Hello 07728! Summer is hot, hot hot! I am excited for you to check out our Summer edition magazine dedicated to the lifestyle and community of Freehold.
The wealth of history in Western Monmouth County is abundant. In this issue – since School’s Out for the summer – we take a look at what schoolhouses once were. During the One Room Schoolhouse Tour of Western Monmouth County held in the spring, six historic schoolhouses were open to the public in a self-drive tour. “Due to the diligent work of several historic societies all of these buildings have been carefully restored and display many period artifacts including vintage desks, class attendance lists and photographs from bygone eras, as well as original architectural details,” Maureen O’Connor Leach explains. She is one of the commissioners on the Monmouth County Historical Commission as well as treasurer of the Country Schools Association of America. Take the tour and learn more on page 4.
After you take that self-drive historic tour, satisfy your sweet tooth at Bruno’s Bakery Gelateria addition. In June, the Settepani family expanded their bakery with the addition of the Gelateria in their adjacent room on Main Street. Incorporating his favorite flavors from his roots in Sicily, Chef Joseph Settepani is modernizing his father Biagio’s recipes to create a one-of-a-kind experience for his customers. “When you walk into the bakery, I tell customers you’ll have the experience of being in Sicily,” Settepani said. “Having a gelato, but with an American twist to it.” The shop will also offer sorbetto, baba dessert, and Brioche Con Gelato (a sandwich filled with gelato; Sicily’s version of an ice cream sandwich). Ooooh! The sweetness begins on page 8. After satisfying that sweet tooth, enjoy
a Broadway quality show at Center Players Playhouse. For two decades, The Center Playhouse has been the borough’s intimate “little theater” with 49 seats and a 14-by-18 foot stage bringing “excitement, energy and a closeness” that comes with community theater. From its humble beginnings calling themselves the “Shopping Bag Players” because “we dragged everything all over the place” according to Artistic Director Bernice GarfieldSzita, the company is on the lookout for a new place. They are optimistic, so as for now, the show must go on. Next up Center Players will present A Black and White Cookie, an original play written by Gary Morgenstein and directed by Garfield-Szita Aug. 11-27. To reserve tickets visit https://centerplayers.org/ upcoming/ Learn more about Center Players Playhouse on page 12.
What would summer be without a fair? The history of Monmouth County Fair goes back 150 years showing off local farmers’ hard work. The tradition continues as the fair was held for the 48th consecutive year at the East Freehold Showgrounds from July 26-30. The fair has consistently gathered local community members to show off Jersey agriculture, stimulate appreciation for the local environment, enjoy good food and cold drinks, play games, ride rides, and appreciate talented artists’ live acts. “This is the largest multi-day event in Monmouth County and Jersey Shore area,” asserted Erika Bozza, chairperson for this year’s Monmouth County Fair. Today, the fair gives the Monmouth County Park system the chance to show off the expansive park and county land that’s available for New Jersey residents and visitors to enjoy year round. Currently the park system owns and operates over 18,000 acres of land in Monmouth County. See you at the fair on page 14.
All of this and more awaits on the pages ahead! Happy reading!
Hailey Ruderman
Jamie Giambrone Ryan Gallagher
Jennifer Amato
BY JENNIFER AMATO
When you walk into any of the one-room schoolhouses in Western Monmouth County, you are instantly transported to a different time. You smell the wood, you see the wood burning stove, you view a painting or bust of President Abraham Lincoln, you sit in the small wooden desks of varying sizes. Plus, if you’re fortunate, you see historic interpreters dressed in period garb who are ready to delve into the history of the area.
During the One Room Schoolhouse Tour of Western Monmouth County held in the spring, six schoolhouses were open to the
public in a self-drive tour.
