CHRIS KELLY Oceanport’s Scott Major takes a closeup of a flower display at the Sixth Annual Orchid Show, sponsored by the Deep Cut Orchid Society. The flower display ran from Feb. 21 to Feb. 23 at Monmouth Mall, Eatontown.

A breakfast will be sponsored by the Knights of Columbus at 670 Route 36 Sunday, March 2 in Long Branch. The guest chef for the all-you-can-eat breakfast is Rich Cuccinello, who will be assisted by Frank Reichel, Jim Maloney and Joe Giddio. Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to noon. The cost for adults is $4, and for children under age 12 it’s $2.

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The Holy Trinity Rosary Altar Society has scheduled its annual Night of Recollection for Monday, March 17 at 6 p.m. in the Holy Trinity school auditorium, 375 Exchange Place in Long Branch. The dinner will be catered by Cafe Vola, West Long Branch. Guest speaker for the evening is Deacon Jim Kelly. In addition, there will be an exposition, adoration and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The cost to attend is $20. For more information, contact Yolanda at (732) 222-2107, or Mildred at (732) 222-9196. Reservations must be made by March 12.

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The Holy Trinity Rosary Altar Society, Long Branch, will celebrate corporate communion at Mass Sunday, March 16 at 9 a.m. Nominations for officers will be held at the next business meeting April 12.

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A pancake breakfast sponsored by the Oceanport United Methodist Church, 50 Main St., has been scheduled for Saturday, March 1 from 8-10 a.m. Tickets cost $4 and will be available at the door.

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The United Methodist Church, 103 Monmouth Road, Ocean, will hold a garage sale March 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call (732) 531-1150.

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The Monmouth Chapter of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners has scheduled an informal networking breakfast for March 6 at Mom’s Griddle, Ursula Plaza Shopping Center, 444 Ocean Blvd., Long Branch, from 7:30-9 a.m. Each person pays for their own breakfast and beverages. For more information, call (732) 263-1300.

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The Ronald McDonald House will hold its 13th annual benefit dinner-dance and auction April 5, from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Ocean Place Conference Resort Center in Long Branch.

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A $1,000 grand prize is being offered in a special religious poetry contest sponsored by the Friendly Poets Society. There are more than 50 prizes in all totaling almost $5,000. To enter, send one poem of 21 lines or less to Free Poetry Contest, 2255 N. University Parkway, Suite 15, No. 196, Provo, UT 84604. Or enter online at www.friendlypoets.com. The deadline for entries is March 5.

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The Long Branch Senior Center, 85 Second Ave., is offering assistance with income tax and/or homestead rebate forms to registered center members. A volunteer from Tax Counseling for the Elderly will be at the center on Tuesdays during February, March and the first two weeks in April.

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Crafters and vendors are wanted for the IAMA craft show, scheduled for April 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine. Table donations are $20. For information, call Chris at (732) 229-1450 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., or Ceil at (732) 229-3135 between 5-9 p.m.

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St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Broadway and Washington Street, will hold a corned beef and cabbage dinner at 6 p.m. March 15 (one sitting only). The cost for the dinner is $8.50 for adults and $4 for children between the ages of 4-12. For tickets, call (732) 222-1341.

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The Memorial School, Eatontown, will hold its annual spaghetti dinner today from 5-7 p.m. Administrators and teachers will prepare the food, and the meals will be served by the students. Proceeds will help pay for the eighth-grade class trip to Washington, D.C., in May. The rain date is Sunday, 3-5 p.m. If there is a change in day, it will be announced over local radio stations. The price is $7 for adults and $4 for children under age 10.

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Today is the final Friday of the month, and that means the Italian American Memorial Association (IAMA) will be serving its end of the month spaghetti dinner at its headquarters at Indiana and West End avenues in Long Branch. The cost is $6, $5 for seniors.

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The Knights of Columbus, Eatontown Council, will host a St. Patrick’s Day dinner-dance from 6-10 p.m. March 12 at St. Dorothea’s family center. Plenty of corned beef and cabbage will be served up, along with roasted chicken and stuffed shells. Beer, wine and soft drinks will be available. There will be music for dancing. The cost is $25 per person. Tickets will be sold after Masses at the church, or call Gary Seals at (732) 542-1009, or Ed Gerlach at (732) 544-0946.

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Monmouth University, West Long Branch, will receive $90,000 in federal funds for renovations and an addition at its Guggenheim Memorial Library.

Rep. Frank J. Pallone Jr., D-N.J., announced the money was included in a giant funding bill that was passed by both the House and the Senate on Feb. 13.

Pallone also secured $160,000 in fiscal year 2002 to begin the renovation and restoration work at the Guggenheim, which is on the national register of historic buildings.

As part of the project, an addition to the library will be built to relocate the stacks since the current facility does not provide the structural support required to house the collection.

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The Mental Health Association of Monmouth County will present an overview of the county’s mental health system March 6, 7:30-9 p.m. at the Eatontown Library, 33 Broad St. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call Joyce at (732) 542-6422.

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The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life kickoff rally will be held on March 13, 7-9 p.m. at the Fort Monmouth Officers Club, Gibbs Hall, Tinton Avenue in Eatontown.

The rally is an opportunity for families, caregivers, cancer survivors, schools, companies, and anyone else interested in raising funds for cancer research to join the Relay for Life event, an overnight community celebration that will take place June 13-14 at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft.

Individuals and teams are invited to camp out, picnic, dance, and take turns walking or running around a track "relay" style.

For more information, call 1-800-ACS-2345, or visit www.cancer.org.

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The North Jersey Yacht Racing Association will sponsor a discussion with Gary Jobson, ESPN commentator for the America’s Cup and author of 13 books on sailing, at Red Bank Regional High School, Little Silver, March 30 from 2-4:30 p.m.

In addition to the America’s Cup, Jobson will discuss Volvo Ocean Racing, polar sailing, sailing trends, and give an Olympic preview. For tickets and information, call George Drawbaugh at (732) 747-5747, or Talbott Ingram at (732) 530-9285.