• 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.
• Monmouth County The Park System will host Under the Winter Stars on December 1st from 7pm to 8pm at Sunnyside Equestrian Centre, Lincroft. Meet at the Sunnyside Road parking lot. Look for key objects and constellations in the night sky with a park system naturalist. Bring a camping chair and a flashlight. The program may be canceled due to cloudy skies or bad weather. Open to all ages; under 18 with an adult. Free of charge. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County Thompson Park Creative Arts Center, Lincroft, Park System will host the Creative Arts Center Show and Sale on Dec. 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Dec. 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Celebrate original artwork by the center’s students and faculty during this exhibition and sale. Admission and parking are free. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County The park system will host 19th Century Christmas Carols on Dec. 3 and Dec. 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Historic Longstreet Farm, Longstreet Road, Holmdel. Enjoy 19th century Christmas ballads played on the piano. Free of charge. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County The Park System will host a Casual Birder on Dec. 20 at 9 a.m
at Thompson Park, Lincroft, meeting at Lake Marlowe. Join a park system naturalist for a relaxing morning bird walk. Free of charge. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County On December 21, at 10am, the park’s Wonderful Winter Walks will be held at Big Brook Park, Marlborough, Big Brook Park, Marlborough. Join the park system naturalists and explore the park in winter. Sturdy shoes are recommended as the trails may have slopes or tree roots to step over. Open to all ages; under 18 with an adult. Free of charge. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County The park system will host the Sounds of Christmas on Dec. 11 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Historic Longstreet Farm, Longstreet Road, Holmdel. Celebrate the holidays while enjoying wistful music as Larry Moser and Mary Nagin play Christmas carols on dulcimer and fiddle. Free of charge. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Monmouth County The Park System is sponsoring a bus trip to see Radio City’s Christmas performance in New York City on December 9th. The bus departs from Thompson Park, Lincroft at 1pm and returns at approximately 10pm. The cost is $175 per person and includes orchestra seating, bus transportation and a park system leader. Pre-registration is mandatory. To register, visit www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or by calling 732-842-4000, ext. 1.
• Manalapan-English Town The Regional School District Board of Education will hold the following meetings open to the public: Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m., regular action meeting, Wemrock Brook School, 118 Millhurst Road, Manalapan; and Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m., regular action meeting, Wemrock Brook School, 118 Millhurst Road, Manalapan.
• Hallmark Channel is partnering with Anne Ellen Tree Farm, 114 Daum Road, Manalapan, to host Hallmark Channel-branded festivities and entertainment during the countdown to Christmas. Randomly selected attendees will receive a free Christmas tree courtesy of Hallmark Channel. Dates December 3-4 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m
• Monmouth County The Association of Retired Teachers will celebrate the holidays on Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. at the Molly Pitcher Inn, 88 Riverside Ave., Red Bank. Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable donations for the food bank. The association also collects unwrapped children’s toys, books or gift cards for Bridges At The Shore. For dinner reservations, contact sueshrott@gmail.com or call 732 995-7754. Reservations and a $30 check must be received by December 2nd. See the website or Facebook page for more information. New members are always welcome.
• 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 or for information on how to arrange a blood drive, call toll-free at 1-800-933-2566 or visit www.nybloodcenter.org
• The Holiday Made The Monmouth event will take place on December 10th from 11am to 4pm at the Robert J. Collins on the campus of Brookdale Community College, Route 520, Lincroft.
• 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. The next date of the meeting is December 20. 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 p.m. The next dates are December 1. Offered by the New Jersey Mental Health Association, the agency’s PEWS program, and the Emotional Support for Families of Color Initiative. 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.
Items for the Datebook can be sent to news@thenewstranscript.com. Please send items at least two weeks before the scheduled event.
