• Jackson Food Pantry distribution dates will be held from 5-7 p.m. April 23 for handicapped persons and those over age 60 and from 6-7 p.m. April 23 for all clients or those in need of emergency food. Details: 732-833-6800.

• The National Organization for Women, Ocean County Chapter, will hold an open membership meeting at 7 p.m. April 23 on the second floor of the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St., Toms River. Open to all. Preregistration encouraged but not required at helenfitz@aol.com.

• A spring tricky tray hosted by the Jackson Chapter of Deborah will be held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4703 on Magnolia Drive in Jackson, April 24. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Donation: $3. Refreshments will be served. All proceeds will go to Deborah Hospital in Browns Mills. No one under age 18 will be admitted.

• The significance of trees in Howell and their value to its future will be discussed by certified tree expert Zig Panek in honor of Arbor Day at 8 p.m. April 24 at Howell town hall, 251 Preventorium Road. Presented by the Howell Historical Society. Details: 732-431-4117.

• The Past Times Bluegrass band will perform at the DeBows United Methodist Church on April 25 at 6 p.m. The evening will benefit the church's Youth Mission Trip to Branford, Conn., where the youths will repair the homes of the elderly, disabled and low-income families. Tickets for the dinner and concert are $15 for adults and $7.50 for children 12 and under. A full-course turkey dinner will be included in the evening. The church is at the intersection of Route 571 and Route 537, Jackson. Details: 732-928- 4475.

• An Early 19th-Century Spring Festival will be held at the Historic Village at Allaire State Park, Route 524, Wall Township, from noon to 4 p.m. April 25 (rain date April 26). Event will feature food vendors, picnic area, market, general store, bakery and demonstrations. An auction of floral arrangements, toys and items made by village artisans will be held at 2 p.m. Details: 732-919-3500.

• A yard sale and craft show will be held rain or shine from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 25 by American Legion Auxiliary Post 455, 2 Meadowbrook Lane, New Egypt. Vendor spots are $10 each. Call 609-758-2758 or 609-758-7837 for details and to reserve a table.

• A "Touch a Truck" event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 25 at the New Egypt Elks, Lakewood Road (Route 528). Sponsored by the New Egypt Elks and the New Egypt United Methodist Church, various modes of transportation will be on display to touch, climb and take pictures alongside. Details: 609-758-8563 or 609- 752-0272.

• NFL players will play New Egypt High School girls and boys basketball players and coaches plus lottery teams from grades 4-12 in a Dare to Dream benefit basketball game at New Egypt High School, 117 Evergreen Road, Plumsted, at 7 p.m. April 25. Admission: $10 at door and in advance. Proceeds benefit Dream for Kids. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Details: 609-758-6800, ext. 141.

• Calgo Gardens, 84 Cross St., Lakewood, will host a free softscaping and hardscaping landscape design workshop at 11 a.m. April 25. Mark Estomin, co-owner and operator of Calgo Gardens, will show attendees how to add interest to landscapes and increase the value of their homes by using architectural accents. Bring photographs and questions. Call 732-905-6606 to register.

• The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County will present Harvey Hauptman speaking about "Jews in Sports" on April 26 at 2 p.m. Hauptman's career was spent in radio broadcasting at WCTCAM in New Brunswick and then for 33 years at WCBS-AM Newsradio 880 in New York, first as a writer and producer, and then as a news, sports and business reporter, and as a news anchorman. He is currently the vice president of the Jewish Historical Society of Central Jersey and one of its lecturers on sports and media-related topics. The lecture is open to the public free of charge; donations are welcome. The museum is at 310 Mount's Corner Drive, in the Mount's Corner Shopping Center at the intersection of Wemrock Road and Route 537, Freehold Township. Details: Visit wwwjhmomc.org or call 732-252-6990.

• A dinner, comedy show and gift auction will be presented at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 434 Aldrich Road, Howell, April 25. Tickets: $30 in advance, $32 at the door. Doors open 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m., comedy at 8:30 p.m. Details: 732-363- 0732, or www.princeofpeacehowellnj.org.

• "Enneagram" will be presented by Eleanor Clarke, master of transpersonal studies, at 2 p.m. April 25 at the Jackson library, 2 Jackson Drive, Jackson. The program, which identifies a person's deepest motivations, is free and open to the public. Registration is requested. Details: 732-928- 4400.

• The Jackson Memorial High School ice hockey team will hold its second annual flea market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 26 at Rova Farms, Route 571, Jackson. The rain date will be May 3. Vendors and crafters are wanted. Car spots are $20 and double spots are $39. Donations of merchandise will be accepted, and pickups can be arranged. Details: 732-947-2078 or send an email to fundraising4ice@optonline.net.

• Georgian Court University 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 Breakfast Club" (1985) will be shown on April 27 at 6:30 p.m. Details and reservations: 732-987-2263.

• St. Veronica School, 4215 Route 9 north, Howell, will host its spring open house from 10 a.m. to noon April 29. Guided tours and registration information will be available. Details: 732-364-4130.

• A 1970s dance party hosted by the Howell Township Education Foundation and the Southard Fire Department will be held May 1 at the Southard firehouse, 4611 Route 9 north, Howell. Those ages 18 and over are invited. The evening will include a DJ playing 1970s hits, appetizers, cash bar and silent auction. A prize will be awarded for the person wearing the best 1970s costume. Tickets are $20. All proceeds will be donated to the Howell Township Education Foundation and to the Southard Fire Department. Details and tickets: 732-961- 0370, email sara@howellglass.com, or at Young's Appliance, 4658 Route 9 north, and Ramtown Liquors, 151 Newtons Corner Road, both in Howell.

• Nature walks will be offered on Saturday and Sundays at Cattus Island County Park, Toms River, during May. The programs are free and do not require preregistration. The 2 p.m. nature walks represent a 29-year tradition of offering a fun, educational and interactive look at the wilds of Cattus Island Park: May 2-3, Insects; May 9-10, Butterflies; May 16-17, Wading Bird Watch; May 23-24, Beginner Bird Watching; May 30-31, Insects II. The programs are accessible to all individuals, and reasonable special assistance and accommodations are available with prior notice. Details: 732-270-6960.

• A pancake breakfast (all you can eat pancakes, sausage, coffee, tea, orange juice) will be held 8-11 a.m. May 3 at the Howell Elks Lodge No. 2515, 84 Ramtown- Greenville Road, Howell. The pancake breakfast is a fundraiser for Boy Scout Troop 515. Donation: $6 for adults; $3 for children under age 12; free under age 3.

• The Community Christian Choir will perform at 7 p.m. May 3 at the Jackson Baptist Church, 360 Bennetts Mill Road, Jackson, to benefit Hands of Hope.

• Food stamp paperwork assistance will be available from 9 a.m. to noon May 6 at the Melvin Cottrell Center for Seniors and the Disabled, 45 Don Connor Blvd., Jackson. Attendees will receive help with pre-qualifying for food stamps. Must bring proper ID, proof of address, utilities, rent or mortgage/banking statements, and as much information as possible for the first visit. Two visits may be required. A face-to-face visit will be necessary later at the Lakewood or Toms River office once approved. Details and appointments: 732-252-6862. Walk-ins are also welcome.

• Monmouth Academy will host an Evening of Auctions at 6:30 p.m. May 9 at 152 Lanes Mill Road, Howell. Auction items (live, silent and gift) will include professional and student artwork, sports, music, and entertainment memorabilia, tickets to sporting events, gift baskets and more. Tickets are $25 each or $200 for a table of 10, and include dinner, wine, coffee and dessert. Details: 732-364-2812.