• The Italian American Cultural Society of New Jersey will host a dinner meeting on Nov. 9 at Christie’s Italian Seafood Grill, Howell. The restaurant is BYOB. The cost is $35 per person for society members and $45 for non-members. Cash is preferred, no credit cards. To reserve seating, call Allan Deseno at 732-780-8461 or Richard Favara at 732-861-9465. For more information, visit www.italianamericansnj.com
• Residents of Upper Freehold Township may meet Elliot Wiesner, a Democratic candidate for Township Committee, at 7 p.m. Oct. 30 in the Allentown High School choir room. Light refreshments will be served.
• CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, will offer “Sweet Success: Preventing and Managing Diabetes” from 5-8 p.m. Nov. 2. Participants will learn how to take a more active role in preventing and managing their diabetes. The event is free and registration is required. Details: 732-308-0570.
• Keris Tree Farm and Christmas Shop, 848 Route 524, Allentown (Upper Freehold Township), will open on Nov. 18. Author and TV host Bob Richter will present “A Very Vintage Christmas” from 2-4 p.m. On Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., members of the Pineland Riders Pony Club will show their ponies and offer pony rides. On Dec. 3, the Allentown High School Woodwind Quintet under the direction of Joe Brausam will perform at 1 p.m. On Dec. 9 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the Monmouth County Livestock 4-H Club will show their farm animals. On Dec. 9 at noon, the Allentown High School Choir under direction of Megan Wolff will perform holiday selections. Details: www.kerischristmastreefarm
• A car seat safety check hosted by the MOMS Club of Millstone Township will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 4. at the Millstone Township Fire Company, 461 Stagecoach Road, Millstone Township. A free car seat inspection will be provided by child passenger safety technicians from the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office. There will be free children’s crafts and a coffee and bake sale. All proceeds will benefit the fire company. The car seat check is open to the public; no appointment necessary. Details: momsclubofmillstone.com
• The Millstone Township Hospital Auxiliary will host a harvest dinner-dance from 7-11 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Millstone Elks Club, Burnt Tavern Road, Millstone Township. All are welcome to attend. Cost is $25 per person, includes music and dinner. The event will benefit the Living Life Well programs at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. For tickets, call 609-259-2684 or email vamph1@verizon.net
• Monmouth County Master Gardener Cheryl Grant will attend the Nov. 9 meeting of the Allentown Garden Club with a presentation about “Nocturnal Gardens.” Grant will share her expertise about plants that are at their best in low light, plants that bloom only at night and plants that emit a fragrance at night to attract pollinators. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Allentown Methodist Church, Church Street. All are invited to attend. Details: www.AllentownGardenClub.net
• The Heart of New Jersey Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, will present “Fall Into Harmony” at 2 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Millstone Township Primary School, 18 Schoolhouse Road, Millstone Township. Special guest Just 4 (Kicks) quartet will also perform. General admission, $15; seniors (over 62) and students, $12; Children under 12, free. Children are welcome to attend and may come in costume. The 501st Legion Storm Troopers will be in the house. For tickets, call 732-527-3343.
• Brookdale Community College will hold its annual fall open house on Nov. 5 at noon in the Collins Arena, 765 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft. High school students, career-changers and residents of all ages are invited to meet with Brookdale staff, ask questions and explore more than 50 degree and career training programs offered through the college. Details: www.brookdalecc.edu/openhouse
• Sportika Sports, 150 Woodward Road, Manalapan, and strategic partner Peter Grandich and Company, in association with Shore Sports Network, will host a viewing party at 4:25 p.m. Nov. 12 for the New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers football game. Keith Elias, a former running back with the Giants and Colts, will be on hand to greet fans. Admission is free; those who wish to attend are asked to email peter@petergrandich.com
• Jake Ruddiman, an associate professor of early American history at Wake Forest University and the author of “Becoming Men of Some Consequence: Youth and Military Service in the Revolutionary War,” will present a lecture at the Allentown Public Library, 16 S. Main St., on Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Reservations are requested and can be made by calling 609-259-7565.
• Vendors are being sought for a craft fair (crafts and holiday items) that will be held at the Freehold Township Senior Center, 116 Jackson Mills Road, Freehold Township, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 4. A table is $15. Details: 732-294-2029.
• CentraState’s Gloria Saker Women’s Heart Program is inviting community members to “Eat to Your Heart’s Content,” an evening of social activities and tips on how to stay healthy during the holiday season, from 5-9 p.m. Oct. 27 in Freehold Township. The event fee is $45 per person and optional glucose and cholesterol screenings will be available for an additional, nominal fee. To register, call 732-308-0570.
• 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.
• 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
• The Heart of New Jersey Chorus singing group is looking for new members. For more information, call 732-446-9782.
• Vendors are being sought for a holiday boutique that will be held at the Old Tennent Presbyterian Church, Tennent Road, Manalapan, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 11. Crafts, jewelry, food and more. Vendors are asked to respond by Oct. 28. Details: 732-446-6299 or email ot.church@verizon.net
• Old Tennent Presbyterian Church, 448 Tennent Road, Manalapan, will host “Journey to Bethlehem,” a free Christmas drive-through, on its grounds from 6-8:30 p.m. Dec. 2-3. Live scenes will begin with Isaiah telling of Jesus’ birth and ending with the Nativity scene. To sponsor or participate, call 732-446-6299.
• 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.
• 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.