Maureen O’Connor Leach, who is one of the commissioners on the Monmouth County Historical Commission as well as treasurer of the Country Schools Association of America, has an interest in history and education and thus organized this tour with the assistance of representatives of the Freehold Township Heritage Society and the Freehold Township Preservation Commission. She is an attorney by trade, but spent 25
please see HISTORY, page 6
PHOTOS BY JENNIFER AMATO
Legend has it that the Georgia Schoolhouse in Freehold Township originated from a grant of some 40 acres made by King George of England in 1735. It is the oldest remaining school in the township.
years as an historical interpreter and managing historic accounts. She is also part of the New Jersey Living History Advisory Council.
“Due to the diligent work of several historic societies all of these buildings have been carefully restored and display many period artifacts including vintage desks, class attendance lists and photographs from bygone eras, as well as original architectural details,” O’Connor Leach said. “These edifices remain a testament to the importance our forebearers placed on the need for education in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.”
Generally, the rule was that a school had to be built on the corner of a farm and be within two miles of the children in the area so they could walk to school, she said. Most of the farmers were from Europe and had no formal education, so they wanted their kids to attend school and then take over the farm. A lot of the buildings moved when the farmer’s kids grew up and moved away.
“A building is preserved almost by accident as a function of history,” O’Connor Leach said.
Each schoolroom had a bell that would ring one hour prior to the start of the school day so that kids had an hour to walk, and then rung at the end of the day so parents could expect their arrival back home.
stands there today. In 1862, that building was replaced with the current structure. The wood to build the school was harvested from the trees on the original school lot.
The school operated from 1735 until 1935 in the state’s ninth school district. Reopened in 1950 as a school for special needs children, this is the oldest remaining school in the township.
The West Freehold School, located at 209 Wemrock Road in Freehold Township, was originally known as the West Freehold Seminary and Collegiate Institute. It was built in 1847 on a small piece of the WalkerCombs-Hartshorne Farm (later Oakley) when the area was known as the Freehold Corner District.
The building that educated children in what was later numbered District 11, was occupied for instructional use until a 1936 township school consolidation.
While the commission has traced ownership to the late 17th century, this lot was deeded by Rulif R. Schanck, the source of a nickname “the Old Schanck School” to school trustees Samuel Conover, William W. Thompson and John H. Mount on June 8, 1847.
The Court Street School, located at 54 Avenue A in Freehold Borough, educated Black students from 1915-48. It is one of two
Borough Board of Education formalized the school in 1915.
The Great Migration - the relocation of Blacks from the rural South to take advantage of burgeoning industrial jobs in the North - boosted enrollment. In 1919, the Department of Education built the current structure. The two-classroom school then grew to four classrooms, with two or three grades to a room. Kindergarten was also added to the school.
During World War II, the school was used as an air raid shelter and ration station.
The school integrated in the early 1950s, serving Black and white students through the third grade. From the 1970s to the 1990s there were county offices inside, and since the ‘90s it’s been a community center.
The Montrose Schoolhouse, located at 13 Cedar Drive in Colts Neck, is the last of the township’s six one-room schoolhouses, and is the only one that retains its original architectural profile. Historians believe the structure was built before 1820, maybe 1790 or possibly 1805, but records are not determinant.
The Montrose School was originally known as the Barrenton School located in “the Barrens” just to the west and moved to its present location. Its name was changed at that time.
rules ties etc.). generally
There were separate entrances for boys and girls, and though they shared the space inside, they usually stayed on separate sides of the poles. Kids of any grade were taught together by one teacher, who was usually male; if they were female, there were stricter rules for their responsibilities (the way they dressed, etc.). And the teachers were generally paid by the community, not the townships.
The Georgia Schoolhouse, located at 300 Georgia Road in Freehold Township, sits on a parcel of land that was granted to the township from the proprietors of East Jersey in 1735. The property was granted by King George with a stipulation that it always be used for educational or religious purposes.
The original schoolhouse on this site was a log cabin which was replaced after a fire around 1820 by a wooden structure slightly smaller than what
SUMMER
1935.
Lillian Burry and the Historical Preservation Committee. It retains its original pumpkin pine floors, a potbelly wood burning stove and a collection of period school desks.
The Blansingburg Schoolhouse Museum, located at 1701 New Bedford Road in Wall Township, was built in 1855. It was in use from 1856-1935.
