– Gala will benefit food bank
By Taylor M. Lier
The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties wants to bring the community together to ensure that every New Jersey family has food on its table.
The food bank will host its 2015 Boots and Bling Humanitarian Food Bank Gala on April 24 at the Monmouth University Multipurpose Activity Center, West Long Branch. Tickets for the gala are $250 per person.
The cocktail hour and silent auction will begin at 6 p.m., followed by an awards presentation, dinner and live entertainment starting at 7:30 p.m.
The event will feature an acoustic performance by country music singer John Rich of Big and Rich. For more information, visit www.foodbankmoc.org.
The 2015 humanitarian award will be presented to Wegmans supermarket and to Jules Plangere Jr., chairman of Press Communications.
Kyra Citron, director of Kid’s Corner, an organization designed to help empower children, will receive a junior humanitarian honor.
The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties is the primary provider of food and services to more than 300 partner agencies, including shelters for homeless individuals and neighborhood food pantries, according to Lori Sayde, press and media liaison for the food bank.
Last year the food bank provided about 10 million meals. One in every 10 people in Monmouth County receives help from the food bank.
“The food bank also offers free income tax preparation, advising on affordable health care, food stamp enrollment and culinary training programs so individuals can get into the workforce,” Sayde said.
The agency is instrumental in providing food to families in need in central New Jersey, according to Monmouth County Freeholder John Curley.
“The food bank oversees the entire population. We currently have 19,000 food stamp situations in the county and many who need assistance are not getting it (because they) make too much money with their unemployment. It is an awful situation,” Curley said. “I want to congratulate the food bank on the great humanitarian efforts they do each day. They are truly doing God’s work.”
– Historical society to meet April 20
The Middletown Township Historical Society will meet 7 p.m. April 20 at the Poricy Park Nature Center, 345 Oak Hill Road, Middletown.
Local historians and authors, Joseph Bilby, James Madden and Harry Ziegler, will discuss their book, “On This Day in New Jersey History,” which chronicles intriguing and monumental moments in New Jersey’s history. Disasters, military feats, shady political maneuvering and extraordinary episodes will be explored in a calendar format.
Some of the people and events attendees can learn about will include Newark-born Aaron Burr, who shot Alexander Hamilton in Weehawken in 1804; Cornelia Hancock, who was born in Salem County in 1840 and considered America’s Florence Nightingale; the opening of the nation’s first kindergarten in Hoboken in 1861; the T.A. Gillespie Shell Loading Plant explosion near Sayreville in 1918; and another “explosion that could not happen” but did in Middletown in 1958.
Visitors are welcome to attend the meeting, and refreshments will be served.
– Story Slam to offer personal vignettes
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County (UUCMC) will host a Story Slam at 3 p.m. April 19 at the Unitarian meetinghouse, 1475 W. Front St., Lincroft. Proceeds will benefit the UUCMC’s performing arts projects.
Listen to the adventures of being alive, told by local folks who will offer a small tidbit of their journeys in life.
Admission is a suggested donation of $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and $5 for children. For more information, contact Elaine at evdplate@gmail.com or visit www.uucmc.org.
– Student talent to be showcased at dinner
The Arts & Education Center will hold a fundraising dinner reception at 7 p.m. April 17 at Henry Hudson Regional School, 1 Grand Tour, Highlands.
Proceeds will benefit the Center’s sponsorship of the Arts High School and Middle School programs.
The evening will feature a light dinner buffet and special performances by musical and theatrical students of Arts High School, Arts Middle School and alumni. Students’ artwork will be on display.
A silent auction and super 50/50 raffle will also be available.
Tickets are $25 and available in advance only. Call 732-566-2787 or email info@artsandedcenter.org.
– Remembrance of Holocaust slated
LINCROFT — Community members are invited to attend a Holocaust Remembrance Day at 9:30 a.m. April 17 at the Recreation and Events Center at Brookdale Community College, 765 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft.
Join local Holocaust survivors, family members and community leaders for a ceremony of remembrance followed by a performance by the Marlboro High School Chorus.
This year’s commemoration will also feature renowned scholar and author Robert Jan Van Pelt, Ph.D., one of the world’s leading experts on the Auschwitz extermination camp. Van Pelt was one of four historians who served as an expert witness for the defense in the infamous Irving-Lipstadt trial in 2000, according to a press release. In honor of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, he will speak about the liberation of the camps and the “symbolic end” to the Holocaust.
The free program is hosted by the Center for Holocaust, Human Rights and Genocide Education (Chhange) at Brookdale in partnership with the Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey and the former Fort Monmouth Holocaust Remembrance Committee.
