Ocean Senior Scoop: See what's happening this week for Ocean County seniors

👋Hey, Ocean friends!

Hey Scoop readers—this week’s edition is filled with great local events, smart tips, binge-worthy TV, and an opportunity to take part in a needs assessment survey for Ocean County seniors.

📚 Beyond the Books – Scam alerts, estate planning, A.I. basics, gardening help & live radio fun
🌊 Out & About – Wine nights, yoga with animals, concerts, fundraisers & family-friendly fun
📰 Prime Time News – Smart reads on retirement, health, and everyday life
🎧 Trending Audiobooks – What everyone’s listening to right now
📺 TV Time – New movies & shows worth your couch time
✈️ Wanderlust Weekly – Cruise news, travel ideas & airport hacks
🥳 Celebrity Birthdays – Local shout-out + famous names celebrating

Up first…

Mark your calendars (and maybe loosen the belt a notch)—Jersey Shore Restaurant Week runs April 10–19!

This is your excuse to get out and taste your way across Ocean County, with local favorites serving up special prix-fixe menus featuring everything from fresh-off-the-boat seafood to can’t-skip desserts.

Who’s participating? Plenty of local favorites, including:
Atlantic Offshore Fishery • B2 Bistro + Bar (Point Beach, Toms River & Bayville) • Berkeley Cut Steakhouse • Bistro by Chef Bass • Bum Rogers Crab House • Crab’s Claw Inn • Grenville Hotel & Restaurant • Mantoloking Road Alehouse • Dina’s Bistro • MorningStar Café • Ohana Grill • The Offshore Restaurant • Ocean Fresh Seafood • Prime 13 • The Tradewinds • The Shrimp Box • Windward Tavern

✨ Translation: date nights, lunch outings, and “we deserve this” dinners are officially on.

👉 Check menus + details: https://www.jerseyshorerestaurantweek.com/

Bon appétit, Ocean County!

Looking for a feel-good way to spend a spring morning? New Jersey’s Spring Beach Sweeps returns Saturday, April 11, 2026, with cleanups planned at more than 80 locations statewide.

Organized by Clean Ocean Action, the program began back in 1985 and has grown into one of the world’s longest-running beach cleanup efforts. Volunteers head out to beaches, bays, waterways, and even some underwater sites to collect trash and record debris data that helps support anti-litter efforts at the local, state, and federal levels.

And yes, it matters. Litter like plastic bags, cigarette filters, and fishing line can be mistaken for food by birds, fish, whales, and other wildlife, often with deadly consequences. Trash can also damage boat motors, force beach closures, and hurt tourism along the Jersey Shore.

Beach Sweeps usually runs from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at most sites, and volunteers can join as individuals, families, school groups, community organizations, or businesses. Registration is required in advance.

A good way to do something useful, get outside, and leave the Shore a little cleaner than you found it. Get more info here.

The Office of Senior Services is asking older adults, caregivers, and other local stakeholders to take part in its 2027 needs assessment survey and public hearing to help identify the top needs facing older adults and what programs and services can best meet them. The public hearing will be held April 14, 2026, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Lacey Township Municipal Building, 818 Lacey Road, Forked River. County officials say the feedback will help identify service gaps, set priorities, and shape future programs that help seniors stay safe, supported, and independent at home and in the community. Get more info here.

Looking for a feel-good day that’s actually good for you too? This one checks all the boxes.

🗓️ Saturday, April 11 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
📍 First Presbyterian Church of Tuckerton (across from Dunkin’)
📍 219 E. Main St., Tuckerton

This free health & wellness program for seniors 55+ is packed with helpful screenings, relaxing activities, and a whole lot of community spirit.

Here’s what’s included:
✔️ Free health screenings (blood pressure, hearing, cognitive, strength & balance)
✔️ Chair yoga & guided meditation
✔️ Hand massage, breath work, aroma & sound therapy
✔️ Art activities and wellness workshops
✔️ A free hot lunch (yes, please!)

🍽️ Important: Lunch is optional but requires a reservation (three seating times available).
📞 Call 609-296-8894 or email [email protected] to reserve your spot.

Lenny’s Colonial Ranch Meat Market has opened a new location at 149 Main St. in Manasquan, adding a butcher shop to a growing lineup of food businesses under one roof. The market joins Mueller’s Bakery, Batch on Main, and Shore Fresh Seafood, creating a pretty appealing one-stop combo of butcher, baker, seafood spot, and coffee shop right in downtown. Lenny’s also has a location at 3108 Bridge Ave. in Point Pleasant.

