The Highlands Business Partnership will hosting the 10th Annual Guinness Run Saturday, March 4, as a fund raiser for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The race will begin at Off the Hook, 1 Navesink Ave, where contestants will fill their cup and race to South Peak St. and back to the finish line at Off the Hook.
The runner with the most liquid in the cup at the end of the race will win the Guinness Run!
All contestants’ cups will be weighed at the beginning and end of the race. The winner will receive the Guinness Run Trophy and $100.00 in Bid Cards. Second place will be awarded $50.00 in Bid Cards.
There is a $40.00 registration fee to participate in the race. Included is a commemorative t-shirt, and a Guinness pint glass for the first 100 registrants. Additionally, all registrants gain access to the post-Race party at Off the Hook. Registered runners will enjoy Guinness and a variety of delicious food provided by Off the Hook.
Runners can register at Off the Hook beginning at noon Saturday. Runner’s must be 21 and provide ID.
All proceeds benefit the 19th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade to be held on March 18 at 2PM.
Proud supporters of the 10th Annual Guinness Run include NJ Division of Travel & Tourism, Bahrs Landing, In the Garden, Montecalvo/Bayshore Family of Companies, Off the Hook, Proving Ground, Solar Me, Brian & Joelle Kelly Family Foundation, CME Associates, Karin Busichio, Berkshire Hathaway Rumson Realtor, and Ritchie & Page Distributors.
For more information and to register online please visit the Highlands Guinness Run or call 732-291-4713.
Don’t know if there was garbage can collection in Highlands on President’s Day Monday Feb. 20 when all borough offices and many businesses and offices were closed for the legal holiday.
But at 3 p.m. in the afternoon, the only garbage cans lining any sidewalk on Seadrift Ave in Highlands were those belonging to Councilman Leo Cervantes business, Chilango’s, or his house adjacent to it. The empty garbage cans on the sidewalk are a nuisance, but the appearance of the yard, the broken pieces of wood and the broken gate are certainly not what one would expect of a proud home or business owner, let alone an elected official.
The view on a normal, non-pickup day
I also wonder about the lengthy video of the Councilman chatting with someone and explaining how and why he was approached by strangers to buy his property for location of a cannabis business if the application was approved by the Land Use Board and selected by the State Cannabis Commission for the one cannabis business that would be allowed in town. I have not been able to contact the councilman for comment, and understand he is currently out of the country visiting family. The video has since been removed from the site but it is still available to view Here.
Audubon, a small town in Camden County, New Jersey. It could well claim the title of the most patriotic town in all of the United States.
It can certainly claim the title of the only town in the United States of America that can lay claim to having a connection to not only one, but THREE recipients of the Medal of Honor, the highest award bestowed upon a member of the military.
The three heroes are men who served in three different wars, and were from two different branches of the service. Two received their Medals for heroic actions during the Korean War, and one for his service during World War I. One served in both World War II and the Korean War.
Edward Clyde Benfold was in the Navy and was killed in action in Korea in 1952. He was 21 years old.
Nelson V. Brittin was born in 1920 and served in World War II until its end. He re-enlisted a couple of years later and was killed in Korea in 1951. He was 31 years old.
Samuel M. Sampler was born in 1895 and served in World War I and survived the war to receive the Medal himself. He was 79 years old when he died.
While all did not live there all their lives, all had strong connections to Audubon and are remembered on a plaque at Audubon High School. They are also remembered in various other ways not only in Camden County but each individually in the towns and states in which he also have connections.
What is more amazing is that these three men come from a town of one and a half square miles in size, with a population according to the United States census of 2020 with 8707 residents. The town itself is named after ornithologist James Audubon and was incorporated in 1905.
Audubon is a middle class town, with the median age today of 38 years at the time of the census, and the largest percentage of residents between the ages of 25 and 44 years.
Its school system, in addition to the high school that honors its Medal of Honor recipients, includes the Haviland Avenue School in grades PreK -2, and the Mansion Avenue School for grades 3 to 6. The high School has approximately 800 students in grades 7 through 12. The school population includes children from Audubon Park, a neighboring community that was separated from Audubon when the town incorporated.
Audubon was initially settled in the late 17th century. Founded primarily by farmers and millers and was part of Newton Township. Two of the original houses built in the early 1700s are still standing. One with an addition built in the mid-1800s. A later owner, the wife of Samuel Nicholson Rhodes, a naturalist and author, gave the town its name.
The town boasts of a number of famous people from the 20th century in addition to its three Medal recipients.
