The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 10

In our Schools A digest of Central Jersey school developments B-2 MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1996 THE COURIER-NEWS Sunny weather for Habitat walkers Her Hillsborough students think this teacher is 'super' ft St 7 3rv "r-T -r- A housing group's fund-raising walk gains people despite a time conflict with the March of Dimes. By VINCENT PATERNO Courier-News Staff Writer BERNARDS For the past two years, the Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity has been holding its annual fund-raising walk in the fall. This year, the members moved it to the spring, and for them the results were as delightful as Sunday afternoon's sunny weather at Pleasant Valley Park. "We had it on Thanksgiving Day weekend (when other state chapters were holding their walks) People were very busy," chapter president Pam Ely said. About 30 to 35 people took part in last fall's walk at North Branch Park in Bridgewater, an official said.

While Sunday's nice weather helped bring a record 100 entrants, the move caused conflicts with a larger, better-known similar event day morning the March of Dimes Walkathon. "Every weekend in the spring there's a walk. It doesn't matter what weekend you choose," Ely said. "There was one last week, there's one nest week." Another official said the Habitat will try not to conflict with the March of Dimes walk next year, and also add activities such as volleyball to draw more youth. The event, called "The Walk Home," helps raise funds for the Habitat.

The nonprofit, interfaith group helps build affordable housing for the needy in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. One home has already been Deborah Burns Age: 39. Residence: Lebanon. Occupation: Third-grade teacher in Hillsborough's Sunnymead Elementary School. Family: Husband, John; daughter, Katheryn, 2.

Hobby: Tap dancing. Favorite Movie: "The Lion King." Reason for profile: Burns was named the New Jersey Cable Television Network's Golden Apple Teacher of the Month for April. When The New Jersey Cable Television Network called Deborah Burns last month, she thought her husband had forgotten to pay the cable bill. Then the Sunnymead School teacher discovered that she was the network's teacher of the month, an award her third-grade class had secretly nominated her for. "I pretty much said, 'are you sure you have the right I was in complete shock," Burns said.

"It was perhaps the greatest honor I could have received, knowing that it was completely initiated by my children. It was an affirmation from them that I'm doing a good job." Robbie Restaino, one of her third-graders, wrote a paragraph about why she deserved the award. "We feel Mrs. Burns is one of New Jersey's finest teachers because she is super. This year she moved from teaching fourth-grade to teaching third-grade.

Mrs. Burns sure did her homework in preparing for the change," Restaino wrote. "She knows all about third- I y-- Participants Karen Ehinger of Philadelphia and Dot Crosby of Somerville take The Walk Home down a path at Pleasant Valley Park in Bernards Sunday. The event, held by Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity, helps raise funds to build affordable housing in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. A record 100 people participated in Sunday's walk.

EDUCATION NOTES I (QfliitiEMfta I 0b t'4 Courier-News photo by Ed Murray iel Bobo. "I used to be on the board (of the Habitat), in fund-raising," said Trina, who works at Coldwell Banker's Bernardsville office. enter the Somerset County Technical Institute. He is the son of Sandy and Raymond Kozlowski. Laurie Levoy County college sets open house Saturday is the date to note to attend an open house hosted by Middlesex County College, 155 Mill Road, Edison.

The 1-4 p.m. College Center event will offer campus tours, presentations on course programs, information about transfer agreements and dual degree programs, work-study options, campus life and financial aid. College faculty, counselors, administrators and students from the Business Technologies, Engineering Technologies and Science, Health Technologies and Social Sciences and Humanities divisions will be available to answer questions. For more information, call the college at (908) 906-2566. Laurie Levoy library.

Fellon, who sampled each dessert, said the library was the perfect place for the event. "When you're tired after all of this, you can sit down with a good book," Fellon said. Kimberly Woods Hospital auxiliary puts out call for help Volunteer to join the Somerset Medical Center Auxiliary through direct service in the hospital or with the center's Twigs and committee groups, and reap the rewards that community service brings. Auxiliary participation offers opportunities to help with the Far Hills Race Meeting, theater trips, book sales, the annual Golf Classic, fashion show, pediatric tours and an annual charity ball, among other events. Call (908) 722-9528 for more Exhibit explores the female figure "Phantom Limbs," the focus and title of an exhibit opening May 1 at the Mabel Smith Douglass Library, Chapel Drive, Rutgers University's Douglass College campus, will explore the female figure and abstract contours through the paintings and art renderings of Jane Zweibel.

