[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 17, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E555-E556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        ALGONQUIN ARTS COUNCIL PRESENTS A TRIBUTE TO ERA TOGNOLI

                                 ______


                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 17, 1996

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, April 20, 1996, the Second 
Annual Algonquin Arts Ball, ``A Tribute to Era Tognoli,'' will be held 
at the Warren Hotel in Spring Lake, NJ. On this occasion, Ms. Tognoli 
will receive the Algonquin Arts Award for Outstanding Service to the 
Arts for her contribution to the cultural life of the Jersey Shore area 
as founder and director of the Metro Lyric Opera Company and the 
Monmouth Opera Festival. Ms. Tognoli will also receive funding to 
establish an operetta series at the newly refurbished Algonquin Arts 
Theatre in Manasquan, NJ, and to continue opera education for children.
  Saturday's ball will benefit the Algonquin Arts nonprofit 
corporation, which seeks to bring live performance programs and arts 
education to the Shore community. Proceeds from last year's ball 
sponsored a new children's concert series presented by one of the Shore 
area's great artistic traditions, Father Alphonse Stephenson and the 
Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea. Live productions, children's 
theater, and educational programs have been highlights of the past 
season, while programming is being expanded to include ballet, jazz, 
and historic dramatizations.
  Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that many people, including some Shore 
residents, do not realize the wonderful tradition of artistic and 
cultural offerings in coastal New Jersey. While the Jersey Shore is 
known for many things, many people often assume that you have to go to 
New York or Philadelphia for first-rate artistic events. Not true. I 
salute Era Tognoli, the Council of the Algonquin Arts Non-Profit 
Corporation, their board of directors and their many members and 
contributors, for continuing to contribute to excellence in the arts 
and further enhancing the quality of life in

[[Page E556]]

that unique region we proudly call the Jersey Shore.

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