September is here, which means the Fall for Conservation Cocktail Party! Photo by Tina Colella

Dear Friend of MCF, September is an exciting time that brings mixed feelings. Summer is starting to end and students are returning to school, while we residents get to enjoy “Locals’ Summer” as our seasonal visitors return home. The weather begins to turn cooler as we welcome fall, and we can look forward to the gorgeous colors of autumn soon dazzling our treescapes. It’s an important month for MCF when we host our biggest fundraiser of the year – the Fall for Conservation Cocktail Party. We hope to see you there! Until then, please enjoy this month’s news including a new acquisition in Howell, grants, and a very special gift to support our work and a community art project, the Fall for Conservation live auction preview, and more. Cordially, William D. Kastning, AICP Executive Director 

Your donation supports Monmouth Conservation Foundation’s mission of Creating Parks . Saving Open Space . Preserving Farmland . Safeguarding Waterways . Teaching Environmental Sustainability . Protecting Wildlife

Acquisition News! Howell Township Acquires Addition to Deerwood Park

Photo: Howell Township MCF is thrilled to congratulate Howell Township and join in the celebration over nearly six acres preserved as an addition to Deerwood Park! Land acquisitions come to fruition through many different pathways, and MCF plays a variety of roles in preserving the land – sometimes providing funding, other times facilitating the process by guiding a municipality through the steps, in some cases bringing together partners, or sometimes a combination of all of the above. The journey to land preservation can be complicated and slow, in some cases unique even – such as this one, but the result is always a victory to be celebrated by all involved, and all who benefit.  Click here to read the full story!

Surprise Bequest Makes a Powerful Impact

We are humbled and grateful to be the beneficiary of an unexpected bequest in support of our operations. MCF extends our heartfelt thanks to the late Monmouth County resident who had the foresight and generosity to include MCF in their estate plans, leaving a powerful legacy. We proudly welcome this individual into our Nilson society, named in recognition of the extraordinary contributions of our longtime supporters, Gloria and Len Nilson, and created to honor those who include MCF in their estate plans, just as Gloria and Len have done. To learn more about estate and planned giving, or to discuss your legacy, please contact us or click HERE.

Grant Award for Art Installation: Seeking Artists!

MCF, in partnership with Friends of Jackson Woods, is honored to be one of five state-wide recipients of a $22,000 grant award from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to participate in a Community-Based Art Grant Program. The award is made possible by funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The DEP Coastal Management Program (CMP) is partnering with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (State Arts Council) to implement the Grant Program, which is intended to bring attention to and start conversation around climate change in our coastal areas through art installations in geographically diverse locations across the state. In doing so, the CMP aims to have a more wide-spread and effective approach to communicating risk.   MCF will be partnered with a regional artist or artist team, who will create a temporary art installation at Jackson Woods Park in Long Branch, New Jersey. We will collaboratively host an accompanying community event to showcase the installation when this comes to fruition in spring to fall 2023.   Interested artists may learn more about this opportunity and how to apply in the Call for Artists (Café) administered through the New Jersey State Arts Council. The deadline to submit an application is September 26, 2022. Learn more about this artist opportunity and how to apply. MCF’s work with Jackson Woods Park is an example of our growing efforts in park creation and enhancement - a crucial part of keeping Monmouth County green and livable. Whether rejuvenating a neglected park in an underserved community or creating a welcoming new park with water and fishing access, it is imperative to protect our land for people of all ages to respect and enjoy.

RSVP by September 16 for Fall for Conservation!

Monmouth Conservation Foundation’s premier outdoor event of the season Saturday, September 24, 2022 ∙ 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Honoring Gloria and Len Nilson Hosted by John and Robin Klein at their home on the beautiful Navesink River in Middletown, New Jersey Ticket reservations include open bar and hors d’oeuvres by Triumph Brewery Co. Restaurant & Brewery Exclusive Auction. Live Music. Entertainment and more

Click here for ticketing, sponsorship, and auction opportunities

Fall for Conservation Live Auction Preview! This year, thanks to our generous contributors, we are thrilled to bring you exclusive experiences through our live auction, including: An Artisan Pizza Dinner Experience Adirondack Mountain Lake Retreat Charming Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride with Brunch through Scenic Rumson Chapel Beach Club Jump the Line to the Top of the Waiting List! Click HERE for full details.

