Local historian and speaker Jack Grodeska will tell the story of the Sailing Vessel New Era at the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society museum Wednesday, July 20- at 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend at no charge.
The New Era was a new ship in 1854, built in Bath Maine, she was on the second leg of her maiden voyage. She carried 600 tons of chalk, 20,000 cubic feet of “general merchandise” and 385 German immigrants on their way to Pennsylvania by way of New York City from Bremerhaven, Germany, when it hit rough water off the beach at Asbury Park.
The subsequent events and persons involved led to the deaths of nearly 300 of the German immigrant passengers, many of whom were lost at sea or never identified.
The Captain of the ship, Captain Thomas J. Henry, was one of the survivors and Grodeska will speak on the speculation that centered on the tragedy and whether insurance fraud may have been involved.
A story of both history and intrigue, Grodeska will bring it alive at the Strauss House.
While there is no charge for any of the programs in the Museum’s Speaker Series, donations are always gratefully accepted. A new and unexpected major cost the museum now faces is replacement of rare window destroyed by vandals while the Fireman’s Fair was drawing crowds to the municipal Yacht Harbor.
The Society’s offices are located in the Strauss House at 27 Prospect Circle and their web page is here.
When you think there is more than half millennium of experience inside that front door, then you can begin to understand why Care One at King James is the warm, friendly, caring care center that it is.
Then when you consider that most of those 500 plus years come from 21 nursing assistants, nurses and specialists who just love the place so much they’ve never left, you can almost feel the warmth surrounding the residents.
A brief review of the number of nursing assistants employed at the 50 year old nursing facility highlights how many of them have been here more than a decade. Some go back to the first administrator, Herman “Duke” Black and many of them also knowing, or even caring for, one of the builders before his death, former Atlantic Highlands Mayor James R. Snyder. Then there are those who were there when Mrs. Snyder, Judy, died, as well as both Duke Black and later his wife, Edna.
Of the total staff, 21 have been employed at King James for ten years or more. Of those 21 people, most are certified nursing assistants, arguably one of the most difficult jobs in a nursing home. They are the people who clean out the bedpans, wash the bodies, change the diapers, hear the screams in the middle of the night along with the nursing staff. They’re the ones who spoon feed someone’s grandma, who dress someone’s grandpa and play checkers with a resident who hasn’t had a visitor..
Yet they stay. They stay at King James. And they do their job.
“Sure there are days that are really hard and I feel really bad. But then I can get myself out of it and come back to work the next day.” That’s how Catherine Merker, a certified nursing assistant explains why she’s still on the job after 44 years.
Merker was also quick to add ‘But there are many happy days. And the happiest are when I know I’m able to help someone and make their day better.”
Nor is Merker the longest serving certified nursing assistant. Lucinda Chigger, better known to everyone at Care One as Cindy, holds the record for longevity, having signed on at the care center ten months before Merker.
Both nursing assistants came into their positions long before there were state programs and certifications, learning everything they know from the knowledgeable and experienced staff at Care One, and their regular Friday study sessions mandated for all aides and held downstairs in the facility.
Both professionals remember with fondness and praise Mrs. Markowicz, the certified employee who held those sessions and took care to ensure all learned every aspect of their job. Mrs. Markowicz, both Merker and Chigger said, “was the greatest” and the tests the student employees all had to take were always fair but thorough. “She thought of everything,” Merker said, “she was just great.”
Chiger first applied for the job because “it was close to home and I could ride by bike to get to work,” but stayed on for the joy of helping others. She first worked in the dietary department and also praises Mrs. King, a nurse with Mrs. Markowitz both of whom were “just beautiful ladies.”
Chiger said she has stayed on working all these years because “it’s built into my system, these are all just such formidable people to work with and to work for, I care about them all”
. Because both these aides care so much for their residents, they both admit the downside is that “sometimes we get too close,” and they are particularly saddened when one of their friends dies. But they agree, they can take a measure of comfort in knowing they played important roles in the lives of their friends.
Nor does either of the two longest serving nursing assistants quit at the end of her workday. Merker is also a certified home health aide, and frequently takes other private duty assignments that do not conflict with her work at Care One.
