• The Monmouth County Retired Educators Association is sponsoring a Members and Family Picnic at Oak Tree Lodge, Wall Township, on Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a picnic lunch, entertainment, games and activities, and socializing with friends and former colleagues. Fee for association members is $5, non-members, $35. Children under 5 are free. Guests between the ages of 5 and 11 are $15 per person. Details: Sue, 732 995-7754, before Aug. 18.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars, 50 Waterworks Road, Freehold, will host its second annual clambake from 1-7 p.m. Aug. 6 (rain date Aug. 7). Music by Glen Lykes. Admission: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Children under 12 are free. Hot dogs, clams on half shell, roasted clams, steamers, mussel marinara. All are welcome to attend. Details: 732-414-2133.
• New Jersey Blood Services, which supplies blood products and services to 60 hospitals throughout the state, is in need of volunteers at blood drives. Volunteers assist donors with registration, escorting and canteen duties, and watch for post-donation reactions. Details: R. Jan Zepka, 732-616-8741.
• The Essential Tremor Support Group meets from 7-9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month (Aug. 4) at the Jack Aaronson Conference Center at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Details: 732-462-8304, after 10 a.m.
• A discussion about “How to Claim and Maximize Social Security Benefits” will take place from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish Center, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. John Ramus, a claims specialist with the Social Security office, Neptune, will provide information. The free discussion will be hosted by Kathy Lo Bue, managing director, Glen Eagle Advisors. Adults of all ages invited. Refreshments provided. RSVP to 732-866-6660.
• The Monmouth County Audubon Society will host a bird walk to look for nesters and shorebirds on Sandy Hook in northern Monmouth County. The walk is scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 18. The trip is open to members and non-members of the Audubon Society and participation is free. Advance registration is not required. Pets are not permitted. Anyone interested in participating can meet at 6 p.m. in Parking Lot M. Details: http://www.monmouthaudubon.org/field_trips.htm/
• A flea market and trash and treasure sale will be held by the Old Brick Church, 490 Route 520, Marlboro, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 24. A wide variety of items will be available for sale along with a lunch menu and home-baked goods. Spaces are now available to the public for $15. Details: Sharon, 732-264-3046.
• Raising Hope for Others, a charitable group that assists people during life’s most difficult times, will hold its ninth annual fundraiser from 2-5 p.m. Aug. 6 at the Gordons Corner firehouse, 683 Tennent Road, Manalapan. Activities include a silent auction, a petting zoo and children’s crafts. All are welcome to attend. Details: www.raisinghopeforothers.com
• Jamie Primak Sullivan, the star of Bravo TV’s “Jersey Belle” and creator of the daily web series #cawfeetawk, will discuss and sign her new book “The Southern Education of a Jersey Girl: Adventures in Life and Love in the Heart of Dixie” at 7 p.m. Aug. 3 at Barnes and Noble, Route 9, Freehold.
• Center Players of Freehold will hold open auditions for a production of Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys” at the Center Playhouse, 35 South St., Freehold, from 7-9 p.m. Aug. 7-8 The play will be performed on weekends from Oct. 21 through Nov. 20. All roles are open. Rehearsals begin in mid-August and average three evenings per week. There will be cold readings from the script. Details: Email Ray Parnese at [email protected]
• The Hannahs and To The Skyline will perform at the Manalapan Community Center, Route 33, Manalapan, at 8 p.m. Aug. 5. Details: [email protected]
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education will meet at 7:30 p.m. on the following dates: Aug. 9, committee of the whole; Aug. 23, regular action meeting. All meetings will be held at the board offices at 54 Main St., Englishtown. The meetings are open to the public. Details: 732-786-2500.
• Seniors who graduated from Freehold Regional High School, Freehold Borough, and Southern Freehold Regional High School, Howell, in June 1966 will get together from Aug. 26-28 for a combined 50-year reunion. The seniors who graduated in 1966 spent their freshman and sophomore years together in Freehold Borough, before Southern Freehold Regional opened in September 1964 and the class was divided. There will be a combined reunion from 6-11 p.m. Aug. 27 at the American Hotel, Freehold. To make a reservation, contact Donna Cusworth Hansen at [email protected] for Southern Freehold Regional or Steve Herr at [email protected] for Freehold Regional.
• 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.
• 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.
Items for the Datebook may be sent via email to [email protected]. Please send items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.