Datebook

• "Communication: The Key to Understanding Behaviors" will be presented by Barbara DeAngelis, education and training coordinator of the Alzheimer's Association, at the Marlboro Alzheimer's support group, 6 p.m. Jan. 14, at Sunrise of Marlboro, 3A South Main St. (Route 79), Marlboro. The Marlboro support group normally meets on the second Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Details: 973-586-4300.

• The Embroiderer's Guild of America Monmouth Chapter will meet on Jan. 15 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, Route 34 and Phalanx Road, Colts Neck. Some members will participate in a workshop making Bottles of Hope, a beaded outreach project for cancer patients. Other members will work on various projects. Anyone interested in stitching is invited to join in. Details 732- 679-6739.

• A Knitting Is Fun for Everyone group meets at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan, at 7 p.m. Jan. 15 All ages and genders are welcome, but should bring their own needles. Donations of skeins of yarn and wool are gladly accepted. Details: 732-431- 7220.

• A silent auction will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 50 Main St., Englishtown, Jan. 17. Doors will open at 4 p.m. with bidding from 4-5 p.m. Free admission and refreshments. All are welcome.

• Open houses hosted by Neighbors Opposed to Privatization at Earle will be held for area residents who want their opinion to become part of the official public record comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement relating to housing for nonmilitary personnel at Naval Weapons Station Earle, Colts Neck. The first session will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 17 at Tinton Falls Borough Hall, 556 Tinton Ave., Tinton Falls. The second session will be held from 1-4 p.m. Jan. 17 at Trump National Golf Club, 1 Trump Blvd., Route 34, Colts Neck. Details and direction: 732-946- 3474 or 908-770-3673.

• Sunday breakfasts will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Freehold Elks Lodge No. 1454, 73 E. Main St., Freehold, Jan. 18 and Feb. 15. Meals are all-you-can-eat and cooked to order. Adults, $7; children 12 and under, $5. Details: 732-431-8707.

• Marlboro K-8 Board of Education meetings will be held at 8 p.m. at the administration building, 1980 Township Drive, Marlboro, on Jan. 20 (regular meeting), Jan. 27 (workshop meeting), Feb. 3 (workshop meeting), Feb. 10 (workshop meeting), Feb. 17 (regular meeting) and Feb. 24 (special meeting). Meetings are open to the public. Details: 732-972-2000, ext. 2008.

• The Incomparable Paul Newman: A Film Series will be presented at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan, on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. "Hud" will be shown on Jan. 20. "Harper" will be shown on Jan. 27. Details: 732-431-7220.

• 12th District Legislators Sen. Jennifer Beck, Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande will hold mobile office hours on Jan. 21 at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan, from 5:30- 8:30 p.m. Legislators and staff will be on hand to handle any local or state constituent issues and to listen to voter concerns. Details; 732-933-1591.

• The Samaritan Center open board meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 21 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 186 Gordons Corner Road, Manalapan. The public is welcome to attend the meeting. Details: 732-303-8125.

• The Art Society of Monmouth County will meet on Jan. 21 at the Monmouth Beach Cultural Center, 128 Ocean Ave. (Route 36), Monmouth Beach. Everyone interested in art is welcome. The meeting will run from 10:30 a.m. to noon. A social half-hour with refreshments is followed by a presentation by Shrewsbury artist Lisa Halpern, who will give a demonstration on woodblock printing. Details: 732-229-4527 Wednesday through Saturday or visit www.surfmen.com.

• ASPEN (Asperger Syndrome Education Network) Social Skills and Recreation Fair will be held at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan, from 7-9 p.m. Jan. 21. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about different programs in this area. Several local social skills and recreation programs will be represented. All the programs service children with Asperger's Syndrome, as well as other disabilities. All are welcome to attend the free event. The next ASPEN monthly general meeting after that will be from 7-9 p.m. Feb. 18 at the library. Details: 732 446-7610 or e-mail ann0912@aol.com.

• Temple Beth Shalom's Sisterhood Game Night will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 22 in the Temple Beth Shalom social hall, 108 Freehold-Englishtown Road (Route 522), Manalapan. Ladies are welcome to come in groups or as individuals to play games such as Mah Jongg, Canasta, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, Rummy Q, Parchesi, Pokeno, dominoes and more. Attendees are asked to bring their favorite game and a bridge table. Light refreshments will be served. Admission: $5 per person. Details: 732-446-1200.

