Three things that make me happy is, my best friends who I can depend upon to see me through all the trials. My family who I owe everything to because they are the most important to me. My decision to live in Highlands NJ later in life. I recognized later in life that I needed to be by the ocean and river and hills. This is it! There is a synergy here, a vortex that can make impossible things happen for everyone, in music, the discovery of any kind of talent and the special sunlight that shines on all of us. It’s a very special place.

Wanda R. submitted her own “What makes me happy” and that certainly made me happy!

Three things that make me happy is, my best friends who I can depend upon to see me through all the trials.

My family who I owe everything to because they are the most important to me.

My decision to live in Highlands NJ later in life. I recognized later in life that I needed to be by the ocean and river and hills. This is it! There is a synergy here, a vortex that can make impossible things happen for everyone, in music, the discovery of any kind of talent and the special sunlight that shines on all of us. It’s a very special place.

Growing up I did not have much contact with my grandfather as he moved from Highlands to Darien CT in 1947 when I was 5 years old. We would have family reunions three or four time a year but that was about it. Things changed when I joined the Navy and spent several years away from home with a lot of time on my hands, so I wrote a lot of letters to Papa (and everyone imaginable). We corresponded at least once a month and at 85 he was as sharp as any 50-year-old I knew. In addition, my mother, Kathleen (The “Old Lady” or O/L), was quite proud of him and always had stories about his accomplishments. An earlier story I wrote for Lakeside News documents his escape from the Turks in the 1880’s. When Papa first moved to Highlands there was no real post office, but only a mail room that was open 2 or 3 days a week and no mail delivery because the Post Office Dept did not think there was enough volume to justify it. To solve this dilemma, Papa would buy all the stamps for his business plus a bunch of his associates from the Highlands mail room, then take them to New York to make it look like there was more business here. He also put the arm on a bunch of his political friends so finally the Post Office Department decided to have a full-time post office and mail delivery. I have a letter dated 1926 from the US Senate signed by Overton Weller, telling Papa that they had acquired a building and the equipment would be moved in within the next 30 days. He always had a bunch of high powered political friends and knew how to use them. During World War Two he was one of FDR’s “Dollar a Year” men. His photo engraving company made the printing plates for all the propaganda magazines that we distributed to South America. After the war he received a letter signed by Harry Truman regretting the termination of his employment and hoping that the loss of the income would not create a hardship. He was instrumental in getting the new Highlands Sea Bright ”Million Dollar Bridge” built in the early 1930’s. He actually went to Washington when Herbert Hoover signed the bill appropriating the money to build the bridge and Hoover presented him with the pen he had used to sign the bill as a souvenir. When OLPH built the new church in the 1930’s he was a large donor and one of the three windows behind the altar is dedicated to Mary Agnes McWilliams, my grandmother. (a window on the right-hand aisle was donated by Michael S Mendes, my grandfather on the other side) He was a Founding Member of the Twin Lights Historical Association and helped found the Highlands First Aid Squad and later to construct the building at Fourth St and Valley St. (before that, the ambulance was just parked behind the Police Department.) When it was decided to build Henry Hudson Regional school on top of the hill behind the Twin Lights, the owner of the property would not even return the school board’s phone calls, so the O/L got hold of Papa. It seems that years ago he used to play pinochle with the old fellow. He had his chauffeur drive him to Highlands from his home in Darien and the two of them had lunch. The upshot of that lunch was that the school board bought the land for one dollar! Probably his most memorable achievement was the creation of Kavookjian Field. At the time there was no publicly owned, flat piece of land in town where kids could play baseball or football. Even the grammar school yard was sloped so if you missed catching a ball it would keep rolling on down Waterwitch Ave to the railroad tracks! In addition, there was no war memorial for WWII. (we had two memorials for WWI, one at the bridge and the other across from OLPH.) He purchased the land and had to fight the residents of Monmouth Hills who complained that it would cause too much noise and traffic and create a nuisance. Even the people of Highlands complained that it was in Middletown and they did not want to pay taxes to Middletown Township! He struggled through all the objections and the field is still there as a living War memorial. Papa died at age 101 in his office. He was a fund raiser for the Armenian Cathedral in New York and giving dictation to his secretary. He had a cigar in his hand and his arm slipped down to his lap. His secretary thought he had fallen asleep and removed the cigar then realized he was dead. He left each of his children $25,000, each of his grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren $5,000 and another $21 million to the Armenian Church! That was 1977 when $21,000,000 was real money! He was totally cognizant right up to the end and knew exactly what he was doing. What he gave us was in our genes, not a bank account! All I have to say is “Thank you, Papa.”

Perhaps your life is like a boat

You do what must to keep it afloat

Some sail bravely on the mighty seas

Some can’t get out of port, their engines cough and wheeze

Some have sails big and bright

While others have only barnacles that cling so tight

If your life is a boat, then the world might be a river

Perhaps the river of time, with its forward direction, exchanging present for future with never an exception

The byproduct, the past with its nostalgic attraction, slipping and fading with each new reaction

So you move with the river wherever it rolls

Stopping only for love, coffee and tolls

Written by Michael F. Burke Sr.

Sometime, somewhere along the river

A winter’s storm in New Jersey brought lots of snow today.

It’s bitter cold, and the wind blows strong, as I try to make my way.

