Manasquan & Brielle June 2023

Manasquan +Brielle

KINDNESS CAFE

MEET THE TEAM

HOW TO SELECT YOUR FIRST SURFBOARD

JULY FOURTH MAKE IT FESTIVE!

The sea’s healing power

#1 Agent in Manasquan, and #1 Agent in Brielle!

Greg Rice has been the top-selling Realtor in both Manasquan and Brielle for the past 15 YEARS! From 2008 - 2022, Greg closed more residential real estate than any other agent at any other brokerage in each Manasquan and Brielle!* He is recognized through multiple awards and designations as one of the top real estate agents in the entire United States and was recently ranked #27 in all of N.J. (over 55,000 agents) by Newsweek Magazine's "America's Best Realtors." Contact Greg today to discover for yourself what separates him from other agents and why he is the top-selling agent in Manasquan and Brielle. He is always available for a free, discreet, and confidential consultation on what your home could be worth in this market.

"...We could not be more pleased with this process from start to finish. Greg is friendly, professional, hardworking and smart. His marketing approach was first class, his negotiating skills fantastic. There was no request he could not handle. We recommend him without reservations...."

- McManus Family, Seller, Manasquan

...In my life, I have hired four real estate agents. Greg Rice is, by a very wide margin, the best. His attention to you and overall customer service is extraordinary.I can not say enough good things.

- L. Matino, Buyer, Manasquan

"....My wife and I interviewed numerous realtors to help us sell our Brielle home, and it was clear to us w ithin a few minutes of meeting Greg that he would be our choice...Greg's preparation, presentation materials, knowledge of the local market, and his contagious enthusiasm, and professionalism stood out to us. My wife and I can not recommend Greg highly enough...."

- Tim Conway, Seller, Brielle

Just Some of Greg's Recent Sales

Welcome to Our Magazine!

issue is jam-packed with captivating local information, including: a profile of Alli Scaduto’s remarkable local nonprofit organization, The Ocean Is Female; tips for making sure you’re always ready for your next beach trip from Organize & Style’s Amy Dube; an introduction to the team behind Kindness Cafe; and our quick-start guide to selecting your first surfboard.

My main goal is to share the stories of everything and everyone Manasquan and Brielle have to offer—and the things that matter most to you, our readers, for whom we produce this magazine each month.

Editor & Publisher

Tracy Naimo

Group Publisher

Jodi Bruker

Art Director

Sue Park

Copy Editor

Nancy Fass

Writers

Allison Scaduto

Amy Dube

Robbie Nelson

Stefanie Hilarczyk

Photographers

Theresa Artigas

Mike Cassella

WAINSCOT MEDIA

Chairman

Carroll V. Dowden

BY THERESA ARTIGAS

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Manasquan + Brielle Magazine! I am thrilled to present this new, monthly publication to you and hope you find the articles and around-town happenings— all focused solely on the towns of Manasquan and Brielle—engaging and useful.

As you flip through these pages, you’ll find wonderful stories about the people and places that make these two towns so special. The June

Here’s to connecting our community, supporting local businesses and getting to know each other better through exclusive local stories and photos.

If you have an interesting, fun or meaningful story idea or photo to share, please reach out via the email address below! I also invite local writers and photographers who would like to contribute to the magazine to contact me. Own or manage a local business? I would love to talk to you about how we can help your business grow within our community and the surrounding area. In short, I’m all ears! Email me at hello@manasquan-brielle.com.

Warm regards,

Tracy Naimo Publisher

President and CEO

Mark Dowden

VP, Group Publisher, Regional

Thomas Flannery

VP, Content Strategy

Maria Regan

Creative Director

Kijoo Kim

Advertising Services Director

Jacquelynn Fischer

Operations Director

Catherine Rosario

Production Designer

Chris Ferrante

Print Production Manager

Fern Meshulam

Advertising Production Associate

Griff Dowden

16 24 10 12

124 Tips to Keep You Beach-Ready

Expert advice from a beach-loving mom and professional organizer.

16Riding the Waves

An innovative local foundation connects women

20A Cup of Kindness

20

28

IN

2Publisher’s Note WELCOME TO OUR MAGAZINE!

6Around Town BITE-SIZED UPDATES

8Q&A MEET 2022’S PRIDE OF BRIELLE WINNERS

10Home Front TIPS FOR A FESTIVE FOURTH

24Life Outdoors YOUR FIRST SURFBOARD

26Events Calendar SUMMERTIME FUN

28Book Nook SUMMER SELECTIONS

ON THE COVER Ocean Is Female board members Amy Dube, Allison Scaduto (president and founder) and Kara Murphy.

