• “Fine Feathered Friends: Birds as Mainstay and Muse” is open at the New Jersey State Museum, Trenton. The exhibition brings the fun of bird watching indoors through nearly 200 rarely seen artifacts and specimens exploring birds as an ecological mainstay and their role as a design-inspiring force, or muse, for New Jersey artisans. The exhibition will be on view through Sept. 13. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday; closed on Mondays and state holidays. Details: www.statemuseum.nj.gov
• Forsgate Country Club, Monroe Township, will host Camp Forsgate in weekly sessions from June 29 through Aug. 14 for children ages 5-10. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Before-care and after-care will be available. Camp activities include golf, fitness, swimming, arts and crafts, STEM and more. Weekly tuition: Members, $330; Non-members, $370. Details: www.kecamps.com
• The Monmouth County Park System is looking to hire lifeguards, camp counselors, park and golf course maintenance workers, swim instructors and more for the summer. A job fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, 2566 Guam Lane, Tinton Falls. Prospective employees must be at least 16 years old and a county resident. A full listing of summer job openings can be found at www.MonmouthCountyParks.com. Details: 732-842-4000, ext. 4339.
• A rabies vaccination clinic will be held from 1-2 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Millstone Township public works garage, 899 Perrineville Road. Details: 732-446-4249.
• New Jersey Blood Services will conduct a blood drive from 1:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold Township. To donate blood or for information about how to organize a blood drive, call 1-800-933-2566 or visit www.nybloodcenter.org
• Supporters of LADACIN Network will participate in the 12th annual LADACIN Plunge in Manasquan on Jan. 18 to support LADACIN’s educational, therapeutic, social, residential and support services for more than 3,500 infants, children and adults with complex physical and developmental disabilities or delays living in Monmouth and Ocean counties. On-site registration will begin at Leggett’s Sand Bard & Restaurant at 10:30 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., participants will hit the beach. Details: www.ladacin.org and click on Events, or contact Cathy Claps at 732-493-5900, ext. 263.
• The Shrewsbury Chorale is inviting individuals of high school age and up who love choral music to consider joining the chorale. Open rehearsals are scheduled for 7-9:30 p.m. Jan. 14, 21 and 28 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County, 1475 W. Front St. Lincroft. Singers of all voice parts are invited to attend a rehearsal. The chorale is preparing for its April and June concerts. The chorale rehearses weekly on Tuesday evenings. Scores will be provided and all events are free. Some music reading ability is desirable. Call 908-309-0602 to audition or visit www.shrewsburychorale.org
• There will be a meeting of the Monmouth Ski Club at 8 p.m. Jan. 8 at the Wild Rover, 153 Shrewsbury Ave., Red Bank. New members are welcome. Come and learn about incentives for new members. The club meets on the first Wednesday of every month (Feb. 5, March 4). Off the slopes throughout the year, club members enjoy kayaking, fishing, biking, hiking and golfing, and indoor fun of quilting, reading groups and theme parties. Details: www.monmouthskiclub.com
• Chris Tracy, a professional genealogist, will speak at the Jan. 12 meeting of the
Monmouth County Genealogy Society at the Community Center, 72 Broad St., Eatontown. All are welcome to attend. There will be refreshments and networking at 1:30 p.m., followed by the business meeting and speaker at 2 p.m. Admission is free. Details: 732-747-0090.
• Parlor Games for Wintry Weather will be presented from noon to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. Play forgotten 1890s games like Halma and Basilinda, or old-time favorites like Backgammon, Checkers and Reversi. Open to ages 6 and up. This is a free program. Details: 732-842-4000.
• John Fabiano, executive director of the Monmouth County Historical Commission, will explore Joshua Huddy’s Revolutionary War service, his execution and the circumstances leading to the Paris Peace Treaty’s eventual success during a presentation at the Allentown Library at 7 p.m. Feb. 18. All are welcome to attend, Space is limited and registration is required. Details: 609-259-7565.
• The Deep Cut Orchid Society will hold its annual orchid show and sale from Feb. 6-9 in Dearborn Market’s 11,000-square-foot greenhouse, 2170 Route 35 South, Holmdel. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Visitors will view an array of orchids vying for American Orchid Society ribbons and trophies. 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. Dearborn Market offers fresh food and deli selections for purchase.
• The New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, is presenting “Preserving the Pinelands: Albert Horner’s Portraits of a National Treasure.” The exhibition features images by photographer Albert Horner which capture the quiet beauty and intimate landscapes of New Jersey’s Pinelands National Reserve. A number of artifacts and scientific specimens from the museum’s collections help tell some of the stories of the land, animals, people and industries that make this unique area a state and national treasure. “Preserving the Pinelands” will be on view through June 28. Details: www.statemuseum.nj.gov
• 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.
Items for the Datebook may be sent to news@njexaminer.com. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.
