COLTS NECK
The Ashley Lauren Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing hope and help to children throughout New Jersey who suffer from cancer through financial, material and emotional support, will be holding its 2013 Colts Neck Barn Tour fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 21.
This fundraiser is being held in observance of September’s National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Across the nation, thousands of courageous children fight pediatric cancer each year. The Ashley Lauren Foundation’s mission is to relieve the daily burden’s thrust upon these children as they battle this disease.
The tour is a rare opportunity to visit some of Colts Neck’s exquisite farms and stables where champion hunter jumpers and thoroughbreds are raised and trained. There will be four farms on the tour: Wellspring Stables; Colts Neck Stables; Yellowbrook Farm/Helen Goddard LLC; and Stillwell Stables plus a tour of Four JGs Vineyards. The tour will end with an old-fashioned barbecue at Stillwell Stables.
Tickets are $35 for the tour only and $50 for the tour and barbecue. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. The tour will take ticket holders by bus to each location. Check-in begins at noon at Colts Neck Municipal Complex, 124 Cedar Drive, with buses departing for the tour promptly at 12:30 p.m. The tour will end at approximately 4:30 p.m. Additional information and tickets are available by calling The Ashley Lauren Foundation at 732-414-1625. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ashleylaurenfoundation.org under Events.
FAIR HAVEN
Nature photographers Kevin Karlson, Lloyd Spitalnik and Scott Elowitz will present “Visions: Earth’s Elements in Bird and Nature Photography” at the Monmouth County Audubon Society’s meeting at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, at Church of the Nativity, 180 Ridge Road. The public is welcome and admission is free.
Everyone has visions and some of these have the power to transform our lives. This visual and musical program contains a collection of bird and nature images that reflect the personal visions of birds and nature as perceived through the camera lens by 11 contributing photographers. The images are themed to the elements of the planet: earth, fire, air and water.
The coffee table book Visions: Earth’s Elements in Bird and Nature Photography was released by Schiffer Publishing in July 2012 and will be available for signing. Karlson authored the book, and he, Spitalnik and Elowitz are the main contributing photographers.
As a noted wildlife photographer, Karlson’s work is widely published in birding magazines and journals, as well as books, field guides and calendars, including Birds of the Arctic Tundra.
Accomplished photographer Spitalnik lives and works in New York City. His photographs have appeared in Audubon, Natural History, Birder’s World and other magazines, as well as in The New York Times and New York Daily News. Elowitz has been around photography all of his life as his parents were professional photographers. He developed a passion for nature and wildlife while traveling around the world to exotic locations with his wife Cyndi. He specializes in bird photography, and his work can be found in various books, guides, advertisements and magazines.
The Monmouth County Audubon Society, a chapter of the National Audubon Society, is dedicated to the enjoyment and study of nature, wildlife conservation, habitat protection and education.
Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month September through May at Church of the Nativity.
Further information can be obtained by visiting the organization’s website at www.monmouthaudubon.org, or via email at info@monmouthaudubon.org.
LONG BRANCH
The 6th Annual Holiday Express Sunset Benefit Clambake, sponsored by Shore Point Distributing Company, will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, on the beach at McLoone’s Pier House.
The cost is $225 per guest and includes an open bar and a lavish buffet including lobster, fillet and raw bar. The Holiday Express Band will provide entertainment. Attire is casual so attendees can ditch the tuxedos, ball gowns and heels for shorts, sundresses and sandals – or even bare feet.
There will be a silent auction with items donated by many generous individuals and companies, including tickets to area sporting events, designer clothing and jewelry. There also will be a live auction for one-of-a-kind getaway vacations and other unique experiences.
Founded in 1993 by Little Silver resident Tim McLoone, Holiday Express delivers music, food, gifts and financial support and friendship to those with the greatest need for the gift of human kindness during the holiday season and throughout the year. The organization is comprised of 1,500 volunteers, including more than 100 professional musicians.
Additional information and reservations are available by calling 732-544-8010 or visiting the website at www.holidayexpress.org.
MIDDLETOWN
A walk to raise funds will be held for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Port Monmouth Elementary School, 202 Main St., Port Monmouth.
Organizers have a goal of raising at least $10,000. The event will be held rain or shine. Registration will begin at 10 a.m., with the actual walk occurring between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
There is no fee to walk, but because the event is a fundraiser, walkers are asked to raise money for the hospital. Those who raise at least $35 will be eligible for prizes. Donations can be made by check the day of the walk or online before the event at www.stjudeevents.org/middletown where walkers can also register for the event.
There also will be vendors selling their products, a gift auction and a DJ with all proceeds benefitting the St. Jude Children’s Hospital. There will also be many children’s activities, including face painting, carnival games and a bounce house.
Some of the event sponsors to date are DJ Johnny’s Magic Moments, American Bounce Factory, Holmdel Cleaners, Colonial American Bank, Auto Exotica, Union Plaza Liquors, Carol’s Shore Cuts, The UPS Store in Middletown, Crown Tire and Saker Shoprite.
RED BANK
The Monmouth Day Care Center (MDCC) will host its fourth annual Touch-a-Truck “fun-raiser” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Red Bank Middle School, 101 Harding Road. Police cars, fire engines, dump trucks and other construction equipment will be displayed in the middle school parking lot where kids will get a closer look at the vehicles they love to see in their neighborhoods every day. Children will be encouraged to explore the vehicles in a safe environment while the owners and operators are on hand to describe how the vehicles work and what kind of jobs they do.
The entrance fee includes crafts, games and music. Food vendors will be on-site, and a 50/50 raffle will be held. Visitors are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item for the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties; all participants will be immediately entered into a drawing to win a prize.
Tickets are $12 for a family of four if purchased in advance, $15 at the door plus $1 for each additional family member. Advance tickets are available from MDCC by phone at 732-741-4313 or through Monmouth Day Care Center’s Facebook Event Page.
The event is sponsored by Ron’s Five Star Cleaning, The Pressler Group, Karson Food Service, DeFazio’s Lawn Service, The Gannon Holsey Group, Shrewsbury Gymnastics, Calendar For Kids, Firestone Complete Auto Care, Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash and The Shore Scoop. Special thanks go to Fins & Feathers and Schwartz’ Mazda, Hino and Suzuki.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Monmouth Day Care Center, a nonprofit serving families seeking quality childcare without regard to race, religion, ethnicity or economic status.
