• The Monmouth County Audubon Society will host a bird walk on Sandy Hook in northern Monmouth County on Dec. 9. Anyone interested in participating in the event can meet at 10 a.m. in the parking lot by the old visitor center (1.8 miles north of the park entrance). The event is open to all and participation is free. Advance registration is not required. Dress appropriately for the weather, which can be blustery and unpredictable along the coast; wear comfortable shoes and bring binoculars and field guides. Check for weather updates at http://www.monmouthaudubon.org
• The Marlboro Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse and the Marlboro Teen Advisory Committee will hold a Thanksgiving blood drive from 3-9 p.m. Nov. 27 at the Marlboro Recreation Center, 1996 Recreation Way, Marlboro. Visit www.nybloodcenter.org to check donor eligibility guidelines. The minimum age for a donor is 17; a 16-year-old who wants to donate blood may fill out a parental consent form on the blood center website. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred by calling 732-617-0186 or email drugalliance@marlboro-nj.gov
• The Hebrew Academy, Marlboro, in conjunction with the Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey, Marlboro Jewish Center, Congregation Ahavat Olam, Temple Rodeph Torah and Camp Louemma, will host a Winter Wonderland event on Dec. 16 from 4-6 p.m. The dance is for students in grades five through eight. The $5 admission includes music, games, dinner and snacks. All area students who attend a Jewish day school or are a member of any synagogue, or Jewish youth group, are invited to attend. Advance registration is required. RSVP to linda@thanj.org and provide name, grade, school, youth group, address, and phone number. Reservations may also be made by calling the individual synagogue youth group office or Linda Glickstein at 732-431-5525.
• A bake sale and craft show will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 9 at the First Presbyterian Church of Englishtown, 50 Main St., Englishtown. A variety of baked goods will be available, and vendors will be selling crafts and wares. Vendors are needed. Leave a message to reserve a table. Details: 732-740-4880.
• The Jewish Home for Rehabilitation and Nursing, Freehold Township, a new skilled rehabilitation and nursing facility serving the Jewish community, is hosting a free monthly support group called The Jewish Caregiver’s Experience. The group will meet at 7 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month, starting Nov. 27. Caregivers of all ages seeking support, resources and a Jewish perspective on managing their responsibilities are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served. Call Avrum at 732-202-1000, ext. 4012, or email aglassoff@jewishhomefreehold.org for more information.
• Jane and Joe Latini will present “Finding Joy” and explain how they have overcome life’s challenges, trials and tribulations during the 2018 Discussion Series from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Nov. 27 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. The series is sponsored by Kathy Lo Bue, managing director, Glen Eagle Advisors, LLC. The series is free, non-sectarian and open to adults of all ages. RSVP to 732-866-6660.
• Freehold Elks Lodge No. 1454, 73 E. Main St., Freehold, will present its annual Comedy Night featuring the Legendary Wid and Friends on Nov. 24. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., showtime at 8:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Advance tickets are $18; tickets at the door, $20. Details: Patty, 732-685-9493.
• The Reformed Church of Freehold, 67 W. Main St., Freehold, will host a Holly Berry Boutique from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 1. There will be crafts, baked goods and Christmas gifts available for purchase. Lunch will be available for $7. Pints of soup to go will be available for $3.50. To pre-order soup (beef barley, chicken, tomato, loaded baked potato, cream of broccoli, split pea), contact the church office at 732-462-1717.
• New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Christine McCabe will discuss the DEP’s accomplishment during the first year of Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration and outline her future plans for the department during a presentation at 6 p.m. Nov. 26 at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, in the Warner Student Life Center, Twin Lights Rooms I and II (first level). The presentation is sponsored by Brookdale Community College and the Sierra Group. McCabe’s presentation is open to the public.
• The Freehold Public Library’s “Friends of the Library” group will meet on at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at the library, East Main Street, Freehold Borough. Join interested neighbors and friends to support the library’s service to the community. Details: 732-462-5135.
• “Come Write In,” the writers group of the Freehold Public Library, will meet at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 28 at the library, East Main Street, Freehold Borough. People who like to write are invited to discuss their own writing adventures, learn about contributing to a group anthology, or share National Novel Writing Month updates. Refreshments served. Details: 732-462-5135.
• The Freehold Area Running Club will host its 33rd annual Born to Run 5-Mile Race on Nov. 23. Runners will make their way through downtown Freehold to Lake Topanemus in Freehold Township. There will be a vendor expo, kids dash and 1-mile race, live music, medals and T-shirts. A rebranding will include a new logo that will be prominent on red bandanas given to all participants. Since 2009, the race has contributed $42,000 to Freehold Area Open Door and will continue the tradition of fighting hunger in its hometown. Vendor expo starts at 9:30 a.m.; kids race starts at 10 a.m.; the 5-mile race starts at 11 a.m. Details: www.farcnj.com
• 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 Freehold Borough Arts Council will hold its sixth annual arts and crafts show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Park Avenue Elementary School, 280 Park Ave., Freehold. All are invited to attend. Paintings, jewelry, upcycled wood crafts, chocolates, paper creations, photography and unique holiday gifts will be available for purchase. Details: Email lynn.reich@gmail.com
• New Jersey Blood Services will conduct the following blood drives: Nov. 23, John F. Carroll Columbian Club, 3 LaSatta Ave., Englishtown, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Nov. 27, Marlboro Recreation Community Center, 1996 Recreation Way, Marlboro, 3-9 p.m. To donate blood or for information on how to organize a blood drive, call toll free 1-800-933-2566.
• 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 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
• Temple Beth Ahm, 550 Lloyd Road, Aberdeen, will host monthly meet and greet events on Nov. 28 and Dec. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Guests are welcome to come and learn about the synagogue. Refreshments will be served. Details: Email info@templebethahm.org or call 732-583-1700.
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Community Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse has launched its Project Zero website at projectzeromanalapan.com. Project Zero is the alliance’s initiative to reset the narrative in Englishtown and Manalapan regarding substance abuse. The website contains information about where residents can go for assistance.
• 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@thenewstranscript.com. Please send items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.
