October 6

Celebrate Jersey Fresh Fruits: Pumpkins, Toms River Farmers Market, Huddy Park, on Water Street. 11 am – 5 pm. Rain or shine. 1st Wednesday of each month from June 9 – October 27. Enter to win a basket of Jersey Fresh produce! Farmers & vendors will feature the fruit of the month. Demonstrations & sampling by Downtown restaurants and businesses. Information: 732-341-8738 or www.downtowntomsriver.com – TOMS RIVER

October 8

9th Annual Columbus Day Parade and Italian Street Festival, Grant Avenue from Central Ave. to Boardwalk. 4 pm – 10 pm. Weekend of Italian specialties, arts and crafts, entertainment. Parade will be on Sunday at 1 pm with bands, floats, mummers and surprises on the Boulevard from J Street to Sampson Ave. Information: 800-732-7467 or www.seasideheightstourism.com – SEASIDE HEIGHTS

October 12

Toddler Make and Take, Jenkinson’s Aquarium, Boardwalk & Parkway. 9:30 am – 10:30 am. Make marine life crafts, listen to a story, and learn about some of their animals. This workshop is for children ages 3-5 years old with an adult. Pre-register. $ Information: 732-899-1659 or www.jenkinsons.com – POINT PLEASANT BEACH

October 15th & 16th

October 22nd & 23th

Jenkinson’s Ascareium

“The Sharks of Shipwreck Cove”

6:00PM to 8:00PM

Arrrgh Mateys! A band of pirates have returned to the aquarium but their

treasure is guarded by sharks!  Come join the crew for some halloween        fun for all ages!

$6.00 per person (does not include aquariums daytime admission)

October 16

Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey, Along the coast from Atlantic Ocean, to Delaware Bay and Delaware River. Directions and hours on web page. Open day and night at Absecon, Barnegat, Cape May, Sandy Hook, Tinicum and Tuckerton Seaport Lighthouses. Day only at East Point, Finns Point, Hereford Inlet, Ludlam’s Beach, Navasink/Twin Lights, and Sea Girt, and Barnegat Light Historical Museum, Cape May County Museum, and Tatham Life Saving Station. Souvenir pamphlet to be stamped at each site is $1. Information: www.njlhs.org – BARNEGAT/TUCKERTON

October 16

Basketry – Bread Basket Workshop, Meadowedge Park 550 E. Bay Ave. 10 am – 12 pm. Create your very own bread basket to take home and enjoy. Expert basket weaver Pola Galie will provide you with the knowledge and materials for this program. $5 fee for materials and appropriate for ages 9yrs and up. Limited space. Code #101610 Information: 609-698-0080 ext. 130 or www.ci.barnegat.nj.us/recreation/recreationoffice.html – BARNEGET

5th Annual Wingstock Festival, FirstEnergy Park, Cedar Bridge & New Hampshire Aves. 2 pm. Kansas will headline with additional acts performing. All day festival featuring a wing cook-off and vendor village, classic bike and car show tailgate party $1 from tickets will be donated to an Ocean County children’s cancer organization, Ocean of Love. Presented by 105.7 The Hawk and the Lakewood BlueClaws. $ Information: 732-901-7000 or www.blueclaws.com – LAKEWOOD

Behind the Scenes Tours, Jenkinson’s Aquarium, Boardwalk & Parkway. 9:30 am – 11 am. Discover what goes on behind the scenes at their aquarium while you tour the building front top to bottom. Sneakers required. Pre-register. Ages 5 and up. $ Information: 732-899-1659 or www.jenkinsons.com

- POINT PLEASANT BEACH

Toms River Pirate Festival, Christ Episcopal Church 415 Washington St. 9 am – 5 pm. Three pirate reenacting groups featuring Valhalla’s Pirates, Jack Sparrow, Band on the Rum and Pirates for Sail play music all day. Sword fights, gun duels, cannons, and more. Come dressed as a pirate or pirate wentch for a costume judging. $ 3 under free. Information: www.tomsriverpiratefestival.com

- TOMS RIVER

53rd Annual Show of the Ocean County Chapter: “Guys ‘N Gals in Harmony,” Toms River High School North, 1245 Old Freehold Rd. 3 pm. Featuring the “Oceanaires,” the Ocean County Men’s Champion Chorus and the “Jersey Harmony Chorus.” $ Information: 732-240-2571 – TOMS RIVER

October 17

Seaside Half Marathon and 5k Race, Spicy’s, Sumner Ave. & Boardwalk. 10 am. Flat and fast, out and back on the boardwalk and into Island Beach State Park. Ocean and park views. $ Information: 732-240-0198 or www.oceanrunningclub.org/

- SEASIDE HEIGHTS

October 20

Ocean County College Midweek Jazz Series: Frank Vignola Trio, Mancini Hall, Ocean County Library, 101 Washington Street. 8 pm $ Information: 732-255-0500 or www.ocean.edu – TOMS RIVER

October 22,23

Haunted Seaport, Tuckerton Seaport, 120 W. Main St., Rt. 9. 6 pm – 9 pm. Pirates and sea captains long lost at sea, stroll the boardwalk for a night of screams. Hayrides, phragmites maze, food, refreshments and a non-scary pumpkin patch for the little ones. Fun for the whole family! Cost included with admission. Information: 609-296-8868 or www.tuckertonseaport.org – TUCKERTON

October 23

New York Yankees Greg Nettles Meet & Greet, Uncle Vinnie’s Comedy Club, 518 Arnold Ave. 11 am. Meet & greet, photo ops, Q & A session, autograph signing. $ Information: 732-899-3900 or www.unclevinniescomedyclub.com – POINT PLEASANT BEACH

October 27

Free Demomstation, Ocean County Artists Guild, Ocean and Chestnut Avenues. 7 pm – 9 pm. Open to the Public. Light refreshments. Information: 732-270-3111 or www.ocartistsguild.org

- ISLAND HEIGHTS

October 29

Meadowedge Family Spooky Campfire, Meadowedge Park 550 E. Bay Ave. 7 pm – 9 pm. Bring the family for spooky fun and ghost stories around the campfire. Tour the park on a night time hayride with the Barnegat Fire Company. Hot cider & snack will be provide along with other scary surprises. Feel free to dress in your Halloween costume. No fee and registration is required. Code #102910. Information: 609-698-0080 ext. 130 or www.ci.barnegat.nj.us/recreation/recreationoffice.html – BARNEGET

Haunted Halloween: A Party to Die For, The Engleside Inn, 30 Engleside Avenue. 6 pm. Murder mystery dinner show. Information: 609-492-9477 or www.surflight.org – BEACH HAVEN

October 30

Getaway with a Smile, White Pearl Hotel, 201 Sumner Ave. Comedy Show. One Night Accommodations include Bottle of Blueberry Champagne, Welcome cheese & crackers basket, Dinner Buffet for 2 catered by Caterer Jacques, free transportation clubs in town, valet parking, Sunday morning breakfast. Additional night can be added. Information: 732-830-4242 or www.thewhitepearl.com

- SEASIDE HEIGHTS

Toms River Fire Company #1 Halloween Parade, Main & Washington St. 7 pm. Over 100,000 spectators, thousands of participants & floats. Information: 732-558-9216 or www.tomsriverhalloweenparade.com/ – TOMS RIVER

Penny and Bill Chandler and their children are living their own real-life fairy tale.  It all started in a land not so very far away (Brick Township), and not so very long ago (the Spring of 2000), when Penny was swept away by her knight in shining armor, although he was driving a dump truck rather than a white horse. Penny’s father, the late Roy Wyckoff, needed some stone for a project at his home, and placed an order with Chandler’s Excavating, the gravel company owned by Bill’s father.  Bill, ten years Penny’s junior, had caught a glimpse of Penny some three years earlier, riding on the back of a Harley Davidson on Mantoloking Road, the street on which they had both grown up, and was smitten.  Prepped with a dashing new haircut, Bill set out to deliver the stone, and left with the promise of a date with his future queen.  At their wedding in July 2003, Penny arrived not in a pumpkin coach, but on the back of a dump truck, to meet her Prince Charming for their nuptials at the Riverfront Gazebo in Beachwood. They were blessed with four little princesses ~ identical twins, Larissa and Ashley, in 2004, Caitlyn in 2006, and Cynthia in 2008.  The youngest even has a fairy tale nickname, as her sisters call her “Rella” after Cinderella.  They settled in a cottage near the woods of Brick and are all living happily ever after.  “I know it may sound corny, but we are living our dreams come true,” quips Penny.  “We may not have a castle, and it’s a tight squeeze in our house, but we have lots of room for love.”

