• The Heart of New Jersey Chorus singing group is looking for new members. For more information, call 732-446-9782.
• A multi-family community yard sale will be held at Jensen’s Deep Run community center, 20 Longview Trail, Plumsted Township, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 16. The entrance to Jensen’s Deep Run is on Route 537, a short distance east of the intersection of Route 537 and Route 539. Turn onto Longview Trail, proceed to stop sign, community center is on the right.
• The Deep Cut Orchid Society will hold its annual orchid auction from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 23 at Dearborn Market, 2170 Route 35 South, Holmdel. Preview plants from 9:30-10 a.m. Orchids from growers in Ecuador, Brazil, Taiwan and the United States will be available for bidding. All are welcome to attend. Admission and parking are free. Cash, check and credit cards will be accepted.
• Steven Kristoph from Steven Kristoph Nursery, Millstone Township, will be the guest speaker at the Oct. 12 meeting of the Allentown Garden Club. He will offer advice about planting in dry shade and discuss which plants work best and how much the roots of trees can be disturbed without damaging them. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Allentown Methodist Church, Church Street. All are welcome to attend. Details: www.AllentownGardenClub.net.
• Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary, 118 Route 526, Upper Freehold Township, will host a Howl-O-Ween Family Fest from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 22. Family dogs are welcome to attend. There will be a Ruff Mudder canine obstacle challenge, hay rides, a canine costume contest, a Kid’s Zone and more. Live music by Buntopia, food, vendors. Admission is free (a fee will be charged for some activities). Proceeds will be used for the care of Marty’s Place residents.
Details: http://www.martysplace.org/
• Joan’s Reach will host its sixth annual Chili Cook-Off from 2-6 p.m. Oct. 14 at VFW Post 4374, 50 Waterworks Road, Freehold. Joan’s Reach raises awareness for perinatal hospice care and provides resources and support for families continuing a pregnancy with a life-limiting prenatal diagnosis. Tickets are $30 per adult, $5 per child (ages 4-12), or $60 per family (parents and immediate children). The cook-off will feature original chili dishes, beverages and additional food. Details: www.joansreach.org
• Para-X will present “Behind the Veil” from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Haunted Lodge on the Lake, East Brunswick Elks Lodge, 21 Oakmont Ave., East Brunswick. There will be access to paranormal groups, artists, merchandise vendors, psychic readings and a traveling museum of haunted artifacts. Meet Chris DiCeasare from SyFy, author of “Surviving an Extreme Haunting.” Admission is $5. Details: www.paraxbehindtheveil.wordpress.com or email [email protected]
• The Allentown Library will host an antique appraisal fundraiser on Sept. 17. The event will begin at 1 p.m. with remarks by specialists from the Bodnar Auction House. A ticket is required for each item to be appraised. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the library, 16 S. Main St., Allentown. Tickets are $20 per item for an open room appraisal and $30 per item for a private appraisal (no weapons). Details: 609-259-7565.
• JAR of Hope is seeking participants in an attempt to set a world record for the largest group of people to gather and do pushups at the same time. The event will take place on the morning of Sept. 16 at iPlay America, Freehold Township. JAR of Hope is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for researching a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The donation is $20 per person. Sign up at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ jar-of-hope-world-record-push-up-attempt-tickets- 32324316902?aff=eand
• The Monmouth County Park System will host its Harvest Home Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 24 at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. There will be wagon rides, games, live entertainment and Victorian era craft demonstrations. Visitors may enter a competition in vegetables, canning, condiments, baked goods, embroidery, quilting, rug hooking and more. Applications for the competition are available at www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or by calling 732-946-3758.
• The 22nd annual Monmouth County Archives and History Day will be held on Oct. 14 at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan. The event will focus on the history of Monmouth County inventors and innovators and will feature movie screenings and seminars for people of all ages. The deadline for New Jersey historical organizations to sign up for an exhibitor table is Oct. 2. Details: 732-308-3771.
• The Jersey Shore Rose Society will present its 45th annual Rose Show from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 16 at Deep Cut Gardens, 152 Red Hill Road, Middletown. Admission is free and all are welcome. There will be displays of roses and experts will be available to answer questions. Tours of Deep Cut Gardens will be available. Details: www.JSRoses.com
• The Villagers of Allentown will begin their new year at 10 a.m. Sept. 27 with a salad and ice cream social and silent auction. Guests are welcome to join the Villagers as they celebrate 50 years. The Villagers is a social, civic and charitable organization for women of all ages in the community and surrounding areas. The Villagers meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the first aid building on Waker Avenue Allentown. Details: 609-758-3711.
• Stacy Curry will speak about the benefits of straw bale gardening at the Sept. 14 meeting of the Allentown Garden Club. Straw bales are a cost-effective alternative to raised beds. The straw bales serve as a bed and a growing medium. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Allentown Methodist Church, Church Street. All are welcome to attend. Details: AllentownGardenClub.net
• A Harvest Fest will be held at the Baird Homestead, 24 Baird Road, Millstone Township, from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Oct. 14. There will be face art, a pumpkin patch, arts and crafts, hay rides, a petting zoo and musical entertainment by students from Cornerstone Music Studios. Pumpkin and house tour with $5 admission. The event is sponsored by the Friends of Millstone Historic Registered Properties, the Millstone Township Historic Commission and the Millstone Township Agricultural Council. Details: www.mtfriendsofhistory.org
• Disabled American Veterans Chapter 74, Freehold, will meet at 7 p.m. Sept. 26 at the American Legion, 62 W. Main St. Freehold. Chapter members, DAV members-at-large who are seeking a chapter and veterans with disabilities who are seeking assistance and advice are welcome to attend the meeting. Dinner of pizza and subs is provided.
• Basket and Bag Bingo will be presented by the Cookstown Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 Ladies Auxiliary on Sept. 23 at the New Egypt Elks, 105 Lakewood Road (Route 528), New Egypt. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., Bingo starts at 7 p.m. Tickets: $30 per person. For tickets, call Karen Ivins at 609-668-2030.
• The Ladies of St. Joseph Church, Millstone Township, will sponsor a trip to the World Trade Center, One World Observatory Freedom Tower, New York City, on Oct. 12. Bus leaves at 9:15 a.m. Lunch at Katz’s Deli. Visit to Freedom Tower follows lunch. This is mostly a walking tour. Bus returns to Millstone Township at 6 p.m. Cost: $110 per person. Details: Rosalie Fortunato, 732-490-5302.
• The Friends of Millstone Township Historic Registered Properties are asking residents to submit their favorite recipes to be included in a community cookbook. The cookbook is a fundraiser for the organization. A recipe submission form may be found at mtfriendsofhistory.org and click on the cookbook tab. Forms may be emailed to [email protected]. Following its publication, the cookbook will be sold for $12.95.
• New Jersey Blood Services is in need of volunteers to work blood drives in Ocean and Monmouth counties. Tasks include assisting donors with registration, watching donors for post-donation reactions and responding to their needs. Details: Jan Zepka, 732-616-8741.
Items for the Datebook may be sent to [email protected]. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.