Sussex County Sunflower Maze – Aerial Video
Maze Address is 553 County Route 565, Augusta, NJ
1/2 mile North of Ross’s Corner
Now Open for the 2013 Season

Produced by NJ Discover Productions.

Hours Tuesday – Sunday -10 am – 6 pm!

Our Season is very weather dependent, we hope to be open thru September
Welcome to The Sussex County Sunflower Maze TM.

Visit the NJ Sunflower Maze and see

The Largest Sunflower Field on The East Coast.

Over 1.5 Million Flowers Planted!

Located 1/2 mile north of Ross’s Corner in Augusta, NJ, on Route 565.

The address is 553 Route 565, Augusta, NJ.

Please be sure to Visit Roseline’s Farm & Bakery for the best Farm Fresh Goodies you can get!

Want to know what this years Maze Design is? Like us on Facebook to be the first to see it!

All 3 sections of the maze are now open! There are over 3 miles of walking trails ans 70 acres of scenic vistas!

We post current daily pictures on our Facebook page and the progress and state of the blooms!

The entire field now has blooms! The plantings have been staggered so we can extend the bloom time for the longest period of enjoyment

New for 2013
Scare Crow Contest!

Bring old, worn, or stained clothes and accessories, we will supply the straw! Build your own scare crow, take a picture of it and post it on our Facebook page to Enter the contest. Winner will be selected on September 30.

The Kids Scavenger Hunt is now in place and better than ever!

Just like the rest of the New Jersey Shore, Sandy Castle 2013 is open for business. And, we’re getting ready to build another sandcastle – Sandy Castle 2013, Second Edition. The current structure will remain in place until Labor Day. After that, it will be dismantled and we will begin packing sand into forms for a second attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record for the Tallest Sandcastle. Please visit our Volunteer page to learn more about how you can help.

Watch Ed Jarrett and his volunteers LIVE as they build a world record sand castle! Tune in everyday to see the progress.

Please support our sponsors! Eco Building Products, Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, Sandy Castle 2013 & NJ Discover !

Live Video Provided By These Sponsors! Music Provided by:  www.mindiabair.com
The Leader in Lumber Protection

Eco is the premier manufacturer of proprietary wood products coated with Eco Red Shield™, our exclusive eco-friendly chemistry that protects against mold, rot-decay, termites and now fire. We believe lumber is back as the best building material and invite you to learn more about our products, as well as what makes today’s framing lumber different and more susceptible to mold, termites and fire.

Jenkinson’s Boardwalk offers your family a wide range of activities. Whether you are visiting for the day or the entire summer, you will always find something to excite every member of your family. From free weekly events to yearly festivals, there is always something extraordinary to experience here at Jenkinson’s.

Sandy Castle 2013, Second Edition. The current structure will remain in place until Labor Day. After that, it will be dismantled and we will begin packing sand into forms for a second attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record for the Tallest Sandcastle.

NJ Discover, a New Jersey based production company that produces TV commercials, Web commercials, Local TV Show and Social Media Ad Delivery and Management Company that specializes in getting your video seen by your targeted audience. NJ Discover proudly serves the entire state and is dedicating to positive programming for New Jersey.

Hal Sparks! Up Close & Personal! NJDiscover’s backstage interview –  from the Annual Asbury Park Comedy Festival.

Stay Tuned at www.ArtistNationTV.com for more interviews to come!!!

Coming Attractions and Recommendations: 2nd Annual BELMAR Music and Arts Festival!!  Tues Aug 27th

On a personal note, I went to the First Annual BELMAR Music and Arts Festival last year. Of course I love the music of Danny White. I love listening to the legend, Jerry Pashin taking on two trumpets at a time. I love Belmar, NJ. Some folks know about my strong attachment to this special Jersey shore town. I’d even go as far to say that it approaches nirvana to be sitting on the beach, the ocean a few hundred feet behind you, the setting sun glistening in your face, music on the boardwalk with gentle breezes stirring. (Hey, I’m a writer so I’m supposed to be describing things like this )  It’s a great setting and an even better way to usher in the Labor Day weekend and summer’s slow slip sliding away.  Calvin Schwartz   11:54am 8-20-13

Tuesday August 27th 2013  from 6 to 9 PM

ASBURY PARK COMEDY FEST WEEKEND Aug 23, 24 and 26th  (Aug 24th BIG Comedy Show at Paramount Theatre) BE THERE!!!!

