Twp. arts center to allow alcohol at some events BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer FILE PHOTO At last week's Township Committee meeting, an ordinance was passed to allow alcohol to be served at fundraisers for the Middletown Cultural Arts Center. MIDDLETOWN - The Township Committee adopted an ordinance last week permitting the serving and consumption of alcoholic beverages at arts center events by permit. The aim of the permit is to be able to periodically raise funds for programming within the center. Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger said that the township is covered against any liabilities that may occur. "I think that this is going to be a nice extra tool to help raise funds. Other towns like Atlantic Highlands have the Shore Casino, which is owned by the municipality [and permits alcohol], so we are certainly not setting some sort of precedent with what we're doing," Scharfenberger said. Middletown Cultural and Arts Council President Antoinette Rinella said that the adoption of the ordinance should greatly help in the effort to raise funds for the new venue. "Any extra money that we can raise for the center is always great and this ordinance really helps us now," Rinella said. "It's not like we're trying to bring alcohol into the facility on a frequent basis." She also said that the ordinance was brought up as a result of a special fundraiser on Sept. 15 called "Opening Act," a formal function which will be the first time that alcohol will be on the grounds for fundraising purposes. Included in the evening's events will be a silent auction, entertainment and hors d'oeuvres. "We're very optimistic that this will be the perfect way to kick off our fund-raising efforts for the center," Rinella said. "Any professional planner knows that this is the way to go, to have alcohol at a function and to have the function at the location for which you're trying to raise funds." Rinella said that she would like to see at least one annual fundraiser along with perhaps an occasional "extremely notable art exhibit." "Anything we can do to raise money for the building, we can certainly look into it," she said. Scharfenberger said that no outside non-profit organizations can come in and have a fundraiser with alcohol for their own benefit.