• The Reformed Church of Freehold, 67 W. Main St., Freehold Borough, will host a roast beef dinner March 2. There will be a full course dinner served family style. All are invited to attend. Tickets: Adults, $20; Children, $6 (ages 6-12). Take-out dinners available. Tickets at the door or through the church office. Details: 732-462-1717.
• The Freehold Memorial Day Parade Committee, in conjunction with The Cabin, Route 33, Howell, will host a fundraiser from 5-10 p.m. Feb. 19. The Cabin will donate 20 percent of a guest’s pre-tax check to the parade committee to assist in putting on the 145th Freehold Memorial Day Parade in 2019. Visit www.freeholdmemorialdayparade.com, to download the flier.
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education will hold the following meetings: Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m., committee of the whole, administration offices, Main Street, Englishtown; Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m., regular action meeting, administration offices, Main Street, Englishtown. The meetings are open to the public. Details: 732-786-2500.
• The Monmouth County Audubon Society is seeking volunteers to join its board. New volunteers are needed to assist the organization with its newsletter, website, publicity, program planning, and/or assist with the organization’s scholarship program. Details:
www.monmouthaudubon.org or email info@monmouthaudubon.org
• A blacksmith demonstration will be presented by the Monmouth County Park System from 1-3 p.m. Feb. 10 at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. This is a free activity. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Monmouth County Park System will present Nature Story Time from 11-11:30 a.m. Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27 at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell. There will be nature-themed items related to each story. Open to ages 2-5 with an adult. This is a free activity. Details: 732-842-4000.
• A Backyard Bird Count will be held at 9 a.m. Feb. 16 at Big Brook Park, Route 520, Marlboro. Join a Monmouth County Park System naturalist and explore the park in celebration of the Great American Backyard Bird Count. This is a free activity. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Colts Neck Shade Tree Commission will hold public meetings at 7:30 p.m. on the following dates in the meeting room at Town Hall, 124 Cedar Drive, Colts Neck: Feb. 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, July 11, Aug. 1, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5. Details: 732-462-5470.
• The 2019 Discussion Series will feature “Getting Healthy: Body, Mind and Spirit” with presenters from the VNA Health Group from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 28 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, and is free, non-sectarian and open to adults of all ages. RSVP to 732-866-6660.
• The Arcadian Chorale will begin its spring season with rehearsals every Tuesday from 7-10 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Matawan, Route 34 at Franklin Street. People who are interested in becoming members are invited to attend auditions on Jan. 29 and Feb. 5 from 6-7 p.m. Membership is free. For spring 2019, the chorale will offer a performance of “Love, Love, Love” at the Henderson Theatre at Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, on June 1. To arrange an audition in advance or for further information, call 732-583-4007 or email arcadianchorale@yahoo.com
• The community is invited to Joyful Noise Praise Band’s coffeehouse on Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. Families and children welcome. Refreshments served. This is a free event (donations welcomed) at the First United Methodist Church of Freehold, 91 W. Main St., Freehold. Details: 732-462-1745 or email fholdumc@aol.com
• A “Dine and Donate” event will be held at the Fireside Bar and Grill, Route 79, Marlboro, from 4-9 p.m. Feb. 6. Organizers said 15 percent of a guest’s bill will be donated to the Italian American Association of Monmouth County Charity and Cultural Fund (must bring the flier). The organization will be conducting a membership drive. To download a flier, visit 222.iaaofmc.com. Details: Cheryl Scuorzo, 732-536-5832.
• Embroiderers’ Guild of America-Monmouth Chapter is dedicated to teaching and sharing the joys of needlework. Stitchers of all levels are welcome. There are sit and stitch tables at each meeting as well as special projects. Evening stitchers will meet Feb. 4 from 7-9 p.m. at the Colts Neck Library, 1 Winthrop Drive, Colts Neck. Day stitchers will meet Feb. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Colts Neck Community Church, 25 Merchant Way, Colts Neck. Details: Toni, 732-462-5540, or www.mcega.org
• The Ms. New Jersey Senior America Pageant will be held at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City on June 5. The pageant seeks ladies, age 60 and over, who best exemplify the dignity, maturity and inner beauty of all senior Americans. Judging categories are Evening Gown; Philosophy of Life; Talent; and Judges Interview. The winner will participate in the Ms. Senior America Pageant 2019. Women who are interested in becoming a contestant may contact Terry Meade at 609-443-3039, 908-216-8534, or by email at tbm5201@aol.com. Details: www.newjerseysenioramerica.org
• Zoologist Bill Pitts will present, “The Bog Turtle: New Jersey’s State Reptile,” at the Monmouth County Audubon Society meeting at 8 p.m. Feb. 13 at Tower Hill Church, 255 Harding Road, Red Bank. The public is welcome and admission is free. Learn about the bog turtle’s natural history in New Jersey and conservationists’ ongoing efforts to protect the bog turtle and increase its habitat and population. Details: http://www.monmouthaudubon.org
• The Hebrew Academy, Marlboro, will host a free PJ Library Character Breakfast and Pajama Party for children of all ages on Feb. 10. Children will play games with their favorite characters. The event includes a musical performance by children’s singer/songwriter Sam Levine, breakfast, a character parade, a PJ Library craft and more. Children are encouraged to wear their favorite pajamas. RSVP is required to Linda Glickstein at 732-431-5525 or email linda@thanj.org
• The Audubon Society will host a bird walk on Sandy Hook in northern Monmouth County on Feb. 24. The trip will be led by accomplished birders who are familiar with Sandy Hook and its birds. Anyone interested in participating can meet at 10 a.m. in parking lot near the (closed) Visitor Center, which is just south of the ranger station, approximately 1.8 miles north of the entrance gate. The trip is open to members and non-members of the Monmouth County Audubon Society and participation is free. Details: http://www.monmouthaudubon.org
• The AAUW Freehold Branch is accepting book donations for its annual book sale. Books must be clean with binding intact. Books that are musty, torn, missing pages, or reference book sets (encyclopedias), textbooks, religion, philosophy, business, reference, psychology, cookbook sets or travel book sets older than 5 years will not be accepted. All donations must be made by appointment by calling 732-431-2297 or 732-303-1031, or by email at aauwfreehold@gmail.com
• The Fresh Air Fund is seeking area residents willing to volunteer to host a child from New York City this summer through the Friendly Towns Program. Children are boys and girls, ages 7-18. Details: Karen Medlin, 732-740-0449, or www.freshair.org
• Freehold Borough will host a free rabies vaccination clinic for cats and dogs from 9-11 a.m. Jan. 26 behind the firehouse, 49 W. Main St. The rabies vaccination clinic is open to
residents of any municipality. No paperwork is needed and an animal does not need to be licensed to be vaccinated. An animal must be at least 3 months old to be vaccinated. Dogs must be on a short leash and cats must be in a carrier. Details: 732-462-7057, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Shabbat 4 Teens – Shabbat 200 will be held at 4 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Center for Jewish Life, 176 Route 79 North, Marlboro. The event is free for teens age 13-18. Teens will experience what Shabbat (Sabbath) is all about at a Friday night dinner. Reservations are required at www.Shabbat4teens.com. Details: Rabbi Yossi and Dina Kanelsky, 732-316-7600
• 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.
• 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 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.
