CM: Rumson • Fair Haven • Little Silver • Red Bank • Locust • Sea Bright - November 2022

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Monmouth County Reminds Veterans of Important Services

I n honor of November being Nation al Veteran and Military Family month, t he Board of County Commissioners would like to remind residents that vet erans and their families can contact the D ivision on Aging, Disabilities and Vet eran Services to learn about the remark able services offered to veterans by Mon mouth County.

“ Monmouth County is proud to stand by and support our veterans through a variety of programs,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “We want to serve those who served our country, who we can ultimately never repay, but hope these programs are a small token of our gratitude and support.”

S ervices offered by the Division on Aging, Disabilities and Veteran Services include, initiating service-connected compensation and pension claims with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as initiating requests for all mili tary records. The division will also guide v eterans through the process of gather ing medical documentation needed to s upport service connected compensa tion and pension claims. Veterans’ wid ows, children, and other dependents can re ceive assistance in applying for bene fits with the division as well.

Veterans’ ID cards are available at the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office

and provide veterans with valuable dis counts from local retailers. In addition to direct assistance, the County provides referral services including:

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder counseling

• I ndividual counseling

• G roup counseling

• Family counseling

• R eadjustment counseling

• B ereavement counseling

• VA Healthcare

• R eferral for long-term care such as the Menlo Park, Vineland, and Paramus Veterans’

• M emorial Homes

• Home loan guaranty

• E mployment counseling/vocational rehabilitation

Interment services include:

• M aintains records of deceased Monmouth County veterans

• L ocates any veterans grave upon the family’s request

• H andles requests for services from veterans and family members

• M emorial Day Flags - Distributes approximately 38,000 flags to veterans’ organizations to be placed on Monmouth County veterans’ graves.

“ Honoring our veterans who coura geously served our country in defense o f our freedom and way of life, is the responsibility of every American,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Ar none. “Through programs such as these, w e want to offer our sincerest thanks and gratitude to those who served.”

Veterans Day Observance By Town

Rumson

November 11th at 11 am Victory Park Fair Haven

November 11th at 11 am Memorial Park

Little Silver

November 11th at 9 am Memorial Park Red Bank

November 11th at 11 am Veterans Monument, 51 Monmouth Street

Middletown Veterans Day Parade

November 6th at 1pm

Start at Bayview Elementary School, End at VFW Post 2179

Sea Bright

Details to be announced

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The Colts Neck Historical Preservation Committee Presents a Country Christmas

S easonal refreshments and holiday music performed by The Mike Wells Trio, will fill the historic one-room, Montrose Schoolhouse, December 4th, 2022 from 1 – 4 p.m. Sponsoring this free traditional holiday fest, The Colts Neck Historical Pres ervation Committee (CNHPC), is excited to kick off this event at the old Montrose School at the corner of Montrose Road and Cedar Drive.

C hairperson, County Commissioner Lillian Burry will read “The Night Before Christmas” to those in attendance. Santa Claus will take time out from his busy schedule to pose for free photos. The Christmas tree inside the school will be festooned with decorations appropriate to the period and there will be a visit from “Norman the Christmas Dog.”

I n addition, the committee is selling maps depicting Colts Neck historic sites, (suitable for framing) for $20 each, “A Tour of Historic Colts Neck” booklet written by County Commission er Lillian G. Burry for $10 each and copies of the children’s book, “Norman the Christmas Dog.”

“Our Christmas open house last year was so popular, many have asked us to repeat it,” said Committee Chairperson Burry, a Monmouth County Commissioner and former Colts Neck Mayor. “Everyone on the Colts Neck Historical Preservation Committee enjoys preparing and opening the Montrose School for special

events that highlight our township’s unique role in 19th Century America. We invite everyone to share in the warmth and historic significance of the Montrose School during this community cel ebration.” Commissioner Burry negotiated the purchase of the school, the only publicly owned one-room schoolhouse in Colts Neck. This was accomplished at the cost of $1 from the town ship’s former Historical Society over a decade ago. The commit tee raises funds to continue to upgrade and maintain the school.

Historic Montrose School at the corner of Montrose Road and Cedar Drive in Colts Neck will open for a traditional Christmas celebration on Dec 4th, 2022.

