Residency Welcomes Professional Muralist To Intermediate East

TOMS RIVER – Intermediate East will welcome a professional muralist this year, who will lead a 23-day residency to instruct students and staff in the arts.

The unique opportunity is thanks to the Artist in Residency (AIE) grant and its 2023 Bridge to AIE program.

“This residency offers a unique resource and approach to learning for your students by bringing a professional teaching artist into the classroom,” wrote AIE Program Officer Samantha Clarke in a congratulatory letter to the school.

This marks the third district program to receive an AIE residency grant in the past several years; High School North’s Dance Academy welcomed a modern dance artist to assist the program in 2021, and the school also welcomed a guest digital artist for a residency that spanned two academic years.

This time around, not only will Intermediate East have a professional on site to assist students and staff; they’ll also be left with a lasting representation of the experience in the form of a mural.

“We have selected a wall, and look forward to the infusion of history through ‘mathographics’ with the children’s vision of the future and where they would like to be as adults,” said Principal Bryan Madigan. “This is a genuinely exciting opportunity, and I have the utmost confidence in our capacity to take this on because we have a team of talented, open-minded, and skilled

The residency is valued at $11,000 and is offered in partnership with Young Audiences Arts for Learning of New Jersey and Eastern PA, an organization the district has worked closely with in recent years. Intermediate East’s proposal was developed by Supervisor Tiffany Lucey, and identifies teachers Elisa Waller and Allison Berman as the project leads. These art educators, along with the project’s steering committee, comprised of fellow teachers, parents, administrators, and community partners, will spend the ensuing weeks and months attending orientations, planning, and interviewing potential artists for the residency.

The mission of the Bridge to AIE is a sustainable, arts-infused opportunity through which professional artists work directly with students but also spend considerable time training staff in their expertise to forge a lasting educational experience beyond the residency. It’s an opportunity Intermediate East welcomes with open arms, and one they recognize as the start of something big.

“This residency,” Madigan said, “will help students and staff grow as artists and, over time, broaden their horizons, hopefully across many years of murals and large scale participatory art.

“This will be the first of its kind here at Intermediate East.”

Local Pets Available For Adoption

TOMS RIVER – Pets like this one is available at the Toms River Animal Shelter. Monroe is a 3-year-old dog who loves attention. He loves to go on walks, loves pets, loves being with his owners. Unfortunately, his previous owner fell

Photo courtesy Toms River Animal Shelter ill and was no longer able to care for him. Monroe is now at the shelter making new friends with the staff and volunteers! For more information, call 732-3411000 or visit tomsrivertownship.com/155/ Animal-Control-Services.

Comfort Food Festival

TOMS RIVER – Join the Downtown Toms River Business Improvement District for their Comfort Food Festival on September 16 from 12 to 6 p.m.

In addition to all the great food, the street will be filled with merchandise vendors, handcrafters, kids’ activities, live entertain- ment and a beer & wine garden provided by Toms River Volunteer Fire Co. #1. Local businesses, restaurants, brewery and distillery open on the street. Free Admission & Free Parking in downtown during the event. More information by visiting downtowntomsriver.com/comfort-food-festival.

Kites In The Heights

SEASIDE HEIGHTS – Free, kite flying with huge, entertaining kites for the kids. Bring the whole family. Bring your own kite to join in the flying. Kites in the Heights will be on July 11 from 5 to 9 p.m. Enter at the Carteret Avenue beach (north of Casino Pier).