• The Colts Neck Community Band band will perform on May 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Colts Neck High School; on June 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Thompson Park, Lincroft; and on July 3 for the fireworks and Independence Day celebration at the Bucks Mill Recreation Area, Colts Neck. All are invited to the concerts. Details: www.coltsneckband.org
• Jewelry Design Gallery, Towne Pointe shopping center, 357 Route 9 South, Manalapan, will host a meet and greet event for Manalapan business owners on behalf of the Manalapan Business Association from 7-9 p.m. May 2. Email [email protected] to sign up or for more information.
• A Day for Danny fundraiser will be held from 7-9 p.m. May 13 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish Hall, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. Funds raised will benefit Danny Scerbo, a parishioner who is battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma. There will be entertainment, coffee, tea and dessert. Admission is free; donations will be accepted. All are invited to attend.
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education will hold a regular action meeting at 7:30 p.m. May 2 at the district administration building, 54 Main St., Englishtown. The meeting is open to the public.
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education will hold a regular action meeting at 7:30 p.m. May 9 at the district administration building, 54 Main St., Englishtown. The meeting is open to the public.
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education will hold a regular action meeting at 7:30 p.m. May 23 at the district administration building, 54 Main St., Englishtown. The meeting is open to the public.
• A Mother’s Day flower sale will be held by the Marlboro Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 13 at the Marlboro firehouse, corner of Route 79 and School Road West, Marlboro. Hand-painted flower pots, hanging baskets and other Mother’s Day plants will be available. Details: Marlboro Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary on Facebook.
• The Innovation Network of Brookdale Community College students are volunteering at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 45 South St., Freehold, and will host an auction of furniture, appliances, etc. from noon to 5 p.m. April 29. Profits will benefit Habitat for Humanity. All are welcome to attend. Admission to the auction is free.
• On May 4, Monmouth Worship Center, Marlboro, will host three events to celebrate the National Day of Prayer: at 11 a.m. at the monument in front of the Monmouth County Court House, Freehold; a mid-day prayer service at noon at the church, 37 Vanderburg Road, Marlboro; prayer and worship at 7:30 p.m. at the church. All are welcome to attend. Details: 732-332-9600.
• A dance event to benefit the JAR of Hope Foundation, which is seeking a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, will be held at iPlay America, Freehold Township, at 8:30 p.m. April 29 featuring DJ Antonio Corrao; TKA; and Sweet Sensation. The event is for ages 21 and over. General admission: $35; Early entry, $60; VIP ticket: $125 (up front roped off area, meet and greet with photo opportunity). Details: http://www.iplayamerica.com/event/jar-of-hope/
• The fifth annual Senior Brain Health Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 28 at the YMCA Community Center, 41 Center St., Freehold Borough. Keynote speaker Claire Verruni, a registered nurse from Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, will speak about maintaining brain health. There will be activities, prizes and refreshments. Call 732-542-1326 to register for this free event.• Pick Your Paw will host its first vendor and craft event from noon to 3 p.m. April 30 at the Manalapan Community Center, 114 Route 33, Manalapan. The event will raise money for the pups of Pick Your Paw on National Animal Advocacy Day. A donation of any amount is suggested at the door.
• A Mommy and Me Mother’s Day Tea will be held at the Manalapan Community Center, 114 Route 33, Manalapan, from 1-3 p.m. May 7. Dress for tea. Come make a bonnet, jewelry and flowers. Menu features tea, apple juice, tea sandwiches, fancy fruit and fancy dessert. Cost is $10 per person. Pre-registration required by May 1. E-mail [email protected] for registration.
• The Marlboro Recreation Community Center, Wyncrest Road, will host a book fair to benefit the Marlboro-Nanto youth exchange program. Book sale weekend: Preview, $10 per person on April 29 from 10 a.m. to noon. Regular sale, no admission fee, April 29 from noon to 8 p.m. and April 30 from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mother’s day jewelry gifts will be available during regular book sale hours. Details: Ilana, 732-674-4989.
• On April 29 at 8 p.m., the Freehold Jewish Center, Freehold Borough, will present Casino Night. The event is open to all and will feature games, food, bar and prizes. Winnings will be redeemable for prizes. Admission at the door will be $100 per person and $180 per couple. Details: 732-462-0254.
