It is always nice to sit back in an evening and think of all the things that made you happy during the day. It’s surprising how many little things are the last-outs, the ones that cheer you the most, the first things that come to your mind and make you feel good..
For me, people simply being pleasant, smiling or laughing, and being friendly are always things that make me happy. Having a neighbor with a few bee hives who also can give you a jar of terrific honey is pretty great any day. But it’s amazing, when you stop to count them, how many reasons there are that other people give you to be happy in a single day.
For instance, Navesink Plumbing had to do repairs in my apartment, and both Mike, the owner, and Will, a very astute assistant, showed up smiling and ready to work. Work they did, for more than an hour, did a terrific job, cleaned up beautifully afterwards, and did it all with professionalism and smiles.
Then at The Girls Café in Highlands, well, there are always smiles and laughter there, it was great to see smiles on the faces of every person at every table and at the counter. And smiles and jokes from Vera, Cathy and Charlie as well Nice to see Marty Byrne and his wife come all the way over from Red Bank for a weekly breakfast just for the charm of the place.
Then at the Atlantic Highlands Library, where everyone of the staff is always smiling and eager to help, it was great to see so many kids sitting quietly reading a book or working on a craft, or going through some books on the well-stocked shelves in the children’s section. Brings smiles to faces just to see the youngsters actually enjoying hold a book rather than a computer or cell phone in their hands.
At Bayshore Pharmacy, they are always greeting shoppers with huge smiles, a few jokes if Rich the pharmacist comes out from behind his pharmaceutical domain, and at the counter, happy people who can’t wait to scratch out their lottery tickets and see winning combinations. Just like Andy and his crew at Jaspan’s Hardware Store, where they never seem to have a bad day!
The biggest surprise however, was at the Atlantic Highlands Planning Board meeting, where everyone of the board members came in just minutes before the scheduled time to start. Everyone of them was carrying a briefcase or packet or papers, and everyone greeted all they passed, each other, and actually looked happy to be taking on what looked like a very long night of work. In the end, it seemed their smiles were even a little bit bigger when each of the applications was continued until the next meeting for a variety of reasons. Yet some still took time to stand outside and chat and laugh a few minutes before heading home for some unexpected time relaxing.
And those guys at the Public Works yard are always happy and helpful.
The St. Agnes Parish Book Club will meet Tuesday evening at 7 in the St. Agnes Church Hall on Center Ave.
All are invited to attend the meeting and join the club.
Under discussion at Tuesday’s meeting is Harris Faulkner’s best seller, Faith still Moves Mountains, a series of stories on how faith has made the difference in a variety of different circumstances and terrifying situations. The author also wrote Breaking News: God has a Plan and “9 Rules of Engagement: A military brat’s Guide to life and Success.” She is the daughter of a career Army officer.
Faulkner, a news commentator on Fox News, is a native of Georgia and the recipient of four Emmy Awards, including Best Anchor for three consecutive years and the Amelia Earhart Pioneering Lifetime Achievement Award for her humanitarian efforts.
Entry to the Book Club at the lower level church hall is through the door adjacent to the parking lot.
The club is reading Scott and Kimberly Hahn’s “Rome Sweet Home” for the April meeting, which will be held April 4 in the church hall.
Samuel Major Sampler was a 23 year old corporal on October 8, 1918, when he was in a company of soldiers near St. Etienne in France and stopped a barrage of enemy machine-gunfire, saving the lives of the rest of his company.
Born in Decator in Wise County Texas, one of 13 children , he grew up during his early years in Audubon, New Jersey, billed the Most Patriotic Town in America. That is because Sampler is one of three Medal of Honor recipients who lived in that little community at some time in their lives.
The family later moved to Jackson County, Oklahoma, the state to which the Medal of Honor is accredited, since that he is where he was with the Oklahoma National Guard’s First Infantry Regiment the start of World War I.
When the National Guard was activated for the war, it was consolidated with the 7th Texas, forming the 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. Sampler, as a member of the Oklahoma National Guard, was part of the consolidation and served with the newly formed 142nd during the war.
The corporal was with the regiment when he was sent to France and fought vigorously and bravely along with the rest of the company. When news of his bravery and quick actions reached higher military officials, he was offered a commission, which meant a promotion to First Lieutenant upon his discharge, which he declined.
Promoted to Sergeant, Sampler received his medal in Cheney, France from Gen. William R. Smith on May 2, 1919. In 1920, he was one of 54 living recipients of the Congressional Medal and one of six Jews who received the Medal of Honor.
