Mr. Hibiscus and the Girl’s Cafe

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July 17, 2023

Hibiscus.

The hibiscus is a big bush that can grow to ten foot tall. Hibiscus gets magnificent flowers of either reds, pinks, whites, some shades of each, or perhaps yellow. The blooms can grow in groups and each blossom can be as large as ten inches wide. It’s native to North America and loves a moist soil and full sun and can bloom three seasons. But the flowers do not last long.

There are so many legends that surround hibiscus, but for me, it is a natural sign of friendship, thoughtfulness. It also shows the kindness of its owner to share the beauty of the flower with everyone.

Tommy Snow. Mr. Snow is a Highlands resident best known for his incredible generosity of time and talent to the fire department. Or his generosity with more of that time to his church, As an usher there, you know you’re going to be greeted with a friendly smile and a warm hello as you come in the door.

He’s also known for his Christmas decorations. There isn’t a house in town that is more colorful, more brilliant, more fun, more festive of the Christmas season than the Snow home in the Waterwitch section.

But Tom must also be a great gardener and has hibiscus bushes by his house.

So it seemed natural for this naturally generous man to pluck a few blossoms, add a few wildflowers, put them in a jar and give them to Vera and Cathy, the Girls at the Girls Café. He knew they would set them on the counter for everyone to enjoy and admire.

But the hibiscus bloom, possibly because of its size and beauty, is short-lived. So when the Girls Café would be closed for two days, Cathy and Vera asked if I wanted to take home Tom’s gift for its last couple of days of blooming. I accepted gratefully and admired the blooms for another couple of days.

Seeing Tom at a church event, I explained the Girls loved the flowers so much they gave them to me when the café would be closed and no one would be able to enjoy them. So I also thanked him and told him how beautiful they were.

And that’s why on the next Sunday when I saw Tom Snow in Church once again, he had a bouquet of hibiscus for me to take home.

Thoughtful, considerate, and happy knowing he could share the beauty of the flowers he grew at home with so many people.

It all prompted me to look up information and legends about this flower, since I knew there must be some. There are.

The hibiscus can be purchased as an extract and is an herbal tea with a tart flavor like cranberries. The tea can be served either hot or cold. Research has shown the tea made from hibiscus extract has a broad range of health benefits, from lowering blood pressure to weight loss, and is beneficial in fighting bacteria and improving heart health.

It seems that in addition to being native to North America, hibiscus is also native to Asia, and many countries have great legends and stories about the plant that belongs to the Malvaceous family.

The name comes from the Greek “hikiscus” and was named by Pedanius Dioscorides, a famous botanist, author and physician in the armed forces in the first century. He wrote De Materia Medica, an early source of botany and pharmaceutical knowledge and terminology for centuries, citing how herbs and flowers are medicinal as well as beautiful.

In most cultures, the hibiscus is associated with goodness and good things, sometimes, like in China, with fame, glory and wealth, or in Malaysia, where it is a sign of vitality. In Korea, the hibiscus is a sign of mortality. Hawaiians consider that the flower depicts power, respect and hospitality, and in Singapore, it is known as Bunga Raya, the flower of celebration. In Victorian England, hibiscus simply symbolized beauty.

Just about every culture sees hibiscus as a flower that repels negativity and the evil eye and ancients would carry packs of dried petals to attract good luck or love. Wizards and witches and those into sorcery and witchcraft use it to attract lust and meaningful dreams. But psychics believe putting dry petals of the flower in a bowl helps to visualize the future and helps attract good spirits. It is often used in bridal wreaths for marriage ceremonies to symbolize blessings for the married couple.

All of which may be true, none of which may be true, but for me, the hibiscus will always represent friendship, thoughtfulness, and sharing something beautiful.

Thank you, Vera and Cathy, for giving me your plant. And thank you Tommy Snow, for cutting me fresh ones simply because you heard a person say how beautiful they are.

Kathleen Strebb Sweeney Honored

By

Muriel J. Smith

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July 17, 2023

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Kathleen Strebb Sweeney

Kathleen Strebb Sweeney, owner of the Shore Casino at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Harbor, stepped down from her professional restaurateur position to accept accolades and praise at a gala dinner celebration honoring her at the 150^th anniversary of the Sodality of the Children of Mary of Saint Teresa at the Shore Casino last week.

The spiritual organization, located in Jersey City, was founded in 1948 by Rev. Vincent Hart, SJ, who noted at the time that the name of the Blessed Mother “is whispered, heralded and triumphantly proclaimed” by the Sodality, also known as the Teresians for their devotion to St. Teresa.

