All Around Old Bridge- July 2023

OLDBRIDGE

HELLO FROM HAUSER HILL FARMS!

SALTWATER DAY 2023: SPECTACULAR BEACH FESTIVAL!

Harbor on Saturday August 12, 2023, from 2pm -10pm.

Admission is free to this fun filled day!! Come over and join us; we have vendors of every type, from toys, face painting, henna, jewelry, homemade doggie treats, all kinds of beautiful handmade crafts, clothes, hats, handbags, and sunglasses just to name a few.

It’s a busy time of year here on the farm and we are happy to see the warmer weather. We have been busy getting the fields ready for everybody’s favorite summer Jersey produce. The unusually dry weather has made it quite difficult to get the fields ready and planted, but we are moving ahead as best we can. You just never know with the weather! On a positive note, this weather has been absolutely perfect for strawberries! Cool nights, warm days and dry weather has provided the best crop we’ve had in a very long time. Right now our stand is open and we are picking a variety of lettuces, asparagus, spinach and radishes. Blueberries will be coming soon!!!! We have lots of vegetable plants, bedding plants, shrubs, perennials and hanging baskets. Come see us at the stand at 261 Ticetown Road from Tuesday – Sunday 9-5 or at one of our Farmers Markets. We’re in Keansburg on Tuesday afternoons, Keyport and Rahway on Thursdays, Highlands on Saturdays and Red Bank on Sundays. Hope to see you soon!

The kids will love the rides and will be kept busy for hours on the many mechanical rides, obstacle courses...

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OB BASEBALL TEAM WINS NJSIAA CENTRAL GROUP IV CHAMPIONSHIP

By Jayden Junaid

On June 2, the Knights defeated North Brunswick 2-1 to win the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV Championship.

Shortstop Thomas Papeo drove in the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning to break the tie. “It feels amazing to win the CJG4 championship

against North Brunswick,” said Thomas Papeo, who led the team with 37 hits and 26 runs.

The game ended on an exciting play by Shawn Bogda. With two outs and a runner on third, Bogda had to field the ball and dive head-first back to the base to get the forced-out at first.

Justin Hascup shut down the

Raiders’ offense for 5 2/3 innings, allowing just one unearned run on two hits. “I just kept throwing strikes and let them hit the ball, so our defense could make plays,” explained Justin Hascup.

In the four Central Jersey Group IV games, the pitching staff never surrendered an earned run, shutting out every other opponent: 3-0 over West Windsor-Plainsboro North, 10-0 over West Windsor-Plainsboro South, and 8-0 over East Brunswick.

Frank Papeo struck out seven batters in the win over EB in the Semifinals, keeping the offense in check until Old Bridge’s bats heated up in the sixth inning. “The offense played great late in the game, and the defense made no mistakes,” credited Frank Papeo, who held East

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Senior Michael Villani, surrounded by his teammates holds the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV State Champions trophy over his head.

Saltwater Day is a fantastic festival on the beach,

located at the Old Bridge Waterfront Park in Laurence

MAYOR HENRY MESSAGE

Now that the school year is past and with summer officially here, most of us are enjoying those fun family-packed summer activities. I would like to remind parents to think about summer safety during these hot, humid, and sunny months. Please pay close attention to children while swimming, apply sunscreen when outdoors, check for ticks, and never leave children or pets in a car unattended, even for a short amount of time. Think safe, stay safe! Once again, I would like to congratulate all our recent graduates. It is always a pleasure to watch our children and young adults achieve such a milestone. And thank you to all our wonderful, dedicated teachers and administrators for all your efforts throughout the year. You are truly instrumental in shaping the lives of our future generation. I would be remiss if I did not take the opportunity to acknowledge the many volunteers who make our township a wonderful place to live. From those who serve on our boards, commissions, and

committees, to those who serve our various civic organizations and everywhere in between, we simply could not function as a Township without you. Your town stands behind you and is always there to help in any way we can.

Mayor Owen Henry

Most importantly, we celebrate our freedom and independence on the 247th anniversary of this Fourth of July. The signing of the Declaration of Independence marked the first time in history that a nation’s people asserted their right to choose their own government. It is only fitting that we stop for a moment and thank our troops for all they do to protect and defend our country. American troops continue to fight daily for our freedom and many of those soldiers live right here in Old Bridge. Please keep all the service men and women in your prayers.

