Good morning Monmouth County! It looks like we’re getting a little reprieve from the sweltering past week. But summer is still a week away! We’re getting sweaty just thinking about it.

📚 Vacational Schools Achieve Top SAT Scores

🍑 Oh My Peaches

🎣 Father’s Day Fishing Derby

🏄‍♀ Brielle’s Caroline Duerr on NJ Monthly Cover

🍎 Farmers Markets

⚽ World Cup Viewing Parties

🚂 Model Trains at InfoAge

🎥 Movie in the Park - Zootopia 2

🌽 Great Gardens of the Garden State

🎭 We’ll Meet Again at Bell Theater

🎙 Ugly Pancake Comedy

🎸 Surfing for Daisy at The Stone Pony

💃 Social Dance Club

⚾ Blue Claws vs Greenville

🌊 Ocean Temp/Tides

Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD) schools have once again asserted their dominance in the classroom, securing an impressive five spots among the top 20 public high schools statewide for the highest average SAT scores. Leading the pack for the district is High Technology High School in Lincroft, which claimed the number two spot in New Jersey with a phenomenal average combined score of 1,512. Not far behind, Biotechnology High School in Freehold secured fourth place statewide with a combined average of 1,474. The exceptional performance across these specialized academies highlights the district's rigorous academic environment and its consistent ability to prepare students for top-tier higher education.

The remarkable achievement extends across the district's diverse career academies, proving that its specialized approach to education yields elite results across multiple disciplines. The Academy of Allied Health and Science in Neptune ranked seventh in the state with an average score of 1,398, while the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) on Sandy Hook locked in 15th place with a 1,329 average. Rounding out Monmouth County's dominant showing, Communications High School in Wall Township claimed the 19th spot with a combined score of 1,312. District Superintendent Charles R. Ford Jr., Ed.D., praised the results, noting that having one-quarter of the state's top-performing SAT schools is a powerful testament to the unwavering commitment of MCVSD students and the high level of instruction provided by its educators.

The Monmouth County Park System has officially opened registration for its highly anticipated annual Freshwater Fishing Derby weekend, offering an awesome outdoor celebration leading into Father’s Day. The two-day event kicks off on Saturday, June 20th at the Manasquan Reservoir in Howell before moving to Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold on Sunday, June 21st. Designed for anglers of all ages, each day features a free hands-on fishing clinic from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM where park naturalists teach casting and rigging basics, followed by the official derby tournament from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Registration costs $34 for a family of four (or $10 per person) and includes a container of bait worms, with rod rentals available on-site for $5. To fuel some friendly family competition, prizes will be awarded at the end of each session for the longest fish caught across three separate categories.

Children Story Time on BroadWalk | 6/15 10:30am-11am | Downtown Red Bank (Red Bank) | info

Raritan Valley Hi-Railers (Model Trains) | 6/15-6/20 Mon-Thur 12pm-5pm | InfoAge (Wall) | info

Storytime & Crafts | 6/16-6/18 11am | Monmouth Museum- Wonder Wing (Lincroft) | info

Bayshore Family Success Center - Father's Day Craft | 6/16 3:30pm-4:30pm | Middletown Library (Middletown) | info

Washington's Children's Parade of 1776 PopDown® Craft | 6/16 4:15pm-4:50pm | Manalapan Library (Manalapan) | info

Kids Karate on BroadWalk | 6/17 11am-12pm | Downtown Red Bank (Red Bank) | info

Alpaca Visit! | 6/17 3pm-4pm | Wall Library (Wall) | info

WILD Jersey: Find a Fossil (ages 8-12 with parent/caregiver) | 6/17 4pm-4:45pm | Howell Library (Howell) | info

Sunset Seining | 6/17 6pm-8pm | 18 Hartshorne Drive (Highlands) | info

Movie in the Park- Zootopia 2 | 6/17 7pm | Tighe Park (Freehold) | info

Yosi Musical Dino Concert | 6/18 11am-11:45am | Howell Library (Howell) | info

Author Reading- Mermaid Candy: A Sea Glass Adventure | 6/18 3:15pm-3:45pm | Atlantic Highlands Library (Atlantic Highlands) | info

