ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS
The Atlantic Highlands Library is hosting a book signing at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, with author Erlinda Kravetz.
Krystal Hut: Stories, Kravetz’s latest book, joins the growing body of ethnic literature that has found a niche in the hearts of American readers. In this debut collection of 10 stories, she tells of a contingent of Filipino-Americans, an immigrant group that shares deep emotional and historical ties with its adopted country.
The stories span from Hawaii to California and the East Coast, tracing with vivid details and compassion the emotional journeys of her characters in their quest for love, success, and the American dream.
The story “Achara” dramatizes the strain of living in two cultures, comparing it to the “delicate push and pull between the sugar and the vinegar” in the grandmother’s relish recipe. In the lead story, “Dust Storm,” a bewildered Filipino youth in the grips of a Thanksgiving Day family tragedy, asks: “Why do we have to celebrate Thanksgiving… it’s not even our holiday?” In the title story, a Filipino widower’s longing and search for an ideal wife from the old country collide with the cruel realities of modern-day immigration.
Kravetz is a former award winning journalist and fiction writer. She attended Columbia University’s School of Journalism, obtained an M.A. in English literature from New York University, and studied French in Paris. She has lived and worked in Hawaii, San Francisco, Detroit, Maryland, New York and is a longtime resident of New Jersey.
COLTS NECK
The Colts Neck Business Association (CBNA) will hold its annual Colts Neck Day on Saturday, Aug. 24, at a Lakewood Blue Claws game.
All are welcome to join the organization for the family-oriented event for an evening of fun, baseball and recognition of Colts Neck.
Tickets are $10 and available through the high school, PTO, sports foundation and CNBA.
FREEHOLD
Museum Curator Bernadette Rogoff will offer a gallery talk about the Micah Williams: Portrait Artist exhibition at 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday, July 28, at the Monmouth County Historical Association museum.
Over the last 20 years, Rogoff has completed a comprehensive study of the artist’s life and work and will share her extensive knowledge with guests while touring the exhibition.
Traveling portrait artist and New Jersey resident Micah Williams (1782-1837) was a prolific artist who has 272 known existing works. His works are represented in many major museums and are highly sought after by folk art collectors. Yet, there has never before been an exhibition dedicated solely to the work of Micah Williams.
The Micah Williams: Portrait Artist exhibition brings together 67 of Williams’ pastel and oil portraits when seen together, tell a story about the new America of the 19th century. Monmouth County Historical Association has embraced Williams’ work since the 1950s when a Monmouth County resident published the first of four scholarly articles based on the museum’s collection of portraits. Now, more than 60 years later, the association still holds the largest public collection – 23 works – of Williams’ work.
The first floor of the museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. Anyone unable to visit the second floor of the exhibition will be given a seated presentation by Rogoff using images of the portraits located on the second floor following the main tour.
Space is limited so please call 732-462-1466 to reserve your spot on the tour.
The Micah Williams: Portrait Artist exhibition is made possible by support from the New Jersey Historical Commission, Monmouth County Arts Council, Freehold Savings Bank, and individual contributors. A color catalogue produced for the exhibition will be available for purchase at the talks. The catalog is $45 and $40 for association members.
Monmouth County Historical Association is a private nonprofit organization that has been working to preserve Monmouth County history and provide educational opportunities since its founding in 1898. The association’s museum and library is located at 70 Court St. Museum hours are: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The library is open Wednesday through Saturday.
For membership or admission fees and further information, please call 732-462-1466 or visit the website at www.monmouthhistory.org.
HIGHLANDS
The Highlands Business Partnership’s 19th Annual Clam Festival will be held Aug. 1 to 4 – rain or shine – at Huddy Park on Bay and Waterwitch avenues.
The festival features fresh seafood, live entertainment, kiddy rides, games, contests, a beer and wine garden, and more. Admission and parking is free.
The clam fest will feature a beer and wine garden, sponsored by Shore Point Distributing Company. The midway will be presented by Campy’s Amusements.
