Weekend Wrap-up

A little of this and a little of that on the final Monday of February:

Don’t ask me why but I stayed up until 11:45 last night to watch the conclusion of the Academy Awards, even though I had little interest in most of the categories. I was delighted to see that “Freeheld” won the Oscar for
Documentary Short Subject…that’s the film about the struggles of Lt. Laurel Hester of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office to leave her pension to her domestic partner Stacie Andree. Hester eventually won that fight before losing her battle against cancer in 2006. Director Cynthia Wade and Producer Vanessa Roth received their Oscars from Tom Hanks and praised Hester and Andree, who was shown in the audience. The 38-minute movie has won several awards and is being shown in screenings around the country. It will be screened at the Garden State Film Festival in Asbury Park from April 4-6.

Speaking of the movies…caught “Vantage Point” this weekend. Very good cast including Dennis Quad and Forrest Whittaker but not quite as good as I expected…maybe because I got fooled by the coming attractions. Still a better-than-average drama which will keep your attention.

For the second time in the last three years Monsignor Donovan lost in the finals of the Shore Conference Boys Basketball Tournament but not because of lack of effort. The Griffins fell to Neptune Saturday night in front of a packed house at the Poland Spring Arena in the Ritacco Center. In the loss senior forward Kyle Milana stood tall as he’s done for most of his four-year career at Donovan. Milana scored a game-high 22 points against the Scarlet Fliers, who won their 20th tournament title and first since 2002. The Griffins now turn their attention to the NJSIAA Tournament where they will host CBA in a first-round game tomorrow night.

The Ocean County College Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams open Region 19 Division III Tournament play this week with games in Toms River. The second-seeded Viking men host Cumberland tonight at OCC while the 4th seeded women are home Tuesday against Middlesex. Both games tip off at 7pm and admission is free.