The Atlantic Highlands Historical Society will dedicate its recently constructed native species garden to Anne Petereit, the Flower Lady, on Sunday, September 7, at 1 p.m.

The public is invited to attend, meet neighbors, learn more about the Flower Lady and enjoy refreshments as well as the native garden.

The new garden is located at the Strauss House Museum. Guess are invited to bring non-perishable food items or baby produces to the event, with all the donated products then going to the local food pantry.

The Historical Society has collaborated with Wild about Atlantic Highlands for several years, on projects that not only beautify the community but also enhance the history of the area with the preservation of native plants.

Last year, the Society hosted a Fall into Natives 2024 Garden Habitat Walk and became a certified garden owner in the community.

When the Society received the generous donation of garden statuary and pots, ornamental fencing, and native plants from the garden of the late Anne Petereit, members of both Wild about Atlantic Highlands and the Historical Society collaborated in selecting, digging up and moving the items to the Mansion, with the initial plan to have them incorporated in a newly designed garden.

Each of the gifts to the Society was presented with the love and generosity of Lisa Ramsthaler Mrs. Preterit’s daughter, after the Flower Lady died in June 2024.

Anne-Louise Petereit was 89 years of age when she passed away June 9, 2024. Born in Husum, Germany, she immigrated to the United States in 1962 where she met her future husband, Lutz, who had immigrated also from Germany four years previous. They married in July 1966 and settled in Atlantic Highlands in 1971.

Mrs. Preterit immediately began showing her love for her hometown by volunteering for numerous and varied causes, the beautification of First Avenue, one of her first and permanent loves. She raised plants and presented the borough with both flower beds and flowerpots, spreading her beauty from the Atlantic Highlands Harbor, throughout First Avenue, even the top of the stone piers on the Grand Avenue Stone Bridge . She also planted and maintained the tulips and other flowers on the median on Memorial Parkway and was quickly affectionately referred to as the Flower Lady.

Professionally, Mrs. Petereit worked at a German delicatessen in Edison where the owner introduced her to Lutz, a frequent visitor.  She later worked at RCA assembling electronics, and at home remained active in the Atlantic Highlands School PTA, the Garden Club, Historical Society and Recreation Department, as well as at a consignment shop, The Attic, in Rumson.

The Flower Lady had many gardens where she cared for clients plants. She also took on the formidable task of watering the plants and flowers along First Avenue and the Harbor or daily. At the family home, she also maintained gardens overflowing with flowers, vegetable and fruit trees. Her home, for many years , was a highlight for elementary school classes who walked there for her annual Tulip Festival.   To Anne Petereit, a dead plant was simply a growth that needed a caring home and attention to bring it back to life.

At the time of her death, in addition to her daughter Lisa, Mrs. Petereit left her son Michael , who lives in as well as brothers, their families and other relatives in Germany. She is buried at Bayview Cemetery in Leonardo.

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Four cadets from the Atlantic Highlands Police Department attended the 2025 NJ Youth Academy at Drew University this year, and were honored at the meeting of the Atlantic Highlands Borough Council this month for their training and their dedication towards working hard throughout the year to earn the honor of attending.

Renan Vieira and Ethan Zito were two of the four cadets in attendance this year, making it the second year for both at the Academy. Attending with them were Maria Mertens and Gavin Dunzello, both attending the prestigious school for the first time.

Atlantic Highlands Patrolman Davi Cunha was also honored at the Council meeting for his excellence, not only as a regular officer on the department but also as part of the academy staff with “Phase One class responsibility.

Part of Patrolman Cunha’s work with the program included sharing responsibilities with two officers from other jurisdictions in scheduling the week of classes and activities, including arranging for guest speakers for training and leading the class of approximately 35 to 40 cadets from throughout New Jersey.

Cunha noted the cadets from Atlantic Highlands train all year for this academy. Cadets are selected on the basis of their high interest in attending as well as their efforts for the department throughout the year. “All four assisted our community in town events and are very committed to our Cadet program,” the office said.

Cunha was responsible for starting the program nearly four years ago and noted that “thus far all Cadets always enjoy meeting once or twice a month for training and to assist with Town events.”

The fee to attend the academy this year was $950 per student, which in Atlantic Highlands, the local PBA pays. Donations and sponsors are always welcome. The single additional donation for the cadets to attend this year was made by the Atlantic Highlands First Aid Squad who underwrote the cost of a portion of the total tuition.

For the students, the academy is divided in four phases. The first phase is the first-year attendees, second for the second-year attendees and continuing.

Each phase has different classes and trainings depending on how many years the cadets have attended the academy.

In Phase one cadets have CPR training, learn about report writing, arrest search and seizure, motor vehicle stops, stop the bleed and domestic violence as core trainings and classes. Guest speakers volunteer time to give a two-hour class on other topics such as crime scene investigation, FBI, Secret Service, body language, DWI/SFST (drunk driving), Monmouth County Prosecutors Office electronic K9 and ICAC, Title 39 (traffic laws, Title 2C (criminal Law) and motor vehicle crashes.

Cunha also noted that one of the borough’s residents from the U.S. Coast Guard, the father of Academy student Ethan Zito volunteered to instruct one of the classes.

In addition to the heavy academic schedule, Cunha said there are multiple exercises in class concentrating on the Cadet’s communication skills and ability to speak in front of large crowds

All training and classes for Phase 1 are graded by Cunha and one other officer for selection of the top three Cadets from each academy to receive awards upon completion. This year Cadet Ethan Zito received the second-place award on domestic Violence training for Phase 2.

Throughout the program at Drew University, the cadets are provided with breakfast, lunch and dinner every day and have marching training between classes.

“Our main goal for the Atlantic Highlands police department and NJYA is to teach discipline, respect, a good perspective of Law Enforcement career and life saving skills such as CPR, stop the bleed, “ Cunha said with the determination and enthusiasm which keeps him the popular but disciplined leader of the program in the borough. “Last but not least, “ he adds, “ we want the Cadets to have fun, learn and want to come back the next year. “

.Any youth wanting to join the cadet program in the borough can join from 14 years of age to 18. Interested teens should contact Patrolman Cunha by email, police phone line or personally coming into the department.

The police cadet program in the borough is free of charge with parents purchasing the first set of uniforms at approximately $90.00. The academy fee is paid by department, donations and Cadet fundraising throughout the year.

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EV charging in Atlantic Highlands

Atlantic Highlands Council Member Brian Dougherty gave a highly positive report on the first four months after the installation and use of EV chargers installed at the Municipal Yacht Harbor.

Dougherty reported at this week’s meeting of the Mayor and Council that in addition to bringing new funds to the borough’s coffers, the chargers also reduce the negative effects on greenhouse gas emissions.

Dougherty said usage of the chargers has increased each month since their installation last April, with 52 charging sessions recorded during May, the first full month of their use, to July, when 124 usages were counted. So far in August, he said, there have been 89 sessions at the chargers.

But the environmental impact of the charging stations has also been remarkable, he pointed out. He cited figures that show that EV charging in Atlantic Highlands has avoided 6,697kg of greenhouse gas emissions. 

That, he said, is similar to planting 172 trees and letting them grow for ten years.

Dougherty also pointed out Council passed updated charging fees to account for usage patterns and the recent rate hike by NJ Board of Public Utilities. Those new rates will go into effect on September 1.

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