• The Church of Saint Monica, 679 West Veterans Highway, Jackson, will host a community yard sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 15. Set-up starts at 7 a.m. A 10-foot space is $10, additional spaces are $7 each. Call 732-833-0542 and ask for Alice or 732-928-0279 and ask for Caroline to reserve space. Vendors and crafters welcome. Proceeds benefit repairs to the church. Donations to the church are also accepted. Details: saintmonica.com.
• The Italian American Cultural Society of New Jersey invites members of the public to its July 13 dinner meeting at Basile’s Italian Restaurant, 536 Park Ave., Freehold. Special guest Candice Guardino will speak about her new play, “Italian Bred,” coming to Asbury Park this summer. The July 13 dinner 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.
• The Howell Library will present the film “Destiny’s Bridge” at 7 p.m. July 17. The film tells the story of a former residential encampment in Lakewood that was known as Tent City. Minister Steven Brigham, who worked to support the residents of Lakewood’s Tent City, will answer questions about homelessness and about a current encampment in Howell that is a home for several individuals.
• 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.
• 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
• 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 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.
