• The Freehold Borough Arts Council invites area artists and crafters to participate in its sixth annual Freehold Borough Arts and Crafts Show to be held on Dec. 1 at the Park Avenue Elementary School from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration is on a first come, first served basis. Reserve a space by sending a $35 check made out to FBAC, c/o Lynn Reich, 6 Hance Blvd. Freehold, NJ 07728. Registration fee includes one lunch. Details: Lynn Reich, 732-230-7494.
• The Monmouth County Park System will host its Fall Craft Show at the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 10. There will more than 50 local artists and crafters. Items include jewelry, holiday decorations, rag dolls, quilts, notecards/greeting cards, candles, wreaths and more. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call 732-842-4000.
• The Jackson Liberty High School Lion band’s sixth annual vendor and craft fair will be held at the high school, 125 North Hope Chapel Road, Jackson, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 2. All are invited to attend the event. Free admission, free parking. More than 100 vendors and crafters. Refreshments. Details: vendorfair4libertylionband@gmail.com
• Bartley Healthcare, Jackson, will host a vendor shopping bazaar from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 15. The event will take place in the main dining room of Bartley Healthcare. To become a vendor, call 732-370-4700 and ask for Ida Tomaselli.
• A meeting of the Monmouth County Retired Teachers Association will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 11 at Shadowbrook, 1 Obre Place, Shrewsbury. Members are asked to bring non-perishable donations for the food bank and an unwrapped new book, toy or gift card for Bridges At The Shore. For luncheon reservations, contact Sue at 732 995-7754 or email sueshrott@gmail.com before Nov. 30. New members are always welcome.
• The Jackson Library will screen the “Ultimate Australia” episode of the travel docuseries “Globe Trekker” at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 13. This screening is part of the library’s “Armchair Traveling” series of programs. This film is available through the Ocean County Library database Access Video On Demand. Registration is required for this free program. To register, call 732-928-4400.
• The Jackson Library will host “Stress Relief Using Essential Oils” at 7 p.m. Dec. 5. Lauren Gitlin of Legitoils will show attendees how to mitigate stress using essential oils in a daily routine. Registration is required for this free program. To register, call 732-928-4400.
• The Jackson Library will host the following programs: “Brain Joggers” at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 26. Exercise your mind by playing games and working puzzles; “All About Autism Discussion and Support Group” at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 28. Explore the ways in which autism affects people’s lives in a group setting. Registration is required for these free programs. To register, call 732-928-4400.
• No Stigma Network invites community members to bowl for fun and funds to support its programs for young adults with mental health challenges. The event will be held from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 11 at Howell Lanes, Route 9, Howell. Bowl with friends and family members. There will be a gift auction. Tickets: $20 per person (includes two games, shoe rental, two slices of pizza, soft drink and snacks). To purchase tickets, visit www.nostigmanetwork.com or email nostigmanetwork@gmail.com
• The HOPE One mobile outreach unit will visit Howell from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Nov. 20 in the Walmart parking lot, 4900 Route 9 South. HOPE One offers mobile treatment and recovery support in Monmouth County municipalities in an effort to save lives from drug overdoses and combat the opioid epidemic, bringing with it a peer recovery specialist, a licensed clinician, and a sheriff’s officer to help connect individuals and concerned loved ones with treatment and recovery options and resources, as well as Naloxone training.
• The Heart of New Jersey Chorus presents “Jukebox Jingles” with special guests The Trentones at 2 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Millstone Township Primary School, 18 Schoolhouse Road, Millstone Township. Call for tickets, 732-474-8529, or online at https://honj.org/node/1659
• Michael Cassara will share his enthusiasm for cemetery research at the Nov. 11 meeting of the Monmouth County Genealogy Society at 1:30 p.m. at the Community Center, 72 Broad St., Eatontown. Cassara calls his approach “Cemetery Crowdsourcing.” The meeting is free and the public is welcome to attend. Details: 732-747-0090.
• Bat Shalom Hadassah will celebrate the 13th annual lighting of the Jackson Hanukkah menorah from 4:30-6 p.m. Dec. 5. All community members are welcome to attend the event. There will be kosher holiday refreshments, greetings from local officials and Hanukkah songs. Details: 732-833-0799.
• The Jackson Library will host “How to Launch a Small Business” at 6 p.m. Nov. 28. Glenn Harris of Ocean County SCORE will talk about skills that are critical to launch a business, including a financial plan, a marketing plan and a business plan. Registration is required for this free program. To register, call 732-928-4400.
• Psychic, author and empath Linda Shields, known as “The Jersey Shore Medium,” will be at The Event Center at iPlay America, Freehold Township, on Nov. 14. Doors open at 5 p.m. Show begins 7 p.m. Ticket includes buffet and admission. Details: www.iplayamerica.com/event/jersey-shore-medium-linda-shields
• The Jackson Rotary Club will sponsor a bus trip to the Tropicana Casino, Atlantic City, for the Christmas show on Dec. 3. Cost of the trip is $57 (includes transportation, show ticket, luncheon buffet, $15 in slot play and gratuity for the driver). Bus will leave from Brookwood Plaza at 10:30 a.m. and return at 7:45 p.m. Proceeds benefit Rotary Club charities. Space is limited. Details: Tom Barchie, 732-207-4029 or 732-849-6309.
• The Church of Saint Monica Gift Auction will be held on Nov. 9 at AMVETS Hall, 1290 Route 571, Jackson. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and calling will begin at 7 p.m. There will be a chance to win prizes and have fun with family and friends. There will be theme baskets, a 50/50 raffle, a lottery tree, food and beverages for purchase, free coffee and tea, and door prizes. All proceeds to benefit the Church of Saint Monica. Donations to the church are also accepted. Advance tickets sales only. For tickets, call Rosalie, 732-928-3961, or Caroline, 732-833-0002.
• Ocean County veterans meet monthly to discuss relevant subjects and to plan recreation opportunities. Topics include the transition to civilian life, the VA system, substance use, PTSD/other mental health issues and more. The group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at Journey to Wellness Center, 25 S. Shore Drive, Toms River. Details: 732-244-0940 or email johnny@re-calibrate.us
• 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 news@thetritownnews.com. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.