The Fir Farm of Colts Neck Brings Christmas to our Troops

JOIN THE EFFORT DECEMBER 2-4, 2022

Trees for Troops is a program of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation (CSF) which, through; donations, sponsorships, grants and the work of many volunteers, provides free, farm-grown Christmas Trees to United States Armed Forces mem bers, in all branches of the military and t heir families. The Fir Farm of Colts Neck is an official location and has been partici pating in this program since 2014.

“Our father was in the Navy, so our family is happy to support other military families in any way we can” Bob Clark, co-owner of The Fir Farm. Together, Bob and his brother Micky run the farm, where the military and Christmas trees are not their only passions. The farm also grows hops, which have been used by many local breweries and keeps bees which produce raw Fir Farm Honey. The Fir Farm is ded icated to growing organic crops using sus tainable farming practices.

The mission of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation is to advance the Christmas spirit for families and improve the envi ronment through programs and activities. In 2005, FedEx contacted the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charita ble branch of the National Christmas Tree

A ssociation, expressing an interest in the foundation’s mission. Together the two or ganizations expanded the idea of providing Christmas trees to military families, and Trees for Troops was born. Since 2005, over 300,000 free, farm-grown Christ mas trees have been provided to troops a nd military families in the United States and overseas through Trees for Troops. Thousands of trees are donated by Amer ican farm families and the public. FedEx delivers these trees to around 70 military bases in the U.S. and overseas. More than a million ground miles have been logged for the Trees for Troops program, thanks to FedEx.

W hile a donated Christmas tree may seem trivial, CSF receives countless e-mails and letters from families saying it was the best gift they could have been giv en. Not only are many military members away from their loved ones during the holi days, but families who have been relocated feel the pain of being separated from those back home. It is the hope that the gift of a real Christmas tree will help bring the feel ing of home a little closer, wherever they may be, as well as alleviate some of the fi nancial burden the holidays can bring.

In 2012, Trees for Troops was rec ognized at the White House as a top 20 national finalist in the Joining Forces Community Challenge. In 2017, Trees for Troops was honored to win The Depart ment of Defense - Spirit of Hope Award. Trees for Troops was also nominated for the award by the U.S. Coast Guard. The Spirit of Hope Award is given annually by each branch of the military to groups that strive to epitomize Bob Hope’s values of patriotism, loyalty, freedom and dedica tion.

Want to help the cause? Visit the Fir Farm in Colts Neck! There will be a Fe dEx trailer at the farm. You purchase the t ree and fill out a personalized message tag. You can help load it onto the trailer or they will do it and it will be delivered to a military family at one of the participating bases.

Trees for Troops weekend at The Fir Farm is coming Up - December 2nd to 4th, 2022. The Fir Farm is located at 166 Hills dale Rd in Colts Neck.

You can also donate a tree thru The Fir Farm online store https://the-fir-farm. square.site/

Two River Theater Announces New Artistic Director

T wo River Theater celebrates the announcement of Jus tin Waldman as their new Artistic Director.

“I am honored to carry on the legacy of Two River The ater as Artistic Director,” stated Waldman. “To shepherd t he beautiful vision of Robert and Joan Rechnitz, alongside the incredible and dedicated board, staff, artists, and arti sans, is an enormous privilege. Theater is a place of joy and wonder. I look forward to building on the great good work of John Dias and Michael Hurst and welcoming more people to partake in Two River’s excellent, accessible, and representa tive work and practice.”

Waldman begins his tenure on November 1st, 2022, and will assume responsibility for Two River Theater’s 2022/2023 season, which was put together in the transition by outgoing Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst. Waldman will take full responsibility for curating programming for Two River beginning in Fall 2023. Two River continues its search for a Managing Director and hopes to announce one later this fall.

Justin Waldman is a theatrical producer and director who has brought over 250 productions to life during his 20 plus year career. As Associate Artistic Director at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, CA he has developed new mu sicals and plays, American and world classics, holiday pro gramming, and overseen one of the country’s preeminent S hakespeare festivals. Justin was also instrumental in the creation of the Old Globe’s Social Justice Roadmap. As Ar tistic Associate at Williamstown Theatre Festival, he led the Literary Department and new play development initiatives for three seasons. Other prior staff positions include Artis tic Associate of the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, M A, and Producing Artistic Director of Next Stages, which he founded. Justin is a graduate of Tufts University.

