• Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) will sponsor a town meeting about Lyme disease and tick-borne diseases from 6:45-9:30 p.m. May 29 at the Wall Township municipal building, 2700 Allaire Road, Wall Township. Guest speakers will discuss current efforts to combat these diseases. Advance registration is required. Details: ChrisSmith.House.gov
• Center Players Dessert Theater will hold auditions for “Real Women Have Curves” at Center Playhouse, 35 South St., Freehold, on May 26 from 7-9 p.m. and May
28 from 7-9 p.m. The play is scheduled to be performed four weekends from July 26 through Aug 18. Five females are needed (18 through 60’s) who are Latino or can play Latino characters and are comfortable speaking some lines in Spanish. Complete details and a list of characters can be found at www.centerplayers.org. Those auditioning should bring a headshot and resume if possible; sides from the play will be provided. Non-union, no pay.
• The Cream Ridge Cemetery Association will hold its annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. June 5 at the New Egypt Firehouse, 59 Main St., New Egypt. All lot owners are invited to attend. Details: 609-758-8663.
• The Allentown Lions Club Memorial Day parade will be held rain or shine on May 28 beginning at 10:30 a.m. Visit www.AllentownLionsClub.com for more details. People coming to view the parade should arrive by 9:45 a.m. There will be road closures on Main Street and High Street. A memorial service will follow the parade on the grounds of the Newell Elementary School. There will be a children’s bicycle contest sponsored by Bruno’s Bike Shop at the corner of Allen Drive and North Main Street prior to the start of the parade. Antique cars are welcome to participate in the parade. Contact Rob Strovinsky with parade related questions at [email protected] or 609-259-1886. Weather updates can be found at the Lions Club’s website and Facebook page.
• The Allentown Public Library, 16 S. Main St., Allentown, will host a presentation by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife about how to co-exist with black bears. The presentation will take place at 7 p.m. June 13. Space is limited. Registration is required. Details: 609-259-7565.
• The Upper Freehold-Allentown Alliance to Prevent Substance Abuse will present Bike Night 2019 from 5:30-9 p.m. June 13, featuring all makes and models of motorcycles. The event will take place at the Roost at Cream Ridge Golf Course, 181 Route 539, Cream Ridge. There will be music, food, door prizes, judging and awards in several categories, featuring American and Metric bikes. No entry fee, but donations are welcome. Vendors are welcome. Details: Debbie Minnick, 609-400-5600 or [email protected]
• The Upper Freehold-Allentown Alliance to Prevent Substance Abuse will present Car Show 2019 from 5:30-9 p.m. June 27, featuring all makes and models of cars. The event will take place at the Roost at Cream Ridge Golf Course, 181 Route 539, Cream Ridge. There will be music, food, door prizes, judging and awards in several categories. No entry fee, but donations are welcome. Vendors are welcome. Details: Debbie Minnick, 609-400-5600 or [email protected]
• DowntownFreehold.com has announced its 2019 Thursdays Rock concert lineup. The free concerts take place at the Monmouth County Hall of Records Plaza from 7:30-9:30 p.m. All ages welcome. The bands are: June 6, Moroccan Sheepherders; June 13, The Snakes; June 20, Mission Dance; June 27, Motor City Revue; July 4, Eddie Testa Band with special guest; July 11, Rockit Fish; July 18, Soul Project NOLO; July 25, The Springsteen Experience; Aug. 1, Joe Keyes and the Late Bloomer Band; Aug. 8, Joe Baracata Band; Aug. 15, Stephen Martines; and Aug. 22, Full Throttle. Details: DowntownFreehold.com
• Tickets are available for the Ms. New Jersey Senior America Pageant 2019 to be held at 1 p.m. June 5 at Harrahs Resort Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City. The 12 contestants will be judged in four categories: Evening Gown; Philosophy of Life; Talent; and Private Judges Interview. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased in advance by calling 908-216-8534 or 609-412-4980, or at the box office, which opens at noon June 5. The pageant is rated general and is for senior citizens, but can also be enjoyed by the entire family. The winner will compete in the Ms. Senior America Pageant 2019 in October. Details: www.newjerseysenioramerica.org or www.senioramerica.org
• A meeting of the Monmouth County Retired Educators will be held at 11 a.m. June 11 at the Spring Lake Manor, Spring Lake. The group’s annual philanthropic award will be presented. The retired educators are collecting backpacks and school supplies for Bridges At The Shore for distribution prior to the upcoming school year, as well as non-perishable donations to the food bank. New members are welcome. For luncheon reservations, contact Sue at 732-995-7754 or email [email protected] before May 24.
