Datebook

• A Thanksgiving food drive to benefit the Howell Emergency Food Pantry and community members in need is being held through Nov. 19 at the Lil'Achievers early childhood learning center, 326 Ford Road, Howell. Residents are encouraged to drop off nonperishable items at the school. Details: 732-730-1855.

• A fall soup and sandwich social will take place from noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 6 in the Plumsted Senior Outreach Services community room in the municipal building at 121 Evergreen Road, New Egypt. The cost is $3, and there are limited seats available. To register, call 609-758-2241, ext 111.

• A fish fry sponsored by the New Egypt Elks, 105 Lakewood Road, New Egypt, will be held Nov. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the lodge. The cost for fish dinner is $9 (two pieces) and $10 (three pieces). Chicken will also be available for $8 (two pieces) and $9 (three pieces). All children's dinners are $5. Take-out is available. Details: 609-304-8469.

• Veterans Day services will be hosted by the Howell Memorial Post 9691 Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ladies Auxiliary jointly with the Farmingdale American Legion Post 178 on Nov. 7 at Howell town hall at 11 a.m., and at Lutz Park in Farmingdale at 11:30 a.m.

• A Rat Pack tribute featuring Dean Martin impersonator Rich Sette and Frank Sinatra impersonator Jonni Drue will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Welcome Center, 31 Main St., New Egypt. Tickets are $10 per person or $15 per couple in advance or $12 per person at the door, and include the show, dessert and a beverage. Details and ticket purchase: 609-758-7461.

• The Plumsted Business and Merchants Association will sponsor its 2009 Fall Business Expo from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 7 at the New Egypt Elks Lodge, 105 Lakewood Road, New Egypt. The event will present the opportunity for the community to get acquainted with local business owners and merchants in Plumsted and surrounding communities. Families are encouraged to attend.

• Ardena Baptist Church, 589 Adelphia Road, (Route 524), Howell, will celebrate Founder's Day 150th Anniversary at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 8 with a program commemorating the 150th anniversary of the signing of the charter to start a Baptist church in the local community. The service will offer pre- 1859 hymns and an era-related sermon by Pastor Tom Detamore, who will be dressed in 1859 apparel. A slide show of the history of the Ardena Baptist Church will be shown. All are welcome. Details: Visit www.ardenabaptistchurch.com.

• A tricky tray gift auction will be held on Nov. 8 at Holy Family School, 1141 E. County Line Road, Lakewood. Tickets must be purchased in advance. The cost of $10 includes 52 tray tickets, coffee and dessert. Doors will open at 1 p.m.; games will begin at 3 p.m. No one under 18 will be admitted For tickets call 732-363-4771, ext. 203.

• A Lia Sophia jewelry showcase will be presented at the Church of the Master, 110 Salem Hill Road, Howell, by Grea Bautista from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 8. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Church of the Master Benevolent Fund. All are welcome to stop by and preview the designerinspired jewelry.

• "Lilies of the Field," a film starring Sidney Poitier in an Academy Award-winning performance, will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 9 in the Little Theatre on Georgian Court University's Lakewood campus, 900 Lakewood Ave. Reservations are required. Details: 732-987-2263. The next film in the series, "Love Story," will be presented Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m.

• All are welcome to come to the Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive, at 2 p.m. Nov. 11 to hear Jackson resident Leon "Lee" Gromowa, a former U.S. Marine who served with the 3rd Marine Division in the DMZ and Khe Sanh area, talk about his war experiences in Vietnam. Veterans from all the service branches are encouraged to attend. The program is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. Call 732-928-4400 to register.

• St. Veronica's Church, Howell, will host its sixth annual Mass for the troops at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11. Family members who have died, who have been injured, who have served overseas or who are currently serving overseas will be especially remembered. Details: 732-363-4200.

• "Accepted: Getting Into Your First- Choice School," a workshop presented by Kaplan Test Prep and Admission designed to show students and parents what college admissions officers expect from applicants' high school experiences, will be held 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Jackson library. Free and open to the public. Register by phone at 732-928-4400.

• The Alzheimer's Association, Greater New Jersey Chapter, will present "Communication: The Key to Understanding Behaviors," a free educational program for family caregivers, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Nov.12 at Care One at Jackson, 11 History Lane, Jackson. Details: 973-586-4300.

• A psychic, vendor and craft show will be held at Jackson Liberty High School, 125 Hope Chapel Road, Jackson, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 14. Crafters and vendors are still needed. Details: 732-961-7522.

• The Ardena Baptist Church Helping Hand will host its annual holiday bazaar from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 14. Baked goods, homemade apple and pumpkin pies, crafts, white elephant and children's craft will be available. The church is at 593 Adelphia Road, Howell, Details: 732-462-7831.

• Radio personality "Cousin Brucie" Morrow will be at the Toms River library, 101 Washington St., at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 to discuss the changes that have unfolded in music over the decades. Free; open to the public. Registration required. Call 732-349- 6200 or www.theoceancountylibrary.org.