NOTES AROUND TOWN

The concert band at Thompson Middle School, 1001 Middletown Lincroft Road, Middletown, will hold a benefit concert for Calico Cat food pantry Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. Concertgoers are asked to bring a can of food or nonperishable food item as an admission ticket. The food drive serves as the bat mitzvah project for Ally Glickman, an eighth-grader at Thompson. For a list of the most needed foods, visit www.rockCANroll.org, a nonprofit hunger relief organization.

Andrew Walsh, a teacher at Raritan High School, Hazlet, has received a $260 math, science and technology grant from First Energy and Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L). The grant will support the "Smart Use of Electric Power" project in which students investigate the safety, consumption and environmental effect of electricity in the home. Grants of up to $500 are available to teachers and administrators in communities served by JCP&L.

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Kadeem Spencer, a fifth-grade student at St. Joseph School, Keyport, was selected as a national winner in the Holy Childhood Association's annual Christmas artwork contest. His watercolor was one of only 24 winning drawings chosen from hundreds of thousands received nationwide that will be displayed at the Basilica of the National Shrine, Washington, D.C. The drawing can be viewed online at www.hcakids.org as an e-greeting for the holidays.

On Nov. 2, more than 200 girls in various Girl Scout troops ranging from Daisy to Cadettes participated in Holmdel's annual service unit project and celebrated Juliette Low's belated birthday. The girls, their leaders, and parents successfully completed making between 450-500 stuffed bandana pillows, of which 200 to 300 will be donated to the Vineland Developmental Center, Sunrise Assisted Living Facility and Bayshore Seniors.

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Holmdel Half Century Club will offer a trip to see "Holiday Spectacular" at Tropicana, Atlantic City, Dec. 12, departing Holmdel Community Center, Crawfords Corner Road, at 10 a.m. Cost is $20 for transportation, the show and $10 coin return. A Christmas luncheon will be held Dec. 18 at noon at Lakeside Manor. Cost is $40 for nonmembers and $20 for members. A New Year's Eve party will be held Dec. 31 beginning at 8:30 p.m. at Piero's. Cost is $79. For more information, call Agnes at (732) 264-4131.

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Keyport Veterans of Foreign Wars, Third and Waverly Streets, will host a Breakfast With Santa, Dec. 16 from 8 a.m.-noon. The all-you-can-eat breakfast will cost $6, $5 for seniors. For more information, call (732) 264-8391.

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The board of trustees of Middletown Township Public Library, 55 New Monmouth Road, will hold its regular meeting Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. For more information, call the library at (732) 671-3700.

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The Matawan Holiday Harvest Food Drive to benefit Matawan Food Pantry will have a final collection Dec. 20. Needed are frozen turkeys, hams, pancake mix, syrup, potatoes, stuffing, gravy, pasta, pasta sauce, jelly, cereal, tuna, peanut butter, canned fruit or vegetables, pies and soups. Drop off locations are Mullaney & Associates, 127 Main St.; Synergy Bank, 444 Main St.; C-Town, 126 Main St.; Matawan Post Office, Main Street; Mullaney Tire, Main and Broad Street; Abbate Bakery and Starbucks, Main Street Village; Bagel Time, Main and Broad. For more information, call Christine at (732) 970-4974.

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St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel, captured first place in the high school category of the 2007 Holiday Hunger Challenge sponsored by The Food- Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. The competition challenged public and private elementary, intermediate and high schools in Monmouth and Ocean counties to think of those less fortunate this holiday season by running a food drive during October and November. St. John Vianney placed first with a collection of 2,968 pounds of food and will be awarded $500.

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Religious school students at Temple Shalom, Aberdeen, are still accepting donations for the Israeli Mitzvah Mall to benefit the Jewish National Fund, Hadassah Hospital, Myriam's Dream, and Pizza IDF. Adult donations start at $5 and student donations start at $2. To donate, visit www.templeshalomnj.org, and click on education and religious school.

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St. John's United Methodist Church, 200 Florence Ave., Hazlet, is continuing its Christmas tradition with a live Nativity scene through Dec. 29. The event also features a "Lights and Sound" show featuring a replica of Herod's temple, and 40-foot model of Israel with a light show depicting the first Christmas. The activities are open to all. For more information and schedules, visit www.stjohnshazlet.org or call Debbie at (732) 264-1236.

***** The Thomas Warne Museum, 4216 Route 516, Matawan, will hold the first "Mid-Twentieth Century Christmas" celebration Dec. 15 and 16 from noon-8 p.m. to inaugurate its growing 20th century collection. The event will recreate holiday festivities from the '40s, '50s and '60s with live entertainment by Jim Jasion and His Jazz and the Occasional Brass Quintet. There will be a toymaker, tree trimming, Santa Claus for photos with attendees, costumed hosts and refreshments. Suggested donation is $5, and $2 for children, students and seniors. The museum will also collect nonperishable canned goods for local food banks. For information, call David Johns, museum curator at (732) 66- 2108 or visit www.thomas-warnemuseum. com.

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An indoor flea market will be held Dec. 16 at Middletown Township Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2179, 1 Veterans Lane, Port Monmouth section of Middletown. Setup is at 8 a.m., and doors open at 9 a.m. Tables are $10, and $5 for an additional table. For vendor information, call Edward at (732) 264-2630.

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The Deep Cut Bonsai Society of Middletown will present a free seminar on "The Basics of Bonsai" Jan. 12 from noon-2 p.m. at Dearborn Market, Route 35 south and Centerville Road, Holmdel. Preregistration is required. To preregister, call (732) 264-0256.