MARGARITA The Highlands Business Partnership is sponsoring its 5th Annual Fiesta de Mayo Cantina Crawl Saturday, May 2 from 12:00 PM to 5:00 enabling residents and guests to the borough the opportunity to participate in the Best Margarita in Highlands contest..
Tickets are $45 and include entry into the crowd-favorite Margarita Contest, where eight local restaurants will shake things up in a friendly competition for the title of Best Margarita in Highlands. Participants will enjoy eight 6-oz. margarita samples and have the chance to vote for their favorite.
The crawl features 13 stops throughout town, including eight margarita locations, with the remaining stops serving exclusive food and drink specials, shopping discounts, and fun surprise samplings along the way.
Bringing even more energy to the day, Academia de Mariachi Nuevo Amanecer will fill Highlands with the vibrant sights and sounds of Mexico with festive performances at participating venues.
Tickets are available in advance online at highlandsnj.com or at event check-in at Huddy Park (Bay & Waterwitch Ave., 329 Bay Ave. for GPS) between 11:00 AM and 12:30 PM. At check-in, participants will receive a wristband and event map guiding them to all 13 participating locations.
The Fiesta de Mayo Cantina Crawl is a rain-or-shine event, and tickets are non-refundable.
The event is made possible thanks to the support of participating establishments and generous sponsors including Monmouth County Tourism, Montecalvo/Bayshore Family of Companies, Bahrs Landing, Bridge Marina, Farmacie by the French Market, Dovetail Vintage Rentals, Gateway Marina, The Honorable Plant, Hufnagel Tree Service, In the Garden, Off the Hook Restaurant & Bar, The Proving Ground Waterfront Dining, The Seafarer, Valley Bank, and WRAT 95.9 FM.
For additional information, call 732-291-4713 or visit www.highlandsnj.com.
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Celebrating its fifth year of honoring military and active duty military veterans with a day of fishing out in Sandy Hook Bay, the Fins for Freedom volunteers are offering the opportunity for all to help honor the men and women who have served in the armed forces on Saturday, May 16.Mike Mavrinac of Middletown, who heads Fins for Freedom along with Jake Campi of West Long Branch and Dan Brady of Tinton Falls, announced that in addition to the breakfast, lunch, accolades from many who come to observe and a full day of fishing from private boats, Fins for Freedom plans on presenting each of its veteran participants with a Basket of gifts, one more way to show appreciation for their time in service.Brady said anyone interested in donating items for the basket, which could range from bottles of cheer, gift certificates, books to gamesto fishing gear and more, can contact any of the officers or visit their page at Fins for Freedom.org or call 908-433-5330.“We invite everyone to show their appreciation for our military,” Mavrinac continued. “ In addition to gifts for the gift baskets, we encourage any boater with a craft 26 feet or larger who wants to offer his vessel and captaincy for a day’s adventure to register his vessel with Fins for Freedom as soon as possible.Brady, who serves as treasurer of the non-profit organization, which was formed specifically to provide the day of fishing from privately owned craft, noted that more than 80 military members and veterans have signed on for the trips. The organization has set a goal of reaching 100 military members for the event, and is in need of more fishing boats to enable that to happen.”Anyone with a vessel 26 or larger who wants to be part of this great event can contact Brady or any member of Fins for Freedom or register their vessel at finsforfreedom.org“From experienced fishermen who never get the chance to go out in a private fishing vessel to retired sailors who have never fished since childhood, the day with other military celebrating on the water is a never to be forgotten event,” Mavrinac continued . “We simply want to give back to those who have given so much for us. That’s why we are a non-profit organization; it all goes back to our military.”The day culminates with a dinner in which the military and veterans can share their stories not only of their day but of their experience as active or retired men and women of all the military forces.“Our Gift Baskets, and our aim is to have one basket for every veteran on our trip,” Brady continued, “are really Honor Baskets rather than gift baskets, since they will be given to those who are serving and living veterans, simply to show our appreciation . That’s what it’s all about.”“This is our 5-year anniversary and boy , have we come a long way from meeting in the parking lot at Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor and opening up our own pockets to get around 6 boats with 24 service members participating,” Brady said enthusiastically. “ We have grown it each year to our current capacity limit at On The Deck where our dinners are held . Once something goes into the Casino building we hope to grow with the available space that may open up for us there,” he said hopefully..The Fins for Freedom event is open to ANY active duty (including reserves) or veteran that has served our country. The only requirements are that they be able to swim and be able to walk down the piers unassisted. Fins for Freedom ensures there is a vessel that will take wheelchairs, but capacity is limited.Twenty-six foot is the minimum size for vessels in the fleet for Fins for Freedom Day, since vessels of that size and greater have some type of a bathroom facility and more stability that smaller boats.Once again NJROTC cadets from MAST, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology at Sandy Hook will be on the scene throughout the day, assisting veterans with sign-ups in the morning, helping to distribute gifts, serve meals, and taking the opportunity to learn from their guests about some of their military careers.The Atlantic Highlands Harbor Commission also contributes towards the success of the cay, offering the Senior Center for morning sign-up and breakfast at no cost, as well as ease in parking and pickup for passengers at the ends of the long piers, or where needed for handicap assistance.With the event just one month away, Campi, who has his own boat on the pier and will be hosting a group on the fishing trip, said as of today “we have 67 service members signed up with some slots still available. Twenty 20 boats have committed for the day with a goal of 30 to 35. “We have the funds for the event, but will gladly accept donations toward next year,” he said. “What we are in need of is door prizes for our Honor Baskets. Our goal is to put something in every servicemembers hand at the end of the day besides those fish I feel certain they are going to catch.”Persons interested in donating to the Honor Baskets can do so in “honor” of their own family member serving or who has served. “We will put that right into the hands of a service member or veteran who will greatly appreciate that gift being paid forward,” Campi said. “ We will announce the “Honorees” name, branch and rank for the room to hear. That will enable us to honor even more veterans, those who are not able to be with us for the event.”
