By now maybe you have seen the lawn signs and wondered, “Why ‘Get Naked in the ‘Wood’”?
Do it for your health, with a melanoma screening at the first-ever Maplewood Oysterfest on Saturday, September 19.
The Woodland, at 60 Woodland Road, will become a festival of America’s favorite bivalve, with delicious fresh oysters, beer and wine gardens, live music, fun for the kids, and lots of other tasty food trucks for those not brave enough to slurp the ocean’s bottom-feeder off its shell.
In addition, SOMA Skin & Laser’s team of dermatologists will provide attendees complimentary melanoma skin screenings (included with admission).
John Meade, St. James Gate’s owner, has long wanted to stage a home-grown event to replicate the fun oyster festivals he threw years ago in Hoboken, but never had the right cause or mix of town collaboration to make it happen. It wasn’t until this past year when the pieces fell into place.
Grace Miller and her large network of friends were looking for a way to memorialize her husband Bob, an award-winning architect and protégée of Michael Graves who lived in the heart of Maplewood and worked his magic on many of the local homes. Tragically, he lost his tough fight against melanoma in 2014. Bob’s death was devastating for Grace and her four daughters, but it inspired them to raise awareness about this most dangerous cancer. Melanoma is growing at a rate faster than any other cancer, with an eight-fold increase in women over the last 40 years. Melanoma is deadly – but it can be very curable if detected early.
She teamed up with Meade and a host of town businesses and volunteers to make this first-ever Maplewood Oysterfest a melanoma awareness event. In addition to the screenings and information provided at the event, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Melanoma Research Foundation.
Losing Bob is a heartbreak she will carry the rest of her days, but September 19 will be a day to celebrate not only his amazing life, but how much we can all do to prevent melanoma from taking one more loved one from this earth.
“The girls and I are so proud to be remembering Bob and raising awareness for melanoma right here in the center of Maplewood,” said Miller. “He loved this town so much. It was a community he was so happy to call home.”
The Robert J. Miller Oysterfest will take place Saturday, September 19, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the grounds of The Woodland in Maplewood. Bands scheduled to play include the Celtic Rock band Searson, the wildly popular Jersey Shore band Brian Kirk and the Jirks and Maplewood’s own fabulous Lisa Rott and All-Terrain Band.
An exclusive VIP lounge will be available with wine and Irish whiskey samplings in addition to all-inclusive food and an open bar as well as free melanoma screening booths. The event can be the perfect way to reunite with your neighbors and friends post-summer.
Special thanks to sponsors: Seton Hall University, St. James’s Gate, Keller Williams Midtown Direct, Far Brook School, Maplewood Rotary Club, Coda Kitchen & Bar, Anthony Garubo Salon & Day Spa, the Mulvihill family, Arturo’s, Capital One Bank, Cedar Ridge Cafe, Gleason Cleaners, Jerry Rose Floral, Rutgers Paint, State Farm.
Also, grateful for event support from Able Baker, Brinton Brosius, Freeman’s Fish Market, King Willy, Roman Gourmet, Village Trattoria, RENT Party, SOMA Skin & Laser, and Town Hall Deli.
Tickets are available for purchase at St. James Gate, and on bobmilleroysterfest.com starting at $25 for general admission, with food and beverage available for purchase separately, or $125 VIP, food and beverage included. For additional information, please email info@bobmilleroysterfest.com.
