NOTES AROUND TOWN

Learn how to recognize the hawks that fly overhead during their annual fall migration. The Monmouth County Park System is sponsoring a series of day trips to local hawk-watching hot spots. Bring binoculars and pack a lunch. Each of the day trips begin at 8 a.m. in the parking lot of Huber Woods Park Environmental Center on Brown's Dock Road in the Locust section of Middletown. Hawk-watching sessions will take place: Saturday, Sept. 22, Wednesday, Oct. 3, Saturday, Nov. 3 and Wednesday, Nov. 14. Participants will travel via minibus to some of the area's premier hawk-watching spots and return at approximately 5 p.m. The cost is $31. To register, call (732) 842-4000, Monday - Friday between 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

The Oceanport United Methodist Church on Main Street will host a flea market Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The rain date is Oct. 20. For table reservations, call (732) 222-9225.

***** The Church of the Holy Communion on Church Street and River Road in Fair Haven will host a fall turkey dinner Oct. 6 at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The dinner will be eat-in or takeout. To make reservations, call (732) 842-0988.

The Human Resources team at Siemens Corp. began its annual off-site meeting last month with a team-building event benefiting community members in need. Last year, the group built picnic tables for the residents of HABcore's Coffey House in Red Bank. The house is a home for 21 homeless adults who are disabled or unable to care for themselves. This year, the Siemens HR team returned with more members, more tools and a lot more lumber. They built and painted four more tables for HABcore's Laurel Residence in Asbury Park. In addition, they repaired and installed fencing, power-washed the house and the wheelchair ramp and, within seven hours, built a pergola to provide a shaded area for outdoor meals and serve as a reminder to the HABcore residents that they have friends in the community. The combined hours of time the group spent working at HABcore equated to over $7,000 in labor, but in truth, no dollar value can be placed on the lasting value their work adds to this unique home.

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The Shrewsbury Community Drug and Alcohol Alliance and the Java Moon Cafe in Shrewsbury will host an evening to benefit the Red Bank Chapter of the Pajama Program Wednesday, Oct. 17, 5-9 p.m.

Come to the Java Moon Cafe in Shrewsbury on Route 35/Broad Street for dinner, and 15 percent of the evening's restaurant receipts will go to this charity for children in need. Eat in, take out, children's menu available. Call Karen Lloyd at (732) 450-9725 for more information. Financial and/or donations of new school-age boy/girl pajamas gratefully accepted. Kids who come dressed in their pajamas get a special gift!

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Salt Creek Grille's fourth annual Wine & Martini Tasting raised approximately

60,000 to help fund scholarships for a new equestrian program offered by Special People United to Ride (SPUR) for children with disabilities ages 8-18.

The program, Advanced Riders and Independent Equestrians of SPUR, includes two groups of riders, one with eight 12-yearolds and another with 13 18-year-olds, who are learning more advanced and independent equestrian and handling skills.

The Rumson eatery has also chosen SPUR as this year's designated charity and each time the grille's herb-roasted chicken is ordered, a $1 donation is made to SPUR, which will receive the menu proceeds early in 2008.

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The Keyport High School class of 1977, the 50th graduation class of KHS, will hold its 30th class reunion Oct. 5 at Jacque's Reception Center, 500 Palmer Ave., Middletown, from 7 to 11 p.m. For more information, contact Marlene Flynn Shea at (732) 291-5514 or e-mail to: khsclass77@yahoo.com.

***** The Monmouth Council, Boy Scouts of America, has begun its "Race to Scouting" fall recruitment campaign. Boys in grades one through five are invited to join Cub Scouts and boys in grade six through high school are invited to join the Boy Scouts. Scouting units throughout the county are holding sign-up nights and open house events at local schools, religious institutions, and other locations.

Monmouth Council serves more than 7,000 youth annually, including young women in the co-ed Venturing and Exploring programs. The Council is celebrating its 90th anniversary of service to youth and families and the proud tradition of participating citizenship, character development, and community service. For information on joining, call the Scout Service Center at (732) 536-2347 or visit www.monmouthbsa. org.

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