There were three generations of pride filling the Our Lady of Perpetual Help School auditorium when Michael Marchetti received his Eagle Scout Award at the Court of Honor recently. Both his father, Dr. Michael Marchetti, and his grandfather, Dr. Carl Marchetti knew what it took for Michael to receive the highest award in scouting. Both the scout’s father and grandfather had also earned their Eagle Scout awards when they were teenagers.
Michael, the son of Dr. Michael and Suzanne Marchetti, graduated from Henry Hudson last year and is currently attending Brookdale College studying business. The family lives on Beach Blvd. in Highlands, and Michael sought inspiration from Highlands Mayor Carol Broullon in selecting the project he would do to earn the Eagle citation.
The mayor suggested Michael re-create the World War II monument on Route 36 across the street from OLPH and the new Borough Hall, and he took on the suggestion with enthusiasm and energy.
As part of the project, Michael had to refurbish, shine and mount the plaque that honors the 13 residents of Highlands who lost their lives during World War II. As part of the requirements listed for earning the Eagle award, Michael also had to oversee a team of ten young men to assist with the project, once he had planned and coordinated it. The scout also had to research history on each of the men named on the plaque and turned to borough historian Walter Guenther as a resource. That resource gave him more inspiration and more appreciation of heroes from an earlier era, he said.
During last week’s Court of Honor, Dr. Carl Marchetti, Michael’s 89-year-old grandfather, who lives in Farmingdale, recalled he was 14 when he was a Boy Scout in Troop 33 in Jersey City. The doctor, who retired in 1982 after 22 years as senior vice president of Jersey Shore Medical Center, and private practice in Neptune as an OB-GYN doctor, estimated he has delivered at least 4,000 babies during his medical career, but nothing is making him prouder than his grandson’s achievement.
“I’m glad to be his grandfather,” he said with admiration, “and I’m glad he made the decision himself to work hard to achieve this. It shows his dedication both in time and effort.”
Dr. Michael Marchetti, who is also troop leader of Troop 22, agreed, adding he is “proud of everything Michael is doing, and he did it this project well.” The physician practiced in the emergency room at Bayshore Hospital for 25 years and now practices in urgent care at Robert Wood Johnson in Hillsborough, in addition to serving first as assistant troop leader for nearly ten years and troop master for the past five. He admits that it was his father that got him involved in scouting and he is happy he has been able to do the same for his son.
In her letter of congratulations to the scout, Mayor Broullon thanked him for his work and noted “it makes me proud every time I walk or drive by and see the monument,” recognizing that he has transformed “an old monument to new glory.” She also noted the thanks and appreciation of both the local American Legion Post 143 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6902 and reminded Michael “you have made the borough proud.”
Police Chief Rob Burton, in congratulating the Eagle Scout, commended him for the 24 badges he earned during his scouting years and told him his outstanding work on this project will continue to inspire him in the years ahead. Atlantic Highlands Police Chief Scott Reinert also sent his congratulations and belief that “you can do anything you set your mind to…”
Although January 17 was announced as the date to open sealed bids for a construction manager for the proposed renovation and restoration of the historic barracks on Fort Hancock for use by the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST), the date has now been moved one week later until January 24.
The new date is not advertised on the Monmouth County Vocational School Board of Education website, nor was it announced to everyone who attended the pre-bid meeting on December 20.
However, a legal is posted on the webpage of the architect seeking the bids, Kellenyi, Johnson Wagner, architects of Red Bank, explains that “The original Bid Opening Date & Time of 1:00 PM on January 17, 2024 has been revised and extended.
Sealed bids will now be received at the Business Office of the Monmouth County Vocational School District, Board of Education Office, 4000 Kozloski Road (in the Agriculture Building), Freehold, NJ 07728 up to 1:00 PM (prevailing time), on Wednesday January 24, 2024, then opened and read aloud.
Such proposals to receive consideration by the Monmouth County Vocational School District, are to be submitted in strict compliance with the Public-School Contract Law, NJSA 18A:18A-1, et.seq.”
No reason was given why the date announced at the pre bid meeting has been changed, nor does the legal notice on the architect’s webpage indicate where the legal notice of the change was posted.
It would appear that with the bid opening date delayed a full week, the dates for reviewing the bid documents, awarding the contract, distributing contracts for review and signature as well as the notice to proceed would also be delayed by a week.
