– Performing arts center earns nomination
WEST LONG BRANCH — The Monmouth University Center for the Arts was recently nominated for Favorite Small Performing Arts Center in the 2015 JerseyArts.com People’s Choice Awards.
The Center for the Arts was among 10 arts districts and 96 organizations nominated for the yearly awards program, which is run by Discover Jersey Arts to honor the work of New Jersey’s diverse arts organizations.
Nominees for the People’s Choice Awards were selected by their peers through the Jersey Arts Marketers network, which consists of hundreds of nonprofit arts groups across the state.
Public voting began Jan. 7 and will continue through Feb. 19. Winners will be announced in early March and then honored at the New Jersey Conference on Tourism, which will be held at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City.
For a full list of nominees and categories, visit www.jerseyarts.com/peopleschoice.
– Registration for Kindergarten slated
Betty McElmon Elementary School will hold its Kindergarten registration for the 2015-16 school year on Feb. 18 and 19 in the Media Center at 20 Parker Road, West Long Branch.
Feb. 18 registration will be held from 9-11:30 a.m. for children whose last names begin with A-M and from 1-2:30 p.m. for those whose names begin with N-Z.
Feb. 19 registration will be from 6-8 p.m. to accommodate working parents. Parents are requested to refrain from bringing children to registration.
To be eligible for Kindergarten, a child must be 5 years old or reach his/her birthday on or before Oct. 1, 2015. Information on Kindergarten orientation will be released at a later date.
Parents must present three current proofs of residency, including a driver’s license; property tax bill or mortgage statement for owners or a current lease for renters; and a utility bill.
In addition, bring the child’s original birth certificate and inoculation record. For more information about specific inoculation requirements, contact Pat Falco, school nurse, at 732-222-6500, ext. 1223.
For other information, contact Caroline Tallarico, school secretary, at 732-222-6500, ext. 1251.
– Library slates more February programs
The Long Branch Free Public Library has February programs at the Main Library at 328 Broadway and at the Elberon Branch Library at 168 Lincoln Ave.
February’s art exhibit, “Paintings of Delight,” will feature works by Tinton Falls artist, Demetrius Patterson. His highly textured, colorful oil paintings delight the eye and spark one’s imagination. The exhibit may be viewed at the Main Library’s Community Room during regular business hours.
Drop-in programs for tweens and teens are held at 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Main Library. Special activities will include: National Chocolate Mint Day Feb. 19 and Carnival Day Feb. 26. For more information, call Teen Services Manager Nekesha Marshall at 732-222-3900, ext. 231.
• “Free Tax Prep Assistance” is available from certified tax volunteers who will help with paper and electronic tax returns. Bring a copy of last year’s return; social security numbers for all taxpayers and dependents; final brokerage statements, if applicable; all W-2 and 1099 forms showing income; the total amount of property tax paid last year and the amount of mortgage interest paid; tax booklets mailed to your home; and unemployment vouchers. You may also bring the 2014 total amounts of the following: medical expenses; college tuition; childcare and the name and tax identification number of the provider; alimony; and charitable donations. There will be a photocopy charge of 10 cents per page side. For more information, call Janet Birckhead at 732-222-3900, ext. 229.
• “It’s a Long Month: Living on a Fixed Income” will be at 11 a.m. Feb. 20 at the Main Library. Are you living on a fixed income? Learn to stretch your income by setting priorities, establishing a budget and planning and saving. Maura Attardi, director of Education and Community Relations for Money Management International will present the free program.
• “Tablet Tuesday” will be held from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Feb. 23 in the Technology Center at the Main Library. Bring your device for a session of personal instruction. Devices should be charged and ready to use. Bring all cords and chargers. You will need your passwords for your Apple and/or Amazon accounts. If you do not have accounts, library staff can help you register. Learn how to borrow free eBooks and audiobooks through eLibraryNJ and how to use Zinio, a free digital magazine service. Other assistance with tablets may be offered at the library’s discretion. Registration is required. Call Lisa Kelly at 732-222-3900, ext. 235 to schedule an appointment.
• “Teen Book Club” will meet 5 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Main Library to discuss “Never Fall Down” by Patricia McCormick.
• A “Finding African-American Roots” genealogy class will be held from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Main Library. New Jersey genealogical writer and lecturer, Shamele Jorden, will get you started with your ancestry research. Learn where to start, how to gather information and find resources. Research tips will be given. Pre-registration is requested by contacting Lisa Kelly at lkelly.lbpl@gmail.com by Feb. 25.
For more information, contact the library at 732-222-3900 or visit www.longbranchlib.org.
