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An Estimated 15,000 at Saint Pat’s Parade

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Estimated

Estimated “We needed this.. It has been a long cold winter and we needed this bit of spring. The town was filled with well wishers, fun, happiness…it was restorative to the soul.”

So spoke an enthusiastic and grateful Mayor Carolyn Broullon, following the very popular and highly successful St. Patrick’s Day parade Saturday where she was Grand Marshal and shared limelight with past grand marshals, including the first female mayor of Highlands, Anna Little, who led the parade in 2019.

Broullon, like everyone else, was astounded at the figures that also made this St. Patrick’s Day parade a record breaker in numerous ways.

‘Drones overhead trying to estimate the crowds who jammed into the borough for the highlight of the month, and nearest estimates put the crowds in the borough at 15,000.

There were approximately 120 individual units from motorcyclists and fire trucks to scout troops and bands in the line of march, making it the longest parade ever in the borough.

There were no accidents, no tickets issued, no emergency calls other than one first aid call several hours after the end of the parade.

Broullon walked as the Grand Marshal, in the company of others receiving applause from the crowd, including Congressman Frank Pallone, a popular favorite every year, State Senator Gerry Sharfenbarger, who attends every affair and accepts every invitation to participate in Highlands, as well as other past grand marshals and the governing body.

The Mayor credited the huge success of the day to “everyone working together, careful planning, great organization” and a willingness to show everyone how special Highlands is.

In addition to the Highlands Business Partnership, which organizes and sponsors the event, Broullon praised the Police Department for the role they take in planning the route and ensuring the roads are kept clear, as well as Tom Snow and his heading up the requests for special police officers not only from Highlands but from surrounding towns as well. “Without the cooperation of all of these wonderful people, we could not have the safety record we have,” the mayor said.

She also praised the fire department and each of the businesses and organizations that participate in the parade. “This is just a matter of all of us working together, having great leadership for it, and everyone wanting to be sure everyone, both parade goers, and parade watchers, have an enjoyable day.”

The successful Business Partnership Event kicks off a season of other major events, the mayor said. On May 2, there is the Fiesta de Mayo, honoring the Mexican Cinco de mayo that celebrates the Mexican battle over the French in 1862 and is annually an event for celebration. The highly popular Roar on the River is slated for May 16 and 17 and the annual Craft Show is set for May 24.

 

Photo by Jim Bemiss

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She also praised the fire department and each of the businesses and organizations that participate in the parade. “This is just a matter of all of us working together, having great leadership for it, and everyone wanting to be sure everyone, both parade goers, and parade watchers, have an enjoyable day.”The successful Business Partnership Event kicks off a season of other major events, the mayor said. On May 2, there is the Fiesta de Mayo, honoring the Mexican Cinco de mayo that celebrates the Mexican battle over the French in 1862 and is annually an event for celebration. The highly popular Roar on the River is slated for May 16 and 17 and the annual Craft Show is set for May 24.She also praised the fire department and each of the businesses and organizations that participate in the parade. “This is just a matter of all of us working together, having great leadership for it, and everyone wanting to be sure everyone, both parade goers, and parade watchers, have an enjoyable day.”The successful Business Partnership Event kicks off a season of other major events, the mayor said. On May 2, there is the Fiesta de Mayo, honoring the Mexican Cinco de mayo that celebrates the Mexican battle over the French in 1862 and is annually an event for celebration. The highly popular Roar on the River is slated for May 16 and 17 and the annual Craft Show is set for May 24.She also praised the fire department and each of the businesses and organizations that participate in the parade. “This is just a matter of all of us working together, having great leadership for it, and everyone wanting to be sure everyone, both parade goers, and parade watchers, have an enjoyable day.”The successful Business Partnership Event kicks off a season of other major events, the mayor said. On May 2, there is the Fiesta de Mayo, honoring the Mexican Cinco de mayo that celebrates the Mexican battle over the French in 1862 and is annually an event for celebration. The highly popular Roar on the River is slated for May 16 and 17 and the annual Craft Show is set for May 24.

Tommy Ptak – 58 Years and the Pain Continues

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Tommy
Spec4 Thomas [Tommy] J. Ptak, Killed in Action, 22 March 1968

The whole town turned out to surround the Ptak family with love, prayers and tears 58 years ago when word reached the Highlands family that their son, our friend, our neighbor, Tommy, had been killed in Vietnam.

