The mainline crew is continuing its sewer pipe installation work along Bay Avenue for the next two weeks, borough administrator Michael Muscillo reported this week.
Muscillo, who has been called to jury duty and is working after hours, also noted that Spencer Carpenter is acting administrator throughout his jury tenure and is keeping aware and up to date on the sewer project as well as other municipal business.
The work crew is installing pipe between Cornwall and Jackson streets this week, resulting in road closures and detours on Bay Avenue. Muscillo said similar work will be occurring between Jackson and Kay streets during the week of Aug. 21, assuming work can continue on schedule as it has been/.
New England Dewatering will also be on site the week of Aug. 21 to begin the decommissioning of wells on Central and Ocean avenues and Beach Blvd.
Other stories on the Improvements Highlands has been making HERE
The Reverend Joseph J. Donnelly Knights of Columbus Council #11660, serving Our Lady of Perpetual Help Saint Agnes Parish received the “Star Council” distinction, the international Knights of Columbus organization’s top honor for local councils.
The “Star Council Award” recognizes overall excellence in the areas of growing membership, promoting Knights of Columbus insurance benefits, sponsoring Catholic Faith formation programs and volunteering time through service–oriented activities consisting of 16 programs divided among four categories of Faith, Family, Community and Life.
This year, the Reverend Joseph J. Donnelly Council achieved 200% of its membership quota with the addition of ten newly installed Brother Knights.
“We are truly blessed to be able to serve a vibrant Parish made up of highly supportive, engaged and faithful parishioners and to be constantly encouraged by our pastor, the Rev Jarlath Quinn, “said Grand Knight Michael Napolitano. “Father Jarlath is also one of our own Brother Sir Knights and also serves as our Council Chaplain” Napolitano continued.
Upon learning of the award from the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council, the Grand Knight added “I am truly blessed to be able to serve with and learn from the wonderful Catholic gentlemen who comprise this Council of Brothers as well as with our Sisters in the Columbiettes”
The Council also achieved “Star Council” status by employing a mix of traditional and successful parish favorites including hosting weekly Rosary Hours, a free monthly themed Pancake Breakfast, an Annual Spaghetti and Meatballs Dinner fundraising event, as well as donations to Local Food Pantries, local Seminarians, and sponsoring an Annual Blue Mass and Dinner for First Responders.
The council is also recognized and appreciated for its donations to Deborah Hospital, local.
Pregnancy Centers and Special Needs programs along with new initiatives that include sponsoring a Special Olympics Polar Plunge team, a May Crowning Mass and Initiation Sacraments Breakfast, a Catholic Education Scholarship, plus the Annual Oktoberfest and Sinatra Night Dinner fundraising events, all examples of some of the outreach programs that are well received.
Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to men 18 years of age or older who are practical Catholics in union with the Holy See.
For information on joining the Knights of Columbus Council #11660 contact Membership Director Dave Convery at david@converylaw.com) or call Napolitano at (862) 368-0801.
To learn more about the Knights of Columbus visit www.kofc.org where you can also join online.
Highlands Taxpayers! Would you wake up please? VeniVidiScripto is certainly not known for sticking up for local government officials, the way local government is run in the Bayshore, or anyone who takes actions that raise taxes.
But seeing the complaints now that Highlands tax bills are out and people are seeing what they see as outrageously high increases, it’s time for the taxpayer to be reasonable.
Do you know that the largest part, far better than half, of YOUR tax dollars goes to the two schools, Henry Hudson and Highlands Elementary?
Do you know your Boards of Education….two of them, one for the Highlands School, one with Atlantic Highlands for Henry Hudson, just voted unanimously to hold a special election for school purposes less than two months before a regular election? They’re YOUR Tax Dollars
Do you know your school Boards of Education just unanimously voted to put a question on the ballot that will end up costing Highlands taxpayers bundles more if they vote yes on it? They’re YOUR Tax Dollars
Do you know your school Boards of Education just voted unanimously to put a question on the ballot that does not include Sea Bright in a new Regional School District?
Do you know if Sea Bright were included in a new regional school district, that town would be GIVING a few million dollars that would offset Highlands taxes?
