• An emergency special meeting of the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education will be held at 7:30 p.m. July 31 at the district offices, 54 Main St., Englishtown. The meeting is open to the public. Action will be taken. Details: 732-786-2500.
• The Colts Neck Library, 1 Winthrop Drive, Colts Neck, will host a classical concert presented by flutist Marjorie Koharski and guitarist Keith Calmes at 7 p.m. Aug. 30. The event is free, all are welcome and registration is not required. The duo will play pieces by composers Joseph Haydn and Mauro Giuliani, and premiere a work by French composer Jean-Maurice Mourat that he dedicated to the pair. Details: 732-431-5656.
• The Allentown Business Community Association will host a Faerie Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 4 (rain date, Aug. 5) in Allentown. All are welcome, including faeries, gnomes, elves, pixies, and wizards. Fun for the whole family, including a storyteller at the Old Mill, tattoos at the One Eyed Turtle, fairy makeup before the contest for adults and children at the One Eyed Turtle, crafters selling goods for purchase, meet and greet with live faeries throughout town, a faerie garden treasure hunt throughout town, a Pixie Parade starting at the Old Mill at 11 a.m. with a costume contest to follow, unicorn rides behind Branching Out from 1-4 p.m. and a butterfly release at Pete Sensi Park at 3 p.m.
• “Bugs, Birds and Beyond,” a free festival for children of all ages, will be presented at the Monmouth County Agriculture Building, 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold Township, from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 18 (rain or shine). “Penguins on Parade!” will be presented by Jenkinson’s Aquarium. There will be educational displays, activities, games and crafts. Live butterflies, snakes, turtles, rabbits, insects, bees and more. Details: 732-303-7614 or 732-431-7260, ext. 7264.
• The fifth annual PJ Library Summer Carnival will take place at The Hebrew Academy (formerly Solomon Schechter Day School), Marlboro, from 10-11:30 a.m. Aug. 19. The carnival will feature pony rides, a petting zoo, games, face-painting, prizes, snacks and more. A PJ Library Carnival Enrollment Special will also be offered. RSVP is required. Admission to the carnival is free. To RSVP, contact Linda Glickstein at 732-431-5525.
• Students in sixth grade and up are invited to a special music and creativity program with Rap and Hip-Hop artist Myster-E (Eric Shandroff) at 7 p.m. Aug. 6 at the Freehold Public Library, East Main Street, Freehold Borough. Admission is free. Parking available in the Market Yard parking lot. Details: 732-462-5135.
• A carnival and book sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 28 at Old Tennent Presbyterian Church, 448 Tennent Road, Manalapan. All are welcome to attend. There will be books (fiction, non-fiction, religious, mysteries, children’s books, and more), games and prizes, food and sweet treats, and crafts. Details: 732-446-6299.
• Pitties and Pals Rescue Inc. will hold its first white party fundraising event at the Colts
Neck Golf Club, Colts Neck, from 7-10 p.m. Aug. 10. Proceeds will benefit Pitties and Pals’ rescue efforts. Tickets are $125 per person (food, drinks, music, raffles). Sponsorships are available. The group’s mission is to rescue dogs that are in danger of being euthanized from local animal shelters and to educate the public. Pitties and Pals is also seeking qualified fosters and adopters for dogs of all breeds. All costs associated with the care of the dog are paid for by Pitties and Pals during the fostering process. Details: Donna, 908-770-5263; or go to www.eventbrite.com/e/pitties-and-pals-white-party-tickets-46429829871-tickets; or www.pittiesandpals.com
• Monmouth Worship Center, Marlboro, will present a Mega Sports Camp “Epic Moments.” From Aug. 6-10, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., children in kindergarten through sixth grade can come and learn techniques in soccer, baseball and football while they learn to put their faith into action on and off the sports field. Registration fee is $20 per child and includes snacks and special gifts every day. Camp is held at the Marlboro Recreation Community Center football field. Contact Monmouth Worship Center, 732-332-9600, for a registration form.
• Monmouth Worship Center, 37 Vanderburg, Marlboro, will present its annual Vacation Bible School. With this year’s theme, “Shipwrecked, Rescued by Jesus,” children will discover that Jesus rescues. Vacation Bible School will run from Aug. 20-24, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Registration fee is $20 per child and includes all supplies, snacks and special gifts every day. Call 732-332-9600 to obtain a registration form.
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Community Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse will host its annual Project Zero car show on Aug. 20 from 6-8 p.m. at Manalapan High School, 30 Church Lane, Manalapan. A free ice cream sundae will be offered to the first 500 participants and attendees. During the event, the alliance will present a short program and allow the community to come together to remember individuals lost to addiction. There is no cost to participate as a car show participant or spectator. On-site registration will be accepted pending space starting at 5 p.m. Registration forms for car show participants are available at www.projectzeromanalapan.org or www.mtnj.org, or call 732-446-8345.
