• The Professional and Business Social Network will sponsor a dance party and social from 8 p.m. to midnight April 22 at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village, 201 Village Blvd., Princeton. Bachata dance instruction, 6:45. Mix and mingle, 7:30 p.m. Entertainment by DJ Brett. No reservation required. Groups, individuals, couples, friends and walk-ins are welcome; $20 admission at the door. Cash bar. Dress to impress, no jeans, no sneakers. Details: http://www/pbsninfo.com/170422westin1.htm
• The New Jersey United Christian Academy, 73 Holmes Mill Road, Cream Ridge, will host an open house for prospective students from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 25. Meet faculty members, students and parents. Details: 609-738-2121.
• Members of the public are invited to attend the 7:30 p.m. April 18 meeting of the United Republican Club of Howell at the Howell First Aid Squad building, 10 Kent Road, Howell. Details: Email tomandirene1313@optimum.net
• The office of Dr. Miryam Bookman and Dr. Jason Goldberg, Artistic Dental, Jackson, has partnered with the Oral Cancer Foundation in honor of Oral Cancer Awareness Month and will offer free oral cancer screenings to the public on April 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 20 from 5-7:30 p.m., and April 26 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The screenings are open to anyone in the community. Details: 732-942-0909.
• Congregation Ahavat Olam and Temple Beth Am Shalom will host a Yom Hashoah commemoration at 5 p.m. April 24 at Congregation Ahavat Olam, 106 Windeler Road, Howell. Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann will speak. Children in grades five through seven are encouraged to attend the main event and speaker. There will be separate children’s programs for grades one through four. The community is invited to attend. Details: 732-719-3500.
• New Egypt Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 20. Activities for children will include face painting, pony rides, inflatables, petting zoo and a tractor-pulled wagon. Food, music by Jake’s Rockin’ Country Band and vendors. Festivities will take place on Main Street and Evergreen Road. Admission is free. A $6 per child wristband is required for unlimited access to children’s activities listed above. For more information or to request a vendor application, contact Peter Ylvisaker at 609-758-2241, ext. 132, or email pylvisaker@plumsted.org
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 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
• 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 (May 6) 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.
• 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.