Zweibel has been recognized for a fellowship from the Banff Centre for the Arts and a grant from the Puffin Foundation. Her work has been dis-' played in several galleries and museums in New York City. To find out the library's hours, call (908) 932-9411. The exhibit is free and will be open to the public through June 15. Laurie Levoy First 1996 Merit scholars named The first batch of 1966 Merit Scholarship winners has been announced NEWS IN BRIEF Deborah Burns April's Golden Apple Teacher of the Month graders.

She knows what we like and what we don't. Mrs. Burns has a way to make learning fun." Burns and her class were featured this month in a public service commercial airing on the network. She also qualifies for the network's $500 teacher of the year prize. Prashant Gopal Do you have a neighbor or coworker who has an interesting hobby or career or is just plain interesting to be around? Call Assistant Metro Editor Joe McDonald at (908) 707-3121 after 3 p.m.

with your suggestion. p.m., special meeting, Municipal Building, 1 Collyer Lane, Basking Ridge. (908) 204-3018. Bound Brook Board of Education, 8 p.m., special executive closed meeting to conduct superintendent interviews, high school library. (908) 271-2830.

Bridgewater Zoning Board of Adjustment, 8 p.m., regular meeting, Municipal Annex, 505 Route 202-206 North. (908) 725-6300. Hillsborough Township Committee, 8 p.m., work session, Municipal Building, 55 Amwell Road. (908)369-4313. Manville Borough Council, 7:30 p.m., special meeting to adopt budget, Manville Public Library, 100 South 10th Ave.

(908) 725-9478. HUNTERDON COUNTY High Bridge Board of Education, 7:30 p.m., board self-evaluation follow-up meeting, elementary school library. (908) 638-6552. Lebanon Borough Council, 7:30 p.m., special meeting to discuss school budget, Borough Hall, 6 High St. (908) 236-2425.

North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District Board of Education, 6:30 p.m., annual organization meeting; 7 p.m., board dinner, Voorhees High School Coave. (908) 735-2846. Readington Board of Education, 6:30 p.m., executive closed session; 7:30 p.m., regular meeting, middle school cafeteria. (908) 534-2195. UNION COUNTY Berkeley Heights Township Committee, 7:30 p.m., special meeting regarding PBA negotiations, Municipal Building, conference room, 29 Park Ave.

(908) 464-2700. Union County Regional High School District No. 1, 7:30 p.m., annual organization meeting, Jonathan Dayton Regional High School media center, Springfield. (201) 376-6300. MIDDLESEX COUNTY Middlesex Borough Council, 7:30 p.m., executive closed meeting, Municipal Building, 1200 Mountain Ave.

(908) 356-7400. Piscataway Township Council, 8 p.m., agenda meeting, Municipal Building, 455 Hoes Lane. (908) 562-2310. MORRIS COUNTY Long Hill Planning Board, 8 p.m., special public meeting concerning subdivision, Town Hall courtroom, 1802 Long Hill Road, Millington. (908) 647-8000.

Agenda is a list of scheduled meetings held by municipal and county boards that runs daily except Sunday. Boards included are: Borough Council, City Council, Township Council or Committee, Planning Board and Board of Adjustment. To be included or for information, please call Assistant Metro Editor Joe McDonald at (908) 707-3121; fax items to (908) 707-3252 or mail them to Agenda, The Courier-News, P.O. Box 6600, Bridgewater, N.J. 08807.

built in Bridgewater, Ely said, with others planned this year for Somerville, Bridgewater and the Somerset section of Franklin. Property is also approximately 1,100 student scholars now eligible to receive monetary awards that range from 10,000 annually to one-time payments of Additional scholarship recipients will be named in May and July. The Merit program would not succeed without the nearly 400 corporate sponsors who supplement the pool of financial funds awarded to the students following a rigorous screening process. Local students named in this first phase of the competition, along with the sponsoring company, include: Patrick Hlubik Jr. of Belle Mead, a student at Hillsborough High School, BASF John Bauer of Fleming-ton, Hillsborough High School, Mobil; Karen Holzmann of Piscataway, Pis-cataway High School, Public Service Enterprise Group; Melissa Camp of Somerset, Franklin Township High School, Schering-Plough; Geoffrey Cook of South Plainf ield, South Plain-field High School, Mary E.

