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T E L L T H E M Y O U S A W I T I N T H E H E R A L D
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — Do you think our area is getting overcrowded? A developer’s plan to build 79 housing units along Highway 36 will be presented May 7th at a public hearing of the Middletown Planning Board. Its critics in the Lenape Woods Coalition call the plan “Sardine City” because it packs people in like fish in a can. The Coalition -- a group of neighborhood associations and residents in Middletown, Atlantic Highlands and the Highlands – is concerned by the lack of open space, the destruction of the environment, and other local impacts of the plan.
The plan, from a Perth Amboy developer, is for a condominium community of single-family homes, with 65 market-rate and 14 affordable “Mt. Laurel” units. He calls the development “Gate Cottage at Navesink,” invoking “cottage” as used for large shore homes in the Victorian era. His plan will be explained in the courtroom of the Middletown Town Hall off Kings Highway during the Planning Board meeting that begins at 7 PM on Wednesday, May 7th. The project would be built on both sides of highway 36 at the jughandles between the Thousand Oaks apartment complex and the King James Care Center. Located in Navesink, its northern portion adjoins Atlantic Highlands and the Lenape Woods Nature Preserve, while the southern part would sit beside hills that rise to 220 feet of elevation.. Regarding open space, Lenape Woods Coalition co-chair Paul Boyd notes that “the plan jams 79 big houses into two small tracts of 15 acres.” Many houses are separated by only 5 feet, and 47 of them have 4 bedrooms. Open space should be 50 per cent of the land in residential developments, according to Middletown ordinances. “Anyone can see the sardines have very little breathing room,” says Boyd. A remote additional slice of land (3.5 acres) off one corner of the project amounts to only 16 per cent. The developer even asks for variances to allow less active recreation space and smaller building setbacks from roadways than town ordinances require. Environmental destruction the plan would cause, according to the Coalition, includes chopping down 1,200 trees out of 1,468 trees mapped and named (ash, poplar, sweet gum, etc.) on the site, exceeding the town’s limit on clearing of woods for development. A massive excavation would remove the high forested bluff adjoining Lenape Woods Nature Preserve and 11 houses would be built where it now stands. The developer would also cut into the steep slopes along two borders and build retaining walls as big as 340 feet long and 9 feet high – exceeding the maximum in the town ordinances. Other impacts that the Coalition fears: • Schools: Up to 180 more children could live in these houses. Does this mean more trailer classrooms at Navesink Elementary School? • Taxes on single family homes never cover costs of all the town services that must be added -- a fact documented in studies of four Monmouth County towns by the Monmouth Conservation Foundation. • Traffic – How much farther will the summer gridlock of Sandy Hook weekend beachgoers back up on route 36 in our towns? Atlantic Highlands borough government has filed lawsuits which raise questions about the special zoning which was done for the project, and about its environmental impacts and open space deficiencies. The Lenape Woods Coalition has fought to provide open space, linked hiking trails and active recreation fields along the highway 36 corridor. Coalition co-chair Dr. Jacqueline Royce reports that the group currently has an option to buy unbuilt acreage adjoining the Sardine City project and has worked to raise funds for its purchase including from Green Acres. From this base, Royce said the Coalition seeks “a redefinition of land use plans” in the area to add active and passive recreation, preserve woods and habitat, and link up Lenape Woods on the north with Hartshorne Woods on the south.
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EATONTOWN, NJ — Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish Confirmation candidates Kerry Howe, Jayne Manigrasso, and Tess Gagliano spent part of their recent spring break performing a community service project for the Monmouth County SPCA (MCSPCA), Eatontown, NJ. The Atlantic Highlands residents, all Henry Hudson seventh graders, are students in Mrs. Loretta Gluckstein’s Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) class at OLPH. All candidates for Confirmation are asked to complete 24 hours of community service spread across a minimum of 3 eight-hour projects to a maximum of 6 four-hour projects.
Howe and Manigrasso collected papers from friends, relatives, neighbors, the public library, and even got Howe’s local postal carrier, Mrs. Carol Ford, to collect papers from her post office colleagues as well. With papers stacked high against the walls in the living and dining rooms of Howe’s house, the girls, along with Gagliano and friend Maryana Organidis, set to work separating, sorting and unfolding the pages of each paper. Howe, Manigrasso, and Gagliano delivered the papers to the shelter (close to 50 pounds of them) early one morning before it was opened to the public. With the shelter supply extremely low, Kennel Manager Cindy Cadiente, received the papers with much gratitude. The best part of the project? Visiting with the pets that will be putting the papers to good use. The toughest part of the project? Having to leave the pets behind. To give a pet a much-needed home, see volunteer opportunities at the shelter, or learn more about the shelter, check out the shelter’s website at http://www.monmouthcountyspca.org For information on Our Lady of Perpetual Help’s Parish Religious Education Program, please contact Mrs. Teresa Kelly, PREP Director, at 732-872-1290.
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Open House May 18 from noon to 6 p.m. at Lincroft First Aid Squad, Hurleys Lane, Lincroft. LINCROFT, NJ — National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, a celebration to honor the approximately 750,000 EMS providers nationwide who deliver lifesaving care, is scheduled for May 18-24, 2003. EMS Week is also a time when fire and EMS crews provide vital educational material and training to adults and children on topics such as injury prevention, recognizing an emergency, and what to do until help arrives.“Volunteering as an EMT is different from any other opportunity you can have,” says Michael Henry, Middletown Township EMS public information officer. “You get tremendous satisfaction from helping others and knowing you make a difference between life and death. Most people don't have a clue what EMTs and paramedics do everyday.” National EMS Week recognizes the lifesaving care EMS providers offer on a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week basis. This years EMS Week theme — EMS: When It Matters Most — emphasizes that no matter what the emergency or when it occurs, be it an injury, an automobile crash, a heart attack, a diabetic emergency, or childbirth, EMS responders are there to provide immediate lifesaving care and transportation. “EMS Week offers a great opportunity for us to educate a large number of citizens about injury prevention and safety awareness,” says Michael Henry. “Some of the EMS Week activities we have planned this
year are a display at the Middletown Township Library on
New Monmouth Rd.” On May 18th, the Middletown Township
Emergency Medical Services
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2nd prize winner was Derek Springsteen 10 years old from Atlantic Highlands, and 3rd prize winners were sisters Brittany and Kelly Shann, 11 and 14 years old from Atlantic Highlands. In the adult category, first prize was awarded to David R. Saint John (Oakhurst, NJ). Thomas A. Suszka, Little Silver, won second prize and Doreen Catena, Atlantic Highlands, won third prize. Nick Brown, Locust, won the award for Special Artistic Merit. Lawrence Fobes, Atlantic Highlands was recognized with a Special Commendation Award for his photo essay of Many Mind Creek that included historic photos. Honorable mention was won by Worden (Fair Haven). Paul Boyd's photo display titled "Many Mind Creek in Snow" was awarded first prize in the Atlantic Highlands Elected/Appointed officials category. The photos are currently on display at Borough Hall, 100 First Avenue, Atlantic Highlands.
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Assistant Principal, Timothy Haase, commented on the quality of the children's creations. "Every year the show is a strong one. You might expect to have a year of especially talented children but our students consistently demonstrate exceptional abilities in their work." "We are very fortunate to have an art program that is supported by the Board of Education and the school community," remarked Janet Paulmenn, Art Specialist at the school. "Without their support and the help of the many parents who helped hang the show, an event like this would not be possible." If you missed this event, the Tri-District Arts Festival will be held Friday, May 16, at Henry Hudson Regional School, 1 Grand Tour, Highlands, NJ. This festival is a combination art and music presentation and begins with the opening of the art show at 6:00 p.m. in the school cafeteria with art by students from Atlantic Highlands Elementary, Highlands Elementary, OLPH, and Henry Hudson Regional schools. A musical performance featuring the bands and choruses of Atlantic Highlands, Highlands, and Henry Hudson begins shortly after the opening of the art show.
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Cole Porter is perhaps America’s most prolific songwriter, having dominated the music industry throughout the Thirties and Forties. During those decades, he wrote the scores for several dozen Broadway shows and Hollywood movie musicals. Among his best known hits are Begin The Beguine, Night & Day, True Love, and It’s De-Lovely. Performances will take place on Friday and Saturday evenings, May 2 and 3 at 8pm with a Sunday matinee on May 4 at 3pm, at the intimate Phoenix Studio Theatre, on Monmouth Street at the corner of Pearl – right next door to the Count Basie Theatre. Tickets, priced at $15 each, can be ordered by phone with MasterCard or Visa at 732-747-0014. Because seating is limited, advance purchase is strongly recommended. Phoenix is a non-profit community theatre based in Central New Jersey. Performances are made possible in part by the Monmouth County Arts Council through funding from the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, through the County Historical Commission and the NJ Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. For further information, visit www.phoenixredbank.com or call (732) 747-0014.
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ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ – All New Jersey towns will soon be required to prepare plans for improved handling of stormwater flows so as to protect the health of our water resources. For Bayshore towns, an important objective is to control nonpoint pollution that reaches Sandy Hook Bay, preserve its water quality and aquatic life, and keep it clean for fishing, swimming and other recreation. To share information about this program, the Environmental Commission of Atlantic Highlands is sponsoring a free workshop on May 20th at 7:30 pm. It will be held at the Senior Center located next to the entrance of the Atlantic Highlands municipal harbor at the end of First Avenue, between the bay and the gazebo/bandshell. Everyone is invited from Atlantic Highlands and neighboring towns including:
Presenter and discussion leader for the workshop will be Abby Fair from the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC). She will describe the new stormwater management regulations to be issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in New Jersey, under the US Federal Clean Water Act. After she explains the purposes and main provisions of the proposed rules, which just concluded a State-wide public comment period, there will be a discussion and question-answer period. The proposed DEP rules require every municipality to prepare a stormwater management plan for controlling runoff from existing and future development and pass ordinances to implement the plan. The rules promote best management practices for stormwater runoff, including techniques to maintain natural drainage, forests and other vegetation, wetlands, and stream corridors. Neighboring towns that share local creeks and streams are to work up regional shared plans. Full text of the rules is at www.nj.gov/dep/rules/notices/010603_7a.pdf. For more information on the workshop, contact Peter Berrien at (732) 291-1538.
