Community Bulletin Board
Matawan Rotary’s Casino Night July 14

The Matawan Rotary Club will hold its fifth annual Casino Night July 14 at 6 p.m. at the Buttonwood Manor, 845 Route 34, Matawan.

Tickets are $40, which includes $80 worth of chips, a raffle ticket for door prizes, food, entertainment, coffee and dessert. There will be a cash bar. Players will cash winnings into raffle tickets for a chance to win one of approximately 20 grand prizes.

For information, call Robert at (732) 290-9600 or visit www.matawanrotary.org.

‘Finding Free Software on the Internet’ July 15

Brookdale Computer Users Group Inc. will host a free presentation by Victor Laurie July 15 at 7 p.m. at Brookdale Community College, Newman Springs Road, Lincroft section of Middletown, in Room NAS 100.

Laurie will present “Finding Useful Free Software on the Internet.” Laurie lectures frequently on computer topics and is especially interested in encouraging senior citizens to use computers.

For more information, visit www.bcug.com.

Battleship tour reservations due July 21

St. Mary’s travel group will sponsor a guided tour of the battleship New Jersey Aug. 21, with reservations prepaid by July 21. The ship is a floating museum on the Delaware River.

The cost is $36 for bus transportation and the two-hour tour of the Iowa-class ship. Attendees may also pay a fee and swim with the sharks at New Jersey’s Adventure Aquarium. The bus will depart from Mater Dei High School, Cherry Tree Farm Road, New Monmouth section of Middletown, at 7:30 a.m. and return at 5:30 p.m.

For reservations, call Pat at (732) 615-9088.

SPCA summer party at Deal Golf Club

Reservations are now being accepted for the Monmouth County SPCA’s annual summer party scheduled for Aug. 14 from 5-8 p.m. at Deal Golf & Country Club. Tickets are $95 and include an open bar, hors d’oeuvres and buffet. Proceeds will benefit shelter animals cared for at the SPCA. The festivities will include a silent auction and 50/50 raffle. Auction prizes include a professional pet portrait package donated by local pet photographer Kim Levin. The raffle winner of the pet portrait will also have their pet featured in the SPCA’s 2007 New Beginnings calendar.

For reservations, call the shelter at (732) 542-2030.

Local Red Cross chapter issues boating safety tips

The Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross, Tinton Falls, has compiled a list of boating safety tips that should be practiced when entering the water this summer.

Boating can be a dangerous activity, and with all of the hazardous situations that can occur, boaters must be prepared. The chapter’s tips are:

• Learn to swim.

• Do not use alcohol.

• Have a Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each passenger on the boat.

• Develop a float plan — give a responsible person details on where boaters will be and an anticipated return.

• Take a boating course to learn about navigation rules, emergency procedures, and the effects of wind, water conditions, and weather.

• Know local weather conditions.

• Prepare for electrical storms.

• Stop boating as soon as a storm is seen or heard.

The Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross offers courses in swimming, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator, fist aid, and other topics. For more information or to register for a course, call Blair Murray at (732) 493-9100, ext. 244, or visit www.jerseycoast-redcross.org.

Host families sought for exchange students

Brookdale Community College’s international center is seeking host families for students from the Ecuador campus who will be arriving in the United Sates to study at the Lincroft campus next fall.

Host families provide the student with a room, a place to study, and breakfast and dinner daily. A location that is convenient to bus or train public transit is a plus. Families receive a stipend of $2,000 per term for room and board.

For more information, call (732) 224-2799 or e-mail tpetersenn@brookdalecc.edu.

Audubon Society’s bird walk slated for July 14

The Monmouth County Audubon Society will offer an evening bird walk July 14 at 6 p.m. Attendees will search for nesters and shorebirds on Sandy Hook. The walk will begin at the visitor’s center and be led by Audubon members familiar with the Hook and its birds. Birds that may be seen include ospreys, least and common terns, herons and egrets. The free walk is open to both members and nonmembers. Attendees should bring binoculars and field guides, and dress appropriately for the weather. Insect repellent is also recommended. Advance registration is recommended, and may be made by calling Debbie Grob, field trip committee, at (732) 751-9131 (before 8 p.m.), (732) 872-2473 (after 8 p.m.), or e-mail dgrob@optonline.com.

Beach parties, camps

offered in Middletown

Middletown Parks and Recreation Department will host a beach party July 14 from 6-9 p.m. at Ideal Beach off Bayside Parkway in North Middletown. The free event will feature music and children’s games. A second beach party will be held Aug. 5 at Leonardo Beach. For more information, call Recreation at (732) 615-2265.

New Jersey Blind Citizens Association will hold an open house July 17 from noon to 4 p.m. to celebrate its 95th anniversary and 75th year at Camp Happiness, 18 Burlington Ave., Leonardo section of Middletown. Attendees include New York Giants Pro Bowl player Carl Banks and Committeeman Gerard P. Scharfenberger. Camp Happiness was established to give the association’s summer program a larger and more permanent home. For more information, call director J. Douglas Scott at (732) 291-0878.

Summer arts camps will be held July 18-22 from 9-11:30 a.m. at Bayshore Middle School, Leonardville Road, Leonardo. An acting camp and a music camp will be offered for children in grades three through eight, and there will be a “Beach Party” for children in grades one through three. For more information, call (732) 615-2260, ext. 2419.

