Four different story time hours in February at the local branch of the Monmouth County library offer parents and care givers the opportunity to spend half hour sessions with youngsters from ten months of age through five years of age.
February
In February, Baby Story time, geared especially for children up to two years of ages, gives caregivers time to socialize with other parents and cuddle their little ones while children’s librarian Lauren Garcia or special guests read stories, rhymes, and song alongs with fingerplays and other activities. These Story times are every Wednesday during February at 9:30 a.m. with no advance registration necessary.
Toddler Story times begin at 10:05 a.m., immediately following Baby Story time and are geared to two and three year olds; so some toddlers stay for both the Baby and Toddler activities which vary in each group.
After School
After school Story time is offered on Thursdays, Feb. 2,9,16 and 23 beginning at 3:15 p.m. when the library offers a variety of activities , often including special guests for programs geared to kindergarten age children and older.
A preschool program for ages three to five is also held every Thursday during February beginning at 4 p.m. and offering crafts, Story time and other activities for a half hour. Children and their caregivers are always encouraged to remain after the activities to select the books for take-home enjoyment.
Crafts
Take “N” Make crafts, craft kits that are primarily animal-oriented are also available each month, with two different crafts offered during the month. From Feb. 1 through Web. 14, the take home craft is Lovely Kitty Cat, and from Feb. 15 until the end of the month, Puppy Love is the special craft. Directions and themed reads for the program are available on the Kids page slideshow at www.monmouthcountylib.org.
There are so many things to wonder about after tonight’s Atlantic Highlands Council meeting, that it leaves me scratching my head. But it’s useless, since it doesn’t look like we’ll ever get answers and simply never know exactly what the governing body is doing. But it won’t stop several of us from trying all the time.
Once again, I warn taxpayers it’s getting downright scary that so much gets done without any input from or information to the residents from not only this borough but others in the Bayshore as well.
Kappa Construction
I could go down to the Yacht Harbor and look in that $1.5 million building to see if anyone is in there, I suppose. You remember the borough is suing Kappa Construction, the builder…..yep, same one who’s building the Highlands Borough Hall….
It is the subject of a lawsuit because a tenant has been trying to tell the Harbor and the borough council for the last two years that construction wasn’t to code. But nobody did anything about it, not even lowering his lease if he stayed in the building that wasn’t properly approved, let alone make the corrections. Only in the last couple of months did the borough get some of the corrections made, but then they turned around and sued the contractor. I do wonder, but don’t know yet, whether they plan on suing whichever borough employee it was who gave the CO in spite of the problems. Or the project manager who was supposed to oversee all the goings on. I bet everyone got paid though.
At last nights meeting, the question was pretty simple. Are the tenants still in the building and has it ever gotten a current certificate of occupancy?
Council couldn’t answer …
Know why? “because the matter is under litigation.”
I do have to hand it to the new borough attorney, Peg Schaeffer. She jumps right in and doesn’t let council members talk, lest they say something the public doesn’t have the right to know. She’s sharp, attentive, and got up to par on what’s going on with town business pretty quickly.
That small incident is really the least of it.
Mother Theresa
Then there’s the Mother Theresa property, which was up for discussion during an executive session after the meeting. The administrator had announced there will be a meeting either Feb. 13 or Feb. 16 to get the public informed about what’s going on with it. Pay attention, because the time, which date or specific place that meeting will be held will be announced some time soon.
Regionalization
Then on the regionalization question, the public learned that yes, the mayors, the administrators and attorneys from the towns will discuss it all before Tuesday night’s meeting of the three school boards in the Henry Hudson tri-district. So naturally they couldn’t talk anything about it tonight.
Only Councilwoman Lori Hohenleitner said she would also be at the school boards’ meeting Tuesday…but of course they couldn’t answer any of my comments. The attorney reminded me those public portions of the meetings are not really for the public to ask questions; they’re for the public to make comments. So I switched my question around and suggested council adopt a resolution before the end of this meeting to ask the school boards to delay whatever they’re going to do Tuesday night. Of course they didn’t really even acknowledge my suggestion, let alone have any discussion of it before the meeting ended.
