Like all Seafood, Shrimp are excellent for eye care and health, since they are full of vitamins and omega-3 fats which help macular degeneration from developing. What’s more, they are low in calories so are an ideal main dish for the weight conscious. It’s a food that can be served hot or cold, in salad or stew, in soups and as a festive entrees. Chefs of every nationality, particularly those along oceanic coastlines, have developed their own flavor of shrimp recipes all of which are worth a try. Here’s a Cajun recipe they love in New Orleans.
Cajun Shrimp
3 T butter
2 T. Canola oil
1 Cup onions
½ cup each red, orange, yellow peppers
¼ C celery
2 T Creole seasoning
1 ½ Cup shrimp stock (plain water will do in a pinch)
2 C crushed tomatoes
1 ½ lb. shrimp
Melt 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a four-quart saucepan, then add 2 tablespoons of canola oil, and continue to heat. Add 1 cup of diced onions to the pan, and cook until they begin to soften and turn golden. Add 1/2 cup each of diced red, orange and yellow peppers to the pan along with 1/4 cup of diced celery. Cook for five minutes, then add 1 bay leaf, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 2 tablespoons of Creole seasoning and 1 1/2 cups of shrimp stock to the pan. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 10 minutes, then add 2 cups of canned crushed tomatoes, and continue to simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove the bay leaf, then add 1 1/2 pounds of peeled and deveined shrimp to the pan, and cover. Allow to cook for about five minutes until the shrimp turn pink. Add 1 teaspoon of hot pepper sauce, and stir. Serve over white rice, and garnish with sliced scallions.
Councilman Steve Boracchia gave a lengthy but calm and professional response to the resident who charged the councilman falsely claimed credit for protecting open space in the borough. “At best, Chiles had said, “their recent campaign claim is a gross exaggeration…at worst, it is insincere and misleading.”
Not so at all, said Boracchia, inviting verification before explaining in detail the role he played in preserving waterfront acreage on the Denholtz tract for public use as waterfront recreation for borough residents. He also provided several emails confirming what he said that clearly show the support. As video is posted at Committee to elect Stephen Boracchia, and Brian Boms | Facebook is available for those who want to hear it firsthand.
Last week, Chiles charged on the Democratic Club website that he had previously endorsed the GOP candidate for mayor and GOP candidates on her assurance they would protect the waterfront property, saying the Democratic incumbent had undermined efforts to do so. He said he was assured the GOP would do “everything within their power” to preserve the tract for a park.”
After the election, he said, they did nothing to protect the land so much as doubting if they even met with the developer for discussion. So, when the governing body finally retained acreage for waterfront use, he believes credit does not belong to them, but rather to the residents “who did everything they could think of to preserve this property and forcing a successful appeal of the planning board’s approval for development.”
Somehow, Chiles failed to mention that he was in contact with Boracchia from Aug 12 through November that year. That’s when Boracchia sponsored the ordinance at a workshop that Benson and he had worked on for the purpose of limiting the development. Boracchia said this came after Chiles invited him to meet via phone with his NWP attorney Kevin Asadi, to review the legal options. Boracchia also had the borough attorney, Jason Sena review the ordinance to be introduced. The documentation was made available to me in response to queries and full disclosure.
Emails also show that NWP knew that there were no longer any legal options, and the developer did conform his project as required, giving him the right to build the entire project as originally planned.
“Emails between us show that Mr. Chiles thanked me for my help and the minutes of the workshop also reveal he thanked the council as well for their support,” the councilman responded to questioning. “The record shows that even Mr. Chiles’ wife supported the ordinance during public comment.”
The week following the ordinance workshop, the developer called borough hall and told both the borough administrator and mayor he was willing to give approximately two acres to the town. At that point, NWP was able to step back in and handle the details, Boracchia said.
Boracchia also pointed out in his response to Chiles the numerous phone calls the pair had exchanged, and that it was he, Boracchia who had actually introduced the ordinance for public land preservation, but failed to have any support from the rest of the governing body initially.
“I never said I did this alone,” Boracchia said. “I always said his group did the heavy lifting and I had a small part in it, though important. Unfortunately, the initial lawsuit wasn’t successful and a lot of money was spent, but it appears that by working together the waterfront park did become a reality,” the councilman concluded..
