• The second annual Allentown Flogatta, sponsored by the Allentown Economic Development Commission, will be held on July 6 at Sensi Park at the Allentown Pond and Farmer’s Park at Lakeview. Decorate a rowboat, canoe, kayak, paddleboat (anything that floats). Prizes for most creative and most patriotic watercraft. Registration and pre-registered participant check-in at noon. Boat launch at 1 p.m. Pre-register at Borough Hall or online at http://tinyurl.com/y7o2elbk. Registration will be accepted on day of the event.
• Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” will be performed at the Kelsey Theatre on the campus of Mercer County Community College, West Windsor, on June 21 and June 28 at 8 p.m.; June 22 and June 29 at 8 p.m.; and June 23 and June 30 at 2 p.m. Tickets: $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $14 for students/children. For tickets, visit www.kelseytheatre.net or call 609-570-3333. Tickets may also be purchased at the box office prior to the performance.
• A public reading of the Declaration of Independence will take place at 9 a.m. July 4 at Pete Sensi Park, Main Street, Allentown. Municipal leaders from Allentown and Upper Freehold Township will join members of the community to read the document. Volunteer readers are welcome. The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence was held in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776, and other readings were held later that same day in Trenton and Easton, Pa. The Allentown Village Initiative is sponsoring the event, which will conclude with free refreshments. Details: Michael McCormick, 609-208-9991.
• An Independence Day concert and fireworks celebration, presented by Downtown Freehold and Freehold Borough, will be held on July 3 at Freehold Raceway. Gates open at 6 p.m. and there will be live music by the Rock ‘N Roll Chorus at 6:30 p.m., followed by Daddy Pop from 7-9:15 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. No backpacks, coolers or pets will be permitted inside the venue, and bags are subject to search. Visit www.freeholdboroughnj.gov for information on cancellations due to inclement weather or high wind conditions. Rain date is July 7.
• Members of the Raritan Bay Radio Amateurs and Manalapan ARES/RACES group will take part in the national Amateur Radio Field Day exercise from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 22 in the parking lot at Manalapan town hall, Route 522. Field Day demonstrates ham radio’s ability to work reliably under any conditions and to create an independent communications network. All are welcome to attend the event. Details: Email [email protected] or visit www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio
• The Monmouth County Fair will return to the East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold Township, from July 24-28. Hours for the fair are 5-11 p.m. July 24-26; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 27; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 28. The 2019 Main Stage entertainment is as follows: July 24, Start Making Sense, a Talking Heads tribute band; July 25, Big House Band; July 26, Jake’s Rockin’ Country Band; July 27, School of Rock, and Jobonanno and the Godsons present “The Spirit of Asbury Revue” and July 28, Last Whippoorwill. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Mill demonstrations at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township, will be held from 1-4 p.m. June 22, 23, 29 and 30. Demonstrations are free. See the 19th century gristmill in action. Details: 732-842-4000.
• 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 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
• 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. 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.