Tommy’s funeral was held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church when his body was returned home with military honors, and the church was filled to overflowing, spilling out onto Route 36 as everyone wanted to honor the soldier.

There wasn’t a person in town who didn’t know a Ptak, parents or children, either from OLPH school, which the kids all attended,  from town where they had a soda at Katz, or at the movie theater before it closed, or from summers, when the bolder older ones jumped off the Highlands Sea Bright bridge in the borough tradition.

Ben and Gerry were the smiling faces always ready to give a hand, active in the PTA, even starting bee hives in the yard of their Highland Avenue home after Ben helped one of the kids with a science project at school.

And even before the funeral, it was Tommy’s brother who climbed on the roof of the Ptak home and painted the chimney red, white and with a peace sign in the blue field to honor the borough’s hero.

This is a story from The Courier  about his funeral days later, and the impact Gerry and Ben Ptak and their entire family had on the town where they loved and lived. 

Please, if you share anything on social media, share this story, the story of a small town kid, and unsung hero, a young man who was a bright shining star.

Spec4 Thomas [Tommy] J. Ptak, Killed in Action, 22 March 1968

They buried Tommy Ptak Monday morning, the local newspaper in Highlands reported April 4, 1968.

It was Specialist Fourth class Thomas Ptak, 270 Highland Avenue, son of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Ptak, to the very militarily correct Army sergeant who escorted the soldier’s body from the place where he died in Hue, Vietnam, back home to Highlands for the funeral, then on to Mt. Olivet Cemetery where he will rest forever.

It was Spec 4 Thomas Ptak to the six ramrod straight and Army-perfect soldiers who served as pallbearers at the military funeral at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church where Tommy and his family had worshiped all his life.

To all Americans, to all citizens of a free country, it was Spec 4 Thomas Ptak whose body lay in the plain casket under the American flag.

But to the hundreds of people who crowded into Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church for a last goodbye and a funeral mass, to the dozens more who spilled out onto the steps of the Church that gave a spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean, it was just plain Tommy.

It was Tommy to young brothers and sisters, some of whom weren’t old enough to comprehend the ugly way in which he died.

It was Tommy to sorrowing parents who couldn’t begin to comprehend what wonderful parents they had been and how much love they received from all ten of their children.

It was Tommy, the son who would have been proud of their strength at his funeral.

It was Tommy to the dozens and dozens of high school students from the regional high school he attended, and the two local Catholic high schools where some of his friends attended. They all could remember happier days when Tommy was skillfully performing on a gym horse or tossing a ball with them in the middle of the street.

It was Tommy to the school principals who remembered Tommy as a “good boy, a typical boy, the kind you’d want in any class.”

It was Tommy to practically every neighbor along Highland Avenue and Valley St. where Tommy grew up, folks who remembered a friendly wave or a smile from a busy youth working on a motorcycle in the yard as they passed the always happy, always busy Ptak home. Neighbors who had broken all the rules of protocol and flew their American flags at half-staff even before Highlands Mayor John A. Bahrs ordered it for the entire town. The neighbors had all gone out to front yards to lower their flags the minute they heard of Tommy’s death.

It was Tommy to the three priests who concelebrated the funeral mass: the one who grew up in the parish and knew the whole Ptak family, the one who spent five years in the parish and knew and visited often with the family, and the one who just arrived in Highlands the year previous, not lucky enough to get closely acquainted with the young hero.

It was Tommy to the police chief and members of the police department who could remember he was ‘a nice kid, we ought to have more like him.”

It was Tommy to the altar boys who formed their own guard of honor as his body left the church. Boys who were classmates of Tommy’s younger brothers or sisters.

It was Tommy to the grammar schoolgirls who sorrowfully sang a very special funeral mass. It was a mass for the Tommy some of them had looked up to when they were very small, and he was a big eighth grader. It was Tommy, the big brother of their classmates, the big brother who looked so grown up and handsome in his army uniform.

