NOTES

Justin Ryan will play classical music, hymns, television and movie themes and children’s songs on his Array mbira, an African instrument based on the Zimbabwe thumb-piano, at a fundraising concert set for 6 p.m. July 24 at the First Presbyterian Church of Matawan, 883 Route 34. A freewill offering will be collected to benefit children’s-cancer research. Audience members are invited to examine the instrument and speak with the artist after the concert. For more information, call 732-566-2663.

****

“The Teacher Expo, Expanding Teaching Horizons,” an expo for professional educators, will be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Doubletree, 700 Hope Road, Tinton Falls. Admission and parking are free. The expo will feature exhibits as well as free one-hour workshops. Visit www.teacherexpos.com for more information. Register in advance for the workshops by calling 201- 634-0338 or by emailing workshops@teacherexpos.com.

****

At 2 p.m. July 28, “Black Swan” will be shown in the Community Room of Middletown Main Library, 55 New Monmouth Road. The film’s star, Natalie Portman, won an Academy Award for best actress and the film was nominated for best picture and best director. This film has been Rated R. Details: mtpl.org or 732-671-3700, ext. 320.

****

The Gallery of Middletown Main Library, 55 New Monmouth Road, is accepting applications from local artists/ photographers interested in exhibiting work in the fall through 2012. Send a brief biography and description of work (along with a few samples) to Elizabeth Thompson at ethompson@mtpl.org. Details: 732-671- 3700, ext. 320

****

Clergy United for Christ, an organization started by a group of clergy looking to better serve the community and its residents, is hosting a three-day Tent Crusade Aug. 5-7 at Paul’s Place in Cliffwood, a block from the Providence Baptist Church. Services begin at 6:45 p.m. Aug. 5, 4:45 p.m. Aug. 6 and 9:45 a.m. Aug. 7. Big Harley’s Barbeque will be available. Details: CUFC2011@gmail.com or 732-309- 7036.

****

“Love’s Labour’s Lost,” performed by the Next Stage Ensemble of the Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey will be presented noon Aug. 11 at the Middletown Main Library, 55 New Monmouth Road. “Love’s Labour’s Lost” is often thought of as Shakespeare’s most flamboyantly intellectual comedy — abounding in sophisticated wordplay, puns and literary allusions. Free. Tickets will be available at the Reference Desk Aug. 1. Details: 732-671-3700 ext. 320.

****

Middletown Township Police Department, in conjunction with Valley National Bank corporate security representatives, will present a seminar on scam prevention 1:30 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Middletown Main Library, 55 New Monmouth Road. The seminar is designed to provide the necessary information to residents (particularly the elderly) to prevent them from becoming victims. Details: mtpl.org or 732-671-3700.

****

Raelyn Teresa Hale, 10, of Middletown, is a state finalist in the National American Miss New Jersey Pageant to be held Aug. 19-21 at the Hilton East Brunswick Hotel. The National American Miss Pageants are held for girls ages 4-18 and have five different age divisions. Raelyn will be participating in the Jr. Pre-Teen division.

****

“Persepolis” (with English subtitles), the story of a young girl in Iran during the Islamic revolution, will be shown 3 p.m. July 27 at the Matawan Aberdeen Public Library, 165 Main St., Matawan. Like the book on which it is based, the film consists of a series of monochrome drawings, their bold black lines washed with nuances of gray. Chiara Mastroianni and Catherine Deneuve star in the 2007 film. Details: www.lmxac.org/mata/index.html.

****

A support group meeting for children ages 10-15 who have a sibling with a disability will be held 5-7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Point Pleasant Boardwalk, rain or shine. The night includes miniature golf, dinner and a discussion of issues related to being a sibling of a student with developmental disabilities. RSVP by Aug. 1 to Sue Levine at 732-747-5310, ext. 17, or by e-mail slevine@frainc.org. Along w/RSVP, please leave a cell phone number to assist with meeting on the boardwalk. Details: www.frainc.org

****

The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Central Jersey Chapter, will host a small get-together facilitated by an NAWBO-CJ member at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 3, as part of NAWBO in the Neighborhood Week. The gathering will be held at All Seasons Diner, 176 Wyckoff Road, Eatontown. To take part, contact Donna Domenicali, the facilitator, at donna@blueheron-designs.com. For information about NAWBO Central Jersey, visit www.nawbocentraljersey.org.