FAIR HAVEN
Join Susan Elbin, Ph.D., when she presents her program, “Fascinating Feathers,” at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, at the Monmouth County Audubon Society. The meeting will be held at the Church of the Nativity on Ridge Road. The public is welcome; admission is free.
Elbin will discuss how feathers play a wide variety of roles in the lives of birds that are critical to their specific lifestyles. Besides flight, facets that will be discussed include how feathers impact attracting mates; breeding success; territorial dominance; regulating body temperature; and camouflage.
Elbin is New York City’s Audubon’s director of conservation and science and an ornithologist who has worked in the field of behavioral ecology and conservation for more than 25 years. Her specialties are avian behavioral ecology and conservation of colonial waterbirds. She is the chair of the Ornithological Council and, locally, co-chair of the Harbor Herons Subcommittee of the Restoration Committee for the Harbor Estuary Program. Elbin also is an adjunct professor at Columbia University, where she teaches courses in ornithology and migration ecology.
Further information can be obtained by visiting the organization’s website at www.monmouthaudubon.org, or via email at info@monmouthaudubon.org.
MIDDLETOWN
Rebecca’s Reel Quilters of Poricy Park will hold its annual handmade quilt raffle to benefit Poricy Park. The handmade quilt is designed, created and donated by members of Rebecca’s Reel Quilters Guild of Poricy Park. The quilt is queen/king sized. The design was created using earth tones with soft blue accents, and is valued at $1,000. Raffle tickets are $1 per ticket with 100 percent of the proceeds to benefit Poricy Park Conservancy.
The drawing will be held 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at the park, located at 345 Oak Hill Road. Dec. 8 is the last day of the annual holiday and craft shop. The winner need not be present to win.
For additional information or to purchase a ticket, visit the Poricy Park Nature Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends. Tickets may also be purchased at Rebecca’s Reel Quilters Guild meetings and events.
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Children can get into the Halloween spirit at the Middletown Township Public Library during October with favorite holiday stories, songs, and movies and holiday-themed activities for all ages.
Halloween Crafternoon for children ages 4-9 will be held from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9 and Tuesday, Oct. 22. A fun story will be featured and children can make a Halloween necklace for boys or girls during the “dress for mess” activity.
Dress for Mess-Halloween Surprise for children ages 4-5 will be held 4 to 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15. Is it science? Is it art? It’s both! Discover “invisible pictures” during this “science art” program.
Tween Mythbusters-Halloween Edition for children in grades 4-6 will be held 7 to 7:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17. Levitating broomsticks, hair-tangling bats, exploding candy? During our “Mythbusters” program, we will conduct science experiments to find out the truth behind these holiday happenings.
Halloween Family Movie Night for children ages 5 and older will be held at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29. Bring a pillow and blanket or cozy up in our chairs for a Halloween Family Movie Night featuring Hocus Pocus by Walt Disney Pictures starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najima. Rated PG; running time 96 minutes. Drop in; no registration required.
Halloween Parade for children ages 2-6 will be held from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30. Come in costume, share a story and join the Halloween Parade! A favorite for kids and adults!
Preregistration at mtpl.org is required. Funding for the library’s public programs comes from the generous support of the Middletown Township Public Library Foundation, Inc.
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Alison Block, Ph.D., will speak about how the Internet and social media have changed family life at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, at Middletown High School North, 63 Tindall Road.
A licensed psychologist, Block’s talk: “Are the Internet and Social Media Putting Our Children’s Relationships in Jeopardy? Learn the Importance of Small Talk & Its Big Rewards,” is hosted by the Middletown Township Friends of Different Learners.
Attendees will learn how the Internet and social media have changed family life and the difference between real conversations and intimate relationships, versus texting and sharing on Facebook.
Registration is available by visiting mtfodlsmalltalk2013. eventbrite.com/. Additional information is available by visiting dralisonblock.com/ or contacting Jennifer Smiga at jen@inbloom comm.com or 201-892-9403.
