When I lived in Freehold, I went to 6:30 mass every morning at St. Rose of Lima Church. I did not know anyone other than to say hello as we all entered church. Like most churchgoers, we each had our ‘assigned’ seats, so over the next few months, we all got to know each other as “the lady who sits in the third pew,” or “the man who always smiles at everybody when he walks in the door.” As more months went by, we’d often stop and talk in the parking lot after mass, and eventually we all learned each others’ names. We also learned in many cases when one of our church friend’s parent was ill, or child was facing a tough test, or some big event was coming up as each of us asked the other for prayers.
It was kind of strange, but a very nice feeling, that each of us knew that while we did not know much about each other, we knew that we came together in a special way at 6:30 in the morning. We all knew we could count on everyone of the others to prayer for whatever our special need or intention was.
After another year or so, we decided to carry the friendship further, and to include the priest who was saying mass. So Mary, one of the group, began arranging breakfast at the local restaurant once a month or so. She would make reservations, we would all show up, the restaurant would have a special table set aside for us, and somehow, the number of reservations she made always showed up, though we never let her know for sure we would be going.
Friendships grew stronger among us all as we chatted over coffee and, and we gradually got to know each other’s families, the accomplishments of children and grandchildren, the illnesses each faced or had a family member face. Father would always begin the meal with grace, and then conversation ran wild as we all shared experiences, joys and sorrows.
Then I moved away. No longer was I attending 6:30 mass at St. Rose. Then Covid hit. And the 6:30 mass was discontinued. But Mary managed to get at least some of us together to meet, masked, in a local park, not for a meal, just for conversation and ‘catch up.” When the weather turned cold, we had to discontinue the park meetings as well.
Mary knew we were a special group and missed each other’s company. So she continued to arrange the breakfasts. Only she switched them to lunch in a local restaurant since with the absence of 6:30 mass and more than me moving from Freehold, it was easier to get us all together at noon rather than early in the morning.
It was easy to tell how much we all appreciate it. I came from Atlantic Highlands to be sure to attend, which was not far, considering one of the other regulars who had moved to Pennsylvania continued to come back. We could still share all our joys and sorrows; through Facebook and e-mail we all kept up with each other, saying special prayers for Nick when he was ill, giving great thanks for the benefits Linda was receiving great success in combating her illness, congratulating one of Mary’s grandchildren…who had frequently come to our breakfasts after going to mass with their Grandma….on his great musical talent and Facebook photos of his smiling face while he played the guitar. We toasted with coffee when Judy was in Florida and unable to attend and laughed over Earl’s constant reminders of hod old he was. We were, and are, a special kind of family that warms the heart and brings a smile to a face.
And every year, we have a waiter take a photo of the group, one where we all stand tall, smile, and appreciate the fact that even though we don’t see each other at 6:30 every morning, we have created a bond that ensures we’re all praying for each other, keeping up on each other’s sadnesses and successes, and sharing a love and peace that is so hard to find in the world.
I’m fortunate to be a part of the special 6;30 crowd at St. Rose.
All Saints’ Memorial Church , also known as Stone Church, announced that their Annual Auction is scheduled this year for May 14, the first auction in two years.
The auction begins at 5:30 p.m. and includes savory appetizers and beverages for guests while bidding on a wide array of silent and auction items. Items up for auction in the silent auction include beauty, gourmet and entertaining baskets along with a numerous gift certificates to local restaurants. In addition, there is a live auction featuring getaways, tickets to sporting events, cooking demonstrations and much more
A portion of the auction proceeds benefits the church outreach commitments in the community, including the AACC Food Pantry in Atlantic Highlands, Fulfill of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Family Promise of Monmouth County, St. Mark’s Center for Community Renewal in Keansburg and Love Thy Neighbor of Monmouth County, Project Pets and our pet food pantry.
Tickets for this unique community event are $35 per person, a contribution that allows All Saints to assist the work of these important community agencies.
The Annual Auction Night also helps fund the upkeep of this National Historic Landmark campus which serves the community in many ways.
If you live in Highlands, Sea Bright, or especially Atlantic Highlands, take the time to read this summary, the result of the study of the regionalization plan for Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Sea Bright, which was completed at the request of Highlands and Sea Bright, both of whom have passed resolutions asking the Department of Education Commissioner to consider a school district encompassing the three towns. Atlantic Highlands governing body hasn’t signed it yet, preferring to wait for yet another study to be completed, this by the current regional board of education.
