Senior Art Show, Jersey Shore Treats & TV Picks: What to Enjoy This Week in NJ

🌟 It’s Wednesday, New Jersey!

😞It’s also a bad week to be vacationing along the Jersey Shore! Hurricane Erin is staying offshore — but its outer bands are making a scene, stirring up ocean conditions so chaotic that many beaches, like Margate, Wildwood, Bay Head, and Island Beach State Park to name a few, are officially closed through at least Thursday evening. Between life-threatening rip currents, high surf, and even minor flooding, Gov. Murphy has urged everyone—visitors and locals alike—to keep their feet firmly planted on dry land for the time being. So if you’re already at the Shore, forget the surf—this week’s all about sausage & peppers, pizza slices, and extra sprinkles on that ice cream cone. 🍦Sounds like a fair trade to us! 🍕

👀What’s on tap today

• 🎨 Senior Art Show – Celebrate creativity and talent from our community’s finest.

• 📺 TV Picks – Cozy up with this week’s can’t-miss shows.

• 🍩 Jersey Shore Treats – Fudge, funnel cakes & doughnuts you’ll want on your bucket list.

Up first…..

📅 Mark Your Calendar

🎨 Senior Art Show Awards & Reception
Celebrate creativity at its best! Applaud local artists in painting, sculpture, photography & more at this annual juried show. Enjoy a lively reception at Library Headquarters, Manalapan.
📍 Manalapan | 🗓️ Wed, Aug. 20 | ⏰ 10 AM–12 PM | 💲 Free, no registration

💡 W.I.S.E. Wellness for Seniors
Learn the real facts about aging, healthy living, and beating stress at this fun, interactive program—with light refreshments & giveaways included! A great way to meet new friends, too.
📍 Eastern Branch, Shrewsbury | 🗓️ Fri, Aug. 22 | ⏰ 10 AM–12 PM | 💲 Free

📣 Programming Note: Fall Classes Start Sept. 8!

SCAN’s (Senior Citizens Activities Network) Fall 2025 Semester kicks off Sept. 8 with a lively lineup of classes and events designed to keep older adults active, engaged, and inspired. Offerings include art, dance, yoga, fitness, languages, games, TV production, and Lunch & Learn sessions.

Classes take place at SCAN’s new home at the Church of the Precious Blood Parish Center in Monmouth Beach, with additional fitness sessions at Boscov’s in Monmouth Square. Ocean County residents can also join special Lunch & Learn sessions at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Toms River.

This Fall semester provides plenty of opportunities to move, create, learn, and connect—all in welcoming, friendly settings. Learn more here.

🗞️Prime Time News

Links to the latest news on aging from trusted media sources.

A New Guide to Choosing Where to Retire:  If you’re contemplating a post-retirement move, you’re not alone. Roughly one-third of retirement savers don’t think it makes financial sense to stay put once they say goodbye to their job, and about one in six say they’ll be forced to relocate to a more affordable place. Kiplinger, Aug. 16.

Shingles Vaccine May Cut Dementia Risk by 20%, Study Shows: The findings reinforce a theory that viruses affecting the nervous system may increase the risk of dementia later. Next Avenue, Aug. 14

Hearing Aid Glasses Are Changing the Hearing Game: If you wish you could hear better but hate the idea of traditional hearing aids, these eyeglass frames conceal tiny microphones and amplifiers to provide invisible support. Next Avenue, Aug. 15

Medicare Part D Premiums Are Likely to Go Up Next Year. Here's Why: Insurers will take drug costs, frequency of use and other factors into account as they set premium amounts for the 2026 plan year. KFF Health News, Aug. 14.

How to Navigate Your Medicare Advantage Plan in a Disaster: If you're a Medicare Advantage member in an area that has been impacted by a disaster, you might be worried about access to care and medicine. Here's what you need to know. Kiplinger, Aug. 10

Yes, It Pays to Share a Home with Family. But Plan for Some Challenges, Too: Managing a multigenerational household starts with a solid plan and clear expectations. Wall Street Journal, Aug. 16.