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Features Jerry "the King" Lawler LITTLE SILVER, NJ — Saturday night May 10th, Jerry The King Lawler will see in-ring action in Red Bank, NJ as he and other top mat superstars make their destination The Red Bank Regional High School Gym on a card to benefit the Red Bank Regional High School Source Foundation The King, seen every Monday night at the mic or in the ring on the widely popular WWE telecast will also be present for a special autograph session before and during the show's intermission. Not to take a back seat to The King, promoters have lined up none other than America's hero and fan favorite everywhere The Patriot to also wrestle. ECW tv star Simon Diamond will also be in action along with Mike "Kid" Kruel and Bad Biggie Biggs in NWS title defenses that night. There is also a tag team attraction plus promoters will be adding a special bonus bout to the already loaded lineup. Tickets for this spectacular are $20 for Golden Reserved Ringside, $18 for Open Ringside and $15 for General Admission Seating and can be purchased at Mr. Pizza Slice, 10 Monmouth St, Red Bank, KB Toys on Route 35 in the Shrewsbury Plaza on Route 35 in Shrewsbury, Video On The Ritz, 595 River Road in Fair Haven, Athlete's Alley, 688 Broad Street (Route 35) in Shrewsbury and Mike's Deli, Route 35 South & Oak Hill Road in Middletown. For additional information or to charge tickets call 732-888-1704. You can also visit the NWS website at www.nwswrestling.com
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" ATTENTION ALL NEW JERSEY BOATERS …
LINCROFT, NJ — Enroll today in the United States Coast Guard endorsed "Boating Skills & Seamanship Course" sponsored by Flotilla 16-08 for Summer 2003. Our Four Week Intensive "B S & S Course" will prepare you for an enjoyable and responsible Boating Summer Season. Classes will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at USCG Station Shark River, Avon, NJ from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM beginning on May 20, 2003. Class Room Materials are $65.00 per student. Seating is limited & Serious Students should contact Public Education Staff Officer, Fred Choppy for further information at: 732-681-2313; or call Station Shark River's Hot-Line at: 732-775-6707. Be a "Pro-Active & Responsible Boater" and protect the lives of your loved ones and yourself on our waterways. We will prepare you with the Laws, Regulations and Operating Procedures approved and enforced by the United States Coast Guard and the New Jersey State Police. Operator errors account for 70% of boating accidents. Learn how to prevent boat related accidents, injuries and fatalities. Prepare for everything from hurricanes to fire on the water and understand the real danger of drug and alcohol use on the water. Our Comprehensive Course is designed for the Experience and Novice Boater or anyone who is anticipating a Boating Summer. Upon Graduation you will receive your Official "Boating Safety Certificate" that is recognized by the United States Coast Guard, the New Jersey State Coastal Police and you will be eligible for discounts on your boat or personal water-craft insurance. DON'T BE LEFT OUT ! JOIN US ON MAY 20TH AND TAKE CONTROL
OF YOUR DESTINY!
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FREEHOLD, NJ — Monmouth County Sheriff Joseph W. Oxley is proud to announce that the "Judge Hatchett" program, a nationally syndicated courtroom television series, will videotape five upcoming episodes at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI), starting today. The purpose of the segments is to expose troubled teenagers to the harsh realities of life in jail, in the hopes of deterring them from high-risk behavior. Young people participate in the Sheriff's Prison Awareness (SPA) for a national television program.
As part of SPA, students are given tours of the courts and Monmouth County Correctional Institution, where they meet Corrections officers and talk about the dangers associated with drug abuse, crime and other high-risk behavior. Students also learn about the extensive training law enforcement officers receive in fighting crime and stopping drug distribution and use. “Showing young people the cold realities of jail, the efficiency of the courts and the thorough training law enforcement officers receive to battle drugs and crime is a very sobering message that will hopefully make a positive impact,” Sheriff Oxley said. The Judge Hatchett Program, produced by Columbia TriStar Television Distribution, creates a courtroom environment aimed at offering solutions and "real life" lessons to be applied beyond the courtroom. The elements of early intervention and "aftercare," specifically follow up visits and rehabilitation, will be emphasized throughout the series.
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LINCROFT, NJ — Brookdale's Phi Theta Kappa, the Alpha Pi Theta honor society, was awarded top honors at the 85th Annual Phi Theta Kappa 2003 International Convention held in Anaheim, California April 3 - 5. Jennifer Christensen, Brick, represented Brookdale in Anaheim and accepted the following awards on behalf of PTK: Tinisha Bass, Long Branch - 2003 Leadership Hallmark Award in recognition of superior achievements in the Hallmark of Leadership (one out of ten internationally). Lucyna Wadych, Lincroft - 2003 Service Hallmark Award in recognition of superior programs in the Hallmark of Service (one out of ten internationally). Kirsten Kristensen, Ocean - 2003 Distinguished Chapter President Award on demonstration of leadership, involvement in chapter programs, friendship with fellow officers and enthusiasm for the Society's Hallmarks (one of 25 internationally). Grace Lowrey, Farmingdale - $1000 Carol Gavin Scholarship. Tara Bruno, Long Branch - New Century All USA, 2nd Team winner 2003 Distinguished Chapter Award - highest ranking in overall chapter categories of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Fellowship Hallmark Awards (one out of 25 internationally.) The Brookdale students joined over 3,500 students, advisors and alumni from the more than 1,100 U.S. chapters participating in the International Convention. "We had the feeling of an Oscar Award ceremony as we faced the 3,500 participants as the Hallmark Awards presentations were televised on huge screens all over the awards room," commented Bass, Brookdale's Vice President of Leadership. "Our Chapter is rated as a Distinguished Chapter, among the top 25 chapters nationally," said Dr. Shahin Pirzad, Alpha Pi Theta advisor. The Hallmark Awards honor individual, chapter and region accomplishments in the disciplines of the International Society's four Hallmarks: Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Fellowship. The Awards Competition is conducted annually and is open to all Phi Theta Kappa's 1100 chapters. Awards are presented at the International Convention in 22 categories. Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education. It was established in 1918 and today has more than 1.3 million members and 1100 chapters located in 50 states, U.S. territories, Canada, Germany and Japan. ../news/2003/0501/bcc_ptk_honors.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE 
SEA BRIGHT, NJ — The First United Methodist Church of Sea Bright will hold the first in its series of Strengthening Our Families Workshops on Wednesday, May 14, 2003. This workshop series is intended to help parents protect the integrity of their families, learning better ways to communicate and bridge the gap that sometimes exists between parents and children. "In our 21st century society and culture, parents and children alike face many challenges, some of which have destructive potential. The goal of our 'Strengthening Our Families' ministry is to help prepare families to successfully meet these challenges," said Pastor Rob Long. The topic of the first workshop is "Helping Our Children Avoid Drugs." Parents, caregivers and children 10 years old and over are invited to attend and learn from school-based counselors ways to improve communication between parents and children, to identify the warning signs of drug use every parent should know, and to find community resources where parents can get help. Children will also have an opportunity to spend time with their peers in a frank Q & A session with a trained drug and alcohol counselor. "Helping Our Children Avoid Drugs" will take place on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 from 7:30 to 9:00 pm in the Community Hall of the First United Methodist Church of Sea Bright, 1104 Ocean Avenue, Sea Bright. Refreshments will follow. For more information, contact Pastor Rob Long at (732) 530-7003.
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LINCROFT, NJ — Brookdale's Basic Skills Committee will host "OUTREACH 2003: A Conference for High School Professionals" Friday, May 16. The free event begins with registration and continental breakfast at 8:30 A.M., includes lunch and concludes at 2:00 P.M. The program is designed to facilitate a smoother transition for high school students to college. The program agenda includes student panel discussion with a question / answer period, testing workshops and content-specific sessions. Brookdale staff and faculty will share their experiences and expectations of incoming students. "The testing workshops will offer hands on experience with the on-line version of Accuplacer, the Basic Skills placement used at Brookdale," said Donna Cuddy, Assistant Director, Transfer Resources. The content-specific sessions will focus on the areas that require developmental course work. Brookdale faculty will discuss student needs in of math, reading, writing and English as a second language (ESL). A Certificate of Professional Development will be available for attendees. Updated conference information is available on line at: http://www.brookdalecc.edu/fac/writing/rdery/outreach2003.html. The program is free but registration is required. Interested participants may call or e-mail Donna Cuddy at #732-224-2574 or dcuddy@brookdalecc.edu.
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Executive Vice President of TIAA Investments will Receive the Tenth Annual Leadership Excellence Award WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ — Monmouth University today announced that it will host the tenth annual Real Estate Institute Leadership Excellence Award Dinner on Thursday, May 29 at 6 p.m. The event will honor John A. Somers for his distinctive contributions to the state and nation throughout his successful real estate career. John A. Somers is Executive Vice President TIAA-CREF and Head of TIAA Investments. Mr. Somers is responsible for overseeing the acquisition of primarily fixed-income securities (domestic and foreign), including publicly traded bonds, direct placement loans to business and industry, commercial mortgage financings and real estate, and the management and monitoring of TIAA’s $135 billion portfolio of general account assets. TIAA Investments is also responsible for an additional $22 billion in the TIAA Separate Real Estate Account, the CREF Money Market Account, the CREF Bond Market Account, the CREF Inflation-Linked Bond Market Account and seven fixed income mutual funds as well as the bond portion of the CREF Social Choice Account and the Managed Allocation Fund. Mr. Somers joined TIAA-CREF in 1981. Prior to assuming his current post in 1996, he was Senior Vice President in charge of TIAA’s Mortgage and Real Estate Division, which originates and underwrites mortgage loan investments in commercial and industrial properties across the United States and Canada, and acquires and manages commercial real estate in the United States, Canada and Europe. Currently, TIAA holds $24 billion in commercial mortgages, $11 billion in Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities and owns and operates $9 billion of commercial properties located in the U.S. and Europe. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF, he held various positions in the Real Estate Investment Department at the Prudential Insurance Company of America, including responsibility for its investment operations in New Jersey. A graduate of Villanova University with a B.S. degree in Economics, Mr. Somers received an M.B.A. degree in Finance from the University of Connecticut. Mr. Somers also served in the U.S. Navy and is a Vietnam veteran. Mr. Somers is a director of the Community Preservation Corporation, and a director of Emigrant Bank and the Guardian Life Insurance Company. Honorary co-chairmen at the award dinner are Steven J. Pozycki, Chairman & CEO, SJP Properties and Joseph Luik, Senior Managing Director, TIAA – CREF. The Real Estate Institute was founded in 1992 and is the sole provider of executive real estate education in the state of New Jersey. To date, more than 600 real estate professionals including attorneys, bankers, brokers, appraisers, assessors, developers and investors have taken a curriculum of rigorous courses at both the Institute's main campus and at the East Brunswick location.
