BELMAR, NJ — Whether it’s sriracha sauce, pico de gallo or pesto mayonnaise, it’s all about the toppings on this week’s specials menu at Joe’s Bagel & Grill.

Here are the specials for the week of August 19 through August 25:

Banango Smoothie: Banana, mango and almond milk (one size).

Sriracha Avo Toast: Mashed avocado, two over-easy eggs, tomato, red ...

BELMAR, NJ — It will be Belmar’s last rumble of the season when dozens of classic and vintage cars roll into the downtown district for Cruise Night on Thursday, August 22.

For this summer, the popular event has moved from Main Street to the nearby Belmar Plaza, located between Eighth and 10th Avenue, where cars as well as motorcycles will be showcased in its expansive parking from ...

BELMAR, NJ — There's still plenty of time to make a memento of summer at the Belmar Community Makerspace.

Here is a rundown of each remaining workshop in the Summer Maker Program, including any costs or required supplies. All programs are held at the Belmary Community Center/Library Annex at 503 Seventh Avenue.

Make a Sloth Plush Toy: Thursday, August 22 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

In ...

BELMAR, NJ — Faced with the reality that Belmar’s aging municipal building will soon need to be repaired or replaced — both major undertakings — the borough is looking to private developers to see if they may have the answer.

The borough will be accepting proposals on a nonbinding basis from developers who have expressed interest in putting down stakes in Belmar. To ...

BELMAR, NJ — Metered parking fees along Belmar’s beachfront will remain at $1 an hour for the rest of the summer.

The Borough Council on August 6 tabled a proposed ordinance that would have increased the fee to $2 an hour, as a way to bring in additional revenues to meet a shortfall in its parking utility budget.

READ MORE: Belmar Considers Return to $2 Hourly Parking Fee along ...

BELMAR, NJ — It’s been a month since Karen Farrell found what appears to be an engagement ring on the Belmar beach. And although it’s a longshot, she still hopes to find the person who lost it.

Farrell came to Belmar on Sunday, July 7 — the last day of an extended Fourth of July weekend — and took a spot along the oceanfront between Second and Third Avenues, where ...

FREEHOLD, NJ — Enrollment is now open for the Monmouth County Citizen Police Academy/Law Enforcement Mini Academy, designed to give residents an overview of law enforcement services in the county.

To be held on six consecutive Thursdays from September 19 through October 24 at the Monmouth County Public Safety Center, the academy will feature speakers from the Monmouth County ...

HOWELL, NJ — Direct contact with water in the Manasquan Reservoir should be avoided now that state officials have confirmed high levels of harmful algae blooms are present in the 770-acre body of water — a popular recreational site for area residents.

Testing by the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection revealed levels of cyanobacteria that are at or above “New Jersey ...

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — A recent report by the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers University showed a rise in suicide attempts by preteens over the past 18 months —  a trend that has been seen across the nation.

“This illustrates the need for people who encounter children regularly to be aware of early signs of mental illness, such as anxiety, depression and ...

LAKE COMO, NJ — John Carvelli has resigned from the Lake Como Council due to his move to Wall Township.

After his letter of resignation was read into the record at the council’s August 6 meeting, Mayor Kevin Higgins thanked him for his service to the borough. "He will be sorely missed," he added. 

Carvelli was elected to the council in 2014 after being appointed ...

BELMAR, NJ — An old gazebo is starting a new life — as the centerpiece of the small park at Fifth Avenue and D Street in Belmar.

For two years, the small wooden structure was situated several blocks away at the children’s playground at Eighth Avenue and C Street, overlooking Silver Lake. But it became an easy target of vandals, and the extensively damaged structure was ...

BELMAR, NJ — Even when it was far from an ideal beach day in Belmar, the sun was always shining when Mafalda “Muffie” Cinelli was inside the Belmar tourism booth along the beachfront.

For 10 years, she greeted hundreds of thousands of visitors with her infectious smile, warmth and friendliness that made her the borough’s unofficial “beach ambassador”— ...

BELMAR, NJ — The peaceful and picturesque Inlet Terrace lagoon had quite a celebrated beginning.

During the early 1900s, it was dug out from a strip of salty marshes along the Shark River — a dredging project that involved pumping a million cubic yards of clay and sand. And when the massive project was complete, the lagoon became the centerpiece of a private development of homes ...

OCEAN GROVE, NJ — When it comes to Serenity by the Sea’s vast selection of specialty merchandise, it’s literally raining cats and dogs.

The boutique at 53 Main Avenue in Ocean Grove boasts home textiles and furnishings, as well as trinkets and charms for pet lovers. In addition, shop owner Sarah Taylor Izzo creates her own lines of potholders and hotholders designed from ...

AVON-BY-THE-SEA, NJ — Sweeten your summer with a strawberry shortcake, key lime pie, old-fashioned crumb buns or a huge chocolate éclair at The Macaroon Shop — a family favorite for generations.

While they’re still home from school, bring the kids and watch their faces light up when they see the endless choices in the expansive display cases at the full-service bakery ...

BELMAR, NJ — All great cheesesteaks start with a good roll. But for Jay Vigilante, co-owner of the recently opened Steak Stand in Belmar, it’s how long you cook the steak that really makes the difference.

“Take your time cooking the steak and you’ll get the most flavor out of it,” he said, cooking up peppers on the griddle shortly before Saturday's grand ...

All employees should make sure their employers are withholding the correct amount of tax from their paychecks. The best way for employees to do this is to use the new IRS Tax Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov.

The IRS just launched this improved tool to help taxpayers check their withholding by doing a Paycheck Checkup. This lets the employee check to see if their employer is taking enough tax ...

You have waited all season for that first red ripe tomato only to discover less-than-perfect fruit. But don’t worry, you can still have a great harvest this year while improving things for next season.

Blossom end rot is a common problem. It’s due to a calcium deficiency often caused by fluctuations in soil moisture, often seen on the first set of fruit and those grown in ...

BELMAR/LAKE COMO, NJ — TAPinto Belmar/Lake Como is the only all-online, objective newspaper that serves residents, organizations and businesses in both municipalities, reporting news at it happens 24/7.

Accredited by the New Jersey Press Association, it is the official electronic newspaper of both municipalities and is part of the TAPinto network of 82 locally owned and operated online ...