School districts throughout New Jersey are grappling with the issue of how to maintain high quality educational programs that incorporate the demands of the New Jersey Learning Standards, including robust offerings in science and technology, and offer a breadth of enrichment and co-curricular programs that will allow their students to graduate with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in life. Investments in teaching and learning from new labs to professional development and instructional resources are necessary in order to accomplish these goals.
However, State aid currently is being reduced to many districts, leading to additional pressures on property taxpayers, and these aid reductions likely will accelerate as the economy enters a downturn. In addition, dwindling revenues and reduced enrollments will result in financial pressures that may prevent the necessary educational investments, hurting students and the community.
The New Jersey Department of Education has long advocated that PK-12 districts are more effective and efficient than other more limited governance structures such as PK-8 elementary districts or limited purpose regional districts. The department has pointed to unified governance of educational policy and continuity of curriculum and instruction as examples of greater operational effectiveness that will flow from the PK-12 structure and to the reduced administrative and governance structures and better operational system-wide coordination as examples of reasons for greater efficiency. A PK-12 district also is best capable of accomplishing certain research-based critical education goals (e.g., technology, enrichment, new programs, etc.).
This same position favoring regionalization recently was adopted by the Legislature. In late 2021, S3488 was passed by both the Senate and Assembly, and signed into law by the Governor on January 18, 2022 (P.L.2021,c.402). The law encourages school regionalization by creating a grant program that provides for the reimbursement of eligible costs associated with conducting feasibility studies that support the creation of meaningful and implementable plans to form or expand regional school districts.
As noted by one of the bill’s sponsors, “consolidation can reduce the cost of education, deliver property tax savings, increase educational opportunities and improve overall education quality. For school districts to make informed decisions, feasibility studies are essential. The costs associated with these studies should not discourage districts from exploring options that could save taxpayer money in the future.”
In this environment, a feasibility study was done as the first step in exploring the formation of a new All-Purpose PK-12 Regional District involving Atlantic Highlands, Highlands and Sea Bright. Sea Bright currently is educating students in Grade PK-8 in Oceanport pursuant to a 2009 mandatory merger under the Non-operating District Law and is a current constituent member of the Shore Regional District for grades 9-12. Highlands and Atlantic Highlands currently operate their own distinct PK-6 districts but have formed the Henry Hudson Regional High School District to serve students in Grades 7-12. Shore Regional High School serves students from the constituent municipalities of Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright, and West Long Branch, where the school is located.
TheFeasibilityStudy – which was completed in March 2020 – studied:
1. Sea Bright will withdraw from Shore Regional High School District;
2. Sea Bright will cease to be a party to the statutory non-operating merger with the Oceanport School District;
3. Henry Hudson Regional High School District will be dissolved;
4. Atlantic Highlands and Highlands, the constituent members of Henry Hudson Regional High School District, will join Sea Bright in creating a new All-Purpose PK-12 regional district;
5. There will be a phase-out of currently enrolled Sea Bright students attending Oceanport and Shore Regional, which will receive a contribution from Sea Bright, phased out over five years, based on 100% of the Sea Bright Local Levy excluding debt service in the year prior to implementation.
The Study examined the advantages and disadvantages of the proposal. A demographic analysis is the first step in the review of the proposal in providing contextual information on the communities involved in the proposal as well as current and projected enrollments. In reviewing the demographic data, the trend lines showed declining future enrollments in Sea Bright and slight increases in Highlands. Atlantic Highlands is projected to be stable. These projections, coupled with the small number of Sea Bright students, meant that the new PK-12 regional will not have to make significant building, classroom, staffing or program changes to accommodate the new students from Sea Bright. The Study also reviewed the impact of the proposal on student demographics such as race and ethnicity and concluded that, given the similarity of the communities involved, there will be no negative impact on the racial or ethnic makeup of the schools involved.
In the education area, the Study found that Sea Bright students will have available to them a high-quality educational program at both the elementary and secondary level and that Atlantic Highlands and Highlands students will benefit from the additional resources that Sea Bright students will bring along with the inherent advantages of a seamless PK-12 governance structure, which none of the three communities currently have.
The finance section reviewed the budgetary and taxpayer impact of the proposal. The Study indicated that the proposal would have a positive net budgetary savings of approximately $165,000 annually. The estimated net savings are modest because of the commendable degree of shared services, program alignment and partnership that currently exist between Atlantic Highlands, Highlands, and Henry Hudson Regional High School. The additional savings depends on the participation of Sea Bright.