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MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Bagpipes sounded and patriotic songs filled the air as hundreds of Monmouth County residents gathered recently at "Support the Troops" rallies in Middletown and Highlands.A grass-roots Coalition of Concerned Citizens, with the support Assemblyman Joseph Azzolina, a former Navy Captain, sponsored a rally Saturday in the parking lot at the State Police Barracks on Newman Springs Road in the Lincroft section of Middletown. More than 200 people attended despite a chilly persistent rain. Among the participants were: Freeholder Theodore J. Narozanick, a WWII veteran, Committeeman Raymond O'Grady, a Vietnam veteran and other veterans of WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the first Gulf War. The crowds spirit was not dampened by the weather. The Ole Blues Eyes Band with John Esposito played military tunes and songs from the big band era. Bagpipes from the 30-piece Monmouth County Police Pipes & Drums Corps marched ahead of the Marine Corps Detachment Color Guard of Freehold. Navy Sea Cadets from Training Ship Lt Jack Rittichier Unit, based at Earle Naval Weapons Station in Colts Neck.
Among the dignitaries present were Assemblyman Samuel Thompson, Freeholder Amy Handlin, Committeeman Raymond O'Grady, and Commander John Hooper, attached to bio-warfare unit at the Pentagon. The commander reminded the people that two Coast Guard vessels from Sandy Hook were deployed to the Gulf. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Adak and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bainbridge Island left in early January. The Commander said, " When they return to Sandy Hook, I hope you'll come out as you have today to welcome them home." The rally was marked by poems and an original song by Bobby "Woods" Lasowski, "Take Me Back to 9-1-0 Again." Ed Simple, who has a son serving aboard the USS Roosevelt, received loud applause when he came to the microphone and he said, "No, I thank you for being here." He read a poem entitled, "Who's got your back," choking back his emotion at the end as he read the lines. I am a soldier serving proudly, standing tall. Chris Slater, who along with fellow Coalition of Concerned Citizens Mary Lynn Hughes and Barbara Gonzalez helped organize the previous day's rally, read a poem entitled, "A Soldier's Prayer" by Fr. O'Brien. Among the groups participating were: Police Explorer Post 102 of Middletown, Sea Cadet from Earle NWS, Earle Color Guard, V.F.W. Post 4303, Aberdeen, Post 2179, Middletown, Post 4374, Freehold, Post 2140, Long Branch, American Legion Posts 338 and 515, Middletown, Elks Lodge 2179 Middletown, and Lodge 2030, Keyport/Matawan. Member of the 854th Army Reserve Unit, USS Detroit and V.F.W. District 6 and Auxiliaries. Among the fire companies were: Port Monmouth, Union Hose Company, E. Keansburg, Belford, Belford Independent, Brevent Park, and Fair View First Aid. On Tuesday, a rally was held in Highlands. Patriotic residents gathered at Huddy Park and sang songs. A parade led by the American Legion Post 143 filled the streets down Bay Avenue to Veterans Memorial Park. Among those participating were Highlands Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6902, Highlands Fire Department, the Highlands Police Department, the Highlands First Aid Squad, the Henry Hudson a capella Choir, and Cub Scout Pack 25. Councilwoman Rebecca Kane noted that 6 residents from Highlands are serving in Iraq.
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FREEHOLD, NJ — The County Seat will be the location of the Loyalty Day Celebration in Monmouth County this year. The event is scheduled to occur on Saturday, May 3, 2003, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Monument Park, in front of the Court House, Court St., Freehold. Michael B. Mangini is the organizer of the Celebration for the Veterans of Foreign Wars - District 6. The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders is a co-sponsor. Thomas J. Blanchet, Chairman of the Board of Freehold Cartage, Inc. and World War II veteran of the United States Marine Corp, will be the principal speaker. As a Marine Corp Captain, Blanchet participated in the Okinawa Campaign in June 1945. Freeholder Theodore J. Narozanick is also scheduled to speak. He is a decorated veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, in Europe, during the Second World War. Some of the groups participating include the Brookdale Wolverines Dixieland Band, the 4-H Second Chance Mounted Drill Team, Vietnam Veterans of America - Chapter 12 Color Guard, Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts, Monmouth Council of Boy Scouts, Vietnam Veterans of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars. The public is invited to attend and participate.
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Wendy Packard, Director of the New Jersey Workforce Resource Center for National Council on Aging told the graduates: “You have so much to offer with your life experiences and now your training.” At the ceremony, graduate Seguel told attendees, “I am so emotional. I want to thank all of you for the opportunity to give my knowledge to little people.” Seguel will be working at The Little Class day care center in Neptune where she did her internship for the training program. “School has different procedures that are not grandmother procedures. We have to change so that we can teach effectively,” said Seguel who has four children and 11 grandchildren. Orsulak is a retired Asbury Park Press television editor and wanted to do something different as a second career. “I thought it would be a fun. It is fun, but intense,” she said. Orsulak plans to work in day care full time. A trained counselor and manager in the mental health field, Burton signed-up because she thought the program would help her when she opens a day care center of her own one day. She raised two of her 13 grandchildren and enjoys working with children. Francis decided to participate in the program simply because she loves children. She did her internship at Small Society in Howell. Godbolt is a retired office worker and although she raised three children and has five adult grandchildren, said she learned a lot about child-rearing. According to Larry Snider, Assistant Director, National Council on Aging, the program offered at Brookdale is the model for future classes. The 100 hours earned from the noncredit program can be applied to the Childcare Development Associate certification, a national credential in childcare development. Future training programs depends on funding, Snider said. Esther Piekarski, Director of Alphabets day care center wrote the curriculum and facilitated the program. “These seniors are naturals when it comes to working with children, but what this program does is add professionalism to what is already a natural instinct for them because it does take more than instinct to be effective,” she said. Brookdale is a gateway for offering access and opportunity for persons of all ages and backgrounds to pursue learning and enrichment. This program is one of 1500 professional and personal development courses offered annually through Brookdale’s non-credit division Outreach, Business and Community Development. For more information call (732) 224-2315.
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PRESIDENT REBECCA STAFFORD, BLAIR KAMIN AND STEPHEN B. SIEGEL WILL RECEIVE HONORARY DEGREES at 69th COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES. WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ — The Monmouth University Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Dr. Rebecca Stafford will address graduates and receive an honorary degree at its 69th commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 21 at 1:30 p.m. on the Great Lawn. Dr. Stafford is retiring after a successful 10-year tenure as President of Monmouth University. “Dr. Stafford is an eloquent speaker and we are delighted that she will speak at this year’s commencement ceremonies,” said Paul S. Doherty, chairman of the University’s board of trustees. “Her parting message to our graduating students is fitting culmination to her long and glorious career at Monmouth.” During the ceremony, Dr. Stafford will receive an honorary degree along with Blair Kamin, Pulitzer Prize winner and Chicago Tribune’s architecture critic, and Stephen B. Siegel, Chairman and CEO of Insignia/ESG, one of the premier commercial real estate companies in the United States. Dr. Rebecca Stafford became the sixth President of Monmouth University on July 1, 1993. She is the first woman to head the 69-year-old private, comprehensive institution. During her presidency, Monmouth achieved university status and experienced positive changes in both its size and the quality of the educational experience that it provides for its students. During a national era of declining enrollment, Monmouth University’s full-time undergraduate enrollment doubled and its graduate enrollment increased almost 40 percent. The University has added more than 100 full and part-time faculty members and has created new academic programs in nursing, software engineering, criminal justice, communications, psychological counseling and social work. Monmouth University’s operating budget and endowment have doubled since Dr. Stafford became president and Monmouth is currently the 14th largest employer in Monmouth County. Blair Kamin is the architecture critic of the Midwest’s largest newspaper, the Chicago Tribune, and a recipient of journalism’s highest honor, the Pulitzer Prize. Born in Red Bank, New Jersey, Mr. Kamin is the son of Arthur Z. Kamin, former president and editor of The Daily and Sunday Register of Shrewsbury, New Jersey, and Virginia P. Kamin, a teacher in the Fair Haven, New Jersey, public schools. He graduated from Amherst College in 1979, receiving a Bachelor of Arts, and from the Yale University School of Architecture in 1984, obtaining a Master of Environmental Design. Mr. Kamin joined the Chicago Tribune as a reporter in 1987. He became the newspaper’s architecture critic in 1992. He has twice served as Pulitzer Prize juror and Mr. Kamin is the author of “Why Architecture Matters: Lessons from Chicago,” a collection of his Chicago Tribune columns published by the University of Chicago Press. Stephen B. Siegel is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Insignia/ESG, Inc., one of the premier commercial real estate companies in the U.S. with significant operations throughout the U.S. and international operations in the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and Latin America. Mr. Siegel joined Insignia/ESG's predecessor company, Edward S. Gordon Company, in 1992. Since then, he has presided over the rapid growth of the firm, which has seen its annual revenues surge from approximately $50 million to nearly $700 million on an international basis. The firm's reputation for sophisticated brokerage has also flourished under Mr. Siegel's leadership. In June 2002, Crain's New York Business named Mr. Siegel one of the 100 most influential business leaders in New York City. Dedicated to his community, Mr. Siegel is involved in a number of charitable and civic affairs. He is the General Chairman of the Association for the Help of Retarded Children and was inducted into the organization's Hall of Honor in 1999. He received The Foundation Fighting Blindness' Humanitarian Award that same year. Buddhist Monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastic College in South India who are presently visiting the Nitsan Temple in Howell, New Jersey, will give the invocation and benediction at this year’s commencement. Monmouth University’s commencement is closed to the general public and only graduates and their guests will be admitted. Members of the news media who plan to cover the event should contact the office of public affairs at 732-263-5507 to receive press credentials for admittance. An expected 900 students will receive degrees during the ceremony.