Parking Committee
Probably the biggest insult of the evening, however, was reserved for Mark Fisher. There isn’t a resident or visitor who attends any municipal meeting in the borough who doesn’t know and respect Mark for the questions he asks, the research he does, the facts he brings to the attention of council and committee members and the calm demeanor and patience he exhibits after all his work
It took years of Mark suggesting, planning, organizing and promoting a parking committee…anybody else think there’s a big parking problem in town?….. before one actually got in place, members were named and Mark was chairman, and Jon Crowley was council rep.
So what happened this year?
Nothing.
The Mayor didn’t say a word to Mark, nor did anyone else even question it.. But committee members were not mentioned at the reorganization meeting. And only this week, the administrator sent Mark a note letting him know there isn’t going to be a parking committee any more.
No explanation.
No thanks.
No suggestion as to why.
Like all committees, it’s a mayoral appointment with the consent of council. The mayor was out ill, the administrator said, so he couldn’t answer why the committee was so abruptly and silently wiped out. But nobody on council , including council rep Crowley apparently even asked the mayor about it either before or after Mark got his letter. Surely no one explained it to him last night. And only Mr. Crowley actually expressed thanks to Mark for all the hard work he’s done on helping to resolve at least some of the parking problems over the past few years.
Common Courtesy … LOL
What happened to common courtesy?
What happened to showing appreciation to residents who do so much for the borough and take such pride in it?
What happened to taking into consideration good ideas, even admitting if you’ve made a mistake or overlooked something.
Fortunately for all of us, Mark Fisher isn’t the kind of guy who’s going to get offended, take all his knowledge and energy and walk away without offering his input any more. He has too much love for the town, devotion to helping others, and tireless energy to always keep trying to make things better, smarter, more economical, safer and simply better for the town and its taxpayers.
Voulunteer
There’s still more from tonight’s meeting, including the very well spoken woman who was so enthusiastic offering her help and asking how she goes about getting to serve the borough. A fairly newcomer, the lady wants to get involved and do things. But by the end of the meeting, after hearing all of this she spoke again to say now she’s not so sure she wants to get involved. She seemed a bit intimidated and shocked by the lack of gratitude exhibited to Mark and others.
To Susan, I would say…forget about the insult, rise to your own level. Welcome to a wonderful borough, a gorgeous community, smart people who also love the town and would certainly love for you to become involved and feel welcome. You can be the one who makes a difference. Don’t be discouraged, you’ll be a great asset!
For the rest..look for another I Wonder shortly…. And be sure to attend Tuesday night’s 6:30 meeting at Henry Hudson to find out whether the boards of education will just wipe out every possibility of getting a million dollars into the offers by letting the people who pay all the costs decide whether Sea Bright and it money and kids should be part of the regional district.
The Highlands Business Partnership and sponsor Proving Ground will host the 13th Annual Beef & Brew fundraiser for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, February 5th, from 3 to 7pm at the restaurant at 56 Shrewsbury Avenue.
Tickets for the Beef & Brew are $40 and include a buffet dinner of Irish favorites including Corned Beef, Potatoes and Cabbage, Shepherd’s Pie and two beer tickets, there is also a Vegetarian menu available.
The Highlands St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2023 Grand Marshal Karen Taylor-Burke, will be honored and presented with her sash. There will be a gift auction with amazing prizes and the Middlesex County Police and Fire Pipes & Drums will be performing throughout the event.
The Highlands Business Partnership is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Programs and events are made possible by sponsors including the NJ State Department of Travel & Tourism, Montecalvo/Bayshore Family of Companies, Bahrs Landing, Fleur La Fete/Dovetail Vintage Rentals, Hufnagel Tree Experts, In the Garden, Inlet Café, Off the Hook, Proving Ground, Seafarer, Sandbox at Seastreak Ferry. CME Associates, Howell, is a sponsor of the 2023 Highlands St. Patrick’s Parade.