In 1999 the building was relocated from its original location. The tin walls, ceiling, wainscoting and blackboard were still intact. It was restored and furnished with old desks, books and memorabilia.
It is currently used twice a week for teaching Wall Township’s second grade students, who get to tour the school. For their visit, girls are given pinafores and boys wear suspenders so they get a feel for school life in the 1800s; they do math on chalkboards, write on the chalk slates (instead of in notebooks) and read from McGuffy’s readers.
The Old Ardena Schoolhouse, located at 370 Old Tavern Road in Howell, was built in
When Howell’s Ardena Consolidated School opened in 1938, the individual district schools were no longer needed. The old building was sold to neighbor Roy Matthews in 1939, and it became storage for his carpentry tools. In 1946 he sold it to Victor Griffin, who moved it to Burlington Road in Freehold Township, where it was used for his carpet-making business.
In 1973, there was a push by the Howell Historical Society to preserve the building, and they were able to purchase the schoolhouse for $3,000, and paid $1,400 to have it moved mid-summer of 1974 to the corner of
Old Tavern and Preventorium roads where it currently sits.
The hope is to make the schoolhouse tour a biennial event, with the next one planned for 2025.
PHOTOS BY JENNIFER AMATO
Court Street School in Freehold served Black students in Grades 1-8 but was integrated in the early 1950s, serving Black and White students through the third grade.
Freehold just got a whole lot sweeter. Bruno’s Bakery, owned by the Settepani family, just expanded their business by adding a Gelateria in the adjacent room next to their bakery on Main Street.
The Gelateria had its soft opening in June and will be a host to many more events, such as a Festa Del Gelato over the summer.
Chef Joseph Settepani’s inspirations originate from his family roots in Sicily, with gelato being his most memorable childhood sweet summer treat, according to information about its opening.
Incorporating his favorite flavors from his roots in Sicily, Settepani is modernizing his father Biagio’s recipes to create a one-of-akind experience for his customers.
“When you walk into the bakery, I tell customers you’ll have the experience of being in Sicily,” Settepani said. “Having a gelato, but with an American twist to it.”
The shop will also offer sorbetto, baba dessert, and Brioche Con Gelato (a sandwich filled with gelato; Sicily’s version of an ice cream sandwich). Ooooh!
With special flavors like banana sorbet, cookies and cream, Settepani’s favorite Stracciatella (vanilla base with rum and chocolate chips), and other weekly flavors, there is something for everyone. These specialty flavors will include top-of-the-line ingredients, such as Nielsen Massey and Callebaut’s Mona Lisa brands.
“One of my younger employees told me I needed to do an ‘everything’ flavor,” Settapani said, saying he’s playing around with “an everything but the sink flavor.” “I go off of what my employees suggest because they give me
such crazy flavors to work with.”
In November 2022, the Settepanis moved their family and their business from Staten Island, N.Y. to Freehold.
Originating in Manhattan, Bruno’s Bakery was taken over by Biagio Settepani, who kept the name to honor the original owner and continue his legacy, according to the younger Settepani.
After the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, Biagio and his wife opened up two locations in Staten Island and closed the Manhattan one soon after that.
Biagio’s son, Joseph, helped him run the bakery after finding his passion in the pastry arts as well.
“The running joke is that I was born with a whisk and a spatula in my hand,” Settepani said.
His dad was one of the first Italians to bring the types of pastries and authenticity to New York, Settepani noted.
Settepani graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 2012 and then interned for Chef Gary Rulli in San Francisco.
Just a year later in 2013, he was offered a position to intern at the French Pastry School in Chicago as a pastry chef assistant. This is the school that made him realize he was passionate about the pastry world after visiting the school as a child with his father, according to Settepani.
“Something just clicked in Chicago,” he recalled. “I told my dad after that trip that, that’s what I want to do. So after that, I
started stepping up my game in the bakery and learning as much as I could.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Settepani family moved to the Monmouth County area and closed one of its two Staten Island locations.
