Datebook

• Asperger Syndrome Education Network (ASPEN) of Western Monmouth County will meet from 7-9 p.m. monthly at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan, on the following dates: Oct. 15 (general meeting); Nov. 19 (attorney Paul Prior will discuss legal rights in cases of bullying); Dec. 17 (general meeting); Jan. 21 (social skills fair with local camps and social skills groups); Feb. 18 (general meeting). ASPEN's annual fall conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Hilton Woodbridge, Iselin section of Woodbridge. Call 732-446- 7610, or e-mail ann0912@aol.com to verify that meetings have not been canceled.

• The Monmouth Women's Connection will host a Girls Night Out from 7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Excelsior Caterers, 355 Route 9, Manalapan. "Kitchen Short Cuts" will be presented by Pampered Chef sales director Angie Wolff. Jean Bisnett, a former special education teacher and a nurse who works with troubled children, will present "Coping? There's Hope for You." A portion of the proceeds will go to Stonecroft Ministries. Price: $25 per person. Details and reservations: 732-446-9503.

• The New Jersey Coalition for Vaccination Choice and New Jersey parents and professionals will hold a rally from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 16 outside Gov. Jon Corzine's office, 125 W. State St., Trenton. The group opposes new vaccine mandates that include an annual flu shot for children 5 years old and under attending daycare or preschool. Details: www.njvaccinationchoice.org.

• Film Noir Month will be presented at the Marlboro library, Wyncrest Road, Marlboro, on Thursdays at 2 p.m. "The Killer" will be shown Oct. 16, "Sunset Boulevard" will be shown Oct. 23, and "In a Lonely Place will be shown Oct. 30. Details: 732- 536-9406.

• A resource fair will be held for anyone who is caring for an individual with special needs, whether mental, emotional or physical. The event will be held from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Howell Middle School North cafetorium, 501 Squankum-Yellowbrook Road, Howell.

• The National Council of Jewish Women, an organization that supports the rights of women, families and children, will hold its monthly meeting at noon Oct. 16 at the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County in the Mount's Corner shopping center, corner of Route 537 and Wemrock Road, Freehold Township. Guest speaker Michael Berman, president of the Jewish Heritage Museum, will discuss plans and goals for the museum. Refreshments will be served. Details: www.ncjw.org.

• Embroiderers Guild of America - Monmouth Chapter, will meet at 10 a.m. Oct. 16 at St. Mary's Church, Route 34 and Phalanx Road, Colts Neck, for a lecture, "Creativity: Who Has It and How Can I Get Some," with Casey Bradford (EGA Certified Teacher). Anyone interested in stitching is invited to join in. Bring lunch and a project. Details: (908) 276-8724.

• "The Mighty Amazon and Its People" and sustainable development will be explored with Georgann Servino by the Freehold Area Branch of the American Association of University Women at its meeting, 7 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Barkalow Middle School, Stillwells Corner Road, Freehold Township. Guests are welcome. Details: 732-928-2478.

• The Manalapan Arts Council will present Bad Medicine, a Bon Jovi tribute band, in concert at Manalapan High School from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at Manalapan High School, Church Lane, Manalapan. Free admission. Details: 732-446-8303.

• A spaghetti dinner will be held at the Adelphia firehouse, 925 Route 524, Howell, from 4-8 p.m. Oct. 18. Admission: $9 for adults, free for children under age 5.

• A backyard composting program will be offered at 10 a.m. Oct. 18 at the Marlboro Recreation Community Center, Wyncrest Road, Marlboro. Monmouth County residents will learn how to reduce yard and household waste and improve soil. No charge. Call 732-431-7460 or visit www.visitmonmouth.com to register.

• A charity chili cook-off to benefit the Special Needs Children's Committee of the Freehold Elks Lodge will be held from 1-5 p.m. Oct. 18 at the lodge, 73 E. Main St., Freehold. Admission: $10, includes chili, and soda or draft beer. Those who wish to bring chili must preregister. Details: 732- 249-7836.

• The Jersey Shore Spooktacular, hosted by the Monmouth and Ocean County Girl Scouts, will allow the public to attend this typically Girl Scout only event from noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 18 at Camp Sacajawea in Howell. The event will feature haunted activities and hayrides, a Radio Disney dance party, the Balloon Guy, skits, sing-alongs, S'mores and other family activities. Details and tickets: 800-785-2090, ext. 156.

• A free outdoor concert, "Simcha in the Sukkah," will be held Oct., 19 at the Freehold Jewish Center, 59 Broad Street, Freehold, in honor of the holiday of Sukkot. The Simcha Now Band, led by Freehold Jewish Center's cantor, David Amar, will play Israeli and Jewish music. A barbeque lunch will be available for purchase beginning at noon. Concert will begin at1 p.m., rain or shine. Vendors may call 732-462-0254 to inquire about space.