There is an interesting story behind Veterans Day and how it came to be and what it is honoring.
After World War I ended, the war to end all wars they said at the time, it was well noted that it officially ended at the signing of the peace agreement at 11 a.m. on November 11, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year.
So a few years after peace was declared, the world wanted to celebrate peace as a universal goal and standard. In 1926, Congress passed a resolution authorizing the President to honor the anniversary of the armistice, but for some reason, did not establish it as a national holiday. That took until 1938 when Congress finally decided that celebrating the end of the most horrific war this nation, or any nation, had ever faced, was certainly worth celebrating.
Sixteen years later, in 1954, Congress wanted to include honoring veterans of the other terrible wars we fought after the war to end all wars. So Veterans Day became the official name of the day originally celebrating the Nov. 11 armistice.
But 12 years after that, Congress did not want the holiday to be inconvenient, occur in the middle of the week or anyplace else. So they decided that the fourth Monday of October, not Nov. 11 would officially be Veterans Day and would honor all veterans including those who celebrated peace on Armistice Day, Nov. 11.
Well, that certainly did not sit well with historians and veterans. Veterans groups were angry. Forty-six states refused to honor the federal government’s change of date.
It lasted until 1975. That’s when Patricia Schroeder of Colorado, a Congresswoman, and head of the Post Office and Civil Service Subcommittee on Census and Statistics, introduced the bill to get the holiday moved back to Nov. 11. New Jersey’s own Congressman Dominick Daniels seconded the motion, endorsing the change, and telling Congress “I believe there is still room for tradition in this society, even as we race forward toward the 21st century. A tradition we must keep alive is the setting aside of a single day each year to honor the veterans of this Nation. And this day should remain the same, and should not be changed around to suit some arbitrary holiday schedule.”
The bill passed the House 410 to 6 and went into effect starting in 1978.
Still the day faces many problems. Originally established as a day to celebrate armistice, peace, and international friendship, it has gradually turned into a day glorifying war and putting peace off to the side.
Armistice Day was flipped from a day for peace into a day for displays of militarism.
There is another group, Veterans For Peace, which wants to turn around the accent of the day not on war and the might of the military, but on peace and the benefits of living together. The group has taken the lead in lifting up the original intention of November 11th. They feel celebrating peace, not war, is the best way to honor the sacrifices of veterans because they want generations after themselves to never know the destruction war has wrought on people and the earth.
Whether you look at Veterans Day as a day to celebrate peace, or a day to show the force and might of the country, the primary intention should be to honor all veterans, realize there would be no peace without them, honor those who have given their lives or their health to protect it, and pray for the day we can all believe that war does not end differences, but rather kills the ability to have discussions and keep peace alive for every generation.
Happiness comes from all quarters and you find that you don’t even have to be looking for it when suddenly it pops up, and you realize how fortunate you are to be a part of it.
Sometimes it’s due to help at a time of fear that simply turns life around for you, sometimes it’s a serious meeting among educators when you are thrilled by their devotion to American, particularly local history, and sometimes it’s in a casual conversation when you realize how thoughtful others are.
My time of fear was 7:45 one morning when driving east on Route 36 this time of year is uncomfortable. From some of us with limited eyesight to begin with, it becomes impossible. The sun light shining brightly in your eyes clouds out everything, from the hood of your car to the road in front of you. A terrifying feeling to be behind the wheel and suddenly not be able to see enough to drive.
It happened to me, even with two pair of sunglasses, visor down, and a slow speed. Terrified, I pulled to the side of the road near the McDonald’s east of Avenue D in Atlantic Highlands, and figured I would wait there for half an hour or so until the sun moved enough to make driving possible. Because of my vision problem, I knew I could see even less than other motorists, but knew they were putting down visors, putting their hands up to hide the sun, and slowing down to a more prudent speed.
