Hello 07728! I cannot believe the holi- day season is here. It’s like we snapped our fingers and WHAM! But I have to say, I just love this time of year! All the festivities, the family time, the food, and warm holiday spirit make me smile. And as always, we are excited for you to check out our Holiday edition maga- zine dedicated to the lifestyle and community of Freehold.
We start our issue with Dr. Desiree Curley at Essential Life Chiropractic. Cur- ley has been a chiropractor since 2002 and bought her current practice in 2023, changing its name to Essential Life Chiro- practic. She is not only the owner, but the sole practitioner, clinic director and treat- ing physician, and works with two staff members. “The brain is the control center of the body …,” Curley noted, so when thinking of her business name, “essential life” was a fit. Learn all about her chiro- practic care on page 6.
Next we meet mother-daughter duo Jen and Jennifer Arpaia – shopping has always been more than just a favorite pastime – it’s become a shared passion and a source of happiness. What began with countless shopping trips together evolved into a life- long dream of opening their own boutique. That dream became a reality last Decem- ber blending timeless pieces with trend-for- ward finds. Check out All There Boutique, which has quickly become a local favorite, on page 8.
We round our issues at Monmouth County Vocational School District where we meet Kelly Harmon. She’s an educa- tor that is leading the way to change the perceptions – and model – of vocational schools and has made tremendous strides in New Jersey. For that reason, the Asso- ciation for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and its board of directors named her the recipient of its 2026 ACTE Cham- pion for Career and Technical Education Award. Meet Harmon on page 18.
Within our Holiday issue we have Downtown Destinations: A guide to the holiday season’s best events in the borough on page 12 and a Holiday Planning Guide by our own food writer and contributor, Mary Abitanto, a four-time celebrity-en- dorsed cookbook author, for some great party planning tips and a special holiday dish on page 17.
Don’t forget to check out Following Freehold for future community events on page 26 and find out what our neighbors have to say – “What is your favorite holi- day tradition?” – on page 2. All of this and more awaits on the pages ahead!
Enjoy!