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by ALLAN DEAN RED BANK, NJ — Historic Century House, presently located at 87 East Front Street will be relocated to Oakland Street on Sunday, May 4 beginning at 5 a.m. During the house moving operation, some streets will be closed in the downtown area of Red Bank. Utility lines along the route will be disconnected as the structure creeps through the town. Utility companies will be restoring power, cable and telephone service as quickly as possible. The house will be moved along East Front Street to Broad Street to Monmouth Street to 121 Monmouth Street.
Detours have been set up as follows:
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New Policy Affects County Employees Activated for Military Duty FREEHOLD, NJ — The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders has approved a policy to increase benefits to county employees called into military service as a result of the war in the Middle East. The measure, which was adopted unanimously, provides that any county employee who has been called into active military service will receive full pay for 90 days, followed by differential pay. Differential pay is the difference between their county salary and their military pay. In addition, all other benefits, including medical benefits, will continue remain in effect. State statutes provides a minimum of 30 days pay for Reservists and 90 days pay for National Guard personnel. The freeholders chose to treat the two groups equally. Further, state statutes provides for a leave of absence without pay for anyone who enters federal or state active military service in time of war for any period of training. In this instance, the freeholders have authorized leave with pay for 90 days. The new policy will be made retroactive to September 11, 2001. "The Freeholders wish to express our gratitude and appreciation to the county employees that have been called into our Armed Services in this time of emergency," said Freeholder Thomas J. Powers, Deputy Director of the Board. "By doing this, we hope to minimize the financial hardships to the families of county employees called up," he added. Employees who return from active duty will retain all their rights with respect to reinstatement, compensation and seniority.
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By Carol MacAllister The Monmouth Country Sheriff's Department, under the direction of Sheriff Joseph W. Oxley, has again led the country by innovating new educational programs. Recent terrorist attacks and cyberspace crimes have been added to the list of informational lectures and training for the general public and the graduates of the Monmouth County Citizens Police Academy.
Threats of contamination of large water supplies, loss of electrical power as a distraction to lure police away from regular duties, and purchase of chemicals to create bombs or used to taint water are potential terrorist behaviors. The public is asked to supplement law enforcement by being additional eyes and ears for authorities, much like World War II, when local citizen groups kept patrol on beaches for watercraft and scanned skyways for aircraft. One should note any suspicious activity, describe what is seen, but do not take action. Contact the local police using non-emergency telephone numbers. Don't hesitate to make a call. Freeman mentioned the recent Baltimore, MD shootings had been resolved by an alert truck driver who reported his observations to local police. He added that if the owner of the Florida air-training school had notified authorities that a student enrolled for flying lessons was strangely concerned about learning how to take-off and not landing, perhaps the 9-11 attack would have been adverted. Stanley Field of the NJ Fraud Division lectured on high tech crimes. A new area of computer forensics has been created to collect evidence from hardware and software used in an array of new criminal activities associated with technology, the largest percentage: child exposition at 38%, intrusion/hacking 20% economic fraud 12% and other areas -- stalking, on-line gambling, terrorist activities and homicide. High tech crimes extend to credit card and identity theft. However, Field was quick to say that one can use the Internet safely for shopping if business is conducted with established and reputable companies. Identity and credit card thefts are more likely to happen during everyday activities versus Internet use. He suggested to shred mail with personal information before discarding, keep an eye on your credit card at all times, and be aware of shoulder surfers, people who watch your transactions over your shoulder. Field mentioned that users of baby monitors don't realize cell phones can pick up the monitors' radio frequencies. Turn off baby monitors when not in use or you may be broadcasting without realizing it. Officer Al Brunner directs the Citizens Police Academy, a comprehension course of study for Monmouth County residents, and works with high school students in awareness programs. Projects extend from first graders to fifth grade helmet safety, seat-belt restraints and a citizen's leadership council. Monmouth County is first in the nation to be nationally accredited in four programs of public awareness and soon to be acknowledged as the first in the nation to establish a joint effort with the Office of Aging, John A. Wanat, executive director, and the sheriff's office in "Neighborhood Senior Scan-Seniors Fighting Terrorism." Currently, there are 110,000 senior citizens in Monmouth County. In addition, the related civic organization, "Homeland Security for the Workplace and Family," has been established. Several television shows have given recognition to the sheriff's department for its work in public education. "Senior Scan" was featured on NBC News on November 18, 2002 with Chuck Scarborough in a four-minute segment and will be highlighted at the National Sheriffs' Association Annual Conference, June 2003, in Nashville, TN. For more information, or to arrange for speakers to visit your organization or group, call the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office at: 732-294-5901 or www.visitmonmouth.com/sheriff
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THE SECOND COPY BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL Having worked in translation work for many years at the Romanian Missionary Services, we were very much aware of the Italian expression, Tradutore, traditore (translator, traitor) which implied that translations are often inaccurate. Thus as translators and editors we did our best to avoid this well-known condemnation. Because during my work with this missionary organization, our section translated over 50 books of various sizes --100 to 1200 pages, we mastered as much as possible the book that we were working on. We could quote passages at length, we could argue the structure of certain main passages and when we would get the first printed copy we would celebrate our accomplishments. There were two books, which were known in our office as being better in Romanian than in English. As I did the theological editing I sensed that the biblical references were off. Due to the fact that each translation also has a signed contract, we were by law bound to translate the books as they were written. We were also aware of the fact that the authors were household names in American Christian homes. I wrote two letters to the authors as gracefully as I could and I waited for the answers. The answers came quickly, and both acknowledged that the mistakes were real and needed to be corrected. I learned from these two brothers how to accept correction in all humility. This year a good friend of mine decided to translate my doctoral dissertation into the Romanian language. About two weeks ago I received an email showing me that in the first chapter there was a logical incongruity. The person was gentle in showing me my mistakes and I complimented the writer by telling her that the book in its translated form looks better than the original. It may be that at one time translations did not preserve all the linguistic nuances of the original languages, but those days are gone. We now show an international spirit in that we can take any book from its original context and present it faithfully in a new language. Wycliffe Bible Translators have many stories about various tribal people asking them if God spoke in their language. For many centuries the Bible was a foreign book and God only spoke Hebrew, Greek or Latin. As important as it is for pastors to understand the Word of God in original languages, it is important for them to speak the wonderful deeds of God and His wonderful love in the language of the people listening to us. It may surprise some of us to find the freshness of God’s revelation in a new language where He has not spoken before.
