CM: Rumson • Fair Haven • Little Silver • Red Bank • Locust • Sea Bright - January 2022

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Happy New Year!

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HOLMDEL OFFICE OFFICE WILLIAM KILBRIDE31 W. Main Street,HOLMDEL Holmdel, NJ 31 W. Main Street Partner / Broker Associate CRS, SRES O 732.252.2460 Holmdel, NJ NJ REALTORS® Circle of Excellence

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Compass RE is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.

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Monmouth County Historical Association Benefits from Mistletoe Event

By Susan Murphy

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Mistletoe, a festive and intimate event to celebrate the holidays, was held at the historic Taylor-Butler House in Middletown on December 10, 2021 to benefit the Monmouth County Historical Association (MDHA).

“Everyone at MCHA was thrilled to be able to once again host Mistletoe,” shared President of MCHA Board of Trustees Linda Bricker. “It was such a joy to welcome friends, volunteers, and members to toast the holiday season at the beautifully decorated historic Taylor-Butler House.”

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1 (1) L to R: MCHA Trustee Ross Millhiser, Lynne Ward, MCHA Trustee Michael Parent, and MCHA President Board of Trustees, Linda Bricker (2) L to R: MCHA Trustee Kathy Jones, Alex Rapetski, Jim Almasy, and MCHA Trustee Amy Almasy (3) L to R: Diane Millhiser and MCHA Trustee Lisa Klem Wilson (4) L to R: Kristi Kaepplein, Heather Keefe, and Karen Franklin showed their support for MCHA by attending Mistletoe.

Waves of Education Breaks Ground in Uganda

Uganda children signing up for school thanks to Waves of Education and its supporters.

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One year ago, CM featured Monmouth County sisters Kristina Rems and Alexandra Cruz in an article sharing details of Waves of Education, the charity they started after Alexandra took a medical mission to Uganda. Alexandra sponsored a child and, seeing the tangible results of her sister’s work, Kristina, a teacher in Fair Haven, sponsored a child as well. Almost immediately 14 other friends and family members decided to help. When Kristina traveled to Uganda with Alex to meet the sixteen children they and their friends sponsor, finding their lives completely changed but also seeing many other children in desperate need, they returned home and partnered with Waves of Health, the original organization Alex traveled with, to form Waves of Education with the goal of building a school for the children. To do so, the sisters needed to raise $150,000. Thanks to their hard work, and the generosity of the residents of Monmouth County, the groundbreaking ceremony for the new school took place in December.

“So far we’ve raised $156,000 and are going to continue to raise money to help provide more for the school and community,” shared Kristina in a thank you note to CM. “The first day of registration 180 children signed up! I’m sure that number has grown. In the pictures you can see some of the community members clearing the land in preparation for the groundbreaking. A local priest blessed the grounds of the school. Some of the children planted a tree to represent Waves of Education on the school grounds.”

To learn more or contribute, visit wavesofeducation.org.

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Impact 100 Jersey Coast Tops $2,000,000 in Transformational Grants

Six years of collective women’s giving allow 18 organizations to address local unmet needs

Impact 100 Jersey Coast announced that its members have awarded four $107,500 transformational grants, totaling $430,000, to area nonprofit organizations. Despite a challenging year, the 430 members of the philanthropic women’s volunteer organization were able to honor organizations that are making a difference in Monmouth County. These nonprofits now have a remarkable opportunity to sustain and strengthen their programs, broaden their reach, and increase their impact.

Although this year’s Impact Annual Meeting was virtual due to COVID, the excitement was palpable. The event was the eagerly-awaited culmination of Impact 100’s months of efforts to direct substantial support to local non-profit organizations. After a comprehensive evaluation by more than 80 grant review committee members, five finalists were selected from a pool of 52 grant applicants.

Thanks to the generosity of 430 Impact 100 members who each contributed $1,000 towards the 2021 grant fund, four inspiring and high-impact projects were awarded $107,500 each. The grant recipients include Monmouth Arts Council, Community Affairs & Resource Center, Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, and

Parker Family Health Center. In the true “Impact Strong” spirit of collaborative grantmaking, its generous community partner, OceanFirst Foundation, was inspired to provide a grant of $2,500 to our 2021 runner-up, Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary.

Impact 100’s mission is to award member-funded transformational grants to local nonprofit organizations, enabling them to strengthen or expand their services, while empowering women of different ages and backgrounds to improve lives through philanthropy. Since its founding in 2015, the organization has awarded more than $2 million to 18 Monmouth County nonprofits to help them address unmet needs and reach underserved populations.

Impact 100 Jersey Coast membership for the 2022 Class is open now and upcoming recruitment events can be found online at Impact100JerseyCoast.org. Members donate $1,100 each, with funds pooled to award significant annual grants. Women throughout the area who would like to make an important and memorable impact in their community are invited to join this unique giving circle. The 2022 membership drive is underway if you’d like to join or want more information.

