Lt. Brian Brennan "Stands Alone" Trust.

US Army 1st Lt. Brian Brennan, a 23 year old Howell resident and graduate of Howell high School, was severely injured on May 7th, 2008 from an attack while leading a patrol in Afghanistan.

Brian had been in Afghanistan for only two months when the IED exploded under the Humvee he and four others were traveling in. Brian was one of only two to survive, but he suffered severe injuries. Brian was found in cardiac arrest. He was transferred to a field hospital, where it was found that he had sustained an acute brain injury, a collapsed lung, internal bleeding, a ruptured spleen, multiple compound fractures in his arm, and a shattered femur bone. Both of his legs had to be amputated.

The Brennan family has made enormous sacrifices and has dedicated their lives to Brian's recovery. Brian will need lengthy therapy and the Brennan family home must be modified to accommodate Brian. You're invited for a night of fellowship and good food at Mulligan's Restaurant and Grill in Farmingdale on Monday, October 13. 20% of every check will be donated to the Lt. Brian Brennan "Stands Alone" Trust. For more information call 732-642-9234 or 732-938-6641.

Top Ten cholesterol-Fighting Foods

Here are the Top Ten cholesterol-Fighting Foods, according to the experts:

1. Soy. Use it as a replacement for meat and cheese to help your heart by slashing the amount of saturated fat that you eat. Tofu, soy nuts, soy flour, and enriched soymilk are recommended.

2. Beans. Except for your morning wheat bran, no food is more fiber-rich than beans. Eat a cup a day of kidney, navy, pinto, black, chickpea, or butter beans.

3. Salmon. It contains Omega-3 fatty acids which help lower 'bad' LDL cholesterol, raise 'good' HDL cholesterol, and lower triglycerides. Also found in white albacore tuna canned in water, rainbow trout, anchovies, herring, sardines, and mackerel.

4. Avocado. A great source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. They pack more of the cholesterol-smashing beta-sitosterol than any other fruit. Eat one a day!

5. Garlic. Lowers cholesterol, prevents blood clots, reduces blood pressure, and protects against infections, and helps stop artery-clogging plaque. Pick up a tub of freshly peeled cloves. Chop up and toss on everything. Aim for 4 cloves a day.

6. Spinach. 1/2 cup a day guards against blindness and heart attacks.

7. Margarines. Two are proven to help lower cholesterol: Take Control and Benecol. The only side effect is reduced beta-carotene absorption. so make sure you eat extra carrots, spinach, sweet red peppers or sweet potatoes.

8. Walnuts, Cashews, and Almonds. They also have vitamin E, magnesium, copper, and phytochemicals linked to heart health. Aim for 2 tablespoons five times a week.

9. Tea. Whether it's iced or hot, delivers a blast of antioxidant compounds. both green and black have higher antioxidants than a serving of fruit or vegetables. Drink at least a cup a day.

10. Chocolate. The dark or bittersweet kind. The flavonoid antioxidants keep blood platelets from sticking together. You can find it in Mars Dove bars.

Flat Belly Foods

Prevention Magazine says there are five flat-belly foods with the power to truly transform your body and lengthen your life. The secret is their magical 'good fats'.

1. Oils: Canola, flaxseed, olive, peanut, pesto sauce, safflower, sesame, soybean, sunflower, or walnut oil.
2. Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, Brazil nuts, dry-roasted cashews, chunky natural peanut butter, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, and tahini.
3. Avocado
4. Olives: black or green
5. Chocolate! Dark or semisweet! I'd love to say eat as much as you want, but I'm sure they mean in moderation......a serving size is 1/4 cup.

I'd bet you need to exercise and lose some fat to have a flat belly, too, but it sure doesn't hurt to have a reminder about good foods every once in a while.

One suicide is one too many

But there have been an alarming number of teens suicides in the shore area and the community wants to do something about it with two upcoming events. On Sunday, September 28th, from 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm, a presentation will be held by Rev. Dr. William Librizzi, PsyD and the staff of Wellspring Counseling Service to discuss the warning signs of teen suicide and steps that parents and friends can take to help prevent a tragedy. They'll discuss teen depression and practical ways to help at-risk teens at First Baptist Church on South Street in Manasquan.

