• “Political Correctness from a Jewish Prospective” will be presented by Professor Dr.
George Zilbergeld at the Freehold Jewish Center, Freehold Borough, at 10 a.m. Dec. 16.
Zilbergeld will provide attendees with the information they will need to understand the
“politically correct” point of view. All community members are invited to attend. An $8 donation is requested to cover the cost of breakfast. Call 732-462-0254 to confirm attendance.
• DeBows United Methodist Church, corner of Route 571 and Route 537, Jackson, invites community members to celebrate Advent and Christmas. Sunday worship is at 9:30 a.m. and the Christmas Cantata will be presented during the Dec. 16 service. On Dec. 24, there will be a Christmas Eve candlelight service at 6 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Details: 732-928-4475 or debowsumc.org
• The Jewish Home for Rehabilitation and Nursing invites community members to stop by for a Hanukkah Latkes Grab and Go on Dec. 4-5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy hot latkes and other Hanukkah goodies in the new Glatt kosher skilled nursing and rehabilitation center. The Jewish Home for Rehabilitation and Nursing is at 1151 W. Main St., Freehold Township, in the Pond View Professional Park. Details: 732-202-1000.
• The Colts Neck Historical Preservation Committee will present a Country Christmas at the one-room Montrose School, corner of Montrose Road and Cedar Drive, Colts Neck, from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 9. Seasonal refreshments and holiday music performed by the Mike Wells Trio. All are invited to attend.
• The Chelsea at Manalapan, Route 9, Manalapan, will host Victorian carolers from 2-3 p.m. Dec. 20. Community members are welcome to attend. Holiday refreshments will be served. Details: Laura, 732-972-6200.
• All community members are invited to visit “Journey to Bethlehem,” a Christmas drive-through event, from 6-8:30 p.m. Dec. 1-2 at Old Tennent Church, 450 Tennent Road, Manalapan. There will be live actors and animals along the 1.5-mile drive. Free admission. Details: 732-446-6299 or www.oldtennent.org
• The Monmouth County Audubon Society will host a bird walk on Sandy Hook in northern Monmouth County on Dec. 9. Anyone interested in participating in the event can meet at 10 a.m. in the parking lot by the old visitor center (1.8 miles north of the park entrance). The event is open to all and participation is free. Advance registration is not required. Dress appropriately for the weather, which can be blustery and unpredictable along the coast; wear comfortable shoes and bring binoculars and field guides. Check for weather updates at http://www.monmouthaudubon.org
• The Hebrew Academy, Marlboro, in conjunction with the Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey, Marlboro Jewish Center, Congregation Ahavat Olam, Temple Rodeph Torah and Camp Louemma, will host a Winter Wonderland event on Dec. 16 from 4-6 p.m. The dance is 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 synagogue, or Jewish youth group, are invited to attend. Advance registration is required. RSVP to [email protected] and provide name, grade, school, youth group, address, and phone number. Reservations may also be made by calling the individual synagogue youth group office or Linda Glickstein at 732-431-5525.
• A bake sale and craft show will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 9 at the First Presbyterian Church of Englishtown, 50 Main St., Englishtown. A variety of baked goods will be available, and vendors will be selling crafts and wares. Vendors are needed. Leave a message to reserve a table. Details: 732-740-4880.
• 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 meets at 7 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month. Caregivers of all ages seeking support, resources and a Jewish perspective on managing their responsibilities are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served. Details: Avrum, 732-202-1000, ext. 4012.
• 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.
• 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.
• “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.
• 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]
• 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 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 a meet and greet on 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.