The Two River Theater located in Red Bank, NJ, presents Intimate Apparel by Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage, directed by Seret Scott. The production will begin on September 21st through October 10th.

Red Bank, NJ—Two River Theater Co. is proud to present Intimate Apparel, a powerful and moving play by Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage, directed by Seret Scott.

Set in New York, at the turn of the last century, Intimate Apparel follows Esther, an African-American seamstress, who crafts beautiful lingerie for a range of clients, from the ladies of the Upper East Side, to the prostitutes of the infamous Tenderloin district. With the fabric she uses, Esther weaves exquisite garments for her clients, and with the vivid characters that inhabit the story, Nottage crafts a beautiful tale of self-discovery, acceptance, and independence.

Says the production’s director, Seret Scott: “Lynn Nottage weaves beautifully complex stories about…beautiful, complex, challenging people. People who live in their mistakes, in their heartaches and victories, people who live with dignity, humor, and constant discovery.”

“I’m thrilled that we’re starting this season with Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel. Lynn is a celebrated playwright who’s crafted a universal and beautiful story about an extraordinary time in New York’s immigrant history,” adds Artistic Director John Dias. “We’ve gathered a great team of artists led by talented director Seret Scott. I’m excited to watch these powerful characters take shape under Seret’s deft hand and to share this work with our audience.”

Two River is thrilled to welcome back cast member Matthew Boston (What the Butler Saw), and introduce Two River audiences to Elain Graham, Nikiya Mathis, Curtis McClarin, Stacey Sargeant, and Amy Lynn Stewart.

Intimate Apparel begins previews on Tuesday, September 21, opens Saturday, September 25, and runs through Sunday, October 10.

The National Weather Service has issued a tropical storm warning for Monmouth and Ocean counties as Hurricane Earl powers its way towards the East Coast.

According to the warning, Hurricane Earl was located 900 miles southeast of Atlantic City at 5 p.m. on Wednesday heading northwest.

The storm is currently a Category 4 hurricane with winds as high as 135 miles per hour.

Seas are predicted to rise as high as 12 feet and tropical storm conditions are expected throughout the area on Friday. Rain and sustained winds between 27 and 32 miles per hour with gusts as high as 40 miles per hour are possible.

If you didn’t have the opportunity to watch President Obama’s address this evening about the war in Iraq, below you can view the president addressing the nation stating “the last eight years are over”.

The “Stop The Violence/I Got Love For You” block party held at the West Side Community Center brought concerned citizens out in support of their local NAACP in efforts to stopping the surge of violence and drugs plaguing the community.


The block party brought out fire trucks, ministers, mobile health clinic, DJ, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s office and other organizations to show their support. You can hear the music and smell the food as you walked down Dewitt Ave to get to the West Side Community Center. The people had the opportunity to come together and talk about what could be done or needed to bring a stop to the violence. Asbury Park-Neptune NAACP’s 2nd Vice President, Tyseef Foster, talked about the necessity to have programs for ex-offenders so that they can find work and become productive citizens in their community.

The director of the satellite office of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s office, Thomas Youth, wanted to make it clear they want to play a more visible role in the community to help people be able to walk the streets safely again. Mr. Youth also stated that the law enforcement needs to become more familiar with the people of the community; thus creating a comfortable atmosphere between the two. Unheard Voices was able to chat with several members of the Asbury Park/Neptune NAACP and local residents where they shared their thoughts and optimism of a brighter future for the community. Rasheed Purvis, a local resident, talked about a local newsletter he started that focuses on issues that affects the community that mainstream media normally wouldn’t cover.

Residents also viewed the block party as a starting point of letting the people know that they do care and that visibility of the NAACP will be seen more in the future to come. It enabled the NAACP to answer questions and gave the community a good feeling that they had an organization that is proactive in the community. The NAACP definitely was able to get their voices heard and people took the time out to listen. Speak up and be heard!