🎬 Stream Team Picks: New Movies & Shows This Week

🍿Movies to Watch:

• “Eenie Meanie” (Hulu, Aug. 22) – Samara Weaving is a reformed getaway driver pulled back into a wild heist to save her ex (Karl Glusman). Expect thrills, laughs, and a star-studded cast including Steve Zahn, Andy Garcia, Randall Park & Marshawn Lynch. 🎥💥

• “The Truth About Jussie Smollett?” (Netflix, Aug. 22) – Dive into the saga that captivated headlines with a gripping new documentary featuring journalists, lawyers, investigators — and Smollett himself. 🕵️‍♂️📺

• “The Map That Leads to You” (Prime Video, Aug. 20) – A romantic European journey unfolds as an American girl (Madelyn Cline) and a New Zealander (KJ Apa) follow love, adventure, and self-discovery. 💌✈️

🍿Series to Binge:

• “The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox” (Hulu, Aug. 20) – Drama, intrigue, and media frenzy collide in this 8-episode dramatization of the infamous Amanda Knox trial. ⚖️🇮🇹

• “The Peacemaker” Season 2 (HBO Max, Aug. 21) – John Cena returns as a flawed superhero in this DC action-packed series, perfect for comic fans. 🦸‍♂️💥

• “The Home Team: NY Jets” (Prime Video, Aug. 21) – Go behind the scenes with six Jets players and their families in this new docuseries capturing life on and off the field. 🏈🏡

• “The Rainmaker” (Peacock, Aug. 22) – John Grisham’s legal thriller hits the small screen! Follow rookie lawyer Rudy Baylor as he battles the big firm that fired him. ⚖️🔥

🌟 Statewide Events Roundup

From fairs to festivals, music to food, the Garden State is buzzing with fun this week! Grab your friends, family, or just your sense of adventure and explore! 🗓️💛

🎡 Hunterdon County Fair – Lambertville
Aug. 20–24 • Free • Celebrate 25 years of 4-H fun with rides, games, and fair food galore! 🎠🍿 Details

🎪 Cirque De Paris – MarketFair, Princeton
Aug. 21–31 • $32 • Dazzling acrobatics, aerial stunts, and family fun under the big top! 🎪✨ More info

🇬🇷 OPA Greek Fest – Wildwood
Aug. 22–24 • Free • Savor Greek cuisine, dance to live music, and shop unique market items! 💃🍇 Tickets

🧄 Denville Garlic Fest – Denville
Aug. 23 • $7–$9 • Dive into garlic-infused dishes, local vendors, and family fun! 🧄🎶 More info

🎷 Long Branch Jazz & Blues Festival – Long Branch
Aug. 23 • Free • Groove to live jazz and blues, enjoy fireworks, and family-friendly activities! 🎵🎆 Details

🍑 Bridgeton Peach Festival – Bridgeton
Aug. 23–24 • Free • Indulge in peach treats, crafts, and live entertainment! 🍑🎉 More info

🚗 Rods & Rails Car Show – Northlandz, Flemington
Aug. 24 • Free • Classic cars, trains, music, and food in one spectacular show! 🚂🚘 Tickets

✈️ AirFest – Cape May
Aug. 28–31 • $12–$16 • Experience WWII aircraft, aerobatic performances, and aviation history! ✈️🔥 Details

🌳 In the Parks – Monmouth County

Get outside and enjoy Monmouth County parks! Music, nature, and hands-on fun await this week. 🐦🎶

🎤 Open Mic Poetry – Reinvention & The Romantic Era
Wed, Aug. 20, 7–8:30 PM • Thompson Park Theater Barn, Lincroft • Read your own poems or favorite works in a family-friendly open mic! ✍️📖 FREE

🐢 Nature Lecture: Sea Turtles of the Jersey Shore
Thu, Aug. 21, 7–8 PM • Bayshore Waterfront Park Activity Center, Port Monmouth • Learn which sea turtles call Monmouth County home and what threatens them! 🌊🦎 FREE

