• The programs “Pollinators Are Not Just Bees” and “Planning Your Garden Plot,” sponsored by the Freehold Community Garden and scheduled for March 9, have been cancelled. Anyone interested in the Freehold Community Garden may visit http://www.freeholdboroughnj.gov/
• Town hall meetings will be held at 7 p.m. March 9 and March 13 to introduce Freehold Borough residents to a new program that will allow residents to present ideas and vote on how $200,000 of the 2017 budget should be spent. All borough residents age 14 and older are eligible to submit ideas and to vote for the ideas that are accepted. Details: freeholdboroughnj.gov/participatorybudgeting
• The Freehold Memorial Day Parade Committee in conjunction with Perkins Restaurant and Bakery, 3445 Route 9, Freehold Township, are having a donation day. On March 21 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Perkins will give 20 percent of a customer’s check to the committee, not including tax. A flier is needed and can be downloaded at www.freeholdmemorialdayparade.com
• Freehold Elks Lodge No. 1454 will host a St. Patty’s Day Party on March 12 following the Freehold Borough Arts Council’s St. Patty’s Day Parade. Live entertainment with be provided by the Pat Roddy Band. Corned beef sandwiches and platters will be available for purchase. A Super 50/50 Raffle and an Irish soda bread contest will be held. All are welcome to attend. Details: 732-431-8707.
• Freehold Elks Lodge No. 1454 will hold an “All You Can Eat, Cooked to Order Breakfast” on March 19 at the lodge, 73 E. Main St., Freehold, from 9 a.m. to noon. Last seating is at 11:30 a.m. Cost: $9 for adults, $5 for children under 12. All are welcome to attend. Details: 732-431-8707.
• Community members interested in earning a bachelor’s degree are invited to a free open house for the Brookdale Community College and Rutgers University Partnership, to be held from 6-8 p.m. March 14 at Brookdale’s Freehold campus, 3680 Route 9 South, Freehold Township. To register for the open house or to learn more, visit transform.rutgers.edu/open-house or call 732-625-7012.
• Knights of Columbus Freehold Council 1672 will host a St. Patrick’s Day luncheon and dinner on March 17 from noon to 8 p.m. at 70 E. Main St., Freehold. There will be corned beef sandwiches, $7, and corned beef platters, $9. The Columbian Club of Freehold will conduct their drawing of the 50/50 raffle. Winners need not be present at time of drawing. All are welcome. Details: Jim Brown, 732-780-5472.
• The Friends of the Colts Neck Library will hold their annual book sale over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, with a special “Bag O’Books” offer from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 18. A pre-sale will be held from 9-10 a.m. March 17 ($5 donation).
There is a $5 scanner fee. Free entry from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 17 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 18. The “Bag O’Books” enables book lovers to fill up a bag provided by the library for a $5 donation. To volunteer before, during or after the sale, contact Michele Battista at 732-577- 0987.
• The Italian American Cultural Society of New Jersey will host a dinner meeting on March 9 at 7 p.m. at Lemon Mediterranean Restaurant, 3475 Route 9, Freehold. BYOB. The cost is $35 per person for society 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.
• Movie Night sponsored by the Manalapan Community Center Events Committee will feature “Zootopia” from 7-9:30 p.m. March 10. Admission: $5, includes one popcorn and one water. All proceeds go to “A Soldiers Child.” Children ages 5-8 must be accompanied by adult; children ages 9 and up, drop-off, parent must come in and sign in child. Additional snacks will be available for purchase. Pre-register by emailing Arlene at [email protected]. Registration closes March 6.
• The sisterhoods of Temple Rodeph Torah and the Marlboro Jewish Center will present an evening with Jessica Fishman, author of “Chutzpah and High Heels: The Search for Love and Identity in the Holy Land” at 7:30 p.m. March 30 at Temple Rodeph Torah, Marlboro. Her book is a memoir about the difficulties, absurdities and excitement of making a home in a new country. All are welcome to attend. Coffee and dessert will be served. Admission: $5. Checks can be made out to TRT Sisterhood and mailed to Temple Rodeph Torah, P.O. Box 125, Marlboro, NJ 07746 or register online at signup.trt.org. Details: 732-308-0055.
• The Adelphia Fire Company, 925 Adelphia Road (Route 524), Howell, will hold a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon April 9. All are welcome. Adults: $10. Children: $6. All you can eat pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, orange juice, tea and cocoa.
• The Adelphia Fire Company, 925 Adelphia Road (Route 524), Howell, will hold its annual Steak Bake and Gift Auction on May 6. Doors open at 6 p.m. Dinner from 7-9 p.m. Ticket donation: $35. Includes all you can eat steak, fries, salad, dessert, soda/tea and beer. For tickets, email Mark or Katie at [email protected]
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Community Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse will host an open house at Manalapan High School, Church Lane, at 6:30 p.m. March 9. Learn how the alliance is building a stronger, healthier community. Details: 732-446-8345.