Chiger has both a daughter and a granddaughter who have followed in her footsteps and are in the nursing field. Her daughter, Christine, is the second generation of her family in the field and is a Certified Nursing Assistant where she lives in Florida. Her granddaughter, Maria Chiger, is in the dietary department at the Holmdel nursing facility of Care One. “I guess it’s just built in,” the proud mom says of her family.
With similar dedicated service at King James Jane Schmoyer has also recorded longevity there with more than 33 years as a CNA. Then Tuula Yrjanainen is the next longest serving with over 30 years of service, followed a few years later by Elaine Burns and Olivia Holloway, each with 27 years. Debra Cannito joined the staff more than two decades ago and six months later, Veronica Pacquette began her career at King James Each of these CNAS has served more than 20 years at King James.
In the next ten years, all with careers between 14 and 19 years, are Karen Brown, Kerri-Ann Cannito, Carmel Castelly, Elizbeth Grissman, Marie Janvier, Sonya Johnson, Linda Kroeper, Lion Prince, Kathleen Sheehan and Eucilla Samuel. Rounding out the employees who have been there at least ten years are Shana Martin and Sandra Stabile, who will celebrate her decade anniversary this December.
While most of these long term employees are CNAs, certified nursing assistants, Samuel is a lead CNA, Martin and Sheehan are licensed practical nurses, Stabile is a registered nurse and Kroeper is a registered nurse and an MDS specialist, and Cannito is a medical records coordinator.
“I remember many of these fine employees when I myself started here after I became a registered nurse,” said Care One administrator Jimmie King. “Each of them has taught me the importance of dedication to the job and each has shown how caring and dedicated she is. Since I started my own nursing career as a Certified Nursing Assistant, I appreciate all these women do and how vital each is to the care and health of our residents.” The administrator noted that “We pride ourselves in offering a home like atmosphere for our long term residents, and these employees, by their love and dedication, truly make it feel like home.”
My prayers and sympathy go out to several families this week, families who have all made the professional and commercial business world a bit better because of the excellence of their work and service, and the quality of their professionalism.
Tommy, famous for Tommy’s in several places, but locally in both Sea Bright and Freehold, died suddenly this week at too young age. Prayers and sympathy not only to the family but to the outstanding staffs in his restaurants who apparently have all learned from his manner, personality and dedication to both had work and dedication. I’m certain they will carry on in his unique stye.
Not really in the business, but the Hartsgrove name is highly revered and respected in Highlands for the numerous members of the families of that name who do so much, love the town so much and have contributed to it for centuries. Kathy and Vera at The Girl’s Cafe lost their cousin Brenda to cancer this week, and you can feel the grief in the air although The Girls continued their professionalism even while mourning. Prayers and sympathy to Brena’s brother, Peter Lynch, another fine contributor to what Highlands great and his son and daughter.
And both Highlands and Atlantic Highlands lay claim to Phil Sciortino, that incredibly second generation of the wonderful family that first had Johnny’s Landing, later the Highlands Marina, and for Phil, the Tackle Box in Hazlet. He and Joan were always special people and we mourn with Joan and all the children and grandchildren at his death.
But on the positive side, loved being at Tommy’s in Freehold today where the manager Bob is simply terrific, genuinely nice with his customers and interested in every comment they want to make about this great casual pub and restaurant. A group of my very favorite and very smart people and myself had lunch there, and were fortunate enough to have Electra. This is a waitress who know only can spiel off the entire menu, keep you laughing, serve with excellence but also carry on some clever banter all the while remaining professional and exceptional in her waitressing work. All of that, and since the meals are so large, she even brings over take-home contains without being asked. I asked if she couldn’t be at Tommy’s in Sea Bright to bring her closer to the Bayshore, but they won’t let her go in Freehold. Can’t say that I blame them.
Other great news this week is that Pat Stryker, the former Mayor’s wife, speaking of terrific people, came through some surgery with flying colors and is well on the road to full recovery. She’s a Keansburg girl with spirit and elan, so we’re sure she’ll make it with flying colors!
And for me personally, it’s been a terrific week garden-fresh wise. A dear friend who gave me loads of lettuce from her garden during that growing season, is also supplying me with some giant zucchini from the same garden, along with fresh herbs. In fact, she even planted a couple of them for me in the hopes I can keep them alive in my kitchen as healthfully as they don in hers! And my landlord gave me one of the very first tomatoes of the season from his garden. Do I know the nicest and most generous people or what?
