Spring Lake May 2023

Spring Lake

Also Serving Sea Girt

RACING INTO SUMMER THE SPRING LAKE FIVE GARDEN GIFTS FOR MOM PERFECT PLANTERS IN 3 EASY STEPS

The Magic of Motherhood by the Sea

Sunshine and Celebrations

to remember our veterans and give thanks for their service.

We all have our own traditions surrounding the Spring Lake Five. For as long as I can remember, my mom has been a volunteer for the race. I have lots of wonderful memories of working the water tables as a child and attending the race with friends as I grew up. This year, my mom will still be working at the glass tent, my husband and daughter will be running the race and I will be somewhere on Third Avenue with the rest of my family cheering them on.

Spring Lake

MAGAZINE

Editor & Publisher

Brynn Coleman

Group Publisher

Jodi Bruker

Art Director

Sue Park

Copy Editor

Nancy Fass

Writers

Stephen Barlow

Kate Czyzewski

Vincent Dicks

Dallas Hlatky

Jay Russell

Photographers

Michael Scotto

Michelle Wolfe

WAINSCOT MEDIA

Chairman

We made it! May is the gateway to the best time of the year. The sun is shining, the flowers are in bloom and the beaches will be ready for us soon. There is so much to celebrate this month! For Mother’s Day, we are excited to honor some local matriarchs. May also means that we get to kick off the summer with Memorial Day weekend and the Spring Lake Five, followed on Monday by the opportunity

I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for your overwhelming support and enthusiasm for our new local magazine. Your kind words and feedback have been a source of inspiration and motivation for our team to continue delivering highquality content that resonates with our community. Please keep sharing your thoughts and suggestions with us, as they are crucial to shaping the future of our publication. We look forward to keeping you informed, entertained and connected for many years to come.

Warm regards,

Brynn Coleman Publisher

Carroll V. Dowden

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

PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHELLE WOLFE

The Magic of Motherhood by the Sea

Racing into Summer

3 Easy Steps to Perfect Planters

PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHELLE WOLFE

NEW FOR FOODIES

George Melassanos opened the Honey Berry Café at 1321 3rd Avenue in Spring Lake. The café will host pop-up dinners and private evening events and is open every day from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. for breakfast and lunch. Stop by for classic favorites like eggs Benedict and specialties like bananas Foster French toast.

COCKTAILS & BITES

The Hideaway is a new cocktail lounge that is tucked behind the lobby bar of the Shore Club. It serves light bites and seasonal cocktails. Head over to this swanky new spot on your way out to dinner. Open Thursday through Sunday until 2 a.m. at 700 Hwy. 71 in Spring Lake.

Around Town Beauty

SPOTS

Elan Hair Studio and Blush by Elan luxury beauty boutique celebrated their move to Third Avenue in Spring Lake with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with owner Kellie Johnson and Mayor Jennifer Naughton. The ceremony was followed by a celebration at Elan with the staff, clients and friends of the salon.

DON’T-MISS DEALS

Be sure to hang around town after the Spring Lake Five to shop the legendary sidewalk sale on Third Avenue. Kick off the summer with sales at your favorite shops and pop by the beer garden for your first beer of the weekend: Saturday, May 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Meet the Race Boss

A community leader and avid runner shares insights about the Spring Lake Five and his long personal history with the race.

BY VINCENT DICKS

What’s been your biggest challenge as race director?

A Bradley Beach native, Ed Hale moved to Spring Lake more than 20 years ago with his wife, Irene, to raise their three children.

Hale, owner of Spring Lake Custom Homes, has made service a big part of his commitment to Spring Lake. Recently elected to the Borough Council, Hale has previously served as fire chief, deputy coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management and member of both the Board of Education and the Planning Board. He has also taken on leadership roles with Spring Lake/Sea Girt Little League and Boy Scout Troop 31.

An active Spring Lake Five (SL5) volunteer for more than 10 years, in 2019 Hale inherited one of his more complex roles, race director of the five-mile event. After he completed his first SL5 as director, COVID-19 hit, canceling the race for two years. In 2022, SL5 was back in action, and this year will mark its 45th running.

A lot of coordination between many agencies goes into preparing for an event this large. There are more than 10,000 people present, so Homeland Security needs to be involved. The FBI, the county and adjoining towns all communicate with us before the event. Fire, police and local first aid all participate to ensure a great experience. During race week, this is more than a full-time job. There are a lot of contingencies we must anticipate, like the weather.