Sampler married a Philadelphia native in Altus, Oklahoma after he returned from war and the couple moved back to Philadelphia while he worked at the Naval Supply Depot there. He and his wife had two children, Doris and Major, both of whom have since died.
Later in life, he was diagnosed with diabetes and after his wife died in 1961, he moved to Ft. Myers, Fla. He met a widow visiting from Ohio and they married in 1965. He died in Fort Myers on Dec. 19, 1979 at age 84 and is buried in Memorial Gardens Cemetery in that city.
Sgt. Sampler’s Medal of Honor Citation reads
His company, having suffered severe casualties during an advance under machine-gun fire, was finally stopped. Cpl. Sampler detected the position of the enemy machine guns on an elevation. Armed with German hand grenades, which he had picked up, he left the line and rushed forward in the face of heavy fire until he was near the hostile nest, where he grenaded the position. His third grenade landed among the enemy, killing two, silencing the machine guns, and causing the surrender of 28 Germans, whom he sent to the rear as prisoners. As a result of his act the company was immediately enabled to resume the advance
Sgt. Sampler is honored in all three states in which he had resided.
In Audubon, NJ, a memorial installed designed and created by high school students was raised on the school grounds, and every Memorial Day, Sampler, two more Congressional Medal recipients, and all veterans of the borough are honored in special ceremonies at the memorial.
In 2008, Oklahoma honored the soldier and has photo and story made a part of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
In Texas, he is honored by the Texas State Historical Association.
Bullying. I’m beginning to think I’m seeing some form of it in response to venividiscripto’s reporting on parents and teachers unhappy with the school situation in the Henry Hudson and Atlantic Highlands elementary schools, and a little bit, but not much, in the Highlands elementary school.
I think I see bullying in the lack of reaction to stories which are literally read by thousands. Yet there are few responses, emoji’s and no criticism or defense of the facts the column presents. Since that is a far cry from the norm, something far distant from a “feel good” story that draws hundreds or comments or like emoji’s, or every other news story that always prompts comments and reactions, it seems like readers are being bullied.
Fear
I know from parents, teachers, employees and local residents to whom I’ve spoken, there is a real fear out there. A fear of retaliation in some way. A fear of bullying. If you talk against the superintendent, are you going to lose your job? If you leave and try to get another job someplace else in the same field, are you going to be able to get a recommendation or a good reference? Is your youngster going to be chastised or teased in the classroom because his mom or dad wrote a letter questioning what’s going on in the schools?
Silence
Also strange, the blog stories on the school district are not getting any defense, praise, or words of support for the superintendent. There are no remarks on Facebook asking board members why they are seemingly ignoring letters from concerned parents. There are no remarks on Facebook in support of the parents who are standing up for their children.
I cannot believe it is because parents do not care. Nor can I believe parents are content with the changes in curriculum and class size and structure that has been changing for the past two years. I’m receiving too many phone calls, too many letters to think parents and taxpayers are not interested. My only conclusion at this point is that people are afraid for whatever reason. And that is bullying.
The letter
The letter from the four parents with nine children in the system also pointed out that if the story is true, test scores have been down for the past two years. Is anybody asking that question? Is it true? If it is not true, why isn’t anyone bringing that out and condemning any inaccuracy that may have been written? If it is true, are people still chalking it up to Covid and school closures due to it? Are they not looking any closer at the situation?
Covid
Covid and the new superintendent arrived around the same time. The Covid situation in the school makeup is over. But the superintendent remains and numerous changes have been made in her tenure. Is anyone considering that might be a factor? According to the letter writers, “aside from the way they have been asked to teach, the teachers themselves have remained mostly consistent. “ They asked the boards of education members, none of whom has yet responded, “Why are we introducing programs like “Feel Good Friday” that have no supported curriculum and reduce time spent learning in the classroom by two days a month? “
Is that really true? Is that what is happening in the schools in these two towns? If there are fewer class hours in the past two years, might that be a reason for declining test scores?
The parents pointed out to the board members in their individual e-mails, “surrounding school districts are focused on increasing academic rigor to get test scores up.” But, they said, “it seems we are making changes that lower the level of in-class instruction.”
Attrition
Their letter also brought up the number of teachers and other employees who have left their positions in the past two years, estimating it represents between 20 and 25 percent of the total employees in the district. Have the boards of education addressed that either?
The parents have received no answer.
They point out that only five of the 34 departures tin the past two years, were retirement-bound, the rest were seeking positions outside the district.
