More than a dozen young entrepreneurs are going to take their first official step into the business world Sunday, August 11, from noon to 4 p.m… when the Firsts Annual Children’s Business Fair takes place in front of Amici restaurant.

The young entrepreneurs have been invited by Amici Pizza, located in the Eastpointe Shopping Center on Route 36 in Navesink, to launch their products in a one day only marketplace.

Tables are set up in front of Amici’s, and each of the young entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to display their products, speak to customers, describe their creations and offer them for sale.

Included among the various businesses are jewelry and artwork among other creations. Prices have been set by each of the children at the Business Fair.

The children have worked hard to establish not only their creations but also their business strategies There will be judges at the Fair to rate each of the exhibits and the public is invited to stop, browse, buy and become participants in this first event of its kind.

Amici’s Pizza is located at 6437 Route 36, there Eastpointe Shopping Center where the Posts Office is located. There are signs at the Buttermilk Valley and Route 36 intersection to guide motorists to the site.

The outdoor event is a rain or shine affair, and cold be moved indoors should the outdoor awning not be sufficient for any downpours.

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Rick Hennessey, owner of Hennessy Auto Body, Inc., at 74 Avenue A, Atlantic Highlands, was cited as the Volunteer of the Month by Mayor Lori Hohenleitner as this month’s meeting of the Mayor and Council. Hennessey, whose business has been and continues to be a landmark in the borough, is known for his kindness, thoughtfulness and always willing to be of assistance attitude and was praised by the Mayor for “helping everyone in so many ways,” terming the business “a family institution.” Asked to comment at the meeting, Hennessey would only say, “Happy to do it……no problem.”

Rick Hennessey

The approval of the purchase of EV Charging Stations for the borough, which was unanimous at this week’s meeting of the Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Council, was the culmination of a project more than two years old.

Council approved a contact totaling $136,807.33 with Bryan Electric, without competitive bidding, A $24,000 portion of that is financed through a grant and the award without bidding with an approved co-op authorized by the state Department of Treasury.

Councilman Brian Dougherty, who joined the process in January, 2022, explained the benefits of the purchase in detail at the meeting, separating the resolution from the consent agenda in order to detail the importance and advantages of the purchase.

The council president said he began working with Environmental Committee Chairman Blake Deakin shortly after starting his term on council in January, 2022, in order to bring EV charging service equipment to the borough at minimal cost.

He and Deakin applied for grants to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and were successful in being awarded grants from both applications. The pair than began the net process of negotiating with EVCS installation companies and considered several different locations.

Because of the Seastreak ferry terminal location at the municipal harbor area, that was considered the most desirable site for the first chargers, Dougherty explained. Such a location would seem to ensure use of the charges by ferry commuters during the work week, thus providing a revenue stream for the borough.

The marina is the recreational center of community as well, Dougherty continued, attracting boaters, fishermen, tennis and basketball players, and users of the Henry Hudson trail as well as others. In addition, the harbor is also a short walk to some of the borough’s most popular eateries, including On the Deck, Sissy’s, Harborside, Gaslight, Christine’s Italian, Hudson Café, as well as several shops and other businesses.

Both Dougherty and Deakin then worked with Bryan Electric, the top ChargePoint installer in the state, to design a detailed proposal for installation of three-dual, level two chargers, six stations in all. “We felt the proposal was reasonably priced, especially when incentive programs from JCP&L and the federal government added to our grant monies available,” the councilman explained.

With the unanimous approval of the station, Dougherty said “we are eligible to apply for and receive monies from their programs. Since we will own the charging stations, Atlantic Highlands will earn revenue as soon as the stations are operational.

Dougherty also cited other key personnel who have helped move the acquisition to the present, including the mayor, borough administrator, borough engineer, chief of police, DPW director, fire marshal, code enforcement officer, harbor master, and harbor commission chair. Officials then met with Seastreak personnel who he said are also enthusiastic about the project. “This was truly a collaborative effort. I can’t thank everyone enough for their great help,” Dougherty said.

After the unanimous vote, he added “I am thrilled to get this project approved. I think it will benefit commuters, our residents, and our businesses. Since these charging stations will be visible on the ChargePoint network, one of the largest providers in the country, it will attract visitors to our community.”

Neighboring Highlands has had a charging station in its municipal lot on Bay avenue since last November. They retained Livingston for the engineering, permits., purchase and installation of the DC Fast charging station at a cost of $165,400. A grant of $75,000 from the NJ Department of Tourism covered a portion of the overall bill 

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The ambition of two former addicts and the kindness of Jaspan’s Hardware Store meant residents and visitors to Atlantic Highlands could learn more about Adult & Teen Challenge Saturday as well as purchase handmade cutting boards designed in a variety of hard woods from oak to maple.