I venture out in battle gear of coat, hat, boot and glove.

The conquer this beast, is the task I take. It’s not one that I love.

I take to arms my shovel and make plan of attack.

Two feet deep, I estimate, with thoughts of pain in my back.

Hours of sweat and toil, take me to the street.

My hands are cold my arms are sore, I no longer feel my feet.

My thoughts begin to wonder, of days past and yet to come.

They put out on Barnegat Bay on my boat, in the swarm summer sun.

Not long will winter have its way, the groundhog told me so.

For six long weeks, I’ll be shut in with no place else to go.

Completing my task, I go inside, to coffee and my wife.

We talk of how we long to be back in the boating life,

We snuggle close and light a fire, then soon we’re making plans.

We’ll sail and swim and eat and drink, while working on our tans.

It’s then we’ll be with family and friends, looking back on winter just past.

We’ll party and drink, laughing loud and hard, in our Marina at last.

I’m a subscriber to Veni Vidi, Scripto and I love reading all the different stories as well as seeing others write in and have their say. But how do I access it every day? I tried putting in Veni, Vidi, Scripto but don’t seem to be able to find it. I love the e-mails every week because that makes it easy to get to the site. Congratulations on a fascinating page that certainly has a little something for everyone.

Joann R

Dear Muriel I hope you are well. I write this as a proud original Mater Dei Seraph for almost sixty years. I read your blog entry about Mater Dei Prep honoring Brian Williams with the Frank Atwater Life Time Achievement Award for the 2021 Seraph Gala. I respect your views and understand your disapproval of the schools decision and sharing it with your blog followers. Certainly Brian is one of many successful Mater Dei graduate among the 6000 + Alumni, although he is probably the most well known. I had to go back and refresh my memory as to his journalistic misstep(s) which caused his 6 month suspension from his position at NBC news. I believe he apologized when it was first brought to light and again when his suspension was over and he returned in a much reduced role for NBC. I did not know Frank Atwater , but I certainly know of his legacy at Mater Dei. Brian spoke highly on the video gala event of Mr Atwater and the influence he had on him during his time at Mater Dei. I would like to think that Mr Atwater was a compassionate man and would have been proud of Brian , despite his journalistic missteps. Additionally,I know first hand the founder of Mater Dei High School in 1961, Monsignor Robert T. Bulman, was a good and holy man, and extremely compassionate. He would have accepted Brian’s apology for his misstep and concurred with the award. Who amongst us have not taken some missteps in our lives, apologized and tried to do better. I know I have, but maybe you have not had any missteps. I do not have first hand knowledge who made the decision about the award for Brian. I suspect they looked at his entire life experiences and accomplishments , including his journalistic misstep, and they decided he was still worthy of the award. As Pope Francis has said, “who am I to judge? “ You certainly have the right to disparage Brian , Mater Dei Prep and Monsignor Bulmans Legacy , but I for one do not agree with your position, and I think the vast majority of the 6000 +graduates would agree with me My self and many others continue to work diligently to sustain Monsignor Bulmans’ Legacy , that is Mater Dei , as we approach the 60th anniversary of the opening of the school on September 5, 1961. Providing a quality Catholic education to all who chose to become Seraphs was then and is today the mission of the school. Then for taking the time to read this. I know I have not changed you mind, but I feel better having said this. Be well. Tom D Mater Dei High School Class of 1965, The First Class.

Recently there has been a broad depiction of police officers within our country, that only focuses on those that do wrong and negates the courage and heroism it takes to be a police officer. Unfortunately, our police force of Atlantic Highlands was recently grouped in with the awful unlawful actions of a few throughout the country. I would like to address this as well as acknowledge the professional and respectful Police Department that serves and protects our families and community. However this message reaches the reader, I want to lead with my intentions: which are to unify our community and acknowledge that broad generalizations can be dangerous, irresponsible and continue to spread hate and division. Those actions do not align with the inclusive culture of our welcoming borough. There is no question that an ever-growing divide is going on within our country but slowly and quietly it is making its way within our very own small community. General blanket statements on social media fueled by anger and rage over national events create a false narrative that spreads throughout households, classrooms, and our community at large. It is important for all of us to speak our opinion and necessary for us to stand for those less fortunate and against injustice of any kind. However, the “divide” we as a community should be creating is one of Right vs. Wrong… not Left vs. Right / Right vs. Left, Race vs. Race, or Gender vs. Gender. We should be standing with those that fight for justice over injustice and be careful not to generalize against any specific group. Recently, I was approached and asked about a post made on social media against police officers in general, that failed to acknowledge our very own and how they stand above the national headlines. Our police officers in AH are good people, incredibly efficient and the first ones to put their lives on the lines for any resident in danger or need. I would like to believe the post made on the FB page of our AH Democratic Party were made with the intent of standing for what is right and against what is happening throughout the world. However, the impact these types of posts have locally is not one that benefits or improves our community. These comments divide and imply these problems are in our backyard. They pin neighbor vs. neighbor and do not encourage those that put their lives in harm’s way to defend and protect and serve our borough. I ask all of us to stand strong against violence, racism, and hatred of all forms. Also, to give credit where credit is due, and make sure your public comments do not generalize or group good people in this case, officers with those that are not fit to serve. Thank you, Jim Murphy Council President,