Portions of Waterwitch and Bay avenues will be closed to street traffic to accommodate the specialty vendors’ marketplace and the food court with many popular Highlands’ restaurants, including Bahrs, Chilangos, Francesco’s, Lusty Lobster, Moby’s, and Windansea.
Twin Concessions will provide other festival favorites, such as sausage and peppers and cheese steaks. The Highlands Fire Department barbecue tent will have its famous ribs, burgers, hot dogs and more. There will be plenty of novelty foods, including the Lions Club funnel cakes, fruit smoothies and ice cream.
Opening night, 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, will feature “Pay One Price Bracelet Night,” when visitors can enjoy the amusement rides all night. The Jody Joseph Band will perform, and DJ Johnny will emcee the festival and play favorite tunes.
Hours are from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, with entertainment by Highlands very own, the famous Carl Gentry Band from 6:45 to 10:45 p.m.
The festival begins at noon Saturday, Aug. 3, with the Highlands Community Singers featuring their hit, “Happy As A Clam.” Crimson Sky takes the stage at 12:30 p.m., followed by the Bob Burger Band from 3 to 7 p.m. The Jonzes will perform 7 to 11 p.m.
Clamfest hours are noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, with Pay-One-Price ride bracelets available from 1 to 5 p.m. The popular Baby Costume Contest, “A Day at the Shore,” directed by Tim Hill, the borough administrator, and the Highlands Department of Recreation will be held at 1 p.m. in Huddy Park. The clam-shucking competition kicks off at 3 p.m., sponsored by Lusty Lobster. The All You Can Eat Clam Contest, sponsored by Certified Clam Company and limited to 20 entrants, will begin at 3:30 p.m. Registration for all contests begins at noon.
The Kootz Band will take the stage at 4 p.m. The Highlands Business Partnership’s “King of the Clam” super 50/50 drawing will be drawn on Sunday, Aug. 4.
Clamfest 2013 is made possible with the generous support of sponsors, Seastreak, Comcast NBC Universal, WRAT 95, Frank Rahm Landscaping, Hufnagel Tree Experts, T&M Associates, and the Shore Point Distributing Company.
For more information on the Highlands Business Partnerships events or programs, please call 732-291-4713 or visit www.highlandsnj.com.
MIDDLETOWN
The Middletown Arts Center (MAC), 36 Church St., will present Singer/Songwriters in the Round from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 28.
The event will feature five noteworthy singer/songwriters performing original music, sharing stories and answering questions from the audience.
Seating is general admission and the performance and roundtable will be held in the MAC’s state-of-the-art theater.
A suggested donation of $5 is requested to benefit the Middletown Arts Center. Call 732-706-4100 or visit www.middle townarts.org for more information.
RED BANK
Pilgrim Baptist Church of Red Bank, 172 Shrewsbury Ave., will host its annual Youth Day Celebration at the 8 and 10:45 a.m. services on Sunday, July 28.
The celebration will feature the Vacation Bible School and Summer Youth Showcase activities of the church’s Youth and Cherub Ministries.
The preachers for the celebration will be Minister Charles Cox at the 8 a.m. service and Elder Antonius Thigpen at the 10:45 a.m. service.
Additional information is available by calling 732-747-2343.
SHREWSBURY
The monthly Jersey Shore PFLAG support meeting in Monmouth County will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12, at the Presbyterian Church House, 352 Sycamore Ave. The meetings offer support, education and advocacy for parents, family and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people. Meetings are held on the second Monday of every month.
The organization’s monthly transgender and transfamilies support meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, at the Presbyterian Church House.
The meetings offer support, education and advocacy for parents, family and friends of transgender individuals and their families. Meetings are held on the third Monday of every month.
Although meetings are held in a church building, PFLAG is not affiliated with any religious organization.
For more information about Jersey Shore PFLAG, see www.jerseyshorepflag.org, call 908-814-2155 or email jspflag@gmail.com.
