I’ve decided to start this Blog, partially because I am so weary of so many things and comments and poor taste on Facebook, partially because I have lived in the Bayshore more than six decades, love it and love to talk about it, and partially because I am opinionated and want the space to both express and share my opinions on a variety of subjects.
Veni, Vidi, Scripto
I’ve chosen the name, or I Came, I Saw, I Write, primarily because of my love of Latin, the result of four years at Mount St. Mary’s Academy with a wonderful teacher who encouraged me not only to learn it but to realize knowing Latin automatically means understanding and expanding my English vocabulary. I’ll share thoughts, ask questions, invite responses and keep you interested.
Facts & Figures
“My task, which I am trying to achieve is, by the power of the written word, to make you hear, to make you feel–it is, before all, to make you see.”
Joseph Conrad said it first. But I can repeat it with conviction.
The words you write very often have a huge impact and many times create a lasting memory, either good or bad, on the reader. I’ve been a Smith for more than 65 years, but I’ve been a wordsmith from the day I first learned to talk.
From the time my father the newspaper reporter taught my three siblings and me the importance of always speaking out if you can help someone, change something that should be changed, or make a lasting difference for the better, I have appreciated the power of works. Like Confucius, my dad used to tell us that “To See What Is Right And Not Do It Is A Lack Of Courage.” He made it clear that those of us who inherited his gift of writing should take that gift to do what is right and always show courage.
While those mandates have been with me all my life, and I have written literally millions of words over those years, I have never really thought about the lasting impact of what I write, or for that matter, the distance my words have traveled.
Not until my technical guru for this blog directed me to a bigger and better base for VeniVidiScripto and then gave me some of the statistics after the first few weeks in this new adventure.
Televangelist Robert H Schuller said, “Today’s Accomplishments Were Yesterday’s Impossibilities,.” And I believe him after seeing some of my guru’s figures.
In the last two weeks, my blog has reached, and been read, on three continents, North America, Europe and Asia. They have reached readers in more than five countries, England, Ireland, Vietnam, Canada and the United States. And within the United States, they have been read in just about every state on the East Coast from Maine to Florida, as far west as California and as far south as Texas and Alabama, as far to the north as Minnesota.
Of course the largest readership is in the Garden State, and the largest number of those followers read the blog from home or business in Monmouth County. But there are dozens of readers from Jersey City, Newark and Hoboken as well, and many more scattered throughout most of the 21 counties.
Many readers come on to read one story, then stay to read a couple more. Stories of controversy and change attract the most readers, with hundreds, not only from Highlands but widespread, following the ups and downs of that $10 million Taj Mahal borough hall planned for the highway in Highlands.
Many are interested in some of the medical issues I have covered, from Ice Cure’s amazing cryoablation techniques that remove cancer through freezing rather than surgery to nutritional ideas to prevent, halt or decrease the frightening aspects of macular degeneration.
Literary director Rachel Wolchin once said,” Be mindful when it comes to your words. A string of some that don’t mean much to you, may stick with someone else for a lifetime.” I do not know enough to have an opinion on her thoughts, since it’s never been my practice to use a string of words that don’t mean much to me. I know how words can stick with a person for a lifetime, both good and bad.
But I do believe in what Steve Jobs said, and it’s a way of life for me as well. “The only way to to great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” I don’t have to look any further to find the work I love. In fact, I never looked for it. Writing simply comes naturally. Thanks, Dad, for the inheritance.
So thanks to my guru for showing me in statistics how far reaching my words have been. Thanks to readers throughout the world who have read them for letting me touch your hearts with my thoughts and fact. And thanks to al of you for your input, your continuing to read what I write, and the encouragement and ideas you give me to continue go forward with more.
At 84, I’m Pinning!
I don’t mind admitting it in the least. I am not a technical guru. I do not even know much more about my computer than how to type on it, save, edit, and send. I can read and enjoy all my e-mails and respond to them, I can access Facebook and do all kinds of research, to me, the very best advantage of the internet and all the magic it offers.
I learned to type in high school on a Remington with a keyboard that required heavy pounding; it was years before I even had an electric typewriter.
Soon after our marriage, I joined my husband’s hobby of ham radio, and became WA2GXT. I studied, passed federal tests for licensing and learned that Ohms Law accurately describes the conductivity of the vast majority of electrically conductive materials over many orders of magnitude of current. I knew the farad was a unit of capacitance and the 2-meter amateur radio band is a portion of the VHF radio spectrum, comprising frequencies stretching from 144 MHz to 148 MHz in most of the world.
