Search
Home Blog Page 165

Highlands-Free Property and the Devil’s Lettuce

By
Muriel J. Smith
-
0
Highlands Land Use Board, Cannabis

A Cannabis retail  shop approval and the giving away of  “borough owned” waterfront land are both on the agenda for Thursday night’s meeting of the Highlands Land Use Board.

Residents interested in the future of their borough should take note of what’s going on and voice their opinions before actions are taken and approvals granted rather than question, complain or wonder how it happened later.

The Land Use Board does not enable all residents to participate in meetings at the Community Center since they limit attendance to those who can appear at the Community Center, rather than offering the meetings on ZOOM so even the handicapped have input at meetings.

Giving Away Property

The borough property giveaway is an application submitted by the borough to its land use board for  subdivision creating one large and three smaller lots out of an approximate piece of waterfront property near Matthew .and Willow St. Purpose of the giveaway is to enable the borough to give one of the smaller newly created lots to the property owner the borough has indicated has been encroaching on the borough land for many years as well as to create building lots the borough may intend to sell in the future.

Tomorrow’s meeting starts at 7 p.m. with the reorganization of the Land Use Board. Members are Mayor Carolyn Broullon, Police Chief Robert Burton and Council president Jo-Anne Olszewski as municipal government members, Robert Knox, Bruce Kutosh, Laurie La Russa and Ann Marie Tierney as regular members, and alternates Helen Chang, Dean Cramer, Dennis Ziemba and Ann Peterson as alternates.

Attorneys Ronald Cucchiara and Dustin Glass of the Weiner Law Group will be named attorneys for the Board.

The Devil’s Lettuce

The application from Bridge City Collective Highlands LLC for a minor site plan and conditional use approval is on the agenda.  The company is seeking to open its business at 132 Bay Ave, the two story building with apartments above on the corner of Cornall St. and Bay Avenue. The building is owned by 132 Bay Aves. LLC, with Valerie Montecalvo signing the application approval as owner of the building. Ms Montecalvo also owns at least three other properties within 200 feet of the proposed cannabis shop.

Bridge City Collection Highlands, whose address is Pittsfield, Massachusetts, but with a Highlands zip code on the application, is represented by attorney Brian Tipton. The application includes the conditional retail business approval for the 132 Bay Avenue address granted by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission which expires March 31.

While the application being heard at this meeting is for minor site plan approval and the conditional use, further approvals are needed before the business can open, including a variance from the number of parking places needed. Currently, with two apartments and a business, seven spaces are needed while three are in existence.

The application was one of two for conditional cannabis retail businesses originally heard at the Dec. 20 meeting of the Board. The second license, The Honorable Plant, whose principals are all women owning the applicant for Bay Avenue Ventures, are seeking to have their store at 123 Bay Avenue, the former Food Basket market which also has apartments above. That application is not up for approval at tomorrow’s meeting.  That building is currently owned by  Michael Salerno.

Related Story

Going to Pot

Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce

By
Muriel J. Smith
-
0
Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce Spinnaker Awards

Residents and businesses who live and do businesses  and have contributed so heavily towards making or continuing Eastern Monmouth County as the perfect  to live and do business will be honored by the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce (EMACC) at its 31st annual Spinnaker Awards dinner on Wednesday, March 22, at the Park Loft, Fort Monmouth.

Honorees

Honorees in various categories of service have been announced by the EMACC and include Claire Knopf for the Volunteer of the Year citation, for her dedication in providing exemplary service to the community. The Lakehouse Music Academy of Red Bank for receive the Arts & Culture Award recognizing a cultivation and appreciation of Arts in the community and the Jersey Shore Financial Advisors will be honored with the Community Service Award recognizing the firm’s fewer than 50 employees all of whom are dedicated to the good of the Eastern Monmouth community through leadership and spirit in support of the quality of life.

New Jersey State Senator Vin Gopal will be honored with the Public Service Award for his source of pride in the citizens he serves and his consistency and high principles in keeping with what the Chamber seeks to  see in all in public leadership positions.

  Good Neighbor

New Jersey American Water Company will receive the Corporate Good Neighbor commendation for the business with 50 or more employees whose culture motivates employees to be personally involved as good Samaritans to people in need.

The Tigger Stavola Foundation has been selected as the Non-Profit organization of the Year for its high quality and consistent programming and services to the community.

Liberty Insurance Services will be honored for serving Monmouth County for more than 50 years by finding the key to success in being a solid and successful business for more than half a century.

Courtney Alessi will receive the organization’s Next Generation Leader award for her involvement in starting and growing a professional career.

