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Travel by Train: Newport Rhode Island

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Newport
   Newport Rhode Island

Travel in itself is educational, fun, and relaxing. But one of the very best things about travel is the people you meet, the rejuvenation of a belief that there are great, thoughtful, kind and interesting people everywhere, you just have to have to chat with them for a few minutes to learn.

So, in a series of articles over the next few days, I’ll tell you about the incredibly wonderful Admiral Fitzroy Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, the thrill of being behind the wheel on an 80 foot schooner, the Aquidneck, the stories behind St. Mary’s Catholic Church which is on the National Register and where the Kennedy’s were married, the great shops along the many wharves at Newport, and even the Newport Yacht Club. But first I’d like you to meet some of the great people I spent some time with over three days on being in Newport.

Newport

It actually started on Amtrak, leaving Metropark for the four hour trip to Newport through New York, some beautiful and colorful leaf peeping hours in Connecticut and detraining at Kingston, the nearest rail station to Newport, about 40 minutes away by car.  Well, to back up, it really started at my door in Atlantic Highlands  where Maura, a great Monmouth County driver who will take you anywhere at anytime, picked me up at precisely the right time, then filled the half hour drive to Metropark with great stories, great personality and lots of laughs. Nice to have such a dependable and inexpensive driver, and even better knowing she’d be right there at Amtrak to bring me back home three nights later.

My seatmate on Amtrak’s #172 was Heidi, a paralegal heading to Boston who had spent ten weeks in London with her boss representing a firm in an international lawsuit involving windmills. We have great conversations on the benefits of windmills…there are plenty… their benefits in the ocean… can’t think of a single one… why arbitration and mediation are necessary and helpful to all, why school districts should regionalize as soon as they can for so many reasons, and a few lighter topics.

Once in the Kingston station, just a few minutes later than scheduled, I stopped to see if I could help another passenger who looked like she was seeking someone or something. “A man named Steve,” she said, as we both walked away from the train. I spotted a tall man who also looked like he was looking for someone, got and affirmative when I asked if he was Steve and waited while the lady, Elaine, made the connection.

It seems Elaine is a corporate attorney in New York and every month or so, takes a mini vacation on her own. Brilliant, attentive to detail, and fun loving, Elaine researched her entire week away, then through her hotel in Newport, found a driver who would spend the week meeting her schedule of picking her up and transporting her to her various sites and activities she had planned for her week. When Elaine learned I was heading to Newport and did not have a driver, she invited me to go along and said Steve would drop me off at my hotel after taking her to her first event  scheduled for only minutes later. Enroute for the drive, we both learned Steve was an exceptional driver, a great source of information about Newport and the surrounding area, and with an interesting life history on his own.  Declining to let me split the cost of the drive with her, Elaine suggested I give Steve $12 for the extra way he was taking me to my hotel after leaving her off at The Elms, one of Newport’s mansions, for her first conference.  Before I got out at the Admiral Fitzroy B&B, I made arrangements with Steve to pick me up three days later for my trip back to Kingston and my return train.

Not as organized or well planned as Elaine, I was fortunate to have encountered both Elaine and Steve.

It kept getting better when I went into the Admiral Fitzroy and met the receptionist on duty, Sharon. More friendliness, an invitation to try some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies under glass on the desk, and conversation. When I learned she was a retired Chief in the Navy, she was no longer Sharon the friendly and efficient receptionist, but Chief, the friendly and perfectly efficient Navy Chief who had been stationed at Navel Weapons Station Earle and knew its Leonardo pier. We shared stories about the Colts Neck side of the base as well as the fact the nation’s newest submarine, the New Jersey, will be commissioned at Leonardo next April.

Newport

There are so many more stories about the great people I met; the wonderful woman from Oregon who was out walking her dog later in the evening and stopped to give me directions when I looked like I was lost. She then walked me back to the Inn and even invited me to join her at a music event she was attending as soon as she brought the dog home. There was Noah, the Salve Regina College student who was on his third shift working as a waiter at Red Parrot and deftly handling seven busy tables at this great restaurant. Noah made me laugh when the steak I ordered for dinner arrived in scant minutes in spite of the crowded eatery.  “Well, you ordered it very rare,” he smiled, “so it didn’t take long.” There was every employee at the Admiral Fitzroy, from the cook at the breakfast room to Jen the manager, the captain and crew of the schooner Aquidneck, the storekeepers in gift and souvenir shops that sell everything from little flower pots inscribed with “A little pot from Newport,” …cannabis is allowed in Rhode Island….. to rare paintings and magnificent glassware and so many more.

