• The Mississippi Delta Chinese, a documentary focusing on the little-known Chinese
community in the deep south during World War II, will be presented at 2 p.m. May 30 at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan. Shirley Ng and American Legion Lt. B.R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post 1291 will introduce the film which took 20 years to produce. The program is co-sponsored by the Manalapan Veterans’ Affairs Advisory Committee. Reservations are not required and admission is free.
• Poet Flora Higgins will guide guests at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan, on readings of poetry by Walt Whitman, whose 200th birthday will be celebrated May 31. Readings will begin at 10 a.m. May 31 and the public is invited to attend at no charge. Registration is requested to ensure room capacity. To register, call 732-431-7220, ext. 7222.
• 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 Jewish Home for Rehabilitation and Nursing, 1151 W. Main St. (Route 537), Freehold Township, hosts a free monthly support group called the Jewish Caregiver’s Experience on the last Tuesday evening of each month. The next meeting is at 7 p.m. May 28. Caregivers of all ages seeking support, resources and a Jewish perspective on managing their responsibilities are welcome to attend. Light kosher refreshments will be served. Details: Jolie, 732-202-1000, ext. 4003.
• 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.
• The Morgan Ball Memorial Scholarship chair auction is open for bidding until May 26. Adirondack chairs are hand-painted by area students and local artists. Visit
Mbmsgoals.org to view the chairs and place a bid. All proceeds go directly to the scholarship.
• A Vision Board Party will be held from noon to 3 p.m. June 1 at the Wicker Memorial Baptist Church, 180 Greenwood Road, Morganville. Guests are invited to declare their vision with a vision board. Cost: $20; supplies and lunch will be provided. Details: Dawn Benjamin, 732-857-4671.
• A prostate cancer awareness event, “Brothers Caring For Brothers,” will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 15 at the Wicker Memorial Baptist Church, 180 Greenwood Road, Morganville. Men’s fellowship; guest speaker, the Rev. Charles Bates; free blood pressure screening; physician on site; light refreshments. Free will offering. Details: Brother Richard, 732-934-0122.
• 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.
• 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
• The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, Freehold Township, will present “A Tale of Two Cities: Tales from the Early History of the Jews in New York and Philadelphia,” a lecture by Rabbi Dr. Robert E. Fierstien at 11 a.m. June 26. Admission is $3 for museum members and $5 for non-members. Students are free. The talk will be followed by a light lunch. To make a paid reservation (non-refundable), call 732-252-6990 or visit jhmomc.org/events
• The Center for Jewish Life, Marlboro, will host a JTeen Club Lag BaOmer BBQ at 7 p.m. May 23. The event is for ages 13-17. There is no charge to attend. RSVP at www.cjlnj.com
• 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.
• 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. The pick-up date is June 1 in Freehold Township. Early donations are accepted. Call or text Allison Toth at 908-337-8701 for more information.
• 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
• 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]
• The Mourning After is a grief counseling program designed to assist people with recent and not-so-recent losses adjust to the emotions of grieving and the long-term changes that follow. The program is led by licensed professional counselors Bob Szita and Bernice Garfield-Szita. The group meets monthly on Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Center Playhouse, 35 South St., Freehold. Upcoming dates are June 7. A voluntary donation is accepted. New attendees are asked to call in advance at 732-577-1076 or [email protected] or www.GIERS.org
• The Colts Neck Shade Tree Commission will hold public meetings at 7:30 p.m. on the following dates in the meeting room at Town Hall, 124 Cedar Drive, Colts Neck: June 6, July 11, Aug. 1, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5. Details: 732-462-5470.
• 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
• Monmouth County will hold a paper shredding event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 12 at Colts Neck Town Hall, 124 Cedar Drive, Colts Neck. 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.
• 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
• 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]
Items for the Datebook may be sent to [email protected]. Please send items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.