• The New Egypt Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary will host its annual chicken salad/bake sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 26 at 59 Main St., New Egypt. Pints are $6.50 and quarts are $13. Pre-orders for chicken salad must be placed by March 15. Call Debbie, 609-738-2241, or Sarah Jo, 609-758-3260.
• The Howell Library, 318 Old Tavern Road, will host a “Salute to Saint Patrick’s Day” concert by Fred Lehotay and the Ragtimers from 2-3 p.m. March 18. The band will perform traditional Irish-American music. Following the performance, light refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Howell Library.
• The Adelphia Fire Company, 925 Adelphia Road (Route 524), Howell, will hold a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon April 9. All are welcome. Adults: $10. Children: $6. All you can eat pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, orange juice, tea and cocoa.
• Visiting Nurse Association Health Group/Monmouth County New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection program and Immanuel Bible Church will offer free breast exams and mammograms for uninsured or underinsured women ages 40 to 65 who reside in New Jersey and meet eligibility guidelines. The free screening will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 25 at Immanuel Bible Church, 1244 West Farms Road, Howell. Breakfast and lunch will be served. Childcare will be provided. Walk-ins are welcome. For an appointment, call 855-619-4445 or 732-933-3952.
• The Jackson Township NJ-782nd Air Force Junior ROTC will hold a tricky tray gift auction on March 18 at the Jackson Memorial High School Clayton Cafeteria. Proceeds support the ROTC unit. Doors open at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 each. Must be at least 18 years old to attend. For tickets, send a check payable to Jackson Memorial High School for $10 per ticket along with a self-addressed stamped envelope to Air Force Junior ROTC, Jackson Memorial High School, 101 Don Connor Blvd., Jackson, NJ 08527, Attn: Tricky Tray Tickets. Details: Major Michael Macagnone, 732-833-4642.
• The Sons of the American Legion Post 455, 2 Meadowbrook Lane, New Egypt, invites the community to its all you can eat breakfast on the first Sunday of each month (April 2) from 7-11 a.m. Cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children. Children under 4 are free. Breakfast features scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, pork roll, potatoes, french toast, pancakes and more. There is also a station to order omelets.
• The Italian American Cultural Society of New Jersey will host a dinner meeting on March 9 at 7 p.m. at Lemon Mediterranean Restaurant, 3475 Route 9, Freehold. BYOB. The cost is $35 per person for society members and $45 for non-members. Cash is preferred, no credit cards. To reserve seating, call Anthony Grassi at 917-743-3311 or Richard Favara at 732-861-9465.
• Free income tax help provided by representatives of AARP will be offered at the Plumsted Library from 1-5 p.m March 15, 22 and 29. The program will electronically complete and file a federal return and a New Jersey tax return. The program is available to all taxpayers, but special emphasis is provided to those age 60 or over with low to moderate income. Appointments are necessary. To make an appointment, call 609-758-7888.
• On March 22 at 6:30 p.m., the Jackson Library will host a workshop from Ocean County SCORE that is designed to educate entrepreneurs and help small businesses start, grow and succeed. The workshop is for adults and registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400, option 4.
• An indoor flea market will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 11 at St. Stephen Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1344 White Oak Bottom Road, Toms River. Many and varied vendors, hot ethnic foods, 50/50 raffle. Handicapped accessible, free admission, free parking (located two streets north of Church Road between New Hampshire and Old Freehold roads). Details: 732-505-6053, leave message.
• The Monmouth County Genealogy Society will hold a spring workshop at the Colts Neck Reformed Church, 139 Route 537, Colts Neck, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 25. There will be four presentations. Pre-register to guarantee a printed handout; $20 for society members; $25 for non-members. Make checks payable to Monmouth County Genealogy Society and mail to: MCGS Education Committee, 19 Racquet Road, Wall, NJ 07719. Sign-in and late registration is at 8:30 a.m. March 25 ($25 and $30). Bring lunch; beverages and desserts will be provided. Details: 732-747-0090.
• The Plumsted Library will present “Dublin Fog: Irish Music” at 3 p.m. March 14. Irish tunes will be played on traditional instruments. Come ready to sing and dance. Details: 609-758-7888.
• “Annie Oakley: Aim for a High Mark” will be presented at the Plumsted Library at 3:30 p.m. March 24. Sharpshooter Annie Oakley’s motto was to “aim for a high mark … for practice will make you perfect.” The program is for ages 5 and up. Details: 609-758-7888.
• Stages Festival: “Gerald Fierst Storytelling – Tales from Around the World” will be held at the Plumsted Library at 6 p.m. March 29. Multi-cultural folktales will come alive as Gerald Fierst tells stories using audience participation, drama, laughter and surprises. The program is for all ages. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Jackson Library will offer a dance lesson for beginners in country western dancing at 2 p.m. March 18 (adults, 18 and over). The lesson is courtesy of BTK Entertainment. Couples, singles, no experience or partner needed. Registration is required. To register, call 732-928-4400.
• Free tax assistance provided by members of AARP will be available at the Jackson Library on March 16, 23 and 30 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Program is open to anyone who is eligible to file a tax return. Appointments are required. Must bring previous year(s) returns, photo ID, Social Security or I-Tin card and relevant tax documents. Call 732-928-4400, ext. 3808 to make and appointment.
• The Jackson Library’s knitting group, Knit-Chat-Chain, is seeking donations of yarn and wool. The members of the group create sweaters, hats, scarves and blankets to donate to charity. Yarn donations may be brought to the Circulation Desk during library hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Details: 732-928-4400.
• Basket and Bag Bingo presented by the Cookstown Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 Ladies Auxiliary will be held on April 8 at the New Egypt Elks, 105 Lakewood Road (Route 528), New Egypt. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., Bingo starts promptly at 7 p.m. Tickets: $30 per person. For tickets, call Karen Ivins at 609-668-2030.
• 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.
• New Jersey Blood Services is in need of volunteers to work blood drives in Ocean and Monmouth counties. Tasks include assisting donors with registration, watching donors for post-donation reactions and responding to their needs. Details: Jan Zepka, 732-616-8741.
• 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 St AloysiusGonzagaGroup@gmail.com.
Items for the Datebook may be sent to gmntnews@gmnews.com. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.
