Spring Lake December 2023

Spring Lake December 2023

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DECEMBER 2023

Contents

18 22

14 10

32 IN EVE RY ISSU E

28

6

Publisher’s Note TRADITION AND LOVE

8

Home Front BE FIRE SAFE

10 Q&A “SCROOGE” CELEBRATES 41 YEARS! F E AT U R ES

14 18

Seniors Shine This Holiday Season

28 Book Nook GIVE THE GIFT OF BOOKS 32 Life Outdoors GLIDING ON GLASS

It’s time to celebrate the five local high school seniors who are part of Spring Lake Theatre and Dance Academy’s Senior Company.

Christmas Spirit to Spare

The Mueller family has contributed to the community for generations, including a much-loved holiday display.

22 Making Art Approachable

The Kelly-McKenna Gallery brings the world of fine art to Spring Lake, along with creative community events.

O N T HE COVER

Members of Spring Lake Theatre and Dance Academy’s Senior Company, from left: Hannah Swierkocki, Jessica Slovak, Claire White, Katherine Gowen and Brenna Furniss.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHELLE WOLFE

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

The Season of Tradition and Love

PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHELLE WOLFE

tradition. The cast and crew are filled with talented local performers who bring the true spirit of the season to life from the very first a cappella note.

In this issue, we are celebrating local holiday traditions that have become iconic. The Mueller’s Christmas display in Sea Girt was a must-see for my entire childhood, and I’m sure many of you share the same sentiment. We all have fond memories of piling into the car and driving by their house, trying to spot the newest decorations. Although the house is no longer there, our story about the Mueller family by Vincent Dicks captures the nostalgic spirit.

One of my favorite Christmas memories is from the early 1990s.

After we finished our Christmas dinner at my grandparents’ house, we received news that Spring Lake had frozen over. A few of us received skates from Santa, and the rest of us dug through the attic looking for my aunts’ and uncles’ old skates. That evening, the whole town skated until what felt like the middle of the night.

Michael Landers shares her memories of skating at the lake in our Life Outdoors story.

In the spirit of compassion and community, I’d like to extend heartfelt thoughts and care to those who are facing personal challenges during this holiday season. May the strength of our community and the warmth of shared love provide some comfort during these difficult times.

Wishing you and yours a very warm and happy holiday season!

With gratitude,

Christmas in Spring Lake and Sea Girt has always been quite magical to me. Between the lights on the bridges, the decorated storefronts and the miniature train village, these small towns truly have something for everyone during the holidays. Even an evening drive through the streets to look at the lights is a cherished tradition, singing along to Christmas music and choosing this year’s favorite song.

Every year during the holidays, my family attends the “Scrooge” production at the Spring Lake Theatre. My daughter has been performing in this wonderful holiday tradition for the past six years. This year is the 41st annual production, and I highly recommend making it a part of your annual

Brynn Coleman Publisher

Spring Lake MAGAZINE

Editor & Publisher Brynn Coleman Group Publisher Jodi Bruker Art Director Sue Park Copy Editor Nancy Fass Writers Justine Bouton Kate Czyzewski Vincent Dicks Michael Hines Dallas Hlatky Michael Landers Cynthia A Murray Kerry Serzan Christopher Willms Lead Photographer Michelle Wolfe Photographers Vincent Dicks Michael Scotto WAINSCOT MEDIA Chairman Carroll V. Dowden President and CEO Mark Dowden VP, Group Publisher, Regional Thomas Flannery VP, Content Strategy Maria Regan Creative Director Kijoo Kim Advertising Services Director Jacquelynn Fischer Operations Director Catherine Rosario Production Designer Chris Ferrante Print Production Manager Fern Meshulam Advertising Production Associate Griff Dowden Spring Lake magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Spring Lake and Sea Girt, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Copyright 2023 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.

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HOME FRONT

Be Fire Safe Local experts share tips to keep your home fire-free and your loved ones safe.

BY CHRISTOPHER WILLMS, FIRE OFFICIAL, AND MICHAEL HINES, FIRE INVESTIGATOR, SEA GIRT FIRE BUREAU

The Sea Girt Fire Bureau, which operates and is the enforcing agency for the boroughs of Sea Girt, Brielle, Spring Lake and Spring Lake Heights, would like to remind you of some important fire safety information and tips for the holiday season.

COOKING FIRE FACTS • In the United States, Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed closely by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. • Two-thirds of all home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.

