The township Historical Society is continuing to grow its membership and is inviting local residents to become involved in projects that help the Society to live up to its mission of preserving and promoting the history of the historic township.
In a recent letter to its members, the Board of Trustees of the Society outlined some of its achievements during 2021, including an increase in its membership bringing it to more than 100 members.
Tom Valenti, president of the Society praised the work of the Board of Trustees in promoting its highly popular Speaker Series which is offered both in person and online and in 2021 included nine different presentations from historians and authors.
The Society also began the digitization of the Middletown High School yearbooks, which are now available for view online, and added several entries to the interactive land development map which is also on the website.
With a revenue increase of 65 per cent, the president reported the Society had received a grant from the Monmouth County Historical Society as well as several community sponsorships by local organizations. The Society also accepted donations of numerous historical items for its archive and fielded many queries concerning genealogical and historical matters about Middletown, its families and early settlers. The Society has also successfully renewed its efforts to catalog its archives and make the list available to the public.
Persons wishing to becoming members, or giving a membership to a newcomer in the area, can visit the website at MiddletownHistory@gmail.com, or write the Society at PO Box 180, Middletown, NJ 07748. Memberships vary from $10 for a general level membership to $100 for a benefactor membership. Checks should be made payable to the Middletown Township Historical Society, which is a NJ non-profit corporation and a 501 (c)3 corporation.
Valenti noted the Society also welcomes donations of items relevant to the town’s history and assures donors of the preservation and care of all donations. Community sponsorships are open to all local companies or organizations who support the preservation of local history.
When it comes to painting streets, Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Sea Bright each have their individual way of handling the legalities and authorities of the action.
Last week, at the Sea Bright Council meeting, residents and council members alike voiced concern and frustration over their long efforts to have crosswalks painted in three different locations along Ocean Avenue, a state highway.
Council members and others noted the number of beach goers, the number of beach clubs, and the frequency of road crossings by pedestrians on the busy road. A former councilman has also pointed out a blinking light and crosswalk are especially needed by the north entrance to the borough. Coming across the Highlands Sea Bright Bridge, there is no warning the next area is both residential and pedestrians trying to get to the ocean side of the highway. Yet the state has not responded to their many pleas for assistance and protection before anyone gets injured.
So Ocean Avenue remains without the needed crosswalks.
At last night’s Atlantic Highlands Council meeting, Borough Administrator Robert Ferragina, in a detailed explanation about how the gay pride flag got to be approved for flying below the American flag on the Borough Hall flagpole, explained he had first received a request to have Gay Pride colors painted along a crosswalk. The administrator researched it, found it is not proper nor authorized, and declined the request for the multi-colored painted crosswalk.
So Atlantic Highlands is flying a Gay Pride beneath the American flag, bringing dozens of people to a meeting in support, and offending a former Mayor who is also a retired Army officer and proud of the nation’s standard flying high and alone.
Last month, with no action at any meeting, and no apparent objections, workmen closed off a portion of Waterwitch Avenue near Huddy Park, to paint a crosswalk with the multi colors of Gay Pride. The crosswalk is adjacent to the park named for the Revolutionary hero who was reportedly hung at the park site. The administrator had indicated, when questioned about the multi colors that were on the crosswalk, that somebody requested it it did not cause any problem, so he allowed it.
So Highlands has a multi-striped crosswalk that few people appear to notice or comment about, and it appeared there with no red tape, no discussions, or outpouring of people at a council meeting.
Perhaps, in the interest of protecting its residents and guests, Sea Bright should take a tip from Highlands. Or maybe the contractor building the new Rumson Sea Bright Bridge could slap a few brushes of paint along Ocean Avenue near that bridge to create a crosswalk. It would be temporary, only until the bridge is completed, and might save lives. It’s doubtful anyone would complain red tape was omitted to accomplish a safety goal.
Congressman Chris Smith was the first member of Congress to issue a statement concerning the Supreme Court decision on states right, including when it comes to abortion.
In anticipation of this morning’s announced decision by the Supreme Court that upholds the states’ rights to make decisions for matters that are not protected under the Constitution , the Congressman iterated the contradiction in modern medicine that today “treats unborn children with disability or disease as a patient in need of diagnosis and treatment,” and adds “there has been an explosion in interventions that have saved children’s lives and mitigated many, many problems that they would have faced if the disability had not been treated in-utero.”