In sports, it was home to Joe Flacco, an NFL quarterback for the NY Jets. Brett Laxton, a former MLB pitcher who played two seasons for the Oakland Athletics and the Kansas City Royals. Football coach Vic Obeck, and Anne McConaghie Volp, a field hockey player and coach. She was also a member of the US women’s national field hockey team for 14 years, five of which she served as team captain.
It also boasts of William Siri, a co-leader of the first American expedition to successfully climb Mount Everest. He also served as President of the Sierra Club for two years in the 1960s.
Other well known names, in the arts and letters are Mario Cernito, a filmmaker, writer and producer of horror and thriller flicks. Edward Longacre a historian and writer, and Merl Reagle, a nationally syndicated crossword puzzle constructor.
The borough has only bred one state politician, John L. White, who served in both the NJ General Senate and the General Assembly.
Less time spent on math and science class hours, and less access to resources that can aid youngsters in their studies seem to be a few of the major complaints which concern parents of children in the Henry Hudson Tri-District.
But now it appears if these parents are truly concerned about their children’s education, and teachers are truly frustrated and going into their classrooms with less esteem and even lower morale, then the educators and parents appear to have a lot more to worry about now.
The Boards
The boards of education have already proven they do not take action or give any sign they even look into legitimate complaints of a single parent. One BOE Member has gone on to say that by Beams paying taxes in Oceanport, she has no conflict in the Regionalization question. No referral to the full board, investigation, or public comment. So it would seem the parents, as well as disgruntled and unhappy faculty members, have to rise up in force and show a united front in demanding that their complaints be at least heard and investigated before further action is taken renewing, extending, or adding more years to a new contract with Superintendent Dr. Tara Beams, who heads up the Henry Hudson Tri-District.
Venividiscripto is devoting considerable space to this matter because of the lack of Board concern and the frustrations of teachers, employees and parents alike. Many have contacted me, and identified themselves with the assurance Venividiscripto will not reveal their names. They are all saying Dr. Beams as superintendent of the Tri-District, is a far cry from the years before she took on the leadership two years ago. And it by no means has been a change for the better.
STEAM vs. STEM
Parents liked the longer math classes, as well as all the attention made to science education. Both have been shortened, they say, since Dr. Beams took control of the curriculum and STEAM became the accent.
STEAM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, has replaced STEM, the program in place under the prior superintendent. STEAM seems to be a great program with some benefits, parents say. However, including the “A” part, ARTS, has resulted in a reduction in emphasis and attention on the STE and M classes.
STEAM is an emerging field of theory, research, and practice incorporating Arts in the curriculum in math, science and technology, and has friends and enemies of the new program on both sides of the educational world.
Many educators praise it, seeing it as a real approach in engaging children as an inclusive and authentic approach to engage children in the science, technology and math sections of education. They believe STEAM offers significant promise through its focus on multiple ways of knowing new pathways to learning.
Others say it is ambiguous or potentially problematic. They said there are no clear-cut guidelines for educators to follow, many elementary teachers are not qualified to teach math or science and it requires no teacher certification. Nor are there are any national standards set.
Parents in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands seem to be struggling over that change, and teachers seem to be less enthusiastic about teaching in the local schools because of it, which includes their own inexperience in teaching some classes for which they do not feel prepared as adequately as they would like.
Regionalization
At the same time, Dr. Beams is devoting considerable time and energy to the regionalization question on whether Sea Bright, Highlands and Atlantic Highlands should become one PreK-12 school district. That matter will now be before the governing bodies of Atlantic Highlands and Highlands who are finally meeting with a mediator at the end of March to determine the costs, savings, and sharing of both so, the matter can hopefully be brought before the voters in November.
At the same time, the boards of education remain silent on regionalization, turning to Dr. Beams for answers, and telling a parent who has complaints against the superintendent’s actions … to take them up with the superintendent.
Parents have gotten no response from their boards of education, and teachers are fearful of making their complaints about their situation knows for fear of retaliation.
The Contract
Many are voicing their angst now that the Superintendent responsible for the unrest and unhappiness Tri-District is near the end of the second year of her three year contract.
Under that contract, and unbelievably, also under state law, if the boards of education do not plan to continue Dr.Tara Beams at the termination of the current contract, which, they say, ends June 30, 2024, they MUST notify her ONE FULL YEAR in advance! That means if the boards chooses not to continue Dr. Beams beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, they must let her know that no later than June 30 of this year, 2023.