Kids Takeover | 6/18 4pm-6pm | Downtown Red Bank (Red Bank) | info

Brielle native Caroline Duerr has taken center stage as the cover star of New Jersey Monthly's June 2026 Shore issue, celebrating her deep roots and inspiring impact on the local surfing community. Raised in a legendary surfing family near the tight-knit breaks of Manasquan Beach, the 31-year-old was introduced to the waves at a young age by her father, East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame inductee Scott Duerr. Today, Caroline beautifully balances her life between the classroom—teaching English at the New School of Monmouth County—and the ocean, where she coaches advanced young female athletes at the Pink Pineapple surf camp in Manasquan. Photographed gracefully riding the waves at Manasquan by renowned local photographer Ann Coen, Caroline uses her platform to serve as a powerful role model for the next generation of Jersey Shore surfers and skateboarders.

Showcasing Shrewsbury's Centennial 1926-2026 Exhibit | 6/15-6/20 Mon-Thur 9am-9pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info

Wall Township Library Book Sale | 6/15-6/18 Mon 10am-9pm, Tu-Thu 9am-9pm | Wall Library (Wall) | info

Coffee With A Cop at McDonald's | 6/18 10am-12pm | McDonald's- 229 Broadway (Long Branch) | info

Juneteenth Celebration | 6/18 5pm-9pm | Taylor Pavilion- Belmar Public Library (Belmar) | info

Allaire Village Legacy Awards | 6/18 6pm-8pm | The Historic Village at Allaire (Wall) | info

Mingle Mondays w/ DJ MoTalent | 6/15 4pm-7pm | Downtown Red Bank (Red Bank) | info

Line Dancing on BroadWalk | 6/15 7pm-9pm | Downtown Red Bank (Red Bank) | info

Sip & Paint | 6/16 7pm-9pm | Pier Pins- Pier Village (Long Branch) | info

Altered Art- Bottles | 6/16 6pm-8:30pm | Sun Moon Studio (Keyport) | info

Sea Glass Art at Bakes | 6/17 6pm-8pm | Bakes Brewing Co (Wall) | info

Creating Sea Glass Art: An Artful Experience | 6/17 6pm-7:30pm | ArtSpace (Red Bank) | info

Haunted Pub Tour - Asbury Park | 6/17 7:30pm | The Paranormal Museum (Asbury Park) | info

Private Group Tour of the Paranormal Museum | 6/17 & 6/18 12pm, 1:15pm, 2:30pm, 3:45pm | The Paranormal Museum (Asbury Park) | info

Adult Jewelry Making | 6/18 5pm-6pm | Atlantic Highlands Library (Atlantic Highlands) | info

Remember that series of severe, late-season freezes we experienced? Well, they devastated New Jersey’s agricultural sector, inflicting an estimated $300 million in crop damages. Unseasonably warm spring weather caused perennial crops to bloom weeks ahead of schedule, leaving them highly vulnerable when temperatures suddenly plummeted into the 20s. The catastrophic cold snap obliterated early-stage buds, with some regions reporting a total loss of peach crops and up to 90% damage to apples, blueberries, and wine grapes. To combat the freezing temperatures, desperate farmers deployed emergency mitigation tactics, including specialized orchard candles, mobile hot-air heaters, and water-spraying techniques designed to insulate delicate blossoms.

In response to the widespread agricultural ruin, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has officially declared a federal disaster, unlocking low-interest emergency loans to help impacted family farms survive the financial blow. State officials have also eased temporary regulations to support local growers facing historically low yields. While the federal aid provides a critical lifeline for producers, consumers across the region should prepare for significantly higher prices and lower availability of local fruits at grocery stores and farm stands this season.