Do you know your borough ordered a study in which experts in education and finance, experts familiar with the new law that was designed to stimulate larger school districts as a means of saving tax dollars?
Do you know that study showed the only way to save Highlands taxpayers any money was to regionalize with Sea Bright?
Do you know the School Boards of Education were not satisfied with those experts’ findings, so they authorized another study paid for by the state?
Guess what! Do you know THEIR study ALSO showed the only way to save Highlands taxpayers money was to include Sea Bright in a Regional School District?
Do you know that in spite of not one, but two, highly paid professional teams saying Sea Bright inclusion should be a must, your School Boards of Education ignored the recommendations taxpayers paid to learn?
Do you know the schools superintendent who has been leading the unthinking board of education members keeps her job no matter what happens and lives and pays taxes in Oceanport?
Do you know Oceanport filed legal action against the idea of Sea Bright regionalizing with Highlands and Atlantic Highlands because they would be losing so much money once Sea Bright is gone?
Do you know if you do not go to the polls in this expensive special election, to voice your opinion against high taxes and wasted money to form a regional district that will not help Highlands taxpayers or apparently, even changed the education the kids are receiving now, those who think it’s a good idea to waste taxpayers’ money will get their way and your taxes will rise even more, even quicker? They’re YOUR Tax Dollars
You know your Mayor and Council, but do you even know your members of the school Boards of Education?
Do you know whether they have special interests in promoting a special election that does not make any changes that would bring in money to offset the high taxes you pay for education?
Ask yourself these questions. Then find a school board member and ask him or her for the benefits of this special election or regionalization without Sea Bright.
Ask how much money it will save you in taxes. They’re YOUR Tax Dollars
Ask how it will improve education for your children. They’re YOUR Tax Dollars
Ask them what’s wrong with Sea Bright kids going to school with Highlands kids. They’re YOUR Tax Dollars
VeniVidiScripto has sent each of those questions, and a few more, to each of the board presidents for all three schools. Nope, not one of them has answered yet … But hope springs eternal.
Well over 500 of the thousands of visitors to the Clamfest in Highlands Friday and Saturday stopped at the Twin Lights booth for information and gifts from the state museum’s Twin Lights Historical Society, many seeking more information on the planned fall Nighttime Climbs of the Towers next month and October.
Michele Spaeth, operation manager at the Twin Lights for the Twin Lights Historical Society, noted that the hundreds who visited the Friends sponsored display at the festival came from the Bayshore area but had never visited the Twin Lights. Others, she said, recalled times from their childhood or several years ago when they did visit. One resident who had just moved to the borough the day before the festival said she was excited to be going to visit the museum this week. Another couple recalled their wedding photos they had taken at he Twin Lights and many more said they are regular visitors to the historic museum.
This was the first time the Friends group had sponsored a table at the popular Clam Festival, Spaeth said, and it was a highly engaging crowd that gathered at the table for gifts ranging from historic post card reproductions to cell phone attachments as well as to learn more about the history of the Twin Lights. Many are anxious to see the work recently completed by a Monmouth University team in uncovering the foundation of the original lighthouse built in 1802 and near the south tower of the present structure, built in 1862.
Others indicated how exciting it was to see the original Fresnel Lens in the building adjacent to the main building on the Twin Lights site.
The Night Climbs will be under full moons on Sept. 29 and Oct. 28, Spaeth said, when for the first time, the Twin Lights will be open in the evening to participate in the Society’s fund-raising event. For $10, visitors will be able to climb both towers to view the setting sun and rising full moon. No advance registration is needed to participate in the climbs. The Lighthouse will be open from 4 to 8 p.m. on those dates. In case of rain, the events will be held the following night.
The Lighthouse is also one of the 13 Lighthouses across New Jersey who are participating in the annual Lighthouse Challenge on Oct. 21 and 22. Each of the lighthouses will be open that weekend, and the Historical Society will have a Welcome Table at the Twin Lights so interested parties can visit the Park Service’s museum and pick up the credentials that will be stamped at each of the lighthouse visited that weekend for souvenirs and prizes for the finishers.