• Although clothing being ignited first only counts for 1 percent of home cooking fires, it does count for 8 percent of all home cooking fire deaths.

• Unattended equipment accounts for almost onethird of reported home cooking fires and half of all associated deaths.

COOKING SAFETY TIPS

• Always stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling, grilling or broiling food.

• If you are simmering, baking or roasting food, make sure you check on it regularly, and never leave the home with food cooking.

• Keep anything that can catch fire away from the

stovetop or oven. Oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, curtains and loose clothing should never be near the stove when you are cooking.

GENERAL FIRE SAFETY

• Candles should never be left lit when you are not in the room.

• All portable heaters should be kept away from any combustible materials. Electric space heaters need to be plugged directly into an outlet (not into an extension cord).

• Ensure that you have smoke alarms installed in your home. The minimum level of required protection depends on when your home was constructed. We recommend complying with current standards, but at a minimum, there should be one smoke alarm on each floor of your home, and none of the smoke alarms should be more than 10 years old.

• Test all your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms every month.

Although these tips are focused on the holiday season, please practice fire safety within your home all year round.

IF THE WORST HAPPENS Remember: For any fire, get out, stay out and call 9-1-1. Your local fire department is highly trained to respond and extinguish fires within your home and on your property.

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Q &a

“Scrooge” Celebrates 41 Years!

A longtime Spring Lake Theatre performer and director is tapped to lead the 41st production of Spring Lake’s most-loved musical.

BY JUSTINE BOUTON

sprinkled a little bit of myself in this timeless annual production.

What are you hoping to learn from this experience? Why do you think “Scrooge” is so important to the Spring Lake community?

INTERVIEW WITH

ANDREW FERRIE

One of Spring Lake community’s most beloved traditions, “Scrooge,” a heartwarming musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ beloved classic “A Christmas Carol,” is back for its 41st year at the Spring Lake Theatre.

The show will run from November 30 through December 17 and will feature a mix of new and veteran cast members.

This year, the musical has a new director, Andrew Ferrie. A regular at Spring Lake Theatre for over a decade, Ferrie has directed multiple shows, the latest being “Cinderella” in July 2023. He has also performed in countless shows, most recently portraying Bobby Mills in “A Chorus Line” in the fall of 2023. This will be the first time Ferrie has any role in the production of “Scrooge,” on or off stage. I sat down with him to talk all things “Scrooge.”

The 2022 cast of “Scrooge” is pictured above. This year’s cast includes more than 100 performers from age 7 to 80 and beyond!

How is directing “Scrooge” different from other shows?

Being able to work alongside Patricia Barry, Andrew D’agostino and numerous other individuals, who are truly the greatest in the business, to create high-caliber performances would be any director’s dream.

“Scrooge” takes a high level of organizational skill and the ability to mount and stage this entire production in a very complex and tight timetable. I’m looking to respect the traditions of this production while subtly bringing my own flair to it. Any production needs a director with vision and experience in storytelling. But this production needs a captain to guide the preexisting ship while breathing new life into the sails, tightening up the vessel and leading this

extremely large crew of over 100 performers, many of them our young students!

What does this tradition mean to you, and how do you feel about now being involved?

Being asked to direct Spring Lake Theatre Company’s “Scrooge” is a great honor. Our production is such a celebrated version.

When the torch was passed to me, I was filled with excitement.

While reading the list of names we’ve assembled, I couldn’t help becoming overjoyed to direct this extraordinary cast—a cast of friends, colleagues, students and even a slew of strangers. They all represent a level of talent that is truly remarkable. I feel a sense of pride and absolute honor to have

I hope to always view all the joy and beauty in everything. It’s very easy to get swept up in the holiday madness, as well as the stress, busyness and anxiety of everyday life. Our production reminds audiences to look around and see what a wonder this world can be. For practically two months, the building comes to life celebrating the joy and beauty of the season. The magnitude of our “Scrooge” legacy is remarkable. Our production ties the Christmas season into a beautiful, extravagant and irreplaceable bow. Much like people flood the city to see the Rockettes at Christmastime, people come from all over, year after year, to see the joy and beauty that is Spring Lake Theatre Company’s production of “Scrooge.”

It is safe to say that the 41st annual production of “Scrooge” at the Spring Lake Theatre is in excellent hands. You can buy tickets to the show over the phone at 732-449 4530, in person at the theater or online at www.springlaketheatre.com.

Justine Bouton is currently a student at Rutgers and is an SLTDA workshop alum. She starred in the Ferrie-directed “Cinderella” over the summer and is eager to take the stage again this holiday season as a cast member of “Scrooge.”