Why is the race so special?

For a runner, the course is flat and fast, with few turns. The town, lake and beach are just so beautiful. Everyone is excited to get back to the Shore after a long winter, and people love to reconnect with old race friends.

How does your being a member of both the Race Committee and the Borough Council impact the race?

In my experience, the race has had a great relationship with Spring Lake Council. Some of the race proceeds help support the town’s recreation programs, and they’ve worked with us to pull the race off. I hope to continue the goodwill between the town’s leaders and the Spring Lake Five.

What’s your favorite part of Spring Lake?

“It’s the fact that kids can still ride their bikes to the beach or downtown. If a problem came up, I’m confident they would find someone they know to help them out. People here still get to know each other. It’s such a special town and a great place to grow up.

Vincent Dicks is a Sea Girt resident and author of several books, including “Forsaken Kings: Emma Spreckels The Surfer of Asbury Park.” He can be found at vincentdicks.com.

EDWIN (ED) HALE

Ed Hale, race director of the 2023 Spring Lake Five, has been an active race volunteer for 10 years.

With this philosophy, we’ve been able to give our patients honest advice and inspire them to make impactful change.

We’ve treated thousands of women who have the same goalto feel more comfortable and con dent in their bodies.

A Day of Fun for Young Anglers

The Trout Contest for Kids marks the start of the fishing season.

BY JAY RUSSELL

A sure sign of spring in Spring Lake is the Trout Contest for Kids, open to any child 15 years or younger and sponsored by Shark River Surf Anglers (SRSA). Marking its 21st anniversary this year, the event took place April 8 along the eastern portion of the lake. Entry was free and bait and tackle were provided for those without their own.

The club had purchased more than 600 trout, some weighing over 10 pounds, and kids were invited to watch and help with the stocking of fish the week before the event. In addition, the state had done its own stocking for the opening of fishing season, which was the same day. So, there were plenty of fish to be caught!

For contest director and SRSA president Greg Hueth, the event is a labor of love. Greg’s brother Chris, a past chairman of the event, passed away suddenly in 2020. In addition to organizing the contest, Greg and his team of SRSA volunteers were on the ground providing help and guidance for the young anglers. Volunteers from the Sea Girt Surf Kings were also on hand to help.

There were four age groups eligible for prizes: under 5, 6–9, 10–12 and 13–15. For each group, awards were given for the top three trout caught based on weight. The grand prize winner received a trophy, rod, reel setup and a taxidermist mount of the winning trout. Every participant received a goody bag containing an assortment of fishing equipment. In addition, a wide assortment of complimentary food and drink was available to participants. Although the contest is a one-day event, the work and support required are a year-round effort. Sponsors of this year’s event included some of the biggest names in the fishing industry along with many local businesses. The club relies on community donations to help keep the contest free, which is a priority. If you are interested in supporting the Trout Contest for Kids, please reach out to the club at www.sharkriversurfanglers.com

Jay Russell is a local outdoorsman and an active volunteer with the Spring Lake Five. He can be found most mornings running the boards and most evenings surf casting along the beaches in Spring Lake and Sea Girt.

From left: Leo Clark, Mark Hueth, Greg Heuth

Casting their lines and reeling in their catches, these young anglers enjoy Spring Lake’s annual trout fishing contest!

Eddie Szumski is an established and highly respected full-time real estate professional at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, REALTORS® in Spring Lake. He has earned numerous accolades including being named the #1 Top Producing Solo Sales Associate every single year since 2018 at his Spring Lake office and Top 100 Individual Agents by Real Trends in NJ which puts him in the top 1.5% out of 1.6 million agents across the country. Born and raised at the Jersey Shore, Eddie is knowledgeable about the Spring Lake market as well as each of the neighborhoods surrounding his Spring Lake office. A property owner in both Belmar & Lake Como, he enjoys running on the boardwalk and attending the many year-round community activities and events.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Entrepreneurial Management, Eddie possesses a superior skill set. His training has given him the necessary tools to market, service, and negotiate successfully for his clients. Eddie understands that time is always of the essence in real estate. His responsiveness and initiative are unparallelled and clients know they can count on him to deliver. Overwhelmingly, his client testimonials say he brings a level of energy and enthusiasm to their goals, exceeding their expectations and impressing them with his passion and drive to achieve the absolute best results. Representing both buyers and sellers, Eddie works relentlessly 24/7 to ensure that his clients get real value out of their real estate experience. His intimate knowledge of the local markets contributes to his calculated approach to marketing his client’s homes while providing maximum exposure and top dollar results. Eddie’s method is founded on innovation, integrity, and the cultivation of every opportunity. It has never been more important to team up with a real estate professional who understands and leverages online marketing exposure to the fullest.

