Nine minutes from Long Beach Island is Pinto’s Porch in Manahawkin – a vibrant restaurant with walls covered in detailed landscapes. Owner Heidi Pinto does more than serve cuisine fusing Mexican cantina and BBQ; she also serves the deaf community.

Sunday afternoon she hosted a free class in American Sign Language, with guest instructor Anthony DeFranco of Barnegat to help participants comprehend ASL and its complexities on a deeper level.