Also, a Manasquan High School student has announced an October fundraiser inspired by the recent deaths of several area teens. The event will make teens aware of the 2NDFLOOR Youth Helpline, a 24 hour toll-free number teens can call to speak anonymously, confidentially, and honestly - without judgment or repercussion - with a trained adult. The fundraiser will be held Sunday, October 12th, from 2 - 6 pm at Sunsets on the Shark river in Neptune. 100% of the money donated will go to 2NDFLOOR Youth Helpline, the Andrew Clark Memorial Scholarship Fund, and the Timothy Schenke Light of Hope Award. Tickets are available at Surf Taco in Belmar and Manasquan, 3rd Ave. Surf Shop in Spring lake, Mussuttos Market in Wall, Exit 98 on the Belmar Boardwalk, and La Dolce Vida in Belmar. You can also purchase by calling 180 Turning Lives Around at 732-264-9140.

Rowing Marathon

Rowing Marathon will take place on October 5th at 9 am in Avon. It's a 42,000 meter marathon. There's an entry fee of $24 per person with a four person team. All proceeds go toward the Nicholas Leather Heart To Heart Foundation to raise money for families who have a young child suffering from congenital heart defects.

The money will go towards family costs for prescriptions and other items that can't be afforded while they are staying at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Thank You

I just wanted to thank my friend and make-up artist Leigh Ann Borrelli from Vanity 101 cosmetics for her generous donation to help the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center.

For those of you who could use some help getting ready for an event or even for work in the morning or a fun night out, Leigh Ann offers some excellent advise on makeup, fashion, and general helpful hints in a column she writes called "Vanity 101 with Leigh Ann" which can be found on FarRunningFatMan.com. You can even ask Leigh Ann beauty-related questions and she'll answer them in future blogs.

9/11: Seven Years Later

Brookdale Community College invites you to view a moving 9/11 film documentary by our friend, award-winning photographer and videographer Gary Gellman. (click 943thepoint.com and see the videos he made for the Radiothon).

Other local artists joining in the tribute will be Monica Watson, Helen Antholis, Dana Cohoon, Harriet Cook, and Andrea Tarr. You're invited to a Meet The Artist Reception on Thursday, September 11th from 5 - 7 pm. the free exhibit will continue on display on the Lincroft main campus at the BAC (Business Administration Center near parking lot 3) first floor lobby location from September 11 - 29.

Gary's powerful and emotional documentary interviews residents who were in the Twin Towers as it was hit and the first responders who placed their lives in jeopardy during the clean-up effort. Dan Sakowski was in the South Tower when the North Tower was hit. Mark Charles Giles tried to save a man's life on the Mezzanine level as the Towers almost came down on him.

The interviews were recorded at the Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook in Atlantic Highlands, which is the site of the 9/11 memorial overlooking NYC. Following the tragedy, Veronica Yankowski went to NYC to photograph the aftermath. She was escorted by Port Authority officers to Ground Zero to take pictures of what was left of the World Trade Center where she documented the work of police officers and firefighters working 24 hours a day in search of survivors. She will be exhibiting a collage of photos taken immediately after and during the week following the disaster. Viewing hours will be 8:30am - 5pm. For more information, call 732-224-2746.

YMCA of Western Monmouth County's annual Golf Outing

The Freehold Borough YMCA Community Center offers supervised, supportive activities to as many as 200 children a day in the summer and during the school year. Approximately 25 children a day enjoy the community center after school and on Saturdays. All of the children who visit the center are Freehold Borough residents, and most are between the ages of 8 and 13.
At the Center, girls and boys can participate in a variety of free activities such as the Youth Leaders Club, the Youth & Government Program, as well as obtain homework help and participate in fitness activities. Their participation is made possible through the YCares Financial Assistance Program, which offers scholarships to anyone who wants to join the Y family but does not have the financial resources to do so. Each year the YMCA earmarks funds for the operation of the Freehold Borough YMCA Community Center.
Your participation in upcoming events will help to continue to provide these very needed services to these deserving children.
One upcoming event is the YMCA of Western Monmouth County's annual Golf Outing. It takes place Monday, October 6th, at Battleground Country Club. For information, contact Annie Stattel at 732-462-0464, x. 132, or by email: astattel@ymcanj.org
Another upcoming event is "America On The Move Week", where you can improve your health and have some fun at the YMCA of Western Monmouth County on September 20th. Registration begins at 10 am and a one mile fun walk begins at 11:30 am. Call 732-462-0464, x. 154, or go to ymcanj.org