Manasquan +Brielle
December 2023
A VERY SPECIAL SANTA ANSWERS OUR QUESTIONS
A STAR IS BORN MUSICIAN COLE HALLMAN
FLAG FOOTBALL WHERE FUN MEETS FITNESS
Unstoppable Max Gomez
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GREGORY RICE PRESENTS #1 Agent in Manasquan, and #1 Agent in Brielle!
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DECEMBER 2023
Contents
20
12
16 6 28 IN EVE RY ISSU E
8
4
Publisher’s Note HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
6
Around Town BITE-SIZED UPDATES
8
Q&A A VERY SPECIAL SANTA
26 Home Front BE FIRE SAFE 28 Life Outdoors THE MANASQUAN TURKEY TROT F E AT U R ES
12 16
A Star Is Born
30 Book Nook SEASON’S READINGS 32 Photo Op LETTERS FOR SANTA
Musician and Manasquan native Cole Hallman is headed for the big stage in Asbury Park.
Unstoppable Max Gomez
How a local fitness pro went from surviving a crash to thriving in business.
20 Where Fun Meets Fitness
How the Brielle Recreation Flag Football League impacts our kids and our community.
O N T HE COVER
After a motocross accident left him with a prosthetic leg, Max Gomez opened his own personal training gyms in Brielle and Belmar. PHOTOGRAPH BY THERESA ARTIGAS
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For 1000’s of customers. For nearly 50 years.
R A N D S | A LL M O D E LS | AL L B UD GE T S Welcome to ourFor Town! 1000’sA LL ofBcustomers. For nearly 50 years. Welcome to our Town! AL L B R AN DS | AL L M O D E L S | A L L B U D G E T S L A K E W O O D 732-364-5195
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C E D A R H U R S T 516-303-8338 EXT 6010 B A LT I M O R E 410-364-4400
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B A LT I M O R E 410-364-4400
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Go to the Go to the go-to. go-to.
SERVING TOWN SINCE 1979.
SERVING TOWN SINCE 1979.
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Happy Holidays!
Manasquan +Brielle MAGAZINE
PHOTOGRAPH BY THERESA ARTIGAS
In the true spirit of the season, let’s take care of those in our community who need assistance or who are alone. My hope for you is that you feel love and peace and that we all take care of each other, extending grace, empathy and love. Our feature articles this month include the Brielle Recreation Flag Football League, an irreplaceable program that brings together the town’s children and the rest of the community, which has been going strong for 17 years! You’ll also read about Max Gomez, the owner of AMP’D Fitness in Brielle, who overcame a life-changing injury at the age of 18 and is dedicated to giving back to the community. We also talked with Manasquan’s own “American Idol,” Cole Hallman, whose January 13 show at The Stone Pony will surely be a sellout! My team and I wish each and every one of our neighbors a happy holiday season and a prosperous new year. Please support locals and join in our community’s growth. Thank you for reading Manasquan + Brielle, and I hope to see you around town!
The holidays are here, and as the spirit of the season is among us, we often try to replicate what made this time of year feel so magical to us during our childhoods. The traditions we set for our own families often mirror some of what we experienced as a kid—whether it is the smells, sounds, lights, holiday activities or a combination of all those things. While this season can be beautiful for some, it’s important to remember that it can be lonely or tough for others, especially those who have recently lost a loved one.
Tracy Naimo Publisher
Editor & Publisher Tracy Naimo Group Publisher Jodi Bruker Art Director Sue Park Copy Editor Nancy Fass Writers Laurie Adamkiewicz Finian Healey Violet Nolan Photographers Theresa Artigas WAINSCOT MEDIA Chairman Carroll V. Dowden President and CEO Mark Dowden VP, Group Publisher, Regional Thomas Flannery VP, Content Strategy Maria Regan Creative Director Kijoo Kim Editor Melissa Fiorenza Advertising Services Director Jacquelynn Fischer Operations Director Catherine Rosario Production Designer Chris Ferrante Print Production Manager Fern Meshulam Advertising Production Associate Griff Dowden Manasquan + Brielle magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Manasquan and Brielle, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Copyright 2023 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.
