• 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 Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson, will host free programs for adults in September. There will be an “Afternoon Film” at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 13. Visit theoceancountylibrary.org/events for film information. “Mindfulness Meditation: On Gratitude” will be held at 3 p.m. Sept. 14. Open to novice and skilled practitioners. Learn the art of gratitude. “Fall Prevention” will be presented at 3 p.m. Sept. 17. This program provides an understanding of the implications and risks of falls. “Coloring for Adults” will be presented at 10 a.m. Sept. 18. Rediscover the joy of coloring. An “Author Fair 2018” will be presented at 11 a.m. Sept. 22. Local authors will discuss their talent and offer books for sale. Walk-ins welcome. There will be an “Evening Film” at 6 p.m. Sept. 24. Visit theoceancountylibrary.org/events for film information. Registration is required unless noted otherwise. To register, call 732-928-4400.
• The Monmouth County Park System will hold a butterfly and pollinator garden tour on Sept. 6, 13, 20 & 27 at 11 a.m. at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell.
Tour a special garden that is designed to provide a habitat for wildlife. The tour is approximately 30 minutes and is offered weather permitting. Free.
• The Monmouth County Park System will hold a Monarch butterfly tagging demo on Sept. 8, 12, 22 and 26 at noon at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell.
See how scientists attach small tags to Monarch butterflies’ wings and learn about their migration to Mexico. Call 732-751-9453 for more information. Free.
• The Monmouth County Park System will host “Meet a Snake” at 1 p.m. Sept. 8-9 at the
Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell. Meet one of the reservoir’s resident snakes up close and learn about these creatures. Free.
• 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
• A giant yard sale will be held at Ocean County Park, 659 Ocean Ave., Lakewood, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 15. Vendors are now being accepted to recycle used items. Vendors are also encouraged to sell children’s items. A parking size spot is $15. To reserve a spot, send a check to Ocean County Parks and Recreation, 1198 Bandon Road, Toms River, NJ 08753. The event is held rain or shine. Details: www.oceancountyparks.org or 1-877-OCPARKS.
• The Jackson Rotary Club will sponsor a bus trip to the Tropicana Casino, Atlantic City, on Oct. 28. Cost of $34 includes transportation, sandwich and beverage on bus, $25 in slot play from the casino and gratuity for the driver. The bus will leave Brookwood Plaza at noon and return to Jackson at 9 p.m. Proceeds benefit Rotary Club charities. To reserve a space, call Tom Barchie at 732-207-4029 or 732-849-6309.
• 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/
• The Monmouth County Audubon Society will host a butterfly and bird walk at Tatum Park, Middletown, at 10 a.m. Sept. 15. The trip is open to members and non-members of the society and participation is free. Advance registration is not required. Meet at 10 a.m. in the main parking area off Holland Road. Dress appropriately for the weather, including clothing suitable for rain if the forecast is questionable. The walk will take place light rain or shine. Pets are not permitted. Details: www.monmouthaudubon.org or email [email protected]
• Boys and girls ages 8-17 may experience a free airplane ride on Oct. 20 as Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 315 of the North Jersey Shore hosts a Young Eagles Flight Rally at Monmouth Jet Center, 1717 Route 34, Wall Township. Those attending are asked to enter the airport at Hurley Pond Road west of Route 34 and proceed to the main terminal building, starting at 9:30 a.m. to register for their flight. A parent or guardian who can sign a required parental permission form at that time must accompany students. Flights begin at 10 a.m. and registration closes at 1 p.m. Rain date is Oct. 27. Details: www.youngeagles.org
• In collaboration with the Howell Police Department and Howell High School, the Howell Municipal Alliance will host the first “I Am Talented” teen talent showcase at Howell Day, Sept. 22. “I Am Talented” is open to all teenagers who wish to perform or showcase their
talents; local teens will handle event production. Participants can sing, dance, recite poetry, display art, or share other talents. Interested individuals may log on to www.surveymonkey.com/r/HowellDay. The municipal alliance dedicates itself to the
prevention of substance abuse in the community. Contact Police Officer Michael Pavlick at [email protected] with any questions.
• The Colts Neck Woman’s Club will host a “Trinkets and Treasures” indoor yard sale fundraiser at the Colts Neck Community Center in the Bucks Mills Recreation Area, 125 Bucks Mills Road, Colts Neck, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 13-15, and beginning at 9 a.m. Sept. 16. Housewares, clothing, jewelry, pocketbooks, seasonal decorations, artwork, books and more will be available for purchase. All are welcome to attend.
• Birder and wildlife photographer Kevin Watson will present “The Falklands and South Georgia” at the 8 p.m. Sept. 12 meeting of the Monmouth County Audubon Society at Tower Hill Church, 255 Harding Road, Red Bank. The public is welcome; admission is free. Details: www.monmouthaudubon.org or email [email protected]
• 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.
• Comedian, singer and pianist Steven “Sarge” Pickman will perform at Congregation Ahavat Olam, Howell, at 2 p.m. Oct. 14. The event is open to the public. Tickets may be purchased by calling 732-333-1299. Tickets are $18 for general admission; $36 for priority reserved seating; and $54 for premium reserved seating. There will be a meet and greet reception prior to the show which includes sponsorship seating in the first three rows for $108 (a block of four tickets must be purchased). Pickman will be available after the show to sell and autograph his book “Black Boychik.”
• 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.
• Immanuel Bible Church, 1244 West Farms Road, Howell, will host a bluegrass festival from 1-5 p.m. Sept. 22. Entertainment by Sonrise Mountain Revival and the IBC Worship Team. The festival is free and everyone is welcome to attend. There will be activities for the entire family. Details: 732-431-0299 to register.
• Ocean County veterans meet monthly to discuss relevant subjects and to plan recreation opportunities. Topics include the transition to civilian life, the VA system, substance use, PTSD/other mental health issues and more. The group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at Journey to Wellness Center, 25 S. Shore Drive, Toms River. Details: 732-244-0940 or email [email protected]
• 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 Jackson Library’s knitting group, Knit-Chat-Chain, is seeking donations of yarn and wool. The members of the group create sweaters, hats, scarves and blankets to donate to charity. Yarn donations may be brought to the Circulation Desk during library hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Details: 732-928-4400.
• 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.