One can only wonder how a person who knows she’s going to lose her $180,000-plus job in 12 months will spend those 12 months. It is difficult to believe she would spend her time in improving the school program. Even more difficult to imagine is that she would go above and beyond her contract simply to make life a bit better for the boards of education, the teachers, or the students.
IF rumors can be believed at all, the situation is even more dire. Not only does Dr. Beams want to continue, the school gossip mills are pumping…but she is soliciting for a five year contract, rather than another three years!
One can understand why any superintendent would love a five year contract in the Henry Hudson Tri-District. After all, the students are great, many of the teachers have been here for many years, indicating they are pleased with their profession here. The students are great, the surroundings beautiful, the morning view from the Henry Hudson grounds is a sensational way to start any day.
The Attrition
But there are those 33 persons who have either retired or resigned in the two years since Dr. Beams has been at the helm. Thirty-four, by the latest count, and that represents more than 20 percent of the entire staff. If one of every five persons is seeking out, either for a job someplace else or an early retirement, does it sound like happiness is abounding?
The Boards of Education have a difficult task ahead of them. They have to decide whether Dr. Beams is truly doing a magnificent job, is really so advanced above other superintendent hopefuls that her contract should be renewed, or whether the teachers and parents who say otherwise are correct. To come to this decision, I would hope board members talk to parents, even answer letters written to them, ask educators for exit interviews, and talk with teachers still on staff. Might also be nice if they could ask teachers who have left their reasons for it.
Time on her Hands
Dr. Beams has been spending a lot of time, and apparently an intense amount of energy and study on the question of regionalization, which just happens to coincide with her contract action date. Has all this time taken away from maintaining the excellence of the education program? If she has so much time to spend on the regionalization issue, an issue that should be up to the voters to decide, what has she done with all that time before it started? Or has she been researching the negative aspects of a three town regionalization since she first came aboard? And if that is so, how will she spend all that time in the future, once the question is settled.
It would seem to me the taxpayers have had a lot to say about their frustrations over the delays and changes in the regionalization plans. The boards of Education have remained silent, leaving Dr. Beams to be the spokesperson not only on the educational aspects, where indeed she should have say, but in the financial side of it, which is no part of either an educator’s nor a school board’s primary function. The school boards are in it for the education of our children, it is the municipal leadership who have to decide whether the taxpayers can afford the high cost of education and how best to provide the best at the most economic means.
One of Many
One letter sent to the entire Atlantic Highlands Board of Education and the leadership of the other two boards, told the elected board members that a person in a leadership position should have “ one of their biggest responsibilities to look at their staff and push them to do their best by utilizing their strengths and to create an environment of empathy and support for that to be done.”
The writer, a parent, continued “ Dr. Beams has not done this”. She said “ It’s easy to write off the teachers and administrators who have left as just people unhappy with change, or who don’t want to adapt to a more demanding environment.”
It might be easy, but at what concern? She asked the board members “ In doing that, you are dismissing valid concerns and you are not looking clearly at the whole situation.”
The parent explained that teachers and staff are unhappy as a whole. She explained “we are a very close knit community… we value time and energy teachers put into teaching and nurturing our children” and even said the staff goes “above and beyond.”
An Environment of Stress
And that’s what’s most troubling, she continued. “When someone comes in and creates an environment of stress, makes changes for the sake of change and sets unrealistic goals but doesn’t take responsibility for the implications of their decisions- it affects our community.” She urged the board to “just examine the changes that Dr. Beams has made in the district… address how any of these are positive for our schools.” Then she expressed the worry and concern of parents in Atlantic Highlands and Highlands about whether Henry Hudson is a good choice for high school for their child.“ She concluded the increase in turnover at Henry Hudson and the changes in education at the elementary school levels “are making parents feel that Henry Hudson is less desirable to attend now that Dr. Beams is superintendent.”
Her letter to the elected board officials ended with the pleas to look at “why Dr Beam’s contract was not renewed in Edison and why there is a strong feeling of so many residents that she should not continue to be the superintendent.”
And it was that letter that the Atlantic Highlands Board of Education failed to give any hope or comfort to the parent. The board advised the writer to take it up with Superintendent.
Want to voice your concerns?
The next meeting of the Highlands Board of Education is March 20
Followed by the next meeting of the Atlantic Highlands Board of Education is March 21
Finally, the next meeting of the Henry Hudson Board of Education is March 22
I have many friends, and I am so appreciative of that. The fact that I learn from each one of them is something else I truly appreciate. I do not see these friends as often as I would like, and therefore lose chances to not only enjoy that friendship on a personal basis but also to learn from it.
