A funeral mass for Robert Shamlian will be offered Tuesday, January 20 at 11 a.m.. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Navesink Avenue, Highlands. Mr. Shamilian died January 9 at age 86, and had lived in Highlands many years.
A cherished husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Shamlian was born In Jersey City July 15, 1939, the youngest son of the late Arrum and Rose Shamlian. He was raised in Fair Lawn where he cultivated a life marked by kindness, handiness, and love.
Shamlian married his soulmate, Grace, and the couple moved to Leonardo and eventually settled in Highlands with their family, before recently moving to Keyport while maintaining many Highlands ties.
A proud member of the Heavy and General Laborers’ Union Local 472, Bob dedicated over 50 years of service, demonstrating an unparalleled work ethic and commitment to his craft. His colleagues knew him as a man who could always be relied upon, both on and off the job site.
Bob’s interests were as rich and varied as his life. An avid fisherman and crabber, he found solace and joy in the simple pleasures of nature. He and Grace were known for their love of dancing, often the last to leave the dance floor. Together, they explored the world on several cruises, creating a tapestry of memories that will be treasured by all who knew them.
In addition to his wife of more than 52 years, Grace, Bob is survived by his son Stephen and daughter Carolyn and her husband, Peter Adragna. He is also survived by three grandsons, Tyler, Jacob, and Conner McTernan, along with their father Mark McTernan. He was predeceased by his son Michael in 2021 and his brothers, Andrew and Herbert.
Scott and Kedz Funeral Home in Belford is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be at Green Grove Cemetery, Keyport following the mass at OLPH
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Former Atlantic Highlands Borough Administrator Robert Ferragina is now the Monmouth County Shared Services Coordinator.
Monmouth County Commission Director Thomas A. Arnone, the liaison to the Office of Shared Services, made the announcement last week while at the same time urging municipalities to build on a foundation of innovation, efficiency and fiscal responsibility through shared service agreements in 2026.
Ferragina advised the Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Council last month he was leaving the position he has held just over four years. Since mid-December, his position is being covered by additional duties for the Director of Public Works, ,Chief of Police and Borough Clerk until a replacement is named.
At last week’s meeting of the governing body, Council agreed to monthly stipends of $4715 to each of the three professionals for their additional workloads . The stipends are retroactive to December 1 and will remain in effect until a new administrator is hired.
“Monmouth County is proud to maintain one of the strongest, most active shared services programs in the State of New Jersey,” Arnone said, in urging all 53 municipalities to take advantage of such a program. “These agreements empower our municipal partners to increase efficiency, enhance services, and deliver real savings for taxpayers. We invite every interested municipality to explore the opportunities available through our Office of Shared Services.”
“My fellow Commissioners and I are incredibly excited to have Robert join our Shared Services team,” the Director said, referring to Ferragina. “Robert brings years of government experience to the role and we encourage municipalities interested in learning more to call the Office of Shared Services at 732-577-2925 or email sharedservices@co.monmouth.nj.us.”
The County Office of Shared Services facilitates partnerships with local government entities by providing services, equipment and resources to help reduce costs and increase efficiency. Examples of the services available through the Office of Shared Services include road work, tax software or resources such as road salt and vehicle washes.
In Atlantic Highlands, the governing body has received several applications for the position vacated by Ferragina and is currently interviewing candidates. Prospective administrators for the borough will be eliminated through a series of interviews by various municipal leaders who are aiming to hire a replacement before the end of the month.
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Patricia Stryker, known to everyone as Pat, the soft spoken, lovable, ever patient and understanding wife, mother, grandmother, great -grandmother and friend to all, passed away Sunday, January 11, at home. She was 95 years old and married for former Atlantic Highlands Mayor Richard Stryker for 73 years.
Born in Queens, New York September 5, 1931, Pat was the daughter of the late Katherine and Raymond McDonald and spent many of her growing up years living in Keansburg. She is a graduate of Red Bank Catholic High School and worked in New York as a medical secretary.
It was while she was communing to her position in New York, traveling along the Central Railroad every day from Keansburg, that Pat first met her future husband. Dick was commuting every day on the same train from his home in Atlantic Highlands to St. John’s University where he earned his pharmaceutical degree . The couple shared the train ride daily, dated, and married several years later.
