• The Student and Community Ensemble Band of Expressions and Reflections will present its annual “Patriotic Salute to Veterans Concert” on June 24 at two hour-long shows. The 1 p.m. show will be at Friendship Gardens, 100 New Friendship Gardens, Howell, and the 6 p.m. show will be at The Crossroads at Howell, 720 Route 9, Howell. Active duty and retired military veterans and their families are invited to attend the show and be honored by the musicians and the residents of Friendship Gardens and The Crossroads. Individuals interested in attending should contact Judie Jensen at 732-534-4594.
• Members of the Freehold Art Society are exhibiting their work at the Wainright House and Museum, 48 Main St., Farmingdale, from June 7-26. The museum is free and open to the public on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Sundays from 1-4 p.m. There will be a closing reception with refreshments on June 26 from 1-4 p.m. Details: 732-938-6415 or freeholdartsoc@optonline.net
• There will be an open microphone night/coffeehouse held at the Manalapan Community Center, 114 Route 33, Manalapan, at 7:30 p.m. June 17 for individuals age 12 and up. The $2 admission includes one cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate or one bottle of water. Details: Email manalapancc@gmail.com
• The 40th anniversary celebration of “Olde Freehold Day ” will take place on July 23 at Lake Topanemus Park, Pond Road, Freehold Township, from noon to 6 p.m. The event will feature five bands, a disc jockey, classic cars, rides, refreshments (including a beer garden), food offered by civic organizations and activities on the lake. There will also be a triathalon. Any business interested in sponsoring the event, anyone interested in attending or any vendors who wish to participate may obtain additional information at Oldefreeholdday.com
• The Monmouth County Fair will be held at the East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold Township, from July 27-31. Hours are 5-11 p.m. July 27-29; 3-11 p.m. July 30; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 31. There will be Kids’ Zone rides in the outdoor entertainment area, a trapeze act, Bwana Jim, racing pigs, home and garden competitions, vendor displays, food, entertainment and more. General admission is $8 per person. Children 12 and under are admitted free at all times. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The St. Vincent de Paul Society will host a used clothing collection from noon to 4 p.m. June 18 at the Manalapan Recreation Center (near football field and basketball court parking lot). The following items are being collected: wearable and usable clothing (men, women, children), shoes, belts, handbags, linens, stuffed animals and hard toys. Put all items in tightly tied plastic bags. Details: Peggy Loennecker, 732-580-9832, or Adrienne Karron, 732-500-0633.
• The Manalapan Seniors and Chapter 4 will sponsor a bus trip to a Trenton Thunder baseball game on Aug. 4. The bus will leave the Manalapan municipal complex at 5 p.m. and return at about 10:30 p.m. A reserved picnic area will include hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, baked BBQ chicken, potato salad, garden salad and more from 6-8 p.m. Details: 732-446-8401.
• 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. Day stitchers will meet on June 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Colts Neck Community Church, 25 Merchants Way. Details: Toni, 732-462-5540, or www.mcega.org
• The Freehold Township High School class of 1996 will reunite at 4:30 p.m. July 9 at the Headliner, Neptune. Cost is $45 per person, includes hot buffet and two top shelf drinks; additional drinks at discount. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the committee via email at 1996FTHS@gmail.com Visit the reunion website at http://4vg33a.axshare.com/home.html. Details: Holly Bretzius, 610-404-2030.
• The Capital Gains chapter of BNI will host a special networking event on June 16 from 6-8 p.m. at Nonna’s Citi Cucina, Marlboro. BNI-Capital Gains has seats open for new members to whom the group can refer business. Friends and colleagues are welcome. RSVP required to 732-740-3550 or capitalgainsnj@gmail.com
• The Solana Marlboro will host a monthly health and wellness series on the following dates: June 29, 4:30 p.m., Tour the Solana Memory Care neighborhood and meet the team; July 27, 4:30 p.m., Virtual Dementia Tour, experience a day in the life of a Solana resident. Dinner and/or refreshments will be served. RSVP by calling 732-536-3000.
• The Manalapan Senior Center will sponsor a trip to see the sights of the New York City and New Jersey skylines, including the Freedom Tower, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the Brooklyn Bridge. The Spirit of New Jersey cruise will take place on July 7. Attendees will depart from the Manalapan municipal complex at 10 a.m. and return at approximately 3:30 pm. Details: 732-446-8401.
• On June 16 from 10:30-11:30 a.m., members of the public are invited to the grand opening celebration of Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey (CVCJ) in Monmouth County. The event, to be held at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township, will include an overview of the agency’s services and light refreshments. CVCJ is an interfaith nonprofit agency which uses volunteers to assist the elderly, disabled and veterans with services to allow them to remain independent. Details: 732-876-3900.
• The Freehold Borough Arts Council will publish its first community cookbook with recipes from residents and restaurants. Proceeds will support local arts. Interested individuals may submit a favorite family recipe and an anecdote about the recipe. Categories are appetizers, soups, salads, vegetables, entrees and desserts. To receive a submission form, email dglfbac@gmail.com or call Dru-Anne Palaima at 732-598-4539.
• On Aug. 11, the Manalapan Senior Center and Chapter 4 will be running a bus trip to the Westchester Broadway Theatre for a performance of “Million Dollar Quartet.” The play recounts the recording session that brought together Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the only time. Lunch is included for the cost of $59. Details: 732-446-8401.
• The Essential Tremor Support Group meets from 7-9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month (July 7) at the Jack Aaronson Conference Center at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Details: 732-462-8304, after 10 a.m.
• An Italian festival will be held from June 29 through July 2, 6-11 p.m., at Freehold Raceway, Route 9, Freehold. The event is sponsored by the Italian American Association of Monmouth County. There will be rides, games, entertainment, crafters and food at the festival. Details: Cheryl Scuorzo, 732-536-5832.
• The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance will meet in the spiritual center of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 1 Phalanx Road, Colts Neck, from 7:30-9 p.m. every Thursday. Details: 732-536-5826 or 732-320-0029.
• The Monmouth County Historical Association, 70 Court St., Freehold, will exhibit “Of the Best Materials and Good Workmanship: 19th Century New Jersey Chair Making” now through July 9. Details: 732-462-1466.
Items for the Datebook may be sent via email to gmntnews@gmnews.com. Please send items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.
