• The Optimist Club of Howell and the Howell Municipal Alliance will present the 22nd annual charity golf outing on April 24 at Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club, Howell. Various levels of sponsorship are available through April 15. Buffet barbecue luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Shotgun start (scramble format) at 12:30 p.m. Dinner and awards at 6 p.m. Proceeds to assist Howell youths and families in need. Cost is $300 per golfer; $1,200 per foursome. Details: howelloptimist@yahoo.com or call 732-915-3423.
• Hope Lutheran Church, Freehold Township, will continue the celebration of its 50th anniversary with a banquet to be held at Our House Tavern, Howell, from 1-4 p.m. April 2. The program will include celebrations of the church’s activities during the last 50 years and will look to the next 50 years and the challenges and opportunities that will be provided as the area grows and changes. Details: 732-462-7545, or hopefreeho1d@ aol.com
• The Jackson Friends of the Library will host a book sale at the Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson, from April 29 through May 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A special preview sale for Friends members will be held on April 28 from noon to 4:30 p.m. Books, audio books, CDs and DVDs will be available for purchase. New items will be added every day. All are welcome to attend.
• The Upper Freehold-Allentown Municipal Alliance will host Bike Night 2017 on June 7. All makes and models of bikes are welcome. American and metric bikes will be present. A car show will be held on June 28. All makes and models of cars are welcome. Both events will be held from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Roost at the Cream Ridge Golf Course, 181 Route 539, Upper Freehold Township. Door prizes, judging, awards, music, food and beverages. Vendor opportunities are available. There is no entry fee, but donations for the alliance are accepted. Details:609-758-7738, ext. 230.
• On April 19 at 6 p.m., the Jackson Library will host William Berg, a financial adviser with Waddell and Reed. Berg will discuss the importance of having the “Five Wishes” living will in force. All attendees will leave with the “Five Wishes” document filled out, signed and in force, at no cost. The program is for adults and registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400, press option 4.
• On April 26 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 program is for adults and registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400, press option 4.
• Guests at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell, can meet one of the environmental center’s resident snakes during a snake meet and greet at 1 p.m. April 23. There is no cost to attend the program.
• The Monmouth County Park System will host turtle meet and greet events at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell, at noon April 1-2. The event is free.
• Come and explore the woods and wetlands of the Manasquan Reservoir, Howell, on Earth Day, April 22. Meet at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center. The day will include nature walks, live reptile and amphibian presentations, children’s crafts, and more. Activity times: animal presentations at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.; nature walks at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
• A watercolor workshop for adults, presented by Tomo Kitajima, will be held at the Jackson Library at 10 a.m. April 19. Learn how pigments and water play together. Participants must bring three round watercolor brushes, sizes 8, 12 and 16, to the class. Advanced registration is required. Seating is limited. Details: 732-928-4400.
• A session of Coloring for Adults will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. April 25 at the Jackson Library. Coloring sheets and art supplies are provided, along with light refreshment and relaxing music. The program is free, but advanced registration is required. Call 732-928-4400 to register.
• Frank Watson, a Lutheran clergyman, historian and ecclesiastical archivist, will present a program about “The Nazi Spy Pastor: Carl Krepper and the War in America” at the Jackson library at 7 p.m. April 6. To register for the program, call 732-928-4400.
• The Plumsted Library will host Master Gardeners Present: Hummingbirds and Butterflies, at 2 p.m. April 13. Join the Master Gardeners of Ocean County to learn how to attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden this spring. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Plumsted Library will host at Book Café at 3 p.m. April 17. Join the Book Café group as members talk about new books and authors, and discuss their past favorites. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Plumsted Library will host a program about baby chicks at 3:30 p.m. April 19. Members of the New Egypt AG-U will celebrate chick season by sharing what people need to know about raising and caring for these birds. Program is for ages 4 and up. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Ocean County Library Puppet Players present “Mr. Pusskins” at 3:30 p.m. April 26 at the Plumsted Library. Mr. Pusskins decides to go on an adventure of a lifetime and leave his boring life behind. Program is for ages 3 and up. Details: 609-758-7888.
