Snore It is with deep disappointment that the organizers of the 2025 Roar on the River announce the cancellation of this year’s event, originally scheduled to take place in Highlands, NJ.

Sanctioned by the Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA Racing), the Roar on the River had quickly become a cornerstone event for the region, and 2025 was shaping up to be its biggest year yet.

Backed by 100% of the local waterfront businesses and a community passionate about offshore racing, the event had earned its place as a celebrated gathering along the Jersey Shore.

In just its second year, the organizers had secured enough funding to offer a substantial prize purse and coordinated seamlessly with Jersey Shore Boat Racing (JSBR), who were set to headline Saturday’s inshore races. “We are truly brokenhearted for the community,” said Nick Smith, President of OPA Racing. Not just for the people of Highlands, but for the entire offshore racing community—because Highlands had become a part of that family.

“We search high and low for coastal towns like Highlands, who open their arms to the racers and obsess over the return of powerboat racing. There just aren’t many places left like Highlands.”

The decision to cancel the event follows an unexpected and ultimately insurmountable denial from the United States Coast Guard (USCG), despite ongoing collaboration and extensive adjustments to address their concerns.

After submitting the permit for the marine event on December 4th, 2024. In mid-April 2025, the USCG raised concerns initially assumed to be related to personnel or safety staffing. All required documentation surrounding medical and rescue operations was promptly submitted and deemed sufficient.

However, the primary concern centered around the proximity of the race course to the waterfront docks in Highlands. In response, organizers reconfigured the race course with significant buffer zones, even at the expense of prime spectator access and valuable shoreline visibility.

Despite the changes and a dramatic increase in safety assets—tripling those used during last year’s successful event—the final course plan was denied just ten days before the scheduled start. Forcing organizers to question the timing of a plan that had been submitted for so long.

The decision to cancel was made with heavy hearts and finality. Among the organizing board were Highlands Police Chief Robert Burton, OEM Director Anthony Flores, Mayor Carolyn Broullon, and Charlie Wells of the Monmouth County Dive Team—each of whom played vital roles in ensuring the event’s preparedness and community support.

“This was going to be a signature event, not just for racing fans but for the entire town, ” said Carla Cefalo of the Highlands Business Partnership (HBP). “The momentum, the spirit, the planning—it was all there. We are at a complete loss.”

OPA Racing remains committed to bringing world-class offshore racing to coastal communities and expresses its deepest gratitude to the town of Highlands for its unwavering support. The organization remains hopeful that the spirit of Roar on the River will one day return to Highlands, stronger than ever.

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There are at least two mothers who are working on Mother’s Day, but even so, they’re offering a special at Gem’s so other moms can enjoy the day.

Donna and Kim will be at Gems from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. but their Mother’s Day special will let dads or kids stop in and buy a Mother’s Day Special: a dozen bagels plus a pound of butter plus a pound of cream cheese all for a special $30 price. Or there is also the Bagel Platter, which is a dozen bagels plus the butter plus a half pound of one of their specialty cream cheeses, all for $45. If you order in advance, they can be ready for pickup when you arrive at the Bay Avenue shop in Highlands.

Those specialty cream cheeses are something to talk about. Gems offers nine different varieties, all made on premises, all pretty special. It’s worth sampling at least one of them. Your choice: there are walnut and raisin cream cheese, or veggie, or scallion, or olive, or strawberry or jalapeno pepper or sun-dried tomatoes.

Then there are the “dessert’ cream cheeses which are Funfetti, kind of like cake, or fudge brownie . If you’re a dyed in the wool lox and cream cheese diner, by all means try this special cream cheese loaded with pieces of lox. It’s different!

Congratulations to Gem’s for walking off with the top prize for all those wonderful margarita’s offered all over Highlands last week. Gems’ “Everything but the Bagel” margarita was judged the best of all. Donna doesn’t credit the win toe the plain and simple marguerita they offered; nor does she attribute it to the ground fine bagels that lined the top of the glass. Rather, this cheerful and hard-working Gems owner said the reason Gems margaritas won was the atmosphere. “People came in, they were all laughing, talking with each other, and just having a great time. It was a great atmosphere, so everything always tastes the best when people are happy.”

Rumor has it Gems is offering another special on the Roar on the River Fest next Saturday, May 17, when those Jersey Speed Skiffs will be on the Shrewsbury with races viewable from just about any place along the water between the Proving Ground and Bahrs at the Highlands Bridge. There will be food and specialty vendors, plus a wine and beer garden.in addition to all Highlands’ great restaurants and eateries.

All the businesses in Highlands are going to have some race specials and festivities for the noon to 6 p.m. event. Next Saturday, May 16, from 1.m. to 7 pm. there’s an opportunity to meet the power b oat drivers and see their boats at the Pit in the Sea streak Auxiliary lot at 348 Shore Dr. Bound to be a few pre-race parties and VIP race packages and specials as well.