But now I have a new friend to add to my cherished list.. I’ll call her Cathy, and we came together under unusual circumstances. We met at a tragedy which transformed her life in many ways; I happened to be present for it and was able to offer some solace and help.
That was the basis for friendship, but it did not accelerate quickly. We still had to get to know each other better; we each had to accept each other’s erratic ways.
But we also learned we share a lot, both in happy events, and in tragedies; we found we could talk about things and come up with different ideas; we found we could differ on how solutions should be found. But through it all, we found we enjoyed evening chats a few nights a week when we could enjoy a glass of wine perhaps share it with someone else in the house, but think, with much laughter and happiness, we have solved the problems of the world. We did admit, however, that while we solved all the problems, we could not find anyone ready to listen to and follow our solutions. But we keep on trying.
My friend Cathy is Japanese by birth. Older than me by a few years, and lived in her native country during the War when we bombed her nation. She came to the United States a year after that terrible war ended. She settled in New York. Eventually married and had children. Moved to Jersey City, got divorced, and commuted to New York daily to pursue her career as a dress designer for one of the fashion houses. All while raising her two children with love and discipline.
So in one of our early talks I asked Cathy how she could move to the United States, to a country on which her country had waged war, to a country that dropped the bomb that wiped out so many of her people and changed their lives together.
Cathy, a nonagenarian, sat back, thought a minute with that bit of a smile I learned to recognize as a sign she is thinking deeply and reliving decades of memories. Cathy likes me asking her questions. She likes to think before she answers, and she has memories that flash in front of her before she responds. I have learned not to be surprised by her wisdom.
“Why did I come to the United States?” you ask? Calmly, she explains, “ Why not? You won the war and I wanted to continue my trade as a designer. This is where the opportunity was.”
But how could you come to a country that had killed your people? Whose people your country had killed, two nations who could not belong?
Cathy looked me in the eye, thought for a minute and said, “The people I worked with in New York? The people I meet in the street? They did not do anything to me. They should not carry any guilt . I do not carry any guilt. They did not do anything. And I did not do anything to them. Why cannot we just be friends, I wondered.
It was 80 years ago next week when the last two of the award winning Atlantic Highlands High School basketball team joined the other three members of the team on the battlefields during World War II.
George Janus and Abe Pleasant left the Atlantic Highlands Draft Board on March 2, 1943 for training and destinations unknown as soldiers.
Already serving on the battlefields were Bob “Spicket” Morse, then a Petty Officer Second Class serving with the Navy someplace in the Pacific; Army Tech Sgt.Lou Papa, who had already been serving a year somewhere in England, and Jim Posten, brother of another acclaimed Posten, Capt. John Herbert Posten, a veteran flyer. Jim was serving in the African campaign.
The five were the heroes of the 1937-38 basketball season when they went brought great honors to their high school by scoring an undefeated season in the Shore Conference, then going on to win the Central Jersey Championships. That made them finalists in the Group 2 Championship in Princeton and heroes in their home town..
The five had played basketball under the highly respected and successful Arnold Truex, who lived on Grand Avenue and at the time of this team’s departures in the military was then with the Leonardo Lions.
In announcing that all five basketball stars were now in active duty in various battlefields overseas, the Atlantic Highlands Journal said they were “looking to secure the same success in the ‘big contest’ that they did on the courts.
Fourteen 14 cadets from the Navy National Defense Cadet Corps of Middle Township High School made the long drive up from Cape May Court House to MAST yesterday to spend the day with MAST cadets.
A Navy National Defense Cadet Corps is similar to a Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps unit, with the same goals of instilling citizenship, patriotism, and a sense of personal responsibility and accomplishment. However NNDCC programs are funded 100 per cent by the individual schools (instructors’ salaries, uniforms, operational costs), whereas NJROTC units are funded primarily by the Navy.
The goal of the trip was to expose the Middle Township cadets, whose unit is currently comprised of only 25 cadets, to how a large unit such as MAST operates.
The visiting cadets were accompanied by Lt. Commander Susan Blood, a Coast Guard Academy graduate and former Coast Guard officer, who is the Senior Naval Science Instructor at Middle Township High School.
Activities
The day started with a brief about MAST’s NJROTC program — how the battalion of 265 cadets is split into companies and platoons, the responsibilities of the different departments within the battalion, and the goals and accomplishments of the MAST unit over the past year.