It was Tommy to a neighbor who had served more than twenty years himself in the service of his country. Now retired as a Sergeant Major, Sal Giovenco attended the funeral in full dress uniform, perhaps to show the family of the young hero that he was proud of this particular soldier, proud to have known him, and proud to show that he too believes in the cause for which Tommy died. Sal knew, and showed, Tommy deserved the honor and respect of the American soldier’s uniform.

The official records refer to Tommy as Thomas John Ptak. Born Feb. 1, 1948, died March 22, 1968. The Army records indicate he was an E4, Specialist Fourth Class, ID # 11755688, a member of C Company, Second Battalion, 501st Infantry, 101st Infantry Regiment…Geronimo, as it was known. He had been promoted twice. He started his Vietnam tour on March 14, 1967, and he was in Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam, March 22, 1968, 98 days later, when he was killed in a hostile ground attack of multiple fragmentation wounds. Died outright, the records say. Body recovered. He did have many honors, though: the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Combat Infantry Badge and several Vietnam Campaign Medals presented by the South Vietnamese government in appreciation for our American forces.

They buried Tommy Ptak Monday morning; the newspaper continued. The nation lost a soldier, parents lost a son, and Highlands lost a very special youth.

 

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OLPH Food Pantry – #1

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
OLPH

The Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) Church food pantry took the first place award for most creative float in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Highlands Sunday, winning the award the first year the food pantry entered the parade.

The pantry also won the first place award from the general public for the second year in a row for their entry in the business partnership’s chili contest, held in advance of the parade to offset the cost.

Thousands of people came into Highlands to see the parade and applaud the food pantry for all they do in the community.

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OLPH olph olph olph olph olph olph olph olph OLPH olph olph

Ed worked as an Operating Engineer, New York Local 15 , starting in 1954  and was their Business Agent until his retirement in 1995. Married to the former Georgette Ravel from October 23, 1954, until her death December 10, 2022, Ed was a devoted husband who was happiest in her company and sharing his life with her and their children. The couple were both avid boaters and popular on the waterfront scene and at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club.Ed worked as an Operating Engineer, New York Local 15 , starting in 1954  and was their Business Agent until his retirement in 1995. Married to the former Georgette Ravel from October 23, 1954, until her death December 10, 2022, Ed was a devoted husband who was happiest in her company and sharing his life with her and their children. The couple were both avid boaters and popular on the waterfront scene and at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club.Ed worked as an Operating Engineer, New York Local 15 , starting in 1954  and was their Business Agent until his retirement in 1995. Married to the former Georgette Ravel from October 23, 1954, until her death December 10, 2022, Ed was a devoted husband who was happiest in her company and sharing his life with her and their children. The couple were both avid boaters and popular on the waterfront scene and at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club.Ed worked as an Operating Engineer, New York Local 15 , starting in 1954  and was their Business Agent until his retirement in 1995. Married to the former Georgette Ravel from October 23, 1954, until her death December 10, 2022, Ed was a devoted husband who was happiest in her company and sharing his life with her and their children. The couple were both avid boaters and popular on the waterfront scene and at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club.Ed worked as an Operating Engineer, New York Local 15 , starting in 1954  and was their Business Agent until his retirement in 1995. Married to the former Georgette Ravel from October 23, 1954, until her death December 10, 2022, Ed was a devoted husband who was happiest in her company and sharing his life with her and their children. The couple were both avid boaters and popular on the waterfront scene and at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club.Ed worked as an Operating Engineer, New York Local 15 , starting in 1954  and was their Business Agent until his retirement in 1995. Married to the former Georgette Ravel from October 23, 1954, until her death December 10, 2022, Ed was a devoted husband who was happiest in her company and sharing his life with her and their children. The couple were both avid boaters and popular on the waterfront scene and at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club.Ed worked as an Operating Engineer, New York Local 15 , starting in 1954  and was their Business Agent until his retirement in 1995. Married to the former Georgette Ravel from October 23, 1954, until her death December 10, 2022, Ed was a devoted husband who was happiest in her company and sharing his life with her and their children. The couple were both avid boaters and popular on the waterfront scene and at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club.Ed worked as an Operating Engineer, New York Local 15 , starting in 1954  and was their Business Agent until his retirement in 1995. Married to the former Georgette Ravel from October 23, 1954, until her death December 10, 2022, Ed was a devoted husband who was happiest in her company and sharing his life with her and their children. The couple were both avid boaters and popular on the waterfront scene and at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club.Ed worked as an Operating Engineer, New York Local 15 , starting in 1954  and was their Business Agent until his retirement in 1995. Married to the former Georgette Ravel from October 23, 1954, until her death December 10, 2022, Ed was a devoted husband who was happiest in her company and sharing his life with her and their children. The couple were both avid boaters and popular on the waterfront scene and at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club.Ed worked as an Operating Engineer, New York Local 15 , starting in 1954  and was their Business Agent until his retirement in 1995. Married to the former Georgette Ravel from October 23, 1954, until her death December 10, 2022, Ed was a devoted husband who was happiest in her company and sharing his life with her and their children. The couple were both avid boaters and popular on the waterfront scene and at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club.Ed worked as an Operating Engineer, New York Local 15 , starting in 1954  and was their Business Agent until his retirement in 1995. Married to the former Georgette Ravel from October 23, 1954, until her death December 10, 2022, Ed was a devoted husband who was happiest in her company and sharing his life with her and their children. The couple were both avid boaters and popular on the waterfront scene and at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club.Ed worked as an Operating Engineer, New York Local 15 , starting in 1954  and was their Business Agent until his retirement in 1995. Married to the former Georgette Ravel from October 23, 1954, until her death December 10, 2022, Ed was a devoted husband who was happiest in her company and sharing his life with her and their children. The couple were both avid boaters and popular on the waterfront scene and at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club.

