• Monmouth Worship Center, 37 Vanderburg Road, Marlboro, will host Teen Challenge on Dec. 10 at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Teen Challenge is a faith-based program that helps individuals of all ages overcome life-controlling problems and addictions. All community residents are invited to attend. Details: 732-332-9600 or www.monmouthworship.org
• New Jersey Blood Services will conduct a blood drive at Dunkin Donuts, 14 Wilson Ave., Englishtown, from 1-7 p.m. Dec. 28. The blood drive is open to the public. All blood types are needed, but especially O Negative. Details: 1-800-933-2566 or www.nybloodcenter.org
• The Freehold Borough Arts Council will host its fifth annual arts and crafts show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 9 at Freehold Elks Lodge No. 1454, 73 E. Main St., Freehold. All are welcome to attend. Admission is free. Artisans and crafters will be selling their specialized work.
• A pet first aid and pet CPR course will be held at 9 a.m. Dec. 9 at the Manalapan Community Center, Route 33, Manalapan. The course is sponsored by First Aid & CPR, a training company that brings the life-saving skills of CPR and first aid to homes, offices and organizations. The event is a fundraiser with a goal of providing an automated external defibrillator (AED) at the community center. Participants will learn how to perform rescue breathing, start CPR, treat burns, poisonings, wounds, etc. The course is $60 per person, age 11 and up, and 20 percent of the proceeds will be donated for the purchase of an AED. Details: 1-888-242-4259 or email training@FirstAid.org
• “What the Eye Teaches, the Heart Learns,” a program depicting how Jews and Christians viewed the arts over the years, will be presented by Rabbi Brooks Susman and Dr. Christopher Bellitto at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at Monmouth County Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Road, Manalapan. Details: www.monmouthcountylib.org
• The Monmouth County Archives Division’s exhibit, “New Jersey in Focus: Inventors and Innovators in Monmouth County,” is on display on the lower level of the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Road, Manalapan. The exhibit highlights renowned and obscure inventions and their inventors. A catalog for the exhibit was created and is available for view and download at http://www.MonmouthCountyClerk.com/Archives
• The First Baptist Church of Freehold, 81 W. Main St., holds a prayer and meditation program from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. every Wednesday. The church will be open for quiet contemplation and soft music. There will be a 15-minute prayer service starting at 12:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend the free service. Details: 732-462-1105.
• The First Baptist Church of Freehold, 81 W. Main St., will hold its third annual live Nativity from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 10 on the front lawn. Members of the public may choose from a collection of costumes and pose in the manger with the animals. A complimentary photo will be provided and guests are welcome to bring their own camera as well. Live music and children’s crafts will be available in the church. Hot chocolate and treats will be served. Free will donations will be accepted. Details: 732-462-1105.
• The National Council of Jewish Women, Central Jersey section, will host attorney John J. Ross for a discussion of elder law and estate planning at its general membership meeting at noon Dec. 20 at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan. Ross counsels families through the long-term care planning process and financial issues that accompany disabling illnesses. The meeting is open to the public at no charge. Details: 732-308-3431.
• The Monmouth Ski Club will meet at 8 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Wild Rover, 153 Shrewsbury Ave., Red Bank. New members are welcome. Details: www.monmouthskiclub.com
• A New Year’s Eve dinner dance will be held by the Old Bridge Columbian Club at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 31 at 61 Pine Street, Old Bridge. Admission is $57 per person (in advance only). Music of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and more. Party hats and streamers provided. For reservations, call 908-510-5693 or 732-707-3417.
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education will hold a regular action meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Manalapan Englishtown Middle School, Millhurst Road, Manalapan. The meeting is open to the public.
• The Manalapan Seniors will host a “Senior Celebration” from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Battleground Country Club, Manalapan. The cost is $40 per person and includes lunch and entertainment by the Uptown Getdowns. All seniors are invited. Details: 732-446-8401.
• Between 5:30-7 p.m. Dec. 18, homes throughout Freehold Borough will be nominated for awards and judged by students who will be driven by adults through neighborhoods in town. Certificates of recognition will be awarded for homeowners’ holiday decorating efforts at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 21 at the Monmouth County Hall of Records Plaza. Musical entertainment will be provided by the Freehold Township band under the direction of Edward Gattsek. Santa is expected to make a guest appearance. The Holiday House Decorating Contest is sponsored by the Freehold Borough Recreation Commission. Refreshments are provided by The Court Jester.
• The Manalapan High School Marching Band will host a Jingle Jangle Pajama Party from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 15 at the high school, 20 Church Lane. Wear pajamas and eat breakfast for dinner, make fun crafts and visit with Santa. Special raffle for a Hatchimal. Adults: $10; children 10 and under, $8. Make checks payable to MHSMPA and mail to P.O. Box 618, Manalapan, NJ 07726. All envelopes must be postmarked by Dec. 8. A limited number of tickets will be sold at the door.
