All Around Matawan-Aberdeen- November 2022

MATAWAN-ABERDEEN

WELCOME TO FALL IN MATAWANABERDEEN!

Fall is upon us and with Thanksgiving right around the corner, I want to take a moment to reflect and give thanks to the members of the Matawan Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce and the commu nity residents who help keep our townships vibrant and strong.

Thank you to all for your patience and participation in making Matawan Day a suc cessful event! This places a spotlight on our community and creates a fun and produc tive day for everyone involved.

A big welcome and thank you to our newest members, John Zeller of Aberdeen Guns and Ammo and Steven Bond of IT Cloud Consulting.

Looking forward, the Chamber will be holding our Annual Holiday Meet and Greet on Tuesday December 6th at The Holiday Season in Matawan will be even merrier this year with the return of an annual favorite.

By Cathy Zavorskas

The Matawan Histori cal Society will once again host the Holiday Musicale on Sunday, December 4, 2022.

at Burrowes Mansion from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm.

Absent from the holiday season for the past few years,

the Holiday Musicale returns to offer visitors an opportunity to see the Burrowes Mansion dressed in its holiday finest, hear some wonderful rendi tions of traditional holiday music, and enjoy some light refreshments and conversation.

The mansion rooms will be filled with Christmas decora tions reminiscent of days gone by. The Christmas tree set in

the front Tea Room will be adorned with lights and vintage ornaments as the focal point of the holiday decorations. Other rooms will be dressed in garland and other vintage pieces as well.

The front parlor will serve as the music room where The Balancing Act Quartet will sing 4-part harmony renditions of holiday classics. They will

AN OLD FAVORITE RETURNS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON

Come out and run off your Turkey dinners at our 16TH ANNUAL certi fied 5 k Turkey Trot race on Saturday, November 26th. We start the race at 8:30AMon historic Main Street in Matawan and continue through the hilly and pretty Matawan neighbor hoods. Race party starts and ends at

Terhune Park where we will be giving out fall giveaways, awarding medals, dancing to music and taking selfies at our photo backdrop. All pre-registered runners will receive a race shirt. This is a fun family event and we love to see familiar faces. Net proceeds go back into our parks and beautification projects.

MESSAGE

Matawan Mayor Joseph Altomonte

I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving as the holiday season is officially upon us. After your meal with the family, please be sure to work off that dinner and participate in the 16th annual 5K Turkey Trot. As one of our most popular events of the year with over 600 runners, we hope you’ll join us for this

post-holiday run on a certified course (walkers welcome, too) that includes a kiddie dash as well, which is fun for the whole family! All runners that sign up in advance are guaranteed a race shirt. So not only do you get some exercise, but proceeds of the race benefit our parks in town so you can contribute to bettering our community. Sign up to reserve your spot today at www.runsignup.com. We’ve been fortunate to continue our work with Soup Kitchen 411 and with the as sistance of grants from the NJ Economic Development Au thority to help those who are less fortunate and can use help with food scarcity by providing meals. As a result, they work with local restaurants to supply meals distributed by us to those needed every Friday at Borough Hall. So walk or drive up at 6:30 while supplies last every Friday through December 22nd. Be sure to check the Borough Facebook page for any updates or in the case of changes or

inclement weather.

Lastly, our tree-lighting event will take place on December 2nd at Terhune Park. Please join us for a fun evening from 6:30-8 pm to see the new tree, enjoy music, watch the carving of ice sculp tures, see Micky & Minnie, drink hot chocolate, and much more! So join us for a great night of festivities; we hope to see you there!

THE BIG BLUE MANSION ON MAIN STREET

Philip Freneau- the namesake of another area of Matawan, which served as the home for Freneau- known as the Poet of the American Revolution. David Ryer died in 1899 and is interred locally at Rose Hill Cemetery on Ravine Drive.

Street has been cited as the most iconic of all the historic homes of Matawan Borough. Locally known as the “Big Blue Mansion” or the “Ambrosio House,” after Dr. Ambrosio who lived in the home for many years, it was the site of many lavish parties in the era of Matawan’s most signif icant prominence in Monmouth County. The home was built in the French Second Empire style, and remains as only one of two such buildings in NJ today.