Bill works as a civil engineer for Manchester Township and also serves on the Board of Adjustment for their home town of Brick, where he enjoys applying his professional knowledge to land use decisions in the town.  Penny has been a stay-at-home mother since their third baby arrived, and keeps her foot in the professional door as a per diem fitness specialist for her former full-time employer, Meridian Health, but she notes, “my hours are few and far between!”  Penny has recently begun to utilize her background in exercise and nutrition in her new venture as a private personal trainer.  Penny’s mother and step-father, Kathleen and Jim Curran, moved to Florida last spring, from their home in Brick, but Bill’s folks, Bill and Carol Chandler, still live in the Mantoloking Road home in which Bill and his siblings were raised.  The Chandlers also have a wide circle of friends, local families with children of similar ages to their own daughters, with whom they regularly socialize. “There are so many kids that when we get together for play-dates, it looks like a giant birthday party,” Penny notes.  While Penny says that her girls love to play with other kids, she is thrilled that her daughters are so close and enjoy each other’s company the best, which she refers to as the “power of sisterhood.”  Rounding out the family are Maggie, an 11-year-old Greater Swiss Mountain dog, and their puppy, one-year-old Beauty, an English springer spaniel.

YCT: Tell us a little about your family and the personalities of each of your children.

Penny:  Our oldest daughter, Larissa, is almost six and takes after her father.  She is very detailed and systematic and is my “mother hen.”  Her twin, Ashley, is our personal dance and parade choreographer around the house.  Caitlyn will turn four this month and being the middle child, she loves the spotlight.  Our two-year-old, Cindy, is very independent.  Since the oldest three girls all share a birthday month, we usually have a gigantic party with lots of autumn and Halloween decorations and activities.  We really go all out!

YCT: What is a typical day like in your home?

Penny:   The coffee pot button is pushed on, the dog and puppy go outside and depending on who is awake, everyone remains relatively quiet until I get up, because I am not a morning mom!  I always fix Caitlyn and Cindy’s hair before breakfast, otherwise they end up with it in their mouths – yuck! After breakfast, the older two girls head off to Kindergarten during the week, and Cindy and I take Caitlyn to preschool three days a week.  After school, once everyone is home again, we take the girls to their activities.  Then at 7:00pm we eat, read and sleep – hooray!  Weekends are always easily filled with “catch-up” stuff, parties and church every Sunday.  We really love our church, Brick Presbyterian on Drum Point Road, where Bill serves as an elder.  I sometimes help out in the babysitting room and the girls attend Sunday School.

YCT:  What activities do your children participate in after school?

Penny:  Larissa and Ashley have attended gymnastics at Twisters in Lakewood for the last two years and have recently joined the Northeast Elite Gymnastics Team, which will compete all over the country.  All four girls attend  dance school.  This is the fourth year for the older girls.  They take ballet, tap, jazz and hip-hop, and are also members of a competition dance team.  Their first competition will be in Somerset, NJ, in November.

YCT: What is your favorite thing to do locally with your family?

Penny: We always attend Your Child Today’s Family Expo in the spring.  The girls love to get their faces painted and watch the great entertainment there.  We also love to participate in Jenkinson’s Easter Parade and the Baby Parade in August.  We build a float and configure costumes and enter all the contests.  We have been lucky to win prizes in several categories, including “Best Dressed”, “Twins”, “Best Float” and “Funniest”.  I also belong to a support group called Jersey Shore Mothers of Multiples (JSMOM).  I joined when the twins were two and we enjoy the outings they coordinate, as well as several theme parties they offer each year.

YCT:  Do you have any favorite local vacation spots?

Penny:  Since our girls are still so little, we try to stay fairly local for vacations.  Once or twice a year, we’ll head down to Harrah’s in Atlantic City.  The girls are enthralled by all the lights and sounds as we walk through the casino, and they love the pool and boardwalk.  We have also gone camping at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Campground in Elmer, NJ.  They have nice cabins available for rent so we don’t have to rough it in a tent, and offer theme weekends with lots of activities for the kids.

YCT:  Have you ever gone on vacation without the kids?

Penny:  We have gone to Atlantic City for one or two nights and last year we went to the White Sands in Point Pleasant Beach because we won the stay as a prize in the Jenkinson’s Parade!

YCT:  Do you have a favorite family-friendly restaurant?

Penny:  Bill and I really enjoy taking the girls to Craig’s Restaurant in Brick for brunch after church on Sunday every couple of months.  For a special treat, we will have hibachi-style dinner at Ikko Restaurant in Brick.  But our favorite is cheese steak hoagies from Pat’s Pizza in Point Pleasant.

YCT:  What is your favorite date night location and how often do you get to go out with just your husband?

Penny:  We don’t go out too often because our girls are so little and we are really just coming out of the baby stage.  We are happy to stay at home together.  The girls play in their new playhouse in the yard and we sit on the porch and chat.  When my mother is in town, we take advantage and sneak in a quick dinner out for just the two of us.

YCT:  What is your favorite non-mommy thing to do and how often do you get to do it?

Penny:  I love going to my gym in Brick.  I take Zumba classes there twice a week and I absolutely love it. The Friday night class sets my mood to happy for the whole weekend.  I also love attending gift auctions with my girlfriends, or any kind of spa service.  For the last four years, I have been a member of a Christian-based support group called Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) and I go to their monthly meetings. Those ladies are so kind and have taught me the tradition of bringing prepared meals to friends when they have a new baby in the house, which is always so appreciated!

YCT:  What is your husband’s favorite non-daddy thing to do?

Penny: Bill loves serving on the Board of Adjustment (BOA) and attending the meetings.  He also belongs to the Pinelands Antique Engine Association, but they meet the same night as the BOA so he contributes by serving as their webmaster and historian.

YCT:  Do you patronize any advertisers from our magazine?

Penny:  The girls and I love to go to Sparkle Diva for a fun girls-only activity and had a lot of fun when we went to Pirate Adventure.  We regularly go to Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach and the Casino Pier in Seaside.  Breakwater Beach in Seaside is made affordable to us by purchasing tickets during Easter weekend or Slider’s birthday in July when tickets are Buy One/Get One Free!

YCT:  Do you have any parenting advice that you would like to offer our readers?

Penny:  My best advice would be to follow through on what you tell your children and don’t back yourself into a corner when it comes to discipline.  My husband would like to add that after discipline happens, always follow-up with a hug and kiss afterwards, and remind them why they were disciplined.

YCT:  What is your favorite part of Your Child Today magazine?

Penny:  I really do enjoy the entire magazine, but when I first began to read it three years ago, I would go right to the Calendar of Events to see what I could bring the children to locally.  Now I read every page online.  I also really enjoy the photo contests!

Taking Halloween pictures in September always reminds me how fast the weeks go by.  I feel like I was on the beach yesterday but now I’mbehind becauseIdon’t know what my kids are going to be for Halloween!  Well Penny, the mom of our models, was sure on the ball with costumes for her girls Ashley, Larissa, Caitlyn and Cindy.  They were all so good for our shoot.  Thanks!

Although the temperatures are dropping and the days are getting shorter, I’m still out on-location shooting!  There is still time for portraits at the beach, or wait and take advantage of fall foliage which peaks in late October and early November.  The vibrant colors serve as an awesome backdrop for family photos.  We can turn any of those images into a wonderful holiday greeting card to send out this season.  I have many designs and styles to choose from!  And remember, portraits make GREAT gifts for the holidays.

My job as a portrait photographer is so rewarding and fun.  It is wonderful to be able to do what you love and have others love what you do! While we all lead busy lives, I feel it is vital that we take the time to preserve memories and celebrate the love of family.  I really hope to hear from you while the weather is still nice as I love to shoot on location as long as possible.

