This Spring Lake staple is rooted in friendship and history. 

One man’s inspiring journey to create community and impact no matter the setbacks.

Two Sea Girt-born brothers make a documentary film about an incredible Arctic climate expedition. 

IT ALL STARTED  in November 2020 during the height of the pandemic. Like so many others, Johnny Bongiovanni was simply looking for something to do to brighten up an uncertain time. “I started creating and experimenting with different decorating styles during Covid purely out of boredom,” he laughs, “and realized I could make it into something bigger.” Thus, John Bongiovanni Designs was born. INFLUENCED BY THE THEATER Bongiovanni’s love of decorating began long before the pand

SPRING LAKE NATIVE  Kelly Reynolds has always had music in her heart. From early performances in school choirs and community theater to singing the national anthem for audiences at just 6 years old, her passion for performing began right here along the Jersey Shore. Now a freshman at Princeton University, she continues to pursue her musical dreams by writing, recording, and performing songs that reflect her deep connection to the world around her. “Kelly’s development into a

IF YOU HAVE ever dropped off your recycling or yard waste at the Spring Lake Reclamation Center, chances are you have been greeted by Jim Easley—and so has your dog. For the past four years, Easley has been a friendly face at the center, bringing smiles to residents and wagging tails to their four-legged companions who come along for the ride. He has worked for the Department of Public Works for 17 years, but it’s working as a Senior Recycling Technician at the Reclamation C

HOFFMAN MILLWORKS proprietors Rob and Mo Hoffman both grew up in family businesses. Although they didn’t go on to pursue their parents’ lines of work (Hoffman’s Ice Cream and McMahon Builders), they were heavily influenced by the culture and environment that their family businesses created. So, when they fell in love, got married, and started a family of their own, starting a business together was the natural next step. FROM SEED TO FRUITION In 2012, the Hoffmans had just pu

ON FRIDAY NIGHTS and Saturday afternoons in Manasquan, the energy on the field isn’t fueled by football alone. From the sidelines, the Manasquan High School Warrior Marching Band is the true “hype squad,” lifting the crowd with songs that bring back memories for alumni and keep today’s students cheering. Whether it’s a touchdown celebration or the pulse of a rivalry game, the music ties generations of fans together. HONORING TRADITIONS Some songs are staples of the band, led

THE THINGS ONE can learn chatting with someone on their front porch are sometimes both inspirational and heartwarming. Such was the case when I sat with Margo and Paul Hooker on their porch in Sea Girt recently. The Hookers met as students at Bowling Green State University. Paul, a local Ohio boy, was working in the campus pool room when he met Margo, a transfer student from Georgian Court College. Margo went in to get change to do laundry. Paul remembers looking up and “bel

WHEN SUMMER BEGINS , a new kind of classroom opens, without walls or tests. It offers a break from academic pressure and a chance to...

SOMETHING WE ALWAYS  remember our dad telling us is: “Above all else, the wine industry is about people and relationships.” Who you meet...

THE TRADITION  of playing games stretches back through history, with rules evolving to make them more organized and accessible. In Spring...

FOR LIFELONG RESIDENT and devoted volunteer Kerry McBride, Spring Lake’s beaches, boardwalks and ballfields are places where memories...

GET READY FOR a memorable tasting journey through some of Spring Lake’s most stunning kitchens, because the annual Spring Lake Kitchen...

IN SEA GIRT , there is a fascinating environmental project making waves and clearing land near Wreck Pond. The borough recently launched...

LOCATED JUST BLOCKS from the Sea Girt boardwalk, Miles Ahead Sports has grown into more than a running store—it’s become a trusted...

OLYMPIAN BOBBI Friedrich Parcinski had very few examples of women like her when beginning her athletic career. Little did she know she...

EDGEMERE PARK was one of those places to drive past along Beacon Boulevard in Sea Girt on the way to the beach or on the way out of town....

THE SEA GIRT JUNIOR Lifeguard Program has been training future lifeguards since 1996. It is an engaging summer activity that is...

IT ALL STARTED IN 1991 when a small group of Sea Girt residents, led by Marcy Grough, formed an informal run through town to benefit the...