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The members of the Spring Lake Theatre and Dance Academy’s 2023-2024 Senior Company, from left: Claire White, Jessica Slovak, Hannah Swierkocki, Katherine Gowen and Brenna Furniss.

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PHOTOGRAPH AT LEFT BY MICHELLE WOLFE. REMAINING PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICHAEL SCOTTO

Seniors Shine This Holiday Season For local high school seniors who are part of the Spring Lake Theatre and Dance Academy, this year brings wonderful traditions that will give them memories to last a lifetime.

BY KERRY SERZAN

Five exceptional dancers are in the spotlight this year as they prepare to take their bows in the spring, when they’ll become alums of the Spring Lake Theatre and Dance Academy (SLTDA) elite dance program.

The uniquely talented members of the graduating class of 2024—Brenna Furniss, Katherine Gowen, Jessica Slovak, Hannah Swierkocki and Claire White— share a common bond in the dedication they have shown, both individually and as a group, to reach this milestone moment.

To be eligible for the Senior Company, dancers are required to study core disciplines of ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and hip-hop. Once accepted through an audition, members must take part in a team class where they are held to a strict attendance policy and work on technique, strength and conditioning, team building and choreography for competition.

The company performs at events such as the Witches Paddle and Tree Lighting and presents at spring dance competitions. Throughout the year, the

company fundraises to support their competitions and charitable activities.

“Our Senior Company Class of 2024 has contributed many wonderful qualities to our program since they were just young girls—dedication, kindness and leadership to name a few,” says Danielle Schindledecker Wright, SLTDA’s director of dance. “As they reach this special milestone, I feel pride knowing they will head into the world shining their extraordinary lights and representing the values of our unique community.”

DECEMBER 2023

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Meet the Senior Dancers Swierkocki, who is from Wall Township, started dancing with SLTDA when she was 4 years old. After 14 years, the Communications High School student hopes to stay involved in mainstage shows at the Community House. “I am so grateful that the dance program has provided me with the opportunity to take part in these productions. I’ve met so many of my best friends and made so many amazing memories here, and I don’t ever want to leave. I would love to continue dancing on this stage for as long as possible.”

After beginning her dance career with the academy at age 3, Gowen is celebrating her 14th year in the program. The Brielle resident and St. Rose High School student

says she finds it difficult to choose one favorite dance style. “Each one brings me so much joy. Going to dance and being able to express my feelings through different movement is such a special experience and something I feel lucky to do each week.

The freedom that comes from performing specific styles, such as contemporary and jazz, is incomparable.”

White lives in Wall Township and is a student at Wall High School. As an 11-year veteran dance student at the academy, she has earned her stripes. “In the future I hope to pursue choreography,” she says.

Furniss has been dancing at the Community House for eight years. Soon, she says, her favorite dance tradition will become a treasured memory. “The annual

Senior Company luncheon is a special way to say goodbye to the seniors during recital week. It takes place the first weekend in June and is attended by the company members, dance teachers and parents of the seniors.” Furniss lives in Belmar and attends Communications High School.

Slovak of Spring Lake Heights says she plans to continue her dance career after graduating with a double major in dance and education. “After college,” she says, “my dream job would be to work as a full-time dance teacher in a high school where I can continue to help teenagers’ passion for dance.” Slovak attends Manasquan High School and has enjoyed a 12-year career at SLTDA that started when she was 5 years old.

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Each December, members of the Spring Lake Theatre and Dance Academy—led by Danielle Schindledecker Wright, the company’s director of dance, and Hannah Gammond, dance instructor—stage a much-loved Christmas recital for the community.

A Legacy of Kindness and Dedication SLTDA dance instructor Hannah Gammond has known each of these dancers from the beginning, since she was herself a student in the Senior Company. “To have had the opportunity to see these girls go from baby ballerinas in combo classes to stunning, talented women in our company has been such a gift. It has been so special for me to come back to SLTDA and start teaching them, and although I’m going to be so sad when

they graduate, I am so excited to see where life takes them.”

“It’s always a gift to work with students who are passionate and hardworking,” says Christine Baglivio, choreographer and dance educator at the Community House, “but I am proudest of their unfailing kindness toward each other and the students who look up to them. I believe that is the sense of community and friendship that has made such a positive impact on all those that have passed through the Community House.”

