Middletown News Flash 7-14-11

Child Safety Seat Checkpoint July 15

The Middletown Police Department Traffic Safety Bureau will hold a Children Safety Seat Checkpoint this Summer Friday, July 15 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Police Headquarters, 1 Kings Highway.

Police officers trained as child passenger safety technicians will be available to assist motorists with proper child safety seat installation as well as proper positioning and harnessing of a child. Free and open to the public. No appointment necessary

Additional checkpoints will be held on:

• Saturday, July 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
• Wednesday, August 17 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday, August 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
• Friday, September 2 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday, September 16 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

In the event of severe weather, rain dates will be announced. The program is funded through a grant from the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety. Call 732-615-2045 for more information.

Summer Concert Series Continues
July 21, 7 pm at Normandy Park
The Beth Anne Clayton Band
Middletown's Summer Concert Series continues on Thursday, July 21 with the Beth Anne Clayton Band and is sponsored by TD Bank. Concerts are held at Normandy Park from 7:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m. every other Thursday. In the event of inclement weather, concerts are moved to Middletown South High School. Limited on-site parking. For more information, contact Parks & Recreation Office Monday-Friday at 732-615-2260. The Middletown Concert Series is held in partnership with the Middletown Township Cultural and Arts Council.

The Mahoney Brothers will bring their impersonations of modern music greats to Middletown with their Jukebox Heroes Show on Thursday, August 4. This concert, the last is the 2011 series, is sponsored by Comcast Cable.

Meanwhile, the Arts Center is offering a concert series for families every Thursday through August 25th. Cool Kids Concerts with Miss Sherri, Thursdays, 4 - 5 p.m., are open to children ages 1-10 and their parents. The Middletown Arts Center and Miss Sherri, nationally known award winning Kindie Rocker/Singer, songwriter and founder of Honey Child Music Academy invite families to beat the heat and boogie down during the totally interactive shows. Admission is $5. Call 732-706-4100 or visit www.middletownarts.org for more information.

Middletown Seeks Support for 9/11 Flag Display
In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of September 11th, Middletown Township is planning a flag display at the site of the Middletown WTC Memorial Gardens to honor the 37 friends and neighbors the community lost in the World Trade Center tragedy. The flags would be posted on telephone poles at the Gardens, located on Church Street next to the Arts Center, and would extend down Middletown-Lincroft Road, past the Middletown Train Station. The flags will remain in place after the September 11th Remembrance Ceremony as a perpetual reminder that Middletown remains vigilant in its support of the War on Terror.

The cost of each flag banner is $250. Businesses and individuals who sponsor the cost of at least one flag will be recognized in the 9/11 program materials, on the township website – www.middletownnj.org – and on the township television station. The station is viewable on Comcast Channel 20 and Verizon FiOs Channel 26. Donations are tax-deductible. All donations are appreciated. Please make checks payable to: Middletown WTC Memorial Gardens, c/o Mayor's Office, Middletown Township, 1 Kings Highway, Middletown, NJ 07748. Call Mayor Anthony Fiore's office at 732-615-2024 for more information.

Just For Toddlers Preschool Playgroup
Join us for an exciting new year at just For Toddlers! The Tonya Keller Bayshore Community Center has increased class times and offerings to allow for more instruction. Just For Toddlers is a preschool playgroup for children 18 months to Pre-K. Arts & crafts, stories, music, numbers, letters, colors and many other activities will be taught to your child. Please be aware, however old your child will be on October 1, 2011 will determine the class for which he or she may register. All classes run from September through May and consisting of three, 10-week sessions. Class schedule is primarily run around the Middletown Public School schedule. All classes are held at the Tonya Keller Community Center, 50 Bray Avenue, North Middletown. For more information, call 732-615-3250.

Tonya Keller Community Center Farmer's Market
The Tonya Keller Community Center Farmer's Market is open for business. Stop by on Mondays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. or Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. All plants and vegetables were planted and are cared for by the children of the Tonya Keller Community Center. Shoppers can pick the vegetables of their choice directly from the garden. Residents interested in helping tend to the garden are also welcome to join the Garden Club The Garden Club meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. All proceeds from the Farmer's Market go directly back into the garden. Tonya Keller Community Center is located at 50 Bray Avenue, North Middletown. For more information, call 732-615-3250.

