The program will be presented by live at the Middletown Township Library on Tindall Road and via ZOOM .
Dr. Blair is an Associate Professor in the English department at Monmouth University, with special interests in New Jersey literature and popular culture. He spoke to the historical society in the past, highlighting Middletown author Henry Morford.
The program will include discussion of the variety of writings that have taken place in, around, or inspired by this coastal area of Middletown Township.
The event will be preceded by the Society’s annual meeting to which all are invited for the brief session. In person reservations are recommended early since seating will be limited because of ongoing renovations at the library.
The 20th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade sponsored by the Highlands Business Partnership will kick off SATURDAY, March 23 at 2 p.m., beginning at Huddy Park and ending at Bahrs Restaurants by the Captain Azzolina Bridge traveling the length of Bay Avenue.
The colorful St Patrick’s festivities will highlight Irish culture with nearly 120 marching units including bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, and beautifully decorated floats. The parade will begin at Waterwitch Avenue and extend along Bay Avenue.
Timothy Hill, a graduate of Henry Hudson Regional School, and former director of the Highlands Recreation Department is the St Patrick’s grand marshal of the parade and represents decades of Highlands history and volunteer service not only in his own family but his wife’s family as well.
Hill is married to the former Laura Horan, whose family was involved in the community for many years, and whose late mother Jane was the co-founder of the Highlands Historical Society.
Tim’s great uncle, the late Joseph Dempsey, was borough mayor in 1949 and 50. His Aunt Clara was a founding member of Twin Light Historical Society.
The St Patrick’s grand marshal himself, while attending Brookdale, volunteered at the Highlands Recreation Department, and was hired in 1979, later working full time there and earning his degree as a recreational administrator, certified by the NJ Department of Community Affairs, In 1988, he completed requirements for his National Recreation and Park Association (NJRPA) and his New Jersey Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Professional Certification in Recreation Management. In 1984, late Mayor Robert Wilson appointed Tim as our Recreation Director and through Tim’s leadership and vision, many new activities, unique events and health and human service opportunities were offered for the pre-school, youth, teen, adult, and senior populations of Highlands.
In addition to the numerous youngsters aided by the programs offered by the Recreation Center under Tim’s leadership, Hill also oversaw park and beach improvements and general maintenance, resulting in successfully securing grants for the Borough partnerships to provide recreation and park related activities.
Hill served 37 years as a borough employee and more as a volunteer for the borough as well as the Highlands Business Partnership established in 1999.
Hill also served as borough administrator for more than five years and also served on the Planning Board, Highlands Depuration Committee, FEMA Long-Term Recovery Planning Team, and the Highlands Business Partnership’s Hope for Highlands Committee.
The Hills, who currently live in Orlando, Fla, have two children
The Business Partnership will host the annual “Competition of Floats” for all businesses and/or Organizations in the parade, competing in three (3) categories: Best of Show, Prettiest, and the Most Original. In addition, a trophy will be presented for the Best of Apparatus.
Participants representing military, political, civic, church, and other organizations will be in the line of march
The Henry Hudson Regional Marching Band and cheerleaders will perform with more than 100 members. Cadets from the NJROTC program at MAST, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology at Sandy Hook, will present the honor guard at the beginning of the parade.
Pipe and Drum Bands include the Monmouth County Police & Fire Pipes & Drums, Middlesex County Police & Fire Pipes and Drums, Union County Police & Fire Pipes & Drums, Staten Island Pipes & Drums, and Patrick Torphy Pipes and Drums.
The Partnership urges the purchase of tickets for its “Lucky Pot of Gold” 50/50 Raffle. All proceeds “pay the pipers,” and winner need not be present for the drawing. Parade-goers will also receive free giveaways thrown from the many floats competing in the parade.
The parade is made possible by the Partnership and its sponsors; Monmouth County Tourism, Montecalvo/Bayshore Family of Companies, Bahrs Landing, Feed & Seed, Farmacie by the French Market, Dovetail Vintage Rentals, Hufnagel Tree Service, In the Garden, Off the Hook, Proving Ground, Seafarer, Sandbox at Seastreak Ferry, WRAT, 95.9, PKF O’Connor Davies Accountants and Advisors, The Brian & Joelle Kelly Family Foundation, and Driftwood Real Estate Group, Scott Inderwies.
To facilitate parking accommodations for marching units buses, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church has moved its Palm Sunday vigil mass from the routine 4 p.m. mass to 6:15. The Church is on Route 36, Navesink Ave., across from the new Highlands Borough Hall.