While her husband was engaged in politics for more than a quarter of a century in Atlantic Highlands, where the couple lived most of their married life and raised their family, Pat stayed out of the political picture, ignored the impacts it had on their lives and continued to provide the kind of home Dick always wanted to return to.
Her husband tells the story of her one involvement in politics. It was a time when Pat stood up at a council meeting where he was presiding and wanted to ask a question. He declined to recognize her and would not allow the question. He candidly admitted many years later “I certainly did answer it when I got home, though.”
An avid gardener as well as outstanding culinary artist and baker, Pat enveloped her four children with love, sharing an abundance of that love with the next two generations when her grandchildren married, enlarging this very loving family as great grandchildren were born.
She always looked forward to summers when the three generations came from Texas and Florida, from California and North Carolina to join with the New Jersey contingent to hear Pat’s stories, taste those pastries and home cooking and be surrounded by her love, smiles and wisdom. Winters, the senior Strykers enjoyed time with friends on Caribbean island sand other warm states in the union.
When her husband retired from Bayshore Pharmacy in Atlantic Highlands which he had founded, the couple moved to Ocean Pines, Md. where Pat once again got involved in the community and was an avid bowler, as well as Garden Club member, Book Club member, and volunteer with “Believe in Tomorrow ” an organization working with children and families dealing with cancer. After 17 years Pat and Dick returned to Atlantic Highlands to be near their family, and lived here several years before moving to Conifer Village in Middletown..
Visitation will be at the Posten McGinley Funeral Home, Lincoln Avenue, Atlantic Highlands, Thursday, Jan. 15 from 3 to 7 p.m.. A mass will be offered Friday morning, Jan 16 at St. Agnes Church, Center Avenue, Atlantic Highlands, at 11 a.m. Internment will be private following the mass.
Pat is survived by four children and their spouses, Kathy and Mark Ackerson of Leonardo, Jim and Maryann Stryker of Yreka California, Sue and Terry Fletcher of Sunset, Tx, and Richard and Jill Stryker of Middletown. She is survived, by nine grandchildren and their spouses, Melissa and Eric Zihlman, Ryan and Lauren Rodriguez, Jesse Stryker, Gerald Stryker, Elizabeth and Harrison Coates, Chris and Jack Stryker, Billyjoe and Jordan Fletcher and Nicholas and Jessica Rodriguez. She is also survived by nine great grandchildren, Ethan, Teague, Grace Katherine, Gray Zihlman, Grace Stryker, Ryley, Kolby, Adley Rodriguez and Jedidiah Fletcher. Pat is also survived by sisters-in-law Barbara Golden and Rose McDonald.
The family is suggesting in lieu of flowers, friends of Pat show their appreciation of her love and concern for others and consider a donation to St Jude’s Research hospital, 501 St. Judes Place, Memphis TN 38105 in Pat’s name.
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Atlantic Highlands residents are mourning once again for the loss of another beloved long time resident. Patricia Stryker, wife of former Mayor Richad Stryker, died Sunday, January 11, peacefully at home. The Strykers lived at Conifer Village, Route 36, Middletown, after moving from Atlantic Highlands several years ago.
The family will meet friends at the Posten McGinley Funeral Home, East Lincoln Avenue, Atlantic Highlands Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
A funeral mass will be offered Friday, January 16 at 11 a.m. at St. Agnes Church, Center Avenue. Internment will be private.
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Highlands representative Diane Knox was elected president of the Henry Hudson Regional Board of Education at its reorganization meeting Monday night, defeating incumbent president Richard Coangelo. Atlantic Highlands representative Claire Kozic was elected vice-president, over Sue Thomas.
Colangelo, who served as the first president of the newly formed Board of Education for the K-12 school district, abstained from voting for the position for which he was nominated.
Board administrator Janet Sherlock also announced that board member Cory Wingerter of Atlantic highlands has resigned his seat since he has moved out of town.
Newly elected board member Alison Burel, high vote getter in the Highlands election for a three year term, was unable to attend the meeting because of a family commitment.
Ms. Knox said she has no plans for changing anything as board president and is hopeful of continuing to uphold the standards and business as it has been conducted in the past. She and all board members thanked Colangelo for his service as board president. He continues as a board member through the end of his term, which expires in 2029.