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WHAT’S NEW
Around Town THANK YOU, VETERANS! On November 2, the Brielle Public Library held a Veterans Community Appreciation event that honored 200 former military service veterans— including nearly 100 who call Brielle home. As they say, we don’t know them all, but we owe them all.
WOMEN ON A MISSION In 1909, a group of women formed a Literary Social Club to establish a public library while enhancing community life. By 1955, Manasquan’s first library opened in its current location. The club, now called the Woman’s Club of Manasquan and 85+ members strong, has expanded its missions—engaging in everything from bake sales to food drives, town beautification and more. New members are always welcome. Contact womansclubofmanasquan@gmail.com or 732-554-1916.
Thanks to Heather Kainer, Maureen Kroeger and Mary Beth Brenner for braving the rainy weather to participate in the Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweep.
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HOLIDAY IN THE PARK Hosted by the Brielle Chamber of Commerce and Brielle Recreation, the 2nd Annual Brielle Holiday in the Park is on December 2. Get into the Christmas spirit by shopping for holiday gifts from local vendors and enjoying story time at the library, crafts for kids, s’mores, pony rides, a petting zoo, carolers, holiday dancers and more. And, of course, the highlight of the event: the lighting of the tree.
HOOKED ON MANASQUAN The Manasquan Fishing Club holds its monthly meeting on the first Friday of each month at the Woman’s Club of Manasquan located at 62 Main Street. Meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. and are open to the public. Interested? Here are the upcoming meeting dates: • January 5, 2024 • February 2, 2024 • March 1, 2024
DECEMBER 2023
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Q &a
A Very Special Santa Kris Kringle answers our questions about reindeer, cookies, toys and more! BY LAURIE ADAMKIEWICZ
Usually, it’s Santa who’s
asking all the questions: What would you like for Christmas? Have you been good this year? To change things up, we decided to pose a few questions of our own to the jolly old elf himself.
How do you keep your beard looking so wonderful? I take very good care of my beard all year long so that it looks festive and keeps me warm on the long Christmas Eve flight from the North Pole. Mrs. Claus has some secret potions that help keep it thick and wellconditioned.
Where do all those dolls and toys come from? The elves in the workshop spend the whole year making them, of course! If you’re wondering what I get asked for the most, it would be Barbies for girls and monster trucks for boys. Both girls and boys ask for Legos.
What would Santa do without his reindeer? Good question! They are essential to Christmas. I love it when children leave carrots out for them on Christmas Eve. The reindeer love this special treat, and the carrots give them energy to pull my sleigh all night.
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HELPING THOSE IN NEED What treats to you like? When I come down your chimney on that magical night, I love it when I find a plate of cookies—any kind will do. After all, Santa needs energy, too!
What makes you happy? I love to bring joy to all families, but especially to those who have had a difficult year. Without our help, there would be no Christmas this year for them.
What’s on your wish list? Peace on earth and a bright future for all children. To learn how special Santa is to the community, Google “Jackson’s Real-Life Santa” for stories about some of the deliveries made to families who have suffered difficult life-changing events. Santa is on Facebook as “Jackson’s Santa Jim” and can also be reached at Kris Kringle Studios in Freehold.
Find out how you can support Sunshine Girl Charities this holiday season. Sunshine Girl Charities, Inc. (SGC) is a Manasquan-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to create a brighter future for coming generations by focusing on the needs of the world’s most vulnerable: children, animals and the environment. SGC, run by Manasquan resident Jacqueline Klosek, aims to uplift communities, and the holiday season is an important time of action. Each year, SGC donates hundreds of gifts to individuals served by local agencies, including the Mercy Center, Destiny’s Bridge and the state foster care system. If you’d like to help, please email sunshinegirlcharities@gmail.com, check out www.sunshinegirl.org or call/ text 645-873-0757. You can also sign up to adopt a whole family or purchase from an Amazon wish list at Sunshine Girls Charities.
