You gotta love Assemblywoman DiMaso. She’s a strong advocate of keeping our personal lives personal. While vaccines are most likely the right way to go…I say most likely because we don’t know the impact they could have on us after they’ve been tested a few years… but she’s a stronger advocate of the government not dictating everything we do on an everyday basis. So having to carry a card to prove we’ve done the deal when we’re sitting next to our friends at a baseball game or buying a hot dog in a small restaurant is a little much. Small businesses have had it tough enough during the pandemic, and they’ve been wise, learned a lot…lost a lot as well….and don’t need yet another mandate to check on people before they can spend money. Read my story in my trains and planes column to see how much more difficult it is already in order to travel. We should have such stringent regulations at the southern border. On a cheerier note, I love East Point Fitness on Route 36 on the Highlands line with Middletown, and love all the people who go there. Nice to see so many taking great (and fun) steps to stay healthy. But I laugh everytime I pull into the parking lot because all of the spots closest to the fit ness center are filled with all the people going inside the fitness center to get their exercise. COuldn’t it start in the parking lot by parking at the far end or at least on the other side? Ane back to that new bakery on West Avenue in Atlantic Highlands…that is only open weekends for now but will open more days soon…take the time while you’re in that parking lot to see the other great businesses there. Woodhaven Florist maks you smile just to see all their beautiful plants outside, and their shelves of books ready for the borrowing. There’s a hair cutter in there as well, and a dog groomer. It’s my bet this little mall is going to grow and become more popular…there’s still one empty store for rent.

Three things that make me happy

The Atlantic Highlands borough employees at the borough’s recycling center, always ready with a friendly greeting, smile a and helping hand. Debbie at Evolve Beauty Salon in Colts Neck who can squeeze in a quick hair style at the last minute so I can keep an important meeting and look well.

The tech staff at the Monmouth County Library who continue to provide exciting and educational programs, speakers, music and more virtually to everyone who visits WWW.MonmounthCountyLib.org

It has become a ritual for this wonderful group of friends who first met at the 6:30 Mass every morning at St. Rose of Lima Church in Freehold. They laugh about it now, because many of them only new each other from which side of the church they sat on and in which pew they sat every morning. Over the years they became friendly chatting before and after mass, asking each other for prayers for a particular event or illness or celebrating each other’s successes or major events. Then one day Mary Janwich, the organized member of the group, suggested they all meet for breakfast after mass. And so it began. Amost two decades ago. Even Mary’s grandson Gunnar and Axel join the group when they’re visiting their grandparents in Freehold. There is no longer a 6:30 daily mass at St. Rose, some of the group have moved to other towns further distant, some live in Pennsylvania and others spend a lot of time in Florida. But all look forward to the several times a year breakfast or luncheon where they renew friendships, catch up on news, pray for those not able to attend and laugh and enjoy themselves a lot.

Part of the group this year includes Milagros Martino,Gunnar Janwich, Linda Ryan, Muriel Smith,Axel Janwich, Judy Warenkiewicz, Don Sabatini, Theresa Campanella, Nick Spinelli and his wife, Connor Spinelli

Atlantic Highlands Borough sanitation and public works department employees immediately pooled resources to help residents clear fallen trees and huge downed branches from the area so jcp&l employees could work on restoring electricity to local homes and businesses.

Neighbor Brian Dogherty stopped power company workers and showed them a video of where equipment had exploded last night.

A Team of employees immediately reacted and began investigating to find solution for 96 year old old resident

Mama Warbler was very distressed. She had been distressed since early spring. Sure, back then, at first she was very proud and happy. Every bird in the neighborhood had come to visit her. Even the mourning doves, who usually didn’t fly too high, flew up to her nest in the highest tree in front of St. Agnes Church just to congratulate her and Papa Warbler.

Bluebirds came over from Highlands, and even the sparrows who nested along the edge of the North light in the Twin Lights sent her cheery greetings. That’s because Mama and Papa Warbler had hatched not three or four, but seven eggs. Seven! It was a record in the entire Bayshore! Very few warblers could ever lay seven eggs, everyone knew. They were Golden-Winged Warbler, best known for their beautiful song, the two pitched melody that sounded like a long bussing sound, only prettier.

