• Soup for the Soul, a cooking demonstration, will take place at 11:30 a.m. March 5 at the Plumsted Library, 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt. Participants will make and taste chicken corn soup. Alert the library of food allergies. Seating is limited. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Plumsted Library, 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt, will host stop motion animation, a film making technique that makes inanimate objects look like they are moving on their own, from 7-8:30 p.m. March 9. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Plumsted Library, 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt, will host the George Street Playhouse presentation of “New Kid,” a story about an immigrant family that moves to a new place and faces unexpected challenges, at 11 a.m. March 12. Details: 609-758-7888.
• A homeschoolers open house and book swap will take place from 2-3:30 p.m. March 18 at the Plumsted Library, 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Jackson VFW Post No. 4703 will host Soups On from 4-7 p.m. Feb. 27 at 54 Magnolia Drive, Jackson. The cost is $5 for the all-you-can-eat soup event to support veterans. Details: 732-928-0077.
• Jackson Boy Scout Troop No. 152 will host its annual pasta dinner fundraiser on March 13 at Jackson Elks Lodge No. 2744, 1059 E. Veterans Highway, Jackson. Seating is available from 2-6 p.m. The cost is $10 and includes a pasta and meatball dinner, rolls, iced tea, dessert and coffee. Reservations are required by March 5. Pay in advance with PayPal. Details: 908-770-1769 or [email protected]
• The Monmouth County Genealogy Society will meet at 1:30 p.m. March 13 at the Eatontown Community Center, 72 Broad Street, Eatontown. Henry McNally of Manasquan will present “Emigrants and Exiles: The Ireland They Left Behind.” Details: 732-747-0090 or [email protected].
• Carnival for Autism, a charitable organization that raises awareness about autism spectrum disorders, will host a leprechaun lunch noon to 3 p.m. March 13 at St. William the Abbot Church, 2740 Lakewood Allenwood Road, Howell. Details: 609-760-3672 or carnivalforautism.wix.com/home.
• Friends of Howell Library will sponsor The Festive Flutes at 2 p.m. Feb. 27 at the library located at 318 Old Tavern Road, Howell. This event is free and open to the public. Details: 732-938-2300.
• The United Republican Club of Howell will meet at 7:30 p.m. March 15 and May 17 at the Howell First Aid building, 16 Kent Road, Howell. All are welcome to attend. Details: 732-773-5204 or [email protected].
• The Jackson VFW and VFW Auxiliary will host Friday night fish fries at 54 Magnolia Drive, Jackson, every Friday from Feb. 12 through March 25. Dinner will be available from 4-7 p.m. Cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children 7 and under. Menu includes fried fish, French fries, cole slaw, bread, dessert, coffee and tea. All are welcome.
• The Jackson Women of Today Food Pantry will sponsor a food drive from Feb. 1-29. Bring nonperishable food items to the bin in the lobby of the Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson. Details: www.jacksonfoodpantry.com
• A blood drive honoring pediatric cancer patients will take place from 3:30-8:30 p.m. March 23 at the Aldrich School, 615 Aldrich Road, Howell.
• Free tax assistance will be provided by members of AARP at the Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson, on Thursdays from Feb. 4 through April 14. Appointments are available from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and must be made in advance. This program is open to the public and there is no age requirement to receive assistance. Details: 732-928-4400, ext. 3808.
• The Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s or dementia will meet at 10 a.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson. Details: 1-800-272-3900 or www.alz.org/nj
• The Jackson Township Democratic Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday (March 16) of every month, unless otherwise noted, at Bella Terra, 2 Kathleen Drive, Jackson. All are welcome to attend the meeting.
• The Jackson Library Knit-Chat-Chain is in need of yarn donations. All types of wool and synthetic yarn in any amount will be accepted. The group uses the donations to make small lap blankets, chemotherapy caps and newborn caps for patients at local health centers. The library is located at 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson. Details: 732-928-4400.
• The Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson, will host a class about the art of decorating eggs from 6-9 p.m. March 9 or from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 9. This hands-on class for individuals 18 and older will introduce participants to the historical significance of the art, the materials and the process of making a Pysanka egg. Registration is required and may be made now. Supplies will be provided, including the eggs. Bring an egg carton or container and a smock or worn shirt. Details: 732-928-4400 or www.theoceancountylibrary.org.
• The Jackson Township Municipal Utilities Authority will hold its public meetings at 5:30 p.m. in its administrative offices at 135 Manhattan St., Jackson, on the following dates in 2016: Feb. 25, March 24 (5 p.m.), April 28, May 26, June 23, July 28, Aug. 25, Sept. 22, Oct. 27, Nov. 17, Dec. 15; and on the following dates in 2017: Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 (reorganization).
• Friends of Howell Library will sponsor a performance by Fred Lehotay & The Ragtimers at 2 p.m. March 19 at the library, 318 Old Tavern Road, Howell. This free event is open to the public. Details: 732-938-2300.
• Book cafe with local author Barbara Hosbach will be held at 3 p.m. March 21 at the Plumsted Library, 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt. Light refreshments will be served. Books will be available for purchase. Details: 609-758-7888.
• “Keep This, Toss That” with Jamie Novak of HGTV will take place at 6 p.m. March 21 at the Plumsted Library, 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt. This program, which will take a humorous look at the common pitfalls of spring organizing, is being sponsored by the Friends of Plumsted Library. Details: 609-758-7888.
Items for the Tri-Town News Datebook may be sent to [email protected]. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.