Following the brief given by MAST’s Battalion Commander c/CDR Tessa Campolattaro, second in command c/James Treshock, Command Master Chief c/MCPO Dylan Agnese, and other key players within MAST’s unit, each Middle Township cadet was paired with a MAST cadet and attended classes, along with every other MAST student. Lunchtime was spent at drill practice, perfecting close order drill movements and the intricacies of marching.
After classes ended for the school day, the visiting cadets extended their stay for the second drill practice of the day. That practice precedes MAST participation and to prepare the cadets for the Navy Nationals Drill, Academic, and Athletic competition in which MAST cadets are participating next month in Pensacola, Florida.
The visitors’ day at MAST ended with hugs and exchanges of contact information, as the MAST and Middle Township cadets promised to stay in touch.
Going Forward
“We are always excited to work with other units, because we know there’s no one way to run a unit, and we always learn from each other,” said Commander Tracie Smith-Yeoman, USN (retired), Senior Naval Science Instructor at MAST. “The Middle Township cadets were so friendly and respectful, and fit right in with our battalion. We’re looking forward to hosting them again in the warmer weather so they get a much better taste of our incredible campus and beautiful Fort Hancock.”
“MAST’s Naval Science Instructors are always looking for opportunities to support other units build their programs,” said MAST Principal Earl Moore. “From donating uniform items, to extending invitations to school events like our annual Naval Ball, the NSIs and the cadets they lead consider outreach and support through the Naval Science department part of a bigger, more school-wide mission of service… something MAST has a long history of,” the principal concluded.
A simple Question, but not a question I could get answered at an Atlantic Highlands Council meeting; Hey, I was not even allowed to ask it.
But I do have to wonder…..Why does the Atlantic Highlands Council and its attorney say it’s OK to ask a question, any question, any day, all day long at the borough office, but one cannot ask a question of the entire elected governing body at a public meeting?
That’s what was so evident at last night’s meeting, when several questions were asked and the response was: the public portion of the meeting is for the public to give opinions and make comments.
But not ask any questions.
That prompted the question…how can you make statements and give opinions if you don’t have all the facts to make statements and give opinions on?
That did not get answered either.
All that falderol prompted a question from another resident: if you cannot ask questions, when we ask them here about regionalization, why do you tell us to go ask the boards of education?
That question did not get answered either.
Yet we are invited to go to borough hall Monday through Friday when the offices are open to ask all we want.
Magic?
So what’s the magic of daylight questions? Do the answers change at night? Do the council members not know the answers? Maybe the answers change if you ask them in private in sunlight hours from answers if the same questions are asked in front of others in the dark of night?
It’s also amazing how busy so many professionals are. Regionalization of the schools has been an issue for about four years now on an active basis. Sea Bright, Highlands and Atlantic Highlands had a study done with financial figures included, called the Porzio report. Then the school district had another one done by Kean University, also with financial figures. The Porzio report was updated, but Atlantic Highlands bowed out of it.
Financial Consultant
Then a few months ago, Atlantic Highlands hired its own financial consultant. That’s the one who is going to be in the mediation between Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, their attorneys and a few others, but no school representatives. As it should be. The money issues are strictly taxpayer issues, not school issues. And the town should have kept the school superintendent out of it from the very beginning. But they did not. Now, apparently, with this mediation, neither the boards of education nor the superintendent will be involved. Money matters are definitely municipal matters since it’s ALL the taxpayers who end up paying the bill, whether they have kids in the schools or not.
A Vote?
So now, after all this time, the school boards are hoping to have the issue with their figures and ideas set up for a vote in September, if possible. Why they are so anxious to have the taxpayers foot the bill for a special election two months before the regular election has never been explained. But then, why bother explaining? It’s the taxpayers who ultimately pay the extra expense of a special election.
If the upcoming mediation works out, the election on whether we can be a district of schools educating kids from two or three towns will be decided in the regular November election, a win for the taxpayers. But there’s another glitch here.
Too Busy
The mediator, professionals and council members could not squeeze in a single date throughout half of February or most of March to have their mediation. They did manage to find time on the penultimate day of March to have a mediation. That’s March 30. Hurray for that, it’s long overdue and should have come up a lot sooner.
But here’s the kicker on that one as well. The attorney said last night she did not know whether it could all be accomplished in time for either a September or November vote. She just didn’t know.
It was downright scary to hear the attorney further explain what the mediation is going to be about when she said. “I don’t have the numbers.”
