The men's group of Holy Cross Parish in Rumson will host its third annual pancake breakfast Feb. 3 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Holy Cross School, 40 Rumson Road. The cost is $6, or $20 per family, for the all-you-can-eat breakfast. Children age 3 and younger eat for free. Proceeds will benefit school and parish projects. For more information, call Chris at (732) 859-4163.

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Due to an overwhelming response, Resources Real Estate, 112 E. River Road, Rumson, will extend its pajama drive for the women's shelter of 180 Turning Lives Around, Hazlet, through Feb. 15. New sleepwear may be dropped off at the office through Feb. 15. For more information, call Carolynn at (732) 212-0440.

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A Mardi Gras dinner-dance benefit for Jason's Dreams for Kids will be held Feb. 22 from 8 p.m. to midnight at Yesterday's, Route 35, Hazlet. The event will feature dinner, open bar, a chance auction and DJ, at a cost of $50 per person. For more information, call Jason's Dreams, a nonprofit that helps seriously ill children and their families, at (732) 758-0060.

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The Italian American Association of Monmouth County will celebrate "Carnevale," an Italian Mardi Gras held before Fat Tuesday, 12:30-5 p.m. Feb. 3 at Sterling Gardens, Route 79, Matawan. The event will feature various foods, a show with actors in masks and costume, auction table and a 50/50 raffle. Attendees are welcome to come in costume. The cost is $30 for adults and $15 for children ages 3-12. For more information, call Maria at (732) 863-0021 or Cheryl at (732) 536-5832.

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The Shrewsbury Towne-Monmouth Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) announced that Caitlyn Hoeflin, a seventh-grade student at Oak Hill Academy in Lincroft, is the winner of the chapter's American history essay contest. Her essay will be entered in the DAR state competition.

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution sponsors the American history essay contest every year. This year's topic was "I Spy - Espionage During the American Revolution." The contest is first held at the local chapter level, where winners at each grade level (grades five through eight) then advance to the state competition. The state winners' essays are judged within their division, and winners advance to the national competition.

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The Monmouth County Reading Council will host a book wrapping party at the Cliffwood Elementary School, Cliffwood section of Matawan, on Thursday, Jan. 31, from 4 to 7:30 p.m.

The party is in support of the MCRC's "Have a Heart, Give a Book" literacy project. Books will be wrapped and delivered to shelters, hospitals, tutoring programs and clinics as Valentine's Day gifts for children who may not have books of their own.

In case of snow, the party will be moved to Feb. 7. For more information, contact Michele Mackay at michelemackay@verizon.net.

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On a cold January night, nearly 50 guests warmed up at Red on Broad Street with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in honor of James Wells, former chairman of Red Bank's KaBoom! Fireworks on the Navesink. The party celebrated Well's long and successful tenure as Ka- Boom chairman and welcomed K. Hovnanian's Peter Reinhart as the event's new leader. Plans are already in the works for N.J.'s largest fireworks display on Thursday, July 3. Visit www.kaboomfireworks. org for up-to-date news on the big boom.

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The Oceanport Education Foundation will host its first Casino Night at the Sheraton in Eatontown on Friday, Feb. 8. All proceeds will go toward technology needs for Wolf Hill and Maple Place schools. The event is for adults only and will run from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $75, with $25 in gambling chips included. For tickets, call (732) 870-8528.