In the Arts

The Monmouth Folk Dancers will teach folk dancing every Tuesday evening in Marine Park in Red Bank from June 1 - Aug. 31, weather permitting. The sessions are free and open to everyone; no partners or experience are needed. Children’s dances will be taught from 7-8 p.m. and International Folk Dancing from 8-10:30 p.m. Monmouth Folk Dancers have been teaching folk dancing in Red Bank for more than 50 years. The group teaches the dances of many countries including Ireland, Israel, Russia, France, England, Scotland, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Japan, Mexico, the United States and Romania. For more information, call (732) 747-4831.

Powys Gallery at 432 Broad St. in Shrewsbury will host a special preview of an exhibit of work by Brazilian artist Roberto Almeida May 27 and 29. The current exhibit is "Revisitation," an exhibit of the work of artists Michael Sprouse and Michael Bell. Hours at the gallery are Wednesday-Friday noon-4:30 p.m., and Sunday 1-4 p.m. For information, call (732) 936-0220.

Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore return to the Performing Arts Center at Brookdale Community College next month to present the first of their 19 world-famous plays, "Love, Sex and the I.R.S." in a special 25th anniversary production. 

Each spring since 1979, Van Zandt, who hails from Middletown, and Milmore, who lives in Rumson, have returned to Monmouth County during a hiatus from their Hollywood careers to present their original plays on local stages using a mixture of professional actors and local talent.

"Love, Sex and the I.R.S." will run June 3-5 at 8 p.m. and June 5 and 6 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15, $12 for students, staff, children and senior citizens. Details: (732) 224-2411.

The Ruth Hyman Jewish Community Center of Monmouth County, Deal, is sponsoring the 2nd annual "World of Kosher Cuisine" July 11 at 7 p.m. at the Ocean Place Resort & Spa in Long Branch. The evening will include tastings from fine gourmet kosher restaurants, caterers, bakeries and wineries from New York and New Jersey. Highlights include a cooking demonstration by Jeffrey Nathan of Abigale’s on Broadway, gift auction, kosher cookbook sale and a "Dream Kitchen" raffle. Tickets are $40 in advance and $52 at the door. Proceeds will benefit the JCC Meals on Wheels program for the homebound elderly and programs for special needs children. For tickets or more information, call Joy Betesh at (732) 241-6191 or the center at (732) 531-9100.

What becomes a legend most? In the case of folk legend Bob Dylan, singer/songwriter Pat Guadagno thinks the obvious answer is song. For the past five years, the Jersey Shore performer has made an annual custom of celebrating Dylan’s birthday with an event that has become known as BobFest. At BobFest ’04, Guadagno will sing 63 songs in honor of Dylan’s 63rd birthday over two nights of performances at two venues. On May 24, Guadagno will appear at The Downtown Cafe, 8 West Front St., Red Bank, and on May 25 he will appear at The Celtic Cottage, 606 Second Ave., West End. Country music performers Red River Rizzo and Rich Oddo will join Guadagno for the 8 p.m. showtime. For BobFest information, call Campbell Music at (732) 566-1509 or visit www.magombo.com.

Learn dances and rhythms from Africa’s Ivory Coast at workshops being held May 22 at Synapse Studies, 3rd floor, 10 Broad St., Red Bank. A drum class (bring a drum) will be held from 1-2:30 p.m. and a dance class with live drumming will be held from 3-5 p.m. Beginners are welcome to the classes, which will be led by Audrey Davis and Victor. Cost is $20 per workshop, or $35 for both classes. For information, call (732) 219-6662 or visit www.dancingfootyoga.com.

Photographs by Nick Rozzo will be on display in the Gallery of the Guild of Creative Art in Shrewsbury during June. "Straight Eye for the Straight Photographer" is a cornucopia of images that reflect a simplicity of visual enjoyment. Self-taught, Rozzo’s photographs are traditional and have not been digitally enhanced or altered. His prints reflect a simple, strong statement of imagery, color and light, resulting in a Plans have already been made for the FRHSD to meet this summer with medi­cal center staff regarding curriculum re­visions and feedback from high school and medical center personnel.

