Datebook • The Italian American Association of Monmouth County will hold its October general meeting Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. at La Piazza Seafood and Grill, 350 Mounts Corner Drive, Freehold Township. Cost is $30 per person. Anyone 21 years of age and older is welcome to attend. A canned food drive will be conducted at the event. Details: (732) 984-8482. • A Halloween social will be held at the Howell municipal complex, 251 Preventorium Road, 5-7:30 p.m. Oct. 24. Attendees can bring their own carved pumpkins for a display. Details: (732) 938- 4500, ext. 2501. • SeniorsFirst - AARP Defensive Driving Class will be offered at the CentraState Medical Center Health Awareness Center, 901 W. Main St., Freehold Township, Oct. 25, 12:30-4:30 p.m. Fee: $10. Details and reservations: (732) 780-3013. • A Halloween dance party fundraiser hosted by the Freehold Elks Woman's Auxiliary will be held at the Freehold Elks Lodge No. 1454, 73 E. Main St., Freehold, Oct. 26 from 7 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $15 each and include a buffet dinner, DJ and prizes for best costumes in several categories. Details: (732) 431-8707 after 4 p.m. • A charity concert sponsored by the Order of the Sons of Italy, Frank Sinatra Lodge No. 2621 will feature Moreno Fruzzetti, an Italian American singer from Piza, Italy, Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Covered Bridge Clubhouse, 1 Amberly Way, Manalapan. Tickets: $15. Details and tickets: (732) 536-2318. • An Oktoberfest fundraising dinner will be held Oct. 26, 5-9 p.m., at the Olive Branch Lodge No. 16 of Free and Accepted Masons, 2 Dutch Lane Road, Freehold. Proceeds will benefit lodge operations and the Freehold Area Open Door. All are welcome. Tickets: $10 (adults) and $5 (children under 12) for roast boneless loin of pork dinner and more. Reservations are requested, but not required. Details: (908) 670-3535 (days). • A community luncheon will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Freehold, 118 W. Main St., Freehold, Oct. 26, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Donation: $6. Take-outs are available for parties of five or more. Details: (462) 9667. • Manalapan Monster Mania will take place Oct. 26 at the Manalapan Recreation Center basketball courts. The free event will feature a Mad Science Halloween show at 6 p.m. and a Halloween parade at 6:45 p.m. followed by a costume contest and crafts, games and photos with ghosts and goblins at Haunted Happenings beginning at 7 p.m. The Haunted Trail will open at 7 p.m. (trail is scary and might not be suitable for young children). The event is open to children ages 2-9. • A country western dance will be held Oct. 27 at the First Presbyterian Church of Freehold, 118 W. Main St. Doors will open at 7 p.m. with lessons at 8 p.m. and music and dancing until 11 p.m. Donation: $20 at the door. Details and ticket information: (732) 462-0234. • A free fall festival will be held at Faith Evangelical Free Church, 875 Route 33, Howell, Oct. 27, 2-5 p.m. The event will include booth games, snacks and music. Details and registration: (732) 431-4004. • A day of shopping will be held at the Joseph J. Catena School, 275 Burling ton Road, Freehold Township, Oct. 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 25 specialty vendors, raffles, food concession. • Holmdel-Colts Neck Jumble Sale will take place 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Holmdel Community Church, 40 Main St. (Route 520), Holmdel. Shop for treasures - old and new. Details: (732) 673-9219. • A blessing of the animals ceremony will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 200 Park Ave., Freehold, Oct. 28 at 3 p.m. (rain or shine). All are welcome to bring pets for a special blessing and a treat. Details: (732) 462-5122. • A Harvest Fest will be held at Southard Grange 218, 4860 Route 9 South, Howell, Oct. 27, 2-6 p.m. The event will include games for children; apple dunking; crafts; story telling; pumpkin painting; pumpkin carving and more. Bring a covered dish to share for the international pot luck dinner. Details: (732) 901-0388 • A blood drive will be held Oct. 28, 9 a.m. to noon, at Temple Shari Emeth, Craig Road, Manalapan. Donors must present identification with signature and should eat before donating. Details: (732) 842-5750. • A "Pre-Halloween College Admissions Fright Night" at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan, Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m. will address questions students have about the college admissions process. There is no charge to attend. Details: (732) 431-7220. • "Pregnancy and Childcare: An Effective Combination" will be presented by Dr. Peter Joffe at Babies R Us on Route 9, Manalapan, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Details and reservations: (732) 536-9191. • A Halloween party will be held Oct. 31, 5-8 p.m., at Fun-tastic Zone, 38 South St. (second floor), Freehold Borough. Music, games, dancing, pumpkin decorating, pizza, drinks, ice cream, prizes for costumes. Fee: $5 per person. • Safe candy trick or treating will be offered free to all children under 12, Oct. 31, 2-4 p.m. at the Freehold Township municipal building, corner of Schanck and Stillwells Corner roads. Details: www.twp.freehold.nj.us. • World War II films will be featured at the Marlboro library, Wyncrest Road, at 2 p.m. on the following dates: "Mrs. Miniver," Nov. 1, "So Proudly We Hail," Nov. 8, "Mr. Roberts," Nov. 15 and "Hellcats of the Navy," Nov. 29. There is no charge; free popcorn provided. Details: (732) 536-9406. • The Colts Neck Community Band will perform an evening of music Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Colts Neck High School, Route 537 and Five Points Road, Colts Neck. Admission is free. Details: www.colts-neck.net/band. • Flu shots will be administered to the public by the Visiting Nurses Association of America, Nov. 3 at Central Jersey Pools, 4235 Route 9 North, Freehold Township. Cost of flu shots is $25; pneumococcal vaccines are $40, payable by check or cash. Participants must be 18 years or older. First-come, first-served. Details: (732) 462-5005. • David M. Salkin, Freehold Township committeeman, local businessman and lifelong Freehold Township resident, will be at Barnes & Noble, Route 9, Freehold Township, on Nov. 4 from 2-4 p.m. to sign copies of his latest book, "Necessary Extremes," an espionage thriller about Iran. • "Steal" Bingo, hosted by the Freehold Elks Woman's Auxiliary, will be played Nov. 4 at the Freehold Elks Lodge No. 1454, 73 E. Main St., Freehold. Admission is $10 plus a wrapped gift valued at $10 and above. Doors open at 1 p.m. and Bingo begins at 2 p.m. Refreshments included. Details: (732) 446-3318. • Manalapan High School Class of 1977 will celebrate its 30th reunion Nov. 24. Details: (732) 431-0323 or www.manalapan7730th. myevent.com. • Walter J. Conley Elks Lodge No. 1379, 91 Throckmorton St., Freehold, and the Lee B. Gibson Temple No. 1014 will host a free community breakfast on the final Saturday of every month from 8 a.m. to noon. All are welcome to attend. Details: (732) 431-4808.