PRESS RELEASE:  Middletown, N.J. (November 15, 2013) – On Sunday, November 24 at 4:00 p.m. 34 young artists, ages 4-15, who participated in arts healing projects at Small Factory Productions in Fair Haven and the Middletown Arts Center in Middletown will showcase their work for family and friends during video presentations and performances at the Middletown Arts Center at 36 Church Street in Middletown, N.J. Many of the children participating in the day's program are still displaced since Storm Sandy struck. The event is open to family and friends of the young artists as well as a limited number of guests from the community. If your family was affected by Sandy and you would like to attend the event, call 732-706-4100. RSVP is required. Refreshments will be provided by Panera Bread of Middletown. The RAINE Foundation will also be attending with information on support services for the community and families still affected by the storm.

The Sandy Project

The Sandy Project is a one-minute documentary and winner of the FilmOneFest's Spirit of the Shore Awards created by Neal Bennett of the Industry Film School and the Middletown Arts Center's acting instructor Kathy Connolly. The documentary is based on the Sandy Project program held at the Middletown Arts Center, which attracted 22 kids, ages 4 - 15, who collaborated to create a 45-minute, multi-media piece in which the children wrote poems and songs, painted, created an animation, danced, hula hooped, and played guitar and piano. The project raised $950 for the Middletown Disaster Relief Fund. 

Storm Sandy: Staying Afloat

Even today a year following Sandy’s destruction, many families in communities across the Jersey Shore have yet to return home. In an effort to help children experiencing the emotional affects of being displaced by the storm, Small Factory Productions organized one of its Kids Kare Create-a-Cartoon workshops to bring together a group of 12 children from Highlands, Union Beach, Port Monmouth, Rumson and Long Branch for a day of healing and creative fun. The workshop was made possible by a generous grant from the Jay Dooley Memorial Foundation. On May 4-5 the children, who range in ages from 5 to 12, worked as a group to create their original animated cartoon short. The workshop began with the group learning about how a cartoon is created, then Small Factory’s Executive Producer Chris Dudick and Dr. Alison Block, a licensed psychologist from Little Silver, NJ, worked with the children to develop their individual characters by asking them questions that got ideas forming and imaginations flowing.
Each child brought his or her individual character to life with colors, sounds and a script. Characters include the narrator Buffalo the Dog, Lauren the Mom, Bob the Dad, Andrew the Boy, Autumn the Girl, the helpers Sean and Charlotte, Bobo the Cat, the House, Joe the Construction Worker and Hurricane Sandy. Villain Sandy damaged the house, but the children were quick to add that she was only doing her job as a storm. The children unanimously titled the cartoon, “Storm Sandy: Staying Afloat.” Following the creation and recording of the children’s voices, the group also wrote and sang an original theme song.

Ok, we’ve all been there gals, wearing those tank tops and having strap slippage.  Or we have dreaded the strapless bra, defied the bra boundaries, and worn a version with straps just for comfort and support of a different kind, and forsook fashion.

However, it’s a fashion faux pas. 

Sometimes in my travels I stumble over something cool – or someone stumbles over me and we hit it off, have some common ground, and well, we give it a go with some blog power.  That’s what happened here.

I introduce you to the amazing, bra-Zing.  The bra-Zing is a set of stick on bra straps that come in tons of coordinating colors, patterns, and fabrics that are meant to be shown.  They camouflage bad bra straps or disobedient ones that slip and slide out of bounds when you wear your sporty, strappy, or slim sleeved shirts.  It’s a fashion fix! Each set comes with an elegant Swarovski crystal to commemorate breast cancer awareness and add a little bling, to your bra-Zing!

This past summer, celebs Blake Lively, Hayden Panettiere, Halle Berry, Michelle Williams, Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried, Lucy Lie, Emma Watson, Zooey Deschanel, Lea Michele, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Pink, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, ,Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Miley Cyrus, Megan Fox and more were given some glitz and glamour to show off, courtesy of bra-Zing!  TheLadyinRed joins the list of those with luxe straps meant to be shown now, too!  I have to say – trying these was really cool. The company did its research and chose the perfect pair of red bra-Zing fabric ribbon showy straps for me!