By  Jennifer Enright

Now that the carefree days of summer are ebbing to a close, the Kehr family is ready to jump back into school and fall activities.  Roseanne and Dan Kehr live with their daughters, Jade and Jamie, ages 11 and 10 respectively, in Pine Beach, NJ and look forward to the return to routine each autumn brings.  Chief amongst the girls’ activities is their participation in the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore (GSJS).  Both girls began their Girl Scout journey as Daisy Girl Scouts while in Kindergarten.  Having progressed through Daisies and Brownies, Jade is currently a Junior Girl Scout with Troop 171, and Jamie will bridge to Juniors Troop 216 later this month.

Roseanne and Dan are thrilled that their daughters have become dedicated to such an established and well-regarded organization, as local scouts prepare to celebrate the Girl Scouts centennial anniversary in 2012.  “The girls get so much out of scouts – I’m so pleased that they choose to spend so much of their free time on this activity,” notes Roseanne.  “The lessons and skills they learn now as young scouts will stay with them for a lifetime.”  They feel fortunate that the girls are involved with the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore and the many opportunities it presents.

While attending weekly troop meetings is a fun staple, the girls revel in all the outings their troops engage in during the year.   They have attended Radio City Music Hall and Broadway shows in New York City, and last fall they toured Washington DC as a special trip.  Based in cabins at a scout camp just outside the nation’s capital (including a special cabin for the fathers who attended), the girls were able to visit the Capitol building, as well as the Lincoln and Washington monuments, and several museums.  They have also enjoyed overnight trips to a children’s museum in Mount Holly, NJ, and sleepovers at Amity Acres, the GSJS-owned camp in Waretown, NJ.

Jade and Jamie have taken part in various council events at Amity Acres and Camp Sacajawea, the GSJS’s Farmingdale, NJ facility, and visited many local business, including a floral designer and ice cream shop.  “They love to see the inside of the stores, the behind-the-scenes aspect, and learn how people do things for a living,” says Roseanne.  She continues, “I like that they get an idea of what is out there for them in the future and the careers they may find.”

Among their favorite scouting events is the “Powder Puff Derby” held each year.  The girls fabricate wooden cars and race on a track, much like the “Pinewood Derby” attended by Boy Scouts.  Both girls have worked together with their troop members to acquire achievement badges, and are now encouraged to work individually on the pursuits.  Roseanne comments that they love the badges and “they really like looking back and seeing what they have accomplished” each time they don their multi-patch festooned vests.

Above all else, Jade and Jamie enjoy the camaraderie with their troop members.  “They have invested so many years with their troop leaders, the same group of girls, and their parents that it has really become like a little family for them.  They have learned how to work together as a group towards a goal, and that is something they’ll use their entire lives,” says their mom.

As a stay-at-home dad since the girls were babies, Dan mans the fort at home.  In addition to ferrying the girls to many scout outings and meetings, Dan also devotes significant time to Jade’s troop’s ancillary involvement in a robotics program.  Run by Jade’s troop leader’s husband, Rich Morgan, the girls make robots out of Lego®-brand toys, program the robots to perform various functions, such as kicking a ball, or putting a ball in a cup, then compete in obstacle course style events against other area groups.  Dan also enjoys attending the Girl Scouts Father/Daughter Dance with Jade and Jamie every year.  Since Roseanne’s job as a teacher at Freehold Elementary School makes it difficult for her to attend all the scout activities, she really looks forward to the Mother’s Day Brunch for Girl Scouts and their moms held annually at a local school.

YCT: Tell us a little about your family and the personalities of each of your children.

Roseanne:  Jade is outgoing, energetic and musical – she plays the guitar, flute and piano and she sings.  She started taking piano lessons when she was five, and just got her first electric guitar.  Jamie is a bit quieter, more academic, and the family artist.  She plays piano but doesn’t like to perform as much as Jade.  Although they have their own bedrooms, they play together and get along really well like yin and yang.  They get along brilliantly and I feel lucky that they are such close sisters.  We are together a lot as family as we have always something going on or somewhere to go with such busy kids.

YCT: What is a typical day like in your home?

Roseanne:   During the school year, most days we have something after school, but our family rule is that they have to have one day with no scheduled activities.  I try to get that to be the same day for both of them, but that’s getting harder to do.  On those rare free days, the girls usually have a friend over to hang out.  We have dinner together every night as a family and usually at home.  Right before bed, the girls and I like to read together.  Sometimes we watch a show together like “American Idol” or one of the dance competition shows.  If the shows are on late, we record them and they watch them before school.  I have to leave for work very early but since Jamie has curly hair, she usually gets up so I can fix her hair.  Since Jade has straight hair, she can style it herself.  We always select outfits and make sure all notices are signed and everything is ready for school and after-school activities the night before because mornings are
hectic.  Dan gets their lunchboxes ready and gets them off to school.

YCT: What activities do your children participate in after school?

Roseanne: In addition to girl scouts, Jamie takes art classes one day a week at the Ocean County Artist Guild in Island Heights.  They have classes for kids and adults with a gallery downstairs and the studio upstairs.  Every other week or so, they have a showing of local artists, and once a week a group of accomplished older artists meets in the studio room to do their print making.  That is where they “lino-cut”, cutting up linoleum and making series of prints of their original work.  Jamie likes to go watch the process and the folks are friendly and like to talk, especially to interested young artists.  Jamie also takes piano lessons once a week at The Music Academy in Toms River.  Other than that, she doesn’t like to be busy every day – she likes to have time to just do her art at home.  Jade is the one that has to keep moving.  She attends Once Upon A Dance in Toms River for ballet and is adding jazz and hip-hop lessons this year.  They don’t have traditional recitals, but instead do performances of the Nutcracker Ballet at Christmas and a Spring Show.  This year the theme was “Alice in Wonderland” – the show is a combination of all the dances styles performing a different scene or part of the same show – a continuous performance.  The school provides all the costumes and props and the kids return them after the show.  Jade also attends a combination class at The Music Academy one day each week.  One week she takes piano and voice, the next week is guitar and voice.  She performs there four times a year, so she is very comfortable on stage and doesn’t get nervous at all.  In fact, the larger the audience, the more relaxed she is!

YCT: What is your favorite thing to do locally with your family?

Roseanne:  We love to go to the boardwalk in Seaside.  We start at the Fun Town Pier and walk up to Casino Pier hitting all the rides and games, and of course, all that delicious boardwalk food!  We also go to the Beach Plum Festival in Island Beach every fall.  We pick beach plums and stop at all the booths to see local artists and crafts, and get information about all kinds of environmental things, like saving the beaches, dunes, and animals.  It’s a wonderful way to spend a beautiful Indian Summer day!

YCT: Do you have any favorite local vacation spots?

Roseanne:  We always get a pass to drive on the beach at Island Beach State Park.  We love to go surf fishing, fly kites and boogie board.  The girls always find interesting shells and it’s great to picnic on the beach.  They also have various family programs and walking tours with the rangers to identify plants and birds.  One of our favorites is the seining program where families can seine on the bay side and the rangers describe what comes up in the net.

YCT: Have you ever gone on vacation without the kids?

Roseanne:  No, we tend to everything together as a family.  Childhood is so short and we want to be together as much as possible.  Last March, I had a fun weekend in Atlantic City with my girlfriends.  We got our hair done, went out to eat and saw some local bands.  The nicest part for me was not having to care for or pack for anyone else!

YCT: Do you have a favorite family-friendly restaurant?

Roseanne:  We like to go out a few times a month.  Our favorite places are Yesterday’s in Bayville, Chili’s in Toms River and The Music Man ice cream parlor in Lavallette.  Jade had her 11th birthday at The Music Man – we love the singing servers!

YCT: What is your favorite date night location and how often do you get to go out with just your husband?

Roseanne:  Right now, we don’t go out alone very often, but just the other night we had a nice dinner alone at the Lamp Post Inn in Pine Beach.  I’m sure we’ll do more of that as the kids get older.