• Siloam United Methodist Church, 67 Siloam Road, Freehold Township, will host its annual corned beef and cabbage dinner (and more) on March 11. Dinner will be served from 4-6 p.m. and will be served buffet style, all you can eat. The donation is $14 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under. All are welcome to attend. Details: 732-928-0193.
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District will hold a regular action meeting at 7:30 p.m. March 14 at 54 Main St., Englishtown. The agenda includes the tentative budget adoption for 2017-18. The meeting is open to the public.
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District will hold a regular action meeting at 7:30 p.m. March 21 at 54 Main St., Englishtown. The meeting is open to the public.
• Embroiderers’ Guild of America-Monmouth Chapter is dedicated to teaching and sharing the joys of needlework. Stitchers of all levels are welcome. Day stitchers will meet on March 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 Monmouth County Audubon Society will sponsor an evening field trip to Big Brook Park, Route 520, Marlboro, in search of the American Woodcock on March 11. Participation is free. The group will meet at 5:30 pm in the parking lot of the park. The trip is open to members and non-members of the Audubon Society. Advance registration is not required. Details: http://www.monmouthaudubon.org
• The Deep Cut Orchid Society meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month (March 14) at the Monmouth Reform Temple, 332 Hance Ave., Tinton Falls. There is a speaker, refreshments and a discussion of plants on the show table. There is no cost to attend and everyone is welcome.
• The Monmouth County Genealogy Society will hold a spring workshop at the Colts Neck Reformed Church, 139 Route 537, Colts Neck, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 25. There will be four presentations. Pre-register to guarantee a printed handout; $20 for society members; $25 for non-members. Make checks payable to Monmouth County Genealogy Society and mail to: MCGS Education Committee, 19 Racquet Road, Wall, NJ 07719. Sign-in and late registration is at 8:30 a.m. March 25 ($25 and $30). Bring lunch; beverages and desserts will be provided. Details: 732-747-0090.
• The YMCA of Western Monmouth County, Freehold Township, will host a pickleball tournament on March 16. The event is open to the community. Categories include men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. Entry is $30 per team or $15 per individual. Proceeds will benefit the YCares financial assistance program. Details: Ken Cardullo, 732-727-0704, ext. 305.
• Embroiderers’ Guild of America-Monmouth Chapter is dedicated to teaching and sharing the joys of needlework. Stitchers of all levels are welcome. Evening stitchers will meet on April 3 from 7-9 p.m. at the Colts Neck Library, 1 Winthrop Driver. Day stitchers will meet on April 20 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 Italian American Association of Monmouth County will sponsor a trip to visit Arthur Avenue (Little Italy in the Bronx) on April 8. Bus leaves Freehold Township at 9 a.m., returns at 5 p.m. All members and their immediate families are invited to attend. Cost is $30 for adults and children. RSVP by March 20. Details: Cheryl, 732-536-5832.
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Community Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse will host the third annual Project Zero 5K fun run walk at the Manalapan Recreation Center at 8 a.m. April 29. Details: www.mtnj.org or 732-446-8345.
• The American Association of University Women Freehold Branch is accepting book donations for its 2017 used book sale. With the exception of Reader’s Digest condensed books and textbooks, all books in good condition are appreciated. Books may be dropped off only between 10 a.m. and noon on Tuesdays at the Freehold Savings Bank, 65 W. Main St., Freehold, or call Joan at 732-431-2297 for drop-off instructions.
• Is There Morality Only When There Are Witnesses? a talk by Rabbi Brooks Susman will be presented at 2 p.m. March 19 at the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, 310 Mount’s Corner Drive, Freehold Township. Admission: $8 for museum members and $10 for non-members. Reservations (non-refundable) are recommended. Details: 732-252-6990.
• The Essential Tremor Support Group meets from 7-9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month (April 6) at the Jack Aaronson Conference Center at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Details: 732-462-8304, after 10 a.m.
• New Jersey Blood Services is in need of volunteers to work blood drives in Ocean and Monmouth counties. Tasks include assisting donors with registration, watching donors for post-donation reactions and responding to their needs. Details: Jan Zepka, 732-616-8741.
• The Marlboro Jewish Center will sponsor an Israel Adventure for Women from June 25 through July 6, 2017. The tour will visit traditional and off-the-beaten-path sites, and include Shabbat in Jerusalem and a stop in Tel Aviv. The itinerary includes talks with Israeli women who will bring their experiences and passions to life. Details: [email protected]
• A new cancer support group will meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Monmouth Worship Center, 37 Vanderburg Road, Marlboro. A prayer group will meet at 8:30 p.m. Details: 732-332-9600.
• Abraham Lincoln High School, Brooklyn, N.Y., Class of 1967 will reunite at 6 p.m. April 23 at Gargiulo’s Restaurant, Coney Island. Details: [email protected] or 917-363-2500 or David Coleman at 732-547-2340.
• 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.