The delivery of large steel bridge piles to the Rumson Sea Bright bridge is scheduled tentatively for Monday, Oct. 10/24/22. Frequent updates on travel advisories are available online at Rumson Seabright Bridge
Weather permitting, construction of the new bridge is taking place Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and tomorrow, Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m this week.
On the Shrewsbury River, work activity will continue in the water south of the bridge on both sides of the river. The navigational channel width has been reduced from 75′ to 65′. The reduction is expected to remain in effect until Fall 2023.
Extra travel time is suggested on Monday and uniformed police will assist with two large steel bridge pile deliveries to the bridge.
The deliveries are anticipated between 9 am and 2pm, to avoid school drop off and pick up times. The schedule may change based on field conditions; however school drop off and pick up times will be avoided.
Traffic interruption is estimated to be no more than 10 minutes during lifting and moving the bridge piles to the trestles in the river.
For safe passage during each delivery, the traffic delivery pattern involves temporary disruption of vehicle and pedestrian movement over the bridge, which may affect traffic flow on Ocean Avenue in Sea Bright and along Rumson Road in Rumson.
Additional bridge pile deliveries are also anticipated at a yet undetermined date but again are planned to be between 9am and 2pm, or after 3pm, to avoid school drop off and pick up times. Deliveries in the future are anticipated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, weather permitting, to be completed on or about mid-December.
With each delivery, vehicles and pedestrians may expect temporary lane closures and delay. The bridge openings needed for marine access will not be affected.
The project team appreciates your support and understanding during the construction phase of this important bridge replacement project.
The Colts Neck Historical Preservation Committee (CNHPC) is presenting its annual Country Christmas at the Montrose School. Sunday, Dec 4. From 1 to 4 p.m.
Seasonal refreshments, and holiday music performed by the Mike Wells Trio will fill the historic Montrose one-room schoolhouse along with this free traditional holiday fest at the old School located at the corner of Montrose Road and Cedar Drive.
Chairperson County Commissioner Lillian Burry will read “The Night Before Christmas” to the Children and adults, an annual tradition. Santa Claus will take time out from his busy schedule to pose for free photos. The Christmas tree inside the school will be festooned with decorations appropriate to the period. We will have a visit from “Norman the Christmas Dog,.” A new children’s book written and illustrated by local professionals, author Candace Faust and artist Morgan Spicer.
In addition, the committee is selling, the popular map depicting Colts Neck historic sites, (suitable for framing) at $20 each, and “A Tour of Historic Colts Neck” booklet written by County Commissioner Lillian G. Burry at10 each as well as the “Norman the Christmas Dog, an excellent gift for children of all ages.
“Our Christmas open house last year was so popular, many have asked us to repeat it,” said Chairperson Burry, the former Colts Neck Mayor. “Everyone on the Colts Neck Historical Preservation Committee enjoys preparing and opening the Montrose School for special events that highlight our township’s unique role in 19th Century America. Commissioner Burry continued “We invite everyone to share in the warmth and historic significance of the Montrose School during this community celebration.”
Mrs. Burry negotiated the purchase of the school, the only publicly owned one-room schoolhouse in Colts Neck. This was accomplished at the cost of $1 from the township’s former Historical Society over a decade ago. The committee raises funds to continue to upgrade and maintain the school.
Monmouth County high school students are invited to compete in the County Clerk’s Annual Elections and Voting Video Contest. This year’s contest asks students to reflect on what voting means to them and why it is important, while encouraging their peers to vote.
“We are very excited to announce this year’s high school student video contest,” said Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon. We hope this will engage young people in the voting process, and call attention to the many election-based ways New Jersey voters can have their voices heard.”
The clerk added “Approaching Election Day is the perfect time to remind young people the right to vote is a right to be cherished and exercised, and that voting is now easier than ever.”
