• A free presentation by the United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration / New Jersey Division will present “What’s Smoking in the Community”
for parents, educators and students 6:30 p.m. March 9 at Barkalow Middle School,
498 Stillwells Corner Road, Freehold. Registration begins at 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. For reservations, visit [email protected].
• Two $2,000 college scholarships from the Freehold AAUW are available for local women 25 years old and older for the 2016-17 school year. The Freehold AAUW is seeking applicants for the Lew Williams and Leila Sulkes scholarships. Request an application with criteria from [email protected]. Criteria include: women 25 or older; must be a resident of Colts Neck, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Howell, Manalapan, Marlboro or Morganville; must be enrolled in an accredited bachelor’s program (minimum 60 completed credits) or master’s program (minimum 6 completed credits); and have a grade point average of “B” or above. Submission must be postmarked by July 31.
• Congregation Kol Am is hosting a discussion with state Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) at 7:30 p.m. March 7 at 59 Broad St., Freehold. The discussion is open to the public, but an RSVP is required. Beck will be discussing topics including security for synagogues, available funding, and other issues. Questions from audience members will be taken. RSVP to Congregation Kol Am, 732-792-8000.
• The CentraState Healthcare Foundation will host Comedy for a Cause 8:30 p.m. March 11 at the American Hotel, 18-20 E. Main St., Freehold. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Must be 21 and over. There will be a cash bar. Proceeds will benefit women’s health services at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Details: centrastatecomedy.eventbrite.com or contact 732-294-7135 or [email protected].
• Temple Shaari Emeth, 400 Craig Road, Manalapan, will host a discussion with Michelle Horner, a cancer specialist who will discuss the BRCA mutation, genetic testing and preventative care, 9:15-11:00 a.m. Feb. 21. Among Ashkenazi Jewish men and women, about one in 40 have a BRCA1/2 mutation, which substantially increases the risk for breast and ovarian cancers. This program is open to the public. Details: email Jennifer Fessler at [email protected].
• The Freehold Elks Lodge No. 1454, 73 W. Main St., Freehold, will host its monthly all-you-can-eat breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 21. The cost is $9 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Proceeds will benefit local charities and organizations. Details: 732-431-8707.
• The Monmouth County chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America will meet 7-9 p.m. March 7 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 17 at the Colts Neck Library, 1 Winthrop Drive, Colts Neck. Details: 732-462-5540 or www.mcega.org.
• The Monmouth County Audubon Society will sponsor a free field trip at Big Brook County Park, 521 County Road 520, Marlboro, on March 13. Meet at 6 p.m. in the parking lot of the park. Participants will be in search of the American Woodcock. The trip is open to both members and nonmembers of the Monmouth County Audubon Society. Participants should dress in weather-appropriate clothing, keeping in mind that temperatures drop quickly in the evening. Binoculars are recommended, and a field guide may be helpful. Details: www.monmouthaudubon.org, or email [email protected].
• The Freehold Borough High School Class of 1996 will hold a 20-year reunion at 7 p.m. June 4 at Paul’s Tavern, 1705 Main St., Belmar. The cost is $65. The event will include an open bar from 7:30-10:30 p.m., buffet and live music. Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold at the door. Details: http://stellikris.wix.com/classof1996.
• The American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Monmouth Unit 54, 62 W. Main St., Freehold, will host a Quarter Auction at 2 p.m. Feb. 20. Doors open at 1 p.m. The cost is $10. Details: 732-431-8664 or [email protected].
• No Stigma Network, Inc. will hold a support meeting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 20 at the CentraState Health Awareness Center, 901 W. Main St., Freehold Township. Community members who seek support and understanding about mental health challenges are invited to share their experiences in a confidential setting. Participants may bring lunch to the meetings. Support meetings are held the third Saturday of every month. Details: 732-533-7632 or 732-939-2092 or email [email protected].
