~ Notes Around Town ~

CHRIS KELLY On Saturday, the Davis family received a newly built home in Long Branch from Habitat for Humanity. Above, Habitat President Sheryl Cole (l) reads the opening prayer, along with Donna Davis (center background), Toshisona Davis (center foreground) and Renee Davis.

The Elberon Ranch development application, known as Park Avenue Estates, LLC has been put on hold again. It seems the developer was remiss in notifying all the residents who live within 200 feet of the proposed development of his plan. The notification is a legal requirement for any major site plan application before the Planning Board. This is the second time that the mistake has been made.

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The Halloween Mardi Gras Festival and Costume Contest is scheduled for Oct. 27 to be held at 1:30 p.m. at the West End Park on Brighton Avenue, Long Branch. The event is sponsored by the exchange club of Long Branch. The event includes costume judging for adults and children, trophies for five categories, entertainment by the Drama Teens and DJ, crowning of Miss Mardi Gras, and free donuts and cider.

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FARRAH MAFFAI Floats were a big hit at the Monmouth University Homecoming Parade, held in West Long Branch last Saturday.

The Halloween Mardi Gras Festival this year will have its first-ever grand marshal. Chosen for this prestigious position is Joe Tuccio of Tuccio’s Restaurant on Westwood and Morris avenues. Tuccio was chosen for his limitless dedication to the community of Long Branch; however, he will not be taking on the traditional role of leading a parade as a grand marshal. Instead he will oversee the judging of the five categories for the costume contest.

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The Coastal Monmouth Drug Alliance is conducting a drug abuse prevention education program in order to update senior citizens regarding current drug trends among youth. This program is being offered at the Long Branch Senior Center, 85 Second Avenue at 1 p.m. Nov. 6.

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FARRAH MAFFAI Griffin Keller, 5, is intent on his pumpkin painting at Monmouth Beach Cultural Center on Saturday.

The Long Branch Senior Center has announced that Maria Christopher will be leading its new choral group. The first rehearsal is at 1 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Senior Center. The center is inviting area seniors to join and be part of this new program. Plans are for the chorale to perform at various places during the upcoming holiday season. For additional information call (732) 571-6542.

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The next regular meeting of the Long Branch Historical Association will be Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Long Branch Ice Boat and Yacht Club on Renwick Place off Patten Avenue. The Association will hold an evening of nostalgia to learn of the history of the boat club.

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The Monmouth County Business and Professional Women’s Council Inc., will celebrate the 52nd anniversary with a benefit luncheon for the Scholarship Award Fund Oct. 26 at 11:30 a.m. at Gibbs Hall, Ft. Monmouth, Eatontown.

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Temple Beth Miriam will hold a rummage sale Nov. 3 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Nov. 4 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The location of the sale is at 180 Lincoln Ave., Elberon, across from the train station.

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The Shore Institute of Contemporary Art will hold a benefit art auction Nov. 1, at 6:30-9 p.m., at the Portuguese Club, 191 Broadway, Long Branch. A $30 donation is requested. Over 70 original artworks will be available for auction. Guest auctioneer will be City Administrator Howard Woolley Jr. The event will benefit the nonprofit arts organization that will open a contemporary arts gallery and studio space in a refurbished building in the redevelopment area of the city. A meet-the-artists reception will be held at 6:30-8 p.m. featuring live music at the club.

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The Township of Ocean Historical Museum is about to mark some houses in the township as being 100 years old or older. If your house is of this vintage, call the museum. You will be asked to produce some evidence showing the age of your home. Call the museum at (732) 531-2136 or Virginia Richmond at (732) 531-4295.

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Monmouth University in West Long Branch will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of its newest academic building — the Jules L. Plangere Jr. Center for Communication and Instructional Technology — Sunday from 4-6 p.m. It houses classrooms, faculty offices, computer laboratories, The Outlook, the student-run newspaper, and studios for WMCX, the student-run radio station, and Hawk TV, the student-run television station.

