• New Jersey author Danny Rongo of Manalapan will host a book signing for his new book, “I Am God (and So Are You, My Friend): A Common Man’s Guide to Oneness” at 2 p.m. April 20 at Barnes and Noble, Brunswick Square Mall, Route 18, East Brunswick. According to Rongo, “oneness is the state of being completely united with one and all.” Rongo is an author, playwright, singer-songerwriter and activist. All are invited to his book signing.
• A community blood drive will be held from 2:30-8:30 p.m. April 26 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. All donors will receive a $10 coupon for Houlihan’s. Appointments preferred, walk-ins welcome. Appointments at http://tinyurl.com/GiveBloodNJBS. The sponsor code is 66994. For questions about eligibility, call 800-933-2566.
• Embroiderers’ Guild of America-Monmouth Chapter welcomes stitchers of all levels. There are sit-and-stitch tables and special projects at each meeting. Evening stitchers will meet from 7-9 p.m. May 6 at the Colts Neck Library, 1 Winthrop Drive, Colts Neck. Day stitchers will meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 16 at the Colts Neck Community Church, 25 Merchant Way, Colts Neck. Details: Toni, 732-462-5540, or www.mcega.org
• “Your Show of Shows, Part II,” a look at the 1950-54 live variety television show starring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca, will be presented by Barry Jacobsen at 2 p.m. May 19 at the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, 310 Mount’s Corner Drive, Freehold Township. Cost is $8 for museum members and $10 for non-members. All are welcome to attend. Details: 732-252-6990.
• Manalapan residents of all ages are welcome to attend “Coffee With The Mayor and Deputy Mayor” from 8:30-10 a.m. April 28 at the municipal building, Route 522 and Taylors Mills Road. Other township officials will join Mayor Susan Cohen and Deputy Mayor Jack McNaboe.
• Members of the 1994 New York Rangers Stanley Cup championship team – Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves and Mike Richter – will appear at the Event Center at iPlay America, Freehold Township, on June 30. All ticket holders will have access to a Q&A experience with the former players. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. and the Q&A will start at 3 p.m. Various packages are available for purchase at https://www.iplayamerica.com/core4
• Temple Rodeph Torah, Marlboro, will host its fifth annual community-wide “Blessing of the Animals” at 12:15 p.m. May 5. The event, to be held on the temple’s front lawn, is free and open to the public. There will be teachings and songs about animals and the bond that exists between animals and humans. There will be treats for animals and humans following the service. Details: 732-308-0055.
• The seventh annual Chhange Golf Classic will be held on June 11 at Forsgate Country Club, Monroe Township. Chhange is the Center for Holocaust, Human Rights and Genocide Education at Brookdale Community College. Cost to participate is $300 (individual) or $1,110 (foursome). Sponsorship opportunities are available. The event is co-chaired by Mike Yellin and Lloyd Stone. Non-playing volunteers are needed to help run the event. Details: Email yellins@aol.com or the 5stones@gmail.com or call Chhange at 732-224-1889.
• The Monmouth County Park System will host the following Earth Day events from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 27: Freneau Woods Park Visitor Center, Aberdeen Township. Join a park system Naturalist on a leisurely walk to look for returning birds, wandering wildlife, emergent buds, blooming wildflowers and other fun sights of spring. Binoculars provided. Tours depart approximately at 11 a.m., 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m.; and Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell. There will be live animal shows featuring reptiles and amphibians and short walks led by a park system naturalist. Live animal shows at 11:30 a.m., 1 and 3:30 p.m.; nature walks at noon and 4 p.m. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Manalapan MRC-CERT will accept donations of clothing and household items from 9-11 a.m. May 11 at Manalapan town hall, Route 522. The following items may be donated: all articles of clothing, garments and accessories; shoes; stuffed animals; linen – including towels, sheets, blankets and small rugs and mats; bicycles; small electric appliances; costumes, wigs and hats; and some small furniture. Details: www.facebook/manalapanmrc-cert
• Boy Scout Troop 155, Freehold, is holding a clothing drive to raise funds for Seabase High Adventure Camp in the Florida Keys. Donations of gently worn clean clothing, shoes, handbags, linens, stuffed animals and small plastic toys would be appreciated. The pick-up date is June 1 in Freehold Township. Early donations are accepted. Call or text Allison Toth at 908-337-8701 for more information. Residents may call or text Nina Rizzo at 201-838-8318 to arrange a pick-up in the Millstone Township area.
• SonRise at the Pond, a service organized by laity from various churches and traditions, will be held at Lake Topanemus Park, Pond Road, Freehold Township, on Easter morning, April 21, at 6:30 a.m. The guest speaker will be the Rev. William Wilson of the First United Methodist Church, with music led by Joyful Noise. There will be a free will offering to benefit Open Door. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn/camp chair.
• 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.
• On April 19, Monmouth Worship Center, 37 Vanderburg Road, Marlboro, will present its annual Easter drama, “Love Lifted Me.” The drama tells the story of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the miraculous works He did. The performance begins at 7 p.m. This is a full production with costumes, scenery, lighting, music and a cast and crew of 50. Details: 732-332-9600 or www.monmouthworship.org
• Demonstrations of a 19th century gristmill will be presented at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township, from 1-4 p.m. April 20, 21, 27 and 28. Demonstrations run through November. This is a free event. Details: 732-842-4000.
• 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
• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• 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.
• Monmouth County will hold a paper shredding event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 12 at Colts Neck Town Hall, 124 Cedar Drive, Colts Neck. 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 2:30-8:30 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.
• 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 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
• 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 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: 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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