Hello Monmouth County! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: New bakery café, America’s 250th parade, and family soap making + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
A new neighborhood stop: Paris Baguette has opened a bakery café in Long Branch, the brand’s 32nd in New Jersey, led by local franchisees Devanshu and Ameeshi Patel, serving fresh-baked goods and artisan coffee -- tour the new bakery café.
Celebration plans take shape: Middletown will celebrate America's 250th with a semiquincentennial parade 12:30 pm June 28, followed by a family festival. A Freedom Fest drone show will light Raritan Bay July 5 -- see what's happening and when.
Summer fair favorites await: Monmouth County Fair will run July 22 to 26 at East Freehold Showgrounds, featuring fireworks, 4-H shows, live performances, a MonmouthNJ 250 celebration, and Ben Franklin and Revolutionary War interpreters -- see the fair lineup.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Overdue for a cleaning? If finding a new dentist has lingered on your list for months, Little Silver Family Dental* is running a $99 new patient package that covers a comprehensive exam, two bitewing X-rays, and a cleaning with Dr. DiBenedetto. Same-day emergencies run $69, in case something flares up before you make it in. Book the visit, line up a regular, and cross it off.
Retro fun, delivered: Skip the board games and let Autocades roll up with a 30-foot, climate-controlled trailer packed with classic cabinets, head-to-head fighters, video pinball, and kid-friendly favorites. Perfect for block parties, birthdays, or grabbing bragging rights on your street this week in Monmouth County.
Garden-date upgrade: Let your weeknight feel like a mini-escape at Limoncello at Piazza Di Roma, where classic Italian plates meet a leafy garden vibe and indoor comfort. Fresh, handcrafted dishes, signature pastas, and occasional themed dinners make it an easy yes when you want cozy, local, and a little special.
Backyard glow-up time: If your planters are still stuck in winter mode, The Farm at Lloyd Road has the kind of healthy, color-packed finds that make porches pop and neighbors nosy. Swing by for inspiration and down-to-earth guidance, then watch your beds, baskets, and backyard thrive like they finally got the memo.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🎷 Lbhs Soundwave Jazz Band @ West End Park (Long Branch) | Wednesday (6/24) at 7:00 PM – LBHS Soundwave Jazz Band takes over West End Park for its annual swing, a proper send-off this time. After 38 years of turning teenagers into musicians, Mr. Clark takes his final bow, proof that jazz ages better than our knees, and lawn-chair bragging rights.
🐾 Magnolia Summer Experience 2026 @ Acres at Magnolia Equine Rescue and Sanctuary (Farmingdale) | Thursday (6/25) at 9:00 AM – Two summer mornings at Magnolia let kids 9-14 live sanctuary life, not a petting zoo. They’ll feed horses, refresh hay, gather eggs, make tie-dye, and learn kindness, all on the animals’ terms. Drop-off, $150, and yes, you get the quiet car ride home.
🎼 Musical Explorers @ Cornerstone Music Studios (Millstone Township) | Thursday (6/25) at 5:15 PM – Give your pint-sized prodigy some playtime with purpose at Musical Explorers, a drop-off music enrichment class for ages 3.5 to 5 at Cornerstone Music Studios. They will explore rhythm, melody, and instruments while you rediscover silence, patience, and a still-warm latte.
🐶 CAFE EVENT: Yappy Hour - Spaniel @ Doggie Sweets (Long Branch) | Friday (6/26) at 5:30 PM – Yappy Hour is taking over Doggie Sweets with free pup ice cream, so your spaniel can double down on treats while you swap training tips and neighborhood gossip. It is basically happy hour, but with fur, fewer regrets, and someone else doing the drooling.
🎶 Spring Live Music in The Corral @ Coffee Corral (Red Bank) | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – If easing into the weekend with coffee, sunshine, and actual talent sounds civilized, The Corral in Red Bank has live local music on weekend mornings. Parents, the new Kid’s Corral Craft Corner buys you a few blessed minutes of quiet, weather permitting.
🧼 Weekly Saturday Family Soap Making @ Sensorium Emporium (Red Bank) | Saturday (6/27) at 2:00 PM – Swing by Sensorium Emporium in Red Bank for family soap making, a tidy way to keep little hands busy and the house smelling better than wet sneakers. Every Saturday, $25 a head, only 20 seats, so think small-batch fun, not kiddie chaos.
🚒 Atlantic Highlands Fireman's Fair @ Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor | Tuesday (6/30) at 6:00 PM – Fourth of July week at the Municipal Harbor means the 30th Atlantic Highlands Fireman's Fair, with rides, sausage and peppers, and that funnel-cake perfume. Bring the kids, your inner kid, and your patience. Fireworks cap it off, and yes, you will see everyone.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Monmouth County report Weather forecastToday — High: 84°F — Low: 64°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 84. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 85°F — Low: 64°F — Precip: 4%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 0 to 10 mph. Later: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. This house is wildThis 5-bedroom, 3.5-bath Spring Lake classic sits on a generous 50' x 150' lot just three houses from the beach, Ocean Avenue, and the South Pavilion pool. Tucked on quiet Salem Avenue in the coveted south end, it offers rare charm, renovation potential, and possible ocean views from upper levels, all in FEMA Zone X.
Take a peek inside → |
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