Beyerle scholarship; Moses Bloom of Summit, The Pingry School, International Paper; James Liu of Union, Union High School, BOC Group; Yih Huang of Warren, Westfield High School, Nelson F. Peterson scholarship; and North Brunswick, president of the Saviano Group, talk show host for WCTC and newspaper columnist; Uma Swaminathan of Middletown, a teacher with the Piscataway Board of Education and president of the Association of Indians in America; and Judy Neu-bauer of Princeton, associate dean of research for the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Laurie Levoy Medicare, Medicaid focus of seminar Two attorneys will make presentations concerning Medicare and Medicaid during a free public seminar, 7 to 9 p.m. on May 1, at the New Jersey Law Center, 1 Constitution Square, New Brunswick. Making the "Medicare-Medicaid Maze" user-friendly will be the task of Marilyn Askin and Thomas Begley the conference speakers.

Askin, whose private practice is in West Orange, is the founder and past chairwoman of the state bar association's Aging and the Law Committee, now titled the Elder Law Section. Begley, a Morristown attorney who has practiced law for more than 30 years, specializes in elder law. He is vice chair of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section Board of Consultors and is a member of several bar associations. Advance registration is a must; call (800) FREE-LAW or (908) 937-7525. Laurie Levoy Mental health group seeks volunteers Members are being recruited to serve on the Board of Directors of the county's Mental Health Association.

Several unexpired terms, in addition to a new board group to be appointed in June, are open. The Nominating Committee will make every effort to match the applicant's interests and skills with the needs of the association. being sought in Bound Brook. Leah Fagan of Basking Ridge entered the walk, along with her mother, Trina Fagan, and her cocker span Rachel McKenzie of Westfield, West-field High School, BOC Group. Laurie Levoy SOUTHBOUND BROOK Michael Kozlowski wins monthly title Third-year student Michael Kozlowski has been named April's Student of the Month at the Somerset County Vocational and Technical High Schools in Bridgewater.

Kozlowski, enrolled in the school's Electrical Construction Program, was awarded the honor based upon academic and vocational shop performance. As a member of the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America, he placed fourth in the local club chapter's Electrical Skill competition. His hobbies include hockey and rebuilding automobiles, particularly a 1966 Mustang (with the encouragement and assistance of his dad). Kozlowski also finds time to work at Bradlees in Bridgewater. Upon graduation, Kozlowski will This chapter of the mental health organization has marked 37 years of community service.

Its programs include: information and referral services; I'm Thumbody, a self-esteem program; the PUSH drug prevention program; the Mental Health Players, a drama troupe, and support groups, besides several fund-raisers. For information about becoming a board member, call Executive Director Jean Lubas at (908) 722-8520. Laurie Levoy SOMERVILLE Library entices with sweets, tunes It was a sweets lover's dream come true Sunday afternoon. A table filled with a variety of desserts and nothing to hold them back. The Somerville Public Library was the setting for the first ever "Afternoon Delights," a dessert-tasting affair.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, it was one of several fund-raisers the group holds each year. Other events include book sales and printing a cookbook. The amount raised by Sunday's fund-raiser was not available. "This is totally different," said Mar-cia Cocozza, co-chair of the Friends of the Library. About 15 desserts were donated by Somerville restaurants.

The savory dishes ranged from key lime pie, carrot cake and cherry pie to two types of cheesecake and black forest cake. Other desserts included chocolate cookies, brownies and pound cake. Music provided ambience as people filled their plates with several of the desserts. A jazz guitarist and a trio made up of two flutists and a cellist entertained the guests. Pat Heimlich, of Westfield, said she is glad she came to the dessert tasting.

"It's a lovely afternoon, and beautiful music," she said. "I'm going to do it every year." Heimlich was accompanied by her husband, along with her sister and her husband. Christine Fellon, of Somerville, brought her sister and children to the TODAY SOMERSET COUNTY Bernards Board of Education, 7:10 p.m., executive closed session; 8 p.m., annual organization meeting, 101 Peachtree Road, Basking Ridge. (908) 204-2600. Bernardsville Borough Council, 8 a.m., special meeting to Include mayor's veto of bond ordinance 96-1 059, Municipal Building (conference room), 166 Mine Brook Road.

(908) 766-3000. Bound Brook Board of Education, 7:30 p.m., annual organization meeting, high school auditorium, West Union Avenue. (908) 271-2833. Branchburg Board of Education, 7:30 p.m., executive closed session, board offices conference room. (908) 722-3265.

