Members of the Navesink Garden Club, Red Bank, are preparing for their role in decorating one of the homes featured in the Dec. 6 Holiday House Tour, sponsored by the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey. Among the designers are, from left to right, Gotti Kelley, Tinton Falls; Maureen Bender, Red Bank; and Ronnie Lander, Middletown. The club will provide holiday arrangements at the Rumson home of Robert and Susan Sorokolit.
The new Shrewsbury municipal building, now under construction, should be ready for borough employees to move into no later than the second week of January, according to Councilman Terel Cooperhouse. He said Scott Tormee, the contractor, has advised him that he expects to be out of the building by the end of December. The council is toying with the idea of putting off the annual re-organization meeting until it can be held in the new building. It also is looking into whether the re-organization meeting can be held in the new building even though it isn’t ready to be occupied.
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Sea Bright Councilwoman Maria Fernandes announced that the borough received a municipal aid grant of $150,000 from the state. Fernandes, who is in charge of public works, told those at the Nov. 19 council meeting that the money will be used to repave Island View Way to the Shrewsbury River and Garden Way, and put drainage systems in for Island View Way, Garden Way and Longview Way. Certain sections of the streets will also get new curbs, she added. She said the borough had asked for $193,000.
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Seabrook Village’s Turkey Trot was an enjoyable experience for all, including Vera Minkin, who was welcomed to the festivities by (Gary Engelstad) the Turkey Trot turkey.
Area garden clubs will create holiday arrangements to enhance the five homes featured on the Dec. 6 Holiday House Tour, sponsored by the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey to benefit its hospice program. Janet Warshauer of Rumson serves as garden club chairman for the tour, which constitutes an official competition judged by judges from the Garden Club of New Jersey.
Clubs invited to participate in the 2002 tour are the Garden Club of Fair Haven, the Little Silver Garden Club, the Navesink Garden Club, the Rumson Garden Club and the Shrewsbury Garden Club. Each club will create four arrangements.
Tour tickets, which cost $50 per person, $40 for those age 65 and older, may be ordered in advance or purchased on the day of the tour at any of the houses or at the office of the VNA of Central Jersey, 176 Riverside Ave., Red Bank. To order tickets or for more information, call (732) 224-6970.
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GLORIA STRAVELLI
The Woman’s Club of Little Silver will hold a holiday luncheon at noon on Dec. 4 at The Village Bistro restaurant in Little Silver. The club’s monthly meeting will take place at 1 p.m. on Dec. 11 at the Woman’s Club building, now a borough property, at Rumson Road and Church Street. The program will be holiday songs presented by Mary Schaarf, singer/guitarist. Prospective new members are welcome. For more information on either event, contact Rita Ulan, (732) 747-3339.
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The Little Silver Garden Club will meet at 9 a.m. Dec. 5 at borough hall. The members will be decorating evergreen wreaths and creating evergreen arrangements for the borough offices. For membership or guest information, called (732) 842-7169 or (732) 758-8030.
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Gifts and handmade crafts will be on sale at a Christmas bazaar, "Angels of Peace," held by the Presbyterian Church at Shrewsbury, on Sycamore Avenue, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 7. Featured will be crafts from SERRV made by Christian crafters in Third World countries. All proceeds are given to the crafters. Beautiful greens arrangements, poinsettias and home-baked goods also will be for sale. Children can have their pictures taken with Santa Claus, who will make an appearance, and shoppers can have their purchases wrapped while they enjoy coffee and donuts or lunch.
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The Red Bank chapter of Deborah Hospital foundation will hold its annual holiday luncheon and 50/50 raffle on Dec. 8 at 1 p.m., at the Deal Golf & Country Club, Roseld Ave., Deal. A holiday buffet will be served with a complementary glass of wine and desserts. Donation is $35. Please make your reservations by Nov. 29. Call Marie Snyder at (732) 542-3247.
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On Dec. 8, a "Picture with Santa" event will take place at the Red Bank train station from 1-3 p.m. The photo op is a joint effort of the Red Bank Parks and Recreation Department, the Red Bank Drug Alliance and First Night Red Bank, Inc. There also will be clowns, music and refreshments. First Night buttons will be on sale at a special low price. For more information, contact the Parks & Recreation Department at (732) 530-2782.
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The Performing Arts Ensemble proudly presents The Nutcracker at the Count Basie Theatre at 3 p.m. on Dec. 1st, 7th, and 8th. This production showcases New York guest artists, professional scenery, and special effects. Ticket prices range from $23 to $15 with discounts for seniors, students and children. For information or to purchase tickets, call (732) 671-9655 or e-mail [email protected].
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It’s that time of the year again. The Fair Haven Business and Professional Association in cooperation with the Fair Haven Fire Company will be sponsoring its annual Holiday Open House on Fri., Dec. 6. From 5:00 p.m. to 9 p.m. the business areas of Fair Haven will be bustling with activities. Fair Haven Brownie troops and Boy Scouts will be lining the business areas with luminaries.
Santa will arrive a 6 p.m. on his fire truck to light the Christmas tree in Victory Park and sit with children for pictures and children’s Christmas wishes until approximately 9 p.m. There will be live music, dancing, and refreshments as well as strolling carolers.
For more information, call Maureen Bay at (732) 747-9339, Priscilla Bahr at (732) 530-3233 or the Fair Haven Book Store at (732) 747-9455.