Thirty years later, the Rev. Victor Yanitelli, S.J., the Moderator of the group at that time, expressed his thanks to the Teresians, past and present, “who have given themselves to this spiritual enterprise….”

At this year’s celebration of 150 years, current president Jean-Marie Ake said, “As we celebrate this 150^th anniversary with prayer and humility, may we continue to honor the ideals, traditions and good works of our predecessors.”

Ake also led the praise and applause for Sweeney who was presented with a certificate and bouquet of flowers as an Honorary Teresian.

Kathleen, an Atlantic Highlands resident was honored along with Mary Catherine O’Brien and Sharon Morrissey, both also receiving flowers and certificates for their generosity and work for the Sodality and its causes.

Kathleen was the owner of the Casino in the Park in Jersey City for many years, and the Sodality met at that facility often, always citing her generosity and devotion to the Teresians and their work.

The Rev. Andrew Downing, S.J, the current moderator of the organization, also praised the three honorary recipients and praised the work of the Sodality over their decades of thoughtfulness, service, generosity and work.

Ake, who is stepping down this year after serving as Presidents of the Teresians for five years, was also honored by the crowd for her service to the Teresians and her 39 years as a member. Former president Ann McGovern, who currently services as a councilor of the organization, praised Ake’s love and care and noted “we love, we argue, but we love what we do” to the applause and agreement of the more than 50 attending the gala celebration.

The program for the event included special thanks to donors who make Teresian events possible, as well as a dozen gifts donated which were raffled off at the event.

Members who have “persevered and supported the Sodality” for more than a quarter of a century were also honored, with Barbara Tansey congratulated for 50 years of service to the organization, and another 17 women cited for between 25 and 45 years.

In addition to President Ake, this year’s officers include Mrs. John Costello, first vice-president, Gail Cousins, recording secretary and Mrs. Peter Zampella, corresponding secretary, Diane Lynch treasurer, Mrs. Ronald Prezioso entertainment chair and Mrs. Carl Taylor, assistant entertainment chair. Councilors, in addition to McGovern, are Mrs. Vito Colacurcio, Honor. Mary K. Costello, and Katherine Crossan.

Care One Remembrance and Appreciation

By

Muriel J. Smith

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July 17, 2023

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Care One at Middletown

Residents, family and friends as well as staff of the Care One at Middletown care center participated in their annual tribute and ceremony for the families of residents who have passed during the previous year in a moving ceremony in the Center’s courtyard which included music, dance, and prayer, as well as refreshments and camaraderie.

Ascend, the hospice unit associated with Care One cosponsors the ceremony with the facility and Ascend Chaplain Jessica Malek offered prayers and sympathies to family members and employees.

Care One at Middletown Administrator Jimmie King welcomed all to the ceremony, and invited families to participate in both releasing balloons with wishes and prayers attached to placing long stemmed roses in a tribute to those who have died.

Music from Josh Groban, Bon Jovi, and Warren Zevon was included in the ceremony together with the reading of the names of those being remembered. Several generations of families were present to honor and remember their loved ones and many took the opportunity to express special memories and thanks for care given at the facility, formerly known as King James at Care-One.

While expressing his sympathy to all, King also thanks those present for sharing their memories and their appreciation for the care given while their family members were residents at the facility.

Care One — Staff Alyssa Metz, Karen Cohen, Brianna Devore, Kristen Preza in group photo with Resident John Sexton

Beautiful Stained Glass Illuminates

By

Muriel J. Smith

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July 15, 2023

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Stained Glass on Display

Local stained glass artist Theresa Stone opens her exhibit in the Arts Council windows on First Avenue on Aug. 6 for a six-week display of her unique and creative designs.

This will be the third exhibit of Stone’s works during the summer, with a second one currently at West End Art Gallery in Long Branch and her monthly display at the Guild of Creative Art on Route 35 in Shrewsbury.

A native of Atlantic Highlands,, when the family lived on 7th ave., Stone studied in Washington State, and has been designing and creating beautiful glass for more than 30 years. Originally an award winning quilter, the Henry Hudson Regional School graduate said she has always been fascinated by intricate art work. She attributes that to just always liking “to take a lot of little pieces and put them together into something pretty.”

The Arts Guild display will be all stained glass panels, she said, as opposed to other stained glass pieces she also makes. Because of her love for the ocean, most of the panels are ocean scenes or creatures from the ocean, some include actual shells and other se life within the design.

