• The Shrewsbury Chorale will host open rehearsals at 7:45 p.m. Sept. 12 and Sept. 19 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County, 1475 W. Front St., Lincroft. Scores are provided and there is no charge. The chorale is accepting singers of all voice parts, high school age and up. To schedule an audition, call 609-686-9140. Details: 732-747-1362 or www.shrewsburychorale.org
• Manalapan PBA Local 229 will host its annual Grill ‘n Chill Family Fun Day from 2-10 p.m. Aug. 19 (rain date, Aug. 20) at Country Roads Day Camp, Pine Brook Road. There will be activities, live music, beverages, food and a BBQ provided by the PBA’s partner and sponsor, Wegmans. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Brennan Stands Alone and My Sports Friends, a charity for children with special needs. Tickets are $25 for age 13 and up and $10 for ages 5-12. Children under 5 are free. To purchase tickets, visit www.ManalapanPBA229.com or the Manalapan PBA Facebook page, or come to police headquarters in town hall. All are welcome to attend.
• The Freehold Memorial Day Parade Committee, in conjunction with The Cabin, Route 33, Howell, will have a donation day on Sept. 19. The Cabin will donate 20 percent of a guest’s check to the committee (not including tax). Guests may bring the flier or mention to the hostess that they are there for for the parade. The website for the flier is www.freeholdmemorialdayparade.com
• The Monmouth County Park System will present an Eco-Elephant Family Flea Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Dorbrook Recreation Area, Route 537, Colts Neck. There will be new items, collectibles, novelties, household items and more available for purchase. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Disabled American Veterans Chapter 74, Freehold, will meet at 7 p.m. Sept. 26 at the American Legion, 62 W. Main St. Freehold. Chapter members, DAV members-at-large who are seeking a chapter and veterans with disabilities who are seeking assistance and advice are welcome to attend the meeting. Dinner of pizza and subs is provided.
• St. Gabriel Church, Marlboro, will present its ninth comedy night with an all new lineup of New York City comedians on Oct. 19 at the Reception Center at St. Clement, Matawan. The evening includes dinner, a gift auction and a raffle. Doors open at 7 p.m. Cost is $45 per person. For reservations, email [email protected]
• The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Monmouth County and 4-H Youth Development Program will host the “Birds, Bugs and Beyond” festival from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Monmouth County Agricultural Building, 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold Township. The theme is “Adventures in Nature” and the event will feature children’s activities with displays of insects, birds and other garden creatures. This is a free program. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Details: 732-431-7260.
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Community Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse will host the Project Zero car show from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 31 at the Manalapan Recreation Center, Route 522. Information will be provided to assist individuals who are battling addiction. There is no cost to car show participants or attendees. Registration forms for car show participants are available at www.mtnj.org or by calling the Manalapan Health Department at 732-446-8345.
• Single Active Seniors (SAS) is a discussion and activity group for men and women over 55. SAS meets every Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in the Colts Neck Reformed Church, Route 537 West, Colts Neck (in the white building to the right of the church). Social activities are introduced and group participation is encouraged. There are no fees and all are welcome to attend. Details: Email [email protected], subject line, SAS.
• Embroiderers’ Guild of America-Monmouth Chapter welcomes stitchers of all levels. There are sit and stitch tables at each meeting, as well as special projects. Day stitchers will meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 17 at the Colts Neck Library. Details: Toni, 732-462-5540, or www.mcega.org
• Monmouth Worship Center, 37 Vanderburg Road, Marlboro, will hold a vacation Bible school with the theme “Maker Fun Factory.” Children will discover they are created by God and built for a purpose; Aug. 21-25, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Registration is $20 by Aug. 8 and $30 after that date. Details: 732-332-9600.
• The Old Brick Church, 490 Route 520, Marlboro, is offering vendor spaces at its annual trash and treasure sale and flea market on Sept. 16. Sellers of new, used, household, vintage and antique items and more are welcome. Large outside spaces rent at $15. There is ample parking at the church. Food will be available. For an application, contact Sharon at 732-264-3046.