 

Ed Newins – A Life Well Lived

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Newins

A funeral mass will be offered Saturday, March 28 at Holy Family Church, Union Beach, for Edward Newins, Sr. of Hazlet.

Ed died March 13, seven days before his 93rd birthday. He passed away surrounded by his family.

Born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Greenpoint, Ed was proud of his service in the United States Coast Guard, broadcasting the Voice of America for Radio Free Europe off the coast of Rhodes, Greece during his years of service.  He was honorably discharged in 1954 and remained active with his shipmates from the USS Courier over the years. 

Ed worked as an Operating Engineer, New York Local 15 , starting in 1954  and was their Business Agent until his retirement in 1995.

Married to the former Georgette Ravel from October 23, 1954, until her death December 10, 2022, Ed was a devoted husband who was happiest in her company and sharing his life with her and their children. The couple were both avid boaters and popular on the waterfront scene and at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club.

The couple first lived in Chelsea, New York, briefly in Hoboken, then moved to Hazlet in 1960 where they remained the rest of their lives.

Following his retirement, the couple enjoyed living between homes in Key Largo and Naples, Florida and Hazlet.

As an avid boater, and promoter of safety on the waterways, Ed  spent many years boating and fishing from the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Harbor and cherished the friendships he formed over the years as a member of the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club, and where he served as Commodore. For many years after his tenure at the club’s chief officer, he was frequently recognized at gatherings of club members, recalled for his sense of humor, willingness to help others, and devotion to safety.

Ed also served as a Commissioner and Chairman of the BRSA in the 1970s. 

In addition to Georgette, Ed was predeceased by his parents John L. and Lucretia (Maguiness) Newins, his brother Laurence, and sister Janet. Ed is survived by his children, Edward J. Newins, Jr. and his wife Mary Shawn, of Whitsett, NC , Kimberly (Herer) Flynn of Toms River, Victoria O’Connor and her husband Jerry of Howell and Navarre and Elizabeth Straub of Middletown and 11 Grandchildren – Krystal Kaplan and her husband Michael, Regina Young and her husband Colon, Rachael Herer, Robert Herer, John Straub, James Herer, Eric Straub, Kyle Newins and his wife Kelly, Faith Paton and her husband Jeff, Jerry O’Connor, Jr. and Natalie Straub . H is also survived by his most precious Great Grandson Michael Patrick Kaplan. 

Family and friends are invited to visit at a memorial visitation at the Shore Point Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 3269 State Route/Highway 35, Hazlet, Friday March 27 from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. 

The Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, March 28, will be offered at 10:00 AM at the church at Highway 36, Union Beach, where Ed worshiped weekly.

In respect of Ed’s wishes, he will be privately cremated

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Newins newins newins newins

Irish Eyes are Smiling and Singing

By
Muriel J. Smith
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Irish eyes

Irish Eyes The March council meeting in Atlantic Highlands has always been a treat to meeting attendees since Councilman Brian Dougherty has been on council.