The board now invites all interested Atlantic Highlands residents interested in filling Wingerter’s board seat to submit letters of interest to the board administrator. Should there be more than one applicant, the board will interview all candidates for the Atlantic Highlands seat at a public board meeting. The board will then select one candidate to fill a term until the November election. At that time, the voters from Atlantic Highlands will then vote on a candidate for the one year which would be remaining on Wingerter’s term.
The Board also observed a moment of silence honoring two former teachers at Henry Hudson who died within the past month, Vincent Whitehead and Peter Lardieri. Both were beloved coaches for a variety of teams at Henry Hudson as well as educators during their many years on the school staff.
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Tickets are available now for the Italian Night and Gift Auction sponsored by the Rev. Joseph J. Donnelly Council 11660 of the Knights of Columbus for Saturday, January 31 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Gym.
The event, a popular annual even sponsored by the Knights, is only $30 per person, including dinner and a package of tickets for the gift auction or $5 less without the tickets package.
The evening includes a full Italian dinner including spaghetti, meatballs, sausage, eggplant rollatini, cheesy garlic bread, biscotti and cannoli, tiramisu, Caesar Salad and soft beverages. Guests are invited to bring their own other libations. All attendees also receive a prize ticket for a gala door prize.
The event begins at 5:30 with dinner served beginning at 6 p.m..
Parents are invited to bring children 12 years and younger for $15 and infants under 3 are always free.
Sponsorships beginning at $50 are also offered for businesses who want to support the Knights and all their activities in the Bayshore.
For further information, call 607-725-3010, or email stevebagnetto81@yahoo.com. Checks for reservations can be mailed to the Knights at 127 Elmwood Avenue, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716.
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John McGoldrick was unanimously re-elected chairman of the Atlantic Highlands Planning Board at its reorganization last week, with little changes in all appointments over the previous year.
Corry Herrala was sworn in as a new mayor’s appointment to the board. Anis Ardolino, the second mayor’s appointment to the board this year, was unable to attend this meeting
In addition to McGoldrick, Thomas Josko was reappointed vice chairman of the board, and all Mayor’s appointments to the board are reappointments: Martiin Hawley as a Class II appointed, Councilman Brian Dougherty, Class III, Josko and Lynette DePasca, Class IV, and Michele Walter, Michel Bearmore, Herrala and Ardolino alternates to the board.
Michael Steib was a reappointed board attorney and Douglas Rohmeyer board engineer. Rene Frotton is continued as Board secretary and meeting nights will continue to be the first Thursday of every month until the January 7 reorganization in 2027.
During the regular meeting, which immediately followed the reorganization, the planning board unanimously approved the resolution to dismiss the use and bulk variance requested and submitted by the Winnerling and Moody family for 99 Center Avenue The addition of a second story deck on the garage on the property has been the subject of discussion at several meetings until the applicant requested the current application be dismissed.
The planners adopted resolutions approving the variances at 124 Wesley Avenue and 56 South Avenue, after both had been approved after hearings at earlier meetings.
Planners agreed to carry the bulk variance and subdivision application for property at 22 Prospect Circle until the February 5 meeting. Steib noted the application is being carried until February rather than the March or April date requested by the applicant, and no further notice will be given for the February 5 continuance.
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Santa Ryan was four years old; his brother Trevor was 3 and twins Caitlin and Carter were one year old infants when their dad Jay was transferred from Michigan to NWS Earle in Colts Neck where he was OIC at the Naval base medical center.
With the help of their mom, Tracy, the kids all wrote letters and drew photos for Santa Claus, then excitedly placed them in the special mail box at the MWR Building at Earle. Surely, Santa Claus would answer their letters, they thought excitedly.
And just as excitedly, Santa answered each letter, as he did for the hundreds of other youngsters at Earle.
And the next year it was the same. Mom helped with more letters and drawings, mailed them in Santa’ s Mail Box on base , and Santa answered. The same thing happened their third year at Earle. Their dad was promoted to Lieutenant Commander, the kids grew and Tracy remained the loving and hard-working mom she always was.
But that was the year Lieutenant Commander Jay Woelkers received word he was being transferred to Corpus Christi, Texas . Will Santa know they were moving, the kids asked their mom? Would he still write us letters and see our letters to him?
Of course he will, Tracy assured her kids, then 7, 6 and four. Santa will never stop writing.
