• Applewood, a continuing care retirement community at One Applewood Drive, Freehold Township, will host a bicycle donation drive on Nov. 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Applewood resident and distance cyclist Spencer Halper will help oversee the drive, supported by staff volunteers. Halper has been a longtime supporter of the Bike Exchange, a Ewing Township resale shop where volunteers refurbish and resell the bicycles at reasonable prices, with proceeds benefitting the Boys and Girls Club of Mercer County. All bicycle types, sizes and conditions will be accepted and donors will receive a tax deductible contribution document for each bicycle donated. The event will be held rain or shine. Details: 732-303-7416 or visit applewood.com
• From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 13, the Monmouth County Park System will host its fall craft show at the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls. This seasonal craft show features the work of local artists and crafters. Items include: doll clothes, holiday ornaments and decorations, jewelry, sea glass art, needlework, decoupaged plates, pottery, and more. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or 732-842-4000. For persons with hearing impairment, the park system TTY/TDD number is 711.
• Monmouth County Park System will present a Yarn Bee on Nov. 6 from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. Knit or crochet at your own pace, and farm staff will be on hand to assist those needing a little extra help. Bring your own supplies. Open to ages 10 and up; under 18 with adult. The cost is $5 per person; cash or check only. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County Park System will present Piano Ballads on Nov. 6 from 1-3 p.m. at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. Join in a sing-along with ballads from the turn of the century. Free. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County Park System will present mill demonstrations Nov. 6-7, 13-14 and 20-21 from 1-4 p.m. at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township.
See the 19th century gristmill in action. Free. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County Park System will present an Awesome Autumn Amble on Nov. 8 from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell, meet in the parking lot; and Nov. 15 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen Township, meet in the Visitor Center parking area. Explore the trails with a park system naturalist and discuss plant and animal phenomenon. Open to all ages; under 18 with adult. Free. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County Park System will present the Casual Birder on Nov. 9 at 9 a.m. at
Big Brook Park, Marlboro, meet in the main parking area. Join a park system naturalist for a bird walk. Open to ages 10 and up; under 18 with adult. Free. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County Park System will present a fall craft show on Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls. Admission and parking are free. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County Park System will present Edible History Series: Coffee Cake on Nov. 13 from 2-3 p.m. at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township.
Drop in for a cup of coffee and a piece of coffee cake made from a 19th century recipe. Free. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County Park System will present a cookstove demonstration on Nov. 13 and Nov. 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. Discover how recipes, cooking techniques and kitchens have changed since the 1890s. Free. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County Park System will present a Nature Lecture Series: Woodpeckers of Monmouth County on Nov. 18 from 7-8 p.m. at the Freneau Woods Park Visitor Center, Aberdeen Township. Learn about these colorful birds and their role in helping to control insect pests during a talk by a park system naturalist. Free. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County Park System will present a 19th Century Woodworking Demonstration on Nov. 20 from noon to 3 p.m. at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel.
See how a carpenter uses 19th century woodworking and carving tools during this demonstration. Free. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County Park System will present Accordion Melodies of the 1890s on Nov. 20 from 1-3 p.m. at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. Hear melodies of the 1890s played on the accordion. Free. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County Park System will present No More Grist for the Mill on Nov. 27-28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township.
Decorate a stocking, take a selfie in a sleigh, and sip on a cup of hot cocoa to celebrate the start of the holiday season. Take a tour of the historic house, built in 1773, and enjoy the rumbling of the gristmill during its last run of the year. Free. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or 732-842-4000.
• A Holiday Craft Show will take place at DeBows United Methodist Church, at the intersection of Route 571 and Route 537, Jackson, on Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This will be an outside show and will be held rain or shine. All are welcome to attend. Details: Contact Cathy at [email protected] or call 201-362-2130, or visit debowsumc.org
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education will meet on the following dates: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9, Committee of the Whole, Wemrock Brook School, 118 Millhurst Road, Manalapan; and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23, regular action meeting, Wemrock Brook School, 118 Millhurst Road, Manalapan. The meetings are open to the public.
• The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County will present a Zoom event, “Antisemitism In America,” by Anti-Defamation League speaker Eileen Hershenov, at 2 p.m. Nov. 7. This will be a PowerPoint presentation. Admission is $5 for museum members and $7 for non-members. Details: 732-252-6990 or visit http://www.jhmomc.org
• The 2021 Discussion Series will continue with “Can You Use A Little More Joy!” via a Zoom webinar at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 16. The presenter will be Janet Kester, an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute for seniors facilitator at the University of Colorado. She will discuss the value of learning new things in order to maintain a novel outlook on life. The series is sponsored by Kathy Lo Bue, managing director, Glen Eagle Advisors, LLC. The series is free, non-sectarian and open to the community. Call 732-866-6660 for the registration link.
• NJ Blood Services, a division of the NY Blood Center, will host blood drives from 1-7 p.m. Nov. 12 and 1-7 p.m. Nov. 24 at the Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold Township (store between Cheesecake Factory and Chico’s). Appointments recommended. To make an appointment go to https://nybc.org/newjerseydrive (use sponsor code 65805) or call 800-933-2566. Walk-ins accepted if spacing allows. Remember to eat, drink and bring donor ID card or an ID with name and photo.
• Morganville United Methodist Church, 215 Conover Road, Marlboro, will open its thrift shop on Saturdays in October and November from 9 a.m. to noon. The thrift shop has new and nearly new items of clothing, housewares, home decor, toys, CDs, DVDs, books and more; vintage and collectible items. All are welcome to visit the thrift shop.
• Embroiderers’ Guild of America – Monmouth Chapter is dedicated to teaching and sharing the joys of needlework. The organization welcomes 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
• CentraState Medical Center has launched a new online grief support group led by licensed clinical social workers certified in grief counseling to assist individuals who have experienced the loss of a loved one. The group is open for adult members of the community who have experienced the loss of a loved one. The private groups provide a safe, non-judgmental space for participants to share their emotions and struggles. The group meets via Zoom on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 3 p.m. To register, call 732-303-5170 or email [email protected] or [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. 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.