• Freehold Memorial Day Parade Committee, in conjunction with The Cabin, Route 33, Howell, will hold a fundraiser from 5-10 p.m. Feb. 18. The Cabin will donate 20% of a guest’s pre-tax check to the committee to assist in putting on the 2020 parade. Guests should tell the hostess they are there for the parade fundraiser upon arrival. Click on the Fundraising tab at www.freeholdmemorialdayparade.com to download the flier.
• Residents of all 55-and-over communities are invited to attend a complimentary full performance of Howell High School’s “Bring it On! The Musical” at 2:45 p.m. Feb. 27, to be followed immediately by dinner and dessert, provided by the Freehold Regional Education Association. Howell High School is at 405 Squankum-Yellowbrook Road, Howell. RSVP is requested via email to [email protected] by Feb. 20.
• Embroiderers’ Guild of America-Monmouth Chapter is dedicated to teaching and sharing the joys of needlework. Stitchers of all levels are welcome to attend a meeting. There are sit-and-stitch tables and special projects at each meeting. Day stitchers will meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Colts Neck Community Church, 25 Merchants Way, Colts Neck. Details: Toni, 732-462-5540, or www.mcega.org
• The Italian American Association of Monmouth County invites the public to celebrate
Carnevale from 1-5 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Knights of Columbus, 70 E. Main St., Freehold. Admission is $25 for children (4-10) and $40 for adults and includes a buffet luncheon (cash bar available), singing and traditional Italian music and dancing. Costumes are optional. Masks will be distributed to adults and children will make their own. There will be a costume parade and awards for best costume and best mask. There will also be an auction table and a 50-50 drawing. RSVP by Feb. 16. Details: Cheryl, 732-536-5832.
• Monmouth County Park System is hosting a bus trip to the American Museum of Natural History, New York, on Feb. 22. The museum features the Rose Center for Earth and Space, four floors of exhibits, an IMAX theater and gift shop. The trip is open to all ages; under 18 with adult. Bus leaves at 8:30 a.m. from Thompson Park, Lincroft, and will return at 5 p.m. Pre-registration is required. The cost of the trip is $42 per person and includes bus transportation and park system leader only. For the museum’s ticket information and pricing, visit www.amnh.org. To register, visit www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call 732-842-4000, ext. 1.
• Judy Russell, the Legal Genealogist, will speak at the Monmouth County Genealogy Society meeting on March 8 at the Community Center, 72 Broad St., Eatontown. Russell will speak on “Doing Time – Prison Records as Genealogy Resources.” There will be refreshments and networking at 1:30 p.m., followed by the business meeting and
speaker at 2 p.m. Admission is free and the public is welcome. Details: 732-747-0090.
• The 2020 Discussion Series will continue with “Getting Older Ain’t for Sissies – A Financial Perspective” presented by Kathy Lo Bue from 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 24 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. Lo Bue is the managing director of Glen Eagle Advisors and sponsors the series. She will discuss financial planning at various stages of life. The series is free, non-sectarian and open to the community. RSVP to 732-866-6660.
• The Horsemen’s Association of Millstone Township will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Millstone Community Center, 463 Stagecoach Road (next to the firehouse). Individuals who have an interest in horses are invited to attend the meeting and learn about upcoming trail rides and other activities. All are welcome; guests do not need to live in Millstone or own a horse. Details: www.hamt.org
• The Jewish Home for Rehabilitation and Nursing, Freehold Township, will host a free caregiver support group and education program open to the public from noon to 2 p.m. Feb. 13. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in a general discussion, getting tips and peer-to-peer support. RSVP to Raquel Schindel at 732-202-1000, ext. 4005.