YCT: What is your favorite non-mommy thing to do and how often do you get to do it?

Roseanne:  I guess my favorite thing is to go to the Oxygen gym in Bayville.  Although I don’t get there as often as I should, I try for three days a week.

YCT: What is your husband_s favorite non-daddy thing to do?

Roseanne:  Dan likes to spend time with friends – to go out to lunch or work on a project.

YCT: Do you patronize any advertisers from our magazine?

Roseanne:  The Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore is a great organization and I highly recommend it.  Sometimes it’s hard to find a troop, but it is worth the wait.  Jade and Jamie’s scout troops went to Sparkle Diva with some of the money they made from their cookie sale and had a fantastic time.  We have been to Color Me Mine for birthday parties and once made a project for Jade’s teacher there.  Of course, we really enjoy Casino Pier.

YCT: Do you have any parenting advice that you would like to offer our readers?

Roseanne:  My thing is to make time to talk to your kids.  I take advantage of car rides and am sure to actually listen to what they have to say.  I want to hear their point of view and keep that line of communication open so as they become older and become teenagers we can still talk honestly about difficult subjects.  I also swear by having dinner together and just finding as much time as possible to spend together.  You know, they grow up so fast!

YCT: What is your favorite part of Your Child Today magazine?

Roseanne:  Like most families, we rely on the calendar of events – we are always looking for what we can do for that rare time we do not have something scheduled.

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By Tricia Berwick

High gas prices and a weak economy have forced many American families to reevaluate their vacation plans this summer.   Instead of traveling many miles to amusement parks and other popular tourist attractions, more people are opting for a “staycation” instead.  This new type of “vacation” has become quite the buzzword during these troubled economic times.  Some decide to turn their backyards into a vacation paradise and really get into vacation mode by cutting off contact with the outside world.   Others stay local and visit the sights in nearby towns.  However you decide to enjoy your “staycation” this summer, the important thing is to enjoy some much needed rest and relaxation without spending a lot of money.

If finances are really tight and day trips are not possible, simply enjoy all of the comforts of home without the distractions and responsibilities of everyday work life.  In order for this type of “staycation” to be successful, it requires a lot of effort and willpower to really unplug yourself from outside connections.  The computer and the phone both need to be turned off.  Your office also needs to know that you really are on vacation and that you cannot be disturbed!   Now start changing into relaxation mode and let the “staycation” begin!   Make yourself a fancy breakfast of homemade waffles and fruit.  Have that second cup of coffee you always want but never have time to enjoy.  Read entire newspaper articles instead of just scanning the headlines.  Take time to do the small, daily things you normally don’t have time for as you are rushing out the door.  Who knows?  Maybe you’ll even decide to go back to bed after breakfast.  It is your “staycation,” so take time to lounge and relax as you would on a normal vacation.

After breakfast, decide if you will enjoy your backyard and sit by the pool with a drink and a good book.  If you don’t have a swimming hole, maybe it’s time to invest in that hammock you’ve always wanted.    Instead of going away, some people are turning their backyards into an oasis.  Cindy Harrison of Point Pleasant spent a few extra dollars this summer to maximize her outdoor living space.

“My husband and I have fixed up the backyard so we have a sitting area with an outdoor rug” says Harrison, who is the mother of two-year-old twins.   “The kids have a small pool that they love, too.”

While you are outside, maybe you’ll order in some lunch for a special treat.  Or perhaps you won’t even make it onto your patio or deck.  Maybe you’ll decide to have a “pajama day” and watch movies, pop popcorn, and have some pizza delivered.   Since you’re on vacation, really let loose and abandon all chores for the week—no vacuuming, no making the bed, cleaning out the closets, or pulling weeds.  You wouldn’t do those things on a regular vacation would you?  Whether you are outside or inside, the important thing is to detach yourself from your daily work life and relax.

In fact, for many parents, having a “staycation” is more relaxing, especially if they have younger children.  When you are at home, you don’t have to pack up the pampers, bottles of formula, and special toys.  Everything is right at your disposal.  But, in order to fight off the crankiness, it’s best to keep the kids busy with planned activities.  Create different games and activities, such as a horseshoes or hopscotch.  Let the kids make sno-cones as a special treat.  Maybe you could even rent a movie and a projector from your local library and show the film on the side of your house or on a large sheet.  Invite the neighbors over with their kids and hand out candy and popcorn for the kids to enjoy while watching.

Talk to your kids and ask them what they would like to do on the “staycation.”  Let them plan a list of daily activities they would enjoy doing.   Kids love when they are provided a say in how the family spends free time.  Maybe they want to stay up late and catch fireflies in the dark.  Then set up a tent and spend the night camping in your own yard!  That certainly doesn’t cost a lot of money and definitely helps in preserving the “staycation” budget.

If you do have some money in the bank and would like to venture out, try researching some local points of interest.  How about a museum or a new restaurant?  What about visiting a new park, bringing a picnic lunch and enjoying a good book?  For the ultimate in relaxation, how about visiting a day spa for one or two of their services?

Harrison is certainly feeling the economic crush this summer and had to alter her plans accordingly.  However, with a little ingenuity, she is still planning on enjoying a great summer with her family.

“We had originally planned to fly down to North Carolina and stay with friends but the airline prices are as high as ever because of the fuel costs. So we had to nix that idea and be more creative,” says Harrison.  “We are actually going to a Yankees game with friends and leaving our twins at home. Luckily, my parents have a house down in Cape May so we will go and spend a few nights there with the twins.  They have a pool and we plan on taking them to the Cape May Zoo.  We also visit Bay Head beach a few times a week.   My husband and I will be going to a concert in August, too.   So even though we aren’t packing up and heading to an exotic location we have managed to fill our summer calendar with some fun family and couple activities.”

All of these ideas are just the tip of the iceberg.  Ideas for how to enjoy a restful and relaxing “staycation” are virtually unlimited!  With a little planning and creativity, it can be accomplished.  The important thing to remember is to treat it like a regular vacation, as if you were traveling somewhere.  Remember to take pictures, too.  You wouldn’t forget taking your camera on a vacation, would you?  Your “staycation” should be no different.  You are enjoying yourself and making memories with the ones you love.

Martial Arts schools have grown in numbers over the years.  They are in high demand for children, teenagers and adults.  Some choose a school on the recommendation of a neighbor or friend, it’s close to home or it is inexpensive.  The State of New Jersey mandates no regulation on operating or teaching martial arts.  Hence, the main reason there are so many schools to choose from in a small area.  There are many forms of Martial Arts being taught and the consumer needs to investigate when choosing a school for themselves or their children.  Before registering for martial arts instruction, be aware of what is being taught in the class and what is being said to young children when parents are not around.  It is imperative you know instructors have proper credentials and are knowledgeable in teaching Martial Arts.  Observing classes and instructors, getting recommendations, and interviewing owners is what will aid in the success of learning the appropriate use and correct techniques in martial arts.

An issue that has exploded over the past few months is Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).  MMA is a full contact sport using different fighting techniques from boxing to martial arts and everything in between.  It is performed in a cage-like octagon ring with two opponents and a referee.  It has been described as a no holds barred fighting frenzy.  Since this barbaric entertainment emerged and gained rapid popularity, additional safety rules have been incorporated.  However, MMA takes fighting to a whole new level.  Like boxing, the objective is to knock out your opponent.    Fighters throw each other to the ground and grab hold to make their opponent immobile.  Submission holds gain an advantage since one of the fighters is physically impaired to move.  The other fighter pummels away at the head or body to achieve a severely beaten state even unconsciousness.

This is the new frenzy surrounding Martial Arts.  This type of fighting is affecting children, teenagers and young adults to learn this type of martial arts.  It is being taught on computers; teaching viewers to physically abuse and quite possibly harm themselves and others by mimicking what they see on websites and television.  Welcome to the new wild phenomena of Mixed Martial Arts.

