Metropolitan Café, Freehold Jewelers Donating a Portion of Sales to Cancer Research

Weather

Grab your heavy winter coat Thursday: the high will be a chilly 34 degrees and the low 23 degrees, according to the National Weather Service forecast. Winds will be up to 13 mph.

Paint the Town Blue

The Metropolitan Café and Freehold Jewelers will be donating a portion of their sales on Thursday to benefit colorectal cancer programs and research at CentraState Medical Center. March is , and CentraState and cancer survivor Paulette Stallone, of Manalapan, are bringing attention to the disease with blue ribbons tied around trees in Downtown Freehold and in the hospital.

CentraState will also offer free lectures and colorectal screenings on Tuesday, March 8 and Tuesday, March 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Star and Barry Tobias Ambulatory Campus. To register for the screenings or for more information, visit http://www.centrastate.com/PaintTheTownBlue or call 732-308-0570.

Schools

The first session of the Freehold Regional High School District’s 2011 Teen Driver Safety Program will be held at Freehold High School on Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Additional sessions will take place at other high schools in the district throughout March. Juniors and their parents are required to attend a session in order to receive a student parking spot for the 2011-2012 school year.

Sports

Colonials boys basketball faces Neptune away at 7 p.m. Thursday in the second round of the NJSIAA state tournament. If Freehold wins, the team will play the winner of Thursday’s Burlington Township vs. Monmouth Regional game on Saturday in the semifinals.

Start Planning Your Weekend

It’s you last chance to see at the Center Playhouse this weekend. The Neil Simon play centers on newlyweds Paul and Corie Bratter. The romantic comedy will run on Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $24 for adults and $22 for students and seniors.

The Covenhoven House will open its Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. for an . Visitors will be invited to sample treats provided by guest hearth cook, Susan Luczu, and take guided tours of the historic home. The Covenhoven House was built in 1752 and served as headquarters for British General Sir Henry Clinton before the Battle of Monmouth.

If you’re looking for live entertainment this weekend, Moore’s Tavern has Club Midge on Friday from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. and the Jamie Brown Band on Saturday from 10 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.