• Bat Shalom Hadassah of Jackson-Howell will begin a new short stories group in July. The cost is $9 for three sessions. The group will be using a new anthology of Jeffrey Archer stories. The group will meet on alternate month Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m. Details: 732-833-6610.
• Joe Grabas, genealogist, entrepreneur and author, will present “So You Want to Write a Book: Sharing Your Story and Passion” at the 1:30 p.m. July 9 meeting of the Monmouth County Genealogy Society at the Community Center, 72 Broad St., Eatontown. The program is free and the public is welcome. Details: 732-747-0090.
• The Jackson Library will host a session of chair yoga at 11 a.m. July 19. The program is for adults. A certified instructor will lead the session. Comfortable clothes required. The program is free; advance registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400.
• Musical duo Gilda Healy and Barry Rosenzweig will present an interactive journey exploring the music of the 1940s at 2 p.m. July 29 at the Jackson Library. The program is for adults. The program is free; advance registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400.
• Bartley Healthcare, 175 Bartley Road, Jackson, is partnering with the Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus Geriatrics Institute to host an educational seminar at 3 p.m. June 30. Presenters will discuss the capabilities and services of the new Geriatrics Institute at MMCSC. To reserve a place at the seminar, call Lindsay Constantino at 732-370-4700, ext. 1368, by June 26.
• DeBows United Methodist Church, corner of Route 571 and Route 537, Jackson, will host a church rummage sale and car wash on July 8 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a food concession available. All are welcome to attend. Details: debowsumc.org
• Companion Animal Rescue and Education (CARE) will hold a puppy adoption event at Petco, 4345 Route 9 North, Freehold Township, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 24. To see available puppies, visit www.carenj.com
• The Howell Library, 318 Old Tavern Road, will host a “Peek Into The Past” program at 6:30 p.m. July 6 to examine the history of Howell. The theme of this year’s reading program is “Building a Better World.” Howell will be seen through photos, stories and displays. Don McGirr will speak about the village of Blue Ball and the Bethesda cemetery. The free program is open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
• The Monmouth County Fair will run from July 26-30 at the East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold Township. Admission is $8 per person. Children 12 and under are free. The fair gate will be open from 5-11 p.m. July 26-28; from 3-11 p.m. July 29; and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 30. Entries will be accepted for the Home and Garden competition. To download a brochure, visit www.MonmouthCountyFair.com
• The Jim Hall Memorial Homeless Vets Motorcycle Run and BBQ/Picnic will be held at noon June 24 at Jackson Elks Lodge No. 2744, 1059 East Veterans Highway, Jackson. Tickets are $25. Registration for the ride starts at 9 a.m. and the ride kicks off at 10 a.m. Food, beverages, entertainment by the Mangos and vendors. Proceeds of the day benefit homeless veterans. Details: joelamo90@gmail.com
• On June 28 from 1-2:30 p.m., the Jackson Library will host an education program, “Effective Communication Strategies: Alzheimer’s Disease,” presented by the Alzheimer’s Association. Attendees will learn how people with dementia communicate using attitude, tone, facial expression and body language. The program is for adults. Registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400, option 4.
• On June 28 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. Registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400; option 4.
• The Monmouth County Retired Educators Association will sponsor a member and family picnic at Oak Tree Lodge, Wall Township, on June 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be food, entertainment, games and activities. The cost is $5 for members; non-member guests, $35. Children under 5 are free. Guests age 5 to 11 are $15 per person. Details: Sue, 732 995-7754.
• The Jackson Library will host a Red Cross blood drive from 2-7 p.m. July 31. Anyone who is at least 17 years old, weighs a minimum of 110 pounds and is in generally good health can donate blood. All blood types are needed. Donors should bring a photo ID. Visit www.redcross.org to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.
• Look for turtles, egrets, herons, ospreys and other wildlife during a boat tour of the Manasquan Reservoir, Howell. Each 45-minute tour leaves from the Visitor Center, Windeler Road, Howell. Tours are offered at the top of the hour from 2-5 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, May 6 through Sept. 4. Wednesday tours are offered at 2, 3 and 4 p.m. from July 5 through Aug. 30. Evening tours are offered on the first Friday of each month May through September; call 732-751-9453 as times vary for the evening tours. All tours are weather and water level dependent. The fee is $6 per adult and $4 per child age 12 and under.
• 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.
