• On Dec. 15 at 7 p.m., the Colts Neck High School Music Department will present its 19th annual winter holiday concert at the high school, Route 537. The performance features the concert choir, concert band and jazz ensemble, and will premiere the commercial music ensemble. The concert will be directed by Jack Maniaci. Free admission, donations accepted. All are welcome to attend.
• Join the National Council of Jewish Women from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 21 at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan, as the section hosts Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County Vice President Marc Diament, who will present “Journey to Monmouth: From the Iberian Peninsula to the New World.” Details: 732-308-3431.
• The Knights of Columbus will host a blood drive on Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at their council hall at 70 E. Main St., Freehold. Details: Mike Tubridy, 732-239-6372.
• Temple Rodeph Torah, Mohawk Drive, Marlboro, will hold a Rock Shabbat service with guest artist Eric Komar at 8 p.m. Dec. 9. Members of the Wicker Memorial Baptist Church as well as members of the public are welcome to attend.
• The Knights of Columbus will hold a breakfast buffet with Santa on Dec. 11 from 8 a.m. to noon at their Council Hall, 70 E. Main St., Freehold. All are welcome to attend. The all you can eat breakfast is $7 per adult, $4 per child under age 12, and a family of four is $20. All donations are used for council projects and charities. Details: 732-780-5472.
• Rabbi Ira Grussgott will be installed as the new rabbi of Congregation Agudath Achim, Freehold Jewish Center, Freehold Borough, on Dec. 12. The installation will take place at 11 a.m. and will be followed by a catered kiddush. Temple members and non-members are invited. Suggested couvert is $18 per person. Reserve a place by calling 732-462-0254.
• A pre-Hanukkah program will be held at the Freehold Jewish Center, Freehold Borough, on Dec. 16. Services will begin at 6 p.m., to be followed with a dinner at 6:30 p.m. Cost of dinner $15 per person; children under 13 are $10. Temple members and non-members are invited to attend. Reserve a place by calling 732-462-0254.
• The Freehold Public Library, East Main Street, Freehold Borough, will present a program for families, “Leading with Kindness,” from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Dec. 8. Authors/creators Daryl Lynn O’Connell, Carleigh O’Connell and CathyAnn Sarra will share stories and lead a discussion about being kind, having a positive body image, being resilient when bullied and the rewards of not being a bystander.
• The Marlboro Library will host a holiday concert by Ed Goldberg and the Odessa Klezmer Band from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 15. The group plays a variety of Eastern European, German, Russian, Spanish, Hungarian and Ukrainian music, polka and czardas. The concert is free. Call 732-536-9406 for ticket availability.
• Santa Claus will arrive in Freehold Borough via train at Throckmorton and Main streets from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 10. All are welcome to attend. Presented by the Freehold Borough PBA and Conrail.
• A Hanukkah menorah lighting will be held at the Monmouth County Hall of Records Plaza, East Main Street, Freehold, on Dec. 24. Call 732-333-0094 for time. All are welcome to attend. Presented by Downtown Freehold.
• Breakfast with Santa will be held at Sweet Lew’s Cafe, Freehold, Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Call 732-308-1887 for reservations.
• Breakfast with Santa will be held at the American Hotel, Freehold, Dec. 11 and Dec. 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 732-431-3220 for reservations.
• Rides through Freehold Borough on the Jolly Trolley will be held on Dec. 9 from 5-8 p.m. and Dec. 10 from 4-8 p.m. (snow date, Dec. 11, 4-8 p.m.). Trolley leaves from Monmouth County Hall of Records, East Main Street. Admission: $5. Presented by OceanFirst Bank. For tickets, call 732-333-0094.
• Jewish rock musician and songwriter Rick Recht will perform on Dec. 17 at 5:45 p.m., at the Solomon Schechter Day School, Marlboro. The event will include an end-of-Shabbat Havdalah ceremony. Admission is free and open to the community. Hanukkah refreshments will be served. Registration is required. Details: Linda Glickstein, 732-431-5525.