Laurie Adamkiewicz is a local freelance writer and photographer.
DECEMBER 2023
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Manasquan native Cole Hallman appeared on “American Idol”and will be a headliner at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park on January 13.
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A Star Is Born This local musician is headed for the big stage in Asbury Park.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRIAN COMER
BY LAURIE ADAMKIEWICZ
DECEMBER 2023
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With golden ticket in hand, Cole Hallman’s future is wide open. On the Jersey Shore, the 24-year-old Manasquan native says it’s every musician’s dream to headline at The Stone Pony—the legendary music venue in Asbury Park—and it’s happening for him. Ever since his appearance on “American Idol” last year, he says local support has been incredible. Hallman is the oldest of David and Nicolle Hallman’s three children. He has two younger sisters, Ellie and Katie. Hallman writes about his family a lot in his music. His sister Katie has special needs, and he says that he likes to share his story so other
families in similar situations don’t feel alone. Both Katie and his mom accompanied him to California, where Katie went onstage and sang with him for part of his “American Idol” audition. “She keeps me calm,” Hallman says. “Family first” is the way the Hallmans live. They are very involved with each other and have lots of extended family in the area as well. Both parents work in education/ administration, and Hallman himself is currently a substitute teacher at both Brielle and Sea Girt elementary schools. He really enjoys children and says they feed his creativity. In fact, the cover of his debut album, “Good Morning Mr. Hallman,” is a classroom scene.
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“I was a barback at The Stone Pony in the summer of 2019. I used to daydream of the day that I would get to play on that stage.” - Cole Hallman
Discovering the Guitar Hallman enjoyed listening to classic rock as he was growing up. One day, he made a big change, moving to Oahu to attend Hawaii Pacific University so he could surf while receiving his education. Cole says he became obsessed with guitar in college and started singing. His first gig was in front of The Garret in Manasquan during the pandemic. Now, he has a band and they play songs he has written. So far, they have opened for other bands at places like The Stone Pony and The House of Independents, to name a few.
Cole Hallman and his bandmate Mark Masefield
From Opener to Headliner This upcoming January 13, Hallman will step into the headliner role at The Stone Pony. He and his bandmates couldn’t be more excited to hit the stage. “I was a barback at The Stone Pony in the summer of 2019,” he says. “I used to daydream of the day that I would get to play on that stage.” Tickets to see Hallman are on sale now—and selling fast. They’re available at The Stone Pony website (www.stoneponyonline.com) or at the box office. Laurie Adamkiewicz, local writer and photographer, loves the smell of the ocean and the sound of seagulls. A mom of two, she is currently writing her first children’s book.
DECEMBER 2023
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After a motocross accident left him with a prosthetic leg and the pandemic left him without a job, Max Gomez took a leap of faith. He opened AMP’D, a personal training gym, in Manasquan. Today, he has AMP’D gyms in Brielle and Belmar.
How a local fitness pro went from surviving a crash to thriving in business
PHOTOGRAPHS BY THERESA ARTIGAS
BY TRACY NAIMO
Max Gomez, 29, the owner of AMP’D Fitness in Brielle, is someone who doesn’t let obstacles get in his way. Born and raised in New Rochelle, New York, Gomez’s passion for motocross racing began at age 4, when his dad bought him his first bike with training wheels. Motocross racing is an off-road sport that involves racing motorcycles on dirt tracks with jumps, berms and whoops, and Gomez loved every part of it. Like many parents, Gomez’s family introduced him to many different sports, but, as he puts it, “stick and ball sports were just not my thing.” Gomez, his younger brother, Duke,
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and his dad would often drive to Florida to compete in races. Very much a family affair, they would spend hours in the car driving to the next race. During the offseason, Gomez would wrestle to keep himself busy and in shape for when the motocross season would start again.