The contest is open to high school students who reside in Monmouth County and/or attend a high school in Monmouth County. Students are allowed to work alone or to form groups of no more than three members. Single or group entrants are permitted to submit one original video that is one to three minutes long and reflects on what the right to vote means to them and why it’s important; the focus should be on educating peers of the three ways to vote in New Jersey. Students are permitted to be creative in their submissions and can use digital or traditional special effects.
The top three videos will be awarded gift card prizes and will be prompted via the County Clerk’s social media platforms and voter outreach program. Videos will remain the property of the County Clerk’s Office.
“Voting for representatives and local policies are cornerstones of the American Republic,” said Hanlon. “Choices made in elections can shape policies from the local to the national levels.” She noted the expansion of voting options in theate which continues to grow to include traditional Election Day voting, mail-in voting, and early in-person voting.”
Entries will be accepted through Tuesday, November 1 and via email to ClerkContest@co.monmouth.nj.us with the subject “2022 High School Video Contest.” Entrants must upload their video to YouTube and then email the direct link to the video to the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office.
For full contest rules and eligibility, please visit the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office website at MonmouthCountyClerk.com.
U.S. CONGRESSMAN CHRIS SMITH REPRESENTING NEW JERSEY'S 4TH DISTRICT
Congressman Chris Smith is pushing new legislation, in the wake of the growing trend across the nation in rainbow fentanyl trafficking which would expand the nation’s authority in combating the entry of the opioid from crossing the border into the United States.
The legislation, known as the Homeland Security Fentanyl Enforcement Act ( HR 9093) grants more authority to the Department of Homeland Security in halting the drug, which comes from China, and is targeted for use by young people.
“Targeting children by drug cartels with deadly fentanyl made to look like candy is just the latest horrific aspect of the fentanyl crisis that has wreaked havoc on our communities,” said Smith, previously the author of HR 1542 designed to help combat the fentanyl crisis.
“The nefarious drug networks pushing this Chinese-made synthetic opioid—which is 50 times more potent than heroin—on our kids in our own backyard must be defeated,” said Smith. He noted that in the last five months alone, US law enforcement officials have seized more than 10 million fentanyl pills and another approximate 980 pounds of fentanyl powder, equating to more than 36 million lethal doses.
HR 9093, developed DHS law enforcement officers, would grant agents within the DHS Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) unit with independent authority to enforce America’s drug laws. Currently, only approximately 1,500 of more than 6,800 HSI special agents have DEA authority to investigate these crimes, leaving thousands of HSI agents on the sidelines as fentanyl and other deadly drugs pour into the country.
The bill is just one of Smith’s ongoing attempts to combat the fentanyl crisis. Earlier this year, the Congressman cosponsored the Stop Fentanyl Border Crossings Act(HR 7359), which would expand Title 42 authority to turn away migrants to combat the profuse amount of drug smuggling across the US-Mexico Border.
“It is absolutely critical that we secure our border immediately to help put an end to the immense suffering and loss of life caused by the infiltration of these lethal drugs,” said Smith, who last Congress chaired a congressional hearing entitled “Tackling Fentanyl: The China Connection ” that included compelling testimony from then-Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato.
Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon has created a COVID-19 Pandemic Archive to preserve important government records for historical purposes, and is requesting municipal and county government officials to submit documents pertaining to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“The COVID-19 Pandemic is an historic event that will be of great interest to future historians, researchers, scientists, health and public policy experts, as well as government leaders,” said Hanlon. “It is critical that we take steps now to secure these records, and Monmouth County will be at the forefront of this preservation effort by maintaining these records in the Monmouth County Archives..”
The Clerk oversees the Archives, where countless county government records, both paper and digital, are stored and preserved. The Archives also houses county and municipal government records, newspapers, photographs, and maps.
To ensure as much information as possible about now Covid-19 altered precedent for government responses to crises, the clerk said , “we must preserve as much information as possible for future knowledge about this historic time period.”
Hanlon added that her office has designed a method for municipal governments to submit documents for preservation and will be reaching out to each of the 53 municipalities in the county to request participation.