Atlantic Highlands Councilman Brian Dougherty

One never hears much about the councilman’s professional career, but suffice it to say, he’s a terrific singer.

In order to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and to let residents know it isn’t all business and hard work at the Council table, Mayor Lori Hohenleitner introduced the councilman for his annual treat.

Dougherty then distributed copies of the chorus urging the entire audience to join in singing Irish Eyes are Smiling after he sang the first verse.

And they were! As were the eyes of every other nationality as the Mayor and Council celebrated and proclaimed March Irish American Month. And all applauded as Councilman Dougherty’s musical tones rang clear as he sang

There’s a tear in your eye and I’m wondering why,

For it never should be there at all;

With such pow’r in your smile, sure a stone you’d beguile,

So there’s never a tear-drop should fall;

When your sweet lilting laughter’s like some fairy song,

And your eyes twinkle bright as can be;

You should laugh all the while and all other times, smile,

And now smile a smile for me.

The Mayor, who herself has been honored along with another family member for her Irish heritage, read the proclamation honoring Mach as Irish American Heritage Month in Atlantic Highlands.

Council and members of the audience also observed a moment of silence along with the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of the meeting honoring the military members who have lost their lives in the recent war in Iran.

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A Book Review – The Wreck of the Mentor

By
Muriel J. Smith
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1
Wreck
The Wreck of the Mentor

By Eric Jay Dolin

Liveright Publishing Corporation

Scheduled for release June 2, 2026

If there was ever a book, ever an author, who can write history and immediately absorb a reader’s complete attention, it’s Eric Jay Dolin and his soon to be released historic story, The Wreck of the Mentor.

Never having read Dolin before, a reader is apt to leave this one eager to seek out some of his others, from “” to Black Flags, Blue Water: The Epic History of America’s Most Notorious Pirates.” to Brilliant Beacons: A History of the American Lighthouse.” Or more.

But the Mentor is a captivating, true, full of detail story of a 19th century shipwreck of a whaling ship that sailed out of New Bedford Harbor in Massachusetts bringing investors as well as sailors to wealth in the Pacific ocean. That was until May, 1832, when the ship struck a reef off Palau Island in the Pacific during a heavy storm. That’s where the story actually begins.

There were 11 crewmen who survived the wreck, managed to get to the island and began to suffer not only from lack of supplies but a chain of events that changed their lives forever, that of the sailing industry, the town of New Bedford, the whaling industry itself, the impact of a growing America on another culture, and ends describing what happens when cultures unbeknown to each other live in a world together.

Dolin does more than research and write a book you can’t put down. With so many characters about whom he goes into detail as to personality, ability and individual treatment of and reaction to disaster and change, he identifies his cast of characters in the first five pages of the book, identifying them by their position as seaman, able or green hand…. steward, steerer, or cook, residents of the island of Palau, be they relatives, children beachcombers or more, or crew members of other ships involved in the story. He also lists other key players from John Quincy Adams and ship captains and commodores to authors, writers and even a castaway. It doesn’t take much to refer to the list to ensure you keep all characters in the right place.

To be sure the reader knows of the accuracy and research of every part of the story, Dolin also includes plenty of footnotes, easy to read without interrupting the flow of the story, more notes at the end of the book to ensure the reader knows the author did not simply pick up a detail or two, but rather double-checked himself for accuracy.

Best of all, there are more than 100 black and white photos scattered throughout the 226 pages so even those without imagination can see the true picture of a an island native, or a ship of the 19th century.

The book isn’t necessarily pretty … but neither is life. There are tribal wars, plenty of fighting with axes, clubs, spears and anything else handy, and the crushing stories of how survival is won. Even when it’s painful, a reader cannot stop reading until he has seen what happens next.

Dolin makes history thrilling!

The book is bound to be a smashing hit once it hits the shelves in June, so those who love maritime stories, history, heroes and cowards, love and culture should put their orders in now for the June release.

Oh, yes, of course there is a naval rescue! It’s a true story.

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The book is bound to be a smashing hit once it hits the shelves in June, so those who love maritime stories, history, heroes and cowards, love and culture should put their orders in now for the June release.

