Carmen Fasola

A beef-and-beer benefit will be held for Carmen Fasola, a longtime state corrections officer at Cumberland County’s Bayside State Prison who succumbed to a brain tumor recently.

The benefit will be held at the Millville Elks Lodge — located at 1815 E. Broad Street in Millville, NJ — to assist the family he left behind. It will take place from 6pm-midnight on Friday, March 26, at the lodge, and will include dinner, beer & soda, popcorn and cotton candy, a Chinese auction and a 50/50 drawing. Tickets are $20.

If you cannot attend the benefit but would like to contribute, donations are being received by Carmen’s wife. Please mail them to:
Diana Fasola
P.O. Box 816
Hammonton, NJ 08037

Join Hearts Afire Radio Show Hosts Carl and Martie Granieri as they welcome special guests Don Williams, Barbara Altman, Michele Dawn Mooney of NBC TV 40, Political VIPs and people of Good Will from churches and organizations from all over South Jersey to an uplifting musical event to benefit the earthquake victims in Haiti.
The show will broadcast live on WOND Radio, 1400AM from 1- 6 pm on Sunday, March 14, from the Ocean City Music Pier. It will feature the 100 Voice Hearts Afire Inter-Denominational Praise Choir and 10-piece Praise Band, made up of musicians and singers from the casino showrooms of Atlantic City. It is sponsored by Tropicana Hotel Casino.
All proceeds go directly to Food for the Poor, a Miami-based U.S. non-profit that has been on the ground in Haiti for 25 years and receives annually the highest ratings possible for efficiency and reliability. With only four percent operating costs, 96 percent of every dollar goes right to those in need. Donations are being accepted 24 hours per day by clicking here.

On Saturday, March 20, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) will celebrate the International Day of the Seal. Visitors may stop by the MMSC between the hours of 10am and 2pm to tour the facility, enjoy activities for children and visit their museum/gift shop.
The tour includes displays of how seals live in the wild and the equipment used by MMSC stranding technicians for rescue. You will also learn about the many types of seals and other aquatic animals that are cared for at the center. Kids activities include demonstrations of how seals stay warm in cold water, feeling their soft fur and making a seal mask to take home.
For more information, go here or call the MMSC at (609) 266-0538.
The MMSC is located at 3625 Atlantic-Brigantine Blvd. in Brigantine, just across the street from Prudential, Fox and Roach Realtors and just before the Lighthouse Circle on the left (heading north).

The Atlantic County Animal Shelter was the recipient of many special items from the proceeds of a recent wine tasting event held at Sofia in Margate.
Sofia Papastamelos, Angela Diamantis and Atlantic County Freeholder Alisa Cooper sponsored the elaborate wine tasting event with proceeds designated to benefit the shelter. The shelter is funded by Atlantic County Government and provides excellent care and housing for the cats and dogs, however this event was sponsored to purchase additional items that the shelter needed.
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The Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s 15th annual Have a Heart for Hunger Chance Auction is scheduled for Saturday, April 10, at the Shore Mall in Egg Harbor Township. Doors open at noon for a prize preview and ticket sales. The prize drawings take place 1:30-6pm. The entry fee is $5 and includes refreshments.
Presented by AtlantiCare, the hospital will hold a mini-health fair. Michelle Dawn Mooney from NBC-TV 40 and David Allen Pratt from WTKU radio will emcee this day-long event. Auction items include electronics, appliances, entertainment packages, home décor, fashion accessories, toys, sporting goods and more.
“With the need at its highest in FoodBank history, we’re hoping to hit fundraising records to help us in our mission to fight hunger and poverty,” says Margie Barham, executive director of the CFB-Southern Branch, in a media release.
For more information call  (609) 383-8843 or go here.

On Tuesday, Feb.16, the Greater Atlantic City Concierge Association (GACCA) and the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority Foundation (ACCVAF) teamed up to host a charity wine tasting/art show at the Carisbrooke Inn Bed & Breakfast in Ventnor. The inaugural fundraising event was held to help award scholarships to hospitality majors at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey or Atlantic Cape Community College.

