• Monmouth County The Association of Retired Educators will hold a spring meeting on April 12 at Our House Restaurant, 420 Adelphia Road, Howell, at 11 p.m. There will be a vote for a new list of officers. Invited speaker Meredith Oppenheim will present Vitality, a new program available to participants. Participants are asked to bring non-perishable donations to the food bank. To book lunch, contact sueshrott@gmail.com or 732 995-7754. Reservations must be received by April 1. New entrants are always welcome.
• April 12 at 2 p.m. in collaboration with Ocean University College, Lehigh University will present “Dawn with Natasha Third”, a virtual reading and discussion with the award-winning poetess, who served two terms as the 19th U.S. Poet Laureate (2012-14). Her poems combine the personal and the historical, as she combines free verse and traditional forms to touch on themes of hope and resilience, racial justice and equality, the civil rights movement, the history of blacks and motherhood. To register for this free virtual event, which is open to all, visit go.ocean.edu/poetry
• Historic village The first festival “Days of Daffodils” will take place in Alentown from March 26 to April 3. The festival includes family activities among 3,000 daffodils.
The parade at noon on March 26 will kick off more than 30 events (many free) and special boutique promotions. Master gardeners will answer questions, and guests will meet with the heroine of the War of Independence Molly Pitcher. There will be an independent tour of the local scenic area. Guests can enjoy a homemade chocolate product and create craft projects on the theme of daffodils. Visit www.allentownvinj.org to get the full daily calendar of events. Daffodil Days are coming to Allentown thanks to the Allentown Village Initiative, which focuses on local history education and history conservation, natural resource protection, economic development, and the arts and culture.
• The Westlake Woman’s The club offers five $ 500 scholarships to Jackson residents. Scholarships are offered to qualified individuals who have been admitted to an educational or training program after high school and who meet any of the following criteria: are currently completing high school; currently working and planning to enroll in a program of professional development, career change or desire to further education; currently not working but wants to gain training or retraining skills; registered at a public school or vocational school for a continuing education program. Applications are available online at https://westlakeclubs.com/womens-club/womens-club-scholarship/. Applications are also available at the Jackson Library, the management offices of Jackson Liberty High School and the Jackson Memorial, the Ocean County Vo-Tech and the financial aid offices at Ocean County College and the University of Georgian Court. The deadline is May 7.
• March 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Howell Alliance on Drugs
Prevention and Mental Health organizes and partially sponsors training in certification of first aid in mental health in the municipal building of Howell. This training provides people with the tools to determine if a person can cope with a mental health problem or the use of psychoactive substances, and if necessary connect them to appropriate support and resources. Mental health care providers are studying a five-step action plan that guides them through the process of treatment and support. To register, visit Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mental-health-first-aid-certificate-training-in-person-tickets-261861584047. Participants must bring their own face mask as well as food and drink throughout the day if desired. Details: Christ Riddle, 732-938-4500, ext. 4012.
• New Jersey Blood Services, a division of the New York Blood Center, will conduct blood donations that are open to the public. The following drives are scheduled: March 17, Howell Donor Center, 4068 Route 9 South, Howell, 13: 30-20: 30; March 22, Howell Donor Center, 13.30-20.30; March 23, Howell Donor Center, 7.45am to 2.45pm; March 24, Howell Donor Center, 13.30-20.30; March 29, Howell Donor Center, 13.30-20.30; March 30, Howell Donor Center, 7.45am to 2.45pm; and March 31, Howell Donor Center, 13: 30-20: 30 To donate blood, call 1-800-933-2566 or visit www.nybloodcenter.org
• New Jersey Blood Services, a division of the New York Blood Center, will conduct blood donations that are open to the public. The following drives are scheduled: April 5, Howell Donor Center, 4068 Route 9 South, Howell, 13: 30-20: 30; April 6, Howell Donor Center, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m .; April 7, Howell Donor Center, 13.30-20.30; April 12, Howell Donor Center, 13.30-20.30; April 13, Howell Donor Center, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m .; April 14, Howell Donor Center, 13.30-20.30; April 19, Howell Donor Center, 13.30-20.30; April 20, Howell Donor Center, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m .; April 21, Howell Donor Center, 13.30-20.30; April 26, Howell Donor Center, 13.30-20.30; April 27, Howell Donor Center, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m .; April 28, Howell Donor Center, 13: 30-20: 30 To donate blood, call 1-800-933-2566 or visit www.nybloodcenter.org
• Monmouth County March 20 from noon to 2.30pm at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdale, Park System will host Starting Your Spring Garden. Find out which vegetables to start now that will bloom in the cool spring weather. With the help of gardeners, guests will make a newspaper pot and start a collection of seeds that can be transplanted into your garden at home. The cost is $ 5 per person; cash or check only. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Join the United Way Monmouth and Ocean counties and DowntownFreehold.com for the United for Impact Food Truck Festival from 12.00 to 18.00 on 24 April along West Main Street, Freehold. There will be food trucks, beer, live music, games and more in support of the United Way mission. Sponsorship opportunities and vendor tables are available. Register at uwmoc.org/food-truck-festival
• Free moose The Motorcycle Committee on April 30, despite rain or sun, will present on April 30 in memory of Chris Malvon and other killed and seriously wounded veterans of the Army of Hope Poker Run 2022 New Jersey. Anyone can register from 9 am to 11 am at Freehold Elks Lodge No. 1454, 73 E. Main St., Freehold Borough. Poker Run begins and ends in the lodge. The cost is $ 20 per driver and $ 15 per passenger, and it includes poker, a party at 1 p.m., food, drinks and a DJ. Admission to the party is only $ 15. Details: Christine Reese, 347-739-6254, or Joe Pindilli, 908-635-4788.