For further information on the Spinnaker Awards event or more information on the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce, call the Chamber at 732-741-0055 or visit www.emacc.org.

New Commodore at AHYC

By
Muriel J. Smith
-
0
Commodore Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS –

Lou Melillo was sworn in as Commodore of the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club at the traditional ceremonies recognizing the change of the watch from Commodore Frank Allsman.  This is the second time Melillo has served in the highest office of the Club, having been Commodore in  2004

In acknowledging he was standing relieved of his duties, Allsman addressed club members and their guests, thanking them for a successful and productive year, and promising his continued support to the incoming officer.

New Officers

Melillo swore in the rest of the officers for the year, as well as three governors for the Club. He also presented Allsman with a commemorative gift, acknowledging his service and contributions to the club throughout the past year. The incoming commodore as well as Sue Mikaitis, who introduced the Change of Watch ceremonies, praised Allsman for leading the club through the second of two challenging years due to the covid pandemic and noted his leadership together with the officers and committees kept the spirit of the club alive and well, and pointed out that “interest in our club has never been stronger.”

The club membership roles this year total 1001, reflecting on the 70 years since the Yacht Club was first organized.

With many of the past commodores in attendance at the change of watch, Ed Newins, who was the oldest serving commodore present, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Newins also joined all members and guests in a moment of silence for his wife, Georgette, and the five other club members who died during the past year. These include Jeanne Bergeron, Mary Ellen Staub, Greg Dalton, Len Forys and Maureen Pitman as well as bookkeeper Eileen Brennan.

Joe Patsco took the oath of office as vice commodore, Jack Flannery as Rear Commodore, Elaine Hayden continued as secretary and Helen Parker as corresponding secretary. Past Commodore Susan Hillers took the oath as treasurer.

New Governors

In swearing in new Governors Jennifer Barrett, Bruce Cohn and Stephen Mackay, Melillo also introduced continuing Governors Sue Mikaitis, Barbara Nevius and Chuck Parker. He thanked outgoing Governors who have served on the board for two years, Karen Harris, Kevin O’Brien and Bob Williams.

New Committee Members

The new Commodore acknowledged members of  each of the club’s standing committees. These include past commodores Christopher Stone and Steve Graziano along with members Karen Harris, Kevin O’Brien and Amy Kaskiw on the nominating committee,  Karen Dalton on the Committee of Members, Corinna Thuss on entertainment and Past Commodore Jack Glass on the finance committee.  Stone also serves on the House committee.

Launch committee members are Donna Syers and Tom Curtis and long term planning committee is John Lawler.

Other committees include Ray Hillers on membership, George Harrington on Protest, Karen Harris, Jeremy Herman and Art Olsen on race and Brian Gillen and Mike Fortier on the small boat committee.

Angus Rennie is the committee person for technology, IT and public relations and Bruce Cohn is on the Yachting committee.

Ad-Hoc committees include the AHSEP liaisons Past Commodore Stone and Wayne Tidswell and the CBL committee is Bill Robertson.  Continuing education is Chuck Parker,  Insurance is John Flatley, Race education is Bob Behringer, Ships Store is Susan O’Connor, Bob Williams is special Olympics, Elaine Hayden is Sunshine, and Past Commodore Elaine Haher is J-24 Captain  with Kevin O’Brien serving as liaison with the Harbor.

The new Commodore also acknowledge fleet officers, Fleet Captain John DeFillippo,  Fleet Chaplains Peter and Carol Andrews, Fleet Medical Officers Kathy Patsco and Mike Ferguson and club historian Kristen Gnatt Applin.

6 Dead Whales – Clean Ocean Action

By
Muriel J. Smith
-
0
Clean Ocean Action 6 Dead Whales
Photo by NJ.Com

Clean Ocean Action is leading  several ocean advocacy groups in calling on President Biden to do something about the  unprecedented six endangered dead whales that washed up on beaches in the New Jersey/New York region in 33 days

Letter to Biden

In a letter calling for immediate steps to address the environmentally harmful trend, the letter is demanding  an immediate and fully transparent investigation into the whale deaths by federal agencies mandated by law to protect marine mammals.  Especially those that are an endangered species.  A hard stop on all existing offshore wind industry geotechnical and development activities and a  halt to any new, planned, or pending offshore wind development permitting activities, including new solicitations.

Clean Ocean Action is also asking that the investigation they demand be undertaken with independent oversight by qualified, independent scientists to ensure rigorous scientific scrutiny and peer review.

Sounding the Alarm

“The wave of dead whales is the ocean sounding the alarm,” said Cindy Zipf, executive director of Clean Ocean Action, “and we must heed the warning.”

