Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon has called a special meeting of the Mayor and Council for Wednesday, July 23 at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall to take further action on bids following a bid opening for improvements to the Frank Hall Park last week.
Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon
Purpose of the meeting is to consider a withdrawal of a bid and the rejection of all bids in order to re-advertise the project.
Council plans to accept the withdrawal of the bid submitted by SDW Construction Inc. for improvements to Overlook Park and the Frank Hall Park Project. Council also anticipates rejecting all bids for the improvement for that project and authorizing rebidding and acceptance of new bids at a future date.
Mayor Broullon indicated the reason for the special meeting is due to the fact the lowest bidder, as well as a number of the others, made arithmetic errors. She wants to be certain strict attention is paid to the specs as advertised and calculations are made properly.
Notice of the special meeting is posted at the Municipal Building as well as on the borough website at www.highlandsnj.gov, where all up-to-date meeting information is posted.
As at all Highlands Council meetings, the public will have an opportunity to be heard.
Special Meeting Special Meeting Special Meeting
Tired of Facebook? You can also Find ViniVidiScripto on the Following Platforms …
Grand Opening Grand Opening Grand Opening Grand Opening Grand Opening
It’s been open and well known, well-visited and well loved for several months now. But owner Donna Gemellaro wanted to wait for the official ribbon cutting until all her employees could be there for the celebration.
And they were, Thursday evening, along with Donna’s two brothers, owners of seven other Gems’ Bagels in Monmouth and Middlesex counties, friends, customers and neighbors . The owner got an assist from Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon in cutting the ribbon to officially open the business in the former Katz Confectionery store on Bay avenue.
Mayor Broullon officially welcomed the business to Highlands, praising the not only the excellence of the product, service, and staff, but the vast improvements to the former confectionery store and the addition of one more popular and successful business on the borough’s main street.
Bagels and baking runs for generations in Donna’s family. Her uncle had a bagel shop in Brooklyn, and she and her brothers worked there. Then their father opened a business, and they all worked there as well. So it seemed natural for the brothers to open bagel shops, as did Donna, when she opened her first one in Keansburg. Gem’s also seemed like a natural for a name, taken from the family name Gemellaro.
At Thursday’s official opening of the Highlands business which first opened its doors last March, there were flutes of champagne for the dozens gathered both inside and outside the store, along with donuts, sandwiches, and of course bagels.
Gem’s on Bay Avenue, Highlands is open seven days a week, 6 a.m. until 3 p.m. In addition to bagels, the shop features gourmet cheeses, sandwiches, subs, catering, and call ahead ordering for quicker pickup.
Tired of Facebook? You can also Find ViniVidiScripto on the Following Platforms …
Grand Opening Grand Opening Grand Opening Grand Opening Grand Opening
Teacher While in recent months, parents have come out to Henry Hudson Regional Board of Education meetings and questioned the adequacy of its special education programs, the school’s pre-K program apparently receives high ratings and few complaints.
This week the board approved a new position for the Pre-K program, a full-time Pre-K Teacher coach. Her salary is set at $90,000 for her work to ensure coaching and classroom support for classroom teachers. Her duties include visiting classrooms regularly to “model, coach, informally observe and provide feedback to teaching staff in preschool programs based on the reflective cycle to assist with the implementation of the comprehensive curriculum and the Preschool Standards.”
The position also calls for providing staff development based on her observations, making recommendations to administrators or supervisors, ensuring a systematic early childhood program assessment occurs in the program; collaborating with the preschool intervention and referral specialists to ensure supports in social-emotional development; ensuring the proper assessment system connected to the curriculum as part of the three-year plan, participating in parent involvement programs with proper staff; and supporting activities, programs, and services between preschool through grade three programs.
Beams explained that the appointment of Trace Graham to the position includes her also serving as the Preschool Intervention and Referral Specialist/Pyramid Model Coach (PIRS). The instructor served at Henry Huson lasts year, she said, on a part-time basis as the teacher coach, with the other responsibilities coming under a different employee.
“This position was always part-time, even when held by our coach in Highlands, who retired from education after the 2022-2023 school year,” Dr. Beams continued.
This year, putting MS Graham into a full-time position also means she is taking over all coaching responsibilities and other duties. “And therefore, we have made the decision to make the role full-time. “
The $90,000 annual salary “is in line with the district’s collective bargaining agreement with the Education Association and “commensurate with the individual’s experience.” the superintendent said.
