A JERSEY SHORE SPECIAL COMING ATTRACTION: SPRING LAKE: THE IRISH FESTIVAL: SAT MAY 16   By Calvin Schwartz

The beauty of New Jersey lies not only along its shore coastline, or mountains in the northwest, or expanses of pine lands or in towns and hamlets along the Delaware River but in its indefatigable, diverse, resilient people. I’ve often written about New Jersey achieving its independence from New York and Philadelphia as we’ve become a pop culture phenomenon. You just have to look at movies and television; The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, Jersey Shore,  Garden State, Jersey Boys or Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi and global music. New Jersey is hot.

It therefore becomes a perfect alignment when an event highlighting our diversity and rich cultural heritage originates from a quaint historic Victorian Jersey Shore town.  Welcome to the Spring Lake NJ Irish Festival Saturday May 16^th.  And suddenly there’s live music, cultural food, beer garden, contests, kids activities, Atlantic Ocean, Jersey Shore ambiance, sports personalities and more. What a perfect Saturday afternoon way before the long lines of summer.     Calvin Schwartz   4-29-15

Regarding the sports figures:  Ray  Lucas – Rutgers star, who played 7 years as an NFL  QB, including the NY Jets and is now a TV and radio broadcaster.

Jeff Feagles – Played 22 years in the NFL and earned the named Mr. Coffin for pinning the opposing team deep on their side of the field. Jeff also is a TV and radio broadcaster

Each will be autographing photos, items brought in and taking pictures for a nominal fee that will be 100% donated to a worthy local charity.

Ray and Jeff will appear between 1PM to 3PM.