Continuing to reiterate this is the first step, and they ultimately want to see Sea Bright as part of the system, five of the sitting members of the Mayor and Council responded they are voting to approve the question on the September 26 special election ballot to regionalize the preK-12 three schools in this town and Highlands without the addition of Sea Bright.
The opinions are in sharp contrast to the Highlands Mayor and Council who made it public at their meeting last week that each is voting against the September 26 ballot since it does not include Sea Bright and would be a costly measure for both Highlands and Atlantic Highlands.
At Thursday’s meeting of the Atlantic Highlands Council, Mayor Loretta Gluckstein, and Council-members Colasurdo, Cusack, Dougherty and Hohenleitner all indicated they plan on voting yes on Tuesday. The first of two steps.
Councilman Jon Crowley was absent from the meeting and Councilman Murphy pointed out he has recused himself from any action or meetings on the question. As such, he said, he did not feel it appropriate he announce at a council meeting how or if he is voting.
The agenda for the council meeting was changed to enable the borough’s special attorney, Matthew Giacobbe, to appear via ZOOM to give the governing body an update on the regionalization issue as well as to respond to questions from council and the public.
The attorney, whose contract sets his fee at $165 an hour, gave a brief history of the borough’s input with regionalization, explaining the state Commissioner of Education has not yet responded to the request made by the two boroughs as well as Sea Bright and the three boards of education involved.
He noted she had dismissed the complaint filed against Sea Bright by the Oceanport and Shore Regional schools, the two districts where Sea Bright students now attend school. However, those boards appealed that decision, he said, resulting in her taking no further action until that is resolved. When the three local boards of education then filed their own request to regionalize PreK-12 without Sea Bright, she granted that request and the special election ton that, a preK-12 without Sea Bright was set for September 26.
The special election gives the power to voters, Giacobbe said, and termed it the first step in forming a regional district that Sea Bright, once the commissioner approves it, could then apply again to be part of the regional plan. The second step.
That would require another election, he said, and it was unclear whether it would also include yet another feasibility study similar to what has already been completed by two separate experts, or whether the current studies could be updated.
With a new board established comprised of both Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, approval of Sea Bright entering the newly formed district at some time would require a majority vote of the total number of voters , as opposed to numbers from each borough, as well as an election in Sea Bright. Giacobbe said even so there could never be any guarantee that other districts might not file action against the idea once again.
Former Councilman Michael Harmon, who also served as a former mayor in Atlantic Highlands, praised the current plan and thanked the governing body for presenting it, saying he too planned on voting for it as a first step. He noted Sea Bright is “in a relationship” and has to be dissolved from that before it can be included in another district.
The polls are open September 26 in the regular voting places in both Highlands and Atlantic Highlands from noon to 8 p.m. It requires a majority vote from the voters in each town in order for the question to be approved and a preK-12 regional district formed.
The Fair put together with the approval of the boards of education and promoted by the Friends of Regionalization Tuesday night gave interested residents the opportunity to learn more about the reasons why the three boards have called for the special election September 26 to eliminate two boards of education and form a k-12 schools without adding Sea Bright.
However, the Fair did not provide all the information informed voters should have before going to the polls between noon and 8 p.m. September 26.
Apparently, the boards did not invite the Highlands Mayor and Council to be represented at the fair. All five members of the borough council have gone on record opposing the question and urging a NO vote on September 26. Providing complete information would have enabled the public to hear why the municipal leaders thought it important to take a public stand on what will affect both towns and education and taxation for decades.
Nor was there any representative interested voters could question from the Porzio group, for whom the boroughs of Atlantic Highlands and Highlands paid for their expert study. Their report that showed the best financial action would be the regionalization of Sea Bright with Highlands and Atlantic Highlands for the best overall savings to taxpayers in both communities was similar to the school’s report that indicated the same thing and which the boards of education had unanimously endorsed months ago.
Essentially, the Fair was a repetition of the standing of the boards of education, without offering any new or complete information on all the data that has been gathered on the question local residents have faced for many years.
While the Friends of Regionalization, a newly formed group whose address has been given as the home of a former Atlantic Highlands board member, has sought and apparently received funds to support a yes vote in the September 26 election, that former board member and former board president, Elizabeth Eittreim, present at Tuesday’s information meeting, the fair, declined to name who the Friends are saying . In response to a questions from a resident, she said she would have to ask them for their permission before she could release their names. She indicated Alyson Denzler, also a former board member and former board president, and herself were the Friends leadership together with a number of other volunteers she would not name.
