If we remember all the gifts we share at Christmas, all the family fortunate enough to be near; if we practice all the love of family who are too distant to be part of the celebration but remain part of the fun and memories by phone, text, e-mail, even letters, poems and notes; if we have accidents or tragedies in life that alter well-made plans but remind us of the thoughtfulness, concern and prayers of friends; if we always hold the hope that tomorrow will be an even better day and we are so grateful for everything up until today…..wouldn’t the whole world be a better place? Merry Christmas and every good wish for a Happy New Year.!
Family Honored by Knights
The Varno Family of Highlands was honored by the Knights of Columbus Rev. Joseph Donnelly Council at its December Celebration Breakfast at Our Lady of Perpetual Help hall.
Each month at their regular breakfast gala, the Knights honor a local family for their practice of high standards in belief and practice of faith and love in God, family and patriotism. These are the same attributes and practices the Knights of Columbus maintain, teach through practice and honor as part of their international program.
The Rev Joseph Donnelly Council, under the guidance of Grand Knight Kevin McKenna, takes the opportunity recognize one of the many families who follow these high standards and are deserving of special honor.
Grand Knight McKenna presented a certificate commemorating the presentation to Tom and Nicole Varno and their children Marianne and Tom. Marianne, away at college was unable to return in time for the presentation. The Varnos have been parishioners at OLPH for 21 years.
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LOVE – The Best Christmas Gift
LOVE For me, there are so many wonderful, thoughtful, and heart warming things that happen after an accident that it hasn’t given me time to write about the untoward parts of trashing a car, breaking four ribs and cutting up and bruising a face.
Here’s the latest! as a patient advocate at Care One Care Center on Route 36 in Middletown, I’m a volunteer who visits the care center regularly, chats with the residents, learn what they like about the place, what they don’t like and what problems, if any, they have with their care, food, or anything else while at the care center.
I urge staff and the administrator…who are all terrific to work with, to correct situations, change or add things, or simply to correct whatever complaints I hear. It’s part of my volunteer ‘job’, for which I do have to be certified but have been doing it for more than 10 years, to keep the state Office of Long Term Care updated. They are the ones who make sure things do get done properly. And residents are the top priority.
During my more than a decade at what used to be known as King James, any complaints are always addressed and taken care of before I even have to file reports with the state. More than anything, I always realize the love and care these employees, be they nurses, aides, or maintenance have for their residents. To so many of them,, it’s all family and the care shows it.
After residents learned of my accident, they truly made me feel part of their family.
Michele Dyson is the activities director, a keen leader who is comparatively new at Care One but quick to learn what the residents like and just as quickly add even new activities for the to enjoy. One of the many activities at Care One is their arts program where residents are invited to do all kinds of art work, be it with paints, crayons, stitching needles or clay. So when some of the residents learned that their friend Muriel was in an accident, they jumped at Michele’s suggestion to tell me themselves.
So their gift to me was put into color, print, and smiles and sent over to me by Michele.
How can you think negatively about a personal accident when friends in wheelchairs or on crutches, people with long term pain and serious illness, people who cannot see loved ones every day or perhaps don’t even have family members around, send loving messages to someone they only know because of a shared laugh, a warm handshake or a happy smile?
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Visit a nursing home, call a person alone at home, check on a neighbor, do something special for someone this Christmas. Go to church or take some moments to pause, reflect and say thank you to God or whatever higher power you call Him, that life is truly as good as it is when you’re surrounded by love and thoughtful people.
Talk about the best gift of Christmas? It’s love.
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Accidents Happen
If you look at it from the positive side….and especially during the Christmas holiday season, it is the far better way to approach things…..there are an awful lot of great and wonderful things you can learn and so much more you can appreciate simply by being in a motor vehicle accident. Especially one that only involves yourself and your vehicle. There are lessons that even though you already know them, an accident brings home clearer and more important. Kind of a message to never forget the good things in your life.
It was a motor vehicle accident on a main highway, driving east to attend daily mass, a habit God apparently has recognized and appreciates. The sun glare at 7:30 a.m. along parts of Route 36 is horrendous, something even sunglasses don’t help.
Realizing it once behind the wheel, I thought I was being smart, pulling to the side of the highway and simply waiting few minutes until the sun rose high enough to enable me to see. My problem was in not knowing I was already at the curb, and my car certainly liked some big tree right next to it.