• A fundraiser to benefit Jewish War Veterans Post 536, Manalapan-Marlboro, will be held at Texas Roadhouse, 1000 Route 9, Old Bridge, from noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 27 and from 4-10 p.m. Aug. 28. A flier is necessary; 10 percent of each bill will be donated to Post 536. Details: 732-721-0780.
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education will meet on Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. for a regular action meeting at the district offices at 54 Main St., Englishtown. The meetings are open to the public.
• A free yoga class is offered every Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Morganville United Methodist Church, 215 Conover Road, Marlboro. All are welcome. Bring a mat or a large towel. Details: 732-946-4247 or 732-536-2031.
• The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, 310 Mount’s Corner Drive, Freehold Township, will host its first Student Film Short Festival at 2 p.m. Aug. 20. Admission is $10. The project is being headed by museum volunteer Avery Cohen, who is a college student majoring in film studies. Details: 732-252-6990.
• The Freehold Regional High School Class of 1962 will host a 55-year reunion on Oct. 14 at the American Hotel, Freehold, from 7 p.m. to midnight. The cost of $62 per person includes hors d’oeuvres, buffet, DJ, valet parking and other special activities. On Oct. 13 from 7-10 p.m., a pizza get together will be held at the Freehold Elks Club. The cost is $10 per person. The weekend’s activities will conclude on Oct. 15 with a brunch beginning at 11 a.m. at the American Hotel. The cost of the brunch is $15 per person. Invitations for all events have been mailed to class members. If you have not received one, contact Don Ollwerther at 732-462-2732 or email [email protected]. Up-to-date reunion information can be found at www.frhs62.com or on Facebook at Freehold Regional High School Class of 1962.
• The 16th annual “An Evening in the Vineyards” wine tasting event to benefit the Linda E. Cardinale Multiple Sclerosis Center at CentraState will be held from 7-10 p.m. Sept. 15 in the Star and Barry Tobias Ambulatory Campus, Freehold Towsnhip. More than 70 wines will be featured along with spirits (coordinated by Max’s Beer Wine and Liquor) and food provided by the Metropolitan Café and Great Restaurants catering. The Gordon Stillwell Tasting Room upgrade is a special tasting experience featuring several exclusive Napa Valley wines and food pairings for the most discerning wine enthusiasts. Tickets are $150 per person and sponsorships are available. Details: 732-294-7099.
• The Monmouth County Audubon Society will host a summer evening bird walk on Sandy Hook in northern Monmouth County at 6 p.m. Aug. 24. Meet in parking lot M (5.7 miles from the entrance gate). Follow Hartshorne Drive, the main park road, north to Atlantic Avenue, then right on Ford Road to parking lot M. All are welcome to attend. Advance registration is not required. This trip will involve walking in sand for about one-third of a mile each way along Fisherman’s Trail at the northern tip of Sandy Hook. Details: http://www.monmouthaudubon.org or email [email protected]
• The Deep Cut Orchid Society meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month (Sept. 12) 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 Freehold Borough K-8 School District Board of Education has made changes to its meeting schedule. The Aug. 21 meeting will be moved to 7 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Park Avenue complex. The Oct. 9 and Oct. 23 board meetings are cancelled. The board will meet on Oct. 16 at the Freehold Learning Center, Dutch Lane Road.
• The Old Bridge Toastmasters Club meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 7:15-9 p.m. at the Sayre Woods Bible Church, 2290 Route 9 South, Old Bridge. The club seeks to help individuals become better speakers and better leaders. There is no cost to attend a meeting and residents of all towns are welcome to attend. Details: 908-906-4926 or http://oldbridge.toastmastersclubs.org/
• Look for turtles, egrets, herons, ospreys and other wildlife during a boat tour of the Manasquan Reservoir, Howell. Each 45-minute tour leaves from the Visitor Center, Windeler Road, Howell. Tours are offered at the top of the hour from 2-5 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, May 6 through Sept. 4. Wednesday tours are offered at 2, 3 and 4 p.m. from July 5 through Aug. 30. Evening tours are offered on the first Friday of each month May through September; call 732-751-9453 as times vary for the evening tours. All tours are weather and water level dependent. The fee is $6 per adult and $4 per child age 12 and under.
• The Essential Tremor Support Group meets from 7-9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month (Sept. 7) 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 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 to [email protected]. Please send items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.