The Crash That Changed Everything Gomez had just turned 18 when he qualified for a three-day national event in Pennsylvania. Once there, he had a good Friday practice, and Saturday’s races were going well; he was set to qualify for the next round. But the fourth race did not get off to
a great start. Gomez had to pass several people while contending with thick dust. In the midst of a jump, Gomez was kicked off his bike and crashed hard on his feet. Everyone thought it was just a bad break and nothing more. Frustrated and in pain, Gomez was taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital. As it turned out, this hospital visit became a monthlong stay that involved five surgeries, the first one lasting 20 hours. Ultimately, the decision was made to amputate part of his right leg. Upon waking up from surgery and seeing that his foot was no longer there, Gomez realized he would be facing a totally different way of life.
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The Road to Recovery He left the hospital on his dad’s birthday and received his first prosthetic leg on his parents’ anniversary, three months after the accident. Thanks to his mother’s unwavering positivity and his dad’s handiwork on the prosthetic leg, Gomez did not skip a beat in his recovery—he had the perfect combination as his support team. Still uncertain if he’d ever ride again, Gomez needed to try. He was determined not to let this thing win. And so that’s what he did, just six months postaccident. After working out the modifications for his bike (the bike’s brake is controlled by the right foot), he
was soon back in full swing—and was even invited to compete in the 2012 X Games in California. “It was the most awesome thing,” he says.
A New Gym Is Born Always being into fitness and wanting to be a physical therapist, Gomez started working at a gym in New Jersey. Unsure if becoming a therapist was for him anymore, he became certified as a personal trainer to bridge the gap while he tried to figure out what he wanted to do. He was set to become the manager of another gym opening in Belmar, but then the pandemic hit. Never one to
settle, Gomez decided to run an ad on Facebook about personal training. “It just blew up,” he says. He would go from house to house to house during the summer of 2020, training groups of people outdoors. With the cold weather approaching, Gomez knew that this business model was not sustainable. So that winter, he took a leap of faith and opened his first AMP’D Fitness gym in Manasquan in a 600-square-foot office on the third floor—not an ideal training space. Nevertheless, Gomez opened his doors in January 2021 with seven members, the first being a firefighter lieutenant from Brielle.
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On Growth and Giving Back By March 2021, Gomez had close to 30 members. After putting flyers in mailboxes and postcards on car windshields, in April 2022 he opened AMP’D Fitness in Brielle, where he went from having 30 members to 330 members. Recently, Gomez opened another location in Belmar. “The hardest thing is to start, but once you do, the momentum kicks in and you just keep going. Business is just like working out, and every day I try to move the
needle just a little more.” This past July, Brielle firefighters competed in New Jersey’s Rugged Maniac race in Englishtown. Gomez invited them to train at his gym for free. “They are the heroes of our community,” says Gomez, “and I love to see them working out in the gym together—it’s such a good vibe. It’s my way of giving back to the community.” The workouts at AMP’D Fitness are mostly group training, which consists of moving around the
room to different stations. The gym is known for its strength-based program, with very little cardio. For both those who want to lift more weight and for those with little to no experience, “you’ve come to the right place,” he says. Gomez is trying to break the stereotype around weight lifting. “It’s for everyone,” he says, “not just bodybuilders.”
Tracy Naimo is the publisher of Manasquan + Brielle magazine.
DECEMBER 2023
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Where Fun Meets Fitness How Brielle’s flag football league impacts our kids and our community BY FINIAN HEALEY
Sports are the universal language through which communities are united, and in Brielle, it is no different. The town has a thriving recreation department that brings the community together through countless year-round youth activities—one of which is the Brielle Recreation Flag Football League. Every fall, hundreds of Brielle kids from grades 1 to 8 converge on Brielle Park each Saturday to spend time with their friends, hang out at the park and, of course, play some football.
