth in air pollution and cancer rates in the state. Kearn shared his personal experience about the time AAA came to his home to service his car. "He left the motor running while he worked on my car," said Kearn. The same incident was repeated when his neighbor called AAA. More recently Kearn said he went to the township library, and outside a car was left idling. When Kearn came out of the library 15 minutes later, the same car was still idling in the parking lot. "This only adds to the pollution," said Kearn, "but we can control it. This area is controllable."
Mayor William F. Larkin in response to the request instructed Township Attorney Richard English to draw up a resolution. Township Manager David R. Kochel said he did not think it was a problem, and Councilman Chris Siciliano said, "Great minds think alike."
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The New Jersey Environmental Federation (NJEF), the state’s largest environmental organization, announced it is launching a door-to-door organizing drive throughout Monmouth County over the coming weeks to increase protections for the area’s drinking water as well as generate support for the "BIG" map (Blueprint Intelligent Growth).
Environmentalists will begin their campaign in Belmar, Avon, Bradley Beach, Tinton Falls, Eatontown and Neptune.
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The Woodgate Bridge on Woodgate Avenue in Long Branch, which was opened to traffic after extensive construction last month, is once again attracting speeders. After receiving a call from a concerned resident from the Elberon section of town reporting speeding vehicles last Monday, police Sgt. Lyndon Johnson, Cpl. Steven Costello and Officer Yujung Kim set out to observe the situation. Within a couple of hours, the officers wrote 21 speeding tickets to drivers traveling well over 40 mph in a 25 mph speed zone. According to authorities, Woodgate Avenue is not the only problematic spot. Because of their long stretches of roadway, Park Avenue and Van Patten Avenue on the south side of town as well as Patten Avenue connecting Monmouth Beach are also a haven for those lead-foot drivers.
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The sales center at the Long Branch Promenade is giving potential home buyers a glimpse at what their money will buy on the Oceanfront in Beachfront North. So far the center is only taking names and addresses of prospective buyers despite the fact that two sections of the townhouses have already been framed, windows installed and the exterior finishes are being added. Word has it that the houses are running from $400,000 to $500,000 and upward of $800,000 for units overlooking the ocean.
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In celebration of the city of Long Branch’s centennial celebration next year, the Long Branch Historical Association is sending a questionnaire to all city organizations. The association is compiling a commemorative book that will include the city’s history and development, both before and after incorporation, a business and organizations directory, useful information about the city, and lots of pictures to be displayed in a hardcover book.
Questionnaires must be returned by July 30 to the association, c/o Levin, 475 Bath Ave., Long Branch 07740. For more information contact JoAnn Levin at (732) 229-9258.
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The theater on the corner of Brighton Avenue and Ocean Boulevard has finally been sold. Site Management, Ocean, a company that Solomon Dwek purchased and maintains properties through, purchased the building from singer-songwriter Mitch Lee for $1,425,000. Dwek also owns the properties to the south of the theater as well as several properties in Ocean Township and West Long Branch.
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The city of Long Branch needs help to cultivate the community gardens on Liberty Street, Sairs Avenue and Seventh Avenue. For those interested in volunteering, they can do so through the job bank by contacting the Long Branch Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact Jacob L. Jones at (732) 923-2043.
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The next regular meeting of the Long Branch Historical Association is scheduled for July 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Stella Maris Retreat Center, 981 Ocean Ave., Long Branch.
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The All Nations Street Festival is scheduled for Aug. 2 in the business district of lower Broadway between Third Avenue and Liberty Street from 1-8 p.m.
Ten music genres will be performing — blues, Brazilian, gospel, hip-hop, jazz, Latin, mariachi, pop, reggae and R&B.
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The Greater Long Branch Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Outing is scheduled at the Colts Neck Golf Club, 50 Flock Road, Colts Neck, Aug. 14 beginning at 8 a.m. Golf fee is $150, which includes greens fees, golf cart, locker room, golf shoe bag, a barbecue lunch, and awards limited to the first 100 golfers.
For more information, call (732) 222-0400.
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The Muscular Dystrophy Association, based in Shrewsbury, is seeking volunteers to answer phones and help out behind the scenes at this year’s Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, airing on WWOR UPN 9 on Sunday, Aug. 31, and Monday, Sept. 1. The telethon raises funds to support MDA’s program of worldwide research, public health education and services for people affected by any of more than 40 neuromuscular diseases. To volunteer, contact the local MDA office at (732) 389-0855.
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The Monmouth Civic Chorus, based in Red Bank, has invited all singers to join in a Summer Sing of great opera choruses. Come sing favorite selections from some of the world’s most beautiful operas at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at Rumson Presbyterian Church, 4 East River Road. The $5 admission fee includes refreshments. Opera anthology scores will be available on loan. For more information, call the Chorus at (732) 933-9333.
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To help fight cerebral palsy and have a good time, head for the Windansea Tiki Bar at 56 Shrewsbury Ave. in Highlands on Aug. 23 for an afternoon of live music. David Miller & Jampact will provide music from noon till 4 p.m. For tickets, call Connie at (732) 651-6391, or the Windansea at (732) 872-2266, and ask for Lisa. A donation of $25 is requested.