And he never did. Just to be certain of that, Tracy continued to send her children’s letters to Santa each year, only now by e-mail from wherever the family was stationed with the Navy. And just as regularly, The Woelkers always received letters back from Santa by e-mail, with Tracy printing them out and continuing the Christmas Eve letter reading tradition.
Until this year, 22 years later, This was the year Tracy Woelkers decided to let her grown children know where those 22 years of letters had been coming from.
It wasn’t an easy decision. After all, writing the letters, getting the answers, were only the first parts of what had grown into a Woelkers family tradition. The proud mama had saved every one of the Santa letters, had even cajoled the folks at MWR each year to give her back the letters her children wrote during their years there. And every year, since 2002, in the Woelkers’ home, reading all the letters, seeing all the art work and enjoying all the excitement of Christmas became a Woelkers Family Christmas Eve event.
So Tracy, to assure herself she was not breaking, simply modifying a two-decade old family tradition, turned to the letter writer once again for help. Should we tell them, she asked? And how should we do it?
The letter writer agreed. After all, she had heard all the stories of Christmas Eve excitement, as well as the stories during the kids’ teen age years when they may have grumbled a bit about hearing ALL the letters before turning to other family traditions. She knew their dad had been promoted from Lieutenant Commander to Commander to Captain and was now retired from the Walter Reed Medical Center. She knew two of the kids had also served in the military and Tracy herself had come through some very difficult surgery and recuperation. Certainly, kids who were awed at 4,3 and 1 year old could handle the news of who actually wrote all the Santa letters to them. now that they are now 26, 25 and 24.
So in addition to this year’s letters, the Earle Santa wrote a poem and gave the young adults a final option on whether to get the news. She wrote
So now perhaps is the time to let you in on the know.
If you don’t want to hear the whole story, then don’t read below.
The poem continued for those who continued to read. The author wrote
But you are all adults now, and deserve to know the whole truth for good cause.
Here it is. In actuality, Woelkers family, there is no Santa Claus.
It’s just love in your heart, warmth in the love that you share
There’s happiness in tradition, and memories quite rare.
The news was out! Tracey practiced reading the letter herself, so moved was she by the joint decision to modify a family tradition.
The kids took it in stride Christmas Eve, 2025. They laughed, they joked, they asked, “what are we going to do next year?” and they easily put away some happy memories of more than 22 years.
But that wasn’t enough for Tracy. She had to visit that letter and poem writer and tell her once again, and in person, how much she appreciated the past 22 years of letters.
That is how Tracy Woelkers and I got together this week and spent hours looking over letters, drawings, sharing stories, and catching up on two decades of happy and sad events in both our lives since those early days at Earle.
Tracy drove up from their family’s home in Maryland this week to share the end of a tradition with the journalist of VeniVidiScripto and to let me know once again how important this tradition had been to the Woelkers family.
We shared the entire afternoon and early evening reliving all the joys, the family, the good times at Earle in the early 2000s. We remembered and appreciated LeAnn and Steve Steurer, he who had been the XO at the base during that time; we loved swapping stories about the Hansen Marines and that family’s mom Teresa who had her own way of handling the same tradition. Her children also wrote letters throughout all the last two decades; they wrote the letters themselves, adding their spouses, children and special friends as the family grew each year. And Santa answered every one of the letters every year. Now Teresa, who lives on Long Island, Tracy and I are planning for a reunion within a couple of months. When Steve Steuer heard about the rendezvous, he wanted to add his own voice to the wonderful stories of NWS Earle and the families who lived there in 2003. His Leann died a couple of years ago, but the love and happiness she shared at Earle are remembered just as fondly today.
As for the traditions: Of course they will continue, both with the Hansens and the Woelkers. Because that poem that identified the letter writer also directed
So now here’s the choice. Let me know if you want to keep up the tradition
I’m happy to do so, though I’ll add one condition
Remember the love and devotion both of your parents have for each of you
And think of traditions you can carry on to keep them happy, too.
May this Christmas be the best you have ever had to this date
And may next year’s be even happier, and just a little more great
Know you’ve brought me so much joy in keeping up with your goings on each year
Merry Christmas to each of you, with lots of love and good cheer.
