Look for a detailed story here soon, but in the meantime, just check out the incredible artwork on the Robert Wilson Community Center in Highlands. It’s actually a community hand-print that can’t be beat in showing what community efforts, and folks working together, can create. The mural is the result of cooperative efforts among the Highlands Borough Arts Council (HBAC) the Henry Hudson Regional School Arts Club, and the Highlands Recreation Committee. It’s all because Highlands Borough Arts applied for and received a terrific grant from the Monmouth Arts and the NJ State Arts Council. The Monmouth and NJ State Arts councils have amazing grants and are very generous when the goal is to bring people together and create an exciting mural and visionary beauty to a borough.
Atlantic Highlands-If there is enough time to correct the error, the planning board will still have its special meeting Monday night to review the mayor and council’s transfer of the proposed redevelopment plan for Mother Theresa school and within a month, give their opinion to the governing body in time for Council’s action at its Dec. 15. Meeting… Busy
A rush indeed for such a major project after more than three years of seemingly nothing much happening. At least that the public is aware of.
Add to that one review and recommendation, since the planning board, without giving a reason, cancelled its regular meeting scheduled for Nov. 3, the items planned for action that night are also being included in the special meeting Monday.
That means, according to the proposed agenda, the planning board will act to approve attorney vouchers for two months, approve minutes from a previous meeting, act on resolutions for the DeMaio property, deny an application for a minor subdivision, act on a resolution for a Fourth Avenue property, grant use and bulk variances, act on a resolution for property on Ocean blvd., grant an extension of a variance approval, and finally, “Review and Comment on the “South Avenue Redevelopment Plan” referred by the Borough Council on November 10, 2022, and proposed for council adoption at its Dec. 15 meeting.
That’s the Mother Theresa school property. That’s the only business for that special meeting that is being advertised for legal purposes. The Agenda also notes that formal action may be taken on that item.
Older than the Country itself, the United States Marine Corps celebrates their 247th Birthday tomorrow, the 10th of November. Click the attached link to view the Commandant of the Marine Corps Annual Birthday Message … and if that doesn’t leave you in complete awe … some quotes about the finest fighting force that has ever graced this planet, and of the brave young men and women, who provide the blanket of freedom that we sleep under.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINES
“That two battalions of Marines be raised consisting of one colonel, two lieutenant colonels, two majors and officers as usual in other regiments, that they consist of an equal number of privates with other battalions; that particular care be taken that no person be appointed to office or enlisted into said battalions, but such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve to advantage by sea.”
Resolution of the Continental Congress, 10 November 1775
“The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!”
Eleanor Roosevelt
“Once a Marine, always a Marine!”
Master Sergeant Paul Woyshner
“Come on, you sons of bitches-do you want to live forever?”
Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Daly
“Casualties many; Percentage of dead not known; Combat efficiency; we are winning.”
Colonel David M. Shoup
“Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.”General Alexander A. Vandergrift
“I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world.”
General Douglas MacArthur
“Retreat Hell! We’re just attacking in another direction.”
Major General Oliver P. Smith
Marines I see as two breeds, Rottweilers or Dobermans, because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean, or skinny and mean.
They’re aggressive on the attack and tenacious on defense. They’ve got really short hair and they always go for the throat.
Rear Admiral “Jay” R. Stark, USN
“Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don’t have that problem.”
The Intertribal Council of AT&T Employees (ICAE), a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, placed historical markers along several of the Monmouth County portions of the Lenape Great Navesink to Minisink Trail honoring the Lenape tribe of Native Americans who used the trail for seasonal migration, travel, and trade. The trail served as a foundation for some of the earliest roads in the state. The signs, placed last week, are near the entrance to the AT&T Middletown facility on Holland Road, Kings Highway both in Middletown and Crawfords Corner Road at Holmdel Park.
The 75-mile Lenape Great Navesink to Minisink Trail was the longest Lenape Trail in the state and is recorded as having groups as large as 700 people traveling together in transit. It connected the Lenape communities living along the Navesink River area of Sandy Hook to the Lenape Minsi or People of the Stone Country Council Fire, at Minisink Island in today’s Delaware Water Gap. An Eastern Region Trading Hub existed at Minisink Island which further connected to the Mohawk Trail in New York State as well as other trade routes leading into Pennsylvania, the Great Lakes Region, and Canada.
The 1747 James Alexander Map delineates the “Navesink to Minisink Indian Path” and was used at that time to help identify land purchase boundaries and settle land dispute lawsuits. As late as 1820, a group of Minsi Lenape were noted to perform a “War Dance” in appreciation of the hospitality of a homeowner and his neighbors who allowed the traveling band to sleep in their barn for overnight lodging.
AT&T provided the funding for one marker, and the ICAE raised the funds for the additional markers. Significant support and partnership for this project came from Middletown Township and Mayor Tony Perry, the Monmouth County Park System, the Middletown Township Historical Society, the Middletown Landmarks Commission, the Sandhill Lenape Community of Neptune, and the federally recognized Delaware Tribe of Indians as well as AT&T.