• The East Freehold Fire Company, 191 Dutch Lane Road, Freehold Township, will host a blood drive with the Central Jersey Blood Bank on April 26 from 4-8 p.m. To prearrange a donation time, contact Jerry Kiwit at 732-614-6343. An appointment is not necessary. Several members of the fire company will be on hand to give a tour of the facility and the fire trucks for those interested.
• The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, Freehold Township, will present a talk by Amy Weinstein, senior oral historian at the National Sept. 11th Memorial and Museum, at 2 p.m. April 30. Weinstein will speak about her work at the museum, focusing on stories and artifacts that relate to New Jersey residents and to Jewish victims and responders of the terrorist attack at the World Trade Center. Weinstein grew up and attended public school in Freehold Township. Admission is $10 for museum members and $12 for non-members. To make a reservation, call 732-252-6990.
• The Freehold and Old Bridge YMCAs will co-host an outdoor yoga and meditation day retreat on June 3 from 7 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at Camp Topanemus, Route 537, Millstone Township. Registration is open now. To view the retreat schedule, visit www.ymcanj.org. Details: Denise Bucciero, 732-727-0704.
• “Get More Organized” will be the theme of the May 7 meeting of the Monmouth County Genealogy Society at the Community Center, 72 Broad St., Eatontown. Beverly Yackel will explain her techniques for organizing genealogy research at 1:30 p.m. The program is free and the public is welcome. Details: 732-747-0090.
• The Marlboro Library will welcome Reed Farrel Coleman, author of Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone series and the author of the Gus Murphy series, at 1 p.m. May 10 for a reading and book signing. Coleman is a three-time recipient of the Shamus Award for Best PI Novel of the Year and a three-time Edgar Award nominee in three different categories. Registration is requested as seating is limited. Call 732-536-9406 to reserve a seat. Guests should indicate if they are interested in purchasing a book.
• The YMCA of Western Monmouth County, 470 East Freehold Road, Freehold Township, will host a healthy community day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 29. The event is free and open to the public. Guests will enjoy open access to the YMCA all day, fitness class demonstrations, camp and jobs information, and more. Details: 732-462-0464.
• CentraState Healthcare Foundation will host the eighth annual “Paulette’s C of Blue Run/Walk” on May 7 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. The outdoor event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a 5K, 1-mile and children’s fun run in addition to food, music, awards and local vendors. The cost for the run/walk is adults, $20, and children under 10, $10, before April 24. Event proceeds benefit cancer services and programs at CentraState Medical Center. To Register, visit www.centrastatefoundation.org/Paulette
• The annual Spirit of the Jerseys State History Fair will be held on May 13 at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Route 33, Manalapan, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. Five centuries of New Jersey’s history will be represented by exhibitors and re-enactors. Activities include 19th century baseball, plowing demonstrations, period music, and historical figures from New Jersey’s past. Free admission/suggested $10 parking donation. Details: www.njhistoryfair.org
• The Essential Tremor Support Group meets from 7-9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month (May 4) at the Jack Aaronson Conference Center at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Details: 732-462-8304, after 10 a.m.
• The Deep Cut Orchid Society meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month (May 9) 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 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.
• Brookdale Community College will present its annual guitar show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 30 in the Brookdale Recreation and Events Center, Lincroft. There will be live performances, exclusive deals on guitars, musical equipment and more, and educational workshops. General admission: $12; free for children 12 and under. Details: www.brookdaleguitarshow.com
• 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.
• The Monmouth County Park System will host demonstrations of a 19th century grist mill at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township, from 1-4 p.m. April 29-30. There is no cost to attend the demonstration.
• The Monmouth County Audubon Society will host a walk at Seven Presidents Park, Long Branch, at 10 a.m. April 30 to look at nesting shorebirds and to examine the role of the shorebird monitor program in the birds’ protection. Meet at 10 a.m. in the north parking lot (corner of Ocean Avenue North and Atlantic Avenue) outside the Skateplex. All are welcome to attend. Participation is free and advance registration is not required. Details: http://www.monmouthaudubon.org
• 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]
• 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.
• 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.