Meet our Hosts! Robin & John Klein Host Fall for Conservation 2022 MCF is grateful to Robin and John Klein for hosting this year’s Fall for Conservation Cocktail Party at their home on the beautiful Navesink River. The couple’s love for our community is matched by their dedication to several diverse charitable causes in the region, including MCF. Join us at the Kleins’ waterfront home on Saturday, September 24 evening and get to know more about them HERE.

Thank you to our Fall for Conservation Sponsors!

Special Thank You to our Gracious Event Hosts Robin and John Klein

NATURAL WORLD CHAMPIONS

Arthur and Jill Kontos

NATURE & WILDLIFE ADVOCATE

LAND PRESERVATION ALLIES

FARMLAND AND GREEN SPACE PATRONS

Lucy and Mazin Kalian Peter R. and Lilly Kemmerer Gloria and Len Nilson Sarah Orsay and Russell Montalbano

VALET & TRANSPORTATION UNDERWRITERS

Robin and John Klein

PARK DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTERS

OPEN SPACE FRIENDS

Senator Jennifer Beck . Leslie and Matt Cohen . Marianne and Robert Ficarra . Benjamin and Jean Fleischner . Dave and Donna Hoder . Kate Ketchem and Michael Wu Barbara R. Nevius . Maggie S. Riker . Chris and Karen Rodriguez . Cindy and Michael Rubi . Monica and John L. Ryan . Linda and Andy Safran . Frank Scheuer . Geri Skirkanich Ric and Gerri Venino . Vin Gopal Civic Association . David Wickersham Susan and Louis Zinterhofer

DONORS

Juanita Coggins . Robert Jaffin . Kevin Leahy . Bonnie and Simon Levin

LIVE AUCTION CONTRIBUTORS

Chapel Beach Club . Eylse and Jonathan Meer Valerie and Frank Montecalvo . Scothigh Estates

SILENT AUCTION CONTRIBUTORS

Delicious Orchards . Down to Basics . Eyes on First . Jill Kerwick

IN-KIND SPONSORS

Angie Lambert Photography

EVENT COMMITTEE

Jennifer Beck Sarah and Benson Chiles Leslie and Matt Cohen Tracy Cole Heather Colella Cathy Cottrell Barbara Etter Holly Boylan Flego Sarah Rossbach Fleming Marti Huber Tina Kastning

Robin and John Klein Arthur and Jill Kontos Angie Lambert Claire Lonegan and Ted Wojtech Lynne Mangini Elyse and Jonathan Meer Valerie and Frank Montecalvo Sarah Orsay and Russell Montalbano Roseann Paone Karen Piacentini

Liz and Adam Rechnitz Karen and Chris Rodriguez Danielle Ruggerio Monica and John Ryan Linda and Andy Safran John A. Smack Matthew and Nicole Taetsch Cindy Weber-Cleary Kelly Zaccaro Susan Zinterhofer

Partner Spotlight: OceanFirst Bank

Photo: OceanFirst MCF’s Kathie Kenney and Bill Kastning with OceanFirst Bank Foundation Executive Director Katherine Durante.

Photo: Tina Colella OceanFirst “Wake Makers” volunteers at MCF’s Summer Run for Conservation

MCF is thankful to OceanFirst Bank and the OceanFirst Bank Foundation for its support and involvement in our efforts. We recently received a $2,500 grant from the Foundation to support our work with a consultant specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) over the course of 2023, empowering us to best serve the diverse residents of Monmouth County. A team of OceanFirst “WaveMakers” volunteered at MCF’s Summer Run for Conservation, which the bank sponsored, and a large team is scheduled to help with ongoing renovation efforts at Jackson Woods Park in Long Branch as part of OceanFirst’s CommunityFirst Day on October 6th. Since 1996, OceanFirst Foundation has built a solid reputation as a good neighbor providing grants that help families, organizations, schools and communities in central and southern New Jersey. Thank you!

Get Out and Enjoy Our Parks! Monmouth County Park System (MCPS), a strategic MCF partner, is one of the best! Check out this sampling of events this month:

Nature on the Move: Sunday, September 11, 2022 at Clayton Park Activity Center, Upper Freehold Wind & Sea Festival: Saturday, September 17, 2022 at Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth Harvest Home Festival: Sunday, September 25, 2022 at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel Concert in the Park: A Night of Jazz and Blues: Friday, September 30, 2022 at Thompson Park, Lincroft Click here for details in the full MCPS Calendar of Events!

Save the Date! Holiday Style Luncheon and Shopping Spree Wednesday, November 30, 2022 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury Featuring keynote by Lee Woodruff Click here for more details.

www.monmouthconservation.org

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(732) 671-7000