The mansion was built in 1873 by David Ryer, a very successful textile merchant who also served as mayor of Matawan. David’s father had locally been known as the purchaser of the home and lands formerly belonging to

The single-family home had over a century of continuous use but fell into disrepair the early 2000s. The home was purchased by a local investor, who looked to convert the dwelling into offices but was denied rezoning by the borough. The house was left unoccupied and unmaintained for over a decade before another submission was made to convert the home into an eight-unit dwelling. The approval was granted, contingent on the exterior being restored and returned to its original pristine appearance. In the three years following such approvals, the home remains unrestored with evidence of further deterioration. Both the Matawan Historical Society and the Matawan Borough Historic Sites Commission have offered any and all assistance to assist in any restoration of the structure.

Kurtis Roinestad Matawan Town Historian

CHECK IT OUT: LIBRARY NEWS!

This month

I thought I’d remind you about some services that we provide that may have slipped your mind!

Our librarians in both Youth Services and Adult Services are ready and willing to assist you with your questions – including “What should I read next?” They will talk to you about which authors, genres, and formats you like and will make great sug gestions from our collection. It doesn’t matter your age – we have trained personnel who can help!

Our bookkeeper provides free notary public services to our patrons (out-of-towners will be

charged a small fee). This service is by appointment only, so please call the library to arrange a visit.

Our main copy machine in the Reference Room pro vides scanning services (to an email or a thumb drive) and it is free of charge.

Our library mascot, a leopard gecko named Gus, lives in our children’s department and you can visit him during any of our open hours OR you can watch him anytime on the Gus Cam on our website. Gus tends to be most active at night, so try to catch him after dark. https:// www.matawanaberdeenlibrary. com/pages/guslivevideo.php

If you need some computer help, you can sign up for a One-on-One session with one of our very knowledgeable

computer assistants. You will receive an hour of instruction focused on your particular needs – at no charge, of course!

If you have questions about any of the services listed above,

visit our website at www.ma tawanaberdeenlibrary.com, stop by, or give us a call at 732583-9100 – our friendly staff would be happy to assist you.

Have a wonderful Novem

ber and Happy Thanksgiving!

Kimberly Paone, Library Director Matawan Aber deen Public Library

HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES WILL TAKE THE NEW SAT

“Put Down Your #2 Pencils. Forever” quipped the New York Times in their January 25th article. It is true. The SAT is going digital. This new test will be available outside the US in 2023. Current sopho mores will get their first taste of the new format as a PSAT in October 2023 before they take the new official SAT in 2024.

The test is section-adap tive, which means that, if a student does well on the first reading section, he or she will receive a more difficult second reading section. Since some students will have a more dif ficult overall test, the test will be weighted accordingly. Also, as a result of this format, the assessment will be cut from 3 hours to 2 and can still accu rately reflect the student’s ability.

There will be no more no-calc math section. Longer reading passages with be replaced by short passages, which have just one question each, allowing the College Board to test students on a wider range of topics.

Students will can use their own computers or tablets or will be provided with one at the test center. Testing will not be done at home. Students will have more test dates and locations to choose from as a result of the digital format.

The test will still be scored out of 1600. Students will receive their scores more quickly than the current 13-day turnaround time.

Practice tests are now available. To see sample questions and their video solutions, visit https:// www.youtube.com/c/IvyMaster sLearningCenter/playlists and click on “The Digital SAT Sample Math,” “The Digital SAT Sample Reading and Writing,” “Digital SAT Test 1 math,” and “Digital SAT Test 1 Reading and Writing.”

The College Board plans to make a clean break from the paper format to the digital format, except in the case of 504 or IEP accommodations calling for a paper and pencil test.

We may see many current sophomores flee to the ACT (as happened in the last SAT overhaul in March of 2016) since students (as well as universities) will know what to expect from that test. Also as in 2016, we may see students rush to take the old format test before the new one appears. Hey soph omores—what is your plan?