On a personal note:  last year’s first Comedy Fest in Asbury Park was a magical hands-on (Vincent Pastore running around outside on the Boardwalk and Mike Marino being the NJ Bad Boy of Comedy) amazing fun time.  A lot of laughs of course and surprises. Same with next week for the 2nd ANNUAL ASBURY PARK COMEDY FEST.   I also like the night before the Paramount Show at the Wonder Bar (Aug 23rd) to unwind and let loose. I love the notion of comedic surprises at the Paramount. I love/need laughing for a few hours non stop. As a local  writer these past few years, I always seek the words to move, motivate and extricate folks from the confines of their sedentary sofas to come down to the shore. There are too many reasons for you all (yawl) to get to Asbury Park next weekend. Hey it’s the shore, NJ strong stuff, plenty of restaurants and art galleries and eclectic electric comedians and hosted by Mike Marino.    

Calvin Schwartz  1:11 pm  Aug 16th 2013

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NJ DISCOVER RADIO SHOW:  LIVE Monday Aug 19th 8 pm.  Hosts:Tara-Jean Vitale & Calvin Schwartz  SPECIAL GUEST: MIKE MARINO ‘NJ’s Bad Boy of Comedy’

This Monday. Aug 19th 8 pm LIVE NJ Discover Radio Show with Tara-Jean Vitale and Calvin Schwartz with SPECIAL GUEST MIKE MARINO, “New Jersey’s Bad Boy of Comedy”

ALL PREVIOUS SHOWS/PODCASTS AVAILABLE HERE AS WELL:

http://www.spreaker.com/show/the_nj_discover_radio_show

Jersey Mike’s Subs will once again “drive” the message of hope to hundreds of children throughout the state when it partners with inspirational golf phenomenon Dennis Walters and The First Tee of Monmouth and Ocean Counties to serve nutritious subs and encourage kids to overcome obstacles and reach for their dreams .

Walters, who became a trick-shot golfer after an accident left him paralyzed from the waist down, will share his motivational story with more than 600 youths at the event.

“Our partnership with Dennis extends for over a decade and during that time we have been proud to showcase his inspiring show and life lesson to kids in cities throughout the country,” said Peter Cancro, Jersey Mike’s founder and CEO. “By partnering with Dennis and The First Tee we can ensure that children are exposed to a positive message of inspiration that can have lasting impact on their lives.”

During the tour, Walters shares his personal story and the challenges he’s had to overcome, inspiring the kids and adults alike with life lessons as he wows them with some of golf’s most amazing shots.  He is joined by his popular canine assistant, Bucky.  In 2008, Walters was presented the PGA Distinguished Service Award.

“If there is something you really want to do – no matter how impossible it may seem – with enough hard work and perseverance you can do it,” said Walters.

About The First Tee of Monmouth and Ocean Counties

The First Tee of Monmouth and Ocean Counties was founded to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.

About Jersey Mike’s

Jersey Mike’s, a fast-casual sub sandwich franchise with more than 750 stores open and under development nationwide, has a long history of community involvement and support.  Started at the Jersey Shore in 1956, Jersey Mike’s serves authentic East Coast-style subs on fresh baked bread – the same recipe it started with over 50 years ago.  The company’s mission is to bring its customers the highest quality, freshest made sub in the industry and give back to the communities in which it operates. A store locator and franchise information for Jersey Mike’s can be found at www.jerseymikes.com.

Tent City in Lakewood. The Movie Documentary ‘Destiny’s Bridge.’  A Movie Review and Personal Journey to Involvement. Premiere August 7^th at Two River Theatre in Red Bank   By Calvin Schwartz  August 1^st 2013

Right off the top of my frontal lobe, I need to say that this amazing documentary by filmmaker Jack Ballo, ‘Destiny’s Bridge,’ where he spent a year of his life recording the lives of the homeless in Lakewood, is having its world premiere at Two River Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey on August 7^th.