Additional information on the Beef & Brew and to purchase tickets online, visit www.highlandsnj.com or call (732) 291-4713
Completion of the $200,000 project to stop hill erosion at Gertrude Ederle Park is expected to be completed by mid-March, said Mayor Carolyn Broullon, along with added features at the site adjacent to the Joseph Azzolina Bridge on Route 36 to enhance the park.
Work began to stop the erosion which has been undermining the hill on the Bay ave. side Dec. 2. Broullon said, the construction included new drainage, gutters and shoring up of the slope itself. DC Landscaping Construction, the firm doing the project, has also replaced a tree in the park and also replaced the chain link fence with a brick wall. The wall will have a safety feature installed at the top. Additionally, the firm replaced the asphalt walk with concrete.
“This was a needed project to preserve the integrity of the hill as well as to continue to provide an outstanding park dedicated to Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel,” the mayor said.” Gertrude learned to swim in the river just below the hill and benches in the park overlook the exact area where she first went into the Shrewsbury River and battled the strong currents under the bridge. Gertrude always loved Highlands and came back for many years to share her memories of the swim. Ms. Ederle was here for the park’s dedication on Aug. 14, 1975.”
Highlands residents this week received the 2023 Borough calendar in the mail, the production of which was a joint effort among Mayor Carolyn Broullon, office staff and the Highlands Historical Society. The cooperative effort was first initiated and launched by the Communications Committee in 2017 and all the groups and departments within the borough are invited to give their input into creating the calendar.
The cost of the colorful and newsy Highlands calendar, including both local history and events and information for throughout 2023 and January of next year, was covered in part through a Clean Communities Grant since it contains all the necessary information for trash, recycling, and how to properly dispose of items of all kinds.
Each of the photographs, depicting an earlier Highlands included in the calendar are in Borough Hall.
Informational pages in the calendar also include contacts and information for the Highlands Fire Department and First Aid Squad as well as contract numbers and e-mail and street addresses for all borough departments. The calendar also includes contacts for the Mayor and Council and the dates of scheduled meetings.
Dates on each monthly page include borough office hours, legal and special holidays, and meeting dates for various community organizations in the borough.
Each page, in addition to the historic photo of a scene in Highlands, also include a paragraph on a historic fact about the borough, with information ranging from when Highlands was the center for the illegal smuggling of liquor from offshore ships by rumrunners during Prohibition to how English Channel swimmer Gertrude Ederle learned to swim in the fast current of the Shrewsbury River.
Residents wishing calendars can pick one up at the borough office.
Pure Imagination will be performing at the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council gallery space at 54 First Ave. Saturday February 4 at 7:30pm.
Pure Imagination is a song-filled, story-filled celebration of Academy Award, Grammy Award and Tony Award-winning songwriter Leslie Bricusse and his collaborations with Anthony Newley, Henry Mancini and John Williams.
Performers
Featuring Broadway performers Jeanne Montano, James Patterson and Linda Moshier. Robert Cioffi, the creator and musical director, will be on the piano.
Patterson’s most recent credits include Don Quixote/Cervantes in Man of La Mancha at Stages St. Louis, Georges in La Cage Aux Folles at the Riverside Theatre Company and Pioneer Theatre Company, and Lumiere in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at Theatre Under The Stars.
James has appeared in the Broadway and National Touring productions of Gigi (Dufresne), Mary Poppins (Park Keeper), The Drowsy Chaperone, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Beast, Gaston, and Lumiere understudy), Cats (Munkustrap), and State Fair.
Joining Patterson, Mosher’s career icludes theater, cabaret, and concerts worldwide. Her first feature film Preparations To Be Together For An Unknown Period Of Time was Hungary’s entry for an Academy Award. She just returned from the Wilson Center in Wilmington, NC where she sang Sinatra favorites in My Way. She debuted her show Simply Starstruck, featuring the music of Barbra Streisand at Lincoln Center and at the Cutting Room recently
Montano has performed both on Broadway and in the National Tour of Cats in the roles of Jellylorum , Jennyanydots and Grizzabella. She has also been performing Forbidden Broadway in New York for the past 10 years, parodying everyone from Idina Menzel to Kristen Chenoweth to Carrie Underwood, Liza, Chita and more. Originally a Jersey Shore girl, she now resides both in NYC and Asbury Park.