Impact 100 Jersey Update

Leadership Transition Throughout First Quarter of 2022

Deirdre Spiropoulos (left) of Fair Haven and Heather Burke of Middletown

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Co-Presidents Deirdre Spiropoulos and Heather Burke will be passing the torch to Rowena Crawford-Phillips and Lori Missig,

“As Co-Founders, we have had the honor of being a part of Impact and watching it grow from 11 founding members to more than 400 in these first years,” stated Deirdre Spiropoulos and Heather Burke. “At this point in Impact’s evolution, we feel it is time for the next generation of leaders. We are confident that the momentum of our giving circle will carry it forward as we step back from our daily operational roles and into our new roles as advisors and standing committee members.”

Starting the new year, Deirdre Spiropoulos passed the reins of Co-President to Rowena Crawford-Phillips, an Impact Jersey Coast founding member. In April, Heather Burke will pass her seat to Lori Missig, who will then join Rowena as Co-President. Lori has also been part of Impact since the beginning serving as a leader in both Events and Membership–helping build them to their current strength.

“Our power is in our collective and what we have begun will only continue to grow and evolve. For that, we need new members, new leaders, and new perspectives to steer us on this next phase of our journey and ensure the long-term health of our giving circle,” stated Deirdre Spiropoulos and Heather Burke. “We are grateful for all we’ve shared, inspired by all we’ve accomplished together, and excited for all that lies ahead.”

RANKED AMONG THE BEST IN NEW JERSEY RIVERVIEW MEDICAL CENTER OFFERS YOU SOME OF THE BEST CARE IN THE STATE. We are honored that once again, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Hackensack Meridian Riverview Medical Center among the best hospitals in New Jersey. While we’re always honored to be ranked among the best, this only inspires us to keep getting better—now more than ever.

Learn more at HackensackMeridianHealth.org.

Operation Sleighbells Delivers Holiday Joy to 700 Children Long Branch Agency Receives Outpouring of Support for Struggling Families

Loud House Christmas Movie Stars/Sisters Catherine Ashmore Bradley & Aubin Bradley with parents Sarah & Colin Bradley of Rumson

The holidays are brighter for 700 children from needy families in Monmouth and Ocean counties thanks to the work of Family & Children’s Service (FCS) and scores of local residents, schools, and businesses that generously supported the agency’s annual Operation Sleighbells gift program.

More than $80,000 in gift cards and cash donations was collected by the social services agency and shared with 350 families a few weeks before Christmas, giving families plenty of time to shop for the holidays. Each family received a minimum $50 grocery card and a $75 gift card for every child.

After a tough year of pandemic-related job loss, illness, and childcare challenges for many of the recipient families, the holiday gift cards were a welcomed relief.

“We couldn’t have done this without the help of Family & Children’s Service this year,” said Alice Dukes, a home health care aide and a mother of three with two grandchildren and a mom who lives with them. “My children don’t ask for a lot and I wanted to be able to give them some nice gifts for Christmas. With everything going on, the coronavirus, so many sick people, I still feel blessed.”

“Sharing joy and giving families peace of mind is what the hol-

Holmdel Village School teacher Jami Kenney (left) shares the school’s Operation Sleighbells donation with program coordinator Samantha White of Family & Children’s Service, Long Branch.

iday drive is all about,” said Anna Burian, interim CEO for Family & Children’s Service. “We are happy to give hope for the holidays as our social service agency has done for more than 100 years.”

The pandemic has presented unique challenges for FCS and other agencies and they needed to find a safe way to continue to serve clients and needy families during the holidays.

About 100 individuals and businesses including fitness centers, hair salons, grocers, dentist, and doctors’ offices participated, along with a Girl Scout troop, hockey team, and schools from across the region.

An area family chose the opening night of a movie premiere to bring attention to Operation Sleighbells and asked guests to make a donation. The Bradleys of Rumson, whose daughters Catherine and Aubin starred in the Nickelodeon Christmas film Loud House Christmas, raised $2500 for FCS. The Village School in Holmdel contributed $4000 to the gift drive. Students “adopted” a child in need, and in addition to donating gift cards and cash, students and their families collected hats and gloves.

Call For Entries Into Monmouth County Park System’s “The Silence of Winter Exhibit” Calling all artists! The Monmouth County Park System is seeking entries into its upcoming The Silence of Winter Exhibit. Held from February 4-March 26 at the Gallery in the Thompson Park Creative Arts Center, Lincroft, this exhibit will feature works inspired by the serenity and stillness of winter. This theme is open to any work that captures the energy of the season, whether through color use, aesthetic choice, or subject matter. Nontraditional and traditional renderings of winter are welcome.

