52°F clear sky

RED BANK: PETE’S BANJO PLIES THE NAVESINK

petes-banjo-091716River watchers may have noticed a distinctive two-masted vessel with red sails plying our beautiful Navesink on recent Saturdays. That’s Pete’s Banjo, a replica of a 19th-century Tuckerton Oyster Garvey built by members of New Jersey Friends of Clearwater and named in honor of late folk singer Pete Seeger. A true sailboat, it has no motor, so “when there’s no wind, we have to row it back to shore,” says Clearwater’s Charles Gross. 

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LINCROFT: A NEW DOCK FOR CLEARWATER

Seeger-KillianClearwater Festival founder Bob Killian, seen here with folk legend Pete Seeger, makes two anniversary appearances this weekend. (Photo by Mike Berry)

Updated from previous post on redbankgreen‘s All Good page.

It began back in the mid-1970s as a free festival of music, food and environmental awareness at Sandy Hook.

Inspired by the work of the iconic folk singer and pioneer activist Pete Seeger and his Hudson River excursions with the sloop Clearwater — and founded by Bob Killian, a Shore-based singer and songwriter best known for his hyperlocal anthem “I Like The Jersey Shore” — the all-volunteer Clearwater Festival has soldiered on through the years in several locations, most recently at Long Branch’s Pier Village.

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LINCROFT: CLEARWATER COMES TO BCC

Seeger-KillianThe works of legendary folk musician and activist Pete Seeger (left) and Clearwater Festival founder Bob Killian (right) are celebrated during the 40th anniversary edition of the annual free music and environmental education event, coming to Brookdale Community College for the first time on Saturday, September 12. Killian returns to Monmouth County for the occasion, as well as a September 13 event honoring Seeger’s legacy, at the Unitarian Meetinghouse in Lincroft. (Photo by Mike Berry)

From press materials furnished by New Jersey Friends of Clearwater

It began back in the mid-1970s, as a free festival of music, food and environmental awareness; hosted at the Fort Hancock area of Sandy Hook and sponsored by the organization then called Monmouth County Friends of Clearwater. Inspired by the work of the iconic folk singer and pioneer activist Pete Seeger and his Hudson River excursions with the sloop Clearwater — and founded by Bob Killian, a Shore-based singer and songwriter best known for his hyperlocal anthem “I Like The Jersey Shore” — the all-volunteer Clearwater Festival has soldiered on through the years in several locations, most recently at Long Branch’s Pier Village.

On Saturday, September 14, the re-branded New Jersey Friends of Clearwater presents the milestone 40th annual edition of the summertime event; a one-day happening that unfolds at a brand new host venue: the Larrison Hall Commons area at Lincroft’s Brookdale Community College. Dedicated to the pioneering efforts of Seeger (who passed away last year at age 94) and Killian (whose return to Monmouth County for the occasion is a highlight of this year’s festival), Clearwater 2015 is an eight-hour burst of activity (11 am – 7 pm) that promises three stages’ worth of live music, kids’ activities, arts and crafts vendors, environmentally themed informational displays, and plenty of free parking on the sprawling BCC campus.

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