• Friends of Holmdel Open Space will celebrate National Trails Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 4. All are invited to hike a portion of the Ramanessin Brook Greenway. Meet at 10 a.m. in the Holmdel High School parking lot near the Duncan Smith Theatre. Walk along sections of the Ramanessin Brook Greenway to Village School. Hikers will use the new Bell Works-Bayonet Farm connector trail. Bring day-pack with lunch and rain gear. The overall distance will be 4 to 5 miles at a moderate pace. Shuttles will be used so this can be a one-way hike. Registration is not required, but will help organizers plan for shuttles. Details: Ralph, 732-264-8482. FOHOS raises money for preserving open space in Holmdel, maintains Holmdel’s greenway trails, and promotes the public’s enjoyment of Holmdel’s parks and open spaces by sponsoring seasonal greenway walks and outdoor activities.
• The Monmouth County Retired Educators Association will meet on June 14 at the Spring Lake Manor, Spring Lake. The meeting will begin at 11 a.m. Attendees may arrive early to enjoy the association’s 60th Jubilee celebration starting 10:30 a.m. A new slate of officers will be installed and the annual MCREA Philanthropic Awards will be presented to this year’s winners. Members are encouraged to bring non-perishable donations for the local food bank. For reservations, contact [email protected] or call 732-995-7754. Reservations must be completed before June 3. New members are always welcome.
• Pink Ribbons of Central New Jersey will host a fashion show and luncheon at noon June 16 at The Reception Center, 172 Freneau Ave., Matawan. Tickets are $55. All proceeds go directly to Susan G. Komen for local women. Details: Helene Cohen, 732-577-0303, or Joan Stevenson, 732-252-8705.
• New Jersey Blood Services, a division of New York Blood Center, will conduct blood drives which are open to the public. The following drives are scheduled: June 2, Holmdel High School, 36 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, 7:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.; June 3, St. Dorothea Church, 240 Broad St., Eatontown, 1-7 p.m.; June 7, Atlantic Physical Therapy, 68 White St., Red Bank, 2-6:30 p.m.; June 9, Brotherhood of Temple Shalom, 5 Ayrmont Lane, Aberdeen Township, 12:30-6:30 p.m.; June 27, North Centerville Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1, 372 Middle Road, Hazlet, 1-7 p.m.; and June 28, Lincroft Bible Church, 790 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, 1-7 p.m.; To donate blood or for information about how to organize a blood drive, call 1-800-933-2566 or visit www.nybloodcenter.org
• The DowntownFreehold.com Thursdays Rock concert series will make its 2022 debut on June 2 with a performance by James Maddock. All concerts take place from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Monmouth County Hall of Records plaza, Main Street, Freehold Borough. The concerts are free; bring a lawn chair. The rest of the schedule is as follows: June 9, Pat Roddy Band; June 16, Funky Uncle All-Stars; June 23, The Weeklings; June 30, Eddie Testa Band; July 7, Mission Dance; July 14, Joe Baracata Band; July 21, Matt O’Ree Band; July 28, Chuck Lambert Band with Coo Moe Jhee; Aug. 4, Parrot Beach; Aug. 11, Colossal Street Jam; Aug. 18, Pat Guadagno and Friends; Aug. 25, Turnstyles.
• The Freehold Borough Arts Council 2022 Jazz, Blues and More Summer Concert Series will take place every Sunday through August (June 5 through Aug. 28) from 7-9 p.m. at the Downtown Freehold Gazebo, Main Street, Freehold Borough. The concerts are free; bring a lawn chair.
• Matawan officials announced there has been change in the location of an election polling place in Matawan. As of the June 7, 2022 primary election, voters who reside in District 1 will no longer be able to go to the Washington Engine Fire Co. No. 1, 176 Jackson St., to vote. Instead, voters who reside in District 1 must go to the Bayshore EMS First Aid and Rescue building, 29 Little St., to vote. Matawan officials are informing the community this is not a one-time modification; the change in the District 1 polling location will apply to all future elections.
• The Monmouth County Park System will host a Nature Lecture Series: Horseshoe Crabs Trying to Survive in a Modern World on May 26 from 7-8 p.m. at the Bayshore Waterfront Park Activity Center, Port Monmouth. Discover why the population of horseshoe crabs is declining, what people are doing to protect the crab through research, and what individuals can do to help. Free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Monmouth County Park System will host Historic Battery Lewis Tours on May 28-29 from noon to 4 p.m. at Hartshorne Woods Park, Highlands, in the Rocky Point section. Tour the restored Historic Battery Lewis and learn about the history of this important former coastal defense site. Free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Monmouth County Park System will host a Decoration Day celebration on May 30 from noon to 3 p.m. at Historic Longstreet Farm, Longstreet Road, Holmdel. Enjoy the company of family and friends as the park system honors this early American holiday. Free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Morganville United Methodist Church, 215 Conover Road, off Route 79, Marlboro, has reopened its Saturday thrift shop. The thrift shop will be open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon through July. New and nearly items including clothing, toys, home decor, jewelry, housewares, crafts and holiday decorations will be available for purchase. All are welcome to visit the thrift shop.
• Monmouth County officials have scheduled paper shredding events so residents have the opportunity to dispose of old documents and confidential files safely. All shredding events will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following locations: July 9, Matawan-Aberdeen Train Station, Parking Lot 1; Aug. 20, Aberdeen Municipal Building, 1 Aberdeen Square; Sept. 10, Union Beach Recycling Center, 1400 Florence Ave.; and Nov. 12, Middletown North High School, 63 Tindall Drive, Middletown. County residents may shred up to 100 pounds of documents. Large binder clips must be removed from documents; staples and paper clips can remain. Information about the paper shredding events and recycling can be found in the recycling section of the county’s website, www.visitmonmouth.com, or call 732-683-8686, ext. 8967.
• 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
Items for the Datebook may be sent to [email protected]. Please send items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.