HOLIDAY PERFORMANCE The Spring Lake Theatre and Dance Academy dancers of all ages perform at the Christmas recital on December 19 and 20.

Open to the public, this holidaythemed recital is a wonderful celebration of all that the season brings.

Kerry Serzan is a freelance writer and local mom of four. Through her writing, she celebrates the ordinary moments that make life extraordinary.

DECEMBER 2023

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Christmas Spirit to Spare

The Mueller family has contributed to the community for generations, including a much-loved holiday display.

BY VINCENT DICKS

The “Smile You’re in Sea Girt” sign is a throwback to a simpler time, but anyone who lives or visits Sea Girt understands its charm. It’s also a tribute to a Christmas holiday decoration tradition that brought joy to the area for almost 60 years.

George and Caroline Neuchwander Mueller raised 17 children on a farm that extended from Sea Girt Avenue to Manasquan High School from around 1910 to 1936. The farm had a restaurant and a rooming house on Route 71 where the family also sold flowers and produce.

After the death of their father at age 48 with 12 children still living at home, the Mueller boys looked to expand business beyond the farm.

DECEMBER 2023

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Growing a Business They successfully sold the farm’s flowers to shop owners in New York, so Fritz and two of his brothers dove into the wholesale flower business. Fritz set up shop in Newark to be close to the airport as air cargo was just becoming feasible, and he built a customer network. Richard leased farms in North Carolina and Florida to create a year-round supply of flowers for his company, Mueller Supply. Charlie shipped the flowers all over the country.

Brothers Henry and Bobby and sisters Martha, Gretchen and Frieda all helped Fritz with the business.

At one time, Mueller Brothers Flowers sold more baby’s breath than any other grower in the U.S. The three brothers lived in Sea Girt and commuted together to Newark daily,

affectionately calling themselves “Three Jerks from Sea Girt.”

A Famous Holiday Display Fritz and his wife, Evelyn (Betty), built a colonial on Fourth Avenue between Trenton Boulevard and Washington in Sea Girt in 1946. Fritz began a large Christmas display each year outside their home starting in 1948.

Betty noted that her husband worked long, hard hours and Christmas was cherished time off with family. As it grew, the display attracted visitors from all over the area, with lines of cars snaking through the borough. He lit a star on a pole high enough to be visible from the entrance to town to direct the cars to his house.

“I know people loved the displays, and as someone on the inside of the

house looking out, seeing the cars and carolers, it was amazing,” says Jason Robinson, Fritz’s grandson, a fourthgeneration wholesale flower seller. “My grandfather was such a hard worker and a driven boss. My father ( John A. Robinson) complained that playing on the football team at Manasquan and being a decorated Marine in Vietnam were nothing compared to working for his father-in-law.”

Fritz loved the smiles of his visitors, and he worked just as hard on Christmas. He added new elements to his holiday display for almost 60 years. It eventually took workmen eight weeks to decorate the house. During the 1960s and 1970s, when the town gave awards for holiday decorations, Fritz disqualified himself so others could win.

The Mueller family’s reindeer and Santa now grace the Sea Girt Library each holiday season.

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Sea Girt Smiles About 30 years ago, the whimsical “Smile You’re in Sea Girt” sign was put up by Fritz and Betty at the entrance to town near the railroad crossing. The sign was later donated to the town in their memory. The sign reflects an appreciation for a special place, which Fritz clearly had, having made the long drive home to Sea Girt from Newark each evening for more than 50 years. Whenever people learn that Linda Campbell of Brielle is Fritz and Betty’s daughter, their own fond memories of caroling and driving by her house during the holidays becomes a lively topic of conversation. “My father took so much joy in making other people happy,” she says.

Betty passed away in 2005 and Fritz in 2007 at age 93. You can still see echoes of his display. His reindeer and Santa grace the Sea Girt Library. Fritz Mueller’s grandson Jason Robinson decorates his home at 206 Hope Road in Tinton Falls using many of his grandfather’s pieces.

Jason also operates a residential flower farm with his husband, Crane Kanthajan.

Cranery Gardens is a farm stand where they sell their arrangements each summer. In their greenhouse hangs a Mueller’s sign to remind Jason of his roots.

Vincent Dicks is a Sea Girt author who specializes in writing about the history of the Jersey Shore. Find more information at www.vincentdicks.com.

Top: Fritz and Evelyn (Betty) Mueller showing their Christmas spirit. Bottom: The Mueller’s colonial home on Fourth Avenue between Trenton Boulevard and Washington in Sea Girt. Fritz began putting on a large Christmas display each year starting in 1948.