🪗 Accordion Melodies of the 1890s
Sat, Aug. 23, 1–3 PM • Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel • Enjoy charming accordion tunes from the 1890s! 🎶 FREE

🧵 Penny Rug Demonstration
Sat, Aug. 23, 1–3 PM • Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel • See how old wool scraps become colorful mats & rugs! 🌸 FREE

🎹 Concert in the Park – American Classics: Weill, Gershwin, Bernstein
Sat, Aug. 23, 7–8:30 PM • Thompson Park Theater Barn, Lincroft • Celebrate iconic American composers with live music! 🎶🎼 FREE

🛶 Boat Tours of the Manasquan Reservoir
Wed, Aug. 20, 2–4 PM • Manasquan Reservoir, Howell • 45-min guided tours with wildlife spotting—life jackets required! 🚣 $6/adult, $4/child

🛶 Thompson Park Canoe Rentals
Sat/Sun, Aug. 23–24, 10 AM–3 PM • Thompson Park, Lincroft • Rent a canoe on Marlu Lake, all equipment included! 🛶 $15/2 hours

🌾 Milling Demonstrations
Sat/Sun, Aug. 23–24, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 & 3:30 PM • Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold • Watch the 19th-century gristmill turn corn into meal! 🌽 FREE

🎣 Fishing 101 – A Beginner’s Guide
Thu, Aug. 21, 9 AM–1 PM • Manasquan Reservoir, Howell • Learn to rig, bait, cast, and maybe catch your first fish! 🐟 FREE

🐸 Life in a Freshwater Pond
Thu, Aug. 21, 11 AM–12 PM • Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen • Explore ponds and meet turtles, frogs, herons, and hidden underwater life! 🌊 FREE

🍎 Farmers Markets

Fresh, local, and full of flavor! These NJ farmers markets bring produce, baked goods, flowers, and fun to your week. 🌻🥖

🥕 Holmdel Farmers' Market – Bell Works
Wed, Aug. 20, 11 AM–4 PM • 101 Crawfords Corner Rd, Holmdel • Shop fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, and enjoy family fun! 🌸🍯

🌊 Sea Bright Farmers' Market – Public Beach Entrance
Wed, Aug. 20, 1–6 PM • 1097 Ocean Ave, Sea Bright • Taste local honey, grab crusty bread, and soak up the beachside vibes! 🐚🍓

🥬 West End Farmers' Market – Long Branch
Thu, Aug. 21, 9 AM–3 PM • West End Park, 607 Ocean Ave N, Long Branch • Fresh veggies, flowers, baked goods, and live music for all ages! 🎶🌻

🍇 Foodie Farmers' Market – Calgo Gardens
Thu, Aug. 21, 4–7 PM • 462 Adelphia-Farmingdale Rd, Howell • Farm-fresh produce, bakery treats, cut flowers, and Cream Ridge Winery pours perfection! 🥖🍷

🌽 Fresh Sweet Corn Alert!

New Jersey’s sweet corn is at its peak—crispy, juicy, and bursting with summer flavor. Don’t miss it at your local farmers’ market this month! 🥰🛒 Try Chef Mark Smith’s Grilled Jersey Sweet Corn for a delicious taste of summer.

🥕 And for even more produce news…

🍅 Fresh Pick from Rutgers: The Scarlet Sunrise Tomato

Rutgers plant breeders have done it again—after nearly a decade of work, they’ve unveiled the Scarlet Sunrise, a sweet and juicy bicolor grape tomato with a golden base and a reddish blush. It’s crack-resistant, perfect for snacking, and bred right here in the Garden State. Want to try it for yourself? Head to the Rutgers Tomato Tasting Open House on Wednesday, August 27, in Pittstown, NJ, where you can sample Scarlet Sunrise along with more than 100 other tomato varieties, plus basil and peaches. It’s a true taste of Jersey summer!