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DECEMBER 2023
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Now and Then The Brielle Recreation Flag Football League was founded in 2006 by John Devereux and Kevin Kinneally, two members of the Recreation Department. “All we wanted was to get kids out in the park and enjoy the beautiful fall weather every weekend,” says Devereux. “We were looking for a sport to expand into the fall with, and flag football was the perfect option for us.” In its first year, the league consisted of around 120 players and 12 teams, and it took place across two fields each Sunday at the park. As the years have passed, the league has grown in both participation and impact. This year, the league is made up of over 220 players playing on 24 teams across four different age groups (grades 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8), and the league has expanded further into the park to a third, smaller field for younger age groups. The increased participation has helped bind the community together through the weekly matchups, as many parents and grandparents attend the games. Now, the games are as much a social meetup for the
adults as for their children. Devereux stepped down in 2018 and was replaced by Dan Healey, who has overseen much of the league’s significant growth. The entire league operation is run by volunteers, whether they be Healey, his assistant, Pat Sharpe, Devereux, other recreation members or the countless volunteer coaches and referees that help to keep the league running smoothly. It’s also tradition for players who aged out of the program to come back and referee games, another way the program strengthens the community. The younger players look up to these volunteers and bond with the high school kids.
Playing With Peers For the kids participating in the league, the benefits are massive. Not only do they receive valuable outdoor physical activity each weekend, but they also get to spend time with their friends and enjoy the many benefits of playing sports, from learning about teamwork and leadership to the physical and mental health gains that come with physical activity.
To encourage community camaraderie, the league does not track wins or losses, and all the teams are coed. In addition, all children who participate in Brielle’s league must live in town. That means that the players are classmates. Through flag football, kids learn to work together and have the opportunity to interact with peers they otherwise wouldn’t. Beyond all those benefits, the league is just pure fun. I am currently in my 11th year in the program and have experienced the league on the field and on the sideline, from playing for eight years, to now coaching and refereeing games. For many kids, my elementary school self included, flag football was one of the biggest events every fall. For a young kid, not much can beat the feeling of playing sports with your closest friends. Even now, as I go through my first year of coaching a team, it is exciting to see the passion and emotion that the players put into the games week in and week out. However, one week stands out above the rest in the minds of all the kids in the league: playing under the lights.
Left, top and bottom: Ryan Casella, age 10. Above: Patrick Healey, age 12. Photographs this page by Mike Cassella.
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“I will always have great memories of the night games. Nothing could beat the feeling of sprinting through the smoke onto the field surrounded by all my friends.” - Finian Healey, former player and current coach in the Brielle Recreation Flag Football League
Night Games Every year since 2008, the league has hosted one week of night games, where the kids play under the lights on either Friday or Saturday nights. It has truly become a spectacle in recent years—having expanded to include a DJ, a food stand and grill run by the Brielle Boy Scouts, other members of the Brielle Recreation Department or other Brielle organizations looking to donate their time, as well as a smoke machine for players to run through while they are introduced individually before each game. Those elements all combine into one big, loud event that echoes throughout the streets of northern Brielle and draws a significant number of attendees who come to enjoy the park and the spirit of the games. For the players, it is the best thing in the world. I will always have great memories of the night games. Nothing could beat the feeling of sprinting through the smoke onto the field surrounded by all my friends
while my name rang out into the night. The night games are the most hotly contested games every year, as all the kids desperately attempt to impress in front of the crowds and get a win under the lights. The Brielle Recreation Flag Football program truly is a centerpiece in the community. It is a highlight for the children who participate currently and for those who have participated over the last 18 years. Most Brielle residents have connected with the flag football league, whether they were league participants in elementary school, have kids who play in the league today or just enjoy the fun of the annual night games. That widespread impact is what makes the league such a valuable asset to the community. Finian Healey is a junior at Biotechnology High School in Freehold. He enjoys golfing with friends, playing video games and coaching his younger brother’s flag football team.