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correction: Derrick Parreot (not David Parreot)

Asbury Park, NJ – The Asbury Park-Neptune NAACP will hold its annual Stop The Violence Block Party from 12-4pm at the WestSide Community Center located on 115 Dewitt Avenue, on Saturday, August 28th.

Louis Jordan, a newly hired security manager for the Asbury Park school district will be a guest speaker. Music will be provided by DJ Bill C.

The block party is free and open to the public.

The Asbury Park-Neptune NAACP will be accepting discount adult membership applications for $20.00 for anyone interested in joining their unit.

One person was discovered dead inside a burning car in Long Branch, New Jersey, Wednesday morning.

The victim was found inside a car, burning at Long Branch and Seaview avenues just after 5 a.m.

The street was closed as the car, covered in a tarp, was put on a tow truck.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office is leading the investigation.

According to a study performed by Education Trust, a national nonprofit organization that promotes student achievement, Coastal Carolina University is one of the most successful US colleges reducing racial gaps.

According the report, African-American are graduating at a slightly higher rate than CCU’s white students.

The study, based on data collected by the U.S. Department of Education, included CCU in its list of “Smallest White-Black Graduation-Rate Gaps Among Public Colleges and Universities.” Based on data collected over a three-year period (2006 to 2008), the study found that the graduation rate for black students was 45.3 percent, as compared to 43.7 percent for white students, a difference of 1.6 percent. African-American students make up approximately 11 percent of CCU’s student body.

According to the study, the national graduation rate for African-American students at four-year institutions is approximately 20 percentage points below that of their white counterparts. The Education Trust looked at data from 456 colleges and universities to identify institutions that are making progress in improving on the wide racial graduation gap they inherit from the nation’s high schools.

Legs covered in skin-toned stockings, her skirt crisp to the knee, Patty Davis slips on the black heels she has shined for the day.

“Got to look good in the Lord’s house,” she says as she spritzes her neck with White Diamonds perfume and exits her black Lincoln Town Car.

Davis, 46, of Union City, Georgia, has attended African Methodist Episcopal churches since before she could crawl. She sits proudly in the pew every Sunday for service and is among the first to arrive for bible study each Wednesday.

She moves swiftly, with confidence, a weathered Bible clutched in her right hand, the day’s passages dog-eared and highlighted. She’s the type of woman who can recite scriptures with ease, her love of faith evident in her speech.

“Every day is a blessed day for me,” she says. “Jesus is the No. 1 man in my life and any man who wants me must seek me through Him.”

The unmarried Georgia native is a committed follower of the Christian faith, striving to live and breathe the gospel in her daily life. Yet, according to relationship advice columnist Deborrah Cooper, it is this devout style of belief and attachment to the black church that is keeping black women like Davis — single and lonely.

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On August 3rd, America’s held its annual National Night Out, bringing communities together to promote the prevention of violence and drugs. Over 15,000 communities across the nation participated in the event. Locally, Asbury Park, Neptune, Long Branch, and Red Bank each had their own National Night Out.

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According to nj.com a gay rights group met with two top Essex executives in response to last month’s fatal shooting of an Atlanta CEO in Branch Park branch.

At the hour long meeting, officials Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. and Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura agreed to work with the leaders and the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered) community with the goal of equality and “ensuring quality of life in the parks in the context of our concern that no community be targeted,” said Garden State Equality chairman Steven Goldstein, who attended the meeting.

Other organizations in attendance were the gay rights advisory committee of the City of Newark, the Newark Pride Alliance and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey.

Goldstein said he wants a permanent end to undercover details aimed at targeting sexual activity there, saying it could be discriminatory.

Atlanta CEO, DeFarra Gaymon, was an unarmed man shot and killed in Branch Brook Park last month. Authorities stated Gaymond allegedly solicited sex from an undercover detective before lunging at him and getting shot.

The undercover detective was apart of an operation sting to stop solicited sex in the park. The operation has since been suspended since Gaymon’s murder.