📚 Beyond the Books

Our Monmouth County libraries offer so much more than shelves and silence! Here’s what’s happening for seniors this week — all for free!

🎶 Live Music at the Library: The Angel Cats: Get ready to tap your toes and sing along! The Angel Cats—a dynamic three-person vocal group—are bringing their signature harmonies and high-energy performance to the library. With nostalgic favorites from the 60s through the 90s, this lively concert is sure to get you moving. Perfect for music lovers of all ages!

📅 Wed, Aug 20, 2025
🕒 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
📍 Ocean Township Branch
Free & open to the public.

🎨 Adult Coloring Night: Think coloring is only for kids? Think again! Come enjoy a calm evening of coloring, snacks, and socializing. All materials—including beautiful book-themed pages—are provided. Bring your own projects if you’d like!

📅 Wed, Aug 20, 2025
🕒 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Howell Branch
✨ Sponsored by Friends of Howell Library, Inc.

🐶 Meet the Seeing Eye Puppies: Ever wondered how a puppy becomes a guide dog? Meet the adorable Seeing Eye® pups and their raisers, learn about the training process, and discover how fostering a puppy could change someone’s life—and yours!

📅 Thu, Aug 21, 2025
🕒 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Eastern Branch, Shrewsbury
🐾 Registration appreciated

🎬 Marlboro Movie Matinee: A Star is Born (1976) (R): Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson light up the screen in this acclaimed version of A Star is Born. A fading rock star falls for a rising young singer in this timeless story of fame, love, and heartbreak.

📅 Thu, Aug 21, 2025
🕒 1:00 PM – 3:15 PM
📍 Marlboro Branch

🀄 Holmdel Mah Jongg Club: Join the weekly Mah Jongg Club at Holmdel Library! Tables and sets are provided for friendly, casual play. Open to experienced players (no instruction provided). Spectators welcome.

📅 Thu, Aug 21, 2025
🕒 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Holmdel Branch
✨ Sponsored by Friends of Monmouth County Library

📚 West Long Branch Book Club: Miss Benson’s Beetle: From the author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry comes this uplifting novel about two women on a life-changing adventure. Winner of the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize.

📅 Thu, Aug 21, 2025
🕒 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 West Long Branch Library

👻 Stephen King Book Club: The Body & The Haunting of Hill House: Calling all horror fans! Discuss King’s novella The Body (inspiration for Stand By Me) and Shirley Jackson’s iconic The Haunting of Hill House. Spine-tingling conversation guaranteed!

📅 Thu, Aug 21, 2025
🕒 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Atlantic Highlands Branch

💙 Lost & Found: Bereavement Support Group: Coping with loss is never easy. This gentle support group offers a space to share, reflect, and find comfort with others on the same path.

📅 Mon, Aug 25, 2025
🕒 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
📍 Marlboro Branch

🧘 De-Stress Through Meditation, Yoga & Breathing: Unwind with guided breathing, gentle yoga, and meditation. No mat needed—just bring yourself! Perfect for melting away stress and finding calm.

📅 Mon, Aug 25, 2025
🕒 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 Eastern Branch, Shrewsbury
✔️ Register to save your spot

🔮 Lit Happens! Book Club: Weyward: Witches, history, and resilience—Weyward by Emilia Hart spans centuries of women’s stories and strength. Bring a blanket or chair—meeting outside if weather allows!

📅 Tue, Aug 26, 2025
🕒 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Marlboro Branch

🃏 Learn to Play Duplicate Bridge: Learn the ins and outs of Duplicate Bridge in these friendly library sessions. First come, first seated!

📅 Wed, Aug 27, 2025
🕒 12:00 PM – 4:45 PM
📍 Headquarters, Manalapan

 🤖SeniorWise AI

AI for Hobbies, Cooking, Crosswords and More!