Approximately 50 to 75 persons attended the Fair, well planned and presented loud and clear in the Henry Hudson gym. A table was set up outside the meeting room for residents who wanted to sign up to receive e-mails with action or information from Dr. Tara Beams, school superintendent, on all school meetings, actions, or activities.
Inside, residents received copies of the regionalization history as well as a Sept. 11 update of frequently asked questions with a logo on top which defines it as a regionalization vote information pack for the three schools, with no mention of Sea Bright.
A large screen on the stage laid out the history of the regionalization issue and the reasons why it would work if approved September 26, while Dr.. Beams walked back and forth in the front of the room explaining everything in a loud and fast paced voice that was on the screen behind her. Seated in the front of the room were the experts who would then answer all questions at separate tables with no time limit for all who wanted to learn more than what was presented by Dr. Beams and the screen.
The experts at the fair included Mark Mark Magyar, who wrote the legislation as presented in the law adopted by the state Legislature which made it easier for smaller schools to regionalize into more efficient K-12 units, Jonathan Busch of the Busch Law Group who is the board attorney for Henry Hudson as well as the special attorney for the three boards in the regionalization matter, and Dr. Brian Falkowski, an educator and Brian Diamante of SBO Financial, together with some board members and Dr. Beams.
While each of the ‘experts’ was apparently complete and thorough in responses, there was little mention of Sea Bright at the fair, why the boards or the experts have not called for the Commissioner of Education to act on the earliest petition put before her or why or how the comparatively small savings realized from having the K-12 concept put in place by July, 2024, are more important to taxpayers than the millions of dollars Sea B right would bring into the two towns should they be included in regionalization.
Several times, both Magyar and Dr. Beams referred to the K-12 of the schools in the two towns as “the first step” which would enable Sea Bright and other towns to join the K-12 regionalization, but neither gave any insurance the new school board would ever ask for another election to allow Sea Bright to join should that borough seek to be included once again.
In response to one question, Attorney Busch said he sees no conflict for Oceanport taxpayer Dr. Beams leading the K-12 without Sea Bright issue, in spite of her own property taxes conceivably rising considerably if Sea Bright took its students out of that town’s schools. He said there have been similar examples where administrators have been challenged for relationships with board members or parents, but did not cite any issues where the financial benefit of a superintendent, affected by both her position and her out-of-town residency were affected.
The fair made clear the first new board of education, should September 26 be approved, would be comprised of five Highlands and four Atlantic Highlands members drawn from the current three boards. That board would serve until the November 2024 election, when, if the current census figures continue to be used, five new members from Highlands and four from Atlantic Highlands would be sworn into staggered terms. If Sea Bright were ever to be included in any future regionalization, using current figures they would have one representative on the board, with each of the other two towns having four members each.
While teacher and superintendent seniority and tenure status would not be affected and salaries could not be decreased by a Yes vote Sept. 26, according to the handouts, it was not made clear how much teacher salaries would be increased, since all contracts would have to be renegotiated to the highest salaries offered at the three schools currently.
While students would see no impact immediately, the fair also brought out that once regionalized, there may be special groups housed in only one of the three buildings to consolidate the students requiring those programs. There were no figures mentioned as to increased bussing costs to make any changes in where the students would attend class. Staff could also be shared across the schools in more instances, however, no indications were given of any cost for additional vehicular and insurances costs for teachers required to move from one school to the other in both towns.
The only negative reasons given during the fair were the dissolution of the boards of education in Atlantic Highlands and Highlands elementary school districts, as well as restructuring contracts, collective bargaining agreements with employees’ union and the effort necessary to assume control of the new facilities, along with the need to relocate or transfer staff. There was no mention made of the impact of losing millions of tax dollars from Sea Bright.
Professor Daniel Weeks at the Middletown Historical Society
Monmouth University History Professor and author Daniel Weeks will present a program sponsored by the Middletown Historical Society on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
The program will be available both in person at the Middletown Township Library on Tindall Rd. as well as on ZOOM by registering at MiddletownNJHistory.org.
