Activities and awards  for the Atlantic Highlands Police Department and the hiring of a highly qualified police officer were all on the agenda at this week’s meeting of the Mayor and Council. Patrolman

Patrolman Davi Cunha  was recognized for the traffic enforcement award presented by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for his traffic enforcement efforts in the 2025 calendar year where he stopped the most vehicles and made the most DWI arrests for the department  for that year.  The officer also received MADD’s highest honor in 2023. He was also cited for the  Recognition of Excellence Award Certificate from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) at their annual NJ Law Enforcement Recognition Event.

John DeSeno of Belmar was sworn in as a probationary officer for one year, filling a vacancy left by the retirement of Sergeant  Elmer earlier this year. DeSteno, was sworn in by Council President Brian Dougherty while his finance Amanda held the Bible and his father, Robert DeSteno stood by.

The officer was born in Ridgewood, raised in Rutherford where he attended Rutherford High School before earning an undergraduate degree in law and justice studies from Rowan University. He then attended Drexel University and earned a master’s degree in legal studies from its Thomas R. Kline School of Law. He served on the Englishtown Police Department in 2025 after serving as a Class II Special Officer with both the Deal and Fir Haven fire departments.  Patrolman DeSteno has completed full police academy training and holds a Class A Police Training Commission certification.

Council representative Jon Crowley also reported every officer in the department worked on the Fourth of July fireworks and Sail 250 events which brought crowds and increased traffic to the borough, Several of the officers had attended the OEM meeting which preceded the events, to ensure a complete review of operations for the activities.  Crowley also noted that officers from the Monmouth County Sheriff’s office, Highlands, Keansburg and Middletown also attended the OEM meeting continuing the police procedures of cooperative efforts.

Class II Special Officers Ian Porter and Michael Alvator, both worked every night of the fireman’s fair and also assisted with Harbor Traffic on July 3^rd due to the Sail 250 Event, Crowley said, in praising the officers for their dedication and excellence in their duties.

MADD is a nationwide  volunteer group whose mission is to end drunk and drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, as well as prevent underage drinking and other drug use.  Towards this end, they are working towards a collective change by sharing the responsibility of protecting one another from harm. MADD praises  anti-drunk driving technology, and leads prevention efforts across all communities across the country supporting advocates for stricter laws. Since their founding, they’ve served as a lifeline for thousands of victims and survivors, and drunk driving fatalities have been cut in half.

Crowley’s report also showed there were 19 accidents during June requiring police attention.

Patrolman Patrolman Patrolman Patrolman Patrolman Patrolman Patrolman

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Suggestions and advice for summer cookouts, home grilling, and summer storms were all part of Fire Chief Christopher Vasto’s report, Councilman Jose Pujols reported to the Mayor and Council at its last meeting

Vasto also reported the department responded to 16 calls for service during June, including response to fire alarms, motor vehicle accidents, emergency and mutual aid requests and investigations.

While Vasto termed the number of calls “moderate,” he noted volunteer firemen nonetheless dedicate numerous additional ours to training, apparatus maintenance, equipment inspections and station readiness in order to keep the department at its high level of excellence.

New members are also needed and welcome, he continued, inviting all men and women 18 years or older to apply to the borough for membership, and encouraging those between the ages of 14 and 17 to apply as junior firefighters. No experience is necessary, the chief said, and all training, equipment and uniforms are provided at no cost.

With families enjoying outdoor grilling and events, Chief Vasto also noted no cooking should be left unattended and a lid should always be close by a grease fire in order to smother it since water should never be used on a grease fire. Vasto also noted many preventable fires occur during warm weather months with the frequency of strong thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, localized flooding, lightning, and damaging wind gusts.

To ensure more protection, residents should secure outdoor furniture, umbrellas, grills, and loose objects before storms arrive, turn around, rather than drive through flooded roadways, stay indoors during thunderstorms and avoid trees or open areas when it is necessary to be outdoors, keep flashlights, fresh batteries, and a method to receive weather alerts if power is lost and report downed power lines immediately while always assuming they are energized.