PHOTOGRAPH BY THERESA ARTIGAS

NEW Around Town

MAMMA MIA

Here we go again! Manasquan High School (MHS)

Drama Club is proud to be nominated for three Basie Awards this year for the recent production of ABBA’s hit musical, “Mamma Mia!” The MHS Drama Club has been very successful in the past few years with the new leadership of Madison Schille, Melissa Galano, and Brianna Badami, putting on shows like Grease and student-written plays. The team of directors has ignited a strong appreciation of theater not only in the students but also in the surrounding community. MHS

Drama Club hopes to keep improving every single year and to inspire more people to participate in the arts. Be on the lookout for future performance news!

BRIELLE ELEMENTARY CHALK THE WALK

Teacher Appreciation Week started off with flying colors! Teachers at Brielle Elementary School were greeted with words of love and appreciation on their arrival at school Monday, May 8. The BES students sure do love their teachers!

ART WALK

The Woman’s Club of Manasquan sponsored The Manasquan Art Walk on June 17. Locals strolled Main Street, browsing and buying beautiful, original works of art by local artists.

- Olivia Maes (MHS Junior)

MANASQUAN BACKYARD CRAWL

The first annual Manasquan Backyard Crawl—in support of the Van Trease family of Manasquan and the Manasquan First Aid Squad—took place on its rain date of Sunday, May 21. Family, friends and neighbors traveled on one of two routes including seven backyards. Everyone enjoyed local food tastings, cocktails and music. The second annual Manasquan Backyard Crawl is scheduled for May 18, 2024 (rain date May 19, 2024). Save the dates!

WONDERLAND +SEA

WonderLand+Sea, which opened on March 11, 2023, is primarily a retail shop, selling mostly artisan-made goods and creative local finds. They also specialize in small gatherings of all sorts and community outreach through wellness and other curated events. WonderLand+Sea can be reserved for your special event. Their goal is to bond with the community while offering a place to create and relax.

Special event hours: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The space can be reserved during business hours as well, depending on the event and gathering size.

Retail hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday – Monday.

COMMITTED PIG

After starting construction at 165 Main Street in September 2021, The Committed Pig officially opened its doors for business on Tuesday, April 25. The restaurant has two full bars and a rooftop deck along with a temptation-filled menu offering everything from pancakes, french toast, pork roll sandwiches and eggs to burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and salads.

INTERVIEW

WITH

KEVIN AND MARY-JO KINNEALLY

The annual Pride of Brielle civic service award for giving back to the community usually recognizes an individual. But with the 2022 honor, the Chamber of Commerce for the first time chose to salute a pair: Kevin and Mary-Jo Kinneally. Kevin is currently secretary for Brielle Recreation, a social member at the Brielle Fire Department and a frequent volunteer for Brielle Day and other events. Mary-Jo is treasurer at Manasquan River Yacht Club. Professionally, both have accounting backgrounds: Mary-Jo is chief financial officer at the Harrogate senior retirement community in Lakewood, while Kevin works for Intuit and consults from home.

In between community activities, careers and engagements with their three adult children—Kevin Jr., 26; Patrick, 24; and Abby, 22—we caught up with the couple to ask about their service and why they love their community.

Dynamic Duo

A conversation with the 2022 Pride of Brielle winners

BY TRACY NAIMO

Tell us what led to becoming the first-ever Pride of Brielle couple.

MARY-JO: We met at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, and—though Kevin first came to Brielle from Rahway in 1977—we moved here as a couple in 1991 after we got married.

We both got involved with volunteering after we had children, and most of our community work initially revolved around their activities. For example, I spent many years serving on the PTO. As working parents, we were used to constantly running around for activities. We covered for each other so we could make our meetings. It was always a team effort.

KEVIN: Now that the kids are grown, we have more time, so it seems easier to be involved. We continue to volunteer because we enjoy working with people in the community and meeting new, younger families. We want to continue supporting events that make this a great place to live.

We were very surprised to be chosen as Pride of Brielle and are honored to be included with the group of great Brielle residents selected in prior years

Do you usually volunteer together or work with different groups?

MARY-JO: We’ve always been involved with separate organizations but often end up helping each other. For example, Kevin helped with many PTO events and fundraisers, and I often help with his rec activities.

What have been some of your favorite events?

