Sayreville wins honor at stepping competition

Manalapan High School rocked to the sounds of feet stomping and hands clapping as students from seven high schools competed in a stepping competition during the school's annual African-American Heritage Festival held last week.

Sayreville War Memorial High School won first place, while Manalapan High School placed second and Howell High School came in third.

Stepping, an ancient African tribal dance ritual, combines the elements of military drills with contemporary jazz and hip-hop moves. Although the dance is based on the beat of a drum, the fundamental element of African music, there are no drums in stepping. Instead the body takes the place of the drum as dancers clap and slap their hands against various parts of the body, and stomp their feet to a complex synchronized rhythm.

In addition to the stepping compe-tition, the festival featured dancing, music, storytelling and dramatizations honoring the African-American heritage.

Manalapan resident

earns scholarship

Jerry Collincini, director of Manal-apan Parks and Recreation, recently announced that Morgan Finkelstein of Manalapan is the recipient of a $500 academic scholarship from the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association.

In his recommendation letter to the NJRPA, Collincini said, "Ms. Finkelstein is an amazingly well-rounded individual as evidenced by her participation in school activities and community service. Morgan has worked for Manalapan Parks and Recreation in several different capacities since she was 14 years old, and has successfully accomplished the many challenges each position entailed."

Finkelstein is a junior at Temple University in the school of Sport and Recreation Management.

According to a press release, the scholarship was awarded based on professional promise and exceptional competence in the field of parks and recreation. Graduate and undergraduate college students who are concentrating in the recreation, parks, and leisure services field were eligible to apply.

YMCA makes plans for

annual black-tie gala

On March 16 the YMCA of Western Monmouth County, Freehold Township, will celebrate the 86th annual Black-tie Gala at the Battleground Country Club, Manalapan. The Gala Committee led by Chairman Patrick Preston of Merrill Lynch, Freehold, has announced the selection of honorees Frank Dalotto, of Freehold, who is the director, Camp Quality NJ, and OceanFirst Bank as this year's recipients of the YMCA Com-munity Service Award.

Dr. Michael Jones and Central Jersey Emergency Medical Associates along with Sovereign Bank, Battleground Country Club, The Bank, O'Connor, Gordon, Pratt Architects are among the major sponsors of the event.

All proceeds of the evening will benefit the YCares Financial Assistance Pro-gram. The evening will begin at 7 p.m. with a cocktail hour followed by dinner and dancing to the music of Mission Dance. For more information contact Annie Stattel, (732) 462-0464, ext. 132.