NOTES AROUND TOWN

The Shrewsbury Chorale will hold a gift raffle fundraiser at 7 p.m. tonight at the Radisson Hotel, 50 Gibson Place, Freehold Township. Admission is $30 and includes desserts, entertainment and a set of raffle tickets. Additional tickets will be available at the event. For reservations, call 732-776- 5276. For information, visit www.shrewsburychorale. org.

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First Assembly of God, 220 Sycamore Ave., Shrewsbury, will present "Heard It From the Great Vine," 7:30 p.m. July 25 and 26, and 4 p.m. July 27. The children's musical contains seven new songs, and there is no admission. For more information, call the church at 732-741-0048.

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St. Jerome Church, 254 Wall St., West Long Branch, will sponsor a prayer vigil in honor of the feast of St. Ann from 11 a.m. to noon July 26. The public is invited to join in the Novena and Rosary, and light refreshments will be served afterward.

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The Ocean Township Italian American Association will hold its 32nd annual Italian Festival Aug. 6-10 at Joe Palaia Park, Deal and Whalepond roads, Ocean Township. Discount Ride Night will be Aug. 6, and there will be fireworks 9:30 p.m. Aug. 8. There will also be rides, games, raffles, an Italian street band, petting zoo, various foods, food eating contests and other activities. Admission is free. For more information, call Carlo at 732-517-1040 or visit www.iaato.com.

***** The Italian American Memorial Association

Showgrounds, 195 W. End Ave., Long Branch, will host a Pro Rasslin' Benefit outdoors

beginning at 8:05 p.m. July 26. Appearing will be wrestlers Angel Orsini, Lacey Von Erich, Matt Hyson and others. Tickets are $20 for ringside, and $18 for rear open seating. For more information, call Joe at 732-888-1704.

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The second annual harvest dinner and gift auction of Asbury United Methodist Church, Long Branch, will be 6:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at West Long Branch Community Center, 11 N. Locust Ave. The church is seeking donations of goods, services, gift certificates, promotional items, gift items, and/or monetary donations. Proceeds benefit the church's mission and ministry in the surrounding Long Branch community, and preservation and maintenance of the church building. Tickets are $30, and are reserved only. Reservations are due by Sept. 15. For more information, call Leona at 732- 531-4376 or the church at 732-229-5544.

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A pro wrestling event will be held 8 p.m. July 25 at Seashore Gym, 404 Broadway, Long Branch. The event is a benefit for the Italian American Memorial Association scholarship fund. Featured will be wrestling icons Al Snow and Head, Matt Hyson, Lacey Von Erich and others. Tickets are $20 for ringside, and $18 for rear open seating. For tickets, call the box office at 732-888- 1704.

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The nonprofit Bayshore Discovery Project has announced New Jersey's tall ship, the schooner A.J. Meerwald, will return to Cape May for public sails, special sails, and Sailor for a Day camps Aug. 1-31. The ship will depart from Utsch's Marina. A free open house and tour of the ship will be held 10 a.m.-noon Aug. 3, with a free lecture on A.J. Meerwald's history and restoration 6 p.m. Aug. 6 at Cape May County Library, 30 Mechanic St. For fees, more information or reservations for sails, call 856-785- 2060.

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The Township of Ocean Cultural Committee will present a free concert of piano classics performed by students from Kaywon High School of Arts, South Korea, 5 p.m. Aug. 2 at Terner Building Gallery, adjacent to the township library. Seating is limited and reservations are required for the free concert. Refreshments will be served. For reservations, call 732-531- 2600.

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The nonprofit Shana Foundation held its first golf outing at the Metedeconk National Golf Club, Jackson, to raise funds to support efforts to fight bacterial meningitis. First-place winners were Brent Nicklas, David Outcalt, Dave Schnadig and Patrick Lim. Second place went to the foursome Robert Giordano, Ryan Foley, Ryan Lillis and Steve Normane; and third to Thomas Engelhardt, Jason Goodridge, Gil Logatto and Brad Kaufman. The foundation will sponsor a mile ocean swim, 100-yard ocean kids' race and a pool swima thon Aug. 3 at Monmouth Beach Bathing Pavilion, and a 5K race Sept. 21, also in Monmouth Beach. For more information or a designer T-shirt, visit www.theshanafoundation.org.

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Monmouth/Ocean County Chapter of the College of St. Elizabeth Alumnae Association will hold its annual chapter scholarship luncheon 11:30 a.m. Aug. 13 at The English Manor, 1 English Lane, Ocean Township. Guest speaker will be magazine editor Ellen Cancellieri Mc- Carthy. Featured will be a 50/50 raffle, prizes, a raffle for two tickets to see "South Pacific" on Broadway, and other raffles. For more information, contact Anne at aok13@optonline.net or call 732-363-8344.

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The Christian Fine Arts Society, Indiana, is seeking entries for a poetry contest; deadline to enter is Aug. 18. There are 50 prizes, including a $1,000 grand prize. Individuals may enter a poem of 21 lines or less. For more information, visit www.freecontest.com.

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Epiphany House of Asbury Park and Long Branch is participating in the Macy's "Shop for a Cause" nationwide fundraising event to be held in all Macy's stores on Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Participating nonprofit organizations keep all the proceeds from $5 shopping passes sold for the event; the pass entitles shoppers to 20 percent off on select merchandise and 10 percent off furniture, mattresses and rugs at the store.

Shopping passes are on sale at the Epiphany House in Asbury Park. For more information, call Maria at 732-775- 0720, ext. 220.

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