The Study found that State aid implications would be minimal given that none of the districts received wealth-based aid and that the categorical aid provided on a per pupil basis would track existing allocations adjusted for the movement of Sea Bright students. The Study noted that Highlands also received Preschool Expansion Aid to fund the enrollment of additional pre-school students based on a competitive application process.
The Study indicated that the new regional will assume ownership of all of the buildings of Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, Henry Hudson Regional and Sea Bright and assume responsibility for all bonded debt of the constituents. This will benefit Highlands and Atlantic Highlands since Sea Bright does not have any existing debt, but will now share in the existing debt.
In order to move to a fairer and more equitable allocation of cost methodology, the Study recommended that the tax allocation in the newly formed Regional be based 95% on pupil enrollment and 5% equalized valuation, except that during the five-year transition the allocation will be 87.5% pupil enrollment and 12.5% equalized valuation to account for the transitional payments to Shore Regional and Oceanport discussed below.
The Study concluded that the impact on the taxpayers of Atlantic Highlands, Highlands and Sea Bright will be positive for all three communities in both the short and long term. All three districts will see substantial savings following the five-year period where Sea Bright will be making transitional payments to its former receiving districts. The reason for the savings to Atlantic Highlands and Highlands is that Sea Bright will contribute millions of dollars to educate very few children (approximately 3-4 students per grade). It is anticipated that no additional teaching staff will need to be hired to accommodate so few students. As a result, the consultants found that the proposed regionalization would provide more than $1.5 million in savings to Atlantic Highlands and Highlands, as Sea Bright’s share of the tax levy is far greater than the added cost in educating such a small number of students. In addition, the consultants recognized that Atlantic Highlands, Highlands, and Sea Bright discussed establishing a transitional circuit breaker fund that will provide Atlantic Highlands and Highlands additional protection against increases to their tax levy.
Thefund – financed exclusively through annual contributions by Sea Bright – is triggered if either Atlantic Highlands or Highlands experiences an increase of more than 10% in the ratio of its own local levy to the combined levies of all the constituent districts. The fund will continue for ten years.
Sea Bright also will see substantial savings from the proposed regionalization primarily due to the current inequity in the amount it pays to send its small number of students to Shore Regional. As the consultants noted, Sea Bright paid $161,391 for each student it sent to Shore Regional during the 2019-20 school year. Comparatively, the State average for 9-12 school districts was $18,923 per student. While Sea Bright will continue to pay a greater amount than its per pupil cost if a new regional is formed with Atlantic Highlands, Highlands and Sea Bright, the proposed allocation method is far more equitable to its community.
The fiscal impact of the loss of Sea Bright students on the remaining constituent members of Shore Regional will be significant over time, given the heavy reliance on equalized valuations to allocate costs. However, these districts will see large increases in their respective levy even under the status quo scenario given the reduction in Sea Bright students at the high school level over time.
The Study concluded that Shore Regional may be able to account for all or most of the loss of the funding without any diminution of programs and services given the teach-out transitional payments, which should give the district sufficient time to achieve budgetary savings.
Oceanport will have its contribution from Sea Bright slowly reduce over a period of years in direct relation to the phase-out of Sea Bright students, but the district also will have fewer students to educate. The Study postulated that Oceanport may be able to account for all or most of the loss of the funding without any diminution of programs and services through the budgetary savings that will be available (i.e., transportation and instructional savings) due to the loss of Sea Bright students. The transitional payments due to the phase-out will provide the district with the time necessary to make the budgetary adjustments.
The Study concluded by recommending that Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, and Sea Bright continue to pursue the creation of a new regional district and work with local legislators on passing the necessary implementing legislation.
UpdatetoFeasibilityStudyDecember2021
The consultants issued an update to the Feasibility Study due to the release of data for more current school years. Based upon the updated information, the consultants continue to recommend the formation of a new All-Purpose PK-12 Regional District involving Atlantic Highlands, Highlands and Sea Bright.
The consultants found that the allocation method of 95% enrollment and 5% equalized valuation provides an equitable opportunity for savings across all constituent communities involved in the new All-Purpose Regional (while having the added benefit of correcting Sea Bright’s current disproportionate share of the Shore Regional tax levy). When taking the average tax levy over the five-year implementation period (assuming a starting year of 2021-22 and going through 2025-26 school year), Atlantic Highlands would see an average annual savings of $520,000, Highlands would see an average annual savings of $1,077,000, and Sea Bright would see an average annual savings of $2,285,000.
This assumes the Sea Bright students can be accommodated with existing staff, which is highly likely given the limited number of students in each grade level.
