About Town

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MONMOUTH COUNTY
Monmouth County Historical Associ­ation’s five sites and museum and library will be part of the 40 county historic sites opening their doors for this year’s “Weekend in Old Monmouth” on Saturday, May 5, and Sunday, May 6.
Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 5 and from noon to 5 p.m. May 6. Admission is free at all participating sites and tour guides will be on hand to welcome visitors.
“We are excited to once again participate in this terrific event which, through the efforts of the Monmouth County Historical Commis­sion, gives local history buffs as well as visitors from out of the area a rare opportunity to see the richness and variety of Monmouth County’s history. It is a wonderful way to begin the season,” said Dr. Evelyn Murphy, interim director of MCHA.
MCHA has six stops on the tour: Allen House (circa 1710) in Shrewsbury, Coven­hoven House (1752) and the Museum and Library (1931) in Freehold, Holmes-Hen­drickson House (circa 1754) in Holmdel, and Marlpit Hall (circa 1756) and Taylor-Butler House (circa 1853), both in Middletown.
Visit www.visitmonmouth.com, choose “Departments” and select “Historical Com­mission” to download the detailed tour book and map available on the county’s website. An informational video about Weekend in Old Monmouth is also available.
RED BANK
Monmouth County residents will have the opportunity on Saturday May 5 to learn about a growing movement for community-based self-sufficiency.
The Red Bank Public Library, 84 W. Front St., will be the site of Central New Jersey’s first public Transition event, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Community Room.
Attendees will hear from Monmouth University’s Chris Hirschler, assistant professor of health studies, who will speak about the challenges we face as a society due to climate change. Jim Fiola, co-founder of Transition Newton/Northwest NJ, will present the Transition approach and discuss the projects the organization has underway in North Jersey. Laura Bagwell of the Red Bank Environmental Commission will make opening remarks.
There will be refreshments and information tables with networking opportunities available.
The Transition movement first took root in 2005 in the United Kingdom. Since then, it has mushroomed to well over a thousand highly diverse communities across the world – from Australia to Portugal, from Brazil to Slovenia, from urban locations in Britain to islands off the coast of Canada, including more than 100 towns and cities in the U.S.
These communities have started projects in areas of food, transport, energy, education, housing, waste, and arts, among others, as small-scale local responses to the global challenges of climate change, economic hardship and shrinking supplies of cheap energy.
For more information, call 312-388-2011 or email sarah.klepner@gmail.com, or see transitionus.org.
TINTON FALLS

The 42nd annual Monmouth Festival of Arts will be held May 5 -9 at the Monmouth Reform Temple on Hance Avenue in Tinton Falls.
The arts festival is a juried art show that supports artists and art education.  More than 200 artists from all over the northeast will display their art in a variety of mediums including jewelry, ceramics, sculptured art, oils, watercolor, pastels, mixed media and fine crafts.
Ticket are $8 daily for adults, and discounted $5 for senior citizens and students. A Series Ticket for Sunday through Wednesday can be purchased for $18.
Festival hours are: noon to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, May 6; 9:30 am to 8:30 p.m. May 7 and May 8; and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 9. Large groups are welcome during the week and should contact Karen Greco at
732-796-9240.
Patrons attending the opening gala on Saturday evening will enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres from local chefs and pastry and coffee alfresco, served in a tent on the temple’s patio.
The gala presents patrons with a first opportunity to purchase art and to meet the many artists in attendance that evening. The gala takes place from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $65 at the door.