Additional information and entry form are available on “The Gallery at Thompson Park” page at www.MonmouthCountyParks.com. Entry deadline is Friday, January 14.

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DI VORCE TA LK

BY PET ER C . PA R A S , E SQ.

A New Year – A New Beginning?

The holidays are over. The children are back to school. You settle in for a long cold New Jersey winter. The days are short, but your thoughts aren’t. They keep spinning.

Is this the year you do something about the unhappy state of your marriage?

You have more time to focus on your marriage. Is it worth saving? Does she want to save it? Does he want to save it?

What do we have to do to save it?

Or, conversely, if you conclude that divorce is inevitable, what do I do now?

What am I facing? Will I survive? Will the children survive? Most family lawyers will tell you that they see an increase in new clients after the holidays. The hubbub is over, the children are back to school, and the adults have more time to focus on their very real personal concerns.

So, what should you do if the state of your marriage has you preoccupied or even causes you to lose sleep at night? The threshold decision is whether you think the marriage is worth saving and whether your spouse agrees. If so, counseling

is required because a relationship that reaches this point will require professional help if it is to have a chance of being salvaged. And, of course, this requires the unqualified commitment of both spouses to do the hard work that counseling requires. Without it, any attempt to reconcile is doomed to fail.

And if you conclude that your marriage isn’t worth saving or can’t be saved, what do you do? First, don’t panic. You may need to consider individual counseling to help you get through the emotional rough spots or to navigate the bumpy stressful road ahead.

Second, try to put aside emotion (easy to say, hard to do) to realistically consider life (the children’s, your spouse’s, and yours) after divorce. Which parent should the children primarily live with? Think about what makes sense for them, not about an emotional need to win or to get even. How much support is needed? How much can be afforded? Every need and desire can’t always be met. Two people

have to live – in separate households – after the divorce. That adds expenses with generally no increase in income.

These are just a few examples of the plethora of issues that intersect divorce.

Divorce affects every family member and every family member’s needs must be considered when trying to reach a resolution. You’ll need the guidance of an experienced family lawyer to help you answer these questions, to make sure you haven’t forgotten important issues, and to set reasonable expectations for you.

Thinking about a broken relationship and the possibility of ending a marriage is daunting. It isn’t pleasant, but ignoring it doesn’t change the fact that you are unhappy. So now that the holidays are over and the children are back to school, you have time to think. – So, THINK! And then engage professionals to help you down the path you choose. Life is too short to live in a broken marriage. You can either work to fix it or work to end it, but ignoring it doesn’t work at all.

The information in this article is not intended as legal advice. For legal advice you should consult your attorney.

Professionalism Since 1996 Bonnie M.S. Reiss

Selected as “Super Lawyer” by NJ Monthly 2006 - 2021

Peter C. Paras

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Pulitzer Prize finalist and Two River Theater Playwright-in-Residence Madeleine George (Hurricane Diane, Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England) collaborates with director Sara Holdren (Twelfth Night) to create a new translation of Chekhov’s classic play, Three Sisters, about big souls trapped in tiny boxes. Stuck in the Russian countryside at the turn of the 20th century, sisters Olga, Masha, and Irina dream of futures in the wake of their father’s death and a changing Russia.

“We want to introduce this play to new audiences and reintroduce it to old ones by putting out a hand and saying, come with us — this isn’t a museum piece. It isn’t even truly a period piece. It’s a playground and a rock concert and a comedy and a tragedy. Welcome aboard,” says director Sara Holdren.

The cast includes Alex Brightwell (Andrey), Nemuna Ceesay (Irina), Olivia Haney (Young Masha), Richard Hollis (Kulygin), Anna Ishida (Olga), Annelise Lawson (Masha), Rami Margron (Vershinin), Quinn Mcmanus(Young Irina), Mary Neufeld (Chebutykin), Nick Ong (Fedotik/Ferapont), Diana Osorio (Young Olga), Niall Powderly (Solyony), Rudy Roushdi (Tuzenbach), Regan Sims (Rohde/Anfisa), and Carmen Zilles (Natasha).

The creative team includes choreographer Chloe Treat, scenic designer Jean Kim, costume designer Fabian Aguilar, lighting designer Emma Deane, sound designer Kate Marvin, wig designer Carissa Thorlakson and puppet co-designers and fabricators Emma Wiseman and Nick Lehane. The music arranger is Daniel Schlosberg. The production stage manager is Colt Luedtke.

Single tickets are on sale at tworivertheater.org or by calling 732.345.1400. Prices range from $40 to $70, with discounts available for groups, seniors, and U.S. military personnel, their families, and veterans.

