Bulletin Board

– ‘Birthday Bash’ helps Hometown Heroes

On Jan. 10 the Jersey Shore will celebrate the birthday of the late and legendary Clarence Clemons with the third annual Big Man’s Birthday Bash at Bar Anticipation in Lake Como. The event will benefit Hometown Heroes, a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

The bash will be hosted by actor Vincent Pastore (Big Pussy from “The Sopranos”) and featured acts will include the Sensational Soul Cruisers, JoBonanno and the Godsons of Soul, Killer Joe and Lido Soul, the Eddie Testa Band, the Nick Clemons Band and many others.

An all-star lineup of special guest artists who will join the performing bands includes Gene Cornish, Bobby Bandiera, J.T. Bowen, Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez and Lance Larson.

Also appearing will be Springsteen fan favorite “The Philly Elvis,” Nick Ferraro, and actor Artie Pasquale of “The Sopranos”).

Nick Clemons, a.k.a. Clarence Clemons III, is the oldest son of Clemons and a co-producer of the event. He said, “My father always taught me to give back and remember the less fortunate. I try to do that and Hometown Heroes does great work for those in need.”

This is the third year Clemons and his team have produced the Birthday Bash. Co-producer Terry Camp is an attorney and long-time member of the Jersey Shore music community.

He recalled, “When Clarence passed, the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park hosted the Sensational Soul Cruisers and the Nick Clemons Band for a memorial show in July 2011. Bruce was kind enough to join us that epic night and we have been building on it since – selling out the Wonder Bar in December 2012 and packing Martell’s in Point Pleasant last January. The show gets bigger and bigger every year. We are thrilled to be working with Tom Jannarone and his Bar Anticipation team. That place is the cream of the crop for a diverse and quality entertainment experience.”

The show will feature guest jams that are a long-time tradition on the shore, according to a press release.

Birthday Bash details and frequent updates are at the Facebook Event page https://www.facebook.com/events/741748815903741/

– Event to support high school’s programs

The Rumson-Fair Haven High School Foundation will hold its Après Ski winter fundraiser from 7-10 p.m. Jan. 24, at the Knights of Columbus’ facility at 200 Fair Haven Road, Fair Haven.

The Foundation is a charitable organization whose mission is to fund projects and grants that enrich education programs at the high school, including field trips, transportation costs, auxiliary classroom equipment, speakers and presentations.

Tickets are $75 per person and include hors d’oeuvres, music entertainment and chance prizes. Tickets are available at www.rumsonfairhaven.org. A check made payable to the RFHHS Foundation can also be sent to: RFHHS Foundation, 74 Ridge Road, Rumson, NJ 07760. Payment must be received by Jan. 16.

– Photographer to speak at Audubon meeting

The Monmouth County Audubon Society will meet at 8 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Church of the Nativity, 180 Ridge Road, Fair Haven. The guest speaker will be photographer Kevin Watson, who will discuss the wildlife and snowy landscapes of northern Japan. The public is welcome, and admission is free.

Watson is an avid photographer, birder and traveler who has lectured and presented photo essays on birds and wildlife from around the world. His photographs have been published in several nature-related books, national birding publications and calendars.

Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month from September through May. For more information, visit www.monmouthaudubon.org.

– Garden club to host herb specialist Jan. 8

The Little Silver Garden Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 8 at the Women’s Club of Little Silver, 111 Church St., Little Silver.

The guest speaker will be herb specialist Ellen Simonetti, who will present a hands-on tutorial covering all aspects of planting, caring for and preserving herbs. A Q-and-A session will follow her presentation.

The club meets the second Thursday of the month at the Women’s Club of Little Silver. Visitors are welcome to arrive at 9:15 a.m. to view horticultural and floral design competitions, enjoy refreshments and learn about the club’s programs and projects. For more information about programs and membership, call Katharine McCleary at 732-747-4891.

– Violinist Sarah Chang to perform in concert

NEWARK — The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) announced that Bank of America will sponsor violinist Sarah Chang’s two-week residency during NJSO’s 2015 Winter Festival: Sounds of Shakespeare.

