👋 Welcome to This Week’s Ocean Senior Scoop!
🍂 Crisp mornings, golden leaves, and a calendar overflowing with concerts, festivals, and fall fun — autumn has officially arrived in Ocean County! 🍂 Pull on your coziest sweater, grab a mug of cider, and let’s see what’s happening this week. 🎃
👀What’s on tap
📅 Mark Your Calendar — Concerts, festivals & fall fun
📚 Beyond the Books — Library happenings worth checking out
✈️ Wanderlust Weekly — Dreamy trips & travel buzz
🎭 Beyond Our Backyard — NYC adventures & nearby gems
🥕 Farm Markets — Fresh picks across Ocean
🍲 What’s Cookin’ — Simple seasonal recipes
📺 TV Time — What to stream this week
👨👩👧 Take the Grandkids — Family-friendly outings
🥳 Happy Birthday — Local & celebrity celebrations
Up first…
🗞️ Top Story
VA Clinic Named for Local WWII Hero Bud Lomell
TOMS RIVER — Ocean County’s new VA clinic on Hooper Avenue now proudly bears the name of hometown hero Leonard G. “Bud” Lomell, the Army Ranger who fought from D-Day through the Battle of the Bulge.
Lomell, celebrated for scaling cliffs at Pointe du Hoc and disabling German artillery, later earned the Silver Star during the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest. Historian Stephen Ambrose even credited him as “the single man most responsible for the success of the Normandy landings.”
Though Lomell passed in 2011 at 91, his courage and humility live on. The renaming — signed into law by the President — coincides with the 104th birthday of his widow, Charlotte.
“This clinic will stand as a place of healing and a lasting reminder of his bravery and sacrifice,” the Ocean County Commissioners said.
📍 Find it at 1051 Hooper Avenue, Toms River — opened in 2024 with expanded medical, mental health, and specialty care.
📰Prime Time News
Links to the latest news on aging from trusted media sources.
Your Medicare Costs Are Set to Soar: What to Expect Over the Next Decade: Medicare beneficiaries will face higher premiums, deductibles and surcharges starting in 2026 and continuing over the next decade. Here's what you need to know. Kiplinger, Sept. 23.
AI Will Soon Have a Say in Approving or Denying Medicare Treatments: Taking a page from the private insurance industry’s playbook, the Trump administration will launch a program next year to find out how much money an artificial intelligence algorithm could save the federal government by denying care to Medicare patients. KFF Health News, Sept. 25
How to Navigate Your Finances After Losing Your Spouse: Thoughts From a Financial Planner: It's important you get involved in financial planning now so you're prepared and confident to make decisions when you potentially become your own financial manager. Kiplinger, Sept. 22.
Who Pays for Hospice Care in a Nursing Home? Here are the payment options to consider for comfortable, pain-free end-of-life care in a nursing home. U.S. News & World Report, Sept. 22.
📅Mark Your Calendar
Fall is the perfect season to get out and explore. Here’s a roundup of senior-friendly events happening this week in Ocean County.
🎭 Theater & Performances
On Golden Pond 🌟 – Wed, Oct. 1 | 2pm | Surflight Theatre, Beach Haven
A tender story about aging, love, and family.Murder Mystery Masquerade Dinner – Fri, Oct. 3 | Evening | Mathis House, Toms River
A glamorous dinner party turns deadly — solve the mystery over a full meal.Medium Gallery Show with Linda Shields – Sat, Oct. 4 | 7pm | Strand Theater, Lakewood
The Jersey Shore Medium connects with audiences in this engaging show.Julie Fowlis in Concert – Sat, Oct. 4 | 7:30pm | Grunin Center, Toms River
The enchanting Gaelic voice behind Disney’s Brave.Tru – The Life and Times of Truman Capote – Wed, Oct. 8 | 2pm | Surflight Theatre, Beach Haven
Broadway veteran Don Stitt portrays Capote in this witty, moving play.
