Datebook

• Registration for Tai Chi classes for adults is currently being accepted at the Howell Recreation Building, 251 Preventorium Road. The program will be held Jan. 6 through Feb. 5 from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for intermediate students and from 7-8 p.m. for advanced students. Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art, incorporates gentle movements, meditation and breathing to improve health and well being. Fee: $50. Details: 732-938- 4500, ext 2501.

• Registration for Howell's boys indoor lacrosse league will be accepted by the Howell Recreation Department through Jan. 9 at the Howell recreation office, 251 Preventorium Road, Howell. The program will be held at the Howell High School gym on Saturdays from Jan. 24 through March 21. The times will be from 1:30-2:30 p.m. for boys in grades three through five, and 2:30- 3:30 p.m. for boys in grades six through eight. The fee is $25 for Howell residents. Forms can be picked up at the recreation building or downloaded from the Web site www.twp.howell.nj.us. Details: 732-938- 4500, ext 2501.

• Registration for Howell's boys outdoor lacrosse league, headed by Bob Brown, will be accepted by the Howell Recreation Department through Jan. 16 at the Howell recreation office, 251 Preventorium Road, Howell. The program will be held from April through June and is open to boys currently attending grades three through eight. The fee is $65 for Howell residents and $75 for nonresidents. All players must provide their own equipment. Volunteers are needed. Details: 732-938-4500, ext 2501.

• Congregation Kol Am, Freehold area, will conduct a fundraising event all day at Barnes and Noble, Route 9 North, Howell. A portion of the proceeds from purchases made Dec. 4 will be donated to the Kol Am religious school when a voucher is presented. In addition, a book reading and discussion will be conducted by Rabbi Brooks R. Susman at 7 p.m. Free gift wrapping will be available from 4-10 p.m. Details: 732- 792-8000.

• New Egypt Recreation Baseball will hold spring registration from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 4, 11 and 18, at New Egypt High School, Evergreen Road, Plumsted. The early bird cost for those who register before Dec. 20 is $110 per individual, $175 per family and $85 for T-Ball. The cost after Dec . 20 is $120 per individual, $185 per family and $95 for T-Ball. Checks will be accepted with a post date up to and including Jan. 31. Details: www.newegyptbaseball.com

• A rummage sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 5-6 at the First Baptist Church of Lakewood, First Street and Clifton Avenue, Lakewood. Details: 732- 363-0885.

• Drop in and games for children in grades nine through 12 will be held at the Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson, at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 5. Open video gaming with the library's Nintendo Wii and Playstation 2. Attendees may play Guitar Hero, Wii sports and more. Light refreshments will be provided. Details: 732- 928-4400.

• 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 visit the Web site at www.allairevillage.org.

• Jackson's Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be held at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Jackson municipal building, 95 West Veterans Highway. The event will feature entertainment, Santa and refreshments. Residents may bring unwrapped gifts for collection. Details: 732-928-1200, ext. 255.

• Toyland will be held at the Jackson Senior Center, 45 Don Connor Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6-7. The free event features a life-sized village and real-life figures in full costume. Enjoy the crafts, Grandma's Kitchen and carols. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand for pictures. Details: 732-928-2313.

• A winter wonderland holiday craft and vendor show will be held at Elms Elementary School, 780 Patterson Road, Jackson, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 6. Vendor spaces are available at a cost of $20 each. Details: 732-928-7544.

• Plumsted's annual tree lighting ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 at Oakford Lake, New Egypt. The event will feature Santa and Mrs. Claus atop a fire engine. The lighting ceremony will take place rain or shine. All are welcome to attend and bring decorations to hang on the tree.

• St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Daughters of America Court No. 310 will hold its annual flea market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6 in Monsignor Everitt Hall at Holy Family School, 1141 East County Line Road, Lakewood. Flea market will feature new and used merchandise. Free admission; free parking. Details: 732-363-0139.

• The Jackson Liberty High School Parent-Teacher-Student Network will host a book fair at Barnes and Noble, 4831 Route 9 North, Howell, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 6. All who present a voucher will have a portion of their purchase donated to the PTSN. Activities such as storytelling will be ongoing all day. Vouchers are available at the Jackson Liberty High School office, 125 North Hope Chapel Road, Jackson, or by e-mail at csmida@aol.com.

• A Polish heritage afternoon will be presented at 2 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Lakewood library, 301 Lexington Ave., Lakewood. Students from the Polish Supplementary School, Lakewood, will present the children's song and dance group "Maki," the theatre group "Gwiazdy," and the puppet theatre group "Biedronki." The three groups will provide traditional holiday entertainment for people of all ages. This program is free and open to the public. Details: (732) 363-1435, ext. 2511.