Over the months, Papa Warbler was finding the biggest, juiciest and most delicious mosquitos and worms for dinners that the family decided not to fly south, but simply to move into the inner branches of a fir tree and feather their nest with, well, feathers, of course!

Everything was going along fine! All seven baby warblers were hungry eaters and learned to fly early. Then Mama Warbler started teaching them the several notes they would be singing for the rest of their lives. She told them of the happiness they would bring to little children playing in the church parking lot, or how the dogs walking past very well behaved on their leashes would look up and smile at them. She told them how the men passing along the avenue with their boats on trailers behind their cars would laugh when they saw their patches of yellow on their wings and the black around their throats. They would make everyone happy, bird, beast or human, Mama Warbler said proudly.

And that’s what was making both Papa and Mama Warbler so distressed today. Sure, six of the seven of their brood developed beautiful voices, all sang so well; Mortimer was especially loud and that was good because the golden dog in the yard on South Avenue could always hear him.

But Wendy Warbler, the tiniest of the Golden Warbler family? She couldn’t sing a note! She couldn’t even make her voice sound like a beeee, let along the bs, bs, bs it had to develop to be a warbler’s song.

“I just don’t know what to do,” Mama said to Papa, “ we have tried everything, The wise old owl in the tree at Hartshorne Woods said he couldn’t figure it out. The red cardinal that always went to that birdfeeder in the apartment across from the church said she didn’t know what the matter was. The crows merely cackled and said everybody couldn’t have a nice voice.”

Papa Warbler tired to soothe the mother bird and stroked her feathers softly. “Don’t worry,” he said, “ something good will happen. God wouldn’t let our baby bird not be treated like every other bird. He will take care of us.”

“Oh, that’s nice to think about,” Mama Warbler scoffed, “but why would He think of our little bird? Do you have any idea how busy God always is and how much He has to do?” Still, Papa chided, clucking a little right next to her ear, “Don’t worry. More importantly, think of getting all those chicks bedded down for the night. It’s Christmas Eve.”

So Mama Warbler sighed a sad sigh, but went about puffing up the leaves and the feathers to ensure the nest would be warm. Pretty soon, everyone was settled for the night, the stars came out to shine, and the moon, if you looked carefully, was smiling as if he knew something wonderful was going to happen.

At midnight, when the lights went on over in the church across from their nest in the tree, and people started coming to midnight mass, the music in the big organ high up in the church began playing. It wakened Papa Warbler and he loved the music so much he called to his friend the mouse, whom he knew lived high up in the windowsill of the choir loft. “Could you just open that window a tiny bit,” he asked. That way I can hear the Aves and Glories when the Infant is born.”

And so it was when the choir began to sing, their music was wafted out the window, filling the air with happy melody and hymns devoted to showing their love for the newborn Baby. The music woke all the babies, and Mama Warbler as well, and she called them all together to cuddle and hear the sounds of Christmas in the air.

All of a sudden, there was one more sound. Mama Warbler, knew it right away and to her it was even more beautiful than the organ, more beautiful than the choir, more beautiful than anything she had ever heard in her life. Mama Warbler could hear little Wendy, the quiet one, the smallest one, and she turned to look at her.

Wendy was standing proudly she fluffed her feathers and puffed out her chest. And out of Wendy’s little beak was coming the most beautiful, the most melodious bee bz-bz-bz- anyone had ever heard.

It was the magic of Christmas. Just as the animals can talk on Christmas Eve, so can God give a beautiful singing voice to a tiny little Yellow Winged Warbler nobody thought would ever be able to raise her voice in song.

The moon definitely winked as Papa Warbler looked up to the sky. Mama Warbler saw it, too, as she tucked herself under Papa Warbler’s wing. And she winked back. With a song in her hear and music in her ears.