Stay on the lookout for information and details regarding our annual Saltwater Day and Old Bridge Day. Have a great 4th of July and enjoy the warm weather!

Mayor Owen Henry

NICOLE’S HEART 5K WALK/RUN

isters a scholarship program for graduating high school seniors, and donates defibrillators to various organizations.

Place - 5K Run or Walk

Female 19 and Under

1 Rachel Hayes - Morganville

2 Emmalyn Romello - Holmdel

On Saturday, June 10, 2023, Nicole’s Heart Foundation hosted its 5th Annual 5K Walk/ Run at Thompson Park, 805 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, NJ. This annual fundraising event supports the foundation’s mission of raising awareness concerning the importance of cardiac screening for high school athletes. The 5K Run is organized through Race Forum/ Split Second Timing and was USA Track & Field sanctioned.

We are pleased to report that we had another banner year with over 140 runners and walkers, mostly from Central NJ, but also from as far away as Virginia and Massachusetts! Medals were given out to the top three winners

in each of the following categories and are listed to the right.

This June 8 would have been Nicole’s 30th birthday and in honor of this event, her sister, Michelle, baked birthday cupcakes.

Many heartfelt thanks to our Sponsors, which were Lakeland Bank, Deborah Heart Foundation, All Around Old Bridge, Head Over Heels Gymnastics, Smolin Lupin, CPA’s, NJ Natural Gas, Kitchen Magic, Garden State Skating Club, PlaNutrition, Bagelmasters, Home Run Inspection Service and the Borghese Family!

Established more than a decade ago, Nicole’s Heart facilitates free cardiac screenings to high school students and athletes, admin-

The foundation honors the memory of Nicole Trott of Old Bridge, who passed away shortly after graduating from St. John Vianney High School in 2011, following a cardiac event brought on by an undiagnosed congenital heart defect known as Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA). Nicole’s athletic background included track, gymnastics, and cheerleading. Besides her academics and extracurricular activities, the 18-year-old also volunteered at the Old Bridge Animal Shelter and expected to start a pre-veterinarian college program that following fall at Rutgers University. Anyone interested in learning more about this 501 (c) 3 organization, the scholarship program, or to make a donation, visit Nicole’s Heart Foundation at www.nicolesheart.com.

3 Isabel Mccue - Keyport

Female 20-29

1 Courtney Thompson - Arlington, VA

2 Christina Borghese - Middletown

3 Emily O'Sullivan - Raleigh, NC

Female 30-39

1 Maura Mcauley - Hoboken

2 Michelle Borghese - Middletown

3 Megan Ellis - Princeton

Female 40-49

1 Janel Romello - Holmdel

Female 50-59

1 Susan Thompson - Freehold

2 Hope Block - Morganville

3 Mary Waring - Manalapan Township

Female 60-69

1 Tina Hungrige - Lavallette

2 Karen Hoch - Brick

3 Patty Brooks - Matawan

Female 70-79

1 Joann Kyle-Labenski - Franklin Park

2 Joann Young - Manalapan Township

Female Overall Rachel Hayes

Morganville 20:20.5

Male 19 and Under

1 Rob Smith - Keyport

2 Liam Steiner - Aberdeen

3 David Hernandez III - Jackson

Male 20-29

1 Quinn Vallely Erin - NY

2 Lucas Werner - Holmdel

3 Matt Tees - Pennington

Male 30-39

1 Ryan Mulligan - Hazlet

2 Connor Mcauley - Hoboken

3 Kenneth Kyle - Franklin Park

Male 40-49

1 David Hernandez - Jackson

2 Michael Romello - Holmdel

3 Michael Steiner - Aberdeen

Male 50-59

1 Jay Stangreciak - Keansburg

2 Christopher Claps - Colts Neck

3 Glenn Noe - Tinton Falls

Male 60-69

1 Karl Gould Harleysville - PA

2 Dave Tees - Pennington

3 Nicholas Pagano - Freehold

Male 70-79

1 Harold E ner - Lincroft

2 Dave Young - Manalapan Township

Male 80 +up

1 Olie Nelson - Farmingdale

Male Overall Ryan Mulligan

Hazlet 17:14.8

IS AN SAT/ACT CLASS OR PRIVATE LESSONS BETTER FOR MY CHILD?

Parents often ask whether I recommend class or private lessons for their child. There are 3 (or 4) criteria to consider.

(1) What is the student’s PSAT/SAT/ ACT baseline score?