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ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS POP WARNER AT CRITICAL MOMENT There is a movement afoot to save a cherished piece of Atlantic Highlands history by providing a recreational outlet for our youth. It is the ongoing efforts of two families to revive the Atlantic Highlands- Highlands Pop Warner football program. Football in Atlantic Highlands has a storied and glorified past. Although never involved in the program, this writer always enjoyed listening to the public address system on those five Sundays each fall when our boys were on the gridiron. Often, the local team was out manned and undersized, but the volunteer coaches always seemed to produce competitive teams in the Jersey Shore Pop Warner League. There was something nice about strolling down to Fireman’s Field- even during lousy weather- and watching our local boys play and young ladies cheer their efforts on. But now, it is a critical moment for youth football in our town. Over the past few years, the Pop Warner program has seen enrollment shrink, and last year, interested children had to join the Keansburg program if they wanted to play football. Unless our town can field a team this year, Jersey Shore Pop Warner could revoke the Atlantic Highlands charter. That’s where the Henry Clagett and Dan Miragliotta families enter the picture. The four parents have taken on the challenge of reviving the program and have been leading the charge to bring football back to our town. So far, there has been at least one weekend of signups and countless hours of their time invested in making the program work. Organizing a football league is no easy task, between fund raising, verifying equipment, recruiting coaches, attending league meetings, and generating publicity, their list of chores is long. Consider this a plea if you are thinking of letting your child play football or your daughter cheer this fall- contact the Clagett and Miragliotta families now! They need to get some firm numbers back to the Pop Warner organization and more importantly; they need to know that their efforts are not in vain. With their success, our community will receive a two-for: a link to Atlantic Highlands past is restored, and our children get a chance to participate in football games in their hometown. contact Jack Archibald:
http://www.ah-nj.com/
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WHAT I SHOULD HAVE TOLD MY SONS BEFORE THEY TURNED 21 “It is very difficult to live among people you love and hold back from offering them advice.”- Anne Tyler “Never give
advice... Our younger son turned 22-years-old last week. That means that, for an entire year, he has been legally entitled to live his life in any way that he chooses. We can advise. We can warn. We can set off fireworks in the room, to get his attention. But, in the end, it’s his life. As he’s repeatedly told us, “You can’t tell me what to do anymore!” And he’s absolutely right. We can’t tell him to brush his teeth, to get good grades, to stay out of trouble, to get a job, or wear a jacket when it’s cold outside. I mean, we could, but he doesn’t have to listen to us anymore. No more bribery or blackmail. We can’t even threaten to cut off his college living expenses, so that he’ll get better grades. He’s truly on his own. And as much as I want to, I’m not going to be able to grab his hand anymore, if he runs out into the middle of the street. But, there was a part of me that was relieved, to know that, at the moment our sons turned 21, whatever they did from that point on, was their responsibility now and not mine. They had to face the consequences of their actions. They had to pick up the pieces of their mistakes. My tour of duty was officially over. If they committed the crime, they were the ones who would have to do the jail time. I didn’t even have to put up the bail money if I didn’t want to. In my heart of hearts, I know that their father and I did our best to teach them the things that we thought were worth teaching. We gave them the things that we thought were worth having. And, above all, we tried to set a good example. I’m not saying that we were perfect parents. There’s no such thing. But we tried to set them out on a road that would lead them to opportunity, happiness, fulfillment, and love. I wonder sometimes about all of the advice I tried to give to my sons over the years, and whether it’s really made any difference in their lives. How do I know what they’re doing 24 hours a day? Are they getting a good night’s sleep every night? Are they driving under the influence of alcohol? Are they eating enough green, leafy vegetables? Are they using drugs? Are they washing their hands before meals? Are they speeding? Are they doing the exact opposite of what I’ve tried to show them to do? Who really knows? Let’s face it; no matter what you tell someone to do, they’re going to do what they really want to do anyway. Unless maybe, there’s a parent, a teacher, a nun, or a policeman in the room. Our sons fought tooth and nail against the rules we set up in our house and did everything possible to find a way to get us to change them. It got me thinking that, if I had another shot at it, I might go about giving my sons advice in a completely different way; instead of telling them what I think they should do, I’d tell them to do whatever they wanted to do, because it seems like that’s what they wanted to hear anyway. So here are my revised Rules for a Happy Life: 1. Play Hard. Life’s short. Enjoy it as much as possible. Make “partying” your main goal. Live for the weekends. Don’t worry about responsibilities. If it doesn’t get done today, you can always do it tomorrow. If it doesn’t get done tomorrow, maybe you can get someone else to do it for you. Get an easy job that doesn’t require much of you. So what if it’s not what you really planned for your life? Life’s all about having fun. Life is about living for the moment. Seize the day! Stay out late. Get to work late. Let your bills pile up. Let your laundry pile up. Live in squalor. Drink ‘til you puke. Take tomorrow off. Relax. (Or, as you say, “Chill.”) 2. Use Drugs. What’s the big deal? All your friends do them. Why shouldn’t you be entitled to experience the bliss and total escape from life’s stresses that only a “Grade A” joint can bring, too? So what if marijuana is still illegal and you could get thrown in jail if you get caught? What’s life without a little risk, anyway? Don’t worry that medical experts now agree that pot is addictive and is more harmful than they initially thought. And don’t worry about your lungs, either. Even though smoking a joint is four times more harmful than smoking a regular cigarette, I’m sure it’s worth the health risk. Cocaine is supposed to be a pretty fun drug, too, from what I hear. It’s a little on the expensive side, but that feeling you get from it is supposed to be indescribable. Some people I know lost their jobs and most of their savings because of cocaine, and many of them ended up in rehab, but everything has its drawbacks, right? Heroin, LSD and pills all have their merit, too, otherwise, why would anyone use them? So, smoke, shoot, and snort to your heart’s content. If things get out of control, you can attempt to pick up the pieces of your life some other time. (See Rule #1). 3. Drink and Drive. Why not? Bring your friends along, crack open a few beers, and have a ball. Crank that engine up and burn the rubber right off of your tires. But, why stop at beer? Twist off the top of a bottle of scotch, take a swig, and pass it around the car. Laugh like hell at the thrill of it all. When you’ve reached what you consider to be your “legal limit,” toss the empties outside the window and hope a police officer doesn’t see you. If you do get caught, you’ll lose your license, but it’s no big deal. That’s why they invented public transportation: for people who can’t drive. And I’m sure that your friends won’t mind driving you anywhere you need to go for the next six-months-to-a-year. Of course, there is always the chance that you’ll get into an accident and kill some innocent person. Or maybe even the friends who are in the car with you (there goes your ride). Or some kid. It’s not going to be easy explaining to that kid’s parents why you couldn’t see their little 3-year-old son when you drove up on the sidewalk. But they’ll get over it. Just as easily as we would if we were in their shoes, right? Life goes on. There’s nothing that a couple dozen years of therapy can’t cure. 4. Drop out of School. So what if it’s going to be harder to get a job without a college degree? It’s not the end of the world because some of your dreams are going to have to sit on the back burner for a while (or burn up altogether). Look at Bill Gates. He dropped out of school and look how good he’s doing. He’s one of the richest men in the world! Of course, he’s in the minority. He got lucky. But maybe you’ll get lucky, too. If not, you can always go back to school when you’re in your 30’s. You know, after you’re married and you have a couple of kids to support. I’ve known a lot of people who have done it that way and succeeded. Of course, they banged their heads against the wall and wanted to kick themselves in their own behinds every day for not staying in school when their parents were offering to pay for it. The bottom line is that you won’t have to study for exams or write term papers anymore right now. There’s something to be said for “living in the present,” even though you might not be planning very well for the future. (See Rule #1.) 5. Listen to Your Friends. Your friends may not have the “life experience” that your father and I have, nor will they have the love and emotional ties to you that we do, but we’re sure that they only have your best interests in mind, when they’re imparting their pearls of wisdom to you. I’m sure that, just like your father and me, they’d gladly throw themselves in front of a Mack truck to save your life, would give you one of their kidneys without even blinking, and would mortgage their house without question, to get you out of jail (which is where, incidentally, you may end up if you keep hanging around with them). I’m sure they know you better than we do, and their advice will lead you down the road to happiness every time. 6. Forget Safe Sex. Who needs it? You’ve got a better chance of dying in a car accident than you do of dying from AIDS. (You’d better quadruple those odds, though, if you’re driving “under the influence”.) So what if you get a girl pregnant? We’re sure you’ll do the “honorable thing” and marry her, whether you’re in love with her or not. Who cares if you spend the rest of your life in a miserable marriage instead of with the “Girl of Your Dreams?” The important thing is that you’re having fun now. (See Rule #1.) 7. Don’t Be a Nice Guy. Succeed at any cost. Don’t worry about who you hurt, who you step on, and who you double-cross, as long as you get what you want. Push everyone out of the way, so that you can get to the front of the line. Lie. Cheat. Steal, if you have to. Just don’t get caught. (If you do get caught, lie your way out of it. Don’t admit to anything!) If you wind up hurting someone who you really care about, don’t agonize over it. They probably deserved it anyway. If they don’t want you in their life anymore, you’re probably better off without them. And if you can’t get to sleep at night, a good shot of whiskey helps. Besides, that’s why they invented sleeping pills. Whatever rules you follow, remember that you made the decision to follow them. Don’t worry about embarrassing us or disappointing us. We know we did our best. Your decisions have no effect on us, in the greater scheme of things, because it’s your life. We’ve made our own choices. We’ve enjoyed the fruits of the good ones and suffered the anguish of the bad ones. Your achievements mean the world to us, because we know they make you happy. But we have our own dreams and goals. We’ve never lived vicariously through you, and we’re not about to start now. As much as I’d like to hire a private detective, to make sure that you’re making the right choices, I’m going to have to leave it totally up to you. Oh yeah. And Grandma and Grandpa, who are up in heaven right now watching over you, and watching your every move.
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GOP: ALL FOR ME AND #%&*$ YOU! It’s the root of all evil. Too bad that Government needs so much of it. That’s especially true here in Middletown. In Middletown, our politicians take money away from school children. It’s a big political game. The Committee “borrows” money from the school district. They’ll “pay it back” in their own time – that’s never. At least it’s never so far. To date the Middletown Township Committee has taken $50 million out of the school district, over a period of more than 10 years. The $50 million figure is caused by the town collecting taxes in advance from
taxpayers. At the end of the year, the town is supposed to pay back the taxes
they collected to the school board. But, that doesn’t happen. The school
district’s slice of the pie is “deferred” to a future date that never comes. So,
the Committee keeps on using the previous year’s taxes to cover the short fall
to the school board. You end up with the Committee falsely “holding the line” on taxes, while the school board is blamed with raising taxes every year. Meanwhile, the same GOP Boss that appoints the Republican candidates for Committee also appoints the patsies who will run for School Board (though they won’t outwardly call themselves Republicans). I know what I’m telling you is a little complicated. But, that complication is what the Republican Machine in Middletown is depending on. They know that if the taxpayers ever figure this out then they are done. Hide the Money! That’s the GOP Machine’s slogan in town. It’s a small club they have here. And, everyone gets their piece of the pie. Their families get big jobs, and so do they. Their friends and contributors make big time bucks off the public trough. And, there’s no one on the Committee or School Board who has opened their mouth up to this point. But, the Republicans know that the rock has been bled dry and now they’re trying to cover themselves. The $50 million debt to the school board by the town is, in my opinion, one of the prime reasons that there has been so much unrest in our schools. The trail goes back to the Committee….just follow the money. Do you really believe that the Swim Club supports itself? Go take a look over there for yourself during the summer. Do you really believe that millions of dollars just falls out of trees for these Republicans’ pet projects? No, I’m here to tell you that money doesn’t grow on trees. But, money can be shaken out of the tree if you know where to do it. And, if there’s one thing the GOP Machine knows how to do, it’s shake money out of our pockets. This is just the simple truth, readers. You can like it or not. I sure don’t like it, but it’s how it is today in Middletown. And, when people learn to understand it, they won’t like it either. RUMOR HAS IT that a GOP Machine Republican’s legal firm has been caught with his hand in the cookie jar when it comes to over-billing a town. It’s getting covered up, as usual, by the Administration. But, checks don’t lie. (Joseph Caliendo is a lifetime Middletown resident and businessman. He is also chairman of the Middletown Township Democrat Party.) PS: I want to make it clear that it is not my intention to accuse the Mayor of Middletown of any illegal activity. In the last two column articles I raised a question about who paid for Mayor Peters' legal education based on a rumor. I did not want to indicate there is anything illegal about the Mayor’s activity. Instead, it was, and remains, my intention to simply ask the question if there was any public money involved. [editor's note: No member of the Middletown Township Committee receives educational benefits, according to a township official. Mrs. Peters, in a letter to the editor, states that she paid for her own education in full.]
