• 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
• 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 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.
• On May 13 the Jackson Memorial High School Class of 1997 will host their 20-year reunion at Doolans Shore Club, Spring Lake. Cost is $85 per person, includes buffet dinner, open bar and DJ. Details: Steve Matusz at matusz.steve@gmail.com
• 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 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.
• 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 Jackson Library will host local author Lo Anne Mayer as she discusses her book, “Celestial Conversations,” which was inspired after Meyer lost her mother and daughter. The discussion will take place at 11 a.m. May 9. She will share techniques to overcome loss and find healing. The program is free, however advanced registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400.
• The Jackson Library will host meditation practitioner Shazia Zaman sharing tips and techniques about visualizing during meditation. The program will take place at 11 a.m. May 16. This is an intermediate level class. Comfortable clothes recommended. Pre-requisite: Some meditation experience required. Limited seating. The program is free. To register, call 732-928-4400.
• A coloring for adults program will be held at the Jackson Library from 10-11:30 a.m. June 20. Rediscover the joys of coloring. Coloring sheets and art supplies provided along with light refreshment and relaxing music. Adults 18 and over. Seating limited. Registration required. Registration is open now. Details: 732-928-4400.
• Adults 18 and over can create their own rainbow clay necklace at 2 p.m. June 22 at the Jackson Library. Supplies provided. Seating is limited. Registration required. Registration opens June 9. Details: 732-928-4400.
• The Jackson Library will host an Adventure in Art workshop from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 10. The workshop includes hands-on instruction by artist Nancy Bonta Voitko. Adults 18 and over. Seating limited. Registration required. Registration opens May 8. Details: 732-928-4400.
• 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.
• 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 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 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.
• 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 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 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.