Oh, yes, of course there is a naval rescue! It’s a true story.

Arts, Culture, Housing, Lawsuits, and H2O

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Arts

The Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Council will have a busy meeting Monday evening, including the possibility of establishing a brand-new Arts and Culture Commission as well as public hearings on two ordinances which will most likely be approved regardless of any comments in the public hearings.

Council also plans to introduce ordinances to increase water rates as well as to approve a bond ordinance to make various sewer and water department improvements.

Council also plans to adopt an ordinance, following a public hearing, which would eliminate the current Design Review Committee and replace it with a newly established Arts and Culture Commission.

The new commission would be in charge of all arts and culture activities planned and coordinated by the borough except for holiday arts and cultural events which would remain with the Recreation Committee. Some residents had questioned at an earlier meeting why these matters would not come under the recreation committee. A copy of the proposed ordinance appears in full on the borough page, under the agenda for Monday’s meeting.

Councilman Brian Gorsegner published his own opinions on the proposed Commission on his Facebook page, noting one of the many factors in is decision to be a council member last year was his desire to “ get a commission passed that would help make Atlantic Highlands the artistic hub and community that I knew it could be.” That, he said, came from his “knowledge of, and excitement about the topic from knowing of all the work of the local Art Council which is headed by his wife as president, Amanda Gorsegner.

A brand new Arts and Culture Commission, Gorsegner said on Facebook, “ will be essential and vital to the blossoming of not only public art in town, but also helping to serve under served children in the community obtain art supplies, bringing more live music and cultural events to town, providing classes and seminars, and much more. “

He expressed thanks to his wife “for being at the forefront of this for years, and to Councilman Brian Dougherty for doing the heavy lifting of the writing of the ordinance (he’s been a part of many! This is the first I’ve taken part in and was awesome to watch the process in action.” He also praised “Mayor Lori Hohenleitner who has always been a huge advocate for the arts, Councilman Jon Crowley for all he’s done for the arts in town, the rest of the council for their endless support, the AH Arts Council for their tireless efforts, and the many others who have been rooting hard for this for a long time.”

The councilman said arts have been important to him since he was a children and now believes that in light of all the turmoil in the world, it is even more important “that we are providing a beautiful, vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive tapestry for Atlantic Highlands.” He urged residents to attend the meeting to show their support for the new commission.

At last week’s planning board meeting, planning board attorney Michael Steib detailed the state regulations on the Fair Housing issues and noted the planners and the council had a limited time in which to approve specific regulations in order to meet state requirements. Steib, in response to questions from the planners, also pointed out the lack of success of any of the 20 or so municipalities across the state among the 400 affected who challenged the regulations and pointed out the borough has little if any opportunity to challenge the state mandates.

The planners voted to ensure the Housing regulations remain in conformance with the Master Plan in meeting the obligations for 48 units, the same as it had been in the past. The ordinances were unanimously approved with a recommendation to the governing body to adopt both at Monday’s meeting in order to meet deadlines. Adoption of the codes protect the borough for another ten years in meeting its housing obligations.

In other business, Council, after more than four years, is expected to resolve the litigation with Kappa Construction over the failed construction of the Marine Police building at the Harbor.

The ordinances to raise water rates and a bond issue for water and sewer repairs would be introduced, but no further action taken until public hearings at next month’s meeting.

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Shamrock Shenanigans Coming to Highlands

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Shenanigans

Shenanigans With the Bayshore area’s biggest and best St. Patrick’s Parade on schedule for Saturday at 2 p.m. along Bay Avenue, it’s terrific to see how all the organizations in town are working so well together to ensure the crowds anticipated to gather just about anywhere along the route will be happy.

Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon

The Mayor, Carolyn Broullon, who is certainly proud of her town and its residents, will be the Grand Marshall leading it off…along with those spectacular NJROTC cadets from MAST, who are always a part of this celebration, there are too many bands, bagpipes, drum and bugle corps and other musical routes in the line of march along with Henry Hudson’s own Admirals who are simply spectacular all the time. And look for those adorable Highlands School youngsters s well!.