Rumson Garden Club’s Christmas Holiday Greens Workshop Delivers Cheer to Local Non-Profits

8 Dickinson Court, Red Bank From left: Christmas Greens event co-chair Kathleen Onieal, RGC president Kathryne Singleton, event co-chair Melanie Landers.

Rumson Garden Club (RGC), a member club of Garden Club of America, held its 91st annual Christmas Holiday Greens Workshop on December 4 and 5 at Rumson’s Bingham Hall. Members worked to create almost 200 festive wreaths and arrangements to spread holiday cheer and help local not-for-profits deck their halls. This year, the list of organizations who received the gift of these evergreen creations included Lunch Break, the Monmouth County Boys and Girls Club in Red Bank, Allaire Rehab Center, Parker Family Clinic, LOVE Inc., Allen House/Monmouth Historical Society, Sandy Hook History House, the Oceanic Library, Meridian Health Care Center, and Meals On Wheels.

The Christmas Greens Workshop is a tradition on the first weekend of December, which many members look forward to.

Last year’s event was scaled back due to Covid-19.

“It was so good to be back together to fulfill this wonderful mission,” said RGC’s president Kathryne Singleton. “Our members donned their masks and got right to work, creating gorgeous arrangements and wreaths that will bring a smile to the faces of all those we’ve reached with this project.”

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CommunityMagazineNJ.com JANUARY 2022

17

Biggest Turkey Trot to Date in Fair Haven, Largest Toys for Tots Haul

L to R: Fair Haven Council President Chris Rodriguez, Julia Shanes, Eamon Golden, Ryan Corbett, and Fair Haven Councilman Michael McCue

The 8th annual Fair Haven Turkey Trot had a tremendous return with more than 150 runners, walkers, and holiday revelers. Under sunny skies on Thanksgiving morning, kids and adults came out to trot, walk their pets, and play some games throughout Fair Haven Fields. Many contributed donations to the annual U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots drive. The crowdsourced hot cocoa and snacks were a hit for all attendees. The event is produced annually with no cost and no registration making it easy to participate.

The winners of the three-lap course were Ryan Corbett, Fair Haven resident and First Aid Squad 1st Lieutenant in the masters category; Julia Shanes, RFH track team member, in the women’s division;

L to R: Fair Haven Councilman Chris Rodriguez, John Reid, Sal Maita, Brian Murphy, Darrel Golden, Knights of Columbus Chapter President Lance Harvey, Fair Haven Councilman and former Marine Michael McCue (Photo Credit: Mike Brennan)

and Eamon Golden, a RFH track team member, in the men’s division.

Helping to stage this community event was former U.S. Marine and Fair Haven Councilman Michael McCue, who ran the Toys for Tots effort, and Fair Haven Council President Christopher Rodriguez handled the race logistics. Special shout outs to Christine Braceland for photographs and Meghan Moran for crowdsourcing all of the food and drinks.

The annual race and toy drive were supported by dozens of local families with contributions to the event who supplied race essentials and toys for those less fortunate this holiday season.

Little Silver Students Donate More Than 4,000 Pounds to Fulfill

The Little Silver PTO hosted its annual Bag Brigade donation drive this past fall, benefitting Fulfill, a local food bank serving Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Each grade, from pre-k through eighth, was assigned a specific item off of Fulfill’s most needed items list. From breakfast foods including cereal and pancake mix to heartier options like soups and ready-to-eat canned meals, students brought items into school over a period of five days.

Little Silver Schools also weaved the importance of donations and the spirit of giving into curriculum. A special bulletin board il-

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lustrated how donating healthy food items can make a difference in the life of someone who is hungry and in need.

Overall, students donated more than 4,000 pounds of food.

Fulfill estimates that the collected items are enough to produce 3,346 meals, making the 2021 Bag Brigade an impactful and successful event.

Fulfill is always looking for a variety of canned, packaged, and nonperishable foods to efficiently feed those in need. If you are interested in making a donation, visit fulfillnj.org.

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Laurie Goganzer: A Gregarious Go-Getter President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Monmouth County

By LiliAnn Paras | Photo Carmela Caracappa

P

ut behind any preconceived notion that a YMCA is only a place for “a swim and a gym.” Laurie Goganzer enthusiastically illuminated how it is a cause-driven organization to strengthen the community, with an emphasis on three pillars: youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Her journey with various YMCA locations spans three decades, begin-

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ning during college, and culminating (so far) with her present position as the President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County (the Y).

Laurie grew up by the Jersey Shore and now lives in Shrewsbury with her wife Amy, son Andrew James “AJ” who is 9, and their dog, Vida. To say Laurie is an accomplished and active participant in our community is a serious understatement! In addition

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to her current position at the Y, she serves on six Boards of Trustees and Advisory Boards and was appointed to the Monmouth County Economic Recovery Council. She is an alumnus of LeadNJ and is a sought-after speaker on nonprofit leadership. In 2019, she directed the merger of two Monmouth County Ys. Laurie’s focus is on all the Y has presently to offer, and on any new needs that may arise.