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MY TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR LIFE Moses gave Western Civilization the 10 Commandments. A lot of history has happened since then, changing the face of the world and the direction of human development. After more than 2,000 years, America and the world have evolved into a much different environment than the one Moses and his followers were born, lived and died in. Yet, like the 10 Commandments, the values of life haven't changed that much. The Commandments God gave Moses continue to ring true. To survive in this complex and speed-driven global environment of more than 6 billion humans scattered among some 200 nations on all six continents, I have come up with my own 10 Commandants for living as American citizen in America, with special thanks to God and Moses. Here are the 10 principles that influence and guide my life as an independent free-thinker:
There it is. ../bishop/2003/gb030501_ten_commandments.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
AHES BOARD NEWS I thought I would take this opportunity to highlight some important items which have been approved recently by the AHES Board of Education: BUILDING PROJECT • Hiring of USA Architects as Project Architect • Hiring of Thomas Schneider of Innovative Client Solutions to serve as construction manager • Hiring of Richard Stockton and Associates to complete survey of property as required • Receipt of approved grant agreement from the New Jersey Department of Education and our first grant check in the amount of $10,415.65 DEFEATED BUDGET PROCESS • Defeated Budget Packet submitted to Borough Council on Monday April 21, 2003 • Authorization of existing Finance Committee to meet with Borough Committee to review budget, awaiting meeting dates from Council • Proposed budget includes reduction in 2 positions, CST Director and Library/Computer Teacher while enrollment is on the rise RETIREES The following people will be honored in June for their service to the district. • Bob Dougherty, a 10 year Board veteran who was instrumental in charting a positive course for the district. • Gerry Plant, 4th grade teacher, retiring after 37 years of dedicated service to the students at Atlantic Highlands Elementary • Denise McGeachy, Resource Room teacher, retiring after 31 years in the field of special education CONGRATULATIONS • To newly elected Board Member Joanne Esparra, and returning Board Members Sara Weimer and Roy Dellosso • Janet Paulmenn, Art Teacher, for another exceptional Art Show and Community Art Show. Janet presented numerous students to the Board who won competitions or who had art work displayed throughout the state (Monmouth Museum and the State Capital). • Principal’s Club members who attended the March Board meeting and joined Mr. Haase and I for lunch. • Mr. Haase, staff, and parent volunteers for another hugely successful Math Olympics - this is our 12 year. • Katie Burtnick, first year music teacher, and Mrs. Wendy Cohen for a terrific spring musical “Out of the Woods” • Monmouth University Storytellers who read to our students on April 29th. • Tom Elliott, Band Director at Henry Hudson for two outstanding concerts for our students. • Joe Petrosino and his staff at the Bayshore Jointure Commission for our second annual Job Fair. Over 250 teachers and certificated staff members participated. UP COMING EVENTS • Tri-district Arts Show at Henry Hudson Regional - Friday May 16 6:30 - 10 P.M. • Annual Yankee Trip - Sunday, May 18 - Tickets are $34 which includes bus transportation. Interested? Reserve your tickets with me (732-291-2020-202)
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ENTERTAINMENT CIRCUIT OF MONMOUTH COUNTY Red Bank has been evolving as New Jersey's Hip Town for about the last 7. During that time the restaurant population has gone from 17 to 90 or more. In a number of those restaurants music and dancing has played a part in the natural order of their doing business. I think the tipping point or synergy needed to make Red Bank a serious distention for clubbing was completed when the new ultra swank restaurant club "Red" opened on Broad Street. I believe it was the final piece that has created a circuit of entertainment that not many towns have outside of Manhattan.
So if I may take you on an alphabetical tour of Red
Bank's entertainment circuit: Basil T's offers single and/or duo performers in the bar on Thursday, Friday and Saturday starting at 9 PM. Basil's draws a broad based crowd from yuppies to families and everyone in between. Chubby's at 26 West Front Street is the only legitimate night club in Red Bank. Its club status was grandfathered in and is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. This club appeals to a younger crowd 21 to 30ish and has music and dancing all four nights. Danny's Steakhouse at 11 Bridge Ave sports disco dancing on Friday night starting at 9:30. Pat Guadagno plays to a full bar every Saturday night 9 PM to closing. Both nights draw crowds of 30 to late 40's and up. Live Opera is performed on Monday during dinner by the Metrolyric Opera company. Having had music of all types for 33 years music will be added on Wednesdays and Thursdays for the spring and summer. The Downtown Cafe under the ownership of Pat Nulle has had great music 7 nights a week for the last 11 years. With the constant Pat Guadagno playing every Monday night and open Mike on Sunday the rest of the week is a variety of bands both up and downstairs. The average age is late twenties and thirties. The Dublin House has an open mike on Sunday and live entertainment at the bar Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Echo's, one of the newer clubs in town located on Monmouth Street offers a lounge atmosphere, a very hip decor with live music five nights a week. There is Live rock on Tuesday, a Reggie band on Wednesday, DJ Techno on Thursday and assorted DJ on Friday and Saturday. A mixed group from yuppies up make up their bar crowd. The newest and most glamorous club "Red" owned by Dan Lynch is three quarters lounge and one quarter restaurant. A brilliant renovation turned two buildings into a two story restaurant club. Two DJs spin music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The music is varied to suite the crowd from light hip-hop back through the 80's. Originally Stobles Bar the Walt Street Pub was opened in 1982 by Lou Mustillo. Entertainment was on the part of the operation from day one. Lou started with country western but evolved over the years to jazz and blues with soft rock thrown in. Live groups perform Wednesday through Sunday; the crowd is laid back and casual. All in all Red Bank is now a destination for just about anything you could wish for on a "night out on the town." I will have a short history of Red Bank's bars and music in next week's column. If you have fond memories of this area's past music history please email it to me and let me know if I can publish it in you name or just use the information.
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COUNCIL APPROVES FIRE TRUCK BOND ORDINANCE I think the single most important thing that happened at the council meeting last week was the approval of Ordinance1337. This ordinance allows the town to issue a bond for the purchase of the much needed replacement aerial truck. The ordinance approves a bond for $726,750. At the previous council meeting earlier this month, the council approved an emergency appropriation of $38,250 for the down payment on the same truck. While I am writing about the fire truck I want to add that a new member was approved for New Point Comfort Fire Company and four new members for EMS. Additionally at the last council meeting the borough engineer in his report stated that the library project was proceeding on scheduled with an anticipated construction start date in August and the completion of the work within 90 days of the start. Our new police director also gave a report for the council during the meeting. He spoke of a program he is starting to give away bicycles in good condition that had been recovered around town and have been unclaimed. He is right now looking for volunteers within the police department for a community policing program. He spoke briefly about having an officer assigned to the High School and that there were grants available for such a position. He also mentioned his implementation of 12 hour shifts within our police department. Two new alternate members were appointed to the planning board because the previous alternates had been moved to regular seats to fill vacancies. The borough clerk mentioned that the town would be auctioning a borough owned lot on the corner of Forest Avenue and Greenwood on May 3. Lastly, this meeting was a continuation of youth government month with eighth grade students from Bolger school sitting in as mock council representatives. Upcoming Council meetings for the month of May. There are two regularly scheduled council meetings for the month of May. The first will be on Thursday 5/8 at 5:30 PM and the second will be on Thursday 5/22 at 7 PM. Upcoming Borough Events. As of this point, the next event for our borough will be the summer “Concerts by the Bay” series. The dates have been set at this point as the last three Wednesdays in the month of August that would be 8/l3, 8/20 and 8/27 from 7 to 9 PM in the big lot on the corner of Raritan and Beachway. More information will follow on this event.
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A HOT LITTLE FARM IN NEW JERSEY Ask anyone where you’re likely to find the largest variety of chile pepper plants in America and you’re sure to obtain responses in the Southwest. But the answer is New Jersey, the aptly named Garden State. Cross Country Nurseries, located in Rosemont NJ, boasts the largest variety of chile pepper plants grown by any purveyor in the country: 445 and rising. “My ultimate goal is to hit 1,000,” declares Janie Lamson, who owns the 54 acre farm with her husband Fernando Villegas. Cross Country originally grew perennials, ornamental grasses and ferns. But in 1993 Janie’s brother handed her six packages of hot pepper seeds and asked her to grow them for him. This hot idea blossomed into their current enterprise. The perennials were eventually abandoned and now Janie and Fernando’s sole focus is the growing of chile peppers. All 445 varieties can be purchased as live plants ready for transplant into the home garden, or just the pods themselves are available from 75 of the 445 varieties. Cross Country can ship anywhere in the United States. Cross Country’s plants are grown from seed beginning in January. They are started indoors on heating mats under lights. Three weeks later they are transferred to a greenhouse and in April they are ready for shipment. Chile peppers are a tropical plant and very sensitive to cold. Janie warns about transplanting them too soon. An early frost can kill the plants or at the very least, stunt their growth. However, eschewing an early frost is not enough. The ground must reach a certain degree of warmth before transplanting or the pepper’s development and eventual harvest will be curtailed. Very generally speaking, this means planting in mid May for southern NJ and late May to early June for northern NJ. Interestingly, chiles transplanted in June will grow faster and provide more fruit than ones transplanted in May. The most prudent course of action is acquiring the plants at the best time to plant for your area. Cross Country buys seeds for many of their plants. However, seeds for some chiles, particularly the more exotic ones, are not always available. To ensure a yearly supply of these chiles, a special greenhouse called the “motherhouse” is maintained. Seeds from these varieties are harvested each year and planted in January along with the purchased seeds. There is also a special outdoor field where the aforementioned 75 varieties of chiles for harvesting is maintained. These are some of the most popular chiles for customers who wish to purchase just the pods and not the live plants. The field contains their four top sellers: Red Savina habaneros, Chocolate habaneros, Devil’s Tongue, and Fatallii. Red Savinas are listed in the Guinness Book of World records as the hottest pepper on earth. However, a study by the University of New Mexico awards the crown to the Chocolate habanero, which derives its name from its brownish color. The Devil’s Tongue Pepper, was “discovered” growing amongst other habaneros in Pennsylvania. Its exact origins are unknown but it is clearly in the habanero family based on its taste and heat level. It is a two to two and a half inch long by one inch wide, wrinkled, yellow pepper. The Fatallii is an African variety, similar to the Devil’s tongue except somewhat longer, and also a habanero relative. These four peppers are the favorites for one very simple reason: they are the hottest. “People want hot,” explains Janie, “The milds do not sell as well.” The number of types of chile peppers is constantly growing. The main reason for this is hybridization. Sometimes this is done by design. But frequently the actions of insects, birds and other natural forces can cause chiles to cross-pollinate. New varieties are then discovered as the aforementioned Devil’s Tongue. Janie and Fernando have also visited a number of Caribbean nations in the quest for new peppers. Cross Country exclusively employs organic means to fertilize their plants and control for pests. Fish emulsion and seaweed are utilized as fertilizer. Fish emulsion is high in nitrogen and promotes strong growth and deep green leaf development. Seaweed is high in potassium, (beneficial for the roots), and many other micronutrients and serves as a “multivitamin.” Ladybugs, among other insects, are released in the greenhouses to eat aphids and other pests. A small manmade pond in the motherhouse assists in maintaining high humidity that repels spider mites. Cross Country Nurseries is located at PO Box 170, 199 Kingwood-Locktown Road, Rosemont NJ 08556. They can be reached at 908-996-4646 or at their website at www.chileplants.com. The website contains beautiful color photos of all of their peppers. They are open to the public April through June. Shipping of live plants occurs during the same months, and fresh pepper pods in September.