KEVIN: The inaugural North vs. South sports event stands out for me. John Deveraux, former chairperson of Brielle Rec, had an idea to showcase the park after its upgrade and have a day of competition to raise money for a local family. It was a huge success and has become an annual tradition. It’s a perfect example of what makes this community great.

MARY-JO: Brielle Day is a favorite event. It’s just such a longstanding tradition with something for everyone, and you get to see so many old friends and neighbors.

What do you consider some of the best things about Brielle?

KEVIN: We love the location— being close to the beaches and the Manasquan River and not far from New York and Philly. The people in town are great and the community really comes together for so many events.

MARY-JO: In the summer, we enjoy riding our bikes to local restaurants and hanging out at the Manasquan River Yacht Club. I’ve also been playing volleyball in the Brielle rec league for over 25 years, and Kevin enjoys playing in the Brielle bocce league.

What’s a cherished memory of Brielle life?

KEVIN: Friday night under the lights for flag football. Our entire family was involved: The kids were playing, I was refereeing and Mary-Jo was cooking burgers on the grill with the other moms. It was just a fun, relaxed time that everyone enjoyed.

Tracy Naimo is the publisher of Manasquan + Brielle. She is thrilled to bring this exclusive local magazine to the towns she, her husband and their 6-year-old twins call home.

Previous page: Kevin and Mary-Jo Kinneally receive their Pride of Brielle award, presented by Leslie Pompilio, Brielle Chamber of Commerce president. Above left: The Kinneally family (left to right), Pat, Mary-Jo, Kevin, Abby and Kevin Jr. Above right, speaking: long-time friend and Brielle resident Eric Lapham. Dog handlers: Jim and Jeanne Kinneally.

Top Tips for a Festive Fourth

Experts offer advice on beachy entertainment, kid-friendly activities and summer feasts

BY TRACY NAIMO

Nothing beats the beach. That thought inspires Bill Roll—a chef who instructs at Brookdale Community College and grew up and lives in Manasquan with his wife and family—to create beach-themed backyard extravaganzas to celebrate the essence of escape, the warmth of summer and the excitement of Indepedence Day.

Want a festive feast that transports you to a world of sun, sand and culinary bliss? Follow Roll’s lead (or book him for a private chef party) with points like these:

FAMILY FUN

• ADORN TABLES: Top surfaces with vibrant beach towels, seashells and coral accents.

• CREATE A LIVELY ATMOSPHERE: Decorate with playful beach umbrellas and colorful lanterns.

• ADD A SOUNDTRACK: Lay on an ambiance of ocean waves and beachy sounds.

• SHOWCASE SUMMER FLAVORS: Kick off with a classic summer salad like the one here from Chef Roll. Finish

with a red-white-and-blue ice cream sundae bar featuring vanilla ice cream, strawberries, blueberries and red and blue bite-sized candies.

• REFRESH GUESTS: Quench thirst with fruity mocktails such as strawberry lemonade spritzers and watermelon mojitos—or, for a spirited beach-bar option, spicy jalapeño margaritas.

For more, check Chef Roll on Instagram, @Chefbillroll.

CHOCOLATE COVERED COOKIES

INGREDIENTS:

It’s a key July 4 challenge: finding fun, simple, patriotic—and safe— ways to celebrate with the whole family. Here are two kid-friendly favorites from Lindsay Trettel, a stay-at-home mother of two daughters who lives in Brick.

FIREWORK PLACEMATS

SUPPLIES:

• Black paper placemats or construction paper

• Plastic bendy straws and something to bind them

• Red, white and blue washable paint

• Optional glitter glue or other embellishment

Tie five or six straws together just above the bendy section. Flare the straws into a firework shape, dip into paint and stamp onto your black surface. Start with white paint, then blue, then red. Let paint dry a little between colors to minimize smudges. Adding glitter glue or stickers can make your “fireworks” really pop.

• Cookies (Oreos work well)

• ½ cup chocolate chips

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

• Sprinkles

• Parchment paper

Combine the chocolate chips and vegetable oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, mixing well between each. Once chocolate is smooth, put one cookie in the bowl, coating both sides with chocolate, and remove with a fork. Gently tap the fork against the bowl to remove excess, then smooth the layer of chocolate. Place your cookie on a parchment-lined plate, top with sprinkles and cool in the fridge for at least an hour.

