New Olive Garden in Stafford Twp

Stafford Park's newest addition, Olive Garden, opened its doors to the public, making it the first restaurant to join the variety of successful retailers at the large-scale mixed-use redevelopment in southern Ocean County.

The 7,600-square-foot casual dining eatery was built on a pad site within the retail portion of the complex. The new "green" building features a number of sustainable design elements including recycled building materials and energy-efficient equipment and fixtures. As a result, the building has been awarded certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The Italian restaurant is known for its Tuscan farmhouse design offers seating for more than 200 diners, plus a lounge that can seat about 60. This is the restaurant's second location in the southern Ocean County area. There are several locations in New Jersey and more than 700 restaurants in North America. Olive Garden's corporate parent is Darden Restaurants, a Florida company that also owns Red Lobster and four other chains.

"Stafford Park is an ideal location in this market for Olive Garden. It's become an attractive destination for both retailers and local shoppers," said Ed Walters, Jr., founder and partner of Walters Group.

Stafford Park is a LEED-certified redevelopment with the majority of corporate tenants attaining LEED-Silver certification. Currently, the roster of retailers reaping the savings of green building include Best Buy, Costco, Dick's Sporting Goods, PetSmart, Target, AT&T and Ulta. The Vitamin Shoppe reached LEED-Gold certification. In addition, atop the Best Buy, PetSmart and Dick's Sporting Goods there are solar arrays that provide 30 percent of the electrical needs of the stores. The center is situated off exit 63, at the southwest corner of the Garden State Parkway and Route 72 interchange.

(Press Release by Caryl Communications Inc.)

3rd Annual Jazzy Scallop & Seafood Festival

In the mood for some good seafood? Look no further than the 3rd Annual Jazzy Scallop Seafood Festival. Held at the historic Viking Village at 19th & Bayview in Barnegat Light from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., this event features fresh seafood prepared by local chefs, cash bar for beer and wine, sushi and raw clam bar, local jazz musicians, a performance by the Surflight Theater and more.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of and can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce in Ship Bottom or at the Viking Village Shoppes in Barnegat Light. Proceeds will benefit the Southern Regional High School Scholarship Fund and the Surflight Theater.

Local restaurants cooking up their favorite seafood for your tastebuds, jazz music and cash bar! Festival takes place at Viking Village in Barnegat Light.

Broiled Scallops (the easiest and best way to prepare)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds scallops
• 1 tablespoon garlic salt
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions

1. Turn broiler on.
2. Rinse scallop and place in a shallow baking pan. Sprinkle with garlic salt, melted butter or margarine and lemon juice.
3. Broil 6 to 8 minutes or until scallops start to turn golden. Remove from oven and serve with extra melted butter or margarine on the side for dipping.

It doesn't get any better!

 

 

Manahawkin Easter Egg Hunt - Eggstravaganza!

Sunday, April 17 from 1:00 - 4:00 pm

Doc Cramer Ballfields - Manahawkin Easter Egg Hunt - Eggstravaganza!

Families are invited to hop on by to enjoy an afternoon of eggceptional fun

There is no need to rush, there is not a timed hunt, eggs will be scattered throughout the ballfields from 1:00-4:00 pm.

Did you know? 

The Romans believed that "All life comes from an egg." Ancient Christians considered eggs to be "the seed of life" symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and Persia eggs were dyed for spring festivals. In medieval Europe, beautifully decorated eggs were given as gifts. Today hundreds of novel methods of decorating Easter eggs have been invented, and during the week of Easter about 30 million more eggs are sold compared to any other week of the year.

Traditionally the game is associated with Easter and Easter eggs (Easter egg hunt), but it has also been popular with spring time birthday parties.

Eggs are placed with varying degree of concealment, to accommodate children of varying ages. In South German folk traditions it was customary to add extra obstacles to the game by placing them into hard-to reach places among nettles or thorns.

When the hunt is over, prizes may be given out for various achievements, such as the largest number of eggs collected, for the largest or smallest egg, for the most eggs of a specific color, consolation prizes, booby prizes, etc.

Bowl for Kids' Sake and Networking Event Manahawkin

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County are hosting the 11th Annual Bowl for Kids' Sake & Net-Working Event

This is an opportunity to network with area business leaders and the board of directors and staff of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ocean County.

It's not really about bowling. It's about kids. Bowl for Kids' Sake is an easy and enjoyable way to make a positive difference. Everyone can get involved as a bowler on a team of family members, friends or co-workers; or as a sponsor. If you care about kids and can spare a little time for fun, then Bowl for Kids' Sake is right up your alley!

All bowlers will receive a T-Shirt, two games, refreshments, and goodie bags. There will also be GREAT door prizes!! All donations benefit BBBSOC's youth mentoring programs. It's an easy and fun way to make a contribution while meeting local business leaders. For additional information or to register to bowl please call Patti at 732-905-5349.

