FEATURED PHOTO: 10-year-old Finley Elias, holding the Australian flag behind her, is wearing a hoodie with the logo she designed in order to raise funds for a Koala Hospital in Australia. CREDIT: Snuggle Bunchkin Photography

Ten-year-old Lincroft resident Finley Elias, in fourth grade at Lincroft Elementary School, has raised $17,000 for the Koalas she dearly loves. Hearing about the raging fires in her mother’s native country of Australia, she wanted to help and decided to raise money for the cause.

“My Mum (that’s how you spell it in Australia) is from Australia so I have lots of family there,” said Finley. “Two of my Uncles, who are brave firefighters, were sent to fight lots of the fires. I knew about the Koalas from them, and also what I saw on the news. I have been to the Koala Hospital before, and also to an animal park called Billabong Zoo which is close to the hospital.”

Port Macquarie Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia is where Finley decided to make a donation.

“Every time we go to Australia to visit my family, we visit the Koalas at the hospital and say hi to them. We like to see when Koalas have been released back into the wild,” shared Finley. “Sometimes they have been hurt too badly and end up having to live there. One time we even adopted a little Koala that we fell in love with! You can make donations but you don’t get to bring the animal home. You cannot touch the koalas at the Koala Hospital, but you can at the Billabong Zoo because the ones there are not sick.”

In an effort to raise funds for the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, Finley designed a logo for t-shirts and hoodies that represented what she felt for Koalas.

“I started with making the love heart out of the colors of fire,” explained Finley. “Then I thought of the word LOVE because I love Australia and I love Koalas. The L is a little sad Koala in a tree, the O is for the smoke and burnt land, the V is for the fire, the E is for what the earth will look like again once the fires have gone.”

The t-shirts and hoodies were sold to family and friends at first. Next, her school allowed her to sell them to the staff and students.

“My Mum, who is a teacher, asked her school district in Monroe Township if they would like to be involved. Next, Bayshore Middle School wanted to help out because of a nice teacher named Mrs. Schlank.”

Finley said everyone really loved the design, and if community support is there she would consider continuing her efforts. For now, she is grateful for all she and the community has accomplished.

“I wanted to show kindness to these gorgeous animals. They are just so cute and cuddly,” said Finley. “I felt so sad that they are not fast animals so many were not able to get away from the fires. I am so grateful to all of the people who supported my fundraiser. It tells me that there are lots of kind people in our community. I think mostly everyone loves Koalas because, well, how could you not?” Katy and Scott Elias, Finley’s parents, are pleased with their daughter’s decision to help the struggling animals.

“It’s hard to put into words how proud we are of Finley,” said Katy. “The afternoon she came to me with the design that she had worked on all day and told me she wondered if she could do something to help, just about made my heart explode with pride. Finley is determined and intuitive and has not stopped for one part of the fundraiser. She has worked for hours after school and on the weekends to make sure everything worked out. Her kindness and empathy for people and animals is evident. I think seeing Finley in this element gives us a glimpse into the young woman she will become.”

To donate directly to the Koala hospital, visit here.

The Monmouth Museum presents Woodstock at 50: Summer of Love, June 8 – September 1, 2019. Gallery Hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm and Sunday, 12:00 – 5:00 pm, museum admission is $8. The Opening Reception will be Saturday, June 8th, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Admission to the opening reception is free and open to the public. Performing at the Opening will be Poppa John Bugg who played with Richie Havens.

Following the Opening Reception, June 8th at 8:00 pm, will be a Panel Discussion with 90.5 the Night Radio Station and some very well-known hippies: Elliott Landy, the official photographer of Woodstock; Sea Gudinski, Novelist who just released a work of historical fiction called 1969: A Brief and Beautiful Trip Back; Tommy Fuller One of the Jersey Shore’s most underrated musical gems, who went to the festival as a 23 year old, fresh out of the army;  and Brad Hunt Long time music industry executive and artist manager, who went to the festival as a 19 year old. For more information on the panel discussion or for tickets, on-line and at the door, wbjb.org/woodstock.

The Monmouth Museum’s Main Gallery summertime exhibition, Woodstock at 50: Summer of Love, will journey through the explosive era that gave life to the 1969 Woodstock Festival, the pivotal outdoor music and art fair held 50 years ago on Max Yasgur’s dairy farm in the Catskill Mountains. It will feature 50 pieces of the renowned documentary and rock photography of the Official Woodstock Photographer, Elliott Landy. His images of Bob Dylan and The Band, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Van Morrison, and many others documented the music scene during the classic rock and roll period of 1967-1969. The exhibition will also feature vintage concert posters and vinyl albums, immersive video and audio experiences, 1960’s memorabilia and ephemera. All summer the Museum will offer art workshops for adults, teens and kids, tours and more.

