MANALAPAN — The Manalapan Teen/Community Center Committee expects to have its first mailing ready to roll within days. Teenagers are filling envel-opes today with information regarding a proposed teen/community center.
The private Manalapan Teen/Com-munity Center Committee has discussed the idea of building such a facility at the Manalapan Recreation Center, Route 522.
"The kids are stuffing envelopes at the [recreation center]," said Arlene White, chairwoman of the committee. "Some adults will be going out to local businesses within the next two to three weeks."
A business mailing is expected to go out this week and a residential mailing is expected to go out in mid-July, White said.
White said there is still a need for more volunteers to get involved with a variety of tasks. She said a floor plan for the proposed building has been developed by architect Irwin Kizel of Livingston. Previous public discussion of the teen/community center indicated that some space in the proposed building could be used for municipal offices.
Looking into the financial aspects of the project, White said, "We have touched base with a few foundations and corporations. They’re looking at a corporate package that we’ve put together."
At present, White said, there are four or five entities that may be interested in the project.
"These are people that came to us and we wanted to give them an idea of what was going on," she said.
She said township residents Barry and Star Tobias have helped open doors to some prominent foundations and businesses in New York City which have shown interest in the project.
Mayor Drew Shapiro said, "I’m amazed at how far this group has come, based solely on contributions of time and effort. It’s very pleasing to find out there are foundations that may be willing to donate money toward this worthy cause. I think if this comes to fruition, it will touch everyone in town whether they are children or seniors."
Other components of the plan could include a band shell and an all-purpose gym-type space, the mayor said.
White said information about the teen/community center is on the town’s Internet Web site via a link. The Board of Trustees of the Manalapan Teen/Com-munity Center Committee are Arlene White, Henry Rose, Fred Mosesman, Eileen Marino, Andrew Marino, Linda Trainor and Steve Freyer. Other volunteers are Teresa McCarron, Jim Trainor and Gus Michaels.
To volunteer time, send an e-mail to White at mnlpn[email protected] or call (732) 446-1417 and leave a message with a representative at the community alliance.
— Dave Benjamin