Chang will perform Bernstein’s “West Side Story” suite at all six NJSO venues throughout New Jersey.

Locally, Chang will perform at 8 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank and 3 p.m. Jan. 25 at the State Theatre in New Brunswick.

As part of her residency, Chang will visit and give classes for two of the NJSO Academy’s flagship education programs: the NJSO Youth Orchestras and the El Sistema-inspired NJSO Character, Achievement and Music Project.

Ticket prices begin at $20 and are available by calling 800-255-3476 or visiting www.njsymphony.org/events/detail/sarah-chang-plays-bernstein.

– Speaker to discuss secularism at meeting

The Red Bank Humanists will meet from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Jan., 11, at the Red Bank Charter School, 58 Oakland St., Red Bank. The meeting will feature guest speaker Susan Jacoby, who will present, “The Secular Conscience.” Jacoby is a Pulitzer Prize nominee and best-selling author. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Jacoby’s topics will include: How can we combat the misconception that there can be no morality without religion? Historically, why do atheists face more hostility from Americans than Europeans? How can individuals who have non-theist/atheist beliefs come out of the closet and effectively communicate their beliefs, and why is this essential in order to have a politically effective secular movement?

Jacoby is an independent scholar whose work focuses on American intellectual history. Her recent books include, “Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism,” “The Age of American Unreason” and “Never Say Die: The Myth and Marketing of the New Old Age.”  Her book, “Wild Justice: The Evolution of Revenge,” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 1984. For more information about Jacoby, visit www.susanjacoby.com.

For more information about the Red Bank Humanists, contact Trudy Lagan at 732-927-1RBH or visit www.redbankhumanists.org.

Park system seeks volunteer docents

The Monmouth County Park System is looking for volunteers to become docents at the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, 2566 Guam Lane, Tinton Falls. Docents will welcome visitors and answer questions about the facility.

Those who are 21 or older are encouraged to apply. Prospective volunteers are invited to attend an orientation session 9-10:30 a.m. Jan. 13 at the Recreation Center. Once trained, docents will be asked to volunteer 9 a.m. to noon during the week.

For more information or to register for the training session, contact Melissa Bezahler at 732-842-4000, ext. 4283 or melissa.bezahler@monmouthcountyparks.com.

To learn more about the Monmouth County Park System, visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com or call 732-842-4000, ext. 4312. For persons with hearing impairment, the TTY/TDD number is 711.

– School’s application deadline is Jan. 13

The Red Bank Charter School (RBCS) at 58 Oakland St. has announced the student application deadline for the 2015-16 school year is 4 p.m. Jan. 13.

A lottery is held each January, which is open to all children who are Red Bank residents. Parents who wish to have their children entered into the admissions lottery must submit an application to the school. Siblings of RBCS students are automatically granted a spot for enrollment, but must also submit an application.

Children whose numbers are not selected are invited to be placed on the student waiting list for admission to the school. Families can attend the school’s lottery at 7 p.m. Jan. 13.

For more information or an admission application, visit www.redbankcharterschool.com/apply.

– Deadline for student essay contest is Jan. 16

Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini (R-Monmouth) is inviting students in grades 6-8 to participate in her third annual Honor Our Veterans contest. Entries must be submitted to her office by Jan. 16.

Students must respond to one of the following topics: “Why are you thankful for our veterans?” or “What is the best way for Americans to honor their military men and women?”

Essays must be 300 words or less and will be judged on content, style and creativity. Five first-place winners will be recognized and join Angelini for a day of military-themed activities at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

“It is important for children to remember and recognize those who serve our country,” said Angelini in a press release. “Veterans should be honored everyday and this is one small way to thank our veterans for the sacrifices they make for our country.”

Entries can be mailed to: Assemblywoman Angelini, 1398 Highway 35, Suite 3, Ocean, NJ 07712 or emailed to: AswAngelini@njleg.org.