NOTES

CHRIS KELLY staff Gavin Goldbaum, Aberdeen, has himself punked out at the Carnival for Pals benefit held at the Driftwood Cabana Club in Sea Bright on Sept. 28.

The Matawan Student Enrichment Programis seeking student aides for its program. Aides are students in grades 7-12 and will be assigned to a class/hour to help the instructor with the class for the entire semester's 10 Saturday classes. Aides fall into two categories: community scholars, who receive credit for community service, and regular student aides, who get to take a course for free (but must pay for any materials or books for the course). For more information, call 732-566-7900.

*****

Holmdel Township and the Holmdel Board of Education will host an evening event for autism awareness 7-10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, at the Holmdel High School auditorium.

A diverse panel including behavioral analysts; occupational, speech and language therapists; a pediatrician; and the parents of two autistic children will make presentations.

The presentation is open to all residents, as well as residents of neighboring towns.

For further information, call Christine Chatfield at 732-946-2820, ext. 1206 (Holmdel Township), or Ronald Rosenberg at 732-946-1186, ext. 2478 (BOE Special Services).

*****

Holmdel Community United Church of Christ, 40 Main St., will hold a blessing of the animals during the feast of St. Francis at 3 p.m. Oct. 5. Animals such as dogs, cats, guinea pigs, ferrets, fish or birds may be blessed at the event in the church's backyard. For more information, call 732-946- 8821, e-mail holmdelchurch@verizon.net or visit www.holmdelucc.org.

*****

Newman Springs Dental Care, 539 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft section of Middletown, will host its second annual "Dentistry From the Heart," Oct. 2, with registration 7-9 a.m. at the first-come, firstserved event. The office will provide free examinations, X-rays, oral cancer screenings, extractions, fillings and cleanings to individuals age 18 and older. Patients requiring ongoing care or with problems that cannot be fixed in one day are referred to community clinics for treatment at low or no cost. Practice owner Dr. Mitchel Friedman will be assisted by three dentists at the event. For more information, call 732-741-6444 or visit www.NewmanSpringsDentalCare.com.

*****

Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 60 Maple Place, Keyport, will hold a spaghetti dinner benefit for Lucas Viscomi with seatings at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4. Tickets are $10, $5 for children and funds will be matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

The church's Good News Christian Preschool is also sponsoring a year-round giving tree, "Leaves for Lucas" for the 14-year-old former student who is fighting metachromatic leukodystrophy for which there is no cure. Individuals are encouraged to pick a leaf from the tree to supply items needed for the spaghetti dinner. For more information, call 732-264-8078 or 732-335-1522.

*****

Dearborn Market, Route 35, Holmdel, will hold a "Mums and Music Festival," 11 a.m. Oct. 4 and 5. Featured performers Oct. 4 will be Pat Guadagno and the Candle Brothers performing folk music, and Due South performing country music. Performing Oct. 5 will be the BethAnne Clayton Band playing country music, and jazz and swing music by The Jazz Lobsters. There will also be a seminar on ideas for fall container gardening, and garden experts to answer questions. For information, call 732-264-0256 or visit the Web site at www.dearbornmarket.com.

*****

St. Leo the Great School, 550 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft section of Middletown, will hold its annual Fall Festival 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 4. The free event will feature pony and firetruck rides, a petting zoo, a maze, a haunted house, pumpkin decorating, raffles, a scarecrow-building contest, and various foods. For more information, call the school office at 732- 741-3133 or visit the Web site www.saintleothegreatschool.com.