“The Township Committee and I are honored to play a part in formally recognizing the original settlers of Middletown,” said Mayor Perry. “It is important we pay tribute to those responsible for giving us the wonderful place we are fortunate enough to call home.”
The Monmouth County portion of the path was researched by Paul Boyd as part of his Ph.D. thesis submission to Rutgers University..
ICAE is an AT&T Employee Resource Group dedicated to supporting Native American communities and their advancement in the fields of math and science. They provide annual scholarships to deserving Native American college students and help to place them at internships within AT&T. Financial donations to ICAE can be made at https://icae4nativeamericans.org/events/ for scholarships or for additional Minisink Trail Markers that can be placed in other historic trail locations. Donors are asked to specify if a donation is specific to the Minisink Trail.
The Monmouth County Pop Band “The Unemployed Teachers” have also adopted the Minisink Trail Marker as a band project. Donors of $50 or more will receive their unreleased song “Footsteps” written to help popularize knowledge of the Minisink Trail. The group can be reached at mgottwerth@yahoo.com.
Though it is not mentioned by name in either the agenda, the revised agenda, or even in the title of the proposed ordinance itself, the Mayor and Council plan on taking action on the Mother Theresa school property at tomorrow night’s meeting of the governing body.
That action, if approved, would refer the long awaited Mother Theresa Redevelopment Plan to the Planning board for a “consistency review.”
In coordination with this agenda, the Planning Board is advertising a special meeting for Monday evening at 7:30 at Borough Hall to review and comment on the South Avenue Redevelopment Plan referred by the borough council on Nov. 10 …tomorrow night…and proposed to be adopted by ordinance at council’s Dec. 15 meeting.
So there you have it …
A development plan impacting an entire section of the borough, includes the former Catholic school that has been the subject of numerous meetings, questions from the public, discussions and executive sessions of the governing body or more than three and a half years, is coming up for action under titles the general public would not even think concerns the school , without any hints or explanations referring to it, at a meeting little more than 24 hours away.
Wouldn’t you think somebody on the governing body would insist on enough initial detail to enlighten the public what’s going on on such an important issue?
Of course, there’s more to this story. Starting with the public has never even seen this plan, no has had any questions answered about it.
But they’re gonna send it to the planning board anyway for a special meeting the planners are having to review it four days later. By law, the planners have to have their recommendations, if any back to the governing body within 45 days. It they work quickly, that would be in time for the council to take its next planned action, adopting the reviewed plan at its Dec. 15 meeting,
So what are they reviewing? The proposed plan? Does it include everything that should be reviewed? Things like costs, schedules, plot plans and elevations, a timeline for start and finish, a work schedule, what about blueprints for what the building will look like, who will occupy it, and a few more things the public would and should know about? Does this planning board meeting Monday night include any alternate ideas, even what all is included or will be added later on? Is it just the school, or is it the School and the Hesse Center? Or the school and the Thrift Shop, (the former Andy Richards House) or all three?
Local resident and intense watcher of all things the local government does or doesn’t do, Mark Fisher, had a few more questions of his own. In a timely piece he posted in a letter to those who regularly follow his thoughts, Fisher wants to know, and believes residents and taxpayers also want to know, some more about financial matters…what will purchase and renovations cost the taxpayers, what, if any, will interest costs be, how much will be spent on whatever is purchased over the years, what, precisely, is the financial plan? For that matter, what shape are the buildings in now?
Fisher believes the public has the right to know. Fisher also wonders whether the governing body will allow questions at tomorrow’s meeting. Or will the planners allow any at their meeting?
The resident speaks and thinks like every concerned taxpayers in Atlantic Highlands should, both those who are struggling with current taxes and those who don’t attend meetings and ask questions, but still grumble over the tax rate and wonder how they can afford to stay here.
Fisher is right. It is time for residents to realize what is going on, to attend tomorrow night’s meeting, to ask questions, to find out what is the original plan, the redevelopment plan, the cost of it all and how far it’s gone without their being kept informed. Residents also have the right to know, and should ask, the time frame and proposed occupancy once all is said and done or, if not said and done, what the alternatives are.
Wouldn’t you like to know what is the proposed plan anticipated to be sent to the planning board for the former Mother Theresa school property?
The meeting starts at 7 pm Thursday at Borough Hall; go to AHNJ.com to see the entire agenda, the planning board notice of a special meeting, and the ZOOM connection to the meeting if unable to attend.
Let the secrecy end.
Demand answers.
It appears this year’s incumbents on the governing body learned in yesterday’s election the public truly wants to know what’s going on. Will next year’s incumbents, who have been just as secretive, learn from this or will the public continue to be kept in the dark on as many issues as they are now?
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.
