One of Lloyd Garrison’s original ornaments. When the Little Silver Borough Council approved the transfer of a surplus of $10,000 from the legal account to cover a shortage in the shade tree account on Monday night, state Senate Co-President John O. Bennett III quipped that obviously the borough attorney wasn’t being paid enough.
The comment by Bennett, who is the borough attorney and who lives in Little Silver, drew laughs from everyone at the council table.
"Do you think that will make the front page?" Bennett asked, a reference to news stories critical of him that ran in the Asbury Park Press earlier this year.
"I’ve got to get some more of those duplicate bills out," Bennett added, jokingly, evoking even heartier laughter with his reference to stories about his alleged double billing in Marlboro while serving as the township attorney there.
Borough Administrator Michael D. Biehl joined the levity when he quipped, "We’re smart enough not to pay them," prompting more laughs.
****
In a more serious vein, Bennett, who was defeated for re-election to the state Senate on Nov. 4, said during a brief break between the council workshop and the regular council meeting that he would welcome an appointment to the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, whose operations include the Monmouth Park Racetrack, located in Oceanport.
Bennett said he would want to be on the Sports Authority because he would like to continue in some kind of public service and because he worries about what kind of development would come to Monmouth Park if the Sports Authority leases out the facility, as it has been considering doing.
"It might become Haskell Day every day," he said, referring to the premier race held at Monmouth Park every summer.
"You know what it’s like on Haskell Day. Oceanport is a town of 6,000 people. Who’s going to pay for the extra police?"
****
The old-fashioned look of Christmas lights strung above the streets of downtown Red Bank enchanted Lloyd Garrison when he moved his studio here from North Jersey.
Known for his popular series of Christmas cards depicting Red Bank street scenes, Garrison this year decided to raise funds for holiday decorations in the downtown by designing a Christmas ornament.
The limited-edition red glass ball he designed features a vignette of Broad Street shops and includes the iconic clock outside Reussille’s jewelry store.
The ornament also features the words "Season’s Greetings, Red Bank, N.J."
"It’s the way the town looked in 1996 when the old stores, Carroll’s, Clayton & McGee, and Prown’s, were still here," he explained. "The Christmas ball captures the nostalgic look of the town, and that image is so powerful."
For each $20 ball sold, Garrison is donating $5 to Red Bank RiverCenter to fund Christmas lights.
"It’s such a pretty look and one only a town could have," he noted. "You can’t do that in a mall."
Only half of the 300 Christmas balls made are still available from RiverCenter, 20 Broad St., or Lloyd’s Gallery, second floor, 25 Broad St.
****
Little Silver Mayor Suzanne S. Castleman announced that the borough’s tree-lighting ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. Santa Claus will arrive on a fire engine after the tree is lighted, and cider and doughnuts will be served.
****
The Campership of Monmouth County is holding a holiday luncheon Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Molly Pitcher Inn, Red Bank.
There will be a chance auction and an opportunity to purchase the centerpieces. Fee is $40. All profits go toward sending physically, emotionally, mentally and financially challenged children to summer camp. For reservations or more information, call Judy at (732) 758-1162.
****
The Red Bank Elks Lodge will host its annual Hoop-Shoot contest Dec. 7 at the Red Bank Regional High School gym in Little Silver for youngsters ages 8-13.
For more information, call Tom VanLaarhoven at (732) 291-3068.
****
A Christmas Party for handicapped children and adult retarded citizens will be held Dec. 14 at 1 p.m. at the Red Bank Elks Lodge. Santa Claus will be present.
****
The Woman’s Club of Red bank will host a Holiday Party-Open House Dec. 7, 4-7 p.m. at the clubhouse at 164 Broad St. Information about the club’s community service project for the holidays will be available at that party. For information about membership, call (732) 345-9114.
****
The Presbyterian Church at Shrewsbury, Sycamore Avenue, will hold a "Very Dickens Christmas" bazaar from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 6.
