At the Pfeiffer Community Center’s shark night on July 21 were Brandee Derieux, Dylan Morris, Deb Defelice, Pauline Blatt, Bernie Burket, Sandy Calsamilia, Georgie Young, Ethan Morris, Stevie Reid, Molly Martin, Al Rossi, Jenna Rossi and Sherrie Kennedy.
During the hot, humid summer of 1975, moviegoers beat the heat in front of huge, panoramic screens to see the new blockbuster hit: “Jaws.”
Many of them nearly jumped out of their seats when the deadly great white shark first appeared, breaching the water and almost biting the hand off of Police Chief Martin Brody at he threw out chum.
“You’re gonna need a bigger boat,” said Brody on a creaky fishing vessel named Orca with scientist Matt Hooper and the crusty old sea captain, Quint, who later in the movie told a sobering tale about sharks eating sailors in the Pacific Ocean after the Japanese torpedoed the USS Indianapolis.
Although it instilled fear, over the past 50 years “Jaws” has heightened awareness of great white sharks, especially during July’s shark week on the Discovery Channel every July.
“We’re always looking to give people something new to do,” said Brandee Derieux, supervisor of Monroe Township’s Department of Community Affairs, as she welcomed children and adults alike to the first shark night at Pfeiffer Community Center in downtown Williamstown on July 21.
The department’s director, Donna Park, was thrilled at the turnout
“It’s wonderful,” she said. “The kids are excited and so are the adults.”
“This is a great idea, especially on the 50th anniversary of ‘Jaws’ and the beginning of shark week on television,” noted Sherrie Kennedy, chair of Monroe’s Municipal Alliance Commission, as she handed out tiny cups of slime – delighting the children.
“We support all the community events,” Kennedy said, adding that she is also looking forward to the upcoming National Night Out celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Owens Field. The goal of her organization is to prevent substance-use disorder through education and resources that help people with mental-health issues and increase awareness about bullying.
Her information table at the Pfeiffer center had the theme, “Sharks Stand Up Against Bullying,” with Kennedy telling youngsters, “Don’t bite, be kind and keep swimming.”
The event started with a game of shark trivia, where families and friends formed small groups at the dozen tables set up in the community center’s main room. The winning team won a gift basket. Everyone then gathered around a big screen to watch “Jaws II,” the original film’s 1978 sequel.
“I wasn’t able to get a copy of the first ‘Jaws’ movie,” explained Derieux. But all in all, she was happy about the success of the first shark night celebration in Williamstown.
Upcoming events sponsored by the Department of Community Affairs included Monroe Township Day at Morey’s Pier in Wildwood on Friday, Aug. 8, and Family Splash Day the day after. Seniors can enjoy a barbecue on Tuesday, Aug. 26, and a bus trip to the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City two days later.