“These tragic multiple deaths of mostly young, endangered whales are of no apparent cause. However, the only new activity in the ocean is the unprecedented concurrent industrial activity by over 11 companies in the region’s ocean, which allows the harassment and harm of tens of thousands of marine mammals.  Moreover, federal and state agencies have been recklessly fast-tracking offshore wind development projects. These three coinciding factors raise suspicions, and a responsible and reasonable response is the action plan for which we are calling,” Zipf added.

 Review of Permits

Clean Ocean Action reviewed the federally issued and pending requests by companies allowed to harass and harm marine mammals just for offshore wind energy development activities off the New York and New Jersey coast. Companies have requested permission to harm tens of thousands of marine mammals, including threatened, endangered, and otherwise protected species through requests for Incidental Take Authorizations (ITAs) and Incidental Take Regulations (ITR) by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). According to the non-profit organization founded by Zipf, there are 11 active, 5 current, and 18 previously issued and expired IHA and ITR authorizations in the ocean off the NY/NJ coast.

That means, she said, “there are more than 157,328 marine mammals  offshore wind companies have been given the green light to harm, harass, injure and kill for current and pending offshore wind projects. “

Area of Concern

Until the investigation is complete, the groups are also calling for a halt to all ongoing offshore wind survey boat and pre-construction and construction activities within the ocean realm between Cape May,  and Montauk, NY, and demanding a full review of all offshore wind projects’ survey boat data by state and federal agencies and legislators in addition to review by an independent third-party panel of experts.

 Finding Dead Whales

The groups’ demands come after a 30-foot humpback whale washed ashore on Atlantic City’s Georgia Avenue beach early Saturday morning, the second in two weeks in Atlantic City and the third in the last month in the same area. Another young humpback whale washed up on Atlantic City’s Chelsea Ave. beach on December 23, and a third 30-foot humpback was found on Strathmere beach in early December.

An infant sperm whale, 12-feet long, was found dead on the beach in Keansburg Dec. 5th; an adult 31 foot long humpback female was found in n Amagansett, NY, on Dec 6th; and a 30-foot long sperm whale was found on New York’s Rockaway Beach on Dec 12th. In addition, a dead dolphin, possibly short-beaked, washed ashore last week on Sandy Hook’s s Plum Island beach.

  Causation?

Offshore wind developers have been employing multiple geotechnical survey vessels off the coast while awaiting permit approvals for large-scale offshore wind power plants. When completed, hundreds of 1,000-foot-tall wind turbine generators will be built in the ocean along with associated substations and thousands of miles of undersea cables.

The geotechnical survey boats use sea-floor characterization through high-level focused sound pulses in large areas of the ocean floor. Many whales hear and communicate in those frequencies and use of sonar at higher levels has been known to have harmful impacts on whales, deafening them which can lead to starvation and death.

 Reporting

Offshore wind energy developers are required to provide regular reports to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) detailing whale protection methods and interactions. Public reports are required in NJDEP and NJBPU orders; however,  it is unclear whether any of this information or data has been made public or available by any other means.

 How to Help

Clean Ocean Action invites organizations to sign-onto the letter to President Biden and will send the President a rolling list of supporters.  Zipf said the group will continue to take  actions at the local, state, and federal levels to continue the call for a comprehensive, scientific, independent, peer-reviewed pilot study to assess the true costs and benefits and environmental consequences of offshore wind before massive industrialization occurs.

For further information or to join the action, contact Kari Martin, Advocacy Campaign Manager for Clean Ocean Action, 49 Avenel Boulevard, Long Branch, NJ 07740 or call

732.872.0111 , or visit www.CleanOceanAction.org or citizens@cleanoceanaction.org

 

Dough

By
Muriel J. Smith
-
0
Dough

FREEHOLD – The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County will present the film, Dough  Sunday, January 22 , at 2 PM.  At the Museum at the Mounts Corner Shopping Center, 310 Mounts Corner Drive.

Admission is $10. For viewing  at home, interested persons can sign up for a Vimeo link to view at any time within a 72-hour window.

Jonathan Pryce (Pirates of the Caribbean, Game of Thrones) and Pauline Collins (Shirley Valentine) star in the comedy that shows you  highlights on the theory you don’t have to be baked to make some Dough!

Curmudgeonly widower Nat Dayan , played by Pryce clings to his way of life as a Kosher bakery shop owner in London’s East End. Understaffed, Nat reluctantly enlists the help of teenager Ayyash (Jerome Holder), who has a secret side gig selling marijuana to help his immigrant mother make ends meet.