The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County will present a discussion of Stanleyon Wednesday, July 20 @ 7:00 PM. In both an in-person and Zoom program. Admission for this discussion is $5 for members and $8 for nonmembers.
“Stanley” is an American situation comedy starring Buddy Hackett, Carol Burnett, and the voice of Paul Lynde that aired on NBC-TV for three years and was produced by Max Liebman.
Hackett played Stanley in his first leading role and a 23-year-old Carol Burnett, in her first regular role, played his girlfriend Celia. Among the show’s writing staff was comedy legend Woody Allen.,
Barry Jacobsen will lead the discussion and show some artifacts along with original kinescope clips of the TV program and share insights into the show’s creation and personalities.
Jacobsen worked for the creator of Your Showof Shows and Stanley, Max Liebman. Although not born during the show’s run, Jacobsen became an historical expert on the production and history of the show, spending hours talking to Liebman and others about those times in the early 1950s. After Liebman’s death, Jacobsen organized and donated television artifacts that were in his office, many of which related to Stanley to New York.
Funding for this presentation has been made possible in part by a general operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of the Department of State, through grant funds administered by the Monmouth County Historical Commission.
The Jewish Heritage Museum is located in the Mounts Corner Shopping Center, at 310 Mounts Corner Drive, Freehold, at the corner of Route 537 and Wemrock Road. It is on the second floor of the historic Levi Solomon Barn.
The JHMOMC is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Now open to visitors by appointment, the Museum is handicapped and assistive-listening accessible. Masks and vaccinations are required.
For more information or to make a reservation, please call the Museum at 732-252-6990 or visit our website at http://www.jhmomc.org.
There were flowers and balloons, music and poetry, laughter and tears as the King James Care Center and Ascend Hospice celebrated the lives of residents who died during the Covid pandemic at the Route 36 care center.
Family members shared hugs, tears and favorite stories with nurses, aides, kitchen help and the center’s physical therapy team at a gathering in the care center’s courtyard, decorated with flowers and balloons for the brief memorial service which preceded an outdoor luncheon served by the center’s culinary department.
Care Center Administrator welcomed family members to the memorial, and expressed his thanks to families for “allowing us to take care of your loved one.” King also thanked the entire staff for the care they give and the Ascend Hospice personnel who work with families and resident to assuage both grief and pain.
As music played in the background, family members and employees placed flowers in front of photographs or in vases as a sign of memorializing their loved ones. Guests and employees also received balloons with memorial poetry inscribed on them and watched as they wafted towards the clouds, bringing more tears and prayers from those in attendance.
Muriel Smith, a volunteer patient advocate for the state, also thanked families for having the courage to recognize when their care alone is not enough for their loved ones, and making the choice to enable them to become residents of King James at Care One is trusting them to a facility whose staff are all more like family than employees. Smith also praised Ascend Hospice for the care they give together with comfort they bring to residents and their concerned families.
Ascend personnel read poetry and spoke with the guests and Activities Director Karen Cohen welcomed all to the memorial service.
“We share the pain of loss with the families of our residents,” King said, “and we were happy to welcome back so many who could attend this memorial and renew friendship that were built up while their family members were residents here. It was humbling to see how pleased family members were to once again visit with the caretakers for their family members who have now passed.”
Even if you only look at the time they’ve spent, there is no doubt that the boards of education and the towns of Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Sea Bright, are certainly all working together and working hard to ensure the people have the right to vote on regionalization in November.
This is a major issue that will impact all the towns now and in the future, and all the representatives involved have done an extraordinary amount of work and cooperative efforts to get a request to the Commissioner of Education in time to get a response so the votes can decide in November.
There is no doubt the entire state is waiting to see what’s going to happen here because it’s a first since the new law allows Sea Bright to get out of its current means of educating its kids into one that not only will take them out of the huge amount they pay for each child’s education…something over $100,000 in local taxes FOR EACH STUDENT from Sea Bright. But it will also bring a bundle of money into Highlands and Atlantic Highlands to help lower that school budget every year.
