- The United Republican Club of Howell will meet at 7:30 p.m. 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 Plumsted library will host a quilting session at 1 p.m. May 17. All are welcome to join the Plumsted Quilting Club. Bring new and old projects to work on. Beginners are welcome. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Plumsted library will host “Pudding at Plumsted,” a cooking demonstration at 11 a.m. May 14. Learn to make and get to taste Bread Pudding. Alert library staff of food allergies. Limited seating. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Plumsted library will host Toddler time at 10:30 a.m. May 17. Toddlers ages 18 to 36 months and their caregivers are welcome to join library staff for stories, songs and a craft. Details: 609-758-7888.
• Disney’s “Big Hero” will be shown at the Plumsted library at 3 p.m. May 20. Running time is 90 minutes and the film is rated PG. Details: 609-758-7888.
• Children’s story time will take place at the Plumsted library at 1:30 p.m. May 25. Join the library staff for stories and crafts. Open to children ages 4 to 6. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Plumsted library will present Coloring for Adults at 11 a.m. May 31. Rediscover the joy of coloring. Coloring sheets and art supplies provided along with light refreshments and relaxing music. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Heritage Group of Howell and the Friends of the Howell Library will present a program about “Civil War Firsts” at 6:30 p.m. June 2 at the library, 318 Old Tavern Road, Howell. All are welcome to attend the free program. Stuart and Judi Buncher, history re-enactors, will come in costume as Sister Veronica, one of the first naval nurses on the first naval hospital ship during the Civil War, and Marine Cpl. Andrew Tomlin, one of two New Jerseyans to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor during the Civil War. Light refreshments will be served.
• Debows United Methodist Church, corner of Route 537 and Route 571, Jackson, will host a pasta dinner from 4:30-7 p.m. May 21. There will be three types of pasta, meatballs, meat sauce, salad, bread, coffee, tea and dessert. Cost is $10 per person (13 and over), $6 per person (ages 5-12), and free for children 4 and under. All are welcome to attend. Take-out orders will be available. Details: 732-928-4475.
• The Noontime Optimist Club of Freehold will present Mike McGrath, host of the nationally syndicated public radio show “You Bet Your Garden,” on May 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Fernbrook Farms’ education center in Chesterfield. The event will support Camp Quality New Jersey and other youth oriented organizations. “You Bet Your Garden” will feature organic gardening tips, light “farm to table” refreshments and a meet and greet with McGrath. Tickets are $55 and may be purchased at www.noontimeoptimists.com. Details: Carole Robinson, 732-431-3989, or Pat DiGiacomo, 732-863-1817.
• The Standardbred Retirement Foundation will host a Meet and Greet and Tack Sale from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 22 at 43 Arneytown-Hornerstown Road, Cream Ridge. About 60 horses will be on hand to greet visitors, some in demonstrations, all available for adoption. A tack sale will be held and there is no charge for guests to set up to sell their own. Guests should bring their own table. Should there be a change due to weather, it will be posted on SRF’s Facebook page and on SRF’s website at AdoptaHorse.org. Details: Email [email protected] or call 732 446-4422.
• The Italian American Cultural Society of New Jersey will meet for dinner on May 12 at 7 p.m. at Frankie Fed’s, 831 Route 33 East, Freehold Township. The festivities will include food and a cultural guest speaker. The restaurant is BYOB. The cost is $35 per person for members and $45 for non-members. Cash is preferred, no credit cards. To reserve seating, call Anthony Grassi at 917-743-3311 or Richard Favara at 732-861-9465.
• The Friends of the Plumsted Library will collect used books for a book sale. Donate fiction, nonfiction, large print, children’s books, CDs, DVDs, audio books, and puzzles. No soiled or mildewed items. No video tapes, Reader’s Digest condensed books, magazines or encyclopedias. Drop off books behind the Plumsted Library, 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month – June 4, Aug. 6, Sept. 3, and Oct. 1. Do not leave items if no one is present. Details: 609-758-0009 or 732-580-5600 or [email protected]
• The Plumsted Municipal Utilities Authority will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. May 17 on a proposed rate adjustment for the PMUA’s scheduled service charges for solid waste and recycling collection services. The hearing will take place at the Plumsted municipal building. The quarterly service charge is proposed to increase from $74 per quarter to $80 per quarter. Members of the public may question any witnesses presented and provide testimony.
• The Jackson Rotary Club is sponsoring a bus trip to the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City on June 12. Cost of $32 includes bus transportation, lunch and beverages on the bus, $25 back in slot play and gratuity for the driver. Bus will leave Brookwood Plaza at noon and return at 9 p.m. All proceeds from the trip will go to Rotary Club charities. To reserve a seat, call Tom Barchie at 732-207-4029 or 732-367-6284.