Police Departments Honored by Boy Scouts
The Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach police departments were recognized recently at a Sea Bright Borough Council meeting by the Monmouth Council, Boy Scouts of America, with the William Spurgeon Award and for the departments’ long-standing joint sponsorship of the Scouts’ Law Enforcement Exploring program. Exploring is the career-education program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women, ages 14 through 20. Through the Exploring program, young men and women have the opportunity to gain an inside look at a career field and gain hands-on experience in a possible future vocation.
Members of the departments’ Exploring Post have the opportunity to learn about law-enforcement operations, participate in community projects and crime-prevention programs and gain insight into careers in law enforcement.
To learn more or to join please call officer John Arias at the Sea Bright Police Department at 732-842-0010 or officer Aaron Rock at the Monmouth Beach Police Department at 732-229-1313.
County to Hold Household Hazardous Waste Day
UPPER FREEHOLD – Monmouth County has scheduled its fall 2013 Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5 at the county highway garage on Route 539 so that residents have an additional opportunity to get rid of items that are not permitted in the regular or recycling disposal process.
Acceptable items for the disposal program include pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, solvents, thinners, corrosives, cleaners, pool chemicals, oil paints, varnishes, aerosol cans (full or partially full), used motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline, batteries (rechargeable, button or automotive) and propane barbecue tanks.
Each item must be in its original container with its original label (with the exception of used oil, gas or antifreeze). Also, the maximum amount of dry material that may be dropped off is 200 pounds and/or 20 gallons of liquid, with no container larger than five gallons.
Items not accepted are lab re-agents, concrete, electronics, car tires, explosives, radioactive materials and asbestos. Unknown or unidentified items are not allowed, either.
Year-round hazardous waste disposal appointments are available at the county’s household hazardous waste facility at 3211 Shafto Road in Tinton Falls. Information, hours and appointments are available by calling 732-683-8686, ext. 5210.
School and municipal agencies must make alternate disposal arrangements. Businesses must contract privately for proper disposal of hazardous waste materials.
Volunteers Needed for Holmdel Domestic Violence Response Team
HOLMDEL – The Holmdel Township Police Department is recruiting volunteers to serve on its Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT).
In affiliation with 180 Turning Lives Around (180), and with the assistance of the response team volunteers, the police department continues to make available this service to victims of domestic violence during the initial stages of a highly emotional and traumatic experience. 180 will be conducting an intensive 40-hour mandatory training course for Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT) volunteers from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Oct. 1 – 24, in the courtroom at Neptune City Municipal Court, 106 West Sylvania Ave., Neptune City.
The volunteer advocates with 180’s DVRT Program are members of the community who work collaboratively with law enforcement to provide support, information and referrals to victims of domestic violence at Holmdel Police Headquarters.
Advocates also discuss with victims safety planning and their legal rights in regard to obtaining a temporary restraining order. By providing empathy and crucial perspective of the situation, the highly trained advocates help to empower victims to make informed decisions for themselves and their families.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, have access to reliable transportation, possess a valid driver’s license, be willing to serve on an on-call shift basis, participate in an interview process, submit to background investigations and fingerprinting and successfully complete the mandatory training.
The Holmdel Police Department and 180 are committed to a culturally diverse team to better serve the community, so bilingual capability is helpful. Prior knowledge of domestic violence is not required.
The identities of the DVRT volunteers are kept anonymous. Those interested may contact Holmdel Police Lt. Michael Pigott at 732-946-9690, ext. 1742, or mpigott@holmdelpolice.org to obtain an application or for additional information.
RBR Students Selected for All-National Honors Band
LITTLE SILVER – Red Bank Regional (RBR) has announced that two of its Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) students, Patrick Martini of Union Beach and Matthew Rosen of Little Silver, have been accepted as members of the prestigious All-National Honors Ensembles.
The RBR students are among 637 top high-school music students in the country to earn the honor. Both will perform, Patrick in the mixed chorus and Matt in the concert band, at a gala concert on Oct. 30 in Nashville, Tenn.
We are so pleased to have Matt and Patrick both be selected for the All-National ensembles,” said RBR’s lead VPA teacher Kris Zook. “Their hard work and dedication in getting to this level are a testament to their talent and musicianship. They continue to make all of the RBR Visual & Performing Arts proud to count them among our ranks.”
