October 18, 2013
Pres. Mika presenting Patti with a plaque to honor her years of support for this organization
Al Peskoe lead the Pledge of Allegiance
Mike Hayes gave the Invocation
Pres. Mika Hon welcomed members and guest speaker Patti Booth O’Neill
The Link between you and the city of Long Branch? It’s…The Link!
There are certain things one can count on living in Long Branch. The smell of the salt air when the wind blows out of the East, scads of visitors to our city in the summertime; and of course, The Link News.
For the past 13 years, Long Branch area residents and business owners have to come to be able to rely on the Link News for timely information on what’s happening here in our city. More importantly, The Link writes about
the heart and soul of Long Branch: It’s people.
Whether it is a birthday, an anniversary, a high school sporting event, a memorial service, a charity event or Hurricane Sandy, chances are The Link News will be there to write about it, photograph it and bring it each week to the residents of Long Branch.
On Friday our Club was treated to a Long Branch themed presentation from the publisher of the Link News, Patty Booth O’Neil.
“We come each Monday and hope that the lead story isn’t there yet.” said Ms. O’Neil. “We hope that the story comes together during the week that our readers will find compelling.”
It all started back in 2001 for Patty and The Link. Her brother Mike Booth had just sold the Atlanticville to Greater Media and Patty felt that there was a void in terms of real local news coverage and started The Link. A subsequent editorial that ran in the Atlanticville presumptuously boasted: “The Link will be out of business by Valentines Day”. “They didn’t say which Valentines Day”, remarked Patty, “obviously because we are still here.”
It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows Patty that the Link has been as successful as it has, because she has been a successful businesswoman in Long Branch for over three decades.
Patty opened the Atlantic Karate Academy in Long Branch in the early 1980s. She was a member of the USA Karate team and traveled all over the world, where she retired from competition first in the United States and second in the World. She eventually closed her karate school because the success of the newspaper business began to take up more and more of her time.
Now, thanks to her efforts and those of her hard working team, The LInk News is a household name, covering Long Branch, Monmouth Beach, West Long Branch, Oceanport, Ocean Township, Eatontown and Sea Bright. "I have been fortunate enough to love every endeavor I've tried," O'Neill said. "I have great people working for me making The LINK a successful operation."
The people of Long Branch could not agree more.
Rotary Club Annual Food Drive
The Club Food Drive is underway once again this year and the less fortunate of our area need our support. Last year the food drive became one of the most important events in the history of our Club. We collected and delivered over 20,000 pounds of food to the pantries and churches of Long Branch and West Long Branch. Please drop off non-perishable and canned goods to any one of the drop off places listed here. Or stop by The Rotary Club table in front of Shop Rite on November 23rd or 24th.
Food Drive Drop Off Locations:
• NJ Ink Shop - 177 Locust Ave West Long Branch
• Wells Fargo – 555 Ocean Blvd West End
• Atlantic Security – 44 Oceanport Ave West Long Branch
• Central Jersey Bank - 444 Ocean Blvd Ursula Plaza Long Branch
• Monmouth Medical Center – Long Branch
• Tucci Hot & Crupi PC – 464 Broadway Long Branch
• Investors Bank -169 Broadway Long Branch
• Greater Long Branch Chamber – 228 Broadway Long Branch
• Monmouth University – West Long Branch
• Shore Creative Group – 176 Broadway Long Branch
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Become a Thousand-aire!
Win The Long Branch Rotary Club 50/50 Raffle!
There’s still time to get your Raffle Ticket for the big 50/50 drawing this year. Tickets are only $10 and can be purchased from any club member. The drawing is December 13th and winners need not be present. Three chances to win with a 1st prize of $2500. It’s not a bad return for a $10 dollar ticket so get yours today. A portion of the proceeds will go to purchase of a Shelter Box for disaster relief.
Each green ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items.
Until We Meet Again
Interested in finding out about what’s going on at Pier Village? Then attend our Friday October 25th meeting at the beautiful Rooney’s Oceanfront Restaurant in Long Branch. Our special guest speaker will be Mr. Robert Wozmak, General Manager of Pier Village.
Frank Torchia won the 50/50 and pulled the Joker. Congratulations Frank.