Much as I hate to admit it, I was numb and in shock! I, who was involved in an accident in an Uber vehicle enroute to New York only weeks before to celebrate Ice Cure, that wonderful company from Israel just approved by the FDA for its painless cryoablation breast cancer that cured me eight years ago, cure, was now in a second crash.
As I sat in the car pondering what to do next, Atlantic Highlands’ finest were already on the scene, apparently contacted by alert drivers. Like all in this department, it didn’t take anytime for Sergeant Sodon and Patrolman Cunha to take control, keep traffic moving, ensure I was ok, call the First Aid, get me warm and out of the rain, and God love Cunha, even offer me his hot coffee in spite of my bloodied face! As he was leading me from the wreckage, my closest and newest neighbors Mina and Gage, were standing along the road saying best wishes, offering help and showing me how much they care and were concerned.
It was the beginning of several hours and days that for me, strongly reiterated things I already know and perhaps take too much for granted.
…Not only are our local police along the Bayshore the best anyplace around, but the friends I have are so much better and so much more thoughtful than I deserve.
Not only Mina and Gage, so many others either saw the accident, heard about it, or called friends to find out if it were true. Friends from all the local towns left e-mail messages within hours, people who criticize or simply don’t like what I read in VeniVidiScripto wrote the blog to send wishes for a speedy recovery; relatives called when they heard it from other relatives, people I know only through stories or volunteer work I do rushed in with their own prayers and hopes for a speedy recovery. My friends with whom I mediate all sent warm wishes as did my friends at Portland Pointe, at Care One, at Ptak Tower, the Food Pantry, St Agnes and Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Since it was before 8 in the morning, it was the paid, not the volunteer First Aid Squad that rushed from their Highlands location to take me to Monmouth, yet those in attending for the paid squad are also volunteer first aid members from Port Monmouth . These volunteers are invaluable and so perfect at their job.
As staff in the ER at Monmouth worked up their first assessment, cleaned me up a bit, made me comfortable and began the routine this outstanding ER does so well, my family was already receiving calls with offers of help, prayers, encouragements and simply showing love and concern.
My family! Certainly more than I deserve. Only one of my four lives in New Jersey, and Tracie was at the hospital minutes after I got there….Mina and Gage had called her to alert her I was in an accident but was ok. My son on his way to Arkansas immediately informed Tracie he was driving up to be here. My daughter in Florida called and offered to fly up and stay at the house with me when I got home.
Grandchildren wrote their encouragement…things like “Can’t wait to hear your stories about this, lots of prayers, and “I’ll tell you, Granny, you are one tough cookie. Get some rest and I love you.”
The list goes on and it’s too much of a story to include here. Treated in the ER, overnight in ICU, sent home because of quick recuperative powers, then back to Monmouth the following day for a deep infection in that mouth and facial damage. Two more days in another unit at Monmouth, more tests and discoveries, and then a trip back home loaded down with ice packs, medicines and advice about appointments to keep in the coming weeks.
For myself, while still recuperating, and slowing down … just a bit and not for long … it made me think it definitely should not take an accident to brag about or appreciate love, friendship, generosity, thoughtfulness, kindness, consideration, concern, solicitousness and so much more. It should be something to remember and say thank you for everyday.
If you’re read this, and learned something from it, do me a favor. Think of one friend,..or more…one person who has gone out of their way for you,…one stranger who has helped you when you needed something and without even being asked…. send a Christmas card, a note of thanks, or simply a big hug and a thank you and show your appreciation.
Oh yes, and my new neighbors and now dear friends Mina and Gage? They had planned on being with family out of state on a special trip over Christmas. But Mina got ill and is herself home in bed hopefully getting better, and still hopeful of being able to make that trip.
But that didn’t stop them from being so neighborly! When I got home from the hospital after the second trip, there was a huge beautiful red and white bouquet waiting at my home, along with a note of hope, good health, and happiness.
