CHRIS KELLY Derek Byzinski (c) tries to explain to Max Kimble (l) and Jonathan Seeley (r) why he can’t help save Lola LaMar during a scene from Copacabana, being performed at Shore Regional High School, West Long Branch.

The "Clean Ocean" ticket, a slate formed to run for five seats on the Ocean Township Council, has scheduled a fund-raising party at Rascals Comedy Club, 1500 Route 35, March 15 from 1-4 p.m. They invite all "to keep the wave rising for a cleaner Ocean (Township)." The event will feature live music by PhillUP Space. The candidates are asking attendees for a minimum donation of $25 per adult — kids get in free. For more information on the fund-raiser and the candidates, log onto www.cleanoceansnj.org.

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Long Branch Police Lt. Bruce Johantgen, who has been a volunteer fireman since 1978 with the Branchport Hose Company, has been selected by his fire company as a candidate for fire chief. If Johantgen is elected, he will serve as the second assistant fire chief in 2004 under upcoming Chief Buzz Baldanza and 1st Assistant Chief John "Fazz" Zambrano, who is also a councilman.

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SHERRY CONOHAN Eatontown Mayor Gerald J. Tarantolo reads from the book Being Mayor for a Day to youngsters at the Margaret L. Vetter School for Read Across America Day Monday.

The Holy Trinity Rosary Altar Society has scheduled its annual "Night of Recollection" for March 17 at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of Holy Trinity School, 375 Exchange Place, 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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On March 16 at 9 a.m. the Holy Trinity Rosary Altar Society, Long Branch, will celebrate Corporate Communion during Mass. Nominations for officers will be held at the next business meeting of the society on April 12.

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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. Pay for your own breakfast or coffee.

For more information, call (732) 263-1300.

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The Long Branch Senior Center, 85 Second Ave., is offering assistance with income taxes 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 March and the first two weeks in April.

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At St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Broadway and Washington Street, it’s time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. On March 15 the church will host a corned beef and cabbage dinner at 6 p.m. (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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An ordinance creating the unpaid post of "local historian" was passed by the Eatontown Borough Council at its Feb. 26 meeting. Jean Wood, head of the borough’s Historical Committee, was appointed to the position. Councilman John J. Collins proposed her appointment.

Wood is also a member of the Eatontown Woman’s Club.

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Councilman John J. Collins, director of the Eatontown Municipal Band, said the band is seeking additional instrumentalists. He said the band is now gearing up for its next performance at Fort Monmouth on Armed Forces Day ,and would again put on its popular series of summer concerts at Wampum Memorial Park.

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Two sea-related lectures are coming up at the Monmouth Beach Cultural Center, 128 Ocean Ave., in Monmouth Beach. Tomorrow, Tom Laverty, from the Twin Lights lighthouse, will talk about the "Lighthouses of New Jersey" at the annual meeting of the Daughters of the American Revolution, set for noon to 3 p.m. Tom Hoffman, historian at the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area, will tell the story of "Shipwrecks and Lifesavers" at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 16.

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The Monmouth Friends of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will present the final in a series of preconcert lectures at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 at the Monmouth Beach Cultural Center. The lecture will be on Haydn’s "Theresienmesse" and the Gabriel-Urbain Fauré’s "Requiem." The pieces will be performed on Saturday, March 15 at 8 p.m. at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank. The guest lecturer will be Clair Maxwell. The concert will feature the Westminster Choir College Choir, conducted by Joseph Flummerfelt of Westminster Choir College, Princeton. The choir is composed of undergraduate and graduate students from the college. For information, call 1-800-ALLEGRO.

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The Jersey Shore Charter School, established as a middle school to serve Eatontown, Oceanport and West Long Branch, will be conducting a third round of information meetings for prospective students and their parents next week. Founders of the school plan to open the doors in September and are looking for a place in Eatontown in which to locate it. Only students in grades five through seven are being accepted for the upcoming fall semester. An eighth-grade class will be added next year, according to school officials. The meetings will be held in Oceanport at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, in the Community Center at Iroquois and Port Au Peck avenues; in West Long Branch at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, in the West Long Branch Public Library, Poplar Avenue by the old borough hall; in Eatontown at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 14, in the Eatontown Community Center at 58 Broad St.

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The Knights of Columbus, Eatontown Council, will host a St. Patrick’s dinner-dance on Saturday, March 15, from 6-10 p.m. at St. Dorothea’s Church Family Center in Eatontown. Plenty of corned beef and cabbage will be served, along with roasted chicken, stuffed shells, vegetables and a tossed salad. Tickets are $25 a person and will be sold after the Masses at the church, or by calling Gary Seals at (732) 542-1009 or Ed Gerlach at (732) 544-0946.