Spaeth also noted that the Society has had an active season with the Twin Lights open seven days a week from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. through Labor Day.
Three new volunteers have been added to the staff. New Highlands resident Sabrina Lee, became a volunteer because she wants to be involved with the community and has past experience volunteering at a lighthouse, Charles Cosgrove, a junior at Rumson-Fair Haven High School, is volunteering and earning community hours for the Honor Society, and Max Caiola, a senior at Shore Regional High School is volunteering this summer because of his desire to learn the history of the lighthouse. Caiola will be posting Society events on social media and volunteering in the Museum Gift Shop.
Once you realize they don’t care about stranded rail passengers, that their advertising borders on being at the very least incomplete, if not false, once you accept you have to read all the fine print and a few other smaller things, then the Blackburn Inn in Staunton Virginia is one terrific place to stay!.
Following doctor’s orders and having had too much stress resulting in strokes or TIAs in the past, I opted to miss an important Atlantic Highlands council meeting to get away for a few days, learn some more history, get a new appreciation for President Woodrow Wilson and have some exciting, fun, and different experiences, meeting new friends and seeing new things.
Thanks to Uber driver and local driving perfectionist Maura Richardson, my relaxation started before dawn as Maura picked me up and delivered me to Newark’s Amtrak station so I could board the 7:05 a.m. Cardinal, the overnight train to Chicago with stops along the way including several in Virginia. The train only runs three days a week, so your choices are limited.
Knowing that Woodrow Wilson, former head of Princeton University and former New Jersey Governor, was born in Staunton and his house is now a museum, I opted for the approximate 8-hour train ride and reservations at the Blackburn Inn and Conference Center.
There are so many great things about the Blackburn Inn, but none was evident as I and another couple deboarded in mid-afternoon at the Staunton rail station which is not abandoned by any means, simply unattended with no phone, building or rest rooms available, or any maps to show you any location to town.
Since the couple were loaded down with several pieces of luggage, and the woman had a walking disability, I found a building close by with a rest room for her and learned that they too, coincidentally, were booked at the Blackburn Inn. So I hunted down someone on the street who could tell us a bit more.
There aren’t any taxis, we learned, and it was only a short walk to the Blackburn Inn. But not an easy one, we were told, walking between a couple of buildings, under a railroad trestle then up the street a way to the 80 acre fenced in property of the Blackburn Inn. So I called the Blackburn Inn, explained there were three elderly persons booked at the hotel, alone at the railroad station and was there any way they could help us.
Nope. No car or personnel available. No bus, no taxi, call Uber for the short ride.
The gentleman of this new rail trio…the couple were charming, he was there for an Opera board meeting…. called UBER. Within minutes Danilo appeared, trunk and back seat of his vehicle loaded down with his own supplies or whatever. Only room for two and luggage, my new male train friend said, so he dictated his wife, myself and the luggage would go in the vehicle, he would walk to the hotel.
The ride was so short but circuitous because of Staunton’s road system, he, walking up and down the hills, even beat us there! But now we made another friend, Danilo the driver, who agreed he’d be happy to help throughout the stay.
Inside the gorgeous Blackburn’s Inn main building, a charming, very patient and very understanding clerk welcomed each of us, accepted our complaints about the difficulty in getting there, assigned us our rooms and explained the surroundings, magnificent as they are.
Oh, no, she said, that Second Draft Bistro where breakfast is also served? That is only open Friday and Saturday nights, did I miss that in the advertising? Yep, I did. I saw the hours it was open on Friday and Saturday nights, but also seeing breakfast was served there, I did think it would be open daily as well.
That Spa with all the wonderful facial, massage and other services offered? Well, that’s in a different building on the property. She did not know it was only open Fridays and Saturdays as well, something I learned when I called and got a recording. But a second call Friday morning led to a recording as well, so not sure when or if it is open. No one seemed to know.
Though it was no problem, it was a little disconcerting to learn that while check-ins, the library and gift shop are all on the second floor, and my room was on the first, it would be a walk and an elevator from my room to fill an ice bucket. NO, there were no brochures available, or maps, or anything to show everything the town had to offer except for a lovely drawing and description of the 16 areas of the beautiful Blackburn Inn buildings and grounds.