The elegant restaurant at the Asbury Ocean Club Hotel is now accepting reservations from non-hotel guests and the general public for the first time. Led by Executive Chef Kate Gagliardi, the Drawing Room menu leans seasonal and local, with ingredients sourced through Harvest Drop. Current dishes include mushroom flatbread, herb-crusted lamb chops, and spring gnocchi, and reservations are now open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner year-round. The restaurant is also planning special holiday menus and interactive dining experiences.

At Ocean County Libraries this week, you can learn how to avoid scams, get your estate plans in order, solve your garden mysteries, understand A.I., and spend an evening with old-time radio. Here’s what’s happening.

🛡️ Fraud Watch: Vigilance Against Cybercrime
📍 Waretown Branch
🕑 Friday, April 10 | 2 p.m.

If the online world feels a little too scammy these days, this one’s worth a look. Presented by the AARP NJ Speakers Bureau, this free workshop will cover how to protect your personal information at home, in public, on social media, and while shopping or banking online. It will also go over common scams and how to avoid them.

📄 Estate Planning Guidelines
📍 Jackson Branch
🕒 Monday, April 13 | 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Planning ahead is not exactly thrilling, but it sure can make life easier for the people you love. Attorney Kerry O’Shea Devine, Esq., will lead this free program on estate planning basics, including the steps and priorities involved in creating a plan for heirs and executors. The program is presented through the New Jersey State Bar Foundation.

🌱 Ask a Master Gardener
📍 Waretown Branch
🕚 Saturday, April 18 | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Got a plant that looks suspicious? A tree that’s acting up? A garden question that has been bothering you? The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Ocean County will be on hand to help. Bring your questions, along with photos or samples of insects, plants, shrubs, or trees, for help with identification, diagnosis, and recommendations. These trained and certified volunteers offer free, research-based advice on sustainable gardening, soil health, pest management, native plants, composting, and more.

🤖 Introduction to A.I.
📍 Long Beach Island Branch, Surf City
🕑 Wednesday, April 15 | 2 p.m.

Curious about A.I. and wondering what all the ChatGPT chatter is about? This free AARP presentation offers an easy introduction to artificial intelligence, including how it’s being used, what its current limitations are, and how it may shape the future.

📻 Golden Age of Radio Live at the Library
📍 Toms River Branch
🕡 Wednesday, April 15 | Trivia at 6:30 p.m. | Show at 7 p.m.

Here’s a fun one. WREP: When Radio Entertained People brings live “theater of the imagination” to the library with music, trivia, sound effects, and skits from classics including The Lone Ranger, The Birds, and Leiningen vs. the Ants. WREP features eight veteran performers led by Michael Glenn Miller, and the troupe has been entertaining Ocean County Library audiences since 2008. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ocean County Library – Toms River.

🔔 Point Pleasant Borough Branch Reopening
📍 Point Pleasant Borough

Good news for library regulars: the Point Pleasant Borough Branch is expected to reopen on Monday, April 13, after a temporary closure that began in January due to water damage. Repairs and improvements included restoring damaged areas and refreshing the interior with better lighting, climate control, and overall functionality.

Wednesday, April 8: Mah Jongg players can head to Waretown from noon to 4 p.m., where beginners are welcome, while Berkeley is hosting Intro to Mahjong from 1 to 4 p.m. for anyone ready to finally learn what everyone else seems to already know. Over in Lacey, there’s a Heart Healthy talk from 2 to 3 p.m. with the Ocean County Health Department. Later on, Toms River has an Adult Crocheting Club from 6 to 7:30 p.m. for seasoned stitchers, and Upper Shores wraps up the day with Jessica Carroll Sings Americana from 7 to 8 p.m. with patriotic hymns, folk songs, and stories behind them.

Thursday, April 9: Need tax help? The AARP Tax Aide Program is at the Jackson Branch from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. by appointment. Manchester has Hooked on Yarn from 2 to 4 p.m. for knitters and crocheters, while Upper Shores hosts Listening for Change: Understanding Hearing Loss As We Age from 2 to 3 p.m. And if your ideal afternoon includes markers, coffee, and peace and quiet, Brick has Coffee and Coloring from 3 to 4:30 p.m. with supplies and light refreshments.

Friday, April 10: At Stafford, the Parkinson Voice Project’s SPEAK OUT!® program runs 11 a.m. to noon for those with Parkinson’s and other neurological disorders. At Little Egg Harbor, it’s Adult Gaming Canasta from 2 to 4 p.m., and in Toms River, you can make Vision Boards from 2 to 3:30 p.m. with all supplies provided. Not a bad Friday lineup: improve communication, play cards, or make a board about your future beach house.

Saturday, April 11: Puzzle people, this is your moment. Brick is hosting a Puzzle Swap from 10 to 11 a.m. Bring your gently used puzzles and trade with fellow puzzle enthusiasts. A very wholesome way to clear a shelf and pick up a new obsession.

