• CentraState Associated Auxiliaries presents a farmers market at the Covered Bridge 1 adult community in Manalapan (near the clubhouse) every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Proceeds are donated to CentraState Medical Center for personal protective equipment. Details: Geri, 732-221-7125
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education will hold a regular action meeting at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Anyone wishing to participate in the meeting may do so by using the link at https://www.mersnj.us/virtualmeeting
• New Jersey Blood Services will conduct blood drives which are open to the public. The following blood drives are scheduled: Oct. 20, Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold Township, 1:30-7:30 p.m.; Oct. 29, Temple Shaari Emeth, 400 Craig Road, Manalapan, 4-8:30 p.m. To donate blood or for information about how to organize a blood drive, call toll free, 1-800-933-2566, or visit www.nybloodcenter.org
• DeBows United Methodist Church, corner of Route 571 and Route 537, Jackson, will host a concert by New Jersey’s own “Libby Prison Minstrels” on Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. The Libby Prison Minstrels are known for 18th and 19th century Americana music. This is a free outdoor event; bring your own chairs; weather permitting. Details: www.debowsumc.org
• Brookdale Community College will host a virtual open house from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 18. Representatives of the college will show participants the opportunities and pathways to success Brookdale provides. Explore academic interests and learn about the resources the college offers. There will be live Q&A sessions. Register at www.brookdalecc.edu/openhouse
• The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County will present a Zoom program, “Jewish Calcutta through Music and Memory: The Personal Story of a Baghdadi Jewish Family,” with Rahel Musleah, an award-winning journalist, author, singer, speaker, educator and leader of Jewish heritage tours of India, on Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. To make a reservation and receive a Zoom link, email [email protected]
• Embroiderers’ Guild of America – Monmouth Chapter is dedicated to teaching and sharing the joys of needlework. The organization welcome stitchers of all levels. Evening stitchers will meet via Zoom on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Day stitchers will meet via Zoom on the third Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. Details: Toni, 732-462-5540, or visit website:www.mcega.org
• The 2020 Discussion Series will continue with “Getting Older Ain’t for Sissies – A Financial Perspective,” a Zoom webinar presentation by Kathy Lo Bue, managing director of Glen Eagle Advisors, LLC, at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 20. Lo Bue is the sponsor of the series, which is free, non-sectarian and open to the community. Call 732-866-6660 for Zoom webinar registration information.
• The Manalapan Board of Health will host seasonal flu vaccination clinics for residents age 12 and over on Oct. 22, 10-11 a.m., Covered Bridge I Clubhouse; Oct. 27, 7-8 p.m., Manalapan Town Hall (will accommodate children); and Oct. 29, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Manalapan Town Hall. Shots are free for seniors who present a Medicare Part B insurance card. The fee is $20 for all others, including any Medicare HMO plan. Pre-registration is not required. Details: 732-446-8345.
• The Monmouth County Park System will present The Casual Birder at 9 a.m. Oct. 27 at the Manasquan Reservoir, Howell (meet in the Environmental Center parking lot). Join a naturalist for a laid back morning bird walk. Open to ages 8 and up; under 18 with adult. Free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Monmouth County Park System will present Nature Lecture Series: Raccoons in Your Backyard from 7-8 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Freneau Woods Park Visitor Center, Aberdeen Township. Join a naturalist and learn about these mammals that are smart, adaptable and very inquisitive. Free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Monmouth County Park System will present a 19th century woodworking demonstration from noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 24 at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel.
Watch a carpenter use 19th century woodworking and carving tools during this demonstration. Free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Monmouth County Park System will present Seashell Sunday from 1-2 p.m. Oct. 25 at Bayshore Waterfront Park Activity Center, Middletown. See an assortment of mollusks, crustaceans and cool beach finds and artifacts while learning where shells come from and how to collect them without harming the environment. Bring unidentified or interesting finds to share with a naturalist. Free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Monmouth County Library, in partnership with Literacy New Jersey, is offering free
English as a Second Language virtual classes and one-on-one tutoring through Literacy New Jersey Monmouth. The program is open to all persons 18 years of age and older. Details: Email Jhanna Even at jeven@literacynj/.org or call her at 732-702-1895.
• The Monmouth County Library is offering a weekly virtual bereavement meeting for all
those who have lost a loved one and are navigating the maze of emotions and trying to make decisions in a new way. The virtual meetings are led by Beth Stamp, a support facilitator, and provide an opportunity for people to share experiences, feelings and ideas.
Sessions are conducted on Webex and registration is possible on Eventkeeper in order to receive information on how to access the meetings, held Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m.
Details: Email [email protected]
• Participating in yoga benefits physical and mental health and influences positive thought. It alleviates mental stress, develops better physicality and enhances emotional well-being. Yoga postures are a form of meditation in motion that help release tension and emotional stress. Honor Yoga is offering free classes at 8 a.m. Tuesdays and 6 p.m. Thursdays with instructor Michelle Gerdes. To register, visit http://honoryoga.com/yfew
• Monmouth County has scheduled paper shredding events to give county residents opportunities to dispose of old files and confidential documents safely. All shredding events will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following locations: Nov. 28, Colts Neck Town Hall parking lot, 124 Cedar Drive. County residents may bring up to 100 pounds of documents to be shredded. The service is free. Details: www.visitmonmouth.com or 732-683-8686, ext. 8967.
• New Jersey Blood Services, which provides blood for local patients, is looking for volunteers whose tasks will include assisting donors with registration and/or at the refreshment area. No medical background necessary. Must have transportation. All training is provided. Details: Call or text Sharon Zetts at 732-850-8906, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Residents struggling with substance use issues may call 1-844-ReachNJ to speak with counselors ready to offer assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. ReachNJ is a free, confidential hotline that provides individuals with concerns about their own or a family member’s substance use immediate help and treatment referrals. The help line is always answered by a live specialist.
• CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, offers a Movement Disorder Program that provides specialized treatment to patients with Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, tics, tremors, ataxia, dystonia and other similar syndromes. The program is held in the Star and Barry Tobias Ambulatory Campus. To request a consultation to help manage Parkinson’s disease or other movement disorders, call 732-637-6316 or email [email protected]
• 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. 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.
Items for the Datebook may be sent to [email protected]. Please send items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.