The folks at Chocolate Carousel want to help you satisfy all your chocolate desires by offering as many mouth-watering possibilities as their creative team are inspired to create.
Owners Lisa and John Porada are committed to sharing their passion for chocolate and desserts. Both grew up working in a bakery and, although neither had plans to make baking a career, they never forgot the joy a well-made, scrumptious treat brought to customers.
Lisa and John began their careers in the corporate world but quickly realized they would be happier being their own bosses. When plans to purchase a bed and breakfast in Spring Lake fell through, they had the opportunity to purchase the existing Chocolate Carousel.

A perfect fit, given their past history.
Very quickly, Lisa and John’s commitment to service and quality not only made them leaders in their industry and earned them numerous awards, it helped Chocolate Carousel quickly outgrow their original location. In 2009, they moved next door into a larger space. Always looking to expand their tasty offerings to their customers, they expanded again in 2016 with the opening of their Design Studio. An immaculate, sparkling, state of the art, stainless steel kitchen, the space can’t help but inspire all kinds of innovative creativity.
In addition to serving as space for cake design and consultation appointments, the Chocolate Carousel uses the Design Studio for baking classes, team building, tasting events and bachelorette and private parties. Class offerings, such as St. Patrick’s Day Cupcake Pull Apart class or Coconut Easter Bunny Face Cake Decorating, are offered monthly and can be found on their website https://chocolatecarousel.com/ .
One event, held the third Saturday of the month is “Sweet Tooth Saturday”. Held from 4-6pm, imagine an all you can eat cake filling and frosting tasting for only $6. Besides an opportunity to enjoy dessert before dinner, this social event also entitles you a 10% discount on any bakery item. Perfect for treating yourself to some goodies but even better for a special event dessert.
The Design Studio also serves as a video studio for the “Lunch with Lisa” live broadcast. Seen on their Facebook page every Wednesday at noon, Lisa showcases new recipes, demonstrates new decorating techniques and cake designs, discusses the newest cake trends or provides helpful information on the art of baking & cake decorating. Refreshingly unrehearsed and sometimes incorporating a theme or guest co-host, Lisa encourages same time comments and offers free gift certificates to viewers who submit ideas for that day’s theme.
Paramount to the Chocolate Carousel’s mission is to provide a welcoming, customer service oriented environment, fully believing that excellent customer service and the highest quality products are what differentiate them from other chocolatiers. Also important is being an active member of the local community, all the while remembering that it is their regular customer base whose loyalty continues to help them flourish.

As expected, Valentine’s Day is a busy time for the Chocolate Carousel. In addition to their famous All Chocolate Heart Box (the box is chocolate too!) holding hand painted chocolates, they offer chocolate roses, a long stem rose boxes with 8 or 12 chocolate covered strawberries, hand dipped chocolate pretzels, brownies hearts, chocolate chip cookie hearts and cakes for two.
Future plans are to expand their high end upscale cake decorating business. If you can dream it, chances are Chocolate Carousel can make it a sweet, totally gratifying reality.

To get more information on Chocolate Carousel or to view examples of the creativeness of their cake designers, visit their website https://chocolatecarousel.com/ or call them at 732-280 0606.

by Ben Wurst, Habitat Program Manager

Since we began to work more closely with ospreys in 2006, we have documented the population grow beyond the historic population estimate of 350-450 nesting pairs (Henny 1977) to a new historic milestone. In 2017, a total of 668 active nests were recorded during a statewide census of nesting ospreys, which is well above the post-DDT milestone of 500 nesting pairs, and show that the population continues to grow. This is the second census conducted without the use of manned aircraft since 2009 after all known osprey nests were released and mapped online in 2013. Despite the lack of aircraft, we’re still able to obtain an accurate representation of the size and health of the statewide population, while reducing the overall project cost.