MMA combines grappling, jiu-jitsu and traditional martial arts to overtake an opponent.   Grappling is a lot like wrestling with certain holds, sweeps and throws.  The WWF entertainment factor becomes reality in an MMA cage.  Striking your opponent with your fist or elbow is perfectly legal while you have them pinned to the ground in a choke hold.  Lifting and throwing down your competitor to perform a clinch hold and punching their face or body is also allowed.   Jiu-jitsu is a type of martial arts that teaches choking, submission holds and potentially breaking of bones.  A slightly dazed opponent after a choking move is less likely to offer any resistance.  Immobilizing a fighter to win could lead to unconsciousness, which may or may not be allowed, but is performed.

A 35-year-old MMA fighter, Sam Vasquez, died in Houston, TX on November 30, 2007.  He was hospitalized when he collapsed after being knocked out in the 3rd round of an MMA fight a month earlier.  Doctors performed two surgeries to remove blood clots from his brain.  After the second surgery, he had a stroke and died.    This is the kind of entertainment people of all ages are watching and imitating.

Another instructor in Virginia who teaches Mixed Martial Arts to children kicked an 11-year-old student over 200 times in the abdomen.  This was a challenge to see how many kicks the child could take before falling over.  The child’s parents were not present at the time and did not witness this act.  Parents need to be present at all times when their children are learning karate, jiu-jitsu, tae kwon do or any form of martial arts.  Question instructors and owners on abusive moves and potential dangers you see.

Martial Arts is a precise form of self-defense.  Instructors teach where to hit and how to hit properly without injuring yourself.  Breaking a wooden board the wrong way could fracture or break a hand.  Learning the skill of how to correctly hold your hand while breaking a board allows students the ability to break thicker pieces of wood, as they get older and stronger.  Mastering Martial Arts takes years of practice and teachings.  Utilizing the safety of the techniques ensures no one gets hurt while building character, strength and gaining knowledge.

Parents need to be vigilant that the martial arts being taught to their children, or themselves, is safe.    Schools in the area are beginning to teach a Mixed Martial Arts class andparents may not even be aware there children are learning something dangerous.  Kum Sung stresses safety and proper technique when teaching their students.  No student moves to the next level unless they are proficient in their abilities.  Learning the correct way of hitting, kicking, or breaking a wooden board is what Dr. Sung and his instructors at Kum Sung have mastered over the years.  When locating a Martial Arts school, investigate what they are teaching, how students learn and the credentials of the staff interacting with you or your children.  Dr. Sung describes his Martial Arts teachings as not just a hobby, but a way of life.  This is my heritage and culture this is the same sentiment shared by martial arts masters like Chuck Norris, Jackie Chan and Jet Li.  Ensure you can view all classes and know what your children are doing in the class.  Martial Arts is a safe, physically fit activity that promotes self-esteem and success throughout all aspects of life.  Visit kumsungkarate.com or call and speak to Dr. Sung or one of the instructors.  Be aware of what they will and are actually learning.

Breakwater Beach

Casino Pier, Seaside Heights, NJ

732-793-6488

Cenral Shore region

Starting with their new Toddler Area, it is ideal for the smallest member of any family. With safe, soft play throughout, your little one will slide and have a splashtacular good time.

They have something for everyone. Their Family Play Section is a totally interactive multi-level area for everyone from 3 to 103. With their water slides you will find a different experience with each twist and turn. Also, with hundreds of interactive play elements and dancing fountains you will not stay dry for long. All while having fun with your family and creating life long memories. Watch Out for the Tipping Troller, you may get thousands of gallons of water dumped on you (hopefully there won’t be any sharks). If after playing you are feeling a little chilly, jump into one of 2 new Hot Springs that will easily fit 20 people each.

For the brave at heart, test their Zero – Gravity Racer. This 6 Lane Racing Slide lets you compete against others as you plummet on a mat to the finish line. Forget relaxing in our LazyCrazy River … with cannons being shot off, bubbles coming from every direction and depth charges shooting you with water; you will never know what will be around the next curve. If you do want to relax, you can recline in one of our many lounge chairs throughout the park. Our other amenities include, bathrooms, lockers, changing areas, food
concession, and a gift shop for all your needs. As always, trained lifeguards are on duty to safely monitor all water activities.

This is only the beginning of a multi-year renovation to this new water park. Next year even more and exciting attractions will be added to what will be “The Best Water Park, On The Jersey Shore”

What’s New

Enjoy your day in your own private cabana where you can sit, relax, and take in the sun! Each cabana features 2 chaise lounge chairs, 2 beach-style chairs, 4 large bottles of water, a small locker rental, as well as food & beverage service right to you.

Cabanas are available for rent on a first come/first serve basis. Because of demand, we encourage advance reservations.

2010 Cabana Pricing

Cabana (all day) = $85 plus tax
Cabana (3 hour) = $60 plus tax

Please note that waterpark admission is NOT included with Cabana Rental. Admission into the waterpark is a separate charge. If you rent a cabana for the day, your admission wristbands must be valid for the entire day. Food, drink and gratuities are not included in cabana rental fee.

CoCo Key

Indoor Water Park

Mt. Laurel Marriott, 915 Route 73, Mount Laurel NJ

856-234-7300

Southern NJ

CoCo Key Water Resort, New Jersey’s ultimate indoor water park is located at the Mt. Laurel Marriott. CoCo Key Water Resort is an indoor water park. They have a  relaxing adventure river to  an incredible 40-foot slides, interactive play area, indoor/outdoor spa, state of the art arcade ! Wouldn’t it be great to be able to get away to the tropical islands any time you want without having to leave New Jersey? Now you can, at CoCo Key Water Resort, New Jersey’s Newest & Largest Indoor Water Resort.  CoCo Key combines the relaxation and enchantment of the islands with the wild excitement of a 55,000-sq. ft. indoor water park. Every day is a bright, sunny 84 degrees at CoCo Key, featuring a selection of signature attractions including:

CoCo Key Water Resort is seconds away from exit 4 of the NJ Turnpike, just 12 miles outside Philadelphia and minutes away from Adventure Aquarium and Cherry Hill Mall.

Hurricane Harbor

537 Monmouth Rd, Route 537, Jackson, NJ
732-928-1821

Central NJ

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is conveniently located in Jackson, New Jersey.

Soak up the sun at the one of America’s best water parks — Six Flags Hurricane Harbor! This tropical island paradise offers a million-gallon wave pool, one of the world’s longest lazy rivers, nearly 20 water slides and a massive water playground for wet and wild fun!

What’s New

Tot Tornado whirlwind.  The Tornado, an enormous funnel-shaped water attraction, will offer guests the ultimate in tubing thrills all summer long when it opens May 29.

This exciting new water ride will blast thrill seekers down a 135-foot long vortex tunnel and into a 60-foot wide funnel.  During the journey, guests will blast into the eye of the storm, swishing from side to side by more than 5,000 gallons of water before being released into a calm and refreshing catch pool. Families can enjoy Tornado together in specially-designed, cloverleaf-shaped tubes that seat four.  Those not brave enough to take on this new thrilling adventure can ride out the storm from the observation platform which will feature a spectacular view of all the action.  The Tornado will touch down between the water park’s tube slides “Bada Bing, Bada Bang, Bada Boom!” and the speed slide complex “Jurahnimo, Cannonball & Wahini Falls.”

The Tornado will join a host of thrilling Hurricane Harbor rides and attractions including an enormous half million gallon wave pool, one of the country’s longest “lazy rivers,” a massive, two-story family water playground and nearly 20 high-speed thrill slides.

“We are excited to add a new dimension of thrills to our water park,” said Mark Kane, park president of Six Flags Great Adventure, Wild Safari and Hurricane Harbor.  “The Tornado’s innovative shape and enormous size will allow families and friends to experience the ultimate in non-traditional tubing, together.”

Sahara Sams

Indoor Water Park

535 N. Route 73, West Berlin, NJ

856-767-7580

Southern NJ

Imagine traversing a cargo rope obstacle course suspended over a rain forest lagoon, splashing your way through a 410 foot adventure river ride, having 1,000 gallons of water unexpectedly rain down from above, navigating through a wild maze of twisting and turning rapids with your family. Imagine experiencing it all indoors.
Welcome to Sahara Sam’s Oasis Indoor Water Park — New Jersey’s only freestanding Indoor Water Park and state of art arcade.