🎡 Festivals & Seasonal Fun
Fall Festival – Argo’s Farm – Thu, Oct. 2 | 2–6pm (continues weekends) | Lacey
Pumpkin patches, corn maze, and fall fun.Jacks & Lights Pumpkin Trail 🌟 – Weekends (times vary) | Argo’s Farm, Lacey
Lighted pumpkins, corn maze, treats, and a cozy “Spook-easy.”Eagleswood Country Fair – Craft Show & Car Display – Sat, Oct. 4 | 10am–3pm | Eagleswood
Local crafts and cars — small-town charm at its best.Island Beach Fall Fest – Sun, Oct. 5 | 10am–4pm | Island Beach State Park
Food, crafts, and music with ocean views.4th Annual Car & Truck Show 🌟 – Sun, Oct. 5 | 11am–3pm | Toms River
Classic cars, trophies, raffles, food, and live band. Free entry!Autumn Lights: A Festival for Parkinson’s 🌟 – Sun, Oct. 5 | 11am–5pm | Toms River Community festival raising awareness with food, music, and fun.
📚 Talks, History & Culture
Colonial Roots: Printmaking with Veggies – Thu, Oct. 2 | 2–3pm | Ocean County Parks & Rec
Turn root veggies into one-of-a-kind art prints.Tunnel to Towers 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit 🌟 – Fri, Oct. 3 | 8:30am–2pm | Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, Point Pleasant Beach
A moving mobile tribute honoring the heroes of 9/11.Old Methodist Cemetery Talk 🌟 – Sun, Oct. 5 | 2pm | Ocean County Historical Society, Toms River
Local history, Revolutionary War veterans, and preservation efforts.Admiral James Stavridis Talk – Wed, Oct. 8 | 6pm | Grunin Center, Toms River
Reflections on leadership and service from the former NATO commander.
🎶 Music & More
Toms River Elks Bingo Night 🌟 – Wed, Oct. 1 | 7–10pm | Toms River
Burgers, hot dogs, and $2,200 in prizes. A social night out!Halloween Ladies Night & Costume Contest – Sat, Oct. 4 | 7pm | Mathis House, Toms River
Buffet dinner, live music, costumes, and prizes.Fall Oldies Spectacular 🌟 – Sun, Oct. 5 | 3pm | Stafford Township Arts Center, Manahawkin
Sing along to classic oldies hits live on stage.
📚Beyond the Books
See what’s happening at Ocean County libraries this week.
🎶 Verdi’s Musical Revolution (LBI Branch)
Learn how Giuseppe Verdi transformed opera with Il Trovatore, Rigoletto, and La Traviata. Maestro Robert Butts will share insights at 2 p.m. Wed, Oct. 8. Free, register: tinyurl.com/VerdiLBI.
🥖 Is Your Sourdough Real? (LBI Branch)
Artisan baker Rafael Morillo explains the science and myths of sourdough bread, 2 p.m. Tues, Oct. 7. Free, register: tinyurl.com/SourdoughLBI.
🎨 Art for the Non-Artist (Jackson Branch)
Always wanted to draw? Learn step-by-step techniques with Jenny Santa Maria, 2:30–4:30 p.m. Thurs, Oct. 9. Free, register: tinyurl.com/NonArtistJA.
✈️ A Battered Suitcase & A Sense of Humor (LBI Branch)
Writer Jill DeFelice shares 20+ years of expat adventures in China, Russia, and Poland. 1 p.m. Thurs, Oct. 9. Free, register: tinyurl.com/DeFeliceOCL.
🚂 The Magic of Lionel Trains (Stafford Branch)
Step back in time with Joshua Lionel Cowen in a one-man show about the beloved toy trains. 10 a.m. Thurs, Oct. 9. Free, register: tinyurl.com/LionelSTF.
💀 Celebrate Día de los Muertos (Waretown Branch)
Explore ofrendas, traditions, and taste pan de muerto with hot chocolate. 11:30 a.m. Sat, Oct. 11. Free, register: tinyurl.com/WaretownDia.
🪴 The Dirt on Houseplants (Stafford Branch)
Get tips on thriving houseplants with Rutgers Master Gardener Dr. Ann Earon. 10:30 a.m. Mon, Oct. 13. Free, register: tinyurl.com/HouseplantsSTF.
🏛️ Meet the Mayor (Point Pleasant Beach Branch)
Chat with Mayor Douglas Vitale at 6:30 p.m. Mon, Oct. 13. Free, register: tinyurl.com/PBMayorOct25.
💉 Free Flu Shot Clinics (Multiple Branches)
Seasonal flu vaccines available free for all residents age 1+. Clinics run Oct–Dec at Berkeley, Toms River, Brick, Jackson, Plumsted & Lacey branches. Details: oceancountyhealth.gov.
🩺 Free Wellness Screenings (Brick Branch)
Get checked for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and more. 1–3 p.m. Fri, Oct. 10. No registration required.