Suggestion for a topic? Ques tions about the new SAT? You can reach me at Paul.Pscolka@ ivymasters.com 732-4856480 www.ivymasters.com

AN OLD FAVORITE RETURNS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON

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be followed by two members of the Matawan Historical Society, Steve Russell, and Diane Doolittle who will play and sing some holiday music and offer us an opportunity to join them in a holiday sing-along. The Holiday Musicale pro vides a wonderful afternoon during the height of the busy holiday season to just pause, relax, and enjoy the company of friends and neighbors with the wonderful sights and sounds of the holiday season. It’s a joyous occasion in which tra ditions of the past blend with the present to create a won derful touch of holiday magic.

HELPING LOCAL BUSINESS

By Councilman Brian Livesey

the Borough ordinances, offer advice to residents with tree issues, and to educate the public on the value of trees.

In addition to the Shade Tree’s core mission, the commission also hosts our annual Arbor Day event where the volunteers distribute over 250 free saplings to residents every year. During this event, a tree is also planted in the Borough and named by elementary school students who are the winners of our annual Arbor Day Poster Contest. You will also find our members at com munity events, including Matawan Day, meeting with residents and providing valuable information on tree planting.

The Matawan Borough’s Shade Tree Commission is made up of a group of 5 volunteers with a desire to help the com munity. The Shade Tree Commission’s core mission is to maintain the health of Borough owned trees, review all develop ment applications to ensure compliance with the existing tree ordinances, inspect any new construction to ensure that the trees are planted in compliance with

This year, the Shade Tree Commission started a Borough wide tree planting program where the commission will provide an approved tree to be planted within the Borough easement. For more information reach out to any Shade Tree member or call Borough Hall. Always remember trees give off oxygen that we need to breathe. Trees reduce the amount of storm water runoff, which reduces erosion and pollution in our waterways. Trees provide food, protec tion, and homes for many birds and animals. Trees beautify the community!

TIPS FOR A THANKFUL THANKSGIVING WITH PETS

By Anita Greenberg, DVM

Dr. Anita Green berg and her husband, Dr. Daniel Belli, are the owners and operators of the East Brunswick Animal Hospital for more than 30 years.

Dr. Greenberg has been a member of the Old Bridge Township Council since 2016 Thanksgiving is a wonder ful time to gather with friends and family, but be mindful of your pets.

If your pets get anxious or overly excited with a houseful of guests, try keeping them in a quiet room away from the action with a favorite toy and plenty of water. Be careful when opening doors to greet guests so your pets don’t try to escape.

Thanksgiving is all about the food. Feeding your pet a small piece of cooked turkey without skin or bones is all right. Remind your guests not to share food with your pets. Discard the carcass safely after carving. Even a small piece of bone can cause intestinal injury. Your pet may choke

on a bone that lodged in their throat or, if swallowed, the bone could perforate the intestine or cause an obstruction.

Turkey brine should be discarded immediately after its use. This salty solution can be toxic for your pet.

If using string to tie the turkey legs make sure to discard it safely. If in gested by your cat or dog, the string, along with aluminum foil used in roasting and other food preparations, can cause intestinal obstructions.

Fatty foods are difficult for your pet to process and may lead to pancreatitis.

Foods that contain onions or raisins are toxic for your dogs.

Remember to keep the trash bin secure and covered as it is an easy target for your pet to get into trouble.

Use caution around the hot stove, keeping your pets clear when the oven door is open.

Decorations such as lit candles, glass ornaments, ribbon and tinsel are also potential concerns.

Wishing you a wonder ful and safe Thanksgiving!