CM: You have nearly thirty years of experience in the global Y movement. How did it all begin?

Laurie: My first experience with the Y was as a senior in college working at the Tarrytown Y in New York. I spent five years there, getting to experience all that the Y offers. When I graduated from college, a position was created for me: Director of Sports and Fitness. You name it, I did it. I got to see first-hand the work of the Y and I fell in love with the way a Y serves the community. This is what hooked me in- I love this organization. I grew up in a single-family home, my father died when I was young. I was a latchkey kid. I didn’t have a Y and I wish I had one. In my late 20s, I wondered, ‘How do I grow and one day run my own Y?’ That was my dream.

CM: It is interesting that you had this vision so early on. What was your path to management positions at the Y? Laurie: I wanted to grow my career and I wanted to get experience leading teams of managers. My first job was hands-on, doing the work. I next secured the number two position as Associate Executive Director at the Rye YMCA and led a management team. It was still hands on but I was learning to lead managers- a different competency. My mentors shared that if I wanted to be a CEO, of any nonprofit, I needed to get experience in financial development, building boards, and work-

VNA 2021 Community Partner Award presented by Steve Sanders

ing with volunteers.

One of the largest Ys in the country is in Los Angeles and I joined the team as an Executive Director. Eventually I led a significant capital campaign and raised support to build a new Y. I grew in my profession from running a branch to becoming a Senior Executive VP and running three Ys. Then it was on to San Diego, the largest Y in the country.

CM: How did you learn about the Y in Monmouth County?

Laurie: When I worked in New York, I would drive past exit 109 almost every weekend and I knew there was an amazing Community Y in Red Bank; it was known for being a really strong Y. One weekend I told my mom that I wanted to see this Y. I took my resume - which at the time was light on experience. And I showed up on a Saturday, with my mom, unannounced, and asked to be shown around. I left my resume, and they never called, I never even got a look! That was 20 years ago. While I was in California, occasionally I was homesick and thought that if a Y position ever opened up here in Monmouth County, I could be home and back with my family. In 2017 the CEO job opened. I was in San Diego, wearing flip flops in February, and I decided this was the opportunity for the dream job for me. In my interview I said ‘I’ve been waiting my whole career for this moment.’ I was selected to be CEO. I came back home with Amy, AJ, who was 5, two dogs, and a cat.

CM: A lot happened almost as soon as you became CEO, including the merger of The Community YMCA and the YMCA of Western Monmouth County.

Laurie: Within my first four months, the

CEO of the YMCA of Western Monmouth County left. This vacancy prompted the YMCA boards to explore a merger. In 2019, we officially merged to become the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County.

Together 43 board members unanimously voted yes. We erased all boundaries; you join one Y, you join them all. We are now one Y serving the entire county; and our mental health work services Monmouth, Ocean, and Middlesex counties.

CM: What challenges did the combined Y face?

Laurie: We started to ramp up this brand-new Y, got everybody excited…and Covid hit. We had to shut our doors. Our business, was in so many ways, struggling. It was tough- we had 1200 employees and then lost 80% of our staff, but we found ways to still serve the community. We quickly figured out how to offer emergency child care in a safe way especially for essential workers. We shifted our focus to community care centers to do blood drives, clothing drives, distribute food (almost 40,000 meals were served), and set up a pantry for baby goods. Together with the VNA, the Red Bank location became a Covid testing and vaccination site and close to 20,000 people were served. We’ve experienced great challenges but our Y and our dedicated team of staff and volunteers have certainly risen to every occasion.

CONTINUED >

During the pandemic, Laurie’s family bought popup campers and camped together.

They realized popup camping is not for the weak so they sold their popups and bought travel trailers.

Pictured with Laurie is her son AJ and wife Amy.

CM: What has been particularly satisfying about this Y? Laurie: I am really proud of our mental health services. We partner with school districts in Monmouth and Ocean counties and are on more than 100 school campusesevery day. There is a Traumatic Loss Coalition known as TLC, led by our Y to respond when there is a traumatic loss, such as suicide. In our state, the number of attempts and deaths by suicide has grown by 50 percent since last summer. We have a psychiatrist on staff and our mental health work includes addiction recovery services and outpatient services for general mental health issues. The Y has 30 vehicles for home visits to help kids in foster homes.

This is unique; not every Y in the country does this although every Y in the country is about prevention and helping people be healthy and successful.

CM: Is there an experience at the Y that stands out?