GRILLED SUMMER PEACH SALAD WITH SWEET VIDALIA ONIONS AND HEIRLOOM TOMATOES

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 peaches, ripe

• 2 Vidalia onions, cut in thick rounds

• 1 bunch scallions

• Extra-virgin olive oil, as needed

• 1 pint yellow cherry tomatoes

• 1 Jersey beefsteak tomato, cut in wedges

• 3 heirloom green zebra tomatoes

• Basil vinaigrette (use recipe at right)

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Preheat a grill to medium-high heat.

• Cut the peaches in half and remove the pits. Leave the skin on for grilling.

• Peel the Vidalia onions and slice them into thick rounds.

• Trim the root ends of the scallions and leave the green tops intact.

• Lightly brush the peach halves, Vidalia onion rounds and scallions with olive oil to prevent sticking and place them on the grill.

• Grill the peaches until they have grill marks and soften slightly, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and let them cool.

• Grill the Vidalia onion rounds and scallions until charred and tender, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and let them cool.

• Once the grilled ingredients have cooled, slice the peaches into wedges and separate the Vidalia onion rounds into rings.

• In a large bowl, combine the grilled peaches, Vidalia onion rings, yellow cherry tomatoes, Jersey beefsteak tomatoes and heirloom green zebra tomatoes.

• Drizzle basil vinaigrette from the recipe at right generously over the salad and gently toss to coat the ingredients evenly.

• Garnish with the grilled scallions and serve.

BASIL VINAIGRETTE

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 head garlic

• Extra-virgin olive oil, as needed

• 1 shallot, finely minced

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

• 2 tablespoons honey

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Preheat the oven to 400 F.

• ¼ cup sherry vinegar

• ¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Handful fresh basil leaves

• Slice off the top portion of the garlic head to expose the cloves.

• Place the garlic head on a sheet of aluminum foil, drizzle with a little olive oil and wrap it up tightly.

• Roast the garlic in the oven until the cloves are soft and golden brown, about 30 to 40 minutes.

• Remove the roasted garlic from the oven and allow it to cool.

• Squeeze the garlic cloves out of their skins and transfer them to a blender or food processor. Add the minced shallot, Dijon mustard, honey, sherry vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper.

• While the blender/food processor is running, slowly drizzle in extra-virgin olive oil until the dressing emulsifies and thickens. Blend the ingredients until smooth.

• Tear the fresh basil leaves into smaller pieces and add them to the blender/food processor.

• Pulse a few times to incorporate the basil leaves into the dressing, but avoid over-processing to retain some texture.

• Taste the dressing and add more salt, pepper or vinegar if needed, according to preference.

• Transfer the basil vinaigrette to a pint-sized jar or container and refrigerate until ready to use.

COURTESY OF CHEF BILL ROLL

4

Tips to Keep You BeachReady

Expert advice from a beach-loving mom and professional organizer

BY AMY DUBE

Summer is finally here, which means sunny days and long afternoons at the beach. Let’s be realistic—the last thing you want to do when the stars align for a perfect beach day is find, clean and pack your family’s seaside gear, then play Tetris with it until everything fits in your trunk. Getting organized doesn’t sound like traditional fun, but it can be a fulfilling experience. Take it from me, a wife and mother who has made a career out of it. An organized home is a happy home.

So, before your next beach trip or staycation, consider practicing these organization techniques to make your summer as enjoyable and hassle-free as possible.

Amy Dube

1

Make packing a breeze. If you’re like me, you want to be ready to head out the door at any moment without cutting into your beach time or winding up frazzled. Set up a slim table in your entryway or mudroom and align storage baskets at the top or on a bottom shelf to hold all your beach accessories. Popular low-cost but visually appealing materials include wicker, woven cotton, wire and rattan.

Store anything you need, especially if you’re meeting people who may not be as proactive as you. Ideas: Sunscreen, bug spray, hairbrushes, hair ties, baby powder, swim diapers, conditioner, disposable/reusable utensils, sunglasses, hats, lip balm, waterproof bags, goggles, a beach read.

2

Maximize trunk space.

As a mom and beach lover who’s always on the go, I keep a large rectangular storage bin in my trunk. Remember all those beach essentials I told you to store in your entryway or mudroom? You can quickly offload those into the trunk, so your things won’t slide all over the floor when you drive.

It’s common to go from the beach to the pool to a barbeque during the summer. Your trunk is also a prime location to store extra clothes, spare towels, flip-flops and more, so you’re minimizing the mess in your car and can be flexible with plans.

I’ve also become all too familiar with: “Mom, I forgot....”

