• A session of Coloring for Adults will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. April 25 at the Jackson Library. Coloring sheets and art supplies are provided, along with light refreshment and relaxing music. The program is free, but advanced registration is required. Call 732-928-4400 to register.
• The Plumsted Library will host Master Gardeners Present: Hummingbirds and Butterflies, at 2 p.m. April 13. Join the Master Gardeners of Ocean County to learn how to attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden this spring. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Plumsted Library will host at Book Café at 3 p.m. April 17. Join the Book Café group as members talk about new books and authors, and discuss their past favorites. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Plumsted Library will host a program about baby chicks at 3:30 p.m. April 19. Members of the New Egypt AG-U will celebrate chick season by sharing what people need to know about raising and caring for these birds. Program is for ages 4 and up. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Ocean County Library Puppet Players present “Mr. Pusskins” at 3:30 p.m. April 26 at the Plumsted Library. Mr. Pusskins decides to go on an adventure of a lifetime and leave his boring life behind. Program is for ages 3 and up. Details: 609-758-7888.
• Friends of the Jackson Library will host a country western dance and silent auction from 7-10:30 p.m. April 1 at Jackson Firehouse No. 55, 113 North New Prospect Road, Jackson. Music and instruction by Billy and Lisa, BTK Entertainment. Couples, singles, no experience or partner needed. Adults 18 and older welcome. Tickets are $18 before March 24 or $25 at the door (if available). Proceeds go to the Friends. Tickets: Email Diane at [email protected] or call/text 732-523-0150. To order tickets online, visit www.tinyurl.com/danceevent. Tickets will be available at the Jackson library from 2-4 p.m. March 18.
• The Heritage Group of Howell and the Friends of the Library will present local author Joseph G. Bilby at 6:30 p.m. April 6 at the Howell Library, 318 Old Tavern Road. Bilby will speak about “New Jersey’s Role in World War I,” commemorating the United States’ entry into the war on April 6, 1917. The public is invited to this free program. Light refreshments will be served.
• The Plumsted Trap, Neuter and Return Committee will host a Spay-ghetti dinner from 4-8 p.m. April 29 at American Legion Post 455, 2 Meadowbrook Road, New Egypt. Proceeds will allow the committee to care for the community’s cats. Dinner includes spaghetti, meatballs, salad. Cash bar, raffle. Donations of canned and dry cat food and dog food requested. All are welcome. Tickets: Adults, $12; Children under 10, $6; takeout, $1 extra. For tickets, call 609-317-0453.
• Jackson VFW Post 4703 will host fish fry dinners from 4-7 p.m. March 17, 24, 31 and April 7, 14 at 54 Magnolia Drive, Jackson. An $8 donation includes a fish dinner with dessert. All are welcome to attend.
• The Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson, is hosting a job fair from 6-8:30 p.m. April 5. The event is open to everyone. A list of participating businesses and organizations is available on the library’s website under Calendar of Events.
• The United Republican Club of Howell will host a meeting at 7:30 p.m. March 21 at the Howell First Aid Squad building, 10 Kent Road, Howell. All are welcome to attend. Details: Email [email protected]
• A meeting of the Monmouth County Retired Educators Association will be held at 11 a.m. April 4 at the Radisson, 50 Gibson Place, Freehold Township. Steve Eugene will present a program about Senior Internet and Scam Alerts. Members are asked to bring a non-perishable donation for the food bank and sample toiletries for the Ronald McDonald House in Long Branch. New members welcome. For luncheon reservations, contact Sue at 732-995-7754 or [email protected] before March 20.
• The Jackson Rotary Club will sponsor a bus trip to the Tropicana Casino, Atlantic City, on April 23. Cost is $34 which includes bus transportation, sandwich, chips and beverage on the bus, $25 back in slot play and gratuity for the driver. Bus leaves Jackson at noon and returns at 9 p.m. Proceeds benefit Rotary Club charities. For reservations, contact Tom Barchie at 732-207-4029.
• Brookdale Community College will hold its annual spring open house on April 2 at noon in the Collins Arena, 765 Newman Springs Road (Route 520), Lincroft. High school students, career-changers and residents of all ages are invited to meet with Brookdale staff, ask questions and explore more than 50 degree and career training programs offered through the college. Details: www.brookdalecc.edu/openhouse or 732-224-1857.
• The New Egypt Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary will host its annual chicken salad/bake sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 26 at 59 Main St., New Egypt. Pints are $6.50 and quarts are $13. Pre-orders for chicken salad must be placed by March 15. Call Debbie, 609-738-2241, or Sarah Jo, 609-758-3260.