“On my way home from work one day, I was craving something sweet, but forgot something to bring home from the bakery so I started looking around the area of where I live and couldn’t really find anything,” Settapani said. “Before I go to the big-name grocery stores, I like to go to the mom-andpop shops to support.”
In order to satisfy that sweet tooth closer to home, Settepani and his sister, Fina Pulaj, decided to open up the now current Freehold location of Bruno’s Bakery.
When the family came across a bright red barn that used to be an ice cream shop, they knew it was the perfect place for their new bakery.
Soon after receiving the Freehold location, the family closed the final Staten Island shop,
please see BITES, page 10
The Settepani family is satisfying that sweet tooth in Monmouth County through Bruno’s Bakery. In June, they started bringing a slice of Sicily through the bakery’s Gelateria addition, which opened in June.
making New Jersey the sole bakery.
“Being that [the past business] was already an ice cream shop, it made the decision much easier to open up the Gelateria,” Settepani said.
Settepani wanted to keep the tradition alive with adding the Sicilian twist to it. Making gelato is not new to Settepani, so it was an easy decision, but he wanted to add sundaes and other specialties.
He tested some of his flavors – serving almost 1,000 frozen treats - last year during the New York City Wine and Food Festival’s “Taste of Italy.”
As the summer continues and the list of Bruno’s Bakery customers grow, Settepani constantly looks forward to seeing all of the families come in to try their products.
“Seeing the smile on the peoples’ faces when they come in and see the desserts and they taste everything, just brightens up their day, especially the kids,” Settepani said.
“I always say, you’re always judged the hardest by a kid, because as an adult we already know what we like. Kids have no idea what things taste like yet, so when they take two bites out of something of mine and they like it, that’s how I know I’ve won.”
Today, Settepani, his wife Danielle and his sister Fina continue to serve Monmouth County, and surrounding areas at their new Bruno’s Bakery location.
“I am so grateful for the love we have been receiving from our community and we’re so excited that we opened the gelateria side of the business and we can’t wait for everyone
to try it and enjoy it,” Settapani said. Bruno’s Bakery and its Gelateria are located at 356 W. Main St., Freehold.
Bakery hours:
Monday: Closed.
Tuesday to Thursday: 7 a.m. to 7 pm.
Friday to Saturday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Gelato hours:
Monday: Closed.
Tuesday to Thursday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday to Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
BY GLORIA STRAVELLI
When Center Players began residence in Freehold Borough two decades ago, they called themselves the “Shopping Bag Players.”
“… We dragged everything all over the place,” Bernice Garfield-Szita chuckled as she recalled their beginning.
Garfield-Szita is the company’s artistic director.
“When you love what you do … you will do whatever it takes to keep doing it,” she said.
Stop and take a moment to remember Garfield-Szita’s quote.
“So we developed a fund toward a permanent space, meanwhile performing in venues including the Cornerstone Cafe, the American Hotel and the American Legion Hall.”
There were ups and downs in the search for a new venue, Garfield-Szita acknowledged, including a last-minute fail when a space fell through.
“So we were back to square one,” she said. “We went to a realtor and said, ‘Just find us a space that we can afford and we’ll go wherever we need to go.’
“And that’s how the little theater on the corner of South Mechanic Street was born.”
For two decades, Center Players has been Freehold Borough’s resident theater company providing community theater entertainment.
Now, going back to their beginnings.
The building, which had long housed a balloon store, needed work.
“There was a refrigerator that was like a
time capsule from the 1950s,” Garfield-Zita laughed as she recalled “the wreck” of the place. “But the new owner of the property, Alan Steinhaus, was a good guy and he said, ‘Tell me what you need and I’ll build it out for you.’
“So he actually built the stage, we had an architect draw up plans so that we would have a backstage.”
The Center Playhouse became the borough’s intimate “little theater” with 49 seats and a 14 -by -18-foot stage bringing “excitement, energy and a closeness” that comes with community theater.