Use a bin with a lid to hold extra frisbees, kickballs, water balls, sand toys or anything else your little ones might ask for to keep them entertained and active longer!

3

Tame your return home. Towels thrown on the floor, wetsuits in the hall, a trail of sand leading into the kitchen...sound familiar?

Being proactive with organization can also help minimize the messiness of returning from the beach or other outdoor activities. Your garage is a great place to set up empty bins you can utilize when you get home. Your patio, porch or mudroom will work, too.

Start by doing some rearranging in the space of your choice to clear an area. Set up some empty bins to make offloading your go-to beach items quick and easy. Trust me—your future self will thank you!

“Roll towels and place them vertically in a basket or stacked on a shelf. Keep like items together and arrange them neatly in a closet or cabinet.”

- Amy Dube, professional home organizer

4

Stock up on essentials.

Last but not least, you might notice you’re running low on a few essentials when you get back from a day at the beach. Rather than making a store run, I recommend stocking up at the beginning of summer or when you find things on sale, then keeping the extras in an underutilized storage area like a guest bathroom or bedroom. This will make it super easy to restock when your beach bag or bins are running low.

Keep your stash organized. Roll towels and place them vertically in a basket or stacked on a shelf. Keep like items together and arrange them neatly in a closet or cabinet.

Organizing with intent will also help your kids get in the habit of knowing where to find things, which means fewer yells for “Mom!”

Nothing should hold you back from enjoying the summer months and time with your loved ones. Anything you can do to get organized will give you more time outdoors and spare you from future headaches.

Amy Dube is a professional home organizer and the owner of Organize & Style. She lives in Brielle with her husband and two daughters. Follow her on social media @ organizeandstyle.

Riding the Waves

An innovative local foundation connects women and children to the healing power of the sea.

BY ALLISON SCADUTO

Celebrating differences and uniqueness. Living with courage and kindness to support others. Giving back to the community. These are guiding principles for key programs of The OisF—short for The Ocean Is Female—Foundation, a local nonprofit organization that strives to foster kindness and strength in girls and support and empower survivors of abuse.

Run by a team of volunteers mostly from Manasquan and Brielle, The OisF connects women and children to the ocean—and each other—through programs and initiatives that build community, heal wounds and promote leadership.

The three key elements below guide The OisF’s mission and work in the community.

Building strength and resilience: The OisF Rider Program builds a community of girls who inspire goodness and strength in each other through events and activities such as beach yoga, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), skateboarding and sewing. Sharing new experiences helps girls gain tools to face challenges and—both figuratively and literally—ride the waves.

The OisF’s spring Rider Leadership Program for middle-school girls develops each participant’s unique leadership style and teaches self-empowerment skills. Building confidence, trust and resilience helps Riders lead not only themselves but also others. With The OisF’s support, participants work together to create and administer service projects throughout the community during the summer.

Raising awareness: The OisF is a vehicle for promoting conversation about the prevalence of abuse in all communities. Through its advocacy for survivors, support of abuse-prevention organizations and efforts within the community, The OisF works to end the silence and stigma surrounding abuse and give survivors—and all women and girls—a voice and safe space to share their stories.

Recent activities included decorating and delivering more than 200 stuffed stockings over the holidays to local children who had been abused or exposed to domestic violence. During the winter, The OisF organized a Cozy Clothing Collection in collaboration with local businesses and schools

PHOTOGRAPHS BY THERESA ARTIGAS

to provide comfortable clothing for women living in local safe homes. And this summer, The OisF is creating Summer Fun Boxes for over 100 New Jersey children living in foster homes.

Connecting with the sea: At every opportunity, The OisF gets women and children in, on or near the ocean so they can experience the sea’s power to heal and strengthen.

One key program is a pioneering surf therapy program for women who have survived abuse and/or domestic violence. The OisF also sponsors attendance at ocean-based summer camps for children—regardless of gender—who have been abused or exposed to domestic violence. Camps include surf camp with Hammer Surf School (in Spring Lake, Lavallette and Seaside Park), SUP camp with The Endless SUP Company (in Manasquan), surf and skim camp with Sandy

Avocado Surf (in Long Beach Island) and surf immersion and youth empowerment camp, also with Sandy Avocado Surf.

Ripple Effect

The OisF strives to create a wave of change, ripple by ripple. To learn more and ride the wave together, visit www.TheOisF.org, where girls of all ages who are interested in joining more than 350 participants in The OisF Rider Program can register at no cost.

