On April 15, we observed the 12th anniversary of the death of Capt. Joseph Azzolina, a businessman, municipal and state leader, Highlands native, military officer, newspaper publisher and so much more. Continued sympathy to his family on this anniversary.

A piece of History on a busy bridge

Changing the name of the bridge that spans the Shrewsbury River between Highlands and Sea Bright was clinched in 2011, when the state General Assembly approved Senate Bill 2073. The bill had already passed the Senate offering a change of name to honor the late Highlands native, Middletown businessman, and state Assembly, Senator, and United States Naval Captain, Joseph A. Azzolina.

It was old friends from even before they worked together at the Senate level who took the lead in the action to honor Capt. Azzolina. Sen. Sean Kean knew Azzolina from his reputation as an Assemblyman beginning in 1966, then later worked with him in the Assembly when Kean was elected to his first term in 2002. Senator Joe Kyrillos, who retired in 2018 and was honored himself when the Red Bank Bridge was named in his honor, knew Azzolina when the latter owned The Courier weekly newspaper in Kyrillos’ home town, and the young then assemblyman dropped off his own press releases for publication.

Azzolina lived in Middletown with his family, and was a successful businessman, growing his family’s first business on Miller St. to the Food Basket supermarket on the main street Highlands, then to the Food Circus in Middletown, eventually the heart of the Foodtown Enterprises still in the family today. He knew the Kyrillos family well. Kyrillos always commented on how his friend Joe loved New Jersey especially Monmouth County, and how the businessman’s immigrant parents had started their own small market, the one on Miller St. in Highlands, shortly after arriving from their native Italy.

Sen. Jennifer Beck had worked side by side with Azzolina when he was an Assemblyman and she was his chief of staff. But Beck had worked with and known Azzolina even earlier and always referred to him as her mentor. She spoke of his special affinity for the Bayshore and at the time of introducing the bill to name the bridge, said how honored and humbled the Sailor would have been at the honor paid to his memory.

The new construction was designed to eliminate the bridge openings that backed up traffic along the state highway. The construction on the higher bridge included high railings, putting an end to the summer ritual of daring Highlands kids who reveled at jumping from its highest peaks to the channel below, a ritual a young Azzolina also pursued. Yet even the new higher bridge could not quite put an end to traffic tie-ups on sunny days when everyone wants to go to the National Recreation Area at Sandy Hook.

Trying to put a Sunday early afternoon ride along Ocean Avenue in Sea Bright into a Hidden History context is only possible because of a recent 45-minute trip from the Sea Bright side of the Highlands to the Rumson bridges. There was plenty of time to reminisce about the 1950s when the same trip at the same time on a sunshiny-y weekend day would have taken three minutes, maybe five if keeping below the speed limits.

The new and beautiful Captain Joseph Azzolina bridge is successful in its purpose of keeping boat traffic sailing smoothly along the Shrewsbury River. No longer do bridge tenders stroll out, close the gates and stop traffic, to reappear again in the same slow pace to reverse the pattern and let vehicular traffic pass, once the boats are safely through. There was even a time when the bridge opened on demand of the river traffic; that was improved somewhat when openings were changed to twice an hour and even boats had to occasionally wait or improve their own arrival timing at the bridge.

The old Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge opened to allow marine traffic to pass. But for the vehicular traffic on the state highway between the two communities, the new improved situation only works if drivers are courteous, polite, and intelligent. On a recent weekend this was a tough combination to find.

Heading towards Rumson from Middletown along Route 36 at 1 p.m. on a July Sunday seemed like it would be a quick trip. But once the vehicle rounded the last curve before Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, it was evident the Oceanic Bridge in Locust would have been the longer but better option.

Traffic in the ‘through’ lane, the one NOT heading into Sandy Hook, was moving slowly but steadily, but one wonders why the lane heading into Sandy Hook was stopped. West of the bridge, there had been two signs posted indicating the park was closed. There was plenty of opportunity for drivers to choose other options rather than continue across the bridge, options that included going under the bridge, into the wonderful town of Highlands, and visiting a river beach…same water, same beautiful sand, simply a lot quieter, and much calmer. Far better than sitting in a car with impatient kids, angry drivers, and no beach in sight for an afternoon’s enjoyment. Another pleasant option could be going down into Buttermilk Valley and perhaps stopping at Hartshorne Park for a walk through the woods or heading back to Atlantic Highlands for a stroll through the Yacht Harbor. Or up the hill either to the magnificent Twin Lights or via Portland Road to see the newly renovated defense site complete with that huge gun from the Battleship New Jersey (and where the temperature inside the battery hovers somewhere in the ‘70s!).

