Honors presented during Manalapan charity ball BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer KATHY BARATTA Celebrating each other and the arts at the Mayor's Charity Ball were (l-r) Manalapan Police Department Capt. Lou Moreto, Deputy Mayor Michelle Roth, Michael Gross, Township Committeeman Richard Klauber, Mayor Andrew Lucas, Troy Davis and Irene DeMiceli (seated). MANALAPAN - A celebration for the arts was also a celebration of some of Manalapan's best employees and volunteers when the first Mayor's Charity Ball took place on Nov. 10. Proceeds from the event will go toward funding the arts in Manalapan and to charity organizations, according to Mayor Andrew Lucas. Lucas said he could not express how happy he was with the turnout for the event. He said it was the culmination of the hard work of the volunteers who make up the Manalapan Gala Committee under the auspices of the Manalapan Arts Council. Lucas was joined by Deputy Mayor Michelle Roth and Township Committeeman Richard Klauber at the black-tie optional event held at the Battleground Country Club, Millhurst Road. In honoring four individuals, the municipal officials noted that Manalapan's employees and volunteers are important to the community. Honored that evening were: • Manalapan Police Department Capt. Lou Moreto, who was honored by the township for Outstanding Work in Public Safety. • Irene DeMiceli, who works as an assistant to Township Administrator Tara Lovrich, was cited as Employee of the Year. • Troy Davis, an employee of the Manalapan Department of Public Works, was lauded as the township's Outstanding Employee. • Michael Gross, who serves Manalapan in several volunteer capacities, was recognized as Volunteer of the Year. Although Lucas did not know the final amount of money raised by attendance at the $100 a plate dinner, donations and a silent auction, he pronounced the occasion a success. "I thought it was a huge success, and we're already talking about a bigger and better event next year," he said.