“ We are delighted to welcome Justin aboard,” said Two River Theater Board president, Edward J. McKenna Jr. “Jus tin is a consummate artist, a bold producer and a passionate leader of non-profit regional theater.”

Boss Club Comes to Oak Hill Academy

O ak Hill Academy in Lincroft has just launched its new entrepreneur pro gram in partnership with “Boss Club” U SA. Seventh graders at the school are involved with a semester-long course, which is part of the Explorations pro gram. (Explorations is an innovative cl ass created by Oak Hill where students research topics of interest, work collab oratively, solve real world problems, and p resent their findings.) The “Boss Club” curriculum originated as a college-level course at Baylor University’s nationally ranked entrepreneurship program. How ever, the founder of the program decided to bring entrepreneurial education to a younger audience. The middle school course is designed to bring cross-curric ular, project based learning to practical ly instill the fundamentals of work eth ic, financial stewardship, people skills, a nd creativity. Additionally, it sets up a mindset that can be applied to any pur suit in life by being able to tangibly see h ow one can simplify a seemingly com plex pursuit into easily manageable piec es and build confidence through daily

progress towards a goal. The program’s learning objectives include the follow ing:

1 . Understand what it means to be an entrepreneur with inspiring stories of success.

2. L earn the basic process for selecting, designing, and starting a business. Choosing an idea, creativity, and vetting are emphasized.

3. C onduct pricing methodology, market research, and margin analysis.

4. Formulate an actionable marketing plan for the business.

5. D evelop tracking for customers, sales, and expenses of business.

6. Understand basic tax and legal implications of the business and know where to seek more guidance.

7. Understand the roles of stewardship and citizenship in sustained value and success.

A dditional features of the program include confidence on camera and else where, creating a presentation, regular a nd digital marketing, and the impor tance of giving back.

O ak Hill teachers have experienced professional development training and are fully supported by “Boss Club” Inter national. Teachers will also lead class room discussions designed to broaden t he students’ higher level thinking as they explore solutions to today’s and fu ture real life issues.

A ccording to the Oak Hill Academy’s Head of School, Joseph Pacelli, the Oak Hill community is excited to bring such a practical experience to its students while putting their other taught academ ic skills to work, such as researching, c ommunicating, collaborating, and us ing critical thinking. “This type of real l ife learning only strengthens all of the students’ cognitive skills,” states Pacelli. The school feels that this course is a great way for its students to acquire a long-lasting education in a practical set ting.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE Naval Weapons Station Earle

For most people driving along Route 34 or over Normandy Road, Naval Weapons Station Earle (NWSE) appears to be simply the woods on the other side of the fence. Of course in the back of one’s mind there is always the knowledge that there is something important going on behind the scenes that keeps us safe but for so many that

mystery was always in the shadows. Then in the middle 2020 Captain Ed Callahan assumed duty as Commanding Officer, and despite the challenges of the pandemic, he has been steadfast in his determi nation to show the importance of NWSE not just for protecting our country but also serving as an invaluable resource to our local community.

A s part of those efforts, once COVID protocols would allow, Callahan created a Communi ty Day initiative whereby select m embers of the local public have been invited to the base to learn about the vital work of NWSE. With the curtain being pulled back, the importance of this facil ity right in our backyard can fi nally be brought to the public eye. C ommunity Magazine is honored to have been invited to partici pate in this tour last month and t he experience is one that we will never forget. What is most nota ble is the leadership of Callahan, t he historical and current impor tance of the base, and the quiet y et significant contributions to our local area.

It all starts with strong lead ership and you would be hard p ressed to find a more dynamic leader than Ed Callahan. A na tive of North Carolina, Callahan re ported for active duty in June 1983 and completed basic training at Recruit Training Command in San Diego, California. After many postings worldwide, on different ships and submarines, Callahan assumed duties as Commanding Officer, Naval Weapons Station Earle on July 17, 2020.