• The Howell Library, 318 Old Tavern Road, will host a “Salute to Saint Patrick’s Day” concert by Fred Lehotay and the Ragtimers from 2-3 p.m. March 18. The band will perform traditional Irish-American music. Following the performance, light refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Howell Library.
• 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.
• A blood drive will be held at Howell Middle School South, 1 Kuzminski Way, Howell, on April 27. Babysitting and refreshments will be available. Online scheduling is available. Enter ZIP code 07731 in the Find A Blood Drive box and enter password HMSS17 to schedule an appointment. Details: Email [email protected]
• 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]
• Visiting Nurse Association Health Group/Monmouth County New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection program and Immanuel Bible Church will offer free breast exams and mammograms for uninsured or underinsured women ages 40 to 65 who reside in New Jersey and meet eligibility guidelines. The free screening will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 25 at Immanuel Bible Church, 1244 West Farms Road, Howell. Breakfast and lunch will be served. Childcare will be provided. Walk-ins are welcome. For an appointment, call 855-619-4445 or 732-933-3952.
• The Jackson Township NJ-782nd Air Force Junior ROTC will hold a tricky tray gift auction on March 18 at the Jackson Memorial High School Clayton Cafeteria. Proceeds support the ROTC unit. Doors open at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 each. Must be at least 18 years old to attend. Details: Major Michael Macagnone, 732-833-4642.
• The Sons of the American Legion Post 455, 2 Meadowbrook Lane, New Egypt, invites the community to its all you can eat breakfast on the first Sunday of each month (April 2) from 7-11 a.m. Cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children. Children under 4 are free. Breakfast features scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, pork roll, potatoes, french toast, pancakes and more. There is also a station to order omelets.
• Free income tax help provided by representatives of AARP will be offered at the Plumsted Library from 1-5 p.m March 22 and 29. The program will electronically complete and file a federal return and a New Jersey tax return. The program is available to all taxpayers, but special emphasis is provided to those age 60 or over with low to moderate income. Appointments are necessary. To make an appointment, call 609-758-7888.
• On March 22 at 6:30 p.m., the Jackson Library will host a workshop from Ocean County SCORE that is designed to educate entrepreneurs and help small businesses start, grow and succeed. The workshop is for adults and registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400, option 4.
• 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.
• “Annie Oakley: Aim for a High Mark” will be presented at the Plumsted Library at 3:30 p.m. March 24. Sharpshooter Annie Oakley’s motto was to “aim for a high mark … for practice will make you perfect.” The program is for ages 5 and up. Details: 609-758-7888.
• Stages Festival: “Gerald Fierst Storytelling – Tales from Around the World” will be held at the Plumsted Library at 6 p.m. March 29. Multi-cultural folktales will come alive as Gerald Fierst tells stories using audience participation, drama, laughter and surprises. The program is for all ages. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Jackson Library will offer a dance lesson for beginners in country western dancing at 2 p.m. March 18 (adults, 18 and over). The lesson is courtesy of BTK Entertainment. Couples, singles, no experience or partner needed. Registration is required. To register, call 732-928-4400.
• Free tax assistance provided by members of AARP will be available at the Jackson Library on March 23 and 30 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Program is open to anyone who is eligible to file a tax return. Appointments are required. Must bring previous year(s) returns, photo ID, Social Security or I-Tin card and relevant tax documents. Call 732-928-4400, ext. 3808 to make and appointment.
• The Jackson Library’s knitting group, Knit-Chat-Chain, is seeking donations of yarn and wool. The members of the group create sweaters, hats, scarves and blankets to donate to charity. Yarn donations may be brought to the Circulation Desk during library hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Details: 732-928-4400.
• Basket and Bag Bingo presented by the Cookstown Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 Ladies Auxiliary will be held on April 8 at the New Egypt Elks, 105 Lakewood Road (Route 528), New Egypt. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., Bingo starts promptly at 7 p.m. Tickets: $30 per person. For tickets, call Karen Ivins at 609-668-2030.
• A knitting group meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at Sabbath House, 8 Front St., New Egypt. Members are knitting and crocheting scarves for the Seaman’s Church Institute in Newark. Patterns, yarn and help is available.
• 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.
• St. Aloysius Church, 935 Bennetts Mills Road, Jackson, offers support groups to help people better understand their feelings and to meet others who are dealing with the same life issues. A bereavement support group meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. and a divorced and separated support group meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. Both meetings are held in the parish office. A freewill donation of $5 is requested. Details: Email St [email protected].
Items for the Datebook may be sent to [email protected]. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.