Community Bulletin Board
Gift basket items sought for special ed. event

The Howell Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is taking reservations through Jan. 18 for the SEPAC Parents' Night Out and Gift Auction slated for Jan. 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Woodlake Country Club, 25 New Hampshire Ave., Lakewood. The cost of $30 per person includes dinner and entertainment. A list of baby-sitters is available upon request.

SEPAC is actively looking for donations of new or gently used items to put into the baskets, as well as baskets. Proceeds from the night will go toward SEPAC-supported programs and events for all the children.

SEPAC also accepts donations of unwanted gifts after the holiday season.

Details: (732) 901-1440.

Worship center to start

grief support group

The Monmouth Worship Center, 176 Route 79 (a half-mile north of Route 520), Marlboro, is starting a grief support group. The group will begin on Oct. 29 and run from 10-10:45 a.m. each week. It is open to anyone in the community who my be suffering from the death of a loved one. A pastor's widow, Margaret Lawton, will be the coordinator of the group. For more information call (732) 332-9600.

Grief support group

to start Oct. 29

Monmouth Worship Center will hold its first grief support group meeting Oct. 29, 10-10:45 a.m. The group will meet weekly and is open to anyone in the community who has experienced the death of a loved one. A pastor's widow, Margaret Lawton, will be the coordinator of the group. The church is located at 176 Route 79, Marlboro (north of Route 520). For further information, call the church office at (732) 332-9600.

Mayor's Art Council

plans special event

The Manalapan Mayor's Art Council (MAC) will sponsor a special event Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Gary Michaels Fine Jewelry, 55 Route 9 south, Manalapan.

The event is being hosted by Gary Michaels in conjunction with its annual holiday party. It will include performances by the Manalapan Chamber Music Ensemble under the direction of Chiu-Tze Lin. The event is open to the public and refreshments will be served. A presentation of the MAC's new logo will also highlight the evening.

This event is the first in a series sponsored by the MAC and hosted by local businesses to showcase local talent. For more information, visit www.twp.manalapan.nj.us.

Rotary Club supports

Relay for Life program

The Freehold Rotary Club presented the Relay for Life program of the American Cancer Society with a check in the amount of $4,000 on Oct. 24. The presentation was made at the Courtyard Inn, Freehold Borough. The Relay for Life program was one of the named primary beneficiaries of an art auction that was run by the Freehold Rotary Club on May 4. Cynthia Guarglia accepted the donation on behalf of the American Cancer Society. She presented a program on the various aspects of the Relay for Life program to the club. Anyone interested in finding out more about Rotary may write to: the Freehold Rotary Club, P.O. Box 3, Freehold 07728.

Church cookbook

available for sale

The Esther Circle, a women's group that is part of the First United Methodist Church, Freehold, has collected the best recipes from group members, family and friends and compiled them into a hard-cover keepsake cookbook titled "This Side of Heaven."

The cookbook contains 135 recipes, including appetizers, main dishes, desserts and more, and includes the contributor's name. The project is part of the 175th anniversary of the church that is ongoing this year. For information about the cookbook or about the upcoming church anniversary events, call the church office at (732) 462-1745.

Girl Scouts put out call

for volunteer leaders

Adults are needed for volunteer leadership positions, volunteer service team positions and/or to coordinate events for local Girl Scouts.

Were you a Girl Scout when you were young? Do you know the value of the Girl Scout program? Do you know that Girl Scouting provides college scholarships to graduating Girl Scouts? Are you a busy mom who doesn't think you have time to run a troop, but whose daughter is still looking for one? Are you a retired person who is looking for a worthwhile volunteer position?

Girl Scouting offers flexible positions, trainings dates and meeting arrangements to fit any schedule.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer may attend a leader meeting on Oct. 30 from 7:30-8:45 p.m. at the C. Richard Applegate School, 47 Jeanne Brennan Drive, Freehold Township. For more information call (732) 780-2109.

NAACP to accept

slate of officers

The Freehold branch of the NAACP will accept a slate for officers and the Executive Committee, Oct. 30. Elections will be conducted Nov. 27. If interested in a position, contact Julius D. Ramsey at (732) 804-2308.