One of the first magazine stories I ever wrote was for 73 Magazine, all about erecting a two meter antenna in our back yard in Highlands.
All of that is in the past and holds no interest for me now. Which probably explains why I have a sensational technical guru to handle and distribute the tens of thousands of words I write on a regular basis.
While I have no trouble putting the words into print, it’s this guru who puts them out in the world of unseen communication that gets those words all over the world.
So I am always amazed by where VeniVidiScripto is read. I am delighted dozens of people in Ireland read it, most likely for my stories on travel to that country; I know the many people afflicted with eye and vision problems read the experiences I have encountered with aging macular degeneration, be they in the United State or Germany, Pakistan, South Korea, or Belgium.
I do not know whether my columns are translated into Japanese for readers in Japan, but I do know they are translated into German, French, Spanish Italian and Urdu.
I know people on Facebook read VeniVIdiScripto in every state of the Union and in more than 60 countries, a fact that keeps me in awe.
And now I learned I am on Pinterest. So I had to look up a few details about Pinterest because I can already see I have several followers on that.
Pinterest is the #1 alternative to Facebook, I read, but minus the negative comments so often expressed on Facebook.
It’s where people go to ‘Boards” to find special stories they want to review on specific topics.
The Boards are great splashy and colorful pictures for easier visualization than the written word, sometimes a benefit to draw someone in to reading the written word. Because of that color those big pictures, those designs, Pinterest is a boon for people with aging macular degeneration or any of a number of vision problems.
The pictures make it easier to find a particular story that is worth the struggle to read without wasting all that energy in the search.
That advantage of Pinterest draws the reader into reading what he is specifically looking for. It isn’t necessary to scroll through stories, no matter how great they are, that are not of the reader’s specific interest; he simply checks the “boards” for the topics he likes best.
All of which makes this a great location for multiple generations, from the younger, more knowledgeable folks right through to my age and beyond who might not understand the whys and wherefores of it but like reaping the benefits of easy, enjoyable reads on topics of our choice.
Finally Pinterest lets you see what is trending right now, giving writers better information on the types of stories people want to read.
Find me on Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/venividiscripto/_saved/
Where have I been?
I know you’ve been asking and I know you deserve an answer… How come there have been so few new posts on VeniVIdiScripto in the last couple of days?
Well, the truth is, in a way, I’ve been researching yet another broad spectrum of stories to write.
Well, that wasn’t really my intention, but now that I’ve had the experience, I do realize I have an entire series I can write on staying overnight in a hospital, having a surgical procedure, beginning recuperation at home, the great and not so great aspects of the hospital, the wonderful and dedicated people I met, the excellence of a surgeon and my own personal doctor, both of which I knew about long before this but was reiterated because of this latest incident, and what happens next.
It was the two days in the hospital that kept me from writing, but once back home, secure, comfortable, and basking in the love and care of a terrific son and daughter, as well as friends and all the special people who included me in their prayers, I’m happy to report the procedure had nothing to do with either my fingers on the keyboard or my research and writing ability.
So look for an abundance with articles in the next couple of days, one of a favorite pharmacist who is retiring from my favorite pharmacy, several on the progress of that wonderful new submarine, the New Jersey, a few wondering articles on what is going on in Highlands, more commentary on how fortunate Atlantic Highlands has been to have Adam Hubeny its administrator for so many years, and a few surprises as well.
I Wonder about Pot
Hard to understand why Atlantic Highlands is so eager to resolve all the questions about cannabis but was so reluctant to work more quickly so disabled people, those with children they need to care for, the elderly and people who just don’t like to go out at night can know what’s going on their town.
When they’re talking about all the tax money they’ll get from having some cannabis business in town, they’re overlooking it’s currently a cash business. How exactly are they going to get all this money and how are they really going to know if it’s the right amount? Anyone read what just happened in Kansas? I hope that money wasn’t enroute to some deserving town.
Now it also looks like there are a few other glitches in the New Jersey law. Again, what’s the rush? People are always going to want it, I suspect, even if there are shops in Highlands and other towns. From hearing some folks talk during the workshop, there are an awful lot of alcoholic beverages places in town, so they must all be successful, so again, why not wait until the state gets all the rules in place, some other towns see how it’s working for a while, and gain from their experience to make an even better business? To repeat a statement from last night concerning all the folks comparing liquor stores with cannabis businesses….it’s the state that is mandating security in cannabis shops during opening hours, that is requiring that closed door, locks, and all that stuff, none of which is required in liquor stores. So somebody, someplace along the line must think there’s a heck of a difference between the two. Why not wait and see, or get more information? It would have been nice, with all those facts being announced, if there were some law enforcement professionals on the team that presented cannabis information last night. Are the police being too silent on this issue?