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Series on Common Job Search Mistakes (Part 1): TELEPHONE TAG A lot of recruiting is telephone tag: either you or your potential employer is leaving a message for the other. The employer tries to schedule an interview. You call to check your status. Although the term “tag” recalls a childhood game, a common job search mistake is to take this process too lightly. Here are some tips to get through telephone tag unscathed: Have a professional voicemail message. This is especially true for new jobseekers who might still have college fraternizing on the brain. Loud music, slang, and funny voices do not make a good first impression. Help your housemates help you. Keep a pen and paper handy by the phone for messages. Keep younger siblings from answering the phone, if they can’t take proper messages. Return calls promptly. Don’t make a potential employer call more than once to schedule an interview. Some recruiters will call more than once, but some won’t. In addition, jobs fill up quickly in a tight labor market like this one. If another candidate schedules an earlier interview and nails it, you already have a smaller chance, or none at all. Leave professional messages on employers’ voicemails. Leave your full name. Leave your phone number. Don’t make a potential employer have to track you down. Reference why you are calling, especially if you are returning their call. Don’t forget cell phones and email. If you put your cell phone number on your resume, you need a professional cell phone message. You also need a professional email address. If you have a lifetime address with your alma mater, this is a good one to use, as it does not go stale. If you do use a personal email address, use your full name as a prefix. You-go-girl@x.com and Phat-boy@y.com are amusing in a social context only. Caroline Ceniza-Levine, a resident of Little Silver, is an adjunct professor of Professional Development at Columbia University and a career/life coach. Caroline can be reached at 212-502-8593 or at her website at www.thinkasinc.com.
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REPORTS OF RIVER, BAY AND OCEAN FISHING Schools of bass have invaded the bay. They have moved in and are providing tremendous action for those that are clamming. Reports of 120 fish caught by 6 pac charters are not unheard of. Most charters are coming in early or switching to flounder. Some of the bigger fish are being taken at Roamer Shoals. The rivers are still good at night. Flounder have held up great in the bay also near Roamer Shoals. You can have a decent day at the change of tides using worms and mussels. The nice weather on Sunday and Monday created perfect conditions for late April Flounder fishing in the bay. There are not many doing it but the people that are a scoring big!! Prowler 5 found a decent pick of blackfish on Mud Hole wrecks, including a few large tog. Otto Radom of Irvington had his four-blackfish limit up to an 11-pounder that beat out a 10-pounder by Ezra Nanton of Rahway. Hilliard also tried Sandy Hook Reef and the Rattlesnake, but found no action on those inshore spots. The NJfishandwildlife.com magazine is now available in your local sports shops. It has all of the up to date NJ fishing Regs. Also if you are interested, you can sign up for the Skillfull Angler Program. (Adobe Acrobat req.)
http://www.bahrs.com/weekfisrep.html
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LONG-WINDED PEOPLE INSPIRE DREADFUL THOUGHTS How I love to read anything that Winston Churchill said. He wrote a five-page letter to a friend, telling him, "I would have written you a short letter, but I didn’t have time." That sentence is not only the ultimate guide for writers, but for the whole of humanity. Tedious, wordy, conversation-hoggers are the biggest bores. They should be made to hear a recording of their prattle, not once, but repeatedly, until they are rendered unconscious. That sounds harsh, doesn’t it? I think not. When you come upon a book that rambles, you have the option of slamming it down hard on the table, or on the floor, and even jumping on it, if you’re that angered. What to do with a self-enamored talking-bore? I know what you’re thinking. But sometimes they’re too big. One day I found myself wishing for the death of the speaker’s grandfather. I was thoroughly ashamed of the thought, but the wish became persistent. This chattering fellow was going through three generations of his family non-stop and finally Grandpop seemed the last illustrious member. I felt that Grandpop’s demise was coming. It was inevitable. My hopes along with my legs were swelling. Why, the speaker was eighty-five years old himself. Surely the story was ending. I sensed the feeling going out of my legs. We had been standing, talking ...( ha!, I hadn’t said a word) for an hour. After the numbness came a tingling, then a trembling. I knew these legs did not have long to go. Could they survive Grandpop? I thought not. Grandpop was taking much longer for his death than mine, yet I swear that I was now praying quite fervently for my own. Without success there, I began praying fervently for the speaker’s death. Oh God, how did I become so wicked! What to do? I could not turn and run. By this time my legs were in clinical need of something motorized. A solution must be found. Oh Lord! You’ve probably suspected by now that our attire had a lot to do with my dilemma. Everyone was dressed with elegance. A formal occasion. That’s why I began amusing myself with flights of imagination to try to get my blood circulating again. My most satisfying fantasy was that my legs would just slowly fold and I would glide gracefully to the floor, losing consciousness as I gave a little sigh. Everyone would hover over me, fanning me, saying, "Give her air." That’s when I would look to the old codger and beckon him to my ear. Then I would whisper softly, "You did this to me, you old fool!" more . . . We’ve learned that behavior conforms to our clothing. That’s why we were all gussied up as children for things like going to church, going to parties, going visiting, and even going to school. The old rules don’t hold up today. Maybe we’re the last generation to see the connection. Maybe I’m old fashioned but I think about the suit-attired men who behaved like "real sports fans" in the stands at the ballpark. I still like to be able to tell the difference between a teacher and a student. I like knowing why uniforms are important. I hope that the old saying, "Clothes Make the Man/Woman," will always be true. more . . . Graduates in the years 1950, and 1951, of Dickinson High School in Jersey City, are having a Reunion on Wednesday, May 7, at the Breakers, Spring Lake, beginning at noon. Have a marvelous time! Any questions? Use my email.
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COBRA The COBRA law was designed to keep working families insured after a layoff or after changing jobs. One of the problems with the law is that there are no enforcement procedures should an employer violate the law. The law requires an employer to notify an employee that he or she has a right to purchase the health insurance at the same cost that the employer pays. Many people are unaware of the law and even after they are informed about the law they often run up against a brick wall trying to find out what amount they need to pay, who they make the payments to and other such practical issues. Many employees are never notified that COBRA exists and that they have a right to purchase the coverage. Even if they are aware of the coverage, many employees feel it is not their responsibility to provide this information. Since the employee is often no longer working for the employer, he has no leverage to deal with an uncooperative employer. Until the law is changed, giving the former employee some rights that he or she can enforce, this law will continue to be an illusion to many.
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THE CHANGING FORMULA FOR SUCCESS IN MEDICINE It used to be that in order to succeed as a physician, certain characteristics and virtues were required. A physician must be knowledgeable, not only in matters regarding his or her own specialty, but also in general medical issues. A physician needs to be compassionate, caring, and personable in order to effectively communicate and relate to their patients and have their patients open up to them. As a surgeon, a physician needs to be technically adept and understand his or her limitations, exercising sound judgment in his or her decision making. We have all heard of the three "A's" as the key to a successful practice upon completing our training and going out into the real world. These are affability, availability and ability. Certainly if one possesses all of the above they are guaranteed to be successful in medicine, right? Well, not exactly. Along came HMO's and the rules changed. It was no longer enough to possess all of these desirable traits. It was now necessary to be business savvy. Many of us are good doctors, but not enough of us are good in business. This is not something that is taught in medical school, and has nothing to do with taking care of patients. But it does have something to do with survival. It forces us to be adaptable and to learn new skills in order to continue to do what we are trained to do. Those of us who have mastered all of this will certainly be successful, right? Well, not exactly. Now we have one more hurdle to concur. We must be politically savvy as well. We can no longer sit back and practice medicine the way that we were taught. The portrayal of our profession in the beautiful Norman Rockwell classics is unfortunately a thing of the past. Without uniting as a group and understanding the political system and how it affects medicine today, and without learning how to make the system work favorably for our profession, we will surely perish. We can no longer sit back and take the attitude of "let the other guys get involved". We are the other guys. Each and every one of us needs to be politically involved. There is strength in numbers and this is the only way to make a difference. On May 15, 2003, New Jersey physicians will again unite as we have done so in the past. We will unite to make a difference, as we march for the third time on Trenton. Family members and staff will join in as we take part in the largest gathering of doctors in history. Our goal is to make a difference. To influence the government in our state to pass tort-reform legislation which will improve our profession and to help it to survive. We can, and we must make a difference. Email-
Aldozac@netzero.net
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RAIN AFFORDS LIFE: EARTH DAY 2003 IN AH The Borough of Atlantic Highlands and the Environmental Commission have been celebrating Earth Day since 1998. This year, however, was the first time rain, wind, and cold, showed up to dampen an already saturated and chilled landscape. Let’s face it, this has been a cruel spring. Winter does not seem to want to leave and Mother Nature (it seems) does not want to play favorites.