It used to be the voters voted on school budgets now they only vote on board members. But it makes sense that Sea Bright coming into the region, and only bringing a handful of kids meaning there will be no costs to the two towns for a new school building or lots of other things, means their money coming in to combine with the other two can only be a savings in taxes for all.
So for now, with the towns and the Board of Ed all having completed their jobs, it’s up to the attorneys to get it all to the Commissioner of Education. Then it’s wait time again until she decides whether what they’re all asking is a good thing.
Once she gets her response back to the towns, then it can go on the ballot in November. But that deadline is Aug. 15 so it appears we’re cutting it close now. Since this is the new law that enables these towns to do exactly what it is designed to do…it passed unanimously in the state legislature which is almost a miracle in itself…it shouldn’t take the Commissioner and all her experts long to review the work of all these attorneys and send an ok to get it on the ballot. That plus the fact the Porzio experts are the ones who have been working with the state folks not only on the new law but also its implementation, it appears fairly certain the people will have their say in November.
And there’s simply nothing better than letting the voters decide what they want for their towns. That’s what democracy is all about! God bless America!
And thanks to all those tireless council members, mayors, borough administrators, school board members and school administrators for all their time, talent, and devotion in getting all of this accomplished. They have thankless jobs but they’re doing them well!
I really think all the members of the Atlantic Highlands Council are great, nice people, friendly, devoted to their town, generous with all the time and energy they put into doing what they think is right and good. I applaud and appreciate all of that.
But when it comes to transparency at meetings, I can’t help but wonder………
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. When the Governor ordered ZOOM meetings, by god, they happened immediately, they worked fine, and people could hear, see and be heard at every council meeting.
That all stopped when the Governor said it wasn’t mandated anymore. That was well over a year ago.
Then council, saying they wanted people to know what’s going on their meetings, decided to spend a bunch of your hard earned money to get a newer, bigger, better system.
The $17,000 cost included lessons on how to operate it, so they’d be no problems. Well, none of that has happened yet. Next month hopefully.
Last night’s meeting did not start until 22 minutes after 7 because they couldn’t get ZOOM to work right. That makes me wonder about a lot of things. Don’t they check it out or test it first?
Didn’t all those lessons that are included in that $17,000 teach anybody how to make it work?… Oh, that’s right … that system has yet to be used
There was a lot of commotion, walking around, council members looking like they were all trying all kinds of different things to get it all to work. Isn’t anybody trained on that?
There was so much feedback everything was garbled, usually a sign that there’s interference from other electronic equipment. Did they check to be sure council members didn’t have their phones on? Or recording? Or other electronics that would be interfering? Again, don’t they test this before 7 p.m. just to see if it’s working right?
Then the insult of the night, in my opinion, was suggested. Not sure by whom, possibly the administrator which would surprise me since he is really doing a superb job in conducting all the business of the town, or it could have been the attorney, not sure. Sometimes it’s difficult to identify voices on ZOOM.
But someone suggested, once they put off opening the public hearing on the cannabis ordinance, that rather than talk about cannabis at the regular public portion at the end of the meeting, folks should wait until the next meeting so their comments “are fresh in the minds of Council when they vote.”
That’s rather insulting.
Don’t council members remember suggestions or comments from one meeting to another?
Don’t they take notes or listen to recordings to refresh their minds on what the people have to say?
Shouldn’t they hear comments and maybe investigate the possibility some of them may have merit they had not thought of?
From my own point of view, it would seem they should have opened that public hearing on cannabis, let the folks who were there say whatever they wanted, and continue it at the August meeting in case others wanted to be heard then.
To ask residents to come back again and again smacks of stalling. It was advertised for last night, people made plans, and it was never advertised they planned on putting it off. That would have been courteous and appreciative of people’s personal time.
Nobody explained that if the planning board makes any recommendations on the cannabis questions and council agrees to then, than the present potential ordinance gets junked, and a new one has to be introduced followed by yet, you’re right, another public hearing the next month or so.
Is anyone using this time to investigate some of the questions that have been brought up? It’s been clear the new businesses will bring a bunch of money to town. But do we know whether the town will have to hire more police officers?
Or traffic directors?
Or people to direct parking?
Or public works employees?
Are there already laws in place on whether police officers can use cannabis off duty?
Or for how many hours before going on duty?
