Notes

The Center in Asbury Park will hold its 14th annual Center a la Carte fundraiser Friday, May 4, beginning at 7 p.m., at The Church of St. Anselm, Wayside. Tickets are $75. Over 25 restaurants and vendors will showcase their fare and signature sips, and there will be a silent auction and 50/50 raffle. Only 500 tickets will be sold. For tickets or information, call The Center at (732) 774-3416, ext. 12, or visit www.thecenterinap.co.

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Looking for a pet to add to your family? Come to Sickles Market, 1 Harrison Ave., Little Silver, April 21, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and meet some of the SPCA's most adorable pets needing good homes.

Check out the SPCA Web site for wish list items, photographs of pets and other services at www.monmouthcountyspca.org.

Pet portrait artist Christine Esposito and animal photographer Mary Carol Stunkel will demonstrate their creative artwork. There will also be face-painting for children from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On April 22, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sickles Market will sponsor its annual Kids Day, an event filled with learning and fun-filled activities including newly hatched chicks, face painting, a clown, and an observation beehive. All events are free

Norm Peer

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The Red Bank Elks Lodge 233 will host an Evening of Entertainment Saturday, April 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the lodge at 40 W. Front St. to benefit the Elks' scholarships, Hoop Shoot and other youth programs. Cost is $12 for the evening, which will feature the Atlantic Barbershop chorus and dinner. Come out and support our youth. For more information, call (732) 741-8472.

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Adrian Binns, naturalist and field ornithologist, will present "What's in a Name: The Origin of Bird Names" at the Monmouth County Audubon Society meeting May 9 at 8 p.m. The meeting will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church on West Front Street, Red Bank. The public is welcome; admission is free. As an independent tour guide, Binns has led eco-tours worldwide. The program takes a look at the whimsical, strange and occasionally fantastic connection behind the origins of some bird names.

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The Friends of the American Cancer Society is offering a chance to win a black 2007 Phantom Lotus Elise. Only 1,000 of these six-speed dream cars are released in the United States. The raffle for this fantasy car supports the American Cancer Society's mission to eliminate cancer as a major health problem through research, education, advocacy and service. A maximum of 1,500 tickets will be sold. For ticket information, call (732) 758-8220, option 3.

Raffle tickets will be available for sale at Sickles Market in Little Silver on April 28 and 29; Red Bank Jazz Festival June 2 and 3; and the Classic Car Show in Red Bank June 10.

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The Monmouth Regional High School Jazz Band will present Jazz Nite 2007 Friday, May 4, from 6-9 p.m. in the Monmouth Regional High School Commons, 1 Norman Field Way, Tinton Falls. The evening of music, food and fun will include a silent auction with great prizes. Admission is $6, $3 for students. Proceeds will benefit the MRHS band program. The MRHS jazz band has been voted one of the Top 10 N.J. high school jazz bands by the N.J. Band Conference. For more information, call Mr. Romano, director, at (732) 542-1170, ext. 139.

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On Saturday, April 28, nature lovers can visit a private garden, the Sorensen garden, 1 Hill Road, Atlantic Highlands. The garden will be open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as part of The Garden Conservancy's National Open Days Program. Highlights of the garden include views of Sandy Hook Bay and woodland paths flanked by shade-loving plants. Admission to the garden is $5, no reservations are required, rain or shine. For more information, call The Garden Conservancy toll-free weekdays, (888) 842-2442, or visit www.opendaysprogram.org.

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Carteret Elementary School in Bloomfield has set the date to celebrate the school's 90th anniversary. This "once in a lifetime" celebration will be a dinner-dance on Saturday, April 28, at The Chandelier, 340 Franklin Ave., Belleville, at 7:30 p.m. Cost per person is $75.

The planning committee is seeking class members, teachers, staff, neighbors and families of the Carteret area to attend and share memories. Teachers, Mr. Barton, Miss Ferrucci and Mrs. Kazoun, will attend. At the event there will be a screening of memorable places of Bloomfield and memories of Carteret.

Send contact information to Gerard Arduino, c/o Carteret 90th, P.O. Box 76, Cedar Grove, NJ, 07009; e-mail to gerarda4@verizon.net or call (973) 239-4377 for more information.

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The St. Margaret's Guild of Church of the Holy Communion in Fair Haven will host a luncheon at Merri-Makers Water's Edge in Sea Bright May 18. Tickets for the event are $25, which includes a gift auction, a 50/50 and door prizes. For more information, call (732) 842-0988. The church will also be hosting a garage sale, rain or shine, at its location on Church Street June 2 from 8 a.m. to noon.

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On Friday, CPC's "Black & White" Gala will honor longtime family advocate, retired Superior Court Judge Norman J. Peer of Shrewsbury, for his 40-year career of public service.

Peer, a long-time supporter of CPC, served from 1991 to 1997 as a CPC trustee and as chairman of the board.

Proceeds of the gala at the Navesink Country Club in Middletown will enable CPC Behavioral Healthcare to continue to provide vital counseling services to the most vulnerable population - - the economically disadvantaged suffering with mental health problems.

The gala will feature live and silent auctions, a 50/50 raffle and a treasure chest raffle, plus live entertainment.

For more information, visit www.cpcbehavioral.org or call

(732) 842-2000, ext. 4221.

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The United Methodist Homes will celebrate its centennial Saturday, April 21, at 11 a.m. "Centennial Celebration: Pearls of Wisdom" will take place at Wesleyan Arms, 9 Wall St., Red Bank. The event will include a centennial tree planting, centennial quilt, history exhibit, kite release, recognitions, luncheon and more. For information, call Janet Carrato at (732) 922-9802, ext.124, or e-mail to jcarrat@umh-nj.org.

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The Monmouth County Arts Council is one of the organizations throughout Red Bank that are joining forces to "Paint the Town Pink."

From April 29 to May 5, the arts council (MCAC) will offer "pink" memberships, and, for every membership purchased, MCAC will donate $5 toward breast cancer awareness, research and support programs. Show your "pink pride," support your community and raise awareness of breast cancer by becoming a "pink" member. Visit www.monmouthartscouncil.org to download the MCAC "pink" membership application. For more information, visit the Web site or call (732) 212-1890.