Community Bulletin Board

The Upper Freehold Township Recreation Department will once again be conducting a summer camp program for children entering grades K-6 in the fall. The five-week program will run from June 27 through Aug. 5 (no camp week of July 18) from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The camp will be held at the Upper Freehold Elementary School.

The cost is $220 per camper for the full five-week program. Sibling discounts are available. The camp will feature a variety of activities including sports, games, arts and crafts, water play activities, and more. For more information or a registration form, call (609) 758-7738, ext. 12, or visit www.uftnj.com.

Christian singles group

slates barbecue, trips

Victory Christian Singles will host a Memorial Day weekend picnic, barbecue and volleyball game May 28 from noon to 6 p.m. at a private home in Freehold Township, rain or shine. Set-up will begin at 10:30 a.m. A donation of $5 is requested.

The group is also sponsoring two trips — to Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster, Pa., July 30 to see the 4:15 performance of “Ruth,” at $48 per person; and to see the BlueClaws baseball team at FirstEnergy Park, Lakewood, Aug. 27, 7 p.m., with tickets $22.95 ($16.95 for ages 5-12).

For details, call Bob or Toni, (732) 409-3225.

Local teachers receive

arts education awards

The Monmouth County Arts Council announced the winners of the 2005 Arts Education Awards.

Each year, the MCAC highlights outstanding arts programs, arts educators, administrators, arts-infused schools and interdisciplinary projects in the county that successfully incorporate the art standards in the curriculum.

Among the local recipients are Nicoletta Siccone of the Ramtown School, Howell, who was awarded the Teacher of the Year award, and Ilene Levine of the Roosevelt School, Roosevelt, who was presented with an award for pioneering an interdisciplinary program.

Siccone designed the “Making Art Relate to Culture” program at Ramtown School. The program demonstrates the role art has played in cultures around the world. In addition, Siccone applied for and won the Fulbright Memorial Fund Award to Japan, being selected as one of two teachers to represent the state of New Jersey.

Levine has taught at Roosevelt Public School for 25 years. In her third-grade classroom, the basic skills of reading, writing and mathematics are integrated into the content subjects of science and social studies. In 1996, she won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching.

The MCAC is a nonprofit organization created in 1971 to promote artistic excellence and public interest in the arts. For more information, contact ad@monmouthartscouncil.org or call (732) 212-1890.

Little Hearts Day Camp

accepting applications

Little Hearts Day Camp in Roosevelt is accepting applications for summer camp.

The camp is open to children ages 2 1/2 to 6 years of age, and will run on a 10-week schedule — June 20-Aug. 26. Participants may choose from two to five days per week for one to 10 weeks. Each session will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and there also will be a mini-camp from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and extended hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The day camp schedule includes a daily art project and large-group organized play. Science, math, reading readiness, and cooking will also be incorporated into the day, as well a weekly barbecue and local trips. Enrollment is limited to 19 children per day so that each child will receive individual attention.

Little Hearts Day Camp is located at Roosevelt Community Nursery School, 20 Homestead Lane in Roosevelt. For more in formation, call Ginny Weber, (609) 426-9523.

Car show June 21 in

Upper Freehold Twp.

The “Cruise for Prevention,” to benefit drug prevention programs in the Upper Freehold Township schools and community, will be held June 21 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Byron Johnson Recreation Park, Ellisdale Road, Upper Freehold Township. The event will feature a car show (all types of vehicles are welcome), The Bent Fenders band, food, 50/50 raffle, games, door prizes, trophies and music. For more information, call the Allentown/Upper Freehold Municipal Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse at (609) 259-6019.

Event to feature crafts, prizes, ‘unusual pets’

Handicapped High Riders and Adopt a Pet will co-host an educational and fun-filled Family Day June 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Millstone Township Community Center, Route 524/Stagecoach Road, Clarksburg section of Millstone.

The event will feature information on pets, along with crafts, snacks, prizes and some unusual pets to meet. There also will be guest speakers. The suggested donation is $2.

Half-day summer camps offered in Millstone

Millstone Township Community Education will offer summer camp programs from June 13 through July 15.

The half-day camps for school-age children will range from arts and crafts to cooking, science, theater, art, golf, reading and math, and will run from either 9 a.m. to noon or 12:30-3:30 p.m.

All participants will be bused to the Millstone Middle School from the Wagner Farm Athletic Park.

For more information or a brochure, call Barbara Schulze, director, at (732) 446-6802, ext. 17.

Women’s chorus takes honors in competition

The Millstone Valley Chorus won first place in the Mid-size Chorus division and second place overall in the recent chorus competition of the Greater New York Region of Sweet Adelines International, held in Philadelphia. Millstone Valley Chorus is a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, a nonprofit organization of women singing four-part harmony, a cappella. The 53-member chorus performs for public, private and community events, and includes members from throughout central New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.

The chorus rehearses at 7:30 p.m. Mondays at Trinity Church, Mercer Street, Princeton. Women of all ages and backgrounds are invited to visit any rehearsal. The chorus has openings in all voice parts. For more information, call (908) 874-3079 or visit www.millstonevalley.org.

Fresh Air Fund seeks summer host families

The Fresh Air Fund is in need of host families to volunteer to give children from disadvantaged neighborhoods in New York City the opportunity to experience life outside of the city. Nearly 5,000 New York City children are granted the opportunity to live in a more spacious environment for two weeks or longer each summer through the Fresh Air Fund.

