rap #134 07/10/09

GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL HISTORY PROGRAMS

PULITZER AND NOBLE Prize winning author Pearl Buck wrote, “If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday.”

Now, thanks to the combined efforts of the Ocean County Cultural & Heritage Commission and the state of New Jersey, a bit more of the county’s past will be preserved for this and future generations.

The commission is seeking applicants for a 2010 Local History Program block grant that will assist municipalities and nonprofit organizations in educating the public about Ocean County’s rich local history.

“We have worked closely with the New Jersey Historical Commission to administer these grants for local preservation efforts,” said Freeholder Director John C. Bartlett Jr. “This is an important opportunity for our communities to protect their heritage.”

The grants can be used for general operating costs, special projects and outreach programs related to local history, Bartlett said.

Any town or organization interested in a grant must send a representative to a mandatory workshop scheduled for Thursday, August 13 at either 3 p.m. or 7 p.m.

Additionally, an intent-to-apply form available from the commission must be returned to the office by July 23, said Timothy G. Hart, division director.

“We encourage our towns and historic groups to seek this money,” Hart said, adding that in 2009, the grants ranged from $1,000 to $3,000.

Freeholder Deputy Director Gerry P. Little said Ocean County is fortunate to have a rich history that dates back to the arrival of the first English settlers in the late 1600’s.

“This is a heritage that deserves to be preserved,” Little said. “From Tuckerton’s days as a bustling pre-Revolutionary War seaport to the Battle of the Toms River Blockhouse in 1782 and the Hindenburg disaster in 1937, Ocean County’s history is a fascinating tale that mirrors a growing nation.”

Anyone wishing more information on the Local History Block Grants may call Hart at 732-929-4779 or contact him by email at culturalheritage@co.ocean.nj.us.

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