~ Notes Around Town ~

KATHY BARATTA Police examine the scene at Park Place development in Tinton Falls where a car driven by borough resident Tammy Wallick-Bush crashed into the rear of two condominiums April 15.

Tom Ruane, of West Long Branch, an eighth-grader at the Frank Antonides School, has been selected to travel down under to represent the United States in an international basketball competition this summer as a People to People sports ambassador. Tom, the son of Barbara and Mike Ruane, is part of a team that will practice at a training camp in New Zealand and compete in an invitational Australian Basketball Association tournament. The program was founded by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956 "to promote world understanding through individual citizens," according to Tom’s mother.

At 6 feet 3 inches, Tom has been playing the positions of center and power forward for three years for the Jersey City Boys Club, which is ranked fourth in the state. He also is a member of the Ocean Township Breakers AAU basketball team. In addition, he is the business editor of his school’s yearbook and a member of the school band. In the summer he works as a beach boy at Promenade Beach Club, where is also a member of the swim team.

Tom said he will be going to Shore Regional High School next year and plans to go out for the basketball team. He said he’s outside almost every day shooting baskets with his mother and brother, Jim, and jumping rope and never gets tired of playing basketball. "I love it," he said.

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Evan Zimmerman, of West Long Branch, a student at the Ranney School, Tinton Falls, has been named an All-American Scholar by the United States Achievement Academy. To be an All-American Scholar, a student must earn a 3.3 or higher grade-point average. The academy selects All-American Scholars upon the recommendation by teachers, coaches, counselors and other qualified sponsors. Evan is the son of Teri and Ross Zimmerman.

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The class of 2005 at Shore Regional High School will hold its "Western" Sophomore Carnival on May 17 at the West Long Branch Community Center on Locust Avenue from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. There will be lots of games, food and music. The class invites the public to come out and support their favorite team in its 3-on-3 basketball tournament. There also will be a 50/50 drawing and theme baskets.

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Monmouth University’s annual Scholarship Ball will be held on May 3 in historic Woodrow Wilson Hall on the school’s campus in West Long Branch. The black-tie affair will offer an elegant evening of dining and dancing with music by Smooth Sailin, led by orchestra leader Lou Parisi from Monmouth University’s class of 1974. The $195-per-person event will feature a silent auction, chances for a $1,000 shopping spree at The Grove in Shrewsbury, a 50/50 raffle and a live auction that will include such unusual offerings as a private dinner party for 20 in Wilson Hall’s beautiful Versailles Room, a private skybox at a sporting event with transportation via stretch hummer, and a trip to Cabo San Lucas, among other items.

This year’s Scholarship Ball Committee will celebrate "Twenty Years of Vision and Commitment" by honoring two decades of Scholarship Ball chairwomen. The 16 chairwomen will be recognized for their extraordinary leadership of the past two decades during which the ball has raised more than $1,049,000 for scholarships for deserving students. For tickets or more information, call the university’s office of special events at (732) 571-3509.

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Monmouth Mall in Eatontown invites residents to submit names for the Wall of Honor it plans to establish as a tribute to U.S. troops. The wall will feature the names, ranks and branches of area active, retired and deceased members of any branch of the armed forces. The wall will be unveiled on Armed Forces Day May 17. Those who wish to contribute names may do so by typing or clearly printing the individual’s name and rank as well as the branch of the armed forces in which the individual served, and whether that person is active, retired or deceased, and drop it off at the mall’s customer service counter, located on the mid-level between Macy’s and the food court, or mail the information to Wall of Honor, c/o Monmouth Mall, Routes 35 & 36, Eatontown, NJ 07724, by May 7. Names received after that date will be added after the wall is unveiled. For more information, call (732) 542-0333 or visit www.monmouthmallonline.com.

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The Monmouth Conservatory of Music, under the direction of Felix Molzer, will present an old-fashioned "Hootenanny" with great American folk music at 4 p.m. on April 27 at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, 1475 W. Front St., in the Lincroft section of Middletown. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children and seniors. For more information call the Monmouth Conservatory of Music in Red Bank at (732) 741-8880.

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The Monmouth Beach Cultural Center will be hosting a late-starter of a show with the paintings of Jeanne Boehles and Connie Gryczka on display from April 23 to May 1. The show of paintings by Warren Satter, which are on display now, will be extended for an extra week through May 1. A show of paintings of the sea by Barbara Cocker, which will occupy both display rooms in the Cultural Center, opens May 2. It will still be hung when the Cultural Center holds its second annual fund-raising cocktail party on May 17. Tickets for the cocktail party cost $25 and all proceeds go toward renovation of the second floor at the center. For information about tickets, call (732) 229-4527. The Cultural Center, located at 128 Ocean Ave., Monmouth Beach, is open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

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The Eatontown Foundation for Excellence will again present Food for Thought, a food- and wine-tasting event, at the Sheraton Eatontown Hotel this year. Mark Van Wagner, president of the Eatontown Board of Education, said 20 different restaurants will have food stations and 20 different wines will be available for the tasting. Last year’s event, the first presented by the founda­tion, raised $35,000 for distribution to teachers in the borough’s schools for special projects beyond the usual rou­tine. This year’s event will be held on June 4, a Wednesday, and will cost $50 for admission for individuals. Corporate sponsors may reserve a table for $1,500. Van Wagner said the goal is to raise $50,000 this year. He said a new addi­tion this year is a cigar bar. The food and wine tasting was moved to a later date this year so that it could be held outside as well as inside at the hotel, he explained. Van Wagner’s wife, Barbara, who organized the event last year, will again be coordinator.

