Random Thoughts

Random thoughts on the final weekday of April and a day that saw many get up early to watch the Royal Wedding which in itself is rather strange and perplexing.

Those who attended last night’s Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce Dinner Gala at Eagle Ridge Golf Course were promised by the Master of Ceremonies that it would be a fast-moving program that would get everyone home in time for the Giants first-round pick in the NFL Draft. I know because I was the MC and I lived up to my promise….actually the program ended in record time. The evening saw the eloquent Dr. Jon Larson of Ocean County College honored as the Distinguished Citizen of the Year while JCP&L and New Jersey Natural Gas were saluted as organizations of the year. In addition the event served as a changing of the guard with Rich Krug replacing Ken Fitzpatrick as chairman of the Chamber and a new group of officers and directors took their oaths of office.
Attorneys Stephan Leone and Harvey York were co-chairman of the dinner committee and had plenty of help, especially from Director of Operations Jean Hryniw and new Chamber President Maureen Stankowitz.

Toms River South and Jackson Memorial played four times last baseball season and it would not be a shock if that happened again this spring. The Indians and Jaguars received the top two seeds in the Ocean County Tournament and will be on a collision course to meet in the finals which they did last year. South won that game and 3 of the 4 meetings in 2010. However the Jaguars topped the Indians earlier this month in a Class A South battle and the teams play again Monday night at Ken Frank Stadium where a Jackson win would put them in great shape to claim the division title. The teams are a combined 17-2 and clearly the best in the area.

Central Regional’s Marc Calleo (cal-e’-oh) will be saluted Monday as the WOBM/Gateway Toyota Student of the Week but he gets some early radio props for his pitching performance Thursday. He threw a one-hitter to lead the Golden Eagles past Pinelands as they remained a game behind Class B South-leading Manchester.

Congratulations to Jess Kavanagh of Point Pleasant Boro, who successfully defended her title at the Ocean County Girls Golf Tournament yesterday at Westlake Golf & Country Club in Jackson. The Panther junior finished five shots ahead of Lacey’s Alexa Leahy who did lead the Lions to the team championship in just their third varsity season. Kavanagh will have a chance next year to become the first three-time winner of the event.