Yet the state of New Jersey has enacted extremist laws that permit killing a baby right up to the moment of birth “for any reason.” Policies, he said, “that pose an existential threat to the well-being and lives of innocent children.”
“Unborn babies are society’s youngest patients and deserve benign, life-affirming medical interventions,” Smith continued. “All unborn babies deserve protection not death by abortion. Unborn babies and their mothers need support; we need to love and help them both.”
Smith also pointed out that in 1972, when the Roe Vs Wade decision permitted abortions for any reason, “the 7-2 majority who issued the opinion wrote ‘‘We need not resolve the difficult question of when human life begins.’’
Sidestepping that fundamental question and giving absolutely no benefit of the doubt to the innate value, dignity and humanity of an unborn child, the Court went on to legalize and facilitate abortion on demand throughout pregnancy, Smith said. The following year, two Justices dissented on another pro-abortion decision and called the decision in both cases “an exercise in extreme judicial power… an improvident and extravagant exercise of the power of judicial review…”
Today’s decision agrees with that statement, returning the power to state lawmakers to significantly regular or prohibit abortion.
Justice Alito writes: “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled. It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives… Today, science confirms that birth is an event—albeit a very important one—but only an event in the life of a child. It is not the beginning of life. History…and science…are on the side of life.”
Advance notice that a letter from former Mayor Fred Rast stating his concerns and offense a gay pride flag is flying beneath the borough’s American flag at Borough Hall bothered him as a lifelong resident and a veteran brought out the largest crowd in recent months to last night’s meeting of the Mayor and Council.
While dozens attended the meeting, more than half left when the discussion of the flag issue ended, with few staying to hear the concerns of other residents over parking, cannabis, safety at the launch ramp at the Yacht Harbor or honoring local veterans with more recognition.
Rast , who identifies as a lifelong resident and veteran, had submitted the letter to the Borough in advance of the meeting, and was told he could read the letter at the meeting.
The letter cited Rast’s “Formal notification” he was offended the gay pride flag at the last meeting had been unanimously approved to fly beneath the American flag on the borough hall exterior flagpole for the month of June. Rast cited flag etiquette regulations that ban the flags of other nations or advertisements to be flown on the same pole, and allowed that POW and KIA flags honoring those prisoners or war or killed in action are approved. Anything else takes away from military who have fought to protect that flag, he said.
Rast also made it clear he has no objection to the seven other Gay Pride flags also flying throughout July on light poles in front of borough hall, does not discriminate against anyone for any belief, culture creed or orientation, but believes the nation’s standard should not have another flag of another interest than patriotism flown beneath it.
In a move designed to ensure everyone is aware of the history of the flags being flown for June, Borough Administrator Robert Ferragina gave a brief synopsis of council’s unanimous actions approving the flags at the request of Councilwoman Lori Hohenleitner, tracing the history from Hohenleitner’s first request, the resolutions approving it both last year for flags in front of the building and this year for them in addition to the one on the flag pole with the American flag. He also clarified that the first request was for painting walkways in rainbow colors, an idea denied since it was not authorized by the DOD , insurance carriers or Monmouth County, which owns First Avenue. Ferragina also said since the flags have been flown, there have been no “official complaints” to his office other than from Rast. Ferrugina said the flag was not being displayed in Veterans Park because the park is dedicated to veterans who lost their lives and are listed on the stone beneath that flag in the park across from Borough Hall.
Several residents, who identified themselves as gay or transgender, praised the governing body for their unanimous approval of the flag’s display, as well as the fact they believed the display gave residents and visitors alike the borough is truly open to all people without discrimination. Some praised the council on behalf of their children or other young people who are gay or transgender and have suffered from lack of inclusion because of heir differences. One person suggested installing another flagpole on the borough’s front lawn to accommodate the Gay Pride flag and not offend Rast, another reminded council of her previous request, expressed many times in the past, that honor be paid to the local men who lost their lives and are cited on the memorial in Veterans Park through a better and more comprehensive display of their photos or biographies.
Rast responded to some statements saying anyone who know him or his background knows he has never discriminated against anyone for any reason. He noted he had not identified himself as a former mayor, “just as a veteran..” but in ending municipal meetings he frequently noted how friendly and welcoming Atlantic Highlands is, and “no one ever need walk down any street in town unless he’s there to do damage.” The former elected official, also a former police officer and Monmouth County investigator has volunteered in municipal government committees for decades, serving three terms on the governing body and eight years as Mayor. He was a lieutenant colonel in the Army and retired after 41 years of active and reserve service.