But while everyone already knows the Business Partnership goes above and beyond to ensure the best in the line of march, look at all the other organizations to make this a very special day. Of course, there are all the businesses and even the Food Pantry at Our Lady of Perpetual Help who will all bring smiles to your faces and applause to your hands as they march, but the Highlands Police do a sensational job of ensuring as much parking as they can make available while still keeping the roads clear for traffic for parade goers.

At Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, the regular Saturday afternoon mass at 4 is being moved to St. Agnes Church in Atlantic Highlands for this one time event, just to ensure anyone in town for the parade can also leave early enough to get to St. Agnes for either that or the 5:15 mass which is the regular mass at that church.

But every business in town does its share and all of it with a huge smile. Look for each of the restaurants and bars to have special drinks, music, entertainment, or just plain friendly space to help you stick around and enjoy more of Highlands. Check out Gem’s, that ever popular Bagel restaurant and shop on Bay Avenue. They’re offering special deals for breakfast, late or early before the parade, as well as Take 0ut orders for friends and family. And yes, there will be green bagels, or course!

The fire police will be out on the streets assisting the police with traffic and parking control, and of course the Highlands First Aid is always ready for any emergency.

So what makes St. Patrick’s Day and celebrations among all peoples so popular? It’s probably not because he drove the snakes out of the Emerald Isle. Nor is it because he used the shamrock to teach pagans among Christs and the three persons of the Trinity. It could be because since the 1800s, nearly 10 million people have emigrated from that beautiful little island, with most of them coming here, or nearby Canada. And we all know the Irish are a talkative, bragging., happy lot…and indeed do enjoy their pint or two on occasion.

So maybe that’s it. Perhaps it’s the charm of the Irish, their penchant to enjoy good times and to share fun and laughter with everyone that makes their patron saint’s day special occasion. 

Doesn’t make any difference what the cause. St. Patrick’s Day celebrated this Saturday sounds like a wonderful time to be in Highlands, enjoy music, charm, laughter, fun, a pint of something good to drink, and appreciate a town where all the businesses, government, church and organizations can get together, put the cares of the world aside for a few minutes, and appreciate how fortunate we all area to live in the Bayshore.

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Sharon Shutzer and a Kind Word

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Sharon

Sharon Maybe I have such a warm spot for Freehold council members because I knew most of them when I lived there several years back for few years. Politics was never the important thing for them, it seemed just doing the right thing and wanting to help people no matter what they needed were the things to do.

They didn’t really care what party you were, they just assumed that as elected officials they always had to do the right thing. People like council president Jeff Friedman just wanted to work hard to do whatever he could to make Freehold better, more fun, just as friendly … and that was even before he got on Council!. And of course Annette Jordan brought with her to the council table all the wonderful dedication of all the Hawley family of Atlantic Highlands.

But truly, if there is any single backbone, any single dedicated person on this council who just simply can’t stop doing the right thing, being thoughtful or remembering old friends, it’s that wonderful lady, Sharon Shutzer.

Everybody knows Sharon!. Everybody can see her smile from a mile away it so lights up an area. Everybody knows how she loves her hometown; heck, she was born in Freehold and dedicated just about her entire adult life to working for it in some way or other.

She’s served on just about every committee the town ever has had, as well as on the board of education. And right, now she’s still on council, was its president three different times, and been serving since, well, the 20th century!

Yet she continues to be present for every event, every youngster’s birthday party, every Eagle Scout honor, simply everywhere where she is invited and folks want to see her. She’s active in her church, the First United Methodist, where she is also well beloved and hard working; former students from Toms River still remember the 8th grade teacher who always took the time to hear their problems or help them solve an issue. And she is up and running with her every duty as councilwoman.

For many years that I know about, Sharon has always said she does all these things, is all these things, believes all these things, because her parents always taught her the value of giving back and never taking more than you give.

I’m reminded this week about how very thoughtful, kind and generous she is, though I have not seen her in many months, and then only at a large gathering when we did not have time to chat.

But Sharon Shutzer takes time for anything she thinks will make someone else happy. And that’s what she did this week when she saw a brief article I had written in a weekly magazine we both enjoy.

With my name and byline, it wasn’t difficult for Sharon to identify me. And she probably did laugh and feel good seeing an old friend be in the spotlight in such a well circulated magazine.

