Datebook

• Independence Day will be celebrated in Lakewood on July 2 with a band concert and fireworks. The Lakewood municipal band and chorus will start the celebration with a concert at 8 p.m. at the amphitheater near Lake Carasaljo, which is near Route 9 south in Lakewood. A fireworks display will begin at 9 p.m. and can be viewed either from North or South Lake Drive.

• Members of the Donald J. Peacock American Legion Memorial Post 178, Farmingdale, which serves the Farmingdale and Howell area, are asking members of the community to support the men and women in the armed forces. They are hosting Operation Troops in Need, an ongoing project to gather and ship supplies needed to those serving overseas. Items can be dropped off at the Farmingdale Shop n Bag, 10 Bank St., on July 3-4. For a list of items needed, visit www.legionpost178farmingdale.com or email legionpost178@aol.com.

• The Jackson Tea Party will host a tea party rally from noon to 3 p.m. July 4 at John F. Johnson Jr. Memorial Park, Kierych Memorial Drive, Jackson. All citizens of New Jersey are invited to participate in a rally to protest what organizers say is outrageous spending that is taking place in Washington, D.C. Details: Send email to jacksonjuly4thteaparty@gmail.com.

• Used books will be collected by the Friends of the Plumsted Library for a sale to be held in November. Fiction, nonfiction, large print, children's books, videos, CDs, DVDs, audio books and jigsaw puzzles will be accepted. Books that are more than 4 years old or in poor condition, in addition to computer books, encyclopedias and magazines, will not be accepted. Books can be dropped off behind the library on Evergreen Road on July 4, Aug. 1, Sept. 5 and Oct. 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Do not leave items if no one is present. Details: 609-758-0009.

• The Jackson Municipal Alliance holds monthly meetings at the Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson, from 9-11 a.m. A meeting is scheduled for July 6. The alliance is an organization dedicated to providing anti-alcohol, anti-drug, anti-violence programs, while promoting positive, healthy decision making and fostering good citizenship for all the residents of Jackson and others who attend these programs. Details: 723-620-3958.

• The 2009 "Music in Motion" Drum Corps International competition will be held at 7:30 p.m. July 6 at Jackson Liberty High School, 125 North Hope Chapel Road, Jackson. The Drum and Bugle Corps competition will feature seven of the premiere marching groups from the East Coast. The corps currently scheduled to participate are the Carolina Crown, Crossmen, Jersey Surf, Boston Crusaders, Teal Sound, Raiders and the Cadets. Tickets, which range in price from $10 for reserved seats to $40 for VIP/premium parking, are now on sale, but seating is limited. For information and tickets: 732-367-0478, www.yea.org/liberty, or www.libertylion.com.

• Blood drives will be conducted by Central Jersey Blood Center from 6-9 p.m. July 8 at Howell Fire Company No. 1, 925 Adelphia Road (Route 524), Howell, and from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 9 at Centrastate Medical Center, 901 West Main St., Freehold. Details: 732-842-5750, ext. 238.

• Jersey Shore PFLAG will conduct its monthly support group from 7-9 p.m. July 8 at the United Church of Christ of Toms River, 1681 Ridgeway Road (Route 571), Manchester. The meetings offer support, education and advocacy for people who have lesbians and gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people in their lives. The group is not affiliated with any religious organization. Details: 908-814-2155 or send e-mail to jerseyshorepflag@yahoo.com.

• "How to Succeed," an interactive musical play about business ambitions and different abilities that features romance, song and dance, will be performed at the Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive, July 11. Performances will be at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Audience members of all abilities are welcome. Light refreshments will be served. Register now. Contact 732-928-4400, visit the website at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, or visit the library in person to register.

• Allaire's annual summer crafters' market will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 11 (rain date July 18) on the grounds of Historic Village at Allaire State Park, Route 524, Wall Township. More than 125 crafts people and artisans will be on hand for demonstrations and to show their wares. Details: 732-919-3500.

• A blood drive to be sponsored by the Lakewood BlueClaws will be held from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 11 at FirstEnergy Park, Lakewood. Donors will receive a Charlie Manuel World Series bobble head and a Tshirt. Donors can go to www.PleaseGive-

Blood.org or call 1- 800-GIVE-LIFE.

• Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lakewood, will host the Skyline Boys Quartet at its worship service to be held 10 a.m. July 12. There is no cost to attend; a freewill offering will be collected. Details: 732-363-1599 or 732-363-3555.

• Bat Shalom Hadassah of Jackson- Howell will hold a membership appreciation dinner on July 16 at 6 p.m. at Westlake Mews, Jackson. The group's regular monthly meeting will follow the dinner. New "life members" will be honored, multigenerational Hadassah families will be recognized and a new "Tree of Life" will be presented. In addition, items will be available for purchase from the White Butterfly shop of Jackson. Reservations for the dinner are required. A donation of school supplies for the group's August Outreach Program will be welcome. Details: 732- 928-8555 or 732-928-0869.

• Blood drives will be conducted by Central Jersey Blood Center on the bloodmobile from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 18 at Harley Davidson, 300 Route 70, Lakewood, and from 8:30-12:30 p.m. July 22 at GLI, 600 Airport Road, Lakewood. Details: 732- 842-5750, ext. 238.

• A blood drive will be held at the Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 20. For appointments call 732-928-4400. Walk-in donors are always welcome. Tip sheets for first-time donors and eligibility guidelines are available at the library. Details: 732-928-4400.

• Blood drives will be conducted by Central Jersey Blood Center on the bloodmobile from 3-7 p.m. July 24 at Hope Cathedral Church, 46 Bennetts Mills Road, Jackson, and 5-9 p.m. July 30 at St. Monica's Church, 679 West Veterans Highway, Jackson. Details: 732-842-5750, ext. 238.

• The Howell Board of Education will meet in the cafetorium of Howell Middle School North, 501 Squankum-Yellowbrook Road, Howell, at 8 p.m. July 15.