Notes

Every Tuesday evening, the Monmouth Folk Dancers teach international folk dancing at the United Methodist Church of Red Bank at 247 Broad St. Beginner level dances are taught from 7-8 p.m., intermediate from 8-9 p.m. and dancing continues until 10 p.m. Admission is $4 per person. Beginners are welcome; no partners are needed. On March 14 and 21, Owen Layden of Jersey Shore Irish Set Dancers will teach Irish folk dances (to celebrate St. Patrick’s), and on April 25 Aron Szekely will be teaching Hungarian folk dances. For more information, call (732) 747-4831 or visit www.monmouth-folkdancers-.org.

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For free, objective, confidential counseling and help with Medicare/Medigap, seniors can contact their local SHIP program or call Phyllis at the Eastern Branch of the Monmouth County Library for an appointment with a SHIP counselor, (732) 728-1331. Or call ElderMed at Riverview Medical Center, (732) 530-2552.

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On March 6, 7-9 p.m., a program titled “Women’s (& Men’s) Political Empowerment” will be held at the Monmouth Reform Temple, 332 Hance Ave. in Tinton Falls. Learn more about cost-free ways and successful strategies to gain political influence in your community by serving on party committee seats, town councils, planning or school boards. The free program is co-sponsored by The Greater Red Bank Area League of Women Voters and The Center for Civic Responsibility, The N.J. School Board Association and the Social Action Committee of Monmouth Reform Temple. For additional information, call (732) 542-1525.

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Tinton Falls Public Library, at 664 Tinton Ave., will be holding a sale of paperback books, together with videos and children’s books, March 25-April 7. Library hours are: Monday and Tuesday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7:30-9 p.m.; Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Stop by for spring reading and stock up your shelves for the summer. For more information, call (732) 542-3110.

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During the last two weeks of March, a spring clothing drive will be held at each Arc of Monmouth thrift shop. Gently used clothing or new spring clothes may be dropped off at the Red Bank Thrift Shop at 77 Monmouth St. Proceeds from the sale of clothing will go toward The Arc’s many programs and services for people with mental retardation and their families. To learn more about The Arc of Monmouth, call (732) 493-1919 or visit www.arcofmonmouth.org.

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Several local high schools are among the nominees for the First Annual Count Basie Theatre “Basie Awards,” which recognize excellence in theater productions at high schools throughout the county. Nominees for Excellence in Overall Production: Outstanding Drama include: Red Bank Regional High School, Little Silver, for ”Blithe Spirit,” and Monmouth Regional High School, Tinton Falls, for “Brighton Beach Memoirs.” Other high schools nominated for awards include Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, Red Bank Catholic High School and the Ranney School, Tinton Falls. The presentation of awards is scheduled for May 24 at the Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St. For more information about the awards, contact Yvonne Scudiery, education director, at (732) 224-8778, ext. 106, or visit www.countbasietheatre.org.

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The Community YMCA of Red Bank is starting a new Teen Fit Program to help combat child obesity. Young adults, ages 12 to 17, can participate in the program, which has a flexible schedule and will include group cycling, kick boxing, sports conditioning and strength training classes.

The program will begin March 6, and classes will be held Monday through Thursday and Saturday morning. For more information, visit www.TheCommunityYmca.org or contact Virginia Grob, associate group fitness director, at (732) 741-2504, ext. 19, or vgrob@cymca.org.

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Students from 10 area high schools will recite Shakespearean monologues and sonnets before a panel of judges at the annual Shakespeare Competition on March 4 at 9 a.m. The high school thespians will be competing for monetary prizes, and the first prize winner will win a trip to New York City to compete in the national English-Speaking Union Shakespeare Fest. The local competition will take place at the Brookdale Community College Performing Arts Center in Lincroft. Admission is free.

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The eighth-grade class of Forrestdale School, Rumson, is sponsoring a pancake breakfast March 4 from 8 a.m. to noon at the school cafeteria to raise money for their upcoming trip to Washington, D.C. Admission is $7 per person and buys an all-you-can-eat feast of pancakes as well as sausage, coffee and juice to be served by the students.

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The United Methodist Church of Red Bank will hold its second annual blood drive for the American Red Cross on March 4 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the church, 274 Broad St., Red Bank. Parking is located in back of the church. For information on how to donate a pint of blood, call (732) 747-0446.