Datebook

• Practice speaking English and connect with people in the community. An English conversation group will meet every Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Plumsted library, Evergreen Road, Plumsted. All are welcome. The group is informal and will be led by trained volunteers. No registration is required. Details: 609-758- 7888.

• Cub Scouts Special Needs Pack 178 will meet on the first and third Monday of each month from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Jackson AMVETS, 1290 Toms River Road, Jackson. The group is open to children between the ages of 7 and 10. Details: 732- 833-0268 or send an e-mail to rogerdownin@gmail.com.

• Georgian Court University, 900 Lakewood Ave., Lakewood, will celebrate its centennial year with Centennial Film Classics, a Monday night film series featuring movies from each of the eight decades that the university has resided in Lakewood. The following films will be shown at 6:30 p.m. in the Little Theatre on Georgian Court's Lakewood campus: "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1930s), Oct. 20; "Citizen Kane" (1940s), Nov. 17; and "An American in Paris" (1950s), Dec. 1. Admission is free, but reservations are required due to limited space. Details: 732.987.2263.

• Dan Schafer will present a lecture on Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. on "Managing Stress In An Out of Control World." The lecture is being sponsored by the Jackson Clergy Association as a service to the community. The lecture and discussion will be held at Bella Terra, 2 Kathleen Drive, off County Line Road, Jackson. Schafer is the founder and president of Crisis Intervention International LLC and a fellow and board certified with America Experts in Traumatic Stress and is a member of the National Center for Crisis Management. He is a member of the Jackson Clergy Association. Details: 732-728-1352.

• The Ocean County Coin Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 (coin auction) at the Ocean firehouse at Arnold and St. Louis avenues, Point Pleasant Beach. Education and coin auctions take place at the meetings. There is no charge for admission and all are welcome. A free coin auction program takes place for juniors at 6:45 p.m. before each meeting. Details: 732-255-6911.

• "Jews and American Politics" will be discussed by Professor Fred Lazin at 8 p.m. Sept. 20 at Temple Beth Am Shalom, 400 Carey St. at Route 9, Lakewood. All are welcome. Details and R.S.V.P.: 732- 363-2800.

• The Lakewood Lions Club and the Society for Creative Anachronism will host the 27th annual charity Renaissance Faire on Sept. 20 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sept 21 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) in Pine Park, Country Club Drive and County Line Road, Lakewood. The event will feature knights in shining armor, belly dancers, gypsies, wandering minstrels, jugglers, fire eaters, children's games, food, a children's costume contest, and more. Admission: $10 for adults, $1 for children ages 6-12, and free under age 6. Details: 732- 905-1065 or www.lakewoodrenfair.com.

• The Filipino heritage will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson. There will be singing, dancing and food, Filipino style. The performers of the Filipino- American Artists Society Chorale and Dance Troupe will share their heritage through native dances, songs and musical instruments. Filipino treats will be served. Registration is requested by calling 732-928-4400.

• Christian Music Saturdays will be held the third Saturday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Jackson United Methodist Church, 68 Bennetts Mills Road, Jackson. Ken Perry will perform Sept. 20, Dave Pettigrew Oct. 18 (same day as Pumpkin Patch and crafter/vendor fair), Breaking the Bondage Blues Band, Nov. 15. Details: 732-833-8808 or www.jacksonumc.org.

• Plumsted Township residents can bring papers to be shredded by Guardian Document Destruction Company, Plumsted, at no cost from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 20 in the New Egypt Market Place Parking lot, 53 Main St. A maximum of 10 boxes per person will be allowed. The service is open to Plumsted residents (no businesses) with identification.

• Central Jersey Walk for Polycystic Kidneys Disease (PKD) will be held at the Jackson Premium Outlets, corner of Route 537 and Route 571, Jackson, at 9 a.m. Sept. 29. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. Details: www.premiumoutlets.com.

• The Plumsted library will present "In the Time of the Butterflies," rated PG- 13, at 7 p.m. Sept. 22. The movie is the story of three sisters who opposed the dictatorship of Gen. Rafael Leonidas Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. The movie stars Salma Hayek, Lumi Cavazos, Mia Maestro, Pilar Padilla, Edward James Olmos and Marc Anthony. Adults and teens are welcome. Register by calling 609-758-7888.

• The food pantry at the DeBows United Methodist Church will be open on Sept. 22 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The food pantry is open to all area residents. The church is at the intersection of Route 571 and Route 537, Jackson. For further information, call 732-928-4475.

• Dr. Michael Rushnak of Jackson, author of "Terminal Neglect," will conduct a book signing at Barnes and Noble, in the Lanes Mills Marketplace, 4831 Route 9, Howell, from 2-4 p.m. Sept. 27. The book discusses FDA-approved drugs that cause more harm than good.

• Jackson AMVETS (American Veterans) Ladies Auxiliary Post 2 will host an indoor/outdoor flea market and craft show from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 27 at the post home, 1290 Toms River Road (Route 571), Jackson. Vendors are needed. The cost for tables is $10 each. Details and reservations: 732-657-0894. A breakfast fundraiser that day will be sponsored by the Sons of AMVETS.

