WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2026
Good Morning, Monmouth County! ☀️
🏖️ Monmouth History: At midnight on Oct. 21, 2013, three couples married on the boardwalk as same-sex marriage became legal in New Jersey. Among them were Councilwoman Amy Quinn and Heather Jensen.
Wednesday Wisdom: “When I was around 18, I looked in the mirror and said, ‘You’re either going to love yourself or hate yourself.’ And I decided to love myself.”— Queen Latifah
Today’s Must Read: New Jersey State Police troopers delivered toys and posed for photos with young patients during a visit to K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. (More)
Scroll down for today’s Only in Monmouth Picture and Trivia!
365> Wall: Monmouth Executive Airport resumed operations after completing its runway repaving project. The reopening follows the temporary runway closures for construction. (More)
365> Freehold: The Connection Tree Ship & Print will celebrate its grand opening today, Oct. 21, from noon - 1:30 pm, with a ribbon-cutting. The business offers shipping and packaging services. (More)
365> Middletown: South’s girls captured their third consecutive Monmouth County cross-country championship at Holmdel Park, finishing with 62 points to Freehold Township’s 97. Ocean Township junior Leah Starkey won her second straight individual county title, completing the 5K in 17:17.16. (More)
365> Lincroft: Christian Brothers Academy won the boys Monmouth County cross-country championship, scoring 30 points to runner-up Colts Neck’s 70. CBA rested its top seven runners and still placed five in the top 10, led by individual winner Maguire Hartnett. (More)
365> Freehold: Shelly LoCascio, president of Irwin Lincoln Mazda, has been selected as New Jersey’s nominee for the 2027 TIME Dealer of the Year award, which recognizes business achievement and community service. Her charitable work includes support for Toys for Tots, Tunnel to Towers, Daniella’s Wish, local schools, and community events. (More)
365> Monmouth Arts is awarding $145,000 in ArtHelps grants to 29 organizations, including the Arts Society of Keyport, Holmdel Theatre Company, and The Allentown Village Initiative. Funding supports operations and special projects, with six $500 grants reserved for small and emerging organizations. (More)
365> Manalapan’s MRC-CERT volunteers will collect clothing and household textiles at the Town Hall parking lot on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 8:30-11:30 am. Accepted donations include new or gently used clothing, shoes, purses, backpacks, towels, curtains, and table linens. Bag items for collection. (More)
365> Wave of Hope brings The Pat Roddy Band, The Joe Baracata Band, and AfterBurn to The Columns in Avon-by-the-Sea on Sunday, Oct. 25, from noon-6 pm. The benefit supports research into SSADH deficiency, a rare metabolic disorder, and includes food and a gift auction. Admission is $35 at the door. (More)
365> Market Street Mission Jersey Shore is collecting new or gently used winter coats and new hats, gloves, and scarves through Wednesday, Nov. 18. Donations can be dropped off at its thrift store in Asbury Park Tuesday-Saturday, from 9:30 am - 3 pm. (More)
365> Lunch Break in Red Bank is collecting new toys for children ages newborn-9 and gift cards for ages 10-17 through Friday, Dec. 4. Requested gift cards include Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Visa, with suggested amounts of $25, $50, or $75. Gifts will be distributed Dec. 12. (More)
365> War of the Worlds brings a live recreation of the 1938 radio broadcast to the Monmouth County Library’s Eastern Branch in Shrewsbury on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 pm. Classic Radio Road Show performs the adaptation of H.G. Wells’ alien-invasion story made famous by Orson Welles. (More)
365> Stomp & Stride leads line dancing at Tall Oaks Farm + Brewery in Howell on Friday, Oct. 23, from 6-9 pm. The Craft Club will also be on site beginning at 5 pm for cowboy-hat making. (Register)
365> A Mahjong Morning benefits the Red Bank Public Library Foundation at the Woman’s Club of Red Bank on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9:30-11:30 am. Admission is $60, with refreshments, prizes, and a raffle. Register in advance and gather a table of four. (More)
365> Cedar Lane Alpacas in Howell has upcoming Open Farm Days on Saturdays, Oct. 24 and 31, from 11 am - 3 pm. The ongoing seasonal program offers visits with the alpacas and a farm shop stocked with alpaca yarn, clothing, and accessories. (More)
365> Junior Jazz Academy in Red Bank begins a new session for middle school musicians Saturday, Oct. 24, with classes from 9-10:30 am through May 15. Students study improvisation, ensemble playing, and jazz history, culminating in a showcase concert. Tuition is $500, with assistance available. (Register)
Enter Your Best Guess HERE to be entered to win dinner at this month’s Restaurant of the Month!
Yesterday’s Only in Monmouth: The Church of the Presidents in Long Branch was built and consecrated in 1879 as St. James Protestant Episcopal Chapel, a seasonal summer chapel that became known for the seven U.S. presidents—Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, and Woodrow Wilson—who attended services there. After serving as a resort church for roughly 75 years, it was deconsecrated in 1953, saved from demolition by local preservationists, converted into the Long Branch Historical Museum, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