• Children ages 3-6 are invited to go to the Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson, with their families to participate in a free winter fun program with teens from the Jackson Liberty High School National Honor Society. The teen volunteers will share stories, crafts, activities and refreshments with young children, between 2:30- 4:30 p.m. Dec. 6. No registration is necessary. Details: 732-928-4400.

• A holiday extravaganza will be held at the Dr. Gerald H. Woehr Elementary School, 44 North Main St., New Egypt, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6 (snow date Dec. 7). Craft items will include holiday decorations, wood crafts, gift baskets, jewelry, unique gifts, sports cards and more.

• Lakewood will welcome Santa in a parade at 3 p.m. Dec. 7 along Clifton Avenue to Town Square (corner of Third Street and Clifton Avenue). After the parade there will be a tree- and menorah-lighting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Santa Claus will distribute gifts to the first 2,000 youngsters under the age of 12. Refreshments, holiday music and free hay rides.

• The Howell Cultural Arts Council will present a "Festival of Chiors" at 3 p.m. Dec. 7 at the First United Methodist Church of Farmingdale. A free holiday dinner will be served after the concert. Details: 732- 938-4500, ext. 2501.

• Breakfast with Santa will be offered from 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 7 at the Adephia firehouse, Route 524, Howell. Cost to attend is $5 for adults and $3 for children age 8 and under. Details: 732-577-1781.

• The Kiwanis Club of Jackson will host its annual Breakfast with Santa from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Whitesville firehouse, 81 South Hope Chapel Road, Jackson. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children. This includes a hot breakfast and photos with Santa for the children. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 732-300-8311 or e-mailing donna.corman@gmail.com, or they may be purchased at the door.

• A book fair sponsored by the Parents Association of Monmouth Academy, a K- 12 preparatory school in Howell, will be held Dec. 8 at Barnes and Noble, Lanes Mill Marketplace, Howell. Timothy Costello, the director of the school, will read "Olive, the Other Reindeer" at 6 p.m. Students will share their original poetry at 6:30 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. Santa will read "My Penguin Osbert" and "Snowmen at Christmas." A percentage of purchases made that evening will benefit Monmouth Academy. Details: 732-364-2812.

• The Lakewood Piners, a chapter of Toastmasters International, will present a free seminar at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson, on "The Three P's of Public Speaking: Planning, Preparation and Presentation." The facilitator will be Eileen Martin. This program is free and open to the public. Registration requested. Details: 732-928-4400.

• Howell's Christmas tree and menorah lighting ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Howell municipal building, 251 Preventorium Road, Howell. Enjoy hot cocoa and cookies, caroling, crafts, a petting zoo and Santa. Details: 732-938-4500.

• The Plumsted Council for the Arts will host an open house from 7:30-9 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Welcome Center, 31 Main St., New Egypt. Entries from the council's gingerbread decorating contest will be on display and local musicians will provide free music. All are welcome to attend.

• A vendor fair will be held at the Taunton School, 41 Taunton Drive, Howell, from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 11. Vendors include Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple, Avon, Lia Sophia jewelry, and more. Free admission. Poinsettia plants will for sale. Details: 732-961-0061.

• The Alzheimer's Association, Greater New Jersey Chapter will present "Holiday Stress and Caregiving," a free educational program for family caregivers, from 6:30- 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at Leisure Park, 1400 Route 70 East, Lakewood. No fee to attend. Details and registration: 973-586-4300.

• Underage drinking will be discussed by a guest speaker who lost her child due to alcohol poisoning. The event will be held at Howell High School, 405 Squankum-Yellowbrook Road, Howell, at 7 p.m. Dec. 11. Presented by Howell High School and the Howell Municipal Alliance. Details: 732- 938-4500, ext. 4012.

• Howell Middle School North SEPAC will host a Christmas shopping spree from 6:30-9 p.m. Dec. 12. Those interested in selling products and arts and crafts may call 732-984-1055 or send an e-mail to Lovelivingkw@ aol.com. Table spaces are $25, tables not included. Proceeds will benefit charity. Checks should be made out to SEPAC, 46 Grand Ave., Howell.

• Sing along with Jack Thatcher and Pati Loomis to songs of yesteryear from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s at 2 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson. Details: 732-928-4400.

• The Lakewood BlueClaws will hold the eighth annual "Breakfast with Buster" food and toy drive on Dec. 13 at FirstEnergy Park, Lakewood. Manhattan Bagel of Brick will provide free bagels and coffee to all patrons who drop off items between 9- 11 a.m. Buster and Santa Claus will be on hand to greet fans as they drop off food and toys. All collected items will go to the Salvation Army of Ocean County. The Blue- Claws ask that all toys be unwrapped and all food be nonperishable. Details: 732-901- 7000 or visit www.BlueClaws.com.