This week marks a very special occasion - one year of Down the Shore!

You’ve welcomed us into your busy inboxes each week for the latest culture, events, and history from our section of the Monmouth County Shore and we couldn’t be more excited and grateful to keep it going.

Looking back 52 weeks, what did we plug in our very first edition?

Thanks to all of our readers for making this newsletter a Shore thing. We look forward to many more seasons with you.

We chatted with Laurie Bratone, Executive Director of The Sandy Hook Foundation, the official nonprofit friends group for the National Park Service at Sandy Hook. Established in 1989, the Foundation funds cultural, educational, environmental and conservation programs and has helped restore and preserve historic structures including the Sandy Hook Lighthouse and Fort Hancock, both National Historic Landmarks.

As big fans and frequent visitors to Sandy Hook ourselves, we were excited to speak with Laurie about SHF’s role in park preservation, what upcoming events readers should look out for, interesting local legends and lore, and how to get involved.

What does the Sandy Hook Foundation make possible that visitors might not realize is supported by the Foundation?

I think what surprises people most is how much of the Sandy Hook experience has been made possible, or enhanced, by the Sandy Hook Foundation. We of course like to think of the Foundation in terms of big projects, but our mission touches so many of the things visitors experience without perhaps realizing it.

We’ve helped restore historic buildings, and we’re currently helping the park plan a new path forward for Fort Hancock. We’ve supported exhibits and artifact preservation at History House and the Fort Hancock Museum, funded accessibility options like beach wheelchairs, installed bike repair stations, and hosted public programs, internships, and environmental projects. We’re also continuing to steward the historic Life Saving Station and keep it open to the public five days a week during the season.

And I think that’s really the point of a foundation like ours. We’re here to help the National Park Service do things that might otherwise take longer or simply not happen. Our goal is to make Sandy Hook a better place to visit, learn from, and care about—and hopefully most visitors just think, “What a great national park.” That’s the best compliment we could get.

Sandy Hook has such an unusual mix of beaches, military history, wildlife, and recreation. What’s something that even longtime locals might be surprised to learn?

I’m not sure how unknown this is, but when the Sandy Hook Lighthouse was first lit in 1764, it stood only about 500 feet from the northern tip of the Hook. As ocean currents carried sand northward, Sandy Hook gradually extended farther into New York Harbor. By 1864, the lighthouse was about 4,000 feet from the tip, and today, the northern end of the peninsula is roughly 1½ miles beyond the lighthouse.

We saw you’re hosting a Haunted History of Sandy Hook event in October! As big history (and paranormal) fans, can you give us a preview with a spooky fact?

We are very excited for the Haunted History event at the Life Saving Station. Historian Greg Caggiano (Ghosts on the Coast) has been out to visit us a few times, and while we can’t share any spooky details, stories or ghosts of shipwrecks like the Edmund J. Phinney - which wrecked just 300 yards off Sandy Hook during a gale on December 17, 1907 - are sure to resurface!

The lifesaving crews from Sandy Hook and Spermaceti Cove battled freezing conditions and raging winds to rescue all ten crew members before the ship broke apart, just as the captain and first mate were being brought ashore in a breeches buoy. One of those buoys is now on display at the Life Saving Station.

Do you have a go-to order at Mule Barn Tavern?

Absolutely the mahi-mahi fish tacos.

We all love summer at the Shore, but what’s your favorite thing to do at Sandy Hook in the off-season? Or is there a particular season or time of year you love most?

Every day is different on the Hook, but I think fall might be my favorite time. Once the summer crowds thin out, it feels like you get to experience the park in a completely different way. I love taking a walk toward the ocean and along the beach when the air is crisp and the light is beautiful. There’s something really peaceful about it.

Fall is also a wonderful time to see migrating birds making their way south. Sandy Hook is on the Atlantic Flyway, with more than 325 species recorded in our park alone!

P.S. Looking to get involved? The Sandy Hook Foundation is seeking volunteers for a variety of roles, including greeters at the historic Spermaceti Cove U.S. Lifesaving Station, helping keep it open and accessible to the public. Fill out a volunteer interest form here.

Monday 9/14 - 75°/59° Sunny

Tuesday 9/15 - 71°/58° Partly Sunny

Wednesday 9/16 - 77°/58° Partly Sunny

Thursday 9/17 - 79°/67° Partly Sunny

Friday 9/18 - 81°/66° Partly Sunny

Saturday 9/19 - 71°/66° Partly Sunny

Sunday 9/20 - 75°/63° Cloudy

And for the surfers out there, here are the weekly surf conditions in Belmar courtesy of Surf Captain:

Even though summer is officially winding down, there are still a number of farmers markets going strong! We’ll try to flag when a local farmers market is nearing its hiatus so you can get one last haul in before the end of the season!