“The rest quit, plain and simple,” they wrote. Then they added “And of the administrators that held positions across our three schools when Dr. Beams started, only ONE remains.”
“Teachers are the lifeblood of successful schools. Providing a quality education depends on having great teachers that are invested in and supported by their district,” the parents wrote to the board members. So they asked if exit interviews have been conducted to “understand why we are experiencing an exodus?”
Another question that has not been answered to concerned parents.
Questions
“Has the Board reviewed the changes in staffing to ensure teachers are utilized to their fullest potential? Does the remaining staff feel like they have a collaborative Superintendent who receives feedback and ideas in a positive manner? Is the Board doing everything they can to ensure top talent remains in our district? “
Clearly, these are the questions of concerned parents who were not afraid to sign their names to their letters to each board member and to forward a copy to VeniVidiScripto when they did not even receive an acknowledgement from any one of the members of any of the three boards acknowledging receipt of the letter and their concerns.
The end of the letter shows the parents’ mixture of feelings at the “losses our school has endured the past few years….frustration knowing most was avoidable.”
Representation
We “entrusted you to represent the taxpayers of Atlantic Highlands.” In asking board members to look deeply before renewing the superintendent’s contract. Compare test scores from the past two years to years prior. Conduct a climate survey to gauge employee morale in our schools. Speak to and survey parents to get feedback on the changes made over the past few years. Consider the educational opportunities currently being offered to our children and ask yourselves what are we giving back to our children?
It is not because of less money, the parents say, pointing out “taxes aren’t going down so why are our children being offered less and less in terms of academics?”
In their final plea, the parents once again careful consideration of all the points they raised, and urged their elected officials, when thinking about a new contract for the superintendent “make a decision that is beneficial for the greater good of our school and community.
It may not be bullying … but it seems that something is off at our schools.
It’s been almost two weeks since board members received their e-mails from these parents of nine children in two of the three schools in the district.
They are still waiting for some sign their letter was received.
It was an unexpectedly brief meeting of the Planning Board last week when the three applications on the agenda were all re-scheduled, for different reasons.
No further notice is required for the re-scheduled applications, which will all be heard during the next planning board meeting on April 4.
The application for the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club for minor site plan was postponed because attorney Brian Nelson was not available. That site plan is in preparation for the Yacht Club’s plan to construct an outdoor dining area adjacent to their current dining area on the roof of the Shore Casino, the business which operates on the entire first floor level of the two story building at the Yacht Harbor.
The bulk variance request for the Cannamela property at 78 8th Avenue was postponed enabling the applicant to properly notify Monmouth County, a property owner within 200 feet of the property.
The bulk variance for the Inzallaco property at 38 Asbury Avenue was cancelled in order the applicant to readvertise the application hearing again. The first notice was printed seven, rather than the required 10 days before the meeting.
Planning Board Chairman John McGoldrick also reminded board members the next meeting falls within the week before Easter and just before Passover and urged members to notify the board secretary if their plans for the season would prevent them from attending the meeting.
The sun might not be shining, the clouds might be heavy and the forecast might not be so great, but it’s all warmth, laughter and sunshine inside The Girls Café on Bay Avenue in Highlands now that Vera, Charlie and Cathy are open again after a long vacation and chance to rest up and come back with vigor and all that sensational breakfast and lunch menu!. Champagne was flowing and flowers were blooming Wednesday when the Girls officially opened the doors again and are back in business. Happy frequent visitors brought in the champagne to celebrate the occasion while other very generous and delighted long time friends brought some gorgeous flowers to bring the sunshine and spring indoors!.
The Girls are open Wednesdays through Sundays, from 6 a to 1 p.m. and yes, they still have all that terrific pork roll and specialty French toasts every morning among everything else, as well as hearty sandwiches and more throughout the day both for eat in or take out!.
The Hartsgrove sisters are truly a Highlands institution on their own!
“ We are urging you, as our elected representatives, to please do your due diligence before making a decision to renew the Superintendent’s contract.”
That was the strongly worded plea from four mothers, parents of nine children in the Atlantic Highlands and Henry Hudson Regional school district outlining a number of concerns they have with Dr. Tara Beams, superintendent of the three schools in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands. Hired two years ago by all three schools in a shared services agreement, the superintendent is apparently requesting that her contract be renewed, this time for five years rather than the current three years.
The Terms
Under terms of her present contract, and in agreement with state law, the board of education MUST give the superintendent a full year’s notice if they do not plan to renew her contract. That means that prior to June 30 of this year, the three boards of education must decide whether they will give another contract to Dr. Beams beginning July 1, 2025.