Any issue that brings out four former mayors must be something they all think will have a vital impact on the town.
It was wonderful to hear so many people speak out, to hear such fervor about any subject, and to see the very courteous and correct response from an interested council. The workshop was terrific, and the entire town benefited from the wisdom of the governing body in having it. Nice to hear all the thanks and appreciation to the council members as well because it’s one sign that the people truly do want to know and want to participate.
On the other hand, it is also hard to understand why they want to do yet more studies on the question of regionalization for the schools before taking any action or letting the people have any say on what could be a tremendous tax savings for property owners and offer a more comprehensive and cohesive form of education for youngsters from pre-k through high school. By their failing to approve some kind of action now fairly soon, they are also preventing both Highlands and Sea Bright from getting the question on the ballot, the easiest way of ensuring all the people who want to be heard are heard. Not very neighborly and certainly giving the appearance of not really caring what the people want.
Bernie Sweeney
Bernard Joseph Sweeney, Bernie to everyone who ever who needed a helping hand or visited the Shore Casino, died Friday morning at Riverview Medical Center, surrounded by the love of family. He was 90 years old and had been proprietor of the famed Casino in the Park in Jersey City for 60 years and the Shore Casino in the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Harbor for 46 years
The son of the late Joseph and Theresa Ippolito Sweeney, Bernie was born in Jersey City and is a graduate of Snyder High School. He served in the US Army as a paratrooper after graduation and before going with the Union City Dispatch as a new reporter and editor. He also served as a Director with the Jersey City Police Department. When he took over the Casino in the Park in Jersey City, it became a high society meeting place for the rich and the famous, together with the not so rich and famous firemen, emergency volunteers and police officers who held their own dedicated events programs at the highly touted facility because of Bernie’s kindness, generosity and lifelong desire to help everyone in need. The facility was the gathering place for politician, movie and Broadway stars as well as sports and other famous personalities, including Frank Sinatra who hosted a gala event at the Casino in the Park on the occasion of his parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. President Bill Clinton was a guest at the Casino in the park, as well as boxer Muhammad Ali and numerous personalities before the Sweeneys retired from the facility last year.
Bernie was honored by numerous military, political, veteran and charitable and fraternal organizations over the years for his many generous donations to all their special causes, and for always having a facility ready to accommodate whatever was needed to help someone else.
Bernie opened the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands Yacht Harbor in 1976 and continued his finesse as a restaurateur, people-gatherer and dynamic host. Together with his wife Kathleen, the Casino continued to be the gathering place for the well known and not so well known, from former First Lady Barbara Bush to local young couples holding their wedding receptions at the waterfront facility.
Bernie is survived by his wife, Kathleen Sheehan, sons, Joseph, in Florida, BJ and his wife Marie, Middletown, and Jay Strebb, who managed the Casino for Bernie, one daughter, Kathleen Connors and her husband Jeff, of Holmdel, and grandchildren Leah Sweeney, Joseph Ryan Connors, M.D., New York, and Katie Connors, BSN, of Holmdel.
A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Agnes Church. Viewing will also be in St. Agnes Church Tuesday evening from 4 to 7 p.m. Postens-McGinley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangement. Burial will be in Bayview Cemetery, Middletown.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes Church.
A Titanic Cleanup
The Atlantic Highlands Historical Society is inviting new members and calling for volunteers to participate in a Spring Cleanup in preparation for Strauss Mansion Museum formal opening for an exciting 2022 season scheduled for April 10.
In a letter to members this week, Membership Chair Joanne Dellosso outlined some of the accomplishments of the active society in the past, and highlighted some of the events and exhibits slated for this year.
One of the highlights will be a new exhibit on the sinking of the Titanic, in recognition of the 120th anniversary of the tragedy. A special exhibit in the new Victorian Tea Room at the Mansion will highlight the ship, its passengers and the events of that tragic day.
In order to prepare for the reopening volunteers are needed Saturday and Sunday, April 2 and 3, for light cleanup activities including sweeping, dusting, and reorganizing exhibits. Work will be done from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, and volunteers are welcome for any time portion within that time. Interested persons can contact Museum personnel on Facebook, Instagram or their website.
Events this year include the return of the free monthly speaker series, an arts and crafts fair, a cruise on the Navesink Queen, the fall Flea Market and a number of extraordinary events in October including showings of the ever popular Nosferatu with a live band, ghost hunting experiences and private tours.