There will be a Preview Party on Friday, June 7th from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm where you will meet Elliott Landy as he presents his Woodstock Vision. Get a first-hand account about the creators, builders, hippies, and straights that describes the spirituality, the trials and tribulations, and the sheer joy of being there! Performing that evening will be Edward Brennan and Joe LaFragola of the Glen Burnik Summer of Love Show and the band Styx.  Admission is $50 for Museum members, $65 for non-members, and Students $25. Tickets at monmouthmuseum.org.

Elliott Landy is one of the first music photographers to be recognized as an “artist.” Author of six photographic books, his images have been exhibited in major museums and galleries throughout the world. His photographs have appeared on the covers of major magazines such as Life, The Saturday Evening Post and Rolling Stone and in all media internationally for the past forty years.

Elliott Landy, born in 1942, began photographing the anti-Vietnam-war movement and the underground music culture in New York City in 1967. He photographed many of the underground rock and roll superstars, both backstage and onstage, from 1967 to 1969. His images of Bob Dylan and The Band, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Joan Baez, Van Morrison, Richie Havens, and many others documented the music scene during that classic rock and roll period which culminated with the 1969 Woodstock Festival.

Summer of Love was in June – August of 1967. Usually this description refers to 1967, in and around San Francisco when the “hippie movement” was in full flower. Particularly during the summer months, thousands upon thousands of young people flocked to the Haight-Ashbury to take part in a somewhat pale imitation of the true hippie experience. Many were drawn by the gentle lyrics of a song penned by John Phillips, member of The Mamas & the Papas. Phillips’ song San Francisco (written in anticipation of the Monterey Pop Festival in June) romanticizes the era and atmosphere. Scott McKenzie’s cover-version of the song was on the airwaves by May — just in time for summer vacation. “If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair…If you come to San Francisco, Summertime will be a love-in there.”

1969 Woodstock Art and Music Fair was August 15 -17, 1969. Woodstock: Three Days of Peace, Music & Love. An estimated audience of over 400,000 people gather for three days of music near Bethel, NY, swarming across the pastures of Max Yasgur’s dairy farm. The festival is the brainchild of four men under age 26 (including one with a multimillion-dollar trust fund). Only 186,000 tickets are sold, so around 200,000 people are expected – but the amazing lineup of bands and musicians draws many more. Fences are pushed over and tickets become pointless. On opening night, sponsors declare free admission to all, and the word spreads like wildfire. Police estimate a million more people trying to reach Woodstock are stuck in traffic jams up to 50 miles away. In rain and mud, thousands listen to Janis Joplin, The Who, Canned Heat, the Grateful Dead, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, and Country Joe & The Fish. On the last morning, guitarist Jimi Hendrix wakes the crowd with a riveting solo version of the national anthem. The final cost is $2.4 million. A film of the concert is released the following year.

All summer, from June 7 – September 1, 2019, there will be a raffle for a Martin DX Woodstock 50th Anniversary Guitar, donated by Russo Music. This model includes colorful custom artwork by Robert F. Goetzl that replicates elements from the original, famed 1969 festival poster. This X Series D-14 model produces the rich, dynamic sound and look that made Martin the choice of many artists who played at Woodstock. Chances are only $10 each.

Exhibition Partners for the Woodstock at 50: Summer of Love exhibition include: Red Bank FrameWorks; Brookdale Community College – History, and Library departments; 90.5 the Night; Jack’s Music Shoppe; Russo Music; Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth; Vintage Variety Shop; Classic Metal Productions; Tracy Walter Ferry, artist and filmmaker.

The Monmouth Museum, an independent, non-profit organization was founded in 1963 as a Museum of Ideas, presents changing art, history and science exhibitions to educate and entertain while providing a destination for creative expression and life-long learning to the diverse community it serves.

The Monmouth Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm; Sunday, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Admission is $8. The Museum is located at 1 Museum Drive, Lincroft, NJ on the campus of Brookdale Community College, Parking lot #1.

For more information about the Museum exhibitions and programs visit their website at www.monmouthmuseum.org or call 732-747-2266.

Dress up the dog, plan your scarecrow, and come ready to have fun at Thompson Park Day! Held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 14, at Thompson Park, 805 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, this event offers seasonal fun for the whole family. Free activities for the day include fall festival games, kids’ races, pie-eating contests, S.T.E.A.M. fun, entertainment, and more. Activities requiring two tickets ($1 per ticket) or a wristband ($12 per person) are archery, bungee trampoline, climbing wall, inflatable rides, rolling video games, wagon rides, Turbo Twister and Turbo Tubs. For pumpkin painting and ceramics only tickets will be accepted, two tickets each.

A scarecrow contest will be held from 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Entries are $10 in advance or $12 day of event. The Friends of the Parks will hold their annual Strut Your Mutt doggie costume contest as well. Details for both the scarecrow and “Strut Your Mutt” contests are available online at www.MonmouthCountyParks.com.

Scheduled activities for the day include:

Kids’ Races:

Diaper Derby:
(Crawlers) – 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m.