Here’s how they work: 

First, put on your favorite bra.  When it’s snug around your shoulders, remove the backing from one of the fashionable bra-Zing straps you want to be seen in, and line it up at start of the front of one of your bra shoulder straps.  Gently press it on, working your way from front to back of your bra strap.  Voila!  Repeat on the other side.  Now you’ve got sexy shoulder straps to show off!

No, these won’t damage your bras!  They stick on, won’t budge all day, and then you can peel them off at night easily.  It’s a really cool way to have interchangeable bra straps that don’t look like bra straps, and give you a sexy, sporty, or romantic boost for your boobs.  They were designed by a woman, Bethan Davies, who understood the need to make a statement with a strap, instead of trying to hide it, conceal it, and fight the battle of the bra.  Try it with an off-the-shoulder dress or sweater, or explore the freedom you now have, to wear a comfortable bra with straps showing, even with tank tops and strapless dresses because they don’t look like lingerie!

The bra-Zing comes in different lengths and widths, depending on your figure and preference, and in a multitude of colors and patterns, pricing proportionately between $14-$19 USD. These were just launched in July, so you can get the jump on them.  They are kind of fun to wear.  What’s even cooler is that I had a guy representative contact me about this bra-Zing bling.  You wouldn’t think men pay attention to the strappy struggles of women, but they do!  (I love learning something new all the time!  Who knew men actually noticed the little things like sliding straps!)

So there’s my product plug in the name of slipping straps everywhere.  Yes, they had me at “red”.  Now I’m among those who give their bras some “zing” on occasion, too!

Talk-Show Style Format Presents Exciting Opportunity to Talk Music History with Bruce Springsteen's Long-Time Drummer
Sunday, November 17, 2013, 7:00 p.m., Doors Open 6:30 p.m., Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church Street, Middletown, N.J.

PRESS RELEASE:  Middletown, N.J. (November 5, 2013) – The Middletown Arts Center (MAC) will host an evening with E Street's Max Weinberg to benefit the Middletown Arts Council on Sunday, November 17, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. Theater doors open at 6:30 p.m. The event is a talk-show style question and answer format followed by a VIP meet and greet reception. A limited sale VIP ticket package includes premium seating and reception at $75 per guest. General reserved seating is $40. A beer and wine cash bar is offered. Call 732-706-4100 for tickets. Space is limited.
 
During the talk-show style question and answer session, the event moderator Tom Cunningham, host of the Bruce Brunch, which airs on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. on 105.7 The Hawk Classic Rock Radio, will engage the audience in lively conversation with Weinberg and show rare video footage from his star-studded career. 

Weinberg's credo is "Show up, do a good job, and give the people more than their money’s worth!” The Middletown Arts Center is thrilled to have the unique opportunity to host  this up-close-and-personal evening with Max Weinberg to benefit the arts in Middletown.

Max Weinberg is currently touring world-wide with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and looks forward to talking to audience members about his career, past and present. Referred to by Robert Palmer of The New York Times as “the rhythmic backbone of The E Street Band," Weinberg performed on the classic album, Born In The USA, which put the drummer and the rest of his E Street band members in the record books as having the biggest selling rock album in history. Citing his work through the years with Bruce and The E Street Band as, “the attainment of everything a 12-year-old drummer from the suburbs of Jersey ever dared to dream,” Max has kept himself busy for nearly four decades performing with the likes of Paul McCartney, Sting, Tom Jones, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bono of U2, Levon Helm and the Band. Of particular importance and one of Max’s biggest thrills was backing Tony Bennett on television, a venue where Mr. Bennett rarely performed without his own group.

Following the E Street band’s breakup in 1989, Max worked on several different projects , including starting his own record label and a brief attempt at law school. Ultimately, he would find great success as the musical director and band leader for “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” Having literally talked his way into the job following a chance meeting with O’Brien on a New York City street, Weinberg put together a top flight set of musicians to form the Max Weinberg Seven. Max was featured on “Late Night” and the "Tonight Show" not only as bandleader but also as a comic foil to O’Brien, particularly in the show’s sketches. 

Weinberg has also worked as a session musician, enjoying particular success in connection with songwriter Jim Steinman. Weinberg drummed on the immensely popular Meatloaf album, Bat Out Of Hell. At one point in 1983, he was featured on the number 1 and number 2 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” and Air Supply’s “Making Love Out Of Nothing At All.” He is also the author of "The Big Beat: Conversations with Rock’s Great Drummers", a series of interviews Weinberg conducted over two years with his favorite drummers from different eras including, Ringo Starr, Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones, Levon Helm, and Elvis’ original, longtime drummer D.J. Fontana. The book is considered an important addition to rock literature. 