The overall project duration was listed as taking 420 days from the notice to proceed, including 54 days to update and finalize contract documents and submit plans for permit and initiate submittals.
Although the original announcement of the Prebid meeting was listed as mandatory, that error was corrected in the legal advertisement for the meeting, which indicated it was recommended, not mandated, to attend that meeting. At least two bidders attended that meeting last month.
The one-week delay and any subsequent delays could impact the actual construction of Building 23, now primarily in a dilapidated condition, since it could impact whether work would start on the reconstruction in the advertised time frame.
Both past history and a current statement from the architect indicate that if the ospreys, a large sea bird that has a nest atop one standing wall of Building 23, return and prepare their nest for new eggs prior to construction, work is halted until the eggs hatch and fly the nest.
That was the reason for the delay of construction three years ago and plans have remained dormant until now. Kellenyi said at the pre bid meeting last month he is hopeful that activity at the site would drive the returning ospreys to find another location.
Nor has either the architect, the Monmouth County Vocational School Board of Education nor the National Park Service responded to any question as to why the nest cannot simply be removed any time before the ospreys are expected back from migration, generally mid to late March. Nor have any of the principals involved responded to queries why it is so necessary to protect the nest now, with plans approved and contracts signed to renovate the building which includes removing the nest so work can proceed.
The building is planned to be renovated to provide the first indoor drill and practice facility for the NJROTC cadets, which includes every student at MAST. The building is also scheduled to include classrooms, office space, bathrooms , lockers and showers for the cadets. Currently, the cadets conduct their drills on Pershing Field, the open field immediately in front of Building 23 ad have no showers or locker facilities for end of drill exercises.
The new legal notice on the Kellenyi Johnson Wagner webpage, which includes the requirements necessary for bidders and the regulations each must meet was authorized by Monmouth County Vocational School District/Business Administrator/Board Secretary Kelly A. Brazelton.
While Facebook and Twitter are alive with dozens of comments from known Democrats and others in Atlantic Highlands critical of their action, the petition filed by Councilman James T. Murphy and Ellen O’Dwyer to verify the November election for Mayor and Council member contains no fewer than 20 names of persons they fear could be illegally cast ballots.
“This matter is a pending litigation,” said both Murphy and O’Dwyer when contacted for comment. “As such, we do not have many comments to give.”
Both former candidates have also said they themselves, as well as “ other residents in the Borough are concerned that some of the votes may be inaccurate. We owe it to all the residents of Atlantic Highlands to explore this matter and seek the truth. Our efforts are simply to confirm the democratic process is being followed.”
Following the election and a December 12 recount requested by Murphy and O’Dwyer, who lost the mayoral and council seats respectively to Lori Hohenleitner and Alyson Forbes, the recount ordered by Superior Court Judge Kathleen A. Sheedy showed that Hohenleitner had five more votes than Murphy and Forbes had 12 more votes than O’Dwyer. Both victors were sworn in at reorganization Jan. 1 and have taken office as elected officials.
Murphy and O’Dwyer then contested the vote certification, charging that “illegal votes were received” and also “legal votes were improperly rejected.”
It is that allegation the two Republicans presented to the court for a court judgement in their favor, the next step after the recount and recheck ordered by the court.
In calling for judgment, both Murphy and O’Dwyer asked the court to either enter judgements revoking and invalidating the certificates of election for Hohenleitner and Forbes and enter judgements certifying Murphy and O’Dwyer for the positions.
In the alternative, the duo asked that a special election be ordered for the offices of mayor and one council seat and and other relief the court finds equitable and just.
No date has been set for that court decision.
Represented by Matthew C. Moench of the law firm of Kin Moench and Collins, LLP, the civil action specifically names at least 22 persons whom Murphy and O’Dwyer feel did not meet residency requirements and therefore should not have their votes counted in Atlantic Highlands. The names run from A to Z in the alphabet, and include several names with addresses both in Atlantic Highlands and in the same apartment complex in Brooklyn. In some cases, telephone numbers for the Atlantic Highlands address have been disconnected; in other cases, calls go to an answering device and have not been returned.
Among the 19 persons named in the legal action the Republicans feel do not meet residency requirements, addresses include persons whose addresses are given on Third Avenue, E. Mount Ave., Harbor View Drive, Bayside Drive and Cross avenue, among others.
