Monroe organizations looking ahead to 2007

Monroe committees and organizations set goals for the coming year.

By: Stephanie Brown and Candice Leigh Helfand
   MONROE— From the Monroe Township Cultural Arts Commission to the Friends of the Senior Center, everyone has their eyes on 2007.
   Here’s what some township groups are looking at for the next year.
Cultural Arts
Commission
   The Cultural Arts Commission plans to continue its tradition of integrating culture into the area.
   "As sort of a standard with us, we always tried to bring in interesting, stimulating and enriching cultural arts programs for the citizens of the township," said Commissioner Nancie Gunkleman.
   This year, the commission plans on doing so with more diverse presentations, including presenting a troupe of South African dancers and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra.
   "The real thing is to make our community, to enrich it with cultural stimulation," said Ms. Gunkleman. "We try to get things that maybe they won’t see elsewhere, because our community is generally very educated and sophisticated. They want to be challenged as well as entertained, and they want to learn."
   The commission will also continue running programs through the Recreation Center, including acting classes, a one-to-two week summer camp for younger children, as well as separate courses run through Monroe Township High School for adult learning.
   The commission has recently created a Web site, which can be found at www.monroetownshipculturalarts.com.
— Candice Leigh Helfand
Education Foundation
   The goals of the Monroe Education Foundation are far-reaching.
   The foundation aims not only to provide the school district with thousands of dollars in grants and equipment each year, but also — and ultimately — to enhance the education of township students for years to come, said President Rich Salvadore.
   Each year, the foundation awards grants to teachers who then use the money to fund special programs for students.
   Teachers request grant money for their programs in the fall and the foundation’s grant committee reviews each request. Grants are awarded to the selected applicants in December.
   On Dec. 13, the foundation awarded more than $63,000 in grant money to 35 educational programs for the 2007-2008 school year, Mr. Salvadore said.
   "The programs we look to fund are to enhance education and inspire lifelong learning," Mr. Salvadore said.
   Among the programs funded by foundation grants are a visit by a portable planetarium to Barclay Brook School, called Shooting for the Stars, and Applegarth’s Salute to Veterans program, which encourages students to learn about veterans, and to support those currently in the military.
   The foundation relies on fundraisers and private donations to pay for the requested educational programs.
   Mr. Salvadore said the number of grant requests increase every year, but fortunately, so does the amount of money the foundation can award.
   Since its inception in 1995 by township resident and foundation secretary/treasurer Jim Ungerleider, the foundation has increased the number of grants it awards. The foundation awarded 11 grants for the 2004-2005 school year, 21 grants totaling $37,433 for the 2005-2006 school year, and 31 grants totaling 55,294 for the 2006-2007 school year.
   "Next year, it’s just going to get bigger," Mr. Salvadore said.
   Another goal of the foundation is to raise $1 million by the time the new high school and elementary school are built. Called the $1 Million Capital Campaign, its purpose is to help the district meet some of its needs at that point in time, he said.
   "With the construction of the new elementary school and high school down the road from now, there will be additional equipment and upgrades that they’re going to need and hopefully we’ll be able to help them with that," Mr. Salvadore said.
   About 20 percent has been raised so far, he said.
   For more information on the Monroe Education Foundation, visit its Web site at www.monroeedfoundation.org.
— Stephanie Brown
Friends of the Library
   The Friends of the Library has quite a year ahead, according to President Rhoda Schorr.
   The group aims to continue expansion of the Monroe Township library — both in terms of the facility itself, as well as the collections it will offer to patrons — during the upcoming year. According to Ms. Schorr, they hope to expand on the alternative media options available, such as computers, as well as to supplement the children’s sections.
   The main objective is to keep local students of all ages interested in reading, and the library in general.
   "We’re hoping to inspire an influx of students," she said. "These days, children simply do not read as much as they used to, and we’re hoping to change that."
   Ms. Schorr hopes that newer media options and books geared toward their needs will help facilitate that change.
   Additional plans involve a drive-up option for book returns, and the continued planning of in-house programs, including the library’s annual art shows and summer programs — in hopes of keeping students engaged in the library during the break from school.
   As far as fundraising is concerned, Ms. Schorr said they will hold their annual book sale.
— Candice Leigh Helfand
Friends
of the Senior Center
   The Friends of the Senior Center has a simple objective for 2007.
   "We’re hoping to offer more of the same," said Nila Boyko, former president and current member of the Friends of the Senior Center. "More of the same, as in, to extend what we offer, rather than shorten it."
   The Friends of the Senior Center has focused on making the senior center a social place, by helping to subsidize programs and performances offered by the center. They are hoping to pour more funds into additional programs.
   "Monroe pays for some, and we pay for some," she said. "That’s what makes the good entertainment."
   Ms. Boyko also said that they hope to continue with their charity efforts, such as helping out families in need and collecting toys for children.
   The Friends of the Senior Center is focused on enriching the lives of local senior citizens by improving upon the conditions and programs offered at the center.
— Candice Leigh Helfand
Historical Commission
   The Monroe Township Historical Preservation Commission has high hopes for 2007.
   Township Historian and commission Chairman John Katerba said the commission plans to secure funding that will be used for restoration projects and open its home base, the Charles Dey Farm, to the public.
   "We’re hoping that ’07 is going to be a very big year for us," said he said.
   Created in 1976 as the Heritage Cultural Commission and then re-established in 1994 as the Monroe Township Historical Preservation Commission, the commission aims to preserve the township’s historical features, and create an archive of Monroe area history.
   The commission has been successful in preserving over 40 acres of land on Old Church Road, which is home to the historic Charles Dey Farm.
   In the upcoming year, the commission plans to make the Charles Dey farmhouse accessible to the public by installing bathrooms and a parking lot, Mr. Katerba said.
   He said the commission intends to have the old farmhouse open on a regular basis, much like Buckelew Mansion in Jamesburg.
   The commission also plans to restore existing historic buildings that are in major disrepair, including a barn behind Dey farm and the England House, which are both located on Old Church Road.
   But first, Mr. Katerba said, the commission must obtain funds from the township, county or state — or a combination of all three — to pay for those improvements.
   He said the commission has submitted a budget request to the township for the upcoming year.
   "Hopefully, the township will have some ideas for us and know what avenues to pursue," Mr. Katerba said.
— Stephanie Brown