M eeting him feels like you are meeting an old friend. One would never know that he commands nearly 2,000 sworn military members and civilians. An ener getic man who clearly has a pas sion and devotion to his work, his e nthusiasm is contagious. Cal lahan is authorized to wear the M eritorious Service Medal (five awards), Navy & Marine Corps Com mendation Medal (five awards), Navy & M arine Corps Achievement Medal (eight awards), Navy Good Conduct Medal (three awards), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Ser vice Medal (two awards), and Military

O utstanding Volunteer Service Medal along with numerous campaign and ser vice ribbons. In addition, he earned his E nlisted Submarine Warfare and Strate gic Deterrent Patrol Insignia with two s ilver stars. He is qualified to wear the Officer Submarine and Surface Warfare

Insignias. Yet despite all of these signif icant commendations, perhaps the most i mpressive attribute of the Commanding Officer is his genuine respect and admi ration for the men and women whom he leads. Callahan goes out of his way to acknowledge and honor the contribu

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COMMANDING OFFICER

CAPTAIN ED CALLAHAN

tions of the individuals who work tirelessly to ensure that this vital resource continues to operate effectively. One thing anyone at tending Community Day can see is Callah an’s passion and commitment to his vision o f building a strong, vibrant relationship with the surrounding area.

Naval Weapons Station Earle is one of the most unique military bases in America and is the only stand-alone Naval base in New Jersey. Named in honor of Rear Ad miral Ralph Earle, the Chief of the Bureau o f Ordnance during the First World War, the base was commissioned on December 13, 1943. Then named Naval Ammunition Depot (NAD) Earle was instrumental to the victory in Europe during World War II. NAD Earle loaded the majority of ammuni tion used by the Allies for the invasion of Normandy, an achievement for which Nor mandy Road is named.

T he base is 11,851 acres, including 110 miles of railroad and a 2.9 mile pier, the lon gest such pier in the world. The base houses Navy and Marine Corps recruiters, Coast Guard, and Army personnel amounting to 794 active military, 165 reserves, 494 civil

ians, and 284 contractors. Currently there a re 85 families and dozens of enlisted mem bers who actually live on the quiet, park-like s cenic base (as true in the rest of Monmouth County, you frequently see deer and other wildlife wandering around).

E arle supplies all of the Atlantic Carri er Strike Groups and Marine expeditionary v essels on the country’s east coast with am munition. Ammunition is loaded into box c ars which get transported to the pier. The efficiency of rail allows one box car to trans port the equivalent of two and a half semi t rucks in a safer manner. The supplies are housed in 181 active magazines designed to prevent detonation from spreading to other magazines or endangering the public.

A ssemblywoman Victoria Flynn, who attended Community Day, commented, “As an American, I am so happy that the base is in our district and that Monmouth Coun ty proudly supports our armed forces. This b ase supplies ammunition and supplies to our soldiers not only from coast to coast but all over the world. As someone who lived through 9/11, I appreciate everything that NWSE does to help fight the war on terror.

“THIS BASE SUPPLIES AMMUNITION AND SUPPLIES TO OUR SOLDIERS NOT ONLY FROM COAST TO COAST BUT ALL OVER THE WORLD.”

Further, I appreciate all the job opportu nities that the base supplies to the peo ple of Monmouth County.”

To the Assemblywoman’s comment, in addition to the invaluable security that NWSE provides to our country and world by supplying the ammunition for the entire east coast, the base provides priceless assistance right in our back yard, including jobs and much more.

T he base is involved in many dif ferent environmental projects that will h elp improve the entire community. For instance, Earle has leased a portion of its land to allow the installation of solar panels to help produce power for the en tire grid. Earle has also partnered with N Y/NJ BayKeepers to restore the oyster population for the multiple benefits this vital species provides. This includes protecting the coastline against erosion, serving as speed bumps for waves during storms and adding habitat for marine life. Further, oysters are nature’s water filters; each one is able to clean up to 50 gallons of water a day. Given that severe weather events are becoming more and

more common, addressing the climate crisis and sea level rise is more import ant now than ever and NWSE is helping to do just that.

T he installation’s Fire and Emergen cy department is the only full-time fire department in Monmouth County and as such, it supports the volunteer depart ments in our communities by responding to active fires throughout the County.

N WSE has partnered with Ohmsett, the largest outdoor saltwater wave tank facility in North America. This is the only facility where full-scale oil spill re sponse equipment testing, research, and t raining can be conducted in a marine environment with oil under controlled environmental conditions. With a re cent emphasis on developing renewable e nergy sources, Ohmsett’s mission has expanded to offer a research and testing venue for wave energy conversion devic es. This tank is located on the base and i s helping to prevent oil spills in the fu ture and to find the best possible ways t o clean the waters after these disasters.