In addition, there are three names cited in the legal action of persons the former candidates believe are not the signatures of the persons named based on their signatures on record. In these cases, the litigants are asking that the ballots be rejected because of the lack of comparison and the possibility the named voter did note fill out his or her own ballot.
Murphy and O’Dwyer are also questioning if at least one voter who cast a ballot for them did not have the ballot counted since the vote was a write-in rather than adjacent to the names printed on the ballot.
It is for their belief that some ballots have been accepted by non-residents, signature mismatches, and questions on the write-in votes that Murphy and O’Dwyer believe “the results of the election do not reflect the will of the voters” and therefore the results should be vacated.
Three Boy scouts from Troop 22 were honored at their Court of Honor Saturday, January 6 and congratulated by approximately 100 guests on the occasion of their reception of the Eagle Scout Award, the highest award in Boy Scouting.
The three, Michael Marchetti, Kevin Connelly, Jr. and Anthony Martignetti are all graduates of Henry Hudson Regional School and had earned their Eagle awards during the Covid crisis but were unable to be honored because of Covid restrictions.
Two other Troop 22 scouts, Jack Foy and Kyle Otterbine, both of Middletown, also earned their Eagle awards several years ago. Neither was able to be honored at this week’s ceremony. Foy is employed by the Middletown Township Police Department and Otterbine is in the United States Marine Corps currently serving in California.
Kevin Connelly, Sr., the father one the Eagle receiving his award, gave the opening prayer at the Court of Honor held in Our Lady of Perpetual Help School auditorium, after the Senior Patrol leader Sean Weinperl and Color Corp presented the colors and formed an honor guard.
Dr. Michael Marchetti is troop master for Troop 22, and presented the award to his son, Michael. Assistant Troop Leader Thomas Welch, who is also Eagle Advisor and Order of the Arrow Troop advisor, presented the award to Connelly, and Alan Resch presented the award to his nephew, Anthony.
Each of the three Eagles gave presentations on their projects which had to be completed in order to achieve the Eagle honor. Assistant Scoutmaster Gerald Thompson outlined for the crowd gathered for the ceremony each level of scouting honor had to be achieved and held for a specific length of time before a scout could even attempt to achieve the highest honor.
In addition to letters of commendation from Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon, who was present for the ceremony along with Council President Joann Olszewski, the three Eagles at the ceremony also received presentations for the American Legion, the Third Degree Knights of Columbus of the Rev. Joseph Donnelly Council and the Knights’ 4th Degree Bishop McFaul Assembly 646.
Those awards were presented by Sir Knight Michael Napolitan and Sire Knight John Flynn, with Heath Bertini, vice commander of the American Legion Post 346 of Neptune presenting the Legion award. James DeRugeriis, R., Deputy Grand Knight of the Vincent T. Lombardi Council 6552 of the Knights of Columbus, New Monmouth also made a presentation to the honorees, along with Louise E. Welch, president of the Vincent T. Lombardi Columbiettes 6552. Mrs. Welch is also the mother of an Eagle Scout, the assistant scoutmaster.
The troop meets regularly at OLPH and at the Robert Wilson Community Center in Highlands and is sponsored by the Navesink Fire Hook and Ladder Company. The volunteer fire company also presented certificates of achievement to each of the Eagle Scouts with the presentation made by Scott Sieh
The troop consists of approximately 20 young men between the ages of 13 and 17 and is open for membership to local youths.
The Eagle Scout Committee for the event included Assistant Scoutmaster Welch, Mrs. Welch, Dr. Marchetti, Susan Marchetti and Tara Schneider.
Refreshments were served following the ceremony and retirement of colors.
Editor’s Note: Because each of the honorees has a fascinating history of his own, it was not possible to include each of their achievements in the Eagle Court of Honor story. Look for future articles on Marchetti, Connelly and Martignetti soon.)
You might say Arman Kaymakcian has had a taste of just about every kind of life possible. He was born in New Jersey, but his parents were Italian and Armenian. He had a terrific childhood filled with adventure, fun, and love…until he was ten.
That’s when the sexual abuse by someone close to the family began and his life changed.
First it was going through adolescence and teen years with ongoing abuse. Then it was trying to cut himself off from everybody. Then the solace in drugs, the need to sell them to use them. Then it was the problems in high school that made him drop out and look to make a living through odd jobs.
