Community Bulletin Board
Child car seat inspection check point July 16

The Middletown Township Police Department Traffic Safety Bureau will conduct a child car seat inspection check point July 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Middletown Swim Club, Harmony Road. The check point is open to the public.

Appointments can be made by calling (732) 615-2045. Walk-ins are welcome.

Safe boating course

slated for July 18, 19

Coast Boating School, Toms River, will conduct a personal watercraft and safe boating course in compliance with New Jersey State law July 18 and 19 from 7-10 p.m. at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft section of Middletown.

For fee or to register, call (732) 224-2315.

‘Michael’s Feat Family Barbecue’ July 30

The “Michael’s Feat Summertime Family Barbecue” will be July 30 from 1-5 p.m. at St. Clement’s, Freneau Avenue, Matawan. Tickets are $15 per adult and $6 per child, with proceeds benefiting The Michael Gerard Puharic Memorial Fund Inc.

Michael’s Feat was established in honor of Michael Puharic, son of Dana and Adam Puharic, who would have been 5 years old July 29. He died from a chromosomal disorder when he was 4 days old.

Michael’s Feat and the Keyport Kiwanis are also sponsoring a super 50/50 with a grand prize of up to $10,000. Tickets are $100 each.

For more information, call Michael’s Feat at (732) 239-7887.

New Harry Potter book

available through library

Friends of Holmdel Library (FOHL) is now accepting advance orders for a limited number of copies of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” which will hit the shelves July 16.

List price is $29.95, but FOHL will offer the book discounted at $25, with partial proceeds supporting establishment of a new Holmdel Public Library. Copies are on a first-come, first-served basis when pre-ordered through FOHL on a form distributed through the schools or at the Holmdel Library, Crawfords Corner Road. Paid orders can be picked up at the library on or after July 16.

For more information, call Karen at (732) 946-4118.

Discount offered to

July 8 wildlife class

The Monmouth County Park System will offer a discounted price to the class “Attracting Birds and Wildlife to Your Yard” July 8 from 7-8 p.m. at Huber Woods Environmental Center, 25 Browns Dock Road, Locust section of Middletown. Cost is now $5 per person. Attendees will learn how to create a wildlife-friendly environment by using food, water, nesting and shelter. To register or for more information, call the park system at (732) 842-4000. The TDD number is 711.

Deep Cut Orchid Society to meet July 12

The Deep Cut Orchid Society will hold its monthly meeting July 12 at 7 p.m. at Monmouth Reform Temple, 332 Hance Ave., Tinton Falls. The meeting will feature the workshop “How to Buy an Orchid,” and culture booths containing Phals, Paphs and Cattleyas. The meeting will also feature refreshments, az plant raffle, and a door prize. Guests, as well as the public, are welcome at no charge. For more information, call (732) 531-5058.

Tickets now on sale

for O’Brien fund-raiser

The Ceil & Frank O’Brien Memorial, Hazlet, fund-raiser “Day at the Races” will be July 23 at noon at Monmouth Park Racetrack, Oceanport.

Price is $25 per person, with proceeds benefiting the O’Brien Memorial Scholarship fund. Children are admitted free. Price includes track admission, program, and food and beverages served all day in a reserved picnic area.

For tickets, call Sue or Ray at (732) 264-4092.

R.S.V.P. for casino, and Maine trips by July 15

The St. Mary’s travel group, New Monmouth section of Middletown, will sponsor a trip to see “Adrenaline, Magic That Rocks” at Tropicana Casino, Atlantic City, July 20 from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (showtime is 3:30 p.m.).

Cost is $20, with a $10 giveback, and covers transportation and the show.

A trip to the Maine coast will be Sept. 11-16. The trip will include a cruise of Frenchman Bay and Somes Sound, tour or Arcadia National Park, and stops at Southwest Harbor Oceanarium, Bar Harbor, Booth Bay, and other destinations. Cost is $890, which covers transportation, accommodations, five dinners, two full breakfasts, a welcome reception, guided tours, and all admissions.

Buses for the above will depart the parking lot at Mater Dei High School, Cherry Tree Farm Road, New Monmouth. Reservations are required for the above, and must be prepaid by July 15. For reservations, call Pat at (732) 615-9088.

Visit to purple martin colony slated for July 9

A visit to a large purple martin colony in the Locust section of Middletown is scheduled for July 9 at 10 a.m. A hands-on discussion of the birds’ natural history will also be offered.

The program and visit will be led by Tim Shaheen, a purple martin expert from the Purple Martin Association, and Scott Barnes, a senior naturalist from the New Jersey Audubon Society. Fee is $15 for nonmembers of Audubon, and $10 for members.

