• The Ladies of St. Joseph Church, 91 Stillhouse Road, Millstone Township, will host “What’s for Lunch,” a culinary demonstration with Chef Jason Metz, from 12:30-3:30 p.m. April 22. There will be lunch (crisp greens and biscuits with a trio of braised meats to celebrate la primavera) and beverages, BYOB and a gift basket raffle. Adults only. Admission is $30 in advance and $35 at the door. To make a reservation, call Rosalie, 732-490-5302.
• The Allentown Public Library Association will host a Trivia Night fundraiser at 7 p.m. April 14 at the Allentown First Aid Squad, 70 Route 526, Allentown. The cost is $15 per person. Teams may enter or individuals may enter and be placed on a team. Sign-up is available at the library. All proceeds will benefit the library. Details: 609-259-7565.
• An annual Easter egg hunt hosted by the MOMS Club of Millstone Township will be held at 11 a.m. March 31 (rain or shine) at Wagner Farm Park, 4 Baird Road, Millstone Township. Hunt for eggs, prizes, children’s crafts, refreshments and a visit from the Easter Bunny. The event is open to the public. Details: momsclubofmillstone.com
• Allentown FFA Parents, Alumni and Friends (PAF) will host the 11th annual gift auction and spaghetti dinner at 6 p.m. March 24 at the Hope Fire Company, 82 Route 526, Upper Freehold Township. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Allentown FFA PAF supports the Allentown High School FFA chapter throughout the year. Admission is $15. Seating is limited to the first 175 individuals (no seats will be saved). Details: 609-259‐7292, ext. 1440 or ext. 1443.
• The Allentown Lions Club will host an Easter Eggstravaganza Hunt on March 24 at 9 a.m. in Dr. Farmer’s Park on Lakeview Drive. There will be special prizes for gold and silver eggs. Age groups are: 1 to 3, 4 to 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to 12. Meet the Easter Bunny. This is a free event and pre-registration is not required.
• The Allentown Lions Club will host the 12th annual Run With the Eagles 5K Run, 5K Walk, 5K Two-Person Relay and 1-mile Fun Run on April 7 at the Cream Ridge Winery, 145 Route 539, Upper Freehold. Proceeds benefit local and regional community organizations. There will be team and individual awards, refreshments and T-shirts available. Register online at Eagles5K.com. Walk-up registration at 8 a.m.; fun run at 9 a.m.; 5K events at 10 a.m.
• Allentown will host a rabies clinic from 9-11 a.m. March 24 at the municipal annex on Church Street. There is no cost to have a pet vaccinated and residents of all towns may bring their pet for a rabies vaccination. Allentown residents may register or renew their pet’s license at the same time. Cash or check payable to the Borough of Allentown will be accepted for license renewal.
• The Monmouth County Board of Elections is seeking poll workers. To qualify, an individual must be a registered voter in Monmouth County and attend a poll worker training class. Individuals will be paid $200 for working a primary election or a general election. Call 732-431-7802, ext. 7150 to register for a training class.
• Master Gardeners of Monmouth County are offering scholarships of up to $2,000 to two Monmouth County college students or graduating high school seniors who will be studying horticulture, environmental sciences, or engineering, botany or other agriculture related fields at a state college or university this fall. Applicants must be county residents and must have demonstrated an interest in the fields of horticulture and agriculture, as well as landscape or environmental issues, through class work, employment, community service or extracurricular activities. Applications available at www.VisitMonmouth.com. The application, a high school transcript and a letter of recommendation are due by May 1 to the Master Gardeners of Monmouth County, 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold Township. Details: 732-431-7260.
• Brookdale Community College will hold its annual spring open house on April 15 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. Attendees are encouraged to arrive at noon to participate in all open house activities. To register or learn more, visit www.brookdalecc.edu/openhouse or call 732-224-1857.
• Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden’s Citizen Police Academy/Law Enforcement Mini Academy offers county residents age 14 and above an opportunity to learn about the
roles of modern law enforcement agencies. Speakers will discuss their roles in law enforcement and the role of citizens in assisting in those agencies in the war against crime and terrorism. The course will be held at the Monmouth County Police Academy, Freehold Township, in six sessions, Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m., May 3 through June 7. Details: Kathy Morrison, 732-431-6400, ext. 1122.
• Monmouth County has scheduled paper shredding events so county residents have opportunities to get rid of old documents and confidential files safely. All shredding events will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. as follows: June 16, Upper Freehold Township, 314 Route 539, municipal building. County residents may bring up to 100 pounds to be shredded. All papers will be shredded on location in the mobile truck. Documents should be free of large binder clips; staples and paper clips may be left on documents. Details: 732-683-8686, ext. 6721.
• The Monmouth County Park System will host a free demonstration of Miss Melissa’s Aardvarks music class from 10-10:45 a.m. March 29 at the Clayton Park Activity Center, 202 Davis Station Road, (Imlaystown) Upper Freehold. Parents and their children age 6 months to 5 years are invited to join instructor Bri Lobue and sample this interactive class. Pre-registration is not required for the free session. The park system will offer a 10-week class of Miss Melissa’s Aardvarks at the Clayton Park Activity Center from 9:30-10:15 a.m. Thursdays, April 5 through June 7. An additional session is offered from 10:30-11:15 a.m. The cost of each session is $160 per parent/child pair, plus a $40 materials fee. The cost of a second child is $110; $70 for an additional sibling. Pre-registration required. To register, visit www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call 732-842-4000, ext. 1.
• Basket and Bag Bingo will be presented by the Cookstown Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 Ladies Auxiliary on April 14 at the New Egypt Elks Lodge, 105 Lakewood Road (Route 528), New Egypt. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Bingo starts promptly at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person. Call Karen Ivins at 609-668-2030 for tickets and more information.
• iPlay America, Freehold Township, will host Sonny the Bunny for a “Colossal Carrot Adventure!” from 10 a.m. to noon March 24. This event is free, but registration is required. Participants will collect Easter eggs filled with treats and prizes. There will be a VIB! (Very Important Bunny!) breakfast with Sonny the Bunny, $14.95 for children ages 2-12, and $24.95 for adults. Details: https://www.iplayamerica.com/event/colossal-carrot-adventure/
• The Fresh Air Fund is seeking area residents who would like to host a child this summer through the fund’s Friendly Towns Program. The children participate in activities with their host family during their stay. The Fresh Air Fund has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.8 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. Children are boys and girls, ages 7 to 18. Details: Karen Medlin, 732-740-0449, or visit www.freshair.org
• 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.
• Disabled American Veterans Chapter 74, Freehold, will meet at 7 p.m. March 27 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.
Items for the Datebook may be sent to [email protected]. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.