• 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
• The First Baptist Church of Freehold, 81 W. Main St., Freehold, will hold “Longest Night” at 7 p.m. Dec. 21. There will be a service of lessons and songs, moving attendees from the dark to the light. Details: 732-462-1105.
• New Jersey Blood Services will conduct a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 30 at Dunkin Donuts, 285 Gordons Corner Road, Manalapan. All blood types are needed. To donate blood or for information about how to organize a blood drive, call 1-800-933-2566.
• The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, 310 Mount’s Corner Drive, Freehold Township, will host a Hanukkah open house on Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be children’s activities and refreshments. Admission is free. Details: 732-252-6990 or
www.jhmomc.org
• Tim McLoone and The Shirleys will perform holiday music at 2 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Symmes Drive, Manalapan. Doors for this event, which generally draws hundreds of attendees, will open at 12:30 p.m. Seating will be on a first come, first served basis. Details: www.monmouthcountylib.org
• The Alan Broadbent Trio will perform at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Symmes Drive, Manalapan, at 2 p.m. Dec. 16, sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Broadbent leads the trio which features bassist Harvie S in a jazz presentation. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. and seating is on a first come, first served basis. Details: www.monmouthcountylib.org
• A holiday variety show, “Holiday Cheer,” will be presented by LT Productions at the Colts Neck library, 1 Winthrop Drive, Colts Neck, at 7 p.m. Dec. 20. The group will feature songs, poetry and comedy in celebration of Christmas and Hanukkah. Details: www.monmouthcountylib.org
• A Wandering Winter Bird Walk will take place at 9 a.m. Dec. 13 at Freneau Woods Park, 360 Monastary Lane, Aberdeen Township. Search for winter birds with a Monmouth County Park System naturalist. This walk is intended for any level birder and is a great introduction for new birders. The activity is free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• A visit with Santa will be held at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel, from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 22-23. Enjoy an old-fashioned Victorian Christmas at the farm. Children can visit with Santa, then take a walk to the farmhouse and have a cup of cider. The activity is free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• A Christmas candy making demonstration will be held from 1-3 p.m. Dec. 8 at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. See Brandy McCann demonstrate the art of candy making, creating tasty chocolate delicacies and other sweet treats from the 1890s Fannie Farmer’s cookbook. The event is free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• A “Wondrous Winter Walk” will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. Dec. 20 at Big Brook Park, Route 520, Marlboro. Meet in Elsa’s Lodge parking lot. Tag along with a Monmouth County Park System naturalist and explore the serenity that is nature in the wintertime. The program is free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The B’nai B’rith Ketubah Unit (55-and-over) will hold its annual Hanukkah party from 1-5 p.m. Dec. 16 at Fred & Murry’s Kosher Deli, Freehold Township. There will be a full deli meat buffet, entertainment and a tricky tray auction. The cost is $34 per person. Non-member prospective couples and singles are welcome to attend. RSVP to Elaine at 908-232-0062 by Dec. 10 to attend or for more information about the group.
• “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 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.
• 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.
• 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.