• The sixth annual Howell/Farmingdale 5K run and race walk benefiting CONTACT of Ocean and Monmouth Counties 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention hotline will be held on Oct. 21 at Howell High School, Squankum-Yellowbrook Road, Howell. The course is now certified. The 5K will begin at 9:30 a.m. All ages welcome. Awards to top male and female overall, plus age group awards for 5K run. Special pricing for ages 19 and under. All registration fees discounted when registered by Oct. 17. Details: 732-240-6104 for registration and/or info on becoming a sponsor. Visit www.contactoceanmonmouth.org for race application form or register online at https://register.compuscore.com/contact5k
• The Freehold Township Senior Center, 116 Jackson Mills Road, Freehold Township, will host a craft show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 10. Tables are available for $15. There will be a variety of craft and holiday items. Details: 732-294-2029.
• The Monmouth County Park System will conduct a mill demonstration at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township, on Sept. 8-9, 15-16, 22-23 and 29-30 from 1-4 p.m. See the 19th century gristmill in action. Demonstrations run through November. Free.
• The Monmouth County Park System will host a cornbread contest at 1 p.m. Sept. 23 at
Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township. Bring a 9- x 13-inch pan of cornbread and a typed copy of the recipe at 1 p.m. Visitors will be able to taste and vote on their favorites at 1:30 p.m. Ribbons will be awarded at 3 p.m. Free.
• The Monmouth County Park System will host a corny joke contest at 2 p.m. Sept. 23 at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township. Tell your best family friendly jokes during this contest. Free.
• A History of Inventing in New Jersey will be the topic of a presentation by author Linda Barth at 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Allentown Public Library, 16 S. Main St., Allentown. Barth will explore useful, groundbreaking, fun and silly inventions that originated in the Garden State. Seating is limited and registration is required. Details: 609-259-7565.
• Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary will host its annual Howl-O-Ween Family Fest from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 21 (rain date, Oct. 28) at 118 Route 526, Upper Freehold. This fun-filled event is open to the public and anyone can come with children of all ages and dogs of all sizes. There will be a Ruff Mudder Canine Obstacle Course. Dogs of all skill levels are welcome to participate with their owners. There will also be a costume contest for dogs, plus other activities. Details: 609-259-1278 or www.martysplace.org
• The Monmouth County Park System will host its annual Sept. 11 memorial ceremony at Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook, Atlantic Highlands, site of the county’s Sept. 11 memorial, at 8 a.m. Sept. 11. All are welcome to attend (rain or shine). The scenic overlook will remain open until 11 p.m. Sept. 9-11 to provide additional opportunities to visit the memorial. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or 732-842-4000, ext. 4312.
• Brookdale Community College Foundation’s 39th annual Education Open Golf Outing will be held on Sept. 27 at Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club, Howell. The event is open to the public. The shotgun start for the full scramble tournament is set for 11:30 a.m. Golf carts and special gifts are included. Details: Timothy Zeiss, 732-224-2887, https://www.brookdalecc.edu/brookdale-foundation/2018-education-open-golf-
outing/
• Millstone Day, a community celebration, will be held at FrogBridge Day Camp, 7 Yellow Meeting House Road, Millstone Township, from noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 16 (rain or shine). There will be crafts, demonstrations, games, a pumpkin patch, a rodeo show, beer garden, music, food, bounce house, obstacle course and more. To become a vendor or for more information, call Millstone Recreation at 732-917-2954.
• Center Players Dessert Theater has partnered with theater instructor Darrell Willis Sr. to offer teen acting classes this fall at Center Playhouse, 35 South St., Freehold. “Acting 101” is open to young adults ages 12-17 and will include scene study, improvisation and basic acting techniques. Classes will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on 10 Saturdays from Oct. 13 through Dec. 15. The fee is $200 per student. Students may download a registration form at www.centerplayers.org. Details: Text 908-216-5168.
• The Monmouth County Genealogy Society will host “Irish Surnames and Place Names in Irish Genealogy” presented by Micheal O’Maille, Irish scholar and seanachai (a traditional Irish story teller) at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Community Center, 72 Broad St.,
Eatontown. The meeting is free and open to the public. Details: 732-747-0090.
• The Heart of New Jersey Chorus is holding open guest nights during September. The chorus rehearses every Wednesday from 7:30-10 p.m. at the Millstone Township Primary School, 18 Schoolhouse Road, Millstone Township. Details: 732-446-9782.
• The Deep Cut Orchid Society will hold its annual orchid auction on Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with plant preview available from 9:30-10 a.m., at Monmouth Park racetrack, 175 Oceanport Avenue, Oceanport. Orchids from growers in Ecuador, Brazil, Taiwan and the United States will be available for bidding. Admission and parking is free. A hot and cold buffet will be available for $16 per person. Visit deepcutorchidsociety.org for additional information and to RSVP.
• Saint Gabriel’s Church, Marlboro, will host a juried craft and vendor fair on Nov. 11 from
10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Prospective vendors should send name, business name, email, mailing address, phone number and a description of their work with four to six high-quality photos demonstrating sample crafts and wares and table set-ups to Julia A. Oliver at
[email protected]. The table fee is $45. Vendors should not mail payment until they are notified they have been selected to participate.
• The Allentown Public Library Association’s popular Trivia Night is set for Sept. 29 at the Allentown First Aid Squad, Route 526. Games begin at 7 p.m. Teams playing in the Fall 2018 Trivia Night will be competing for cash prizes and recognition on a trophy. The winning team’s name will be inscribed on the Trivia Trophy that is on permanent display at the library. Registration and payment may be made at the library, 16 S. Main St., Allentown. Details: 609-259-7565.
• The Allentown Public Library has announced that the Allentown afghans, which were created and sold by the Women’s Association of Allentown, are now available for the first time since 2008. The afghans were designed by Joanne Tourine and show nine historic structures, including the Imlay Mansion, Gov. Newell’s home, the Presbyterian Church, Abel Cafferty’s Mill house and the iconic mill and the Allentown Baptist Church that is now home to the library. The afghans are available in hunter green, cranberry and colonial blue. They are available for purchase at the library, 16 S. Main Street. All proceeds benefit the Allentown Public Library Association in support of the library building.
• 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.
• Disabled American Veterans Chapter 74, Freehold, will meet at 7 p.m. July xx 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.
Items for the Datebook may be sent to [email protected]. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.