Laurie: One recent experience was a swim program for third graders. The City of Long Branch had built a new pool. We recognized it is a town near the water and a lot of students in the area don’t know how to swim. The Y secured funding for a summer swim program, reached out to Long Branch to see if we could have access to the pool, and reached out to the school district for any interested students. And together, all three entities made this happen: Long Branch said yes, use the pool; the school signed up 60 students and said it would also bus them; and the Y provided the funds and instruction. It was startling that some of the students didn’t even own bathing suits, so that issue was addressed as well.

CM: What do you enjoy in your non-working time?

Laurie: Family time is important to me. My son has been playing hockey for the Red Bank Generals since he was five. We are in that rink at least four days a week. I’m also very close with my mom, my brothers, and their families.

I like to hike, surf, cycle, paddleboard and now, camping! During the pandemic, my whole family bought pop-up campers and camped together. We realized pop-up camping is not for the weak so we sold our pop-ups and bought travel trailers. I now tow a 30-foot trailer that has a bathroom and shower in it so we are happy RVers!

CM: Favorite Quote?

Laurie: People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Maya Angelou CM: Your philosophy?

Laurie: We are stronger together - as a team, as a board, and as a community partner (we have more than 70 partners). I want to bring the Y to every community.

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COMMUNITY MAGAZINE CommunityMagazineNJ.com

Why the Y?

The YMCA of Greater Monmouth County serves approximately 36,000 people.

All are welcome regardless of age, income, background, or beliefs.

No one is turned away who needs the programs and services.

(Approximately $735,000 in financial assistance was provided during fiscal year 2021).

A wide variety of life-changing programs and services are anchored in 10 communities.

Services include fitness, health and wellness, day camps, a community center, mental health counseling and social services; child care, and integration in more than 100 area schools.

Responds to emergent community needs through partnership with multiple partnering nonprofit organizations.

All local health and CDC guidelines are followed; livestream and on-demand workout options are also available.

Y membership is more than a swim and gym. People are stronger together in spirit, mind and body. **All are welcome to attend an open house on Saturday, January 29 at the Red Bank, Freehold and Old Bridge Ys.** To learn more about how to join, volunteer, or give to the Y, visit www. ymcanj.org.

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Meet Your Neighbor Dr. Richard Sanford

By Cathy Padilla A family chiropractor for more than 30 years, Dr. Richard Sanford is also certified as a weight loss coach. Having lived in Monmouth County for more than four decades, Dr. Sanford has lived in Holmdel for more than 20 of those years with his wife Deanna; their two adult children, Courtney and Marc, as well as their dog, Tucker, all grew up in town. Since 1982, Sanford Chiropractic & Central Jersey Weight Loss Center located in Red Bank on the Middletown border has been helping keep area residents healthy. Meet your neighbor, Dr. Richard Sanford.

What my business is about: To put it very simply, my businesses are all about helping members of our community feel and look their best. Whether it’s a brand-new patient looking for answers for their health condition, or a regular patient I’ve known for years coming in for a maintenance visit, I assure them they are in good hands, as I treat everyone like family. I take great pride in having patients look me in the eye and say, ‘WOW… You’ve really helped me today!’ It will never get old for me!

Why I chose this field: I knew from a young age I wanted to be a chiropractor; however, the weight loss element was a natural progression for me as well as my business.

Why I chose the Middletown/Red Bank area for my business: Monmouth County is one of the finest communities in all of New Jersey and I’m not just saying that. Within just a few short miles you can experience it all. The ocean, the horse country, the city feel of Red Bank, all within arm’s reach. It’s truly one of a kind.

What sets me apart from others doing what I do: My dedication to want to help patients succeed when other programs have failed. I want patients to lose weight permanently and sensibly, because when they lose, I win! I take the time to give them the tools and guidance they need to reach their goals and I will stop at nothing to make sure they reach their desired goal. We meet once a week for weight loss evaluations, and I am in close supervision of their continuing and future progress.

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My best life tip to share: Hard work & dedication lead to success. As cliche as it sounds, those are words I live by.

Professional Associations to which I belong: American Chiropractic Association, Association of New Jersey Chiropractors, National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, and Monmouth County Chiropractic Association.

What I do when not working: Spend time with family and friends, and go fishing, hiking, and golfing. I always say, ‘Work hard & play harder. Life is way too short.’

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HBO Max Watch Party: T. Thomas Fortune Hits the Big Screen On January 24, HBO Max will start streaming a new series, The Gilded Age. The show will feature the character of T. Thomas Fortune, played by actor Sullivan Jones. Fortune and his family resided in Red Bank from 1901 to 1915 in what was then called Maple Hall and is now an historic home. Born into slavery in 1856, Thomas Fortune became an advocate for social justice and emerged as one of the most influential journalists and newspaper publishers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Fortune was a dynamic orator who spoke truth to power and someone many politicians feared. He started the first successful black political organization in 1887, The National Afro-American League, a pre-cursor to the NAACP. After accepting the role, Jones visited the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center in Red Bank last spring to learn the rich history of the trailblazing giant. The T. Thomas Fortune House in Red Bank is considered to be one of the most historically significant properties in our country because of its role in African American history. The information Jones gained that day from his visit was assuring to the actor, as he steps

into this role. The series takes place in New York in 1882 during the American Gilded Age, a time of economic change and conflict between the old world and the new world.