DECEMBER 2023
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Manasquan +Brielle To advertise, contact Tracy Naimo at Tracy.Naimo@manasquan-brielle.com or 732-379-2485.
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Fall Dance Programs Now Open! Empower your child with confidence and ambition this fall with our exciting fall dance classes.
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HOME FRONT
Be Fire Safe Local experts share tips to keep your home fire-free and your loved ones safe. BY CHRISTOPHER WILLMS, FIRE OFFICIAL, AND MICHAEL HINES, FIRE INVESTIGATOR, SEA GIRT FIRE BUREAU
The Sea Girt Fire Bureau, which operates and is the enforcing agency for the boroughs of Sea Girt, Brielle, Spring Lake and Spring Lake Heights, would like to remind you of some important fire safety information and tips for the holiday season. COOKING FIRE FACTS • In the United States, Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed closely by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. • Two-thirds of all home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials. • Although clothing being ignited first only counts for 1 percent of home cooking fires, it does count for 8 percent of all home cooking fire deaths. • Unattended equipment accounts for almost onethird of reported home cooking fires and half of all associated deaths. COOKING SAFETY TIPS
• Always stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling, grilling or broiling food. • If you are simmering, baking or roasting food, make sure you check on it regularly, and never leave the home with food cooking. • Keep anything that can catch fire away from the
stovetop or oven. Oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, curtains and loose clothing should never be near the stove when you are cooking.
GENERAL FIRE SAFETY
• Candles should never be left lit when you are not in the room. • All portable heaters should be kept away from any combustible materials. Electric space heaters need to be plugged directly into an outlet (not into an extension cord). • Ensure that you have smoke alarms installed in your home. The minimum level of required protection depends on when your home was constructed. We recommend complying with current standards, but at a minimum, there should be one smoke alarm on each floor of your home, and none of the smoke alarms should be more than 10 years old. • Test all your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms every month. Although these tips are focused on the holiday season, please practice fire safety within your home all year round.
IF THE WORST HAPPENS Remember: For any fire, get out, stay out and call 9-1-1. Your local fire department is highly trained to respond and extinguish fires within your home and on your property.
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Let’s Get Social! Join our online community.
@manasquan.brielle.magazine Have a photo or story you think should be featured? Want to learn more about advertising in our pages? Contact us at hello@manasquan-brielle.com
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LIFE OUTDOORS
The Trot That Keeps on Giving The Manasquan Turkey Trot turned 40 this year— and everyone came out to celebrate. BY VIOLET NOLAN
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The annual Manasquan Turkey Trot raises money for a variety of local organizations, from school groups to the Squan Village Historical Society. Photos are from the 2022 run.
Among the many Thanksgiving traditions in our area, one of the most cherished fall events is the Manasquan Turkey Trot. This year, November 18 marked the 40th annual trot with a 1-mile kids race at 10 a.m. and the 5-mile race at 11 a.m. The course was the same as in prior years. The 5-miler begins a block south of Brielle Road on First Avenue. From there, participants run down to the inlet, hook back toward Main Street on Third Avenue, go to Euclid Avenue and then up East Virginia Avenue. For the final leg, participants run around Mallard Park, past the docks on Perrine Boulevard, along the railroad tracks and up Stockton Lake Boulevard, crossing the finish line at
the Manasquan Little League fields. In addition to the races, the yearly tradition always leads to several afterparties, including hanging at Leggetts Sand Bar over a Big Mac Pizza or listening to the band Brian Kirk and the Jirks at the The Salty Whale.