Neighborhood Watch Comes to Ideal Beach
Middletown Township is trumpeting the arrival of a new Neighborhood Watch program in Ideal Beach with the installation of signs at key locations in the beachside neighborhood.

"The Township Committee and I are extremely proud of this Neighborhood Watch program. It shows people that Ideal Beach is a community that takes great pride in itself. The residents are out there and vigilant, and really helping to beautify this part of the town. It's a real true hidden gem of Middletown Township," said Mayor Anthony Fiore to a group of government and community leaders who gathered at the Tonya Keller Community Center to mark the start of the program.

Among those in attendance were Deputy Mayor Pam Brightbill, Township Administrator Anthony Mercantante and Deputy Chief Craig Bahrs and Ideal Beach Community Association (IBCA) members including President Kathy Grano, and Secretary Greta Siwiec.

More than 20 residents have already pledged to keep a watchful eye over the neighborhood. They also meet monthly to address various concerns. The group is assisted by a local detective who answers questions and provides guidance, said IBCA Secretary Greta Siwiec explained.

Installation of the signs is the latest in a series of projects and programs undertaken as part of the Neighborhood Preservation Program. Middletown secured federal, state and local funds to preserve and improve the neighborhood in 2009. Other activities and projects have included a home rehabilitation program, shade tree plantings and building improvements at the Tonya Keller Community Center; speed monitors along key roadways, and installation of security system to enhance neighborhood safety.

IBCA, a non-profit group, is an outgrowth of the Neighborhood Preservation Program. Many of its founding members were involved in community meetings hosted by the Neighborhood Preservation program to find out what residents wanted to see improved. IBCA remains dedicated to further program goals including enhancing their quality of life and building a stronger sense of community. Membership in IBCA is open to all residents. Non-residents who wish to support the neighborhood are welcome as Associate Members. The group meets every second Tuesday at the Tonya Keller Bayshore Community Center, 50 Bray Avenue. For more information, visit www.myidealbeach.org.

Scam Prevention Seminar August 10, 1:30 p.m.
On August 10, 2011 at 1:30 pm the Middletown Township Police Department will host a scam prevention seminar at the Middletown Township Public Library located on New Monmouth Road. The seminar will be held in conjunction with Valley National Bank Corporate Security. The seminar will educate residents on potential scams that have become an increased problem for law enforcement. Topics will include, but not limited to, the Grandparents Scam, Lottery Scam, Internet Scams, Credit Card Company Scams and many more.

The Middletown Police Department has noticed a huge increase in these types of crimes and has received numerous reports from residents reporting such scams. The Police Department and Valley National Bank hope that this seminar will provide the necessary information to our residents in order to prevent them from becoming victims. The seminar is open to anyone with an added focus towards senior citizens.

Middletown Fire Academy Civilian Classes
The Middletown Fire Department Training Academy is offering classes to civilians on boating safety, CPR and use of Automatic Electronic Defibrillators (AED).

A New Jersey Boating Safety course will be offered August 14 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All persons who wish to operate a power vessel must possess a Boating Safety Certificate. Successful completion of this course will result in a Boating Safety Certificate issued by the New Jersey State Police. Course Number is 11-1701-32. Registration deadline is August 10. Tuition is $50.

A course on CPR and use of AEDs will be held on October 25 and October 27, 7:00 – 10:00 pm. About 92 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims die before reaching the hospital, but statistics prove that if more people knew CPR, more lives could be saved. Immediate CPR can double, or even triple, a victim's chance of survival. Registration deadline ends October 10th. Course Number is 11-1601-42 Tuition is $25.

For registration and information please contact: info@middletownfireacademy.com, 732-615-3280, fax: 732-957-9369.

Vote for the Middletown Arts Center during the Asbury Park Press
"2011 Best of Monmouth County Readers Choice Awards"!
Visit http://bestof.app.com by July 31st to VOTE for the Middletown Arts Center! Once online, fill in your name, address, phone number and e-mail address to enter. Type in Middletown Arts Center for the Best of Categories for Camp, Place for Kids Birthday Party or Place to Dance. We hope to win more than one category so please spread the word! Include the complete organization name of the Middletown Arts Center, town of Middletown and county is Monmouth. Online voting ends Sunday, July 31th. All eligible voter entries must be submitted online. No other methods of voting are acceptable. One vote per category, one vote per person.