The letter from Rast that brought so many to the meeting follows:
I want this letter to be a formal notification to the Mayor and Council that as a lifelong resident and military veteran I am extremely offended the presence of the gay pride flag being on the same official municipal flagpole in front of borough hall.
The etiquette for the presentment of the American flag on official buildings within the United States has for many years that the US flag is flown on the flagpole in the top position, the flag itself it to remain the largest in size of any additional flags on the flag pole. Beneath the flag which is authorized for years is the POW flag and the KIA flag. The significance of the flagpole on official government buildings is to show the world our support of our country and to show respect and support for those veterans who either were missing in action or were identified as killed in action defending our nation.
The gay pride flag which is present on our town’s flagpole in front of borough hall signifies to all concerned a political stance that is not directly related to beliefs of some people. The presence of this flag on the same flagpole is entirely offensive to me, as a lifelong resident and military veteran.
There are pride flags on separate light poles in front of borough hall depicting gay pride which are present during the month of June, which have been authorized by council. I have no problem with this, except for the added symbols from the original rainbow flag.
Traditionally there should t no other flag flown on the same government flagpole and I might point tout that in Veteran’s Park the pride flag does not exist on that flagpole, and should not. The argument that I have with this flag being flown on the same government flagpole in front of Borough Hall is any any organization, with any type of agenda, should then in fact in the future be allowed to be added to the flagpole in front of borough hall. How can one say that the gay pride flag is any more important than perhaps a Christian religious flag, Jewish religious flag, a Black Lives Matter or Blue Lives Matter flag.
What I find also very offensive as an example, when Peter Donoghue our former mayor and veteran died, I requested that the flag in front of borough hall be placed at half staff in honor of his being a former mayor. I was told that it could not be done because it was not authorized. I also find as a lifelong resident of Atlantic Highlands that there seems to be a tendency by a lot of people in town to try to show through symbolism, that they are good people, not by their participation in our town. I see signs on people’s lawns that show that they have taken the pledge to be friendly with and work with people of color. Good honest people don’t have to show others through superficial symbols that they are allegedly good. Truly good people are people who go through their life supporting everyone in every manner possible, regardless of their religious preferences , sexual preferences or skin color. What I have seen over and over again is that the people who want to display phony signs, for the most part, have never felt fairly and honestly with people who are different from them.
I know that some of would disagree with my comments about the pride flag at Borough Hall will cite, what I consider a disgraceful policy by the current administration in Washinton, to authorize or instruct embassies throughout the world to fly under the American flags the pride flag. Clearly this has been done for nothing other than political purposes by phony people. However, you’ll notice that they did not openly instruct municipalities to fly the pride flag under the American flag.
Those who truly know me personally know that I have always stood for and demanded that people are treated fairly and supported regardless of their personal preferences or skin color.
Sheldon Fallon, president of Center Players, and Bernice Garfield-Szita, artistic Director for the theater that presents live presentations of everything from comedy to drama, has issued a plea for help in finding a new location.
Fallon said that Center Players may be homeless after 21 amazing seasons when their lease on the small and intimate theater at 35 South St. expires in March 2024. The new landlords are planning to open a grocery store at the location, he said.
The all-volunteer community theater group has been a 501(c)3 non-profit organization since 1996 and opened its doors as a resident theater in 2001. Despite its size limiting audiences to 49, and with a 14×18 foot stage, Center Players has won statewide acclaim for productions. It was recognized by the Freehold Chamber of Commerce as Nonprofit of The Year.
“We embraced diversity through our artistic participants and audience members and have worked to make Freehold Borough and its fine restaurants a destination for audience members from all parts of New Jersey, New York City, Philadelphia and beyond, “ Fallon said, in looking back over the decades the theater has been a vital part of Freehold’s downtown area..
The New Jersey Association of Community Theaters (NJACT) recognized Center Players as one of the finest community theaters in the state with many nominations and awards for artistic excellence. Garfield-Szita received the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
Fallon explained that when COVID-19 hit in 2020 and all live, in-person performances were shut down, Players went dark. Yet the Board continued to pay rent, secure grants, produce virtual theater presentations and find outdoor venues to keep theater alive in Freehold. Doors opened once again in October of last year with California Suite and continues its current season with live, in-person performances.
