I must be having a bad day, because though there are so many things that have made me happy today, as usual, unfortunately there are a few things that make me wonder, make me unhappy and are truly disappointing.

Top on the list is the absolutely wonderful Blue Mass at St. Agnes Wednesday Day. Credit goes especially to John Flynn, a member of the Knights of Columbus Rev. Joseph Donelly Council at OLPH-St Agnes parish who started the entire program 20 years ago and has worked to keep to growing it grow since. Humble as he is, he’ll say he didn’t do much, it’s all the Knights and all the other people in the parish and in the Bayshore who want to give this public thanks to all the volunteers and police who do such a terrific job all the time. He’s right that he needs help and has always gotten it because the event is so well organized.

It was stirring to see each of the volunteer groups and police and NPS and Coast Guardsmen from Sandy Hook march down the aisle behind the Middletown Fire Department Post Explorers carrying the axes so often necessary for firemen in rescuing people and fighting blaze. The variety of uniforms, the ages from pre-teens to seniors who wanted to be a part of all this was a reminder of how many different wonderful organizations and spectacular volunteers we have in the area.  Boy Scout troop 22, which includes scouts from all local towns,  with their leaders, the ladies fire auxiliary in Atlantic Highlands, so many wonderful people all gathered together, regardless of religion or politics, in simple prayer and thanks were inspiring.

What was a bit disappointing is that there were still empty rows of seats at St. Agnes, I suspect because  even though people are grateful, they were either working or didn’t want to leave cozy homes at night to show their thanks or say a prayer with all these volunteers.

What was inspiring was seeing those three Atlantic Highlands police move quickly down the church aisle when they got the message of a medical emergency, shortly thereafter followed by the First Aid members..  Also inspiring was Robert Fesla  the altar server with a great story of his own which you’ll see here another day. And so much more.

The generosity and show of appreciation of residents at the Mass continued down at the Shore Casino for the late supper and continued camaraderie afterwards.  There, while volunteers themselves paid for part of the cost as did local residents and business,  the Shore Casino was as generous as it always  is to all volunteers, in pricing the overall costs for the free event. The volunteers were profuse in their thanks to owner Kathleen Sweeney and her hard working son Jay Strebb who are continuing the tradition the Shore Casino has been known for of taking as much care of the local police as they possibly can.

Disappointing, of course, is still not knowing whether the local Mayor and Council is going to authorize any donation from the borough, as the Harbor Commission did for boat owners who lease space at the Harbor to show appreciation to all the volunteers.

More photos and stories about this wonderful evening to be posted in the coming days.

The Highlands council members  couldn’t be present for the event as the Atlantic Highlands Council members were, since the Blue Mass was the same night as their regular meeting.  Disappointing of course, is that their meetings are never on ZOOM, so even if there was no Blue Mass, I couldn’t have made the meeting. So I tried to listen to it on their recording today. That’s a challenge in itself.

Difficult to hear, difficult to understand some sections, and of course a day late before the public who can’t  attend have any way of  knowing what’s going on.  But their recording, albeit a day late, is one up on the Atlantic Highlands ZOOM meetings. They move the camera around so those watching the recording can see members of the public when they’re up and speaking.

Happy to see at that meeting, however, how quick the Mayor is to notice when something is wrong…and quicker still in correcting it.

Holding a public hearing on whether the council should authorize seeking a FEMA grant to finally correct that  chronic flooding when gallons of rainwater wash down from Monmouth Hills,  they had a pair of engineers who were giving what sounded like a spectacular explanation of what the money would fund, if the borough could get it. They were speaking in terms and words the general public could understand and they had screens full of pictures and drawings to be sure the public knew what was going on. At the very beginning, on the recording you can see the Mayor, not paying attention to the engineer…. I’m sure she’s heard him a lot before the meeting…but looking towards the wall opposite the engineer’s explanatory video screen. It took her a minute or so to size up what was going wrong and how it could be fixed, namely, nobody had moved the camera so the recording watchers could also see the engineer’s  display. So the Mayor got up, went over and moved the camera and voila! The folks at home watching the recording today or any day hereafter, can see everything the folks at the meeting could see. She noticed it quickly and took action to correct it, Would that she could work or swiftly on letting the public who can’t be there in person still be able to participate live  in government business.

And taking a departure from the excellence of the Girls Café in Highlands one recent afternoon, I stopped in the new Farmacie at the corner of Miller and Bay where there is no doubt, the crusts on the tarts and quiche are the finest, the croissants are spectacular, and a new business in the middle of town is bound to be a huge hit with the other great eateries once they grow from their delicious bakery and charming gift shop hopefully to a breakfast or luncheon spot with menus and wait staff. They do have tables and chairs, and a counter overlooking the main street, but this is bound to grow into a comfortable eating spot as well.