The collective bargaining agreement, as outlined in the district’s web page, shows the range of salaries for instructors from Pre-K through 12th grade, depending on the individual’s background and experience, range from a low of $68,580, to $106,035, with five steps on the contract salary guide falling in the $90,000 range and seven exceeding $100,000 a year.
Tired of Facebook? You can also Find ViniVidiScripto on the Following Platforms …
Actions An application for several variances to allow a second floor deck replacing a doorway porch has been continued until the September 4 meeting of the Planning Board to enable the applicant to speak with neighbors and make any alterations to their proposal before action by the board.
The application, sought by Yvonne Moody for the second floor garage apartment on property owned by her daughter and son-in-law Danielle and Zack Winnerling at 99 Center Avenue, drew a number of questions and complaints from neighbors who said the plans appear to be more an application for a second floor deck as opposed to simply replacing a worn staircase and entry to the apartment.
The garage, part of the 99 Center Avenue property on the corner across from St. Agnes Church, faces Avenue C. and is itself a violation of municipal codes since the residential area does not permit two separate residential units on a single piece of property.
The applicant plans to replace the well worn staircase and door entry platform with an eighteen foot deck and a spiral staircase within five feet of the adjoining rear yard of a residence on South Avenue.
But several residents objected to the idea of the extended deck, one saying it appeared more like a “guard house” overlooking the area since there are no other second floor decks in the area. Views from the deck allow observations of several other properties in the neighborhood, including overlooking second floor windows of neighboring houses as well complete back yards of neighboring houses, thus destroying the privacy of neighbors.
One resident objected to the proximity of the proposed staircase to the fence at the end of his property, and another presented photos that showed the impact an extended deck would have on the neighborhood.
Mark Fisher, a local resident who has served 42 years as an emergency responder, and many years as a first aid volunteer, cited the critical dangers of a spiral staircase, asking planning board members and officials how they could carry an injured disabled person down spiral stairs safely, also noting that the second floor door is the only egress from the apartment.
Following a 90 minute presentation and comments and questions from residents at the meeting, professionals for the applicant met with the applicant during a brief recess in the meeting and made the decision to continue the application until September 4, giving the applicant the opportunity to speak with neighbors, hear ideas and make any changes they think would be more in keeping with the neighborhood without having to file a new application, setting the continuation with no further notice for the September 4 meeting.
At the same meeting, the planning board, over the negative votes of three members, approved application submitted by Jeff and Sherry Green for property at 2 Hill Road to demolish the house on the premises and replace it with new construction they feel is more beneficial to steep slope problems and slope disturbance.
The applicants presented a series of professionals including the architect, engineers, environmental engineers, and noted the pool and patio currently on the property would be eliminated.
Planning board members discussed the five trees that might be removed for the new construction because of the possibility of deteriorating root conditions in building the 29289 square foot two and a half story building on the triangular piece of residential property.
Following questions from the planners, comments and questions from the public, and testimony from several experts, the planning board approved the application with the contingencies to ensure minimal steep slope disturbance through a phase-in plan with resurfacing of the driveway only completed after construction is completed and all work certified by the owners’ building engineer. Opposing approval were planners Marty Hawley, James Neff and Katrina Majewski.
The application for 12 Bayside Drive also scheduled to be heard at the meeting, has been withdrawn the applicant who plans on revising and reviewing plans before re-introduction of another application.
The board unanimously continued its engineer, Douglas Rohmeyer, formerly of CME Associates, now with Colliers Engineering, after not only praising the engineer for his expertise but the two firms who worked together to enable a smooth transition for the engineer without any disruption for the borough.
Every student graduating from Henry Hudson Regional School this year met the proficiency standards for graduation, Superintendent Dr. Tara Beams reported to the Board of Education at its meeting this week.
The figure represents a 10.4 per cent improvement compared to the previous year, and a 23.4 per cent growth from the previous time the students took a state assessment in grade 9.
Beams also reported excellent growth results in the New Jersey GPA showing 97.4 per cent of the 11th grade students met the requirements for high school in ELA, English Language Arts.
The superintendent also reported that 73.7% of the students met the proficiency/graduation requirements for mathematics, representing a 25.9% increase from the previous year and an 18% improvement from these same students’ scores on their last state assessments.