T hese are just some examples of how

Earle touches our lives on a daily basis. Opening the base shows all of the invalu able contributions to our area. NWS E arle Community Plans & Liaison Offi cer Merissa Zuzulock said, “The Captain h as opened his doors in so many ways and has interacted with the community and local and government to find ways to improve their shared community.”

W hen Callahan took over as Com manding Officer, he and the other offi cers under his leadership hoped to not only improve the base but to improve the communities and the world around them. They believe it is their duty to do everything in their power to connect with the community and build a two-way relationship that is genuine.

November is National Veteran and Military Families month. We are very lucky to have this treasure, NWSE, right in our backyard. This month, be sure to take time to thank those who have and those who continue to serve. Their in credible contributions which protect us e ach and every day can not be honored enough.

OF FAIR HAVEN

TATER TOTS OF SEA BRIGHT

OF FAIR HAVEN

Martha Mary Guild Veterans Day Program

I n recognition of Veterans Day 2022, the Martha Mary Guild will have Middletown veteran Christine Goetz as their guest speaker. Christine is a 26-year US Army veteran who served in Desert Storm. “Veterans truly exemplify the best of America,” said William “Doc” Schmitz, VFW National Com mander. She was just honored by the VFW for volunteer work a nd is still serving! The men and women who bravely defend our country often go beyond military service to serve their communities and country selflessly.

C hristine struggled after her husband, mother and sister passed away within 2 years. She began volunteering at the Center for Community Renewal, a pantry in Keansburg that accepts donations of food and clothing which are distributed to the less fortunate in the immediate area. She also got per mission from the CCR to carry surplus food to three veterans’ h omes in New Jersey. So, Christine Goetz is ‘still serving’…her spirit of service goes beyond military life.

T he program will take place on Wednesday, November 9th, 2022, at the Parish of Saint Mary, One Phalanx Road, Colts Neck, NJ 07722, Madonna Hall in the Spiritual Center. Rosary will be at 11:30 am, followed by BYOL (Bring Your Own Lunch)

at 12:00 Noon. Meeting will begin at 12:30 pm. Come join us and hear her remarkable story!

T his month donations will be 1-3 clothing items, clean, gently used for those in need at Project Paul, Keansburg, NJ.

CBA Holds Dedication to Open New O’Shea-Martin Tennis Pavilion

C hristian Brothers Academy held a special ceremony on Saturday, Septem ber 24th for the official dedication of the brand-new O’Shea-Martin Tennis Pavil ion.

T he new facility bears the name of renowned CBA tennis head coaches John O’Shea and Brother Patrick Martin, FSC. O’Shea was in attendance for the event and had the honor of cutting the ceremo nial ribbon.

T he O’Shea-Martin Tennis Pavilion is built at the site of the existing Sullivan Tennis Courts, which were completely redone during the construction process. The six courts now feature the covered pavilion and a mid-court viewing plat form. The enhanced spectating and new playing surface make CBA’s tennis courts one of the premier facilities in the state of New Jersey.

C BA Tennis has won 25 state champi onships in program history, which is the s econd-most in NJSIAA history. After Martin led the team to win its first state championship in 1968, O’Shea served as head coach from 1971 to 1979, winning six straight New Jersey titles during that span.

“ It was only fitting to name the new

pavilion in honor of Coach John O’Shea and in memory of Brother Patrick Mar tin,” said tennis alumnus Mark Sullivan ’ 79, who co-chaired the tennis commit tee for the facility. “The enormity of t heir accomplishments is hard to over state. Aside from the sheer number of te am wins and state championships, they also molded their players into Academy Men. Their culture of winning set the ex pectations for all other CBA sports in the decades that followed.”

O ’Shea was joined by decades of CBA alumni, parents, former coaches and friends, along with the current members of the varsity tennis program. In a spe cial moment, Sullivan and current first singles player Jaden Vigneri ’24 played a ceremonial “first serve” to officially open the facility.

“ It is exciting that we are able to pro vide facilities such as this one for our stu dent-athletes,” said CBA President Ross Fales. “Facilities that are commensurate with their efforts and successes, as well as the high standards of CBA, which help accomplish our school’s mission.”

T he O’Shea-Martin Tennis Pavilion is the first of five current construction projects to reach completion. Both the

Keane Turf Field for soccer and lacrosse and the Sheehan Track & Field are in fi nal construction phases, while the Benil de Hall office building and the Brother F rank Byrne, FSC Dining Hall are taking shape.