– Lecture set on native plants of Jersey Shore
The American Littoral Society will hold its third in a series of four “Lunch n’ Learn” lectures at noon on Feb. 7 at Langosta Lounge, 1000 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park. Judy DeFiglio, native plant expert and owner of Garden Guidance, will be the guest speaker.
The lectures focus on topics related to protecting, restoring, preserving and enjoying the coastal areas. Since 2005, through its Shore Stewards program, the American Littoral Society has encouraged individuals, families, schools and Scout groups to learn more about coastal landscapes and watersheds in an effort to adopt more eco-friendly practices in maintaining their lawns, gardens and homes.
According to a press release, a key component of stewardship is to landscape with native plant species and to reduce water use and non-point source pollution. Native plants are low-maintenance, drought-tolerant and pest-resistant. They attract birds and butterflies to yards and help reduce the use of harmful chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides.
Tickets for the lunch and presentation are $30. Registration is required by calling 732-291-0055, ext. 110 or visiting www.littoralsociety.org. The final presentation will be given on
– Making a Difference award deadline Feb. 13
Nominations are being accepted for the 2015 Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference. Members of the community are invited to nominate New Jersey residents whose deeds, carried out in the state, make them worthy of recognition. Up to 11 individuals are eligible for cash awards of up to $50,000, which will be presented with the awards at a ceremony on May 1 at Ramapo College, Mahwah.
For more information, contact The Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference, c/o Office of the President, Ramapo College of New Jersey, 505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah 07430. Nomination forms are also available at www.ramapo.edu/berrie-awards/.
The deadline for entries is Feb. 13.
– Essay contest celebrates George Washington
The Old Barracks Museum in Trenton invites fourth- and fifth-grade students to celebrate George Washington’s birthday through an essay contest.
Participants must answer the following question: If George Washington could visit America in 2015, what do you think he would be most proud of in our country today?
All entries must be received by mail by February 6. The winning essays will be chosen based on content, style, originality and grammar.
Two lucky winners from each grade will be invited to meet Washington and share his birthday cake. Winners and their immediate families will also be given complimentary tours of the museum.
Winners will be notified by phone and/or mail by Feb. 11.
Contest rules and details are available at www.barracks.org under “Events.”
– Library slates its February programs
The Long Branch Free Public Library has February programs at the Main Library at 328 Broadway and at the Elberon Branch Library at 168 Lincoln Ave. The libraries will be closed Feb. 16, but the book drop will be open for returns.
February’s art exhibit, “Paintings of Delight,” will feature works by Tinton Falls artist, Demetrius Patterson. His highly textured, colorful oil paintings delight the eye and spark one’s imagination. The exhibit may be viewed at the Main Library’s Community Room during regular business hours.
Drop-in programs for tweens and teens are held at 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Main Library. Special activities will include: Trivia Tuesday Feb. 3 and 10; Create Your Own Meme Feb. 5; Valentine’s Day Craft Feb. 12; National Chocolate Mint Day Feb. 19; and Carnival Day Feb. 26. For more information, call Teen Services Manager Nekesha Marshall at 732-222-3900, ext. 231.
The City of Long Branch Health Department and the VNA of Central New Jersey will provide blood-pressure screenings from 3-4 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Main Library. A nurse will check your blood pressure and can answer general health questions in a quiet, private setting.
• “Elberon Book Club” will meet 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Elberon Branch Library to discuss Erica Bauermeister’s bestseller, “The School of Essential Ingredients.” Club meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month. The Friends of the Library will meet after the Book Club at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome.
• “WinterFest 2015!” for children will be at 4 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Main Library’s Children’s Room. Join the Kidz Club and celebrate winter with snacks, games and crafts.
• A “Frank Sinatra Tribute Concert” will be at 2 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Main Library. Dave DeLuca will pay tribute to Frank Sinatra on the 100th anniversary of his birth. DeLuca is an accomplished singer, songwriter, musician and recording engineer, who has performed for over 30 years. The concert is free and open to the public.
• “Free Tax Prep Assistance” will be provided by certified tax volunteers who will help with paper tax returns beginning Feb. 10 and electronic returns beginning Feb. 11. Bring a copy of last year’s return; social security numbers for all taxpayers and dependents; final brokerage statements, if applicable; all W-2 and 1099 forms showing income; the total amount of property tax paid last year and the amount of mortgage interest paid; tax booklets mailed to your home; and unemployment vouchers. You may also bring the 2014 total amounts of the following: medical expenses; college tuition; childcare and the name and tax identification number of the provider; alimony; and charitable donations. There will be a photocopy charge of 10 cents per page side. For more information, call Janet Birckhead at 732-222-3900, ext. 229.
• “Family Film Day” will be at 2 p.m. Feb. 14 in the Community Meeting Room at the Main Library. Bring snacks and enjoy “Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” on a big screen with surround-sound. Children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult.