There are no financial requirements to participate in the “Friendly Town Program.” The host family can choose the age and gender of the visitor. First-time visitors range in age from 6 to 12 and can be invited back through The Fund until age 18. Many families, however, keep in contact all year round and form lifelong bonds.

“We love our Fresh Air guest. He is a part of the family when he is here. I haven’t met a more pleasant and polite kid,” said one Fresh Air host.

Host families enjoy rediscovering their community through the eyes of a city child.

For more information about the Fresh Air Fund and hosting a child this summer, call (732) 660-1195 or (800) 367-0003 or visit www.freshair.org.

Historical society seeks quilters for festival

Spaces are still available for quilters to show and sell their quilted items at the Old Wall Historical Society’s third annual Schoolhouse Festival of Quilts.

The outdoor festival will be held June 5 (rain date June 12), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Allgor-Barkalow Homestead and Blansingburg Schoolhouse museums, 1701 New Bedford Road, between Route 138 and Belmar Boulevard in Wall Township.

The event will feature the traditional showing and judging of quilts, as well as quilt supplies, quilting demonstrations, lectures, appraisals, and the sale of large and small quilted art. Only quilted items, such as bed quilts, quilt tops, wall hangings and tops, doll and crib quilts, boutique items, dining table items, quilted apparel, pillows and handbags, will be accepted for sale; no imported quilts will be permitted. The fee to rent a 9-by-12-foot space is $35, and the deadline is May 31. For more information, call Lena Pryor (732) 681-1110.

Dinner to honor schools superintendent June 16

Dr. Robert Connelly, superintendent of schools in the Upper Freehold Regional School District for the past five years, will be honored at a retirement diner June 16, 5-9 p.m., at the Battleground Country Club, Manalapan. The invitation to his dinner is extended to the public.

Tickets are $48 and can be purchased in person at the district office or through the mail. Make checks payable to Viola Yosifon. For details, call Jane Applegate at the district office, (609) 259-7292.

U.F. Rec offers basketball camp, tennis lessons

The Upper Freehold Recreation Department will sponsor summer tennis lessons for youths and adults at Byron Johnson Park. Youth lessons will be offered in either one day per week or two days per week, for the following age groups: 6-8, 9-12 and 12-16. The one-day session will run June 30-Aug. 19 on Thursday afternoons. The two-day session will run July 11-Aug. 12 on Monday and Thursday mornings. Beginner adult lessons will be offered June 30-Aug. 18 on Thursdays 6-7 p.m.

Also, a girls basketball camp for ages 7-12 will be held at Allentown High School July 18-22 from 9 a.m. to noon. The camp will be directed by Linda Weise, head basketball coach at Hamilton High School West. The cost is $85, and each camper will receive a T-shirt.

For details, call the recreation department at (609) 758-7738, ext. 12, or visit the Web site www.uftnj.com.

Hope Fire Co. to host open house June 11

Hope Fire Company, 82 Route 526, Allentown, will host an open house June 11 from 1 to 5 p.m. The event will feature hot dogs, drinks, and free admission.

Pony and carriage rides, music, games June 12

The Handicapped High Riders Club at Riding High Farm, Allentown, will host the 18th annual Family and Friends Day on Sunday, June 12, from noon to 4 p.m., rain or shine. The event will feature pony and carriage rides, music, games, Moon Bounce, basket raffles, and auctions of items for adults and children.

This year, HHRC will present its second annual yearbook, which includes information about the programs, pictures of student riders, volunteers, staff, and the horses and ponies that make it happen.

HHRC will also hold a vacation raffle. The first-place prize is a trip for four to Orlando, Fla., including air fare on Continental from Newark, and four days and three nights at the Omni Hotel. Second prize is a weekend for two at the Dancer Farm Bed and Breakfast Inn, New Egypt, and third prize is “Blaze,” a plush rocking horse. The drawing will be held at 3 p.m.

Riding High Farm is located on Route 526 approximately two miles east of Allentown. For more information, call Rachel Johnson-Keller at (609) 259-3884

Women’s group welcomes new slate of officers

During the Women’s Association of Allentown meeting on May 9, members honored Teresa and Craig Ludwig of Allentown Auto Body as Persons of the Year for their dedication and donations to the Allentown community the past 25 years.

In other business, the 2004-05 officers of the women’s group were commended on the organization’s fund-raisers held this year, which enabled the association to present the Allentown Library with a new computer and Heritage Park with a flag pole and flag, as well as contribute to several other programs and organizations.

The new officers for 2005-06 are Mary Chico and Katie Pantages, co-presidents; Kristin Rath, secretary; and Susanne Valprada, treasurer.

Camp companions sought for children with cancer

Camp Quality New Jersey is searching for volunteers to become companions for children with cancer at this year’s camp, which will be held June 26 through July 1 in Blairstown.

Camp Quality is a nonprofit organization that held its first camping trip last year with 20 youngsters and more than 40 volunteers, including CentraState medical staff. More than 30 children have already signed up for camp this year, but additional companions and volunteers are needed.

A companion’s primary responsibility is to make sure that his camper has the most enjoyable, safe, relaxing and restoring experience possible — to just let kids be kids.

To be a camp companion, a volunteer must be at least 18 yeas of age at camp time; submit a companion/staff application form; provide three appropriate references; agree to a full police background/record check; attend a mandatory training class on May 21; be available for a personal interview on a prearranged date; attend a one-day training workshop and adhere to the policies and rules governing Camp Quality; and attend the entire camp session.

For more information or to make a donation, call Frank Dalotto, camp director, at (732) 294-7085 or visit www.campqualitynj.org.