Because Ayyash accidentally drops his stash into the mixing dough, the challah starts flying off the shelves and an unlikely friendship forms between the old Jewish baker and his young Muslim apprentice. Undoubtedly, Dough is a warmhearted and humorous story about overcoming prejudice and finding redemption in unexpected places.

Additionally, seating is limited for the presentation at the museum. But the  Vimeo program is at  www.jhmomc.org, or by calling 732-252-6990.

Finally, funding has been made possible in part by a general operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of the Department of State, through grant funds administered by the Monmouth County Historical Commission.

The Museum is on the second floor of the historic Levi Solomon Barn. The Museum is handicapped and assistive-listening accessible. Masks and vaccinations are required.

New Series … The Congressional Medal of Honor

By
Muriel J. Smith
-
2
The Congressional Medal of Honor

This is a column  about the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for military valor. In a time when we do not seem to appreciate our military as we should, in an era when we do not give the respect and appreciation to military members who, through the draft in earlier times, or through volunteerism always, put their lives on the line to protect the integrity, values and pride we as Americans should have in our nation and all who protect it, I offer this column as my own small part in promoting more respect for our active military and veterans.

 Beginning

Beginning with the history of the Medal of Honor, the column will include stories about each of  the recipients from New Jersey, with an accent on those heroes from Monmouth County. There will be stories on brothers, fathers and sons, and the one woman who have received the Medal, stories about Medals that were given, then taken back, and stories about some of the actions in which these brave men showed their bravery, their courage, and their integrity.

Love Affair

These are the stories about a love affair of men of stature with the United States of America. May they inspire you to look a bit differently and with a bit more pride in any military member you see, perhaps to shake his hand, buy him a cup of coffee, or simply say thanks for doing such a great job.

Not ever military member can be the recipient of the nation’s highest military award. There have been little more than 3500 receiving the honor since it was first awarded in 1861. But every military member nonetheless runs the risk of being in the position when his mettle could be tested to see if he could be so honored.

Senator James W. Grimes

It was Senator James W. Grimes who got and acted on  the idea first. The Iowan Senator introduced a bill authorizing the production and distribution of “medals of honor” to be presented to seamen and Marines who “distinguish themselves by gallantry in action and other seaman-like qualities.

A native of New Hampshire, Grimes attended Dartmouth College, studied law and moved West, settling in the Black Hawk Purchase land that was part of the Wisconsin Territory and later became the state of Iowa. He then served as the new state’s third governor before going on to the Senate as a Republican and serving for ten years. He resigned the office in 1869 because of ill health and died three years later.

But as a Senator, he served on the Committee on Naval Affairs and was a member of the peace convention put together to try and prevent the Civil War. Recognizing the bravery of the Naval and Marine forces fighting the war his efforts failed to avoid, led him to introduce the bill to honor them.

The Navy

The Navy Medal of Honor was the beginning. Congress created it in December 1861, with President Abraham Lincoln signing Grimes’ legislation into law. The Purple Heart, which had been created by General George Washington to honor bravery during the Revolution  had rather fallen along the wayside in the years since the war, and faced with a civil war, Congress realized its fighting forces on land and sea should be rightfully honored.

  The Army

The Navy Medal of Honor, the first Medal, was followed seven months later by the Army’s Medal of Honor. That was signed into law after Senator Henry Wilson, another New Hampshire native and Republican who later became vice-president under President US Grant,  introduced the Congressional legislation.

  The Air Force

The Air  Force was not created as a separate military unit until 1947, with honorees serving in the Army Air Corps prior to the establishment of the Air Force. But in 1965, with the Navy and the Army both having their own designs on the Medals of Honor, the Air Force also introduced its own design.

Enlisted First

At first,  both Army and Navy Medals of Honor were only to be presented to enlisted soldiers and seamen. Two years later, the Army Medal was also made  eligible to officers;  but the Navy waiting another 52 years before authorizing officers to also be recognized.

Firsts

It was March 25, 1863, when the first Army Medals of Honor were presented and these went to Andrew’s Raiders, Union soldiers on a spy mission in Georgia .

The first Navy Medal of Honor was presented in May of the same year to Robert Williams, honored for his distinguished action aboard the USS Bendon during the Yazoo River Expedition.

The first Marine to receive the honor was John F. Mackie serving aboard the USS Galena, presented in July 1863.

The first recipient as a member of the  Air Force was Major Louis Sebille who joined the Army Air Corps as a pilot, serving in WWII then returning to civilian life. He returned two years later when the Air Force was formally established and was commanding officer of a fighter-Bomber group.  He received the nation’s highest honor for his last mission in 1950 in defense of South Korea.