“This can only be attributed to the hard work and dedication of our 11th-grade teachers, our ASI staff, and the leadership of HHRS,” Beams continued, “This is outstanding, and we look forward to continuing this success as we plan for the future. “
The full, detailed state assessment report will be shared with the public in October as required by the Department of Education.
Tired of Facebook? You can also Find ViniVidiScripto on the Following Platforms …
The legendary Highlands Clam Fest will be celebrating 30 Years of tradition, food, music, and fun from August 1 to 3 at Huddy Park, Bay and Waterwitch Avenue.
This three-day extravaganza serves up eats for every taste, live music, and non-stop family fun all with free admission and parking,
The Clam Fest is a summer staple in Highlands, a high-energy weekend where locals and visitors come together to enjoy a laid-back coastal vibe and all that Highlands has to offer.
It’s a rain or shine event and the perfect excuse to soak up even more of what makes Highlands so special.
Highlands’ deep connection to the clamming industry dates back generations, when the town’s working waterfront supported a thriving community of baymen who harvested clams from the rich waters of Sandy Hook Bay and the Shrewsbury River. Known for producing some of the freshest shellfish on the Jersey Shore, clamming became not only a way of life but a vital part of Highlands’ identity and economy.
Highlands is also home to one of only two clam depuration plants on the East Coast, where clams are purified and made safe for consumption, further cementing the town’s role as a cornerstone of New Jersey’s seafood heritage.
The Clam Fest honors this proud legacy, celebrating the town’s salty roots and the hardworking families who helped shape its coastal character. This milestone year promises something for everyone.
There will be mouthwatering arrays of food trucks dishing out fresh seafood and festival classics, including the beloved Lions Club Funnel Cakes, while the Beer and Wine Station keeps the good vibes flowing. The Highlands Fire Department will also be back this year, serving up their famous burgers and hot dogs.
Parts of Waterwitch and Bay Avenues will be closed to accommodate a vibrant marketplace featuring local vendors offering a diverse range of products, including handcrafted jewelry, artisanal goods, and unique gifts.
Families can head to the Kid Zone, hosted by Big Mark’s Action Park Amusements and the Highlands Recreation Department’s Relaxation Station, featuring kid-friendly activities and entertainment for all ages.
Festivities kick off Friday, August 1, from 6:00 to 11:00 PM with live music by The Diskoteks starting at 7:30 PM.
Saturday, August 2, the excitement ramps up with Johnny 5 is Alive hitting the stage at 2:00 PM and Big Hix rocking the night at 7:00 PM. At 10:00 PM, all eyes will turn to the sky for a dazzling fireworks display over Snug Harbor Beach, a block from the festival grounds, a spectacular tribute to Clam Fest’s 30th anniversary, sponsored by Pacifico Beer and Shore Point Distributors and produced by Serpico Pyrotechnics.
Highlands Business Partnership, Inc. on Sunday, August 3, wraps things up with a full day of fun starting at noon. The Josh Zuckerman Band performs at 1:00 PM, followed by The Clamdiggers at 5:00 PM. The Clam Eating Contest, back by popular demand for the 30th anniversary, begins at 5 p.m.!
Sponsored by Station One Seafood, the contest is open to the first 12 participants to register at the Highlands Business Partnership booth on Sunday. A $20 entry fee gets you in the game and possibly crowned the King of the Clams! Don’t miss a chance to win big in the King of the Clam Super 50/50 Raffle. Tickets are just $5.00 and will be available throughout the event at the HBP booth. It is not necessary to be present to win, and the lucky ticket will be drawn at 8:00 PM on August 3 during the festival.
Hosted by the Highlands Business Partnership, a non-profit commercial alliance dedicated to fostering economic growth in Highlands, Clam Fest 2025 wouldn’t be possible without its generous sponsors: Monmouth County Tourism, Montecalvo/Bayshore Family of Companies, Bahrs Landing, Farmacie by the French Market, Dovetail Vintage Rentals, Hufnagel Tree Service, In the Garden, Off the Hook, Proving Ground, Seafarer, Sandbox at Seastreak, Valley Bank, Bridge Marina, Gateway Marina, The Honorable Plant, WRAT 95.9, Pacifico Beer, and Shore Point Distributing Company.