Sahara Sam’s is an innovative entertainment and activity experience that is a premier family attraction located in southern New Jersey just minutes from Philadelphia and accessible by major highways and bridges in New Jersey and the Philadelphia region. The $23 million venue offers nearly 58,000 square feet of water rides, interactive games, dining, party rooms and much more. Located in West Berlin NJ on a 13-acre parcel along Route 73, Sahara Sam’s represents the next step in providing affordable familydestination fun.

Sahara Sam’s Oasis Indoor Water Park features a wide array of exhilarating, state-of-the-art water rides and attractions, interactive games, and great ticket and party packages.

RETRACTABLE ROOF: One of the most unique aspects of Sahara Sam’s is its one-of-a-kind retractable roof, which opens up to let the outdoors in on sunny days.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL: Sahara Sam’s remains a warm 84 degrees of low humidity weather all year long thanks to a state-of-the-art temperature control system.

Pirates Cove- Land Of Make Believe

354 Great Meadows Road – Rt. 611, Hope, NJ
908-459-9000

Northwest NJ

For 56 years, the Land of Make Believe has been entertaining families from the tri-state area. Family favorites include our million dollar Action River Ride, a Roller Coaster, Buccaneer Pirate & Wading Pool, Tilt-A-Whirl, Civil War Locomotive, Hayride, Old McDonald’s Farm, Middle-Earth Theater, “Black Hole” #1 Rated Waterslide, Grand Carousel, Sidewinder, Pirates Fort, Pirates Cannonball, the Brand New Pirate’s Plunge, Jump Around Frog and Lots, Lots More.

As New Jersey’s Premiere Family Amusement & WaterPark, the Land of Make Believe features Safe and Wholesome recreation, entertainment and activities for real families like yours. You’ll find Exciting Rides, Shows, Attractions, Games, WaterPark, and Picnic Area on over 30 acres. The Land of Make Believe and Pirate’s Cove has been designed exclusively for an action-packed day of special family fun for parents and their children.

The Land of Make Believe is located in northwest New Jersey, 60 miles west of New York City, and 10 miles east of the Delaware River just off Route 80, exit 12. Nestled in the foothills of the famous Jenny Jump Mountains and State Park, the Land of Make Believe is a landmark in the historic town of Hope. Only one hour from the Lincoln Tunnel or George Washington Bridge, 90 minutes from Philadelphia or Scranton, PA.

Free Parking, Free Picnic Area and Free Water Park included with paid admission!

What’s New

Pirate’s Plunge,

Escape the pirates in this adventurous body slide. 42″ minimum height requirement to ride alone. Children under 36″ must ride w/adult.

New Jersey’s First Indoor Waterpark!

Splash Zone

3500 Boardwalk, Wildwood NJ

609-729-5600

Southern NJ

Mixing adrenaline-pumping thrills with family-style fun is our specialty. With more than 16 attractions, Splash Zone Water Park offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Adventure seekers can find super soaking thrills riding the white water rapids of The Beast of The East, the only 6-person raft ride on the east coast. Or roar through total darkness on The Midnight Run, a twisting, turning enclosed tube slide. Speed fans will enjoy testing their skills while soaring down the Speed Dominator. Giggle Bay offers an interactive water playground featuring our famous 1000-gallon bucket of water that crashes down, drenching everyone in its path. And the smallest water park fans can splash in Zoe Zone, a tiny tykes play area featuring a shallow pool of water, fountains, and soft play equipment. Everyone in the family can enjoy slides, body flumes, water blasters, or a meandering ride through the park on an inner tube in Adventure River. And when you’re not getting drenched in the water, Splash Zone offers sunbathing areas, a picnic facility and mouthwatering food at the Zone GrillFree Parking!

Mountain Creek

200 Route 94, Vernon, NJ

973-864-8444

Northern NJ

Mountain Creek Water Park in Northern NJ .The Park offers a variety of water-based activities for all ages and all swim levels.  Height restrictions are posted for all attractions and enforced.  Minors (anyone under the age of 18) must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. The parent/guardian is solely responsible for supervision of their minors. The park does not assume any responsibility or liability for unattended minors. The park cannot accept any responsibility for unattended minors. Children are the responsibility of the parent or guardian.

Only you know your own, your child’s, or anyone you are supervising level of swimming skills.  We strongly recommend all Guests under 48″ or who are weak or non-swimmers wear Coast Guard approved lifejackets where appropriate. In the wave pool, all guests under 48″ are REQUIRED to wear a lifejacket and be accompanied by an adult.  We insist that parents keep their children within arms reach for their close supervision on all water activities. Life Jackets are available Free Of Charge at Guest Information located inside the park.  When in doubt, wear a life jacket!

What’s New

Mountain Creek has a whole new twist on coming down the mountain. Introducing the Alpine Pipeline, a high-flying, two person Alpine express that goes from daylight to darkness in the blink of an eye. Come ride the new Alpine Pipeline and discover for yourself the unparalleled sensation of screamin’ down the mountain like a comet through a carwash.  It’s definitely NOT for wimps.

Keansburg Runaway Rapids

275 Beachway Ave, Keansburg, NJ
732-495-1400 Right across the street and just a few steps from The Keansburg Amusement Park is Runaway Rapids Water Park. You can purchase a two park pass so you can go to the waterpark or Amusement Park all day. Runaway Rapids has dozens of rides and interactive attractions. There is also a very nice sunbathing area surrounding the play pool areas. The park has been recently cleaned up a bit and some all  new features have been added to the waterpark.

Raging Waters-Morey’s piers

Morey’s Piers, 3501 Boardwalk, Wildwood NJ

609-522-3900

Southern NJ

Enjoy the thrills at Raging Waters Waterpark in Mariner’s Landing Amusement Pier located on Schellenger Ave. in Wildwood, NJ.  Morey’s Piers original beachfront waterpark offers the thrills and the fun things to do that you and your family have come to love on your family beach vacation.  Attractions include:

• Waterpark rides and waterpark attractions for all ages
• Two interactive children’s play areas
• Picnic facility for group outings
• Wreckers beach grille
• Raging Waters waterpark locker shop
• Central location – a great pier!

Ocean Oasis – Morey’s piers

Morey’s Piers, 3501 Boardwalk, Wildwood NJ

609-522-3900

Southern NJ

Ocean front water park. Kids of all ages will love Bonsai Beach, a 10,000 square foot interactive water play area. Several fun water slides the older kids will enjoy, also. While the kids enjoy the great rides, mom and dad can relax in the all new resort-themed atmosphere, which features include family cabanas and huts, hammocks, massage therapy, and plenty more! Beach Grille and Oasis Cafe are open all day to satisfy the entire family.

Clementon Splash World

114 Berlin Road, Clementon, NJ

856-783-0263

Central NJ

Cool off with over 13,000 square feet of splashing, sliding, drenching, beat-the-heat fun. This Polynesian-themed adventure includes 8 slides, 10 different play platforms and more than 125 sprays, jets, bubbles, streams, squirts, wheels and waterfalls. And high atop the 50-foot tall structure sits the big Kahuna himself—with a giant water bucket that dumps more than 422 gallons of water on the unsuspecting islanders below. Children under 6 years of age must have adult supervision. Some slides have a minimum of 36 inches, others have a minimum of 40 inches.

Thundering Surf Waterpark

8th Street & Bay Ave. Beach Haven (LBI), NJ

609-492-0869

Central Shore Region

Thundering Surf Water Park is definitely the place to spend a few hours with the entire family! We are located in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island, NJ. We have something for all ages! Toddlers can play in our BRAND NEW Kiddie Play Area called “Cowabunga Beach”. This area is designed specifically for ages 9 months to 5 years old. Our new “Dancing Fountains” are something everyone will love! Take some great pictures of your children trying to catch the fountains as they jump and dance around the kiddie area! Our 6 Giant Waterslides are designed for single and double tubes. Parents are able to slide together with a child! Experience our one-of-a-kind “Lazy Crazy River!” While the river is Lazy, cruise around with the current and relax. But don’t get too cozy…. when the river turns “Crazy”… be prepared as a small wave rolls through the river because you’re going to get wet! Along the river, parents and children can interact with others that are outside of the river with slap targets and super soaker water guns. So don’t think that just because you are standing on the interactive bridge that you are going to stay dry! And watch out for the “Giant Tipping Bucket” as you cruise around the river and under the bridge!