Bahrs Restaurant in Highlands, together with the Navesink Maritime Heritage Association, is featuring Vincent Dick and Emma Spreckels, the Surfer Girl of Asbury Park on Wednesday, March 20 at 7 p.m. at the Bay Avenue restaurant.
Author and historian Vincent Dicks, best known for his books on Spring Lake and Asbury Park, will present the story of the woman who was the only daughter of Sugar King Claus Spreckels, one of the richest men of the world. As a young woman, Emma was infatuated with Hawaii and its king in this novel, and learns that even with love for her, her father can and will destroy anyone who defies him. It’s the story of the gilded age and how Emma is the mysterious girl from the Sandwich Islands who put on a surfing exhibition in Asbury Park in the 19th century and was known as a surfing pioneer in New Jersey in the late 1880s.
The program is presented both in person, with tickets at $10 and including light refreshments, or at no cost via ZOOM. Reservations can be made online at navesink maritime.org. or for further information at myhumphreys@gmail.com.
The Navesink Maritime Heritage Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging Eastern Monmouth County with maritime and water related historical, skill building, environmental, and recreational activities, and encouraging responsible use of the Navesink estuary.
With Sunday, March 24 observed as Palm Sunday throughout the Christian world, the Rev. Jarlath Quinn, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help St. Agnes parish has announced Holy Week services as both churches for the week.
Palm Sunday will be observed in both OLPH and St. Agnes on the vigil, Saturday, March 23, with a 6:15 mass at OLPH and a 5:15 mass at St. Agnes. The OLPH mass is later than the usual Saturday evening mass to accommodate the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Highlands.
Sunday masses will include the 9:30 a.m. mass at OLPH and masses at 7:30. 10:45 and noontime at St. Agnes.
Holy Thursday, March 28, will be observed as a mass at OLPH at 7 p.m.
Good Friday, there will be a celebration of the Lord’s Passion at St. Agnes Church at 3 p.m.
The Holy Saturday vigil mass for the Feast of Easter will be at 8 p.m. at St. Agnes on Saturday, March 30.
Easter, masses will be 9:30 a.m. at OLPH and 7:30, 10:45 and noon time at St. Agnes, the usual schedule for Sunday masses.
Because it is Holy Week, there will be no 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. masses on Holy Thursday, Good Friday or Holy Saturday.
“We’ll be ready. We’re going to get this done!” Monmouth Country Director Tom Arnone told a crowd of proud Americans and historians at a meeting at Hominy Hills Golf Course Wednesday night.
If the enthusiasm, agreement, energy and assurances Arnone’s promises would be carried out by all of them is any indication, Monmouth County will have the biggest, the best, and certainly the most proud celebration of any county in the nation in 2026, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the start of a new nation.
Dozens of history lovers, both professional and simply proud Americans, gathered for the meeting of MonmouthNJ250 called by its co-chairs Arnone and County Clerk Christine Hanlon. The meeting was called to keep municipalities and residents updated on the county plans and county cooperation for municipality plans for celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday.
Historians from all over the County representing municipalities, historical societies, business entities, the Sons and the Daughters of the American Revolution and more viewed some of the videos the county has already completed to encourage a county-wide celebration equal or excelled by none throughout 2026.
Arnone and Hanlon thanked the Monmouth County Park system and other organizations, as well as Ted Maturo, executive director of Monmouth NJ 250 for all the efforts that have been completed to date to ensure that the county where the longest battle of the Revolution, the Battle of Monmouth, was fought, includes every municipality or organization in highlighting so many varied significant incidents and occasions from 1776 that occurred within Monmouth County. The Battle of Monmouth has long been recognized as the turning point in the Revolution, even while numerous other battles were fought throughout Monmouth County pitting neighbor against neighbor, splitting families, and losing lives. Still, once the war was over, Arnone noted, the people of Monmouth County came back together and rebuilt the county culturally, agriculturally, and industriously, making it what it is today, the fifth most populous county in the state with more than 600,000 residents.
Both Arnone and Hanlon highlighted the many ways Monmouth County plans on celebrating, noting first of all their re-constructed MonmoouthNJ250 truck which will be available for parades, special events and other uses between now and 2026. Other plans for the 2026 year are traveling exhibits, coloring books, educational programs, contests, gala events including parades, videos and joint events with municipalities.