Tickets
The evening is the perfect pre-Valentine’s Day treat with favorite songs from Stop the World I Want to Get Off,Doctor Dolittle, Willy Wonka, Victor-Victoria, Goldfinger, Superman and more.
Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the gallery or through the website aharts.org. Seating is limited, so purchasing tickets in advance is recommended.
The Atlantic Highlands Arts Council is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen community through the arts.
Corn has been a popular vegetable for thousands of years because of its versatility in menus ranging from soups and chowders to on the cob fresh off the barbecue or grill.
Unfortunately, corn really does not get the credit it should for its health benefits, given its sweetness and so often smothered with butter. Full of fiber, corn makes you feel full longer between meals. It has been suggested that corn helps protect against colon cancer, given the fact it feeds healthy bacteria in the digestive tract. Even popcorn they say, has its benefits besides being a delightful choice for movies. It has been known to lower the risk of diverticulitis.
But for the eyes, corn is rich in vitamin C, that antioxidant that protects body cells from damage and wards off heart disease. Yellow corn is loaded with lutein and zeaxanthin both of which help present any damage to the lens that leads to cataracts. It’s the color that matters in corn and so many other fruits and vegetables because it’s really the color that has the chemical that carry the antioxidants. Corn also has vitamins B, E and K, and those great mineral, magnesium and potassium.
Chef Rob is a chef who often appears on ZOOM programs from libraries and other organizations and is worth watching. His Turkey Corn Chowder provides plenty of carrots, corn, and scallions that are so good because of the protein it produces essential for the retina enabling it to absorb more light and prevent night blindness and other disorders.
When the Atlantic Highlands Evening Book Club meets Thursday night at 7 p.m., it will not only be discussing Amor Towles book, The Lincoln Highway; it will be celebrating the beginning of the tenth years since it was first organized and sponsored by the Friends of the Atlantic Highlands Library.
While the library is a branch of the Monmouth County Library, it indeed is a very special alcove for not only Atlantic Highlands residents but other residents of Highlands and other Bayshore areas who are drawn to the resources there, the friendship of others, and in the case of the Book Club, fascinating and provocative discussions of a different book each month.
Two Book Clubs
The library has two book clubs, the other meeting in the morning. The morning club was the first. Former librarian Marilyn Scherfern recognized the value and popularity of that first club and when Lori Montana moved to town and Marilyn learned she had run a book club in her former hometown, she urged her to start one here evenings. Lori said, “it took a few good friends to talk me into it and one friend, Elita Taylor, said she would run it with me if I said yes.” Now the host of the evening club, Montana said “I am so grateful to everyone who gave me the confidence to host it.”.
The clubs operate with no officers, but a lot of cooperation and organization. Members choose the books they will read each month and once the group decides on the choices, the person who suggested the chosen book is generally the facilitator for the discussion. Another option the club uses is a round table discussion rather than a facilitator. While books have already been suggested and chosen for the entire year, if there is ever an open month, Lori takes suggestions and the members vote.
Philip Roth Festival
Book club members also share information about other events of interest to readers. For instance, this month’s tip lets Philip Roth fans know there is a festival celebrating the author and his work from March 17 through March 19th, with a contact to make to learn more. There’s a contact to see Studebaker cars from the 1950s and another for early photos of Howard Johnson restaurants.
As facilitator, Lori believes the club really runs itself because of the interest of its members. She said her duties are generally limited to sending out e-mail reminders and being certain there are copies of the books for the members to read.
”We have a smart, kind, and welcoming group., “ Lori says proudly. “ Each year we have an eclectic mix of books that generate thought provoking discussions. At the end of the year, we have a holiday party where we vote on our favorite and least favorite books. We have a book exchange, and I always a toast from me thanking our members for making this the best book club ever.”