“ Today, we celebrate the legendary tennis coaches John O’Shea and Broth er Patrick Martin and the dedication of t his venue marks the start of a series of state-of-the-art facilities at CBA,” said Joseph R. Tort ’76, board chairman and co-chair of the tennis committee. “Just over a year ago, we launched the trans formational revitalization of our physical plant, updating our athletic, academic and campus life facilities. The Colt tradi tion continues at the Academy.”

C BA has also reimagined two of its grass fields into a new varsity rugby pitch, complete with goalposts and field lines. In addition, the Academy is in the early planning stages of the reconstruc tion of the Round Barn, which will be u sed for indoor track & field and other athletic programs.

A ll of these projects are part of the Forever CBA: Securing Our Mission capi tal campaign that has raised over $17 mil lion to date.

The new facility is the first of five current construction projects to officially open

NJBIZ Recognizes NJ Sharing Network’s Carolyn M. Welsh as a 2022 Best 50 Women in Business Honoree Colts Neck Resident Leads Statewide Efforts to Save and Enhance Lives Through Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation

O n September 16th, 2022, NJBIZ , New Jersey’s leading business journal, announced the honorees for its 2022 Best 50 Women in Business program, which recognizes professionals who have made a significant impact on New Jersey in dustries and the community at large. T he year’s prestigious list include, Car olyn M. Welsh, Executive Vice President a nd Chief Operating Officer of NJ Shar ing Network, the non-profit, federally d esignated organ procurement organi zation responsible for the recovery and placement of organs and tissue in the state.

A re sident of Colts Neck, Welsh was recognized for her efforts in leading NJ Sharing Network’s 206 employees, local hospital and community partners, and hundreds of volunteers to consistently achieve record growth in lives saved and enhanced through organ and tissue do nation and transplantation.

D uring Welsh’s 23-year tenure at NJ Sharing Network, the number of life-saving transplants in the Garden

State has quadrupled. In recent years, she has guided effective strategic plans, policies and procedures that resulted in all-time highs in the number of organ donors despite unprecedented restric tions due to the pandemic. New Jersey donor registrations also jumped 8.3% in 2021, ranking the state as 5th on the Na tional Donate Life Registry.

“ Every day, I am fortunate to work with our dedicated team of profession als, community volunteers and partners w ho are committed to saving lives and improving the health and wellbeing of our neighbors. Giving people a second chance at life through organ and tissue donation and transplantation is my pur pose. I am honored to be recognized by NJBIZ alongside some of the most dy namic and inspirational leaders in our s tate,” said Welsh.

S ince joining NJ Sharing Network in 1999 as a Hospital Services Manager, Welsh has continually advanced to take on new responsibilities. She currently oversees the day-to-day administrative

and operational functions of NJ Sharing Network, including leading the organi zation’s clinical services, information t echnology, human resources, regulatory compliance, performance improvement, hospital and community outreach, and communications. In addition to her role at NJ Sharing Network, Welsh serves on the Board of Directors of Eversight and on the Chief Operating Officer (COO) Council of the Association of Organ Pro curement Organizations (AOPO). She p reviously served on the United Network for Organ Sharing’s (UNOS) OPTN OPO Committee.

A ccording to United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), there are over 100,000 Americans – nearly 4,000 of whom live in New Jersey – waiting for a life-saving transplant. One organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of over 75 others. To learn more, get involved and register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www. NJSharingNetwork.org

CAROLYN M. WELSH, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (COO) OF NJ SHARING NETWORK

Photo Courtesy of NJ SHARING NETWORK

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Veteran Organization to Provide Housing for Female Veterans Through Grant from Monmouth County Recover Grant Program

Vet B Well, a 501 (c) 3 organization, serves veterans and their families through supportive housing, education, health care, and community reintegration.

M any veterans qualify for housing assistance under their VA benefits, and Vet B Well assists in securing them. However, in many cases these benefits do not adequately cover the full cost of housing. Vet B Well works to secure appropriate hous ing services for veterans regardless of their benefit amount. I n addition, assistance is provided to ensure individuals are applying and securing available additional services which aid in stabilizing the health and housing needs for this at-risk pop ulation.