All this time? All this money? The concerns expressed by the taxpayers? All this talk about getting together and talking? And she doesn’t have the numbers?
What is going to be mediated?
Haven’t asked the hard questions yet. How much all of this has cost taxpayers? How much has been accomplished so far? What specific figures are being used to conduct the mediation.
At this point, shouldn’t those involved in the mediation have them?
In spite of a request from borough resident Mark Fisher to delay at least until the next meeting to allow for further consideration, the Borough Council unanimously declined to consider a more generous increase in LOSAP for emergency volunteers in the borough.
Fisher spoke during the public hearing preceding the adoption of Ordinance 03-2023 which amended the fire department length of service award program (LOSAP) to increase the maximum number of points that can be earned annually for department membership.
Fisher, a 40 year veteran of volunteer firefighting, asked that the ordinance be amended before final adoption to include a larger CPI than the approximate $100 currently in their agreement.
90K
To support his belief the amendment should be included in a new ordinance, he pointed out the borough pays approximately $90,000 a year for the JFK Hospital ambulance to come in to supplement the volunteers, with those employees receiving an automatic annual cost of living increase. Therefore, council should consider that volunteers should at least be considered a cost of living increase more than the $100 in the point system the ordinance would generate. Fisher said the point system itself appears reasonable and unobjectionable to him, but he strongly believes volunteers should be considered for higher compensation.
While no one objected to higher compensation for volunteers, Councilman Jon Crowley said it could be considered in the future but delaying this code until the next meeting is wrong because “the clock is ticking.” Councilman Brian Dougherty said the matter was brought to the volunteers and they were very happy with it.
Fisher pointed out additional benefits of investments and the fact that only 50 of the 90 LOSAP eligible volunteers got it last year and urged once again that further consideration be given before adoption.
Fisher’s pleas did not change any minds on the governing body, with Crowley making the motion to approve and Councilman Vito Colasurdo seconding the motion.
It is not only its magnificent location overlooking Sandy Hook Bay and the New York Skyline that draws new members to the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club. It’s a combination of that and many other reasons.
That’s the undisputed belief of Ray Hillers who is the membership chairman for the Club named to the post at the annual meeting of the Club last month.
The boatsman has been a member of the committee for the past seven years. He is also chair of the Yachting Committee, a position he has held for the last four years.
In taking over the chairmanship of the membership committee, Hillers also recognizes and praises the leaders that preceded him in the office, both Helen Marchetti and Susan Mikitas.
“There is no doubt location, location, location are the first three reasons why our new membership was so large this year,” the new chairman said. He pointed out that not only is the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club a most desirable place to relax, it is situated close enough to the center of town where there is a variety of shops and boutiques, excellent restaurants, and cultural, historical and recreational activities open to all.
But with a record number of new memberships during 2022, Hillers took a look at the many other offerings the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club includes with each membership.
“We always have new members every year,” Hillers said, “but with 31 new members this year, I was particularly interested in what drew them to the club in the first place and some of the reasons why these vibrant new members want to be a part of all of our activities.” The answer, he said, is it’s a combination of friendly people and a variety of recreational activities and people simply wanting to be together.
Hillers believes last year saw such a large increase in membership because so many people wanted the camaraderie of others with similar interests and hobbies after the isolation of the Covid pandemic.
Another reason members join the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club is because of the launch availability to get to a member’s sailboat if it’s moored in the Yacht Harbor. For both sail and motor boat owners, the club’s location on the second floor of the Shore Casino is a comfortable and convenient place to relax or have a meal while discussing boat handling and equipment issues.
Nor does anyone have to be a boat owner in order to join the club, Hillers explains. “There are non-boaters who share an interest in boating, water-borne activities and the many entertaining events this club has throughout the year.”
In fact, he added, the fact the club is open 12 months a year is a draw in itself, since most yacht clubs are only open seasonally.
While many members come at the recommendation of friends, anyone can seek out the website and submit an application for membership.
It is the responsibility of Chairman Hillers and his committee to contact applicants, set up an interview and introduce them to the Board of Governors for approval.
During the interview the applicant can learn all the benefits and responsibilities of membership to ensure a desire to be an active member.
Hillers said his goal for 2023 is to welcome another 12 new members and keep the membership number around what it is presently; an average of half a dozen memberships are lost each year through retirement, location change or other reasons.
To learn more about the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club, visit their website at www.ayhc.clubexpress.com or write Hillers at 6 Simon Lake Drive, P.O. Box 123, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