For questions about the COVID-19 Archive, please email William.Elwell@co.monmouth.nj.us or call 732-431-7324, ext. 8745. To view an informational video about the County Archives and its collections, visit the website at MonmouthCountyClerk.com/Archives.
I am so happy I learned real journalism at my father’s knee as a child and honed it over the years, always taking advantage of the AP Stylebook for proper terms and usage, And because of how much I learned and how well it aided me in being successful, I’m even more delighted that in writing my own blog, I do not have to adhere to today’s AP Stylebook. Nor do I have to use new made-up words to draft my stories.
Some things have not changed. For instance, I always knew if I was writing about Queen Elizabeth, it was a capital Q, but not so if I were referring simply to the queen. The same with any of the other royals, be they king, prince, duke or whatever. Came in handy at the time of the queen’s death.
But now, if I were following AP Style, I cannot say not say pro-choice or pro-life or pro-abortion; I’m expected to say abortion rights or anti-abortion. Don’t quite understand why it’s ok to say anti-abortion, but not pro-life, but that’s what AP Style tells me.
Fortunately, AP still allows me to write ‘pregnant women” But, they tell me, if I REALLY want to be inclusive, then I should use the term “pregnant people.” That would ensure I’m covering all women, even those who may be pregnant but don’t identify as women…that means transgender men and nonbinary people, you understand.
It doesn’t matter that my heart breaks every time I see photos of dozens of illegal immigrants crashing our Texas borders in order to get here…AP says I can’t call them illegal aliens or unauthorized immigrants, or refer to them as illegal, or unauthorized. I should just call all these folks breaking our laws migrants or immigrants…even though they are not.
I’m happy AP thinks it’s ok to call Fentanyl a drug, the street drug that’s ten times more powerful than heroin and the leading drug of overdose deaths in the country. But that’s the same name I use for all prescriptions doctors write for legal purchases. I’m pretty sure they’re still allowing me to refer to Fentanyl as an illegal drug, though, at least they haven’t said I can’t.
I can still call a gun a gun, but I can’t call any guns assault rifles or assault weapons, even they look like assault weapons. I should be more specific…like
Identifying the function of a say, rifle, and identify it as semi-automatic rifle or automatic rifle. But of course to do that, I have to know how many bullets are fired, and if there’s an auto reload so it just keeps on firing when the trigger is depressed. When somebody does this a lot, I should call it a shooting rampage, and not say somebody went on a shooting spree. Kind of sounds like he went on a shopping spree or something fun like that.
When it comes to sex and gender I really get confused. For the last five years, the AP Stylebook has told me there’s such a thing as “cisgender “, which means the people whose genders match their sexual organs. I should use intersex for those whose external sexual organs differ from whom they think or feel they are. That’s because AP tells me gender refers to a person’s social identity, and is entirely different from sex, which just means the biological characteristics. So, to keep everyone happy, I really should never say both or either sex, or heavens, the opposite sex, since they all infer there are only two sexes or genders, I’m not sure which.
And to be really correct, I should simply say they. But not They is, which is what I would have used if I thought sex or gender was singular and that would make the pronoun ‘they’ singular. Nope, I still should say they are, but I haven’t figured out why. What happened to the days of subject and predicate agreeing? AP Style suggests use the print the name, rather than the pronoun if that’s important to you…or reword the sentence to avoid a pronoun altogether.
All of this is necessary, you understand, because in the 21st century, more young people are identifying themselves as non-conforming with what we all thought were two genders, so there is therefore a new need to change the language.
APSTYLE tackles the question head-on on whether MS, Mr., Ms, Mrs. or something else is the best courtesy title to use in writing. Their answer? In most cases, avoid any courtesy title at all. Change the sentence around so you don’t need a pronoun.
The Exhibit, sponsored jointly by the Eastern Branch library and the Shrewsbury Historical Society, features a variety of unique and everyday chairs from early 20th century as well as centuries before. An additional assortment of more than 30 other vintage seatings is also on display at the Historical Society, located at 425 Sycamore Ave., Shrewsbury, the Four Corners Historic area.