• The Manalapan Township Committee will hold a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Renaissance clubhouse (off Craig Road), 24 Derry Meeting Drive. This will be an informal meeting of the governing body and no action will be taken. The meeting is open to all residents of Manalapan.
• The Manalapan Township Committee meeting that was scheduled to be held on Dec. 13 at the municipal complex, 120 Route 522, has been cancelled and rescheduled to Dec. 11 (workshop at 6:30 p.m., public session at 8 p.m.).
• St. Thomas More Parish, 186 Gordons Corner Road, Manalapan, is offering a women’s bible study this fall. Registration in ongoing. The program aims to bring women to a closer relationship with Christ. Details: Email Christine Melilli at cmelilli12@gmail.com or call 732-778-4933.
• A night of caroling will be held at the Old Tennent Presbyterian Church, 448 Tennent Road, Manalapan, from 7-8 p.m. Dec. 15. All are welcome to attend. Details: 732-446-6299 or ot.church@verizon.net or www.oldtennent.org
• A meeting of the Monmouth County Retired Educators Association will be held on Dec. 12 at Shadowbrook, 1 Obre Place, Shrewsbury, at 11 a.m. Members are asked to bring a nonperishable donation for the food bank and an unwrapped book, toy or gift card for Bridges At The Shore. New members are welcome. For luncheon reservations, call Sue at 732-995-7754 before Dec. 1.
• The Noontime Optimist Club of Freehold is beginning its 29th year of community service to the area, with the focus on youth (scholarships, spelling bees, essay contests, fishing derbies, holiday gifts, helping out at the local soup kitchen and supporting Camp Quality, a camp for children with cancer). New members are invited to join the club. Details: 732-431-3989 or email cdrprr@aol.com
• The Ms. New Jersey Senior America Pageant 2018 is seeking contestants age 60 and over. Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City will host the pageant on June 6. There are four judging categories: Evening Gown; Philosophy of Life; Talent; and Judges Interview. The winner will participate in the Ms. Senior America Pageant 2018. Individuals interested in becoming a contestant may contact Terry Meade at 609-443-3039, 908-216-8534 or via email at tbm5201@aol.com
• Monmouth County college-bound art students are invited to apply for the 2018 Elaine Smith Memorial Art Scholarship. To apply, search online for Elaine Smith Memorial Art Scholarship and download the application. The application deadline is Jan. 31. Details: Merrill Tilker, Around the Corner Art Center, 732-308-4666.
• The Center for Jewish Life, 176 Route 79 North, Marlboro, will host a Hanukkah carnival from noon to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 10. Admission: $18 per child, ages 2-12, (complimentary to partner families), includes all games and pizza lunch. RSVP at www.cjlnj.com or 732-316-7600.
• The Monmouth County Audubon Society will host a bird walk on Sandy Hook in northern Monmouth County on Dec. 9. Meet at 10 a.m. in the parking lot by the old visitors center, 1.8 miles north of the park entrance. Open to members and non-members of the society. Participation is free. Dress for the weather (can be cool and blustery). Details: http://www.monmouthaudubon.org
• Disabled American Veterans Chapter 74, Freehold, will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. xx at the American Legion, 62 W. Main St. Freehold. Chapter members, DAV members-at-large who are seeking a chapter and veterans with disabilities who are seeking assistance and advice are welcome to attend the meeting. Dinner of pizza and subs is provided.
• The Deep Cut Orchid Society meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month (Dec. 12) at the Monmouth Reform Temple, 332 Hance Ave., Tinton Falls. There is a speaker, refreshments and a discussion of plants on the show table. There is no cost to attend and everyone is welcome.
• Single Active Seniors (SAS) is a discussion and activity group for men and women over 55. SAS meets every Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in the Colts Neck Reformed Church, Route 537 West, Colts Neck (in the white building to the right of the church). Social activities are introduced and group participation is encouraged. There are no fees and all are welcome to attend. Details: Email jacq200@aol.com, subject line, SAS.
• The Old Bridge Toastmasters Club meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 7:15-9 p.m. at the Sayre Woods Bible Church, 2290 Route 9 South, Old Bridge. The club seeks to help individuals become better speakers and better leaders. There is no cost to attend a meeting and residents of all towns are welcome to attend. Details: 908-906-4926 or http://oldbridge.toastmastersclubs.org/
• A free yoga class is offered every Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Morganville United Methodist Church, 215 Conover Road, Marlboro. All are welcome. Bring a mat or a large towel. Details: 732-946-4247 or 732-536-2031.
• 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.
• The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance will meet in the spiritual center of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 1 Phalanx Road, Colts Neck, from 7:30-9 p.m. every Thursday. Details: 732-536-5826 or 732-320-0029.
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