• Howell Cultural Arts Committee will present the following free concerts at 3 p.m. on Sundays at the Howell library, 318 Old Tavern Road, Howell: Oct. 19, Nicole and Denise will perform songs from the top 40 of the past 50 years; Nov. 16, Maggie Worsdale will perform "The Great American Songbook." Free refreshments. A Festival of Choirs concert will take place at 3 p.m. Dec. 7 at the First United Methodist Church of Farmingdale. Free holiday dinner will be served after the concert. Details: 732-938-4500, ext. 2501.

• The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, 310 Mount's Corner Drive, at Wemrock Road and Route 537, Freehold Township, will present an encore of "The Exciting Story of Zimel Resnick and the Establishment of the State of Israel" at 2 p.m. Oct. 19. Resnick's family members will present the story of the Asbury Park resident who devoted his life to assisting the Jewish people and Israel. Details: 732-252-6990 or www.jhmomc.org.

• The Republican candidates who are running for seats on the Manalapan Township Committee, William Garcia and Ryan Green, will hold candidate forums in Manalapan on the following dates: Oct. 20 at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Symmes Drive, (7:30 p.m.) and Oct. 24 at the Covered Bridge adult community (9:30 a.m.). All Manalapan residents are invited to attend and submit questions.

• A Heartsaver first aid course will be given from 6-9:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at CentraState's Star and Barry Tobias Health Awareness Center, Freehold Township. Registration: 732-308-0570.

• A "Boating Basics" course will be offered by New Jersey Boating Safety Classes from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 21-22 at Brandywine assisted living facility, 49 LaSatta Avenue, Englishtown. The course meets the needs of boaters and personal watercraft (PWC) operators for a basic overview of boat and PWC operation. Fee: $65. Details: 201-291-5976.

• Social Jewish Singles will host a Meet and Mingle event at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Park Avenue Seafood Bistro, 618 Park Ave., Freehold. Admission: $10. Men and women age 55 and over are invited. Details: 732-521-8272.

• The Arc of Monmouth Business Advisory Council winners will be presented with awards at a breakfast from 8:30-10 a.m. Oct. 22 at Arc Resources Unlimited in the Freehold Raceway Mall, 3710 Route 9, Freehold Township, Suite 2101 (upper level, next to Sears). Details: 732-866-0435.

• The Noontime Optimist Club of Freehold will host a wine tasting dinner on Oct. 22 from 7-10 p.m. at the Metropolitan Café, 8 E. Main St., Freehold. The theme is "South of the Equator" which will feature a four-course dinner accompanied by wines from Australia, New Zealand and South America. Proceeds will be used to support youth activities and scholarships in the community. The fee is $65 per person. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Details: Carole Robinson, 732-431-3989.

• The Howell Women's Club will host a pasta dinner fundraiser to benefit the Howell First Aid Squad from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Howell first aid building, Kent Road, Howell. Cost: $7 adult; $3 (under age 12).

• A craft fair will be held at the Freehold Township Senior Center, 116 Jackson Mills Road, Freehold Township, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 25-26. Vendors may reserve tables at a cost of $25 for both days. Details: 732-294-2029.

• "A Holiday Fair …..because you care" will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 25 at PNC Bank, 32 Route 34, Colts Neck. The event will benefit the Ashley Lauren Foundation, which provides direct family assistance to children in New Jersey suffering from cancer. Details: 732-414-1625.

• A charity yard sale to benefit Camp Quality of New Jersey, a camp that provides support programs for children with cancer and their families, will be held at United Storage, 3464 Route 9, South, Freehold Township, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 25. All are invited to set up a table for $10 each. These funds will be donated to Camp Quality. Vendors are encouraged to donate a portion of their sale profits to the camp, but are not required to do so. Details: 732-761-8420.

• A Jersey Devil Hunt, conducted by Russell Juelg of the Pinelands Alliance, will take children on an imaginary hunt for the legendary clawed creature at 4 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Symmes Drive, Manalapan. Using scary stories and songs, Juelg will explore the folklore behind the Jersey Devil in this 45-minute program that is geared for families with children ages 7 and up. No registration is required. Details: 732-431-7226.

• A craft/holiday show fundraiser will be held at St. Robert's Parish House, Freehold, from 3-8 p.m. Nov. 1. Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit U.S. Army 1st Lt. Brian Brennan of Howell. Vendor fees will be donated to Brennan, a wounded soldier. The fee for a table is $25. Vendors are still being sought for this event. Details: 732- 598-5831.