Today, he's back touring with Springsteen and the E Street Band. "The mighty Max Weinberg, star of late-night television, found a place where Bernard Purdy, Buddy Rich, and Keith Moon intersected, and he made it his own. I ask and he delivers for me night after night,” said Bruce Springsteen.

About the Middletown Arts Center
The Middletown Arts Center (MAC) is an award-winning, state-of-the-art facility run by the nonprofit Middletown Township Cultural and Arts Council and is dedicated to bringing quality arts programming and events to Middletown and surrounding communities. The MAC offers enrichment programs and entertainment for all ages and abilities. Visit www.middletownarts.org for more information.

MEDIA ALERT:

WHO:            
Keynote Speaker Matthew B. Craw, US Marine Corps, Little Silver, NJ.
 
Craw is a combat veteran of the United States Marine Corps and author of The Song Each Bullet Sings: The Story of Operation Iraqi Freedom Through the Eyes of One Marine. He earned his combat action ribbon during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. 

As a result of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) suffered during a training exercise, Craw continues to experience painful migraines, memory and other issues. Having trouble with spoken language, writing has become his outlet. He has combated his TBI and PTSD to earn an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts and Creative Writing from Brookdale Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree in English with a concentration in Professional Writing from Rider University.

Also presenting:
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 200 Color Guard
General Anthony C. McAuliffe NY/NJ Chapter 101st Airborne Division Association
Joseph Formola, Chaplain NJ State Council, Vietnam Veterans of America
Brigadier General Michael L. Cunniff, The Adjutant General of New Jersey
Clark W. Martin, Chairman, New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation
Bob Briant, Jr., CEO, Utility & Transport Contractors Association

WHAT:          
The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation will host its annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Monday, November 11, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at its Memorial on the grounds of the PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ.  
 
Immediately following the ceremony, the NJVVMF will present a groundbreaking at 1:00 p.m. for it's Huey helicopter restoration project. To date more than 20 veteran volunteers have contributed 1,600 hours of volunteer work to restore the helicopter, scheduled to be transported from an airport hangar in Wall, NJ to the Museum grounds for an exhibit unveiling on May 7, 2014. 

WHEN:          
Veterans Day Ceremony: Monday, November 11, 2013, 11:00 a.m.
Huey Helicopter Exhibit Groundbreaking: Monday, November 11, 2013, 1:00 p.m.

WHERE:       
New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial located on the grounds of the PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ (Garden State Parkway exit 116)

DETAILS:      
As part of the Veterans Day ceremony, NJVVMF will induct four veterans into the In Memory Program, which honors those who served in Vietnam and returned home only to die as a result of their tour, but whose names are not on the Memorial. 
 
The four inductees are:

Anthony T.J. Bilello, Jr., US Army from Brick, NJ, who died on February 2, 2011
David T. Gilchrist III, US Army from Oxford, NJ, who died on April 4, 2010
Gary H. Mihok, US Marine Corps from South Amboy, NJ, who died on September 8, 2011
Warren K. Priest, US Air Force from Browns Mills, NJ, who died on February 1, 2011

ABOUT:
The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation offers a meaningful and engaging experience that recognizes the sacrifices, courage and valor of Vietnam veterans and that encourages and fosters a thorough understanding of the Vietnam Era including the political, historical, social, cultural and military aspects, which affected the United States, and especially New Jersey.
 
The NJVVMF's Museum & Educational Center is located adjacent to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Holmdel, NJ. Musuem hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and by special appointment.  Admission is $7 adults; $5 senior citizens and students; and children 10 years of age or younger and veterans and active military personnel are free. The Memorial is free and open to visitors 24 hours daily. For more information, visit www.njvvmf.org or call (732) 335-0033.

NJVVMF CONTACT:
Bill Linderman
Executive Director
New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation
908-568-1730 (cell) 
[email protected]

What?  Yes, I said, “Do it in a dress!”  And it ain’t just for Aussies anymore!

Do It In a Dress is for both guys and gals.  Seriously.  And it all started with - “One Girl”. 

One Girl is a non-profit organization founded in Australia, that helps women and girls gain access to education, especially those in Sierra Leone, West Africa.  (So yes, come with me – we’re going global on this blog.)

