• JAR of Hope is seeking participants in an attempt to set a world record for the largest group of people to gather and do pushups at the same time. The event will take place on the morning of Sept. 16 at iPlay America, Freehold Township. JAR of Hope is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for researching a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The donation is $20 per person. Sign up at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ jar-of-hope-world-record-push-up-attempt-tickets- 32324316902?aff=eand
• The Monmouth County Park System will host its Harvest Home Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 24 at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. There will be wagon rides, games, live entertainment and Victorian era craft demonstrations. Visitors may enter a competition in vegetables, canning, condiments, baked goods, embroidery, quilting, rug hooking and more. Applications for the competition are available at www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or by calling 732-946-3758.
• The 22nd annual Monmouth County Archives and History Day will be held on Oct. 14 at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan. The event will focus on the history of Monmouth County inventors and innovators and will feature movie screenings and seminars for people of all ages. The deadline for New Jersey historical organizations to sign up for an exhibitor table is Oct. 2. Details: 732-308-3771.
• Barbara Ellman will present “They Came and Wanted to Belong: Immigration and Naturalization” at the 1:30 p.m. Sept. 10 meeting of the Monmouth County Genealogy Society at the Community Center, 72 Broad St., Eatontown. Ellman will discuss locating immigration and naturalization records as the primary sources for the information. The program is free and the public is welcome. Details: 732-747-0090.
• The Jersey Shore Rose Society will present its 45th annual Rose Show from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 16 at Deep Cut Gardens, 152 Red Hill Road, Middletown. Admission is free and all are welcome. There will be displays of roses and experts will be available to answer questions. Tours of Deep Cut Gardens will be available. Details: www.JSRoses.com
• On Sept. 11 at 8 a.m., the Monmouth County Park System will host a remembrance ceremony at Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook, Atlantic Highlands, the site of Monmouth County’s 9/11 memorial. The ceremony will be held rain or shine. All are welcome to attend.
• Farmingdale will host its annual town-wide yard sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 30 (rain date, Oct. 1). All are welcome to attend. Residents who wish to be included on the yard sale map are asked to contact Borough Hall at 732-938-4077.
• Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz will be filming episodes of “American Pickers” in New Jersey in September. Individuals who have a large private collection or an accumulation of antiques that Wolfe and Fritz can spend the better part of a day looking through may send their name, telephone number, location and a description of the collection with photos to [email protected] or call 855-OLD-RUST.
• The Italian American Cultural Society of New Jersey invites members of the public to its dinner meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 7 at Lemon Restaurant, 3475 Route 9, Freehold Township. The restaurant is BYOB. The guest speaker will be Christopher Kelly, one of the authors of “Italy Invades.” 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.
• The Heart of New Jersey Chorus is seeking new members who love to sing and perform. Interested individuals are invited to attend a rehearsal. The chorus rehearses at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Details: 732-446-9782.
• “Back to the Land: The Story of the Jewish Farmers of Monmouth County” will be presented through a display of photos and artifacts by Jean Klerman at the Howell Library, 318 Old Tavern Road, Howell, at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 7. Klerman is a retired librarian and now volunteers with the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County. The presentation is free and the public is welcome to attend. Sponsored by the Heritage Group of Howell and Friends of the Howell Library. Light refreshments will be served.
• The Jackson Library will present “Perfume to Go: Solid Scents for Purse and Pocket” at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 16. The program is for adults (18 and over). Learn how to blend natural ingredients to make a fragrant balm for a carry-around container; not recommended for individuals who have asthma, allergies or skin sensitivity. Registration opens Aug. 28. Details: 732-928-4400.
• Join Jennifer Klein, a registered dietitian with Perlmutter Family ShopRites, for a taste of Hispanic Cuisine at the Jackson Library at 2 p.m. Sept. 27. Learn how to prepare a new healthy recipe. The program is for adults (18 and over). Registration opens Aug. 28. Details: 732-928-4400.
• Create shrink plastic earrings in a feather design at 2 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Jackson Library. The program is for adults (18 and over). Supplies will be provided. Registration opens Oct. 2. Details: 732-928-4400.
• The Jackson Library will present Maker Monday! Homemade Sugar Scrub at 2 p.m. Oct. 23. Participants will make a small jar of sugar scrub with herbs and essential oils. Supplies provided. The program is for adults (18 and over). Registration opens Oct. 4. Details: 732-928-4400.
• Jackson PBA 168 will host a pig roast that is open to the public from 1-6 p.m. Sept. 9 at Pine Park, Clarence Brown picnic area, West County Line Road, Lakewood. This is a family event for all ages. All you can eat and drink (hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, sausage, clams, pizza, salads, ice cream and more). Tickets are $30 for adults (21 and over) and $25 (ages 9-20). Children 8 and under are free. There is a $5 upcharge for walk-in admission. Tickets may be purchased from any Jackson police officer. There will be boardwalk games with prizes, inflatable rides, a rock wall, face painting and a gift auction. Live music by Undisputed.
• To commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, the Jackson Library will present a lecture and interfaith dialogue with Tia Kolbaba, Department of Religion, Rutgers University, at 2 p.m. Oct. 12. Kolbaba will discuss the impact of the reformation on current day Christianity. The program is free and open to the public. Register now by calling 732-928-4400.
• There will be an afternoon book discussion for adults at the Jackson Library on Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. Participants will share their insights about “The Sisters Weiss” by Naomi Ragen. The program is free and walk-ins are welcome. Details: 732-928-4400.
• A session of Mindfulness Meditation: An Introduction will be held at the Jackson Library at 2 p.m. Sept. 11. The program is for adults. Open to beginners and the novice practitioner. Learn to relax and experience calmness, clarity and presence through guided exercises. Comfortable clothes required. The program is free. Register by calling 732-928-4400.
• New Jersey Migrant Worker: Story of a Migrant will be presented at the Jackson Library at 2 p.m. Sept. 16 for adults. Dory Dickson, director of Migrant Worker Outreach, will share stories and insights into the lives of migrant workers. The program is free. Register by calling 732-928-4400.
• The Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson, is offering free career building programs for job seekers. All are welcome. Advance registration is required. Programs are: Sept. 7, 2-4 p.m., New Jersey Career Connections: Navigating the Path to Employment; Sept. 13, 7 p.m., Job Interview Preparation Strategies; Oct. 4, 2-4 p.m., Top-Notch Resumes I – The Basics; Oct. 16, 7-8 p.m., Career Connection: Dress for Success; Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to noon, New Jersey Career Connections: Navigating the Path to Employment; Oct. 25, 6-8:30 p.m., Job Fair, open to all; Oct. 30, 2-4 p.m., Top-Notch Resumes II – Advanced. To register for a program, call 732-928-4400.
• Basket and Bag Bingo will be presented by the Cookstown Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 Ladies Auxiliary on Sept. 23 at the New Egypt Elks, 105 Lakewood Road (Route 528), New Egypt. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., Bingo starts at 7 p.m. Tickets: $30 per person. For tickets, call Karen Ivins at 609-668-2030.
• Designer Handbag Bingo will be held on Sept. 8 at Toms River Elks Lodge 1875, 600 Washington St., Toms River. Doors at 5 p.m., games at 7 p.m. The event will benefit CONTACT of Ocean and Monmouth Counties crisis intervention and suicide prevention hotline. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door; price includes four Bingo cards for each game with the option of purchasing additional cards. Details: 732-240-6104.
• 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.
• 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.