T hrough the Monmouth County Community Recovery Grant Program, Vet B Well has secured private rooms for low-income women veterans in a residential health care set ting, ONORA in Ocean Township. Programming and services w ill be designed to support the mental and physical needs of women veterans documented as unique in comparison to their male counterparts.

“ The County is proud to support veteran-based nonprofits which have received grants and financial assistance, totaling

over $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding alone,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “One of our recipients, Vet B Well LLC will use the ARPA funds to secure housing for women veterans in Ocean Township which will serve as permanent, affordable and supportive housing for disabled and homeless female veterans.”

T he woman veteran occupant, as a client of Vet B Well, will only be charged what is covered by their Veterans Stipend. Vet B Well will acquire this facility and provide room and board. In addition to securing the placement, Vet B Well will connect the program with municipalities who have indicated a need for veterans housing, but do not have funding nor facilities in their municipality to accommodate placement. Monmouth County communities that have already proactively commit ted to working with Vet B Well in providing veteran outreach i nclude Aberdeen, Atlantic Highlands, Bradley Beach, Free hold Borough, Holmdel Township, Keansburg, Long Branch, M anasquan, Middletown, Neptune Township, Neptune City, Ocean Township, Oceanport and Red Bank. The program is expected to open up in January, and more information will be made available shortly.

Diwali Milan Marlboro 2022

November 5th

6pm

Colts Neck Fire Co, 50 Conover Rd, Colts Neck

People of all cultures are being invited to celebrate the Diwali Festival this year. Marlboro Indian Foundation is celebrating the Diwali Festival in Colts Neck. Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a festival signifying the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. Entertainment will include DJ, dance, fire works, food, drinks and music.

Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mif-diwali-milan-2022tickets-424854981687 for more information.

Magic of Lights

November 18th - December 30th

Sun – Thur: 5-10 pm | Fri - Sat: 5-11 pm

PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel

Magic of Lights is a dazzling, drive-through holiday lights expe rience at PNC Arts Center in Holmdel featuring favorite holiday scenes and characters of the season using the latest LED tech nology and digital animations.

Visit magicoflights.com/newjersey for pricing.

41st Annual Granny's Craft Show

November 19th

9am - 4pm

Thompson Middle School, 1001 Middletown-Lincroft Rd, Middletown

This amazing event has been a holiday tradition in Monmouth County since 1980! Considered one of the largest craft shows on the East Coast, Granny's Attic features more than 250 jur ied vendors/crafters with unique, handcrafted items to satisfy all your holiday shopping needs! Artwork, stained glass, holi day ornaments, accessories, candles, ceramics, children's items, jewelry, tasty chocolates, homemade fudge, spices and many more unique, handcrafted items. 100% of all proceeds go to Thompson Middle School.

Purchase tickets at tinyurl.com/GrannysAttic22.

The Monmouth Museum Holiday Train Display

November 20th - January 8th

The Monmouth Museum, 765 Newman Springs Rd, Lincroft

The Holiday Train display will return to the Monmouth Museum this holiday season.

For more information visit MonmouthMuseum.org.

2022 Bell Works Holiday Markets

Saturdays starting November 26th - December 21th

Bell Works, 101 Crawfords Corner Rd, Holmdel

Visit Bell Works in Holmdel for a series of holiday shopping events featuring a curated collection of 75 local handmade art ists. Times vary.

Visit bellworksfresh.com for details.

Long Branch Holiday Bazaar

Every Sat & Sun, November 26th - December 11th 12-5 pm

Whitechapel Projects (WCP), 15 2nd Ave, Long Branch

The Bazaar will take place at WCP’s indoor chapel space, outdoor tented yard and courtyard spaces. WCP is a beautiful arts, food and cultural venue featuring a sustainable restaurant and bar inspired by local ingredients, products and community collaboration; craft nano-brewery; 8,000-square-foot outdoor beer garden; enclosed outdoor courtyard; and a multi-purpose, 2,100-square-foot indoor space.

Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar at Asbury Hotel

Every Sun, Nov 27th-Dec 18th 1-6 pm

Asbury Hotel, 210 5th Ave, Asbury Park

The Holiday Bazaar will take place at the Asbury’s indoor hall and lounge spaces plus outdoor tented & heated terrace event space. Located in the middle of Asbury Park’s entertainment dis trict, just steps from the boardwalk and beach.

Accepting event listings at info@communitymagazinenj.com. Please check the website prior to attending to ensure accuracy.