Edward "Eddie" Szumski Broker Associate CELL 732.859.3751

The Magic of Motherhood by the Sea

In honor of Mother’s Day, we asked three grandmothers, all longtime locals, what living in Spring Lake or Sea Girt has meant to them.

BY DALLAS HLATKY

The magic of this community starts at the sea and spreads throughout the area like the smell of salt air. There’s something about the constancy of the horizon, the water lapping at the sand, the boardwalk as a gathering place and the big blue sky above that reminds us of what’s important and nurtures traditions that last generations.

We spoke to three local matriarchs about how these gifts have shaped the rhythms and relationships of their families. Kathleen, Florence, Barbara and their daughters, now mothers themselves, have raised their families in Spring Lake and Sea Girt. They paint a beautiful picture of lifetimes spent with the people they love most in the places they all cherish and share how staying close to the sea has truly been a tie that binds.

MICHELLE WOLFE

Kathleen Degnan

Mother of four: three daughters, Patrice (top left), Michele (top right) and Madonna (seated), and one son, Thomas. Grandmother to seven.

Favorite beach: North End, since 1973!

Favorite family activity: Early evening cocktails on the porch after another perfect beach day.

Best family holiday memory: Saturday of Memorial Day weekend is always the day of the Spring Lake Five. Since its inception, the route has gone by the front of our house where there’s a water station each year. We have had generations of runners gather in the kitchen early Saturday morning to meet up beforehand and walk together to the start of the race. Then a group of non-runners all stand or sit on the front lawn during the race and cheer on all the runners while handing out water. The race has become so big that the people we know have to call out to us so we can spot them in the crowd to cheer them on!

The best thing about raising kids in Spring Lake: It’s a beautiful place to live, so friends and family have always come to visit. And people who live here tend not to leave the area. Even when kids grow up and move away, they come back with their families for summers. In my case, two of my children moved away but eventually returned to live here as empty nesters.

On the magic of this place: There is a bench on the boardwalk dedicated to my husband, Tom Degnan. In August of 1993 while walking on the boardwalk he suffered a heart attack and died as a result. Friends of the family purchased a plaque and Mayor Byrne dedicated the bench to him shortly after. It remained in place until the fall of 2012, when Superstorm Sandy destroyed the boardwalk. One summer day two years later, my son, also named Tom Degnan, received a call from a family who had discovered the plaque in the surf while walking on the beach in Belmar. They searched for Thomas Degnan locally and found my son. The plaque was returned to us, and though it’s pitted and aged from having been on the bottom of the ocean for a couple of years, it’s intact. And it’s a reminder to me of the way that love prevails, even after devastating loss.

Florence Boyle

Mother of five: two daughters, Darian (left) and Michaela (right), and three sons Patrick, Shayne and Bruce. Grandmother to 14.

Favorite beach: The Hobie Cat beach, now known as stand 0 in Sea Girt.

Favorite spot in Spring Lake or Sea Girt: Nothing beats summers at the Spring Lake Bath & Tennis Club.

Favorite family time: Sunday dinners, dancing around the kitchen after a day of tennis, beach or skiing, dancing to Pat Roddy on a Sunday in the Parker House basement!

Best tip for living a good life: I have never missed a summer by the sea. Everyone in our family shares a love for the ocean, whether it is sailing Hobie Cats, surfing the big waves or just walking the beach.

Favorite thing about raising kids in town: The safety of the small town and community. We are surrounded by family and cousins within Sea Girt and Spring Lake.

Dallas

is a

Hlatky

mother of two growing girls and—like all great Monmouth County daughters—lives just a few miles down the road from her mom. Pieces from Merle Works, her hand-dyed goods company, can be found at Artisan Spirit in Spring Lake.

Barbara Leddy

Mother of four: three daughters, Lauren (left), Micaela (center) and Shaun, and one son, Justin. Grandmother to 10.

It was a hometown love story: It all began when a Warren Avenue Leddy married a St. Clair Avenue Geiger.