Patrick, a music and drama double major, has steadily risen in the ranks of the honor choirs since he entered RBR as a freshman in the VPA program. He was selected for three years to the All-Shore Chorus and made first chair for two years. He advanced to All-State Honor Chorus for the past two years and was the top scorer of 350 male singers.
Patrick also was selected for All State Opera and has appeared in many school musicals and dramas taking lead roles in RBR’s productions of As You Like It, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Little Mermaid, Jr., and Little Women. He also performed a lead role in the school’s opera presentation of Dido and Aeneas. Patrick has performed in community theater in Phoenix’s production of Sweeney Todd and with the Garden State Players in a music theater showcase.
Patrick said he was “really happy and felt a real sense of accomplishment and so honored to be going to Tennessee to perform among the best students in the country.”
Matthew is an instrumental music major in RBR’s VPA with a concentration in clarinet, bass clarinet and saxophone. His acceptance to the All-National Honors Band is on bass clarinet. This past spring Matthew won the first chair, principal bass clarinet for the All-Eastern Concert Band. Matthew has been studying clarinet since the fourth grade and began competing for honors bands in middle school. By eighth grade he had won seats in the middle school All-Shore Band and the Middle School Region II Orchestra.
As a freshman he had the distinction of being accepted to the High School Region II Band on two instruments. By sophomore year he was accepted to the All-State Wind Ensemble on all three instruments.
Matthew has seized many opportunities to expand his musical experiences. He has spent his high school summer vacations playing alongside professional musicians under the direction of John Luckenbill, performing in a shore-area concert series. He also held the position of concertmaster, principal clarinetist at the 2012 and 2013 New York Summer Music Festival in Oneonta, N.Y. He has played bass clarinet in the Rutgers University Symphonic Band, the only high school student to ever play with that ensemble. Additionally, Matthew studies the soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones with the well-known saxophonist Paul Cohen from Manhattan School of Music and Rutgers. Matt is currently playing clarinet in the Manhattan School of Music Pre-college Philharmonic Orchestra. Of his many musical accomplishments Matt said, “Nothing for me has been as notable as my acceptance to the All-Eastern Band, my junior year, until this. I still can’t believe that I made All-National.”
Sandy Hook Child Care Center Sends Out S.O.S. – Save our School
SANDY HOOK – The Sandy Hook Child Care Center (SHCCC), a parent-run nonprofit day care and state-licensed preschool, is hosting its first tricky-tray/gift auction fundraiser on Sept. 27.
SHCCC is located in the Sandy Hook National Recreation Area in Monmouth County. Like most areas impacted by Super Storm Sandy, Sandy Hook was devastated and forced the facility to close for more than six months. Although SHCCC reopened on April 29, the closure took a toll on the school financially and its future remains in jeopardy.
In order to remain fully operational for current and future children and families, and to help it get back on its feet and continue its mission, SHCCC will hold the tricky-tray/gift auction fundraiser from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 at the VFW Post 2179, 1 Veterans Lane, Port Monmouth.
During the tricky–tray auction guests buy tickets and place them in a container next to the item they would like to win. Gifts can be a single item or a group of items based on a theme. Once everyone has had the opportunity to place their tickets in the container, the prize drawings begin.
Admission is $25 and includes dinner, catered by Taliercio’s Gourmet, and dessert. Presale ticket packages are $30; $40 at the door. A la carte tickets will also be sold at the door. Other highlights will include: Live band Racin’ Time, special guest MC Greg T from Z100-FM; 50/50 drawing, prizes and cash bar.
Established in 1980, for more than 30 years the Sandy Hook Child Care Center’s mission has been to provide a one-of-a-kind learning experience for the children of the community. Nestled inside historic Sandy Hook National Recreation area the environment is their curriculum. This small, nonprofit, parent-run center offers affordable child-care to local families and an unparalleled learning environment for children. For more information, visit SHCCC on the web at sandyhookchildcare.org or on social media at facebook.com/SandyHookChildCareCenter and twitter.com/SHCCCNJ.
