• A holiday bake sale will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 16-17 at Lauri’s Day Spa (formerly Sanzio Salon and Day Spa), 1008 Route 34, Matawan. The bake sale is now in its 10th year. Last year, proceeds supported the Jamie Levy Memorial Scholarship at Matawan Regional High School and a local child in medical need. This year’s bake sale will benefit the Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, a division of the Valerie Fund. All are welcome to visit Lauri’s on Dec. 16-17 to purchase baked goods and to pre-order holiday cakes which may be picked up on Dec. 23 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Details: Wendy Levy, 732-766-5578, or Lauri’s Day Spa, 732-566-6800.
• Freehold Elks Lodge 1454 will host its monthly breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 18 at 73 W. Main St., Freehold. All are welcome to attend. Santa Claus will make an appearance. Made to order breakfast – all you can eat. Adults, $9; children under 12, $5. Proceeds to benefit local charities and organizations. Details: 732-431-8707.
• Experience a dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” by the Traveling Literary Theater at the First United Methodist Church, 91 W. Main St., Freehold, at 4 p.m. Dec. 18. Admission: $5 at the door or call 732-462-1745 to purchase tickets in advance.
• Tim McLoone & The Shirleys with the Atlantic Coast Band will make a holiday appearance at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan, at 2 p.m. Dec. 18. Admission is free, doors open at 12:30 p.m., seats available on a first come, first served basis. Details: www.monmouthcountylib.org.
• Marlboro’s winter holiday lighting event will take place at 6 p.m. Dec. 14 at Town Hall, 1979 Township Drive. New, unwrapped toys will be collected for the Charity Kings Toy Drive. Music and refreshments. All welcome to attend. Details: 732-536-0200, ext. 1200.
• 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.
• 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 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 Eastern European, German, Russian, Spanish, Hungarian and Ukrainian music, polka and czardas. The concert is free. Call 732-536-9406 for ticket availability.
• 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 the American Hotel, Freehold, Dec. 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 732-431-3220 for reservations.
• 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 Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education will meet at the Lafayette Mills School, 66 Maxwell Lane, Manalapan, at 7 p.m. Dec. 20. The meeting is open to the public.
• 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.
• 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 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.