The building was named for Plangere, the former publisher of the Asbury Park Press and former chairman of New Jersey Press Inc., the parent holding company that owned the Press and other media properties, in recognition of his $5 million gift that helped build it, and for more than 33 years of service on the university’s board of trustees, including six years as chairman.

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During the public hearing before the Eatontown Borough Council on plans to revamp Howard Commons, an Army housing complex at Fort Monmouth, for its transition to the private sector, a member of the audience asked who signs the check if the borough purchases the property. "I do," Mayor Gerald J. Tarantolo said. Councilman William M. Kinney cracked that he’d pay with a personal check. To which Tarantolo responded, "Yeah. I put it on my Visa card."

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The borough of Eatontown is looking for candidates for appointment to various municipal boards, committees and commissions. The mayor and council asked all interested parties to submit a résumé or letter expressing their desire to serve to Kathee Stauffer, assistant administrator of the borough.

There are 25 entities to petition for, ranging from the Board of Health, to the Business Advisory Committee, the Environmental Commission, the Historical Committee, the Human Relations Committee, the Library Board, the Planning Board, the Recreation Advisory Committee, the Rent Monitoring Board, the Senior Citizens Housing Board of Trustees, the Sewerage Authority, the Shade Tree Commission, the Tenant Rights Committee and the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

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The Jersey Shore Running Club will host its ninth annual Trick or Trot 4-mile race and fitness walk Sunday at Seven Presidents Park in Long Branch. The club said the theme is Halloween, and invited participants to come in costume. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. and the 4-mile race/walk begins at 10 a.m. A post-race party will be held at the Celtic Cottage Pub in West End. The race/walk will benefit The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean counties. For more information, call (732) 542-6090.

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The CPC Behavioral Healthcare Boutique, a long-standing community event, arrives Nov. 3 and 4 for the holiday shopping season at the Hollywood Golf Club in Deal. The boutique, which brings designers, craftsmen and artisans to one convenient location, will be open from noon-4:30 p.m. Nov. 3, and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 4. There is a one-time admission ticket of $5 per person.

Boutique co-chairpersons Pat Geiss of Little Silver, and Jane Guadagno and Barbara Rubino, both of West Long Branch, have been organizing the event with a "Spirit of New Orleans" theme.

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Clean Ocean Action will mark "Make a Difference Day" Saturday with a morning of caring for public lands at Sandy Hook. Volunteers are invited to join COA and the National Park Service in cleaning beaches, planting dune grasses and repairing historic fortifications. Bring gloves and meet at Beach Area E at 9 a.m.

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Fort Hancock Day will be held from noon-4 p.m. Sunday at Sandy Hook. Tours and open houses offer the opportunity to explore gun batteries and missile defenses that protected New York Harbor. The events mark the anniversary of the establishment of Fort Hancock, a former Army base, in 1895.

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Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Monmouth County, which is based in Eatontown, will celebrate 26 years of service to children by hosting a 26th annual Awards Brunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Old Mill Inn in Spring Lake Heights. The event will include an elegant buffet brunch, the awards ceremony, mimosas and dessert. Music will be provided by Rich Dixson. For more information call Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth County at (732) 544-2224.

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The Shore Institute of Contemporary Art will hold a benefit art auction Nov. 1, 6:30-9 p.m., at the Portuguese Club, 191 Broadway, Long Branch. A $30 donation is requested. Over 70 original artworks will be available for auction. Guest auctioneer will be City Administrator Howard Woolley Jr. The event will benefit the nonprofit arts organization that will open a contemporary arts gallery and studio space in a refurbished building in the redevelopment area of the city. A meet-the-artists reception will be held at 6:30 to 8 p.m. featuring live music.

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The West Long Branch Public Schools PTA will host its second annual Holiday Vendor Fair Nov. 2 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Frank Antonides School on Locust Avenue. The fair will be held in the school’s gym and cafeteria, and will feature holiday gift items from local crafters and merchants. The event, which last year attracted hundreds of shoppers, will support the school’s cultural arts program. Spaces are available for $25. For more information, call Donna Ruane at (732) 870-6957.