Datebook

• Elly’s Bags will be the featured item in a benefit sale sponsored by Freehold Borough and Freehold Township Auxiliary for CentraState Medical Center, Dec. 5 beginning at 8 a.m. at CentraState’s Greenhouse Café, West Main Street (Route 537), Freehold Township. Proceeds will benefit the medical center.

• Holiday gift, craft and bake sale, sponsored by Pine Brook School PTA, Dec. 5, 6-9 p.m. at the school, Pease Road, Manalapan. Also, children’s activities, door prizes. Free admission; open to the public.

• A blood drive will be hosted by the Knights of Columbus Freehold Council 1672 Dec. 6, 8:30 am. to 1 p.m. at the council hall, 70 E. Main St., Freehold. Details and appointments: (732) 462-5866.

• Holiday bazaar and craft show — hand-crafted items, stained glass, ornaments, decorations, housewares, all-natural beauty products, candles, doll clothes, holiday aprons, table linens, baked goods, white elephant sale — Dec. 6, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 31 Throckmorton St., Freehold. Coincides with Freehold Holiday House Tour. Details: (732) 431-8383.

• Craft show and open air market Dec. 6, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Laura Donovan School, 237 Stonehurst Blvd., Freehold Township. Refreshments, raffle. Details: (732) 303-7949.

• Free rabies clinic, for cats and dogs, sponsored by Monmouth County Health Department, Dec. 6, 9 a.m. to noon at Howell Public Works building, Old Tavern Road, Howell. Open to all New Jersey residents. Details: (732) 431-7456.

• Holiday Market Madness — name-brand vendors, specialty crafters, homemade baked items, candy, children’s gift boutique, photographer to take family portraits, more — Dec. 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Southard Elementary School, 115 Kent Road (near Wal-Mart), Howell.

• Visit with Santa Dec. 6 from 1-3 p.m. at Woodward Realty Group, 31 Schanck Road, Freehold Township. Children are invited to have their photo taken with Santa, compliments of Barbara and Arthur Reiman and Woodward Realty Group. Admission: nonperishable food donation for food pantry. Details: (732) 462-490.

• Brain Tumor Support Group, Monmouth and Ocean County chapter, will meet Dec. 6 from 3-4:45 p.m. at Wall Township Branch of Monmouth County Library, 2700 Allaire Road. Light refreshments. Open to patients, survivors, and family members of those affected by brain tumors. Details: Ilene and David Lewis (732) 615-9220.

• Auction, fine art — original oils, serigraphs, watercolors, animation cels, etchings and lithographs, all custom framed — Dec. 6 (display at 7 p.m., auction 8 p.m.) at Temple Rodeph Torah, Mohawk Drive, Marlboro. Admission: $10 at the door, $8 in advance. Refreshments, door prizes. Reservations and details: (732) 308-0055.

• Victory Christian Singles Christmas party, Dec. 13, 7:30-11:30 p.m. (RSVP by Dec. 7) at St. Clement’s Banquet Center, Main Street, Matawan. The fee is $30 per person. Details: Bob or Toni LaForge (732) 409-3225.

• Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Service sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars Freehold Post 4374 Dec. 7, 7:30 a.m. at the post, 50 Waterworks Road, Freehold. Complimentary light breakfast will follow. All are invited. Details: (732) 462-4896 or e-mail manginim@monmouth.com.

• Breakfast With Santa — all-you-can-eat pancakes — Dec. 7, 8 a.m. to noon at Robertsville Firehouse, Route 520, Marlboro. Admission: $5 adults, $3 children; $3 photo with Santa.

• Hanukkah party — Judaica vendors, books, jewelry, gift items, bar/bat mitzvah invitations, bake sale children’s activities — Dec. 7, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Temple Rodeph Torah, Mohawk Drive, Marlboro. Free admission. Details: (732) 308-0055.

• Molly Pitcher Stitchers Quilt Guild will meet Dec. 8, 7 p.m. at Old Tennent Church, Tennent section of Manalapan. New members are always welcome. Details: (732) 446-1144.

• Central Jersey Transplant Lifeline Support Group, for anyone who has had a transplant or is awaiting a transplant, will meet Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. at Little Silver Firehouse, Prospect Avenue and Markham Place, Little Silver. There will be a guest speaker. Details: Jill (732) 530-6789.

• Transitions, a self-help group for those recently divorced, going through a divorce, or considering a divorce, Dec. 9, 16, 23 and 30, from 7:30-8:45 p.m. at Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Symmes Drive, Manalapan. No fees. Details: David, (732) 888-4440.

• Marlboro K-8 Board of Education workshop meeting, Dec. 9, 8 p.m., and regular meeting Dec. 16 at 8 p.m., both at 1980 Township Drive, Marlboro. Meetings are open to the public. Details: (732) 972-2000.

• Holiday gift boutique and social presented by Monmouth County Audubon Society Dec. 10, 8 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, White Street, Red Bank. Also, nature photos from area camera clubs; Sandy Hook Bird Observatory items for sale; silent auction; games; door prizes. Open to the public, admission is free. Details: (732) USA-BIRD; www.monmouthaudubon.org.

• A blood drive will be held at Congregation Sons of Israel, Gordons Corner Road, Manalapan, Dec. 11, 5-8 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call (732) 446-3000.

• "Sending Your Child to College Without Going Broke," presented by Chuck Drawbaugh, Dec. 11, 7-8 p.m. at Marlboro Library, One Library Court, Marlboro. Free admission, but registration is requested: (732) 224-1496.

• La Leche League, Freehold Chapter, will meet Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 91 W. Main St., Freehold. All new and expectant mothers are invited. The topic will be "The Family and the Breast-fed Baby." New mothers may bring their babies. Details: Eileen, (732) 922-1917, Jeanne, (732) 462-3781, Bonnie, (732) 303-1785, or Beth, (732) 683-1596.

• Christmas Day of Recollection, sponsored by the Marian Center, Dec. 12, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. Eucharist at 10:30 a.m., lunch will be served. No fee, but registration required: (732) 363-0022.

• Open house Dec. 12, 8 p.m. at Congregation Sons of Israel, a traditional family synagogue, on Gordons Corner Road. Rabbi Robert Pilavin, board members, and faculty from the Hebrew and nursery schools will be on hand. Kiddush with desserts will follow 8 p.m. services. Details: (732) 446-3000.