This is another Christmas legend that I have written for either my kids, Grand-kids, or Great Grand-kids over the course of the last 60 years or so … I hope you enjoy

Oh this indeed was going to be a wonderful evening for Jimmy Mouse. His friends Jimmy, Patrick and Bobby were all coming over. Whew they were large Mouse families, and each of the boys’ parents had taken all the little mice out to borough hall to be there for the Christmas tree lighting. All the older boys loved to play around the Lighthouse and all lived close enough they could meet there every day.

For the parents and little ones going to Borough Hall, they all knew they had to hide in the corner and be very quiet. There were lots of ladies who weren’t very fond of them. The mother Mice were always sad about that. They figured if they just took the time to know the little ones, they might like them. Sure, they all had nibbled on any food left out on the table, and yes, they did tickle feet when they ran over them. But they were kind and nice, and just liked having a little fun. So tonight, just because all the parent Mice wanted their little ones to enjoy the magic of Christmas and the beauty of all the lights, so they were going to be extra careful so as not to be seen.

Not so Jimmy. He had put out the word to all his friends he was going to be alone in the family nest in the corner of his house tonight. Jimmy lived in a big cozy in the woods close to the Twin Lights and he and his friends had a great secret they had been keeping for a long time. Tonight seemed the perfect night to carry out their plan, what with the parent Mice being down in Highlands. So Jimmy had told his mom that no, he didn’t want to see any lights. He just wanted to stay at home and play by himself, maybe read his newest comic book, “The Big Cheese.”

The truth of the matter was, Jimmy really did want to see Christmas lights. But he also knew he, Bobby, Patrick and Jimmy had all plotted that the very first chance they could get, they would climb all the steps to the top of one of the Towers of the Twin Lights and have a look around. They kept telling themselves they were big mice now. Their parents had all warned them, “You better never climb either of the towers until your fathers take you up there on a bright sunny day. We don’t ever want to take the chance you will slide through one of the sides and go crashing down to the floor. Nor do we want you hanging out around one of the window on your way up.” All the parents had warned their little boys that the towers were no place for them to play.

Surely they were always happy running through the tall grass, or hiding under the steps into the Museum. Or even jumping from display case to display case in one of the big halls inside. There were all things they did, of course only, when the museum was closed, the lights out, and no one was around. All the Mice knew if they were ever seen, why, oh, they couldn’t think about it. They just knew if they were caught, something terrible would happen. The little boy mice did not want that, of course. They all lived close to the Twin Lights, and loved going up there to play.

The little mice enjoyed their days playing outside and their nights exploring all the magic and wonder inside the museum. The boys were all close friends, and never a day went by that they didn’t get together to tell each other something else they had learned, something else wonderful they had seen. Bobby loved being in the room where all the Highlands people were pictured on the walls; Patrick liked seeing all the sail boats and life saving equipment, the two Jimmy’s especially liked all the post card pictures that made up a beautiful display of the Twin Lights and the story about the hero lighthouse keeper from the Spanish American War.

But now, Jimmy, Bobby, Patrick and Jimmy felt they were old enough. Surely they could make a quick trip to the top of a tower, see the whole town of Highlands, look out for ships out at sea, then scramble back down the stairs and get back to a safe place before anyone got home. It was very exciting to think about.

So the four met at the edge of the woods and decided they would try the South Tower. Patrick thought maybe he could see his own house from there. Besides, they already knew it was the easier door to squirm under to get inside.

There was a bit of a struggle at the very beginning. It was easy enough to get inside the Twin Lights, there was always some little cranny they could use to get inside. But they had never tried the door to the tower. First, they had to figure out how to through the door at the foot of the tower steps. They finally realized they could squeeze very tiny, hold their breaths awfully hard, and just manage to get under the door, though a bit out of breath and with sore little tummies. But once on the stair side of the door, they were elated.

Oh the trip up was wonderful. The four friends scampered up and down a few stairs at a time. They giggled when they got a paw caught in the metal, knowing they could pull it out quickly enough. They were even brave enough to peek over the side of the railing as t hey climbed higher and saw how far up they were. They all agreed it was a wonderful adventure.