I was introduced to this campaign by my friend Sharni Burgess who lives on the other side of the world from me.  Sharni is a world traveler with a big heart, and she stands behind what she believes in. Turns out she’s not the only one who believes in this cause, as even Oprah Winfrey has put her best feet forward this past October when she donated a pair of her purple satin Christian Louboutin shoes to raise money for the campaign.

I bet you’re asking:  “What exactly is this campaign about, and why is it gaining attention?”  The sad and terrible truth is that “a girl born in Sierra Leone is more likely to be sexually assaulted than she is to attend high school.”  Shocking – but we can change that.

So if you are reading this, you are probably saying it to yourself, “I don’t live in West Africa, so why should I care?”, and two, “I don’t have money to give, so what’s in it for me?”

See, I believe in a world where if people help others, good will come back to them in some way, some day.  It may not be in the same form or at the same time, but it’s the “pay it forward” principle.

The “Do It In a Dress” movement picks up momentum every October where both men and women, all over the world, put on school (uniforms) dresses, perform challenges, and ask people to sponsor them so they can raise funds for projects in Sierra Leone.

Imagine surfing, skiing, dancing, or sky diving in a school girl dress!  Funny right?  The eye-catching and attention capturing concept for a good cause is a genius way to bring in the bucks.

So why didn’t I write about this in October?  Because one month out of the year is not enough to fundraise for this cause – for any cause.

The founders Chantelle Baxter and David Dixon started the One Girl campaign in 2011, and since then, with the help of supporters have raised over $300,000.

My Australian friend, Sharni Burgess, first became involved with “One Girl” in June of 2012 when she joined as the organization’s Volunteer Coordinator.  (And by the way, I was tempted to leave the spelling as “organisation” with an Aussie flair because certain words from Down Under are just cool that way… insert Crocodile Dundee accent here.)   

“Last year I wore a school dress every day for the entire month of October. This included turning up to work each day in school attire, as well as all social events, and gatherings. I also organized a Do It In a Dress Bowling Day at my dad’s bowling club, which was such a fantastic day.  The men (both young and old) absolutely loved getting their school dresses on and raising as much money as they could in support of DIIAD.  I also convinced my mum and dad to make a YouTube video that saw them dancing to ‘Gangnam Style' in their school dresses which was a total hit!” 

“We have had men and women from all over the world sending in photos and posts of them doing some pretty extreme challenges in school dresses – it’s amazing!” continues Burgess.  “The co-founders are based in Melbourne, Australia, but there are a great team of volunteers in each state who play a vital role in the DIIAD movement which is a big reason why it has been so successful in Australia. “

What if you want to participate and don’t have a school girl dress? Well, you can buy one here, or you can borrow one from a friend, and some of you may even have one from days gone by that you can don.  Yes, they sell ones just for guys, too!  That’s what makes this equally cool and fun!

“Anyone can participate anywhere in the world, which makes it even more awesome! Men and women have been participating all year, but our main campaign month is October. It’s so easy to get involved,” explains Burgess.

I asked her what the best school girl outfit was that she’s seen so far, and she was hard pressed to pick just one.

“Oh that's a tough one.  I have seen too many school girl outfits; it's hard to judge! I'd have to say the men from the Doutta Gulla Bowling Club put forward some pretty top competition.  It's such a wonderful feeling knowing that everyone goes to so much effort to get involved.  It’s such a fun movement with inspiring reasons behind it."

Ok, so if you are thinking about doing it in a dress, too, here’s what you do:

“Step 1: Sign up at http://doitinadress.com/ You can register as an individual, or create a team of your own. Step 2: Pick a challenge! Or select a challenge from the list on the website (Be prepared as some challenges are pretty ‘out- there’.)  Step 3: Grab a school dress - you can buy one for just $20 or you can pull out one of your old school dresses. Step 4: Raise $300 - Three hundred dollars is the cost to give one girl in Sierra Leone access to education. The money raised goes towards the 14 communities that One Girl works in across Sierra Leone. Step 5: DO IT IN A DRESS -  Do your challenge in a dress and share it to the world,” explains Burgess.

So…for your next fundraiser or generous gesture, “Will you wear a school dress so that a girl in Africa can wear one too?” like the One Girl slogan promotes?  Go for it!  Do it in a dress!