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The United Methodist Women of Old First United Methodist Church in West Long Branch will hold their annual "This & That" sale in the Social Hall at 207 Locust Ave. on May 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more in­formation, call (732) 229-1562. different wines will be available for the tasting. Last year’s event, the first presented by the founda­tion, raised $35,000 for distribution to teachers in the borough’s schools for special projects beyond the usual rou­tine. This year’s event will be held on June 4, a Wednesday, and will cost $50 for admission for individuals. Corporate sponsors may reserve a table for $1,500. Van Wagner said the goal is to raise $50,000 this year. He said a new addi­tion this year is a cigar bar. The food and wine tasting was moved to a later date this year so that it could be held outside as well as inside at the hotel, he explained. Van Wagner’s wife, Barbara, who organized the event last year, will again be coordinator.

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The United Methodist Women of Old First United Methodist Church in West Long Branch will hold their annual "This & That" sale in the Social Hall at 207 Locust Ave. on May 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more in­formation, call (732) 229-1562.

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The Long Branch Historical Association has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday, April 30, at City Hall at 7:30 p.m. Invited are guest speakers Stan Dziuba, director of emergency management, and Kevin Hayes, director of building and development, to speak on the city’s disaster plans, specifically addressing plans in the event of snowstorms, hurricanes and other natural disasters. All are welcome to attend the meeting.

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The League of Women Voters will sponsor an Ocean Township Political Forum. The forum is a chance to meet the two teams running for the council, The New Team for Ocean and Clean Ocean, and independent candidate Brian Lefferson.

The forum will be held on May 5 at 7 p.m. at Ocean Township High School.

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The Youth Group of the First United Methodist Church, 103 Monmouth Road, Oakhurst, will have an outdoor spring flea market Saturday, May 10, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the parking lot. The cost is $15 per space. Rain date is the following Saturday, May 17. To reserve a spot, call (732) 531-7484.

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The Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association Local 68, Long Branch, has scheduled its first annual golf tournament for May 12 at the Old Orchard Country Club, Eatontown, starting at 9 a.m.

Registration for the tournament will begin at 8 a.m. The fee of $125 per person includes a continental breakfast, lunch, a golf cart, greens fees, and door prizes. Sponsors are also needed for tees, each costing $100. One 2002 Mercedes and one 2002 Corvette will be given to those who shoot a hole-in-one.

Proceeds of the event will be collected into the FMBA Local 68 Community Trust and disbursed at a later date to local charities, sporting teams and for scholarships.

For more information contact Tim Somers at (732) 870-0207 or download an application from www.fmba68.com.

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The 14th annual Business and Retail Expo sponsored by the Greater Ocean Township Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Long Branch Chamber of Commerce will be held on Wednesday, May 29, at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center, Eatontown from 5 to 8 p.m.

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The Township of Ocean School District will present an overview of the preschool disabilities program on Friday, May 16, at the Wayside School from 1-2:30 p.m. The program is intended for 3- and 4-year-old children who experience difficulties with speech, behavior, coordination or getting along with others.

For more information call (732) 531-5600 x3300.

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The 2003 Red Bank Jazz & Blues Festival, produced by the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation, will be held May 30-June 1 at Marine Park in Red Bank. This year’s stellar lineup of musicians includes Jersey legends and national headliners plus fun events for the entire family, crafts and gifts, delicious international foods, and children’s activities. The entire town of Red Bank will be the backdrop this year for events including art exhibits, musical street performances, and two special shows at the Count Basie Theatre where Clarence Gatemouth Brown will perform Friday evening and The Muddy Waters Tribute Band will play Saturday night.

Additional information for the Red Bank Jazz & Blues Festival can be found at www.redbankfestival.com.

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Bar A on 16th Avenue in South Belmar will be the scene of a two-stage benefit concert with continuous live music on two stages April 27 from 2-10 p.m. Sugar Ray Norcia, longtime Room Full of Blues front man, and two-time Grammy award nominee, guitar ace "Monster" Mike Welch will headline the concert co-presented by the JSJBF in association with Mack Machine. Also performing will be Pat O’Shea and Chris O’Leary from Levon Helm and the Barn Burners Band.

The annual benefit concert brings together musicians to benefit the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties as well as fellow musician Bernie Brausewetter. Slated performers include Jason Ricci, Hazmat Modine, Sandy Mack, Benny HiFi & the Aces, Tonemasters, Stringbean & Billy Hector, Roxy Perry Band, Bobby Bertelson, Ron Sunshine & Full Swing, Terraplane Blues, Chuck Lambert Band, Big Mike Devita, Tom Foran and many more. Admission is $15 plus two cans of food ($20 without food). Advance tickets can be purchased at Bar A or www.jsjbf.com.

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"Together Again," a choral concert featuring Olympia’s Daughters and the New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus, will take place at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, 1475 W. Front St., Lincroft section of Middletown, May 17 at 8 p.m.

A portion of the proceeds from the concert will benefit the N.J. Lesbian and Gay Coalition of New Brunswick, a nonprofit organization working toward governmental recognition of same-sex marriage. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door, and $12 for seniors and students. For more information call (732) 747-0707.