CHRIS KELLY staff Lisa Waldman, Oceanport, melts gold to make a ring at Joel McFadden Designs, one of the businesses participating in the White Street Celebration on Aug. 26. Sea Bright's Recreation Committee will sponsor its third annual "Skimboard Bash" on Sunday, Sept. 17, at the municipal beachfront. behind the Sea Bright Fire Department building. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the contest runs all day.

Billed as a "just-for-fun" competition, prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place finishers in all divisions, age 5 and up. This year's event features New Jersey skimboarding champion Tony Bianchi and other professionals to be announced. The $15 entry fee covers a T-shirt, food and raffle tickets. WRAT-FM 95.9 "The Rat" will be on site to play music and hold promotions and giveaways. For more information or to register, e-mail Felecia Stratton at ileditor@aol.com or call (732) 576-1510.

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The public is encouraged to participate in an evening of creative expression and discussion in observance of the fifth anniversary of 9/11.

Catholic Charities, in collaboration with Amanda's Easel, will provide opportunities for creative expression through art on Sept. 11, from 4-8 p.m. in the art gallery of the CVA building at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. Participants will have the chance to use the arts to express memories and feelings related to the anniversary. Group discussions will be held throughout the evening so participants may share their artwork, struggles, challenges and visions of the future. Art supplies and refreshments will be provided.

This event is coordinated by Catholic Charities' Disaster Response Program: Traumatic Loss & 9/11 Services, in collaboration with 180's Amanda's Easel Art Therapy Program, and is sponsored by an American Red Cross September 11 Recovery Grant.

Call Catholic Charities for more information and details at( 800) 652-2080.

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The Chelsea at Tinton Falls senior living community, 1 Hartford Drive, will hold special programs on Sept. 12, 13 and 14 to celebrate National Assisted Living Week and its "Hearts in Harmony" theme. The programs are free and open to the public.

On Tuesday, Sept. 12, from 4-5 p.m., the Rehabilitation Hospital of Tinton Falls will present "An Apple a Day, Eating the Heart-Healthy Way." The informative workshop will focus on food choices to achieve optimal heart health.

On Wednesday, Sept. 13, from 7-8 p.m., The Chelsea will host a lecture on "The History of English Tea," presented by Judith Krall-Russo, a food historian and tea specialist. Krall-Russo will discuss the history of English tea and the difference between high tea and afternoon tea and green, black and oolong teas.

On Thursday, Sept. 14, from 7-8 p.m., the Heart of New Jersey Chorus will perform a concert, followed by a reception.

Because seating is limited for all the events, anyone interested in attending should R.S.V.P. to Eileen Weller at (732) 933-4700.

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Parents of preschool children ages 3 to 5 may register their children for story time at the Red Bank Public Library by calling the Children's Room at (732) 842-0690 or by enrolling in person. Identical programs will be held every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. beginning Sept. 12 and extending through the middle of May.

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The community is invited to come out for the "Rock and Roll Up Your Sleeve Blood Drive," sponsored by the Central Jersey Blood Center, on Saturday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Two River Theater, 21 Bridge Ave., Red Bank. Chris Morrisy, Maybe Pete and A.R.D. will perform live. Blood donors will receive free food, T-shirts and will be entered into drawings for gift certificates and more. The goal is to collect 150 units of blood before Labor Day weekend.

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The Count the Children Movement, the Red Bank Borough Parks and Recreation Department and other community groups will collaborate to host a family day that promotes unity and advocates anti-gang violence by living a healthy lifestyle.

"A Family Day the Red Bank Way" will be held on Saturday, Sept. 2, from 2 to 8 p.m. at Count Basie Park, Red Bank. The rain date is Sept. 3. For more information,call (732) 682-4607 or (732) 530-2782.

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The Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals invites all who have lost beloved pets to participate in a special Pet Memorial Service on Sunday, Sept. 10, at the shelter. Each year this moving half-hour service is conducted by Bob Szita, from the Contemporary Counseling Center in Marlboro. The setting for the memorial service is the Pet Memorial Wall, a legacy of love created to recognize those pet companions who have given so much yet have asked for so little.

The Monmouth County SPCA is located at 260 Wall St. in Eatontown. For more information or directions, call (732) 542-2030 or visit www.monmouthcounty-spca.org.

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The Monmouth County League of Women Voters Candidates Forum will take place Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. at Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Symmes Drive, Manalapan. Participating candidates will include: surrogate, Rosemarie D. Peters (R) and Beverly Bova Scarano (D); full-term freeholder, Andrew Lucas (R) and Barbara McMorrow (D); one-year unexpired term freeholder, Anna C. Little (R) and Lenny Inzerillo (D).

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Sea Bright's J.W. Ross Library will accept book donations during the week of Aug. 28. Books must be in good condition and brought to the library during regular business hours: Monday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday from 3-7 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Donors are asked not to leave donations outside the library's doors. No encyclopedias or textbooks will be accepted. The library is located at 1097 E. Ocean Ave. For more information, call the library at (732) 758-9554.

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Oceanport Parks and Recreation will hold a Summer's End Festival beginning at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9, in Blackberry Bay Park. The theme of this year's festival is "Arrive Early ... Stay Late." The free family event is sponsored by Monmouth Medical Center - St. Barnabas Health Care System, the Oceanport Parks and Recreation Committee and by resident donations.

Festivities will include face-painting, spin art, sand art, moon bounces, karate and dance demonstrations, relay races, local civic organization participation and giveaways. Food vendors will be on-site. Three live bands will perform throughout the event: Hollander, Broad Banned and Saturday Nite Fever. The evening will be capped off with a fireworks display set to music by Garden State Fireworks.

Prior to the festival, Kortney's Challenge, a two-mile walk/run to raise funds for park equipment at the Wolf Hill School, will take place. The walk/run is named in honor of Kortney Gillette. Registration for the challenge will begin at 3 p.m. and the walk/run begins at 4 p.m. at Blackberry Bay Park. In addition, the final game of the Mayor's Cup, a softball contest between municipal emergency services, will begin at 3 p.m. at Blackberry Bay Park. For more information, contact Mike at (732) 688-4922.

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Committee members Jennifer Dawson, Valeria Ribeiro, Jeanne Wall, Chris Mittman, Lauren O'Hara and Catherine Bitsack met at Chocolate Bebe, Little Silver, to plan the eighth annual gala to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth County. The Masquerade Ball will be held on Sept. 16 in Colts Neck. Last year's event raised more than $119,000 to provide mentoring services to children and families throughout Monmouth County. Tickets to the event are a $200 donation per person. For reservations and information, call Beth Punzi at (732)544-2224, ext. 16, or visit www.bbbsmon-mouth.org.