The Chief also noted a recent Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall involving certain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors sold exclusively through Amazon.

The Treatlife Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors was recalled last month, Pujols said, after it was determined the alarms may fail to activate during a fire, creating a serious life safety hazard. The recalled units were sold through Amazon between November 2025 and April 2026. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Residents who purchased smoke or combination smoke/CO alarms online should verify the manufacturer and model number, check www.cpsc.gov to determine if their detector is included in the recall, and replace any recalled detector immediately with a UL- or ETL-listed smoke alarm.

All smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be tested monthly. And fire alarms ten years old or older, even if they appear to function properly should be replaced.

In his report, Pujols noted a noted the department appreciates the continued support of the Mayor and Council, and its members are committed to protecting the Borough through emergency response, training, public education, and community service.

vasto vasto vasto vasto

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Nothing Their Place and Saint Agnes/Mother Teresa School once gain came in during the public portion of this week’s meeting of the Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Council, with council indicating they do not know whether the non-profit organization is yet open for business at the former now closed catholic school.

Nor is it true that parishioners negative opinions about selling the building to the borough is so, responded Mayor Lori Hohenleitner, so far as she has heard either from the many parishioners with whom she has spoken nor with the Catholic Diocese of Trenton with whom the borough had been conducting the possible sale of the property for recreational and public use.

In response to a question during the public portion of the meeting, Borough Administrator Caleb Stratton assured the resident he would find out the current status of Their Place, which had reportedly invited interested people to attend an Open House in June to visit the proposed use of a portion of the building as rooms for the non-profit’s program that aids adults and children with mental and physical health difficulties.

Mayor Hohenleitner’s remarks came in the wake of resident Joshua Leinsdorf telling the governing body he was at Saint Agnes/Mother Teresa recently when a woman came up to him and said the school was not sold to the borough “because parishioners objected.” Leinsdorf said the woman, whom he did not identify, said people remarked on how much they loved the building, the memories they had for generations, and they did not want to get rid of it. She also said it was the parishioners’ opinion that like “abortion and other things” leasing the building Their Place was part of their mission because it was “taking care of people in trouble.,”

Mayor Hohenleitner explained that in the years the borough has been conducting meetings with the Bishop, attorneys and the Diocese of Trenton, opinions of parishioners never came up at any meetings. She also said in speaking with many residents who are parishioners, they did not even know the non-profit nor the intention to lease the building to it. “That’s one person’s characterization,” the mayor told Leinsdorf, ”it’s never anything I ever got.”

nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Cruising A limited number of tickets is still available for next Sunday’s sunset cruise aboard the Navesink Queen.

“There will never be another American semiquincentennial, “said Lynn Petillo, President of the Atlantic Highlands Society that is sponsoring the cruise, “and therefore will never be a better time to experience a part of that history, by traversing some of the waters that the same European explorers first did decades before even the Country’s founding.”

Local journalist and historian Muriel Smith will be the guest speaker on the cruise, and will highlight events that occurred in the area not only prior to Atlantic Highlands becoming its own community, but centuries before when the Leni Lenape fished the sea and farmed the lands here. Smith will also highlight events through the 17^th to 19^th centuries’, before telling tales about the days of Prohibition, a zoo at the top of the hill, and the roles of residents along the shore during World War II . She will also tell stories about members of the Stryker family who were working for their country even before there was an Atlantic highlands Mayor in the family!.

Departure of the Navesink Queen will be from the dock behind Sissy’s Restaurant, . Tickets include a meal of sandwiches, salads, and snacks. Tickets for the three hour cruise, which begins at 5:30, are $80, with no increase over last year’ rate.

Beverages are available for purchase at the bar. No coolers or outside beverages are permitted. No passengers under 16 years of age are permitted. For further information visit http://www.ahhistory.org/gift-shop/cruise-on-the-navesink-queen.

To make reservations, call 732-291-1861 or visit ahhistoricalinfo@gmail.com

The Atlantic Highlands Historical Society at the Strauss Mansion Museum is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

cruising cruising cruising cruising cruising

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.