Community Corner

'Manalapan Under the Stars' to Kick-Off Summer 2011

Manalapan Under the Stars 2011 is today, Saturday, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Manalapan Recreation Center.

Today, Saturday, June 11, Manalapan Township will participate in an event that is at least 35 years in the making — Manalapan Day. The fun-filled summer-kick off event will take place from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the newly expanded area of the .

Officially entitled “Manalapan Under the Stars,” Manalapan Day comes to fruition from the hard work and dedication of Manalapan’s Heritage Committee, which is comprised of approximately 20 Heritage Volunteers appointed by the Township Committee, according to Township Committeeman Jordan Maskowitz. 

“We are always organizing and planning for each year's event. The day after Manalapan Day ends we start planning for the next event,” Maskowitz said. 
And an event that has brought between 10,000 to 15,000 patrons within the past seven years, according to Heritage Committee co-chair Barbara Miller, would require a tremendous amount of diligence and labor. Miller also indicated that the Manalapan Police Department recorded approximately 20,000 in attendance last year!

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RIDES & GAMES

Party Perfect Rentals will be providing many rides for children to enjoy! Tickets will need to be purchased in order to go on the rides. 

An entire carnival area with games will be set up and prizes will be available. 

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Pony rides will be available for children to partake in, a classic memory all kids should have!

A Fireworks Display will end the evening after Gary Puckett and the Union Gap Band perform; fireworks should begin at around  9:15 p.m. or 9:30 p.m.

ENTERTAINMENT

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap Band will be performing at the main stage, showcasing 60s hits such as "Young Girl", "Woman Woman", and "Lady Will Power".  Previous bands that played at Manalapan Day include Tommy James and Shondells, Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees, Peter Noone, and Al Jardin of the Beach Boys, according to Maskowitz, who said the Heritage Committee tries to pick a band that will "be a big draw for the event." Gary Puckett and the Union Gap Band will perform at 8:00 p.m. 

*Bring blankets and/or lawn chairs to sit comfortably while listening to the band on the Great Lawn in front of the Main Stage.

Other acts scheduled to perform include the Manalapan Varsity Cheerleaders, ICON Dance Complex, Speed Limit Band, and Elite Zumba. The Master of Ceremonies will be Tommy G. 

In case of rain, only the ENTERTAINMENT will be moved to the Manalapan High School. 

RAFFLE

The Heritage Committee and the Manalapan Arts Foundation will sell 50/50 raffle tickets; the drawing will be held at 7:45 p.m. and the winner must be present to claim the winnings, Miller indicated.

FOOD & BEVERAGES

What types of food will be for sale at Manalapan Under the Stars? Everything you can think of! Definitely expect to munch on: french fries, hot dogs, soft pretzels, pizza, sausage and peppers, cheese steaks, fried fish, chicken fingers, fried oreos, zeppoles, funnel cake, cotton candy, snow cones, chicken and ribs, kettlecorn, crab cakes, hamburgers and Italian ice. 

No alcohol is permitted in parks within Manalapan Township, so no booze will be sold at the event. Please DO NOT bring your own. 

VENDORS AND SPONSORS

All of the money which funds this event comes from sponsorships and vendors. “No money is allocated in the Township budget for the event,” Maskowitz explained. 

Vendors include the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Church groups, the Yorktowne Club, food vendors, private businesses and organizations, informational vendors and craft vendors. The Shade Tree Commission, Environmental Commission, Manalapan Health Department, and Rutgers Master Gardeners will all be on site handing out information. 

Local realtors, insurance agents, and health providers will also be present and at the ready to answer any questions you may have.

Be sure to bring some cash, as many vendors will be selling wares. Merchant vendors will be selling crafts, sand art, hair bows, sunglasses, children's books, purses, and more, Miller said.

Sponsorships that helped fund the event include: 

PLATINUM

  • Englishtown Auction
  • Ray Catena Lexus of Monmouth 

GOLD

  • Battleground Country Club
  • CentraState Medical Center
  • CME Associates
  • Elite Fitness & Sports Center
  • Greater Media Newspapers
  • Goldy's Ice Cream
  • ICON Dance Complex
  • McLaughlin Gelson D'Apolito Stauffer Shaklee & Curtis LLC
  • Party Perfect Rentals
  • United Water
  • Wegmans
  • Wells Fargo 

SILVER

  • Applebee's
  • Archer Steel Construction
  • Brown & Brown MetroHeilbrunn, Pape & Goldstein
  • Justin Corporate Center  "A KABR Property"
  • Klafter & Mason
  • Manalapan Baseball & Softball Association
  • Manalapan Soccer Club
  • Pastosa Ravioli
  • Susan & Eli Cohen
  • Waste Management
  • Yorktowne Club 

 BRONZE 

  • Allstate Beer Family Agency
  • Brace Place Orthodontics
  • Century 21 Cataneo & Associates
  • Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri & Jacobs
  • JMB Petroleum
  • Joffe Family Chiropratic
  • Sonnenblick, Parker & Selvers
  • Stockel's Lawn & Landscaping
  • Valley National Bank
ADMISSION AND PARKING

Admission and parking for Manalapan Day is free. Parking will be available at the , the , , and . Shuttle busses will run from the high school and from Covered Bridge Clubhouse over to the recreation center.

COMMUNITY TOGETHERNESS AND GIVING BACK

The Heritage Committee is asking that all who come please bring a non-perishable food item which will be donated to the Samaritan Center, located at 211 Rt. 522.

“ ‘Manalapan Under the Stars’ means a community event which offers something for all residents of every age. It is an event which exemplifies what Manalapan is all about to all of us, ‘A great place to live!’” Maskowitz said. “This is an event which makes you proud to be a Manalapan resident.”

Come out and celebrate YOUR community and make Manalapan Under the Stars 2011 a huge success!


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