Bell Fresh Farmers & Makers Market | 6/17 11am-4pm | Bell Works (Holmdel) | info

Tall Oaks Farm & Makers Market | 6/17 3pm-7pm | Tall Oaks Farm + Brewery (Farmingdale) | info

Vines & Vinyl: Fertile Grounds, Jazz in the Garden State | 6/17 6pm-9pm | Homesick + Lovesick (Asbury Park) | info

Great White Kitchen Adventure! | 6/17 9:30am-11:30am | Taste & Technique (Fair Haven) | info

West End Farmers Market | 6/18 9am-2pm | West End Park (Long Branch) | info

Wall Township Farmers Market | 6/18 2pm-7pm | 1900 Baileys Corner (Wall) | info

Purls & Pours | 6/18 6pm-8pm | Beach Bee Meadery (Long Branch) | info

AI Disinformation | 6/15 1pm-2pm | West Long Branch Library (West Long Branch) | info

Ecology of Native Plants | 6/15 6pm-8pm | Manalapan Library (Manalapan) | info

Exhibition on Screen – John Singer Sargent: Fashion & Swagger | 6/15 7pm | Pollak Theatre (West Long Branch) | info

Then and Now: Sandy Hook's Golden Age Resort | 6/15-7/14 Mon-Thur 9am-9pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info

Crash Course Exhibit | 6/15-7/6 Mon/Thur 12pm-7pm | Parlor Gallery (Asbury Park) | info

“Vibrant” – A Colorful Art Exhibit | 6/15-6/21 Varies | Art629 (Asbury Park) | info

Native Americans of New Jersey Past & Present | 6/16-6/18 Tu-Su 10am-4pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info

Pigment of Your Imagination: Just Lefkowitz Art Exhibit | 6/16-6/18 Tu-Su 10am-4pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info

Travel Sketching WAITLIST OPEN | 6/16 1:30pm-2:30pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info

Sandy Hook Horseshoe Crab Walk | 6/16 6:30pm-8pm | Gateway National Recreation Area- Sandy Hook (Highlands) | info

Middletown Township Historical Society Presents "British March through Middletown" | 6/16 7pm-8:30pm | Middletown Library (Middletown) | info

Tour of Historic Portland Place | 6/17 & 6/18 Wed/Thur 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, 2:30pm | Hartshorne Woods Park (Middletown) | info

Nature Drawing in Jackson Woods | 6/17 12:30pm-2:30pm | Jackson Woods (Long Branch) | info

Genealogy Club - Mary Hussey from MonCo Archives | 6/17 2pm-3:30pm | Middletown Library (Middletown) | info

Drawing Basics- Perspective Drawing | 6/17 5pm-7pm | Sun Moon Studio (Keyport) | info

The Joy of Gardening: Growing Plants, Growing Well-Being | 6/17 6pm-8pm | Manalapan Library (Manalapan) | info

Boat Tours of the Manasquan Reservoir | 6/17 Wed 2pm, 3pm, 4pm | Manasquan Reservoir (Howell) | info

Rigging 101 at the Manasquan Reservoir | 6/18 10am-12pm | Manasquan Reservoir- Meet at the West Dock-Ramp (Howell) | info

Our Lenape Heritage | 6/18 3pm-4pm | Marlboro Library (Marlboro) | info

The New Botanical: Artist Talk | 6/18 6pm-8pm | 577 Broadway (Long Branch) | info

Great Gardens of the Garden State | 6/18 7pm-8pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info

The Axelrod Performing Arts Center is set to present the first professional production of We'll Meet Again, a deeply moving new American musical running for 12 performances from June 18th through June 28th, 2026, at the Bell Theater. Directed by Broadway’s Daniel Kutner and written by James R. Harris, the patriotic and life-affirming production is inspired by the remarkable true story of Heinz "Henry" Stern, a five-year-old Jewish boy who narrowly escaped Nazi Germany with his family on one of the final sanctioned ships in 1937. After arriving in the rural town of Opelika, Alabama, with little more than courage, the Stern family was embraced with open arms by the local community—including a mayor who issued a welcome proclamation and a schoolteacher who learned German just to communicate with young Henry. Starring five-decade Broadway veteran Herndon Lackey alongside a stellar principal cast, this powerful testament to human kindness features a rich, nostalgic soundtrack of traditional Jewish melodies interwoven with timeless 1940s American classics like "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and "I'll Be Seeing You," offering local audiences an unforgettable theatrical experience centered on faith, resilience, and the enduring beauty of the American spirit.