Jones has big shoes to fill in his portrayal of Fortune during the Gilded Age in New York, a time when Fortune published his newspapers, the New York Globe, Freeman and the New York Age. The actor spoke with Lynn Humphrey, the Cultural Center’s archivist, who provided a wealth of information on Fortune and his family. Most people have never heard of T. Thomas Fortune, however, this highly anticipated series with Jones appearing in almost every episode, will introduce viewers to the force of nature that was Fortune. The show will also feature The Good Fight’s Christine Baranski, And Just Like That’s Cynthia Nixon, and Meryl Streep’s youngest daughter making her series debut.

The T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center will be hosting a watch party January 24 at 8:00 p.m. at the Cultural Center. This will be an exciting event celebrating Fortune on the big screen. For more information, visit tthomasfor-tuneculturalcenter.org.

T. Thomas Fortune Actor Sullivan Jones will play T. Thomas Fortune in an upcoming HBO Max series – The Gilded Age.

Announces Recipients of ArtHelps Funding for 2022 Monmouth Arts announced the ArtHelps Local Arts Program Awards for Fiscal Year 2022 through a partnership with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. These competitive grants are awarded to local nonprofit arts organizations that provide high quality art programs and events to residents throughout Monmouth County each year.

Monmouth Arts is awarding $100,000 to a total of 24 organizations for general operating and special project support; the total also includes five Mini Grants of $500 each that will be available in 2022 for arts projects by new and emerging organizations. Eligible recipients of ArtHelps grants include Monmouth County nonprofit arts organizations and community

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groups with arts programs that provide excellent arts events that are accessible and beneficial to the public.

Monmouth Arts and the Monmouth Arts Board of Trustees congratulates the 24 recipients for 2022: Arcadian Chorale, Art Alliance of Monmouth County, Asbury Park Arts Council, Asbury Park Music Foundation, Atlantic Highlands Arts Council, Center Players, Company of Dance Arts, Guild of Creative Art, Heart of New Jersey Chorus, Hellenic Dancers of New Jersey, Holmdel Theatre Company, Indie Street Film Festival, Jazz Arts Project, Jersey Shore Arts Center, Middletown Arts Center, Monmouth Civic Chorus, Phoenix Productions, Pipes & Drums of the Atlantic Watch, Premier Theatre Com-

COMMUNITY MAGAZINE CommunityMagazineNJ.com

pany, Red Bank RiverCenter, Rockit Live Foundation, Shrewsbury Chorale, Wooden Walls Public Art Project, and ZEYBRAH. “These grants are a much-needed investment in our community and will contribute to our local economies, our schools and students of all ages, and the quality of life in Monmouth County, especially during these challenging times when arts organizations are still struggling,” said Teresa Staub, Executive Director of Monmouth Arts. “We thank the State Council, Governor Murphy, and Lieutenant Governor Oliver for their continued investment in our residents and our creative community.”

For more information on Monmouth Arts, visit monmoutharts.org.

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RCDS Extends Giving Season to Year-Round Efforts

Service is infused in The Rumson Country Day School culture.

The school’s Service Learning Program is tied into the curriculum and serves as an integral part of the RCDS educational experience. It offers students opportunities to recognize the needs of others, help solve problems and share positive experiences with those in need.

“Of course it’s important to provide our community with things they need, but building empathy in our students is also important,” said Amy Clark, RCDS Service Learning Coordinator. “That’s our job – to grow good people. When you think about others instead of yourself you become a more fulfilled person. That is a soft skill that is essential to having success no matter what you grow up to be.”

RCDS parents Tara Fallon and Jen Dinger co-chair parent council’s Kindness Committee, a dedicated group of parent volunteers who work regularly with Amy Clark to make service opportunities community-wide.

The collaboration of the Kindness Committee and Service Learning Program creates an opportunity for everyone in the school community to engage in service from students and parents to faculty and staff. The roster of activities offered supports local programs including Clean Ocean Action, Second Life Bikes, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and more. RCDS students often visit The Harbor School, a school for children with special needs. This fall RCDS families collected 2,000 pounds of rice and beans, the top amount donated to The Red Bank CROP Walk for Hunger. The most recent community initiative is a long-standing tradition called The Giving Tree, a holiday gift-giving program established to give children in the Horizons Program a brighter holiday season. This year RCDS collected and delivered hundreds of gifts to benefit Horizons families.

