The Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will host a kick-off party for the 2005 Iams Home 4 the Holidays campaign on Saturday, Nov. 19, beginning at 1 p.m.

The shelter is joining with the Helen Woodward Animal Center, the Iams pet food company and more than 2,000 pet adoption centers for the campaign, an event organized to raise awareness of the joys of owning shelter-adopted pets.

Brookdale radio station 90.5 The Night will be at the shelter to welcome potential adopters with limited-edition Bruce Springsteen CD singles and copies of the DVD “Bruce Springsteen’s VH1 Storytellers.”

Due to extreme overcrowding, the shelter is currently adopting out two cats for the price of one, and this policy will continue into the holidays in an effort to find homes for as many shelter animals as possible.

All pets adopted during Iams Home 4 the Holidays will go home with a starter kit containing tips for caring for the new family member. The Monmouth County SPCA is located at 260 Wall St., Eatontown. For more information, call (732) 542-2030.

Resident named to state post in American Legion

Joseph M. “Joe G” Gugliuzza, Ocean Township, was recently elected New Jersey State Commander of The American Legion at its annual convention in Wildwood.

The Air Force veteran of the Vietnam era will head the state’s largest veterans organization for 2006. He has served as department executive committeeman, department national security chairman, and district membership and oratorical chairman for the group.

A 20-year member of the American Legion, Gugliuzza has held several offices at Eatontown Post No. 32 as well as on the county level. He is the father of a daughter and two sons, and has two granddaughters.

Fundraiser to help keep Hook from development

Save Sandy Hook is holding a 50 /50 cash raffle to raise funds to support its efforts to keep Sandy Hook from being controlled by a private developer.

Proceeds of the raffle will go to legal expenses resulting from a lawsuit filed by the grassroots group formed to block privatization and commercialization of the national park unit.

Save Sandy Hook filed a lawsuit in Federal District Court in December 2004 to nullify a lease between the National Park Service and a private real estate developer for historic buildings at Fort Hancock.

The cost for a raffle ticket is $50 and is tax deductible. The cash prize of $25,000 is based on the sale of 1,000 tickets. The drawing will be held at the Save Sandy Hook Board of Trustees meeting Nov. 19 at 5 p.m.

To purchase a raffle ticket, make checks payable to Save Sandy Hook and mail to P.O. Box 265, Lincroft 07738. A ticket stub will be sent by return mail for each ticket purchased.

For more information, e-mail info@savesandyhook.org.

Hospice volunteer orientation Nov. 19

VITAS Innovative Hospice Care of New Jersey Shore is seeking hospice volunteers and will hold an orientation class Nov. 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its facility, 1 Meridian Road, Eatontown.

Volunteers completing the training will visit private homes or nursing homes to provide respite for caregivers, offer companionship for the patients, run errands, and perform other small duties.

For more information, call Etta at (732) 389-0066.