Trying to Hold On

The fight by students, parents and alumni to keep Mater Dei Prep open is not over yet and in reality has just begun. 

Three days after he announced the school would close in June because of financial problems the pastor who oversees Mater Dei Prep and St. Mary’s Elementary School gave supporters a ray of hope.  Father Jeff Kegley said in a new release on the schools website that “encouraged by a tremendous outpouring of support from the school and parish community” a 2-month extension would be given to raise $1 million to keep the school open.

Mater Dei Prep is in its 50^th year of existence and 340 students currently attend the school in Middletown.  There will be an organizational meeting of the newly-formed “Save the Seraphs” committee tonight at 7pm in Memorial Hall and all of those interested are invited to attend.

In sports there is nothing sadder than watching a great athlete with his skills diminishing in front of your eyes trying to hang on. Some might remember Muhammad Ali getting bashed on the ropes by Larry Holmes or Willie Mays trying to run the bases for the Mets at the age of 42.  In many cases athletes keep going because they need the money while for some it’s a matter of simply not being able to walk away.

Tiger Woods was never going to be one of those but sadly one now wonders if Woods is just hanging on in the hopes of recapturing past glory.  He was so great so early that we just figured he would set every golfing record and get out as soon as he was no longer one of the best.  Time, health and other factors have taken away his game and yesterday he withdrew from a tournament in San Diego after just 11 holes because of tightness in his back.

In his last six tournaments the 39-year old Woods has missed three cuts, withdrawn twice and finished 69^th. I would love to see the fist-clenching ear-to-ear smiling golfer who lit up the course and brought a new level of excitement to the gentleman’s game but I’m afraid those days sadly might be over.

Looking for something to do with young kids on Sunday?  Then how about Kidabaloo from 12 noon to 5pm at the Collins Arena on the campus of Brookdale Community College.  Presented by the Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center the event will feature all kinds of fun and games plus a special appearance by Peyton List who plays “Emma” on the Disney Channel comedy series “Jessie.”  For more information visit Kidabaloo.com. Tickets will be available at the door on Sunday.