Community Bulletin Board
‘N.J. Shouts Down Drugs’ music competition

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey has announced its 2007 “New Jersey Shouts Down Drugs!” (NJSDD) music competition.

NJSDD is a music and song-writing competition for high school students who live or attend school in New Jersey. Students who participate must write a song promoting a substance abuse prevention message. As a culmination of the competition, a finalist from each of New Jersey’s 21 participating counties will perform in a statewide concert to be held May 17.

The statewide winners will share more than $10,000 in prizes including a music contract and having their song professionally recorded. All submissions must be received by Jan. 12 at 4 p.m.

For entry forms and contest rules, visit the Web site at www.drugfreenj.org.

Cecilian Music Club to present annual concert

On Jan. 14 at 3 p.m., the Cecilian Music Club of Freehold will present its annual Monster Concert at the Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank. This event will feature an ensemble of more than 25 baby grand pianos, playing under the baton of Beth S. Chen, and drawing teachers and their students from New Jersey, New York and Delaware. A donation of $10 is suggested for each ticket.

The Cecilian Music Club is an organization of teachers, performers, and music lovers dedicated to the study and performance of classical music.

For more information, or to become a member, contact Helen Bungert at (732) 905-1761.

Christmas play has Santa Claus stuck in the ’50s

St. Rose of Lima School will produce a Christmas play Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. in the St. Rose of Lima Walter R. Earle Memorial Auditorium, 51 Lincoln Place, Freehold.

The chorus and band will perform, and the student body will present a Christmas play where Santa Claus is stuck in the 1950s. A Nativity scene will be be featured at the conclusion of the production.

For further information, contact Mary Donnelly, St. Rose PTA publicity coordinator, at (732) 845-0059.

School board awaits

return of surveys

The Freehold Borough Board of Education is urging residents to complete and return the survey that was mailed to registered voter households in November.

To date more than 200 surveys have been returned. The 19-question survey was part of a district newsletter mailed prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. The survey was designed to gather feedback from the community about the previously defeated referendums and other critical issues facing the school district.

A deadline of Dec. 15 has been set to receive the postage-paid survey respon-ses.

The board will be reviewing survey data compiled by the school communications consultant in January as it is presented to the community during a regularly scheduled board of education meeting.

For more information about the survey, contact the superintendent’s office at (732) 761-2102.

Congregation Kol Am

to lead menorah lighting

Congregation Kol Am has been invited by Freehold Township to lead the community in the lighting of the Freehold Township Hanukkah menorah on Dec. 15 (7:45 p.m.), which will take place adjacent to the township’s 9/11 memorial at Schanck and Stillwells Corner roads.

Rabbi Brooks R. Susman will lead a brief service at that time, to be followed by a special Hanukkah service in the main meeting room of the Freehold Township town hall. The Congregation Kol Am choir will be on hand to add to the festivities.

An invitation is being extended to Rabbi Kenneth Greene of the Freehold Jewish Center, Freehold Borough, encouraging his congregation to participate in the event.

As part of a Freehold Center Partner-ship celebration, Congregation Kol Am will be joining the Freehold Jewish Center for the fourth year in a row to participate in the lighting of a Hanukkah menorah in front of the Monmouth County Hall of Records, Main Street, Freehold, on Dec. 18 at 5 p.m.

4-H holiday concert

at agriculture building

The public is invited to attend a 4-H holiday concert, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Monmouth County agriculture building, 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold Township. The concert is being presented by the

4-H club — New Jersey Children’s Chamber Choir, composed of more than 20 youth from Monmouth County.

Learn more about the youth development programs available to youth grades K-13 throughout Monmouth County. For more information about the holiday concert or the 4-H program, contact the 4-H office at (732) 431-7263.

Sons of Israel Men’s

Club Sunday Breakfast

The Men’s Club of Congregation Sons of Israel will hold its next Sunday breakfast on Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. Guest speaker David Snyder, area director for the Mid-Atlantic region chapter of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, will speak about issues affecting Israel, the U.S. and the Middle East. AIPAC’s principal mission is to lobby the U.S. government about legislation that strengthens the relationship between the U.S. and Israel.

Congregation Sons of Israel is on Gordons Corner Road, Manalapan. For further information, call the office at (732) 446-3000.

Concerto competition

seeks young musicians

The Livingston Symphony Orchestra, Livingston, is issuing an invitation to talented young musicians in the area to participate in its 32nd annual concerto competition.

The competition will be held Jan. 7 (snow date Jan. 14). The deadline for applications is Dec. 14.

The winner will perform as soloist with the orchestra at a March 31 concert and will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Applications and rules may be obtained by contacting chairperson, Carmela Cecere at (973) 635-2345.

Applicants must be legitimate residents of New Jersey, although they may be residing elsewhere temporarily for the purpose of studying at an institution of higher learning.

The orchestra is under the direction of world-renown conductor Istvan Jaray.

Park System offers music

program for children

The Monmouth County Park System invites parents and their youngsters ages 2-4 to “Let’s Explore Music,” a fun-filled educational program featuring both voice and instruments.

This new program will meet once a week for six 45-minute sessions during January, February and March (depending on the session) at the following park system locations:

• Dorbrook Activity Center, Route 537, Colts Neck

• Henry Hudson Trail Activity Center, Route 36, Leonardo

• Manasquan Reservoir Visitor Center, Windeler Road, Howell

Morning and afternoon sessions are available; the cost is $90 per parent/child (sibling rate available). Visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com or pick up a copy of the directory for winter 2007, available at most park system locations, for a complete schedule of dates and times. For more information or to register, call (732) 842-4000.

Knights of Columbus

to sponsor family event

The Knights of Columbus Father McGivney Council No. 6392 will sponsor a breakfast with Santa Dec. 17 from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Gabriel’s Parish Center gym, 100 N. Main St., Marlboro.

The event will offer a hot and cold breakfast buffet with activities for children of all ages. The cost is $6 for adults, $3 for kids. For more information, call Ron Murray at (732) 946-0112 or send an e-mail to ron@nps1.com.