Under the direction of Mr. Kyle Titmas, Director of Bands at the Ocean Township High School, four students auditioned for All Shore Jazz Band this year. Ocean Township High School students Myles Fort (drum set), Aldair Martinez (tenor sax), Ethan Morris (trumpet), and Amanda Munoz (baritone sax) spent a considerable amount of time preparing, hoping for a spot.
The All Shore Jazz Band is comprised of 2 select jazz ensembles of the most dedicated, advanced jazz band students in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. While all students gave an outstanding performance, only two of these students were accepted. Myles Fort and Aldair Martinez were both accepted. This is Myles’s third year in a row accepted and Aldair’s second year in a row accepted.
All students auditioning are required to perform a solo and a sightreading as part of the audition process. Most of the process was the same this year, except students had to remain masked when not playing and they needed bell covers over their horns. Last year (2021), the concert was fully virtual. The students met on Zoom, rehearsed, and then recorded on their part. After they were all recorded, they were mixed and mastered to create a virtual concert. This year (2022), the ensemble was able to meet in person.
Great job to all who participated, and congratulations to Myles and Aldair!
Eatontown Memorial Student is 10,000th Child to Benefit from Free Vision Screening by New Jersey’s Eatontown Lions Club The Eatontown Lions Club began its sixth year of vision screening with a bang on Thursday, September 14, 2023. As a result of partnering with the Eatontown and Ocean Township School Districts the Lions club provided the 10,000th free vision screening. On Thursday in recognition as the 10,000th screening recipient, Ashton Vassor, an eighth-grade student at Eatontown’s Memorial School, was given a citation and gift card from the Lions Club. Ashton has been screened annually by the Lions since second grade. Also given a Lions Club Certificate was Memorial School Nurse Lucy Craig, one of the first Eatontown School District nurses to collaborate with the Lions when vision screening began in 2017. She was Ashton’s school nurse at Meadowbrook School when his vision was first screened. Working in conjunction with school nurses, vision screenings are done annually by the Eatontown Lions in September and October for students in Pre-K through 8th grade. “We really appreciate your help as well as the support of the Lions. Your work and partnership with us make a difference. The vision screening process as well as the resources the Lions provide to our students if a vision problem is discovered help our students to be in a better position to learn and succeed. Thank you.” said Scott T. McCue, Superintendent Eatontown Public Schools More than 12 million school-age children in the United States have some form of vision problem. Many vision problems run the risk of becoming permanent if not corrected by the time the eye reaches full maturity. Vision also plays an important role in education. According to educational experts, 80 percent of learning is visual. “Early screening leads to early detection, which helps ensure that children get the follow-up care they need,” said Club President Linda Butler. “We want to make sure that cor