• The Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson, will host “Brazilian Sounds of Aercio” at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 10. Samba the night away as Brazilian recording artist Aercio plays popular and traditional music from Brazil. Registration is required for this free program. To register, call 732-928-4400.
• Performing Arts Ensemble will hold auditions for a holiday show including “Nutcracker.” PAE is seeking singers, dancers and other entertainers of all ages. Roles are open for boys and girls ages 4-12, teen and young adult pointe dancers, dancers of all kinds, gymnasts and male actors, beginner to professional. Light rehearsal schedule for November/December shows. The audition is free and open to all. Auditions: Sept. 30 at 1 p.m., Middletown Arts Center in Middletown (next to the Middletown train station); Oct. 5 at 7 p.m., Middletown Arts Center; Oct. 12 at 7 p.m., Middletown Arts Center; Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m., Elite Trampoline Academy, Route 35, Middletown; and Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m., Elite Trampoline Academy. Details: 732-614-5426 or 732-610-4003.
• Elaine and the Cimarron Sky Band will present a Classic Country and More Show
at the Howell Library, 318 Old Tavern Road, at 2 p.m. Sept. 29. The band features Elaine Orzechowski, Brian Rauch, Mark Donley and David Donley. No reservations are necessary and all are invited to attend. Details: www.monmouthcountylib.org
• The Jackson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4703 Auxiliary annual gift auction will be held on Oct. 5 at 54 Magnolia Drive, Jackson. Doors open at 6 p.m., calling begins at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Tickets are $10 (100 tickets will be sold). Tables of 10 can
be reserved. Details: Email [email protected] or call 732-674-5175.
• Empty Bowls events are scheduled at the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen, 207 Monmouth St., Red Bank, Sept. 29, noon to 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served from noon to 3 p.m. at both locations, where dinner is available from 5-7 p.m. The Soul Kitchens are nonprofit community restaurants that serve paying customers and in-need customers. A $20 donation provides a choice of a unique bowl and defrays the cost of meals for in-need customers. All are welcome to attend. Details: [email protected]
• DeBows United Methodist Church, corner of Route 571 and Route 537, Jackson, will host its annual flea market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 6. There will be a food concession with breakfast and lunch items. Interested vendors may call Sue at 732-928-0352 to reserve table space ($10 each; table not provided, setup starts at 7 a.m.). Details: debowsumc.org
• Yoga Peace Kula, 4633 Route 9, Howell, will host a special event from noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 29. Participants will receive the tools necessary to establish a daily mindfullness practice, to manage emotions and behaviors to achieve their goals, and increase their quality of life. The cost to attend is $60. Details: 732-751-4644.
• A meeting of the Monmouth County Retired Educators Association will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 9 at the Double Tree Tinton Falls, Eatontown. A meet and greet for candidates running for local office in November will begin at 10:30 a.m. Sarah Geiger, a representative from NJEA, will discuss Medicare and OptumRX during the membership meeting. Members are asked to bring non-perishable donations for the food bank. For luncheon reservations, contact Sue at 732-995-7754 or email [email protected] before Sept. 28. New members are always welcome.
• 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
• 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 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.
• 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
• 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.
• 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.