Arman found the talent as a carpet installer he had learned from his father could get him a job to let him pay the rent for his own apartment.
He found a place in Neptune, convenient to a crowd that would buy his drugs and enable him to try, and become addicted to prescription drugs, cocaine, PCP, ecstasy and then finally heroin.
From there it went to the hopeless times, the suicidal thoughts…and the coincidence that wasn’t really a coincidence. Everything happens for a reason.
Arman picked up a Bible and read Psalm 88. That was enough to get him, first down on his knees then in a psych ward at Monmouth Medial Center, help for his body and prayers on his lips to save his life.
That’s when the new chapters of his life began.
That Psalm 88 starts with “Lord, you are the God who saves me,” then admits, like Arman, “I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death.” It continues “ You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths…Your wrath lies heavily on me;….you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.” But it ends with “I call to you, Lord, every day…..I cry to you for help, Lord…
The full story of Arman is included in his biography and first book, “He Calls Me Redeemed,” in which he explores his past at the intersection of faith, addiction, abuse, family, culture, and death. The book is a blend of how the cultures of his heritage clashed with his Jersey Shore life style and how while he looked up to and revered his father, he had no idea of his father’s own tragic secret until he recognized how his father’s personal struggles were a precursor of his own life that hit rock bottom.
A heart wrenching story. Its excellence comes from the author’s ability to lay out the harsh cold facts as they were and are. The book ends on a happy note knowing Arman has overcome a past that will forever haunt him, a lifetime of struggling against the crime and wretchedness he had thrown himself into, and finally the joys and happiness, to say nothing of security and a future that he enjoys because of his own ability to fight his own evils.
Arman cleverly channels the various parts of his life into separate ‘rooms’ in his life house, each room filled with the horror, sadness, frustrations, grief, religion, history or love found in each corner of that particular room.
The book is truly one of hope, faith, and belief in one’s self. Now married with two children, Arman lives in the Colts Neck area and regularly attends the Community Church in the township, grateful he indeed has overcome demons. Finally achieved his high school diploma, attended Brookdale College and has a job he’s held down for more than ten years.
He’s also working on a couple more books, one a short novel, the other a book of poetry.
“He Calls Me Redeemed” by Arman Kaymakcian is available on Amazon and in local book stores.
“It’s very disappointing that we are all being put through this. We will keep moving forward keeping the community at the center of our work,” said Mayor Lori Hohenleitner today in response to questions concerning the action filed by Councilman James Murphy regarding the election results last November.
Murphy, the lone Republican on the governing body, who was defeated by Hohenleitner for the mayoral post by six votes following a recount last month, then filed action in Superior Court challenging the outcome of the election on the grounds of improper votes in some cases. Murphy questioned the addresses of some voters as well as other matters, according to the Monmouth County Board of Elections. Both Borough Clerk Michele Clark and Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon are named in the litigation.
Hohenleitner and Forbes are being represented by Scott Salmon, with Jardim, Neisner & Susser, P.C who have officers in Tinton Falls and Florham Park. The firm has represented candidates running for political office as well as provided representation to elected officials surrounding political campaigns and the election process.
Hohenleitner noted that borough attorney Marguerite Schaffer is representing Ms. Clark at borough expense, and former borough attorney Jason Sena, who also serves on the Shrewsbury Borough Council and is a special attorney for Atlantic Highlands, is representing County Clerk Hanlon in the matter brought by Murphy.
Hohenleitner and Forbes, who with Crowley were on ActBlue Charities, Inc. for election campaign funds, also have a place on the fundraising platform for donations to raise funds for their attorney in this legal action.
According to Wikipedia, ActBlue Charities Inc. is an American political action committee and fundraising platform established serving left-leaning and Democratic nonprofits and politicians. Its Republican counterpart is WinRed.
Although not identifying it as a Go Fund Me page, the mayor confirmed “we have an Act Blue page for campaign fundraising that is now collecting funds to pay for this frivolous contest.” The mayor continued that the action was “brought against myself and Alyson Forbes by Jimmy Murphy and Ellen O’Dwyer.” Councilman Jon Cowley is not involved, she said, other than as an interested party.
Murphy was not immediately available for a comment for this story.
