Have you ever wondered what the story was behind the little house in the middle of Takanassee Lake near Monmouth University? Join the Long Branch Historical Association at 7:30 p.m. May 26 at the Long Branch Municipal Building, second floor, 344 Broadway, to hear Veronica Ditko tell the story behind the hut, its builder, P. Sanford Ross, and the area of Long Branch once called Ross Lake. Free and open to the public.

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Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini and Assemblyman Declan J. O’Scanlon, Jr. will host a forum on protecting New Jersey’s Children 3-5 p.m. May 25 at the Eatontown Municipal Building, 47 Broad St. For more information or to RSVP, call 732-974-1719 or email AswAngelini@njleg.org.

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The Church on the Hill, located on the corner of Deal Road and Cold Indian Springs Road in Ocean Township, is celebrating what is known as the birth of the church, Pentecost, at 10 a.m. May 23. The community is invited to attend this special birthday service and celebration afterward. Hot dogs, pink lemonade and a delicious variety of red desserts will be served at the celebration.

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Check out the Jewish Community Center’s Fitness-A-Thon May 23 at 100 Grant Ave in Deal Park and help raise funds for new fitness and sound equipment. Take a fitness class and visit the used exercise equipment sale. Admission is $36 and includes drinks, energy bars and fruit. Contact Sharon at 732-531-9100, ext. 135, to register. Details: jccmonmouth.org.

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The Ladies Auxiliary of Monmouth Beach’s annual dinner party and gift auction to benefit the all-volunteer Monmouth Beach Fire Company will be held 6:30-10:30 p.m. June 3 at the Channel Club. Gift certificates, baskets, gift items and monetary donations are appreciated. Tickets are $35 until May 22. Details and tickets: 732-222-7779 or 732- 735-8493.

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Join environmental groups 7 p.m. May 24 for a presentation on PurGen, an experimental coal/chemical plant and carbon dioxide storage project that would process coal for energy in Linden and then send pressurized, liquid carbon dioxide waste via pipeline through Raritan Bay and out into the seabed. Speakers include Grace Sica, and Laura Coll of the NJ Sierra Club and Heather Saffert of Clean Ocean Action. Meet at the Unitarian UniversalistMeetingHouse, 1475 West Front Street, Lincroft. Details: call 609-656-7612 or visit www.stoppurgencoalplant.org.

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