In 2001, the doors to Center Playhouse opened with a production of Crossing Delancey
Opening night included a fundraiser dinner at Portobello restaurant in the borough.
“We had a red carpet, we had a doorman and we were totally sold out,” Garfield-Szita relayed.
“It was wonderful, in fact, people kept saying to us, ‘We never thought we would have something like this in Freehold. This is so wonderful, so sophisticated.’”
Center Players worked with the town to even change the street sign from South Street to Delancey Street.
Preparations were underway for a fall production of Laughter on the 23rd Floor when the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 happened.
“We had to work out for ourselves whether we were going to do a show that was funny when such a tragedy happened,” GarfieldSzita recalled.
“It was the board’s decision that one of the roles of theater is to help people distract themselves from their everyday worries and
give them energy and good feelings to go on, so the show did go on.
“But that’s part of live theater, you never know, and you can make all the good plans in the world and then something could happen that you never expected would happen. You have to kind of roll with the punches and we’ve always done that,” she said.
Those were the theatre troupe’s humble beginnings. For 22 years, the little theater flourished and has been recognized with multiple awards.
Fast forward to 2023, Center Players finds themselves essentially at square one … again.
But remember Garfield-Zita’s quote:
“When you love what you do … you will do whatever it takes to keep doing it.
In true troubadour tradition, Center Players is determined the show must go on and is in search of a new venue due to the sale of their long-time theater space in the borough.
“We’re not just a grocery store,” said Garfield-Szita’s husband Bob, alluding to proposed plans to convert Center Players’ intimate 49-seat theater on South Mechanic Street into a food market.
“We want to be part of, and almost belong to and have the town feel like we’re theirs,” said Szita, who fields multiple backstage roles including house manager. “So community theater, they’re local actors in Monmouth County and what happens onstage is done by local people.
“Everything is an expression of feeling proud of what you have and what you do and being able to show it and give it to the rest of the community.
please see PLAYERS, page 13
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‘The
“To say, ‘Oh yes! That’s our theater there, it’s part of the community,’” Szita explained.
Garfield-Szita noted they are a nonprofit.
“Nobody makes any money,” she emphasized. “In fact, we give money to keep things going.”
Ideally, they need to find a space already built out, according to Sheldon Fallon, president of Center Players’ executive committee.
“We need a space that’s at least 2,000 square feet, we have to have room to build a stage and have to have 12 to14 foot ceilings for lights,” Fallon explained. “We need to put in the stage, two public bathrooms, backstage needs a separate bath and dressing area.”
The Center Players are in their space through March 24, 2024 and for a year, they have been “searching and searching within the town” to stay “at home.”
Skyrocketing rent prices has led the crew to not only look in the borough, but also outside.
“We started to look but we have not found anything that we feel is absolutely a perfect space for us,” Garfield-Szita said. “…We would like to stay in the town anyway we could.”
The Center Players crew remains optimistic.
“We recently had some contact with the mayor [Kevin A. Kane], who was positive and said they are going to try to find a way,” Garfield-Zita said.
Community aspect
Bob Szita is a non-theater person.
“Previous to meeting Bernice I had no theater experience other than going to the theater,” he said. “So my interest in community theater and my only experience with Center Players is the community aspect. I like talking with people and involving them in projects, that’s probably the aspect I like the most.”
Over the years, Szita has seen the value of community theater for the creative.
“It’s a beginning for them and I’ve seen many youngsters and even oldsters get on stage for the first time and blossom and go on in different ways with it,” he said, whether its as stage manager, making sets, or operating the sound board or light board.
“The community inspires me. I like to say we are not a theater in the community, we are a community.”
Center Players has involved businesses and individuals throughout the community in many different ways.
They invited a local physical therapist
to help two “strong, vibrant, mature men” to move like elderly men in their show I’m Not Rappaport, about two elderly men who become friends.
“By the time he was done they really looked the age that they were portraying,” Szita said.
The theater troupe used a kosher deli to
selors.
Garfield-Szita taught art and theater prior to beginning private practice as a psychodramatist, combining drama and therapy.