With no opposition at the polls last November, the first time in the history of the borough that has ever occurred, there was no opposition nor much fanfare at the swearing in of incumbents Donald Melnyk and Joann Olszewski to their new three-year terms on the borough council at Monday’s reorganization meeting in the new Borough Hall.
Councilwoman Olszewski was also continued as council president.
Mayor Carolyn Broullon swore the council members into their new terms, and also installed William Caizza as fire chief, Jay Terwillinger as First Aid Chief and Yanni Gouzouassis as a special police officer Class II.
The governing body also introduced an amendment to its flood plain ordinance, naming the construction official the flood plan official, a change from the previous flood plain official being the borough engineer. A public hearing on the proposed change will be at the January 7 council meeting.
Meetings will continue to be held on the first and third Wednesdays of the month except in July, August and November when there will only be one meeting each month.
Council approved the appointment of Brian Chabarek as borough attorney at a rate not to exceed $180,000 a year, along with bond, labor, redevelopment tax, affordable housing attorneys and an attorney for tax appeals. They also named Marazita Falcon as conflict attorney at the rate of $195 an hour and no more than $25,000 for the year.
Council also approved William Brunt as public officer, Heidi Pieluc as deputy borough clerk, Joseph Rafferty of Colliers Engineering as borough engineer, at a rate not to exceed $100,000 a year.
Congressman. Chris Smith expressed grave concerns over recent reports migrants from the US southern border are now being dropped off at New Jersey train stations:
“President Biden’s illegal open-border policies and failure to secure our southern border continue to seriously jeopardize our national security and the safety of American citizens,” the Congressman said, noting that hundreds of migrants are being bused to New Jersey and left at train stations throughout our state.
While New York grapples with a humanitarian disaster fueled by its failed sanctuary city policies, this crisis continues to spiral out of control while the Biden Administration refuses to act. Smith said the massive influx coming into the United States illegally is not only unsustainable but also seriously endangers women and children, who are especially vulnerable to sex and labor trafficking, and enables the smuggling of deadly drugs like Chinese-made fentanyl into our country.
At a Congressional hearing Smith chaired last year he had asked the Biden Administration’s top official tasked with combating human trafficking whether migrants were being screened for trafficking at our southern border. “She did not answer my question, and deferring to her colleagues, said ‘certainly it’s the perfect time to be asking the question,.’ He said, adding “that is unacceptable. That is why I strongly supported and voted for the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (HR 2) the border security legislation that passed the House last year. I call on the Senate to immediately pass this legislation to address the Biden Administration’s failed border policies and ensuing crisis.”
With no response from either Gateway National Recreation Area nor the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners, don’t be surprised if the $15 million plan for building a much- needed indoor drill and classroom complex for the NJROTC program at MAST, is put off once again.
Common sense would attribute yet another delay to lack of action by those in control, lack of planning by the architect, a distinct failure to learn from past mistakes and lack of communication between two public entities who contracted to build the facility in the historic district of Fort Hancock.
The National Park Service and the Monmouth County Vocational School Board of Education will most likely blame it on the osprey should construction not start as advertised.
A pre-planning meeting for the restoration of a former barracks facing Pershing Field in the historic Fort Hancock section of Gateway National Recreation Area at Sandy Hook scheduled for five days before Christmas was attended by only two possible prospective bidders to be construction manager for the project. That manager would then retain and oversee all the subcontractors for the partially collapsed two story covered porch building. Work would also include a two-story addition and an elevator for barrier-free access to all levels from the main entrance lobby and would create a dedicated facility to accommodate the NJROTC program for every student at the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST).
Known as Building 23, the new facility would accommodate a shared faculty office, classrooms, a drill hall, gymnasium and locker rooms. The latest project description by Eric Wagner, the county’s architect with the firm of Kellenyi Johnson Wagner does not mention bathrooms or showers as an earlier description did.
Both the County school district and the Park Service have been this far before. The idea of converting and restoring more historic buildings for MAST to be used for academic and NJROTC programs was conceived in 2014.
Under a plan developed in 2019, $14 million was scheduled to restore Building 23 as well as the much smaller Building 56, a former mess hall built in 1905, 3000 square feet in size. New construction was designed for MAST to use as a storage facility for the more than $1 million in government issued uniforms and equipment for the NJROTC program. That building, though still needing some work, has been “substantially completed,” according to Wagner. It has enabled the NJROTC to move their equipment and uniforms from crowded unprotected trailers to the safer, more organized storage facility in the historic building.