🍒 Cranberries in the Pines (Berkeley Branch)
Learn the history of cranberry harvesting at Double Trouble Village, 1 p.m. Sat, Oct. 11. Free, register: tinyurl.com/BkyBerries.
🩺 Health & Wellness
Caregiver Support Group – Thu, Oct. 2 | 11am–1pm | Barnegat Branch
Find balance and support with others who understand the caregiver journey.Free Blood Pressure Screening – Tue, Oct. 7 | 11am–Noon | LBI Branch
Quick, free checkup courtesy of the LBI Health Department. Walk-ins welcome.Library Where You Are: Health Databases – Fri, Oct. 3 | 2:30pm | Lacey Branch
Learn how to find trustworthy health info online.Chair Yoga for Adults – Sat, Oct. 4 | 11am | Point Pleasant Borough Branch
Stretch and relax right from your chair. Gentle and beginner-friendly.Ask a Master Gardener – Sat, Oct. 4 | 11am–1pm | Waretown Branch
Bring plant problems and photos for expert advice from Rutgers-trained volunteers.WISE (Wellness Initiative for Seniors Education) – Tue, Oct. 7 | 3–5pm | Berkeley Branch
A six-part program for adults 60+ covering healthy choices, lifestyle, and medication use.Are You Interested in a Plant-Based Diet? – Tue, Oct. 7 | 6pm | Brick Branch
Learn the benefits of eating more plants for your health and the planet.
🎶 Music & Entertainment
Books to Broadway Concert – Thu, Oct. 2 | 2pm | Little Egg Harbor Branch
Broadway hits inspired by great novels. Sponsored by Friends of the Library.Autumn & Halloween Name That Tune – Thu, Oct. 2 | 2pm | Jackson Branch
A musical guessing game filled with spooky and seasonal tunes.South Jersey Ghost Program – Wed, Oct. 8 | 6–8pm | Berkeley Branch
Paranormal stories, ghost-hunting gear, and real EVP recordings.Baseball Moments: Tales of the Game – Wed, Oct. 8 | 6:30pm | Toms River Branch
Strange, funny, and historic baseball stories that shaped the game.Sing-a-Long with Vinny – Wed, Oct. 8 | 7pm | Upper Shores Branch
Belt out hits from the 1920s to the ’90s with local favorite Vinny Cupo.
🎨 Crafts & Creativity
Houseplant Swap – Wed, Oct. 1 | 2:30pm | Brick Branch
Trade your plants or cuttings and take home a new leafy friend.Adult Crocheting Club – Wed, Oct. 1 | 6pm | Toms River Branch
Bring your yarn project, share tips, and meet new crafty friends.Fall Pallet Painting – Thu, Oct. 2 | 6:30pm | Toms River Branch
Paint a rustic wooden pallet with a festive fall theme.Community Crafters – Mon, Oct. 6 | 10am–Noon | Jackson Branch
Work on your craft or help create items for local organizations.Beginner Crochet Class – Mon, Oct. 6 | 6:30pm | Toms River Branch
Learn crochet basics — stitches, tools, patterns — from scratch.Cooking with the Castillos: A Taste of Peru & Puerto Rico – Mon, Oct. 6 | 6:30pm | Plumsted Branch
Live cooking demos, cultural stories, and delicious samples.Coffee & Coloring – Wed, Oct. 8 | 6:30pm | Brick Branch
Relax with coloring, coffee, and conversation.Movie + Craft: Out in America – Wed, Oct. 8 | 6:30pm | Point Pleasant Borough Branch
Watch a moving documentary while making a bracelet or keychain.
✈️ Wanderlust Weekly
Dreaming of a vacation? We’ve got ideas!