Parking will be available in lots 6 and 7. For more information, call Chhange at 732-224-1889 or visit www.chhange.org.
– Safety course for boaters slated
Monmouth Beach’s Flotilla 26 of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will hold its “About Boating Safely” course from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. April 18 at Shrewsbury Hose Company 1, 783 Broad St., Shrewsbury.
Individuals successfully completing this eight-hour course will be eligible to receive their New Jersey boating safety certificate, which is mandatory for all boaters. The course is approved by the State of New Jersey and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.
The cost of the course is $55 and includes a textbook. Seating is limited, and preregistration is required by calling 732-605-0003. For more information about Flotilla 26, visit www.flotilla26nj.com.
Night of country music set at firehouse
The North Centerville Volunteer Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary will present “Country Night” at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, at 372 Middle Road, Hazlet. Doors open 7:30 p.m.
The six-piece American country music group, After the Reign, will perform. For more information about the band, visit www.afterthereign.net.
Tickets are $40 and include a barbeque dinner buffet, beer, wine and soda. This event is for adults 21 and older. For more information or tickets, call 732-264-9404, ext. 4.
– 180 slates annual spring fundraiser
RUMSON — 180 Turning Lives Around Inc., a non-profit dedicated to ending domestic and sexual violence in Monmouth County, will host its annual fundraiser at 7 p.m. April 17 at the Riverhouse of the Rumson Country Club, 163 Rumson Road, Rumson.
The event will also honor the former U.S. ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, Phil Murphy, and his wife, Tammy Murphy, co-founder of New Start New Jersey. Both will be honored for their vision, leadership and dedication in bringing awareness of domestic and sexual violence to the local community.
“The Murphys exemplify a commitment to public service, locally, nationally and internationally,” said Anna Diaz-White, executive director of 180, in a press release. “Their support of 180 and its mission is second to none and we are honored to be able to celebrate their accomplishments and vision.”
The benefit will feature live music from Brian Kirk & The Jirks. Guests are encouraged to dress smart casual. For tickets or more information, contact Barbara Lovell-Napoli at barbaran@180nj.org or 732-264-4360, ext. 4233.
– Temple slates open house for school
ABERDEEN — Temple Beth Ahm will host a “Shul Showcase,” from 10 a.m.-noon April 19 at 550 Lloyd Road, Aberdeen. The event will feature fun activities for children and a chance for parents and guardians to meet spiritual leader Rabbi Lisa Malik.
Malik will participate in story time and Preschool Director Amy Naphtali will participate in a sing-along. Children will be able to experience a religious class or create a Jewish craft to take home. While the children are involved in activities, parents can tour the synagogue and meet with other staff members.
For couples without children, there will be representatives who will talk about social events and educational programming for adults.
For more information or to attend, call 732-583-1700 or visit shulshowcase.eventbrite.com. A free gift will be offered for all who reply by April 16.
– Healthcare scholarship deadline is April 16
Newman Springs Dental Care in Lincroft is offering one $500 scholarship for a Holmdel High School graduating senior planning a career in health care, including the fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, chiropractic, physical therapy and other areas.
Scholarship applications must be received by April 16 and are available at the high school’s guidance department or by emailing scholarship@DrFriedman.biz. The winning applicant will be notified by May 1.
An award certificate will be presented at a special ceremony at the dental office and at the high school’s senior awards ceremony. Award checks will be mailed directly to the institution of higher education upon verification of enrollment.
Newman Springs Dental Care is located at 539 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft. For more information, call 732-741-6444 or visit http://www.NewmanSpringsDentalCare.com.
– Program on mental illness, suicide slated
The Bayshore Ministerium and Temple Shalom are co-sponsoring the program, “Conquering the Stigma of Mental Illness and Suicide,” from 12:30-3 p.m. April 19 at Temple Shalom, 5 Ayrmont Lane, Aberdeen. The program is free and open to the entire community.
The program will open with a welcome and light lunch, followed by keynote speakers, Trish and Kurt Baker, who founded the organization Attitudes in Reverse (AIR) after losing their son to suicide in May 2009, according to a press release. AIR offers a positive campaign to start the conversation about mental health, suicide prevention and anti-bullying.
The program will also feature a panel discussion and Q-and-A session. The panel will include Kelly McMahon Brown, president of the New Jersey Association of Student Assistance Professionals, and Maryanne Krenz, a board member of the Central New Jersey Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Brown is a certified child/adolescent life coach, and Krenz initiated a survivors group at Bayshore Hospital.
For more information, call 732-816-8665 or contact barb.raffel@gmail.com.