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Making Art Approachable The Kelly-McKenna Gallery brings the world of fine art to Spring Lake.

BY DALLAS HLATKY

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Left: The Kelly-McKenna Gallery features works by emerging artists, such as Olga Titus, whose work will appear in an exhibition titled “Olga Titus: Bejeweled,” which opens at the gallery December 1. Right: Hues of sea and sand infuse paintings from the gallery’s “Secret Summer” exhibition.

Mile Saula, Olga Titus, Rob Ventura, Noah Becker, Jean-Baptiste Bernadette.

You may not be familiar with one or any of these emerging artists, but after a visit to the Kelly-McKenna Gallery, it’s quite possible you’ll be a budding expert on their work.

When Caitlin Kelly-McKenna left the New York art world with aspirations of opening a gallery of her own, she knew where she wanted it to be. Kelly-McKenna had grown up in Monmouth County and was well acquainted with the charms of Spring Lake. And as someone who had spent 15 years working Manhattan galleries, she noticed how often art was sold and delivered south of Sandy Hook. In fact, New Jersey was the second most popular market at the gallery where she worked— after New York but before Miami.

With a clear and proven market for fine art in these parts of New Jersey, she opened the Kelly-McKenna Gallery with one objective: to bring the world of fine art to Spring Lake. Such intimate access to world-class artists might intimidate some passersby, but the gallery strives to be a polished yet inviting space where art can be explored and enjoyed, and questions and conversation are encouraged.

Always a Reason to Visit Kelly-McKenna shows a variety of American and international artists, with exhibitions changing regularly and events

happening monthly, so there’s always a reason to come in. The gallery shows primarily paintings, with some sculpture and mixed-media pieces, including the colorful, touchable art of Olga Titus (her pieces are made from thousands of movable double-sided sequins).

ArtKids, created by Spring Lake local Kalcie Mack, is a monthly event for small children and their parents to experience a gallery setting in a comfortable and approachable way. During Mack’s years as an arts educator, she realized that children are natural art lovers. Too often, gallery and museum settings can seem like forbidden spaces to small kids.

ArtKids offers the chance to reframe the gallery space as a lifelong destination and resource.

The gallery’s Art Book Club also meets monthly. Past book selections include “Making the Mummies Dance” by Thomas Hoving, former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art; “Priceless”

by Robert K. Wittman of the FBI Art Crime Team; and “The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt’s Masterpiece” by Anne-Marie O’Connor.

Kelly-McKenna partners with mainstays of Spring Lake for these events. Books are available for purchase at Thunder Road Books, and Spring Lake Bottle Shop curates the perfect wine pairing for each book. For example, book touching on the

Italian Renaissance might be paired with wines from Italy.

Art That Resonates The curation of the gallery favors abstract and figurative art by emerging artists.

Kelly-McKenna has a personal fondness for portraits, but there’s something for everyone. Asked if there’s a common thread in what Kelly-McKenna shows, she replies, “If I wouldn’t hang it in my home, I’m not showing it.” This ethos really gets to the heart of how Kelly-McKenna encourages everyone to relate to art—it should resonate.

Many people looking to purchase a piece of art don’t know exactly where to start.

To help, the gallery offers art advisory services. Before purchasing a piece for your home or personal collection, you’ll be guided through a process to help you see as much artwork as possible and discover what you really like.

If there’s a whole wide world of art to survey and explore, where does the journey begin? The gallery offers itself as a portal to this world, with Kelly-McKenna as your guide. All you have to do is walk through the doors at 1308 Third Avenue.

Dallas Hlatky is a local writer and artist whose love affair with art first started when she saw “Don’t Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Met.”

DECEMBER 2023

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WINES THAT COMPLEMENT ART The Kelly-McKenna Gallery in Spring Lake offers a reading club that pairs art-themed books with complementary wines.

It’s fairly typical for a book club to involve the sharing of wine during book discussions. In Spring Lake, the fine art gallery owned by and named for Caitlin Kelly-McKenna refines that concept. Kelly-McKenna selects art-themed books for the club to read, and Cynthia Murray of The Bottle Shop, also in Spring Lake, selects wines that pair perfectly with each. For example, the club recently read a book about Leonardo da Vinci. Here are some insights from Murray about the wines she chose to accompany that book.