Journeys to sensitivity and understanding sometimes begin innocently with little fanfare and symphonies. On Easter Sunday 2012, I attended a concert of awareness for the people of Tent City in Lakewood passionately put together by Rosemary Conte. With my son, we filmed the event for NJ Discover. I had no concept of what Tent City was and the fact that around 100 humans were living in tents for years without electricity, heat or basic amenities because Ocean County has no shelters for the homeless. Tent City was 24 minutes from where I’ve lived for 24 years but that didn’t register in my frontal lobe. While listening to the music close to the staging area, a bus of Tent City residents arrived at the far end of the plaza for food and clothing donations. Minister Stephen Brigham brought the tent residents in his yellow school bus; that scene was still far away from me in several ways. I stayed with my son but saw people holding empty plates waiting on a food line. An image of President Herbert Hoover’s Great Depression flashed across my unsympathetic retina. Close to the musicians I remained.  It seemed the thing to do. When I got home that night, I forgot about the hungry homeless and talked to my family about the special Jersey musicians I heard for the first time.

Cut to January. Hurricane Sandy relief concerts were happening all over the Garden State. My past written words of support and admiration for Rosemary Conte and her wondrous musical and life contributions caught up to her; we became friends. She invited me to cover a Sandy benefit concert at McCloone’s in Asbury Park for NJ Discover. I interviewed her and then came an introduction to Sherry Rubel, concert organizer, photographer extraordinaire and Tent City activist.

Now it’s February. I’m at a place for coffee and conversation on a busy highway in East Brunswick, N.J with Sherry Rubel. Two weeks later on a very cold sunny day, Tara-Jean Vitale (NJ Discover producer) and I met Sherry across the street from the entrance to Tent City in Lakewood. We were packing TV cameras and microphones for our day in a new world. Patches of pure white snow from the night before looked like special effects. The dirt road was frozen; so was I emotionally. A thin veil of disbelief at my surroundings settled subtly around me. It was numbing; humans in the second richest state in America existing like this. Then I met Angelo, an endearing eloquent resident who invited me into his tent, briefly excusing himself, while I stood immobile and incredulous on how cold it was in the tent.  He went outside to chop wood for the wood burning stove which was not warming the tent well.  His bed was made perfectly. At that moment, in such brutal cold, where humans sleep and exist in the Lakewood winter, I thought about never being quite the same again. And I’m not. Something inside me aches (a soul?) from being overwhelmed. An hour later we interviewed Minister Stephen Brigham, a twelfth generation American. Illuminating and inspiring to us, he’s been devoting much of an adult lifetime to the cause of ‘Destiny’s Bridge;’ a journey to finding suitable and dignified housing in a self-sustainable community of homeless humans. I like using the term ‘humans.’

It’s not within the scope of this article to do self-intestinal excavation and journalizing my time at Tent City.  But a few months later, I was back there with filmmaker Jack Ballo and had a chance to meet residents and talk and listen. Uncovering his wealth of character and poignancy, I met Michael, a long time Tent City resident with his wife Marilyn. He was able to bring a piano from his home before it was lost and kept it under a tarp like on a baseball field in a rainstorm. He played Beethoven and Procul Harum, ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ for me. Enamored and drawn to his depth and warmth, I drifted far away standing close to Michael; I was still numb from months earlier at Tent City. It was cloudy and mild this day; easier for Michael and all the residents to sleep at night. But it is all hard; a very hard rain. I need to yell; maybe it will help me understand how and why in 2013 here in New Jersey this exists. Everything I saw that day after listening to Michael play the piano was visually a whiter shade of pale; hard to explain; perhaps a perfect segue to review the documentary, ‘Destiny’s Bridge.’

REVIEW:  DESTINY’S BRIDGE

I’m not a Siskel or Ebert. On the other hand, I have evolved over my tech noir years of ‘Casablanca,’ ‘From Here to Eternity,’ ‘On the Waterfront;’ where perhaps I’m now a contender to talk about movies. Part of the evolution side effect is a bit of snobbish attitude to viewing movies; can’t waste time watching ineptitude in film making and storytelling. Movie making is an art form and a great gift. The works of quintessential movie makers fascinate me. I’ll notice eye-brows moving and the wispy windy sounds of a tree next to a window as two characters are staring at the moon. I take it all in; pure cinematic absorption. I need to learn, emote and feel. Looking back, motion pictures have helped congeal my views of the world and changed my life. Watching ‘Casablanca’ for the 44^th time some years ago formed the basis of my first novel.