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St. Patrick’s Cathedral Harrisburg
Pennsylvania’ s capital city of Harrisburg is not only a fascinating place to visit for its state governmental offices and Capitol building, but it is also a city of churches, many of them historic, all of them welcoming and worth a visit. Within walking distance of the main street and the Capitol there are no fewer than a dozen churches of different denominations.Cathedral
Within half a block of those 61 steps leading up to the State Street main bronze doors of the Capitol is St. Patrick’s Cathedral, one of several catholic churches in the city, but clearly the one with the most history and Renaissance style architecture. It is also the church that has a copper dome 170 feet high, a well as a dome within a dome. Caretakers have to climb between an interior and exterior dome to change the eight lights that shine down on the altar.
Some 20 years ago, parishioners also approved spotlights that illuminate the upper dome at night, making the lighted Cathedral part of the nighttime skyline of the Capital.
It was priests from Germany who first brough the catholic religion to this part of Pennsylvania, arriving in the early 18th century and setting up a small mission in Harrisburg later a small church on the same site. When Irish laborers who built the canals and railroads in Pennsylvania came, they wanted a church closer to the riverfront , purchased the present site on State Street and Saint Patrick’s Church was constructed in 1926 and placed under the patronage of Saint Patrick.
Within 20 years, the church was enlarged, and by the beginning of the 20th century, the plans to construct a church more in keeping with its title as the Cathedral of the Diocese of Harrisburg . It is this Cathedrl that was dedicated in 1907 preserving the history of the earlier settlers but providing a more formal setting for the primary church of the Diocese.
The design is Romanesque-Renaissance style, cross-shaped, with the main altar patterned after the altar at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome designed by the sculptor Bernini.
The church is built of in the 1700s.granite from North Carolina and is on the site of that first mission church the early German Jesuits had built.
There are 50 stained glass windows in the main body of the church, including 12 Apostle windows depicting the 12 Apostles and windows on both sides of the church depicting many scenes and stories from the Bible. In the upper portion of the church, the windows have symbols, including IHS, the first three letters of the Greek alphabet in spelling Jesus, as well as a pelican and her young, a martyr’s harp,Wheat and a chalice and the Keys of the kingdom.
The transept windows show the Wedding Feast at Cana on one side and Saint Patrick bringing the faith to Ireland with a shamrock on the other, using the shamrock to teach the King and Queen of Tara how to help people and understand the mystery of the Trinity.
There are shrines inside the church to both Mary the Mother of God and St. Joseph and a historic organ now in a console with an Organ control system but containing 2,600 pipes.
Another shrine located in the rear of the Cathedral is a bronze crucifix created by Samuel Murray of Philadelphia, the early 20th century sculptor also known for creating the Commodore Barry statue in Independence Suare in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Memorial at Gettysburg.
As the Cathedral for the Diocese of Harrisburg, the church serves as the Mother Church for more than 242,000 Catholics in 15 counties in central Pennsylvania. The churchgoers are proud of the history of St. Patrick’s, leave the doors open throughout the day with an invitation for visits, be they be historical treks or moments of prayer/ They also offer books that aid in self-guided tours of the building.
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The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
It will never replace New Jersey as the most favored of the 50 states I have visited, but there’s an awful lot to be said for Pennsylvania pride and promotion of its people, whom they clearly believe are their greatest asset.
But it’s so easy to become infatuated by the main facts of this Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, who, like Massachusetts, Virginia and Kentucky prefers to be known by that title rather than state.
With land coverage of more than 45, 000 square miles, it is the 33rd largest of all the states and home to more than 13 million people, the fifth most populous state in the Union. Its slogan of Virtue, Liberty and Independence dates to its helping to for the nation as one of the original colonies. It was the site of the turning point of the Civil War, at the battle of Gettysburg when the South was repelled from gaining further access to the North and more than 51,000 soldiers from both the North and South were killed.
The Capitol lies on the Susquehanna River,at 444 miles long the longest river on the East Coast, rising in New York and emptying into the Chesapeake Bay, still the longest non-commercially navigable waterway in the country.
With all of this, however, The state has only produced one President, James Buchanan, and judging from all the history housed in many buildings in the capital city of Harrisburg, he is not one of their most famous personages. Buchanan, who served just before the Civil War has a main claim of being the only President who remained a bachelor his entire life. His home, Wheatland, in Lancaster, only a few miles from Harrisburg, treats the former President with considerably more reverence and knowledge than Harrisburg.