However, if we assume the same student/teacher ratio in new regional, then Atlantic Highlands would see an average annual savings of $255,000, Highlands would see an average annual savings of $877,000, and Sea Bright would see an average annual savings of $2,246,000.
The consultants also discussed added savings resulting from the new All-Purpose Regional.
Two primarily economic principals drive cost reductions associated with unification. The first involves economies of scale in which a larger organization achieves lower prices and reduced costs by leveraging its greater buying power. It also distributes fixed costs over the larger entity, in the case of schools, thereby reducing the cost per pupil. The second financial benefit relates to efficiencies gained by reducing the functions replicated over multiple school districts. The economy and efficiency gains involved in unification will generate economic savings resulting in reduced taxes and better functional performance. The cost of operating a unified district will be lower than the sum of the constituent districts, notwithstanding the commendable level of coordination and shared services already in place in the tri-district configuration. This includes savings resulting from improved operational functionality. Based on review of the audited financials of the three districts, the consultants concluded that a new all-purpose regionalization could result in an overall cost savings of $287,000 due to reductions in administrative staffing (salaries and benefits), and other identified costs.
The consultants also found that Sea Bright’s withdrawal from its existing school districts will not have a substantial negative impact on the member communities of the schools where it presently sends its students. Assuming a phase-out of Sea Bright’s K-8 students, Oceanport will have a year-to-year reduction in tuition revenue of approximately $75,000 for each of the first four years following Sea Bright’s transition to the new regional. When compared to the projected $10.2 million tax levy or the approximately $13.0 million annual budget, the lost tuition clearly is insignificant, as $75,000 amounts to 0.7% of the total tax levy and 0.6% of the annual expenditures.
Oceanport also is a constituent member of Shore Regional for grades 9-12. Assuming a phase-out of Sea Bright’s 9-12 students, Oceanport’s share of the lost Sea Bright tax levy to Shore Regional would be $204,000 per year, which equates to 1.3% of the regional tax levy and 0.96% of its projected expenditures. Similarly, Monmouth Beach would see an increase of $258,000 per year, assuming a phase-out period, which equities to 1.6% of the Shore Regional tax levy and 1.2% of projected expenditures. Finally, West Long Branch, would experience an increase of $233,000 per year, assuming a phase-out period, which equates to 1.4% of the Shore Regional tax levy and 1.1% of projected expenditures. Based on the foregoing, the consultants concluded that there would be no substantial negative financial impact on any of these communities. The consultants further found that Shore Regional may be able to account for all or most of the funding loss without any diminution of programs and services given the phase-out and transitional payments. This transitional period will give the district additional time to achieve budgetary savings available to it due to the loss of Sea Bright students (i.e., transportation and instructional savings) to ameliorate the impact on taxpayers as well as on instruction and operations.
In sum, the consultants found that given “the financial pressures on smaller districts, the all- purpose regional offers opportunities for additional non-instructional financial savings thereby maintaining or expanding the instructional program. The proposed all-purpose regional saves about $300,000 if the new regional can accommodate the Sea Bright Students with existing staff.
It improves both economic and logistical efficiencies.” As a result, the consultants continue to recommend the formation of a new All-Purpose PK-12 Regional District involving Atlantic Highlands, Highlands and Sea Bright and setting the allocation at 95% enrollment and 5% equalized valuation.
Cheers, thanks, and applause for his love of country and undaunted praise in the United States to Highlands Borough Administrator Mike Muscillo. As soon as he got one report of the disgraceful appearance of the American flag at the World War I memorial at the Capt. Azzolina Bridge, it took him less than 20 minutes to find out who should be contacted and how to out up an American flag without rips, tears, and an abominable condition. Turns out it is the borough’s job to insure the flag is always at the perfection it should be, so perhaps a bit of shame for police and employees who see it on a daily basis and don’t say anything about it when it’s torn and ripped in shreds. Maybe it should be the pride and joy of the American Legion or VFW, or maybe Henry Hudson as a way of instilling student with a pride in the nation. Local residents who notice a shredded flag should contact the borough to let them know. A huge thanks to MIke Muscillo for taking immediate action. Veterans and active duty military folks appreciate your pride and dedication..as to those of us who love the country and the flag it represents!
I fear people who can’t stand up for what they believe in, and I shudder noticeably when cowards and people who cannot stand up for what they believe in, are also local government leaders.
That is why the local Republican leaders are making it so easy for me to think about switching parties … Or becoming an Independent.
My other option would be to run as independent for a county seat in Atlantic Highlands on the Republican side. But then, why would I want to represent a party whose leaders are so weak and cowardly?