The program has been growing in pop­ularity, McGeehan noted. There are 17 seniors, 24 juniors, 36 sophomores and 49 freshmen in the program today.

The hospital facilities are also showing growth as the size of the emergency room is in the process of being doubled and plans to add an additional building are on the horizon.

This is the fifth busiest emergency room in the state, McGeehan said.

Mennuti said the med-sci program, one of the specialized learning centers offered in the regional district, has been in exis­tence for 20 years, and this is the first year the FRHSD has had an externship affiliated with the hospital.

Three years ago the program was ex­panded to two sections, Mennuti said.

"My plan for the future is to try to nail down the externship and really make it the best possible [program] we can," said Mennuti.

The day began at 8 a.m. as students attended a lecture titled "The Brain and Intoxication or Overdosing with Alcohol," by Leonard Thomas, R.N., program coor­dinator.

Thomas reviewed the parts of the brain with the students, noting signifi­cant areas as the cerebrum, medulla, gray matter, cerebellum and the role they play in people who are alcoholics.

"The cerebrum is responsible for your judgment and your values," said Thomas. "That’s the first part of your brain that shuts off [when under the influence of al­cohol]."

He explained that the next affected area is the cerebellum, responsible for balance and coordination, and not only can’t they walk [or drive] straight, "they think they can."

Intoxication is an emergency, just like a heart attack, or a stroke, Thomas said.

Other areas covered in the lecture in­cluded smoking and the effect it has on the body; the chemical composition of to­bacco smoke; helping patients kick the habit; the use of non-narcotic options with patients who are on drugs; and the importance of having a yearly physical.

Experiencing one of the six operating room, facilities was next on the students’ agenda.

Kim Kelly, assistant vice president of perioperative services who oversees all six operating rooms, met with students to explain procedures for changing into op­erating-room scrubs.

Students changed into green scrubs, booties and head covers and then made their way through the double swinging doors.

Inside the OR, students learned about negative and positive air pressure and why room temperatures were diminished. The use of heated blankets to prevent hy­pothermia was also noted.

Casey Coleman, clinical nurse educa­tor, gave an explanation of the job of the scrub nurse, and covered every area of the operating room.

Demonstrating how the operating table is set up for surgery, Coleman opened a packet containing the materials needed to "dress" the table.

"The hole [in the sheet] goes here, de­pending upon the operation," she said.

The length of operations varies, she explained. Surgery can range from 45 minutes to several hours; one even took 12 hours.

"We’ve operated on 6-month-olds and people over 100 years old," she added.

Students learned to dress the surgeon, while extreme attention was focused on sterile techniques and ways to prevent contamination.

OR washing procedures were dis­cussed and students learned about vari­ous pieces of equipment that monitor the patient throughout an operation for blood pressure and pulse, and the use of the EKG.

Students also learned about "sharp safety" rules for passing scalpels and the use of safety needles, and organ dona­tions for transplanting,

"We do about 20 to 30 cases a day and about 6,700 a year." said Coleman.

"It’s fantastic," said senior Gautam Natarajam. "The best part was with the orthopedic surgeon because that’s what I want to be. He showed us a knee surgery on tape. It was kind of interesting be­cause my grandma went through the same thing."

The senior was also impressed with the special-care nursery and the new ra­diation oncology section. The machines down there are really neat, he said.

Natarajam said he had medical profes­sionals in his family, including one uncle who is a neurologist and several relatives who are doctors.

The senior said his plans include four years of medical school, a residency and specialization.

"I’ll be like 35 by the time I’m done," said Natarajam.

At a "graduation ceremony" and lun­cheon held that day, Ben Weinstein, med­ical director, acknowledged those who were involved in program, including John T. Gribbin, president and CEO; Arthur Kondrup, director, Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce; Superintendent James Wasser, FRHSD; Assistant Super­intendent of Curriculum Suzanne Koe­gler; Dr. John Brandeisky, and Fran Keane, vice president human resources, co-chair of the program; and a total of 15 physicians who were involved in the pro­gram.

"The doctors really liked working with you," said Weinstein. "It makes you re­member why you came into this in the first place. Very selfishly, we hope you go into the medical profession, complete your training, and come back to Cen­traState on our staff."