Army Air Corps/Army Air Forces. US. Air Force members recognized for actions prior to  July 1948 are listed as Army members; after then, they are listed as Air Force members.

Presented by the President

After President Theodore Roosevelt took office, he issued an Executive Order requiring that the Medal of Honor always be presented by the President of the  United States, or a designated representative, in a formal ceremony.

In 1916, an Army and Navy Medal of Honor Roll was created and recipients were given a special pension in addition to their Medal.

Between 1916 and 1917, five Army generals reviewed all the Army Medals of Honor that had been awarded, and determined that  911 recipients  did not deserve the honor. They rescinded their awards.

Other Valor Awards

The following year, 1918, during World War I,  the US Military codified other valor awards, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal and the Silver Star, with the Congressional Medal remaining the pinnacle.

Regardless of changes, the Medal of Honor remains the highest award for military valor, and its recipients are entitled to several honoraria because of their value and recognition. But the values remain…together with a deep love of country and the strong desire to always do the right and necessary thing at the right and necessary time.

Watch for the Nest Article in this series:  The Selection Process and the Honors

Stories about our Veterans

81 Years Ago

11 Ways

Perspective

Heroes

Tommy Ptak

CMOH

Marine Christmas

Bud Thorne CMOH Recipient

Age Discrimination or Sex Discrimination

By
Muriel J. Smith
-
1
Monmouth County Faux Pas - Lillian Burry & the Older Crowd

As if the Monmouth County Commissioner majority didn’t do enough injury to Commissioner Lillian Burry by axing her as liaison from the committees she has worked so hard to be successful, they committed what appears to be another huge faux pas in the process.

By taking Commissioner Burry off as the  Library Commission’s connection with the county board, that board, absent Ms. Burry’s vote of course, has managed to wipe out more than a century, perhaps a century and a quarter, of experience with the Monmouth County Library.

This Commissioner has been the voice between the library and the county board for 15 years or so. She attended the meetings, asked questions, made suggestions, vetoed what she did not think would be good for the library and its patrons, and worked hard for the ideas and innovations that were the right thing.   She was always there. Always with ideas.

But so was Renee Schwartz, who was the head of the Library Commission for 50 years.  She literally wrote a good amount of its successful history, she headed the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the opening of Eastern Branch, she was there for the construction of the Manalapan headquarters as well as the beginnings of the re-construction and improvements at headquarters  when it started a couple of years ago.

She got wiped out three years ago. Simply not re-appointed. No reason, just no reappointment.

Then there was Nancy Grbelja, former Mayor of Millstone, who was a Commissioner for years and a chairman years after Renee was ousted. She got wiped out two years ago.

There was Don Burden, another former mayor, he in Shrewsbury, former History Commissioner member as well.  He went the way of Nancy, Renee and Lillian. Only he was double barreled…got wiped out of both commissions.

There was also Grace Abramov, another charmer with terrific ideas, lots of energy, eager to work on any project present and generous with her knowledge and time for library meetings, consultations or anything ask of her. Whoops, she was not reappointed either with no reason given. Heck, not even the courtesy of a phone call to let her know she would not be reappointed in spite of her willingness to continue.

Then there was I, who was not a commissioner. I was a paid contractor with 60 years of experience writing news. The Commissioners applauded me many times on the public relations I did for the library. Each year for four years, they sent me the contract to sign to renew for another year.  Sometimes even with a raise I never sought or asked for. I signed each contract and sent each back, happy they had requested it from me because they liked what I was doing..
Then there was last year.  The County  sent me the contract as usual. Then I never heard another  official word. I did get an e-mail from an employee saying I shouldn’t go to any more meetings because I wouldn’t be paid. Still haven’t heard any more. I asked the Library Commission about it. They didn’t know either. They would find out. Haven’t heard back from them either

So there you have it. Add up all those years of experience, and it’s well over 100 years, with hundreds, make that thousands of hours donated to make the library the outstanding facility it is.

OK, what do we all have in common? Well, of the six of us, five of us are women. None of us has ever heard a word of criticism or correction for what we did, paid or volunteer. But I suppose  what’s worse is, all six of us, even the one male, are  all 65 years of age. Some of us are over 70 or 75. And some over 80. Nary a word of criticism, just being wiped out of volunteer or paid positions, no reason given.

The only thing we have in common is age.