Two years ago, I was approached by local Republicans who asked me if I would consider being a county committee person for the third district. Nobody ever wants the job, they said, so you don’t have to go door to door or anything. We just want you to run and be able to represent Atlantic Highlands as a committee woman.
I agreed. It was at a time when I thought Republican leadership, both in the town and in Monmouth County, was strong, eager to fight for the rights of all people, energetic to win races and had an agenda that was good for Atlantic Highlands, Monmouth County, New Jersey and America.
Just as they said, I was elected and didn’t have to do anything to achieve the position.
Now, two years later, I’m so much smarter. I now realize…though as a journalist I admit to having seen it so many times through the decades…leaders of some political parties, maybe all, for all I know, are not in it for the good of the people.
They forget why they got into politics. They forget they are there to help the people who elected them, and even the people who did not elect them.
Once elected, it certainly appears they are in it for prestige, power, recognition so they can run for higher offices, or any number of other self motivated reasons.
They don’t like to upset political leaders at higher levels, either … maybe even score brownie points with them if they boot out people the higher office holders don’t like. Who knows what motivates them once they are in office, once they imbibe in the sweet, intoxicating taste of power.
Monday at 4 p.m. was the deadline for filing to be a committee person for election in the June primary. Our Republican leader in Atlantic Highlands up until a few months ago was my neighbor. He’s the chairman of a county commission where I was also booted out, that because the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners….sans Freeholder Burry….don’t like my politics or journalism or age or disabilities, or something else. That’s why I am currently no longer being paid to do press releases for that Commission.
But that’s another story and there will be far more on that one in the future.
My point is, the local chairman knows how easy it is to get in touch with me. But he did not.
That’s where the cowardice comes in. It’s one thing not to contact me to see if I’d be interested in running again, or, in the alternative, to contact me to tell me he and Republican leaders don’t like my writing or my age or my politics, or my disability.
But the local leader, nor any Republican member of the Borough Council, did not do any of that. They simply hunted out another lady, asked her if she would run and apparently she is.
Don’t know whether she has ever been involved in politics or if she knows what a county committee is. But she is on the ballot for the June primary for GOP county committee person for the third district, along with a sitting councilman, filling the two seats for the district.
It is the cowardice thing that bothers me the most. And that’s why I am warning every Republican in Atlantic Highlands to think whether you want to continue with this leadership or switch to Independent thinking, giving you all kinds of opportunities to select the best from either party to support or back a candidate separate from both.
So let’s consider what this weak, rude, inconsiderate, thoughtless, GOP leadership in Atlantic Highlands is so afraid of that they could not even pick up the phone, send an e-mail, write a letter, or God forbid, face me IN PERSON to say they really don’t like me, my opinions, my age, or something else. I never knew I was so threatening that people, men, would be afraid to tell me they don’t like me.
By my disability, I am slowly losing my vision, but some of those in the Atlantic Highlands GOP seem to already lost sight of theirs.
I am 85 years old, hardly in shape or disposition to get embattled in a physical fight. I’ve done my share of physical fighting already, for higher causes…I beat a life threatening stroke that was fixed, in part by the quick thinking of my friends at the Shore Casino when it occurred, the swift work and attention of the Atlantic Highlands First Aid Squad, the perfection of a medical team and my own strong will to live and fight it. I’ve fought breast cancer by daring to participate in a trial as the first person in New Jersey and one of less than a dozen in the nation to undergo cryoablation as a cure. That was so successful I was congratulated and praised by the Israeli company that invented it when I visited their offices in Caesarea, Israel. Now that procedure is accepted in the United States and the company is even on our stock market, trading here as well as in shekels in Israel.
Years ago, I brought a case to the United States Supreme Court because I did not like the way elections were being run in New Jersey. The next year, New Jersey changed their election law and fixed what I complained about.
I’ve experienced and overcome my share of emotional battles as well. I’ve overcome the grief of losing both a husband and a daughter, I’ve sent my other three children off to represent the country in the Navy and Marine Corps, all went to foreign lands, and foreign seas with their military orders. I’ve even been served an eviction notice to leave a home where I was renting. I’ve had my life and that of my children threatened more times than I can count for standing up against police brutality, unfairness, or helping the downtrodden or imprisoned.
I’ve spent a career in journalism that has taken me many places, allowed me to do many things, won me many awards and accolades, and a generous share of criticism. It’s the criticism I love the best. You’re not telling the truth, you’re not telling the real story, you’re not covering the events if everybody agrees with what you say. I often say in politics I love it best when both parties tell me how unfair I am. That means I’m straight down the middle, and it’s so nice they recognize and appreciate it.