Monday, April 13: Monday night is stacked. Toms River brings the music with The 1950s Experience from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., a one-man doo-wop and rock-and-roll trip back in time. Island Heights hosts Cookbook Club from 6:30 to 8 p.m., featuring Dolly Parton’s Good Looking Cookin’ and a bring-a-dish format. And Point Pleasant Beach offers Think Before You Click: Cybersecurity in the Modern World from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., with practical advice on spotting scams and protecting your information online.

Tuesday, April 14: On Long Beach Island, there’s a Lunch & Learn: SOCH Health & Wellness Van from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with lunch provided. In Waretown, Tech Help Tuesday runs from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. with one-on-one help for phones, email, library digital materials, and basic computer questions. Stafford has AI & Disinformation from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., a timely session on deepfakes, voice clones, and how to tell what’s real online. And Lacey marks Earth Day season with Love Your Ocean County Parks from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., all about local parks, wildlife, and where to enjoy nature close to home.

Wednesday, April 15: A crafty, catchy, and community-minded finish to the week: Jackson offers Sew Reusable Bowl Covers from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in a beginner-friendly class, Stafford turns up the fun with ’80s Music Bingo from 2:30 to 4 p.m., and later that evening the Huntington’s Disease Support Group meets at Stafford from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for anyone living with the disease, caring for someone who is, or simply wanting to learn more.

Here’s what’s happening around Ocean County this week.

🍷 Wine & Charcuterie Night at Mathis House
📍 Toms River
🕖 Saturday, April 11 | 7 p.m.

If your idea of a perfect night includes wine, cheese, and a little historic charm, this is your spot. Head to the beautiful Mathis House for a Cream Ridge wine tasting paired with a full charcuterie spread.

💲 $35 | Adults 21+
📍 600 Main St., Toms River
📞 732-818-7580

🎤 Karine Hannah: Songbird Live
📍 Strand Theater, Lakewood
🕗 Saturday, April 11 | 8 p.m.

Big voice, big talent. Karine Hannah — who’s worked with legendary songwriter Jim Steinman and even performed at Celine Dion’s wedding — brings her powerhouse vocals to the stage. Expect everything from emotional ballads to Barbra Streisand favorites, plus a little humor and flair along the way. Info

📍 400 Clifton Ave., Lakewood
📞 732-367-7789

🧘‍♀️ Yoga at Popcorn Park Animal Refuge
📍 Forked River
🕘 Sunday, April 12 | 9–10 a.m.

Yoga… but with animals nearby. Honestly, that’s all we needed to hear. This outdoor class benefits the animals of Popcorn Park and includes entry to the refuge. $25. Info

🎶 Ocean Township 150th Anniversary Kickoff Concert
📍 Albert Music Hall, Waretown
🕧 Sunday, April 12 | Doors 12:30 p.m. | Show 2 p.m.

A little ceremony, a lot of music, and a whole lot of community pride. This free concert kicks off Ocean Township’s 150th anniversary celebration with live performances, local speakers, and classic sounds that have defined the area for generations.

Bonus: food booth, Amish desserts, and a gift shop.
💲 Free (donations appreciated) • Cash only. Info

🍝 Meatball & Pasta Fundraiser
📍 New Egypt Elks Lodge
🕧 Sunday, April 12 | 12:30–5 p.m.

Good food for a good cause. This community fundraiser supports Robert Gregory as he undergoes cancer treatment. Stop by for a hearty meal and help ease the burden of travel expenses for his care.

💲 $12 adults | $8 kids | Free under 3
📍 105 Lakewood Rd., New Egypt. Info

🏺 Pinch Pots: Lenape Traditions (Kids Event)
📍 Cedar Bridge Historic Site, Barnegat
🕐 Sunday, April 12 | 1–1:45 p.m.

If you’ve got grandkids in tow, this one’s a gem. Kids can create their own clay pinch pots using shells and beads, inspired by Lenape traditions. $5 per child (ages 4–7). Info

⛵ LBI Speaker Series: The Lucy Evelyn
📍 LBI Historical Association Museum, Beach Haven
🕐 Wednesday, April 15 | 1 p.m. (doors 12:30)

Coffee, cookies, and a good story — yes please. This talk explores the history of the Lucy Evelyn, one of the last three-mast schooners, from her early days through WWII to her final chapter in Beach Haven. Info

The latest news on aging from trusted media sources.

