Datebook

• Need a Friend, a social group for singles ages 55-75, will meet for dinner July 13 (every Wednesday) at 7:30 p.m. at the Golden Bell Diner, Route 9 south, Freehold Township, and meets every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Prestige Diner, Route 33, East Windsor. Details: (732) 625-0605 or (609) 448-3378.

• Child Safety Day and Ice Cream Social and open house — refreshments, county Sheriff’s Office child ID cards, Marlboro Police Department child car seat safety inspections, K9 dog and vehicle display — July 14, 4-7 p.m., at the Goddard School, 15 School Road East, Marlboro. Details: (732) 303-7877.

• Single Friends, for ages 45-65, will meet for friendly discussion July 14, 21 and 28, 7:45 p.m., at Days Inn Steakloft, Route 9 north, Freehold Township. Details: (732) 536-3524.

• Gamblers Anonymous will meet July 15, 22 and 29, 8-9:30 p.m. at Hope Lutheran Church, 211 Elton-Adelphia Road, Freehold Township. No fees.

• Midnight Magic Party — face painting, contests, photos, games, giveaways, book goes on sale at midnight — to celebrate release of latest Harry Potter book, July 15, 8:30 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, Route 9, Freehold Township. Details: (732) 409-2929.

• Allaire Crafters’ Market — 125 craftsmen and artisans, demonstrations, food — July 16 (rain date July 17), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Historic Village of Allaire, Route 524 (Atlantic Avenue), Wall Township. Admission: $5 per car. Proceeds to benefit Allaire programs. Details: (732) 919-3500.

• American Needlepoint Guild, Central Jersey Chapter, will meet July 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Woodbridge Public Library, Woodbridge. Details: send an e-mail to egarah@aol.com or ruthcole@optonline.net.

• Multiple sclerosis support groups will meet: July 18, 1-3 p.m., at the CentraState Health Awareness Center, 65 Gibson Place, Freehold Township; and most Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon at the Marlboro library, Wyncrest Road (call Lorraine, 732-671-9384, or Dianne, 732-536-3033). Details: (800) 344-4867.

• Lazy Game Afternoon — featuring chess, checkers and other board games — will be held July 18, 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Howell library, 318 Old Tavern Road, Howell. Games will be provided, but players are welcome to bring their own if they wish. Details: (732) 938-2300.

• B’nai B’rith Ketubah Married Couples Unit (ages 40 and over) will hold a barbecue at a member’s home in Marl-boro, July 24 at 2 p.m. All meat served will be kosher. Nonmembers are welcome. The cost is $25 per member couple and $30 per nonmember couple (if a nonmember couple joins Ketubah Unit at the barbecue, they can attend the event for free). Rain date: July 31. RSVP to Eileen, (732) 617-2438, by July 19.

• “How to Choose In-home Care,” a free seminar, will be presented by Care 4 You, July 19, 7 p.m., at the Marlboro library, Wyncrest Road, Marlboro. Details: (732) 536-9406.

• Transitions, a self-help group for those recently divorced, going through divorce or considering divorce, will meet July 19 and 26, 7:30-8:45 p.m. at the Monmouth County Library Headquar-ters, Symmes Drive, Manalapan. Details: David, (732) 888-4440.

• A “Stitch-in” will be held by the Monmouth Chapter Embroiderers Guild, July 21, 10 a.m. at the Colts Neck library, 1 Winthrop Drive. Everyone is welcome to come and stitch, knit, etc., bring their lunch, and stay as long as they want.

• Eatontown resident Helen Pike will do a reading and sign copies of her latest book, “Asbury Park’s Glory Days: The Story of an American Resort,” July 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, Route 9, Freehold Township.

• A blood drive will be sponsored by ComputerKiddies of Manalapan at their location, 83 Bridge Plaza Drive, Manal-apan, July 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Central Jersey Blood Center will conduct the drive. Details and appointments: (732) 536-5744 or e-mail info@computerkiddies.com.

• Summer book sale through July 23 at the Wall Township library, 2700 Allaire Road, Wall; $1 per bag beginning July 18. Details: (732) 449-8877.

• Marlboro K-8 Board of Education will hold a regular meeting July 26 at 8 p.m., at 1980 Township Drive, Marlboro. Meeting is open to the public. Details: (732) 972-2008.

Items for the Datebook may be faxed to the News Transcript at (732) 780-4192. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to the date of a scheduled event.