• Friends of the Jackson Library will host a country western dance and silent auction from 7-10:30 p.m. April 1 at Jackson Firehouse No. 55, 113 North New Prospect Road, Jackson. Music and instruction by Billy and Lisa, BTK Entertainment. Couples, singles, no experience or partner needed. Adults 18 and older welcome. Tickets are $18 before March 24 or $25 at the door (if available). Proceeds go to the Friends. Tickets: Email Diane at Jacksonfriendsdance@gmail.com or call/text 732-523-0150. To order tickets online, visit www.tinyurl.com/danceevent. Tickets will be available at the Jackson library from 2-4 p.m. March 18.
• The Heritage Group of Howell and the Friends of the Library will present local author Joseph G. Bilby at 6:30 p.m. April 6 at the Howell Library, 318 Old Tavern Road. Bilby will speak about “New Jersey’s Role in World War I,” commemorating the United States’ entry into the war on April 6, 1917. The public is invited to this free program. Light refreshments will be served.
• The Plumsted Trap, Neuter and Return Committee will host a Spay-ghetti dinner from 4-8 p.m. April 29 at American Legion Post 455, 2 Meadowbrook Road, New Egypt. Proceeds will allow the committee to care for the community’s cats. Dinner includes spaghetti, meatballs, salad. Cash bar, raffle. Donations of canned and dry cat food and dog food requested. All are welcome. Tickets: Adults, $12; Children under 10, $6; takeout, $1 extra. For tickets, call 609-317-0453.
• Jackson VFW Post 4703 will host fish fry dinners from 4-7 p.m. March 31 and April 7, 14 at 54 Magnolia Drive, Jackson. An $8 donation includes a fish dinner with dessert. All are welcome to attend.
• The Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson, is hosting a job fair from 6-8:30 p.m. April 5. The event is open to everyone. A list of participating businesses and organizations is available on the library’s website under Calendar of Events.
• A meeting of the Monmouth County Retired Educators Association will be held at 11 a.m. April 4 at the Radisson, 50 Gibson Place, Freehold Township. Steve Eugene will present a program about Senior Internet and Scam Alerts. Members are asked to bring a non-perishable donation for the food bank and sample toiletries for the Ronald McDonald House in Long Branch. New members welcome. For luncheon reservations, contact Sue at 732-995-7754 or sueshrott@gmail.com before March 20.
• The Jackson Rotary Club will sponsor a bus trip to the Tropicana Casino, Atlantic City, on April 23. Cost is $34 which includes bus transportation, sandwich, chips and beverage on the bus, $25 back in slot play and gratuity for the driver. Bus leaves Jackson at noon and returns at 9 p.m. Proceeds benefit Rotary Club charities. For reservations, contact Tom Barchie at 732-207-4029.
• Brookdale Community College will hold its annual spring open house on April 2 at noon in the Collins Arena, 765 Newman Springs Road (Route 520), Lincroft. High school students, career-changers and residents of all ages are invited to meet with Brookdale staff, ask questions and explore more than 50 degree and career training programs offered through the college. Details: www.brookdalecc.edu/openhouse or 732-224-1857.
• Brookdale Community College will present its annual guitar show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 30 in the Brookdale Recreation and Events Center, Lincroft. There will be live performances, exclusive deals on guitars, musical equipment and more, and educational workshops. General admission: $12; free for children 12 and under. Details: www.brookdaleguitarshow.com
• 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.
• A blood drive will be held at Howell Middle School South, 1 Kuzminski Way, Howell, on April 27. Babysitting and refreshments will be available. Online scheduling is available. Enter ZIP code 07731 in the Find A Blood Drive box and enter password HMSS17 to schedule an appointment. Details: Email patrice_mcdow@yahoo.com
• The Adelphia Fire Company, 925 Adelphia Road (Route 524), Howell, will hold its annual Steak Bake and Gift Auction on May 6. Doors open at 6 p.m. Dinner from 7-9 p.m. Ticket donation: $35. Includes all you can eat steak, fries, salad, dessert, soda/tea and beer. For tickets, email Mark or Katie at adelphiafiresteakbake@gmail.com
• 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 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@newspapermediagroup.com. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.