• Monmouth County has scheduled paper shredding events for county residents. The shredding events will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following locations: April 4, Marlboro municipal complex, 1979 Township Drive. County residents may bring up to 100 pounds of documents to be shredded. Large binder clips must be removed from documents; staples and paper clips can remain. The service is free. Details: Visit the recycling section of 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. Stitchers of all levels are welcome to attend a meeting. There are sit-and-stitch tables at each meeting, as well as special projects. Evening stitchers will meet from 7-9 p.m. March 2 at the Colts Neck Library, 1 Winthrop Drive, Colts Neck. Day stitchers will meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 19 at the Colts Neck Community Church, 25 Merchants Way, Colts Neck. Details: Toni, 732-462-5540, or www.mcega.org
• A class reunion for all Lakewood High School graduates will be held on Aug. 22-23. All proceeds from the event will benefit students with financial difficulties so they may attend college. On the afternoon of Aug. 22, there will be guided tours at the Sheldon Wolpin Historical Museum, Lakewood. From 7-11 p.m. Aug. 22, there will be a casual get-together at the Lakewood Country Club. Cost is $50 per person. From 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 23, there will be a continental breakfast at the historical museum. Cost is $10 per person. Details: Judie Bloom Singer, 732-364-7854 or [email protected] or June Passadin D’Elia, 732-363-4695 or [email protected]
• The Jersey Born Music Benefit, a fundraiser for the Emergency Housing and Advocacy Program, will be held at 2 p.m. March 22 at Southgate Manor, Freehold. Contribution/ticket is $100. The program provides services to homeless and vulnerable individuals in the Freehold area. To purchase tickets, visit tix.ehapinc.org. Details: 732-934-4250.
• The Heart of New Jersey Chorus is holding open auditions in all voice parts. The chorus rehearses every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Millstone Township Primary School, 18 Schoolhouse Road, Millstone Township. Individuals who are interested in auditioning may call 732-446-9782.
• The Monmouth County Division of Consumer Affairs will host “Fraud Watch” at 10 a.m. Feb. 25 at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan. Consumer Affairs Director David M. Salkin will give the latest overview about consumer fraud alerts and latest scams. Registration is required to ensure the Division of Consumer Affairs has sufficient materials for attendees. To register, call 732-431-7220, ext. 7222.
• Freehold Public Library, East Main Street, Freehold Borough, will host Steve Kahofer for an author talk at 7 p.m. Feb. 12. Kahofer’s novel “Monopoly Games” is a character-driven thriller drawn from the author’s military and business experience. The author’s talk is sponsored by the library’s writing club, “Come Write In!” All are welcome to attend.
• Dr. Walter Greason of Monmouth University will present “A Century Ago: Freehold in 1920” at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Freehold Public Library, East Main Street, Freehold Borough. This is the first of a three-part series “New Conversations About the History of Monmouth County.” Details: 732-462-5135.
• The B’nai B’rith Ketubah Unit (55-plus) will have lunch at the Pine Tavern, 151 Route 34 North, Matawan, at 2 p.m. Feb. 16. The price is the cost of a guest’s meal. Prospective member couples and singles are welcome to join the group for lunch. RSVP to Elaine at 908-232-0062 by Feb. 12.
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education will hold the following public meetings: Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m., Pine Brook School, 155 Pease Road, Manalapan. Details: 732-786-2500.
• “Are the Kids Alright,” a discussion about young people’s mental health, will be presented at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 23 at the Freehold Jewish Center, Freehold Borough, by the staff of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Monmouth County. All are invited to attend. RSVP to 732-462-0254 or [email protected]
• The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is accepting applications for its 2020 scholarship
program. Potential candidates must be New Jersey residents currently enrolled in (and in good standing at) an accredited college or university, with at least 15 credits completed and an academic average equivalent to a 3.0 or higher. The scholarships are for residents who are pursuing degrees in environmental science, natural resource management, conservation, park administration and related fields. Deadline to apply is April 1. Applications can be downloaded from www.tlc-nj.org or obtained by calling 973-541-1010, ext. 14.