It Takes a Team I had the privilege of connecting with Carmen Triggiano, the director of the Manasquan Turkey Trot organization, to talk all things turkey. He was quick to credit the staff he collaborates with for putting on such a large event. The committee behind the Manasquan Turkey Trot organization—which is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3)—consists of Triggiano and seven other members. “We
have been planning and preparing for this event since July,” says Triggiano. Since Triggiano began organizing the race, it has shifted from mail-in applications to electronic registration, streamlining the registration process. The money raised from this annual event has a large impact on the local community—the funds go to a variety of local organizations, from school clubs and groups to the Squan Village Historical Society. “It is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year,” says Triggiano, “and everyone benefits from it!” Violet Nolan is a rising senior at Manasquan High School who holds a deep appreciation for this area and the ocean.
DECEMBER 2023
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BOOK NOOK
Season’s Readings A few of our favorite books from 2023 BY BOOKTOWNE STAFF
As 2023 draws to a close, we at BookTowne are starting to compile lists of our favorite books
of the year. Among the many fantastic reads, here are some of the standouts. In the coming weeks, we will post our complete lists of top books on our social media channels. All titles can be found at BookTowne or ordered online at BookTowne.com. Happy holiday reading! PETER’S PICK:
SUSAN’S PICK:
“Shark Heart: A Love Story”
“The Postcard”
When my sales rep first explained this book to me, my head almost twisted off ! The concept is so bizarre, but if you can let that go and just read it, you will find it so poetic, creative, beautiful, heartfelt and unlike any book you have ever read. As the cover says, it’s a love story.
Inspired by an anonymous postcard, this is a story about love, loss, secrets and the power of storytelling. The reader follows Berest’s journey as she seeks to reveal long-buried family truths in this haunting and devastating tale set in France during the Holocaust. Her story uncovers mysteries while giving life to loved ones lost.
by Emily Habeck
STACEY’S PICK:
“Go as a River” by Shelley Read
A new American classic! Think coming-of-age in an unforgiving and unforgettable landscape. Young love ends in tragedy and the consequences are far reaching. Full five stars and all the feels, I couldn’t put it down.
by Anne Berest
RICK’S PICK:
“The Covenant of Water”
by Abraham Verghese
Stunning. Epic. Fantastic across the board. Verghese writes like a poet. You will not be disappointed.
RITA’S PICK:
“The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride
McBride is a masterful storyteller. In this book, Jews and African Americans live in the same town where Moshe ran the theater and his wife the grocery store. When the state wanted to institutionalize a deaf black boy, everyone mobilized to help protect him. The passion of the people united in this cause is so moving.
LEIGH’S PICK:
“Hello Beautiful”
by Ann Napolitano This phenomenal novel centers around the four close-knit Padavano sisters and is an homage to “Little Women.” It is a story of love and loss, birth and death, family and forgiveness, and even basketball. Within its pages, you will feel all the emotions of what it is to be human. When I finished reading, I felt like I was saying goodbye to an old dear friend.
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PHOTO OP
Letters for Santa
See the shiny red box outside of Merten’s Jewelers? Thanks to the Chamber of Commerce, Manasquan has its very own North Pole mailbox, accepting letters until Christmas Eve. Once a week, one of Santa’s elves will collect the letters at night and bring them back to the North Pole. Santa will be making his famous lists and assigning specific tasks to all his toy-making elves to fulfill as many wishes as possible.
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Design Line Kitchens remembers founder, Matthew Egan. We are deeply saddened to share the passing of a true industry pioneer, Matt Egan. His legacy in the world of design and craftsmanship will forever be remembered. Design Line’s founder, Matthew Egan, began his career as a cabinet apprentice in Ireland. Matt came to the United States in 1963, became an American citizen in 1970, and started Design Line Kitchens in 1976. Working out of Spring Lake Heights, NJ, Design Line grew into its current 10,000 square foot showroom and factory in Sea Girt, NJ. Matt’s work will continue to inspire and leave an indelible mark on the industry. Rest in peace, Matt Egan.
CUSTOM CABINETRY | DESIGN SERVICES | INSTALLATION 2127 HWY 35 | SEA GIRT, NJ
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