The state is comprised of 67 counties all named after culture terms, geologic features, famous residents natives, or inventors. There’s an Adams County named for the second President, a Clinton County, named for DeWitt Clinton, a former Governor of New York, and a Fayette County, named for the Marquis of the Revolution. Of course Benjamin Franklin is honored in Franklin County, end even Thomas Jefferson is honored by a county in his name. So are both Washington and James Monroe But none for Buchanan, a native son.
There are counties named after rivers… Beaver, Allegheny, Clarion, Delaware, Juniata, Lackawanna Lehigh, Schuylkill Tioga, and Susquehanna, and even one named after Lake Erie. There are counties named for cities in England, Wyoming and York among them, and more named after French royalty like Dauphin. There’s even one named Indiana, honoring the territory of Indiana.
Nevertheless, there are 67 county names in Pennsylvania, and their names recognize culture, Presidents, geological features England, even the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia. And Pennsylvanians are proud of every one of them together with the people and places they honor.
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Bourbon like No Other
If you’re looking for the perfect, unusual and incredibly special gift for anyone, and they enjoy a cocktail or two, or simply are looking for something unique something you can’t buy anyplace, think Salt Water Liquors at the Foodtown Shopping Mall on Route 36 in Atlantic Highlands. Bourbon
It’s true. You can get a ten or 12 year aged bourbon at Salt Water Liquors that you can’t get anywhere else.
That’s because owner Punit Patel doesn’t just buy bottles. He in fact buys full barrels of bourbon, giving him the right to put his own label, Salt Water Liquors, directly below the Maker’s Mark, or Jefferson, or Bookers Reserve or several other fine bourbons on sale at the store. His label also is inscribed with not only the barrel number from which it came, but also which specific bottle it is!
And if you’re into wine, well, there is a $5,000 bottle of fine cognac if you’re interested in that.
Make no mistake about it. Salt Water Liquors has varieties of numerous brands of alcohol in all kinds of prices and bottles. It offers wine of all varieties and sizes, ranging from $8 a bottle to some pricey French or Italian wines, in addition to those cognacs, which are actually a brandy, but with flavors that taste like a mix of wine and whiskey so liked by all.
But for those who enjoy bourbon, checking out the bottles from the Salt Water Liquors barrels is a must.
For me, it all started with my love for Thomas Jefferson and a winter jacket, a birthday gift from my son-in-law that not only had Jefferson’s profile on the front, and an American flag on the back but also Jefferson Tavern and Whiskey Bar embroidered on the sleeve. He thought it would be fun to gift me with something “Jefferson,” knowing how much I think of the third President. But it turned out to be so much more than that.
The thoughtfulness and gift was unusual enough to prompt me to stop in at Salt Water Liquors to see if there was such a thing as Jefferson Bourbon.
Indeed there is, Punit said, then captivated me with the story of this particular bourbon and his own barrels, not only bottles, of it.
Punit and his brother, Pavan Patel, have had their Salt Water Liquors store in the Plaza for about two and a half years, after having opened their first one, Pop’s Liquors in Neptune City in 2017 and another one four years ago, Liquor City, in Old Bridge. But it’s obvious their heart is in Atlantic Highlands, and their hard work and dedication to perfection are what make this store so popular.
Punit believes in searching out the unique and offering the best he can for his customers. So at Salt Water Liquors, in addition to the dozens of varieties of all kinds of spirits on display and on the shelves, there are two barrels topped with different bottles on display. The barrels, as the inscription carved in the side will show, are the barrels in which the Salt Water Liquors bourbon was distilled.
Not only Jefferson bourbon, he explained, but also Makers Mark, Jack Daniels and Buffalo Trace he purchases by the barrel.
Yes, it is a major investment he conceded, inasmuch as each barrel holds between 220 and 250 bottles of alcohol. But it gives him the opportunity to offer fine liquors at lower prices and include his own label below the distillery label on the front of unique bottles. It’s obvious the Patels take immense pride in their business, their partnership and their customers.
Not only can he purchase the barrels of alcohol after they have already had years of distilling, but he gets to be part of the team that ultimately decides on the highest quality each barrel and bottle contains.
The store owner explained the intricate work process of team members, who sample small quantities of the liquor provided by the company, rating it on variety of qualities from color and smoothness to taste and aroma. It’s a distinct process that follows strict rules and is only completed when the compilation of different opinions is melded and barrels created.
With a little bit of prodding, Punit will explain the interesting and intriguing process of selecting his own Maker’s mark Private Select bottles.