So when I previewed the movie ‘Destiny’s Bridge’ a few weeks ago, I found myself instantly riveted into the world of Tent City. My emotional ties developed quickly with the residents; sensitive caring humans looking for dignity and respect in a cold world. Jack Ballo seamlessly weaves their stories and interconnectivity of existence; how they depend on one another. I can say it was beautiful film making; vivid photography heightened the stark reality. You will learn about the harsh human condition of homelessness from this documentary.

Yes, it is an exquisite film which means sensitive, emotional, real and poignant.  Back to my being a snob about movies; I’ve since watched it again. You may need to do the same; the film delivers a powerful message about homelessness and Minister Stephen Brigham’s vision for a future. Then Jack Ballo’s treatise on the lives of some of the people; you grow fond and bond with them, maybe wanting to reach out and help. You care about their lives. The film is beautiful because it makes you feel something inside. It evokes. I love when I’m evoked to emote by a film.

It was a painstaking meticulous project for Ballo; a year of his life for the desire to make a difference. I look at myself right now at this point in time somewhere in a universe. ‘Destiny’s Bridge’ has innervated and moved me; therefore a brilliant work. There’s sadness in the final scene looking down from high above; in some ways leaving that homeless world below but also heralding an awareness that much needs to be done.  All my above criteria for good movie making have been met; I call it a contender. Here’s thanking and looking at you Jack Ballo.

Important Links:  http://www.destinysbridge.com/

http://www.ultravisionfilms.com

https://www.facebook.com/DestinysBridge

INFORMATION ON MOVIE PREMIERE:

ORDER TICKETS HERE ON LINE!! REALLY ALMOST SOLD OUT!!

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/412674?date=859361

Advance online tickets for the film premiere of Destiny’s Bridge are nearly sold out!!

Best you order yours before the end of today. ($12 at the door) Wed. Aug. 7, 7p.m., Two River Theater, Red Bank. So much art & culture for such a low price!!

6:30 – lobby exhibit of photography by Sherry Rubel

7:00 – showing of this beautiful and important documentary “Destiny’s Bridge”

8:20 – Q & A; Introduction to the audience to filmmaker Jack Ballo, Univision Films; Minister Steve Brigham, and residents of Tent City featured in the film. Emcee is Dr. Michael Paul Thomas, Monmouth University.

8:45 – Reception, wine & cheese, piano music by Michael, a Tent City resident.

Photos for all on the Red Carpet.

Behind The Scenes: The first step in the ‘rebuild’ of the Jersey Shore. Episode 1.  The show starts airing on 7/31/13 through the month of August on Wednesdays and Sundays.

NJ Discover has been following Hudson Valley Environmental Deconstruction Company  for the past 3 months while in Ortley Beach documenting the first steps of the ‘rebuild’ process of New Jersey Shore communities. The next episode will be on the World Resource Solutions Center in Point Pleasant Beach where people who still need help with the ‘rebuild’ can get answers.

 Watch The Behind The Scenes 

Hudson Valley Environmental can help start your rebuild process if you need deconstruction. HVE is currently in Seaside Height’s, Ortley Beach and Lavallette. If you need deconstruction, house lifting or any assistance in your rebuild process, give HVE a call 732-967-0060.

Looking for solutions call  World Resource Solutions Center in Point Pleasant Beach 800.206.9413 or visit the website  www.WRSCenters.com

ALL NJ Discover SHOWS AIR Sunday 12:30pm and Wednesday Night 8:30pm

NJ Discover Channels:

Monmouth – Channel 190

Middlesex Central NJ- Channel 190

Toms River  To LBI – Channel  19

Princeton & Somerset  area – Channel  281

Union County – Channel 190

COMING ATTRACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Half Way 2 Mardi Gras at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park on Wednesday, July 31st ,2013  by Calvin Schwartz

Here’s how my “Coming Attractions and Recommendations” column at NJ Discover receives energy, vibes and participatory inclinations. I’m like a rocket tethered to life support systems about to take off. I need the energy. And then an event comes along that I get excited about; it launches me into word seek, like now.