Beets for Your Health

By

Muriel J. Smith

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July 15, 2023

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Beets and Your Health

You say you don’t like beets, but perhaps you just haven’t tried the right recipe for them! If you planted them in your garden in the spring they might be popping up now. If you are planting them now, look for a fall harvest. Or, if you get them in the food market, try the bags of cooked, peeled beets in beet juice. They will last for weeks on a shelf, refrigerate if opened, and they are great for your health!

Regardless of how you get your beets, for eye, brain, and heart health, it’s really important to include them in your diet. They are full of lutein and zeaxanthin, which play such an important role in eye health, preventing aging macular degeneration, and simply keeping your eyes healthy. But that’s only one advantage.

Because of all the nitrates in beets, they help relax dilated blood vessels, which certainly improves circulation and lowers blood pressure. Which also makes them great for heart health, even if they did not also contain betaine and folate, which they do. It’s that same nitrate which the body converts to nitric oxide which is great for brain health, simply since it allows more blood to flow up there.

Not sure of this one, but they say beet juice mixed with vinegar and left on your head overnight even clears dandruff if that’s a problem. Might be difficult to get the red out when shampooing.

So considering all the Vitamin, A, B1, B2, B6 and C, combined with huge supplies of folic acid, manganese, sodium, potassium iron, calcium, copper and phosphorus in a single beet, it stands to reason they’re one of the best vegetables around for you health.

Try ‘em. You’ll like ‘em!

Pickled Beets

Easy, will keep in refrigerator for weeks.

1 cup cider vinegar

1 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

1 small red onion, thinly sliced

4 garlic cloves, quartered

1 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds

2 bay leaves

2 whole cloves

1 1/2 teaspoons black peppercorns

2 teaspoons dried thyme

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 pounds medium red beets, peeled and cut into 2-by-1/2-inch sticks

Directions

In a saucepan, bring the vinegar mixture, sugar, onion, garlic, mustard seeds, bay leaves, cloves, peppercorns, thyme and oregano to a boil. If using fresh uncooked beete, peel and place in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the beets until crisp-tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and transfer to a heatproof bowl. If using cooked, canned or packaged pre-cooked beets, simply put in heatproof bowl. Pour the hot liquid over the beets and let stand at room temperature for 4 hours or refrigerate overnight. Drain the beets, transfer to a bowl and serve. (Or leave in liquid, cover well and refrigerate.

Spinach Salad with Beets

3-4 small beets

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

/2 small red onion, very thinly sliced

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

3 tangerines

1 large red grapefruit

1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Black Pepper

3/4 pound curly leaf spinach (12 cups), stemmed and torn into bite-size pieces

Preheat the oven to 350°. Put the beets in a medium baking dish. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and rub to coat the beets. Cover with foil and bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the beets are tender. When the beets are cool enough to handle, peel and quarter them. Skip this step if using pre-cooked and peeled beets.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, cover onion slices with vinegar. Add a pinch of salt and mix well. Let stand for about 1 hour.
Peel tangerines and grapefruit, removing all the white pith. Working over a bowl, cut in between the membranes to release the sections.
In a small bowl, whisk the mustard with 3 tablespoons vinegar from the onion slices. Whisk in 1/4 cup of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Put the spinach in a large bowl. Drain the onion slices and add to the spinach along with the tangerine, grapefruit and beets. Drizzle the mustard dressing over the salad and toss well. Serve right away.

Beet and avocado salad

4 medium beets (about 1/2 pound each),

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for rubbing

1/2 cup water

Salt and ground white pepper

1/3 cup finely chopped sweet Spanish or white onion

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon honey

1/2 cup grape seed oil or other mild vegetable oil

1 avocado, scooped out of skin, sliced.

Preheat the oven to 350°. In a small baking dish, rub the beets with olive oil. Add the water and season with salt and white pepper. Cover tightly with foil and roast for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or until tender when pierced with a knife. Let cool, then peel the beets and cut them into 3/4-inch pieces. Transfer to a large bowl. Or use pre-cooked, pre-peeled beets.
In a blender, combine chopped onion with vinegar, lemon juice, mustard and honey. Season with salt and pepper and blend until smooth. With the machine on, add the grape seed oil and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a steady stream.
Add avocado to beets. Pour the onion dressing on top and toss gently to combine. Season the salad with salt and pepper and serve.

Want more Recipes that are good for eye or just overall Health? Click HERE

Regionalization: Kelly Kills It

By

Muriel J. Smith

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July 14, 2023

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Carolyn Broullon will vote NO — Mayors Carolyn Broullon of Highlands, Brian Kelly of Sea Bright and Loretta Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands.