Are they going to have to be any, or many, new ordinances introduced and passed for other things that might arise because of opening a new business we apparently don’t know enough about yet?
Do we know the costs of introducing and advertising these new ordinances?
Do we know if all the state laws protect the citizens of this borough as they want to be protected?
Aren’t these questions that could be asked and answered now in the interest of saving time and money?
Whether it is an entry drug or not, cannabis is definitely a drug and for some people, like any habit or drug or many other things, can be addictive and for some abusive. So it was rather ironic that while the borough is considering whether to let two cannabis businesses into town it is also, at the same meeting, praising and supporting International Drug Overdose Awareness Day in a proclamation.
Loved the comments from the gentleman who complained that it’s difficult to hear the right side of the council table at meetings; it’s worse on ZOOM so hopefully that can be corrected as well. Though Councilman Dougherty comes out loud and clear.
While the Mayor and Council put off the public hearing on the proposed cannabis ordinance at last night’s meeting, several local residents spoke during the routine public portion both for and against whether cannabis should be permitted in the borough.
Borough Attorney Jason Sena explained that by law the proposed ordinance, since it is a new type of business not identified in the borough in the past, had to be reviewed by the planning board to see if it in conformance with the borough’s Master Plan.
The planning board did that last week and while judging it is in conformance with the Master Plan they responded to the governing body that they would be offering recommendations to the proposed code following the next planning board meeting in August. Council had the option of either opening the public hearing at last night’s meeting as advertised or continuing it without hearing from residents until after the planning board recommendations are received.
Council chose to continue the pubic hearing without taking any comments on it last night.
However, the public is always permitted to speak during the public portion on any subject matter before the close of the meeting, and several brought up comments both in favor of and against cannabis businesses in town.
Both Zack Brown and Morgan Spicer the husband and wife team who ran unsuccessfully as independent council candidates last year, spoke in favor of permitting the businesses, citing a number of reasons why they would be beneficial. Spicer ran through a list of people she knows in various fields of work or professions who use cannabis arguing it is not a business that brings unknown persons to town.
Deborah Appello, a member of the local Board of Education and a retired teacher in New York, told council there are “too many unknowns” and cited research that shows cannabis is a gateway drug for some. She questioned the impact on property values, traffic, and an additional work load for the police department and told council she believes they are ‘rushing into” action.
The Rev. Jarlath Quinn pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help St Agnes parish, who also spoke out at the planning board meeting, cited research that shows marijuana users increase violence and crime, and twice told council “this cannot be good.” He cited his own experience dealing with families of suicide victims, or with people who contemplated suicide, because of drugs .
Referring to the financial benefits to the borough, Fr. Jarlath asked what the price of such increased financial benefit would be. He noted that cigarettes have brought considerable additional income to the nation the state, the county and businesses, but noted “ but look at what that has cost so many…”
Atlantic Highlands Herald publisher Allan Dean praised the positions of Spicer and Brown and noted he should be able to go to the corner store to purchase cannabis just as he can to purchase a bottle of liquor.
Continuing with the cooperative spirit among elected municipal officials and boards of education members that will hopefully put the question of school regionalization on the November ballot, the three boards of education approved their resolutions at a meeting last night that asks the Commissioner of Education to approve a Pre-K though 12 school district for Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, Henry Hudson Regional, and Sea Bright borough.
At a workshop meeting of the Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Council earlier Tuesday evening, attorney Matthew Giacobbe said he feels confident that the history making question before the Commissioner of Education should have a favorable response and be returned to the boroughs in time to meet the Aug. 15 deadline for putting the question on the ballot. Giacobbe said he felt confident the boroughs’ resolutions would be sent this week.
In the resolution adopted by the school boards last night, board members indicated that while they want to include Sea Bright in the new K-12 regional district, should anything detain that borough from being included, they nonetheless want to proceed with establishing a pre-K-12 regional school district with Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, and Henry Hudson.
Such action does not change anything other than eliminating the current boards of education and replacing them with a single board with representation from all school districts included in the new regional district. The number of board members from each town in the district is established by census figures from 2020 if approved in the November election.
Under the resolution adopted by the boards last evening, the resolution cites the many reasons why a Pre-K-12 regional district should be pursued on a referendum. It also notes the boards’ desire to proceed with the referendum regardless of any problems Sea Bright might have in its negotiations with Oceanport and West Long Branch, where Sea Bright students currently attend school. However, it includes the resolve that the members want Sea Bright to be included “at the earliest possible date,” it not at the onset of the new district.