Favorite place to be: Our front porch is our happy place. So much of our life—family time and now our grandchildren’s lives—is spent there.

28 years of small-town memories: Kicking off summer with the Spring Lake Five, boat rides on the Sea Monkey, seining on Treasure Island, crabbing in Wreck Pond, Beacon Beach, Mueller’s Christmas lights, carolers serenading from a horse-drawn sleigh. Too many memories to count!

Racing into Summer

For nearly 50 years, the Spring Lake Five has marked the start of beach season for residents of Spring Lake, Sea Girt and beyond.

BY VINCENT DICKS

After starting the Jersey Shore Marathon in 1972, Tom Baum wanted a race in his hometown that would appeal to both the casual runner and the serious competitor.

In 1977, Baum and Councilman Richard Gardner convinced then-Mayor Andrew Rafetta they could organize a five-mile race to follow Spring Lake’s Memorial Day services. When the recreation department set up registration on the morning of that first race, Baum expected a maximum of 200 runners—500 showed up. The promised race T-shirts ran out. More would have to be delivered two weeks later. Spectators numbered 3,000, bands played, churches rang their bells and the event was declared a huge success.

The race grew steadily in popularity. In 1981, when 2,000 ran, they took the backstretch off the boardwalk to allow for easier passing. The race remained non-commercial, with high-quality competition, a serious approach to recording all racers’ times and medals for all finishers. It became a premier event due to the lovely route through town and beach, with thousands of spectators and hundreds of volunteers cheering on the racers. The selection of the Spring Lake Five T-shirt design became a competition of its own, and runners collected them as mementos.

In the 1990s, the race was moved to the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, a race for children was added and participation swelled to over 9,000 runners, with 15,000 people total in Spring Lake for the event.

In 1999 it became the largest race of its kind in the country, overtaking Cherry Creek in Colorado.

A Legendary Celebration

In town, no race party was more legendary than that of Tom and Jackie Boyan of 321 Monmouth Ave. Reminiscing, their son Tommy Boyan, who still lives in the family home, recalled how their party grew with the race. “The first year we had a half a keg of beer and a six pack of hot dogs with some left over,” he says. “Twenty years later, we had 24 kegs, 400 hamburgers and 400 hot dogs, and a few thousand guests. We had a Super Bowl quarterback, Neil O’Donnell, and an Oscar winner, Timothy Hutton. The street was closed, and the DJ or band played. I have a bench in front of the house that reads, ‘Tom & Jackie Boyan the greatest hosts of the biggest 5-mile race party this town will ever see.’”

In 2002 a charity, Friends of the Spring Lake Five, LLC, was formed to support the Race Committee. After race expenses, proceeds went to the volunteer groups and Spring Lake Recreation. The Friends then donated up to 500 race slots and 100 percent of the

proceeds to other charities, raising over $2.8 million. Catherine Price Stover organizes runners to honor the victims killed on 9/11.

“We’ve done the race now for 10 years—since 2011—and raised $70,000 for the Flight 93 National Memorial,” says Price Stover. “We are so grateful to the Friends of the Spring Lake Five for donating race spots to us each year. Race day is something I look forward to as a time to honor my mom and stepdad and all the heroes of Flight 93. It also has become a great reunion with friends from the shore and an opportunity to share the beautiful town I grew up in with my kids, Jack, age 7, and Addie, age 4, along with new runners, some of whom were not yet born on 9/11. It’s so important to continue to keep the memory of that day alive.”

Kicking Off Summer

By 2008, 9,500 runners’ bibs were sold out in a few days, plus 2,000 in the Children’s Race on Friday. Philip Hinck, past president of the Jersey Shore Running Club and the most experienced race director in New Jersey, took over. “Of all the races I have done, the Spring Lake Five is special, not just because the route is beautiful, but because it really kicks off the summer around here. The anticipation is more than running: It’s also about people dying to get back to the beach.”

Participation creeped up to 12,000 by 2013. The event is still capped at around 12,500. Hinck explained, “It can’t get much bigger. The elite runners are crossing the finish just as the last fun runners are taking off. We went before the town every year to prove we could handle the numbers. You are not likely to find another race in the country where the entire event is totally cleaned up by 11:30 a.m. Port-o-johns, barricades and tents are all gone.” Busy area bars and a sidewalk sale downtown are the only evidence that almost 20,000 were there a few hours prior.

