Datebook

• A New Year’s Eve party hosted by Jackson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4703, 54 Magnolia Drive, Jackson, will take place Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. Cost is $25 per person. Details and tickets: (732) 928-0077 or e-mail Bechtel@optonline.net.

• The Central Jersey Italian Amer-ican Club, Christopher Columbus Boul-evard, Jackson, will host its annual New Year’s Eve party on Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. Cost is $50 per person. Details: (732) 928-5094, (732) 370-3921, or (732) 370-9820.

• Ballroom dancing for adult couples will run every Friday from 7-8 p.m. Jan. 13 through Feb. 17 at the Howell recreation building, 251 Preventorium Road. The fee for the six-week program is $50. Registration will begin Jan. 2. Details: (732) 938-4500, ext. 2501.

• The Ocean County Coin Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the Point Pleasant Beach firehouse at Arnold and St. Louis avenues in Point Pleasant Beach on the following dates: Jan. 5 (education night), Jan. 19 (coin auction night), Feb. 2 (education night), Feb. 16 (coin auction night), March 2 (education night) and March 16 (coin auction night). Education and coin auctions will take place at the meetings. Free admission. A free coin auction for juniors takes place at 6:45 p.m. Details: (732) 255-6911 or e-mail major@ameri-com.com.

• Bethesda United Methodist Church, Route 524, Adelphia section of Howell, will have its monthly covered dish supper Jan. 7, weather permitting. All are welcome. Details: (732) 462-9865.

• A “Drop-in Story Time” for ages 3-6 will take place Jan. 7 and 21 at 2 p.m. at the Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive. Members of the Jackson Memorial High School Key Club will present the story time. Registration is not required. Details: (732) 928-4400.

• A blood drive will be held at CareOne at Jackson (formerly Jackson Health Care Center), 11 History Lane, Jan. 9 from 2-8 p.m. Call (732) 367-6600, ext. 112 for details and registration.

• A games and chess night for families will take place Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive. Snacks will be provided. Attendees should bring their own games. For players in grade 4 through adult. Register at the children’s desk. Details: (732) 928-4400., ext. 6.

• An Origami interest group for those in grade 5 through adult will take place at the Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. Details: (732) 928-4400.

• The Lakewood Piners Toastmas-ters help people improve their listening, thinking and speaking skills. The next meetings of the club will be Jan. 10 and 24, Feb. 14 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lakewood municipal building, 231 Third Street. Visitors are welcome. Details: (732) 255-3312.

• “German Story Time,” a program of traditional stories, songs, crafts and dances in English and German, will be held at the Howell library, 318 Old Tavern Road, Jan. 10, 17, 24, and 31 from 4-4:45 p.m. For children in grades K-4. Details: (732) 938-2300.

• Seeing eye puppies will be at the Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. All ages are welcome to learn how the puppies are trained. Details: (732) 938-2300.

• A Parents Night Out, hosted by Howell’s Special Education Parent Advis-ory Council (SEPAC) will take place Jan. 27 from 7:30 p.m. to midnight at Woodlake Country Club, 25 New Hampshire Ave., Lakewood. Cost is $25 per person. Dead-line to register is Jan. 17. Details: (732) 901-1440.

• A writers group for all writers (published or not) who would like to share their work will meet at the Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. Details: (732) 928-4400 or e-mail www.jacksonwritersgroup.com.

• “Domestic Violence and Children,” a discussion of issues related to domestic violence and children, will be held at the Howell library, 318 Old Tavern Road at 7 p.m. Jan. 18. The free program will be presented by Ralph Hoffman of the Howell Community Alliance. Details: (732) 938-2300.

• Free bone density screenings will be offered by the Autoimmune Informa-tion Network, Jan. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon at American Legion Post 348, 822 Manto-loking Road, Brick, for all women at risk. Details: (732) 262-0450.

• “Bridget Jones Diary,” a book by Helen Fielding, will be discussed at the Howell library, 318 Old Tavern Road, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. Details: (732) 938-2300.

• A Bereavement Support Group meets Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Kimball Medical Center’s Center for Healthy Living, 198 Prospect St., Lake-wood. Call (732) 730-9112 for details and registration.

• The Howell Community Alliance for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse is seeking members. Details: (732) 938-4500, ext. 4012.