• “Tween Book Club” will meet 5 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Main Library to discuss “Same Sun Here” by Silas House and Neela Vaswani.
• “Non-Fiction Book Club” will meet 1:30 p.m. Feb. 19 in the Community Meeting Room at the Main Library. Tanner Colby’s “Some of My Best Friends Are Black: The Strange Story of Integration in America” will be discussed. New members and visitors are always welcome, even if you haven’t read the book.
For more information, contact the library at 732-222-3900 or visit www.longbranchlib.org.
– Library to host Frank Sinatra tribute concert
The Long Branch Free Public Library will host Dave DeLuca as he pays tribute to Frank Sinatra in “A Century of Sinatra” at 2 p.m. Feb. 7 at 328 Broadway.
DeLuca will celebrate Ol’ Blue Eyes, his music and the great composers, lyricists and musical arrangers who put their indelible stamp on an incredible period in American musical history.
During his lifetime, Sinatra defined the Great American Songbook for decades with verve and panache. Long acclaimed as the world’s greatest performer of popular music, he was the artist who set the standard for all others to follow. Sinatra was more than a singer — he was also an actor, recording artist, cabaret and concert star, radio and television personality and, on occasion, a producer, director and conductor.
DeLuca is an accomplished singer, songwriter, musician and recording engineer who has performed for over 30 years. He is a member of the Songwriter’s Guild of America and is currently overseeing production of “The Star-Spangled Songbook,” a tribute to the great American composers and lyricists, which is scheduled for a future airing on the PBS television station.
For more information, call the library at 732-222-3900 or visit www.longbranchlib.org.
– Vietnam veterans to lead memorial tours
The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation (NJVVMF) will hold free tours of the Memorial, led by volunteer Vietnam veteran tour guides on Feb. 7, March 7 and April 11 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at 1 Memorial Lane, Holmdel.
Visitors can experience history with those who lived it during a one-hour tour. Appointments or reservations are not necessary. Tour groups should meet in the museum lobby.
The tour guides include Jim McGinnis, who served with the U.S. Army 196th Light Infantry Brigade from1966-67, and Dick Furlong, who served with the U.S. Army 198th Infantry Brigade from 1966-69.
High school seniors applying for scholarships through the NJVVMF are invited to attend the tours. For more information on the scholarship program and to download the application form, visit www.njvvmf.org.
– A Team Erik-Gillis all-you-can-eat breakfast fundraiser will be held from 9 a.m.-noon Feb. 8 at Long Branch Elks Lodge 742, 150 Garfield Ave., Long Branch.
The cost is $8 and includes eggs, waffles, pancakes, SOS, bacon, sausage and more. All proceeds will benefit Erik, a 3-year-old boy who has been battling refractory epilepsy since he was 6 months old, according to a press release.
For more information, call the lodge at 732-222-9742 or visit www.crowdrise.com/facesnyunychalf2015/fundraiser/erikwettermark.
– Jersey Shore Gospel Music Fellowship will sponsor a Message and Gospel Music Program Night at 7 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Francis Asbury Chapel, 70 Stockton Ave., Ocean Grove.
The program will feature the Rev. Howie Van Dyk Jr. of Hawthorne Gospel Church and music by Hearts Alive of Montrose, Pa. An update will also be given on the current activities of the Cranbury-based Tri-M County Chapter of Child Evangelism Fellowship.
For more information, call 732-897-0800 or email jsgospel@aol.com.
– Monmouth Players to present ‘Rabbit Hole’
The Monmouth Players will present David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Rabbit Hole” at 8:15 p.m. on Feb. 7, 14, 21, 27 and 28 and 2 p.m. on Feb. 8, 15 and 22 at the Navesink Arts Center, 149 Monmouth Ave., Atlantic Highlands.
Winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize, the drama focuses on the Corbetts, who have everything until a life-shattering accident turns their world upside down and leaves the couple drifting perilously apart. The play charts their bittersweet search for comfort in the darkest of places and for a path that will lead them back into the light of day.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $17 for seniors and students. For reservations, call 732-291-9211. For more information, visit www.monmouthplayers.org.
– Oceanport resident receives art award
Awards were presented to winners of the 48th annual New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show last October at Meadow Lakes in East Windsor. The art show is a co-sponsored project of the New Jersey State Council of the Arts.
Over 200 works of art by professional and amateur artists from 17 counties were exhibited in 11 different categories. Oceanport resident, Marie Lerner, won second place for her watercolor, “Me and My Shadow.”
Judges included photographer Carl Geisler, Michelle Post, director of the National Sculpture Foundation, and Midori Yoshimoto, gallery curator at New Jersey City College.