• Congregation Sons of Israel, Gordons Corner Road, Manalapan, will host the Jewish Choir of Central New Jersey at 3 p.m. Feb. 21. The choir includes Cantor Joanna Alexander of Temple Rodeph Torah, Cantor Wayne Krieger of the Marlboro Jewish Center, Cantor Jason Rosenman of Temple Beth Shalom and Cantor Wayne S. Siet of Temple Shaari Emeth. The choir is in its 13th year of performing in central New Jersey. Admission is $5 if RSVP before Feb. 15 and $8 at the door. Details: 732-446-3000.
• The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance will meet in the spiritual center of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 1 Phalanx Road, Colts Neck, from 7:30-9 p.m. every Thursday. Details: 732-536-5826 or 732-320-0029.
• Quality Insights Quality Innovation Network is partnering with the YMCA of Western Monmouth County to provide free diabetes education from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Friday through March 11 at the YMCA, 470 East Freehold Road, Freehold Township. Details: 732-462-0464, ext. 116.
• The Monmouth County Historical Association, 70 Court St., Freehold, will exhibit “Of the Best Materials and Good Workmanship: 19th Century New Jersey Chair Making” now through July 9. Details: 732-462-1466.
• The American Association of University Women Freehold branch is accepting book donations for its 2016 book sale. With the exception of Reader’s Digest condensed books and textbooks, all book donations in good condition are appreciated. Contact Joan at 732-431-2297 for drop-off instructions. Proceeds from the book sale support scholarships for women who are returning to college and monetary awards for graduating female seniors from the Freehold Regional High School District.
• The Essential Tremor Support Group meets from 7-9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month (March 3) at the Jack Aaronson Conference Center at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Details: 732-462-8304, after 10 a.m.
• The Novo Nordisk Diabetes Center at CentraState Medical Center is offering a support group for people with diabetes and their families. The group will meet on the third Wednesday of every month (Feb. 17) from 1-2 p.m. in the Jack Aaronson Conference Center in the Star and Barry Tobias Ambulatory Campus, 901 W. Main St., Freehold Township. Details: 732-308-0570.
• The Relay For Life kickoff celebration will take place at 7 p.m. March 9 at the American Hotel, 18 E. Main St., Freehold. The event will include music and light refreshments. Details: 732-292-4262 or [email protected].
• The Reformed Church of Freehold will hold a family-style roast beef dinner from 4-7 p.m. March 5 at the church, located at 67 W. Main St., Freehold. The cost is $18 for adults and $6 for children ages 6-12. Tickets will be available at the door or through the church office. Details: 732-462-1717.
• The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, 310 Mount’s Corner Drive, Freehold, will host Joseph Levy in a presentation on “The Forgotten Refugees,” the Jews from the Arab countries at 1 p.m. Feb. 21. This will be followed by a related film of the same name. Levy, an attorney whose family fled to the United States in 1958 in what he calls the “Yetziat Mitzrayim Shayni,” the second exodus from Egypt, subsequently grew up in Deal. The cost is $8 for members and $10 for nonmembers. Details: 732-252-6990 or www.jhmomc.org.
• The Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Monmouth County, Marlboro, will host a free library character breakfast and pajama party from 10-11:15 a.m. March 6. Children from 6 months to 6 years old are invited to this event which will include games, prizes and a character parade. Children are encouraged to wear their favorite pajamas. This program is open to the public. Reservations are required. Details: [email protected]
• The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, 310 Mount’s Corner Drive, Freehold Township, will present Tsu Fil Duvids, a musical group performing songs of Eastern Europe, Yiddish theatre and Yiddish folk melodies in the Klezmer style, at 2 p.m. March 20. The cost is $18 for museum members and $20 for nonmembers. Details: 732-252-6990 or [email protected].
• Center Players, 35 South St., Freehold, will present Neil Simon’s Chapter Two at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays from Feb. 12 through March 13. Tickets are at $23 to $25 and are available by calling 732-462-9093 or visiting www.centerplayers.org
Items for the Datebook may be sent via email to [email protected]. Please send items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.