• Gamblers Anonymous, Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31, 8-9:30 p.m. at Hope Lutheran Church, 211 Elton-Adelphia Road, Freehold Township.
• A blood drive will be held Nov. 28 at St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church, 935 Bennetts Mills Road, Jackson. American Red Cross workers will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donors must bring identification. Details: (800) GIVE LIFE or www.pleasegiveblood.org.
• Rattlesnake Swamp Hike, sponsored by the Ocean County Dept. of Parks and Recreation, Nov. 28, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The hike in the northwest section of New Jersey will take participants on the Appalachian Trail. The terrain will be a steep, rocky climb and may be slippery. Departs from the front gate of Ocean County Park, Lakewood. Fee: $6 for adults and $2 for children ages 9-14. Details and registration: (877) OCPARKS.
• “New Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease” will be presented by Dr. Paul Bryman, specialist in geriatric medicine and dementia care, Nov. 30 from 10 to 11:30 a.m., at Bella Terra, 2 Kathleen Drive, Jackson. R.S.V.P. by Nov. 24 to (732) 730-9500.
• “Retirement Investment Strat-egies” will be presented by Anthony Cifelli of Wachovia Securities, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. at the Howell library, 318 Old Tavern Road. Details: (732) 938-2300.
• Steroids will be the topic of a workshop by Doug Collier, a former Drug Enforcement Agency undercover agent, Dec. 1, 7 p.m., at Freehold Township High School, Elton-Adelphia Road. Free and open to the public.
• “Assistive Technology Tools for Students With Reading and Writing Challenges,” a workshop, will be presented by the Special Education Advisory Committee Dec. 2, 7 p.m., at Colts Neck High School, Five Points Road and Route 537. Assistive technology specialist Joanne Costellano of TECHConnection at the Family Resource Association will demonstrate how the computer can help students who struggle with reading and writing. To register, call (732) 786-1208.
• Rummage sale 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 3-4, at First Baptist Church of Lake-wood, First Street and Clifton Avenue, Lakewood. Details: (732) 363-0885.
• New Egypt Homeschoolers will host a parent meeting 2 p.m. Dec. 3 at the New Egypt Boy Scout building behind the New Egypt American Legion Hall, Meadowbrook Lane, New Egypt. Children are invited to attend. Details: (609) 758-0226 or (609) 752-0646.
• A blood drive will be held Dec. 8 at the New Egypt Elks Lodge 2457, 105 Lakewood Road (Route 528), New Egypt. The American Red Cross will be on hand from 2-8 p.m. to collect blood. Donors must be 110 pounds or more and at least 17 years of age. Identification is required. Details: (800) GIVE LIFE or www.pleasegiveblood.org.
• Craft fair, Dec. 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Ramtown School, Ramtown-Green-ville Road, Howell. Pictures with Santa and Frosty will be available. Vendor spaces still available. Call (732) 836-0337.
• A Holiday Shopping Fair will take place at the Community Bible Fellowship Church, 3071 Lakewood-Allenwood Road, Howell, Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Handmade crafts and photography, baked goods, lunch, and many vendors such as Pampered Chef and Mary Kay and others will be on hand. Details: (732) 363-8941.
• Blood drive Dec. 14, sponsored by the Jackson Township Municipal Util-ities Authority at 135 Manhattan St., Jackson. Donations will be accepted from 2-6 p.m. Those interested in donating may either call (732) 928-2222 to reserve a time, or sign up in person at the administration building.
• Need a Friend, a social group for singles ages 50-70, will meet for dinner every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Golden Bell Diner, Route 9 south at Route 524, Freehold Township. Details: (732) 625-0605.
• The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Association of American will conduct monthly meetings through May on the third Saturday of each month. Meetings are held from 1-3 p.m. in the all-purpose room of Epiphany Church, 615 Thiele Road, Brick. All people with MS and people who care for people with MS are welcome to attend. Details: (732) 920-3641 or (732) 477-1479.
• Free nature walks and nature programs are offered on Saturdays and Sundays at Cattus Island County Park, 1170 Cattus Island Blvd., Toms River. Call (732) 270-6960 for complete schedules.
• CONTACT of Ocean County, a 24-hour crisis intervention hotline, is seeking volunteers to offer telephone support to those in need. Listening skills training is provided with 10 weekly sessions, one night a week. Call (732) 240-6431 for details.
• Central Jersey Italian American Club, Christopher Columbus Boulevard (off County Line Road), Jackson, hosts homestyle Friday night dinners every week. The dinners will be available from 6:30-8 p.m. at a cost of $10 per person. All are welcome. Details: (732) 370-9820 or (732) 363-3070.
• Thomas W. Middleton Civil War Round Table meets every second Wed-nesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean County Historical Society, 26 Hadley Ave., Toms River. Guest speakers, re-enactors and collections are featured. The public is invited. Details: (732) 312-2071.
• The Toastmasters Club meets every second and fourth Tuesday of each mont from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the second floor conference room in the Lakewood municipal building, Third Avenue, Lakewood. Toastmasters Club teaches ways to improve communication skills and lose fear of public speaking. No charge. Details: (908) 910-0670.
• Bible study is held every Friday at 7 p.m. by Spirit-Filled Life Ministries, Lakewood in the Lakewood municipal building, 213 Third St., Lakewood, room 18. Open to all. Details: (732) 730-0444.