NOTES AROUND TOWN Students from the Marine Academy of Science and Technology on Sandy Hook were among the approximately 2,000 volunteers who participated in Clean Ocean Action's 22nd annual Fall Beach Sweeps at 60 sites throughout New Jersey Oct. 20. Harter Equipment donated equipment to help in the cleanup by transporting the trash bags collected by hundreds of volunteers from the beaches to the trash bins. Volunteers removed tons of debris and recorded data from everything collected. The results of the Fall Beach Sweeps will be combined with results from the Spring Beach Sweeps, and compiled in an annual report, to be released in spring 2008. The Greater Long Branch Chamber of Commerce at 228 Broadway will be offering flu shots Nov. 19 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. for $20 each. For more information, call (732) 222-0400. ***** The St. Luke's United Methodist Church on Broadway in Long Branch is scheduled to hold an event to honor veterans on Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. For more information, call (732) 222-1341. The church is also scheduled to host a community Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 22 from noon to 2:30 p.m. Volunteers and donations are being requested for the event. For more information, call (732) 229-9398 or (732) 979-8720. PHOTO BY BOB BOTH, JERSEY SHORE RUNNING CLUB A field of 412 road racers competed in the Breeders' Cup FanFest 5K on the grounds of Monmouth Park racetrack Oct. 20, the weekend before the Breeders' Cup was run. Among the top three winners of the 3.1-mile distance was Robert Cavanaugh, 29, West Long Branch, top three overall with a time of 15:50, and Samantha O'Brien, 15, Rumson, at 20:03, who came in 21st overall. The unique course started in Monmouth Park, wound through the borough of Oceanport and trails of Wolf Hill Recreation Area, and finished in front of the grandstand. Proceeds of the FanFest 5K will benefit the Monmouth Park Charity Fund and the Oceanport Volunteer Emergency Services. ***** The Long Branch Department of Recreation and Human Services is requesting donations of new toys to be given to the less fortunate children of the city at the annual Christmas party. The department has been able to distribute presents and treats to deserving youths for the past seven years. Donations of new toys, books and stuff animals for newborns up to children 12 years old will be accepted and can be dropped at the Department of Recreation Office at 3 Bay Ave. For more information, call (732) 571-6545. ***** Atlantic United Methodist Church on Atlantic Avenue in Long Branch is serving a roast pork dinner Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. Cost of the dinner is $7 for adults, and $4.50 for children age 12 and younger. To order tickets, call (732) 531-4376. ***** The Gender Research Center at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, in collaboration with Counseling and Psychological Services, the Department of Athletics and The Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences, will host a gender studies conference "Our Daughters, Our Sons, Ourselves: Creating a Healthy Image" Nov. 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Wilson Auditorium. For more information, call (732) 263-5648. ***** The Jersey Shore Woman's Club of Oakhurst, a nonprofit organization, is looking for donations of new or slightly used baby monitors. The monitors will be donated to the Epiphany House of Asbury Park for Christmas. Clients there may use them to monitor their children while they attend instructional classes on child rearing, job training and fiscal management. Anyone wishing to donate monitors or to make a monetary donation to purchase monitors, call Millie at (732) 229- 5552. ***** The Temple Beth El on Monmouth Road in Ocean Township is scheduled to host the interfaith Thanksgiving service that is conducted each year under the guidance and leadership of the Greater Long Branch Ministerium Nov. 18 at 3 p.m. ***** Ocean Township based Temple Beth Torah on Roseld Avenue is scheduled to host a holiday gift fair Dec. 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature clothing, jewelry, house wares and holiday items for sale and for more information, call (732) 531-4410. ***** American Legion Post 325 of Eatontown is sponsoring "The Eleventh Hour - of the Eleventh Day - of the Eleventh Month" Veterans Day Services Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. in Veterans Plaza on Main Street. For more information, call Ted Caffyn at (732) 222-7491. ***** A school supplies drive for disadvantaged children in the Long Branch public school system is underway through Dec. 15 at Natural Healthcare Center, 10 West End Court, Long Branch. School officials have asked for the following items: writing instruments (pens, pencils, markers, crayons, colored pencils, erasers, etc.), notebooks (any size or variety), colored index cards and calculators. New and unwrapped items may be dropped off at the center. For more information, call the center at (732) 222-2219. ***** The Shrewsbury Historical Society will host a "Harvest Party and House Tour" Nov. 18 from 4-7 p.m. at the home of Lisa Parks, 25, Shadowbrook Road, Shrewsbury. Cost is $35, and payment must be made before Nov. 12. Payments may be sent to The Shrewsbury Historical Society, P.O. Box 933, Shrewsbury, NJ 07702. For more information, call (732) 530-7947.