The question on the ballot, as the resolution indicates, will provide voters “with the ability to decide how their tax dollars are best spent and how their children are educated”
The resolution also includes a caveat that approval for a vote was granted “ subject to agreement concerning apportionment of revenues and a cost-savings sharing plan. That cost savings is currently being negotiated between the two boroughs’ boards.
Concerning Sea Bright, the three boards resolved “that Sea Bright may join the expanded PK-12 Henry Hudson School District as soon as …permitted to do so,” but regardless, the plan for the three boards is still desirable with the expectation Sea Brigh would be included, if not immediately as soon as possible afterwards.
Clean Ocean Action (COA), the ocean advocacy concern non- profit organization based here, strongly objected to the Biden Administration’s “unreasonable and unjust” 45-day comment period for review of the 1400-page Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the region’s first massive industrial offshore wind (OSW) energy facility.
The project “Ocean Wind 1,” is proposed by Ocean Wind, LLC, a partnership between Ørsted and PSE&G, off the southern Jersey Shore.
COA called on the Administration for an additional 60 days for review and comment in a 10-point letter to Michelle Morin, Chief of the Environmental Branch for Renewable Energy at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) – the federal agency leading the review process. The letter also referenced over 1,330 citizens (at the time of the letter), who in less than one week’s time, signed a petition organized by Clean Ocean Action calling for more time, and many of whom added their own powerful statements of concern.
“This time frame for review is outrageous considering the unprecedented industrialization of both the ocean and Jersey coastline. In fact, the fast-tracking of due process as well as the speed, scope and scale of the industrial expansion in the region is reckless and suggests an unfair Administration bias toward the offshore wind industry, instead of to the natural resources and ecological assets the ocean holds and which the government is entrusted to protect. Show us where such a massive industrialization of an ecosystem has been allowed, and how it resulted in a positive outcome for people and the planet,” said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action.
“If offshore wind is so wonderful as supporters suggest, it should stand up to careful review and scrutiny,” she added.
In a letter submitted to BOEM today, COA outlined ten reasons for the extension request, including the size of the technical document and the precedent-setting nature of the proposal. Clean Ocean Action is also urging organizations and residents to submit their own letters to BOEM requesting a 60-day extension to the public comment period.
“BOEM is not limited to this 45-day time period, which is wildly unrealistic, unjust, and poses undue challenges for all parties interested in providing thorough feedback on this unprecedented document and project, “said Zachary Klein, Esq., Policy Attorney for Clean Ocean Action. “In the name of transparency and good and fair due process, COA strongly urges BOEM to extend the comment period an additional 60 days.”
“It is essential that offshore wind energy, if done, is done right, and done right from the very beginning,” said Kari Martin, Advocacy Campaign Manager for Clean Ocean Action. “While green energy, the potential risks to the ocean and marine resources are great and grave, especially considering the cumulative impacts from 24 other offshore wind projects and sold lease areas in the region. Too many questions must be considered and answered. We encourage people to sign the petition to demand more time, attend the public hearings, and submit comments on this new, large-scale industrial use of the ocean in the region.”
A petition, launched by COA both digitally and on-paper, is collecting signatures of residents who support a 60-day extension of the existing public comment period. In one week, the petition collected over 1,330 signatures (to date). The petition will continue to gather supporters.
Clean Ocean Action is also calling upon residents, groups, businesses, and local, state, and federal officials to attend the three virtual public hearings to be hosted by BOEM on July 14, 20, and 16. Pre-registration is required; to register, go to this BOEM website. Also, people are urged to provide oral comments during the public hearings (5 minutes maximum) and submit detailed comments to BOEM by 11:59pm on August 8, 2022.
For more than 37 years, COA has defended and protected the ocean from pollution and harmful industrialization to ensure a healthy ecosystem and clean ocean economy. Clean Ocean Action (“COA”) is a regional, broad-based coalition of conservation, environmental, fishing, boating, diving, student, surfing, women’s, business, civic, and community groups with a mission to improve the water quality of the marine waters off the New Jersey/New York coast.