What I did not realize was that I was not completely off the lane of traffic. But the Shamrock School Bus driver, Bus # 309, was worried. Apparently finished from delivering her little charges to school, she and the associate in the bus were stopping for a cup of coffee and pulled into McDonald’s. She instead of going in, she walked over to my car and asked if I was okay or did I have car trouble. When I explained I couldn’t see, she mildly and politely suggested I move closer to the curb. When I excitedly cried I couldn’t see enough to even do that, she asked if I wanted her to move the car. Recognizing a roadside angel when I meet one, I nodded and went to get out of the car. But no, she cautioned, be careful and get on the sidewalk. She took control, took the car, drove it to a parking place not facing the sun, and urged me to wait a while before getting back behind the wheel. She literally saved the day for me and most likely my life and possibly the lives of other motorists in my path.
That afternoon I had a ZOOM meeting with a pretty wonderful Millstone resident who knows the history of western Monmouth County and wants it told accurately and completely, in the schools. But Pat Bush doesn’t get an idea and dream; no, she gets an idea, gets the right people to promote it, and forges ahead with energy to see it accomplished.
Perhaps it’s her enthusiasm and the quality of historians she had with her, or perhaps it’s because the superintendent of the Millstone schools, Dr. Huss, is just brilliant and recognizes the importance of students knowing history, especially the history that surrounds them, or maybe it is the combination. But a dream by a lady who knows and loves history and a school superintendent who is so open to fresh ideas in engaging students in not only history but arts, music, science, and immediately suggesting ways each of those subjects could be a basis for the history lesson, created a most happy feeling for me and excitement that this accent on American history will be a part of the curriculum in Millstone.
Then there was this morning, when I met with another school superintendent, Dr. Jay Majka at that great eatery, The Girls Café in Highlands. Jay is a former Marine, a lawyer, a teacher, and a very smart man who recognizes the obligations as well as the privileges he has as an educator and takes them all seriously. In a simple, informal conversation over a cup of coffee, Jay taught me more about understanding, researching and putting all the facts together carefully and wisely than could be learned from any book. He taught me what a school superintendent is supposed to do to enhance, improve, and expand the education of his students
Besides that, he’s a great conversationalist and wonderful to talk to.
Happiness comes from all over. Grab it and appreciate it. Then spread it to others.
While all vegetables are good for the eyes, help in preventing macular degeneration and are necessary to keep the eyes healthy, it’s a known fact that the reds, yellows, and orange fruits and vegetables do the most good. Interestingly, the fruits and vegetables that are best for the eyes also happen to be the ones that are best for heart health as well. With summer upon out and cherry tomatoes coming into a bountiful season, along with peppers and zucchini, it’s time to go Mediterranean style and air cook these with some great herbs and spices. The recipe calls for dried herbs, but if you’re lucky enough to be growing your own, snip off a few leaves and chop and use instead. Small tomatoes can be used instead of cherry tomatoes as well, just chunk them eating size.
Mediterranean-Style Veggies
1 ½ Cups cherry tomatoes
1 sliced yellow bell pepper
1 sliced zucchini
1 ½ cups button mushrooms, halved
1 teas. Basil
½ teas. Oregano
½ teas. Thyme
½ teas. Garlic powder
½ teas. Group peppers
Mix tomatoes, pepper, zucchini and mushrooms together, drizzle with olive oil and coat to cover. Spring on the spices, add sea salt if you must.
Set air fryer to 375 degrees and roast for 15 to 20 minutes, tossing halfway through. Done when the veggies are tender and roasted to your taste.
This is the 13th year the Church has raised its Field of Flags honoring all Vietnam Veterans as well as those in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who lost their lives on the battlefield.
With a total of more than 7,000 flags, church members and other Middletown residents have been working since mid-October to place the flags on the church lawn.. They will remain in place in front of the church at 94 Tindall Road through Nov. 12, the day after Veterans Day.
Each of the flags represents fallen American military member from the Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan actions.
All are invited to Saturday’s ceremony to hear Capt. Callahan and other speakers including Dennis Beauregard, President of Vietnam Veterans of America NJ Shore Are Chapter 12, Middletown Mayor Tony Perry and Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger.
A color guard will be presented by NWS Earle and music will be provided by Dennis Anderson and Mike Hannigan on the bagpipes.