There were the great folks at Beau Tyler, a shop at 400 Thames st. that advertises  “style for good-hearted people and good-hearted pets” and sells all manner of people clothing for dog lovers. Their motto is Laugh. Love. Lick. While they don’t have any dog food  or dog accessories in this fashion, shop, they do have stickers and magnets for people that say “As a matter of fact, I do have to pet every dog I see”. And they have dog biscuits to give out as treats for every pet that accompanies anyone coming into the store!  They even give them away so customers can pet and treat a passing dog on the sidewalk when they leave!

But the most touching, the most thoughtful, the most generous of all I met was Dawn, like Chief, another friendly receptionist at the Admiral Fitzroy, who made me realize while you know your folks at home are thoughtful, fun, and considerate, there are people like Dawn at the Admiral Fitzroy Inn in Newport who can make you love, appreciate, and remember a town and its people forever.

Kalian Requests a Delay

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Kalian
Requests a Delay

Public hearings on the proposed high rise apartment at East Garfield Ave. has now been delayed until a special meeting on November 21, Councilman Brian Dougherty said at Thursday’s council meeting,

Dougherty, who is the council representative to the Planning Board, said the applicant, Kalian Associates, has requested the delay from the scheduled regular meeting on November 2 for the accommodation of one or more of its experts.

The proposed high rise apartment complex, immediately adjacent to the Kalian mixed use construction nearing completion on First Avenue, also calls for dozens of variances before it can be approved. Various professionals are presenting their plans and drawings to the planning board over a series of meetings and have been making some adjustments to their original plans in response to questions and recommendations from the board’s engineer, Douglas Rohmeyer, and planning board members.

Thursday’s meeting of the Planning Board, which begins at 7 p.m. will include action to approve resolutions for properties at 64 Prospect Circle and 3 Beverout Place as well as a hearing on a new application for extensions to a house at 170 Ocean Boulevard.

Other Stories on 160 First Avenue HERE

Acorn Squash

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
ACORN SQUASH
ACORN SQUASH

Acorn Squash is that botanically classed fruit that’s more often called a vegetable, the one that started out life in Central America thousands of years ago and in this part of the world is a traditional fall vegetable loaded with vitamins, minerals, oxidants, and everything else that’s great for both eye health and heart health.

Cut, with the seeds scooped out and cut or sliced into smaller pieces, it isn’t even necessary to peel, since the cooked skin is soft, and contains even more vitamins so is best to leave on.

Acorn squash, like its cousins in the squash family and sweet potatoes, can be prepared in numerous ways, and has plenty of Vitamin A which hydrates the eyes and nourishes the cornea, in particular. It’s also one of the best vegetables of all for heart health because of all the Vitamin A it contains. And now scientists are finding that the beta carotene in acorn squash, along with some of the minerals associated with it,  actually protects the skin from sun damage and cancers.

Try baking this squash, then sprinkling it with sage and feta cheese for a healthy, delicious, easy to make dinner dish.

 

SPICY ACORN SQUASH WITH FETA

3 Acorn Squash, halved, seeded, and sliced

3 Tsp. olive oil

1 teas. Paprika (smoked paprika is best!)

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Sage leaves,, chopped fine

4 oz  feta cheese

 

Heat over to 425 degrees. In a small bowl, stir oil, paprika, and pepper. Drizzle over squash in bowl,  and stir to be sure all is coated.

Arrange on cookie sheets in a single layer.

Bake at 425 degrees, rotating once or twice during baking. Bake until it’s tender and a golden color, about half an hour.

Sprinkle with feta and sage before serving.

 

Other Eye healthy Recipes HERE

Carrot Cumin Soup

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Carrot Cumin-Soup

Even if you thought you don’t like carrots, there are so many different ways you can prepare them that it is likely you’ll find something you really enjoy. Given the facts carrots are available year-round, are one of the least expensive of all vegetables, and are filled with all the beta-carotene, vitamin A, minerals and antioxidants that are so great for eyesight, heart health and general good health, it might even be worth acquiring a taste for them.

With winter and cold weather coming, soups are a great source of vitamins and comfort. Try this recipe for Carrot Cumin Soup.

CARROT CUMIN SOUP

2 Tbls. Olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 lb. carrots, cut into pieces (about 3 Cups)

3 Cups vegetable broth

½ teas. Cumin

¼ teas. Coriander

¼ teas. Sea salt

Ground pepper

1 teaspoon lemon juice

½ Cup Greek yogurt

2 Tbls cumin seeds, for garnish, if desired.

Heat oil in heavy saucepan sauté onion for 2 minutes, add garlic and sauté another minute. Add carrots, broth, cumin, coriander, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until carrots are tender, 20 minutes.