Today, the majority of data collected during a census is by citizen scientists, or “Osprey Watchers” and specially trained volunteers who observe/visit known nests and record adult activity and the number of young produced. From the data that is collected, it is used to help determine the overall size and health of the population, while engaging the public in osprey management and conservation, a key factor in the long-term sustainability of ospreys in New Jersey. Results from the census indicate that the ospreys had a great year.
Good weather and plentiful forage fish helped 519 nesting pairs to produce a total of 892 young, the most ever recorded in the projects history. A total of 408 of those young were banded with USGS bird bands for future tracking. On Barnegat Bay, a total of 106 young were banded with both a federal band and a red auxiliary “field readable” band to help learn more about their life history including dispersal, life span, and migratory patterns. The statewide productivity rate, which is a measure of the health of the population, averaged 1.72 young/active nest. Delaware Bay nests continues to be more productive than Atlantic coastal nests, but both are well above the minimum needed to sustain the population. The majority of ospreys (72%) continue to nest on man-made nesting platforms.
The largest population gains were observed in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, where the population grew by 37% since 2013, when the last statewide census was completed. Tony Kono, who interned with us last year, conducted a project to survey osprey nests in Monmouth and N. Ocean Counties, as part of the Rutgers Environmental Steward program. He surveyed 150 nests and recorded 82 active nests which produced 91 young. It’s clear that the success of the 2017 Osprey Census is due to the hard work and determination of our volunteers!
From the Meadowlands to Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook to Cape May, and west to Salem, osprey nest define our coastline, a stark contrast to 40 years ago when there were only 50 nests in New Jersey. Their ultimate recovery is due to the overall health of our estuaries and marine ecosystems, and their prey who have flourished in these areas. Ospreys have largely benefited from the preservation of our coastal salt marshes and the habitat that they provide. As a key bioindicator of the health of our coastal waters, it is our mission to ensure the long-term sustainability of the state population. This project gets no dedicated funding from the state or federal government and is supported by our generous members, grants, and private donations from individuals. Thank you all for your unwavering support!

https://www.conservewildlifenj.org/

Love fine handmade?

Then join us Sunday, June 24th, 2018 (rain or shine) for the 2nd Annual “Art in the Park…and Beyond”! From 10 am – 5 pm dozens of fine artists and fine hand makers will be found in Centennial Park, located behind Bay Head’s Borough Hall – 83 Bridge Ave.

Within this perfect park venue a meandering path will guide you to a diverse group of enthusiastic artisans proud to show their love of art, share their talents, and sell their works! Local musician James Dalton and DJ Trish will also be filling the park with music throughout the day.

AND while in the park, be sure to obtain a “Beyond the Park” art stroll card. This mini guide will provide you with the name and location of businesses and studios throughout the business district where additional artists and in-house events will be taking place. There is an assortment of places to get a snack or drink, a cup of coffee, or even cocktails and a meal!

So show your support of ART, come down to the shore, and get acquainted or re-connected with Bay Head, a shore community that prides itself with charm, tradition, and ART!

You can also follow along at https://www.facebook.com/bayheadaitp/

https://www.facebook.com/ilovebayhead and instagram @refind43

“Art in the Park” is sponsored by the Bay Head Business Association.

His first show was at March Field in Riverside, California, in 1941 then began taking his show on the road after the United States entered World War II. This continued for nearly half a century until his final USO tour in 1990 in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield.
Hope headlined 57 USO tours, bringing so much joy to the lives of U.S. military men and women serving in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the first Gulf War, and beyond. He was deeply proud of this work and most of all, Hope loved to make ’em laugh.
And laugh they did. By poking fun of military brass and blaming bad jokes on the enemy, Hope knew how how to lighten the mood in deadly serious situations. Danger was always an ominous presence, but that didn’t stop the show from going on.

In addition to the quick wit of Bob Hope, troops were also entertained by many famous singers, dancers, comedians and musicians who all gladly traveled along with Hope to the other side of the world- where ever our troops were stationed.
Bob Hope lived to be 100 years old. Though he enjoyed time off especially to play golf, entertaining and applause were what he lived for.

In 1997,  President Bill Clinton named Hope an honorary veteran. Hope responded, “I’ve been given many awards in my lifetime – but to be numbered among the men and women I admire most – is the greatest honor I have ever received.”

For those unfamiliar with Bob Hope, treat yourself to watching some of his videos to see the pure joy in the faces of the audience. These Christmas Specials also brought joy into our homes as we watched Bob Hope do what he did best- Entertain. Every year, Hope would leave the comfort of home at Christmas to visit our men and women in the military. This, to me, feels like the true meaning of Christmas.

https://www.uso.org/stories/154-bob-hope-the-uso-s-one-man-morale-machine