The store owner participated in a tasting experience at the distillery where he selected ten finishing staves , or wooden pieces from five types to tree, for instance American Oak, French Oak, Spice, Mendiant or ,more. The staves are then added to a barrel of Maker’s Mark, aging it for about nine weeks to create unique flavor profiles. The result of that is a cask-strength bourbon with custom notes that could include caramel, spice, fruit, or vanilla. Those steps alone mean there could be 1,000 possible combinations of flavor. The process next involves tasting individual staves and blending small samples to find a favorite combination before the final barrel is finished and bottled. The combinations are endless. One popular combo, he found is his “Bradentucky Batch, which produces hints of caramel, cinnamon, oak, and results in a smooth, warm finish.
Although all bourbon has to include not less than 51 per cent corn, it no longer necessarily has to come from Kentucky. But it must be made in the United States. Bourbon also includes rye, and barley, but must be aged in charred oak containers, with barrels being the best choice.
The entire process shows it isn’t easy to get a Salt Water Label affixed to the Makers Mark or other specially selected barrels.
Since temperature at which bourbon is aged also makes a difference in the final product, the numbered bottles also indicate whether it was stored in the lower shelves of the manufacturer, or at the top of 40- to 50-foot-high warehouses.
Patel also noted he has bourbon that was distilled in vessels at sea, giving yet another taste to the finished barrels.
Salt Water Liquors is also engaging in special raffles open only to the stores that sell a specific number of bottles of every kind of alcohol a provider offers, a raffle which is ongoing at the store now and will be ongoing until the raffle drawing in time for Valentine’s Day in October.
That $5,000 bottle of cognac? It’s Louis XIII and is most often bought by corporations or families who get together for the first holiday of the year, each having a sip for each holiday throughout the year until finishing it at Thanksgiving , in time to start a new bottle at Christmas.
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Denise Furda for the Love of Music
When those enthusiastic singing students from the Highlands Elementary School get up to present their Christmas concert at the school auditorium on Tuesday, December 16 at 6:30 you can thank the enthusiasm and expertise of long-time instructor Denise Furda for their excellence and love for music.
Furda has been the music instructor at the Highlands school for 24 years and now also teaches in both Atlantic Highlands elementary and Henry Hudson, bringing lessons and excitement to fourth through seventh graders in instrument lessons, as well as general music lessons to the seventh-grade students.
At Highlands, Furda has a spring concert every June and the Christmas concert before the winter holiday, a special performance for many reasons. But it’s especially exciting, she said, since it is the first performance for beginner players, a challenging an exciting way experience. But, the teacher added with a smile, “people tend to love to hear the holiday songs every year, and that makes them special as well.”
Furda designs the Christmas Concert to always include at least one Christmas, one Chanukah and one winter song for each of the three groups that perform…the Combined Band, the Osprey Band and the Osprey Chorus. Fourth to sixth graders are invited to join the band and chorus, and this year is truly special, the teacher said, since “We have small groups working really hard to make this concert special.” She herself accompanies the students on the piano during the concert.
As part of the regular curriculum, students have at least one lesson with Furda each week, but all are expected to practice at home throughout the week. The students who are in the Osprey Band have an additional rehearsal together once a week, and the Osprey Chorus rehearses once a week after school.
Nor does it take coaxing or motivating the students to practice or enjoy classes, the teacher said. “Students like to show their progress at the concerts and to see their families watch them perform.”
To the question of why music is such an important part of the curriculum in elementary school besides simply learning something new, Furda noted the many excellent opportunities the subject offers.
“Music gives students a way to express themselves. They learn to work as a group to achieve a goal. I love that we begin instrument lessons in fourth grade because they develop a good foundation of music skills and knowledge before moving up to Henry Hudson and joining the Middle School Band.”
And what is the best part of the job for this very talented, devoted and patient teacher?
“The concerts are a fun part of my job!”
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Another Good One Gone
In spite of his contract extending through 2027, Atlantic Highlands Borough Administrator Robert Ferragina spent his last day today, December 10 in the borough and will now pursue “an exciting new opportunity in the public sector that offers continued growth and challenge.”Good
Although Ferragina did not indicate what his new position is, or when he will start, he added he will always value the relationships built in Atlantic Highlands. He also expressed his “ gratitude to residents, staff, and the Governing Body for the opportunity to serve.”
