{"id":9866,"date":"2026-05-15T13:54:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T17:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/?p=9866"},"modified":"2026-05-20T13:56:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T17:56:34","slug":"a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/","title":{"rendered":"A Celebration of Culture, Creativity &#038; Community"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission, in conjunction with Ocean County College, presented the annual Salute to Ocean County: A Celebration of Arts and Heritage at the College on May 14. The event honored Ocean County\u2019s outstanding cultural organizations, and recognized exceptional local artists, historians, preservationists, educators and government leaders. In addition to acknowledging the recipients of the Commission\u2019s Local Arts and History Program Grants and the 2026 Ocean County Teen Arts winners, the evening featured awards for distinction in the arts and history. Honorees included Steve Dodson, recipient of the 2026 Pauline S. Miller Lifetime Achievement Award for Ocean County History; Senator Robert W. Singer, recipient of the 2026 Lila W. Thompson Legislative Recognition Award; Cynthia Coritz, recipient of the 2026 John C. Bartlett, Jr. Government Leadership Award; and Affair at Egg Harbor Historical Society, Inc., recipient of the 2026 Special Award of Merit.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 33%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-9866 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/01-hart\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/01.Hart_-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/02-ellenbogen\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/02.Ellenbogen-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/03-barnegaths-jazzensemble\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/03.BarnegatHS.JazzEnsemble-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/04-monaco\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/04.Monaco-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/05-bartlett-award\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/05.Bartlett.Award_-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/06-pinelandshs\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/06.PinelandsHS-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/07-crisafulli\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/07.Crisafulli-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/08-hart-crisafulli\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/08.Hart_.Crisafulli-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/09-grantsrecps\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/09.GrantsRecps-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/10-merit-leht\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/10.Merit_.LEHT_-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/11-paulinemilleraward\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/11.PaulineMillerAward-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/12-pinelandshs\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/12.PinelandsHS-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/13-jeremygrunin\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/13.JeremyGrunin-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/13a-localarts-awards\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/13a.LocalArts-Awards-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/14-legislativerecogaward\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/14.LegislativeRecogAward-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/16-ocvotech\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/16.OCVoTech-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/17-jaclynwood\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/17.JaclynWood-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/18-jaclynwood2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/18.JaclynWood2-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/19-teenarts1\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/19.TeenArts1-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/a-celebration-of-culture-creativity-community\/20-teenarts-commissioners\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20.teenArts.Commissioners-250x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"2026 Salute to Ocean County Ceremony\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl>\n\t\t\t<br style='clear: both' \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission, in conjunction with Ocean County College, presented the annual Salute to Ocean County: A Celebration of Arts and Heritage at the College on May 14.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":9886,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9866","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-photo-galleries"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9866","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9866"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9866\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9887,"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9866\/revisions\/9887"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9866"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}