– Event features local products
More than 160 Monmouth County-based manufacturers have signed on for the “Made in Monmouth” exposition to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 11 at Monmouth University’s Multipurpose Activity Center, Larchwood Avenue, West Long Branch.
“This is a great opportunity to see the creativity and productivity of Monmouth County businesses,” Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone said. “The quality and variety of products visitors will see will astonish them and give them the opportunity to buy locally.”
Items that will be available for purchase include custom furniture, jewelry, flowers and plants, baked goods, chocolate, specialty honey, award-winning sauces, treats for people and pets, books and soy candles. There will also be original art, pottery, bath and body scrubs and lotions, stationery and items for sea lovers, decorative items for home and garden, handbags and accessories.
Admission is free. A list of vendors will be provided the day of the event and will be available online at www.visitmonmouth.com.
“When you head over to Made in Monmouth, please consider helping the county fight hunger by bringing a nonperishable food donation,” Freeholder John P. Curley said. “The county is sponsoring a food drive for the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties for the entire month of April, so there will be food collection bins at this year’s event.”
– Story Pirates to bring children’s stories to life
The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center in collaboration with the Monmouth Medical Center Foundation will present the theatrical group, Story Pirates, from 1-3 p.m. April 19 at the Ranney School, 235 Hope Road, Tinton Falls.
Proceeds will benefit The Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center.
The program is recommended for children age 3-12 and begins with fun music, healthy snacks and interactive learning experiences with pediatric specialists. Children are invited to submit stories about health and wellness, such as exercise, nutrition, health or visiting the doctor. Selected stories will come to life as part of the Story Pirates’ full-scale stage production.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children age 12 or younger. For tickets or story submission forms, visit www.barnabashealth.org/uchlc.
– Open house for sailing instruction April 12
FAIR HAVEN — The River Rats will hold a Sail Training Open House from 1-4 p.m. April 12 at the Fair Haven Youth Center, 35 Fisk St.
The River Rats is a not-for-profit organization that has been teaching sailing on the Navesink River to youngsters age 9-16 for more than 50 years. Sail training is open to any child who can swim and wants to learn how to sail.
June training sessions for adults are also offered for those who want to learn how to sail or refresh their sailing skills.
Youths are trained each summer in two sessions. Beginning, intermediate and advanced levels of training for youngsters are given on the Navesink River. Training is provided by certified instructors with a special emphasis on water safety and an appreciation for the river environment. Beginner and intermediate classes focus on hands-on sailing techniques while advanced classes emphasize racing skills and strategies. Boats are provided for instruction.
River Rats is a member of the U.S. Sailing Association and the North Jersey Yacht Racing Association. The club’s boats, docks and moorings are available for the use of members. In addition to sailing, River Rats offers racks for kayaks and welcomes kayakers, sail boarders and canoers.
For information on registration, fees and session dates for children and adults, visit www.riverratssailing.org. Membership questions can be directed to [email protected].
– Tax help available
The Monmouth County Library is offering tax preparation assistance at three of its branches through April 13. AARP tax-aide program volunteers will be available at library headquarters, 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan, Eastern Branch Library, 1001 Route 35, Shrewsbury, and Wall Township Library, 2700 Allaire Road. This service is available for low- and middle-income taxpayers with simple returns. Those interested should bring last year’s tax returns and official identification.
Hours for tax assistance at library headquarters are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays; 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays; and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays.
Hours at the Eastern Branch Library are 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Mondays; 9:30 a.m.-noon Tuesdays and Fridays; 1-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays; and 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturdays.
Hours at the Wall Township Library are 1-4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.
Those interested should call library branches to check hours. Depending on the volume of clients, tax assistants may stop taking new clients an hour or more before the end time listed. Tax preparation will not be held if the library is closed for a holiday. Preparations will be done on a first-come, first-serve basis.
All taxpayers must be present when their tax return is prepared. If filing a joint return, both taxpayers must be present. In an effort to prevent identity theft, tax preparers are required by the IRS to ask for Social Security cards or comparable documentation for the filer and his or her spouse and all dependents, if applicable. For more information, visit www.monmouthcountylib.org.
– Poetry contest based on healing journey
The NAMI New Jersey Dara Axelrod Expressive Arts Network will host a poetry contest in honor of National Poetry Month in April and Mental Health Awareness Month in May.
Submissions for the Mental Health Poetry Contest 2015 will be based on the theme, “Your Note From a Healing Journey,” with the note being a poem.
Only one poem per person will be accepted. Poems must be 40 lines maximum; computer-printed or legibly typewritten; an original, unpublished work; include a cover letter with name, email address, mailing address and phone number; and include a media release form.
Submissions are due by April 15 to NAMI NJ Poetry Contest, 1562 Route 130, North Brunswick, NJ 08902 or [email protected].
– Flag-themed essays
The QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning and PNC Bank are inviting New Jersey students in second-12th grades to take part in the 12th annual PNC Bank American Patriot Essay Contest by writing a short essay on the topic “What the American Flag Means to Me.”
The essays must be 100 words or less. Winning essays will be selected based on creativity, poignancy and clarity, with consideration given to the grade level of the author. Contestants are not required to be U.S. citizens.
The grand prize winner will receive a visit to his or her school by a 75-foot-tall hot-air balloon in June and a special VIP package to the 33rd annual QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning and music festival set for July 24-26 at Solberg Airport, Readington: a hot-air balloon ride for two; four Blue Sky Club VIP tickets; and the opportunity to meet one of this year’s concert headliners.
The winning student’s immediate classmates will each receive a complimentary general-admission ticket to the festival. The winning student’s teacher and principal will each receive two Blue Sky Club VIP tickets. Second- and third-place prizes, featuring festival admission and merchandise, also will be awarded.
All teachers in the state who submit a group of at least 15 essays on behalf of their students will receive two free general-admission tickets to the festival, regardless of whether one of their students submits the winning essay.
Entries should be submitted by May 1 to Essay Judges, QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, 363 Route 46 West, Suite 200, Fairfield, NJ 07004. Students may also enter by logging on to www.balloonfestival.com or by emailing their essays to [email protected].
Entries should include the student’s name, home or school address, home or school telephone number, grade, age, school name and teacher’s name.