The Library exhibit also includes a collection of books and other sources giving in depth descriptions and further information about the manufacture of chairs, including information on woods and designs and specific uses.
The library exhibit is open throughout open library hours. The Shrewsbury Historical Society exhibit is open by appointment. For further information contact the Historical Society at ShrewsburyHistoricalSociety@gmail.com or by calling 732-530-7974.
Coordinators of the Library exhibit are Historical Society president Donald Burden, and Society trustees Robin Blair, GeeGee Blair, and Ellen Jackson, together with honorary life members Hudy and Stuart Buncher, with Eastern Branch librarian Kim Avagliano and reference librarian Debbie Alfano
At least 14 members of the Knights of Columbus of the Rev. Joseph J. Donnelly Council had the distinct honor and privilege to set up and achieve an ambitious fundraising goal for the Blue Mass, said Michael Napolitano, Grand Knight of Council 11660 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help St Agnes Church.
The Knights of Columbus are one of the many local organizations and residents supporting the 20th annual Blue Mass which honors health, safety and emergency volunteers and police in the Bayshore, as well as Middletown fire companies from throughout the township and security personnel at Gateway National Recreation Area.
The mass will be held Wednesday , Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m.. continuing a tradition started at St. Agnes Church two decades ago.
Napolitano said planning began in early August in order to have sufficient funds available in advance of the event. The Mass at St. Agnes brings hundreds of people and many join the volunteers at the Shore Casino following the mass. The volunteer organizations also donate to finance the event at the Casino.
“Rather than pat ourselves on the back, we take this opportunity to thank all of the people who generously donated in support of our local Police, Fire, EMS and Military First Responders,” said the Grand Knight, adding, “ and we are especially heartened to have seen this outpouring of support amidst the current backdrop of “woke” disrespect exhibited by a small but highly vocal minority.”
Napolitano also expressed thanks to the establishments who donated space in front of their stores in order for us to solicit donations on behalf of this event. These included Bayshore Pharmacy, Vingo Liquors, Sea Streak Ferry in both Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, 7-11 of Atlantic Highlands and Quick-Chek of Highlands. “Our thanks and appreciation go to all of them for participating in our effort and making it so successful.”
The restoration of the Dorothy Blair Manson Eagle, posted at the entrance to the Shrewsbury Historical Society on Shrewsbury Ave and Route 35, has been completed in time for special honors for Veterans Day, 2022.
Society President Donald Burden in reviewing the known history of the sculpture, it once adorned a building of the A. Hall and Sons Terra Cotta Company in Perth Amboy.
The company was the prominent terra cotta producer in the United States in the 19th century. It was famous for creating much of the intricate ornamentation found on many of the businesses in New York City and elsewhere.
The eagle at the Historical Society is terra cotta with a porcelain glaze and weights in excess of 800 pounds. It rests upon a pedestal weighing more than 1500 pounds.
It was relocated from the garden at former Shrewsbury Mayor Dorothy Blair Manson’s home on Buttonwood Drive. She originally purchased it from a local antique dealer. Manson served the borough as Mayor from 1979 to 1990.
Members of The Manson family gifted and dedicated the statue at the borough’s Community Day Celebration in October 2014. At the time it needed some minor repairs. Weather related issues hounded the eagle to the point it was necessary for a major restoration using a variety of epoxies, plasters, and high quality paints.
Now the Mason eagle will proudly hold court in its prominent position overlooking the Shrewsbury Historical Society and the Shrewsbury Municipal Complex.
The Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club presented a check totaling $33,065 to Randi Zamkotowicz, representing 180 Turning Lives Around at a gala ceremony at the Yacht Club at the Municipal Yacht Harbor earlier this month.
The check represented the proceeds from the annual Ms Race charity sailboat race sponsored by the club and co- chaired by Diane Kropfl and Emily Smith.
