• Monmouth County has backyard composting sessions scheduled at Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown, on Oct. 14 and Nov. 18. The free 45-minute sessions begin at 10 a.m. and will explain the how to’s of reducing yard and household waste and improving soil. Advance registration is required. To reserve a seat, call 732-683-8686, ext. 6721.
• The Goddard School, 178 West Veterans Highway, Jackson, will host its annual Fall Festival Open House from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 21. Families are invited to attend a free day of crafts, games, pony rides, petting zoo, bounce house, fun bus, fire trucks and more. Children may come in costume and participate in a parade at 12:45 p.m. Details: 732-833-8881.
• Brookdale Community College, Route 520, Lincroft, will host the second annual Spark Invitational Food Truck Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 14. There will be live music, eclectic food, vendors and family friendly activities. Funds raised at the event will support 90.5 The Night, Monmouth County’s only public radio station. Parking will be available in lot 6. Admission is $5 and includes a T-shirt, while supplies last. Children 12 and under are admitted for free. Pets are welcome. Details: www.90.5thenight.org/ foodtrucks
• Jackson’s annual Hanukkah menorah lighting ceremony sponsored by Bat Shalom Hadassah will be held from 4-5:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Jackson municipal building, 95 West Veterans Highway. The community is invited to attend the event.
• The Elms Elementary School Parent-Teacher Network will host the Elms Superhero Fun Run at 9 a.m. Oct. 14 at the school, 780 Patterson Road, Jackson. There will be an 800-yard dash, a 1 mile run and a 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) run. Pre-registration is $20 and includes a T-shirt, medal and water. Registration on the day of race is $30. Kona ice truck will be on hand. Register at http://solepurposefund.org/ elms-elementary-school/
• The Friends of the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center will host a 5K race and family fun run/walk, “Stomp Out Child Abuse,” at 9 a.m. Oct. 29 at Thompson Park, Preston Grove Pavilion, Route 520 (Newman Springs Road), Lincroft. Registration begins at 8 a.m. All ages, children included, are invited to participate. All proceeds will help the Friends support the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center. To register, visit www.friendsofmccac.org
• The Autism MVP Walk, a day of family fun with activities for children, a 2-mile walk along a boardwalk and a post-event celebration, will be hosted by the Autism MVP Foundation on Nov. 5. Register at Leggett’s Sand Bar, 217 1st Avenue, Manasquan, at 9:30 a.m. Walk begins at 11 a.m. The post-event celebration starts at noon. Purchase tickets in advance at http://www.autismmvp.org/news-and-events.html or on-site. Cost is $30 for adults; $20 for students; and $10 for children 12 and under. Details: www.autismmvp.org
• Genealogist James Beidler will present “Contrasting German Migrations” at the 1:30 p.m. Nov. 12 meeting of the Monmouth County Genealogy Society at the Community Center, 72 Broad St., Eatontown. Beidler will discuss the two major waves of German migration to the United States. The program is free and the public is welcome. Details: 732-747-0090.
• Thompson Park Day for all ages will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 15 at Thompson Park, 805 Newman Springs Road (Route 520), Lincroft. Activities include canoeing on Marlu Lake, children’ races, pie-eating contests, entertainment, pumpkin painting and more (some activities have a fee). Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call 732-842-4000.
• Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary, 118 Route 526, Upper Freehold Township, will host a Ruff Mudder canine obstacle challenge for dogs and their owners on Oct. 22. Owners will guide their dogs through 11 obstacles spread over a half-mile grass and gravel path with several potentially muddy areas. Suitable for dogs of all ages, sizes and abilities. Sign in at 10:30 a.m. Staggered start begins at 11 a.m. One dog is $20, each additional dog from the same family is $10. Spectators welcome. All proceeds benefit the canine residents of Marty’s Place. Details, registration forms and payment options: http://www.martysplace.org/ ruffmudder
• A program about “Ghosts I’ve Come to Know” will be presented by an investigator of ghosts and hauntings at the Jackson Library from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 1. The program is for adults and it is free. Register by calling 732-928-4400.
• Experience the gentle art of “forgiveness” and empathy through guided meditation exercises at the Jackson Library from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Nov. 30. The class is open to adult novice and skilled practitioners. Comfortable clothes required. Seating is limited. Register by calling 732-928-4400.
• “Coming to America: A Refugee’s Story” will be presented by author, poet and Iraqi refugee Faleeha Hassan from 2-3 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Jackson Library. The free program is for adults. Register by calling 732-928-4400.
• Jackson VFW Post 4703 Auxiliary will host a personalized holiday paint party on Nov. 5. The party will include lunch, dessert, beverages, paint supplies and instructions on how to paint a personalized snowman picture. The cost is $40 and all proceeds will benefit local veterans and their families. Contact Kathy at 732-674-5175 or email KathyC778@aol.com to reserve a place.
• The Ramtown-Howell Fire Company, 88 Ramtown-Greenville Road, Howell, will hold its annual open house from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 11 during Fire Prevention Week. Firefighters will be at the fire station along with Sparky the Fire Dog and Buster from the Lakewood BlueClaws. All are welcome to stop by and say hello. Refreshments will be served. Details: Jim Gaul, 732-458-0222.