When they got close to the top, the boys wiggled under another door to get outside and see the view from there. It was magnificent! They could run a complete circle and see everything from every side. They could see the lights on the CAPT. Azzolina Bridge, they could hear the owls on the trees closer to Henry Hudson School and they could even see the tippy tops of some of the mansions in Monmouth Hills. They could also look down and see the river rushing past Bahrs Restaurant, and see all the Christmas lights welcoming people to the shops in town. They saw the lights flickering on the dock in front of Bahrs and even saw some lights over on Sandy Hook. That reminded Jimmy of the stories his Great Aunt Edna Mouse had told him about Sandlass Beach, the wonderful seashore resort across the bridge where she lived. If only he could have lived there, he often thought.

But tonight was tonight and it was special! So the boys finished their tour around, then scampered inside to see if they cold go any higher. They knew they could, but knew there was another door they had to squeeze under, and quite frankly, they did not know what they would see up there. But they wanted to go on and try.

Once at the top, faced with that door and not knowing what they would find, the mice were getting frightened. Maybe we should have just gone with our parents to see the tree in town, one of them murmured. Yeah, said another, this is fun and I’m glad we’re doing it, but we’re missing the lights on the Highlands tree. Maybe we should have saved this for another time, the third one grumbled.

Well we’re here and let’s make the most of it, the boys finally decided! So they got together and helped each other squeeze under that last door. And once inside the very top of the tower, each of the four of them simply gasped in surprise. They couldn’t speak for a second, so taken by the wonder of what they could see.

But here it was. In all its glory. The boys couldn’t ‘t believe their eyes! There, right in front of them, well, of course they had to look up but they quickly scampered to the ledge so they could get a better look. There, to their surprise, was the most beautiful Christmas tree they had ever seen. There, right smack in the middle of the very top of the South Tower of the Twin Lights they loved so much, was a beautiful lighted Christmas tree, with colors of red, and green and gold and more, all as bright as, well ,they thought, as bright as a lighthouse should be!

Each of the four sat in awe, for the first time ever, no one spoke. Each secretly made a silent wish, blinked twice to be sure they were seeing what they thought they were seeing, then pledging friendship forever, turned and scampered back down the stairs, out the door, into the woods, and back in their own homes, safe and snug before their parents came home.

Each of the boys was in his own bed when his parents came home. But as each mom and dad kissed their sleeping sons and wished them a Happy Christmas, each smiled the smile only a parent knows. Just like the grandparent people knew when their sons and daughters jumped off the old bridge over the Shrewsbury as their rite of passage, the Mice people knew their bigger children had made the climb to the top of the tower for their own rite of passage. And those who did it when the Christmas Tree was in the South Tower had the best time of all.

For any woman who thinks she’s been discriminated against, not able to reach her goals or attain as much as any hard working male counterpart, she missed a spectacular talk by Andrea Jung this week, at the lavish and very exciting Monmouth Conservation Foundation Lunch & Shop annual holiday event.

Jung, the former Chairman and CEO of Avon Products, gave the several hundred guests at the day long program, a brief history of her upbringing, from the time her grandparents arrived in the United States from China penniless but hardworking and made it possible for her parents to succeed as well as teaching her that with determination and hard work she could always achieve.

Jung has, as a graduate of Princeton University y, and now a member of the University’s board, and now as CEO of Grameen America, a non-for-profit organization that provides crucial microloans to entrepreneurial women who are launching business ventures. She has also served on other corporate boards, including Apple, Unilever, GE and Wayfair, as well as the NY Presbyterian Hospital and the NJ Council on the Green Economy. She has been recognized as one of America’s most accomplished business leaders which comes as no surprise when you hear her talk.

In her address, Jung made it clear that anyone wanting to succeed should “Follow your Compass, not your clock,” meaning keeping your eye on your goals without worrying abo9ut the time it takes to achieve them. She cited how she was passed over twice before becoming CEO at Avon, and how she turned down two offers to become the CEO of two other major companies to stay where she felt she would be most successful and where her position would fit in with her family obligations as well. Jung said Connie Chung has always been a hero to her, and Steve Jobs advice to fall, but always “fall forward” as necessities in achieving success. Jung recalled a poster of a plant she received which she still has advising women to “Bloom where you’re planted.”