Although the Towboat /US manager has been complaining about conditions in the new building at the Harbor for nearly two years, and in spite of the building still not meeting the standards for a certificate of occupancy, the Harbor Commission unanimously denied Capt. Harold Smith his request to be released from his lease for rental of the building at the Harbor.
However, earlier in the meeting, Commissioner Chair Thomas Wall read a brief statement, updating what has been done to the building Smith has been complaining about since it opened in January 2020. Wall outlined anticipated near-future repairs and installations which should permit it to meet the proper standards for occupancy for the first time since the building was constructed by Kappa Construction Co. and leasees permitted to move in January 2020. Smith has been paying full rent for his leased space in spite of his complaints that the building did not meet certification standards and neither the Harbor Commission nor the governing body has done anything about it. The lease turned to the governing body when he failed to get any action from the Harbor commission, and was advised it is a Harbor Commission matter.
Tuesday night, Wall said inspections have recently been made at the building rented by both Smith for TowBOAT/US and Stae Police units and outlined what has been done and what is anticipated to be completed this month.
The chairman said the mold concern expressed by Smith at several previous meetings was inspected by Centrex Environmental and the air quality in all sections inspected appear to be within proper parameters, and no further action will be taken.
On the issue Smith has cited since the beginning concerning shut off valves being properly placed for unit heaters, Wall indicated Smith’s complaints have been justified and required shutoff valves will be installed and completed by Nov. 10.
On the issue of venting in the bathroom trailers, Wall said they need to be vented to the exterior as Smith has pointed out. That, too, will be corrected by Nov. 10.
The leaking Smith has complained about in his office as well as the State Police officers was also addressed, Wall’s statement read, and condensation has been observed and corrective action will be taken this week.
During the public portion of the meeting, resident Mark Fisher reiterated his criticism of lack of, and improper action he had cited in an earlier meeting, saying “ The Harbor Commission attorney will not allow the appointed Commissioners to speak about the sub-par construction of the …building in the Harbor that the taxpayers own.” He added he has checked six months of approved minutes and noted “there has been zero executive sessions scheduled or requested by the Commissioners for the specific purpose of discussing and documenting how the appointed Commissioners, on behalf of the taxpayers who own the building “arrived at their consensus to give explicit and limited direction to the attorney.” He cited the Open Public Meetings Act that specifies how matters, including legal issues, are discussed and documented in closed door executive sessions and pointed out they must be discussed or documented how the Commissioners, on behalf of the trough’s taxpayers, who own the building arrived at their consensus to give direction to the attorney. “Why else would we have a quasi-judicial Harbor Commission to make decisions” for the residents if they are not discussed publicly so the residents know what’s going on?
Fisher questioned the board since he has been told that the committees involved with working on the situation have been pursuing rectifying the building problems and he wanted to know how it could be possible without formal action. The attorney, Michael DuPont countered that an executive session during this meeting will be held so the commissioner can decide on how to move forward and give him direction and action would be taken that evening.
Smith also addressed the commissioners, once again reiterating his frustration at conditions not being completed on the building and expressing hope that after two years it is finally moving forward. “Nobody’s talking to nobody!” he told the commissioners in obvious frustration, citing the number of times he has spoken to the code enforcement officer and “never got any thing “ in spite of the obvious code violations. “The ball has been dropped….” He said. Smith once again asked for a response on his request to be released from his lease, questioning the length of time it is taking the Commission to respond. “I’ve been sent bills, I’ve been sent contracts,” he said, asking why he should sign anything when no one has responded to his request for lease more than three months ago.
Following an executive meeting during the meeting, the commissioners returned to open session and unanimously approved four motions: one to authorize a water infiltration and topographical survey, one to make repairs to the trailer and office units, one to repair the trailers for outside venting and one to finance the individual valves to be installed for the heating units, all matters Smith has been bringing to their attention for almost two years.