Yet the cars were at a stop at the top of the bridge all waiting to get into Sandy Hook… for what? To turn around and head back? Didn’t drivers see signs saying the park was closed? To visit the Sandy Hook Lighthouse? Getting to Twin Lights would take less time, offer more spectacular views, and include a sensational museum full of great history and artifacts. Does anyone even know a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient from the Spanish-American War was once a lighthouse keeper here?

It was about the middle of the bridge where the rudeness showed up. Among all those cars NOT going to Sandy Hook lane were half a dozen drivers who WERE going to Sandy Hook, but knew they could move faster in the opposite lane and cut in at the last minute. Forget about the anger that caused; the stopping it created in BOTH lanes, the near misses, and the language children shouldn’t be hearing. Think of the idiocy of it. Why would you still try so hard to cut into a lane heading to where the Park folks were going to turn you back anyway? Even the smarter folks who made that apparently illegal turn at the end of the bridge to head back toward Highlands didn’t impede traffic as much.

But something happened to drivers on the other side of the bridge, once the vehicles going to Sandy Hook were out of the way. Suddenly, they seemed nicer, calmer, politer. The cars coming off the Hook…turned back by rangers who advised them once again the signs were telling the truth…the park really was closed to beachgoers…..had to get into that lane of traffic heading through Sea Bright. But they were waiting in line for a break, waiting patiently in line for a break. And they got it. Drivers continuing to Sea Bright from Highlands began to cooperate with the outgoing Hook cars; they were taking turns, the way it should be done! One car would continue the road, the next car would pause to enable a car leaving the Hook to blend in, then another road car would proceed, then a Hook car would blend in. Alternating, one car at a time. There were hand waves, signs of thanks, even smiles. It worked! Alternating cars actually worked! No more foul language, angry looks, instead, smiles, signs of appreciation. Life was getting better.

Because of the added traffic, the situation continued slowly along Ocean Avenue, but steadily moving with no horn blowing, no fist shakes, nothing but peaceful driving. What’s more, drivers were not only stopping at cross streets to enable other cars to get out, they were even stopping to allow those leaving the ‘rocks’ to cross safely. More waves, more thanks, more smiles.

For the drivers, there was time to enjoy the unique houses along the Strip. Sadly, these are not the gracious old Victorian mansions that provided many a fire drill for the volunteers in the Highlands, Sea Bright, Rumson, Atlantic Highlands and Navesink fire companies in the ‘50s and ‘60s when alarms sounded in the middle of the night and these volunteers rushed out to ‘save the fireplace’ and surrounding homes. But they are magnificent new dwellings, both single and multi-family, well-kept, attractive, and a credit to Sea Bright.

The twice hourly bridge closure at the Rumson bridge slowed traffic somewhat, but people didn’t seem to mind so much. At that point, there were walkers to watch, cyclists to see, and motorcyclists who carefully wended their way creating their own lane but safely moving forward. And when there was some type of emergency in the north end of Sea Bright requiring police from the center of town, cars moved quickly and safely to the sides of the road to create a lane for the police cars to pass.

Ocean Avenue is the same width it was 60 years ago. The ocean is still the same, albeit not visible because of the higher sea wall. The land side view is different, and the river is still vibrant to see in many areas. Actually, driving slowly along the Strip can truly be an enjoyable experience, once angry and frustrated drivers realize it doesn’t get them there any faster, any happier, or any safer, than simply accepting how popular we’ve become and enjoying the ride.

The Shore Casino at Easter Time! You simply couldn’t find any bunny hopping down the trail that didn’t say it was a fabulous, wonderful experience and they’re looking forward to the next one.

It all started at the St. Patrick’s Day party last month at the Casino. The corned beef and cabbage wasn’t gone five minutes, the Irish Dancers from the First Avenue Irish Dance studio were still tripping the light fantastic and the Guinness had not yet run dry when guests were already asking for another event, specifically an Easter Brunch. So Kathleen and Jay met the challenge and immediately planned the Brunch, offering two seatings, and a bountiful buffet that overflowed tables, platters and dessert cups and bowls.