The annual event raises funds for the Conservation Foundation to enable the non-profit organization to continue its goals of preserving open space, and farmland, creating parks, teaching environmental sustainability and safeguarding both waterways and wildlife.

Major sponsors of the event are Montecalvo & Bayshore Family of Companies, Monmouth Medical Center Foundation, Jane and Tim Orr, Monmouth University, Cups& Cakes, The Shadow brook, Sickles Markets, Triumph Brewery, individual donors like Robin and John Klein, Tricia and Bob Maguire, Janice and Shannon Martiak, Kathy Smith and Carol Stillwell, along with even more very generous and conservation-conscious families who wished to remain anonymous. Sickles Market provided some gorgeous poinsettias and the Shadow brook, in addition to looking so festive, gorgeous, and old-world elegant, put out a spectacular dessert sampler.

County Commissioner Lillian G. Burry was there for the event with a table full of friends, not only showing her support for conservation but her pride in the Monmouth County Parks system and all it does to preserve open space and recreational and historical sites in which Monmouth County can be justifiably proud.

And the shops that set up displays and offered sales, 20 per cent of which they also donated to the Foundation, ranged from the very special Sickles Market….hard to believe they have been around for well over 100 years and still family owned and operated to meet the needs and wants of families for all ages, and Old Mill Pond Farm with its honey, jams and jellies, to Francine’s Outrageous Kitchen with a toffee sauce with bourbon that’s too delicious to talk about, and Pleasant Valley Lavender with everything from cosmetics to sachets. There were jewelry shops, baby accessories and clothing, designer dresses and down products including fur throws, and Ocean County’s Tamarack skincare products, a great company started by a mom and daughter because of a special need within their own family. The Monmouth Conservation Foundation certainly makes it easy and fun to shop!

Tomorrow is June 21,

. The longest day of the year, which makes it the shortest night of the year. It’s the day that the sun is most powerful here on earth.

In ancient times, on the Greek calendar, it was the start of the New Year and Cronus, the god of agriculture and time was the center of attention at huge festivals.

The ancient Romans used to leave gifts for the goddess Vertalia before the solstice, asking her to bring blessings on the family.

The Chinese look at the summer solstice as the ‘Yin” or female force, and early Europeans of several cultures had parties at night and lit bonfires, as a way of boosting the sun’s energy to produce a great harvest at the end of the season.

Those involved in witchcraft believe magic is strongest at the summer solstice, and used bonfires also, theirs to banish demons and evil spirits.

Even more interesting, look at some ancient architectures. The Sphinx, for instance. The sun sets directly between the Great Pyramids of Khufu and Khafre on Egypt’s Giza plateau on the summer solstice.

Stonehenge, the megalith monument in southern England, is aligned with the direction of the sunrise on the summer solstice. Coincidence?

Whatever the culture, whatever the time period, the Summer Solstice is a special day for thinking about the Sun, what it represents, what energy it holds and how necessary it is for all life. The Summer Solstice is really more than the first day of summer, more than a longer day to enjoy the sun.

Do all the fun things, but also think of it as a time to try something new. Still fun, but new.

Instead of that bonfire, why not have a barbecue, invite your friends, and share some time appreciating each other’s company.

Have a piece of blueberry pie or blueberry ice cream; smear some honey on toast, both signs of summer. Take a walk in the woods and collect some oak leaves. They ‘re a sign of strength, courage, and endurance, the right way to face the last half of the year.

Make some bath tea. Leave a jar of water outside for the day, at least from noon until four. Add some herbs and add it to your bath for a soothing introduction to the summer season. Try Chamomile or cinnamon. Maybe throw in some St. John’s Wort, which used to be called Chase Devil, used in ancient times to ward off evil spirits.

Write yourself a letter and predict how you see yourself this time Summer Solstice, 2022. Write your goals, your plans, your challenges and solutions. Save it to read next year.