Puree the soup in a blender or food processor until smooth. Return to saucepan and whisk in lemon juice and yogurt.  Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with cumin seeds.  Serve with Italian bread and a salad for an easy and delicious dinner

ADDED TOUCHES:

Since I grow basil and dill indoors in pots, I chop and freeze leaves in ice cube trays and added 3 cubes to this recipe.

Care One Residents Rights

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Residents Rights

Jimmie King, administrator at Care One at Middletown, and Muriel J. Smith, patient advocate  for residents for the state of New Jersey, both met with residents of the Route 36 facility to review residents rights, privileges and activities at a luncheon meeting at Care One at Middletown yesterday.

The luncheon is one in a series of events the Center’s Activities Director Karen Cohen holds throughout the year to ensure residents are kept aware of their rights,  of why and how the care center treats its residents and  to encourage residents to voice any complaints or recommendations in any areas.

Rather than voice complaints or ask questions, residents praised King for his frequent visits to their rooms, his knowledge of each of them by name, and his interest in their personal accomplishments or problems. Residents also praised the high quality of the food and expressed pleasure at the variety of dishes offered. Residents spoke of the friendliness of the staff and their appreciation for included in a broad variety of events.

While King and Smith covered areas including residents’ rights to having visitors, caring for their own funds, traveling outside the care center, privacy,  mail receipt and writing supplies,  as well as their rights to their own medical records and care, Cohen also reminded residents of the variety of activities in the next two weeks, ranging from painting and puzzles to  a visit in rooms by a therapy horse, music, and arts and crafts activities.

Ghosts of the White House

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
ghosts
Ghosts

This is the  time of year when all the stories crop up about ghosts, spirits, and sightings of former inhabitants of the White House are retold everywhere.

Some say Dolly Madison, the wife of the fourth President of the United States, is still around, tending to her beloved Rose Garden.

But most of the stories of ghosts involve Abraham Lincoln or one of Lincoln’s relatives, and whether true or not, they’re fascinating.

Grace Coolidge, the First Lady when her husband Calvin was President, was the first to report seeing ghosts … the ghost of Abraham Lincoln. She said she saw his ghost in the yellow Oval room staring out at the Potomac.

The Queen of the Netherlands, Wilhelmina, was on a visit to the White House in 1942 and reported she heard footsteps outside her bedroom and a knock on the door. It is reported she opened the door and saw the ghost of Lincoln standing there in a frock coat and top hat. She fainted.

Both Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt claimed to have seen ghosts … again Lincoln; one of FDR’s valet ran screaming from the White House saying he had seen him.

Eleanor Roosevelt never said she saw Lincoln, but on several occasions said she felt his presence throughout the White House. She also thought Roosevelt’s dog, Fala, barked  for no reason and she felt it was because of Lincoln’s presence. Several press secretaries, also said they frequently felt Lincoln’s presence.

Both Margaret Truman and her father President Harry Truman, have said they heard a knock at the door or footsteps outside the room when each slept in the Lincoln bedroom.

There are numerous other stories but the best is when Sir Winston Churchill was visiting the White House. Well known for his love of late night long hot baths, complete with a glass of Scotch and a cigar to relax, it has been reported that Churchill got out of the tub, cigar still in his mouth, and before dressing, walked back into the bedroom. There he saw Lincoln standing by the fireplace, leaning on the mantle. The naked Churchill simply took the cigar out of his mouth, tapped the ashes off, turned to Lincoln and said, “Good Evening, Mr. President. You seem to have me at a disadvantage.”

Lincoln smiled and disappeared.

Regionalization: Time for the 2 nd Step

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Regionalization
 Time for the Second Step

It’s too early to see the agenda for next Thursday’s meeting of the Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Council, but one wonders whether including Sea Bright in school regionalization will be moved a step further.

Now that both Atlantic Highlands and Highlands residents have approved the Regionalization of their three school districts, it’s the right time to take on Step #2 and let the Council begin its work towards a new referendum to consider the inclusion of Sea Bright in the newly formed district.

This borough’s council members, along with the school superintendent, Sea Bright and Highlands borough Council, have all indicated they would favor such a referendum. Each of the school boards unanimously endorsed such a move, and now with the new Board comprised of these same members who endorsed Sea Bright earlier, it shows the new board is also eager to have a vote to include Sea Bright. The 2nd Step.