Mayor Kelly Responds to Oceanport BOE

“Quit interfering with the will of the citizens of Sea Bright and stop wasting our tax revenue,” Sea Bright Mayor Brian P. Kelly responded to Oceanport Board of Education President Mark Patterson in a six page no nonsense letter that pointed out a stream of inaccuracies and errors the Oceanport board promoted in a letter to Sea Bright Mayor Kelly and Council last month.

Kelly was firm, emphatic, and obviously incensed by the Oceanport letter, which came unsigned but typed identifying the sender as the Oceanport School District Board of Education. The names of its president, Mark Patterson, Vice President Deirdre Bova and all seven other board members were also typed at the end of the letter that he sent. Kelly charged in his response, dated July 12, the Oceanport letter is filled with misinformation and attempts to make the decision for Sea Bright parents and governing body on what is best for Sea Bright students.

Graciously appreciative of the Board’s work, Kelly reminded the board, however, that Sea Bright citizens do not have a voice on the board that governs the education of their children so therefore has no control over any decisions.

However, Kelly pointed out “the only say our citizens have related to the education of our children is to determine the school district where they are sent.” Sea Bright residents have for several years now indicated and taken action to become part of a new regional school district with adjacent Highlands and Atlantic Highlands school districts.

“For reasons that remain unclear,” Mayor Kelly continued “your letter seeks to further disenfranchise Sea Bright’s citizen by removing the right to make that educational decision for their children.”

Pointing out “no one from Oceanport has reached out to discuss this, much less offer a solution,” Mayor Kelly urged Patterson to “reconsider your involvement and allow all Sea Bright’s families to freely determine what is in the best interest of our community’s children without interference from elected officials in a neighboring community.”

Kelly blames Oceanport for thinking of tax dollars before education, pointing out Sea Bright tax revenues go to the Oceanport school board where Sea Bright does not have a voice. H added he finds it troubling that Oceanport “has chosen to use Sea Bright’s tax revenue to employ its board attorney at the expense of both Sea Bright and Oceanport “to spread misinformation and deprive our community the right to vote on this important issue.”

That the matter will be on the ballot in an upcoming election seemed more likely in Atlantic Highlands at their Council meeting Thursday night. There Borough Administrator Robert Ferragina announced that Monmouth County Commissioner of Education has forwarded his recommendations on the regionalization question to the Commissioner of Education. With her approval, the matter would then be on the ballot in Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Sea Bright in an upcoming election, giving the voters in those three boroughs the right to plan the educational programs for their children.

For the next several pages of his letter, Kelly pointed out to Patterson “your representations are entirely inaccurate.” He then proceeded where and how he determined the inaccuracies, citing sources, specific professionals and educators. He cited professionals with considerable credentials who conducted two separate and distinct studies on how regionalization with the neighboring towns will improve education and costs for all three towns in a new Henry Hudson District. Both studies, he pointed out, “reached the same conclusion, Sea Bright joining a new regional school district would result in substantial savings.”

Then Mayor Kelly systematically and thoroughly cited the Oceanport inaccuracies. Unlike Oceanport’s pinion, even considering a phase-out period in the transition, transportation costs “are in the budgeted tax levy’, and the resulting tax reductions are “consistent and included in the Study’s analysis.”

Concerning salaries, Kelly assailed Patterson’s correspondence that salary reconciliation “will certainly decrease the estimated savings.” That statement “ignores clear facets in the Study,” Kelly said, then launched into a seven-paragraph explanation with history, study facts, and state law that shows “a number of benefits in creating a new salary guide that history has shown does not mean an increase in costs to the district.”

On the question of Special Education for students in that placement, Kelly said, referring to Patterson’s allegations, “this is again inaccurate,” and explained that in the present situation Sea Bright’s tax levy payment provides for the cost of educating all children and will do the same in the new district.

“Your accusation once again, is inaccurate,” Kelly told Patterson when it comes to debt service. But he added that in this issue, if anyone is short changed, it would be Sea Bright taxpayers. Sea Bright citizens paid a large share of the cost of two buildings in Oceanport, but once Sea Bright leaves Oceanport schools, “Oceanport will continue to reap the benefit from these assets.”

Kelly also corrected Patterson’s representation, inaccurate as it is, that a borough, as opposed to a school board, cannot submit a question on a referendum on enlarging a school district. He pondered that “it remains unclear why Oceanport remains insistent on making all decisions related to Sea Bright’s children rather than allowing Sea Bright to take care of their own citizens themselves.”

“You are seeking to disenfranchise Sea Bright’s citizens from having any say in how their children are educated.”