Henry Hudson Regional Tri District School Board Members
It may be a new board of education; it may be the first elected board to serve the three schools in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands under one supervisory position. And its members truly are wonderful volunteers, generous with their time and talent, and dedicated towards ensuring the education of the students is the best it can be.Hear
But make no mistake about it. This board, like every other board in recent years, doesn’t want the public involved.
They don’t even want the public to know what they are doing, let alone encourage them to attend meetings or speak publicly.
In fact, they don’t even want to listen to a suggestion from one of their own, let alone the public.
There have been so many little nuances over the past that show this board as well as the appointed or elected ones before, don’t care if the residents know what’s going on.
Regionalization with Sea Bright has been an ongoing issue for years now. Wise local leaders have researched and shown the savings it would make for the three towns. Researchers who follow the news have warned that if boards of education across the state don’t regionalize, there will come the time the state will mandate it. Districts like Henry Hudson could well be wiped out, and students from these towns could be part of a larger, probably Middletown school district. The fact the state is cutting back on aid, Middletown is facing serious money problems as it is because of schools, consolidation seems more likely than ever.
Yet the question about Sea Bright helping to make Hudson even a little larger doesn’t appear to be settled in time to let the voters make their decision in the November election.
Still, the regionalization committee appointed by the current chairman has not made any reports. And when asked by a board member at this week’s meeting for some update, it was made clear: in their attorney’s opinion, the board cannot take any action, including so much as approving a spot on the ballot, until it has all the facts.
So barring a special meeting, it seems clear the Sea Bright question will not make the ballot in November so the people can decide if that town should be in the Henry Hudson District, bringing its millions of dollars with it.
Again, at this week’s board meeting, once the regionalization issue was put to sleep, another board member spoke up. She was reasonable, soft-spoken, and simply making a suggestion. She pointed out the three boards each had their own meetings so schedules of all involved, including the public, were limited. But now there’s only one board, Henry Hudson Regional.
And it chose to have its regular monthly meeting on the third Wednesday of every month.
What a coincidence. That’s the same night as the Highlands Borough Council meeting.
Tara Beams, Superintendent of the Henry Hudson Regional Tri District at a Recent meeting
Highlands established its meetings for this year last January. Still, at their reorganization meeting in June, the Henry Hudson board set its meetings for the same night, forcing residents to make a choice between knowing what’s going on in the school district or in the borough. Holding a conflicting meeting also prevents the Highlands Mayor and council members from attending school board meetings.
Yet at this week’s board meeting, when a member suggested the meeting night be changed to accommodate Highlands residents, there was no action taken, let alone indicated it would even be considered.
The Board of Education also chose to hold all of its meetings at Henry Hudson School. Not in the Atlantic Highlands school, which is in the heart of town; not in the Highlands school which is the closest midpoint between the two towns in the district. They chose to have the meeting at Henry Hudson, the least accessible of all their properties. They did not even choose to alternate the location for the meetings.
Over the years, there have been many other incidents that show the board doesn’t want to accommodate or even help its residents to keep informed.
The meetings are held in the gym, a large room where school plays and musicals are also on stage. But the audio equipment for the big productions doesn’t work for little board meetings. For meetings, board members did not even have microphones. Their U-shaped table was a far distance from the seating set up for observers.
Following a series of complaints, there were modifications to both of those complaints. The table was moved a smidge closer to the resident seating. A Handful of microphones were made available and then shared by whoever was speaking at the time. More recently, each board member appears to have his own microphone.
But still the speakers for the audio are mounted high in the gym. Not at ground level, where they would help everyone hear. But mounted high, so even loud voices are difficult to hear; members who do not know how to hold mics come across either garbled, indistinct, unintelligible or incomprehensible.
But board members don’t care. The chairman even shows signs of irritation when told he cannot be heard.
There has been a complaint filed by a local resident for a solution for problems of age-related vision and audio that make it impossible to be as informed and have the same privileges as any other resident.
The state has found the filed complaints are legitimate and the resident certainly has the right to have her problems adjusted. The complaints have been in the hands of the state Attorney General for years now. The AG’s office has met with the school board officials, more than once. Yet the situation still exists, while the board takes absolutely no action to rectify, improve or address the complaint or the disabled’s predicament.
All of Highlands and those who love local history are sadden by the death of John Patrick King, Jr, who passed away peacefully Saturday, July 12, surrounded by his wife, children, and best friend after watching his relished New York Yankees defeat the Chicago Cubs.