The group is looking for a new venue and raising funds to transform it into a theater to continue its reputation for excellence, inclusiveness and community involvement. Fallon is urging anyone with knowledge of a new location or funds to create a new theater space to contact Monmouth Players at 732-462-9093 or email at info1@centerplayers.org.
“Without support,” Fallon said, “unfortunately, the Playhouse will need to close its doors permanently and that would be a great loss for all. “
The coffee’s terrific, (as is the hot water, my personal favorites) and nobody can beat Charley’s talents at the grill and stove. But it’s really the cheerfulness of The Girls Café that makes the day start out right. Sisters Cathy and Vera, together with Charley and all the other Hartsgrove relatives that work here seem to have a knack for making everyone smile or downright laugh out loud just because of how they look at life. And that’s pretty heady stuff for early in the morning.
The Girls Café is closing an hour early Saturday, because they have their priorities right and are taking time to celebrate a family event with four generations of the family. So be sure to order your takeout lunches or enjoy your lunch before 1 on Saturday so The Girls can enjoy some time of their own.
Happiness and good natured employees must be catching in that section of Waterwitch, because Sue at the Laundromat on the corner of Huddy Avenue also spreads a lot of good cheer though she never stops working to do it. Whether she’s showing a new customer how to work the washing machines, advising on the best size machine to use (and saving customers money, by the way) or simply talking about the events going on in town with a sense of pride and belonging, she makes doing a household chore a distinct pleasure. Since the laundromat offers the personalized service, folks coming in to drop off laundry loads for pickup later in the day get treated to some of Sue’s good-natured kidding and leave smiling.
Maybe some of those property owners with the vacant buildings along Bay Avenue would like to think about renting a small theater to Monmouth Players? They’re going to be out of their Freehold home in 2024 and are looking for a new stage to present their fantastic plays. Bernice the Artistic Director has done wonders with some mighty terrific talent in presenting live theater in a small space but with great costuming, set design, and talented actors and actresses. Atlantic Highlands has the very wonderful First Avenue theater, and Highlands could do more of the same!
When recuperating from an illness kept Commissioner Lillian G. Burry from addressing the graduating class of MAST after 17 years of being at each graduation, the Commissioner wrote a letter to the Class of 2022.
The letter was read at the commencement ceremony on Pershing Field Wednesday by Commander Tracie Smith-Yeoman, USN (ret). Before reading the letter, Commander Smith-Yeoman reminded the class that while she had promised them completion of what they lovingly referred to as Burry Hall before graduation, renovations are still continuing on restoring two of the historic buildings on Fort Hancock for the NJROTC program.
The following is Commissioner Burry’s address to the students:
For the past seventeen years, I have attended the Marine Academy of Science and Technology graduations. I have also had many visits to the Academy , always with a strong interest in their needs and their accomplishments.
Look back on these last four years of your lives as a time of challenges and opportunities, while you look ahead at your lives knowing that you go forward well prepared to continue on the journey ahead. I can not pretend to know what you will achieve or how you will do it. What I can do is offer a few words of advice.
Some of what you do will be done through collaboration, working with others to achieve a shared objective. Other things will be done through rigorous competition, striving to be the first and the best. The challenge for you is to know which. Which of these is the right approach for you?
As you go on in life you will see that there is often more than one approach and there’s often even more than two! It has been said that life is about the journey not the destination. There is a great deal of truth in that and you should appreciate all the good things that you find in every day life along the way. However, a journey without a destination can be just another way of getting lost.
You need to formulate a goal and a plan for realizing it. Then change it as circumstances change. Reinvent yourselves as the world around you evolves. Never be afraid to stand your ground or strike out in a new direction. The key to it all is to know yourselves and be true to what you know. If you anchor yourselves to that truth you can find that you are on the island of serenity in a sea of shifting tides.
Now go out and be brilliant. If you find yourselves falling short of that, then make yourselves happy.
Ceremonies for the 69 graduates of MAST, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology were held Wednesday morning on Pershing Field in historic Fort Hancock, as 100 per cent of the members of the graduating class are heading for college or military academies later this year.
