~ Notes Around Town ~ CHRIS KELLY Fire Chief John O. “Jonsey” Jones pays his respects to fallen comrades during a ceremony at Long Branch’s Firemen’s Field on Memorial Day. Not only did it rain on Monmouth University’s graduation, but the complaints about the traffic it caused in West Long Branch rained down on the Borough Council at the May 21 meeting, the same day as commencement exercises. Brian Lefferson of Ocean Township said he was trapped in traffic next to the McDonald’s on Monmouth Road near Cedar Avenue, which is a major artery to get in and out of the campus. He said the college should pay for off-duty police to direct traffic. West Long Branch Police Chief John Demaree said the college did pay for extra police, but the problem was there were too many cars. Demaree said he knew firsthand of the problem since his daughter was also caught in the traffic jam while coming to visit him from Eatontown. Councilwoman Janet Tucci said maybe the borough should propose a time change for the start of the commencement ceremony from 1:30 p.m., when it began this year, to 10 a.m. next year so the graduation traffic doesn’t combine with dinnertime traffic. ***** The Rosary Altar Society of the Church of the Precious Blood, Monmouth Beach, will hold its 13th annual house tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 6. The tour will feature four houses in Monmouth Beach and one in Oceanport. The cost is $25 per person. There will also be a boutique and refreshments at borough hall, where tickets for the tour can be purchased. ***** The art of eighth-graders at the Monmouth Beach School will remain on display at the Monmouth Beach Cultural Center through this Sunday. The works were created under the guidance of Amy Hall, the school’s art teacher. Also on display at the cultural center through June 1 is an exhibit of artwork by students at the Barkalow Middle School in Freehold, developed under the direction of Arlene Smelson, visual arts teacher. An artists reception for the students of Barkalow Middle School will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, May 31. ***** The seashore cottage dollhouse that was donated to the Monmouth Beach Cultural Center as a fund-raiser was raf­fled off last Monday during the Memorial Day open house at the center. The event marked the third anniversary of the center’s opening. The lucky win­ner of the dollhouse was Fran Bader of Horicon Drive in Ocean Township. ***** The halls of the Vetter School in Eatontown were filled with the artwork of students from the school during an open house for parents, relatives and friends May 21. A highlight of the ex­hibit was the Alligator Alley display in the middle of the multipurpose room. Art teacher Beverly Ziperson said the alli­gators were made by the students from junk: a Styrofoam ball was used for the head, rolled newspapers for the body, and newspaper wrapped in tinfoil for the tail. ***** Kevin Coffey, 18, of West Long Branch, a senior at Shore Regional High School, will receive his Eagle Scout rank in a ceremony on June 1 at the Old First United Methodist Church, West Long Branch. Coffey, a member of Boy Scout Troop 145, is the son of Dennis and Dona Coffey. His dad is the scoutmaster for the troop. Kevin joined the Cub Scouts in 1991 and became a Boy Scout in 1996. His project to qualify for Eagle, Boy Scouting’s highest honor, was rehabilitating the Old Free Cemetery on Monmouth Road. ***** The West Long Branch Historical Society will hold a garage sale this weekend at 11 Fairway Ave. in West Long Branch. It runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 31. ***** The Cerebral Palsy Travelers Group is holding a rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, June 6 at the Schroth School, 1701 Kneeley Blvd., in Ocean Township. Books, knickknacks and household items will be for sale. For more information or directions, call (732) 493-5900.