If the student’s score is too low, the class will move too quickly. If the student’s score is too high, the class will run too slowly. For students scoring very high or very low, private lessons are recommended. Otherwise, the class is fine.

(2) What is the difference between the student’s math and reading/writing and language score?

If the student is much stronger in one content area than the other, the weaker area should be targeted with private lessons. If a student’s score is close, the class is fine.

(3) Does the student need to be held closely accountable?

If a student needs more oversight to ensure work is completed, private lessons are better. If a student will do his/her homework without needing to be held

closely accountable, the class is fine.

If all 3 of these criteria qualify a student for the class, this doesn’t necessarily mean the student should take the class. Parents can still decide on private lessons if they deem it better for their particular situation (especially if the student has already taken a class before).

Lastly, parents may consider their finances. Private lessons are usually more costly. Classes are great for a self-motivated student whose scores are in the middle 70th percentile and not too far apart. Suggestion for a topic? You can reach me at Paul.Pscolka@ivymasters.com 833-728-7228 www.ivymasters.com

BBQ PACKAGES

$18.50 per person

Starting At (min. 25 People)

Includes: Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Sausages, Corn on the Cob, Baked Beans, Watermelon. Grilling Chef Available. Wait Staff Available.

COLD BUFFET

Starting At (min. 15 People) $9.50 per person

Beautifully arranged trays of the finest Cold Cuts and Cheeses. Choice of four Meats & one Cheese. Plus, Fresh Baked Rolls, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, & Macaroni Salad, Pickles & Olives, Mustard & Mayonnaise.

$16.95 per person

Starting At (min. 20 People) (Feeds 18-20)

Choice of Chicken Cacciatore, Sausage Peppers & Onions, Eggplant Rollatini, Stuffed Shells, Chicken Francaise, Chicken Marsala, Shrimp Scampi, Sliced Roast Beef with Mushroom Gravy, Barbeque Ribs, Pepper Steak, Tortellini with Sundried Tomato Cream Sauce & Much More!

Choice of Homemade Italian Bread or Rolls, Green Tossed Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Package Includes: Sterno , Chafing Dishes And Free Cookie Tray

$339.99

Choice of 1 (Full Tray)

Chicken Parmigiana

Chicken Francaise

Chicken Marsala

Chicken Modena

Choice of 3 (Full Tray)

Italian Meatballs

Cavatelli & Broccoli

Sausage & Broccoli Rabe

Tortellini & Broccoli

Chicken Meatballs

Penne Vodka • Lasagna

Sausage & Peppers

Broccoli & Garlic

Eggplant Parmigiana

Roasted Potatoes

Baked Ziti • Stuffed Shells

Roasted Vegetables

Choice of 1

Garden Salad

Caesar Salad Mixed Baby Green

Italian Bread or Rolls, And Sternos included

TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION

Old Bridge PBA Local 127 had the honor of presenting Tunnel to Towers Chairman Frank Siller a $10,000 donation check. This donation came directly from those PBA members who participated in the No-Shave event for the past 6 months. Officer’s were allowed to grow beards and donate for this cause during that time. We are extremely proud of this donation

and what the Tunnel to Towers Foundation represents. Thank you Frank for coming to Old Bridge and meeting our officers today!!

For additional information or to donate to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation please click on the link: t2t.org

#tunneltotowers #tunneltotowersfoundation #t2t #donate

LIVING STONES: THE ART OF DISTRACTION

“Clamour shall clean put out the voice of wisdom, The printing-presses with their clapping wings, Fouling your nourishment.

who meditates on the Word of God

Lloyd Pulley, Senior Pastor

Harpy wings, Filling your minds all day with foolish things, Will tame the eagle thought: till she sings Parrot-like in her cage to please dark kings.” (C.S. Lewis in the Pilgrims Regress)

In the biblical book of Proverbs, wisdom is personified as calling out to all humanity (Proverbs 8:1), but there seems to be a blockade in our minds that prevents all but the most diligent seeker from hearing!

In his day, C.S. Lewis believed the constant newsfeeds dulled the minds of the average person, thus taming their thoughts. Today, we are caged in by our tech devices as they distract our focus from essential matters! The constant intrusion of social media makes it almost impossible to reflect and thus discern what we should act upon. We are paralyzed with trivia.

