Community Bulletin Board

The Brick Township Recreation Department is accepting registrations for a five-week summer day camp for up to 60 residents ages 5-12 with mild to moderate physical and/or cognitive disabilities. The camp, made possible in part through a grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Recreational Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities, will provide children with a chance to interact and socialize with their peers in a recreational setting.

The program will run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. from June 25 through July 27 at Lanes Mill School. It will feature supervised activities with a 4:1 camper to counselor ratio, social interaction, games and organized play, weekly field trips, arts and crafts, and snacks. Parents must provide transportation and a bag lunch. There is no fee.

The camp is designed to be recreational only, with little if any focus on academics. Therefore, a child who's Individual Education Plan (IEP) indicates that he or she is eligible for extended school-year services or the Brick Township School district's Beadleston program, would not be an appropriate candidate for this camp.

Parents must register in person at the Brick Recreation Department, 270 Chambers Bridge Road. Details: (732) 262-1044.

Returning vets to receive school and job placement

Disabled Veterans of the conflict in Iraq will have access to both educational and job placement services thanks to a new agreement between Ocean County and the Veterans Administration (VA).

For more than 30 years the VA has offered vocational training assistance for vets at the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau.

But with the signing of the new agreement, the partnership will move one step further.

"For the first time in Ocean County, the VA will actively have staff members on site to assist our disabled vets in finding a job," said Freeholder Gerry P. Little.

Little, liaison to the Veterans Service Bureau, said disabled veterans often receive training that takes into account the injury they suffered while serving their country.

"If a veteran cannot perform physically demanding work, the county and VA partnership helps train them for an office job or other position that is not physically demanding," he said. "With the addition of job placement, the VA will help our vets find a job in which they can excel."

Freeholder Director John P. Kelly praised the new agreement.

"We cannot do enough for our brave men and women who sacrificed so much fighting in the Middle East," Kelly said.

This is not the first time the county has partnered with the VA to help local veterans.

Last year, the VA began offering free post traumatic stress counseling for combat veterans in the Veterans Service Bureau office.

"We have more veterans than any other county in New Jersey and these new partnerships will ensure that the veterans who most need our help will get it," Little said.

Iraqi war veterans wanting more information on the new program can contact the veterans bureau at (732) 929-2096.

Comedian Denny More at Herbertsville Fire House

Herbertsville Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary will present an evening with Denny More June 9, 7 p.m. at the Herbertsville Fire Company, 601 Herbertsville Road. Comedian Denny More has been performing nation wide in major comedy clubs, casinos, and theme parks for over 30 years. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. B.Y.O.B and snacks. Must be 18 to enter, 21 to drink alcohol. Send checks to HFC Ladies Aux, 601 Herbertsville Road Brick 08724. Include name, address, phone number and quantity of tickets. Details: (732) 458-9164, ext. 12 or (732) 934-0004.

Epilepsy Foundation offering scholarships

The Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey (EFNJ), Trenton, will offer four $1,000 scholarships to New Jersey high school seniors with epilepsy or seizure disorders. The deadline for applications is June 1.

Considered for the scholarships are academic achievement, participation in activities, and financial need. The extent of the applicant's disability will also be considered; the applicant need not be near the top of his or her class to qualify.

For information, call Michelle at (732) 262-8020.

Men will serve their favorite recipes at festival

Fifty men of distinction will serve samples of their favorite recipes at the 15th annual "Look Who's Cooking" benefit and food-tasting festival June 8, 6-8 p.m., at Christ Episcopal Church, Washington Street, Toms River. Hosted by the Family Planning Center of Ocean County, the event will benefit uninsured and underinsured women.

Tickets, available at the door, cost $50 per person and include complimentary wine and beer, and a booklet featuring the chefs' recipes and ads. For event information and advanced tickets sales, call Gale Yetman at (732) 929-0049. For ad information, call Penny Rone at (609) 242-6927.

The amateur chefs are in professions that include lawyers, accountants, doctors, CEOs and CFOs, bank presidents, and radio personalities. The men come from Ocean, Monmouth, Mercer and Middlesex counties and will contribute to women's health by sharing their love of cooking.

For more than 30 years, the Family Planning Center of Ocean County has been providing medical, educational and informational services to the community. Thousands of women have received medical services, while others have received educational services through programs given at social service and health agencies, community groups and schools throughout the county.

Brick Township Police Dept. Drug Hotline

The Brick Township Police Department provides a "Drug Hotline" for citizens to report drug-related activity. The hotline was established as a means of providing the public with the opportunity to anonymously report drug activities in their neighborhood. It is answered and monitored by detectives assigned to the Drug Enforcement Unit. Messages are checked on a daily basis. Persons reporting crimes can leave a recorded message describing the activity or they can request to be contacted by a detective.

Any citizens aware of such activities should contact the hotline at (732) 920-6258. All calls are kept confidential.

Callers should have the following information when reporting any drug activity:

The address where the activity is occurring. If that is not available then a complete description of the residence would be helpful.

Describe the nature of the activity completely, including an unusual amount of persons coming and going from the residence many times at odd hours of the day or night; persons parking around the corner or down the street and approaching the residence on foot; and persons who visit the residence often and only stay for 15 minutes or less.

Describe frequent visitors to the residence and their vehicles.

Any other information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, should be reported.

Raffle to raise money for scholarships

The Brick Township Chamber of Commerce Educational Foundation is sponsoring a 50/50 cash raffle. Tickets are $10 each. The drawing will be held 7 p.m. June 5 at the Brick Township Municipal Building, 401 Chambers Bridge Road.

According to Richard Lau, raffle committee co-chairman, proceeds raised will fund scholarships for deserving individuals. He invites the community to participate in this worthwhile project with the purchase of raffle tickets. Winners need not be present at the drawing.

Lau said that the Educational Foundation will be awarding eight $1,000 scholarships to residents of Ocean County this spring as a result of the raffle.

Details and tickets: (732) 477-4949.

Red Cross seeking

donations after storm

The American Red Cross is urgently seeking donations following the April nor'easter which cost an estimated $5 million in Red Cross relief.

The agency opened more than 50 shelters because of the storm, and some are still operating for residents forced out of homes by flooding and power outages. In New Jersey, more than 1,000 residents have sought refuge in Red Cross shelters. The Red Cross is partnering with community organizations, as well as state governments to provide critical services to those in need.

To make a financial contribution, call (800) 733-2767 or visit www.redcross.org.

Brick beach badges and parking permits on sale

The Brick Township Recreation Department has announced that season beach badges and season parking permits for summer 2007 are now on sale in the Brick Recreation Department. The price for season badges is $20 for Brick residents and $30 for nonresidents. The price for season parking is $30 for Brick residents and $40 for nonresidents and includes any applicable sales tax. Children 12 and under are free. Checks or money orders only will be accepted for payment in the recreation office.

Beginning May 26, through Labor Day, season badges and parking permits will be available at the Ocean Beach I and III offices while supplies last. Daily badges and parking ($5 each per day) will be also be available at these locations.

Again this year, Brick Township will make available season badges and season parking permits free to senior citizens beginning May 1 through July 1 only. Seniors who are age 65 or older as of Aug. 31 may apply for a free season badge and free season parking permit in person at the Brick Recreation office by bringing proof of age (valid driver's license, passport or county identification card). Only one badge per person is allowed. Seniors requesting free season parking must present a valid driver's license. Only one parking permit per license is allowed. Senior beach badges and senior parking permits are not transferable.

The Brick Recreation Department is located in Civic Plaza, 270 Chambers Bridge Road. Office hours are Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Details: (732) 262-1044.