• Manalapan High School Music Parents Association will host a gift basket auction at 6 p.m. April 12 at Manalapan High School. There will be more than 200 baskets. Admission: $20, includes one sheet of Tier 1 tickets. Save $10 on a pre-sale ticket package. Value $35.
Email mhsmpa618@gmail.com for registration information. Details: Debbie Clark, 742-586-1005.
• New Jersey Blood Services will conduct a blood drive from 2:30-8:30 p.m. April 26 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. To donate blood, call 1-800-933-2566.
• On April 11 at 7 p.m., the Freehold Pubic Library will present “The Quest for
Private Fallon’s Medal of Honor.” Glenn Cashion, Fallon’s great nephew, will lead attendees on the trail to find the missing medal and share what it took to finally bring it back home to Freehold. All are welcome to attend the presentation.
• Samaritan Center, a joint ministry of St. Thomas More and Old Tennent Presbyterian churches, operates a food pantry to provide supplementary food for those in need in Manalapan, Marlboro, Englishtown and Millstone Township. For information, call 732-446-1142 and make an appointment. Pickup dates are Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30-11:15 a.m. and Saturday from 9-11 a.m. Volunteers will gladly carry food to a client’s vehicle. Donations of funds and food are gratefully accepted to support the operation of the center. Volunteers are always welcome.
• The 2019 Discussion Series will continue with “Medicare and You,” presented by Samantha White, a certified and trained State Health Insurance Assistance Program counselor. The program will be held at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. April 29. The series is sponsored by Kathy Lo Bue, managing director, Glen Eagle Advisors LLC. Adults of all ages invited, refreshments provided. The series is free, non-sectarian and open to the community. RSVP to 732-866-6660.
• The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education will hold the following meetings: April 9, 7:30 p.m., Committee of the Whole, 54 Main St., Englishtown; April 16, 7 p.m., Regular Action Meeting, Pine Brook School, 155 Pease Road, Manalapan. Both meetings are open to the public.
• Laura Stone, vice president of the New Jersey Bluebird Society, will present “Eastern Bluebirds and Nest Box Trails” at the Monmouth County Audubon Society meeting at 8 p.m. April 10 at Tower Hill Church, 255 Harding Road, Red Bank. The public is welcome; admission is free. Details: http://www.monmouthaudubon.org
• The Freehold Memorial Day Parade Committee, in conjunction with The Cabin, Route 33, Howell, will host a fundraiser from 5-10 p.m. April 16. 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 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. 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.
• 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 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 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.
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