The Bible says in Psalm 1 that he

“…shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season” (v3). In a time of famine for the truth, the one who digs deep in the Bible, God’s Word, will be fruitful! There is such turmoil today that it is much easier to ignore the significant problems we face. Weary of bad news, we resort to various amusements to forget our troubles. But will we end up parroting the narrative to please evil elitists who have rejected God, the Bible, and defiled marriage and family? Get back to the Bible! Know the truth! The truth will set you free.

WHEN AUTO ACCIDENTS OCCUR

By Dr. Anthony DeLuca, Director of DeLuca Family Chiropractic in Old Bridge, New Jersey, Selected for the Olympic training center in San Diego California and Colorado Springs Colorado

The roads in the United States are among the busiest in the world. tAccording to Statista, more than 218 million Americans hold a valid driver’s license. Due predominantly to a combination of alcohol abuse, speed and reckless driving, approximately three million of these individuals are injured in car crashes every year with two million suffering permanent injuries per DriverKnowledge.com.

But if you didn’t guess already, the news gets even worse if you live in New Jersey.

In a recent article, Forbes recently called New Jersey the home to the nation’s “second worst drivers” and Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Elizabeth among cities with the most car accident claims based on a study from Allstate Insurance. This was even veri ed by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), which found 273,473 total car crashes and 62,690 related injuries in the state in 2016.

The reasons are many. Some accidents are unavoidable -the result of bad timing, poor weather, awful conditions, vehicle failure or dreadful luck. Insurers have reported that deer or large animals played a role in more than 1 million car crashes just a few years ago. Life is sometimes unfair,

especially on the road.

Then again, there are the accidents where someone is de nitely at fault. But don’t kid yourself, it’s not a mistake if you know it’s wrong before you do it.

First, always wear a seatbelt. The statistics listed by DriverKnoweldge.com should stun staggering anyone who does not regularly wear a seatbelt. As stated by the website,1 in 7 people do not wear a seatbelt while driving even though they reduce the risk of death by 45% and cut the risk of serious injury by 50%. In addition, people who don’t wear seatbelts are also 30 times more likely to be ejected from the vehicle during a crash.

Next, do not drink and drive. The National Highway Traf c Safety Administration, the National Safety Council and National Institute of Health reported more than 10,000 deaths from drunk driving collisions from 2006-2016. Every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes daily, while more than 1,900 people in 2018 were killed in alcohol-related crashes where drivers had lower alcohol levels as stated by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Another serious problem on today’s road is distracted driving. Once again, DriversKnowledge.com’s statistics are spot-on.

Every year, more than 1060 people are injured in crashes that involve a distracted driver. This includes being more than 23 times more likely to crash while texting and driving. In addition, researchers have proven the correlation between cellphone use and reckless driving. Some studies have even equated handsfree operation to driving drunk. One university found that motorists who spoke on handsfree cellphones were 18 percent slower in braking.

So, you can be the safest driver in the world and still be the victim of the other guy’s bad decisions. As a result, it’s always important to drive safe and smart. But, if catastrophe or the other guy should strike, it is imperative to reach out for the proper certi ed care. The right treatment can oftentimes not only reduce pain and increase exibility, but overcome weeks, months, or even years of needless suffering.

For more information on methods for treating the injuries and pain associated with motor vehicle incidents please contact DeLuca Family Chiropractic at (732) 679-2414 or visit our website at www.dfccares.com. The of ce’s professional staff located at 2309 Hwy 516 in Old Bridge, NJ is dedicated to tailoring chiropractic programs targeted toward wellness and personal injury.

OB MAYOR CANDIDATE JILL DECARO (D) PLEDGES ‘FAMILY FIRST’ APPROACH TO UNITE AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY AMID CHALLENGES AND CELEBRATIONS

celebration, which is what makes us a family. As Mayor, I will take a “family first” approach. My team and I will make this happen by:

• Leading with transparency. Open, honest dialogue is the cornerstone of a thriving community. Elected officials need to meet people where they are and take on the difficult conversations. Not everyone is comfortable speaking for 3 minutes at a public meeting or sending an email.

• Always keeping public safety a priority. Safety is paramount to a healthy society, and our police department must have a permanent leader.

Jill DeCaro (D)

As Councilwoman, I love serving the diverse Old Bridge community. We come together during times of challenges and

• Improving services, such as adding bulk pick-up to eliminate illegal dumping

• Preserving Open Space to maintain the beauty and integrity of Old Bridge.

• Holding more family

events regularly such as “Concerts in the Park”, and providing more cultural events for all ages.

• Ensuring our parks and recreation programs are open and accessible for people of all abilities.