BY CYNTHIA A. MURRAY

When Leonardo da Vinci was born in Tuscany in 1452, Italy had already been producing wine for more than 3,000 years. da Vinci himself was known to be a great lover of wine, calling it “the divine liquor of the grape.” While painting, sculpting, drawing and inventing in Florence in the late 1400s/early 1500s, da Vinci would almost certainly have been drinking these fine local wines at the end of a day spent creating magnificent art for the infinite glory of Italy.

TENUTA LE CALCINAIE VERNACCIA DI SAN GIMIGNANO $22.99:

The first written record of Chianti as a wine region was in the 14th century. This lovely Chianti, made by the Castellani family, expresses the very heart of that region.

Sangiovese is the prized grape in this smooth red. Look for red and black fruit flavors with nuances of leather, earth, licorice and sage.

The style of modern-day Chianti is more crowd-pleasing than Chianti was 25 to 30 years ago, so if you have not tasted one in a while, it’s worth giving Chianti another chance.

Flavorful and delicious, this wine goes well with pasta, pizza or salumi, cheeses, ovenroasted tomatoes and spiced olives.

CAPARZO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO $49.99:

Montalcino is the name of the ancient hilltop town that is surrounded by coveted vines planted to 100 percent Sangiovese Grosso.

Caparzo Brunello is produced by Elizabetta Gnudi Angelini, who blends the different terroirs of the appellation to marry flavors produced by the unique soils, microclimates and varying altitudes of vineyards. Angelini has been praised by wine critics for her commitment to high-quality wine making and the authentic expression of Brunello. Look for wild raspberry, cassis, lilac, salty mineral and botanical herb complexities. Serve with roasted and braised meats, hearty pasta dishes, Italian cheeses and olives.

Together with her family, Cynthia A. Murray owns The Bottle Shop in Spring Lake.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHELLE WOLFE

This wine is made in the hilltop village of San Gimignano. Vernaccia is a white wine produced from the grape variety of the same name, which was wildly popular in the 13th century, served at the tables of kings and popes, mentioned

by Dante Allighieri in “The Divine Comedy” and praised by Michelangelo. This vernaccia is filled with crisp, mouthwatering lemon citrus, orchard fruits, herbs and minerals. It’s made by winemaker Simone Santini at Le Calcinaie with organic methods.

Pair with salty sheep and goat’s milk cheeses, charcuterie, vegetables, fish and poultry.

CASTELLANI CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA $17.99:

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Africa!

Experience

One of our most popular destinations of 2023!

Tailor-Made African Adventures • Safari Luxury Accommodations • Hot Air Balloon Rides Wine Tours • Victoria Falls • Seychelles

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

SHOP SMALL, SHOP LOCAL!

FINISHING TOUCHES Finishing Touches has always been a go-to, local gift destination. This year, Maureen and Moira have created a unique gift guide for all of your holiday shopping: (1) Julie Vos Jewelry | A variety of 24k gold- plated, nickel- free pieces (2) Mova Globes | 4.5” & 6” globes on acrylic bases powered by light and the Earth’s magnetic field (3) “Taylor Swift & The Clothes She Wears” Coffee Table Book—Need we say more? (4) Estelle Colored Glass | Fine, hand-blown glassware in pops of color (5) Frasier Fir | Fragrances available as candles, diffusers, room sprays, sink caddies Downtown Spring Lake | 1313 3rd Ave., Spring Lake, NJ 07762 Tuesday - Saturday, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |  finishingtouches_bymaureen finishingtouchesbymaureen.com

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Shopping for your favorite people? Our beautiful collection of intentionally curated goods made by talented local, national and fair trade artists includes something for everyone. From the tea lover to the tequila drinker, world traveler to the homebody and jewelry obsessed to the minimalist, we’ll help you find something truly meaningful and unique.

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PALM PLACE

RMK LIFE COACHING

Palm Place is a Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store. We are your destination shop for women’s dresses, tops, and workout wear. We also carry our Little Lilly collection of girl’s clothing. We opened this Location in the Fall of 2022 here in Sea Girt Square and we are under new ownership.

Give the gift of a new outlook for 2024. RMK Life Coaching helps individuals achieve their personal and professional goals. We offer a supportive and collaborative relationship between coach and client. We provide guidance and motivation, and most importantly, accountability. Let us help you gain clarity and overcome obstacles to obtain a meaningful, purpose-filled life.

Sea Girt Square | 2100 Route 35, Sea Girt, NJ 08750 Open 7 days! |  palmplaceNJ palmplacenj.com

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R. Michele Komarek | Spring Lake, NJ 212-744-7951 | 917-596-2081 | mkomarek26@gmail.com

11/20/23 5:01 PM

BOOK NOOK

Give the Gift of Books The Thunder Road Books staff recommends titles for all the readers on your list.