Weeks will speak on his newest books, Short Histories of Monmouth and Ocean County, a compilation of fascinating stories including everyone from the Toms River Mormons who went to Salt Lake City and Thomas Edison to Pine Robbers and the Morro Castle and murders in Highlands.
The program is one of a series of programs sponsored by the Historical Society and offered regularly both on Zoom and at the library both for members as well as guests. Membership in the Historical Society is also offered.
There will be an unveiling of a painting of the Revolutionary ship the Britannia at a ceremony tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. at the Middletown Township Library, New Monmouth Road.
The painting of the Britannia was a gift to the Middletown Historical Society who in turn is loaning it to the library for display at a part of the history of the township and the role it played during the Revolutionary War.
The public is invited to attend the brief ceremony and stay for refreshments to be served immediately after.
Members of the Middletown Chapter of the DAR, Daughters of the American Revolution, will also be present at the ceremony.
One of its members, Middletown native Maureen Foster wrote a story which appears in Monmouthtimeline.org about the Britannia, a brigantine under the command of a British privateer.
It was a time when British troops and Loyalist refugees occupied Sandy Hook and Patriots were in control of the shoreline, both sides taking advantage of the strategic location of the Sandy Hook peninsula. Patriots along the shore were able to monitor supplies coming and going to British ships in the safe harbor Sandy Hook provided them.
The Britannia was under Commandeer Jonathan Stout, outfitted with 20 guns, who had a license from his government to wage war against any enemy nation. On Dec. 28, 1779, the Britannia broke loose from its mooring during a heavy storm that drove the ship toward the western shore of the harbor. The first Regiment of the Monmouth Militia, stationed in the hills of Highlands, saw the ship dragging its anchors and saw the opportunity capture the ship, claim its cargo and put the hull up for sale to keep its proceeds for their families.
Under the command of Col. Asher Holmes from what is now Colts Neck, the Monmouth Militia was able to gain control of the ship near Shoal Harbor in Middletown and tow it to one of the creeks for unloading, then moving it to Cheesequake Creek in Middlesex County. Monmouth County records at the Historical Association trace the record of the ship’s location, the militia who guarded it and the payments they received for their work from the sale of the ship’s supplies.
President Thomas Valenti and other members of the Middletown Historical Society, the DAR, the Monmouth County Historical Association, who donated the painting to the historical society, and the library as well as artist Steven Schreiber and other historians will be on hand at the ceremony for more information on the ship and its capture.
DAR member Foster’s interest in the ship was stimulated when searching the genealogy of a maternal great grandfather several generations removed who served with Col. Holmes.
Under cloudy skies so unlike September 11, 2001, the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners hosted an emotional Memorial Ceremony on Patriots Day, September 11, at Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook honoring those who lost loved ones from Monmouth County on September 11, 2001.
“Last year, I stood at this podium and asked our State and Federal governments to declare September 11 a holiday, a day of remembrance; a day where people could attend memorial events in honor of September 11, 2001,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “Unfortunately, that did not happen, but it did in Monmouth County, and I would like to thank my fellow Commissioners, Constitutional Officers and staff who helped make today a day of remembrance. I hope today sends a message to our State and Federal governments that September is not only a day of remembrance, but also a day to educate our youth on the events which changed our County and Country forever. ” Arnone reminded the crowd at Mount Mitchill, were crowds had also gathered 22 years previous to see the horrifying devastation of the World Trade Center, to Never Forget.
“When the dust settled and the smoke cleared, America rose up with a promise to Never Forget,” reiterated Commissioner Ross F. Licitra, liaison to the Monmouth County Park System. “Today, on this National Day of Remembrance, I encourage everyone to find a quiet moment to reflect and to remember the 147 Monmouth County families that were forever changed that day.”
In addition to the families and residents in attendance, the Board of County Commissioners were joined by Atlantic Watch Pipe and Drum Band, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Honor Guard, singer Julia Santiago, Knights of Columbus Council 11660 Highlands and the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Color Corp., the Count Basie Center Gospel Choir, Reverend Garry Koch of St. Benedict Catholic Church and Rev. Ronald Sparks of Bethel AME Church. The Fourth Degree Knights presented a floral arrangement in a formal ceremony at the Mount Mitchill eagle memorial that contains the names of the 147 Monmouth County residents who died in the attack.