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Red Bank RiverCenter is seeking sponsors for benches that will be placed on Monmouth Street as part of the streetscape project. The benches will be integrated into the streetscape improvements, which include new brick and concrete sidewalks, historic lighting and landscaping. The project will be completed by spring 2003.
Bench sponsorship is $1,200 and includes a metal plaque that can be engraved with a personalized dedication, installation and annual maintenance. Benches will be the same Victorian-style wood and metal benches already in place on Broad Street. To sponsor a bench, contact RiverCenter at (732) 842-4244.
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Jeannie and Charles Lamberti of Shrewsbury started their holiday giving early this year, donating the beautiful 35-foot blue spruce that will serve as Red Bank’s Christmas tree. Santa will light the tree and all the downtown decorations at the tree lighting ceremony that will take place during the holiday concert and other festivities on Friday at 7 p.m.
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Catch the final performance of "Power Baroquers," the Arcadian Chorale’s fall 2002 program featuring Vivaldi’s "Gloria," Pachelbel’s "Canon in D" and works by Telemann, J.C. Bach and Handel on Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 247 Broad St. The chorus will be accompanied by a chamber orchestra. The performance is open to the public. Tickets cost $10, $9 for seniors and $8 for students. Group rates are also available. For information, call (732) 583-4007, or visit www.arcadianchorale.org.
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Cabaret for Life will present its annual holiday show "Christmas Traditions, Trials and Tribulations" Dec. 9-10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Mill Inn, Spring Lake.
Cabaret for Life is a local nonprofit organization that has presented holiday shows annually since 1995 and has raised close to $100,000 for organizations which assist victims of AIDS and other diseases.
Tickets are $60 which include the cabaret show and a four-course dinner. For reservations or more information, call 1-877-CFL-TKTS (235-8587), or send checks and ticket requests to P.O. Box 121, Ocean Grove, 07756.
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Don’t panic if you think you see mannequins coming to life in Red Bank shop windows on Sunday, Dec. 1. It won’t be the holiday rush that has your brain addled, the mannequins will actually be live models provided by Mary DeMont of Barbizon of Red Bank. Students or graduates of Barbizon, the models will don attire supplied by each retailer and stand motionless in 16 downtown shop windows from 2-5 p.m. while passers-by admire their poise and beauty
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The nostalgic look of old-fashioned holiday decorations stretched across Broad Street will return to Red Bank this season, compliments of the Red Bank RiverCenter. Monies raised at the summertime Tiki Party have funded the purchase of four new multicolor light strands with center lanterns, and the installation of new wires and electrical supports.
The festive decorations won’t stop at Broad Street. Throughout the downtown traditional trees, snowflakes and candles will hang on light poles; "Peace On Earth" signs will decorate the intersection of Broad Street at Harding Road and Front Street near the Globe Court garage; trees at the Globe Court garage and in English Plaza will be adorned with lights, and an illuminated "Happy Holidays" sign will hang at Monmouth and Maple Avenue.
The holiday decorations are being installed by the Public Works Department personnel who are being compensated by RiverCenter.
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Through the cooperative efforts of the borough of Red Bank and Red Bank RiverCenter, free parking in the downtown will be reinstated for the 2002 holiday season.
Free metered parking will be available on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28 and 29; Saturdays, Dec. 7, 14, and 21; Monday through Friday, Dec. 16-20 and Dec. 23-27. As always, metered parking in Red Bank is free on Sundays. Posted time limits remain in effect on curbside, unmetered parking.
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Tra la la la la … Holiday Harmonies, a series of live street performances, will take place in downtown Red Bank every Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. between Thanksgiving and Christmas — Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14 and 21. The outdoor performances are sponsored by Sovereign Bank and arranged by Red Bank RiverCenter. For more information or if you have a group that would like to perform, contact RiverCenter at (732) 842-4244.
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Makin’ Music, a women’s choral group, will present a Christmas program at The First Presbyterian Church of Rumson on River Road on Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. The group, which will perform this season at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Trump Tower in New York City, will present a program of popular standards and carols. For information, call (732) 566-6812.
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An Evening With Jane Austen will be sponsored Dec. 12 by the Friends of the Long Branch Free Public Library. Led by Jane Austen scholar Connie Paul, the event will begin at 7 p.m. at the library’s main branch at 328 Broadway in Long Branch. A limited number of teacups and saucers, donated by library trustee Mary George, will be given to attendees. For more information, call (732) 222-3900.
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The Arc of Monmouth will hold an informational membership meeting, "Advocating for Your Child: Knowing the Fundamentals of Special Education Law," Dec. 4, 10 a.m. to noon at The Arc Center, 1158 Wayside Road, Tinton Falls. The meeting is open to the public. To reserve a seat, call Pauline Lui at (732) 493-1919, ext. 136.
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Family & Children’s Service is once again reaching out for donations for its Operation Sleighbells program which has played Santa to at-risk children and families for the past 93 years. Last year the agency provided Christmas gifts for 1,700 underprivileged children and their families. Parents or guardians can call FCS and relay a child’s wish list. The agency, with donations from local individuals, families, civic groups and businesses, collects new clothing, toys, books, CDs, food and treats for children from infants to age 16. The program also provides homebound, low-income seniors with special gift baskets of personal items. Donations are needed for the baskets. FCS also sponsors an adopt-a-family program through which donors provide gifts for an entire family. For more information, call Linda Steel at (732) 531-9111.