• The 40th anniversary celebration of “Olde Freehold Day ” will take place on July 23 at Lake Topanemus Park, Pond Road, Freehold Township, from noon to 6 p.m. The event will feature five bands, a disc jockey, classic cars, rides, refreshments (including a beer garden), food offered by civic organizations and activities on the lake. There will also be a triathalon. Any business interested in sponsoring the event, anyone interested in attending or any vendors who wish to participate may obtain additional information at Oldefreeholdday.com
• The Monmouth County Fair will be held at the East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold Township, from July 27-31. Hours are 5-11 p.m. July 27-29; 3-11 p.m. July 30; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 31. There will be Kids’ Zone rides in the outdoor entertainment area, a trapeze act, Bwana Jim, racing pigs, home and garden competitions, vendor displays, food, entertainment and more. General admission is $8 per person. Children 12 and under are admitted free at all times. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Freehold Township K-8 School District special education parents advisory group, PACE, will host a presentation from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office about the new Monmouth County Special Needs Registry. The goal of the registry is to ensure that all county residents who have special needs are able to get the help and support they need in a time of emergency or during interaction with law enforcement, fire or EMS personnel. The presentation will be held at 7 p.m. June 13 in the Board of Education conference room, 384 W. Main St., Freehold Township. Register for the event via the following link: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/pace-presents-monmouth-county-special-needs-registry-information-session-tickets-25181051202. Details: Email [email protected]
• The St. Vincent de Paul Society will host a used clothing collection from noon to 4 p.m. June 18 at the Manalapan Recreation Center (near football field and basketball court parking lot). The following items are being collected: wearable and usable clothing (men, women, children), shoes, belts, handbags, linens, stuffed animals and hard toys. Put all items in tightly tied plastic bags. Details: Peggy Loennecker, 732-580-9832, or Adrienne Karron, 732-500-0633.
• The Knights of Columbus, 3 LaSatta Ave., Englishtown, will hold a comedy night on June 11 from 8:30-10 p.m. All are welcome to attend. The per person price is $25 and refreshments will be available. Contact Randy Scott at 908-614-5904 for advance ticket purchase. Money raised will be used for projects and charities.
• The Barkalow Players will present the musical “Bye Bye Birdie” at the Barkalow Middle School, Stillwells Corner Road, Freehold Township, at 7 p.m. June 9-10. Adminssion is free and all community members are welcome to come and enjoy the show.
• The Monmouth County Retired Educators Association will meet at 11 a.m. June 14 at the Spring Lake Manor, Spring Lake. Installation of officers will take place and the annual Philanthropic Award will be presented. Members are asked to bring a non-perishable donation for the local food bank. The association is collecting school supplies to include in fall backpacks for needy children. For luncheon reservations, call Sue at 732-995-7754 or email [email protected] before June 3. New members are welcome.
• The Manalapan Seniors and Chapter 4 will sponsor a bus trip to a Trenton Thunder baseball game on Aug. 4. The bus will leave the Manalapan municipal complex at 5 p.m. and return at about 10:30 p.m. A reserved picnic area will include hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, baked BBQ chicken, potato salad, garden salad and more from 6-8 p.m. Details: 732-446-8401.
• Embroiderers’ Guild of America-Monmouth Chapter is dedicated to teaching and sharing the joys of needlework. Stitchers of all levels are welcome to attend a meeting. There are sit and stitch tables and special projects. Day stitchers will meet on June 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Colts Neck Community Church, 25 Merchants Way. Details: Toni, 732-462-5540, or www.mcega.org
• The Freehold Township High School class of 1996 will hold its 20-year reunion at 4:30 p.m. July 9 at the Headliner, Neptune. Cost is $45 per person, includes hot buffet and two top shelf drinks; additional drinks at discount. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the committee via email at [email protected] Visit the reunion website at http://4vg33a.axshare.com/home.html. Details: Holly Bretzius, 610-404-2030.
• The Capital Gains chapter of BNI will host a special networking event on June 16 from 6-8 p.m. at Nonna’s Citi Cucina, Marlboro. BNI-Capital Gains has seats open for new members to whom the group can refer business. Friends and colleagues are welcome. RSVP required to 732-740-3550 or [email protected]
• The Solana Marlboro will host a monthly health and wellness series on the following dates: June 29, 4:30 p.m., Tour the Solana Memory Care neighborhood and meet the team; July 27, 4:30 p.m., Virtual Dementia Tour, experience a day in the life of a Solana resident. Dinner and/or refreshments will be served. RSVP by calling 732-536-3000.
• The Shrewsbury Chorale will present an evening of fine dining, entertainment and prizes at its gift auction fundraiser, The Chorale Goes to the Opera, on June 14 at 5:30 p.m. at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church, 1033 West Park Ave., Ocean Township. Dinner catered by Buona Sera. BYOB. Advance reservations are required. Cost is $55. Details: 732-747-1362.
• The Monmouth County Audubon Society will host a bird walk to look for nesters and shorebirds on Sandy Hook in northern Monmouth County at 6 p.m. June 9. The trip will be led by members of the Monmouth County Audubon Society. Meet in the parking lot of the old Sandy Hook visitors center. The event is open to members and non-members of the Audubon Society and participation is free. Advance registration not required. Bring binoculars and field guides and dress appropriately for the weather. Details: http://www.monmouthaudubon.org
• The Manalapan Senior Center will sponsor a trip to see the sights of the New York City and New Jersey skylines, including the Freedom Tower, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the Brooklyn Bridge. The Spirit of New Jersey cruise will take place on July 7. Attendees will depart from the Manalapan municipal complex at 10 a.m. and return at approximately 3:30 pm. Details: 732-446-8401.
• On June 16 from 10:30-11:30 a.m., members of the public are invited to the grand opening celebration of Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey (CVCJ) in Monmouth County. The event, to be held at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township, will include an overview of the agency’s services and light refreshments. CVCJ is an interfaith nonprofit agency which uses volunteers to assist the elderly, disabled and veterans with services to allow them to remain independent. Details: 732-876-3900.
• The Freehold Borough Arts Council will publish its first community cookbook with recipes from residents and restaurants. Proceeds will support local arts. Interested individuals may submit a favorite family recipe and an anecdote about the recipe. Categories are appetizers, soups, salads, vegetables, entrees and desserts. To receive a submission form, email [email protected] or call Dru-Anne Palaima at 732-598-4539.
• On Aug. 11, the Manalapan Senior Center and Chapter 4 will be running a bus trip to the Westchester Broadway Theatre for a performance of “Million Dollar Quartet.” The play recounts the recording session that brought together Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the only time. Lunch is included for the cost of $59. Details: 732-446-8401.
• The Essential Tremor Support Group meets from 7-9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month (July 7) at the Jack Aaronson Conference Center at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Details: 732-462-8304, after 10 a.m.
• Vendors are being sought for an Italian festival to be held from June 29 through July 2, 6-11 p.m., at Freehold Raceway, Freehold. The event is sponsored by the Italian American Association of Monmouth County. There will be rides, games, entertainment, crafters and food at the festival. Details: Cheryl Scuorzo, 732-536-5832.
• 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.
• 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.
Items for the Datebook may be sent via email to [email protected]. Please send items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.