BY KATE CZYZEWSKI

One of my favorite traditions, which I’ve seen adopted by the families of Thunder Road Books, is that of Jolabokaflod.

On Christmas Eve in Iceland, family members gift each other books, then spend the rest of the evening reading, cuddled up with a hot beverage and chocolate. This book-gifting tradition dates back to World War II, when paper was one of the only goods available in abundance. Here, we share some books that would make great gifts for your loved ones and friends.

GIFTS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

GIFTS FOR THRILL SEEKERS

“THE CHRISTMAS BOOK FLOOD”

By Emily Kilgore and Kitty Moss This beautifully illustrated children’s book tells the story of a young girl and her quest to find the perfect book for her family to exchange for Jolabokaflod. The illustrations are not to be missed. This reads like a classic, and you’ll want to add it to your holiday reading tradition.

“CITY ON FIRE/CITY OF DREAMS (A TRILOGY)”

By Don Winslow Winslow’s “City on Fire” is the first installment in this trilogy. For fans of “The Godfather” and “Goodfellas,” this has everything you would want to read in a mob-like thriller.

It takes place in the ’80s when a truce between the Italian and Irish is severed when a beautiful woman comes between both groups. Fastpaced and epic, as only Winslow can write it.

“HANUKKAH MAD LIBS” The best holiday traditions are those spent with family and friends.

Mad Libs has released a Hanukkah installment of the beloved game.

This activity is perfect for families to complete together. This fill-inthe-blank word game will test your holiday knowledge as well as your grammar skills. We look forward to playing this with our families!

Kate Czyzewski is the events and store manager of Thunder Road Books.

“THE EXCHANGE”

By John Grisham The follow-up to Grisham’s “The Firm,” this story tells readers what happened to Mitch and Abby McDeere after they exposed the crimes of his corrupt Memphis law firm. The story quickly finds Mitch entangled in another conflict with worldwide exposure. This is Grisham at his best! Readers do not necessarily need to reread “The Firm” to appreciate this book.

GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAY-OBSESSED “THE WISHING BRIDGE”

By Viola Shipman No matter what book Shipman writes, we’re going to read it! What draws us most to his writing is his heart.

Viola Shipman is the pen name for Wade Rouse. Viola is his grandmother’s name. He continues to honor her legacy and wisdom in his stories. “The Wishing Bridge” tells the story of corporate merger and acquisitions executive Henrietta Wegner. When her boss threatens her with unemployment unless she can produce a big deal before the holidays, the pressure mounts.

She’s convinced she can sway her aging parents to sell their iconic Christmas store. When she returns home to get the ball rolling, she discovers that there may be more to her hometown than she originally gave it credit for.

“UNLEASHED HOLIDAY”

By Victoria Schade Calling all dog lovers! Schade’s “Unleashed Holiday” will make you want to hug your puppy and celebrate the holidays in style. The book tells the tale of Chelsea Higgins, professional dog trainer, who has everything going for her—a successful business, good friends and a great pup by her side. When Chelsea looks to move her dog-training business to a new location, she has a run-in with her nemesis, successful gym owner Andrew Gibson, who wants the same property. Banter and puppy shenanigans ensue.

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Photos Courtesy of Popovitch Builders

Fabricators of Marble, Granite, Quartzite, Porcelain, and Quartz Solid Surfaces.

Visit our showroom and explore all the new trends and timeless classics for your countertops.

Celebrating 25 Years!

(732) 751-0074

Follow Us @idealfabricationsnj

www.idealfabrications.com 304 Squankum Road, Farmingdale, NJ



Owner: Dave Zupko, Manasquan Resident

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Spring Lake April 2023



Sea Girt Also Serving

LL PICKLEBA FOR ALL

FITNESS, FUN HIP AND FRIENDS

RD ALL ABOAS OK FOR BORY OF SEA THE STO ARY GIRT’S LIBR

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Let’s Get Social!

Join our online community.