In 2019, with both the county and the park service, as well as officers with the NJROTC Program lauding the plan for both historic and academic reasons, it was noted how the partially collapsed buildings would be restored and NJROTC cadets would not have to face frigid or extremely hot temperatures for their drills and other requirements.
However, that construction project was halted in March of that year when the ospreys returned to their nest atop Building 56 and environmental laws prohibit disturbing nesting ospreys.
In February 2020, the ospreys were gone, and deterrent devices were installed to ensure they would not return. A bid was awarded to begin work on Building 56, the smaller building. To ensure the ospreys could find safe locations to build nests in other areas of Fort Hancock, approximately 20 devices were installed on and around Building 23.
Bids were then sought and awarded for abatement work and osprey deterrents when 12 bids were received and work started immediately. Construction of the NJROTC facility was scheduled to be completed by 2022.
But once again bids were delayed, work was not done, the building continued to collapse and NJROTC cadets continued to drill in wintry weather or extreme heat. The ospreys returned, the deterrents either failed or were destroyed by weather, and an osprey nest still stands at the top of one wall of the collapsed building.
Ospreys are the exceptionally large raptors whose main diet is live fish. They are common sights soaring over shorelines or standing on their huge stick nests. They were once considered endangered but are sturdy and have rebounded in numbers following the ban on the pesticide DDT.
Ospreys frequently, if not always, return to their nest from the previous year and build it larger while preparing for another season of egg laying and chick raising until they once again migrate south, only to return the following year in an ages old pattern.
Wagner made mention of the migratory bird return at the pre-Christmas meeting, identifying the season as mid to late March when they are expected to return.
That’s precisely the same time the architect ‘s timeline for start of construction occurs.
When asked at the meeting about the conflict between the returning birds possibly returning to the nest atop Building 23, and the March 20 date he has set for mobilization of the project, he indicated he is “hopeful” that work and activity around the site will deter the birds and they will seek a quieter, more safe location for building a new nest and preparing for new eggs. No other action or deterrent was identified to be either planned or in place.
VeniVidiScripto sent letters to both the National Park Service and the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners Director Dec. 21 asking the same questions of both signers of the construction contract.
With permission, couldn’t the osprey nest that’s there now removed before mid-March?
In the alternative, couldn’t the County board be mandated to take immediate action either to ensure the ospreys do not come back to this nest if it’s left up there?
For that matter, why would the NPS allow the osprey nest to stand now, knowing that with the contract between the county and the NPS the ospreys won’t be able to nest there in the immediate future anyway?
If the NPS has granted permission to re-build #23, and since ospreys had been nesting on that site for years before the building contract was agreed upon, should the NPS take any action on its own to enable the ospreys to find another site without the trauma of revisiting and being disturbed in the future?
Speaking for the ospreys, if the NPS agreed to have the building reconstructed to its former magnificence, knew there was an osprey nest on top, and knowing ospreys generally return to their nests each migration, we would hope you would mandate, or take the action to remove a nest before we (the ospreys I’m speaking for) all come back, happy as ospreys, and set up our homes again so the poor couple, thinking they’re coming home, aren’t shocked at the last minute! That might be disturbing to the rest of us)
To date, there has been no acknowledgement of the questions, nor any response from either the Park Service or the Board of Commissioners. The empty nest still sits atop the building that is expected, if bids are received and accepted, to be under construction March 20.
There are other questions that should be asked and answered. Why would the National Park Service and/or the Monmouth County Vocational School District, pour thousands of dollars into setting up deterrents for a nest that has to be moved anyway if the building is to be restored? Would it not have been easier, cheaper, and more sensible to simply remove the nest during the cold winter months when the ospreys were enjoying warmer climes? What justifies spending thousands of dollars to put up deterrents when there are approved historic plans is to reconstruct the building, including the one wall atop which the nest is sitting anyway?
While environmental concerns and protection of wildlife are primary duties and obligations of the National Park Service, even for recreational areas such as Sandy Hook where millions of people are encouraged to use the beach and ocean, does not the National Park Service also have an obligation to preserve and restore historic structures and national history? One might ask, in the matter of Fort Hancock and the ospreys, which should have priority?