But Sharon didn’t just read and enjoy, Sharon did the “Sharon thing.” She sat down and wrote me a letter just to tell me what a pleasant surprise it was FOR HER to see my little article. “I was thrilled when I saw your smiling face and read your words,” she wrote, then said how good it felt to connect again through my shared words.

Wow!

Thanks Sharon. You’ve just identified one of the reasons why I love to write. It’s when shared words can bring out more shared words, happy memories and appreciation of a thoughtful friend, that is all so much nicer and delightful to accept rather than the vitriolic rancor that those who disagree with my thinking so often spew out.

They write to make themselves feel good. Or important.

You write simply to share friendship, fun and kindness.

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Sharon

Eat Free Breakfast, Meet New Friends

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
breakfast

If there’s any one group in Highlands that goes out of its way to make everyone in the Bayshore feel warm, friendly, and loved, it’s the Rev. Joseph Donnelly Council of the Knights of Columbus. The Council, part of the international organization of Catholic men, was started years ago at Our Lady of Perpetual Help and has grown in leaps and bounds since then. The Knights don’t restrict their kindness and goodness simply to those who go to church, or are Catholic … they reach out to help others, to invite others to events, and in general, just to try and make life a little better for everyone.

This Sunday’s Breakfast, a special on the second Sunday of every month, was the perfect example. Anyone who attends these monthly events knows that Tom Snow and his dedicated crew in the kitchen put out the best eggs, meats, and everything else, while the entire Council turns out to serve, set up, clean up, and get a huge amount of help from the Columbiettes, the woman’s auxiliary to the Council.

But St. Patrick, especially for the Irish, puts an extra shamrock or sparkle in the air.

Knight Kevin Connelly is head of the planning for the monthly breakfasts, and he involved his entire family in spending a few hours at OLPH Saturday afternoon to decorate the hall for the Sunday event.

Of course Sunday morning there was Irish music, scones, “Irish Toast” Irish soda Bread, an Irish flavoring for coffee to accompany all the regular pastries, fruits and everything else for breakfast. The Leusen family was elected as the Family of the month and honored for how they greet life and the rest of the world every day.

But the Breakfasts decorations were akin to a major St. Patrick’s Day event in color, beauty and perfection.

Each of the tables was topped with very Irish tablecloths and matching napkins … charming prints, not simply green and white … and included green beads, gold and silver coins, even miniature buckets filled with mints that proclaimed the blessings of being Irish. There were tee shirts on Knights proclaiming the wonders of the Irish, and downright friendship, laughter, and meeting new friends all around.

In truth, that’s what these breakfasts have come to be. It isn’t people who go to Mass every Sunday, it isn’t Knights who give up their own time to present a wonderful event for others; it isn’t folks from town to come up simply for a great meal, it isn’t the Columbiettes, most of whom are wives of Knights who are there to help in every way they can to make it a special event for attendees;  it isn’t even the great food that always comes out of that kitchen.

It’s simply an informal time for friends and strangers to get together, to meet each other, to thank the Knights for a meal they enjoy whether they give a donation for it or not. And it takes all of those folks doing all they are doing to make it that happy morning it always is.

The next breakfast is April 12 That’s the Sunday after Easter. But early reports from the Knights indicate it’s OK to celebrate that glorious feast even a week later, so Easter will be the theme of the décor, and we suspect, lots of colored eggs and Easter bunnies will be on the scene.

And keep in mind breakfasts aren’t the whole thing these Knights do with perfection. Look for more news on their weather-delayed but nonetheless spectacular and memorable celebration not only of the borough’s 125th birthday but also of the day the Pledge of Allegiance was recited publicly for the first time. The event happened at the Twin Lights and the Knights plan on keeping that memory very much appreciated and alive in observances next month.

And look for more information on their Country Hoedown. That one is set for April 25, and tickets are already selling out quickly for that. There will be a buffet dinner, a dessert table, plenty of soft beverages and an invitation to bring your own specialties, plenty of music, a dance caller and even lessons to enjoy a Hoedown properly, and yes, even some prizes. All for $35 a head. Check out some of the local businesses that help the Knights make this all possible at such a reasonable price, and plan on having an evening of fun, camaraderie, great food and community spirit. Call 732-915-2104 to ticket reservations or more information.

You can also Find ViniVidiScripto on the Following Platforms …

breakfast

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