On what could be described as a “perfect Anne Petereit Day,” more than 50 members of the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society, gardeners, environmentalists and neighbors formally cut the ribbon dedicating the Anne Petereit Native Plant Garden in front of the Strauss House Sunday afternoon.

”Anne Petereit loved a rainy day,” said Joanne Delosso during the ceremony, “she loved the rain for the plants and flowers, so it’s fitting we had rain today.” The rain, which had been heavy earlier in the day, cleared in time for the dedication and the festive celebration which continued inside the Strauss House later.

Known as the Flower Lady, Petereit for many years made it her personal mission to care for and tend gardens and plantings throughout the borough as well as being a strong proponent of historic preservation.

Mayor Lori Hohenleitner was joined by Marlyn Scherfen, a volunteer with the Historical Society, Lisa Ramsthaler, Mrs. Petereit’s daughter, Joanne and Roy Dellosso of the Historical Society and Jeff Lewandowski, owner of Jeff’s Landscaping, in officially cutting the ribbon and displaying the engraved stone noting the name of the Garden. Historical Society president Lynne Petillo welcomed everyone to the museum.

Scherfen, who works with a native species group, explained that the native plants in the new garden, which replaced lawn that went up to the house, were all native to the state with another two that are native to the southern United States. She also pointed out the Butterfly Weed with its orange flower, is a milkweed Monarchs butterflies use for their entire life cycles and worms have already been visible on the plant.

Some of the other native plants in the garden include Black-eyed Susans, New England asters, Sunflowers, BlueStar’s, Cardinal flowers, indigo and Kobold, blooming in blues, yellows, pinks and purples, all plants that attract birds as well as butterflies.

Some of the other plants in the Petereit Garden are designed to bloom from early spring through late fall and range in size from inches to four feet, also include winterberry holly, which grows to 12 foot and blooms in June and July.

Roy Dellosso, society vice-president, who has worked in the garden with his wife Joanne since it was started more than four months ago, noted Joanne applied for a grant after Scherfen suggested native plants for a Petereit garden and was successful in securing that to cover much of the cost for the engraved stone. The plants were secured from Jeff’s Landscaping in Farmingdale and Lewandowski volunteered to clear the area and put in the plants in. Dellosso’s have been watering the plants since the garden started.

Mrs. Petereit’s daughter, Lisa, in expressing her thanks for the honors bestowed on her late mother, said the native plant garden in front of the historic society’s mansion is the perfect blend of her mother’s dedication to the borough and her affection for it.

It has been a busy season for the Historical Society and continues throughout the month. The Society one of the more than 100 vendors in the Flea Market scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Yacht Harbor and Thomas Craig Finnegan is continuing the Society’s lecture series on September 17.

Finnegan, a surveyor and historian, will speak on the history of surveying in the area since the 1700s ,highlighting the Presidents who were surveyors as well as the importance of early survey maps .

Finnegan’s program will be held at the Mansion at 7:30 on September 17, and admission is free. Guests are invited to make donations or bring non-perishable items for the local Food Pantry.’

The Museum is open on Sundays throughout the month from noon to 4 p.m.

You can also Find ViniVidiScripto on the Following Platforms …

Garden

Miles Herman as well as the Atlantic Highlands Sailing Education Program’s successful summer was honored at this week’s meeting of the Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Council and the young sailor was recognized for his first-place overall finish in the four-day event.

Herman finished first overall, followed closely by second place finisher Cooper Metzger, with Rhys Yanarelli, Grady Knechtel and Bodie Pierini securing 5^th, 6^th and 7th overall positions in the Junior Sweeps, the four-day event that drew 50 junior sailors from across Monmouth County.

Councilman Jose Pujols introduced Hrman and his father, and Mayor Lori Hohenleitner presented them with the certificate honoring the Sweeps.

The Sweeps was hosted by Shrewsbury Sailing and Yacht Club and Monmouth Boat Club with races held on both the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers. Participants, in addition to the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club, include the Monmouth, Shrewsbury River, Keyport, and Rumson Yacht Clubs and the Fair Haven Sailing Club.

This year 14 sailors from Atlantic Highlands competed, with six first-year races in the Opti Green Fleet, two in the Opti Red/White/Blue Fleet, two Laser sailors and two crews comprised of skipper and trimmer in the Club 420 Fleet.

There were two or three races daily at each club, and the Atlantic Highlands sailors consistently battled their way to the top positions, Pujols said. The sailors competed in weather conditions that ranged from light and variable to breezy and challenges with 10-15 knot winds which, the councilman added, “pushed both the smallest sailors and the more experienced fleet to their limits.”