The Long Branch native, who lives with his family in West Long Branch, was hired by former Mayor Loretta Gluckstein when former Administrator Adam Hubeny retired from the post. He has served more than four years, each marked with significant infrastructure improvements, financial initiatives, and increased public engagement, for the Borough, leaving a lasting impression on the community he served.
Asked to cite some of the major changes, improvements or challenges he has faced during the past four years, Ferragina highlighted numerous activities undertaken successfully by each of the borough’s departments under his supervision. In addition to major improvements to roads and municipal operations, streets were paved, parking lots were restriped, and LED lighting was installed at locations throughout the Borough and Harbor. Decorative lights were added to the historic Stone Bridge, the Upper Prospect Wall replacement was completed, and a state-of-the-art sign board, not yet lighted, was installed at Borough Hall, complementing the refurbished Harbor sign board. An auxiliary flagpole was also added at Borough Hall.
Some of the upgrades at the harbor included the installation of a backup generator and a boat lift, along with repainting of all buildings and the gazebo. A new gazebo was added at Railroad and Center Avenues, portions of Borough Hall and Sea Streak parking lots were repaved, and park and playground enhancements were completed using grant funding. This support came in part through the Borough’s investment in a grant-writing firm, which helped secure numerous awards.
In the Public Works Department, Ferragina noted critical equipment upgrades took place when outdated vehicles were sold at auction and replaced, not only for Public Works but for the water, police, and harbor departments as well. The DPW Yard received physical improvements including fresh paint, LED lighting, and enhanced workspace conditions for mechanics.
Technology and security advancements included Borough software upgrades from MSI to Edmunds, enhanced cybersecurity, new key fob systems, and upgraded security cameras. Collaboration with local utilities resulted in the replacement of leaning poles and the long-overdue removal of double poles throughout the Borough.
Ferragina worked closely with Atlantic Highlands Local PBA 242, calling the officers “arguably the finest officers in the state.,” He also worked with the Fire Department, council liaisons, and the CMFO to secure bonding for a new fire apparatus. His office also launched new employee support benefits, including annual health and wellness programs funded through grants, and portable supplemental life insurance for municipal workers.
Looking back, the administrator recalled the time early in his tenure when he responded to resident Josh Leinsdorf’s concerns about pedestrian safety at the Foodtown Plaza on First Avenue. Working with private property management, the Borough achieved the installation of new ADA-compliant sidewalks, improving access for seniors at Portland Pointe earlier this year. He also collaborated with former Parking Committee member Mark Fisher and the Police Department to create additional parking spaces throughout town. When he arrived, three collective bargaining agreements were unresolved; he worked with union representatives to complete all three.
During winter power outages, Ferragina spearheaded the initiative to use the Senior Center as a warming station, ensuring residents had a safe place to gather in frigid weather.
Getting to know local residents, particularly multi-generational families including the Rests, Hawleys, Whiteheads, and Fligors, was among the most meaningful experiences for this administrator. He is also proud he helped facilitate public discussion of major community topics.
A major long-term undertaking was securing more than $2 million in federal appropriations for Harbor bulkhead repairs, achieved in collaboration with Congressman Frank Pallone’s office. Work is anticipated to begin within the next two years.
Ferragina also partnered closely with County Commissioners and various county departments to maintain and improve county-owned assets including First Avenue, the Henry Hudson Trail, and Ocean Boulevard. He often highlighted Atlantic Highlands’ unique geography—home to the highest coastal elevation on the eastern seaboard outside of Maine and the largest municipal harbor on the East Coast.
Calling his departure “bittersweet,” Ferragina praised Borough staff, former and current elected officials, and colleagues who, he said, became close friends over the years. He expressed gratitude for the support of former Mayor Gluckstein and former Administrator Hubeny, who continued to serve as mentors during his tenure.
As far as advice for whoever will be assuming his position after this week, Ferragina emphasized that the role of Administrator requires more listening than speaking. He encouraged his successor to “truly value the hard work and longevity of the Borough’s dedicated employees,” noting that those two principles “have served me well.”