Happy Summer Solstice.

WOW! Just seeing all the new and wonderful exhibits at the Twin Lights Museum is simply spectacular, even without the fact you can now climb both towers!

With Covid problems settling down, the fantastic volunteers who not only man the museum’s store but answer every possible question you can ask about the Twin Lights, are back behind the desk with big smiles and a spotless bright and fresh new museum store to welcome everyone. So is the great NJ Parks staff who are always ready to help, give tours, and go in depth in information about this magnificent piece of history at the top of the Highlands hills. Even the Museum Store has lots of new and intriguing gift and souvenir ideas at all prices.

Locals in particular will love the Highlands room, the result of the team effort of state and Historical Society employee-historian Jenna Paterno,state historian Nicholas Woods and Highlands Historical Society historian and hard worker, Walt Guenther Visit the Twin Lights Historical Society . There are great wall stories and photos of families and people so well known for their roles in history…Blub Parker during Prohibition, Trudy Ederle swimming the Channel, Chris Kohlenbush, Esther Bolster… a great combination of very diverse and fascinating people. And more to come!

Not only that, the room and exhibits are so designed so the room can still be rented for private celebrations or meetings..what fun to have a Birthday Party in the Twin Lights!… The next room, besides being the entry to the South Tower, also houses a great navigational display, where not only are the navigational items on display, but the great explanations go into detail not only of what they are and what they did, but also directions in how they were used. Nick Woods deserves kudos galore for that.

The Twin Lights is certainly a great example of how the state is working closely with the Historical Society and all volunteers in providing the best stories and information in the most enjoyable manner. The camaraderie among all of the folks involved at the Twin Lights makes you realize what teamwork is all about and what it can accomplish. Even the $5 fee the state now charges to climb the two towers is a small price to pay for the magnificent view from the top and bragging rights to tell the world you climbed not one, but two towers, at one lighthouse! Visit the Twin Lights Historical Society website and Facebook pages to learn more fascinating stories and more about this unique museum.

The spectacular weather today is enough to make anyone happy, but sitting at Bahrs Restaurant with an old and trusted friend and seeing how clear the river seems to be getting is an added bonus. Seeing that great new exterior look at Bahrs’ entrance to their riverfront outdoor dining is also pretty terrific and seeing the Inlet Café and Proving Ground, along with Bahrs so crowded with happy and well satisfied customers is kind of like icing on the cake. Watching the young man pump gas for a waiting boater at the Bahrs dock brought back great memories of how and where my own son started his first job, one he loved so much and at which he worked so hard that he snuck out of the house before dawn, just to be sure to be down there at the Chum Box meeting and greeting all the seamen. His popularity among the fishermen coming back from successful fishing trips is also why we had so many bluefish in the freezer and I had to learn 27 different ways to prepare it!

Seeing those two Highlands Police officers come into OLPH Church during mass to bring needed emergency assistance to a churchgoer until the ambulance arrived also gave me a great confidence in the professionalism of the officers, surpassed only by the quick thinking of Fr. Jarlath and his calm and soothing manner of first interrupting the mass to give assistance and prayerful help, then immediately returning to the mass and added prayers for the woman in need. That instills immediate confidence! And how wonderful were the two dozen or so people in church, who didn’t rush over to get in the way, didn’t call out or create any disturbance, simply prayerfully waited for the immediate situation to be resolved, albeit praying silently, I’m sure, then proceeding with daily mass.

Hearing that it will be Tommy Elliott Day on this beloved music instructor’s birthday this week was joyous, knowing just how well Mr. Eliott has been to so many generations of youngsters, both those who have great talent in music that he guided, improved, and honed as well as those with no musical talent but with a desire to please a teacher who dearly loved all his students and wanted them to enjoy the beauty of music of all kinds. Happy Birthday, Tom, may it be as happy as you continue to make so many people with your musical talent.

Want to read more stories about what makes me happy and the brighter things in life? Click this link and think about the little things in your life that brings you a smile. https://www.venividiscripto.com/blog/categories/things-that-make-me-happy