Temple student receives award

MANALAPAN - Township resident Morgan Finkelstein was the recent recipient of an award presented by the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS).

The announcement was made byMona Cholowinski, the superintendent of the Manalapan Parks and Recreation Department. According to Cholowinski, Finkelstein, a senior at Temple University, Philadelphia, was presented with the award at the society's 61st annual state conference.

Cholowinski said Finkelstein was also the recipient of an academic scholarship in 2007 from the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association (NJRPA).

According to Cholowinski, Finkelstein has worked for the Manalapan Parks and Recreation Department in many capacities since she was 14 years old.

In a press release, Cholowinski said, "Both the PRPS student honor and the NJRPA academic scholarship awards are given annually to undergraduate or graduate students who show leadership, demonstrate boundless service, and make outstanding contributions to the field of recreation, parks and leisure services. The township of Manalapan is proud to acknowledge one of its own."

In a matter related to recreation and entertainment, Manalapan officials said they want residents to know that the Queens Opera is going to be featuring its new young professional artists in an operatic performance of "Suor Angelica," a Puccini opera.

The performance will be held at 3 p.m. April 13 in the courtroom of the municipal building, Route 522 and Taylors Mills Road. Admission is free.

According to the Manalapan Arts Council which is sponsoring the event, the opera will be staged in costume with seven professional artists featured in the performance. Some of the artists are currently with the New York City Opera and other distinguished opera companies.

Speaking about the upcoming operatic performance at a recent meeting of the Township Committee, Committeeman Richard Klauber encouraged residents to take advantage of this local cultural event. He noted that his mother was an opera singer.

Seats for the April 13 performance of "Suor Angelica" are limited. For more information, call (732) 277-5560 to reserve seats and to receive a confirmation number.