Membership
There is no official membership, no dues no registration, Montas explained. The book club is there for anyone who simply wants to show up or attend the meeting via ZOOM. There is a check with the library to be certain there are copies of each chosen book available, and people can pick up copies simply by asking at the circulation desk for the book the Evening Book Club is reading. If there are not enough copies of the book available, club members share or try to find it online, making purchasing a copy of the book unnecessary.
Persons wanting further information on the club, its books, or some knowledge about the current book is invited to e-mail Monta at adlebc@gmail.com or leave a name and contact number with the librarian for a call back.
Other Books
The books for the rest of the year after January are February: The Daries ofAdam and Eve by Mark Twain (Printed copies are in the library and Montana will send a link for those who would rather read it online.). The March selection is Cryin’ in the H Mart by Michelle Zainer; April is : Persuasion by Jane Austen, May, Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell ,June, The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler, July 1984 by George Orwell, August: Cloud Cukooland by Anthony Doerrs, September, The Regency Years by Robert Morrison, October: The Master and the Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakow, and December 8, the final meeting of the year, Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. There is no selection or meeting in November.
A collection of historic, fanciful and unique dolls is on display at the Eastern Branch of the Monmouth County Library through the month of February, comprised of no fewer than two dozen dolls from the collections of the Shrewsbury Historical Society and its officers.
In another of its outstanding collections of items and artifacts from other ages, the Historical Society has arranged for the display of outstanding dolls of all types and sizes at the library’s showcase in its main hallway.
Society President Donald Burden, who also arranged the recent bridal gown exhibit at both the library and the society’s museum adjacent to the Shrewsbury municipal offices, said the collection is part of the society’s mission to preserve Shrewsbury history, promote participation from the community at large, highlight Shrewsbury’s historical significance and share the valuable resources of the Society through educational programs.
“It is amazing how many different kinds of collections people have,” said Burden, “and we can all learn something from every one.” He said people have also been generous in donating collections or memorabilia to the Shrewsbury Society, knowing they will be given the respect and care required to keep them as role players in the importance of preserving history. In addition to his wife’s doll collection the president has his own collection of oil cans, another item that is rapidly becoming a sought after collector’s item.
The dolls are one more example of the benefits of all manner of education.
Storybook Dolls
One of the highlights in the library display are the Storybook dolls of MaryLea Burden, an attractive arrangement of dolls depicting the fairy tales and children’s stories of the mid and late 20th century. Ms. Burden’s collection represents gifts at holidays during her childhood from various relatives and includes the miniature creations of Nancy Ann Abbott. Measuring no higher than seven inches, some as small as 3 1/2 inches in height, the dolls were first produced in painted bisque and sold from 1936 through 1947. After the war and during the early 1960s, they were created in plastic but always feature lavish costumes and fabrics and trims.
Bridal Dress Dolls
Among the several bridal dress dolls in the display are the donations of Marylynne Stout of Petersburg, Pa. Mrs. Stout wished to entrust her collection to a museum in the Red Bank area when she decided to downsize. She had lived in Red Bank as a child and several of the dollars were originally purchased in the area. Some of the dolls in the Library display are those made at the time of the bride’s gown and were used on the front of the cars in the bridal processions, along with dolls dressed in the bridesmaids’ colors and designs as well.
One doll, donated by Beth Sweeny of Union Beach, has a string on her back, when pulled it plays a rendition of “Here Comes the Bride.”
African American Doll
Another of the unique dolls on display is the African American doll in a Girl Scout uniform dating from the 1950s through the 1970s, the only minority doll in the collection. The single boy doll on display is of a Swiss Tyrolian.
Madame Alexander Dolls
Also included in this unique memorabilia of childhood are several collectible Madame Alexander dolls, known for their splendor. The Alexander Doll Company, created in 1923 by Madame Beatrice Alexander Behrman, came from the founder’s childhood when she spent time in her stepfather’s doll hospital on Manhattan’s lower East Side. She believed dolls should be played with and loved without breaking like the porcelain dolls of her time, but with no decrease in detail or quality. She perceived dolls as a means of teaching children kindness and compassion through play, sand their popularity has made her creations a part of American life and history. Madame Alexander herself is also recognized as a pioneer in a male-dominated business world especially following the Depression.