The Response
However, in spite of the letter from these concerned parents being sent via e-mail to each of the 26 members of the three boards of education, Highlands included, not one single elected board member has even acknowledged receipt of the letter, let alone given any response to the parents.
The Meeting
These parents, and many others, plan on attending the March 21 meeting of the Atlantic Highlands board and most like the March 22 meeting of the Henry Hudson Regional board to express their concerns in person.
The Question
Their main question to board members? “What has happened to our school?”
Parents also presented a list of complaints and concerns to VeniVidiScripto today after their letter of Feb. 22 remains unrecognized or acknowledged. By any board member.
While the letter focused on the Atlantic Highlands elementary school, issues were raised about the 7-12 Henry Hudson school as well.
The Letter
In a two page detailed letter, four parents who signed the letter, mothers of children in the Atlantic Highlands school district, some attending Henry Hudson Regional School too, stated their credentials as concerned citizens. In addition to being parents, they said their nine children have had the experience of 50 different grades in the K-6 school, not including the preschool. All are members of the PTO, one is a former president, one an Education Foundation member, many are class parents “multiple times over.” They did not need to add, but their credentials showed they are active school volunteers.
However, they pointed out, first and foremost, they are “huge fans of this wonderful little elementary school and the teachers and students that inhabit its halls every September through June.”
And what has happened and is continuing to happen in their schools? That is absolutely terrifying them.
Not Alone
Nor are they alone. The four parents point out there are many other parents who feel as they do, some fearful of retaliation if they speak out, some for other reasons.
All seem to be in agreement the problems began when Dr. Tara Beams took office as administrator of the Henry Hudson tri-district.
The unanswered letter highlights a number of serious educational concerns, morale failure, and social and emotional problems which have developed in the past two years and which all parents strongly feel are not related to school changes because of Covid.
Rather, they said, “over the past two years we have watched educational programs, specialty teaching and staff disappear one by one.”
Regionalization
All the attention given to the regionalization of the schools that “already work together and share services” has taken the focus off “the only things that really matter, the kids and their education.”
Certainly Covid had an impact on the emotional and academic needs of the children, they explain. But the focus since than has not been on helping them recoup what they have lost.
School academics haven’t helped any youngsters, they explain….neither the one who needs extra help nor the “one who wants to be pushed further.”
A Story
The letter tell the sad story of a fourth grader, one of eight in the group who also had weekly tutoring sessions over the past few years. The youngster told her mom tutoring was her “favorite hour of the week” because it’s the only time she felt challenged academically.
Thirty-five hours a week in a classroom in the Atlantic Highlands Elementary School and the ONE hour of tutoring was the only hour that met her needs academically. That child no longer attends the tax supported public school, her parents put her into a private school where her academic challenges are met and she is learning.
That’s one of the questions asked in the unanswered letter “Why are we taking away programs that support our accelerated students? “
Obligation
Members of the school boards, in not acknowledging the letter of some very concerned residents, may argue they do not act individually, nor do they have the right to make promises to anyone. Everything is a board decision.
They are correct in all of those areas.
But school boards have an obligation to represent the concerns of the citizens, taxpayers and parents alike, and they are the ones who are right now considering whether to offer Dr. Beams another contract, be it for three or five years.
To do their jobs effectively they must listen to the parents whose children are being educated. They must listen to the teachers whose job it is to instruct these children. They must ask Dr. Beams herself some questions about why there is such a current uproar in what for many years has been a happy, peaceful union of upper management, teachers, parents and students.
And Board members must also realize that in addition to being elected to their positions, they are neighbors, friends, club members, church goers with the parents of the children they teach. They meet them in the grocery store or the local restaurant, perhaps share a cup of coffee with them some morning or a glass of wine with them at some social function. That will remain, whether they are on the board of not.
Common Courtesy
So wouldn’t it just be common courtesy to send back an e-mail to these very concerned parents and simply let them know you got their letter? Shouldn’t every board member be concerned enough about all the letters and comments they have received to call a special meeting to talk about it?
Shouldn’t the parents and all taxpayers feel secure their elected board members are really listening, really concerned, and not simply rubber stamping the administrator that comes to their meetings and submits her reports in a timely fashion? These are the people footing that $180,000-plus annual salary of a superintendent who is under so much discussion and seeking reappointment in a couple of months for a contract that does not end until July a year from now?
Maybe it’s time at least one member of any of the boards sends an e-mail to very frightened and concerned parents to at least let them know they got their letter, they will bring it up to the board, and will come back with some answers immediately after the meeting with the other elected officials.