To support The OisF, come to the third annual OisF Waves of Change fundraiser June 22 at Reef and Barrel in Manasquan, with live music provided by Brian Kirk and The Jirks.

Check out The OisF’s Event Calendar at www. theoisf.org/pages/event-calendar and follow @ TheOisF on social media to learn more about OisF Rider events.

Opposite page: A small group of the more than 300 OisF Riders. This page, top left: OisF board members Amy Dube (vice president); Allison Scaduto (president and founder); and Kara Murphy (treasurer). Above, Allison Scaduto. Bottom left: OisF Riders (seated) with some of the organization’s many adult volunteers from Manasquan and Brielle.

Allison Scaduto is the founder of The OisF Foundation and a survivor of child abuse who found strength to confront her trauma by drawing on the transformative power of the sea. She lives in Brielle with her two young daughters.

A Cup of Kindness

How a pop-up coffee shop brings meaning to customers and baristas alike

BY STEFANIE HILARCZYK

The moment you enter Kindness Cafe on Main, you hear the sounds of happy voices, laughter and coffee perking. The smiling faces that greet you are as sweet as the sugar you might take in your coffee, as I do in mine.

The cafe is open Monday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m., and is hosted inside Main Street Kitchen. Kindness Cafe founder Chrissy Rice was inspired to start the cafe, which employs Manasquan High School students with special needs, when she saw a news story about a similar cafe in another part of the state. Says Rice: “I immediately thought, ‘I can do this!’”

Rice contacted Jennifer Dyer, Manasquan School District Transition Coordinator, to discuss her idea. The result? A plan for a pop-up cafe where students from the high school’s Center for Learning and Independence

Meet the Manasquan High School students who work at Kindness Cafe! Clockwise from previous page: Jack Miller; Mikey Disbrow; group (left to right) Mikey Disbrow, Faith Turnbach, Katie Hallman and Jack Miller.

could work with students from outside that program to the benefit of both groups and the community. But where to house it?

The Community Steps Up

One day, Meighan Badenhausen, the owner of Main Street Kitchen, was serving Rice and they got chatting. The next thing Rice knew, Badenhausen offered the use of Main Street Kitchen on Mondays when it is closed. Kindness Cafe on Main opened there in fall 2022. It soon became clear that space was a challenge—regular customers wanted more room to sit and relax while enjoying their coffee and treat (the cafe offers a different muffin each month, along with bagels and its famous buttery croissants). Fortunately, Main Scoops, an ice cream shop next door to Main Street Kitchen, is closed mornings and offered to open its doors to Kindness Cafe customers as well.

Learning Skills and Gaining Confidence

With many months now under its belt, the cafe provides employees with valuable opportunities to grow socially and gain work skills, and Manasquan High School students clearly enjoy working there. For example, “Greeting the customers and taking their orders” are favorite

activities for Katie Hallman, whose smiling face is the first you see when arriving at the cafe. And fellow student Faith Turnbach says she enjoys putting her artistic abilities to work running a coloring table that has been set up to entertain small children who visit.

For Rice and Dyer, the biggest reward is witnessing the students’ growth. Dyer says she now often finds herself with nothing to do other than sit and enjoy watching the once-unsure students, who needed to be told each next step, taking charge with confidence. “You watch a light switch on for these students,” she says.

One such student is Jack Miller, who runs the coffee bar and pastries. He says he enjoys “helping out customers and doing good for the community.” Fellow student Mikey Disbrow runs the cash register with a businesslike outlook. Working at the cafe, he says, is “all about making that cash.”

“The Kindness Cafe at Main Street Kitchen is a wonderful exercise by educators from the Manasquan system,” says Edward Donovan, Manasquan’s mayor. “It provides employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities an opportunity to work as part of a team to accomplish goals while carrying out tasks in the real world.”

Rice and the members of the Kindness Cafe board are exploring grant options as a way to expand the cafe’s hours so they can extend these learning opportunities to more student employees.

“The success of the Kindness Cafe is a testament to the educators, students and the people of Manasquan who have welcomed the Kindness Cafe with open arms,” Donovan says.

Sometimes, the most ordinary people can do the most extraordinary things. Kindness Cafe is filled with people just like that.

Stefanie Hilarczyk is a Brielle resident and mom of three. She’s also a children’s book author and has written for other family magazines in the area. Stefanie can be found on Instagram @Stef_Hil.

Left: Edward Donovan, mayor of Manasquan, at the Kindness Cafe’s grand opening with Jack Miller. Right: Katie Hallman.