New Year’s Eve at the Shore Casino

By
Muriel J. Smith
-
0
New Year's Eve at the Shore Casino
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS –

“The people wanted to let their hair down New Year’s Eve and they did,” said Jay Strebb, manager of the Shore Casino, in explaining the success and popularity of the dressed down New Year’s Eve celebration at the famed facility in the Yacht Harbor known for elegant dinners and tuxedo clad waiters..

“All those months of Covid, staying in, being masked, and not dressing up have resulted in people dimply not wanting to get dressed up all the time,” Strebb continued. “We just wanted to accommodate what they asked for.”

  New Year’s Eve gala

Theme of the New Year’s Eve gala at the Shore Casino was country, with the  Big Hix on stage all night for an evening of dancing to country rock music and a wait staff dressed in flannel shirts, jeans, and cowboy boots and hats. Guests came in more casual dress than the usual long gowns and tuxedos for big night affairs, and dinner was buffet style and as plentiful as ever.

The Casino ran this year’s celebration in conjunction with Everette Moore,  captain of the Teal head boat docked at the Harbor, with a host of family members joining  with the professional wait staff to ensure every table had an iced bottle of champagne for the midnight toast as well as buffet filled in typical Casino overflow style throughout the night.

  Charcuterie boat

A unique and eye catching Charcuterie boat added to the festivities when Moore’s brother Richie, discovered a sailboat for sale he then re-designed to turn it into a serving table. The sail was emblazoned with a huge 2023 to celebrate the evening, and the boat’s stern boldly announced it was the SS Shore Casino. The charcuterie included a variety of cheeses from several countries, a variety of meats surrounded by other foods that complement the pair, as well as fruits, nuts, crackers, dips and breads.

The buffet tables in addition to the Charcuterie board included a champagne station complete with balloons simulating the bubbly beverage, a salad bar and pasta station, together with the Shore Casino’s popular Dessert and Coffee table.

“Blending the family staff with our professionals was also a unique addition to a great evening,” Strebb continued. “We had close to 200 people for the event from all over the Bayshore area and beyond and the $125 per person price which included everything from that charcuterie to champagne and dessert made it possible for people set back because of Covid to get out and have a wonderful time.”

St. Patrick’s Celebration

Strebb is already taking reservations for the next big event, the Shore Casino’s annual St. Patrick’s Celebration. Casino owner Kathleen Strebb Sweeney assures the public “it will be the kind of event we Irish are known to offer for such a great holiday.” The native born owner said she is looking forward to the Irish step dances, the music, the foods and the spirit of Ireland everyone exhibits during this annual event.

The celebration at the Shore Casino will be Saturday, March 18 from 7 to 11 and will feature the Casino’s Irish Buffet. Reservations and further information is available by calling the Casino at 732-291-4300

 

Other Stories on the Shore Casino

Saint Patricks

Easter

Brunch

Women, Age or Religion & the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners

By
Muriel J. Smith
-
0
Women, Age or Religion & the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners

Roughly three years ago  I wrote that it certainly appears the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders, which is what the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners were called then, has a few problems with equality. Especially when it comes to women, age and religion.

This year, actions at the reorganization meeting and gossip about  private conversations convince me not only was I correct three years ago but it’s gotten even worse this year.

Lillian G. Burry

Consider what’s happening to County Commissioner Lillian Burry.

The lady who has been a former official in not one but two towns, a die hard American who doesn’t let anyone insult Thomas Jefferson let anyone any man or woman who has served in our military, the commissioner who attends just about every single event at MAST because she is so proud of the NJROTC cadets over there, and so many other patriotic and veterans causes, isn’t even on the Commission’s Veterans Committee this year.

Nor is she on the vocational schools, which includes MAST.

This is the same lady who worked so hard for the Veterans housing in Tinton Falls.

The same lady who is on the Fort Monmouth Committee

The same lady who’s on the Fort Hancock committee.

Nope. Not good enough for the county commissioner’s Veterans Committee. Commissioner Sue Kiley was the better choice, she and all the male members of the commission said.

Nor is Ms. Burry on the Library Commission the woman who just about everyone says keeps it together, keeps it active, and keeps it serving every resident when it comes to literary and educational matters as well as innovative ways to enjoy the library.  What more is or has happened with women and age at the County Library is yet another story. Stay tuned.

 Age?

But back to Ms. Burry and sex and age discrimination. Is it because she is getting older? I heard a commissioner noted she’s got a birthday coming up this month.  She does,  January 15.  But is that a topic of conversation? Send her a  card of congratulations, that would be nicer.

 Gender?

Is it because she is a woman? Well, when you look at the other, older women who have been booted off committees and things recently, it gives you pause.