Come have some fun…. or just relax and sunbathe on our SunDeck located inside the waterpark so you are never too far from you children!

PLEASE  POST YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT ANY OF THESE FAMILY- FRIENDLY WATER PARKS. WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR OPINIONS,TIPS AND INSIGHTS.

You know the saying, “I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream!”  Well, depending on what you order at The Music Man Singing Ice Cream Shoppe, in Lavallette, you may find yourself yelling, “I want some Hot Fudge baby this evening, and I need some Hot Fudge baby tonight!”  Take your family to The Music Man and enjoy some good old-fashioned ice cream with a twist!  The Music Man provides a friendly and warm atmosphere for the young and old, serving up vaudeville style performances and ice cream sundaes to your liking.

“Every show performed here is different and is basically done on the fly,” explained The Music Man owner Aggie Roberts. “You could come here seven nights a week and see something different each time you come, because each show features a different performer and group performances.”  One thing that is certain to stay the same, however, is the enthusiasm of the cast and crew, as well as the quality time you will spend with your family.

You will be treated to a menu featuring everything from “naked” ice cream in over fifteen flavors to delicious over-the-top sundaes, along with a nightly performance of Broadway and upbeat American tunes sung by performers who dance and sing their way around the entire shop.  You may even find them singing directly to you and incorporating you into their show!  “It’s a family entertaining experience that appeals to all ages,” says Aggie’s wife, Josephine.

Aside from the nightly Broadway Cabaret show, which begins every night this summer at 6pm, The Music Man performs Theme Shows are on Thursdays and Fridays.  On Thursdays you can make a reservation for “Hannah Banana” This show finds the Music Man Cast auditioning for the title, it’s Hannah Montana meets American Idol.  Fridays at 5pm guests can make a reservation for The GLEEful “Ice Cream Musical,” featuring songs that have been presented on the ever popular TV Show GLEE.

“Apart from our Broadway Cabaret and Theme Shows we have our Children’s Fairy Tale Series,” added Aggie.  “At 4pm Monday through Wednesday, we offer a Children’s Performance where each child is treated to an afternoon snack of one scoop of ice cream as our cast members either get into character as Pirates and Princesses, or bring alive some of their favorite storybooks.” Aggie explained.  On Mondays, bring your little one dressed up as his or her favorite Pirate, Princess or Super Hero as the cast and crew themselves get all dressed up along with them.  On Tuesdays a special Puppet Theater performance of The Little Mermaid is offered as well as a special guest appearance from The Music Man’s mascot “FRED”, which stands for Feel Good Every Day! Wednesdays, your child can experience one of their favorite storybooks come alive as the cast visually tells stories such as Beauty and the Beast, The Wizard of Oz, and Cinderella, and turns into character right in front of their eyes

Going into their 8th season, and serving over 40,000 patrons in the summer of 2009 is something that owners Aggie & Josephine are very proud of.  “My wife actually purchased this very building [the shop’s location] for my birthday present in 2003.  I was working in corporate America at the time, but had the desire to combine my love and experience in performing arts along with my wife’s experience as a digital artist and make us a career from that,” Aggie explained. Aggie took his experiences of working at Princeton’s McCarter Theatre’s Outreach Department, and also as a dessert theater performer in Hopewell, NJ, along with his educational background in Theater and Education, and the concept of “The Music Man” was born.  “From the start, Josephine and I knew this would not fail.  We had our hearts in it, and it empowered us as a couple to try something new.  This summer is our 6th and best season yet, and I have never once looked back on our decision” Aggie added.

The cast and crew have also completely bought into the concept and truly love what they do. They are the heart and soul of the ice cream shop, doing everything from performing daily to hundreds of patrons, to working hard at their individual production positions.  “We provide our cast with a complete educational program.  Not only do they perform each and every day, but they each hold a different production position, which gives them a well-rounded summer learning experience.  Some of the positions include company manager and box office manager.”  Aggie added that he and his wife have even set up housing for the cast for the entire summer, and their program has attracted performers from all over the country.

New to their menu this year is the Improv Comedy Bunch, new live show designed to make you laugh a lot!  If you like the show “Whose Line is it Anyway?” then please come out and support this new adventure at The Music Man. The Improv Comedy Bunch is a reservation show be sure to call ahead. Tickets are $8 and include a “bottomless” coffee cup.  Ice Cream and other treats are available at an additional price. Gratuity not included.   Our Morning Café opens at 7am when the phone starts ringing as our guest start planning their day.  And once the summer is over, be sure to ask about The Music Man’s education outreach program. You can have The Music Man and it’s cast brought right to your child’s school this winter to perform character education and leadership programs.  For further information and questions visit, www.njmusicman.com <http://www.njmusicman.com>  or call 732-854-2779.  The Music Man is located at 2305 Grand Central Ave (Route 35 North) Lavallette, NJ 08735

Dinosaurs once again roam the earth in a spectacular theatrical arena show, WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Arena Spectacular, based on the award-winning BBC Television Series. WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Arena Spectacular is now on tour in North America and will perform 12 performances at Madison Square Garden in New York. More than 3.1 million Americans have already seen the production since it opened in July 2007.

The show originated in Australia, where after years of planning, WALKING WITH DINOSAURS came to life at Sydney’s Acer Arena in January 2007.  The show proved itself such a sensation, that this North American tour was fast-tracked.  It began a short three months after completing its sold out engagements in Australia. Since that time, the show’s two companies have played to 4.4 million people worldwide and generated over $210 million dollars in overall ticket sales.

WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Arena Spectacular is brought to North America by The Creature Production Company, headed by CEO Carmen Pavlovic.  Pavlovic said, “The BBC Series was a brilliant blend of special effects, escapism, excitement and information.  Our show brings together all of that, plus something extra -  it’s live!   In this production, seventeen roaring, snarling “live” dinosaurs mesmerize the audience – and are as awe-inspiring as when they first walked on earth.”

Pavlovic continued, “The dinosaurs are life-size, making the show so immense, it could only fit in arenas. It’s a $20 million arena spectacle of unprecedented size and quality, which captivates young and old alike. With Walking with Dinosaurs, we really believe we have created a new genre in entertainment and we hope to continue to bring new product to arenas for years to come ”

WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Arena Spectacular has s been seen on “The Today Show,” Good Morning America,” “Live with Regis and Kelly,” and has been written about in Newsweek, The New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor and the Wall Street Journal. It was the subject of a Discovery Channel Really Big Things episode and a video clue category on Jeopardy.

more

Tim Haines, creator and producer of the original BBC series, which was seen by a worldwide audience of 700 million, serves as Project Consultant to WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Arena Spectacular.  The series won six Emmy and three BAFTA Awards.

Ten species are represented from the entire 200 million year reign of the dinosaurs.  The show includes the Tyrannosaurus Rex, the terror of the ancient terrain, as well as the Plateosaurus and Liliensternus from the Triassic period, the Stegosaurus and Allosaurus from the Jurassic period and Torosaurus and Utahraptor from the awesome Cretaceous.  The largest of them, the Brachiosaurus is 36 feet tall, and 56 feet from nose to tail.  It took a team of 50 – including engineers, fabricators, skin makers, artists and painters, and animatronic experts – a year to build the original production.

The show depicts the dinosaurs’ evolution, complete with the climatic and tectonic changes that took place, which led to the demise of many species.  With almost cinematic realism, WALKING WITH DINOSAURS has scenes of the interactions between dinosaurs, and the audience sees how carnivorous dinosaurs evolved to walk on two legs, and how the herbivores fended off their more agile predators.