With the approval of the Land Use Board for a conditional cannabis license for The Honorable Plant it is now up to the state to decide whether the application for a retail store at 123 Bay Avenue should be approved from conditional to annual. Despite any map that may indicate a prohibition for the facility
While action by the State Cannabis Commission was not on the agenda for this week’s meeting, it does appear the borough would need to adopt an amendment to its Drug Free Zone ordinance in order for the state to consider approval.
Edward McKenna, Jr., attorney for the applicant, however, he is confident everything has been done correctly and there is no further action needed before the Commission acts on his client’s application for a license.
The borough adopted its Drug Free Zone Ordinance, 89-26, together with a map delineating the zones in the borough in April 1998 and confirmed it has not been amended since. The ordinance was neither brought up nor referenced by the Land Use Board during the hearing on the Honorable Plant hearing.
However, in the 22 page Land Use Resolution adopted by the Land Use Board unanimously Feb. 9, with no abstaining or negative votes, there is no mention of parks, approved map or the ordinance, although there are references to no school being within 1, 000 feet of the applied-for premises, a requirement of state cannabis regulations .
Time was spent on identifying the meaning of the work “school” after a resident brought up Sunday School classes that are held in the church adjacent to the building under discussion. It was determined the only buildings in the borough that met the definition are the Highlands Elementary and Henry Hudson Schools. While the Our Lady of Perpetual School is also in the borough and could be within 1,000 feet of the planned premises, the school has been closed for several years and is only used for other church activities including religious classes. The board determined both public schools are out of the 1,000 foot restriction on any drug activity from schools and did not address the former OLPH school at all.
Yet the borough ordinance not cited nor mentioned at the Land Use meeting, clearly also prohibits drugs from within 500 feet of public buildings and parks. It also identifies the church property has having a school.
The Schoor DePalma map referenced in the 1998 ordinance identifies the former basketball court on Miller St. as a park or public building.
There is speculation whether the attorneys involved in the application actually were either aware of or paid any attention to, the 1998 borough ordinance on drug free zones. Same goes for the map drawn by Schoor DePalma that was designed to identify them. It is clear the Land Use Committee neither referred to the map nor made any reference to any parks in making their decision. In fact, there is no mention of any park, public, private or anticipated or planned throughout the resolution.
The corner park at Cornwall St. designed and maintained by the Highlands Garden Club is within 500 feet of the 123 Bay Avenue property, a former pizza restaurant and in earlier years, the Food Basket grocery store. The unnamed park at the juncture of Bay avenue and Miller st, which until recently included park benches for passive use is not identified on the map. Nor are the Frank Hall Park nor several other parks out lined on the 1998 map, yet all fit the definition of publicly owned parks. The borough is planning an improved Skate Park as well. That will be built on Bay Avenue at Snug Harbor, with construction expected to start this spring. The park is funded primarily through grants and interest free loans from Monmouth County Open Space and New Jersey state Green Acres funding.
It appears the elementary school property appears to be 67 feet more than the 1,000 feet required for distance from the proposed cannabis facility, a distance close enough one would expect a survey is included to ensure accuracy. McKenna is confident his client’s planners and other professionals have reviewed the distances and are certain the elementary school property is more than 1,000 feet from the Bay Avenue address. The Land Use Board did not question that assurance from the applicant’s professional team. Nor did they require certification from a licensed surveyor.
The map does not specifically identify the varying patterns Schoor DePalma used to define the varying properties considered drug free zones on their map.
The borough Land Use Board is also considering the application of Sea Grass, NJ with Nicholas Frangipane of Red Bank, the principal at its March 9 meeting. The matter was scheduled for the last meeting, however, continued until the March meeting because of time constraints. That application is for property at Bay and Seadrift avenues currently owned by Councilman Leo Cervantes
Is Cannabis a Drug? Is it a drug when used or sold within 500 feet of a Park? There is so much to wonder about with the unanimous approval of The Honorable Plant at 123 Bay Avenue by the Land Use Board last month.
There is no doubt Ed McKenna is an intelligent, honest, dedicated attorney who does an extensive amount of research and takes a deep interest and concern for every client he has. A hard worker, Mr. McKenna has built a reputation over decades of decency and good lawyering. So there does not appear to be any fault or omission there.