Branchburg Township Committee, 7:30 p.m., special meeting followed by executive closed meeting on property acquisition, attorney-client privilege and personnel and contract negotiations, Municipal Building, 1077 Route 202. (908) 526-1300. Far Hills Borough Council, 8 p.m., regular meeting, Borough Hall, Prospect Street. (908)234-0611. Green Brook Board of Education, 8 p.m., annual organization meeting, middle school faculty room.

(908) 968-7582. Montgomery Planning Board, 7:30, regular meeting, Municipal Building courtroom, 2261 Van Home Road, Belle Mead. (908)359-8211. Warren Board of Education, 7:30 p.m., reorganization meeting, Warren Middle School. (908) 226-0901.

Warren Zoning Board of Adjustment, 8 p.m. special meeting will include discussion of permit pertaining to microwave tower, Municipal Building, public meeting room, 46 Mountain Blvd. (908) 753-8000. Watchung Hills Regional High School District, 7:30 p.m., annual organizationagenda meeting, North Building (teachers lounge), 108 Stirling Road, Warren. (908) 647-4850.

HUNTERDON COUNTY Clinton Township Board of Edu-cation, 7:30 p.m., annual organizationregular meeting, Josephine Mitchell School, 11 Humphrey Road, Annandale. (908) 735-4145. Delaware Township Committee, 8 p.m., regular meeting, Township Hall, (609) 397-3240. Delaware Valley High School Board of Education, 7:30 p.m., regular meeting, high school. (908) 996-2727.

High Bridge Board of Education, 7:30 p.m., special meeting to award employment contracts for 1996-97 school year, elementary school library. (908) 638-6552. Stockton Borough Council, 7:30 p.m., regular meeting, Borough Hall. (609) 397-0070. UNION COUNTY Plainfield City Council, 7:30 p.m., agenda session, City Hall library, 515 Watchung Ave.

(908) 753-3000. MIDDLESEX COUNTY Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, 6 p.m., conference meeting, 1 JFK Square, 11th floor board meeting room, New Brunswick. (908) 745-3080. TUESDAY SOMERSET COUNTY Bernards Planning Board, 7 Chefs-in-training to share talents Chef artistry will take center stage at today's 31st Annual Salon of Culinary Arts and Dinner Dance at The Manor in West Orange. Students of the state's culinary schools have been invited to participate in preparations for the lavish dinner.

Prior to the 6:30 p.m. cocktail hour, guests will browse an exhibit showcasing the culinary arts. Restaurateurs and representatives from cooking schools will have displays. The public may attend this exhibit, free of charge, from 2 to 5 p.m. Sponsor of the gala is the International Geneva Association, Northern New Jersey Branch.

Branch President Egon Gronau said that funds raised through ticket purchases and the souvenir journal will fund scholarships for students studying the food service field. For dinner-dance ticket information, call Elfriede Bennett at (908) 996-2209 or The Manor at (201) 731-7635. Laurie Levoy Girl Scout council ejects members Newly elected to serve the Dela-ware-Raritan Girl Scout Council are: Francis Blanco of Plainsboro, a fellow of the National Hispanic Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C., and executive director of the Mercer County Hispanic Association, Trenton; Florence Carter of Monmouth Junction, an educator with the Metuchen Board of Education; Jorge Cruz of Perth Amboy, an aide to the city's mayor; Barbara Delmont of Rahway, employed by Union County social services; and Maryanne Guenther of Edison, vice president of marketing for First Savings Bank, Perth Amboy. Also joining the council are: Ivonee Cruz of Perth Amboy, an admissions representative at Trenton State University; Sandra Hornak of Middletown, a clinical case worker for the Prudential Insurance Stephanie Register of Trenton, a project manager with Isles in Trenton; Ralph Saviano of NEW BRUNSWICK Memorial services today for educator A memorial service will be held today for Felice C. Ronca, who was assistant dean of curriculum for Livingston College at Rutgers University.

Ronca, 43, of Highland Park, died March 23 after a long illness. She had previously served as coordinator of the Livingston College Honors Program and the Paul Robeson Scholars Project. She also taught comparative literature at Douglass and Livingston colleges. The service will be held at 2 p.m. at Kirkpatrick Chapel, George and Somerset streets, on tie university's College Avenue campus.

A reception will follow at Winants Hall. For more information, call the Livingston College dean's office, (908) 445-4085. Denise Valenti Read BARBARA BOWERS on education in The Courier-News..