To ensure everyone is kept informed and invited to participate in every celebration, Arnone also pointed out that of the 53 municipalities in Monmouth County, 21 of them have already signed on to MonmouthNJ250 so they can take advantage of all the shared ideas and resources. Hanlon also indicated the county is working with other organizations for a possible OPSail celebration similar to OPSail 76, when cadets sailing tall ships from numerous countries helped America celebrate its 20th birthday, with many of the ships and crew hosted by several Bayshore towns and Yacht Clubs.
Both cochairs praised the soon to be released coloring book that has been designed especially for Monmouthnj250 and will be available for y9ungsters but well worth reviewing by any adult.
Historian at the meeting also suggested RevolutionaryNJ.org and the American Battlefield Trust for other resources and information.
“We want everyone to enjoy a huge celebration throughout 2026,” Arnone said, “but we also want everyone, resident and visitor alike, to remember everything about this party for years after the party.”
To the applause and standing ovation of the group, Arnone reiterated “we’re going to get this done.”
Persons wishing further information or to sign up for the newsletter should visit MonmouthNJ250.org
An emergency helicopter landing on a baseball field at Middletown High School North this morning doubtlessly avoided a serious accident and showed the professionalism of local officials at both the township and school system
Middletown Police were notified by officials at Middletown High School North at around 9:30 this morning that a helicopter had made a landing on the school campus.
Responding Police found a commercial passenger helicopter had touched down on the field at the rear of the school, adjacent to Marvin Road.
The helicopter, operated by Zip Aviation of Caldwell had experienced an in-flight issue where an indicator light had come on. There were no passengers on the helicopter, and the pilot, who is not being identified at this time, observed the field and determined it would be safe to make the emergency landing.
There were no students or faculty on the field or the surrounding areas. Middletown Twp. Public Schools Superintendent Jessica Alfone said, “This incident is obviously an unusual one. Our school’s faculty and staff acted swiftly to confirm that no students or other personnel were harmed. The incident had no impact on class scheduling, and we are not anticipating any interference with dismissal or after school activities. We are thankful that the pilot was not harmed.”
Chief of Police R. Craig Weber stated, “This incident demonstrates both the professionalism and close working relationship between the Middletown school district and our Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services and our collaborative effort to quickly respond to this unanticipated emergency.” Police notified the New Jersey State Police at the Regional Operations & Intelligence Center (NJ ROIC), who then notified the FAA and the NTSB.
As all those avidly hoping for the reconstruction of Building 23 on Fort Hancock have seen, the osprey nest which has rested at the top of the lone standing wall of the dilapidated former army barracks for years, halting all progress and causing much controversy for years, is gone.
The nest, which for years has stalled progress on the anticipated indoor training facility for students at MAST, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology, was suddenly absent last Wednesday, according to visitors to Sandy Hook. The empty nest had been at the top of the last standing wall of the dilapidated building more than a week ago. The day after it disappeared, a bright blue boom appeared on the side of the wall and has been there since.
Kelly Brazelton, business manager for the Monmouth County Vocational School district, confirmed the nest was removed at the direction of the school district. And the boom, also placed by the district, was put in place last Thursday and will remain there for a month or so.
MS Brazelton did not give any explanation for why the boom is on site or how the nest was removed.
The nest has been a critical part of the years long story of reconstruction of the former barracks into a training facility, classrooms and offices, together with bathrooms and showers for cadets at MAST, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology, all of whom are in the NJROTC program.
When plans were first begun for the building several years ago, construction was planned to begin in the spring of the year. However, the nest, which has been there for years, was inhabited by returning ospreys, whose nature it is to return to the previous year’s nest after each migration, building it larger each season. Environmental regulations ban the removal or disturbance of osprey nests so long as they are an active family, from eggs to flight, so plans were put on hold for reconstruction. Following the nesting season, no action was taken by the district to remove the nest. Birds normally return by mid-March to their former site.
Last December, while the nest was still intact, the school district called for bids for construction, setting $15 million as the top cost allocated for construction. No action was taken to remove the nest throughout the winter months.
The bids were opened in January when two bids for construction of the new facility were received. Both were rejected when they came in at over $18 million.
While the district is expected to modify its plans and submit new and presumably less expensive construction plans to continue its agreement with the National Park Service, Ms. Brazelton reported there is nothing new on the construction plans at this time.
This month, the nest is gone and a boom at unknown cost is on site with no explanation of its purpose.