Shore Casino owner Kathleen Sweeney and her son and Restaurant Manager Jay Strebb responded to the requests of dozens of people to offer an Easter Brunch, a new event for this decades old landmark in the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Harbor.

Guests came from all over, many from Jersey City where they shared their own stories of the Sweeney’s ever popular Casino in the Park of the past. There were youngsters in arms and high chairs, teenagers, grandchildren and grandparents, and even great grandparents, all gathered together to celebrate the holiday and a celebratory meal as a family.

Known primarily as a catering facility in the 21st century when it switched from what made it so popular in earlier years during the 20th century as an elegant dining and dancing restaurant, the recent St. Patrick’s Day party hosted at the Casino was a first event that is establishing a future where management will be offering its own parties and gatherings in addition to continuing the weddings, anniversaries, repasts, club meetings, PBA events and so much more that is always scheduled at The Shore Casino.

Mother’s Day specials are on the horizon but what and what time it will have not yet been established.

For Easter Sunday, Jay advertised reservations for two seatings, one shortly before noon the other after 2. Reservations for both seatings poured into the point Jay had to turn down the last minute attempts, and the Easter Buffet was on.

For many it was simply a time to sit, relax, enjoy great company, some seeing friends they had not seen in years and welcoming the opportunity to get updated on each other’s lives. For others, it was a bit of nostalgia, and another hint to Kathleen that “let’s have more of these.” For all it was a day to enjoy friendship, sunshine, the million dollar view of the yacht harbor and beyond, and take advantage of a repast as artfully arranged and decorated as it was delicious and unusual.

In addition to two long tables of everything from fresh vegetables, cheeses, all kinds of muffins, breads and croissants, as well as several kinds of pastas, salads and Eggs on Chicken and several different kinds of hot and cold meats, there were two meat carvers offering tasty and large cuts of ham, beef or turkey; there was an omelet table made up with all the fixings and a talented and friendly chef who looked like he enjoyed making the omelets as much as guests enjoyed eating them.

Of course with Kathleen bringing recipes for some of her favorite dishes and fruits of the earth from her native Ireland, there were potatoes prepared in numerous ways, as well as beets mixed with bleu cheese and walnuts, a distinctly different and delicious way to eat a vegetable some say only the Irish could love.

There were waffles and French toast, eggplant wrapped around a delectable cream cheese and peppers, and the list goes on … Without even taking in the dessert table filled with cannoli made right at the Casino, cones of flavored creams, puddings, and the world’s best rice pudding, back by popular demand after it was first presented at the St Patrick’s event. With Bob such an outstanding kitchen manager, and a hard working cuisine staff of men and women working so well together and meeting the needs of the wait staff ready to bring out all their delectable presentations, to say nothing of the bartenders and waitresses, all of whom help each other with all of the jobs, simply trying to get everything was done to perfection and in record time.

Each of the serving tables in the buffet room was neatly adorned with attractive settings of fruits and vegetables of many colors, while in the dining room tables with their sparkling white tablecloths and pink napkins made the room spring- like and beautiful.

Throughout the afternoon, pianist/singer Lou Parisi offered some pretty spectacular background music, which at some tables also turned into a joyful singalong. As Laura Blasaucci of Colts Neck put it, “Just being here, reliving old memories and seeing new people is perfect.”

“I’m glad the people asked for it,” said Jay, “and I’m glad we were able to make it so enjoyable for them.” And Kathleen added, “Ah, it’s just so nice to see so many people enjoying themselves and knowing we can be part of making them so happy.”

Construction of what was originally the $10 million borough hall moved another step further this week as initial groundwork got underway, in spite of the fact the long awaited construction is now starting at $10.599 million, Kappa Construction of Ocean was the low bidder on construction at that amount.

And borough administrator Michael Muscillo is in communications with FEMA weekly pinning that agency down to a date when the borough will receive the anticipated $5 million included in the original bond ordinance last June.

“I can’t wait for this to be completed!” said a joyous Muscillo, adding, “I think the residents of Highlands will be very happy when it’s done

The former parking lot for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church was filled to capacity Easter Sunday for morning mass, and filled again early Monday morning, this time with pre-construction equipment signifying work has officially begun on the new $10 million, now $10.599 million boro hall.