ARCADIAN CHORALE TO PERFORM “LET THERE BE LIGHT! ” LIVE HOLIDAY CONCERT

The Arcadian Chorale led by Music Director Marina Alexander will perform its holiday program, “Let There Be Light!” on Sunday, December 18 at 4:00 PM at St. Rose of Lima Church, 16 McLean St., Freehold, NJ. The program will feature music on the miracles of Creation, with works by Bach, Haydn, and Mendels sohn. Contemporary works by Ameri can composers will be sung in contrast, including Joan Szymko’s chant-based Illumina le Tenebrae, the NJ premiere of Elizabeth Alexander’s Pure Light Beyond Light, and Ola Gjeilo’s powerful exploration of salvation, Dark Night of the Soul. The Matawan Regional HS Vocal Academy directed by Andre Bal dasserini will also be featured, renewing a long-standing collaboration between those students and the Chorale. Guest conductor Audrey Edelstein will offer music for Hanukkah, and lead the au dience in a traditional community carol sing. “Hallelujah” Chorus from Handel’s Messiah will be the grand finale. The her alded Simply Strings Quartet will provide expert accompaniments throughout

the concert, with virtuoso keyboards by Ruslan Odintsov. As it has for many years, the Freehold Borough Arts Council will be a sponsor of the concert on Dec. 18, with introductions offered by its Pres ident Jeffry Friedman. As a member organization of the Freehold Borough Arts Council, NJ Choral Consortium, and Monmouth Arts, Arcadian Chorale has presented its exciting classical music performances at many sites in the greater Monmouth area. The ensemble will celebrate its 30th year in 2023, under the inspiring direction of its Founder and Conductor, Marina Alexander. The group is regularly invited to perform throughout New York and New Jersey, in cluding numerous appearances at Carne gie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the NJPAC. Please visit Arcadian Chorale’s website for more information: www.arcadianchorale. org Ticket prices are as follows: General admission: $20 Seniors: $15 Students: $10 Group discounts are available. Tickets can be purchased online. Happy holidays!

ABERDEEN DAY WRAPS AT COURT JESTER, FUN FOR ALL!

With the activities, contests, vendors and much more, we can all agree Aberdeen Day was a lot of fun for everyone who attended. Court Jester Saloon & Eatery in Aberdeen provided the perfect end to a successful day! With a live band, a giant outdoor biergarten, hatchet toss and a bounce house, there was something fun for every age!

While parents relaxed with

a craft beer at one of the many outdoor tables & enjoyed the music of ‘WTC’ BAND the younger kids jumped in and out of the bounce house having a blast while the older kids and adults safely hit their targets at the enclosed Bury the Hatchet trailer.

Inside, the kitchen and staff catered to a packed house with delicious appetizers, big juicy burgers and mouthwatering en

trée’s. The bartenders were quick and attentive, no one waited very long for their drink order.

Court Jester owners Mike and Rich Page and Tony Ciafar dini kept everything running smoothly by helping inside and out with bartending, seating & bussing, all the while greeting longtime friends and customers, and turning new area residents into friends.

Always giving back to the community, family friendly Court Jester has been a New Jersey gem for 45 years. We are looking forward to seeing what the next 45 will bring!

Court Jester is located at 1077-A Route 34 in Aberdeen & 16 East Main Street in Freehold

Visit www.courtjest ernj.com for menu, hours and additional information

WELCOME TO FALL IN MATAWANABERDEEN!

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Ginkaku Japanese Restaurant from 5:30-8:00 p.m. Join us in kicking off the holiday season!

Bring your business cards, meet other members of our Chamber and have a great time. Visit MACOCNJ.com to RSVP.

Let’s continue to keep our community strong, remember to reach out to our Matawan Day vendors, sponsors & our local businesses this holiday season and for all your every day needs. Shop Local!

On behalf of myself and our Board of Directors, we want to acknowledge and thank all of you for supporting our Chamber. We wish you all a safe, happy and prosperous holiday season!

Jeff Pantelas: Pres ident , Matawan Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce.