The Mansion is also available for rent for private parties, events and celebrations throughout the season.
Persons interested in becoming members of the Society can contact the Society at their website and through Facebook and Instagram.
The Society is a non-profit 501 (C) 3 organization, making membership dues tax deductions and contributions tax deductible. One hundred present of dues is dedicated for the maintenance of the museum and all its programs.
Pineapples in an Air Fryer
Make no mistake about it, I’ve always loved pineapple. But now that I’ve found some new recipes for it that are so easy to do in my Air Cooker, it’s back close to the top of my list of those yellow fruits and vegetables that are so good for the eyes, help fight cataracts and aging macular degeneration and are available year round.
Pineapples can be prepared in all kinds of ways, making them an easy fruit to include in any menu for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Try them in yogurt or salad, slice them on top of a burger instead of tomato, or, better, with lettuce and tomato. Bake your ham with pineapple on top or slice and serve with pork.
They’ve been in the United States a long time, this fruit that Columbus first discovered in South America on one of his trips, and brought back to Portugal. It’s a South American fruit that grew wild, is now broadly cultivated, and available in our markets year round. There are several different versions of how it got its name, but if you think Columbus might have been responsible, then it’s because he referred to it as the Pine of the Indians.
It benefits all manner of health from helping to keep cholesterol low, to possibly increasing antibodies that fight virus infections. Many people say it gives great temporary relief for arthritis; others say it helps speed up post-surgery recovery. All I really know is it is simply full of Vitamin C, has lots of zinc, manganese and potassium, and a lot of vitamins B6 and K, along with copper and folates, all great for eye health. It’s of course low in calories, and the latest theories are it is also great in minimizing floaters for those who experience them. While some of these theories may or may not be so, there isn’t any harm caused by eating pineapples, except for the occasional and rare allergic person, so it’s worth a try if you have floaters or arthritic pain. By the way, most people who are allergic to pineapple are also allergic to bananas.
Here are a couple of fun recipes for the air cooker.
CINNAMON GRILLED PINEAPPLES
Mix 1 tsp. cinnamon with ½ Cup brown sugar. Drizzle over 8 slices of canned or fresh pineapple and lightly spritz the frying basket with oil. Bake for 5 minutes, flip and cook for another 4 minutes or so. Drizzle with 1 T. honey, and if you have any mint, chop some and add that as well.
PINEAPPLE FRITTERS
Mix 3 T sesame seeds, 1 ½ Cups flour, 1 t. baking powder, 2 beaten eggs, ½ t. sugar and 1 Cup water. Dip slices in the mix, arrange on slightly greased frying basket and air fry about 15 minutes, flipping halfway through. That’s it other than to enjoy!
Our Local National Treasure
The Sandy Hook Foundation, in issuing its annual end of the year appeal for donations, to help them keep up the terrific work they do at the national recreation area in our midst, put out a really impressive reminder of all they accomplished during the past year.
The amount of history they spread and maintain is pretty amazing in itself. They aren’t open for visitation yet….and aren’t we all looking forward to that day…but the Foundation does provide the programs at History house, the Fort Hancock Museum, the Lighthouse keepers Quarters and the Lighthouse itself.
But they also have been, during the past year, providing programming outdoors at the various ‘outdoor auditoriums” our beautiful Sandy Hook offers They even have great programs planned for the rest of winter.
The ‘Hunt the Hook’ Scavenger Hunt last April was a spectacular event with close to 800 people signing up to go all over the Hook finding the answers to a series of clues at both history and culture points. The Foundation took advantage of wonder teenagers and corralled them into a great beach cleanup at Fisherman’s Beach. Their three months of beach yoga sessions were a big hit, as was that evening hosted by the STARS Astronomy Club. That was a night sky lesson that gave everyone the opportunity recognize some of the brighter stars in the sky. There was roller skating, a live DJ, and an All-Star Benefit Concert, which again, attracted more than 1,200 people.
At the same time, The Foundation does all the maintenance at the six bike repair stations and also put up some new split-fencing near Lot M at the observation deck. The Foundation is funding the new drinking water access, coupled with informational signage telling the important of the story between water conservation and recycling.
It sounds like an awful lot being accomplished at a time when Covid has put so many restrictions on so many activities. For that alone, it’s worth an investment in the Sandy Hook Foundation to keep all its programs alive and funded. Visit their site at sandyhooknj.org and see for yourself. Maybe you even want to join this hard working Foundation. It’s the interested and involved residents who can keep history alive!