Booms are a piece of construction equipment that enables workers to climb and assess or inspect sites at the higher level. But when asked the purpose for the equipment remaining on site for a month or more, or its cost, Ms Brazelton responded “I am unable to answer some of your questions.”
Nor did VeniVidiScripto get any response from National Park Service superintendent for Gateway National Recreation Area Jen Nersessian in responses to the same questions.
It was 52 years this year since Dick Stryker served his first term as Mayor. It was the first time Atlantic Highlands had elected its mayor for a four year term, and the new and very popular Mayor laid out his plans for the future during the borough reorganization in January.
They all reflected the importance he felt for family, family life, and raising the borough to the high standards he felt it should be.
Stryker was elected in November, 1971 along with Gerald Kelty and John Phair to their terms on Council, giving the Republicans a majority on the governing body.
Stryker wasted no time in setting out his eight priorities, the first of which was cleaning up the “People pollution” so “Atlantic Highlands will be known for more than the town to go to see a dirty movie.”
Stryker was critical of some of the films shown at the First Avenue theater. But he also was concerned about a growing narcotics problem in town that was beginning to affect all towns, he said. So more of his priorities focused on making the narcotics board more effective and having it more in contact with the Monmouth County Narcotics Council.
Schools and the borough should work together, he also urged, and he was calling for the boards of education to work with the borough on school budgets. At the same time, Stryker wanted to introduce a new education program at the elementary school, one that would offer adult education after school hours primarily for parents.
As Chairman of the Harbor Commission and now as Mayor, Stryker wanted to abandon any ideas for a swimming pool at the municipal harbor, citing lack of space and too great an increase in traffic. He also wanted a survey of all the fire hydrants in the borough and a report on all problems so residents could feel more secure.
The GOP controlled municipal body also wanted to keep many of the same professionals who had been hired by Democrats, praising borough attorney Michael Barnacle, Borough administrator J. Leonard Clark, borough clerk Ruth Merker and borough court clerk Dorothy Davis among others.
That the Mayor was concerned about the showings at the Atlantic Theater was recognized in the ads for that were in advertisements in the same newspapers carrying his message to clean up the “people pollution.”
On the screen on First Ave for the week was “The Stimulators,” with the promo “Never has the theater shown a film of such visual and sensual magnitude,” describing the movie as “ a fascinating story of love.” It was playing with a second hit, “Touch Me,” in color, along with warnings viewing was restricted to those 21 years of age and older.
The annual Town Wide Garage Sale for Atlantic Highlands will be held Saturday May 4, with Sunday May 5 the rain date for the 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. event.
Residents wishing to be included in the borough map for shoppers, can submit a $10 check payable to the Borough of Atlantic Highlands to the doc-drop box at Borough Hall, prior to May 2. Check should be accompanied by a completed form available at borough hall to identify the types of items residents intend to sell at their address, ranging from appliances, furniture and decorations, through toys, jewelry, books, electronics and more.
Both Naval ships named after the State of New Jersey are making news this month as the newest is undergoing trials at sea and the older one is leaving the water for the first time in more than 30 years.
“As a crew,” said Captain Steven A. Halle,” we did some of the most complicated operations that submariners see in their entire career. The crew performed remarkably, and the achievements were recognized by numerous senior officials. Their hard work and sacrifice paid off and highlighted their amazing talent.”
The submarine spent two weeks at sea to test the boat’s systems and components. Tests included submerging the submarine for the first time and conducting high-speed maneuvers while on the surface and submerged.
The boat will be in the shipyard for several weeks before heading back out to sea for its next set of tests, including an Operational Reactor Safeguard Exam (ORSE) and preliminary weapons testing.
On Thursday, March 21, Battleship New Jersey (BB-62) will depart for historic dry dock maintenance for the first time in more than three decades. The Battleship, which is now a museum in Camden, will be guided by tugboats from McAllister Towing. She will be turned around, headed south under the Walt Whitman Bridge enroute to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard at Dry Dock #3, where the ship was built during the late 1930s and launched on December 7, 1942.
The dry dock project is vital for the Battleship’s longevity, and government, military and New Jersey residents has expressed strong feelings that the most decorated Battleship in U.S. history deserves a proper sendoff to celebrate her decades of service.
The public is invited to join and honor her legacy.
See battleshipnewjersey.org/drydock for details on Dry Dock Guided Tours, a Departure Celebration on the Pier, a cruise with the Battleship on the Spirit of Philadelphia and more!