• Master Rutgers Gardeners will hold a sale of plants on the day of spring May 13-14 at the Monmouth County Cooperative Extension, New Jersey Agricultural Experimental Station, through Rutgers University, 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold. Beautiful plants and free gardening talks from Rutgers Master Gardeners will be available both days.
Details: visit https://monmouth.njaes.rutgers.edu/master-gardeners/
• Monmouth County officials planned paper shredding activities so residents could safely dispose of old documents and sensitive files. The shredding event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 18 at Howell Memorial / Adelphia School, 485 Adelphia Road (Route 524). County residents can grind up to 100 pounds. Large binder clamps must be removed from the documents; staples and paper clips may remain. Details: See the recycling section on the county website www.visitmonmouth.com or by calling 732-683-8686, ext. 8967.
• Monmouth County The library offers six classes available at any time and without prior registration for virtual yoga, highlighting breathing, movement, stretching and other activities. Each program is offered at https: // ly / MonCoLibraryYoga. The program is offered by Stephen Russell of Becoming Sound. Those interested can choose their own path with movements from the six most popular series of library video classes. Yoga Breathing Sessions; Yoga Stretching; Yoga movement; Yoga Stretching with support; Yoga at home on the floor; and yoga at home standing. Individuals should consult a physician before beginning any exercise program.
• Jackson City Artists Sue Kolb and Robert Jenkin have returned to the Jackson branch of the Ocean County Library to host an exhibition that will run until March. The exhibition is free and open to visitors. Details: 732-928-4400 or visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events
• New Jersey Blood Service, the New York Blood Center unit is looking for volunteers to help donors at regional blood donations. No medical education required. Volunteers should volunteer to provide friendly customer service, be able to perform tasks as needed and should present evidence of vaccination against COVID before volunteering. There must be transport. All training is underway, including safety precautions for staff and blood donors. For more information, call or email Sharon Zates at 732-850-8906, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To apply online as a blood donation volunteer, go to https://www.nybc.org/support-us/ volunteer-nybc / volunteer-application /
• For individuals who You deal with depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety, there is free, confidential support under the guidance of a trained facilitator. The Alliance for the Support of Depression and Bipolarity meets Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Brighter Days Public Wellness Center, 268 Bennetts Mills Road, Jackson. There are no doctors or therapists in the group, only people with mental illness. Participants seek to support each other and share their stories. Details: Valeria, 610-766-0658, or visit dbsalliance.org
• Online support and a discussion group for women in the workplace offered by the New Jersey Mental Health Association, which has a branch in Ocean County. The focus is on women who have experienced emotional, physical or sexual intimidation or violence at work. Life in Waves meets online twice a month via Zoom. Through the group, members share resources and strategies to improve their mental health. Life in the waves occurs on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 7 p.m. To get the link, call 609-652-3800 or email lifeinwaves@mhanj.org
• CentraState Medical The center has launched a new online grief support group led by licensed clinical social workers certified in mountain counseling to help survivors of the loss of a loved one. The group is open to adult community members who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Private groups provide a safe space without condemnation for participants to share their emotions and struggles. The band meets through Zoom on the first and third Thursday of each month at 3 p.m.
Items for the Notebook can be sent to news@thetritownnews.com. Please send items at least two weeks before the scheduled event.