Thunderbird Lanes

640 E Bay Ave

Manahawkin, NJ 08050

Venue Phone: 609-978-9300

Sunday, March 27 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Ticket Pricing: $50 to Bowl and Network. $10 to network at Thunderbird Lanes: registration begins at noon. You don't have to be a good bowler, you simply need to care about kids. Everyone is welcome-individuals, families, senior groups and students.

Karl Hess, Keller Williams Realty Jersey Shore

Scrooge, The Musical in Manahawkin

A Christmas Carol turns into Scrooge, The Musical! 

The newly formed Shore Repertory Theatre Company (formerly the Strand Theatre Ensemble), presents their 9th annual production of the holiday musical extravaganza, Scrooge the Musical this year at the 800 seat, state of the art Ocean First Theater at the Stafford Township Arts Center (STAC) in Manahawkin.

Scrooge, previously presented for the last 8 years at The Strand Theater in Lakewood, is now at The Ocean First Theater/STAC in order to provide more family friendly ticket pricing as well as plentiful parking for audience members.

Scrooge is based on A Christmas Carol, the novella by Charles Dickens first published in 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visitations of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come. The novella met with instant success and critical acclaim.

 The book was written and published in early Victorian era Britain when it was experiencing a nostalgic interest in its forgotten Christmas traditions, and at the time when new customs such as the Christmas tree and greeting cards were being introduced.

The tale was pirated immediately, was adapted several times to the stage, and has been credited with restoring the holiday to one of merriment and festivity in Britain and America after a period of sobriety and somberness. A Christmas Carol remains popular, has never been out of print and has been adapted to film, opera, and other media.

This years Scrooge is directed by New Jersey Association of Community Theaters award winner Jan Topoleski and features viewers favorite Gary Alan Powell reprising his role as Ebenezer Scrooge for his ninth consecutive year.

Scrooge boasts a cast of nearly 50 adults and children. Audience members will be delighted by the same elaborate sets, costumes, and special effects that have made Scrooge an Ocean County tradition for thousands of theatre-goers.

Performances are on December 17 at 7:30pm & December 19, at 1:30 pm & 6:00pm.

The Ocean First Theater/STAC is located at 1000 McKinley Avenue, Manahawkin, NJ. Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 Seniors & Children and $14 for groups of 15 or more and may be purchased online at www.njstac.com or by calling the box office at (609) 489-8600.

If you're interested in buying, selling or investing in real estate in Manahawkin, or anywhere in Ocean County, please go to www.myjerseyshorehomefinder.com

Karl Hess, Your Real Estate Agent on The Jersey Shore

Stafford Twp & LBI Firemen's Turkey Bowl

Firefighters from the Stafford Township Volunteer Fire Company and Long Beach Island fire departments will square off Saturday night in the fourth annual Turkey Bowl football game at Southern Regional High School.

But this year, organizers decided to turn the event into a fundraiser. Stafford Township Assistant Fire Chief Jack Johnson said Capt. Heidi Michael suggested at the end of last year's game that the 2010 event should be a venue for collecting food and funds for local foodbanks.  

What: The fourth annual Firemen's Turkey Bowl

When: Saturday Nov. 20, 7 p.m.

Where: Southern Regional High School varsity football field, Route 9, Stafford Township. Spectators are asked to bring a canned good and $1 for the Stafford Volunteer Fire Company's Scholarship Fund

If you're interested in buying, selling or investing in Real Estate in Stafford Township, Ocean County or along The Jersey Shore, click on TheJerseyShoreHomeFinder.com and get free access to thousands of home listings.   If you'd like to keep up with the very latest real estate market conditions in your neighborhood or anywhere in Ocean County and on The Jersey Shore, click here.  

Looking for something do this weekend in Ocean County or just want to keep up with current events?  The Jersey Shore News will keep you informed with local community information and happenings.

Stafford Township is in Ocean County, New Jersey. The township population was 22,532 and was formed by Royal Charter on March 3, 1750. It was incorporated as one of New Jersey's first 104 townships by on February 21, 1798, and became part of the newly-formed Ocean County on February 15, 1850.

Stafford Township is the gateway to the resort communities on Long Beach Island, with Route 72 providing the sole road access, ending in Ship Bottom as it crosses Manahawkin Bay via the Manahawkin Bay Bridge. The Garden State Parkway and Route 9 pass through the township and provide access to Route 72 which would allow an easy commute of about make at 1.5 hours to Philadelphia and 2 hours to downtown Manhattan.  

Karl Hess - Ocean County, NJ and Jersey Shore Homes and Real Estate - Get free access to all listings with photos in Ocean County including waterfront, beachfront and water-view homes on The Jersey Shore