Did you know AI can help you have even more fun with your hobbies? Whether you love to cook, garden, read, or play word games—AI’s got your back. Here’s how you can use it. Just ask ChatGPT:

🍲 Cooking: “Give me a low-sodium chicken soup recipe.”
🧩 Crosswords & Word Games: “What’s a 5-letter word for ‘sunset color’?”
📚 Reading: “Recommend a good mystery book.” (When we asked, AI suggested “The Thursday Murder Club” by Richard Osman—a cozy caper where a bunch of retirees outsmart the cops and solve crimes between tea breaks. Think Murder, She Wrote meets bingo night, it told us. We’ll read it and let you know if it’s a page-turner—or just good for swatting flies!)
🌼 Gardening: “When should I plant tomatoes in New Jersey?”
🧶 Crafts: “Give me a simple knitting pattern for a baby hat.”

Bottom line: AI can help make your hobbies more enjoyable and accessible.

Next week: Can AI Help Me Stay Independent?

📫Mailbag

🍦 Last week, we asked… and you delivered! 🥨
Our readers spilled the beans (and the fudge, and the popcorn, and the pretzels!) on their favorite Jersey Shore snack spots—and wow, did you give us some sweet suggestions! From classic boardwalk bites to hidden candy gems, your picks are making us hungry just reading them. 😋🌊

• The Macaroon Shop (Avon-by-the-Sea): Traditional coconut macaroons, a classic summer cookie.

• Shriver’s Fudge (Ocean City): A Shore classic, perfect for sharing, with flavors like sea salt chocolate, rocky road, pistachio, peanut butter, and more.

• The Committed Pig (Manasquan): Famous for red velvet fried Oreos, a fun twist on a dessert classic.

• Hobby Horse Ice Cream (Ocean City): A charming, carousel-themed spot near the beach; build-your-own sundaes or indulge in the massive five-scoop mega sundae.

• Midway Steak House Sausage and Peppers (Seaside Heights): Hearty, savory sandwiches perfect after a day at the beach.

• Mallon’s Sticky Buns (Ocean City): Family-run since 1988, offering old-fashioned sticky buns topped with raisins, walnuts, fruit, or plain.

• Original Fudge Kitchen (Cape May): Rich fudge, taffy, and chocolates—a sweet tooth’s dream.

• Brown’s Restaurant Doughnuts (Ocean City): “Almost famous” cake doughnuts in flavors like vanilla, chocolate, honey-glazed, cinnamon sugar, and more—great any time of day.

• Morey’s Piers Funnel Cakes (Wildwood): Classic powdered sugar funnel cakes, a nostalgic boardwalk favorite.

• Green Eggs Cafe (Ocean City): Jersey Shore’s only location of the Philly favorite, offering brunch options from cookie dough stuffed French toast to fried chicken Benedict, including vegan choices.

🎂 Birthday Corner

No reader birthdays came in for this week😞—apparently everyone's too busy hiding their age! But fear not, we've rustled up a few famous folks celebrating on Aug. 20 to make up for it. 🥳They are: news anchor Connie Chung (79) Chicago trombonist Jimmy Pankow (78), Led Zeplin rock legend Robert Plant (77) and everyone's favorite weatherman Al Roker (71). We hope he’s predicting a 100% chance of cake!

🎬That’s a wrap for this week!

🏖️This week’s shoutout goes to Ed Kiziukiewicz, the Bay Head lifeguard who’s officially a Guinness World Record holder as the oldest open water lifeguard in the nation at 82 years young! With over six decades of Jersey Shore experience—starting his lifeguard career in 1961—Ed reportedly still hits the stand twice a week, surveying the surf with sharp eyes and a practiced sense of safety. When he’s not protecting beachgoers, he’s shredding ski slopes up north. Talk about making every season count!

🍅 And thanks, tomato geniuses! Scarlet Sunrise, you’ve officially upgraded our salads and snack time.

👀First time reading this newsletter? Join thousands of Monmouth County seniors. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter here.

❓Questions, comments or news to share? We would love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]

😎See you next week!

The Better With Age New Jersey team