RCDS will continue to provide opportunities throughout the 2021-2022 school year for its students, families, and faculty to give back, connect with their community, and experience the long-lasting impact that service has on all of the people it touches.

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TRULY GREAT EDUCATION

Beloved Tulip Tree Sprouts Collaborative Art Project at RCDS

Pieces of the iconic tulip tree that grew on the east side of The Rumson Country Day School campus for nearly 300 years, have been repurposed for a new art installation titled “Rooted.” The 7’x3’ piece, which will be displayed near the entrance to the RCDS auditorium, is a compilation of wood ringed circles that were cut and dried from the branches of the tulip tree, and then made into artwork by Lower School students in grades 1-4.

Head of the Art Department Melissa Petersen wanted to embark on the reclaimed art project ever since the tulip tree unexpectedly uprooted after a storm on February 25, 2019. “The tulip tree was beloved,” she said. “It was a tradition for the eighth grade to take a picture on the tree every year. It was a really big deal when the tree fell down because it was part of the fabric of the school and then it was suddenly gone.”

Branches were salvaged and set to dry in the furnace room. Petersen planned a multiple-grade art project for 2019-20, but then COVID-19 hit. Even when RCDS returned to on-site learning fulltime in 2020-21, group project work was still not feasible. “I thought a lot about how the wood could be used to bring the community together after COVID-19,” said Melissa Petersen, the force behind other collaborative art projects at RCDS like The Four Pillars mosaic displayed next to the entrance of the school courtyard.

“Rooted” was installed for the New Year with remnants of the tulip tree used in various ways since the tree uprooted. Science classes studied a cross section of the tree to document the effects of climate, drought, and insect infestations. Discs were created for the Early Childhood Center for Gators to stack, and a log was used in Wood Shop to demonstrate milling a piece of lumber. Plaques were also created from remnants, including the one honoring Beginners teacher Ginger Kolb on her retirement from teaching in 2021 after 45 years of dedicated service to RCDS and its students.

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Brooks of Red Bank

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Mia of Colts Neck

Continued on Page 66

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58 Girls from Monmouth and Ocean Counties Receive the Girl Scout Silver Award

The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest honor for Girl Scouts in sixth through eighth grade. This year’s recipients addressed topics including mask awareness during the COVID-19 pandemic, provided seniors with outdoor experiences, beautified pollination gardens, placed a spotlight on gun safety, and provided support to the Ronald McDonald House.

Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore presented the Silver Award to these incredible young women on November 17, 2021 at its Program Activity Center in Farmingdale.

To earn the award, Girl Scouts must fulfill several requirements, including taking on a community project that makes a lasting impact.

“Through their projects, girls in our council have made a lasting impact on our community,” said Eileen M. Higgins, CEO, Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore. “These young women have shown dedication and creativity, and devoted hours of their time to creating lasting change. The Girl Scout mission, to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place, has been made evident through this year’s class of Silver Award Girl Scouts.”

Below are some highlights of local Girl Scout Silver Award honorees.

Book Tutoring Project Catherine Callinan, Caroline Flinn, and Sabina Murray, Rumson Sabina, Catherine, and Caroline provided academic support to children in their community when they saw a need during the time of virtual schooling with their Silver Award, “Book Tutoring Project.” They created a tutoring program, a resource on YouTube to assist students with core subjects and donated a large number of books to the Bridge of Books Foundation and their local schools to help kids achieve academic success.

Global Goals Presentation Sophie Burden, Anna Koechley, and Julia Koechley, Holmdel

For their Silver Award Project, “Global Goals Presentation,” the team of Sophie, Anna and Julia, focused on creating educational materials on the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals. They each researched a goal that they felt most strongly about, and prepared individual slideshows that were combined into an educational video. The video was sent to troop leaders to be shared with their troops. The project goal was to educate fellow Girl Scouts and inspire them to find U.N. goals that are special to them.

Gun Safety: Educating and Empowering Students Isabella Marotta, Eva Merhi, and Samantha Salerno, Holmdel Isabella, Eva, and Samantha earned their Silver Award for creating a program to educate younger children about the dangers of gun violence and empower students by teaching about gun safety. All of the honorees for this project were victims of a past swatting incident when they were in third grade and each of the girls remembered the event vividly so much that it stayed with them. From this incident, a desire for change was born. Each of the girls took on a leadership aspect of the project which included a blog with research they did, a slide-show presentation, and a Quizziz game to ensure that the information was interpreted correctly by listeners. Each presentation was customized to the age and region of the country that the girls were addressing. The girls hoped that, by creating and presenting a blog and slideshow on this important topic, they could inspire a more informed generation--starting with the Girl Scouts that they presented to.

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