In a tongue in cheek suggestion alluding to Patterson’s letter which said the board members expected the board’s letter to be read at the borough council meeting, “in full transparency,” Kelly said “I will leave it to you on whether you wish to read this at your next public meeting,” referring to his own six page letter.

Read Both Letters

Oceanport letter to Sea Bright

sea bright answers oceanport

Matt Gill … Always & Forever Fond Memories

By

Muriel J. Smith

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July 14, 2023

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Matt Gill

It was a different kind of Fourth of July celebration I enjoyed this year, but one that once again brought back memories too wonderful to ever forget and so much fun to share with others.

I got the opportunity to share some stories about the late, great Matthew J. Gill with two of his sons, daughters—in-law, grandchildren and great-grands, thanks in part to the Middletown Township Historical Society and thanks in part to the family who cherish the patriarch of the Gill clan and want to know as much as possible about him and all the good he did for his hometown and the people in it.

Met up with Matt’s son Brian Gill and Brian’s daughter Jessica Mohr at a Middletown Historical Society meeting several months back and they asked if I would come over one evening to talk about their dad.

When Brian’s brother Kevin and his wife Kathy came for a visit from their Utah home over the Fourth, it seemed the perfect time to get together at the Mohr home. Even better, brother Matt was on the phone from New York. The Gill daughters, Kristine, Laureen, Coleen and Noreen are all spread across America from San Francisco to Rhode Island to Florida, so wasn’t able to meet up with them.

But in the conversation on the Fourth with Kevin, Brian and their clans, it was so nice to remember the fourth generation Gill who opened the Courier office in the farmhouse where he was brought up as a child. His great grandfather had come from Ireland in the potato famine and the Gill farm was on Route 35 near Woodland Drive.

That’s where the Courier was located until eventually we moved into the basement of the new building constructed right next door, the travel agency and real estate office upstairs, the Courier below.

Matt purchased The Courier in 1967 and immediately went about making it bigger, better and more widely read. At the same time, he kept up his lively real estate and travel businesses, but was never too busy to do all the wonderful things he always did for Middletown and all its people.

He headed up fund raising drives for cancer, heart and muscular dystrophy causes, he served on the township’s first narcotics council, its Human Rights Committee, and was at one time Chair of the Democrat party. He was a Navy veteran and a past commander of VFW Posts 2179.

When he died in February 1982 at the age of 61, after a tough bout with cancer, the ‘new’ Middletown town hall annex was nearing completion.

Frank Self was the mayor and he immediately suggested that Matt be remembered in that annex. Paul Linder and everyone else on the township committee agreed, and Linder suggested former banker, township committee, equally generous and thoughtful Republican William Johnson should also be remembered in the Annex.

We who knew both men agreed; Bill had died a few months earlier than Matt, the two were great friends, and what a great idea to see both remembered in the new town facility. Famed local sculptor Donald DeLue was called in to sculpt the two busts, and the Johnson Gill Town Annex came to be.

Even in the naming of the Annex, Matt’s thoughtfulness of his friend was honored. When asked which name should go first, Ticky Smith, the editor who had worked with Matt throughout his Courier ownership said Matt would want his name to come after Bill’s since he respected his old friend too much to be put ahead of him.

The busts now rest in the library and it was thought that would be temporary … only until the new Town Hall is given its final touches and town business will once again be up and running at full speed.

But that isn’t all we talked about at the Mahr home on the Fourth. We all traded stories about Matt’s close friend, Jimmy Jones, and how Matt helped him, move into one of the town’s senior citizen complexes.

We talked about Duffy Fisher and his family, and Duffy’s Fels Naphtha soap he would buy at Food Town to move everything from houses to the former Quay in Sea Bright to new locations.

We talked about the success of all Duffy’s kids, their college degrees and how they too gave back to the township with their achievements and generosity.

We talked about other friends of Matt’s who lived in Gillville, and how Highlands Mayor Bob Wilson also wanted Matt remembered by his borough leaders when Matt died.

The memories brought out to Matt’s next generations just how free of any racism or criticism of others their father always was. Of course he blasted politicians in the Courier pages when they were doing what he felt was wrong; his editorials were known and read county-wide but he made sure his journalists researched all their facts before writing their news stories, and left their comments either to the editorials or the infamous Around the Halls column. (Eve Dropper was far and away the best-read journalists in any newspaper in Monmouth County)

Matt’s kids learned more about the respect everyone had for Matt… Buck Smith talking about how his heart was broken when he learned of Matt’s death; Joe McCarthy describing him as a good friend who made the whole community better because of his kindness and wisdom;

But both Brian and Kevin remembered what the best thing about their dad they had heard and always remembered it came from a bagger at Foodtown. They remembered being told by that young man that sure he knew their dad. What he remembers about him was “he treated everybody the same; he treated me in the exact same way, with the same greeting and the same smile and the same attention, as he treated the Foodtown owner, Joe Azzolina. He was that kind of man.”