The two young men, one in the program to combat  addiction for eight months, the other new to the program one month ago, set up a display table in front of Jaspan’s Hardware Store on First Avenue Saturday, courteously greeting passersby and inviting them to stop and look at the hand-crafted woodwork.

Each was there as a participant in the Adult & Teen challenge open to drug or alcohol addicts 18 years of age and older.

The program has facilities in five of the New England states as well as New Jersey and offers a 10-to-12-month Christian residential recovery program for both men and women. There are ten centers across the states for the program, which offer spiritual, academic and vocational training to assist individuals in returning to society as responsible citizens.

The program members at Jaspan’s Saturday were eager to talk about the success of others who have already passed through the program and have learned that the key to their success was developing a relationship with God and putting into practice what they learned through the program.

Both were inspired by others with whom they have spoken and feel confident they also will be able to achieve success in overcoming addictions.

Both made the decision on their own to enter the Challenge, realizing at some point they were otherwise heading to prison and facing lives without futures.

The program is called a challenge since it takes strength, perseverance and desire to complete it, the men said, but some of its benefits are restoration of family relationships, learning structured programs and receiving clinical counseling in a caring environment.

The residential component of the Challenge is divided into four phases, each with a specific goal and customized curriculum, and students must pass each one in order to continue into the next phase. During the final phase, transition residents learn how to implement their new skills in an Aftercare Plan.

It is one of the goals of the program directors that every graduate leaves with a GED or Hiset diploma and further assistance upon graduation with college, trade schools, employments, careers, ministry or the ACTNENJ apprenticeship program.

For more information on the program, visit info@tcnewengland.org or visit their website at tcnewengland.org. The main office is at 1311 Main St., B Rockton, MA 02301.

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The Atlantic Highlands Planning Board took an additional half hour at the end of a three hour meeting Thursday night to hear informal plans for converting the Carton Brewery building on First Avenue into a ten unit residential complex, with a smaller brewery, garage space and retail shops on the first floor apartments on the second and third floors and private outdoor enjoyment for apartment residents on the roof.

DOTCC Holding Company sent attorney Vincent Scrudato and lead project architect Bryan Keelan of MidAtlantic engineering firm to informally present initial ideas for conversion of the brewery into a mixed multi  use facility.

With board attorney Michael Steib stressing it was an informal hearing, and the witnesses giving testimony that would not be under oath, members seemed to express initial approval for any concept that would change what many residents feel is a less than esthetic architecture on its main street between the colonial style Borough Hall and early 20^th century elementary school.

Steib also made it clear, in spite of a question from resident Mark Fisher, that the discussion was strictly between the presenters and the board, and the public would not be able to either express opinions or even ask questions during the presentation.

Attorney Vincent Scrudato,, of the firm of Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri and Jacobs, introduced architect Bryan Keelan of MidAtlantic Engineering firm of Wall Township. Keelan, whose reputation identifies him as a lead project architect, outlined what he knows of the plans and answered questions on what had been presented to board members with their meeting packet more than a week ago.

The engineer said he did not know whether the present owners had plans to sell the building, how much equipment is needed for an operable brewery or where current equipment used now would be stored if the brewery would be limited to a portion of the first floor, or whether the units would be condominium or rentals. Keelan also did not know the details on the connection between Carton’s other building on W. Washington ave where the informal plans are also looking to include for parking.

Keelan was explicit in his knowledge of several other matters, however, noting there would be five apartments on each the second and third floors, a current elevator would be in place, the roof would be exclusively for the residents of the 38-foot-tall building, and there would be balconies stretching out from the apartments. In addition to the brewery and retail space on the street level, there would also be interior parking, with access from the borough hall side of the building.

Kellan felt there would be sufficient room for a residential lobby and: tenant” space on the first floor with the brewery reserving approximately 2,080 square feet for its operation.

Members appeared to think the idea of change would be good for First Avenue, with most questions and concerns focusing on parking, which was termed “always the big issue.”

While most people would have a “good feeling” about a more esthetic looking building with a busy storefront rather than the current solid concrete walls, members questioned the impact of aromas emanating from the brewery in close proximity to residential units, with one member saying it would “compete with the coffee smell.”

Planners suggested consideration of possibly reducing the apartments from ten to eight to alleviate parking requirements, consider hanging gardens on balconies and greenery on the roof to aid the environment, and getting more definite information on whether use of the Carton’s nearby property is part of any application that would be submitted.

In opining the importance of looking towards the future and taking the infrastructure into consideration, planners asked about the impact of additional children on the borough’s school district, its water and sewer systems and other impacts on the borough. Planners also indicate any application of a use change gives the owners a “second change at esthetics” after the current factory-like appearance of the structure.

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