• Members of the 1994 New York Rangers Stanley Cup championship team – Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves and Mike Richter – will appear at the Event Center at iPlay America, Freehold Township, on June 30. All ticket holders will have access to a Q&A experience with the former players. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. and the Q&A will start at 3 p.m. Various packages are available for purchase at https://www.iplayamerica.com/core4
• The seventh annual Chhange Golf Classic will be held on June 11 at Forsgate Country Club, Monroe Township. Chhange is the Center for Holocaust, Human Rights and Genocide Education at Brookdale Community College. Cost to participate is $300 (individual) or $1,110 (foursome). Sponsorship opportunities are available. The event is co-chaired by Mike Yellin and Lloyd Stone. Non-playing volunteers are needed to help run the event. Details: Email [email protected] or the [email protected] or call Chhange at 732-224-1889.
• Boy Scout Troop 155, Freehold, is holding a clothing drive to raise funds for Seabase High Adventure Camp in the Florida Keys. Donations of gently worn clean clothing, shoes, handbags, linens, stuffed animals and small plastic toys would be appreciated. Call or text Nina Rizzo at 201-838-8318 to arrange a pick-up in the Millstone Township area.
• Monmouth County will hold a paper shredding event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 3 at Millstone Park, 4 Red Valley Road, Millstone Township. County residents may bring up to 100 pounds of documents to be shredded. Details: See the recycling section of the county website at www.VisitMonmouth.com or call 732-683-8686, ext. 6721.
• Samaritan Center, a joint ministry of St. Thomas More and Old Tennent Presbyterian churches, operates a food pantry to provide supplementary food for those in need in Manalapan, Marlboro, Englishtown and Millstone Township. For information, call 732-446-1142 and make an appointment. Pickup dates are Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30-11:15 a.m. and Saturday from 9-11 a.m. Volunteers will gladly carry food to a client’s vehicle. Donations of funds and food are gratefully accepted to support the operation of the center. Volunteers are always welcome.
• Millstone Township residents who are interested in history, heritage, research and education are invited to apply for membership on the Millstone Township Historic Preservation Commission. Interested individuals may complete a talent bank application on the township’s website or in the municipal offices.
• Millstone Township Recreation invites students in grades eight through 12 to volunteer for its sports programs and special events. Young adults may complete community service hours for school, religious organizations or clubs. To see volunteer opportunities, visit www.millstonerec.org
• John P. Stevens High School, Edison, Class of 1969 will hold its 50-year reunion on Aug. 10 at Galloping Hills Caterers, Union. Cocktail hour from 6-7 p.m., dinner from 7-11 p.m. Cost is $75 per person. Payment and RSVP to Donna Ciccone, 9 Anita Ave., Edison, NJ 08820. Details: Debbie DeMauro Bava, email [email protected]
• The Fresh Air Fund is seeking area residents willing to volunteer to host a child from New York City this summer through the Friendly Towns Program. Children are boys and girls, ages 7-18. Details: Karen Medlin, 732-740-0449, or www.freshair.org
• The Jewish Home for Rehabilitation and Nursing, Freehold Township, a 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. The group is facilitated by Julie Davelman, a clinical psychologist. Rabbi Nathan Langer, the facility’s rabbi, attends and brings a Jewish perspective. 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, or email [email protected]
Items for the Datebook may be sent to [email protected]. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.