Does a bigger compliment that that ever get paid to anyone both Brian and Kevin asked? This is one they will always remember since it speaks volumes about their Dad and the legacy he left them and future generations of the Gill family..

I shared some of my own personal memories of the best publisher I’ve ever worked for, some of the trips I got to take because Matt owned a travel agency and he needed publicity for trips it offered.

I told them about the time the Gill Travel Agency took 144 travelers from St. Mary’s to Ireland, the largest single group that ever visited that country and stayed together to tour it so extensively.

Matt had asked my husband and me to go along “to help.” I shared with them the stories of how we went all the way to the United States Supreme Court because he didn’t like how New Jersey elections were won, and how Bill Wilson took on the job for us at no fee. The Supreme Court declined to hear the matter since it said it was a state right…but the laws was changed by the next election all the same..

We talked about the court battle with the Roselle Stavola firm over sanitation and one of our Courier editorials and how Matt financed it himself because it was the right thing to do. And so much more.

It was a wonderful evening. So, on the way to the 2023 new Town Hall building celebration the day after the Fourth of July chatter at the Mahr home, I stopped in to see the Johnson and Gill sculptures at the library one more time.

But at the ribbon cutting event for the new Town Hall, Mayor Tony Perry told me the sculptures of Messrs. Johnson and Gill have found a permanent home in the Library. While they are not coming back to the building that replaces the Johnson Gill Building, he said, they are the heart of what is planned to be a major library project that will identify and research the history and stories of each of the monuments in Middletown.

It’s disappointing the sculptures of these two giants who led Middletown through difficult and happy times, keeping the people informed and keeping their funds secure will not be back overseeing the way the town is run and who’s running it. But in my mind and the minds of those who remember their vast contributions in so many ways to their home town, that they will forever be symbols and guardians of township business and government.

Announcing Salt Water Liquors

By

Muriel J. Smith

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July 14, 2023

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Salt Water Liquors

New owner Trushali Patel and her husband Pavan officially took over ownership and are now Salt Water Liquors, the retail wine, beer and liquor establishment at the Atlantic Highlands Foodtown Shopping Center, formerly Vingo’s. The new owners are already are listening to customers to get their input before making any major changes in the popular liquor store.

For the Patels, Salt Water Liquors is really a family-owned business, dating back to Pop, Paven’s dad, who oversaw the family business at Pop’s Liquors, the store which they still operate in Neptune. The Patels operated Pop’s with Pavan’s brother and sister-in-law.

At Salt Water Liquors, while their own three sons are too young to be in the business, “they’re old enough to here to sweep, paint, and help us get it in the order we feel are necessary for our customers,” Patel laughed.

The Patels will maintain Salt Water Liquors with Pavan’s brother and sister-in-law, most likely still under the watchful eye of “Pop.” who remains a popular greeter at the Neptune store.

Pavan readily admits it is his wife who owns the business, and he is a software engineer manager in IT. But the family wanted a liquor store because “that’s what Pop had when we were growing up and that’s what got us to where we are today,” he smiled.

Keeping the customer happy and supplied with the specialties he wants seems to be the game plan for the new owners. “We aren’t making any major changes other than sprucing up the place and making it look cleaner and more attractive,” Pavan said. “After that, we are taking an inventory of stock, seeing what our customers want, providing what they need, and assuring them that if it’s something we don’t have, we will follow through with our suppliers and have it in a day or so.”

One of the major changes customers should see at Salt Water Liquors within several weeks will be a walk-in refrigeration unit along one wall so Salt Water can provide a variety of microbrews. “That seems to be what people want these days, and we love to support local businesses.” In addition to keeping the present microbreweries, including the locally brewed Carton’s, Salt Water has already added Brick City, and a couple of other local breweries as well as well-liked breweries from Vermont, New York and Philadelphia.

Both natives of India, the Patel’s are multi-lingual, and besides perfect English, Pavan is fluent in his native Gujarati as well as two other languages. The family came from India to Boston where he grew up, then moved to Sayreville where he lived for a while before he and Trushali and their sons settled in Monroe Township.