🏖️ Myrtle Beach
Boardwalk nostalgia meets wine festivals, live concerts, and fall fun along the Grand Strand. Add cozy hotel deals and you’ve got a trip that blends old memories with new ones. Info
Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority
🌞 Miami Beach
Fall brings art shows, live music, chef-driven dining, and beachfront hotel deals. Stroll Collins Ave, hit the South Beach Seafood Festival, and save while you soak up the sunshine. 🍹Info
Visit Williamsburg
🧵 Colonial Williamsburg
Help stitch history with the Great American Birthday Quilt, part of America’s 250th birthday celebration. Contribute your own quilt square to be showcased nationwide in 2026. Info
Celebrity River Cruises
🚢 Celebrity Cruises Sets Sail on the Rivers
Celebrity Cruises has officially opened booking for its first season of river vacations in 2027. Travelers can now book seven-night journeys that glide from the grandeur of Budapest to the storybook charm of Bavaria — all aboard the most innovative ships on the river, with the elevated hospitality Celebrity is known for. Info
Holland America Line
🍫 Holland America’s Grand Voyages 2026
Calling all foodies! Holland America is turning its world cruises into a moveable feast with celeb chefs Masaharu Morimoto and Ethan Stowell, tea master Steve Schwartz, and chocolatier Jacques Torres — plus an exclusive Chocolate Teatime in Sydney. Info
🧳 Travel Hacks for Active Retirees
Dream trips don’t have to drain your savings. Check out “The 10 Best Travel Hacks Every Active Retiree Should Know” — from scoring flight deals to stretching your dollars on the road, these tips keep you globetrotting smarter. Info
🎭 Beyond Our Backyard
🎭 Catch Ragtime at Lincoln Center, then Fiesta at Rosa Mexicano
Broadway’s sweeping portrait of the American dream is back at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater. Ragtime roars to life with powerful music and the intertwined stories of a wealthy family, a Harlem musician, and an immigrant father chasing a better tomorrow. The revival runs through January — plenty of time to snag tickets.
🌮 And after the curtain falls, head just around the corner to Rosa Mexicano, a longtime Lincoln Center favorite now in a spacious new home inside the Empire Hotel (44 West 63rd Street). Feast on sizzling fajitas, creamy tableside guacamole, indulgent desserts, and their famous margaritas — a fiesta fit for a NYC theater night!
North Jersey
🎃 See 6,000 Hand-Carved Pumpkins
Only in Jersey do we go all out for pumpkins—lattes, patches, and now, 6,000 glowing jack o’ lanterns! Skylands Stadium’s Annual Jack O’ Lantern Experience is back with a 45-minute walk through six thousand (!!) hand-carved pumpkins. You’ll also find pumpkin picking, painting, and plenty of fall fun. 🍂Info
🥕Ocean County Farm Markets This Week
🌽 Downtown Toms River Farmers Market
📍 Downtown Toms River
📅 Wed, Oct. 1 | 11am–4pm
Fresh Jersey fruits & veggies, flowers, honey, baked goods, pickles, olives, mushrooms, guacamole, soaps & lotions, and even local wine, distillery, and brewery vendors. Plus a smoothie truck each week!
🥒 Barnegat Farmers Market
📍 14 Birdsall Street, Barnegat
📅 Thu, Oct. 2 | 9am–1pm
Shop seasonal produce, baked goods, and locally made treats in a charming small-town setting.
🍲What’s Cookin’
🍎 Sweet & Simple: Homemade Applesauce
Nothing says fall like the smell of apples simmering on the stove. Making applesauce with Jersey Fresh apples is as easy as it gets — and it’s a sweet way to spend time with the grandkids. Peel, chop, and let the apples bubble with a splash of water, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and just a touch of sugar (or none at all — Jersey apples are sweet enough!). The fun part? Let the little ones mash it up with a potato masher. It’s a hands-on kitchen adventure that ends with warm applesauce for dessert, snack time, or even spooned over pancakes. Get the recipe for Jersey Fresh Applesauce here.
📺 TV Time: What to Stream This Week
Put your feet up and grab the remote — here’s what’s fresh on your screens.
🎬 New Movies
The Lost Bus (Apple TV+, Fri, Oct. 3)
Matthew McConaughey drives 22 kids to safety during California’s 2018 Camp Fire in this gripping disaster drama. America Ferrera co-stars, and Paul Greengrass directs. Bring tissues.Steve (Netflix, Fri, Oct. 3)
Cillian Murphy stars as a reform school headmaster in a raw, haunting drama about mental health and broken systems. From the director of Small Things Like These — double-feature material.Prime Minister (HBO Max, Tue, Sept. 30)
A documentary on Jacinda Ardern’s five-year run as New Zealand’s groundbreaking leader — balancing crisis management, motherhood, and unrelenting public pressure.