Selecting Your First Surfboard

You’ll always remember your first board, so choose well with help from our quick-start guide.

BY ROBBIE NELSON

Surfers will tell you that your first board is special—and the first waves you ride on it will stick with you forever. But the dizzying array of surfboard options can feel overwhelming to beginners. New or used? Softboard or fiberglass? Mass produced or handcrafted? This basic board guide can help you tame the confusion.

COACHING TO CATCH WAVES

Never surfed? Pro Surf Coaches can get you riding waves fast. Custom-designed programs help beginners achieve surfing goals quickly and safely, pointing clients toward ideal surf conditions and quality surfboards. Experienced, trained coaches can help more experienced surfers hone skills. Learn more at www.prosurfcoaches.com.

Left to Right: Tony Costa, Photographer/Body Motion Specialist; Murphy Corcoran, Team Rider/Trainee; Robbie Nelson, Head Coach Surfing Australia and M.A.P. Certified Instructor; Sarah Mancini, Instructor; Ted Wingender, Instructor.

Softboards

Consider starting off with a soft surfboard from a category often referred to as foamies or soft tops. Softboards are not only light but also generously wider and thicker than other boards, making them more stable so it’s easier to catch waves. As a result, they’re relatively safer as well.

The downside? Softboards have a limited threshold for performance and typically last only a few seasons because they inevitably get waterlogged.

Fiberglass Surfboards

This category breaks into two major subsets: Pop-outs are surfboards that are mass-produced by manufacturers in Asia, typically Thailand or China. American surfboard manufacturers coined “pop-out” as a derogatory term because many of these boards were made of inferior materials in factories by people who never surfed. This remains partially true today. Yet pop-outs are popular with entry-level surfers because of their relatively lower price tags, while many surf shops appreciate their economical wholesale costs. Surf shops also know that these boards provide a great introduction to higher-performing fiberglass models.

Hand-shaped surfboards have been made for centuries by expert craftsmen known today as shapers. Using specialized, often handmade tools, these skilled masters create a perfectly crafted surfboard from a thick block of foam. Each board is like a piece of functional art created for the rider for a more personalized experience.

Composite Soft Tops

In the world of soft surfboards, composite soft tops are often favorites. They look and perform like hard, light, fiberglass surfboards, which is essentially what they are. That makes transitioning to a regular fiberglass board much easier. What sets composites apart is that they have neophyte-friendly soft rubber decks and rails. They’re also tougher than other surfboards.

Unfortunately, processes for building (and shipping) composites can make them expensive. What’s more, leaving them in direct sunlight or a hot car can cause the materials to delaminate—and they’re difficult and expensive to fix.

Local Shapers

New Jersey is home to many local shapers who know how to build a surfboard for a particular surfer’s height, weight, skill level and experience. Shapers also craft boards that work well for New Jersey’s unique surf conditions. Exceptional shapers have mastered every step of the building process such as shaping, glassing and sanding, and can personalize your board with custom art and colorwork using techniques like air brushing and colored resin.

One such shaper is Brian Wynn, who has been in business since 1994 and has hand-shaped tens of thousands of surfboards under his Wynn Surfboards label (www.wynnsurfboards.com). Before opening his own shop, Brian worked for several larger manufacturers such as Rusty Surfboards and Sharp Eye Surfboards in San Diego. He also honed his skills as a glasser, sander and color specialist at the internationally famous Moonlight Glassing.

Knowing a few basics about surfboards gives you talking points for the best way to learn more: Walk into a local shop and chat with a shaper or surfer. Start by asking about their first board.

Robbie Nelson has been a surfer for 45 years and a surf instructor for over 30 years. He is lead coach at Pro Surf Coaches and founder of the Adaptive Surfing Foundation.

Summertime Fun

Looking for the best things to do this summer? Our roundup includes everything from family activities to farmers’ markets to craft fairs and more!

Manasquan

JULY EVENTS

ALL MONTH:

Where’s Waldo Scavenger Hunt. Visit BookTowne to register and pick up your Where’s Waldo Local Business passport.

7.2

July 4th Celebration Parade, beach concert, craft show, fireworks

7.13

Concert at Main Beach, 7:30 p.m.

7.20

Concert at Main Beach, 7:30 p.m.

7.25-29

Fireman’s Fair Mallard Park, 6 p.m.