• Howell-Jackson Knights of Columbus Council, Bartley Road, Jackson, will hold its first charity Texas Hold 'em tournament at 6 p.m. Sept. 27. Cost is $100, and additional re-buys and add-ons will be available during the event. Proceeds benefit local organizations. Grand prize is round-trip airfare and a week's stay in Aruba for two. To sign up or to be a sponsor, visit www.kofc6201.com or call Mick Washington at 732-300-3166 or send e-mail to washmickey@aol.com.

• The Acoustic Musicians Guild will present its annual Harvest Harmony Festival from noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 27 at Silverton Organic Farm, Silverton Road, Toms River. The event will feature a day of acoustic music by Mary Lutton, Mike Conaghan, Tom Geary, Mike Baine & the Woodzmen, The Bog Iron Band, The Tm Daily Trio, Michele Grace, The Jersey Shore Harp Ensemble, Smoking Aces, and Warm Hearted Country. The Lakewood High School ROTC will be the food vendor. Other crafters will also be on hand. Fee: $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, free for ages 12 and under.

• Susan Mendelson of Jews for Jesus will speak at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, 124 East Pleasant Grove Road, Jackson, at 11 a.m. Sept. 28. Free program. Details: 732-691-6792.

• A motorcycle/car Poker Run and Cruise Day, sponsored by the Ocean County Foundation for Vocational Technical Education and Harley Davidson of Ocean County, will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 28. The 100-plus mile poker run will start at Naval Air Engineering Station, Lakehurst, at 7 p.m. and end at Harley Davidson of Ocean County, 300 Route 70, Lakewood. Donation to participate: $15. Riders will draw cards at each of the five stops around the county. A car and motorcycle show will be held at the end of the run, with entertainment, vendors and activities. Details: 732-367-7000 or 732-240-6414, ext. 3339.

• Bartley Healthcare, North County Line Road and Bartley Road, Jackson, will host its eighth annual Family Fun Day for families in the community from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 4 (rain date Oct 5).Guests are asked to bring a bag of nonperishable food items or to make a monetary donation to benefit the Jackson Food Pantry. Children will receive a free T-shirt with the donation of a bag of food. Bartley will, once again, match the donations to the food pantry to double the final amount.

• The Howell Historical Society will hold its "Heat the Old Ardena School" yard sale from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Mackenzie Museum, 427 Farmingdale Lakewood Road, Howell. Home baked goods, canned fruits and vegetables will be available. Donations may be left on the side porch. Vendors may reserve tables for $10. Details: 732-462-8610. Rain date: Oct. 11.

• A craft and vendor fair will be held at Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Station 55, 113 N. New Prospect Road, Jackson, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 5. Craft/vendor spaces are currently available. Details: 732-370-2180 or e-mail cmbrandy@hotmail.com. Proceeds will benefit Station 55.

• Tip a Fireman Night will be held from 5-9 p.m. Oct. 7 at Applebee's, 4721 Route 9 North, Howell. At that time, the firemen of the Southard Fire Department will be delivering food to benefit their organization. Tips will help the firemen in their efforts to keep the community safe. Details: 732-685-3600.

• The Jackson Liberty High School Parent-Teacher-Student Network will host a psychic night fundraiser from 6-10 p.m. Oct. 17 at Jackson Liberty High School, 125 North Hope Chapel Road, Jackson. Early bird tickets are $22 and tickets at the door will be $25, which will include one psychic reading, coffee, tea and desserts. Entrance without psychic reading is $5 and includes dessert. There will be a number of other vendors and craft tables on hand. For ticket or vendor information, call 732-961-7522.

• Horror and dark fantasy short story writer Rita Oakes will present an overview of some of her favorite scary tales, talk about what it takes to write and get published and read a selection from one of her latest stories at the Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson. The program will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 14 and is free and open to teens in grades 9-12; adults are also welcome. There will be free door prizes. Register by calling the Jackson library at 732-928-4400.

• The Jackson Mills Volunteer Fire Company Station No. 54 of Jackson will hold its first "Halfway to Saint Patrick's Day" golf outing on Oct. 15 at the Cream Ridge Golf Club, Cream Ridge. Registration and continental breakfast begins at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Registration fee of $125 includes golf, golf cart, gift bag, contest prizes, continental breakfast and lunch afterward at the fire company. Details: Mike Corrigan, 732-522-0877, or Barry MacNeil, 732-928- 8649.

• The Howell Township Cultural Arts Council presents free Sunday concerts at 3 p.m. at the Howell Library. Oct. 19 features "Nicole & Denise" (Top 40 of the past 50 years) and Nov. 16, Maggie Worsdale-The Great American Songbook. Free refreshments follow the concert. On Dec. 7 a Festival of Chiors concert will take place at the First United Methodist Church of Farmingdale starting at 3 p.m. Free holiday dinner served after the concert. Details: 732-938-4500, ext. 2501

• Bat Shalom Hadassah of Jackson- Howell will hold a mah-jong and card party from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 29 at Fred and Murray's, Route 9 North, (Pond Road shopping center), Freehold Township. The $20 charge includes lunch, beverage and dessert. Details: 732-987-6448 or 732-833- 7970. The group will hold its monthly general meeting and presentation at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16 in the community room of Westlake Mews, South Cooks Bridge Road, Jackson. The Odessa Klezmer Band led by Ed Goldberg will perform. Details: (732) 833-7372.