The initial goal was to provide enough funding for two scholarships, but due to the overwhelming response to the event four scholarships will now be awarded with the presentation taking place at the Atlantic City Hosts Awards on May 12 at Historic Boardwalk Hall’s Adrian Phillips Ballroom.

Over 80 people attended the fundraiser, enjoying the food, wine and atmosphere as well as a display of six local artists’ works ranging from pottery to serene beach scenes. The participating artists were Chris Ford, Steve Kuzma, William McKensie, Marie Natale, Sue Van Duyne and Michael Waters.

GACCA and ACCVAF would also like to thank the following sponsors for their contributions: Donna Albano, Craig Puchalsky, Donna Vassallo, B.F. Mazzeo Fruit & Produce, Carisbrooke Inn Bed & Breakfast, Ovations Food Service and Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino. — Jon Heacock

The 32nd annual Boardwalk St Patrick’s Day 10-miler and 5K run will be held Saturday, March 13, at the Bloom Community Pavilion in Margate at 9:30am. Participants can register in advance until March 7 by going here, or in person on race day from 7-9am. Long sleeve shirts will be provided to those who pre-register while supplies last. The 10-miler will take runners from the Bloom Community Pavilion located behind the Margate Library to the boardwalk in Ventnor to Maryland Avenue in Atlantic City and back.

Participants can register in advance until March 7 by going here, or in person on race day from 7-9am.

For the second consecutive year, the run will benefit both the Donny Fund and the South Jersey Field of Dreams. For sponsorship opportunities or more information call Joe Brown at (609) 652-0833.

You can help an adult in Atlantic County with basic reading and writing or English as a second language skills by becoming a volunteer tutor for Literacy Volunteers Association Cape-Atlantic. Register now for the free Tutor Training Workshop to be held at Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church, located at 743 North Main Street in Pleasantville. The workshop will run for five consecutive Wednesday evenings, from 6:15-9:15pm, starting March 10 and ending April 5 (a total of 15 hours). To register please contact Literacy Volunteers Cape-Atlantic at (609) 383-3377 or download the registration forms by going here.
Many adults in Atlantic and Cape May Counties have difficulty reading and writing, or speaking and understanding English. Help your community by helping others improve their literacy skills so that they can participate more fully in our society. There are many reasons why adults can’t read or speak English. Be the reason they can!

The United Way of Atlantic County’s 7th Annual Auction for the Community will take place Friday, March 19, from 6-10 pm at Bally’s in Atlantic City. The event will embrace renowned master chefs Georges Perrier and Chris Scarduzio, partners of the celebrated Mediterranean Bistro Mia who will meet on stage for an energetic demonstration of their expertise in fine cuisine around 7:30 pm., a live auction hosted by Flyers Hall-of-Famer Dave Schultz around 8:30 pm, an extended silent auction and honoree Ms. Alyce Parker, Vice President of Public Affairs for Harrah’s Entertainment.
Tickets are priced at $100 a person and include a dinner buffet and cocktails. Order now by calling (609) 404-GIVE or go here. Proceeds from this event will benefit United Way of Atlantic County.  —  Kelley Anne Essinger

The 32 Degrees Luxe Lounge “Dating For Haiti” event, sponsored by Three Olives vodka, has been rescheduled for tonight — Wednesday, Feb. 17 — at the lounge in The Quarter at Tropicana. Doors open at 9pm. Enjoy complimentary Three Olives cocktails from 11pm-midnight, and a live auction of dates with many of your favorite Atlantic City and Philly 32 Degrees friends. DJ Lit will be spinning the hits, and all proceeds from the auction will be donated to the American Red Cross. The bidding starts at midnight. Open your hearts and wallets for this exciting night. Dress is fashionable. For more information, call (609) 576-5206 or e-mail rsvp@32lounge.com. Thanks you for your anticipated support!