• The Jewish Learning Center of Monmouth County will be offering a three-part parenting series titled "Raising Happy and Responsible Children" presented by Rabbi Jonathan Rietti. The series will take place on Jan. 22, 29, and Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. The topics to be discussed include: "Building Self Esteem," "Cultivating Responsibility" and "Instilling Happiness." Rietti has developed curriculum and practiced as an educational consultant to schools, parents, and children for more than 20 years. The program is free of charge. Details and registration: 732-792- 2276.

• Movies on a Thursday Afternoon will be shown at the Marlboro library, Wyncrest Road, Marlboro, on Thursdays at 2 p.m. "The Defiant Ones" will be shown Jan. 22 and "Some Like It Hot" will be shown Jan. 29. Details: 732-536-9406.

• A community luncheon will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Freehold, 118 W. Main Street, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 23. A donation of $7 will provide a choice of two - homemade soup, salad bar, sandwich - plus beverage and dessert. Take-outs are available for parties of five or more. Details: 732-462-9667.

• A Chinese New Year celebration will be conducted by the Huaxia Chinese School, Marlboro, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at Marlboro High School, Route 79, Marlboro. All are welcome to attend the Huaxia students' culture and tradition performance.

• "West of Hester Street" will be shown from 1-3 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, in the Mount's Corner shopping center, 310 Mounts Corner Drive, at the intersection of Wemrock Road and Route 537, Freehold Township. Tickets for the film are $5 for museum members and $7 for nonmembers. Details: 732-252-6990.

• The Knights of Columbus, 70 East Main St., Freehold, will host its monthly buffet breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Jan. 25. Donations: $7 per adult, $5 per child under age 12. Donations will support various charities. All are welcome. Details: 917 586-7349.

• The Goddard School of Marlboro, 50 Route 520, Marlboro, will hold its fourth annual birthday bash from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 26. The event will feature Yosi, a composer and performer of children's songs, and a school tour. Details: 732-617-8181.

• A reverse mortgage informational program will be presented at the Marlboro library, Wyncrest Road, Marlboro, at 11 a.m. Jan. 26. Free admission. Details: 732- 536-9406.

• The Ashley Lauren Foundation will host a "Dinner and a Show" fundraiser at 7 p.m. Jan. 30-31 at the Colts Neck Community Church, 25 Merchants Way, Colts Neck. The family oriented event will include a pasta dinner followed by a production of the off-Broadway musical "Godspell." Free childcare is available. All proceeds will benefit the Ashley Lauren Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting children in New Jersey who have cancer. The donation is $10. For tickets and reservations, call 732-414-1625.

• A magic show with snacks and prizes will take place from 12:30-2 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Jewish Community Center of Western Monmouth County, 100 Route 9 north, in the Galleria shopping center Manalapan. Tickets are $15 and advance registration is required. Details: 732-683-9300.

• A casino night will be held at the Marlboro Jewish Center, School Road West, Marlboro, at 7 p.m. Feb. 7. The event is hosted by the Solomon Schechter Day School, Marlboro, and will feature casinostyle gaming, hors d'oeuvres, prizes, a dessert buffet and open bar. Cost is $150 per couple or $80 per person in advance, and $180 and $100, respectively, at the door. Details: 732-431-5525.

• The ZPGABC Cat Benefit show of 2009 will be held Feb. 7 at the Freehold Armory, 635 Park Ave. (Route 33), Freehold. The show is licensed by the Cat Fanciers' Association, the largest registry of pedigreed cats in the world. More than 200 pedigree cats and household pets will be judged in six continuous rings from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission: $9 for adults; discounts apply. Visit www.catshowsnj.com for discount coupons and details.

• The 4-H Puppetry Club, a free club for children in grades one through three, will meet monthly at the Monmouth County 4-H office, 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold Township, Feb. 14, March 21, April 25, May 16 and June 13. Attendees will make puppets, create puppet characters and originate puppet skits. Details: 732-431-7266 or 732-462-8607.

• The Howell Optimist Club meets Wednesday mornings at the Golden Bell Diner, Route 9 South at Elton-Adelphia Road, Freehold Township. Meetings begin at 7 a.m. All are invited for a free breakfast and to learn more about the club and its organization. Details: e-mail Jkienzlen@ aol.com.

• Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, New Jersey Chapter, conducts mutual self-help groups at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. The groups offer emotional support, education, coping skills, caring and sharing, crisis intervention regarding inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (ileitis). Call 732-786-9960 to register.

• An Alzheimer's support group meets the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at Reflections at Colts Neck, 3 Meridian Circle, Colts Neck. Details and registration: 732-303-3100.

• Get Out and Live support group for panic attacks meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan. For details e-mail GOALNJ6@aol.com.

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.