Marlboro schools name

department supervisor

Joseph J. Bires has been named the Marlboro K-8 School District's supervisor of instructional technology, effective January. He will succeed Fred Style, who retired from the district in June. According to information provided by the district, since 2004 Bires has worked as the technology coordinator in the Manville School District. Prior to that he was the director of technology in the Jenkintown School District and for Purnell School, a private boarding high school. Bires also worked in the East Amwell School District as a computer resource teacher. After graduating from The College of New Jersey, Ewing, with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education, Bires earned his master of arts degree in computers in education with a concentration in technology leadership from Columbia University. He is currently a student in the doctorate program in educational leadership and technology at the University of Delaware. Bires holds a New Jersey school supervisor certification.

Items for the Community Bulletin Board may be faxed to (732) 780-4192.

Vendors needed for craft and gift show

A PTO holiday craft and gift show will be held Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Marshall W. Errickson School, 2271 Elton-Adelphia Road, Freehold Township. Vendors needed. For further information, call Lynette Barbieri, (888) 380-9356.

Park system's directory to be released Nov. 1

Find out what the Monmouth County Park System has planned for winter when the latest issue of its directory is released Nov. 1. The winter issue, available at most county parks and online at www.monmouthcountyparks.com, will feature details about the Park System's schedule of special events and nature, recreation and sports programs for December, January and February. The directory can also be received by mail; call (732) 842-4000, ext. 4313.

Online registration is available for select programs Registration is also available for all programs by phone, fax or through the mail.

For more information, call the park system at (732) 842-4000. The TTY/TDD number for persons with hearing impairment is 711.

Local student receives national honor

Elizabeth Ozery, daughter of Barbara and Avi Ozery of Manalapan, has been selected for membership in The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS), which recognizes the top scholars in the nation and invites only those students who have achieved superior academic excellence. Membership in NSHSS entitles qualified students to enjoy a variety of benefits, including scholarship opportunities, academic competitions, free events, member-only resources, publications, participation in programs offered by educational partners, online forums, personalized recognition items, and publicity honors.

Four-week series

on prayer offered

The Adult Education Committee of Congregation Kol Am is offering a four-week series on prayer titled "How Do Jews Talk to God?" Rabbi Brooks Sus-man's course will reveal that although prayer is personal, it also provides a common thread for Jews throughout their history.

The course will examine how prayers are written, their actual meanings, and how they help in fostering a relationship among people and with God.

The series will be held at the West Freehold School, Castronova Way and Route 537, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1 and 15, 7-9:15 p.m. Details: Visit www.congregationkolam.org or call (732) 792-8000.

Influenza/pneumococcal clinic slated for Nov. 4

The Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey has scheduled an influenza/pneumococcal vaccination clinic at Central Jersey Pools, 4235 Route 9 north, Freehold Township, Nov. 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The cost of the immunizations is $25 for the influenza vaccine and $40 for the pneumococcal vaccine.

Cash or checks will be the only accepted form of payment in addition to Medicare Part B.

Freehold class of 1956

plans to hold reunion

A group of classmates from the Freehold Regional High School class of 1956 is looking for members to attend a 50th anniversary reunion dinner at the Freehold Gardens, Freehold Township, on Nov. 11. Details: (732) 462-4947.

Local schools selected for American history grant

The U.S. Department of Education has selected the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District as the Lead Educational Agency (LEA) for a three-year Molly Pitcher Liberty Fellowship Grant. The total of the award is $953,990. Manalapan-Englishtown will serve as the LEA for a four-school consortium that includes Freehold Borough Public Schools, Marlboro Public Schools and the corresponding high schools in the Freehold Regional High School District.

The Molly Pitcher Liberty Fellowship is dedicated to providing teachers with the tools and training necessary to enhance the teaching of American history. Through the grant, the American Institute for History Education LLC (AIHE) will provide resources, workshops and summer institutes featuring historians, constitutional scholars, history education specialists, and professors from leading universities.

Maureen Lally, superintendent of schools, congratulated Bruce Mitzak, supervisor of the social studies, world languages and academically talented programs, who developed the grant. In the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional Schools, the focus will be on grades five and eight. Beginning this fall, teachers from Manalapan-Englishtown Regional Schools, Freehold, Marlboro and the Freehold Regional High School District will begin attending workshops to improve their knowledge of American history.

Local church offers

sign language classes

Monmouth Worship Center is now being interpreted in American Sign Language. All are invited. The church is at 176 Route 79, Marlboro (just north of Route 520). American Sign Language classes are being offered Wednesday evenings. Details: (732) 332-9600.