Alex Christie, who finished strong in 13^th position overall, gained the respect of spectators when he battled through equipment malfunction and a knock from his boom at the stat sequences.

In the green fleet, Atlantic Highlands had the most winning racers.

Of the nine boats in the ten races in the Opti Red/White/Blue fleet, Danny Weber placed 5^th overall , Caroline Charleston switched mid-event from the Opti White Fleet at Shrewsbury to a Laser, claiming first overall in five races at Monmouth Boat Club in her first time racing the class.

Aidan Inglese joined Charleston with a third overall, making the first time at Atlantic Highlands fielded sailors in very fleet.

Team Deegan and Victoria claimed w5th place overall, with multiple first place finishes at Shrewsbury Sailing.

Pujols pointed out that the week of activity highlights Atlantic Highlands team’s growth, spirit and skill, saying that “sailors not only competing but excelling across every fleet made their mark one of Monmouth County’s premier Junior sailing events.”

Tired of Facebook? You can also Find ViniVidiScripto on the Following Platforms …

Herman Herman Herman

Most of our work at this time is enforcement with education,” said a concerned Police Chief Scott Reinert, as he responded to questions about bike and electric bike problems in the borough.

Reinert said both the borough administrator and the Mayor and Council are equally concerned about safety issues with the number of bicycles, electric bicycles and tricycles, scooters and other two- or three-wheel vehicles both on the roads and the sidewalks, in parks and on public paths increasing.

Motorists have expressed their own concerns about E bikes on the road, and pedestrians object to cyclists on the sidewalks blocking passage. Electrically powered vehicles are not permitted on the sidewalks, the chief said.

The borough earlier this year unanimously passed Ordinance 10-2025 which refers to all means of electric wheeled vehicles that operate both with the assistance of pedaling or without pedaling to speeds up to 20 miles an hour. Such vehicles, operated by any age, must be operated within all motor vehicle regulations when on the road, as well as limited to restrictions of their design and equipment so far as carrying passengers or operators carrying packages All cyclists under the age of 17 must wear helmets in accordance with 39:4-10.1, he said, and while the e-vehicles must be equipped with a bell or device that can be heard 100 feet , they are not permitted to have sirens or whistles.

Drivers must keep their feet on the pedals and both hands on the wheel at all times, the ordinance continues and must keep as far to the right as practical except to make a left turn or pass a parked vehicle.

With safety the primary concern, the Chief said the department’s concentration is more on that than issuing summons, however some have been issued on rare occasion.

“Many do not know the rules ,” the Chief continued, “our department is currently in the process of developing a handout sheet to violators.  Lt. Michael Zudonyi has been developing this awareness sheet with Patrolman Davi Cunha. That will be completed soon and will include safety procedures as well as the information regarding the E-Bike borough ordinance that is so important for bikers to know.”

The ordinance calls for $50 fines for a first offense and $100 fine for any second offenses. The code also notes all vehicles must be insured and are not permitted on sidewalks.

The Henry Hudson Trail between this borough and Highlands creates other problems out of this department’s control, the chief pointed out.

“We have had several complaints each week in reference to riders traveling at dangerous speeds on the Henry Hudson Trail,” Reinert said “My department is well aware of these issues, but this area is held and maintained by the Monmouth County Parks System.

“While jurisdictionally it is not our park, because of the concern of all of us, over the last several weeks I have had meetings with the County Parks System system. We are currently working on some awareness campaigns that will be initiated in the coming months. “ Reinert added that under this campaign, both officers and park rangers will be actively out on the trail for educational enforcement. 

“This has been an interesting problem to navigate, and we will continue to develop and listen to ideas to improve everyone’s safety on our streets. “

The chief praised both the governing body and the administrator for “being on board while we navigate these issues.”

While New Jersey state law does not prohibit non-motorized or electric bicycles on sidewalks, Reinert said he recommends bicyclists travel in the roadway rather than on sidewalks as well as riding with the flow of traffic.

“Pedestrian safety is also a concern when sharing a sidewalk with a bicycle on our busier streets such as First Avenue.  Many towns do have ordinances to ban bicycles on sidewalks throughout the whole town or just specifically in the business district(s) but at this time we do not. Some towns also have age restrictions where children can utilize the sidewalks with bikes while adults cannot. We continue to study all issues in reference to methods of transit, but safety for all remains our primary concern.”

Tired of Facebook? You can also Find ViniVidiScripto on the Following Platforms …

Bike bike bike bike bike