Although KAPPA Construction’s low bid was higher than anticipated and bonded for was awarded by the governing body and the new building will house municipal court, all municipal offices, and the police department.

Currently, the site on Route 36 between Valley Avenue and Miller St., which also had included the location of both the convent for the teaching sisters when Our Lady of Perpetual Help School was active, and a private residence on the corner of Miller St. is being cleared and prepared for base work for the new construction.

Muscillo said the time frame for total construction is 18-months, and the borough is anticipating a completion date by October, 2023. “Provided there aren’t any supply chain issues,” the administrator added, in light of long delays in materials and equipment impeding numerous construction projects throughout the country.

The work is partially funded with a grant the borough received in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, which destroyed the former borough hall on Bay avenue. To date, the borough has received approximately $2 million from the Sandy disaster, and is waiting to hear on an additional $5 million.

Muscillo is confident of receiving the additional $5 million, but pointed out the other options should it not be received, including raising additional funds through taxation, or issuing notes or bonds, which would also mean a tax increase. Other options are raising funds from redevelopment projects, reclassifying other projects already set up and applying those funds to the borough hall project, or a combination of any of the possibilities.

Council also had passed a resolution requesting approval of the Director of the Division of Local Government Services to pay the expenditure to set up a “Donations for Borough Hall” fund so interested persons could contribute to offsetting the total cost.

Muscillo added that while the higher than anticipated low bid could increase taxes as one option, there are numerous other factors that also increase municipal taxes, including a decrease in state aid, high health care, pension costs for employees, and more, none of which can be anticipated. Without knowing if and when the borough would get the $5 million, he added, “We’ll cross that bridge IF we come to it.”

Obviously happy that construction is finally underway on a project that has been discussed by three different mayors, several different councils and has met with numerous hurdles, Muscillo said, “We’re moving forward.”

The administrator, who came into his position long after Sandy and the first attempts at constructing a new borough, well knows the long history of meetings, discussions, land acquisition from the Catholic Diocese of Trenton, and more, including the unusual way in which the $10 million bond ordinance was approved.

That began last May, when Council was comprised of Linda Mazzola and KL Martin, along with Mayor Carolyn Broullon, Donald Melnyk and Joann Olszewski. The $10 million bond resolution was introduced by Mayor Broullon, with Martin and Mazzola dissenting.

At that time Martin said he was listening to the people and the cost was too much, and also felt FEMA could not always be trusted to follow through with the funds. Mazzola predicted the final cost would be even higher than that and was too much to expect taxpayers to fund. Both council members said it was not a wise business decision and the resolution failed since four of five votes is necessary for a bond issue.

The following meeting, the same ordinance was introduced once again, this time with Martin absent; with only four members present, it only required three votes to introduce it. Martin was present for the June meeting and the public hearing on the same ordinance he had opposed. This time he voted in favor of the $10 million issue, explaining he was a “complicated person,” and saying it was nobody’s business why he had missed the previous meeting.

With his vote in favor of the issue, along with Broullon, Melnyk and Olszewski, the bond issue passed. Mazzola, once again opposing it, added that the previous December the governing body received notice the cost would most likely be over $12.5 million. No one on Council gave any explanation why the bond ordinance they introduced twice since then did not indicate the additional $2.5 million, nor did any member of council indicate from whence those additional funds would come. Nor was there any response to Mazzola’s recommendation the bond issue be put on a referendum to be voted on by residents. The meeting was held in person, with no access for residents to attend virtually.

With KAPPA’s bid of 10.6 million, acquisition and design cost, it appears Mazzola may be spot on with her estimate, and very likely, she may even have cited a conservative dollar amount.

There is a startling memorial at Exchange Place in Jersey City which not only depicts the slaughter of thousands of Polish officers more than 80 years ago but was also itself the topic of some controversy in the 21st century.

The Memorial is highlighted in Middletown historian and author Randall Gabrielan’s book, “Jersey City, A Monumental History” as one of the monuments to see at Exchange Place. This is a well-known area of Jersey City created in the mid-1850s by extending Montgomery Street on fill in order to enable the NJ Railroad & Transportation company to build a dock and terminal facilities.

