Horror writers’ group holds short story contest      The Garden State Horror Writers is ac­cepting entries for its 11th annual short story contest through Aug. 15. More ... Bulletin Board Molly Pitcher club still in need of puppy raisers      The GFWC Molly Pitcher Woman’s Club of Freehold held an installation luncheon May 20 for officers for the 2003-04 term. Alice Williams of Freehold served as the installing officer and honored each officer with a rose, the club flower. More ... Local students take honors in state contest      Five area students were selected as state-level winners in the 2003 New Jersey Conservation essay and poster con­tests. The theme of the contests was "Food for the Future in the Garden State." More ... St. Gabriel’s church sets summer carnival      St. Gabriel’s church, Marlboro, will hold its sixth annual carnival to benefit its building fund. More ...      FARRAH MAFFAI Joseph Maffia, 8, climbs the Adrenaline Force ride at the Manalapan Recreation Center during “Manalapan Under the Stars and Stripes.” Heavy rain washed away the community celebration late Saturday afternoon. More ... Datebook      • St. Ambrose Carnival, through June 21, Wed.-Thurs. 6-11 p.m.; Fri., 6 p.m. to midnight; Sat., 5-11 p.m.; on school grounds, Throckmorton Lane, Old Bridge. More ... Banjo band forming in Freehold area      The Banjo Strummers of Central Jersey is starting a nonprofit banjo band in the Freehold area. Needed are banjo, tuba or sousaphone, bass guitar and trumpet players. More ...      FARRAH MAFFAI Tony DiBartolis plays trumpet with Jimmy Givens and the All-Stars under the protection of the Kuschick Pavilion at the Manalapan Recreation Center Saturday afternoon. More ... Freehold Twp. student to attend D.C. program      Jonathan Ranieri, a student at Freehold Township High School, has been selected to participate in the National Student Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. More ... Jade Fire to appear in concert      Jade Fire, a nine-member youth rock band with members hailing from Freehold, Manalapan and Marlboro, has announced its summer concert calendar for 2003. More ... Marlboro Players to pre­sent the musical ‘Pippin’      The Marlboro Players will present Pippin July 25-Aug. 3, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m Sundays, at Marlboro Middle School, Route 520. More ...