“For 20 years we held our ‘Mourning After’ grief group at the theater,” GarfieldZita explained. “The interesting synergy of this was people came in who were absolutely devastated by the loss of a husband or a wife or a child or friend and being in the theater environment was positive for them.”
What does the theater bring to the town, how does the town benefit?
“Certainly economically,” Szita responded, noting their little theater has essentially made Freehold a destination. “People come into town and they eat at the restaurants. As far as attracting business to Freehold, knowing there is a theater there that the town and the residents are proud of.”
Szita said they want borough officials to boast and take ownership.
“If the mayor is talking about Freehold, we want him to say, ‘We have Center Playhouse, an awardwinning theater.’”
provide food for a show that had a Jewish theme.
Local businesses have allowed Center Players to utilize space in off hours so that they could rehearse. Many places have also provided props and costumes without charge including the antique center and Habitat ReStore.
“It does enrich the people who have become involved in the theater as volunteers,” Szita said. “It often pulls in the whole family and there is a feeling of being a part of this wonderful project and there’s a pride in it. Years later, people will say, ‘I worked on that show.’ Or, ‘You borrowed my (whatever), it’s still a part of them.’
“They’re talking about it years later, so these are lifetime experiences. But it is not just that. It’s not just good theater, it’s all the other involvement and behind-the-scenes activities, the connections, human connections, that go into it.”
These were the theater troupe’s beginnings and two decades followed during which the company flourished and was recognized with multiple awards.
“We love the diverse population, we love the friends we’ve made with the restaurants and businesses,” Garfield-Szita said. “We love being a bridge for the different ethnic and other communities, it’s wonderful.”
Another aspect of Center Players has been facilitating the couple’s work as grief coun-
So where else “can you see a Broadway-quality show for $30?” asked Fallon, who once reviewed community theater productions.
“We’ve won so many awards,” he said wistfully, “and the things we can do on that little stage … Unbelievable!”
Center Players will present A Black and White Cookie, an original play written by Gary Morgenstein and directed by GarfieldSzita Aug. 11-27.
To reserve tickets visit https://centerplayers.org/upcoming/
Center Players Playhouse has been offering Broadway-quality shows for two decades.
Next up A Black and White Cookie, an original play written by Gary Morgenstein and directed by Garfield-Szita Aug. 11-27
The 48th Annual Monmouth County Fair offered a long weekend with endless activities
BY RYAN GALLAGHER
For more than a century, the Monmouth County Fair has been held showcasing local agricultural history.
And the fair is still going strong.
For the 48th consecutive year, the Monmouth County Park System worked with its vendors to hold the fair at East Freehold Showgrounds from July 26-30.
The fair has consistently gathered local community members to show off Jersey agriculture, stimulate appreciation for the local environment, enjoy good food and cold drinks, play games, ride rides, and appreciate talented artists’ live acts.
“The history of this fair in Monmouth County goes back 150 years,” explained Erika Bozza, chairperson for this year’s Monmouth County Fair. “There have been fairs here for a long time showing off the local agricultural history.
“It’s held in cooperation with the Monmouth County Park System and Monmouth County 4-H, under the Rutgers Cooperative Extension’s youth development program with clubs and volunteers for projects they’ve worked on throughout the year—everything from horse exhibits, animal tents, agriculture shows…”
Ahead of the fair, Bozza explained the intricacies of the event this year, and also went into a bit about the history of this spe-
cific, well-known Monmouth County community get-together.
She is this year’s chairperson for the Monmouth County fair, but that’s not her main gig. She’s spent 25 years working for the Monmouth County Park System, mostly running other county-sponsored camps and environmental programs. Each year, the park system chooses a “fair chair” or a person to spearhead and customize the event.
Along with the park system’s executive committee, Bozza was the person selected this year to customize the event to differentiate this fair from years’ past, but still maintain the fair’s well-known tradition.
