• No Stigma Network offers free peer support meetings and social events for community members living with mental health challenges. All support meetings take place at the CentraState health complex, Freehold Township. Meeting dates for April are as follows: NSN parents support group meeting, April 20, 7-9 p.m., Jack Aaronson Conference Center; NSN young adults (18-30) support group meeting, April 21, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Health and Wellness Center; NSN adults (over 30) support group meeting, April 21, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jack Aaronson Conference Center. To RSVP, visit Meetup.com/Freehold-Wellness-Meetup/. To learn more about NSN, visit nostigmanetwork.com or call Shrabanee, 732-533-7632, or Linda, 732-939-2092.
• The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Monmouth County will present “Celebrate Spring! A Symposium” from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 14 at the Monmouth County Agricultural Building, Freehold Township. The event is free. Visit Master Gardener exhibits. There will also be seminars. Bring your own lunch. Pre-registration is not required. Free parking and door prizes.
• Center Players Dessert Theater will host an evening with Medium/Intuitive Leslie Lagani at 7:30 p.m. May 10 at Center Playhouse, Freehold. Seating is extremely limited, tickets are $40, and reservations are required. Checks should be made payable to Center Players and mailed to Center Players, 35 South St., Freehold, NJ 07728, Attention: Roberta. Include name, phone number and email address. No walk-ins. Not everyone present will receive a reading during the event. Details: Roberta, 732-757-6590.
• The United Presbyterian Church of Millstone, 211 Millstone Road, will host a Vacation Bible School, “The Water of Life,” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week of June 25. There will be games, music and crafts. The cost is $25 per child (children entering kindergarten through entering sixth grade). Campers must bring lunch. Snacks provided. Details: UPCM.org
• Monmouth County’s spring job fair is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 13 in the Collins Arena at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft. The event is free to employers and job seekers. There will be more than 140 employers present, representing large and small organizations in healthcare, finance, retail, technology, hospitality, nonprofits and more. Employers interested in participating may register by calling Christine Dykeman at 732-683-8850, ext. 2525. There is no cost for employers to reserve a table.
• Hans Langeveld, owner of the bulb and perennial online retailer Longfield Gardens, will speak to the Allentown Garden Club at the April 12 meeting. Langeveld will discuss the differences among bulbs, tubers and rhizomes, and focus on dahlia planting and care. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Allentown Methodist Church, Church Street, and all are welcome to attend. Details: AllentownGardenClub.net.
• Memorial Day is a day to honor the sacrifice of those who have died in the United States armed forces in service to the nation. A Memorial Day parade will be held in Millstone Township on May 28 at 9:30 a.m. Any organization and/or group which has not already expressed interest in participating in the parade may contact Ray Dothard, chairman of the Millstone Veterans Memorial Council, to apply for registration or with any questions at dothardray@msn.com. The registration deadline is April 28.
• The Italian American Association of Monmouth County will host a Family Tombola (Italian Bingo)/Pasta Dinner (Pranzo) from 1-4 p.m. April 29 at the St. Rose of Lima School, Freehold. Cost is $10 for children ages 3-10 and $18 for adults. Price includes Tombola card, homemade pasta and meatballs, coffee, tea, baked goods. Lunch served from 1-2:30 p.m. Tombola will begin at 2:30 p.m. There will be an auction table, a 50/50, a pasta demonstration and Italian music. RSVP by April 26. Details: www.iaaofmc.com or Cheryl Scuorzo, 732-536-5832.
• The Ladies of St. Joseph Church, 91 Stillhouse Road, Millstone Township, will host “What’s for Lunch,” a culinary demonstration with Chef Jason Metz, from 12:30-3:30 p.m. April 22. There will be lunch (crisp greens and biscuits with a trio of braised meats to celebrate la primavera) and beverages, BYOB and a gift basket raffle. Adults only. Admission is $30 in advance and $35 at the door. To make a reservation, call Rosalie, 732-490-5302.
• The Allentown Public Library Association will host a Trivia Night fundraiser at 7 p.m. April 14 at the Allentown First Aid Squad, 70 Route 526, Allentown. The cost is $15 per person. Teams may enter or individuals may enter and be placed on a team. Sign-up is available at the library. All proceeds will benefit the library. Details: 609-259-7565.
• The Monmouth County Board of Elections is seeking poll workers. To qualify, an individual must be a registered voter in Monmouth County and attend a poll worker training class. Individuals will be paid $200 for working a primary election or a general election. Call 732-431-7802, ext. 7150 to register for a training class.
• Master Gardeners of Monmouth County are offering scholarships of up to $2,000 to two Monmouth County college students or graduating high school seniors who will be studying horticulture, environmental sciences, or engineering, botany or other agriculture related fields at a state college or university this fall. Applicants must be county residents and must have demonstrated an interest in the fields of horticulture and agriculture, as well as landscape or environmental issues, through class work, employment, community service or extracurricular activities. Applications available at www.VisitMonmouth.com. The application, a high school transcript and a letter of recommendation are due by May 1 to the Master Gardeners of Monmouth County, 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold Township. Details: 732-431-7260.
• Brookdale Community College will hold its annual spring open house on April 15 at noon in the Collins Arena, 765 Newman Springs Road (Route 520), 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. Attendees are encouraged to arrive at noon to participate in all open house activities. To register or learn more, visit www.brookdalecc.edu/openhouse or call 732-224-1857.
• Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden’s Citizen Police Academy/Law Enforcement Mini Academy offers county residents age 14 and above an opportunity to learn about the
roles of modern law enforcement agencies. Speakers will discuss their roles in law enforcement and the role of citizens in assisting in those agencies in the war against crime and terrorism. The course will be held at the Monmouth County Police Academy, Freehold Township, in six sessions, Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m., May 3 through June 7. Details: Kathy Morrison, 732-431-6400, ext. 1122.
• Monmouth County has scheduled paper shredding events so county residents have opportunities to get rid of old documents and confidential files safely. All shredding events will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. as follows: June 16, Upper Freehold Township, 314 Route 539, municipal building. County residents may bring up to 100 pounds to be shredded. All papers will be shredded on location in the mobile truck. Documents should be free of large binder clips; staples and paper clips may be left on documents. Details: 732-683-8686, ext. 6721.
• Basket and Bag Bingo will be presented by the Cookstown Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 Ladies Auxiliary on April 14 at the New Egypt Elks Lodge, 105 Lakewood Road (Route 528), New Egypt. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Bingo starts promptly at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person. Call Karen Ivins at 609-668-2030 for tickets and more information.
• The Fresh Air Fund is seeking area residents who would like to host a child this summer through the fund’s Friendly Towns Program. The children participate in activities with their host family during their stay. The Fresh Air Fund has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.8 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. Children are boys and girls, ages 7 to 18. Details: Karen Medlin, 732-740-0449, or visit www.freshair.org
• 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.
• Disabled American Veterans Chapter 74, Freehold, will meet at 7 p.m. April 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.
Items for the Datebook may be sent to news@njexaminer.com. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.
