• The 2020 Millstone Community Education Fishing Flea Market will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 1 in the Millstone Township Primary School cafeteria, 18 Schoolhouse Road. There will be vendors with fishing gear and outdoor items available for purchase. Vendor tables: $20. Details: Gina Whelan, 732-786-0950, ext. 7003 or email [email protected]
• DeBows United Methodist Church, corner of Route 571 and Route 537, Jackson, will host a country western themed worship service at 5 p.m. Feb. 9. This will be a casual service featuring many old-time gospel favorites. Everyone is welcome to attend. Starting in March, this service will be held on the first Sunday of each month at 5 p.m. Details: debowsumc.org
• Allentown’s free annual rabies clinic is scheduled for 9-11 a.m. March 7 in the municipal annex on Church Street (across from La Piazza). People who bring their pet for a rabies shot do not have to be residents of Allentown, but must be residents of Monmouth County. Borough staff will be on hand to process animal licenses.
• The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is accepting applications for its 2020 scholarship
program. Potential candidates must be New Jersey residents currently enrolled in (and in good standing at) an accredited college or university, with at least 15 credits completed and an academic average equivalent to a 3.0 or higher. The scholarships are for residents who are pursuing degrees in environmental science, natural resource management, conservation, park administration and related fields. Deadline to apply is April 1. Applications can be downloaded from www.tlc-nj.org or obtained by calling 973-541-1010, ext. 14.
• The fifth annual Home Garden Symposium presented by the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Monmouth County will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 28 at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Monmouth County Agriculture Building, 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold Township. There will be lectures, demonstrations, exhibits about invasive species and more. Pre-registration ($10) is required. Vist tinyurl.com/HomeGarden2020. Details: Email [email protected] or 732-303-7614.
• View samples of 19th century Valentines and make a heartfelt card using historically inspired materials from 1-4 p.m. Feb. 8-9 at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township. Open to ages 10 and up. Free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County Park System will present the Casual Birder at 9 a.m. Feb. 27 at Crosswicks Creek Park, Upper Freehold Township (meet in the Province Line Road parking area). Join a park system naturalist for a bird walk. No experience identifying birds is required. Dress for the weather (including light rain or snow). Free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Celebrate Groundhog Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 2 at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township. The Monmouth County Park System will present fun facts and activities for all ages. Free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County Park System will host at Wondrous Winter Walk from 10-11:30 a.m. Feb. 5 at Clayton Park, Upper Freehold Township (meet in the Emley’s Hill Road parking lot). Join a park system naturalist and explore nature in the wintertime. Open to all ages, under 18 with adult. Sturdy footwear is recommended as trails used may have inclines or tree roots to step over. Free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• John Fabiano, executive director of the Monmouth County Historical Commission, will explore Joshua Huddy’s Revolutionary War service, his execution and the circumstances leading to the Paris Peace Treaty’s eventual success during a presentation at the Allentown Library at 7 p.m. Feb. 18. All are welcome to attend, Space is limited and registration is required. Details: 609-259-7565.
• Liberty Oak Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, welcomes all ladies who love to sing to a special Guest Night from 7-10 p.m. Feb. 13. The chorus will perform some of its favorite songs and guests may participate while discovering their ideal voice parts. Guest Night will be held in the performing arts room at Applewood Senior Living, 1 Applewood Drive (off Gully Road), Freehold Township. Ladies may RSVP to [email protected] or call 732-295-4572. The chorus is preparing to compete in the Sweet Adelines International event in Louisville, Ky., later this year.
• The Fresh Air Fund’s Friendly Towns Program is seeking local families to host children from New York City this summer. The Fresh Air Fund has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.8 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. First time Fresh Air children are boys and girls, ages 7 to 13, who live in New York City. Details: Karen Medlin, 732-740-0449, or visit www.FreshAir.org
• Forsgate Country Club, Monroe Township, will host Camp Forsgate in weekly sessions from June 29 through Aug. 14 for children ages 5-10. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Before-care and after-care will be available. Camp activities include golf, fitness, swimming, arts and crafts, STEM and more. Weekly tuition: Members, $330; Non-members, $370. Details: www.kecamps.com
• The Deep Cut Orchid Society will hold its annual orchid show and sale from Feb. 6-9 in Dearborn Market’s 11,000-square-foot greenhouse, 2170 Route 35 South, Holmdel. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Visitors will view an array of orchids vying for American Orchid Society ribbons and trophies. There will be free guided tours, and educational and orchid-themed workshops for enthusiasts of all levels. Orchid experts will be on hand to answer questions. Admission and parking are free. Dearborn Market offers fresh food and deli selections for purchase.
• The New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, is presenting “Preserving the Pinelands: Albert Horner’s Portraits of a National Treasure.” The exhibition features images by photographer Albert Horner which capture the quiet beauty and intimate landscapes of New Jersey’s Pinelands National Reserve. A number of artifacts and scientific specimens from the museum’s collections help tell some of the stories of the land, animals, people and industries that make this unique area a state and national treasure. “Preserving the Pinelands” will be on view through June 28. Details: www.statemuseum.nj.gov
• 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.
• “Fine Feathered Friends: Birds as Mainstay and Muse” is open at the New Jersey State Museum, Trenton. The exhibition brings the fun of bird watching indoors through nearly 200 rarely seen artifacts and specimens exploring birds as an ecological mainstay and their role as a design-inspiring force, or muse, for New Jersey artisans. The exhibition will be on view through Sept. 13. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday; closed on Mondays and state holidays. Details: www.statemuseum.nj.gov
Items for the Datebook may be sent to [email protected]. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.