• township committee in Manalopan will hold a 2023 reorganization meeting at 7:00 p.m., Jan. 4, at the municipal building, 120 Route 522 and Taylors Mills Road. The meeting is open. Committee members Mary Ann Musich and Eric Nelson will be sworn in and begin their new three-year terms. Five members of the governing body will elect the mayor and deputy mayor for 2023.
• The Historic Village Inn On January 15, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, there will be guided tours at the corner of Main and Water Streets in Englishtown. Visitors are invited to step back into the 18th century and the time of the Battle of Monmouth. Docents in period clothing bring the Revolutionary War era to life through stories and local excavations. The requested donation is $3 for adults. Children under 12 enter for free. There is a souvenir shop on the premises.
• Freehold Boro The K-8 School District Board of Education has announced the following change in meeting schedule: The meeting originally scheduled for January 2nd at 7:00 PM at the Park Avenue Complex, 280 Park Ave., has been canceled. The next regular meeting will be held on January 4 at 7 pm in Park Avenue. The meeting will be held face-to-face and remotely. On the day of the meeting, go to www.freeholdboro.k12.nj.us for instructions on how to call and attend the meeting. Actions will be taken during the meeting.
• Monmouth County The Park System will sponsor a Wonderful Winter Walk Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. at Manasquan Reservoir, Howell, meet in the Environmental Conservation Center parking lot. Join park system naturalists to explore the park in winter. Open to all ages; under 18 with an adult. Sturdy shoes are recommended, paths may have slopes or tree roots to step over. Free of charge. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County The Park System will present Cutting, Falling and Felling on Jan. 8 from noon to 2:30 p.m. at the historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel. Warm up with a two-man saw and splitting wedge, and learn how farmers used a fro to split shingles or a broad ax to cut beams. Open to adults. Free of charge. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County The Park System will present Casual Birder on Jan. 17 at 9 a.m. at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell. Join a park system naturalist for a morning bird walk. Free of charge. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County The Park System will present the Nature Lecture Series: All About Brook Trout – New Jersey’s State Fish at the Freno Woods Park Visitor Center in Aberdeen on January 20th from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A park system naturalist will talk about the history and ecology of the brook trout and the challenges it faces. Free of charge. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County The Park System will present National Seed Share Day on Jan. 28 from 10-11 a.m. at the Freno Woods Park Visitor Center, Aberdeen Township. Bring seeds (at least five) in an envelope with the name of the plant, year of collection and place of purchase or collection. No invasive species. Seeds can be delivered in advance to Huber Woods Environmental Center, Middletown. Free of charge. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey invites New Jersey high school students to create original music with substance abuse prevention messages as part of the Your Song! 2023! Your voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey Music Competition. The contest is open to any type of music and any style. Applications are accepted until March 5. Students who want to share their musical talent can submit original music with substance abuse prevention lyrics. The songs of the finalists will be performed at a virtual preventive concert on April 26. For contest rules, contact Diane Higgins at 973-275-7985 or diane@drugfreenj.org.
• Glee Club from the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., will speak March 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Freehold, 118 W. Main St., Freehold Borough. This will be the Glee Club’s third performance at the church. Admission to the concert is free. Early arrival is recommended. The church has 500 seats.
• Blood Services of New Jersey, The New York Blood Center will hold the following blood drives open to the public: December 30, Freehold Raceway Mall, Route 9, Freehold Township, 12:30-6:30 p.m. To donate blood or for information on how to arrange a blood drive, call toll-free at 1-800-933-2566 or visit www.nybloodcenter.org
• Blood Services of New Jersey, branch of the New York Blood Center conducts blood drives open to the public. The following blood drives are scheduled: Jan. 5, Temple Shaari Emmett, 400 Craig Road, Manalapan, 3:30-8 p.m.; Jan. 31, Freehold Raceway Mall, 3710 Route 9, Freehold Township, 12:30-6:30 p.m. To donate blood or for information on how to arrange a blood drive, call 1-800-933-2566 or visit www .nybloodcenter .org
• Dove Hospice Services New Jersey is looking for volunteers who want to make a difference for people facing end-of-life issues. Volunteers dedicate a small amount of time each month to provide friendly visits; play cards; sewing, knitting or craft projects; musical enrichment; pet therapy; and office or administrative assistance. Dove Hospice Services is also seeking veterans who are interested in providing compassion, support and outreach to fellow veterans and their families. You can visit people who live in private houses. Ongoing training is provided. Volunteers must be over 18 years of age and have the COVID vaccine. Details: Michelle Rutgliano, 732-405-3035.
• Women of color discussion group is an online meeting held once a month (third Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.) to discuss issues, coping strategies, and resources relevant to women of color. Offered by the New Jersey Mental Health Association. Email kreynolds@mhanj.org for a link.
• “Women’s meeting People of Color is an online group that meets once a month for all LGBTQ women of color in the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color community. A group is an open discussion on several topics. The group meets on the first Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m. Offered by the New Jersey Mental Health Association, the agency’s PEWS program, and the Emotional Support Initiative for Families of Color. Email kreynolds@mhanj.org for a link
• Samaritan Center. operates a food pantry to provide additional food to those in need in Manalopan, Marlborough, Morganville, Englishtown and Millstone. For information, call 732-446-1142 and make an appointment. To support the activities of the center, donations in the form of funds and food are accepted.
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