HOWELL - Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts' $3 million capital campaign, the first in its 44-year-history, has been awarded $50,000 by OceanFirst Foundation of Toms River.

The grant, awarded over two years, will help provide funding for the new 11,520-square-foot activity center, athletic fields, basketball courts, 12,480-square-foot equestrian center and infirmary on the council's 140-acre campus on Route 524. The campus is also home to the council's Camp Sacajawea.

Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts serves more than 12,000 girls throughout Monmouth and northern Ocean counties in conjunction with nearly 4,000 adult volunteers.

Founded in 1996, OceanFirst Foundation is the first foundation in the country to be established by a bank as part of an initial public offering, with a grant of $13.4 million in OceanFirst common stock. OceanFirst provides grants to local organizations.

'Sister Rose's Passion' ushers in Jewish holidays

As part of its annual Selichot program, which ushers in the Jewish penitential season, Con-gregation B'nai Israel, 1488 Old Free-hold Road, Toms River, will show excerpts of the documentary "Sister Rose's Passion" on Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. The program is open to the public and free of charge.

"Sister Rose's Passion," winner of the best documentary short at the Tribeca Film Festival and an Academy Award nominee for best documentary, tells the inspirational story of Sister Rose Theiring, a Dominican nun and activist, who made the battle against anti-Semitism her life's work.

According to a press release, her work had a direct bearing on the historic Vatican II Council that reformed the Catholic Church's position on Jews and Judaism.

Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields and Monsignor Sean P. Flynn of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Toms River, will facilitate a discussion and answer questions.

Following the film, Rabbi Wolintz-Fields and Cantor Adam Goldstein will lead the Selichot service.

Selichot inaugurates the penitential season preceding the Jewish High Holy Day period, which begins with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, on the evening of Sept. 22.

For more information call (732) 349-1244 or visit the Internet Web site www.bnaiisraeltomsriver.org.

Historic Walking Tour of Ocean County Park

A walking tour of historic Ocean County Park, Lakewood, will be conducted Sept. 28. Local historian and writer Sam Christopher will lead the one-mile walk. The 323-acre park is rich with history. It was the former home of Standard Oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller, and was also the site of the first PGA Golf Tournament, held more than 100 years ago. The property was also the training site of the New York Giants baseball team and the headquarters of the USO during World War II.

The hour-long walk will end with a casual chat about Lakewood and Ocean County history.

The event will be held at the beach Complex of the Ocean County Park, Route 88, Lakewood at 11 a.m.

To register, send a check for $4 per person to the County of Ocean, 1198 Bandon Road, Toms River 08753. Details: (732) 506-9090 or www.oceancountyparks.org.

Cub Scouts seek new members in Howell area

St. Veronica School Pack 300 recently announced its Salute & Recruit Night to kick off the new Cub Scout season with an event that will salute our nation and seek new recruits from grades 1-5 in the Howell area.

According to the Monmouth Council BSA, Cub Scouts can help make a difference in the lives of their friends by personally inviting them to join Cub Scouts with him. Current Cub Scouts will earn a special recruiter patch if they can get a friend to join.

The Salute & Recruit night will take place Sept. 19 from 7 to 8 p.m. at St. Veronica's School cafeteria, 4219 Route 9 north, Howell. A representative from Monmouth BSA will give a presentation on all that scouting has to offer and the cubs will salute the flag and enjoy patriotic music. Cub Scouts, prospective scouts, and parents will be given a video tour of the fun of the Quail Hill Scout Camp and hear about planned activities for the new season. Candy box fundraisers will also be distributed to the Cub Scouts. Details: (732) 500-7129 or e-mail Lma1224@optonline.net.

Community School bus trip to New York City

The Lakewood Community School is accepting reservations for a bus trip to New York City Oct. 21. Choice of destination is the Museum of Natural History, Metropolitan Museum of Art, or the theater district, where attendees can purchase a discount theater ticket or shop and have lunch on their own. The fee of $28 includes bus transportation and driver gratuity only. Pre-registration is required. Call (732) 905-3685 to reserve a seat.