The Middletown summer concert series continues July 21 from 7-9 p.m. with a concert by The Teenagers at Normandy Park, Nutswamp Road, Middletown. Attendees should bring blankets and lawn chairs. In the event of rain, the concerts will be held at Middletown High School South, 900 Nutswamp Road. For more information, call Recreation at (732) 615-2260.

The Change of Command Ceremony of the 6th Motor Transport Battalion will be held July 22 at 3 p.m. at the Armed Forces Reserve Center, 338 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft section of Middletown. Lt. Col. Robert R. Danko will relinquish command to Lt. Col. Robert M. Hagan during the ceremony. For more information, call Sgt. Graham at (732) 904-5700.

Summer arts camps also will be held July 25-29 from 9-11:30 a.m. at Middletown High School South. A performing arts camp and a music camp will be offered for children in grades three through eight, and “Terrific Tees” will be offered for children in grades one through three. For more information, call (732) 615-2260, ext. 2419.

MOMS Club to hold

business meeting July 18

The MOMS Club of Middletown/Red Bank will hold its business meeting July 18 at 9:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, 84 Maple Ave., Red Bank.

The club is a nonprofit organization that supports stay-at-home mothers, mothers working part time and mothers working from home. Children are welcome at club events. The club offers activities such as play dates, family outings, book clubs and a monthly Moms Night Out. For more information, call (732) 576-1711.

Church to sort clothing for homeless July 20

Holmdel Community Church, 40 Main St., is seeking volunteers to help sort clothing for its Bridges program July 20 at 6 p.m. in the church. Volunteers will also make sandwiches for distribution through the program July 21 during the evening. Church members will travel to New York City July 22 to distribute food and clothing to the homeless. For more information, call the church at (732) 946-8821, or e-mail holmdelchurch@cs.com.

Tickets now on sale

for ‘Comedy K’night!’

The Knights of Columbus, Route 35 north, Keyport, will present “Comedy K’night!” July 23 from 7 to 11 p.m.

The event will feature a dinner of spaghetti with meatballs and sausage, and dessert; four-hour open bar with draft beer, wine and soda; three professional comedians; a DJ; dancing; and prizes. Tickets are $25 per person.

For more information, call (732) 264-9729.

Open house, sock hop

at M’town Senior Center

The Middletown Senior Center, 900 Leonardville Road, Leonardo section of Middletown, will hold an open house and birthday party July 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event is open to Middletown residents ages 60 and older. Residents 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.

A sock hop will be held July 27 from 4:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $14 per person and include a buffet dinner from Jacques Caterers as well as DJ entertainment. Tickets must be purchased by July 19. Transportation is available for registered members if reserved in advance.

For details and registration information, call the center at (732) 615-2265.

Trip to winery, A.C. casino slated for seniors

The Aberdeen Township Recreation Department has scheduled a senior citizens trip to the Renault Winery, Galloway Township, and an Atlantic City casino Sept. 14. Buses will depart from the parking lot at Temple Shalom, Ayrmont Lane, and Church Street, Aberdeen, at 9 a.m., and A&P, Route 35, Cliffwood section of Aberdeen, at 9:15 a.m. Buses will return at approximately 8:30 p.m.

The trip is open to Aberdeen residents ages 55 and older. Nonresident seniors may sign up after the Aug. 9 resident deadline (space permitting). The cost is $23 for nonresidents and $18 for residents, and includes a family-style lunch at the winery. Township seniors who are members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Senior Citizens Club are asked to sign up at the club meeting. Nonmembers may sign up at Recreation Department at the Aberdeen Township Municipal Building or through the mail. Trips are nonrefundable. Details: (732) 583-4200, ext. 129.

Instant Admit Days, info sessions at Brookdale

Brookdale Community College, Newman Springs Road, Lincroft section of Middletown, will hold “What If — Wednesdays” at its recruitment services office July 20 and Aug. 10, 17 and 24, at 6 p.m. The information sessions are designed to welcome prospective students. For more information, call (732) 224-2261.

The higher education centers of Brookdale will offer Instant Admit Days during August for students interested in applying, taking the basic skills exam, receiving academic advising and registering for fall classes. All sessions will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Instant Admit Days at the Long Branch Higher Education Center, Third Avenue and Broadway, are Aug. 15, 16 and 22. For information, call (732) 229-8440.

At the Western Monmouth Higher Education Center, 3680 Route 9 south, Freehold Township, Instant Admit Days are Aug. 16, 23 and 24. For information, call (732) 625-7006.

And, at the Bayshore Higher Education Center, Laurel Avenue, West Keansburg section of Hazlet, the days are Aug. 15, 17 and 18. For information, call (732) 787-0019.

Students wishing to register earlier may do so at any of the centers or the Lincroft campus. A listing of courses is available at www.brookdalecc.edu.

Concerts in the park

slated to begin July 17

Hazlet Recreation will present four free concerts at Veterans Memorial Park, 1776 Union Ave., beginning with The Mahoney Brothers July 17.

The Happenings will perform July 22, and Frankie Lyman’s Teenagers Aug. 5. New York City Swing will perform Aug. 12. All concerts begin at 7 p.m.; attendees should bring lawn chairs. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

For more information, call Recreation at (732) 739-06543.