Community Bulletin Board
OCC holiday show features sign language

Share the holiday with family and friends when Ocean County College’s Interpreter Training Program presents its annual American Sign Language holiday Rock and Roll Concert fundraiser Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. in the OCC Fine Arts Center on College Drive in Toms River.

This uplifting show will feature lots of songs, allowing everyone to hear and see the music of the holiday season. All are welcome to enjoy the show and watch American Sign Language in action. During intermission, free refreshments and dessert will be served.

Tickets will be sold at the door at a cost of $12 for adults and $8 for ages 12 and under. Details: (732) 255-0400, ext. 2256.

Hadassah of Jackson and

Howell gives holiday aid

Bat Shalom Hadassah of Jackson and Howell has announced that it will be starting a new tradition — a mitzvah tree — at the Bartley Rehabilitation and Nursing Home on County Line Road in Jackson. This year the event will take place Dec. 19 at 12:30 p.m. Holiday gifts will be given to many residents.

Social director Jessica Albanese gave outreach chairwoman Beverly Brown 30 names along with gift requests from each individual. Leaves were put on the mitzvah tree with the 30 names and gift requests, and Hadassah members chose a name and purchased that specific gift for the residents. Because these residents have few or no relatives, Bat Shalom members hope this will make the holiday a little bit happier for them, according to a press release.

The Bat Shalom Hadassah will also be serving lunch on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. This will aid the skeleton staff in serving all of the residents their holiday meals.

Free firetruck rides

with Santa on Dec. 16

Santa and his helpers will be on hand at the Southard Fire Department, 4611 Route 9 north, for rides with Santa Dec. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free event, provided by the volunteers of the Southard Fire Department, has been a holiday favorite for many years. It is open to all local residents and their families Details: (732) 364-3399.

Howell Elks to honor

student peer leaders

The Elks Peer Leadership Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency, Princeton, Feb. 9-11. The conference is geared toward students who are proud to be alcohol-, nicotine- and drug-free.

The Elks of Howell Lodge No. 2515, with the assistance of the Alliance of Howell, will be sponsoring four students and two adults making the “Elks and Youth: Making Changes for a Better Tomorrow” an actuality. The advisers who will be attending are Camille Mussari, Howell High School, and Juan A. Flores, Elks No. 2515 drug awareness chairman. Students attending are Jonathan D. Flores (freshman), Jennifer Valentin (sophomore), Deanna Phillips (junior) and Aislyn Gentile (junior).

The goal of the conference is for the students to learn about drug, alcohol and nicotine preventives from the presentations and workshops there, and to spread that knowledge to their classmates when they return to school.

SEPAC dinner-dance

planned for Jan. 26

The Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is now accepting reservations through Jan. 18 for the SEPAC Parents’ Night Out and Gift Auction slated for Jan. 26 from 6:30 p.m. to midnight at Woodlake Country Club, 25 New Hampshire Ave., Lakewood. The cost to attend is $30 per person and includes dinner and entertainment. A list of baby-sitters is available upon request.

SEPAC is actively looking for items for the baskets, as well as baskets. Donations of new or slightly used items are welcome. Items can be added to an existing basket or help to create a new one. Proceeds from the night will go toward SEPAC-supported programs and events for the children. Details: (732) 901-1440.

OCC seeks teachers for

kids’ summer programs

The Department of Continuing and Professional Education at Ocean County College, Toms River, is seeking teachers for its noncredit “Kids on Campus” summer program. Subject areas include art, computers, dance, languages, math, robotics, science, sports camps, writing, and more. In order to teach, certain educational requirements and/or expertise and years of experience in a particular subject area(s) may apply.

“Kid on Campus” offers a variety of noncredit educational and enrichment programs for ages 6 to 16. Programs run June, July and August, with classes and camps meeting a variety of times ranging from 90 minutes to full-day programs.

Résumés should be e-mailed to the OCC Department of Continuing and Professional Education at cpe@ocean.edu. Details: (732) 255-0409.

Old American flags being collected for retirement

Jackson VFW Post 4703 and Cub Scout Pack 104 are collecting damaged American flags for proper disposal with military honors. The goal of this joint endeavor is to bring veterans and youths together and to teach the Scouts to appreciate the American flag and show it the respect it deserves. Damaged or frayed flags can be dropped off at the post home, 54 Magnolia Ave., Jackson, from noon to 8 p.m. daily.

Howell Rec. announces

upcoming programs

The Howell Recreation Department is accepting registration for the following classes and events:

An adult tai chi class will be held at Echo Lake Pavilion, Howell, Tuesdays and Thursdays starting Jan. 2 for five weeks. The fee is $50. A beginner class will be held 6-7 p.m., and an advanced class will be held 7-8 p.m.

Kickboxing classes for ages 16 to adult will be offered Tuesdays from Jan. 2 to Feb. 6, or Thursdays from Jan. 4 through Feb. 8, at the Howell Recreation Building, 251 Preventorium Road. The fee is $25 for a six-week session.

A father-daughter dinner and dance will be held 6-9 p.m. Feb. 9 at Our House Tavern, 420 Adelphia Road, Howell. The cost is $30 per person, payable when reservations are made. The event will include a full dinner buffet, a professional color photo and music for dancing.

Call (732) 938-4500, ext. 2501, for details and registration.

Funding aids adults with developmental disabilities

Twenty-One Plus Inc., a not-for-profit agency based in Ocean County that provides services for adults over age 21 with developmental disabilities, has been awarded $100,000 by OceanFirst Foundation of Toms River for the purpose of home and program maintenance and transportation.

Founded in 1979, Twenty-One Plus has 12 residential and two program sites. According to the press release, the OceanFirst funds will allow for power-washing, painting, new carpeting, resealing of driveways and other maintenance items. It will also provide two new vehicles to replace older and unreliable vans with excessive mileage.

Twenty-One Plus Inc. has received $196,000 in total from OceanFirst Foundation over the years.

Bilingual persons needed to aid homebound seniors

Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey, a nonprofit agency in Ocean County, is seeking bilingual individuals to help the elderly who are homebound. Help is provided by driving to medical visits, shopping, making friendly visits and making reassuring phone calls. Volunteers are asked to donate a small portion of their time, even as little as two or three hours per month, to help make a difference in a person’s life. According to a press release, there are many Latino elderly living in the community who are not receiving essential help due to a lack of bilingual speakers. The next orientation will take place Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Lakewood office of Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey, 395 Route 70, Suite 210 (next to Charlie Brown’s restaurant). Details: (732) 730-0700.