And if there are any markets we should definitely feature this season, let us know!

One of the highlights this week is Sea.Hear.Now, where you can see Mumford & Sons, The Offspring, Chaka Khan, Shaggy, The Strokes, The Goo Goo Dolls, and more! Tickets are sold out, but you can still get tickets on the secondary market.

Another favorite of ours is the Spring Lake Italian Festival on Saturday 9/19 in downtown Spring Lake. Save us a sausage and pep!

And for the mamas-to-be, the Bunny Hive Fort Monmouth’s Expecting Mom Social is finally here this Sunday! Take a breather from the r/mommit rabbit holes and meet the local network of professionals and services that supports new moms!

As always, if there’s an upcoming event you’d like us to cover, feel free to pass it along!

Belmar - Line Dancing Mondays at Beach Haus Brewing (6 pm)

Holmdel - Complimentary Intro to Pickleball Clinic with Jersey Pickleball Club at Bell Works (9:30 am)

Loch Arbour - Trivia Night at Deal Lake Bar + Co (7:30 pm)

Oceanport - Weekly Trivia at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6:30 pm)

Spring Lake - An Evening with NYT Bestselling Author Harlan Coben at Spring Lake Theatre (6 pm - get tix)

Belmar - Music Bingo Tuesdays at Beach Haus Brewing (7 pm)

Red Bank - Trivia with Jenn at Jamians (7:30 pm)

Sandy Hook - danceFLOORED at The Post Chapel at Sandy Hook (6 pm - get tix)

Red Bank - Karaoke at Jamians (8 pm)

Tinton Falls - Bingo & Brews at Twin Lights Brewing (6 pm)

Belmar - Trivia Night Thursdays + Oyster Night on the Rooftop at Beach Haus Brewing (7 pm)

Oceanport - Music Bingo at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6 pm)

Red Bank - Erez Lirov at The Molly Pitcher Inn (6 pm - live music)

Tinton Falls - Trivia on Tap at Twin Lights Brewing (7 pm)

Holmdel - Clamdiggers at Fox Hollow Vineyard (6 pm - live music)

Loch Arbour - Pat Guadagno Duo at Deal Lake Bar + Co (5 pm - live music)

Manasquan - Jo Wymer at Harpoon Willy’s (8:30 pm - live music)

Oceanport - Hang Loose Band at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6 pm - live music)

Red Bank - Digital Marketing Masterclass with Coastline Marketing: How to Shoot Social Content at The Residency, Anderson Market (11 am - sign up here)

Red Bank - Barbara King at The Molly Pitcher Inn (6 pm - live music)

Sandy Hook - Stars of Sandy Hook (7:30 pm - register here)

Tinton Falls - Open Mic Night at Twin Lights Brewing (6 pm)

Asbury Park - Sea.Hear.Now Music Festival (get tix)

Holmdel - Mini Music Festival at Fox Hollow Vineyard (2 pm - live music)

Loch Arbour - Doug Kaetz at Deal Lake Bar + Co (8 pm - live music)

Manasquan - Aloha Monkey at Harpoon Willy’s (8:30 pm - live music)

Oceanport - The Pour Boys Duo at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6 pm - live music)

Red Bank - Kids Mini Book Fair at Crazy Story Books (10 am - learn more)

Red Bank - Red Bank Pop Culture Festival on Broad Street (12 pm - learn more)

Red Bank - Frank Rainey at The Molly Pitcher Inn (6 pm - live music)

Sandy Hook - Free Yoga on the Beach (8 am - learn more)

Sandy Hook - Locals Summer Bird Walk (8 am - learn more)

Spring Lake - Spring Lake Italian Festival (12 pm)

Spring Lake - Brunch and Books with Children's Author Audrey Vernick at Thunder Road Books (11 am - learn more)

Wall Township - Allaire Fall Harvest Festival (11 am - get tix)

Asbury Park - Sea.Hear.Now Music Festival (get tix)

Holmdel - Cadenz Duo at Fox Hollow Vineyard (3 pm - live music)

Long Branch - Yappy Hour at Beach Bee Meadery (3 pm - learn more)

Oceanport - The Expecting Mom Social at The Bunny Hive Fort Monmouth (10 am and 2 pm - get tix)

Wall Township - Allaire Fall Harvest Festival (11 am - get tix)

September 24: Fair Haven - Author Event: Jersey Shore on Film Book Talk and Signing at River Road Books (7 pm - learn more)

October 10: Red Bank - Red Bank Oktoberfest (1 pm - learn more)

October 15: Fair Haven - Author Event: “Gather Around My Table” with NYT Cooking Contributor Kay Chun (7 pm - learn more)

Did we miss an event? Let us know.

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