Items for sale will include gifts, handmade crafts, beautiful greens arrangements, poinsettias, home-baked goods as well as jewelry, books, nearly new toys and more. Many of the crafts are made by church members. Some crafts are made by Christian crafters in third world countries and the proceeds from those are returned directly to them.
Children can have their picture taken with Santa. Shoppers can have their purchases wrapped while enjoying coffee and donuts or lunch. All proceeds are dedicated to local, national and international mission projects. For more information, call (732) 842-3570.
****
"It’s His Birthday, Mr. Scrooge!," a musical drama for Christmas, will be presented with a live band and chorus at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12, 13 and 14 at the First Assembly of God, 220 Sycamore Ave., Shrewsbury.
Doors open nightly at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free; however, a love offering will be taken. For more information, call the church at (732) 741-0048.
****
The Woman’s Club of Little Silver will hold its holiday luncheon and general meeting at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 10 at The Bistro in Little Silver.
The public is invited. Prospective members may call the membership chairman at (732) 747-3339 for information and reservations.
****
A "Tastefully Simple Social" and gift auction will be held at Monmouth Regional High School in Tinton Falls by members of the class of 2005 from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 5. The charge at the door is $2. There will be small food tasting items -— dips, teas, breads and desserts.
****
The Monmouth County Park System will celebrate its annual "Holiday Happening" from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 7 at Thompson Park, Newman Springs Road, in the Lincroft section of Middletown. The event includes visits with Santa, wagon rides, kids’ races, a holiday sing-along and family entertainment.
The stage presentations begin with a performance of the First Presbyterian Church Chapel Bell Ringers from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. and conclude with a holiday sing-along from 4:15 to 5 p.m. There also will be strolling entertainment and an arts and crafts show. Admission and parking are free. For more information or directions, call (732) 842-4000.
****
The Monmouth Arts Foundation Music Association will hold its monthly musical coffee hour at 10 a.m. on Dec. 11 at the Monmouth County Library Eastern Branch, Route 35, Shrewsbury.
The speaker will be Dhriti Bagchi, an educator at the South Asian Centers for Language and Heritage in Manalapan and also in Franklin in Somerset County, who will present an illustrated program on the folk music and dance from regional areas of India. Bagchi, a resident of Manalapan, was born in the Madhya Pradesh province of Bengal. She has studied in India with a master of folk songs.
The coffee hour is free and open the public. For more information, call (732) 741-7237.
****
The Monmouth County Cotillion Committee Inc., which provides scholarships to deserving seniors either graduating from a Monmouth County high school or living in Monmouth County, has announced three events leading up to its Debutante and Escort Scholarship Cotillion on April 14.
On Jan. 4, an orientation tea will be held at Branches, West Long Branch. Feb. 22 is mentor day at Asbury Park High School.
On March 7, a fashion and talent show will be held at Asbury Park High School. The cotillion, the 54th to be presented by the nonprofit organization, will take place at 3 p.m., on April 24, at Convention Hall in Asbury Park.
****
The Deep Cut Orchid Society is holding its Eighth Annual Orchid Show Feb. 26-29 at Monmouth Mall in Eatontown.
The displays will invoke fantasy gardens, rain forests and beautiful woodland paths overhung with majestic orchids.
More than 23 landscaped displays, ranging in size from 25 to 150 square feet, will offer actual scenes painstakingly arranged to show the beauty of the plants in their natural environments.
****
Christ Church Shrewsbury’s 2003 Christmas bazaar, "O Tannenbaum: Homage to God in Nature," will be held Dec. 5, 5-9 p.m., and Dec. 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., in the church parish house at the corner of Sycamore Avenue and Route 35, in Shrewsbury.
Holiday shoppers will find many tempting items for sale, including glass orbs filled with tiny seashells and other ornaments fashioned from plant materials. Also available are personalized wreaths and wreath decorations, poinsettias in many sizes and colors, handcrafted angels, a selection of jewelry items and gently used books, and homemade goodies.