All previous feasibility studies have concluded that the inclusion of Sea Bright would offer the best educational benefits for our students and tax savings for our residents.

In State Education Commissioner McMillan’s letter dated last month, just days before the election that approved a regional district, she indicated that a new referendum request can now be submitted requesting Sea Bright’s inclusion. She also said the appeal submitted by Shore Regional and Oceanport opposing this has been rejected. That means there are no hindrances to allowing all the residents to have their own say at the election polls.

The Commissioner went on to say that since so much time has evolved, an update to the prior feasibility study may be required.

Sea Bright has already initiated that process, so eager is that borough to join its two close neighbors for improved education for all and to pour money into this new district.  Sea Bright has also requested that Atlantic Highlands and Highlands participate in that update as well.

Highlands did not waste any time in stating they will participate and approve updating the feasibility study as the Commissioner wants. They long ago said they want the people to vote on whether to include Sea Bright; they are not going to do anything that would delay what they feel is important….let the people decide.

So it seems Atlantic Highlands Council will most likely be discussing how they feel about it at their meeting Thursday night, knowing how important it is they, too, approve participating in a study update.

This is Step #2, the next logical step in the careful walk toward a referendum that could finally see the three towns come together and achieve all the benefits identified for both our education system and taxpayers.

You remember when taxpayers and educators got all the facts on the monetary impact of regionalization among the three schools many months ago. Atlantic Highlands and Highlands each stand to save over one million dollars per year through Sea Bright’s inclusion. Those facts still stand and would still happen once Sea Bright is approved by the voters to become part of this new regionalization that officially happened this week.

Now it appears it is all up to the Atlantic Highlands council to continue moving along the right of the people to decide.

It will be remarkably interesting to see if the elected officials will stand true to their word and make the decision to join Highlands and Sea Bright in approving a feasibility update to support the Commissioner’s request.  It is worth attending the meeting at 7 pm next Thursday or joining online to see what each of the council members says regarding their support to move forward with Step #2 and giving the people the opportunity to express their opinion.

 

Save LBI on Offshore Wind Farms

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Save LBI
  Save LBI Weighs In

Recent events have confirmed that even with billions in Federal and state subsidies, the current New Jersey wind projects are not economically viable without additional electric bill or tax handouts, nor are they effective in addressing climate change.

Under the guise of saving the planet from climate change and providing long term economic growth the federal government and the State have been extremely generous to foreign wind energy companies with both money and environment. This includes federal tax credits, increases in electric bills, taxpayer funding of onshore support facilities, additional direct subsidies, a weakening of the environmental impact statement process, and the potential for  children to pick up the tab for removing the turbines, substations and cabling in the future.

That is the opinion of representatives of at least three different agencies, including Long Beach Island who are calling for some serious reflection by state legislators.

There are new wind technologies on the horizon and ways to pursue renewable energy that do not ruin the Jersey shore and jeopardize marine mammals, said Bob Sern, Ph.D. president of Save Long Beach Island, Inc., “ Save LBI will keep the public informed on these matters of extreme importance to your pocketbook and our environment, “ he said. For further information, visit their webpage at www.save LBI.org or the Facebook page at SaveLBI Community Group for the latest updates.

Stern, who is president of the LBI, Inc., is joined by Ed O’Donnell, a principal in Whitesgrand Consulting, LLS, and John Deitchman, coordinator for Save LBI Issues and listing numerous reasons why more attention should be paid immediately to funds being spent on wind projects.

All three point out that offshore wind remains the most expensive form of renewable energy generation for the US and high costs have skyrocketed due to supply chain issues, higher interest rates and inflation.  Such costs are causing other developers to re-think their cost and schedule commitments, and are doubling down with requests for more handouts.

By threatening to walk away, foreign wind companies convinced six Atlantic coast state governors to plead for more Federal tax credits, a new federal revenue sharing program, and a further acceleration of the review and approval process for offshore wind projects. If  demands for new subsidies are approved,” O’Donnell said,  “electric power rates statewide could rise at least 30 percent for residential, 40 percent for commercial and 50 percent for industrial customers for the full planned wind program.  That means a typical household would pay more than $9,000 extra for wind generated power over the more than 20 years these higher rates are in effect.”

The experts also point out that studies have shown that even much lower across the board increases in electric rates would result in thousands of job losses and hundreds of millions per year in lost wages in the state.