“The Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club has a long history of supporting our community and we are honored to be able to continue to support the important work of the “180 Turning Lives Around” program, “ said Yacht Club Commodore Frank Allsman, in making the presentation to Zamkotowicz.
“Since our founding in 1953, community service has been a core value of our membership. I could not be prouder of all of the efforts of our members and the positive impact of the work they do in our community,” Allsman continued.
The MS Race was held in late August, specifically designed to benefit and raise awareness for 180 Turning Lives Around, a Monmouth County based private, non-profit organization dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault in the community.
All proceeds from the Ms. Race as well as other related special events throughout the year comprise the total presented at the presentation event this month, the 18th annual ceremony the result of the highly successful Ms Race.
In addition to being a traditional fund raiser for 180, this year’s race paid tribute to the life and legacy of Eileen Campbell, a longtime friend and supporter of 180 Turning Lives Around.
Winner of this year’s Traditional Non-Spinnaker division was the Tartan/3700 skippered by Kropfl, a co-chair of the fundraiser, with her experienced sailing crew that included Barbara Nevius at the helm. Celtic Star, a Sabre/34 captained by Sue Mulholland of the Keyport Yacht Club came in second and Laura Oncea on Confiscated from the Shrewsbury River Yacht Club finished third.
Top honors for the new Spinnaker division went to Ann Myer from the Raritan Yacht Club and Storm Trysail Club on her J/105 Magic. Magic and Aviato, skippered by AHYC Race Committee Co-chair Karen Harris, crossed the finish line in a photo finish with Magic’s finish time reported one second ahead of Aviato. They were followed by Elaine Haher and crew on her J/24 A Better Hair Day.
A record twelve teams of women sailors from five New Jersey Bayshore yacht clubs participated in this year’s race: Eduam, A Better Hair Day, Celtic Star, Confiscated, Witch of the Wave, Coda, Saint of Circumstance, Smoking J, Lady P., Magic, Vici and Aviato.
Friends, family and other guests and spectators gathered on boats and cheered the sailors as they made their way around the course just off the Yach Harbor and visible from its overlook location above the Shore Casino restaurant.
Following the race, captains and crew celebrated on their boats followed by the awards ceremony at the Yacht Club where Allsman recognized and praised the club racing event and its support for 180.
Awards were presented by 180 Executive Director, Anna Diaz-White, who praised the club and its members for supporting the charity and bringing total donations to $225,000 over its 18 year history..
“I had so much fun and enjoyed seeing all of the amazing women sailors supporting each other, dancing, and cheering and celebrating each other!, Diaz-White said to the group. “ This is what the Ms. Race is all about. Women being supportive of women, it was and is a moving and powerful thing to see.”
In recounting some history of the annual event, Allsman, explained that in the early days of the Ms Race, club members talked about making that specific race a charity fundraiser. Jodi Dash was a Ms. Race crew member and worked as an art therapist for 180. She suggested 180 and “it’s been a partnership ever since.”
In addition, Laura Kenneally reached out to the race committee to cross promote their charity event for 180 Turning Lives Around where they created and sold shawls to benefit 180. A shawl sale inspired by Stevie Nicks, a performer appearing at the Sea-Hear-Now Festival in Asbury Park.
Two of the shawls were purchased as gifts for Ms. Race Co-chairs Kropfl and Smith by Zamkotowicz on behalf of 180. She and 180 also commissioned two pieces of art from 180’s Amanda’s Easel program for the co-chairs as well. Both women, overwhelmed by the generosity of the charity, also expressed their deep appreciation of all those who made the race the success it was. .
The cochairs also noted special events are held each year for fundraising necessary to make the Ms Race event the success it always is. Some of these special events include the Home Goods and Nautical Sale hosted by the Ms Race committee in May as part of the borough’s Townwide Garage Sale and a display of Eileen Campbell’s artwork at the AHYC Art Wall with the sale of which designated to benefit 180.