Edward Maier from ElmThree productions contacted me last week about ‘Half Way 2 Mardi Gras: From the Big Easy to Asbury Park’ and told me about the event, the performers and venue, Asbury Lanes on July 31^st.  I’ve written in the past about heading back to the future at Asbury Lanes and I know about the magic music of Bonerama, Eric Lindell and The Sunliners and Soul Project.

Indeed the venue, Asbury Lanes, is special and time-warped and the flavor of Mardi Gras can magic carpet (rocket) anyone down south instantly.  Then after I posted a notice on my Facebook wall, I got a message from a good friend from Owings Mills, Maryland (near Baltimore) about how much he loves Eric Lindell, suggesting he’d even travel up 95 for this event; therefore enough energy for me to recommend and urge readers at NJ Discover to get thee to Asbury Lanes on July 31^st. And even better, Sandy Mack is the emcee for the night.

Calvin Schwartz   July 21, 2013

The Saint and ElmThree Productions present Half Way 2 Mardi Gras at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park on Wednesday, July 31st ,2013

July 21st, 2013 (ASBURY PARK, NJ) – The Saint and ElmThree Productions are pleased to present Half Way 2 Mardi Gras at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park on Wednesday, July 31st at 8:00 pm (7:00pm doors).  Tickets are available through Ticketweb and at the door the day of the show.  Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 day of the show at the door. Tickets are also available at The Saint at 601 Main St., Asbury Park. 

http://HalfWay2MardiGras.com

Half Way 2 Mardi Gras is a powerhouse night of New Orleans based rock featuring Bonerama, Eric Lindell & The Sunliners and The Soul Project.  We are pleased to have Asbury Park’s own Sandy Mack as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

Even in a city that doesn’t play by the rules, New Orleans’ Bonerama is something different. They can evoke vintage funk, classic rock and free improvisation in the same set; maybe even the same song. Bonerama has been repeatedly recognized by Rolling Stone, hailed as “the ultimate in brass balls” (2005) and praised for their “…crushing ensemble riffing, human-feedback shrieks and wah-wah growls” (2007). Bonerama carries the brass-band concept to places unknown; what other brass band could snag an honor for “Best Rock Band” (Big Easy Awards 2007 and 2010)? Co-Founders trombonists Marc Mullins and Craig Klein were both members of Harry Connick’s band.

Eric Lindell writes music that is as at home on your front porch on a summer evening as it is in a hot sweaty club on a Saturday night. It is southern soul music, infused with R&B and a touch of New Orleans funk. It is blues music, glazed with a taste of country. It is simple, heartfelt song writing; melodic guitar solos and energized live performance. Eric has been writing and recording songs for over 15 years, and is now touring behind the strength of his latest release I Still Love You. His band’s rhythm section, Myles Weeks on upright bass and Will McMains on drums, have been with Eric for over three years, making their performance on I Still Love You, as well as their live shows incredibly tight and intuitive. Both players are young, but have a swing feel of much more seasoned musicians.

Returning to New Jersey is The Soul Project.  Digging deep into the soulful grooves dug by O.V. Wright and Wilson Pickett, the funky moves of James Brown and Maceo Parker, the old school cool of the Meters and The Neville Brothers, and the feel good fuel of the Crescent City itself, the Soul Project brings New Orleans soul with them wherever they go.  Displaced by Hurricane Katrina, this group described as a “…hip group with horns…” spent 7 months building a following on the Jersey Shore and Tri-State area before returning to New Orleans to help and be part of the rebuilding process.

Asbury Lanes is a nightclub located at 209 4th Ave., Asbury Park, NJ 07712.

For further information or to schedule an interview, contact Ed Maier at (732) 948-1834 | ed@elmthree.com or Scott Stamper 732-245-0135 | saintnj601@aol.com.

For more information, contact:

Scott Stamper                                                             Edward Maier

The Saint                                                                     ElmThree Productions

732-245-0135                                                             732-948-1834

saintnj601@aol.com                                                    ed@elmthree.com

http://www.thesaintnj.com                                         http://ElmThree.com