Proponents of offshore wind acknowledge there is a cost involved, but the Atlantic Shores project CEO considers it worth the price because of its “importance to climate change” and “economic and work force development benefits” .  However, Stern points out the federal environmental impacts statements (EISs) themselves, e.g. the Vineyard Wind project EIS, say that the offshore wind projects will have “no collective impact on global warming.  He added that “  proponents of offshore wind fail to present the true global scope and the time dependent nature of the global warming challenge.

Despite scientist warnings over 50 years ago to world leaders to reduce carbon emissions, they continue to increase. In 2022 alone.” Deitchman pointed out  “the touted job and economic benefits are overstated, primarily associated with the construction period. It is unclear how many of the jobs will go to NJ versus foreign workers.”

  All three critics further note that the next few months will be a critical period for NJ offshore wind. They say there is seemingly no end to the subsidies being demanded. Prior State decisions on the existing NJ projects should be revisited as to whether they should go forward and at what cost, and Save LBI has asked for a rehearing of the Atlantic Shores 1 project in that regard.”

Decisions on the projects proposed for the next 4000 megawatts should be paused, and no additional electric rate or tax subsidies should be given until a full cost benefit analysis is done on the existing and proposed projects (as recently requested by the NJ Legislature leadership) and an analysis is done of the financial returns being realized by the foreign developers (as requested by the NJ Office of the Rate Counsel), they insist.

 

Hydrants to be Flushed

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Hydrants
 Hydrants
Praise to the Public Works Department of Atlantic Highlands as well as the borough administrator, all of whom go above and beyond to ensure residents first of all of the need to flush fire hydrants then to give them advice as to how they can avoid problems during the flushing as well as in the future. Let’s hope everyone reads and heeds the letter that went out to all residents on line:
Dear Residents of Atlantic Highlands,
The Atlantic Highlands Water Department will be flushing fire hydrants within the entire water distribution system, from October 23rd through October 27th, 2023, 10:00 pm to 2:00 am. During this time, you WILL experience LOW WATER PRESSURE and water DISCOLORATION. Therefore, please try not to use the water during Hydrant Flushing Hours. If water use is necessary during the Hydrant Flushing Hours, please use COLD WATER ONLY. If water discoloration persists, run COLD WATER ONLY for a minimum of twenty minutes and the water should clear. Running hot water during Hydrant Flushing Hours will cause sediment to settle in the water heater and the discoloration will continue until the water heater is flushed with clear water.
If you have any problems or difficulties with your water during the Hydrant Flushing Hours, you may contact the Water Department at (732) 291-0027 or (732) 291-1444 ext. 3701.
Hydrant Flushing is advertised twice a year in the Two River Times, the borough’s web-site, and the borough’s Facebook page. Alerts are also sent out on the borough’s reverse 911 system along with a reminder prior to the start of the system flushing. The Water Department recommends that you sign up for the Borough of Atlantic Highlands RAVE Emergency Alerts and Notification System at www.ahnj.com (under the header Emergency Alerts and Notification System, Add/Remove Yourself, and you will be notified).

Movies at the Mansion and More!

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Movies
Halloween Events:  Movies

The Atlantic Highlands Historical Society takes Halloween seriously and that means lots of fun, entertainment, Movies, and a bit of the mysterious is all on tap over the next week.

Tonight, Oct. 20, Young Frankenstein will be on the scene at 7:30 p.m. starring Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Madelaine Kahn and Teri Garr in that famed Mel Brooks.

The movie is free and open to all at the Mansion, but a $10 donation is always appreciated to help the Society meet the costs of maintaining the historic home.

Next Friday, Oct. 27, paranormal investigator Greg Caggiano will present an evening full of ghost stories at the Strauss Mansion. Beginning at 7 p.m., for the next 90 minutes, the investigator and historian will tell some tales about the house and its former owners since it was built in 1893. He’ll also talk about some of the many paranormal encounters so many have had during the past century. To back that up, he will even be showing some of the audio and visual evidence of these occurrences.

The $25 tickets for guests at this one night only exciting evening will also have a tour of the 21-rooom mansion as well as a ghost hunting equipment demonstration which could possibly bring up some spirited residents.

Reservations in advance are necessary for this event by contacting the Historical Society since there is limited capacity for a poplar event.

The next night, Saturday, October. 28, the film, “Don’t Go in the House,” a classic cult film filmed in the Mansion some half century ago, will be the feature. Starring Dan Grimaldi, who was also in the Soprano series, the tickets for this event are $10 in advance.

For more information on all three events or to purchase tickets, e-mail ahhistoricalinfo@gmail.com or call 732-291-1861

 

Pasty Events

Tea

Arts, Crafts & Music

Ghost Ships

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