‘Friends’ Book Sale Supports Colts Neck Library
Thanks to more than 500 volunteer hours, the Colts Neck Friends of the Library (FOL) held its annual book sale in March and raised more than $2,800 for library programs. FOL was formed 21 years ago this month and at a reception to thank the many volunteers, FOL President Michele Battista told how it all began. “The organization was formed with the goal to build a new library at no cost to the Township. It was deemed ‘The Little Township that Could’ on May 27, 2000 at the formal dedication by Dee Burtnick, (Colts Neck resident and local publisher.)” Former mayor and longtime Township committeeman, Thomas McClintock and his wife, Judy, were the drivers of the effort, donating $50,000 and challenging the community to join them to build a new million-dollar state-of-the-art library without
taxpayer dollars. Grants from the State and County were procured by then Colts Neck Mayor Lillian Burry, and many other large cash donations followed. These are recognized on the library plaque and in the many engraved bricks. Battista also gave an overview of the history of the book sale event, noting, “The book sale was started by Joan Yates in 2001, who [put a price] in each book, which to this day boggles my mind.” The early book sales were an effort by the entire Yates family and several volunteers. Over the years, Battista took the reins and it was transformed in to a larger community effort. This year the sale received many compliments from the visitors, largely due to the extra organizational efforts of Ien Yoe and Bonnie Ng.The FOL voted to end the large annual book sale, and plan to have mini book sales hosted
monthly or at library events. The initial FOL included Thomas McClintock, Art Goodwin, Sal & Mary Barbagallo (Sal was Construction Chair), Lillian & Don Burry, Al Donado, Jill Valentino, Mary Ellen Griffin, Brenda Johnson,John Vig, Ellen Woods, Joan Yates, Arnold Kleeberg, Joe Clark, Donna Galinski, Nathalie Ganley, John Jacoby and many more. Battista concluded, “As much as the FOL changes, it remains on the original path of the founders: to make this library the focal point of the township complex.” Follow Colts Neck Friends of the Library on Facebook.
National Champion Crowned at Oak Hill Academy Oak Hill Academy (OHA) is incredibly proud to announce that 8th grader, Robert Schweikert of Atlantic Highlands, has been named the National Champion in the American Scholastic Achievement League’s Scholastic Challenge 2019. Robert’s score of 95 landed him in first place in the nation. More than 12,000 students took this 100 question online test in February. The test is divided into six sections: Language and Literature, Geography, History, Science, Mathematics, General Knowledge (i.e. food, arts, sports, music, current events, entertainment, mythology, etc.). These topics are not from a specific curriculum, but rather they represent general knowledge. Results are tallied as a school and as individuals. The national average was 55. Individual state winners are announced and only one student is crowned as national champion! Robert is the National Champion and the New Jersey Champion, too! Oak Hill Academy has been participating in this academic contest for eleven years. During that time, we are fortunate to have had three New Jersey state Champions: 2012- Anshul Agarwal; 2016Jake Fradkin; 2018-Alex Mitchell.
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Left to right: Miss Patrice Murray, Director of Administration/ Personnel; Mrs. Schweikert; Robert Schweikert; Mr. Schweikert; and Joseph A. Pacelli, OHA Headmaster