A funeral gathering is scheduled for this evening from 4 to 7 p.m. at the O’Brien Funeral Home in Brick, and a funeral mass will b e celebrated at Epiphany Catholic Church in Brick Friday, at 10.a.m.
His obituary, published by the O’Brien Funeral Home, tells his life story.
Born in Manhattan, New York, to John Patrick King, Sr., and Helen Marie King (Poyntz), John grew up in Leonardo and lived in Little Silver, Highlands, and Eatontown before moving to Brick 7 years ago.
John graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from LaSalle University and a Master’s degree in Classical Studies from The University of Pennsylvania. He spent his career in service to others, teaching the classics at Montclair State University and then Latin and French for 25 years at Red Bank Regional High School.
John had a deep love of travel, and fostered that love with his students as the director of exchange programs that took him and many students to Lucca, Italy.
John met his beloved wife of 53 years, Helen Marie King (Riley) and married her six months later. Together they ran the Water Witch House Bed and Breakfast on Route 36 in Highlands, welcoming many guests and friends for five years.
He was incredibly passionate about helping the poor and those less fortunate. John’s lifelong hobbies included fishing, woodworking, home improvement projects, and operating HAM radio under the call sign KA2F.
A family man to his core, John was the proud father of Jessica Amy King and Thomas William King, and husband to his wife, Lauren. He was the cherished “powered sugar Grandpa” to Leyna, Ianna, Kelsa, Noah, and Arlo.
John was a parishioner at The Church of Epiphany Roman Catholic Church, Brick. He was an active member of the Garden State Amateur Radio Association, Highlands and Atlantic Highlands Historical Societies, The NJ Classical Association, and Bible Study group at Epiphany Church. A brilliant and passionate writer, John authored numerous books, including various histories of the local communities in which he lived. He also freelanced historical vignettes for the Asbury Park Press.
John was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Thomas Francis King, who welcomed him home to Heaven.
The Knights of Columbus from three councils as well as the Bishop McFaul Assembly drew a crowd recently to their annual ceremony honoring Revolutionary War veterans and others from that era buried at the Applegate Cemetery in Leonardo.
The Bishop McFaul Assembly #646 , the patriotic degree of the Knights of Columbus also took part in the ceremony, under Faithful Navigator Thomas Welsh Jr., District Deputy # 24, John Hendrick, State Treasurer, Scott Williams and former Master John Brandon.
The 2nd NJ District Fourth Degree Marshal, and Color Guard with Bishop McFaul Assembly Honor Guard and 2nd NJ District Marshal John Flynn also participated. Thomas Veth, also participated in the patriotic rituals, representing the American Legion, Post 141 of Atlantic Highlands.
Participants in the ceremony also laid wreaths on the graves of the Revolutionary era deceased, with the red, white and blue wreaths donated by the council, the Assembly, and the Daughters of the Revolution, Middletown Chapter.
Accompanied by an honor guard, the Knights lowered the flag which has been in place this season, replacing it with a new wreath. The retired flag was then presented to the Boy Scouts for their ceremonial disposal of retired American flags.
Tired of Facebook? You can also Find ViniVidiScripto on the Following Platforms …
Revolutionary War Veterans Revolutionary War Veterans Revolutionary War Veterans
It will only be $15 a ticket to enjoy two movies, explore a bit of history and help the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society on Saturday, August 2, when the Society is presenting a special double feature at the Strauss Mansion.
The first of two films presented that evening is a short made by local filmmaker Blaise Cauvin which was filmed at various locations in Atlantic Highlands, including at the Mansion itself. Cauvin earned his degree in film production from Seton Hall and produced and directed the film, “Widow’s Walk.” The movie starts at 7:30 p.m.
The second movie on the screen is the 1947 classic, ,”The Ghost and Mrs. Muir,” starting Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison.
Widow’s Walk is a psychological thriller about a lonely man struggling with life and the events after he meets a ghostly woman in an abandoned mansion.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is a romantic tale about a modern day woman who moves into a seaside cottage that is haunted by a handsome sea captain.
Tickets for the evening of entertainment and further information about this and other events upcoming at the historic site are available by visiting the Historical Society site at
ahhistoricalinfo@gmail.com
Tired of Facebook? You can also Find ViniVidiScripto on the Following Platforms …
