• Ocean County The Model Railroad Society, 500 Country Club Road, off County Line Road, Kuser Hall, Pine Park, Lakewood, invites the public to a Christmas Train Show at the Sheldon Walpin Historical Museum (in Pine Park) on December 10th and 11th from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Enjoy modern and traditional trains, passenger and freight, double track, HO, S, O. Thomas the Tank Engine will appear. Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted. Details: Contact Ted Bertiger, President, at captnkraft@aol.com
• Ocean County The Toms River Library Branch, 101 Washington Street, will host a live presentation of When Radio Entertained People (WREP) at 7:00 pm on December 7th. WREP consists of 10 actors who reprise the radio station’s Golden Age scripts of the 1940s and 1950s. The troupe was created in 2008. Before the performance, participants will enjoy a music and trivia contest featuring episodes of Our Miss Brooks, Life of Riley, and My Friend Irma. Registration is required for this free program at www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events.
• Jay and Linda Grunin Ocean County College Center for the Arts, Toms River,
will present the following shows and performances: Westminster Concert Bell Choir,
Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m., tickets: $20; OCC Band Concert: Children’s Celebration, Dec. 3, 7 p.m., Tickets: Adults $20, Seniors $18, Children $10; Vienna Boys’ Choir, Dec. 8, 7 p.m., tickets: $48 to $52; Broadway for the Holidays II, Dec. 9-10 and Dec. 16-17, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 10-11 and Dec. 17-18, 2 p.m., Tickets: Adults, $17, Seniors, $14; Ballet for young audiences: “The Nutcracker,” December 10, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., tickets: $15 for adults, $12 for children; and Judy Collins – Holidays and Hits, Dec. 11, 7 p.m., tickets: $47 to $57. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit grunincenter.org or call 732-255-0500.
• 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 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.
• 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: Dec. 1, Howell Donor Center, 4068 Route 9 South, Howell, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; Dec. 6, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; Dec. 7, Howell Donor Center, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; Dec. 8, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; Dec. 13, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; Dec. 14, Howell Donor Center, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; Dec. 15, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; Dec. 20, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; Dec. 21, Howell Donor Center, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; Dec. 22, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; Dec. 27, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; Dec. 28, Howell Donor Center, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; and Dec. 29, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 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
• “Swing jazz and A Chosen Holiday” will be presented by Deb Lyons and John Bianculli at 2:30 p.m. on December 1 at the Ocean County Jackson branch, 2 Jackson Drive. Enjoy favorites like “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Dream A Little Dream of Me” and “Cheek to Cheek.” Sponsored by the Jackson Friends of the Library, registration is required for this free program at www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events.
• Bat Shalom Hadassah announced that the annual Jackson Hanukkah Menorah Lighting Ceremony will be held outdoors at 4:40 pm on December 20th at the Jackson Municipal Building on Veterans Highway West. Rabbi Shmeul Naparstek will light the menorah. Everyone is invited to the festive event.
• 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
• For persons who dealing with depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety, there is free, confidential support provided by a trained facilitator. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance meets Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. at Brighter Days Community Wellness Center, 268 Bennetts Mills Road, Jackson. There are no doctors or therapists in the group, only people living with mental illness. Participants strive to support each other and share their stories. Details: Valerie, 610-766-0658 or visit dbsalliance.org
Items for the Datebook can be sent to news@thetritownnews.com. Please send the goods at least two weeks before the planned event.