The Awards ceremony for the race will be at 7 p.m. Sunday night at the Proving Ground, 56 Shrewsbury Avenue. This second annual Roar on the River promises to be even more popular and exciting than last year.

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The Highlands Business Partnership’s (HBP) 24th Annual Seaport Craft Show will be featured Sunday, May 25 from 10 AM to 5 PM. in Huddy Park at Waterwitch and Bay Avenues.

“This year’s Seaport Craft Show is shaping up to be our most vibrant yet, with an exciting mix of both new and returning vendors,” said Diane McIlwaine, HBP Program Manager. “It’s always inspiring to see the creativity and craftsmanship that New Jersey artisans bring to the waterfront—from coastal décor to one-of-a-kind handmade goods. There truly is something for everyone.”

Shoppers can browse an impressive array of unique, handcrafted merchandise, including artisan jewelry, nautical-themed décor made from shells, sea glass, and driftwood, hand painted wooden furniture, lawn and garden accents, natural soaps and body care products, baby and children’s items, locally harvested honey, fine art photography, and more. As always parking is free.

The Seaport Craft Show will showcase more than 60 talented crafters and artisans, with live music by local favorite Dave McCarthy, performing in the gazebo from noon until 4:00 PM. The Highlands Business Partnership booth will feature the Spring into Summer 50/50 Raffle. The winning ticket will be drawn on June 23 with no requirements for the winner to be present.

After the show, visitors are invited to visit one of Highlands’ many acclaimed waterfront restaurants for the perfect end to a day of shopping and entertainment.

The Highlands Business Partnership is a non-profit commercial alliance dedicated to fostering economic growth in Highlands. Sponsors of the programs include Monmouth County Tourism, Montecalvo/Bayshore Family of Companies, Bahrs Landing, Farmacie by the French Market, Dovetail Vintage Rentals, Valley Bank, Gateway Marina, Highlands Café, Hufnagel Tree Experts, In the Garden, Off the Hook, Proving Ground, Seafarer, Sandbox at Seastreak, Bridge Marina and WRAT, 95.9.

For more information on the Seaport Craft Show visit www.highlandsnj.com or call 732-291-4713.

If you ask, anybody will tell you. In fact, whether you ask or not, everybody in Highlands wants to tell you. Jay Terwilliger is the epitome of what it is to be a dedicated volunteer.

Jay is chief of the Highlands First Aid Squad and this October will celebrate 17 years that he has been a dedicated member of this squad, answering every kind of call from accidents to friends close to death.

Engaged, and the father of two, Kaylee and Thomas, it’s a family thing as well, since everyone knows how important it is for Jay to work as hard as he does for the squad and the people it serves.

Jay can’t even tell you how many calls he has answered, how many lives he has helped save over the past almost 17 years Even if you try to pin him down, the closest he can come is “well, I don’t know, but if I had to put a number of it, it’s probably close to 2,000.”

Two thousand calls! Two thousand times Jay Terwilliger has put his own plans aside to help out where needed.

Why does he do it? Jay doesn’t go into any details. He quietly simply explains, when asked “Why do you volunteer so much? “I volunteer my time because I know what it’s like to feel when you need help and no one shows up.”

He tries to not let that happen to anyone else. Trained as an EMT since 2011, Jay, as chief is responsible for making sure the squad runs smoothly, efficiently, and effectively. And he’s at the building just about all the time to make sure all of that happens to his high standard of caring.

There is no ‘hard side’ in putting so much time into volunteering for Jay. The only hard part of the job, he explains, is “making sure every person that needs help receives it.”

He is just as quick in responding to the question about what is the easiest part of volunteering for the Highlands First Aid Squad. “The easiest part would be just giving back to the community.”

Giving back to the community does have its own perks, he’ll quickly add. That’s in the satisfaction and glee he experiences himself in helping others. “One particular experience is the good feeling you get when you deliver a baby into this world, he says happily.

“ Those calls are rare,” he admits, “Usually first aid calls are not fun and sometimes, no matter what you do or what happens, they don’t end up very good.” But he adds in his own positive thinking manner, “ Bringing a new life into this world gives you a feeling indescribable.”

The squad always needs more volunteers, the chief explains, and he invites anyone who likes to help in his own community to sign up. “All they have to do is contact me at highlandsems1721@gmail.com,” the chief said, “ I can let them know how they can join, what they can do, and can let them know how rewarding it is to help somebody else.”

Jay is also happy to introduce anyone interested in becoming a squad member to any of the other hard-working volunteers, and the squad’s officers, Captain Larry Chesal; and 1^st Lt. Nicole Ziegler.

“Becoming part of our squad is a great way to give back to the community” he says calmly, “it’s a great thing, just to help others.”

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