There was another handout with a map and locations of the 30 eating places in town as well as the Visitor’s Center, located surprisingly enough, only a couple of blocks from the railroad station. But no explanations or descriptions of anything.
For someone from Highlands or Atlantic Highlands, the terrain was a piece of cake. But for others who did not know that very little of the charming town is flat, the ups and downs of walking the couple of blocks from the hotel to the heart of activity can be troublesome. Most of the terrain is more like walking from First Avenue to the Strauss Mansion or from Bay Avenue to Mountain Street. They are not easy walks.
Enough of the complaining about the Blackburn Inn … There were lots of highlights. Check ins and check outs were easy and efficient, staff is incredibly pleasant, though they are sparse in number, rooms are spotlessly clean, the prices are shockingly low for an area with so many expensive B&Bs, the grounds are made for relaxation and admiration of natural beauty, and the architecture is a story on its own! Even lighthouse lovers would love it.
The Middletown chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is planning a grave marker dedications to honor heroes of the American Revolution and buried at the Old Brick Reformed Church graveyard in Marlboro.
The public is invited to attend the solemn ceremony at 10 a.m. Sept. 9, and learn more about the four persons buried in the site including the Rev. Benjamin Dubois, who was born in 1739 and died in 1827. Others buried with the minister are Pvt. Oukey Lefferson and Pvt. Peter Van Dorn, both soldiers during the Revolution, along with Garret Van Der Veer., All three were born between 1731 and 1755, served in the Revolution and died in the early 19th century.
The DAR Chapter has as one of its missions restoring, preserving, and honoring the burial places of Revolutionary War figures in Monmouth County, and has done several other grave sites in the County before completing its work at the Marlboro site.
The Old Brick Reformed Church is located at 490 Newman Springs Rd., Marlboro, and funding for the DAR work on the graves came in part from a New Jersey historical Commission operating support grant. The grant funds are administered by the Monmouth County Historical Commission.
What is it with someone who thinks defacing property is fun and macho rather than stupid, immature and the act of losers?
After all the time, money, planning, and thought went into completing that terrific new skate park in Highlands, some loser or losers forced it to be closed down during the first full weekend after its grand opening simply by being stupid and self-centered.
The neon sign by that great Highlands Festival this weekend told the story to the thousands who attended about just how thoughtless and childish some losers are. It noted that the skate park had to be closed because somebody painted the ramp sometime during the night!
Really? How immature can one get? Why ever would anyone go to the trouble of carrying paint, climbing a fence, going out at night just to wreak havoc in a place where so many others are having good clean fun? because they’re losers
What is it that makes losers think it’s cool or adventurous to do such a thing? Poor upbringing? No appreciation for things given them? Stupidity? Attention getting? Boredom? Maybe out too late?
Whatever, it didn’t phase the Mayor. She calmly, cooling, and firmly said yeah it happened, she wasn’t happy about it, but “We’ll clean it up and reopen the park.”
So happy everyone else was so mature during the Festival. The thousands who came to enjoy what looked to be the biggest one yet had a fabulous time, lots of things to see, hear, eat, drink, and buy, to say nothing of learn. They were all ages, all manner of dress, all attracted to different booths or events, and all happy and enjoying fabulous weather and great music.
The Business Partnership has all the permits and everything else necessary to make the annual event go off without a hitch in an area that included the streets and Huddy Park in the immediate festival area. The exits were clearly marked with signage telling visitors the limits so as not to disturb others in the residential area. The VFW was also approved for the same type of permit that allowed for licensed activities on their entire footprint with volunteer personnel at the exit reminding folks just how far they could go with cup in hand. There were no untoward incidents, and as the chief reported, “from what I saw everyone seemed to be having a good time.”
Nice to see the large police presence anyway, and those police explorers are certainly a professional looking group of young men and women.