Ferragina earned a degree in history with a minor in Political Science from Keene State College, where he serves on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. He holds a Master of Arts in History from Monmouth University and a Master of Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. During his career, he has also earned executive certifications in Nonprofit Fund Development from the University of Notre Dame, Public Sector Leadership from Cornell University, Negotiation Strategies from Yale School of Management, Leadership Development from U Penn’s Wharton School, Government Services from Rutgers University and Land Use Law and Planning from the Association of NJ Planning & Zoning Boards of Adjustment.
There is no doubt, that while Atlantic Highlands will always hold memories, experiences, education, and both hard work and pleasure, Ferragina will continue to remain active in community service, local boards, and civic organizations.
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Regionalization -Update to No Update
While Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon welcomed the Supreme Court ruling on Sea Bright’s ability to proceed with regionalization plans with the Henry Hudson school district, Atlantic Highlands Mayor Lori Hohenleitner said there have been no updates for that borough’s governing body to consider so “it will not be under consideration until the new year.”
The mayor did say, however, she is sure she will be meeting with her counterparts in both Highlands and Sea Bright soon.
The Supreme Court of New Jersey, in its unanimous decision, ruled against the appeals sought by Oceanport and Shore Regional school districts and made it clear Sea Bright would be following state law and the state’s intentions for larger school districts by becoming part of the Henry Hudson district.
While the school board has to approve expanding the district, it is the boroughs who have to work out the financial means among themselves on how the millions of dollars for education in the district are divided among the three towns.
Broullon went a step further in supporting a regionalization which would expand the number of taxpayers paying the millions of dollars it costs to educate students in PreK through 12th grades by inviting the board of education to meet with the three towns “to bring this 60-year old idea to fruition.”
In a statement issued this week, in which she issued the invitation, the Highlands Mayor said “ we are so pleased to hear the New Jersey Supreme Court has decided that Sea Bright can be the master of their own destiny. Now is the time that Atlantic Highlands, Highlands and Sea Bright can finally come together to expand our Henry Hudson Regional School District. Our youth and our taxpayers need to embrace the synergy of our region as natural partners in moving forward toward better educational opportunities as well as tax savings for all. Let’s make it happen for all of us.”
On the other hand, while Mayor Hohenleitner said while she had seen the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision, she declined to explain why that decision is not an update and further information that Sea Bright has the right to act on its own on education matters.
Nor did the mayor reference the correspondence the Commissioner of Education Kevin Dehmer had sent last June which reviewed in detail actions to that point. In his letter, Commissioner Dehmer wrote
“On September 26, 2023, the registered voters of Atlantic Highlands and Highlands approved the referendum to form a new expanded all-purpose regional school district, now known as Henry Hudson, which was completed by July of last year, making Sea right’s application “ripe for consideration.”
A few months later, when the Commissioner reviewed Sea Bright’s application to become part of the district, and considered the Monmouth County Education Office’s recommendation for regionalization, he ruled Sea Bright had met the statutory criteria for withdrawal, providing there was an agreement with Henry Hudson to enable Sea Bright to join, and Sea Bright and Henry Hudson pass resolutions memorializing their agreement.
The Commissioner said it was then up to Sea Bright and Henry Hudson to resolve “any outstanding issues with respect to the tax apportionment.” Once that is completed, then the terms of the agreement can be presented to the taxpayers for their vote.
In seeing the approvals by both the Commissioner of Education and the Supreme Court, it would seem if the Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Council do not act quickly on this week’s Supreme Court ruling by negotiating a tax apportionment and allowing Sea Bright to join the Henry Hudson School district, they put the students and residents of their borough at significant risk.
What is now at stake is millions of new dollars which Sea Bright would bring to the school district with relatively few students opening both expanded education opportunities and reduced taxes for the residents. In addition, it most likely eliminates the risk of the Henry Hudson district being consumed inside the Middletown school district. Given Middletown’s current problem with schools in need of updates or demolition, increased taxes for educational purposes this year, and continuing to face financial increases for education in the future, there could ultimately be mounting consolidation pressures at the county and state level to incorporate one or more of the towns in a small Henry Hudson district into Middletown.
It is now up to the Mayor and Council of Atlantic Highlands to follow through on their promise to move forward with a referendum in 2026 which would finally allow the residents of all three towns to decide how their students are educated and how that will education is paid for. The clock is ticking.
Read the Commissioners Letter Decision-on-Sea-Bright-Amended-Petition-June-2025-2
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