Preregistration is required and may be done by calling Sandy Hook Bird Observatory at (732) 872-2500 to register.

Film festival at Middletown Library begins July 11

Middletown Township Library, 55 New Monmouth Road, will offer an international film festival Mondays during July and August. Admission is free to the films, which will be at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

A Chinese martial arts film starring Jet Li will be July 11. The film is set in the third-century B.C. and based on Chinese legend. Rated PG 13.

A French “whodunit” will be July 18; this homage to Agatha Christie involves eight suspects, famous actresses all, and song and dance. Rated R.

A film starring Martina Gedeck will be July 25. It involves a German chef taking in a young niece, hiring a new assistant, and finding a new outlook on life. Rated PG. A film about Danish singles finding romance and friendship in adult education will be Aug. 1. Rated R.

A film about a motorcycle trip taken by Che Guevara across 1950s South America will be Aug. 8. Rated R. A hilarious musical remake of “Pride and Prejudice” starring Aishwarya Rai will be Aug. 15. Rated PG 13.

All films are free and open to the public. Children will not be admitted to R rated films. For more information, call the library at (732) 671-3700 or visit www.mtpl.org.

Ice cream social, bathing suit show July 10

The Keyport Historical Society will present its sixth annual “Good Ol'’ Summertime Ice Cream Social & Vintage Bathing Suit Fashion Show” July 10 from 1-4 p.m. Vintage bathing suits and clothing will be presented and modeled by The Performing Arts Ensemble.

“Baykeeper” will be presented by Andy Willner July 11 at 7:30 p.m. The baykeeper’s mission is to protect, preserve, and restore the ecological integrity and productivity of the Hudson-Raritan Estuary. The program is part of the Steamboat Dock Museum’s “Monday Night” events. Light desserts and refreshments will be available after the meeting and presentation. Both the above will be at the Steamboat Dock Museum, Broad Street, Keyport. For more information, call (732) 739-6390.

Breakfast, ‘C medy K’night!’ slated at K of C

The Knights of Columbus (K of C) St. Joseph’s Council No. 3402, Keyport, will hold its “Second Sunday Breakfast — Family Style” July 10 from 8:30-11 a.m. at the hall at Route 35 north.

The menu will include omelets, eggs, French toast, pancakes and other items. Price is $5, $4 for seniors and children younger than age 10, and free for children younger than age 5. “C medy K’night!” will be July 23 from 7-11 p.m. at the hall. The event will feature three comedians, four-hour open bar, dinner and prizes. Price is $25 each. For more information, call Bob at (732) 583-4440 or the hall at (732) 264-9729.

Auxiliary celebrates 25 years’ service to hospital

The Shadow Lake Village Auxiliary, Shadow Lake section of Middletown, recently celebrated 25 years of service to Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank, at its annual spring luncheon in early May.

The Auxiliary has contributed $300,000 to the hospital since 1980 for various projects. Its Riverview thrift shop also raised $142,000 for the hospital. New officers for the auxiliary are Barbra Barnes, president; Eileen Kopecky, vice president; Lorraine Abate, secretary; and Elinor Sweeney, treasurer. Many Shadow Lake residents and auxiliary members also perform volunteer work at Riverview.

Volunteers sought for Medical Reserve Corps

The Monmouth County Board of Health is seeking volunteers for a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) it is establishing to strengthen the public health infrastructure and improve response capabilities during emergencies.

The MRC program was launched nationally in July 2002. While the Monmouth County Health Department has approximately 200 residents in a volunteer corps, the MRC is the next logical step for the Department, according to Lester W. Jargowsky, the county public health coordinator. Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Union counties already have MRCs.

The MRCs are offered assistance from the National MRC office, and local units receive education, training and technical assistance. For more information, call Julie Coveney, volunteer coordinator, at (732) 431-7456 or e-mail JCoveney@co.monmouth.nj.us.

YMCA offers Pre-K and

K programs in Holmdel

The Community YMCA, Red Bank, Northern Monmouth Branch, has announced it will offer academic preschool and a kindergarten enrichment program to students in the Holmdel school district for the 2005-06 school year.

Holmdel’s superintendent, Maureen Flaherty, approached The Community YMCA to determine if an interagency collaboration was possible. Following a needs assessment of Holmdel parents, results indicated the programs would be used if brought to the district.

The “Gym Jams Preschool” program, for ages 3-5, will be held at Village School. It will feature story time, academics, social studies, art, music and other activities. Kindergarten students at Village may enroll in the “Kindertime Enrichment” program, which will offer literacy development, arts and crafts, music and movement, constructive playtime, and other activities.

Registration is first-come, first-served, and will be accepted until the programs are filled. For more information, call The Community YMCA at (732) 566-9266.