A memorial celebration will be held at the VFW Post home 6902 honoring relatives Barbara and Richie White on Sept. 1 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Family members from Florida, Pennsylvania and California will join Highlands relatives and friends to honor Barbara, who died Feb. 10 and her brother-in-law Richie White, who died Jan. 26. Both were lifelong residents and contributors to the Highlands scene as well as Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church.
Family members will give their own memories and thoughts about their relatives and will also invite those in attendance who want to share their thoughts to speak.
The family also is hosting beverages and luncheon for all who attend.
For further information contact tjw1069@yahoo.com and accept the family’s invitation to share memories of Highlands and the White family.
So happy to see how many people loved the Twin Lights Historical Society’s booth at the Highlands Clam Festival this past weekend, but also exciting was learning more about Shuck it Don’t Chuck it! from the American Littoral Society’s booth.
Besides all the fun, games, food and drinks, as well as great camaraderie that was going on Friday night and all day Saturday, visitors had so many chances to learn more about some of the great programs and places that make Highlands and its surroundings so terrific.
The American Littoral Society, which makes its home in one of the former Officers Row houses on Sandy hook’s Fort Hancock, has this Shell Recycling program every restaurateur who sells seafood should be on board with. They even had plastic cans at the Festival so all those folks buying clams and oysters at the Festival could participate in the program.
Basically, the Society is recycling clam and oyster shells.
Their first step is in educating restaurateurs and the public about the important of doing what they’re doing, basically urging them all to save the empty shells once the delicacies have been enjoyed.
Then the Shell Recycling coordinator, along with volunteers go around to the participating locations and community drop-off sites and collect all the shells. They take them back to Sandy Hook where they’re deposited in that huge pile of shells they’ve created and leave them sit there for six months or more, occasionally turning and rotating them to let the sun and accompanying insects clean off the shells organically.
Once they’re cleaned by the sun, insects and nature, the shells go back into the ocean where they are used to build reefs, restore shorelines, and conserve other wildlife. They also plant oyster seeds and let the process start all over again.
The Society also participates in sustainable aquaculture,, where they form partnerships with oyster farmers who use sustainable practices on their farms to improve the environment by farming their oysters. Learn more about the program and how you can participate in shell recycling, check out the Society’s site at littoralsociety.org.
Our coastal waters need all the help they can get if we want to continue the beauty of the area and the availability of great seafood. Call recycled shells ammunition if you want, but recycling them does fight against rising ocean levels, local pollution, and even that climate change folks talk about. Shuck it Don’t Chuck it!
Remember their slogan: Shuck it Don’t Chuck it! There’s a drop-off site at 9 Ave of Two Rivers in Rumson…look for the yellow trash cans! You’ll enjoy your clams and oysters even more if you know saving the leftovers helps nature!
Faced with the continuing weekend backup of traffic along Route 36 for beachgoers heading to Sandy Hook, Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon called a joint meeting among federal and local officials to come up with a resolution for frustrated motorists waiting I long lines, and patient Highlands residents and the police department dealing with the impact on their everyday living.
Police Chief Robert Burton was among those gathered together with the Mayor on a ZOOM call with Congressman Frank Pallone’s office as well as officials of Gateway National Recreation Are, Council President Joann Olszewski and borough administrator Michael Muscillo.
“It was a very good discussion about the impact of traffic on the borough and how we can work together to try to solve some of the problems,” the chief said, declining to be specific on what plans are being made and how the problem is going to be addressed on a regular basis.
Burton also said the mayor has been in frequent communication with Sandy Hook over the years trying to work out the best solution for what is traditionally a summer weekend problem for Highlands residents and Police Department since the Recreation Area began charging parking fees several years ago.
Although Burton indicated this weekend’s traffic appeared to be about the same as any summer weekend, his briefing on Saturday indicated tie-ups were only halfway from the bridge to Miller St., considerably shorter than tie-ups the weekend before when tie-ups extended throughout Highlands, Middletown and into Atlantic Highlands along Route 36.
The chief said this past Sunday shortly before 11 a.m. traffic was backed up past Valley Street but was moving slowly. Police officers this weekend did not have to put up blockades on several roads as in the past to keep borough streets free and clear for moving traffic.
