Monday Morning Coffee with Melissa

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON FOOD PANTRIES NEED OUR HELP

Don't forget to help food pantries help others

Melissa DeSantis
November 17, 2011

The holiday season is right around the corner and many of our local food pantries in Monmouth County are collecting items to help individuals who may be struggling financially during this time.  Unfortunately, according to the local pantries the number of individuals who need help has been rising every year due to the sluggish economy.  

Freehold Open Door in Freehold Borough on Throckmorton Street serves Freehold Borough and Township, Colts Neck and surrounding towns.  They are currently accepting turkey donations on November 20 from 12 to 5 pm.  You can also donate any Thanksgiving items as week: stuffing, corn, cranberry sauce, potatoes, etc... For more information visit Freehold open Door.

The Samaritan Center on Route 522 in Manalapan is also accepting donations. The Samaritan Center serves residents of Manalapan, Englishtown, Marlboro and Millstone. for more information on this Pantry visit The Food Bank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties.

Many religious organizations also collect and donate to those in need as well. I encourage anyone who is in the position to do so to take the time this holiday season and help those less fortunate. 

ENGLISHTOWN TOUGH MUDDER IS A SUCCESS

The Tri-State 2011 Tough Mudder was held last weekend in Englishtown, NJ.  The weather was unseasonably warm for November and this particular Tough Mudder was the biggest event to date with over 10,000 participants running on Saturday and Sunday.  

What is the Tough Mudder?  Some consider it "The toughest Event on the Planet".  It is a 12 mile obstacle course designed to test your strength, staminia and endurance.  Although challenging, many feel it is one of the funniest events ever and say how they hate to love it so much!  This years course included 32 obstacles verses the 19 last year.  It is sprawled over the Englishtown Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ, (the same motorrsports complex used for car racing).  It is filled with fun and camaraderie and many participants create teams wearing uniforms or costumes.  Some of the courses throughout the 12 mile event include: UNDERWATER TUNNEL- contestants pop up and down to pass through a series of underwater tunnels, MUD MILE - here they sludge through a stretch of mud waist high, BERLIN WALLS - work with other tough mudders to get over 12 foot high walls, RUBBER NECKING - Carry a car tire around a race track, FIRE WALKER - participants run down a path lined on both sides with blazing kerosene soaked straw which makes the flames hot and smokey and many other courses, however I feel the most challenging course would be ELECTROSHOCK THERAPY - where they run through dangling wires - some wires are dead but others carry a 10,000 volt shock!  One tough mudder commented "Yes, I think this is all a little crazy that is the point! Well...at least it's for a good cause."

The Tough Mudder supports the Wounded Warrior Project and to date has raised over 2 million dollars. The Tough Mudder was founded by William Dean, an Englishman,who was inspired to create something different that would test not only toughness but fitness, strength, stamina, mental grit and stamina as well.  

The Englishtown Tough Mudder was a huge success for all involved.  As a spectator, it was an "open" course so that you could cheer for family and friends while taking pictures - it was encouraging to see the wounded veterans running the course and comical to watch the man with a cigar in his mouth throughout the entire event.  

It has been suggested that if you decide to enter a Tough Mudder event to do so with a group of people.  It makes it more fun and rewarding.  For further information and photos on Tough Mudder and upcoming events you can visit: www.toughmudder.com.  If you have any questions about the Englishtown/Manalapan or Monmouth County area, as well as all of your real estate needs,  please do not hesitate to contact me, as I am always here to help in any way I can.  You can also join my Facebook Page.

 

 

 

I PLAY AMERICA OPENS ITS DOORS IN FREEHOLD

On 11-11-11, I Play America in Freehold NJ, opened its doors.  The indoor New Jersey amusement park, located at 110 Schanck Road in Freehold NJ had been anxiously anticipated in the community for months.  I Play America is an "innovative and upscale indoor theme park where city meets the boardwalk", described their Public Relations Representative Joanne Fischetti.

The day kicked off with a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony with music by Jersey's Shores 94.3 radio station.  The doors opened when the clock hit 11:11 AM to the 115,000 square foot indoor theme park.  Inside guests found a wide variety of entertainment for all ages to enjoy including, indoor go karts, a 4-D move theatre, laser tag, bumper cars, midway games, bowling lanes, video games and a selection of boardwalk rides.

A variety of dining options pleased the crowd from pizza and burgers to fried oreos, funnel cakes and more.  At 4pm, the Englishtown, NJ based ICONic Boyz took the stage to entertain the families.  

I Play America is just what Freehold Township and the local community needed. This exciting upscale family entertainment center is sure to bring memories to young and old for years to come.  

For more information please visit www.iplayamerica.com.  If you are looking for further area information or considering moving to the Freehold orMonmouth County area, please visit my website at www.melissadesantis.com.  

FREEHOLD NJ - SPOOKTACULAR

As Fall arrives and Halloween approaches, Freehold, NJ is gearing up for it's 18th annual Spooktacular events that are held in Freehold Borough every year.  The season was kicked off on October 11 when students from Freehold Regional and Intermediate Schools painted pictures on windows of many local businesses.  The judging will be held on October 15 and the grand prize winner will be awarded dinner at The American Hotel in downtown Freehold.  

A haunted hayride will take place on October 15 And the Halloween parade will be on October 30. Applebees will be handing out hot dogs and hamburgers to people waiting in line for the hayride.  

The annual pumpkin contest will be held at The Monmouth County Hall Of Records on October 22 from 6:30 to 8:30.  For more information you can contact Lori Seperac at Seperac@optonline.net.

Freehold is looking forward to another spooky season! 

Contact Melissa DeSantis for any and all of your Freehold and Monmouth County information, as well as your real estate needs, as I am always here to help in any way I can! You can also join my Facebook page.