Take me, for instance. I’ve served on the Monmouth County Historic Commission twice for several years each time. Once when I was a Democrat and GOP Director Harry Larrison appointed me, not because of my politics for sure, simply because he knew my love for history and experience with historical societies and other historic  organizations. And Harry was a Director who thought of the County first and foremost, long before he thought politics.

Then I’ve been serving now under a different appointment and commission, with the director of the county commission voting for me a few years back.  But I was younger then, I suppose.

Surprise

Because yesterday, to no surprise,  I was not reappointed, in spite of my request to continue when my term expired this year. Was is interesting is that I was not replaced either. Which makes me wonder whether that is because they couldn’t find a replacement willing to take it on, or because they would rather wait to see my reaction, then say it was a mistake, an error on their part, their apologies.  And I will be named some time in the future. The three men whose terms were also up were all re-appointed. Just  me, the one older woman didn’t get named yesterday.

Driving Force

Like her or not, but judging from voting records just about everyone likes her, Lillian Burry has been, is, and will continue to be, a driving force, a force to be reckoned with.  Just about every time she runs, she is the high vote getter. When local elections are held with state or national elections, she even tops the winning candidates in the higher and larger districts among Monmouth County voters.

She is present for every single event to which she gets invited. She heads up the Colts Neck Historical Commission and encourages everyone to join the library, going so far as to even introduce new authors to the library, reading stories to youngsters, highlighting the unique programs in the county library system…programs, incidentally, which have come about with her support, enthusiasm and assistance.

Library Commission

But she’s been booted off the Library Commission as liaison with the County Commissioners.

If it’s because she’s old or female, doesn’t the fact she works so hard and has so much energy to finish the job count for anything?  Doesn’t it count that under her mentorship, our wonderful county library system has gotten bigger, better and kept up with modern times and technology?

A wonderful genial Library Commission member, not so far different from Lillian in age, but different in sex, wrote a letter saying he did not want to be re-appointed this year, preferring to devote more time to his family and personal pursuits. Justifiable reasons for a charming gentleman who over the years has given so much of his time and talent to his home town and Monmouth County alike. He said he did not want to be re-appointed. Yet this man, in spite of that, was approved for yet another term. Because he’s a man and Lillian is a woman? Not sure.

But all of these insulting actions against Commissioner Burry lead me to believe my questions and thoughts of three years ago seem to be even more accurate in 2023. Even with another woman on the county commissioners besides Lillian. Younger, I suppose, but does it make her shiver to think what might come in the future for herself?

Attorneys Costing US Millions

By
Muriel J. Smith
-
0
Attorneys Costing US Millions
I Wonder

It makes me wonder how we got to be such a litigious society.  Is it because we just like suing each other.? Or is it because municipalities, school boards, and Monmouth County  commissioners feel a need to hire so many attorneys and then want to be sure they have work for them to do? After all, they all set aside millions of dollars in taxes in their annual budgets  assuring they have enough money to pay all the bills and services they anticipate happening in the course of the year. Especially for attorneys.

 Question #1

My first question to the Monmouth Commissioners is:  If you really think you need the services of so many attorneys?  You  must, because you all voted for them.

Question #2

So my next question is: If you expect so much action and so many lawsuits, wouldn’t it make more sense, if you really wanted to help the taxpayer, to find out what they’re doing wrong that requires so much legal action , then correct that? Wouldn’t that  be cheaper and better for the Monmouth County resident struggling to pay his taxes every day?

 Atlantic Highlands

I thought it was horrific that little Atlantic Highlands, one of 53 municipalities in Monmouth County, feels the need to hire more than a dozen attorneys that it did at its reorganization meeting Sunday. And that isn’t even all they have on the payroll all together.

Highlands

Highlands, by comparison, hired seven attorneys. To people like me, who can remember when every borough had one single attorney or law firm that pretty well handled anything that came up before the governing body, it seems an overwhelming and tragic payoff with tax dollars to professionals who have contributed heavily to campaigns, private businesses or special causes.

Three Kings

But I’ll set aside both of those towns for the minute in order to address the Monmouth County expenditures. Their reorganization was Thursday, Jan. 6. Normally, that’s the day Christians honor the fact that Three Kings brought gifts of gold and more to a new born Baby. This year, it was Monmouth County who gave away the gifts of gold. But they are giving it to attorneys.

52 Attorneys

How about the county, in a single day, and not counting some others already on the payroll, hiring 52 attorneys????  Fifty-two. One short of the number of municipalities.