Mount Mitchill is home to the Monmouth County’s 9/11 Memorial which is a tribute to the 147 men and women who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks. The path leading to the memorial chronicles the events of that day and at the center is the light stone sculpture of any eagle by local artist Franco Minervini. This eagle grasps a beam from the World Trade Center.
At 266 feet, this 122 acre site overlook in Atlantic Highlands sits on the highest natural elevation on the Atlantic seaboard (excluding islands) from Maine to the Yucatan providing beautiful views of Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook Bay, Raritan Bay and the New York skyline.
In 2002, the Monmouth County 9/11 Committee formed and began making plans for a fitting tribute to the victims, heroes, and events of September 11 th. The group’s first responsibility was to select a memorial to fit into Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook. The 9/11 Committee then embarked on a major fundraising effort to finance the Memorial. By midsummer 2005 the group exceeded its goal by raising $296,000. Continued donations will support the upkeep and maintenance of the Memorial.
PHOTO: Monmouth County officials (L to R: Sheriff Shaun Golden, Commissioner Deputy Director Nick DiRocco, Commissioner Susan M. Kiley, Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone, Commissioner Ross F. Licitra and County Clerk Christine G. Hanlon) and Monmouth County Park System hosted the Monmouth County September 11 Memorial Ceremony at Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook to honor the 147 victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks from Monmouth County. Photo by Monmouth County Government.
Major Peter Camerota, USAF (ret) and Captain David Drummond (USAF) will discuss their experiences as POWS at a special program hosted by the US Naval Sea Cadets, NWS Earle Division on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 11 a.m.
The two Air Force officers will detail some of their experiences at the infamous Hanoi Hilton during their imprisonment.
The Highlands Historical Society has a busy September ahead and is inviting all persons interested in local history or wanting to learn more about the historic Hartshorne Family to join them at either or both events.
On Sunday, September 24, from 2pm to 4:30 pm local author John King will present his newest book, Curious Tales of Highlands, NJ, a collection of facts and legends he gathered while living in the borough for more than ten years. King describes each of the stories as “weird,” hard to believe” and Ttue, although some have never been proven.
King is presenting his newest book for the first time at the Historical Society meeting, and will offer them for sale at that time, with all proceeds going to the Historical Society.
The meeting will be held in the Highlands Historical Museum in the Twin Lights Auditorium, located at the base of the South Tower at the Twin Lights. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. and there are no fees to attend.
On Thursday, September 28 at 4:30 p.m., the Historic Society invites all for A Private Tour of Historic Portland Place, conducted by the Monmouth County Parks and Recreation Committee. The Hartshorne Family home was newly added to the Monmouth County Park System.
The site is located in Hartshorne Woods Park, 200 Hartshorne Road, Locust. Access is by a left turn at The Old Stone Church and the entry drive to the home is on the right about a mile in from the Church. Watch for signs at the Church and available parking.
King. a retired teacher of Latin and French at Red Bank Regional High School, and his wife Helen, operated the Water Witch House as a B&B, a Route 36 facility that was once a historic home and former hospital. Since then he has been researching and writing about all aspects of Highlands, is a member and former president of the Historical Society.
He has also sent several stories on history to the Asbury Park Press, and recently wrote “Clam Chowder and Other Highland Stories for Children.”
Currently he is seeking a publisher for a new work, “A Hundred Stories of Murder and Mayhem in the Ancient World” and previously wrote a book on the subject limited to Highlands murder and Mayhem. He has written a number of books on Highlands for Arcadia and History Press as well as other publishers.
King can be contacted at ka2fwb2hdj@gmail.com. Or 732-206-6692 for further information on his works. He and his wife now live in Lin Brick township.
The author predicts that the limited stock of his first printing of the book being unveiled at the historical society meeting will be sold out that night, in which all the proceeds are benefiting the society. Future copies will be available by request to his e-mail, continuing all profits going to the Society.
The newest United States Naval vessel named after the state of New Jersey will be commissioned at the Leonardo pier of NWS Earle in Leonardo, it was just announced by the Commissioning Committee.
The commissioning of the Submarine, New Jersey will be held April 26, 2024, at the pier.
Announcement on how and where to secure tickets for the event will be announced shortly.