“This is my job one week per year,” she explained (not counting the pre-planning work that goes on months prior). “And then the rest of the year I work with naturalists and visitor services. I work with different divisions like nature interpretations, community, and environment centers in the Manasquan Reservoir. I work on running camps and programs, and outdoor adventure camps, hiking trips, archery classes, climbing missions, and I manage the ski hut in the winter.”
Bozza keeps quite busy. Despite a range of yearlong responsibilities, this event will be a special one for her, she admits.
Looking at the fair’s daily itinerary was almost overwhelming. Certain days highlighted events like The Nerds band that played on July 27, or the Sunsational Soul Cruisers on July 30.
and military mem-
The fair is “always a great value” with free parking and multiple days of free entertainment. There was free admission for children under 12 as well as for veterans and military members. Seniors and students were free on Sundays.
Every year, the fair features rides, games, vendors, exhibits, and entertainment that are on offer for each of the five event days. The Monmouth County Parks System event board committee went through great lengths to make the fair interesting for those who could only show up on one day, and for those who wanted to enjoy the fair for multiple days.
“This is the largest multi-day event in Monmouth County and Jersey Shore area,” asserted Bozza noting they were expecting 95,000 people to come through the Showgrounds at 1500 Kozloski Road. “We have the biggest rides, the most rides, food trucks, food vendors, snack vendors, live animals, portable climbing wall, multiple shows… You can spend an entire day just going show to show to show.”
Over the course of the five days, there
please see COUNTY, page 15
was a ton on offer, and some of the highlights were as follows:
· Amish Outlaws.
· Back to the 80s Show with Jessie’s Girl.
· Coast 2 Coast Philly.
· Robinson’s Racing Pigs.
· Aaron Bonk’s Fire, Whips, and Danger Tricks.
· Flying Fools High Diving Show.
· Home & Garden Demonstrations from Central Jersey Beekeepers Association.
· Grown in Monmouth.
·
Muttssnack trucks like Empanada Guy, Tony’s Italian Sausage, Freehold Jersey Freeze, and many more every day of the fair.
History of the Fair in Monmouth County
Over a long winter, it’s sometimes easy to forget that this is the Garden State. For 150 years, there have been events like the Monmouth County Fair in Freehold that show off local farmers’ hard work.
“We have a wonderful home and garden tent. It’s a competition so people put their flowers and vegetables, artwork and pies, and cookies to be judged there,” shared Bozza. “To showcase the things people are doing here in the Garden State.”
This event pays homage to those individuals as well as the natural beauty and environment in New Jersey.
Every year the fair features a “living history tent showcasing life on Historic Longstreet Farm with displays and demonstrations,” said Bozza. “It’s set in the 1890s and has different demonstrators doing stitch work, and many different things from the 1890s.”
The fair gives the Monmouth County Park system the chance to show off the expansive park and county land that’s available for New Jersey residents and visitors to enjoy year round. Currently the park system owns and operates over 18,000 acres of land in Monmouth County.
“Huber Woods Park, Dawn to Dusk highlights themes from our forested areas, the
ponds, the wildlife, the things to see there,” explained Bozza. “Guests might follow the Nature on the Move van which is our travel and environmental center.”
With more than a century and half down, and hopefully many more to go, the Monmouth County Fair is a yearly event that draws big crowds from all over the state.
Jersey gets much of its reputation for the shore points in the summertime. However, the Monmouth County Fair is an annual event that shows off more than just New Jersey’s beaches - notably Seven Presidents beach, another Monmouth County park.
Bozza said the fair is a chance to facetime with community members that the park system’s employees don’t always see throughout the year.
“We get to highlight county services like the highway division, the sheriff’s department, and county services like tourism, the clerk, and Brookdale College so people can come and discover what’s here for them.”
For more information about the Monmouth County Park System visit https:// www.monmouthcountyparks.com/
The Monmouth County Fair has been showcasing local agricultural history for 150 years.
Gone Nuts (comedic
Guests were able to access the days’ itinerary on the Monmouth County Park System website.