The history of the world is played out with the splitting of the earth’s continents, and the transition from the arid desert of the Triassic period is given over to the lush green prairies and forces of the later Jurassic.  Oceans form, volcanoes erupt, a forest catches fire — all leading to the impact of the massive comet, which struck the earth, and forced the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Variety said, “The dinosaurs are stunning, life-size and faultlessly nimble. In act one, the beasts parade into the arena gnashing and cavorting as a safari-suited paleontologist describes their attributes … in the second half, the action cranks up, culminating in a spectacular clash as a T-Rex mom defends her baby from predators. Sonny Tilders’ triumphant creature design ensures ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ is a truly spectacular spectacular. It is everything a dino-phile could want.”

The New York Times said that in this show dinosaurs make “a thundering comeback after 65 million years.”

Gloria Goodale of the Christian Science Monitor said, “When the dinosaurs start pouring out onto the stage, if you don’t have to stifle the natural flight response of any living breathing being, then it’s your pulse that needs checking.”

Newsweek called the show, “that rare entertainment beast that parents and kids can enjoy together.”

It took 50 artists and technicians one year to build the show. The 17 dinosaurs were originally “hatched” by Tilders, the head of creature design, in a Melbourne Docklands workshop big enough to park a 747. For the North American tour, the only building large enough to house rehearsals for the dinosaurs – some as large as 36 ft tall by 56 ft long, was the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center!

Artistic Director William May is known around the globe for co-producing shows with Malcolm Cooke for the past 30 years, including The Hobbit and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.  He produced Marilyn An American Fable on Broadway and co-composed and wrote the musical Always for the West End.

Director Scott Faris directed Michael Crawford in EFX at MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, which at the time was the biggest stage production ever conceived, and was on the production team that created Siegfried & Roy at the Mirage Hotel.  Faris has directed Chicago the Musical in 16 countries around the world in over a dozen languages. Most recently he directed Bette Midler in her new Las Vegas show, The Showgirl Must Go On at Caesars Palace.

Faris said, “We take the audience on a journey back in time and show them how the dinosaurs might have actually looked in their prime – huge, sometimes frightening, sometimes comical monsters – that fought for survival every day of their lives.  Our dinosaurs move exactly like they are real — with all the roars, snorts and excitement that go with it.  The realism is mind-blowing!”

Sonny Tilders, who designed and built the creatures has been, for the past decade, one of the major creative forces of the high-tech world of animatronic puppetry for film and television.  He was one of the lead animatronic engineers for Jim Henson’s Creature workshop on the Farscape series, followed by work on Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Peter Pan, Ghost Rider and The Chronicles of Narnia.

Tilders said, “Many of the technologies we are using on WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Arena Spectacular are borrowed from film. The computer software and hardware we have developed is based on the systems used to control animatronic creatures in feature films.”

“To make it appear that these creatures are flesh and blood weighing six, eight or even 20 tons, we use a system called ‘muscle bags,’ made from stretch mesh fabric and filled with polystyrene balls, stretched across moving points on the body.  These contract and stretch in the same manner that muscle, fat, and skin does on real creatures.”

“The puppeteers use ‘voodoo rigs’ to make many of the dinosaurs move.  They are miniature versions of the dinosaurs with the same joints and range of movement as their life-sized counterparts.  The puppeteer manipulates the voodoo rig and these actions are interpreted by computer and transmitted by radio waves to make the hydraulic cylinders in the actual dinosaur replicate the action, with a driver hidden below the animal, helping to maneuver it around the arena.”  Suited puppeteer specialists, who are inside the creatures, operate five of the smaller dinosaurs.

Warner Brown wrote the script of WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Arena Spectacular. He is an accomplished writer whose works include the book of the musical Flickers on Broadway, the screenplay of Nijinsky for Regent Entertainment, the musical The Black and White Ball, which features music by Cole Porter and The Truth About Light, written with composer Jimmy Roberts.  Other credits include a new version of Half A Sixpence for the West End in 2008, Garbo – The Musical with music by Jim Steinman and Michael Reed, playing in Europe, and the plays and musicals Scandal, The Biograph Girl, Six for Gold, Cinderella, Talullah for a Day and Dance for Life.

More

WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Arena Spectacular will perform 12 performances at Madison Square Garden in New York. The performance schedule is:

• Wednesday, July 21, 2010 – 3PM & 7PM
• Thursday, July 22, 2010 – 11AM & 7PM
• Friday, July 23, 2010 – 11AM & 7PM
• Saturday, July 23, 2010 – 11AM, 3PM & 7PM
• Sunday, July 25, 2010 – 11AM, 3PM & 7PM

Tickets for the general public are on sale NOW by calling 866.858.0008, online at www.thegarden.com/dinos or in-person at the Madison Square Garden Box Office. For groups, please call 212.465.6080. For more information, please visit www.dinosaurlive.com. Video of the show is available on our site under “Meet The Dinosaurs” tab in the middle of the front page.

By Tricia Berwick

Eating cool, drippy ice pops on the patio.  Long walks through the neighborhood after dinner.  Trips to the park or to the beach.   Frolicking in the backyard grass sans shoes.   In summertime, the weather is warm and the sun sets later which gives families a lot of time to spend together outdoors.  Hectic school schedules and activities are also on hiatus.  This allows for more freedom to play and chances to strengthen those family bonds.   Whether you’re grilling up burgers on the grill or heading out to play in the surf, summer is a great time for making memories and establishing traditions.

Some families look forward to the start of summer so much, they have a yearly ritual to ring in the beginning of the three-month vacation from homework and soccer practices.

Katie Zebick of Brick loves the tradition her sister has started with her family.  She thinks it’s such a clever idea, that she may even use it with her own brood.

“After my sister prepares breakfast on the last morning of school, she jumps into the pool with her clothes on,” says Zebick who is a mother of three.  “It is her way of celebrating the end of the school year.  Her kids get a kick out of it and think it’s a fun way to start off summer.”

After the backpacks and soccer cleats are put away, families switch gears for a more relaxed, slower pace.  They also look forward to visiting different places and relatives or participating in activities that they may not have had time for during the academic year.  For families living at the Jersey Shore there are numerous places to go to enjoy the best of what summer has to offer.

The Burns family of Point Pleasant feels very fortunate to live in this area of the country.

“We do not travel much in the summer because we just love being at the Jersey Shore,” says Nancy Burns.  “A perfect summer day for our family would be to wake up and have breakfast together, get an early start to the beach and spend the day there.  The boys love the water and boogie boarding!  After returning home for showers and dinner, we usually walk to Hoffman’s Ice Cream in Point Pleasant.”

The Woit family, also of Point Pleasant loves to take in the sights and sounds on the boardwalk.

“We love to eat an early dinner at home and then go up to the boardwalk,” says Woit.  “The kids love to ride the rides and play with their toys in the sand.  It tuckers them out, and then we can put them to bed for a restful night of sleep.  You can also picnic there and watch movies on selected nights.  We love the summer!”

While it’s always nice to pop the kids in the car and head off to a different destination, sometimes the best memories are made right at home.

The Trench family of Keyport, recently traded in their huge gas grill for an old-fashioned charcoal kind.   The family enjoys standing around the fire and roasting marshmallows together.  The kids also love being in the backyard and having some water fun.

“We don’t have a pool, so I love turning on the sprinkler and letting them run around enjoying the simplicity of it all,” says Trench, who also likes to attend fairs and go to the boardwalk during the summer months.  “I also have a small plastic pool and I sit back while they splash around in it.  They always end up making mud pies.”

If your budget is tight and you can’t afford to travel, just use your imagination to create fun activities for your children in the backyard.  On a hot and humid day, they might like to cool off with a family squirt gun battle.  Maybe your kids want to try camping, but you’re not sure if they are up for the full experience in the woods.  How about setting up a play tent and lanterns in the backyard and tell them ghost stories inside their very own tents?  Since the school year is always jam-packed with things to do, slow down the pace and have a family game night and a family movie night each week during the summer.  Let the kids choose what they would like, including snacks for both gatherings.  Sidewalk chalk is also an inexpensive creative outlet which can be used on your patio or driveway.

Wherever you decide to go or whatever you do at home, just remember to have fun with your kids.  Enjoy this break from packing lunches, laying out school clothes, and working on last-minute projects.  Enjoy an ice cream, let the kids stay up a little later, watch some fireworks.  And remember to share a giggle and a smile with your children.  September will be here soon enough!