So am I strong? I suppose I am. At least I suppose the Republican leadership thinks I’m strong. So strong, in fact, that not a single one of them had the courage or courtesy…the two virtues are so much alike…. to tell me they didn’t want my name on the ballot with theirs. Imagine. An entire partisan leadership of a borough scared of an 85 year old woman with a pen, a mouth, and a desire to support the best there can be for a town I truly love.
Writing about the rudeness and cowardice of GOP leaders in Atlantic Highlands that led to my recent column and the many calls and notes I’m getting to congratulate me for going public with the cowardice, it makes me think of all the fine, upstanding people I have seen, talked to, or heard about in the last few days and makes me appreciate them more.
Love the comments of one great friend who wrote “Give’ em hell Muriel! That’s one of the things I love most about you, you shoot straight from the hip, or perhaps I should say from the tip of your pen!”
So for equal time to the not-so-rude and certainly not cowardly people who have crossed my path recently, thanks.
Thanks to having friends like Tricia and Dan Curtin, who every day, simply do something special for others, without any fanfare, any notice, any anything but sheer joy in helping others. They run the Food Pantry at OLPH in Highlands and whether the pantry is open or closed, the Curtins are still out there helping with a myriad of other problems for so many other people.
Thanks to people like Gabe Tauro, who in spite of being even older than I, walks up Miller hill every morning to be sure the OLPH church doors are open, and the altar and candles are ready for mass. Gabe does his work quietly, without any notice to the point we all take his kindness and generosity of time and energy for granted.
Thanks to priests like Fr. Jarlath and Fr. Tom who are always there to hear a sad story, laugh over a good one, or simply spread their own peace with God to everyone they meet, simply because of their faith. That’s in addition to the spiritual work they do as leaders in the church.
Thanks to the many ministers I know in the other churches including Marti McGrail in Highlands and every one of them in all the churches in Atlantic Highlands and Navesink who do so much not only for their own church members but anyone in need.
Thanks to Debbie Appello who saw I was sick one morning after mass, and refused to leave until she was assured I was okay and did not need anything further.
Thanks to Emilio and Judith at the new Emilio’s Restaurant on Center Avenue in Atlantic Highlands who donated some pretty delicious soup to OLPH for their Friday Stations and Soup during Lent. As a new business in town, it has to be a sacrifice to make such a generous donation, but they did it…without a word.
Thanks to a dear lawyer friend now living in Florida for such wonderful words of wisdom and praise for me in the aftermath of the rudeness and cowardice of those GOP leaders.
Thanks again to the Highlands administrator Mike Muscillo for immediately changing the American flag at the war memorial at the bridge. As busy as he is, he wasn’t too busy or too overwhelmed with other duties that he couldn’t show great pride in our nation’s colors.
Thanks to the Atlantic Highlands borough clerk Michele Clark as well as all the borough employees here who go out of their way to not only be helpful and knowledgeable, but also pleasant and friendly in doing their jobs for residents. They’re never too busy to go the extra mile for anyone.
Thanks also to Bob Ferragina who’s doing such a terrific job as administrator in spite of the heavy workload and so many new and important issues like school regionalization and cannabis businesses.
Thanks to Middletown Mayor Tom Perry who responded within minutes to a request for help for a displaced family trying to get back into their home after two years. It isn’t resolved quite yet, but this is a mayor that gets things done.
Thanks to Cathy and Vera and Charlie and the entire crew at the Girls Café in Highlands who somehow always manage to have everyone who stops in for coffee or anything else leave with a bigger, brighter smile.
Thanks to Augie who I also see at the Girl’s Café for giving me a different…albeit a bit warped! view of how we should manage rudenesses done to us.
Thanks to Highlands Chief Rob Burton for always being polite and courteous, and of course with no cowardice for understanding we can have differences of opinion and still be nice people.
Thanks to Capt. Murtha and the Atlantic Highlands department for being the kind of police department a small town should have. Thanks to Chief Scott Reinert for taking on the top job, one he’ll fill to perfection given his own high standards and experience, coupled with the professionalism yet hometown kindness of the entire department.
Thanks to Jon Crowley who might not like what I or any in my family say about him, but he’s man enough to talk about it…and do it courteously and friendly. And he gets his point across.
And while we’re on Democrats, Lori Hohenleitner is another one of those “quiet givers” who does a lot behind the scenes to help others, but doesn’t talk about it or expect praise. I’ve found she’s always one of the first to call and offer help, regardless of the situation.