Created by Polish-American sculptor Andrzej Pitynski the Katyn Memorial is a 34-foot tall bronze statue depicting a bound and gagged Polish soldier with a bayoneted rifle impaled through his back. It stands on top of a granite base that contains some soil from Katyn. The base also shows a Polish woman carrying her starving child in memorial to the Polish citizens deported to Siberia, a move that began shortly before the massacre.

The backstabbing portion of the statue was designed to recall the killings that  occurred while Poland was defending itself from the German invasion, and the attack by the Soviets at that time was like “being stabbed in the back.”  More than depicting the Russian forest, the word Katyn has become a symbol of all the betrayals the Poles suffered and to many represents Poland itself and its martyrdom at the hands of others.

The Katyn massacre, named for the Russian forest of Katyn where the atrocities took place, killed not only thousands of Polish Army officers but also intellectual leaders who had interned at Kozielsk or were imprisoned at Ostashkov and Starobielsk by the Soviet People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs, the Soviet secret police, or NKVD, in 1940.

Since its installation at Exchange Place in 1991,  the monument has been the subject of strong divided local opinion.  Some residents view it as ugly, vulgar, and depicting too much violence and death to be in such a busy area.

Others view it as a graphic reminder of what Polish soldiers suffered, and see it as a darkly beautiful memorial.

Others feel the discomfort it brings to those who view it are the right emotions for a war memorial.

It all came to a head in 2018, when Mayor Steven Fulop said there were plans to move the monument to another location close by, as the area was being redeveloped and that particular spot was selected for a new Riverside park, forcing the removal of the statue for the new development.

However, the Polish American population immediately set up a protest and filed a lawsuit against the governing body, charging it was their memorial and they had not been included in any decision making.  Others joined the Polish American protest, simply on the grounds they did not like the redevelopment plan at all.

Within days, the Memorial controversy became an international incident. The Polish ambassador to the United States went to social media to protest the proposed removal. Politicians in Poland charged Jersey City with disrespect of Polish heroes. The Mayor accused at least one of them of being an anti-Semite, prompting more possible legal action.  The developer scheduled to renovate the area and remove the statue called it “gruesome,” causing the designer to call the developer a “schmuck.”  Some questioned why the statue was in Jersey City in the first place.

That was answered with the knowledge that Polish Americans  came to the area after the end of the war; that was a time  when there were more political refugees from Poland than any other country of Europe and more than 10,000 of them settled in New Jersey. A group of Polish veterans wanted to design a memorial to show the tragedies through which they had lived.

But there was even more to the controversy, Old-time Jersey City residents did not like all the new development, commercial and residential, that was changing their city. Newspapers carried the stories from all angles, and the Polish American community expressed disappointment and betrayal one more time.

All the publicity, negativity, anger of the city‘s old-time blue collar workers, and the Polish-American community led to the Polish President, who had already made one visit to Jersey City years before, visiting the statue and saying a new location would be okay with him if it had to be. That brought another stream of protests and cries of “betrayal.”

In the end, with several heated council meetings, petitions signed and presented and a public referendum scheduled to see what the people had to say in the ballot box, the city council backed down. After months of controversy, five days before Christmas, the Jersey City City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance that the Katyn Memorial monument would remain in perpetuity in its location in Exchange Place.

Weekly Dress Talks are continuing at the Monmouth County Library’s Eastern Branch featuring curators from the Shrewsbury Historical Society.

The Historical Society has offered the series for throughout the Spring, beginning with three programs in April, and continuing weekly in May

The talks focus on the historic and beautiful wedding gowns in the Society’s collection, some of which are now on display at the Eastern Branch, located at 1001 Route 35. Curators tell visitors some of the stories behind the dresses, as well as the restoration process each has gone through in order to be preserved and displayed in the Historical Society’s collections.

The next Dress Talk will be Tuesday May 17 at 2 p.m., followed by the last talk in May on May 25 at 7 p.m. There are three additional talks scheduled for June 9, June 16 and June 28 at various hours both during the day and in the evening.

Registration is available by calling the library at 732-683-8980.

For further information on the Historical Society, which is located in the Borough of Shrewsbury Municipal Complex at the historic Four Corners, visit their website at ShrewsburyHistoricalSocietynj.org, or write the Society at P.O. Box 333, Shrewsbury, NJ 07702.

Visits to the Museum are by appointment only and can be made by calling 732-530-7974, or 732747-3635 or e-mail ShrewsburyHistoricalSociety@gmail.com