Salt Water Liquors is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. There will always be at least one person ready and eager to greet you as you come in, answer any questions, and take every care to be certain you find what you are looking for, whether it be a suggestion or a particular bottle, brand, or price range.

Want to read other stories about the Jersey Shore? Click HERE

Air Fryer Made 1 – 2 – 3

By

Muriel J. Smith

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July 13, 2023

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The air fryer is great for easy

It’s summer, the perfect time to seek out easy recipes while at the same time taking advantage of the fruits, vegetables and cheese that are so good for eyesight, prevention of cataracts and a reduced risk of aging macular degeneration.

Any Mediterranean diet is great not only for better eyesight but healthy hearts as well. Any fish fillet is great, but salmon is the kind when it comes to preventing eye problems, aging macular degeneration and cataracts.

What’s more, the air fryer is great for easy meals, no hot oven in the kitchen, easy clean-up and fast cooking.

With all these things in mind, consider some of these recipes for a light summer supper, appetizers anytime, or simply good eating. Be creative as well. It only takes feta cheese and olive oil as a base, sprinkle with your favorite spices, add olives, grapes, berries, even peas or cut green beans,

Just like feta, which, next to bleu cheese, is about the healthiest cheese for heart and eyes, olives are a great source of Vitamin A, that vitamin that helps you see the difference between light and dark. Extra virgin olive oil is great for any salad or other recipe, and similarly, olives of any color are, too.

The olive and feta appetizer can be served either as a dip or spread on crackers or toast, the feta and grape recipe is a wonderful accompaniment for a salmon dinner. Mix and match! They’re all great on their own or with any other meat or vegetable as well.

Feta cheese in the Air Fryer

Marinate 1 block of feta cheese in olive oil and 1 Tablespoon honey for about 10 minutes.

Place in deep dish in the air fryer basket set at 340 degrees. Drizzle with some oil and honey, sprinkle oregano and chili seasoning on top.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes . Serve with toast or a salad.

Feta Cheese and Grapes

Marinate 1 block of feta cheese in 2 teaspoons vinegar, 1 Tablespoon olive oil, 2 teaspoons honey for about 15 minutes.

Place in air Fryer in a wide bowl, surround with grapes also drizzled with olive oil and honey, coating to be sure all are covered. Sprinkle basil or oregano on top.

Bake at 200 degrees for about 15 minutes, serve cheese on toast topped with grapes.

Air Fryer Feta Cheese and Olives

Marinate block of feta cheese in olive oil and spices for 10-15 minutes, place in wide dish in air Fryer, add 1 cup olives, cook 20 minutes, serve as a salad on lettuce, or as a separate dish at the table.

Salmon in the Air Fryer

2 Salmon filets, skin off

½ Cup pineapple juice

Marinate salmon in juice for 15 minutes, place in air cooker and sprinkle with dried oregano, parsley and minced garlic.

Bake at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Or until salmon is 145 degrees inside and flakes easily. Particularly excellent with any of the feta cheese recipes.

More recipes and health related articles? Click HERE

Middletown Chapter DAR

By

Muriel J. Smith

-

July 12, 2023

0

Middletown Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution

Formed just over one year ago, Middletown, the newest New Jersey Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, has moved forward with speed and incredible accomplishments in their mission to promote patriotism and secure America’s future through better education for children.

With so many local residents attending and enthusing over the restoration of the graves of a Revolutionary War and War of 1812 soldiers on Locust Point Road recently, Chapter Regent Michele Donnelly noted it is one more accomplishment in their goal to find the graves of all Revolutionary War patriots buried in Monmouth County.

The Middletown Chapter has accomplished great strides toward that ambitious goal. Approaching the research in an orderly and geographic order to ensure more accuracy, the Chapter, since last May 2022 when it was organized, began their search at Old Brick Church in Marlboro, then Holmdel, Aberdeen, Matawan and Hazlet before starting in Middletown.

All this research has already resulted in securing 13 headstones from the Veterans Administration, as well as the private purchase of another six markers. The chapter also secured a headstone for Joshua Robbins, a War of 1812 veteran buried in the Locust Point Road burial ground along with the Revolutionary war hero. The busy chapter still has many more headstones in the process of being secured through various means.

Included in their efforts in addition to recognition and respect for the deceased is to ensure their burial sites are accessible and their graves marked.

“The quest to accomplish this grew out of a love for cemeteries and the genealogy that can be found there,” said Donnelly. “We also want to recognize the service of these local men and women who contributed to our country’s history. We think this a perfect project in preparation for the semiquincentennial of the nation in 2026.”

The DAR, founded in 1890 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution.