The Commissioners also unanimously denied Smith’s request to be released from his lease, citing the current situation , the progress they are making and the ongoing discussion and mediation for other matters discussed during the executive session. Before approving denying Smith his request, Councilman Steve Boracchia wanted it clear the commissioners had the right to revisit that action should it be necessary to re-consider it in the future
Hash browns are a great side dish either with eggs for breakfast or with a grilled lunch or dinner. But they can be even better, including a plus for better eyesight, if you use sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes, bringing not only flavor but so much more of those great vitamins and protein for eye health. Using an air cooker enables you to enjoy them even more while at the same time avoiding the calories of deep frying.
1 sweet potatoes, peeled and shredded.
1 T. olive oil
2 teas. Chili powder
½ teas. Cumin
½ teas. Pepper
½ teas. Sea salt (if you insist on salting everything)
Place shredded potatoes in cool water for about 10 minutes. Drain well and pat dry.
Combine potatoes with oil, and spices. Toss to coat.
Put the mix in the air fryer basket at 400 degrees. Cook for 10 minutes, take out and shake and return for another 10 or 12 minutes. Potatoes should be crunch, tender and delicious.
The Shrewsbury Historical Society will be exhibiting more of their diverse and expanded chair exhibition at the Society’s museum on Sundays through the month of November.
The Society, which is located at the historic Four Corners at 419 Sycamore Avenue, already has one exhibition they did in conjunction with the Eastern Branch of the Monmouth County Library at the library on Route 35, that display presents more than a dozen chairs from the museum collection in a unique display scheduled through Nov. 15.
The Society display will include a broader display of period furniture and specialized chairs, including not only children’s seating but both business and comfort seating as well. The variety features designs and uses from the 18th and 19th centuries and up to the middle of the 20th century. Unique in the museum collection and shown for the first time will be a medical chairs from an earlier century.
The museum hours on Sundays are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Special views can be arranged by contacting the Historical Society at Shrewsbury Historical Society at www.shrewsburyhistoricalsocietynj.org
Today, All Souls Day, while not a Holy Day of obligation in the Catholic Church, is a day of solemn and special devotion and prayer. It differs from All Saints Day, which is a Holy Day of obligation and is celebrated the day before All Souls Day commemorating all the saints in heaven. In most churches and traditions, All Souls Day is observed with more prayer and solemnity rather than joy and praise.
In the Catholic Church, it is a day set aside to remember all those who have died and who may not as yet been received into heaven, atoning for any wrongs they have done in their lifetime in Purgatory. They are not able to pray for themselves at this point, making it more important for their loved ones on earth to remember them and pray for them to attain full forgiveness of wrongs and gain entrance to heaven.
Lithuanians have a special prayer for All Souls Day:
“Dear souls of the dead,
you are still remembered by my family;
you are most worthy of our perpetual remembrance,
especially you, my grandparents, my parents,
also our relatives, children,
and everyone whom death
took away from our home.
I invite you to this annual feast.
We pray that this feast be agreeable to you,
just like the memory of you is to us. Amen.”
The day is filled with many traditions in a variety of cultures, regardless of religion. Unlike in the United States, in Mexico, All Souls Day is a day of great celebration, as Mexicans believe the souls of the dead come back to celebrate with their loved ones. Called La Dias de Muertas in Mexico, it is often celebrated with great festivals, parades, sumptuous meals and music, a happy time to rejoin those deceased whom they love. Many Mexicans spend hours in cemeteries where their loved ones are buried, bringing food and music to celebrate a day with them.
In Ireland, the Irish traditionally believe the souls of the dead would return to their family as well, and would speak to their descendants. In speaking with their descendants, the ancient belief was that the deceased would bestow two gifts upon their beloved…the ability to remember old days and traditions and a deeper understanding of how the family is always linked by bloodline. As a tradition, the Irish also believe since the souls return for a time, the living must go out of their way to make them feel welcome. The customs, however, take a back seat to the Irish attending mass and praying for their beloved deceased on Nov 2.
A Hungarian tradition is that all work, including housework, is forbidden on All Souls Day since work instead of praying and thinking of their deceased friends and relatives was considered disrespectful to the dead. All work on that day, tradition said, would be sabotaged.
Traditions focusing on All Souls Day are prolific and varied. In the Philippines, the belief is that raining on All Souls Day is actually the tears of the dead.
Other cultures light candles with the belief it will warm the dead and help their souls return to their graves by the end of the day.