• The Jackson Rotary Club will sponsor a Christmas show bus trip to the Tropicana Casino, Atlantic City, on Dec. 11. The cost of $65 includes bus, beverages on bus, Christmas show ticket, dinner buffet, $15 in slot play and gratuity for the driver. Bus will leave Jackson at 10:30 a.m. and return at 7:45 p.m. All proceeds from the trip will go to the club’s charities. To make a reservation, call Tom Barchie, 732-207-4029 or 732-849-6309.
• The Jackson Library will present Maker Monday! Homemade Sugar Scrub at 2 p.m. Oct. 23. Participants will make a small jar of sugar scrub with herbs and essential oils. Supplies provided. The program is for adults (18 and over). Registration opens Oct. 4. Details: 732-928-4400.
• To commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, the Jackson Library will present a lecture and interfaith dialogue with Tia Kolbaba, Department of Religion, Rutgers University, at 2 p.m. Oct. 12. Kolbaba will discuss the impact of the reformation on current day Christianity. The program is free and open to the public. Register now by calling 732-928-4400.
• The Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson, is offering free career building programs for job seekers. All are welcome. Advance registration is required. Programs are: Oct. 16, 7-8 p.m., Career Connection: Dress for Success; Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to noon, New Jersey Career Connections: Navigating the Path to Employment; Oct. 25, 6-8:30 p.m., Job Fair, open to all; Oct. 30, 2-4 p.m., Top-Notch Resumes II – Advanced. To register for a program, call 732-928-4400.
• The 11th annual “Golf with Dennis” event will be held on Oct. 16 at the Pine Barrens Golf Club in Jackson. The event is dedicated to the life and memory of U.S. Army 1st Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II, who was killed in Iraq on Nov. 19, 2005. Proceeds from the event will be used to support the mission of the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski Memorial Fund. Shotgun start at 10 a.m. To receive an application to support the event, email runwithdennis@yahoo.com, download the application at www.Runwithdennis.org or call 732-431-1713.
• Residents of all communities are welcome to attend a monthly all you can eat breakfast sponsored by Sons of American Legion Post 455, 2 Meadowbrook Lane, New Egypt, and held on the first Sunday of every month from 7-11 a.m. The cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children (under 3 free). Breakfast features eggs, omelette station, pancakes, French toast, sausage, bacon, pork roll, potatoes, coffee, tea, juice.
• Healing medium Anysia Marcell Kiel will present an author talk and book signing for adults at 2 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Jackson Library. Kiel will share her experience teaching people how to clear illnesses and ailments in a non-invasive, peaceful way. The program is free and advance registration is required. Call 732-928-4400 to register.
• Meditation with Visualization: An Intermediate Practice for adults will take place from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Jackson Library. Meditation practitioner Shazia Zaman will share tips and techniques on visualizing during meditation. Wear comfortable clothing and socks. Seating is limited. The program is free and advance registration is required (registration begins Sept. 25). Call 732-928-4400 to register.
• The Heart of New Jersey Chorus is seeking new members who love to sing and perform. Interested individuals are invited to attend a rehearsal. The chorus rehearses at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Details: 732-446-9782.
• Create shrink plastic earrings in a feather design at 2 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Jackson Library. The program is for adults (18 and over). Supplies will be provided. Registration opens Oct. 2. Details: 732-928-4400.
• Joan’s Reach will host its sixth annual Chili Cook-Off from 2-6 p.m. Oct. 14 at VFW Post 4374, 50 Waterworks Road, Freehold. Joan’s Reach raises awareness for perinatal hospice care and provides resources and support for families continuing a pregnancy with a life-limiting prenatal diagnosis. Tickets are $30 per adult, $5 per child (ages 4-12), or $60 per family (parents and immediate children). The cook-off will feature original chili dishes, beverages and additional food. Details: www.joansreach.org
• Zoologist Robert Somes will present “The New Jersey Bald Eagle Project” at the Monmouth County Audubon Society meeting at 8 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Knights of Columbus hall, 200 Fair Haven Road, Fair Haven. The public is welcome; admission is free. Details: http://www.monmouthaudubon.org
• The Monmouth County Audubon Society will host an autumn bird walk on Oct. 14 on the Sandy Hook peninsula in northern Monmouth County. Meet at 10 a.m. in the parking lot by the now-closed visitors center. The peninsula attracts migrating raptors, shorebirds and songbirds due to the abundance of food and areas of suitable habitat. The walk is open to members and non-members of the Audubon Society and participation is free. Advance registration is not required. Details: http://www.monmouthaudubon.org
• The 22nd annual Monmouth County Archives and History Day will be held on Oct. 14 at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan. The event will focus on the history of Monmouth County inventors and innovators and will feature movie screenings and seminars for people of all ages.
• 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.
Items for the Datebook may be sent to gmntnews@newspapermediagroup.com. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.