Addressing the cloudy skies and high winds, Principal Earl Moore good naturedly welcomed the crowd to the outdoor ceremony with a “Welcome to another Bad Hair Day at Sandy Hook.” The principal praised parents of all MAST students, recognizing the sacrifices they make in time, transportation and at-home nurturing to ensure “these amazing” students attend one of the highest ranked high schools in the nation. Moore also thanked the students for teaching him “insight, wisdom, your appreciation for freedom and democracy” and noted that while they are facing an unknown future they “are grounded in the realities of time.”
Dr. Charles R. Ford, Jr., Ed.D,, superintendent of the vocational school district for Monmouth County, also congratulated the students, though he said in jest he does not visit the school between November and April because of the weather the small peninsula faces during winter months. Dr. Ford advised the graduates not to be afraid, and “go out there and make me proud.”
Commander Tracie Smith-Yeoman, (USN Ret.)Senior Naval Advisor for MAST, read a letter to the graduates from Commissioner Lillian G. Burry who was unable to attend the ceremony she has spoken at for 17 years while at home recuperating from an illness.
Seven members of the class received scholarships to continue both education and military careers, with Mary Catherine Harvey, Loch Arbor, receiving an appointment to the US Naval Academy and Jenna Lewandowski of Ocean, an appointment to the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, Ct.
James Abbes of Lincroft, was presented with a Marine Option Scholarship to Texas A&M, Aislinn Crowe of Brielle, awarded an NROTC scholarship to The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, Olivia Bonforte of Oakhurst, an NROTC scholarship to George Washington University, April Ivan of Aberdeen, an Army ROTC scholarship to Hofstra University and Conall Dougherty of Brielle, an Army ROTC scholarship to Villanova.
Representatives of each of the branches of service or universities was at the ceremony to make the presentations.
The NJROTC Marine Academy Color Guard presented colors for the ceremony with Cadet Grace Decker leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Cadets Olivia Reier Isabella Taborda and Oseph Villanueva singing the national anthem.
Senior Class President Kyle Gavlick addressed his classmates, reviewing the lessons they learned at MAST together with the unusual times and challenges they faced throughout their four years. Graduating senior and NJROTC Sergeant at Arms Owen McCaffrey lead the class in the ceremonial changing of the tassels on their graduation caps, and Daniel Vadon advised his classmates to go forward with “an open mind and growing heart.”
Students displayed a variety of honors each has received and maintained during their high school years, including National Honor and Spanish Honor societies. Harrison Adler was a member of the Technology Student Association Honor Society as well as the Spanish Honor Society, and Emma McPolin and Isabella Taborda each received the Seal of Bi-literacy in addition to the National and Spanish Honor societies’ commendations
I knew Jackie Larson before I ever even visited Highlands or Atlantic Highlands. At the time, she was Jackie Caruso, daughter of Dominick and Mae Caruso, a family well known and respected in Atlantic Highlands for decades.
Jackie was a few years behind me when we both attended Mount St. Mary’s Academy in North Plainfield, me as a ‘dayhop,’ which meant I took the Somerset Bus from my family’s home in Union every day and walked up that gorgeous hill from Route 22 to the Academy at the top of the hill. Jackie was a boarder and lived at the Mount, going home weekends and having fun with her classmates after school and in their dorms throughout the week. Small school that it was, we all knew everyone else in the school and were friendly with all.
Jackie and I lost contact after graduation in the 1950s, but Jackie popped up in my life, happily for me, in the early 2000s, when my husband Jimmy and I were living in our RV and volunteering at the National Wildlife Refuge on the Outer Banks, rescuing sea turtles and banding pelicans. Jackie saw the New Jersey license plates, inquired, then popped in to re-introduce herself when she recognized my name and where I was from. (Muriel is a lot more unusual than the Smith I became!)
So our friendship was rekindled, we shared so many interests, including our mutual love and respect for the military, especially the Marines, and we have been dear friends ever since, though distance means the friendship is kept arm length through e-mails.
But Jackie has always been so proud of her family, and in particular, she was very close to her grandma. Her stories of growing up in Atlantic Highlands always delighted me and her love of her family and pride in all they did is heartwarming
There’s one wonderful story about her Atlantic Highlands relatives during the very exciting Prohibition time, which you’ll see here soon. But first, here’s Jacke’s story, at my request, on her family and ancestors in Atlantic Highlands. Jackie says she is an architect, a quite accomplished one at that, but she’s also a writer and accomplished at that as well.