📺 New Series
Chad Powers (Hulu, Tue, Sept. 30)
What if Eli Manning’s walk-on disguise became a full series? Glen Powell plays a disgraced quarterback reinventing himself as “Chad Powers” — prosthetics, wig, and all.Charlotte’s Web (HBO Max, Fri, Oct. 3)
Babysitting this week? E.B. White’s beloved story gets a new animated life with Amy Adams as Charlotte and Elijah Wood as Wilbur. Only three episodes, but full of charm. 🕸️Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix, Fri, Oct. 3)
Charlie Hunnam stars as infamous murderer Ed Gein. With Hitchcock (Tom Hollander) in the mix, this chilling Ryan Murphy series looks at how true crime shaped pop culture.
🎶 Specials & Documentaries
Great Performances: The Magic of Grace Bumbry (PBS, Fri, Oct. 3)
A tribute to the legendary Black mezzo-soprano who broke barriers in Germany and inspired singers from opera houses to Beyoncé.Maigret (PBS Masterpiece, Sun, Oct. 5) The classic detective gets a modern update as Benjamin Wainwright takes on Simenon’s iconic inspector. Mystery with a European twist.
House of David, Season 2 (Prime Video’s Wonder Project, Sun, Oct. 5) The biblical saga continues as David’s rise to Israel’s most celebrated king unfolds in epic detail.
👧🧒 Take the Grandkids
🎡 Fall Festival – Argo’s Farm
📍 Lacey | Thu, Oct. 2 | 2–6pm (plus weekends)
Pumpkin patch, corn maze, treats, and plenty of photo ops — fall fun the kids will love!
🎃 Jacks & Lights Pumpkin Trail
📍 Argo’s Farm, Lacey | Weekends (times vary)
Lighted pumpkin displays, flashlight corn maze, snacks, and even a “Spook-easy” for the grown-ups.
🚚 Seaside Truck Show
📍 Seaside Heights | Sat, Oct. 4 | 10am–4pm
Big trucks, jeeps, and SXS vehicles on display — sure to wow little gearheads.
🥣 Chowderfest Cook-Off (Saturday)
📍 Beach Haven | Sat, Oct. 4 | Free entry
While the adults sample chowders, kids can enjoy music, vendors, and the festive boardwalk vibe.
🏖️ Island Beach Fall Fest
📍 Island Beach State Park | Sun, Oct. 5 | 10am–4pm
A family-friendly beachside day with food, crafts, and live entertainment.
🐧 African Penguin Awareness Day
📍 Jenkinson’s Aquarium, Point Pleasant Beach | Wed, Oct. 8 | 3–5pm
See penguins up close, watch a live feeding, and enjoy crafts & activities.
🎂 Ocean County Birthdays This Week
🥳Happy 70th to Linda M. of Toms River, cheers to Robert K. of Brick, who is turning 82, and best wishes to Margaret L. of Barnegat, celebrating her 76th. May your cake be sweet and your celebrations even sweeter! A few other famous folks blowing out candles this week include:
Oct. 1: Actor-singer Julie Andrews is 90. Actor Randy Quaid is 75.
Oct. 2: Critic Rex Reed is 87. Singer Don McLean is 80. Actor Avery Brooks (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Spenser: For Hire”) is 77. Celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz is 76. Guitarist Mike Rutherford of Genesis and Mike and the Mechanics is 75. Musician Sting is 74. Actor Lorraine Bracco (“The Sopranos”) is 71.
Oct. 3: Singer Chubby Checker is 84. Singer-guitarist Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac is 76. Drummer Tommy Lee of Motley Crue is 63. Actor Janel Moloney (“The West Wing”) is 56. Singer Gwen Stefani is 56. Singer Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys is 54.
✨One Last Thing…
A Big Boost for Local Food Pantries 🍎
The FirstEnergy Foundation just announced its largest hunger relief effort ever—$2.5 million in grants to fight food insecurity, including $600,000 right here in New Jersey. The funding will help deliver more than 2 million meals statewide. Ocean groups receiving support include:
Lacey Township Food Bank (Forked River, Ocean County) - $15,000.
Somebody C.A.R.E.S. Inc., Home to the Joel E. Perlmutter Memorial Food Pantry (Whiting, Ocean County) - $10,000.
That’s real power: Donating meals for neighbors who need them most!💟
🎬That’s A Wrap
⁉️Questions, comments or news to share? Email us: [email protected]
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😊See you next week!
The Better With Age New Jersey team
Disclaimer: We’re here to share community news, events, and a little joy—never medical, legal, or financial advice. Take what’s useful, share what’s fun, and always check with the pros when it really counts.