Restaurant tasting will benefit foundation BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer MARLBORO - The Marlboro Educational Foundation's Restaurant Tasting, an evening of appetizing dishes, raffles and silent auction gift baskets, will be held at the Excelsior, Route 9 south,Manalapan, on May 5. The annual fundraiser will feature main dishes, fine wines and delectable of desserts from more than 40 vendors, according to Barbara Spilken, the foundation's vice chair. "We have some of the finest restaurants in the area (participating)," Spilken said. TheMarlboro Educational Foundation was established in 2000 to enhance the quality of education in the Marlboro K-8 School District by promoting community participation in school programs and providing additional funds to ensure educational excellence and innovation. So far during the 2007-08 school year the foundation has provided the school district with grants totaling more than $55,000. The May 5 restaurant tasting event will help raise money to provide future grants to Marlboro teachers. The event will include raffles and a silent auction. There are almost 100 gift baskets with items ranging from toys to tickets to Broadways shows and sporting events. One prize will allow a child to be the principal of his or her school for a day. Spilken said the principals at all of Marlboro's K-8 schools have agreed to allow the child of the winning parent to experience a day running a school as principal. Spilken said a piece of jewelry with an estimated value of $4,000 will be among the prizes. The jewelry has been donated by Ludis B Jewelry of Marlboro and will be locked in a case. Attendees will have the chance to purchase a key, one of which will open the case. Lavon Art Gallery of Marlboro will have pieces of art on hand for attendees to view. Setting the atmosphere while guests enjoy their food will be the classical quartet Jaza Strings. Spilken said the operator of the Excelsior has donated the use of the hall to the foundation. Decorations for the event have been donated by It's Your Party of Manalapan. This year's event enjoys support from various sponsors, according to Spilken. The Diamond sponsor is Investors Savings Bank. There are a number of Platinum sponsors: DCH Auto Group; CME Associates; Goldzweig, Green, Eiger and Biedzynski LLC; LaRocca and Associates; LDP Consulting Group;MarlboroMatters; and the Spilken family and friends. The Restaurant Tasting event will be held from 6-10 p.m. May 5. Tickets are $50 in advance or $60 at the door. For tickets and more information contact Barbara Spilken at (732) 536-7052 or Lisa Naboulsi at (732) 851-5391.