At the Team Ranch Association buckle matches, participants were able to win a big buckle and compete herding cattle. People were also able to see Aaron Bonk’s Fire Whips and Danger Tricks.
Bozza noted Bonk is a Guinness Book world record holder, which her family saw at the New York Renaissance Fair.
The fair also saw a high diving act – High Flying Fools - from Canada.
“Some people might recall the high diving show that used to be at Six Flags,” Bozza said.
When at a fair, there’s never any shortage of food. This was especially true at the Monmouth County Fair. In addition to the beautiful Garden-State-grown fruit and veggies on offer, there were numerous food and
Downtown Freehold’s Farmers Market runs through October at the Hall of Records, 1 E. Main St. –11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Downtown Freehold presents Thursdays Rock!
Aug. 10 – Rob Gerrity Band
Aug. 17 – Van Halen Tribute Band
Aug. 24 – Turnstyles
Aug. 31 – Yasgur’s Farm.
organization’s website for updated event Main St.
Bring your own lawn chairs. The concert series is held from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Hall of Records, 1 E.
Live Music Friday and Saturday at the Gazebo
Aug. 11 – CMJ Jazz Band
Aug. 12 – 2 Tones (Charley & Walter)
Aug. 18 – WCT Band
Aug. 19 – CJ Smith & Charley
Aug. 25 – Dynamic Duo
Aug. 26 – Bobby Valli
Music held at 10 East Main St. For more information contact (732) 333-0094 or visit www.downtownfreehold.com.
Center Players Signature Series Presentation of A Black and White Cookie from Aug. 11-27. For more information visit centerplayers.org.
Walk about Town: Join members of Council, friends and neighbors as they take a walk through different neighborhoods each week. All ages are welcome as well as leashed pets. It’s a lot of fun to meet new people, learn some fun facts about the various locations in town and get out and move. Walks are paced based on the participants and weather. Be sure to bring a water bottle and meet at Borough Hall at 6 p.m., 30 Mechanic St.
Free Yoga: Bring a mat, towel or small blanket for yoga. Runs Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. through Aug. 30 at Court Street School, 140 Court St.
Freehold Elks No. 1454
Veterans Committee presents An All-American Summer
Afternoon Festival for $20 from 1-6 p.m. Aug. 12 at 73 E. Main St. All proceeds help military service men and women who selflessly served. Questions or inquiries contact Doreen (732) 404-7723 or Mikey (732) 890-4292.
Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation Walk will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 12 at Riverside Gardens Park, West Front Street at the Navesink River, Red Bank. Parze, who was from Freehold, was killed by her abusive ex-boyfriend in 2019. The walk supports victims of domestic violence and missing persons.
Campaign is holding Walk About
The Mayor’s Wellness is holding Walk About Town on Tuesday night and Free Yoga on Wednesday night in August.
Free Storytime in the Park
please see CALENDAR, page 17
It’s all in the details. When it comes to your social calendar change is ... not always good. But sometimes it’s inevitable. Check each
Hassell
from 11-11:45 p.m. Aug. 13 at Historic Walnford, Crosswicks Creek, Upper Freehold. Bring a snack and a blanket. Open to ages 2-7 with an adult.
Free Woodworking at Walnford, Upper Freehold, from noon to 3 p.m., Aug. 13. Watch a local woodworker demonstrate 19th century methods.
Enjoy country line dancing at 7 p.m. Aug. 14 at the BPOE Elks Lodge, 73 East Main St.
Next family movie night will be held from 8:30-10 p.m. Aug. 23.
Sunday funday bike rides at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 27. Meet at Roberto’s Grill, 59 E. Main St.
Oktobertfest vendors wanted for noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 1. For an application email marketing@downtownfreehold.com or visit www.downtownfreehold.com.
Freehold American Legion Car and Truck Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 15 at Freehold Borough, Hall of Records parking lot, 1 E. Main St.
Send us your calendar listings!
Please include all critical information: who, what, where, when and how to register or get tickets (if applicable), as well as a few lines of a description. Email your listings to kchang@newspapermediagroup.com
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