Auxiliary continues support for hospital
Basile's Restaurant will host 'Elvis Is in the House' Sept. 18
BY PATRICIA YOCZIS Correspondent
Come and get ready to enjoy "The Total Evening Experience" benefit sponsored by the Manalapan-Englishtown Marlboro (MEM) Hospital Auxiliary at Basile's Italian Restaurant, Freehold, Sept. 18.

"It will be a fun night that consists of dinner, wine sampling, entertainment and more," said Rose Rosen, president of the MEM Auxiliary and coordinator of the event. "The dress is casual and the proceeds will benefit CentraState Medical Center's newest building project," the ambulatory campus next to the hospital on West Main Street, Freehold Township.

The entertainment, "Elvis Is in the House" by T.C.B. Productions, she said, will be sure to be memorable. Also, there will be a small silent auction and a 50-50 drawing.

"The ambulatory campus that will emphasize wellness care will be the beneficiary of the evening's proceeds," said Rosen. "The auxiliaries have made a five-year pledge of $250,000 to this building project."

She said the MEM Auxiliary is one of

several auxiliaries that comprise

the CentraState associated

auxiliaries,

which have raised more

than $2.5 million over 41 years to help the community hospital.

On Sept. 25, the ambulatory

campus will be

formally named and the atrium dedicated to the associated auxiliaries.

Rosen, a Manalapan resident for more than 40 years, has been a member of the MEM Auxiliary for 15 years and president for 13 years. The auxiliary has a current membership of about 30 members and spouses are automatically members, she said.

"The only requirements to be a member are a willing heart and to be mindful and respectful of the sick," she said. "You don't have to live in the area, as many members have moved away, but still come back and help. You just have to care."

According to Rosen, the importance of a community hospital cannot be stressed enough.

"You may have a great doctor in New York, but what do you do when an emergency happens down here? You need the best community hospital you can have. That's what you need," she said.

Rosen said people forget that in recent memory there was no community hospital in the Freehold area. Local doctors took care of emergencies, she said.

"When I first moved here, I had a bad cut," Rosen said. "The police came and took me to Dr. Jacob Lewis, a local Freehold doctor, who sewed stitches to close the wound. Now we have a great hospital."

Freehold Area Hospital, later renamed CentraState Medical Center, opened in Freehold Township in the spring of 1971. Prior to that area residents had to travel to Neptune, Red Bank, Long Branch or New Brunswick for hospital care.

Rosen said many members of the hospital auxiliaries volunteer in CentraState's various departments. Also, the auxiliaries provide vendors at the hospital for the staff to purchase items.

"We try to have a fundraiser a month," she said. "We have monthly meetings and luncheons. It's really a support group as members become friends through the fundraising events."

Rosen said the biggest fundraiser for the associated hospital auxiliaries is the Holiday Gala that will be held this year at the Holiday Inn, East Windsor, on Dec. 8. The event will honor CentraState Senior Vice President and Medical Director Dr. Benjamin Weinstein for his contributions to the hospital and the community. The proceeds, she said, will benefit CentraState's biomedical ethics committee.

Rosen said she is grateful to everyone who is working to make the Sept. 18 fundraiser an enjoyable experience, including Basile's Restaurant owners for use of their facility, and for the donation of wine from both The Wine Room, Manalapan, and an anonymous donor.

She is especially thankful for the help from her auxiliary committee members: Vice President Jackie Sessa, Freehold, Treasurer Sandra Whitehouse, Manalapan, Recording Secretary Helen Certa, Manalapan, Judy Sokloski, Colonia (a former Marlboro resident) and Geri Silverman, Marlboro.

"Come and treat yourself while you help a great community hospital," Rosen said.

For tickets for "The Total Evening Experience" benefit that begins at 6 p.m. Sept. 18 at Basile's Restaurant, 536 Park Avenue, Freehold, call Sandra at (732) 446-6839 or Rose at (732) 446-7271 or mail a $25 check made payable to MEM Auxiliary, to P.O. Box 351, Englishtown 07726.