• Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children of Ocean County will host a Comedy Night fundraiser from 6-10 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Laurelton firehouse, Route 88 West and Olden Street, Brick Township. Cost is $25 in advance and $30 at the door, and includes dinner and one drink ticket. Gift auction and cash bar. Purchase tickets at www.casaofoceancounty.org. Details: 732-890-3588.
• The Bible Baptist Church of New Egypt, 8 Magnolia Ave., New Egypt, will offer Vacation Bible School from 6-8:30 p.m. Aug. 15-19 for children ages 4 to 12. The program is provided at no charge because of donations from congregants of the church. There will be singing, crafts, skits and Bible lessons. Call for a ride, 609-758-7667. Details: www.bbcNewEgypt.com
• St. Aloysius School, 935 Bennetts Mill Road, Jackson, invites all middle school students to its annual High School Night on Sept. 22 from 7-9 p.m. Catholic high schools from the diocese, the Ocean County Vocational Performing Arts Academy and MATES, and Jackson STEM have been invited to present information to students and their parents. Students must be accompanied by an adult. Details: 732-370-1515.
• The United Republic Club of Howell will meet on Sept. 20 and Oct. 18 and Nov. 15 at the Howell First Aid Squad building, 16 Kent Road, Howell. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Details: Email naborelli@yahoo.com
• The Italian American Cultural Society of New Jersey will hold its August dinner meeting on Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. at Lemon Mediterranean Restaurant, 3475 Route 9, Freehold. The restaurant is BYOB. The cost is $35 per person for members and $45 for non-members. Cash is preferred, no credit cards. For more information and to reserve seating, call Anthony Grassi at 917-743-3311 or Richard Favara at 732-861-9465.
• The Monmouth County Retired Educators Association is sponsoring a Members and Family Picnic at Oak Tree Lodge, Wall Township, on Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a picnic lunch, entertainment, games and activities, and socializing with friends and former colleagues. Fee for association members is $5, non-members, $35. Children under 5 are free. Guests between the ages of 5 and 11 are $15 per person. Details: Sue, 732 995-7754, before Aug. 18.
• The Friends of the Plumsted Library will collect used books for a book sale. Donate fiction, nonfiction, large print, children’s books, CDs, DVDs, audio books, and puzzles. No soiled or mildewed items. No video tapes, Reader’s Digest condensed books, magazines or encyclopedias. Drop off books behind the Plumsted Library, 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month – Sept. 3, and Oct. 1. Do not leave items if no one is present. Details: 609-758-0009 or 732-580-5600 or plumstedfriends@comcast.net
• Jackson Day 2016 will be held on Sept. 10 beginning at 11 a.m. at John F. Johnson Jr. Memorial Park, Jackson. The following are needed: food vendors, information vendors, merchandise vendors, craft vendors, flea market vendors and event sponsors. For vendor information, call 732-928-1260 or email janderson@jacksontwpnj.net
• The Plumsted Library will host Disney Olympics from 1-3 p.m. Aug. 16. The event is an Olympics with a Disney twist; activities, crafts, games and prizes. Program is for age 5 and up. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Plumsted Library is holding a Toddler Time session at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 23. There will be stories, songs and a simple craft. Program is for ages 18 to 36 months with caregiver. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Plumsted Library will host “Finding Dory!” from 1-2 p.m. Aug. 26. Join library staff for stories, crafts and games, and help us find Dory! Program is for ages 5 and up. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Plumsted Library is holding a session of coloring for adults at 11:15 a.m. Aug. 30. Rediscover the joy of coloring. Coloring sheets and art supplies provided along with relaxing music. Details: 609-758-7888.
• Bat Shalom Hadassah of Jackson-Howell will host a Hootenany at Doolan’s Shore Club, Spring Lake, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 27. There will be entertainment, a band for dancing and a complete lunch. Music will feature a tribute to performers of the 1960s, including Peter, Paul and Mary, the Kingston Trio and more. Cost is $55 per person. Make check payable to Bat Shalom Hadassah and send to I. Goldberg, 51 Crooked Stock Road, Jackson, NJ 08527. Details: 732-833-7378.
• The New Egypt Area MOMS Club is collecting school supplies to fill backpacks that will be distributed to local students in need. Items needed include three-subject notebooks, pens, pencils, tissues, backpacks, scissors, pencil cases, paper and highlighters. Drop-off bins will remain in place at the Plumsted Library, the Plumsted Pharmacy, Salon Bliss in Cream Ridge, the New Egypt Post Office and the New Egypt Marketplace until Aug. 20. Details: Jessica, 732-279-4304 or newegyptmoms@gmail.com
• Computer classes (beginner and advanced) will be offered at the Howell Senior Center on six Mondays beginning Aug. 15. The cost for six classes is $10. Individuals who register must be 60 years old or older and be a resident of Howell. Details: 732-938-4500, ext. 2554.
• Vendors are being sought for a fall flea market to be held at St. John the Baptist Church, 1282 Yardville-Allentown Road, Upper Freehold Township (Allentown), from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 24 (rain or shine) in the church parking lot. Cost: $20 per space, $5 per table. All proceeds from the flea market will benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Details: Karen Smith, 609-902-1973 or email wgs13@optonline.net
• Seniors who graduated from Freehold Regional High School, Freehold Borough, and Southern Freehold Regional High School, Howell, in June 1966 will get together from Aug. 26-28 for a combined 50-year reunion. The seniors who graduated in 1966 spent their freshman and sophomore years together in Freehold Borough, before Southern Freehold Regional opened in September 1964 and the class was divided. There will be a combined reunion from 6-11 p.m. Aug. 27 at the American Hotel, Freehold. To make a reservation, contact Donna Cusworth Hansen at donnachansen@hotmail.com for Southern Freehold Regional or Steve Herr at steve.herr@sbcglobal.net for Freehold Regional.
• The Jackson Premium Outlets, Route 537, Jackson, will present a summer concert series every Saturday from 1-4 p.m., weather permitting, outside the food court. The series will conclude on Sept. 3. All performances are free and open to the public. Live performances will range from summer tunes to bluegrass, classic rock and pop.
• The Jackson Township Municipal Utilities Authority will hold its public meetings at 5:30 p.m. in its administrative offices at 135 Manhattan St., Jackson, on the following dates in 2016: Aug. 25, Sept. 22, Oct. 27, Nov. 17, Dec. 15; and on the following dates in 2017: Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 (reorganization).
• The Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s or dementia will meet at 10 a.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson. Details: 1-800-272-3900 or www.alz.org/nj
Items for the Datebook may be sent to gmntnews@gmnews.com. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.
