• Forsgate Country Club, Monroe Township, will host a Bridal Expo from 7-9:30 p.m. May 8. Admission to the expo is free. There will be live entertainment, a fashion show, door prizes, food, cake tasting and 25 specialty wedding vendors. Details and registration: https://www.elegantbridal.com/bridalshow/1794/
• The 13th annual Allentown Lions Run with Eagles 5K will be held on May 11 at the Cream Ridge Winery. A portion of the race’s proceeds will be donated to HomeFront, a local nonprofit organization helping homeless moms and families. Additional information and online registration forms are available at https://www.eagles5k.com/
• The Allentown Lions Club Memorial Day parade will be held rain or shine on May 28 beginning at 10:30 a.m. Visit www.AllentownLionsClub.com for more details. People coming to view the parade should arrive by 9:45 a.m. There will be road closures on Main Street and High Street. A memorial service will follow the parade on the grounds of the Newell Elementary School. There will be a children’s bicycle contest sponsored by Bruno’s Bike Shop at the corner of Allen Drive and North Main Street prior to the start of the parade. Antique cars are welcome to participate in the parade. Contact Rob Strovinsky with parade related questions at [emailprotected] or 609-259-1886. Weather updates can be found at the Lions Club’s website and Facebook page.
• The Freehold Rotary Foundation will host an art auction to benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand, the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation and other local charities on May 10 at the Knob Hill Country Club, Manalapan. All are welcome to attend the evening event. Tickets are $25 per person and include a complimentary glass of wine, hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary coupon for a round of golf (cart not included). Must be in attendance one hour after the auction starts. Marlin Art, Deer Park, N.Y., will conduct the auction. Tickets may be purchased at www.eventbrite.com. Under “Events” search Freehold Rotary art auction. Tickets may be purchased at the door (if available due to capacity limits). Alex’s Lemonade Stand provides grants for pediatric cancer research. The Emmanuel Cancer Foundation provides financial and related services to families who have children with cancer.
• The Novo Nordisk Diabetes Center at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, is offering its free annual eye screening from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 11 at CentraState’s Donna O’Donnell, RN, Medical Arts Building, second floor, 901 W. Main St. The screening is for community members who have diabetes and have not seen an ophthalmologist during the past year, or who do not have health insurance coverage. Eye drops will be used and can blur vision temporarily, therefore participants must arrange for a ride home. Screenings are by appointment only and space is limited. To schedule an appointment, call 732-308-0570.
• Companion Animal Rescue and Education will hold a puppy adoption event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 18 at PetValu in the Epicentre, 55 Route 9 South, Manalapan (between Wegmans and Target). Details: www.carenj.com
• DowntownFreehold.com has announced its 2019 Thursdays Rock concert lineup. The free concerts take place at the Monmouth County Hall of Records Plaza from 7:30-9:30 p.m. All ages welcome. The bands are: June 6, Moroccan Sheepherders; June 13, The Snakes; June 20, Mission Dance; June 27, Motor City Revue; July 4, Eddie Testa Band with special guest; July 11, Rockit Fish; July 18, Soul Project NOLO; July 25, The Springsteen Experience; Aug. 1, Joe Keyes and the Late Bloomer Band; Aug. 8, Joe Baracata Band; Aug. 15, Stephen Martines; and Aug. 22, Full Throttle. Details: DowntownFreehold.com
• Tickets are available for the Ms. New Jersey Senior America Pageant 2019 to be held at 1 p.m. June 5 at Harrahs Resort Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City. The 12 contestants will be judged in four categories: Evening Gown; Philosophy of Life; Talent; and Private Judges Interview. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased in advance by calling 908-216-8534 or 609-412-4980, or at the box office, which opens at noon June 5. The pageant is rated general and is for senior citizens, but can also be enjoyed by the entire family. The winner will compete in the Ms. Senior America Pageant 2019 in October. Details: www.newjerseysenioramerica.org or www.senioramerica.org
• A meeting of the Monmouth County Retired Educators will be held at 11 a.m. June 11 at the Spring Lake Manor, Spring Lake. The group’s annual philanthropic award will be presented. The retired educators are collecting backpacks and school supplies for Bridges At The Shore for distribution prior to the upcoming school year, as well as non-perishable donations to the food bank. New members are welcome. For luncheon reservations, contact Sue at 732-995-7754 or email [emailprotected] before May 24.
• “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.
• 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
• 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 [emailprotected] or the [emailprotected] or call Chhange at 732-224-1889.
• 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. Call or text Nina Rizzo at 201-838-8318 to arrange a pick-up in the Millstone Township area.
• The Allentown Library, 16 S. Main St., Allentown, will present “10 Landscaping Mistakes and How to Avoid Them” at 1 p.m. May 21. The Rutgers Master Gardeners will offer information about landscaping issues. All are invited to attend. Registration is required. Details: 609-259-7565.
• 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. Aug. 3 at Millstone Park, 4 Red Valley Road, Millstone Township. 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.
• 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 Allentown Public Library, 16 S. Main St., Allentown, will host a program about identity theft at 6:30 p.m. May 14. The program will be presented by officers from the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office. The officers will discuss how criminals obtain personal information and discuss ways to avoid becoming a victim. Registration is required. Register in person, online (www.monmouthcountylib.org) or by calling 609-259-7565.
• Millstone Township residents who are interested in history, heritage, research and education are invited to apply for membership on the Millstone Township Historic Preservation Commission. Interested individuals may complete a talent bank application on the township’s website or in the municipal offices.
• Millstone Township Recreation invites students in grades eight through 12 to volunteer for its sports programs and special events. Young adults may complete community service hours for school, religious organizations or clubs. To see volunteer opportunities, visit www.millstonerec.org
• John P. Stevens High School, Edison, Class of 1969 will hold its 50-year reunion on Aug. 10 at Galloping Hills Caterers, Union. co*cktail 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 [emailprotected]
• 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 Jewish Home for Rehabilitation and Nursing, Freehold Township, a skilled rehabilitation and nursing facility serving the Jewish community, is hosting a free, monthly support group called the Jewish Caregiver’s Experience. The group will meet at 7 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month. The group is facilitated by Julie Davelman, a clinical psychologist. Rabbi Nathan Langer, the facility’s rabbi, attends and brings a Jewish perspective. 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, or email [emailprotected]
Items for the Datebook may be sent to [emailprotected]. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.
