• A one-day event is planned for individuals and professionals who wish to broaden their understanding of hoarding disorder. Topics include assessment, case management models, intervention and more. The conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 2 at the Middlesex Fire Academy, Sayreville. Cost is $125. Approved for 6.0 CEUs for social work and occupational therapy. Offered by Atlantic County Hoarding Task Force, MHANJ in Atlantic County and Stockton University. To register, call 609-652-3800 or email jangelini@mhanj.org
• On April 25 at 7 p.m., all Howell residents who are interested in saving the MacKenzie Museum and Library and the Ardena one-room schoolhouse are invited to attend a meeting at the Ardena Baptist Church Hall, 593 Adelphia Road, Howell. The agenda will be how to move forward as a society and how to be good keepers of the properties. All are welcome to attend the meeting. Light refreshments will be served.
• The Monmouth County Park System will host its annual Creative Arts and Music Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 4 at Thompson Park, 805 Newman Springs Road (Route 520), Lincroft. This juried arts festival features specially selected artists’ works of pottery, photography, jewelry, paintings and other mediums. In addition to the artwork, visitors will enjoy live music and free art demonstrations and activities. Admission and parking for the festival are free. Details: www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call 732-842-4000.
• Rutgers Master Gardeners of Monmouth County will host their Spring Garden Days Plant Sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 17 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 18 (rain or shine) at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agriculture Building, 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold Township. Cash or check only (no credit cards). There will be plants available for purchase, gardening presentations, garden tours, and a gardening Q&A with Master Gardeners. Details: 732-303-7614.
• Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary, Upper Freehold Township, will sponsor a “Bingo and Basket Raffle for Barking Seniors” from 5-10 p.m. April 27 at the New Egypt Elks Lodge, 105 Lakewood Road, Plumsted. Doors open at 5 p.m. and bingo starts at 6:30 p.m. All proceeds will support Marty’s Place residents and their care. Admission (adults 18 and over) is $25 and tickets must be purchased by April 24. Admission includes one bingo square per game and dauber, plus soft drinks and dessert. Entrée items will be available for purchase from the Elks. Tickets may be purchased online at www.martysplace.org/event/martys-place-bingo/ or by mail with cash or check mailed to 118 Route 526 Upper Freehold, NJ 08501. Details: www.martysplace.org or 609-259-1278.
• Monmouth County will hold a paper shredding event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 18 the Memorial/Adelphia schools, 485 Adelphia Road (Route 524), Howell. County residents may bring up to 100 pounds of documents to be shredded. Details: See the recycling section of the county website at www.VisitMonmouth.com or call 732-683-8686, ext. 6721.
• New Jersey Blood Services will conduct a blood drive from 2-8 p.m. April 25 at the Howell Elks, 84 Ramtown‑Greenville Road, Howell. To donate blood, call 1-800-933-2566.
• The James Volpe Foundation will host its eighth annual golf outing and luncheon on May 13 at the Eagle Ridge Golf Club, Lakewood. Check-in begins at 7:15 a.m. Scramble start at 8:30 a.m. To register, visit jvfgolf2019.eventbrite.com. Details: The James Volpe Foundation on Facebook.
• 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
• Demonstrations of a 19th century gristmill will be presented at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township, from 1-4 p.m. April 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28. Demonstrations run through November. This is a free event. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Friends of the Howell Municipal Alliance meets on the first Monday of each quarter at 7 p.m. at the Echo Lake Pavilion, Howell. Attendees may share their ideas and perspective in an informal environment to enrich the community’s commitment to substance abuse prevention. No membership is necessary. Details: 732-938-4500, ext. 4012.
• 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 Jackson Library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson, will host various events during April. A film will be shown at 2:30 p.m. April 12. No admission fee. Call the library for film information. A film will be shown at 6 p.m. April 22. No admission fee. Call the library for film information. “How to Launch a Successful Small Business” will be presented at 6:30 p.m. April 24. “Mindfulness Meditation: On Conscious Relationships” will be presented at 11 a.m. April 25. The meditation program is open to novice and advanced practitioners. Comfortable clothes required. A will be shown at 2 p.m. April 27 in conjunction with National Poetry Month. No admission fee. Call the library for film information. Registration is required for these free programs. To register, call 732-928-4400.
• Quality Insights is offering a free diabetes self-management workshop series at the Howell Senior Center, 251 Preventorium Road, Howell, Thursdays from March 14 through April 18, from 10 a.m. to noon. Meet others going through similar experiences and learn about diabetes and its risks, preventing complications, healthy eating and more. The workshop is open to members of the senior center. Howell residents 60 and over may call 732-938-4500, ext. 2550, to join the senior center. Senior center members may register for the workshop by calling 732-938-4500, ext. 2561.
• The Jackson Library will host “Knit-Chat-Chain Volunteers” on Mondays. Guests are welcome to join fellow hook and needle enthusiasts and create items to donate to charitable organizations, and to work on their own projects. Knitters and crocheters of all skill levels are welcome. Yarn will be provided. Meeting times alternate between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Call 732-928-4400, check the monthly brochure, or visit theoceancountylibrary.org/events for specific dates and times.
• 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 Jackson group of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Ocean County, will meet from 12:30-2 p.m. each Wednesday at the Brighter Days Community Wellness Center, 268 Bennett’s Mills Road, Jackson. DBSA is dedicated to helping those who suffer from depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder. Supportive family members or friends of people who suffer from mental health difficulties are also welcome to attend. No registration, dues or fees are necessary. Details: Maureen, 732-536-5826, or mfalkowitz27@gmail.com
• Ocean County veterans meet monthly to discuss relevant subjects and to plan recreation opportunities. Topics include the transition to civilian life, the VA system, substance use, PTSD/other mental health issues and more. The group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at Journey to Wellness Center, 25 S. Shore Drive, Toms River. Details: 732-244-0940 or email johnny@re-calibrate.us
Items for the Datebook may be sent to news@thetritownnews.com. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.