• Golden Years Design Benefits will hold a Medicare workshop at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Colts Neck Library, 1 Winthrop Drive, Colts Neck. The purpose of the event is to educate seniors about Medicare, how to apply, explain what Medicare covers, secondary coverage options, and the Part D prescription drug program. The event is strictly educational with no solicitation. Details: 732-526-7659.
• Center Players Dessert Theater will hold auditions for John Miranda’s “Italian Funerals and Other Festive Occasions” at Center Playhouse, 35 South St., Freehold, on July 29 at 7 p.m. and July 30 at 7 p.m. Possible callbacks on July 31 at 7 p.m. Performance dates: Oct. 19 through Nov. 11 (Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.). A complete character list is available at www.centerplayers.org. Sides from the play will be provided. Please bring resume and headshot if available. Non-union, no pay.
• An outdoor flea market, craft sale and yard sale will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary, 118 Route 526, Upper Freehold Township. New and used merchandise, crafts, food and fun. Free admission. Family friendly. Leashed dogs welcome. Details: Email [email protected]
• Old Freehold Day will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 18 at Lake Topanemus, Pond Road, Freehold Township. There will be activities for all ages, vendors, entertainment, boating, and more. Residents of all communities are welcome to attend.
• Join the Monmouth County Park System for Enviro-Quest. Meeting each week at a different county park, this nature program is fun, easy and free. Start in the parking lot and follow the Enviro-Quest signs to where the park system naturalist is waiting. Once there, join in activities, crafts or games for 30 to 60 minutes of nature fun. The partial schedule is as follows: Aug. 9, 11 a.m. to noon, Thompson Park, Lincroft, meet at the Old Orchard Picnic Shelter; Aug. 30, 11 a.m. to noon, Turkey Swamp Park, Freehold Township, meet at the Oak Point Picnic Shelter. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or 732-842-4000.
• The Freehold Borough K-8 School District Board of Education meetings originally scheduled for Aug. 7 and Aug. 21 at the Park Avenue Complex will all be held in the Borough Council meeting room at Borough Hall, 51 W. Main St., Freehold Borough, at 7 p.m. on those dates. Immediately preceding the Aug. 7 meeting, there will be a Committee of the Whole meeting at 6 p.m. for the purpose of goal-setting for the 2018-19 school year. The meeting locations have been changed due to ongoing construction work at the Freehold Learning Center and at the Park Avenue Complex. The meetings are open to the public and action will be taken. Details: 732-761-2100.
• The 28th annual St. Thomas Rosary Society Giant Flea Market, in memory of Marco Guarino, will be held from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 18 in the church parking lot, 1 St. Thomas Plaza, off Route 18 south, Old Bridge. Rain date is Aug. 25. All are welcome to attend.
• The 28th annual St. Thomas Rosary Society Giant Flea Market, in memory of Marco Guarino, will be held from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 18 in the church parking lot, 1 St. Thomas Plaza, off Route 18 south, Old Bridge. Rain date is Aug. 25. Spaces are $15 for one or $25 for two. Table rentals are $5 each. No refunds. No selling of food or drink concessions permitted. All trash must be removed. To RSVP, call Charlotte Guarino at 732-257-0721.
• Discover a variety of fish, crabs and other sea creatures when the Monmouth County Park System hosts Seining Along Sandy Hook Bay at Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth, Middletown, from 11 a.m. to noon, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, June 25 through Aug. 24. This program invites area residents to join park system naturalists as they seine the water and identify the aquatic creatures caught. This free program is open to all ages, under 18 with adult. Participants should meet on the beach. Closed-toe shoes are required. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Monmouth County Fair will be held at the East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold Township, from July 25-27, 5-11 p.m., July 28, 3-11 p.m., and July 29, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be 4-H exhibits, amusement rides, entertainment, home and garden competitions, opening night fireworks, and more. Admission is $8 per person; age 12 and under enter free.
• Mill demonstrations at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township, will be offered on July 28-29 from 1-4 p.m. See the 19th century gristmill in action. The activity is free.
• Embroiderers’ Guild of America-Monmouth Chapter is dedicated to teaching and sharing the joys of needlework. Stitchers of all levels are welcome to attend a meeting. There will be day stitch-ins at the Colts Neck Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 16. Details: Toni, 732-462-5540, or www.mcega.org
• Disabled American Veterans Chapter 74, Freehold, will meet at 7 p.m. July xx 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.
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Community Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse has launched its Project Zero website at projectzeromanalapan.com. Project Zero is the alliance’s initiative to reset the narrative in Englishtown and Manalapan regarding substance abuse. The website contains information about where residents can go for assistance.
• 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.
Items for the Datebook may be sent to [email protected]. Please send items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.