• New Jersey Blood Services will hold a blood drive at Freehold High School, 2 Robertsville Road, Freehold Borough, from 2:15-6:45 p.m. April 2. To donate blood, call toll free, 1-800-933-2566 or visit www.nybloodcenter.org
• The Monmouth County SPCA will celebrate its 25th anniversary dog walk and pet fair on April 27 at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The theme will be “My Dog is a Superhero.” There will be dogs available for adoption, live music by The Wag, vendors, food trucks, games and activities for children of all ages, plus fun photo ops with comic book characters. The “Disc-Connected K9’s Frisbee Dog Team” will perform throughout the day. Details: www.mcspcadogwalk.org
• The Monmouth County Audubon Society will host a bird walk on April 20 on Sandy Hook in northern Monmouth County. Sandy Hook is an excellent place to observe many species of migrating birds in a limited area. Those interested in participating can meet at 10 a.m. in the parking lot of the former Sandy Hook visitors center, 1.8 miles north of the park entrance (across the road from the Spermaceti Cove observation boardwalk). The trip is open to members and non-members of the Audubon Society and participation is free. Advance registration is not required. Details: http://www.monmouthaudubon.org or email at info@monmouthaudubon.org
• The Italian American Association of Monmouth County will host a Comedy Night featuring Mike Marino from 6-10 p.m. April 7 at the Knights of Columbus, 70 E. Main St., Freehold. Cost of $40 per person includes gourmet paninis, coffee and dessert. A cash bar will be available. Proceeds to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the IAA Scholarship and Cultural Fund. All are welcome to attend. Details: Visit www.iaaofmc.com or call Cheryl Scuorzo at 732-536-5832.
• 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 732-303-1031, 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
• Climb Time will be held from noon to 4 p.m. April 13 at Holmdel Park, Holmdel. Try the Monmouth County Park System’s 25-foot tall portable climbing wall. Individuals must be at least 42 inches tall to climb. Open to ages 8 and up (under 18 with adult). The cost is $2 for three attempts or climbs, cash or check only. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Demonstrations of a 19th century gristmill will be presented at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township, from 1-4 p.m. April 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28. Demonstrations run through November. This is a free event. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Heart of New Jersey Chorus is preparing for regional competition and will perform a “Friends and Family” show on April 3 at the Millstone Township Primary School, 18 Schoolhouse Road, Millstone Township. Doors open at 8 p.m. All community members are invited to attend the performance.
• Embroiderers’ Guild of America-Monmouth welcomes stitchers of all levels to attend a meeting. There are sit-and-stitch tables at each meeting, as well as special projects. Evening stitchers will meet from 7-9 p.m. April 1 at the Colts Neck Library, 1 Winthrop Drive, Colts Neck. Day stitchers will meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 18 at the Colts Neck Community Church, 25 Merchant Way, Colts Neck. Details: Toni, 732-462-5540, or visit www.mcega.org
• Temple Rodeph Torah, Marlboro, will host an open house for potential members from 10 a.m. to noon April 7. The clergy and representatives from the synagogue’s committees and groups will be available to answer questions. Families will be able to tour the building and visit a religious school class. Refreshments will be served. Details: 732-308-0055.
• Monmouth County will host a spring job fair on April 12 at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft. The event is free to employers and job seekers. Employers interested in participating in the job fair are asked to register by contacting Christine Dykeman at 732-683-8850, ext. 2525, or christine.dykeman@doj.nj.gov. There is no cost for employers to reserve a table.
• 180 Turning Lives Around, a private nonprofit organization in Monmouth County, will be conducting a 40-hour training course for new Domestic Violence Response Team
victim advocates from April 29 through May 23 at Hazlet Police Headquarters. DVRT advocates work with law enforcement to provide support, information and resources to victims of domestic violence. For an application or additional information, contact Tina Morgan at tinam@180nj.org or 732 264-4360, ext. 4272. Potential volunteers are asked to mention the town where they reside. The deadline to apply is April 19.
• The Center for Jewish Life, Marlboro, will host a Passover seder with Rabbi Yossi and Dina Kanelsky at 6:45 p.m. April 19. Guests will learn the eternal meaning of the Passover story. The seder will be conducted in English and Russian. RSVP only by April 10 to 732-316-7600.
• A meeting of the Monmouth County Retired Educators Association will be held at 11 a.m. April 9 at the Knob Hill Golf Club, 1 Shinnecock Drive, Manalapan. A Medicare update will be presented. Members are asked to donate non-perishable items for the food bank. New members are welcome. To make a luncheon reservation, contact Sue at 732-995-7754 or email sueshrott@gmail.com before March 29.
• Paint with Friends! Local artist Toni Field will lead participants in creating a painting project at the Freehold Public Library, East Main Street, at 7 p.m. March 28. All materials provided. Refreshments will be served. Cost is $25 per person. To register, visit or call the library at 732-462-5135 by March 22. Proceeds to benefit the Friends of the Freehold Public Library.
• The Morganville United Methodist Church, 215 Conover Road, Marlboro, will host a covered dish dinner and dessert auction at 5 p.m. April 6. Guests are asked to bring their favorite dish to share at dinner. At 6:30 p.m., a charity dessert auction will be held to benefit the church and the Morganville Independent Fire Company. Guests are asked to bring a homemade dessert to be auctioned off. Details: 732-536-2031.
• “The History of the Italian Jews,” a talk by Rabbi Michael Klein (rabbi emeritus, Congregation Ahavat Olam, Howell), will be held at 2 p.m. March 31 at the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, 310 Mount’s Corner Drive, Freehold Township. Cost to attend is $8 for museum members and $10 for non-members. To reserve a space, call
732-252-6990.
• The AARP Tax-Aide Program will be in place at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan, from Feb. 21 through April 15. Hours are Monday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesday, 6-7 p.m.; and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The service is free. Service offered for simple federal and New Jersey tax returns only. If filing a joint return, both individuals must be present. Check website for new documentation requirements. Details: www.monmouthcountylib.org
• The Mourning After is a grief counseling program designed to assist people with recent and not-so-recent losses adjust to the emotions of grieving and the long-term changes that follow. The program is led by licensed professional counselors Bob Szita and Bernice Garfield-Szita. The group meets monthly on Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Center Playhouse, 35 South St., Freehold. Upcoming dates are April 5, May 3 and June 7. A voluntary donation is accepted. New attendees are asked to call in advance at 732-577-1076 or info@GIERS.org or www.GIERS.org
• John P. Stevens High School, Edison, Class of 1969 will hold its 50-year reunion on Aug. 10 at Galloping Hills Caterers, Union. Cocktail hour from 6-7 p.m., dinner from 7-11 p.m. Cost is $75 per person. Payment and RSVP to Donna Ciccone, 9 Anita Ave., Edison, NJ 08820. Details: Debbie DeMauro Bava, email dbava1015@msn.com
• 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
• 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: April 4, May 2, June 6, July 11, Aug. 1, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5. Details: 732-462-5470.
• 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.
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