• The Jewish Home for Rehabilitation and Nursing, Freehold Township, a new skilled rehabilitation and nursing facility serving the Jewish community, is hosting a free monthly support group called The Jewish Caregiver’s Experience. The group will meet at 7 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month, starting Nov. 27. Caregivers of all ages seeking support, resources and a Jewish perspective on managing their responsibilities are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served. Call Avrum at 732-202-1000, ext. 4012, or email [email protected] for more information.
• Jane and Joe Latini will present “Finding Joy” and explain how they have overcome life’s challenges, trials and tribulations during the 2018 Discussion Series from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Nov. 27 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. The series is sponsored by Kathy Lo Bue, managing director, Glen Eagle Advisors, LLC. The series is free, non-sectarian and open to adults of all ages. RSVP to 732-866-6660.
• Freehold Elks Lodge No. 1454, 73 E. Main St., Freehold, will present its annual Comedy Night featuring the Legendary Wid and Friends on Nov. 24. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., showtime at 8:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Advance tickets are $18; tickets at the door, $20. Details: Patty, 732-685-9493.
• Freehold Elks Lodge No. 1454, 73 E. Main St., Freehold, will host its “All You Can Eat, Cooked to Order Breakfast” on Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to noon. All are welcome to attend. Last seating is at 11:30 a.m. Cost is $9 for adults and $5 for children under 12.
• The Reformed Church of Freehold, 67 W. Main St., Freehold, will host a Holly Berry Boutique from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 1. There will be crafts, baked goods and Christmas gifts available for purchase. Lunch will be available for $7. Pints of soup to go will be available for $3.50. To pre-order soup (beef barley, chicken, tomato, loaded baked potato, cream of broccoli, split pea), contact the church office at 732-462-1717.
• New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Christine McCabe will discuss the DEP’s accomplishment during the first year of Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration and outline her future plans for the department during a presentation at 6 p.m. Nov. 26 at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, in the Warner Student Life Center, Twin Lights Rooms I and II (first level). The presentation is sponsored by Brookdale Community College and the Sierra Group. McCabe’s presentation is open to the public.
• The Freehold Public Library’s “Friends of the Library” group will meet on at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at the library, East Main Street, Freehold Borough. Join interested neighbors and friends to support the library’s service to the community. Details: 732-462-5135.
• Young people in fifth grade through the first year past high school are invited to join the Freehold TLC 4-H Club at the Freehold Public Library, East Main Street, Freehold Borough. The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 and will feature member presentations and “Thanksgiving desserts.” Details: 732-462-5135.
• “Come Write In,” the writers group of the Freehold Public Library, will meet at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 28 at the library, East Main Street, Freehold Borough. People who like to write are invited to discuss their own writing adventures, learn about contributing to a group anthology, or share National Novel Writing Month updates. Refreshments served. Details: 732-462-5135.
• A clothing drive fundraiser organized by the Marlboro Youth Exchange program will be held at Marlboro High School, 95 N. Main St. (Route 79), from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 18. A truck will be in the front parking lot. Items accepted: new and gently used men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, shoes, purses, belts, bed and bath linens, and stuffed animals. Bicycles and baby strollers will be accepted. Tax deduction forms will be available. Details: Ilana Kats, 732-674-4989, or email [email protected]
• The Freehold Area Running Club will host its 33rd annual Born to Run 5-Mile Race on Nov. 23. Runners will make their way through downtown Freehold to Lake Topanemus in Freehold Township. There will be a vendor expo, kids dash and 1-mile race, live music, medals and T-shirts. A rebranding will include a new logo that will be prominent on red bandanas given to all participants. Since 2009, the race has contributed $42,000 to Freehold Area Open Door and will continue the tradition of fighting hunger in its hometown. Vendor expo starts at 9:30 a.m.; kids race starts at 10 a.m.; the 5-mile race starts at 11 a.m. Details: www.farcnj.com
• The Freehold Borough Arts Council invites area artists and crafters to participate in its sixth annual Freehold Borough Arts and Crafts Show to be held on Dec. 1 at the Park Avenue Elementary School from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration is on a first come, first served basis. Reserve a space by sending a $35 check made out to FBAC, c/o Lynn Reich, 6 Hance Blvd. Freehold, NJ 07728. Registration fee includes one lunch. Details: Lynn Reich, 732-230-7494.
• The Freehold Borough Arts Council will hold its sixth annual arts and crafts show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Park Avenue Elementary School, 280 Park Ave., Freehold. All are invited to attend. Paintings, jewelry, upcycled wood crafts, chocolates, paper creations, photography and unique holiday gifts will be available for purchase. Details: Email [email protected]
• New Jersey Blood Services will conduct the following blood drives: Nov. 23, John F. Carroll Columbian Club, 3 LaSatta Ave., Englishtown, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Nov. 27, Marlboro Recreation Community Center, 1996 Recreation Way, Marlboro, 3-9 p.m. To donate blood or for information on how to organize a blood drive, call toll free 1-800-933-2566.
• A meeting of the Monmouth County Retired Teachers Association will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 11 at Shadowbrook, 1 Obre Place, Shrewsbury. Members are asked to bring non-perishable donations for the food bank and an unwrapped new book, toy or gift card for Bridges At The Shore. For luncheon reservations, contact Sue at 732 995-7754 or email [email protected] before Nov. 30. New members are always welcome.
• The 2018 Discussion Series will continue from 2-4 p.m. Nov. 15 with “Medicare and You,” a presentation by Samantha White, Monmouth County director of the State Health Insurance Assistance Program. The series is sponsored by Kathy Lo Bue, managing director, Glen Eagle Advisors, LLC. The free, nonsectarian series is held at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. Adults of all ages are invited to attend the presentation. RSVP to 732-866-6660.
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education will hold the following meeting: Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m., regular action meeting, 54 Main St., Englishtown. The meeting is open to the public.
• The Hebrew Academy, Marlboro, will hold a 3D Party: Drumsticks, Dreidels and Dance event from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 for students in grades five through eight. The $5 admission includes music, games, dinner and snacks. All area students who attend a Jewish day school or are a member of any Jewish youth group are invited to attend. Advance registration is required. RSVP to Linda Glickstein at 732-431-5525.
• The Heart of New Jersey Chorus presents “Jukebox Jingles” with special guests The Trentones at 2 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Millstone Township Primary School, 18 Schoolhouse Road, Millstone Township. Call for tickets, 732-474-8529, or online at https://honj.org/node/1659
• Temple Beth Ahm, 550 Lloyd Road, Aberdeen, will host monthly meet and greet events on Nov. 28 and Dec. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Guests are welcome to come and learn about the synagogue. Refreshments will be served. Details: Email [email protected] or call 732-583-1700.
• 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.