Special events create a feeling of community

T

hough summer will not officially arrive for two more weeks, it certainly seems that the summer activity season is upon us. Memorial Day, after all, signals the start of the summer season at the Jersey Shore.

Western Monmouth County has already kicked off its summer season with the first Kruise Nite in Freehold Borough, but that is only the beginning of a host of local activities that will take place over the next 10 to 12 weeks.

Coming up this weekend, for instance, are celebrations in two towns that drive home the message of what community is all about. On Saturday, Freehold Township will host its annual Family Fun Day at Liberty Oak Park, while in Manalapan, Mon-mouth Battlefield State Park will be the scene of the annual Man-alapan Day festivities.

Both of these well-regarded local events require months of preparation and organization on the part of parks and recreation department employees and volunteers. Their efforts are rewarded when they see large turnouts for wonderful events that bring people together and foster a sense of community.

It is not always easy in the daily rush of life to remember that we are more than just isolated families living separate lives. Events like Family Fun Day in Freehold Township and Manal-apan Day serve to remind us that somehow we are all in this together.

Later this year Howell (September), Marlboro (Septem-ber), Colts Neck (August) and Englishtown (October) will hold their own community days and they, too, will serve as a way to bring people together.

These special events are among the best examples of what municipalities have to offer their residents – the chance to unite, to remember and to celebrate what it was about a town that brought us here.

There will be other special events as the summer moves into high gear. Among the more anticipated will be the annual Battle of Monmouth re-enactment in late June at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Manalapan, and the Monmouth County Fair at East Freehold Park, Freehold Town-ship, in July.

To those who are new to Western Monmouth County we say welcome and come join in the fun.

To residents who have been here for a while, we say take this opportunity to renew your enjoyment of a special place.