As for the letter writing Santa? There is no describing the amount of joy I have gotten from being able to make so many people who do so much for our country so happy. There is nothing that can characterize how special it is that I am a part of a NWS Earle Naval family that 22 years ago included so many very special, wonderful and young couples and families dedicated to serving a nation. To have been part of that family’s tradition … I could never forget and will always hold dear.
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Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon took her oath of office to a third five-year term as Monmouth County Clerk at the County Organization Day ceremony this week.
Nest week, the Monmouth County Clerk will also be sworn in as the chair of the New Jersey Republican Party with a goal of strengthening the GOP party in the Garden State.
“I am honored and humbled to be afforded the opportunity to continue to serve the residents of Monmouth County,” said Hanlon at her swearing in as Monmouth County Clerk. “I look forward to continuing to deliver top-tier services and expanding programs that help make our great County the best place to live, work and play.”
The clerk was sworn in by Monmouth Vicinage Assignment Judge Marc C. Lemieux and also participated in another ceremony officially certifying the elections of Sheriff Shaun Golden, Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone and Commissioner Dominick “Nick” DiRocco, who also took their oaths of office.
Hanlon has gained a reputation for her ambitious leadership in office, working to modernize the Clerk’s Office, implementing new initiatives, and expanding the services of the office. Some of her recent achievements and accomplishments for the office include the “Honoring Our Heroes” discount program for veterans and Gold Star Family members, the Mobile County Connection, which brings government services directly to communities, and the free Property Fraud Alert program for Monmouth County homeowners.
She also created the Monmouth County Votes website and free mobile app to ensure County residents have access to the most up-to-date and important election information; she also spearheaded the implementation of the state’s only enhanced ballot-tracking system for vote-by-mail voters.
Clerk Hanlon holds a Juris Doctorate from Fordham University and is a graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University. Prior to being elected as County Clerk, she served as Commissioner on the Board of Elections and practiced law for more than 20 years, focusing most recently on government affairs and municipal law.
In her office as county clerk, Hanlon oversees five divisions handling property recordings, elections, archives, passports and records management. The Office also provides resident, veteran and Gold Star Family identification cards to eligible county residents, administers oaths to notaries and public officials and performs wedding ceremonies.
Taking on the responsibility of the state Republican Party for the first time, Hanlon’s aims include reviving a party that lost the gubernatorial election in November as well as several Assembly seats, granting Democrats their largest majority in decades in the state.
Hanlon secured the state party chairmanship over three other candidates for the office, Rosemary Becchi, former Bogota Mayor and conservative activist Steve Lonegan, and activist Michael Currie. She received 26 votes while Becchi who received 15, placed second.
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A funeral mass will be held Monday, January 12 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Highlands, for Frank Teeple, former teacher at Henry Hudson Regional School and long-time beloved member of the Highlands community. He was 85.
Born in Carbondale, PA, Frank became a history teacher at Henry Hudson Regional High School in 1962 where he met his wife, Judy, the former Judy Lamunyon.
After teaching at Henry Hudson for many years Frank then became a guidance counselor at Red Bank Regional High School where he worked until his retirement in 2002.
Involved not only in the school and education, Frank was also involved in his church and community. He was a member and former Grand Knight of the Rev. Joseph Donnelly Council 1660 of the Knights of Columbus, a former member of the Henry Hudson Regional School Board of Education, and a Eucharistic minister at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. He and his wife Judy raised their family and lived in Highlands since 1966. He was also a member of the 4th Degree, Knights of Columbus Bishop McFaul Assembly and the Past Grand Knight Council 3187 in Red Bank.
Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Judy, who died in 2017, his parents Michael and Thresia Teeple and brothers and sisters: Joseph, Margaret, Mary, John, Michael and James Teeple and Elizabeth McAndrew. He is survived by his children: Terry Weaver and son-in-law Kevin, Susan Helm and son-in-law Timothy, Andrew Teeple and daughter-in-law Angela, and Amy Teeple and daughter-in-law Anna, as well as nine loving grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Posten-McGinley Funeral Home, 59 E Lincoln Avenue Atlantic Highlands, Sunday, January 11, from 2pm to 5pm. Following the mass at OLPH on Monday, internment will be in Bay View Cemetery, Leonardo.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Frank to the Rev. Joseph Donnelly Council Knights of Columbus at103 Center Avenue, Atlantic Highlands. NJ 07716.
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