• The Marlboro Jewish Center will sponsor an Israel Adventure for Women from June 25 through July 6, 2017. The tour will visit traditional and off-the-beaten-path sites, and include Shabbat in Jerusalem and a stop in Tel Aviv. The itinerary includes talks with Israeli women who will bring their experiences and passions to life. Details: bethbankscohn@gmail.com
• The Sayre Woods Bible Church, 2290 Route 9, Old Bridge, will present an all-new drive through Christmas story that will include live performances from biblical characters. The event is free to all visitors. Dates and times are 7-9 p.m. Dec. 9-11. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1855070351390490/
• A Deck the Halls Winter Wonderland will be held from 4-8 p.m. Dec. 17 at YMCA Camp Topanemus, 380 Monmouth Road (Route 537), Millstone Township. Admission is $20 per car, guests may choose to visit at 4 p.m. or at 6 p.m. The family event will include live music, photo opportunities, a live Nativity, reindeer feeding, cocoa and cider. Tickets must be purchased online by Dec. 11 at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr= puk7mzeab&oeidk= a07edfbas29529625ac
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education will hold a regular action meeting at the Lafayette Mills School, 66 Maxwell Lane, Manalapan, at 7 p.m. Dec. 20. The meeting is open to the public.
• The Center for Jewish Life, Marlboro, will sponsor a JTeen Hanukkah event for boys and girls ages 13-17 at iPlay America, Freehold Township, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Dec. 20. There will be unlimited rides, arcades, video games, laser tag, go karts, 4D theater and more. Admission: $25 (includes pizza, refreshments and $5 game card). RSVP by Dec. 12 to www.cjlnj.com or 732-316-7600.
• The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County is presenting an exhibit at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan. “From Peddler to Philanthropist-The Story of the German Jews of Monmouth County” discusses the story of German Jews who settled in Monmouth and built communities, synagogues and businesses, and the story of wealthy German-Jewish financiers and industrialists who spent summers in their elegant mansions on Monmouth’s Jersey Shore during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The exhibit may be viewed during library hours.
• The Monmouth County Audubon Society will sponsor a bird walk on Sandy Hook in northern Monmouth County on Dec. 10. The trip will be led by members of the Audubon Society. Anyone interested in participating can meet at 10 a.m. in the parking lot by the old Visitor Center. Participation is free. Advance registration is not required. Details: http://www.monmouthaudubon.org
• Authors Kevin Karlson and Dale Rosselet will present “Birding by Impression: A Different Approach to Knowing and Identifying Birds” at the Monmouth County Audubon Society meeting at 8 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Knights of Columbus hall, 200 Fair Haven Road, Fair Haven. The public is welcome; admission is free. Details: http://www.monmouthaudubon.org
• A new cancer support group will meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Monmouth Worship Center, 37 Vanderburg Road, Marlboro. A prayer group will meet at 8:30 p.m. Details: 732-332-9600.
• The Bimah Players will perform Jewish skits and songs at 2 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, Freehold Township. “Deli Delights” is a smorgasbord of songs, poetry, comedy and drama. Admission is $8 for museum members and $10 for non-members. To make a reservation (non-refundable), call the museum at 732-252-6990 or visit www.jhmomc.org
• Abraham Lincoln High School, Brooklyn, N.Y., Class of 1967 will reunite at 6 p.m. April 23, 2017 at Gargiulo’s Restaurant, Coney Island. Details: dlouie@davidjlouiec.com or 917-363-2500 or David Coleman at 732-547-2340.
• A Women’s Circle wine and cheese tasting event will be held at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21 at the Center for Jewish Life, Route 79, Marlboro. Cover: $40, complimentary to partners. RSVP only by Dec. 16 to 732-316-7600.
• A Hanukkah carnival will be held at the Center for Jewish Life, Route 79, Marlboro, from noon to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 25. Families welcome. Arts and crafts, game booths, Moon Bounce, menorah lighting and more. Admission: $18 per child (ages 2-12) includes all games and pizza lunch. Complimentary to partner families. RSVP to 732-316-7600.
• The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County will sponsor a Hanukkah menorah/platter painting event on Dec. 8 from 4:30-6 p.m. at Around the Corner Art Center, Freehold Township (next to the museum). The cost is $12 per child, supplies included. Details: 732-252-6990.
• The Essential Tremor Support Group meets from 7-9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month (Jan. 5) at the Jack Aaronson Conference Center at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Details: 732-462-8304, after 10 a.m.
• 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.
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.