Ugly Pancake Comedy Night | 6/15 6pm-8pm | The Long Branch Arts & Cultural Center (Long Branch) | info

Bards | 6/15 7pm-10pm | My Way Cafe (Long Branch) | info

Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul | 6/17 7pm | Count Basie- Cinema House (Red Bank) | info

Elephant Shoes | 6/17-6/28 Wed 1pm & 7pm, Thursday 8pm | Two River Theater (Red Bank) | info

The Vienna Lessons | 6/18-6/28 Thur 7pm (SOLD OUT) | New Jersey Repertory Company (Long Branch) | info

Open Mic Comedy Night | 6/18 7pm | Count Basie- Cinema House (Red Bank) | info

We'll Meet Again | 6/18-6/28 Thur 7pm | Bell Theater (Holmdel) | info

Hot Mulligan | 6/16 5pm-10pm | The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) | info

FBAC Open Mic Night | 6/16 6:30pm-9pm | The American Hotel (Freehold) | info

Straight No Chaser Beach Bash | 6/16 7:30pm | Count Basie- HMH Theatre (Red Bank) | info

Open Mic Night with Rob D! | 6/17 6pm-7pm | Asbury Park Brewery (Asbury Park) | info

LILA IKÉ | 6/17 7pm | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info

Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway | 6/17 7pm | New Jersey Repertory Company (Long Branch) | info

Luke Combs UK- A tribute to Luke Combs | 6/17 7pm | The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) | info

Bad Cop Bad Cop | 6/17 7pm | The Wonder Bar (Asbury Park) | info

The Wood Brothers | 6/17 7:30pm | Count Basie- The Vogel (Red Bank) | info

Count Basie Center Community Juneteenth Celebration | 6/18 5:30pm | Count Basie- The Vogel (Red Bank) | info

Secondhand Serenade | 6/18 6pm | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info

Riley Green: Cowboy as it Gets Tour | 6/18 7pm | PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel) | info

Eddie V9 | 6/18 7pm | The Wonder Bar (Asbury Park) | info

Thursdays by the Sea- Joe Baracata Band | 6/18 7pm-8:30pm | Great Lawn Stage (Long Branch) | info

Monthly Jazz Jam! | 6/18 7pm-9:30pm | BAC (Belmar) | info

Thursday’s ROCK! Summer Concert Series | 6/18 7:30pm-9:30pm | Hall of Records (Downtown Freehold) | info

Surfing For Daisy, Sunshine Spazz | 6/18 8pm | The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) | info

Social Dance Club | 6/18 12pm-1:30pm | Manalapan Library (Manalapan) | info

Run Club | 6/18 6:30pm-8:30pm | Bakes Brewing Co (Wall) | info

Game On! Summer of Soccer at Bell Works | 6/15-7/19 Various times | Bell Works (Holmdel) | info

FIFA World Cup at Pier Village: Summer of Soccer | 6/15-7/19 Various times | The Wave Resort- Pier Village (Long Branch) | info

World Cup Watch Party $5 Pins (all games) | 6/15-6/18 Various times | Five Dimes Brewery (Red Bank) | info

BlueClaws vs Greenville | 6/16-6/18 Tu/Wed 6:35pm, Thursday 7:05pm | Shoretown Ballpark (Lakewood) | info

Red Bank Watch Party | 6/18 Pre-party 7pm, Game starts 9pm | Count Basie Park (Red Bank) | info

Mexico Watch Party | 6/18 7pm-11pm | Count Basie Park (Shrewsbury) | info

Mon 6/15: Low 2:03am | High 8:04am | Low 1:59pm | High 8:18 | Sunrise 5:27am | Sunset 8:28pm

Tue 6/16: Low 2:57am | High 8:59am | Low 2:54pm | High 9:12pm | Sunrise 5:27am | Sunset 8:28pm

Wed 6/17: Low 3:48am | High 9:56am | Low 3:48pm | High 10:08 | Sunrise 5:27am | Sunset 8:29pm

Thu 6/18: Low 4:38am | High 10:55am | Low 4:41pm | High 11:05 | Sunrise 5:26am | Sunset 8:28pm