The St. Stepanos Women’s Guild 16th annual Armenian Food Festival will be held Nov. 20, 12:30-7: 30 p.m., and Nov. 21, 1-6 p.m., at the church at 1184 Ocean Ave.
Traditional Armenian delicacies like lamb shanks, chicken and eggplant entrees will be served. For more information, call (732) 229-3661.
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The Long Branch Centennial Committee will hold a holiday celebration at city hall on Broadway on Dec. 2 starting at 6 p.m.
Long Branch school students will perform with choir and band, and refreshments will be served.
Following the celebration, Santa Claus will go on a horse and buggy ride from city hall, down Broadway to Norwood Avenue, to Brighton Avenue and through West End, then out to Ocean Boulevard back to Broadway and ending up back at city hall. All are welcome to attend.
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The Long Branch Historical Association will be selling city afghans, T-shirts and sweat shirts at the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Antiques and Collectibles Show at Shore Regional High School on Route 36 in West Long Branch on Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call Jo Ann at (732) 229-9258.
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The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties is in need of food donations for the upcoming holiday season and is trying to reach a goal of 10,000 donated turkeys and hams.
So far, 2,600 turkeys have been received.
The FoodBank distributes emergency food to more than 250 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other programs which feed the needy throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties.
The most needed items are; frozen turkeys, canned or frozen hams, stuffing, broth or gravy, cranberry sauce, canned fruits and vegetables, pie or muffin mix, beets, yams, instant potatoes, instant pudding, Jell-0, dry milk, tablecloths, napkins, disposable roasting pans and can openers.
Donations can be dropped off at the FoodBank on Route 66 in Neptune Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Starting Nov. 15, donations can be dropped off weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Nov. 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Donations can also be dropped off in Long Branch at both Windmills and ShopRite and in Ocean Township at Quickie Print (nonperishable food only).
For more information, call (732) 918-2600.
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Ocean Shukokai Karate will present a free stranger awareness seminar/open house for children and their parents on Nov. 21 from 1-4 p.m. at 638 Ocean Ave. in Long Branch.
The event will consist of an awareness class given by karate instructor Brett Fingerman, an awareness talk given by a Long Branch police detective, fingerprinting by the police department, karate demonstrations and refreshments. For more information, call (732) 222-6888.
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St. Luke’s United Methodist Church on Broadway in Long Branch is scheduled to hold a free Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 25 from noon to 2:30 p.m.
For more information or to volunteer or donate, call (732) 222-1341.
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The Long Branch Concordance will hold its monthly meeting tomorrow from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the meeting room of the Brookdale Community Center on Broadway.
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The Lutheran Church of the Reformation on Broadway in West Long Branch is scheduled to hold a concert on Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
The Greater Shore Concert Band, a 50-piece orchestra will perform a program of holiday music under the direction of James Bast. Refreshments will be provided and a free-will offering will be taken.
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The St. Jerome Rosary Altar Society will host a ‘Paper Bingo’ party on Nov. 19 in the church hall at 245 Wall St. in West Long Branch.
There will be a gift basket auction, prizes and refreshments and doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $2, plus $2 in paper goods, such as wrapping paper, gift bags, decorative paper plates and napkins.
Suggestions for donations for kids include coloring books, playing cards, party invitations and Mad Libs.
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The Sierra Club, Jersey Shore Group, will meet on Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. at the Old Wharf House on the corner of Main Street and Oceanport Avenue.
For more information, call (732) 462-2199.
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The Long Branch Concordance (LBC) signed a one-year lease for office space with Family Intervention Services in the Garfield Grant building, 279 Broadway, earlier this week.
Resource and referral services for the community is anticipated to begin on or about Dec. 1.
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The Youth Group of the First United Methodist Church on Monmouth Road in Ocean Township will host an indoor craft show Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.