Datebook

Ocean County Coin Club will have an education and holiday social meeting 7:30 Dec. 6 at the Ocean Fire House on Arnold and St. Louis Avenues in Point Pleasant Beach. No charge, all are welcome. A free auction program takes place for juniors at 6:45 p.m. before each meeting. Details: (732) 255-6911.

• Brick Township High School Marching Dragons seeks crafters for its 28th annual Holiday Craft Fair on Dec. 8 at Brick Township High School, 346 Chambers Bridge Road. Handmade items only. There will be a juried craft show. Information and application: Mary (732) 920-3260 or [email protected].

The Brick First Aid Squad will host a Breakfast with Santa from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Dec. 8 at the First Aid building, 500 Aurora Place, Brick. The $9 ticket price includes breakfast and a picture with Santa. Details: (732) 232-5682.

The Jersey Shore Animal Center, 185 Brick Blvd., will host a pet photo with Santa from noon to 3 p.m. on Dec. 8 and 9. For a donation of $10 per photo, all leashed or safely contained pets are invited. All proceeds benefit the homeless animals at the center. For more information, call the shelter at (732) 920-1600 or www.jerseyshoreanimalcenter.org.

• The Brick Hockey Club will begin its Mite C learn-to-skate program at 5:25 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Ocean Ice Palace, 197 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick. Registration will begin in the rink lobby one hour before the program begins and costs $285. Details: (732) 604-2559 or www.brickhockeyclub.com.

• The Ocean County Columbus Day Parade Committee is sponsoring a Rockefeller Center New York City trip on Dec. 9. The bus will depart the Barnegat Municipal Complex at 9:15 a.m. and Brick Township High School at 10 a.m. The $25 fee includes the bus ride, refreshments on the bus and free time in the city. Call Michael (732) 477-6507 or Umberto (732) 552-4624.

Liberty Oak Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, will perform a variety of holiday songs at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Belmar Elementary School, 1101 Main Street, Belmar. All are welcome. Details: (732) 462-1760 or www.libertyoakchorus.org.

Jersey Shore PFLAG will conduct its monthly support group 7-9 p.m. Dec. 12 at the United Church of Christ of Toms River, 1681 Ridgeway Road (Route 571), Manchester. The meetings offer support, education and advocacy for people who have lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people in their lives. The group is not affiliated with any religious organization. Details: (908) 814-2155 or email [email protected].

• The Ocean County Retired Educators Association will hold its annual holiday social luncheon 11 a.m., Dec. 13, at the Quality Inn, 815 Route 37 West, Toms River. Mail the reservation form (www.ocrea.net) and $22 payable to OCREA to Stefanie Rotsaert, One Ridgemont Lane, Whiting, 08759. Deadline is Dec. 3. Details (732) 350-2904.

• A NJ Stars information session will be offered 6 p.m. Dec. 12 at Ocean County College, Conference Rooms A and B, College Center, College Drive, Toms River. Those in the top 20 percent of their high school graduating class may be eligible for free tuition in this statewide program. Details: e-mail [email protected] or call (732) 255-0525.

• Jackson Hewit Tax Service, 1341 Route 9, Toms River, will accept donations through Dec. 13 for the annual

Toys for Tots program. Area residents are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Toys will be distributed to families in central New Jersey.

The Brick Children’s Community Theatre will present “Christmas food for thought” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15 and 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Veteran’s Elementary School, 103 Hendrickson Ave. Tickets are $10. Details: (732) 920-9041 or www.bcct.org.

• St. Paul’s Chancel Choir and Christmas Concert Band will hold a concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16. The church is located at 714 Herbertsville Road, Brick. Details: (732) 458-2080.

• The Sunday school children of the

First Baptist Church of Laurelton, 1824 Route 88, Brick, will present a Christmas pageant at 4 p.m. Dec. 16 followed by a Christmas covered dish supper. The public is invited and all are welcome. Call (732) 840-9657 for more information.

Monsignor Donovan High School will host Christmas Day dinner for those in need on Dec. 25 at 2 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria at 711 Hooper Ave., Toms River. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (732) 349-8801, Ext. 2440.

The Brick Knights of Columbus Council No. 836 is sponsoring a trip to Mohegan Sun Casino with a visit to Foxwoods Casino Resort, both in Connecticut, April 13- 15. The cost per person is $259, double occupancy; $231, triple occupancy; and $395, single occupancy. Payment in full is due by Feb. 5. Details: (732) 773-9513.

Grief Share, an ongoing seminar/ support group for those who are grieving the death of someone close, meets Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon at the Church of Grace and Peace, 1563 Old Freehold Road, Toms River, in the Barnabas Building. Details: (732) 349-1550, Ext. 204.

The Mothers’ Center of the Jersey Shore, a nonprofit organization for moms and kids, is an active group that welcomes new members. Call for information: (732) 449-3936.

The Herbertsville First Aid Squad urgently needs new members. Volunteer to save a life and help a neighbor. All training is provided at no cost. Details: www.herbertsville.org or (732) 840-9116.