• CentraState Healthcare Foundation will host its 57th annual Celebration Ball, “Through the Decades,” from 6-11 p.m. Feb. 2 at South Gate Manor, Freehold. Proceeds will support the Rutgers/RWJ Family Medicine Residency Program at CentraState in the new Freehold Family Health Center. The event will honor the VNA Health Group, Special Strides and Joseph Iantosca for their commitment to CentraState Healthcare System and the entire community. The event will include a silent auction, a live auction, and the winning ticket for the “A Year of Great Taste Dining Raffle” will be pulled. Details: 732-294-7030.
• Singers who love choral music are invited to an open rehearsal of the Shrewsbury Chorale. Local singers of high school age and up (all voice parts) are invited to participate in open rehearsals on Jan. 15 and Jan. 22 from 7:45-10 p.m. The chorale is preparing for April and June concerts. Rehearsals are held weekly on Tuesday evenings at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County, Lincroft. Scores will be provided and both events are free. Call 908-309-0602 to audition. Visit www.shrewsburychorale.org for more information.
• Speaker and local expert Jason Denesevich will lecture on “A Year at Sandy Hook” at the Monmouth County Audubon Society meeting at 8 p.m. Jan. 9 at Tower Hill Church, 255 Harding Road, Red Bank. The public is welcome; admission is free. Denesevich has been birding in New Jersey for 15 years and has studied migration patterns at Sandy Hook for the past five years. Details: http://www.monmouthaudubon.org or email info@monmouthaudubon.org
• The Italian Americans Cultural Society of New Jersey will host a special new year’s 2019 annual membership drive open to the general public. Individuals who pay the $60 annual membership on or before Jan. 10 will attend the organization’s next dinner meeting at Christie’s Italian Restaurant, 2420 Route 9 South, Howell, on Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. for free (a $35 value). This one-time special offer will net the membership fee for 2019 to $25. Interested individuals may contact Mike Arato at 917-709-8008 or Rob DeSalvatore at 732-984-8482. Visit www.italianamericansnj.com for more information and a membership application.
• A “Wondrous Winter Walk” will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. Jan. 31 at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell, meet in the parking lot. Tag along with a Monmouth County Park System naturalist and explore the serenity that is nature in the wintertime. Free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Manalapan Township Committee will hold its annual reorganization meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 2 at the municipal building. Barry Jacobson will be sworn in as a member of the Township Committee. Members of municipal boards, committees and commissions will be appointed for 2019. The meeting is open to the public and all residents are invited to attend.
• The Deep Cut Orchid Society will hold its annual orchid show and sale from Feb. 7-10 at Dearborn Market, 2170 Route 35 South, Holmdel. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 7-9 and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 10. There will be free guided tours and educational and orchid-themed workshops for enthusiasts of all levels. Orchid experts will be on hand to answer questions. Admission and parking are free.
• 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 meets at 7 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month. Caregivers of all ages seeking support, resources and a Jewish perspective on managing their responsibilities are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served. Details: Avrum, 732-202-1000, ext. 4012.
• 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.