Thanks to my friend Musky and his owner Matty who are blazing a path for better treatment of animals, all kinds of animals, not just dogs and cats. Looking forward to his newest book and newest venture.
My list goes on. And on. Because I am fortunate to know so many fine people and I have heard from so many thoughtful people, I can appreciate the beauty of friendship.Perhaps that’s the reason why I can absorb the rudeness and cowardice of political leaders who can’t pick up a phone to tell a disabled octogenarian they don’t think she’s worth a spot on a ballot under the Republican column.
The good news is the Highlands Borough Council held a terrific meeting last night giving everyone the opportunity ask whatever questions they wanted about what’s happening next or what could happen or what can’t happen on the school regionalization questions.
The bad news is only about 50 residents, though they came from all three towns, made it to the Community Center to learn about it. Can’t help but wonder whether more people would have gotten educated and been able to ask their own questions if the meeting was virtual or hybrid..
Lots of praise for Mayor Carolyn Broullon for handling the meeting in a highly professional way, though, nipping it in the bud when it appeared there would be outbursts or two people talking at the same time or trading any barbs at each other. The great thing was it happened early in the meeting; the mayor took an immediate step to let it be known it wouldn’t be tolerated, and the rest of the meeting was quiet, orderly and informational!
Also liked the way the mayor gave a brief history of when and how often regional plans have been discussed for the Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Sea Bright. There are those of us who remember when Hudson was built and the question of Sea Bright was part of it then, more than half a century ago.
Liked Atlantic Highlands Councilman Brian Boms’ questions about whether Shore Regional could sue Sea Bright for getting out of their district’s school, but liked attorney Vito Gagliardi’s answer better. The new state law signed into effect in January is designed to negate any such suit, but of course you cannot ever guarantee someone won’t sue ..for this or any other reason.
Also loved Mr. Gagliardi’s quick thinking response when another resident, a member of the Henry Hudson Board, started talking figures and said it’s so easy a third grader could figure it out, to which the attorney politely and quietly said that “third graders don’t vote” and continued his explanation of the costs and ratios.
The best news is that in the end, it appears that even if that regional school study isn’t finished until May, and if Atlantic Highlands acts after reviewing that report, there would still be time for Atlantic Highlands to pass a resolution asking for it to be on the ballot and getting it up for a November vote…here’s an idea….so that all the residents of all three towns can have their say on what they think is the best solution.
Waiting for the school regionalization study being done by the Henry Hudson school district should still allow sufficient time for the Atlantic Highlands governing body to pass a resolution requesting the question on the November ballot if the Hudson study is completed and released by mid-May.
That was the opinion of Attorney Vito Gagliardi, Jr. of the Porzio, Bromberg & Newman law firm, who gave presentations and answered questions from the public along with Kerri A. Wright, both attorneys in the Porzio Bromberg & Newman law firm that already conducted studies of the regionalization question.
Both Highlands and Sea Bright passed the necessary resolutions earlier this year asking the Commissioner of Education to consider whether they and Atlantic Highlands could be regionalized as a pre-K through 12 district with a single board of education. Atlantic Highlands has not yet passed a similar resolution, preferring to wait on any action until a study being done for the Henry Hudson district is completed, something that is anticipated sometime in late April or May.
Should Atlantic Highlands decline to pass a similar resolution, the other two boroughs could act on their own, and if voters approved the regionalization of those two communities, it would lead to Atlantic Highlands students being tuition-paying students at Henry Hudson and maintaining their own PreK through 6th grade with its board of education, a possibility no one appears to favor.
The deadline for having any question on the November ballot is Aug. 15. In order for that to happen, the resolutions submitted to the Department of Education would have to be approved by the Commissioner and the wording and information of the specific question would have to be determined by the governing bodies. The question would have to include specifics on the tax levy for each municipality, and all would have to be completed in to meet that Aug. 15 deadline for a vote in November.
That was one of several questions answered at a special meeting of the Highlands Borough Council called to enable residents of this borough, Atlantic Highlands and Sea Bright to learn more and ask questions about the process to be established under which voters can make a determination on whether they want to eliminate the three local boards governing the three schools in the two boroughs and also enable Sea Bright to become a third municipality in the district, all under one regional board of education.
Mayor Carolyn Broullon opened the meeting with a brief history of how often local towns have considered further regionalization. She added it was an opportunity for the law firm attorneys retained to do a study already completed to answer questions that have been raised because of recent numerous articles and the “always correct Facebook” comments.