The Center Avenue residence
By Jacqueline Caruso Larsen
… As I was told, my paternal grandparents, Joseph and Rosena Caruso met when they arrived in New York in the late 1800’s. They married, lived on Mulberry Street, NYC for a short while before moving to Atlantic Highlands, N.J.
My Grandfather was a builder and was responsible for building the post office and many of the retaining walls along Ocean Boulevard, Atlantic Highlands. He also built a home, guest house and bungalow on Center Avenue just east of Avenue B for his large family of three boys and four girls.
My grandfather died as the result of a construction accident and left his widow with seven children to support. It was very difficult.
The two older boys Louis and Domenick went to work in the millwork and building trades; the oldest girl, Mary worked in the West End Grocery Store across the street.
They all paid rent. The guest house was converted to a boarding house where my grandmother and her daughter, Josephine ,sought to provide lodging and food for local business people.
Domenick, my dad, married Mae McAllister in 1928 and they moved into the bungalow at the Center Avenue property. My mother, Mae told me that a group of mysterious, appearing men rented the boarding house and paid a sizeable rent.
They would leave at dusk and return about three in the morning. One morning there was a lot of noise and they carried one of the men, obviously injured. into the boarding house. She later learned they these men were “rumrunners” and the injured man was of Russian decent.
No one asked questions. The rent was paid on time along with the gift of several cases of whiskey which my grandmother occasionally sold to visitors to her kitchen. This eased the burden of the struggling widow whom I loved, emulated in many ways, and called my grandma. Jacqueline Caruso Larsen.
Next: Rooming House Boarders Tony the Shoemaker and Jack Rungayne
While all the Bayshore towns seem to have gotten most of their meetings down to a science and can conduct all business within a shorter period of time, Sea Bright has to win this one, with folks at the meeting not having much to say, and council taking swift action on everything from approving renewals for seven liquor licenses, buying a 2023 police department vehicle, and asking the DOT to finally but swiftly address traffic safety issues the borough faces, particularly in summer i Must be those Thursday workshop meetings where they also invite the public to come and have some say.
All of that besides furthering the cause of school regionalization with its neighbors and once again promising Highlands Atlantic Highlands and the world that should Oceanport or Shore Regional take the very weird step and sue Sea Bright for thinking on its own, Sea Bright would underwrite whatever it would cost the new regional towns for the lawsuit.
It seems unlikely, many attorneys have said, that there would be any lawsuits since the new law makes the actions being taken by Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Sea Bright pretty clear cut and not only permissible, but commendable.
These towns will be making history should the referendums pass, and it’s hard to think the legislators who passed the law that went into effect in January would want to see it shot down. It’s not that they didn’t do their own research in designing the law. And litigation would certainly be expensive as well for Oceanport or Shore Regional, but as one very wise attorney said, “anybody can sue,” and you can’t stop it, frivolous or not.
But what was great fun at the meeting…less than a half hour long…was the pride Sea Bright can take that they have all their lifeguards, their beaches are crowded and safe, and they haven’t had any problem getting applications for lifeguards, which appears to be a problem in many other towns.
As a result local businesses must be doing great, since the Memorial Day crowd at the beach was in the top five ever recorded in the borough and the beach is “swamped” on the sunny days, with bigger numbers than previous years. All those beach goers spend some money while they’re here, so good for Sea Bright businesses as well. And so great all their lifeguards are all well trained and certified and their beach cameras are up and running. Also pretty wonderful is the fact that in spite of some devastating headlines in other areas, there have been no major incidents on Sea Bright beaches.
The terrific library in Sea Bright also wants to be sure it has its important dates reserved well in advance to ensure they get the crowds they want and need, so it was also announced that their Fall Festival will be Oct. 22. This library is wonderful any day of the year, so don’t wait til the Festival to visit it, if only for the spectacular view and utter peace and relaxation of a great library with a wonderful staff.
Loved some of the ideas to ensure more safety for pedestrians crossing busy Ocean avenue, especially by the Capt. Azzolina Bridge, near Anchorage, and by Tommy’s Restaurant. Would that the state would listen to a council that is so concerned for safety, and take quicker action in getting lower speeds, brightly painted crosswalks and flashing lights.