The Middletown based chapter already has 32 members from the area they represent, which includes Atlantic Highlands Matawan, Colts Neck, Oceanport and the municipalities in between. Members meet bimonthly at VFW Post 2179 on Route 36 in Port Monmouth, a veterans organization happy to provide space for their meetings. The chapter began with 15 founding members, meaning they have more than doubled in size within 15 months, and can boast an astonishing series of accomplishments and awareness activities and programs to date.

Some of these activities during the past year include their first Veterans Appreciation Lunch, a fall event, which served 65 veterans and their families at a barbecue. That luncheon also included a color guard from MAST, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology where every student is a member of the NJROTC, as well as several guest speakers. This year’s event is scheduled for Oct. 2.

The chapter has also supported both active duty and veteran military members and their families in their first year, delivering 540 pounds of food to veterans over the holidays, and sending eight care packages to the USS Chesty Puller and the USS Gerald Ford. They have also sent 35 baby blankets for newborn infants at Fort Belvoir as well as nearly 300 holiday cards for the national Holiday Card Challenge.

The chapter aims to serve as many veterans as possible within their local community and has a list of accomplishments already completed for that goal as well. As an example, with Naval Weapons Station Earle located within this chapter’s location, this year the women started a project to deliver a basket of essential items for every infant born in an Earle family; they are planning to present five baskets within the next few weeks for the families.

NWS Earle also has a food pantry the chapter supports through its state conference. Donnelly is the New Jersey state chair for this committee, so it gave her extra delight to initiate the state’s support of Earle’s food pantry and have a member of the chapter be the liaison to the pantry.

The lists of chapter accomplishments go on, with each member enthusiastically supporting a variety of activities that includes every facet of patriotism, education, assistance for veterans both living and deceased, and impressing on the public the importance of preserving history while at the same time focusing on community service.

The chapter is a sponsor of the annual Wreaths Across America, concentrating efforts on Fairview cemetery. At the same time, they were there with gifts for 50 new US citizens when they attended the naturalization ceremony and swearing in at historic Sandy Hook last year. At the school level, the chapter has already awarded a Good Citizen award and scholarship to a Middletown South senior, and four Youth Citizen medals to Police Youth Cadets in Holmdel and Middletown and two Middletown students. Their effort with preserving burial sites has already earned them third place in the Historic Preservation nation-wide contest.

Donnelly is quick to admit as busy as the Chapter is, and with all its accomplishments, it does depend on the local community grants and assistance. They are appreciative of so many local residents who donate to their drives or give us financial or other support. “We believe we can best carry out our mission to promote patriotism by getting the community involved so we try to get as many local volunteers as possible to help where needed,” the regent said. “We try to publicize events specifically to promote history.”

What are the plans for the future of the Middletown Chapter? “More of the same,” Donnelly asserts. “We want to get as many graves as possible identified, and research biographies on each of the veterans. We want to be certain our research, the most comprehensive and fully sourced list to date, is distributed to local historic societies and townships. We would love to see townships incorporate some of this history that has been lost to time in their America250 plans.”

Donnelly cited the granite memorial in Holmdel Veterans Park that lists veterans of the township from all wars. When the Chapter began its research, they found 25 Revolutionary War names on the lists. But since then, have found another 50 men and one woman with provable, citable service buried in the township.

“These Patriots all came from early founding families, many of which still have descendants in the area today. A lot of the Loyalists had property seized or fled to Canada,” the historian of local Revolutionary history pointed out. “Our heritage is very rich with patriotic families and it’s sad that so much is being lost.”

With so much accomplished, so much planned, the women are constantly working on the present as well. With 36 grave sites identified in Middletown, they are continuing their research to include more thorough citation for service. They have cleaned and continued to clean brush to make sites accessible and are currently working at the Eastmond site on the corner of York and Wood avenues.

Still there is so much more to do. Donnelly said she is certain more Revolutionary men died in Middletown, but with records and townships changing over the past 200 years, it is difficult to local them all. There are also men who were killed in action or at sugar houses in Monmouth County, but sadly, the regent said, “we simply don’t know where they are.”

Donnelly heads up this ambitious, hardworking, energetic and enthusiastic chapter, along with like-minded officers Gail Bozza who serves as treasurer, JJ Russo secretary, and Maureen Foster the registrar.

Each, like every member of the Middletown Chapter, devotes her energy to the DAR cause from personal pride, national pride, and the knowledge that their work, and letting others know of their work, continues to promote pride in America.

They go over and above in doing their jobs.

For further information on the Middletown chapter, contact Donnelly at michelemdonnelly@gmail.com

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