Citing off and on discussions of regionalization with Sea Bright or between Highlands and Atlantic Highlands rather than the current three boards for the three schools in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, Broullon said the question surfaced again in 2019, leading to the present action and the consideration of Sea Bright becoming a part of a regional preK through 12 school district.
Atlantic Highlands Councilman Jon Crowley took exception to the meeting saying “this shouldn’t be happening tonight,” but rather should be waiting for the Hudson report which, he said, will include more information on facilities, transportation and other issues not included in the Porzio report. But Gagliardi explained the purpose of the meeting was not to discuss how each of the aspects of both reports would be handled but rather the more timely information on what has to be done to get the question on the ballot and the time frame that must be followed in order to let the voters decide. There would still be time for informational sessions in all communities to inform residents of all ramifications before the November election, he said.
Dr. Tara Beams, superintendent of the current tri-district in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, questioned the timeliness and accuracy of the Porzio researched study, saying bringing in Sea Bright to the current tri-district “comes with complications.” She said the study still underway at Hudson incorporate either the current tri-district regionalizing itself into a PreK through 12 district rather than the current three districts, and as another alternative, also includes a study of regionalizing with another community, mainly Sea Bright. There are a lot of unknowns, the superintendent said, and said it would be five to ten years before the redistricting would actually be completed, because of Sea Bright obligations to Oceanport, where their elementary school children attend school and Shore Regional High School.
Gagliardi corrected Beams, explaining the recent law which was co-sponsored by State Senator Declan O’Scanlon, unanimously approved by both legislative bodies and signed by the Governor in January, prevents such a long term delay and established a mechanism which approves the departure of Sea Bright from the other former districts.
The law provides for Sea Bright students to be incorporated into the new regional district in a manner so as not to disrupt students, he said. This is accomplished by enabling the students currently in one school to complete the grades within that school, then, when they move from the elementary to the middle school, or the middle school to the high school, it would be then they would make the move to the tri-district schools, rather than that the schools in Oceanport or Shore Regional. Such a process would be completed within six years and would allow for tax changes to be established now, not in ten years.
With only a handful of questions posed by the fewer than 50 people in attendance at the meeting, the meeting lasted less than 90 minutes and ended with Mayor Broullon thanking everyone for attending, and reminding residents regionalization is not only a question of economics but also socialization and educational opportunities for the children
Author, historian and local resident Steven Schwankert will open the 2022 Speaker Series presentations of the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society with a unique view of a small group of passengers aboard the ill-fated Titanic when he addresses the Society Wednesday, April 20 at 7:30 pm.
The club is featuring shipwrecks and maritime disasters as its central theme for the 2022 series, and Schwankert’s presentation on the Titanic passengers presents a unique and surprising view of six survivors as well as Titanic owner J. Bruce Ismay.
Eight Chinese passengers sailed aboard the Titanic’s maiden voyage, neither crew nor stowaways. Despite being the most obviously foreign of all the passengers, six managed to survive, a surprising number for a group of men traveling in third class. One of the six was pulled from the water, perhaps the last person rescued from sinking ship, and the inspiration for one of modern cinema’s most iconic moments. Schwankert’s presentation will look at the sinking as a whole, and specifically the experience of key Titanic figures, including Ismay.
A fellow of The Explorers Club, Schwankert is the East and South Asia Chapter Chair and co-creator of “The Six,” a book and documentary project about the Chinese passengers aboard the Titanic. His book, “Poseidon: China’s Secret Salvage of Britain’s Lost Submarine” was published in 2013 by Hong Kong University Press.
Presentations on the maritime theme will be held the third Wednesday of each month through October, and are presented at the Strauss Museum, 27 Prospect Circle. No reservations are needed, all presentations begin at 7:30, and this year feature the Titanic and other shipwrecks and maritime disasters. Talks are on the 3rd Wednesday of every month from April to October. They are given at the Strauss Museum, 27 Prospect Circle, Atlantic Highlands, start at 7:30 and are free and open to the public.
For more information on this and all programs, events, and hours at the Strauss House, visit the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society website at http://www.ahhistory.org.
If you’re planning on enjoying Easter at the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands, better make your reservations soon, because it’s limited seating and already filling up! This will be the first Brunch Buffet for the Atlantic Highlands Harbor restaurant, and owner Kathleen Sweeney and executive manager /son Jay Strebb have gone all out to make this a truly special First Easter Buffet. There’s no doubt Bernie is looking back with great pride at what’s happening at his beloved Casino. And so proud of Jay’s new ideas and Kathleen’s strength! Call 732-291-2900 for reservations, prices, and time schedules for this bountiful board!