Tot Trot:

(Walkers to 17 mos.) – 11:45 a.m., 2:45 p.m., 3:45 p.m.

(18 to 23 mos.) – 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

(2 to 3 yrs.) – 11:15 a.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m.

Pee Wee Run:
(4 to 6 yrs.) – 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.

Sack Races:

(7 to 8 yrs.) – 12:15 p.m., 3 p.m.

(9 to 10 yrs.) – 1:45 p.m., 4:45 p.m.

Entertainment:

Theater Barn:

11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Kids on the Block Puppet Show

1:15-2 p.m. – “It’s the Wolf!” Puppet Show

2:45-3:30 p.m. – The Curse of the Silver Pearl Swashbuckling Spooktacular

4:15-5 p.m. – The Little Rockers Band

Strolling Performers:

11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. – Freaky Frankie and his Monster Baloonz

1-4 p.m. – Balloon Twisting Artist

1-5 p.m. – Pirate Stilt walker

To learn more about Thompson Park Day or other Park System activities, please visit www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call the Park System at 732-842-4000. For persons with hearing impairment, the Park System TTY/TDD number is 711. The Monmouth County Park System, created in 1960 by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, is Monmouth County’s Open Space, Parks, and Recreation agency.
Haunted Theater Returns October 12th.

N ewman Springs Dental Care is hosting its twelfth annual Dentistry From The Heart event on Thursday, October 4th at its office located at 539 Newman Springs Road in Lincroft.  Dental volunteers will offer attendees the gift of a free day of dentistry services on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“One day may seem insignificant, however we know it makes a difference in the lives of the people who come to us for help” said Dr. Mitchel Friedman. “Since bringing Dentistry From The Heart to New Jersey in 2007, we have helped other offices start their own events as well as volunteered to provide dental care with them. There is a large need and other generous dental teams have answered by serving their communities.”

Registration for Dentistry from the Heart begins at 7:00 a.m. and first 120 adults are guaranteed to be seen. Services offered include examinations, digital x-rays, blood pressure and Velscope (advanced oral cancer) screenings. Attendees 18 and over will also have the chance to choose an extraction, filling or cleaning.

Last year, Newman Springs Dental Care provided over $60,114 worth of free dental care to 99 patients in a single day. Since 2007, Dr. Friedman and his team have given $600,000 in care for more than 1400 grateful recipients in the greater Lincroft area.

This year, Doctors Aparna Menon, Amarpeet Suri, Allan Ruda, Beth DeAngelis, Jared Geldeband, Brian Paterson, and Jeffrey Zatzkin will join Dr. Friedman in donating skills and time to help patients relieve dental pain and fix dental problems. The volunteers will refer patients who need ongoing care or have immediate dental problems to community clinics where they can receive ongoing treatment at low or no cost.

Newman Springs Dental Care’s 2018 Dentistry from the Heart event is made possible thanks to its corporate sponsor, Henry Schein Dental, made possible by the generosity and hands-on volunteering of Noah Schayowitz. For additional information, visit here or call 732.978.4523.

Liam Gaffney, age 1, of Lincroft, will appear in the bright lights of Broadway on Saturday, September 15 as part of the National Down Syndrome Society’s (NDSS) annual Times Square Video presentation. The featured photographs highlight children, teens, and adults with Down syndrome, reminding the world in a very big way about the contributions and milestones of people with Down syndrome. These collective images promote the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.

On Saturday, July 7, from 11 to 3 pm, The Parker Homestead-1665 will host their third annual vintage Base Ball Game.  The game will take place at 12 noon on the Little Silver Sickles Field, across the street from The Parker Homestead.   Take a step back in time and watch the Monmouth Furnace play against the Hoboken Nine.  Playing by Beadle’s 1864 Rules of Base Ball, the teams will be wearing reproduction mid-19th century uniforms, using old-fashioned equipment.

The Parker Homestead will be open for tours.  Also on display will be the collection of 1909 Caramel Candy Company baseball cards discovered in The Parker Homestead.  This event is free to the public.

Carlo’s Bake Shop, Red Bank, is donating a cake replica of the Homestead which will be shared on the porch after the game.  Miss Stella, the 1860’s costumed Furnace spokesperson will be drawing 50/50 winners at this time. For more info visit ParkerHomestead-1665.org.  The Parker Homestead-1665 is located at 235 Rumson Road, Little Silver.

The 17th century Parker Homestead is one of the oldest residences in New Jersey.  It is listed on both the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places.  In 1665, the siblings Peter and Joseph Parker, along with their sister Meribeth Parker Slocum and her husband, arrived in the area to claim property available from the King’s proprietors.

Eight generations and 330 years later, Julia Parker, the last owner of The Parker Homestead, deeded the property and home to the people of Little Silver.  Her intent was for it to be preserved as a living historic and educational site, with cultural events and museum displays.