Mrs. Stavola, the applicant for the retail business, has also long since proven her excellence, dedication to thoroughness and vast experience in the cannabis business not only in New Jersey but in at least 11 other states across the nation. She is highly successful, highly dedicated to doing a job right. It would also be certain that the professionals this businesswoman hires to make her presentations have long since proven their excellence in their respective fields. Or they would not be hired by her. So there does not appear to be any fault or omission there.
Members of the Land Use Board are dedicated volunteers, who I believe are devoted and intent on doing what they believe in the right thing for every application that comes before them. They listen well to the experts and the questioners, they ask their own questions of all the experts, and they make their decisions based on the law and what’s good for Highlands. So there does not appear to be any fault or omission there.
So why is it that nobody, nobody on the Land Use Board, seemed to know that this borough that they represent, that they make decisions for, that they volunteer their time to help plan and design for the future, did not even know the borough has a drug free Zone ordinance (Ord. O-89-26) that has not been updated since it was first adopted a quarter of a century ago?
Surely if any member of the board knew about the Drug Free Zone map they would have at least asked one question about a park. Any park. The law establishes a DRUG FREE ZONE within 500 feet of a public park. Yet in all 22 pages of the approved resolution, the word PARK is not even included. Yes, there is the word PARKING, but that simply refers to spaces to put cars, not recreational, sports, or children’s activities. No member of the Land Use Board even asked if there is a park within 500 feet of 123 Bay Avenue.
Sure, a quarter century year old map portrays things differently from how they are today. But the borough has never updated that map. Nor the ordinance. I’m sure they never dream of a cannabis shop. So if the ordinance is still in effect, and it is, and there have been no updates to it, and there have not, then the Land Use Board cannot have it two ways.
Anybody who has been in Highlands a quarter of a century can remember the basketball courts on Miller St. where the fire house is now. Is that considered a park? It is listed as such on the map that is part of the ordinance in town. But nobody asked about parks of any kind.
That park maintained by the Garden Club on the corner of Cornwall St. Is that a public park? Is it on property owned by the borough? Was it there 25 years ago but it is there now? But nobody from the Land Use Board even asked about that, visible as it is within 500 feet of 123 Bay Avenue.
Remember where the old Borough Hall was on Bay Avenue? That is now a parking lot; but it is listed on that 25 year old map as a public building. Yet no one on the Land Use Board even asked anything about parks.
Cannabis is a brand new business and undergoing excruciating inspection which is a good thing for any business. Proponents of starting up a business go to extensive ends in investigations, money spent, and experts sought to ensure everything is done correctly. It would be a tragedy if individuals or businesses, or volunteers spent incredible amounts of time, talent and money to get approvals only to have it shot down by a little error….or the lack of knowledge on anyone’s part there is an ordinance in place that could well impact a business anyplace in the borough. Yet it was not even mentioned in a Land Use Board meeting for one of the biggest businesses that hopes to open in this town in many years.
Should somebody in local government be interested enough in all these questions to at least investigate whether any of these points bear further consideration and explanation?
Got a note from former Mayor Dick Stryker about the Atlantic Highlands High School Basketball team of 1943 where all five key players shortly thereafter went to war and served all over the world.
Dick remembers when he attended those games with his dad. It also reminded him of the terrific 1948 State Champion Team he described as a great team made up of Atlantic and Highlands students who just played well together without even knowing what a regional school was. That team, and he was on it, took the school to another great season, and an upset win over the Sayreville Bombers in the annual classic, with a 48-39 victory that got them to the semi finals.
That team had some more pretty terrific members many remember today or know the next generation or two down….names like Phil Loori, Georger Hendricks, Donald Rockley, Eugene Murphy, Richard Shopharst, Ronald Carhart, Ken Hyneman and the two Mills boys. Along with one of the Monahans.
In that Bomber-Tiger clash, it was Hendricks who began the upset victory in the second period when, as the sports reporter said then, “he threw his pivot shots with his usual deadly accuracy. Then Monahan put the Tigers in the lead with a three pointer, followed by another two points by Loori. “Hendricks kept pouring them on,” the reporter said, and at the one minute mark at the game, the Tigers took the led with a one pointer that made the score 38-37. Then he scored again, making it 40-37. Then Monahan came back with another two points, the Bombers scored once, and Loori iced it for the Tigers and a final score of 43-39.
The Mills brothers, went on to college and became school principals. Spencer Keyes, another great name in all sports at Atlantic, also went on to college and became a superintendent in New York. All the team members, Stryker remembers, were justifiably proud of their accomplishments as a team, without equity or equality being a problem. The town turned out with a parade and a victory dinner at the Log Cabin Inn. Some memories……….