Richard Franco of Marlboro has been running the race for over 20 years. “As I get older, my fellow runners carry me along. So do the spectators. Like the pastor at St. Andrew’s, or a man with a hose cooling us off from his driveway, or people clapping from their decks. Kids I placed in jobs years ago run up to me to introduce me to their grown children. It is just a great event.”

Runner’s World still ranks the Spring Lake Five as one of its top 100 races in America. It is a wonderful start to the summer for many who have made the race a tradition. After two years of pandemic cancellation, the race returned in 2022 for its 44th running. Its 45th will be May 27. Be there to run, cheer or volunteer.

Philip Hinck, past president of the Jersey Shore Running Club and past race director of the Spring Lake Five, says the anticipation around the race is about more than running: “It’s also about people dying to get back to the beach.”

The selection of the Spring Lake Five T-shirt design has become a competition of its own, and runners collect them as mementos.

Vincent Dicks is a photographer, author and researcher who is continually looking for beauty in people and his surroundings. You can find him at vincentdicks.com.

Easy Steps to Perfect Planters

The experts at Barlow Flower Farm share their best tips for container gardening.

BY STEPHEN BARLOW

Container gardening is a great way to enjoy bold, flowery color without committing to an in-ground garden. Window boxes, patio planters and tabletop dish gardens are just some of the ways you can display stunning seasonal color. One benefit of container gardening: If you change your mind, you can always swap plants and containers out to fit your needs as the seasons goes on.

Stephen Barlow, a second-generation owner of Barlow Flower Farm, works in one of the farm’s 28 greenhouses.

1

Identify Your needs.

Are you looking to create some privacy? To add a splash of color to the front of your home or fragrance to a porch? Maybe you’d like to turn the area around your pool and patio into a tropical oasis! Whatever the reason for your container garden, it will inform the plants you choose.

2 Track the Sunlight.

Now that you have a goal in mind, the next step is to pay attention to the available sunlight where you want to place your planters. Because different plants have varying light requirements, take note of the amount of sunlight the location gets each day.

Generally speaking:

• Full sun = 6+ hours of sun daily

• Part sun/part shade = 3–6 hours of sun daily

• Full shade = 2 hours or less of direct sunlight daily

3

Choose Your Plants.

It’s time for the fun part! We have a general recipe for putting together a container garden—pick out thriller, filler and spiller plants—but this is where your creativity can really shine.

THRILLER: This plant will be the focal point of your design and should have some height to it for vertical interest. Ornamental grasses, tall flowering annuals or spiky plants like dracaena are popular choices. You can plant your thriller in the center of the pot with fillers and spillers in a circle around it, or you can plant it in the back of your container with the other plants in front.

FILLER: With a more mounded or bushy growth habit, filler plants are used to fill the gaps between your focal plant and the spillers along the edges of your container. You can pick uniform plants or use a mix for added interest. Some customer favorites are geraniums, petunias, calibrachoa, lantana and impatiens.

SPILLER: These plants have a trailing growth habit that will cascade down the sides of your planter. Some great flowering options are verbena, bacopa, ivy geraniums and scaevola. Popular non-flowering options are vinca vine, sweet potato vine, creeping jenny and dichondra “Silver Falls.”

Just keep in mind when selecting your plants that they all should have the same sunlight and watering requirements. You wouldn’t want to plant succulents that like dry soil together with lobelia, which likes moist soil. You also don’t want to mix full-sun and fullshade plants as only one will thrive in any given condition.

Now, it’s time to get busy creating your perfect seasonal container garden! If you care to share a photo of your creation, we’d love to see it! Please email it to hello@springlakemagazine.com.

Stephen Barlow, who holds a degree in horticulture from Michigan State University and an MBA from Monmouth University, is the owner of Barlow Flower Farm. The family business is marking its 40th anniversary this year.

The Spirit of Running

Inspiring books for runners at all levels

BY KATE CZYZEWSKI

The Spring Lake Five has always been known as the unofficial start of summer. To prepare yourself or to simply get in the spirit, here are some of our favorite inspirational running books.

• “BORN TO RUN: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen” by Christopher McDougall: Aside from its title mirroring that of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run,” we love this nonfiction tale because it reads like an ancient mystery. McDougall sets out to discover Mexico’s Copper Canyons and to understand near superhuman ultra-runners. What he learns will leave any reader inspired— runner or not.