75

years of

sweet success

Coldwell Banker Realty Susan Bastardo

Realtor Associate, SRES

C: 732.245.5848 | NJShoreEstates.com

Spring Lake Office: 732.449.2777 1122 Third Ave., Spring Lake, NJ 07762 susan.bastardo@cbmoves.com

Happy Holidays! Call Me January 2024! Susan’s clients rely heavily on her previous experience and proven track record to reach their real estate goals. Susan is attuned to this rapidly changing market and believes in keeping her clients informed every step of the way. Susan’s talent for staging, previous banking & mortgage experience, along with her strong communication skills, allow for a smooth, stress-free transaction. Her SRES designation, NJRealtors Distinguished Sales Award, Five Star Award & CB’s International President’s Circle Award rank Susan in the top 7% of all Coldwell Agents worldwide.

  @springlakemagazine Have a photo or story you think should be featured?

Want to learn more about advertising in our pages?

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

Contact us at hello@springlakemagazine.com

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300 Madison Ave, Spring Lake, NJ - 732.449.4530 - springlaketheatre.com

from the Spring Lake Community House & Theatre

Thank you for a wonderful 100th Anniversary Year at the Spring Lake Community House & Theatre!

Help support the Community House for another 100 years by supporting the Centennial Campaign.

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Reach Spring Lake

Also Serving Sea Girt

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virtually EVERY home in Spring Lake and Sea Girt with your business message.

To advertise, contact Brynn Coleman at Brynn.Coleman@springlakemagazine.com or 908-472-3384.

11/20/23 4:26 PM

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LIFE OUTDOORS

Gliding on Glass Although known as a summer town, Spring Lake in winter has its own magic: ice-skating.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF ANNE FORCELLA SKALITZA

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SPRING LAKE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

BY MICHAEL LANDERS

Ice-skating on Spring Lake in 1958.

Summers in Spring Lake are always great. The beach and pools open, and summer friends arrive. But those summer friends miss something very special in the colder months—ice-skating on the lake.

Growing up here in the ’60s, my friends and family would make endless calls to the police station on a cold day asking if the lake was frozen enough to skate on. We heard that Officer Russell Hurden, Jr., better known as “Bunky,” would test the ice by walking on it and shooting his gun to see if it was thick enough. I don’t know if that is true, but part of me wants to believe it. The police would fly a flag when they deemed it safe. Children all over town would call friends announcing, “The flag is up!”

Tricks of the Trade When the lake froze, getting out the skates was a ritual—whatever pair fit, you wore.

Because there were so many large families in Spring Lake then, someone would always be wearing a sibling’s skates, with the oldest always having the new ones. If the skates were too big, an extra pair of socks or two would do the trick. If they were difficult to put on, skaters would just slide a plastic bag around each foot, and, magically, the skates fit.

Lacing up the skates was a chore. Too difficult with gloves on, but with them off your hands would become stiff with the cold. But it was worth it. Once you were on the frozen lake, it was like gliding on glass.

The lake was big enough for all. Hockey players would stake out territory, young boys and girls had double-runners on their skates, parents pulled little ones on sleds and skating under the bridges always seemed a little scary. Some skaters displayed acrobatic feats that we thought were of Olympic caliber. Even the ducks and swans, which had a section of the lake broken up just for them, were in awe.

A fire was made in an alcove just off a nearby path, and twigs and branches were thrown in to keep us warm when we took breaks. There were times the fire station would bring a truck down and shine a bright light on the lake for nighttime skating. The day always ended with a hot chocolate from Jerry’s (now Spring Lake Pizza). Cherry-red faces went home smiling.

Summer in Spring Lake is wonderful, but winter is magical.

Michael Landers is a lifelong Spring Lake resident. You can find her sitting on the South End Beach nearly every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day, on the pickleball courts or enjoying the view of Wreck Pond from her front porch with her daughters and grandchildren.

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10/17/23 11/20/23 11:29 9:56 AM

Design Line Kitchens remembers founder, Matthew Egan.

We are deeply saddened to share the passing of a true industry pioneer, Matt Egan. His legacy in the world of design and craftsmanship will forever be remembered.

Design Line’s founder, Matthew Egan, began his career as a cabinet apprentice in Ireland.

Matt came to the United States in 1963, became an American citizen in 1970, and started Design Line Kitchens in 1976. Working out of Spring Lake Heights, NJ, Design Line grew into its current 10,000 square foot showroom and factory in Sea Girt, NJ. Matt’s work will continue to inspire and leave an indelible mark on the industry. Rest in peace, Matt Egan.

CUSTOM CABINETRY | DESIGN SERVICES | INSTALLATION 2127 HWY 35 | SEA GIRT, NJ

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DESIGNLINEKITCHENS.COM

PH. 732.449.6760

11/20/23 9:04 9:56 AM