~ Notes Around Town ~


FARRAH MAFFAI John Blouin, 8, of Rumson digs in to his blueberries during a pie-eating contest at Sickles Market’s “Blues” festival on Saturday.FARRAH MAFFAI John Blouin, 8, of Rumson digs in to his blueberries during a pie-eating contest at Sickles Market’s “Blues” festival on Saturday.

The Fair Haven Police Department will be sponsoring an evening of fun as part of National Night Out at 7 p.m. on Aug. 5. The event will take place at the borough’s youth center at the back of the police station and will feature games prizes and information on the Safe Home program as well as a visit from McGruff the Crime Dog.

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The Eatontown Municipal Band will hold the final outdoor concert of its summer weekly Music in the Park series July 28 at 8 p.m. Musical selections will include brand-new arrangements of medleys ranging from Hollywood hits to Broadway tunes, along with some other surprise pieces. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating. In the event of inclement weather, the performance will be moved indoors to the Eatontown Community Center, 68 Broad St.

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The Monmouth Civic Chorus invites all singers to join in a Summer Sing of opera at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Rumson Presbyterian Church, 4 East River Road. Participants will sing selections from some of the world’s most beautiful operas. Admission is $5 and includes refreshments. For more information, call the Chorus at (732) 933-9333.

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Registration for the Red Bank Primary School will be held Wednesdays July 30, Aug. 13 and Aug. 20 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Parents and guardians are asked to bring a verification of residency, medical records and previous school records. For more information call (732)758-1530

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The Retired Senior Volunteer Program of Monmouth County is seeking volunteers for its osteoporosis exercise programs held in Long Branch. For more information call (732) 531-5511.

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Caitlin Marcotte, a 2003 graduate of Red Bank Catholic High School, was awarded a $1,500 scholarship for outstanding community service from the United Way of Monmouth County.

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Attention dancers 15 and up — Dance Challenge 2003, a scholarship and performance competition, will be held Aug. 17 at 10 a.m. at the Count Basie Theater on Monmouth Street.

Dancers are required to bring 30 seconds of music on CD or tape, and demonstrate their very best dance sequence.

Selected finalists will have an opportunity to be showcased to N.J.’s top choreographers, win a $1,000 scholarship, and participate in a workshop on how to break into Broadway. For more information, contact [email protected]

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Phoenix Productions will host auditions for its Fall production of West Side Story on Aug. 11 and 12, 7-10 p.m. at the Phoenix Studio Theater, 111 Monmouth St. Performances will be held the last weekend in October and the first weekend in November.

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Toilet trained 3- and 4-year-olds are needed for Red Bank Regional High School’s Pre-School Lab class this fall.

Under the direction of Child Development teacher Susan Eads, high school students will supervise the children in activities such as arts and crafts, games, music, and basic sound and letter recognition. The tentative class will be held Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings from 9:15 to 10:45 am. Fee is $25. For more information call Susan Eads at (732)842-8000 extension 331.

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The Monmouth Park Charity Ball will be held Saturday, Aug. 9, at the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands. The theme for this year’s ball is "A Celebration of Monmouth Park," with music provided by A Touch of Class. The festivities will begin with cocktails at 7 p.m., accompanied by a silent auction and games of chance at 7:30 p.m., and followed by dinner and dancing at 8:30 p.m. Tickets for the cocktail party and dinner begin at $150. For reservations, call (732) 571-5325, or 571-5326.

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St. Dorothea’s Guild, Eatontown, is sponsoring a "Christmas in July" luncheon and Chinese auction on Sunday, July 27, at noon at the Old Orchard Manor, 54 Monmouth Road, Eatontown. Tickets cost $28. To purchase tickets, call (732) 542-5559, (732) 542-6091 or (732) 842-8713.

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The Monmouth County SPCA will hold its annual summer gala from 5-8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 17, at the Deal Golf and Country Club. Honors this year will go to Rumson police Sgt. Scott Paterson for courageously saving the life of Cosmo, a border collie who fell into Polly’s Pond in Rumson. Additional honors will be awarded to Patrolman Robert Boyer and Animal Control Officer Bob Savoth for their assistance. Tickets cost $80 and include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a buffet dinner. All proceeds benefit shelter animals cared for at the Monmouth County SPCA until they find loving homes. For reservations or more information, call (732) 542-0040.

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The New Jersey Environmental Federation (NJEF), the state’s largest environmental organization, announced it is launching a door-to-door organizing drive throughout Monmouth County over the coming weeks to increase protections for the area’s drinking water as well as generate support for the "BIG" map (Blueprint Intelligent Growth).

Environmentalists will begin their campaign in Belmar, Avon, Bradley Beach, Tinton Falls, Eatontown and Neptune.

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The All Nations Street Festival is scheduled for Aug. 2 in the business district of lower Broadway between Third Avenue and Liberty Street from 1-8 p.m.

Ten music genres will be performing — blues, Brazilian, gospel, hip-hop, jazz, Latin, mariachi, pop, reggae and R&B.

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The Greater Long Branch Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Outing is scheduled at the Colts Neck Golf Club, 50 Flock Road, Colts Neck, Aug. 14 beginning at 8 a.m. Golf fee is $150, which includes greens fees, golf cart, locker room, golf shoe bag, a barbecue lunch, and awards limited to the first 100 golfers.

For more information, call (732) 222-0400.

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The Muscular Dystrophy Association, based in Shrewsbury, is seeking volunteers to answer phones and help out behind the scenes at this year’s Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, airing on WWOR UPN 9 on Sunday, Aug. 31, and Monday, Sept. 1. The telethon raises funds to support MDA’s program of worldwide research, public health education and services for people affected by any of more than 40 neuromuscular diseases. To volunteer, contact the local MDA office at (732) 389-0855.