• “SPIRIT RUN: A 6,000-Mile Marathon Through North America’s Stolen Land” by Noe Alvarez: Sometimes, we draw our own courage from reading the stories of others. That rings true with this biographical story

written by the son of working-class Mexicans who immigrated to the U.S. In this book, Alvarez shares his experience running a Native American marathon from Canada to Guatemala. Along the way, he comes to better understand himself and his dreams for the future. This is a beautiful debut!

• “SLOW JOGGING: Lose Weight, Stay Healthy, and Have Fun with Science-Based, Natural Running” by Hiroaki Tanaka and Magdalena Jackowska: This is the book for those of us who want to start running or have run before but had to give it up due to injury. In this manual-style book, which covers running form, eating habits, footwear and more, the authors take us through slow jogging—an injury-free approach designed to help readers become successful runners.

• “CHOOSING TO RUN: A Memoir” by Des Linden: This inspiring book is a newly released memoir from Boston Marathon champion

turned Olympian Des Linden. We suggest downloading this as an audiobook (libro.fm is one option) to hear about her deep connection to the most famous marathon in the world; her two very different Olympic experiences; how she set a world record at the 50-kilometer distance; and how she sets new goals. Listening to memoirs like this is a truly uplifting experience!

Kate Czyzewski is the store manager and events coordinator at Thunder Road Books. You can find her on social media @thunderroadbooks or @thesaltybookworm.

"Your Realtor at the Shore"

Donna Fahy-Waters, a top Producing broker/sales associate for more than 20 years provides experience and excellence with energy and enthusiasm while embracing the new venues of technology. She brings her Wall St. background of finance and marketing to all of her clients. She has sold waterfront properties in every town from Monmouth Beach to Seaside Heights while understanding the nuances of every glorious location.

Her business acumen, commitment to clients and intuitive sense of every market are instrumental in her success. Donna welcomes the opportunity to share her knowledge and possibilities with buyers and sellers. Call Donna, Your Shore Realtor today and Expect the Best.

Donna Fahy-Waters, Broker Sales Associate, Luxury Property Specialist

Coldwell Banker Realty

Mobile (908) 601-0645 | Office (732) 449-2777 donnafw@cbmoves.com

SPRING LAKE

Garden Gifts for Mom

Enchanting (and thoughtful!) gifts for Mother’s Day and beyond

BY DALLAS HLATKY

For the gardener who has everything (and needs a place to put it), consider a conversation piece like this canvas wall organizer for garden gadgets, which would look fantastic in a mudroom, kitchen alcove or potting shed. Garden shears will never go missing again!

Around these parts, Mother’s Day is the official kickoff to gardening season. Spring flowers are in full bloom, and it’s time to ready the garden beds and plant seedlings outside. Moms (and others!) who find joy tending to their gardens will love these unique gifts for plant lovers from Terra Earth & Surf. Everything is curated with an eye for both beauty and practicality.

And if you really want to make mom happy? Offer to assemble the bouquet, candles and centerpiece together over a glass of wine or a cup of tea. Or, after she opens her new tote or organizer, request a tour of her garden so she can show off all her hard work. After all, spending quality time together is surely at the top of her wish list.

Dallas Hlatky is a local green thumb and owner of Merle Works, a tie-dyed accessories brand. You can find her at @ merle.works on Instagram, or come to one of her workshops at her Asbury Park dye studio.

Maybe you have a tradition of bringing your mom flowers every year. Keep it going, but with a twist. We can’t stop thinking about this all-in-one ceramic centerpiece bowl. Pair it with a pair of hand-dipped beeswax tapers and a few distinctive stems. The builtin candleholders, flower frog and shallow vase will hold a floral centerpiece as special as your mama.

This canvas tote is an elegant way to store and carry garden essentials. Plus, the neutral color, pockets and stiff shape make it an all-purpose winner as an everyday carryall.

BY MICHELLE WOLFE

A

distinctive set of petite vases is a thoughtful gift for anyone who takes pleasure in bringing the beauty of the garden inside to enjoy. A set of these wooden vases can be easily styled and moved anywhere around the house. Their slim profiles make them the perfect vessels for a few freshly clipped blooms just outside her doorstep.

Specializing in general, surgical, pediatric, adult and cosmetic dermatology, Connolly Dermatology offers dermatological care for the whole family at offices conveniently located throughout NJ, DE and PA.