For the library branch’s times and days , as well as other information about the Eastern Branch and all branches of the Monmouth County library, visit www.monmouthcountylib.org.
For more information on the Shrewsbury Historical Society and its museum, call 732-530-7974 or 732-747-3635, At this time of year, the Museum is open by appointment only by a staff member generous with time and accommodation of an interested public.
With the announcement last week that the Rev. Thomas Barry of Our Lady of Perpetual Help – St. Agnes parish, is leaving this week to begin training as a chaplain in the US Navy, many have questioned what the training and duties of a chaplain are and to whom chaplains of all faiths report.
Rear Admiral Gregory N. Todd
Rear Admiral Gregory N. Todd is the 28th Chief of Chaplains of the US Navy and as such is the commander for the chaplains of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
Early Life
A native of Seattle, Washington, Admiral Todd earned his degree in theology and education at Concordia College in Portland, Oregon, and a Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis Missouri. He was ordained a Lutheran minister in the Missouri Synod in 1988 then earned a degree as Doctor of Ministry in Christian Leadership in Charlotte, NC in 2009.
Navy & Marine Corps Reserve
Joining the chaplaincy corps of the Navy Reserves in 1986, as an ensign he provided ministry to the Marine Corps Reserve while continuing his service as pastor of civilian churches in Illinois. In 1994, he transferred to active duty and was Protestant chaplain at the Naval amphibious Base Coronado, Calif, later serving aboard the USS Chancellorsville.
Coast Guard & September 11th
Next named a Coast Guard chaplain, he served at Coast Guard Activities New York and was the first Navy chaplain to arrive at the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11 attacks, hosting a Coast Guard Chaplain Emergency Response team of 30 Navy chaplains working with the Coast Guard and ministering to civilians and emergency crew members. Connected with Ground Zero and One Police Plaza. He was also part of the response team at the crashes of Egypt Air Flight 990 and American Airlines Flight 587.
Operation Iraqi Freedom & Afghanistan
In 2002, the chaplain reported to the Second Force Service Support Group at Camp Lejeune, NC with the Marine Corps and was deployed to Kuwait as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Two years later, he deployed to Afghanistan with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit setting up a ministry in Oruzgan Province.
USS Kearsarge
In 2005 he became the officer in charge of Marine Corps Chaplains for three years before attending Senior Supervisory Chaplain Course and becoming command chaplain on the USS Kearsarge, a ship frequently docked at NWS Earle in Leonardo.
Reporting back to the Marine Corps again in 2010, Adm. Todd led transition and support ministries for sailors and Marines deploying as well and leading a chaplain program in Ramstein, Germany.
Rear Admiral
In 2014, he was assigned for the second time to the Coast Guard as Chaplain, and in 2022 was nominated to two-star rear admiral and appointed the Chief of Chaplains for the Navy.
In a televised interview this week for the Navy Memorial in Washington DC. Admiral Todd said one of his greatest challenges is meeting the need for more chaplains, with approximately 870 chaplains currently serving the 570,000 Coast Guard, Marine and Navy military members in active duty service.
He pointed out the chaplain’s duty in the military is to provide the spiritual readiness to compliment the physical and mental readiness required of all military members. That can be accomplished, he said, by providing education on a person’s purpose, value and sacrifice for the public good. He pointed out that a spiritual background makes a person “bigger than yourself” and said that transcendence has been active among warriors for centuries.
Goals
Admiral Todd said his goal is to secure another 30 chaplains to bring the number up to 900 to better serve the services.
He pointed out that Navy Chaplains are the voice of encouragement, reason and hopes for Sailors and Marines, giving support and uplifting the men and women who serve as well as providing spiritual assistance for their families.
Navy chaplains represent more than 100 different faith groups from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and more. All are commissioned as officers after successfully completing Officer Development School at Newport, R,I. and a seven-week course at the Naval Chaplaincy School and Center, also in Newport. Promotion opportunities are competitive and based on performance. The Navy provides a series of education opportunities throughout a chaplain’s career including credentials and other opportunities in related field including behavioral therapy and family counseling as civilians.