But none of those 52 does work for any of the 53 municipalities on the money they get from the County. No, Sir. They are all separate contracts. Several of the legal firms  get money from both municipalities, school boards, AND the county. But they’re all separate paychecks from different towns, schools boards or departments of the County they represent.. Heck, several of the ones hired by the County even get separate paychecks for different things they’re doing for different departments of the County.

In fact, the only thing all these millions of dollars for legal fees have in common is that every one of them is paid for by the taxpayers of Monmouth County.

If taxpayers would ever took a look at all the money paid for  attorneys at all levels of government and education, they’d have a better understanding why their taxes are so high and getting higher.

Look at Monmouth County Commissioners approving attorneys yesterday.

They Really Did

Indeed, they really did hire 52 attorneys. That’s in addition to County Counsel Michael Fitzgerald who’s already on the payroll. And it was Mr. Fitzgerald who reviewed all the applications for all the other 52 attorneys hired yesterday. Reviewed them and recommended them.

Isn’t it nice to be a friend of Mr. Fitzgerald.

This is not to say each and every one of these attorneys is not important and essential. No indeed.

They’re all specialists. You can’t for instance, hire a specialist in labor litigation to handle finances, as they did in Atlantic Highlands. But that’s another story.

Instead, you have to hire specialists in each field.

They’re All Specialists

For instance, apparently the seven attorneys named yesterday to handle workman’s compensation cases for a total of $250,000, aren’t sufficiently savvy in say, Civil Commitment litigation. The Commissioners hired another three for that, at a cost of $60,000. But strangely, one of the three hired for that field is also the one for Workman’s Compensation. But it’s a separate paycheck.

Then there’s one attorney hired, at $30,000, for Bail forfeiture. Don’t know whether that’s to be sure money gets forfeited by criminals or whether it’s to represent for the county if a suspected criminal doesn’t think it should be forfeited and challenges it.  Don’t know what the County does with the money the criminal is forced to forfeit either.

Back to the list of 52 paid lawyer line items. Besides the workman’s comp and bail forfeiture attorneys, there are four bond counsels for another $150,000, the three aforementioned for civil commitment, for $60,000, another four for subrogation legal services for $50,000, six more for Solid Waste, renewable energy and the environment for another $200,000, and three for energy, for another $150,000.

I’m not an attorney, nor am I an environmentalist or scientist, so I don’t know the difference between energy and renewable energy and why it takes two different line items, with at least one of the same three attorneys listed in both line items, and more money.

Again, just as an example, several of the same law firms got several of the appointments in different areas. That firm that got the workman’s comp and civil commitment also is apparently that expert in energy and renewable energy

SO! If you’re still with me, all those attorneys and firms in all those areas add up to $1.440 million of your tax dollars for 2023 for Monmouth County business.

   23 More Attorneys

Think that’s horrifying? Before approving all the resolutions for each of these jobs, again with the review and recommendation of Chief Attorney Fitzgerald, whose salary is NOT included here, there was another resolution to approve attorneys for “General and special county commissioner “ legal services.  A total of TWENTY-THREE attorneys were hired for that. The total money set aside for that 23 attorneys? A little over half a million dollars at $550,000.

That mean,  if I added correctly though I’m not a financial wizard either, our Monmouth County Commissioners voted to allocate $1,890,000 of your tax dollars simply for a lot of, but not all, attorneys to handle your county business for a year. What’s worse, that’s in addition to the attorneys who are on the job but did not have to be re-appointed at this particular reorganization.  Including Mr. Fitzgerald.

1...164165166...246Page 165 of 246

About us

I write to fill that need for myself while hoping it stimulates you to watch your government more closely, to question, to learn more about history, travel, how to eat well and prevent or cure serious diseases, protest if you like, quit reading if it annoys you, but enjoy a few minutes sharing thoughts, love and inspiration.

Company

The latest

Sharon Shutzer and a Kind Word

Jersey Shore News 0
Sharon Maybe I have such a warm spot for...

Eat Free Breakfast, Meet New Friends

Jersey Shore News 0
If there’s any one group in Highlands that goes...

Highlands Will Rock Saint Pat’s

Jersey Shore News 0
Approximately 120 marching units, including bagpipers, marching bands community...

Popular

Atlantic Highlands Regionalization- Censorship & the F-Bomb

Opinions 1
At last nights council meeting in Atlantic Highlands, Jim...

The Power of Positive Thinking Interfaith 21st Century Edition Book Review

What Makes Me Happy 1
The Power of Positive Thinking Interfaith 21st Century Edition,...

AH Planning Board … Keeping You in the Dark

Opinions 0
It is difficult to tell whether the Atlantic Highlands...

© 2024 All Rights Reserved. Smith Family Publishing. Designed & Developed by Umer