Coyle S. Connolly, D.O. has combined his passion for helping people and love of teaching to bring quality dermatological care to South Jersey for over 2 decades. Dr. Connolly prides himself in giving patients straight-forward information about their skin concerns and encouraging them to ask questions. Established in 1996, Connolly Dermatology now offers state-of-the-art surgical and non-surgical treatments of skin cancer, including superficial radiation therapy in our dedicated skin cancer treatment centers.

One in five people will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Call us today to schedule your skin cancer screening and to discuss how we can help you meet your personal skin health goals.

Locations & Store Hours visit: www.coneywaffle.com 732-556-6951

In the 1940s, Angelina D’Esposito made a living selling ice cream on Coney Island, a booming amusement park on the southern tip of Brooklyn. D’Esposito scooped the ice cream into freshly made Coney Waffles, a hand-held confection customers could enjoy while they walked. Seven decades later, her grandson Joe has brought this treat back to Coney Island... and the world!

Coney Waffle opened in Belmar, NJ in 2016, followed by locations in Asbury Park, Long Branch and Red Bank, NJ, and now Coney Island in Brooklyn, NYC.

Coyle S. Connolly, D.O.

Coldwell Banker Realty

Spring Lake Office

Susan Bastardo Realtor Associate, SRES

C: 732.245.5848 | O:732.449.2777

1122 Third Ave., Spring Lake, NJ 07762 susan.bastardo@cbmoves.com

Susan Bastardo knows that “KNOWLEDGE IS POWER”. Susan is attuned to the rapidly changing trends in the marketplace and keeps both buyers and sellers informed every step of way. Susan’s clients rely heavily on her previous banking & mortgage experience, keen artist’s eye for staging & decor to stage their home and “everything” Monmouth county. Her SRES designation, NJ Realtors Distinguished Sales Award, Five Star Award and Coldwell Banker’s International President’s Circle Award puts Susan in the top 7% of all Coldwell Banker agents worldwide.

2023 Client Testimonial-”You’re the best realtor on the planet!”

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Elder Care Testimonial from VP of Disney:

Carol Fleres was unbelievably professional throughout the process of selling my elderly parent's home. She was incredibly astute in her understanding of the market in which she worked, completely unflappable in the face of all those challenges that arise when selling a home, and perseverant beyond belief. She got the home sold at about the asking price in less than a month. What was even more so to me was how she handled my folks. At their ages, the stress of selling their family home of 50 years and moving was particularly tough. Carol always had a smile, was incredibly patient with them, and just did what was right and good. I cannot praise her highly enough. Carol has my highest recommendation.

Carol

of Disney 07762

Spring Mist

Wreck Pond in mist in the early morning light, shot from the First Avenue bridge, looking west. While the water appears still, over 16 million gallons flow from the streams to the west and into the ocean in a 24-hour period.

Photograph by Vincent Dicks of Sea Girt.

PHOTO OP

Denise Dreyer

Realtor Associate GRI, ABR, SRS

Ward Wight Sotheby’s International Realty | Sea Girt

2022 Top Producing Agent in Sea Girt Company Top Producer 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

NJ’s Realtor’s Circle of Excellence Sales Award Winner

NJ’s Top Realtors by Real Trends

7 Beds | 11/1 Baths | $8,750,000

The tranquil union of unobstructed lake views and indoor comfort translates to one of the finest luxury homes offered along the Atlantic. This custom new construction residence offers three levels of unparalleled lakefront living with fine architectural elements and well crafted details creating a timeless environment throughout this home. Here is your opportunity to indulge in a fabulous lifestyle in one of the most sought after coastal communities.

Two 50x205’ Oceanfront Lot | $5,025,000

CAFRA APPROVALS are in place and DEMOLITION is COMPLETE!

Design & Build your dream home on this spectacular lot directly on the beach in Sea Girt. The beauty of this property provides the perfect land and sea scape ‘’Nestled in the Sand’’ on the South side of town. Living directly on the beach in Sea Girt is a dream for most. Indulge in a fabulous lifestyle in one of the most sought after communities along the Atlantic. A once in Lifetime Opportunity Awaits!

Build Your Dream Home in Sea Girt

Luxury New Construction in Spring Lake

Campi Dental is proud to announce the ninetieth anniversary of our family-owned, fourth-generation dental practice serving the members of Monmouth and Ocean counties since 1933.

STATE-OF-THE-ART FAMILY AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY INCLUDING ORAL SURGERY AND ORTHODONTICS