- A sleepover for stuffed animals will be held at the Plumsted library at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 4. Children ages 2 to 6 may drop off a stuffed animal. There will be stories and the children will make beds for their stuffed animals. Children may return at 10 a.m. Nov. 5 to pick up their animal and see what fun the stuffed animals had overnight at the library.
- A Harry Potter party for ages 5 and over will be held at the Plumsted library at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7. Share in the excitement of the new Harry Potter movie: attend the sorting hat ceremony, stop by Ollivander’s for a wand, have a snack at the Leaky Cauldron and make an owl at Eeylops Owl Emporium.
- Turtle Dance Music for ages 2 and over will be held at the Plumsted library at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 11. The show features music, stories and games and is crafted to be inclusive for all children and fun for parents and caregivers. Each song is accompanied by hands-on visual and sensory experiences.
- Meet local author Rita Oakes and hear her share tales of her world travels at the Plumsted library at 3 p.m. Nov. 21 in the Book Café.
- An open ceramics program will be held from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Thompson Park Creative Arts Center, Lincroft. Choose from a selection of bisque fired pottery pieces to glaze and make your own. Children age 12 and under are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is $6 per hour plus price of bisque ware; cash or check only. Pieces will be fired in about one week. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Monmouth County Park System will present “Turkey Tales” at 11 a.m. Nov. 19-20 at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell. Discover what turkeys eat for Thanksgiving during this story and craft. Free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• New Jersey United Christian Academy, 73 Holmes Mill Road, Cream Ridge, will host a challenging Gobble Gobble 3-mile mud run on its 43-acre campus at 9 a.m. Nov. 26. The cost is $30 and pre-registration information can be sent to tcostello@njuca.org. Details: 609-738-2121.
• The Howell Township manager and municipal department heads will hold a budget presentation for the proposed 2017 municipal budget on Nov. 3 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and on Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to noon in the main meeting room, second floor, in the municipal building, 4567 Route 9 north, Howell. Members of the public may attend, but may not participate.
• “Tunneling Through German Immigrant Research: A Case Study” will be the topic of the Monmouth County Genealogy Society meeting at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 13th at the Community Center, 72 Broad St., Eatontown. The speaker will be Richard Haberstroh, a founding member of the New York-based German Genealogy Group. The meeting is free and the public is welcome.
• The Jackson library is collecting donations for the Jersey Shore Animal Shelter during November. Donations can be brought in during library hours. To view a “wish list” of materials the shelter needs, stop by the library or visit www.jerseyshoreanimalshelter.org
• The Jersey Shore Animal Shelter will present a free program called “Pets are Awesome: Pet Care for Kids” at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 11 for children ages 3 and up at the Jackson library. Shelter representatives will bring in a few friendly animals to meet the program participants and explain ways to care for family pets. Registration is required. Call the library to register.
• The Jackson Rotary Club will host a pancake breakfast to benefit the Jackson Food Pantry from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 13 at the Jackson Senior Center, 45 Don Connor Blvd., Jackson. Guests are asked to bring a donation for the food pantry. Suggested items include peanut butter, tuna, pasta, children’s juices, soups, toothpaste, toilet paper, laundry detergent and bar soap.
• The American Legion, 2 Meadowbrook Lane, New Egypt, will present an evening of comedy with Joey Vincent on Nov. 12. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets: $30 per person (includes dinner). Tickets will be available until Nov. 5. Details: Cathe, 732-255-1713.
• A blood drive will be held from 3:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Aldrich School, 615 Aldrich Road, Howell. The blood drive is organized by Patrice Riddle McDow and honors pediatric cancer warriors who are fighting to defeat their disease.
• Meet local poet Richard Morgan as he presents his fifth published book of poetry along with watercolors by his wife, Pat Morgan, at the Jackson Library at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7. The free program is for adults. Registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400.
• Brookdale Community College’s 2016-17 Visiting Artist Series returns on Nov. 3 with a free presentation by noted metalsmith and jewelry artist Frederick Marshall at noon in the college’s Center for Visual Arts (CVA) Gallery, Lincroft. Marshall will show his work and discuss the artistic process. The presentation is free and open to all. Attendees may bring lunch. Park in lots 1 and 2. Details: 732-224-2520
• The Jackson Library will host a job fair open to people of all ages at 6 p.m. Nov. 9. Explore employment opportunities. Registration is required for this free program. Details: 732-928-4400.
• The Freehold Food Fest to benefit Camp Quality New Jersey, a nonprofit organization providing free sleep-away camping experiences for children with cancer, will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 5 in the parking lot of iPlay America, 110 Schanck Road, Freehold Township. Family fun, food trucks, music, special guests, a beer garden and more. Details: www.freeholdfoodfest.com
• A knitting group meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at Sabbath House, 8 Front St., New Egypt. Members are knitting and crocheting scarves for the Seaman’s Church Institute in Newark. Patterns, yarn and help is available.
• The Jackson Rotary Club will sponsor a trip to the Brenda Lee Christmas Show at Caesar’s, Atlantic City, on Dec. 1. Cost of $95 includes show ticket, lunch buffet, $25 in slot play, bus transportation, beverages on the bus and gratuity for the driver. Bus leaves Jackson at 10:30 a.m. and returns at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds support Rotary Club charities. Reserve space now by calling Tom Barchie at 732-207-4029 or 732-849-6309.
• From now through Nov. 27, Girl Scouts in Monmouth and Ocean counties will sell nuts, candy, magazines and photo keepsake books. Customers may go online to buy any product sold nationwide during the fall product sale even if it is not available on the local order sheet. Customers should ask a Girl Scout for a link to her personal online store. Details: www.jerseyshoregirlscouts.com
• The Howell Women’s Club will meet on Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Taunton School media center. The evening’s program will include planning to prepare Thanksgiving meals for homebound seniors who receive Meals on Wheels. All area ladies are welcome to attend. Coffee and refreshments will be served. The club meets on the second Tuesday of the month from September through May. Details: Laura, 732-938-9190 or howellwomensclub@yahoo.com
• St. Aloysius Church, 935 Bennetts Mills Road, Jackson, offers support groups to help people better understand their feelings and to meet others who are dealing with the same life issues. A bereavement support group meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. and a divorced and separated support group meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. Both meetings are held in the parish office. A freewill donation of $5 is requested. Details: Email StAloysiusGonzagaGroup@gmail.com.
• The United Republican Club of Howell will meet at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Howell First Aid Squad building, 16 Kent Road, Howell. All are welcome to attend. Details: Email naborrelli@yahoo.com
• Naturalist George Nixon will present “Yellowstone: Land Between Fire and Water” at the Monmouth County Audubon Society meeting on Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. The program will be held at the Knights of Columbus hall, 200 Fair Haven Road, Fair Haven. The public is welcome; admission is free. Details: http://www.monmouthaudubon.org
• Monmouth County Audubon Society will tour a banding station on Sandy Hook in northern Monmouth County to learn about the process. The group will meet at 8 a.m. Nov. 12 on Sandy Hook near M lot, the most northerly parking lot. Sandy Hook attracts migrating raptors, shorebirds and songbirds due to the abundance of food and areas of suitable habitat. Details: http://www.monmouthaudubon.org
• 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: 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.