Reservations now taken for ‘Day at the Races’

Reservations are now being accepted for the sixth annual “Day at the Races” sponsored by Bayshore Community Hospital Foundation, Holmdel, in conjunction with The Cancer Institute of New Jersey. The fund-raiser will be July 22 at 12:30 p.m. beginning at Monmouth Park Race Track, Oceanport.

Donation is $65, which covers admission, a buffet luncheon in the Turf Club, two-hour open bar, and race program. Post time is at 1:15 p.m. Proceeds will help fund the prevention, detection and treatment programs of both organizations to combat cancer.

Sponsorships are still available. For reservations and sponsorship information, call the Foundation at (732) 739-5994.

Matawan UMC Bible school begins July 12

Matawan United Methodist Church (UMC), Atlantic Avenue and Church Street, will hold its vacation Bible school “Kingdom of the Son” Tuesdays from 7-8:30 p.m. July 12-Aug. 23. The school is for children and families and will feature singing, crafts, skits and games.

For more information, call the church at (732) 566-2996.

Tickets now available for ‘From the Heart’ quilt

Tickets are now available for the raffle to win the “From the Heart” quilt created by the volunteer quilters of CPC Behavioral Healthcare, Middletown. Cost is $2 per ticket or $10 for a book of five tickets.

The raffle will be Oct. 24. The quilt will be also be displayed Aug. 6 at Freehold Day, Sept. 18 at the Freehold Antique Festival, and Oct. 15 and 16 at the crafts festival at PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel. The quilt is valued at $1,000.

For raffle tickets, call the CPC at (732) 842-2460 or e-mail Donna Maritato at dmaritato@cpcbhc.org.

Trip to Yankees vs. Cleveland July 10

Hazlet Recreation will sponsor a bus trip to the Yankees vs. Cleveland baseball game July 10 at Yankee Stadium. The bus will depart the parking lot at Hazlet Library, Middle Road, at 11 a.m. Cost is $46 for transportation and seating in tier box 653, section 27.

For more information, call Recreation at (732) 739-0653.

Tickets now on sale

for O’Brien fund-raiser

The Ceil & Frank O’Brien Memorial, Hazlet, fund-raiser “Day at the Races” will be July 23 at noon at Monmouth Park Racetrack, Oceanport.

Price is $25 per person, with proceeds benefiting the O’Brien Memorial Scholarship fund. Children are admitted free. Price includes track admission, program, and food and beverages served all day in a reserved picnic area.

For tickets, call Sue or Ray at (732) 264-4092.

Middletown Senior Center picnic July 8

The Middletown Senior Center, 900 Leonardville Road, Leonardo section of Middletown, will hold its annual picnic July 8 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. outside at Croydon Hall at the address as the center.

Entertainment will include Joey Sudkya. The event will be moved to the auditorium in the event of bad weather. An open house and birthday party will be July 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Middletown residents age 60 and older may tour the center, learn about activities and trips offered, and sign up for membership. The monthly birthday party will be held at 1 p.m. on this day. A two-hour cruise on the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers for center members only will be July 20, and tickets must be purchased by July 12. Cost is $25 for the luncheon cruise.

A K-9 demonstration by the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 Unit will be July 21 at 1:30 p.m. at the center’s auditorium. The K-9 unit consists of six dogs called upon year-round to assist local police departments with explosive detection, criminal or missing person searches, and narcotics detection. A sock hop will be July 27 from 4:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $14 per person and include a catered buffet dinner and DJ entertainment. Tickets must be purchased by July 19, and transportation is available for registered members by reservation in advance.

For event times or more information, call center supervisor Patrice Nugent at (732) 615-2265.

Five local students receive

Congressional Gold Medal

The U.S. Congress recently presented the Congressional Award Gold Medal to five local students at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The award is the highest honor given to youths ages 14-23 by Congress. Students complete more than 800 hours to earn the medal, in the areas of volunteer and public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration.

Local award winners are Megan Cartier, Belford section of Middletown; Stephanie Keller, Leonardo section of Middletown; Courtney Elizabeth Allen, Middletown; and Christopher J. Campis and Frances Cheng, both Holmdel.

Cartier, 18, is a Girl Scout and a member of the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Organization (HOBY). She trained six months to meet the requirements for the U.S. Air Force ROTC Scholarship in 2004.

Keller, 16, volunteered at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank, and was an intern in the marketing and advertising departments at Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank.

Allen, 17, a Girl Scout Gold Award winner, has volunteered more than 750 hours at a local elementary school’s after-school care program.

Campis, 17, volunteered with the Monmouth County Park System, and has also helped the homeless, senior citizens, and seriously ill children through a local youth group.

Cheng, 20, volunteered in the post-surgery and pediatric wards at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut.