Tri-Town News Agenda, March 9

• The historic village Allentown will host its first Daffodil Days Festival from March 26 to April 3. The festival includes family events held among 3,000 daffodils.
A parade at noon on March 26 will kick off more than 30 activities (including several free ones) and shop specials. Master gardeners will answer questions and guests can meet Revolutionary War heroine Molly Pitcher. There will be a self-guided tour of the local scenic countryside. Guests can enjoy a chocolate creation of their own making and create daffodil-themed craft projects. Visit www.allentownvinj.org for a full daily schedule of events. Daffodil Days comes to Allentown courtesy of The Allentown Village Initiative, whose focus is on local history education and historic preservation, natural resource protection, economic development, arts and culture.

• The Westlake Woman’s The club is offering five $500 scholarships to female residents of Jackson. The scholarships are available to qualified individuals who have been accepted into a post-secondary education or training program and who meet one of the following criteria: currently completing high school; currently working and planning to enroll in a program to improve their skills, change careers or wish to continue their studies; is not currently working, but would like to take vocational training or retraining; enrolled in a public school or vocational school in a continuing education program. Applications are available online at https://westlakeclubs.com/womens-club/womens-club-scholarship/. Applications are also available through the Jackson Library, the guidance offices of Jackson Liberty and Jackson Memorial High Schools, Ocean County Vo-Tech, and the financial aid offices of Ocean County College and Georgian Court University. The deadline for submission is May 7.

• Take me to the river, An insider’s guide to accessing the waterfront will be presented via Zoom by Paul Gleitz at 7:30 p.m. on March 16. The presentation is sponsored by the Navesink Maritime Heritage Association. Gleitz, the lead park planner for the Monmouth County Parks System, will speak about recreational water access in the park system. To access the Zoom presentation, go to NavesinkMaritime.Org/Events to register

• March 26 of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Howell Alliance for Addiction
Mental Health Prevention and Awareness organizes and partially sponsors Mental Health First Aid certification training at the Howell Municipal Building. This training gives people the tools to identify when someone may be struggling with a mental health or addictions issue and to connect them with the appropriate support and resources if needed. Mental health first aiders learn a five-step action plan that guides them through the process of making contact and offering appropriate support. To register, visit Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mental-health-first-aid-certificate-training-in-person-tickets-261861584047. Participants should bring their own face covering, as well as food and drink for the day, if desired. Details: Christa Riddle, 732-938-4500, ext. 4012.

• New Jersey Blood Services, a division of the New York Blood Center, will hold blood drives open to the public. The following trips are scheduled: March 10, Howell Donor Center, 4068 Route 9 South, Howell, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; March 15, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; March 16, Howell Donor Center, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; March 17, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; March 22, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; March 23, Howell Donor Center, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; March 24, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; March 29, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; March 30, Howell Donor Center, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; and March 31, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; To donate blood, call 1-800-933-2566 or visit www.nybloodcenter.org

• Monmouth County Park System will host a summer job fair on March 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center in Tinton Falls. Discover the summer job opportunities available in the parks network. Positions include lifeguards, camp counselors, park and golf course maintainers, swimming instructors and more. Details: 732-842-4000.

• Monmouth County Park System will host Starting Your Spring Garden on March 20 from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. Learn which vegetables to start now and which will bloom in the spring. With the help of gardeners, guests will make a pot out of newspaper and start a collection of seeds that they can transplant into their home garden. The cost is $5 per person; cash or check only. Details: 732-842-4000.

• Join Centraide of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and DowntownFreehold.com for the United for Impact Food Truck Festival from noon to 6 p.m. April 24 along West Main Street, Freehold Borough. There will be food trucks, beer, live music, games and more to support United Way’s mission. Sponsorship opportunities and vendor tables are available. Register at uwmoc.org/food-truck-festival

• Moose in full ownership The Motorcycle Committee will present the 2022 New Jersey State Elks Army of Hope Poker Run, in memory of Chris Malvone and other fallen and seriously injured veterans, on April 30, rain or shine. All are welcome to register from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Freehold Elks Lodge No. 1454, 73 E. Main St., Freehold Borough. The Poker Run begins and ends at the lodge. The cost is $20 per passenger and $15 per passenger, and includes the poker race, a 1 p.m. party, food, drinks, and a DJ. Admission to the party only is $15. Details: Christine Reese, 347-739-6254, or Joe Pindilli, 908-635-4788.

• Master Rutgers Gardeners will hold their Spring Garden Day Plant Sale May 13-14 at the Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, through Rutgers University, 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold Township. Great plants and free garden talks by Rutgers Master Gardeners will be available on both days.
Details: Visit https://monmouth.njaes.rutgers.edu/master-gardeners/

• Monmouth County Officials have planned a paper shredding event so that residents have the opportunity to safely dispose of old documents and confidential files. A shredding event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 18 at Howell at Memorial/Adelphia School, 485 Adelphia Road (Route 524). County residents can shred up to 100 pounds. Large binder clips should be removed from documents; staples and paper clips can remain. Details: See the recycling section of the county website, www.visitmonmouth.com, or call 732-683-8686, ext. 8967.

• Monmouth County The library offers six courses available at any time and without prior registration on Virtual Yoga, highlighting breathing, movement, stretching and other activities. Each program is offered at https://ly/MonCoLibraryYoga. Programs are offered by Steven Russell of Becoming Sound. Those interested can choose their own path with moves from six of the most popular library video course series. The sessions are yoga breathing; yoga stretches; yogic movement; Yoga stretches with support; Yoga at home on the floor; and Standing Home Yoga. Individuals should consult a physician before beginning any exercise program.

• Jackson Township Artists Sue Kolb and Robert Jenkin have returned to the Jackson branch of the Ocean County Library to organize an exhibit that will remain on display until March. The exhibition is free and open to the public. Details: 732-928-4400 or visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events

• New Jersey Blood Services, a division of the New York Blood Center, is looking for volunteers to assist donors at area blood drives. No medical training necessary. Volunteers must be open to providing friendly customer service, be able to complete tasks as needed, and must provide proof of COVID vaccination prior to volunteering. Must have transportation. All training is provided, including precautions to be taken for the safety of staff and blood donors. For more information, call or text Sharon Zetts at 732-850-8906, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To apply online as a blood donor volunteer, go to https://www.nybc.org/support-us/benevole-nybc/benevolat-application/

• For people who are struggling with depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety, there is support available that is free, confidential and led by a trained facilitator. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance meets Wednesdays from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Brighter Days Community Wellness Center, 268 Bennetts Mills Road, Jackson. There are no doctors or therapists in the group, only people who live with a mental health problem. Members strive to support each other and share their stories. Details: Valerie, 610-766-0658, or visit dbsalliance.org

• CentraState Medical The Center has launched a new online bereavement support group led by clinical social workers who are licensed and certified in grief counseling to help people who have experienced the loss of a loved one. The group is open to adult members of the community who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Private groups provide a safe, non-judgmental space for participants to share their emotions and struggles. The group meets via Zoom on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 3 p.m. To register, call 732-303-5170 or email [email protected] or [email protected]

Articles for the Agenda can be sent to [email protected] Please submit items at least two weeks before a scheduled event.