• The Monmouth County Retired Educators Association will meet at 11 a.m. June 14 at the Spring Lake Manor, Spring Lake. Installation of officers will take place and the annual Philanthropic Award will be presented. Members are asked to bring a non-perishable donation for the local food bank. The association is collecting school supplies to include in fall backpacks for needy children. For luncheon reservations, call Sue at 732-995-7754 or email sueshrott@gmail.com before June 3. New members are welcome.
• The Green Leaf Pet Resort and Hotel and Shelly’s School for Dogs will host their fourth annual dog festival on May 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 23 Burnt Tavern Road, Millstone Township. Rain date is May 22. All dogs and people are welcome. There will be activities and special events. Details: 609-259-1500.
• Debows United Methodist Church, corner of Route 537 and Route 571, Jackson, will host a pasta dinner from 4:30-7 p.m. May 21. There will be three types of pasta, meatballs, meat sauce, salad, bread, coffee, tea and dessert. Cost is $10 per person (13 and over), $6 per person (ages 5-12), and free for children 4 and under. All are welcome to attend. Take-out orders will be available. Details: 732-928-4475.
• The Noontime Optimist Club of Freehold will present Mike McGrath, host of the nationally syndicated public radio show “You Bet Your Garden,” on May 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Fernbrook Farms’ education center in Chesterfield. The event will support Camp Quality New Jersey and other youth oriented organizations. “You Bet Your Garden” will feature organic gardening tips, light “farm to table” refreshments and a meet and greet with McGrath. Tickets are $55 and may be purchased at www.noontimeoptimists.com. Details: Carole Robinson, 732-431-3989, or Pat DiGiacomo, 732-863-1817.
• Camp Invention will take place in Millstone Township this summer. The camp is open to children entering grades one through six. Children will explore connections between science, technology, engineering and innovation. The week begins on Aug. 1 with Michelle Falanga serving as director of the Epic program. Registration is $155 (regular price $255), due to a generous donation provided by the Nordson Corporation Foundation. Details: www.campinvention.org or 800-968-4332.
• The Standardbred Retirement Foundation will host a Meet and Greet and Tack Sale from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 22 at 43 Arneytown-Hornerstown Road, Cream Ridge. About 60 horses will be on hand to greet visitors, some in demonstrations, all available for adoption. A tack sale will be held and there is no charge for guests to set up to sell their own. Guests should bring their own table. Should there be a change due to weather, it will be posted on SRF’s Facebook page and on SRF’s website at AdoptaHorse.org. Details: Email Admin@srfmail.com or call 732 446-4422.
• A yard sale fundraiser will be held at the Thomas Baird Homestead, 24 Baird Road, Millstone Township, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 21 (rain date, May 22). Details: www.mtfriendsofhistory.org
• The award-winning Heart of New Jersey Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, under the direction of Jeanne Elmuccio, will present “The Heart Sings,” with special guests, 2015 Region 19 champion quartet “Famous Janes,” on May 22 at 3 p.m. at the Millstone Township Primary School, 18 Schoolhouse Road, Millstone Township. Tickets are $15 for general admission; $12 for seniors and students. For tickets, call 732-527-3343, or purchase tickets at the door.
• The Millstone Township Open Space and Farmland Preservation Council will host the 10th annual clambake fundraiser on June 12 at Wagner Farm Park, Millstone Township. Limited tickets are available and must be purchased in advance. Tickets are $30 per adult and $10 per child if purchased by May 21. Children’s tickets do not include lobster. The adult ticket price increases to $35 effective May 22. Details: Lori Maher, 732-446-4249, ext. 1103, or L-Maher@millstonenj.gov
• Millstone Elks Lodge No. 2613, 22 Burnt Tavern Road, Millstone Township, will run a bus trip to see the New York Mets play the Philadelphia Phillies in Philadelphia on July 15 at 7:05 p.m. Cost is $60 per person and includes bus, game ticket and refreshments on the bus. Bus will leave at 4 p.m. from the Elks lodge. For tickets, call Tom, 732-904-8366. The Elks Lodge has space available for daytime/evening meetings. Details: 609-259-8911.
• Individuals age 11 and over may receive free instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on June 4. Residents of all towns are welcome to attend. First Aid & CPR, LLC, will host a free American Heart Association hands-only training event at the Manalapan Community Center, 114 Route 33, Manalapan. Training will be offered every hour on the hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attendees will be trained to spot a sudden cardiac arrest, call 911 and provide hands-only CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator. Pre-registration is required by calling 732-414-6072 or 888-242-4259. Details: www.FirstAid.org
• The Veterans Community Alliance of New Jersey will sponsor “Fishing For Heroes” on the Royal Miss Belmar from 4:30-8:30 p.m. May 21. Attendees must be at the marina by 3:30 p.m. The cost is $105 per person and includes fishing rods, bait and food. There will be a Biggest Fish tournament and a 50/50 raffle. Details: 917-747-4312.
• The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County and Jewish Family and Children Services will co-sponsor a trip to the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia on May 24. The cost is $45 per person and includes round-trip bus transportation, docent-led small tours at the museum and a kosher boxed lunch. To make a reservation, call Marion Riback at 732-774-6886, ext. 43.
• Vendors are being sought for an Italian festival to be held from June 29 through July 2, 6-11 p.m., at Freehold Raceway, Freehold. The event is sponsored by the Italian American Association of Monmouth County. There will be rides, games, entertainment, crafters and food at the festibal. Details: Cheryl Scuorzo, 732-536-5832.
• The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance meets every Sunday from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Freehold Community Wellness Center, 17 Bannard St., Freehold. Details: 908-433-1993 or 732-367-7450.
• The Essential Tremor Support Group meets from 7-9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month (June 2) at the Jack Aaronson Conference Center in the Star and Barry Tobias Ambulatory Campus, 901 W. Main St., Freehold Township. Details: 732-462-8304, after 10 a.m.
Items for the Datebook may be sent via email to gmntnews@gmnews.com. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.