• Leveraging shared service opportunities with our local schools and other municipalities to help us make the best use of our tax dollars.

• Looking out for our local businesses and families by controlling overdevelopment, instead of focusing on warehouses and large overcrowded developments.

As Mayor, my team and I will look out for the people of Old Bridge. We have been through your struggles and understand we all want a better life for our families. We will fight for you and put our families first.

OB PBA LOCAL 127 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Old Bridge PBA Local 127 is proud to announce the winners of this year’s 3rd annual Chris Cronin Memorial PBA Scholarship. Each senior that was selected will be receiving a $1,000 scholarship from Old Bridge PBA Local 127 which will assist them with their future college plans. We wish all the recipients the best of luck in the future!!

Pictured from left to rightPrincipal Dr. Vincent Sasso, Ryann Clawson, Sydney Nugent, SOA President Jim Ford, PBA President Vinny Galgano, Selina Shenouda, Julia Reste, and Sara Paul.

HOLDING the line on municipal taxes with no help from Trenton

INVESTING in our police to keep neighborhoods and schools safe

IMPROVING parks and recreation to preserve our quality of life

SALTWATER DAY 2023: SPECTACULAR BEACH FESTIVAL!

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and interactive adventures.

Stay for Lunch, or Dinner our handpicked food trucks are serving some delicious dishes!! We have BBQ, Seafood, Greek delights, Latin Cuisine, all American Burgers and Hot Dogs to start off with!! Then on to dessert, our food court is loaded with all your festival favorites from Ice Cream, Ices, Zeppoles, and fried everything. The Laurence Harbor Fire Department will be back with the Beer Garden to wash down all that good food and rock the night away to the bands. $10.00 mugs and $2.00 tickets

Live Music starts at 5pm!! Bands to be announced. We are hoping to wrap up the night with our annual spectacular Fireworks Show at 930!!!

Any businesses out there who wish to contribute toward the fireworks show? Your company will be credited with your generous donation on our website, Facebook pages & the TV commercials we run 2-3 weeks prior to the event, and of course at Saltwater Day too, our average attendance is 4-6,000 people for the day.

There is no onsite parking available,

please visit www.oldbridge.com or our Facebook page ‘Saltwater Day 2023” https://www.facebook.com/obswd for the most up to date information. Shuttle schedule and pick up information will be posted by August 1st.

General Shuttle & Parking Information- Shuttles will be available from… Cheesequake Village, Metro Park South, Memorial School, Cliffwood Beach 7-11, & Divers Cove Lot. Additional Parking will be available at Saint Laurence Church AFTER 6pm

There’s something here for absolutely everyone, spanning every generation from the nature lover, the gothic, the fashionista all the way to the American Indian. Did you know the tradition of Saltwater Day started in the 1600’s with the Lenape Indians? Saltwater day is a long tradition in Old Bridge Township, and is sponsored by Old Bridge Township, Middlesex County and Laurence Harbor First Aid Squad. For additional information, vendor applications or if your company would like to be a sponsor, please contact Lisa Valsera, Deputy Director of Old Bridge Parks & Recreation. Lvalsera@oldbridge.com

OB BASEBALL TEAM WINS NJSIAA CENTRAL GROUP IV CHAMPIONSHIP

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Brunswick to two hits and one walk through five innings. “It was an allaround great game for the team.”

Kyle McSorely’s three-run home run put the game out of reach. “We didn’t miss our pitches and hit when we needed to,” explained McSorely, who led the

team with six home runs and 27 RBIs. In the Group IV Tournament, the team defeated Eastern 8-6 in the semifinals before falling to Southern 4-0 in the Finals. Originally posted on KnightLifeOB.com

Led by seniors Michael Villani and Thomas Papeo, the team jogs off the field to collect the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV State Champion trophy.

RYAN FERRARRO RECEIVES REGINALD M. BUTLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FROM OB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the recipient for the Reginald M. Butler Memorial Scholarship for the 2022-23 school year. Ryan Ferarro is a graduating senior from Old Bridge High School and will be attending Kean University in the fall He will be studying Recreation Administration and Sports Management with a focus in Business. Upon completion of this program, he plans to receive a Bachelor’s Degree from the College of Health Professions and Human Sciences. He will be taking business courses to broaden his experience and hopefully provide opportunities for internships and future employment. Ryan enjoys playing golf in his free time and plans to get involved in the Kean community.