• Jackson’s Memorial Day parade will take place on May 30. The parade will step off at 10 a.m. from Jackson Memorial High School, Don Connor Boulevard. From the high school, the parade will head north to West Veterans Highway, turn left and proceed to the Jackson Justice Complex. The parade will end with a memorial service from 11 a.m. to noon at the war memorial in front of the Jackson Police Department.
• Knights of Pythias, Grand Lodge Domain of New Jersey, invites men of all ages and from all communities to learn about the organization at a complimentary buffet breakfast and orientation to be held at 10 a.m. May 15 at the Monroe Township Senior Center, 12 Halsey Reed Road, Monroe Township. Guests will learn about the charitable work provided by the Knights and the social activities the group offers. Reservations are required. Details: 609-851-0914 or email [email protected]
• The Jackson library will host a paper cutting workshop with master paper cutting artist Hou-Tien Cheng on May 21 at 2 p.m. Cheng will demonstrate the traditional art of Chinese paper cutting. Attendees will learn tips and techniques to make their own creations. Workshops are for individuals 18 and older. All supplies will be provided. Advance registration is required. Call 732-928-4400.
• The Plumsted library will host a book cafe with author Lo Anne Mayer on May 16 at 3 p.m. Mayer will present her book “Celestial Conversations.” Light refreshments will be served. Books will be available for purchase. Details: 609-758-7888
• The Spirit of the Jerseys State History Fair will be take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 14 (rain or shine) at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Route 33, Manalapan. The event is a historical festival for all ages. Five centuries of New Jersey’s history will be represented by exhibitors from all 21 New Jersey counties, plus Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania. Activities include 19th century baseball, plowing demonstrations, Lenape foodways, antique cars and historical figures from New Jersey’s past. There is a $10 parking fee. Details: www.njhistoryfair.org or call 732 462-9616.
• The Howell Public Works Department, in conjunction with the Howell Shade Tree Commission, will give away free tree seedlings on May 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The tree seedlings will be given away at the Howell public works garage, 278 Old Tavern Road, Howell.
• The Jackson Township Democratic Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday (May 18) of every month, unless otherwise noted, at Bella Terra, 2 Kathleen Drive, Jackson. All are welcome to attend the meeting.
• “Genealogy: It’s Not a Tree or a Chart, It’s a Story” will be the topic of the May 15 meeting of the Monmouth County Genealogy Society. Author and genealogist Maureen Wlodaczyk will explain how to breathe life into a family tree. The presentation will be at 1:30 p.m. at the Community Center, 72 Broad Street, Eatontown, and is free of charge. All are welcome to attend.
• Bat Shalom Hadassah of Jackson-Howell will sponsor a “Meet, Greet and Eat” event at the White Butterfly, County Line Road, Jackson, from 9-11 a.m. May 25. The cost of $22 per person includes an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet, demonstrations, workshops and fashions. Make check payable to Bat Shalom Hadassah and send to P. Guberman, 89 Cypress Point Lane, Jackson, NJ 08527.
• The Veterans Community Alliance of New Jersey will sponsor “Fishing For Heroes” on the Royal Miss Belmar from 4:30-8:30 p.m. May 21. Attendees must be at the marina by 3:30 p.m. The cost is $105 per person and includes fishing rods, bait and food. There will be a Biggest Fish tournament and a 50/50 raffle. Details: 917-747-4312.
• The Taunton School PTA will host an outdoor flea market and food trucks event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 21 at the school, Taunton Road, Howell. Flea market participants, as well as vendors, crafters and food trucks are needed. Participants must provide their own table. Tables are $20 for Taunton PTA members and $35 for non-Taunton PTA members. Food truck spaces are $75. Details: 908-331-0645.
• Vendors are wanted for an Italian festival to be held from June 29 through July 2, 6-11 p.m., at Freehold Raceway. The event is sponsored by the Italian American Association of Monmouth County. There will be rides, games, entertainment, crafters and food. Details: Cheryl Scuorzo, 732-536-5832.
• The Jackson Writers Group will hold a spring showcase of local authors on May 14 from 1-4 p.m. at the Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson. The keynote speaker will be Nikki Rae Colligan, the author of seven novels. All are invited to attend. Registration is required at www.theoceancountylibrary.org. The Jackson Writers Group meets on the fourth Thursday of every month from 6:30-9 p.m. Details: 732-928-4400.
• 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: 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).
• 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 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.
Items for the Datebook may be sent to [email protected]. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.