MEMORIAM

MARIA LUIZA KORTZ

MARCH 13, 1940 - OCTOBER 20, 2022

MATAWAN, VISITATION WAS HELD AT BEDLE FUNERAL HOME IN MATAWN

JOHN RUBINO

DECEMBER 11, 1959 - OCTOBER 17, 2022

VISITATION WAS HELD AT WAITT FUNERAL HOME, MORGANVILLE

ARLENE L. MACKAY

9, 1932 - OCTOBER 14, 2022

MORGANVILLE, VISITATION WAS HELD AT WAITT FUNERAL HOME, MORGANVILLE

ELEANOR WEISS MCGILL

MARCH 24, 1936 - OCTOBER 12, 2022

OLD BRIDGE, VISITATION WAS HELD AT OLD BRIDGE FUNERAL HOME, OLD BRIDGE

PETER R. PERO

7, 1951 - OCTOBER 12, 2022

OLD BRIDGE, VISITATION WAS HELD AT OLD BRIDGE FUNERAL HOME, OLD BRIDGE

JOHN JEAN

JUNE 17, 1958 - OCTOBER 9, 2022

OF MARBORO, VISITATION WAS HELD AT WAITT FUNERAL HOME, MORGANVILLE

JOHN “SATCH” R. SANDERS, JR. DECEMBER 22, 1946 - OCTOBER 8, 2022,

OF MATAWAN, VISITATION WAS HELD AT WAITT FUNERAL HOME, MORGANVILLE

GRACE N. DEFAZIO

DECEMBER 17, 1951 - OCTOBER 7, 2022

OF MARLBORO, VISITATION WAS HELD AT WAITT FUNERAL HOME, MORGANVILLE

HAROLD “HARRY” CUNNINGHAM

MARCH 28, 1947 - OCTOBER 4, 2022

OF MORGANVILLE, VISITATION WAS HELD AT WAITT FUNERAL HOME, MORGANVILLE

PAUL S. CEDARDALL MARCH 17, 1968 - OCTOBER 3, 2022

54 OF KINGSBURG, CREMATION WAS PRIVATE AND TOOK PLACE IN THE JERSEY MEMORIAL CREMATORY

UGH, I CAN’T EAT ANYMORE!

Is that how holiday dinners leave you feeling? Let me be honest here, we live in a time where many of us have more than enough to eat at all times. Here in NJ, we have a variety and quality of cuisine that is unmatched in other parts of the US. Why are we wearing our elastic banded pants to be able to eat until we can’t breathe at holiday dinners? We eat well every single day! Know what’s even better than setting a resolution to lose holiday weight? Setting a plan in place to curb the gain in the first place! Try eating only your favorite foods and resist the pressure to eat things you don’t enjoy for fear of offending the cook. If you like to sample it all, do just that, sample. Smaller serv

ings of each dish. Is your family stressing you out and you’re burying your face in food for comfort? Have an exit strategy. Minimize the amount of time you spend around the people that bring you stress. Too much alcohol flowing around? Avoid sugary mixers. Choose a lighter beer. Drink dry wine. Another good tip is to drink later in the evening instead of before, during, AND after dinner. Have all of the things you enjoy but don’t be gluttonous. Empower yourself to be mindful of the choices that are being made and you can enjoy the holidays guilt-free. Wouldn’t it be better to head into the New Year with a different res olution besides losing weight? Again.

Heather Wyatt Health & Wellness Coach WyattCoaching 973-337-7265 WyattCoaching.com Instagram: @_ heatherwyatt

HAVE YOU HEARD...?

There’s a local Italian Amer ican Association that has been around some 50 plus years.

The Matawan Italian American As sociation was founded in 1965 for the purpose of perpetuating Italian culture, to promote good fellowship, to serve God and country through charitable works and donations and participate in betterment of the community.

Currently the Association is on a mission to build back up their active membership which saw a decline since Covid. For various reasons, the Association lost approximately ten members during the Covid period. Within the last few months, nine new members have joined but the Association would like to double their over-all size.

Meetings are held the fourth Monday of the month in the Association’s fully equipped rental hall which is located

at 1374 Hwy. 36, Airport Plaza, Hazlet. Look for the red awning at the rear of the building. Anyone 18 years of age or older, of Italian descent or Italian by marriage, is eligible for membership.

Join Now! The Association’s newly elected officers: Vincent J. Riggio, President and Barbara L. Gianguzzi, Vice President are eagerly planning an itinerary of exciting activities. They recently participated for the first time in the Ocean County Columbus Day Parade. Plans are now in the works to have a local guest author speak, a holiday party, and a trip to NYC to visit the Italian American Museum.

To request a membership appli cation or for further information, please call and clearly state your name and phone number. The person to call is Barbara at 732-979-3563.