• The fifth annual Home Garden Symposium presented by the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Monmouth County will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 28 at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Monmouth County Agriculture Building, 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold Township. There will be lectures, demonstrations, exhibits about invasive species and more. Pre-registration ($10) is required. Vist tinyurl.com/HomeGarden2020. Details: Email [email protected] or 732-303-7614.
• The American Association of University Women, Freehold Branch, is accepting book donations for its 2020 used book sale. With the exception of Reader’s Digest, textbooks, religion, philosophy, reference, business and psychology, all book donations in good condition are appreciated. Proceeds support scholarships for women returning to college and monetary awards for graduating female seniors from the Freehold Regional High
School District. Contact Joan at 732-431-2297 for drop-off instructions.
• Monmouth County Park System will sponsor a bus trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show on March 6. Bus leaves at 11:30 a.m. from Thompson Park, Lincroft, and returns at 8:30 p.m. An additional trip is planned for March 7 (same times). The cost is $82 per person and pre-registration is required. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call 732-842-4000, ext. 1.
• The Arcadian Chorale, an ensemble dedicated to excellence in choral singing, will begin its spring season with rehearsals every Tuesday from 7-10 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Matawan. People who like to sing and are interested in becoming new members are invited to attend an audition on Feb. 11 from 6-7 p.m. Membership in the group is free. To arrange an audition in advance or for additional information, call 732-583-4007 or email [email protected]
• The Fresh Air Fund’s Friendly Towns Program is seeking local families to host children from New York City this summer. The Fresh Air Fund has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.8 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. First time Fresh Air children are boys and girls, ages 7 to 13, who live in New York City. Details: Karen Medlin, 732-740-0449, or visit www.FreshAir.org
• Forsgate Country Club, Monroe Township, will host Camp Forsgate in weekly sessions from June 29 through Aug. 14 for children ages 5-10. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Before-care and after-care will be available. Camp activities include golf, fitness, swimming, arts and crafts, STEM and more. Weekly tuition: Members, $330; Non-members, $370. Details: www.kecamps.com
• “Fine Feathered Friends: Birds as Mainstay and Muse” is open at the New Jersey State Museum, Trenton. The exhibition brings the fun of bird watching indoors through nearly 200 rarely seen artifacts and specimens exploring birds as an ecological mainstay and their role as a design-inspiring force, or muse, for New Jersey artisans. The exhibition will be on view through Sept. 13. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday; closed on Mondays and state holidays. Details: www.statemuseum.nj.gov
• Samaritan Center, a joint ministry of St. Thomas More and Old Tennent Presbyterian churches, operates a food pantry to provide supplementary food for those in need in Manalapan, Marlboro, Englishtown and Millstone Township. For information, call 732-446-1142 and make an appointment. Pickup dates are Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30-11:15 a.m. and Saturday from 9-11 a.m. Volunteers will gladly carry food to a client’s vehicle. Donations of funds and food are gratefully accepted to support the operation of the center. Volunteers are always welcome.
• The Jewish Home for Rehabilitation and Nursing, 1151 W. Main St. (in the Pond View Professional Park), Freehold Township, hosts a free monthly support group called the Jewish Caregiver’s Experience. The group meets at 7 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month. Caregivers of all ages seeking support, resources and a Jewish perspective on managing their responsibilities are welcome to attend. Kosher refreshments served. Details: Jolie, 732-202-1000 or email [email protected]
• The New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, is presenting “Preserving the Pinelands: Albert Horner’s Portraits of a National Treasure.” The exhibition features images by photographer Albert Horner which capture the quiet beauty and intimate landscapes of New Jersey’s Pinelands National Reserve. A number of artifacts and scientific specimens from the museum’s collections help tell some of the stories of the land, animals, people and industries that make this unique area a state and national treasure. “Preserving the Pinelands” will be on view through June 28, 2020. Details: www.statemuseum.nj.gov
Items for the Datebook may be sent to [email protected]. Please send items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.