Why ‘Unretired’ Seniors Are Picking Up Gig Work to Pay the Bills: A growing number of Americans who have “unretired” in recent years due to insufficient retirement savings, rising living costs and a desire to stay active. Associated Press, 4/2

For Many Patients Leaving the I.C.U., the Struggle Has Only Just Begun: A long stay in intensive care can bring physical, cognitive and mental health challenges that can take months or longer to resolve. The NY Times, April 4

What's The Real Retirement Age in America? Here Are 4 Guesses: Today, most Americans would be hard-pressed to identify the age when society expects them to retire. USA Today, April 4

I’ve Owned Five Dogs — Here’s What to Know About Having Pets in Retirement: Having a pet can add to the joys of retirement, but it is best to plan carefully. U.S. News & World Report, March 30

Looking for a good listen? Here are the top trending audiobooks this week, from page-turning fiction to buzzy nonfiction picks.

Here’s what’s new on the streaming front this week.

“Christy” — HBO Max, Friday, April 10
Sydney Sweeney stars as real-life boxing legend Christy Martin in David Michôd’s drama, following Martin’s rise from small-town West Virginia into the boxing world while dealing with her abusive manager-turned-husband, played by Ben Foster.

“My Father’s Shadow” — MUBI, Friday, April 10
Akinola Davies Jr.’s father-son drama follows two Nigerian boys who spend an unexpected day with their father in Lagos during a pivotal moment in the country’s history.

“Outcome” — Apple TV+, Friday, April 10
Keanu Reeves stars in Jonah Hill’s Hollywood satire as movie star Reef Hawk, who fears a damaging video could wreck his reputation. Hill also co-stars as his crisis-management lawyer.

“The Testaments” — Hulu, Wednesday
The sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale stars Ann Dowd returning as Aunt Lydia, alongside Chase Infiniti and Lucy Halliday.

“The Miniature Wife” — Peacock, Thursday
Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen star in this sci-fi comedy about a married couple whose relationship gets even messier after an unusual accident.

“Hacks” Season 5 — HBO, Thursday
Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder return for the fifth and final season of the award-winning comedy about a legendary comedian and her talented young writer.

“Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair” — Hulu and Hulu on Disney+, Friday, April 10
Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, and Jane Kaczmarek are back for this four-episode revival, with Malcolm now a dad to a teenage girl.

This week’s travel news? A little bit of everything — from over-the-top cruises to smarter airport hacks and a brand-new waterfront park worth putting on your radar.

🚢 The Next Big Thing in Cruises Is… Really Big: Royal Caribbean just unveiled Hero of the Seas, and it’s basically a floating resort on steroids. Debuting in August 2027, the ship will feature nine pools (the most at sea), 28 dining spots, a massive waterpark, and even a three-story “family treehouse” suite. It’ll sail out of Miami with Caribbean itineraries — including stops at their private island.

🌳 A New Riverfront Park Opens in New Orleans: If New Orleans is on your travel list, there’s a new reason to go. A six-acre expansion of the Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park opens April 16, transforming a former warehouse into a green space with shade trees, a marsh-themed playground, and riverfront gathering areas. Even better: it connects miles of waterfront, making it one of the longest continuous riverfront parks in the country. A nice mix of history, scenery, and a place to just sit and watch the river roll by.

📱 Airport Lines Just Got a Little Less Stressful: Finally — some good news for anyone who dreads airport security. The United Airlines app now includes a TSA wait time tracker, showing estimated security line times at major U.S. hubs (including Newark). You can even see differences between standard lines and TSA PreCheck, which means less guessing and fewer “how early should we leave?” debates.

🛳️ Cruise Sale Alert: Holland America Turns 153: Holland America Line is celebrating its anniversary with a month-long sale through April 30 — and it’s a good one. Expect up to 30% off fares, onboard credits, reduced deposits, and even free fares for kids on select sailings. The deal covers cruises from now through spring 2027, with options from Alaska to the Caribbean to Europe — so if a cruise has been on your “someday” list, this might be your nudge.

Big birthday shout-out today to Dawn R. of Brick —happy 68th! May your day be filled with well-wishes and cake! A few other famous folks blowing out candles this week include original Mouseketeer Darlene Gillespie (85) and harmony queen Peggy Lennon (85) on April 8; April 9 brings actor Dennis Quaid (72), “Morning Joe” newscaster Joe Scarborough (63), “Dexter” bad-boy Mark Pellegrino (61), supermodel-turned-scribe Paulina Porizkova (61), and ‘Sex and the City’ star Cynthia Nixon (60); wrapping things on April 10 are action legend Steven Seagal (74) and folk fave Terre Roche (73). 🎉

⁉️Questions, comments or news to share? We’d love to hear from you! Just hit reply to this email.

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😎See you next issue — and thanks, as always, for reading the Scoop!

The Ocean Senior Scoop team

⚠️ Quick disclaimer: Event times can shift faster than a seagull stealing fries on the boardwalk—give the venue a buzz before you dash out. And nope, we’re not doctors, lawyers, or money wizards; just your witty inbox pals. So when making any grown-up decisions, always consult a professional!