SUMMER FARMERS’ MARKETS

Manasquan Farmers’ Market

Thursdays

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Corner of Main Street and Miller Preston Way

Brielle Farmers’ Market

Wednesdays

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Brielle Library parking lot

Manasquan AUGUST EVENTS

8.3

8.5

Cold Brew by the Beach

“Manasquan is my happy place,” says Casey Jurgens, owner of Manasquan Coffee Company. “I have worked here every summer for a decade, and I couldn’t think of a better place to open shop! I just want to give back some happiness to the town that has given so much to me.” You can find Jurgens’ coffee bike cart at 201 First Ave. Grab some cold brew on your way to the beach! Open daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Manasquan

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

9.2

Labor Day concert and fireworks at Main Beach

8.26

9.23

Fall Festival Craft Show at Squan Plaza Manasquan Bank Community Day, Squan Plaza, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain date 9.24)

Local Summer Beach Picnic at Main Beach, 4 p.m.

Brielle SEPTEMBER EVENTS

9.8 Brielle Day Dash Open to children ages 2 to 10; 6 p.m.

9.9 Brielle Day

Summer Selections

A

roundup of

recommendations from your friends at BookTowne

BookTowne is where good friends meet good books, and the store’s knowledgeable staff has curated a list of recommendations in a variety of genres. Let the summer reading begin!

MEMOIR

•“You Could Make This Place Beautiful” by Maggie Smith: Poet Maggie Smith’s memoir is a beautiful meditation on love and loss, motherhood, the patriarchy and, ultimately, making ourselves new and whole. — Leigh Mallin, bookseller

• “Solito” by Javier Zamora: The harrowing account of a 9-year-old’s solo, two-month journey from El Salvador to the U.S. border documents the lengths to which parents and children will go to get to America. — Rick Buttafogo, bookseller

FICTION

•“Go as a River” by Shelley Read: In a comingof-age story amid an unforgiving, unforgettable landscape, young love ends in tragedy, with far-reaching consequences. — Stacey Montalto, bookseller

• “The Celebrants” by Steven Rowley: This tale of a relatable, loveable group of friends is “The Big Chill” for our age. The last 20 pages had a river running down my face. — Peter Albertelli, owner and bookseller

• “In the Lives of Puppets” by TJ Klune: This author has a way of making the most unreal characters beat with a loving human heart. Klune’s books will bring smiles to your face.

— Peter Albertelli

MYSTERY

•“Exiles” by Jane Harper: A baby girl is found alone in her stroller. Did the mother abandon her or is something more sinister at work? Inspector Falk searches for the truth in this Australianbased mystery. — Susan Kuper, bookseller

ROMANCE

• “Fangs” by Sarah Andersen: This book will have everyone who shopped at Hot Topic in middle school howling with laughter. — Kira DeSomma, bookseller

• “The Scandalous Ladies of London: The Countess” by Sophie Jordan: Tropes— forbidden affair, age gap, secrets and lies, regency scandal, strong friendships—did I mention how forbidden it is? Loved this truly scandalous book! — Kira DeSomma

HISTORY

•“And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle” by Jon Meacham: Follow Lincoln’s moral journey as he struggles to fulfill the ongoing aspirations of our country. — Rita Maggio, bookseller

YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION

•“Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” by Isabel Wilkerson: Wilkerson links the caste system in India and Germany with the U.S. in a stark and eye-opening must-read with incredible research and great discussion. (Adapted for young adults.) — Rita Maggio

MIDDLE READERS

•“Big Tree” by Brian Selznick: Brother and sister sycamore seeds lose their mother tree and must journey alone and unprepared to set down roots and become big trees. Brimming with humor, wonder and adventure, their story spans time and place from the era of dinosaurs to present day. — Leigh Mallin

CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK

•“Take a Chance” by Sujean Rim: In a sweet picture book, Bob, an anxious red bird, navigates new surroundings and meets new friends who encourage him to try new things.

— Leigh Mallin

Monmouth County’s refill shop is right here in downtown Manasquan! Providing nontoxic sustainable products that are good for your home, body and planet. Reduce waste by bringing containers from home to fill with laundry detergent, cleaning products, dish soap etc. Personal care products include hair care, soaps, deodorants, and skin care. All nontoxic and in low-waste packaging. Also offering a large selection of sustainable swaps and fun, eco-friendly gifts.

Full Nester

A mother swan and her cygnets enjoy the morning quiet of Debbies Creek. Photograph by Michael Cassella of Brielle, a sports, wildlife and concert photographer who has lived in Monmouth County for more than 25 years. His work has appeared in many print and online publications, both national and local.

PHOTO OP