I got this easy to make recipe for homemade Iced Coffee from … of all places …
Pravagen, the little capsule pill that if you take it daily allegedly helps your memory, also puts out some great recipes for brain health. While most of those recipes are equally recommended for better eye health and helping fight aging macular degeneration, there are still some others that are excellent to try. And good health for the brain goes along with great eyesight for best enjoying life.
In these sweltering hot days, why not try Iced Coffee with some cinnamon and spice from nutmeg and orange? Think cool.
Double or triple the recipe to save time and keep in refrigerator. Or make ice cubes from coffee in advance for added strength.
1 cup cold brew or cooled coffee
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon orange zest
1/8 teaspoon ground clove
1 tablespoon agave syrup
tablespoons half and half
ice cubes
Add coffee, nutmeg, cinnamon, orange zest, clove, syrup, and half and half to a blender or cocktail shaker
Add ice cubes to the blender or shaker
Blend or mix until the outside of the blender or shaker becomes frosty
Add ice cubes to glass if desired
Pour iced coffee over ice in glass
Top with grated nutmeg for extra flavor
Making cold brew ice cubes ahead of time to use instead of regular ice cubes helps reduce dilution
Grave markers for John Covenhoven, the Reverend Benjamin Dubois , Private Oukey Lefferson, Private Peter Van Dorn and Garret Van Der Ver were uncovered by DAR members and descendants of the nation’s first war heroes in a ceremony which began with a color guard from the NJROTC unit at Colts Neck High School presenting colors, and a pledge of allegiance at the graveyard by the close to 100 persons in attendance at the ceremony.
Prior to the ceremony, violinists Summer Liu and Evelyn Lee presented an hour long medley of military and patriotic songs for the gathering crowd in front of the church on Newman Springs Road.
Mayor Jon Hornik welcomed the crowd and urged them to remember and promote the importance of American history and the role Monmouth County and this area in particular played during the revolution. The DAR has recognized that at least 17 patriots from the Revolutionary war era are buried at Old Brick Reformed Church’s burial ground and markers indicate the burial sites of each.
Covenhoven was a colonel in the war, and a descendant of Dutch ancestors who came to New Netherland in 1625. The name is in the earliest records of the church as far back as 1709. Colonel Covenhoven also represented Monmouth County in the colony’s Provincial Congress before the war, and served on committees to draft the state’s first Constitution. He also was on the committee that designed the Great Seal of the State on the state flag. As a soldier, he was taken prisoner and signed an oath to the King in order to gain freedom, later signing an oath to the United States rejecting his former oath. He was elected to the State Assembly in 1781 and 1782.
The Reverend Benjamin Dubois, a minister at the Church during the War was known as the “Fighting Preacher” because he frequently shouldered is gun and knapsack and took his turn on patrol in addition to being ta pastor, the first born in the colonies and the firsts to preach in the English language. He sold produce to the Continental Army and signed aa 1781 petition to encourage free trade.
Private Lefferson serve in Capt. Benjamin Van Cleaf’s company in the 1st Monmouth Militia regiment under Col. Asher Holmes and was a tailor by trade. He signed the Articles of Retaliation after the war, served as a juror, was an elder in the church and eventually a deacon in the Old Brick Reformed Church.
Private Van Dorn served in multiple tours of duty in New Jersey troops other a variety of captains and colonels, and was at the Battle of Germantown, a major engagement during the war.
Mr. Van Der Veer provided his second son, Henrick, as a substituted for his service in the war, and paid the supply tax that funded the war. He and his wife Jane Voorhees had five sons and three daughters. Their oldest son, Tunis, married Francy DuBois and their youngest son David, married Catherine Dubois, both the children of the Reverend Dubois.
Also participating in the ceremony, which moved throughout the burial ground as DAR members and family members uncovered the new markers at each grave, were Chapter Regent Michele Donnelly, State DAR representative Jan Rohn, Monmouth County Historical Commission members Peter Van Nortwick and Maureen O’Connor Leach, as well as members of several local historical societies.
The Colts Neck Color Guard was comprised of NJROTC Lt. Virginia Van Mater, PO second Class Colin Gulka, Seaman recruit Charles Cappen and Petty Officer Morgan Van Mater.
Funding for the program and the markers was made possible in part by an operating support grant from the state Historical Commission through grand funds administered by the Monmouth County Historical Commission.
