Datebook

• A fall scrapbooking event hosted by Boy Scout Troop 157 will take place from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 29 at Our Lady of Mercy Hall, Englishtown. The fee to attend is $35 per person. Light breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks will be served all day. Door prizes, gift auction, games and classes will be available. Proceeds will help the Scouts purchase equipment. Details: aalcast@ aol.com or 732-446-3743.

• "In Safe Hands," a training session designed to help parents prevent their children from accidents that occur in the home, on the playground, in cars, on bikes, etc., will be held from 1-3 p.m. Nov. 29 at CentraState's Star and Barry Tobias Health Awareness Center, 901 W. Main St., Freehold Township. Registration: 732-308- 0570.

• Comedy Night featuring the Legendary Wid and Friends from Philadelphia will be held Nov. 29 at 73 E. Main St., Freehold. Presented by the Women's Auxiliary of Freehold Elks 1454, proceeds will benefit Elks charities. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the 8 p.m. show. Tickets: $18; $20 at door. Details: 732-685-9493 or 732-431-3126.

• An Advent wreath-making family program will be held at the Colts Neck Reformed Church, 72 Route 537, Colts Neck, from 5-7 p.m. Nov. 30. Attendees will enjoy a pot-luck supper followed by a presentation by the Rev. Chris Vande Bunte on the history of Christmas tree decorations. Details: 732-462-4555.

• Movies on a Thursday Afternoon will be shown at the Marlboro library, Wyncrest Road, Marlboro, on Thursdays at 2 p.m. "The Bishop's Wife" will be shown Dec. 4; "Lemon Drop Kid" will be shown Dec. 11; and "We're No Angels" will be shown Dec. 18. Details: 732-536-9406.

• The Jewish Learning Center of Monmouth County, 138 Pine Brook Road, Manalapan, will offer a three-part series of lectures titled "The Making of a Mensch" at 7:45 p.m. Dec. 4, 11 and 18. Rabbi Jonathan Rietti will discuss manipulation, punishment and consequences, and how to respond to chutzpah. The program is free of charge. Details and registration: 732-792- 2276.

• A holiday boutique hosted by the Freehold Township Early Childhood Learning Center PTO will be held from 7-10 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Barkalow Middle School, Stillwells Corner Road, Freehold Township. Details: 917-660-7139 or 732-668-8887.

• Westminster Concert Bell Choir will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at the First Presbyterian Church, 118 W. Main St., Freehold. Tickets: $20. Details: 732-363- 6429 or www.fpcfreehold.org.

• Pictures with Santa sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Prince of Peace Council 5903 of Englishtown will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6-7 at Four Boys Ice Cream and Luncheonette, 3 Tennent Ave., Englishtown. Donations will be accepted and all proceeds will benefit the Knights of Columbus Children's Fund. Details: 732-446-6433.

• The YMCA of Western Monmouth County will hold a holiday shopping day on Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the gym at the YMCA, East Freehold Road, Freehold Township. Vendors are needed. All proceeds will benefit the YCares financial assistance program. Table space is $40. Limited to 75 vendors. Prepayment required. For info call Annie at 732-462-0464, ext. 132.

• A holiday gift fair will be held at Dance Attitudes, 6 Timber Lane, Marlboro, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7. More than 40 vendors will be on hand. Details: 732-780- 8997.

• A blood drive hosted by the Knights of Columbus will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Freehold Council 1672 Hall, 70 E. Main St., Freehold. Details and appointments: 732-239-6372.

• Christmas at Allaire, celebrating Old World holiday traditions, will be held at the Historic Village at Allaire State Park, Route 524 (Atlantic Avenue), Wall Township, Dec. 6-7 from noon to 3:30 p.m. The event, which will model a typical 19th century Christmas celebration, will feature programs with period music, village craftsmen demonstrating skills, horse and wagon rides (fee), an exhibit of Victorian Christmas traditions including silhouette cutting, and a working post office. Tickets: $6 per adult, $4 per child ages 5-14. Details and advance ticket purchase: 732-919-3500 or www.allairevillage. org.

• An indoor holiday craft fair arranged by Personal Touch Event Planning will be held at Freehold Raceway, Park Avenue, Freehold, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6. More than 30 crafters will be on hand with crafts, jewelry, books, gift baskets, handbags, quilts, doll clothes, Italian novelties and more. The event will also feature Breakfast with Santa from 9-11:30 a.m. ($9.95 for adults, $4.95 for children) and children's Tombola (Italian Bingo) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ($5 per person). Free admission. Parking fee: $2 (redeemable for free hot chocolate). Details: 732-536-4444.

• "Shanghai Ghetto," a film about the true story of thousands of European Jews who settled in Japanese-occupied Shanghai, after being shut out of many countries while trying to escape Nazi persecution in the 1930s, will make its local premiere at the Freehold Jewish Center, 59 Broad St., Freehold, at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 7. Refreshments will be served at 10 a.m. Cost: $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students. Details and reservations: 732-462-0254.

Items for the News Transcript Datebook may be sent via fax to 732-780-4192. Please send items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.