Later in the morning, Doreen Silakowski (who is Teacher of the Year at Henry Hudson Regional School) conducted a clean up of the Harbor at Hess Pier. It is important to note that by this time of the day, easterly winds had picked up to 30mph. So, not only was the rain whisking vertical into your face, but also the rain was so vigorous that every part of your body became soaked, from the top of your head to your toes, no matter how much rain-gear you wore. In spite of these challenging conditions, we had about 15 people show up to help clean a beautiful site in the harbor that gets little respect by the tides and local fishermen. There was even a father and his three young sons, who decided the outdoors are so important to their lives, they would brave the weather to help improve our local environment for all species to enjoy. Within an hour, we had collected enough rubbish, such as bits of styrofoam, plastic water bottles, aluminum cans, plastic fishing line, and paper, to pack a large garbage dumpster. Later in the day, the Borough of Atlantic Highlands concluded Earth Day celebrations with our annual fair. This year located under the roof of the Senior Center. We had a good turnout of local residents and local organizations, including our good friends from the Shade Tree Commission, the Atlantic Highlands Garden Club, the Atlantic Highlands Library Commission, the Atlantic Highlands Herald, Monmouth County Friends of Clearwater, and the NY/NJ Baykeeper. The Environmental Commission awarded several people from around the region as winners of the Many Mind Creek Photo Contest. It is stunning to see how beautiful Many Mind Creek is during the winter and spring. Bravo to all those artistic people who entered the photo contest and inspired us to look at Many Mind Creek in a different way. The Environmental Commission also gave a special award to Councilperson Lou Fligor. He was awarded the “Volunteer of the Year” award for Lenape Woods Nature Preserve due to all his hard work, time, and devotion to Lenape Woods. Thank you Lou for all the good things you do! Earth Day 2003 could not of been accomplished without the time and energy of many people. While it is impossible to list everyone, I would like to thank our Earth Day Planning Committee of Peter Berrien, Ken and Donna Kociela, Martha McGeehan, Jackie Royce, and Doreen Silakowski. In addition, I would like to thank several Environmental Commission members for their support: Paul Boyd, Jacque Dean, Tony Marshall, Carolyn Campo, Toni Shann, and Laura Dubois. I am also appreciative to the musicians who never fail to entertain us during the fair: Larry Cottrella, John Hunt, and Keara Murray. A special thank you goes to Mayor Mike Harmon and Borough Councilperson Jack Archibald for their support. A thank you also goes to John Phair, Borough Administrator, Dave Palamara, Borough Clerk, Catherine Campbell, Claire Richardson, and Lois Young for their help. Lets make Earth Day everyday. I hope to see you again next year!
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***NOTE NEW ADDRESS*** The Volunteer Center of Monmouth County, (732) 728-1927, offers hundreds of unique volunteer opportunities. The Center is now located at 1900 Highway 35, Oakhurst, NJ, and is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. See Volunteer
Opportunities
Each week we'll browse through two or three books and provide you with a brief assessment. These books can all be found in local bookstores. ___________________________ This week we go back to the 1800's in America. The books are about as opposite as two can be yet still remain linked by genre. The first is a fantastic yarn, told with all the excitement and grandeur of the Wild West. The second is a thought provoking attempt to recreate actual events. Read them and judge for yourselves. Think of them as a matched set. SIN KILLER by Larry McMurtry For years, the works of Larry McMurtry were unknown to me. Despite his bestsellers, he wasn’t even on the radar. Then came the epic Lonesome Dove. The story was fantastic. As a result, I picked up a couple of his earlier novels. Oops! Not so good for me. Was Lonesome Dove a fluke? Then came the sequels. Aces again. I learned that I had to be selective with this writer. He has a lot of best sellers that aren’t Westerns, but that doesn’t mean I am going to like them. Sin Killer has just hit the shelves in paperback. It is the first in a series of four books that focus on the travels of a rich English family in 1800’s America. McMurtry has packed the pages with just about every stereotype you could imagine. There is an upper-class father yearning to be an American hunter (think John “just a flesh wound” Cleese), a good daughter, an errant daughter, quiet, deep-thinking superstitious native Americans and the title hero – Sin Killer. He is a young white man who left civilization behind and brought a bible with him (think Davy Crockett and Rev. Billy Graham). McMurtry is writing this saga in four installments. If the next three hold to the level he sets in Sin Killer, he has a winner on his hands. This adventurous yarn is a worthwhile read. THE WHITE by Deborah Larsen In 1758, the family of 16-year-old Mary Jemison was killed by Shawnee Indians. Mary and her brother were kidnapped. Eventually, Mary was give to a Seneca tribe. The White tells the story of Mary’s life among her captors. The writing is fresh and the perspective is unique. We learn how Mary survives, even flourishes, never to return to her own people. This is a satisfying, intelligent work. Pair it with Sin Killer next time you visit the book store.
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JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS TO BE PARENTS Wouldn’t the world be a wonderful place if, after seeing a Save The Children commercial on TV, you could pick up the phone, say that you want to adopt one of those precious children in desperate need of love, clothes, food, and shelter, and then just fly out there and bring the little one home. And if Hollywood was a true reflection of reality, you could just go to an orphanage, fall in love at first sight with a little orphan named, say, Annie or Oliver, and bring the little one home to love and cherish forever and ever. Well, it doesn’t work that way. If you want to adopt a child, be prepared for a long wait and mounds of paperwork. It’s easy to be parents if you have good eggs and sperm that work well; heck, you don’t have to be financially fit or of legal age or even answer any questions! But if you want to give an orphaned, neglected, or abandoned child a home, you have to answer lots of questions and pass tests in order to be “deemed” acceptable parent material. The first step is a home study. My husband, daughter, and I had to meet with an approved, licensed New Jersey social worker four times; she had to visit our home once to make sure we didn’t live in a roach-infested shack without plumbing, and then we had to give her paperwork in order for her to write a report and say we would be good adoptive parents. Here’s the list of required documents:
We started the home study in July, and we didn’t have the completed copy in hand until October. That is mainly because the FBI has to process one set of fingerprints, and the results don’t come for weeks and weeks. Did you know that we had to be fingerprinted electronically by the INS in Newark for the FBI as well? So, in total, we were fingerprinted three times, twice for the FBI. Wouldn’t once be enough? Well, no, because each set gets checked independent of each other, since no department wants to take the time to communicate back and forth. And to think that when I watch Forensic Files on TV, all the detectives need is one darn fingerprint to make a match! Right now my fingerprints are all over the place! But I didn’t commit a crime, so it takes a year and a day for the government to clear me…and because I’m not a terrorist or a murderer, there’s no hurry. After all, I just want to adopt a child. Did I mention that almost everything has a fee? Only the local police did our fingerprints and checked the database to make sure we were lawful citizens for free. It is important to note that if you decide to adopt a child in the state of New Jersey, you can have your home study report done without fee if you agree to be foster parents. They have a foster-adopt program. After you go through training to be foster parents of NJ children who need a safe place to live because they have been either neglected, abused, and/or their parents are unable to care for them, you may have the opportunity to adopt them. That is if the parental rights are terminated. No guarantees, of course. But many, many children have found loving homes this way. It is the most economic of all adoption options. We decided to adopt a baby girl from Guatemala. Why Guatemala, you ask? Simple. When we told our 10-year-old daughter that we were considering adopting a child and what did she think, she pondered this notion for a while, and then gave us her blessing. You see, her very good friend was adopted ten years ago from Guatemala, so naturally that is the country from which we should adopt. In her mind, there was nowhere else even to consider! And of course, if she was going to share her parents and her home forever and ever, it had to be with a sister. So we did our research online, by phone, through the Better Business Bureau, through word of mouth, through TV documentaries, through other adoptive parents, and by reading several books about adoption, and we decided that we were a perfect match for Guatemala, a country that only requires the adoptive family to visit the country for approximately three days, and a country in which the children, most born into poverty, come home approximately four to seven months after referral. That would mean that we would have our baby girl home before she was one! Of course, the adoption agency and Guatemala require even more paperwork! We had to supply more medical letters, more letters of recommendation, financial statements, INS clearance, employment verification letters, passport documentation, name affidavits, even pictures of our home and family! And every single document has to be notarized, then sent to the state department for certification that the notary is an approved notary in the state of New Jersey, and, after all that, each paper has to be sent to the Guatemalan Embassy in New York City to be officially “stamped.” (The lady at the UPS Store greets me with a big smile; we are now on a first name basis. The same is true for the UPS man who delivers in my neighborhood…) All of these papers are collected and called a “dossier.” This gets sent to Guatemala where everything is translated into Spanish, and THEN we are ready to be matched with a baby. If you want to adopt, you really have to WANT to adopt. Maybe that’s why there are so many hoops through which to jump. Almost anyone can be a biological parent, but only squeaky-clean, law-abiding, financially stable, morally centered, incredibly patient people with a high threshold for frustration and a good sense of humor can be adoptive parents.
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WEAPONS OF PEACE
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(editors note: Do you have poetry to share? Send your submission to editor@ahherald.com.)
Picture This!
../picture_this/2003/pt_030501.htm or click here Picture This! We'll show you a photo each week and you tell us where in Monmouth County that photo was taken. If you have not won in the last 30 days and you know the answer, send your response to trivia@ahherald.com along with your name and the town where you live. Be the first person to respond with the correct answer and we will publish your name and the town where you live. In addition, we'll email a gift certificate for $25 to you from Bahr's Landing Marina and Restaurant in Highlands, NJ. Only those responses received on, or after, the date above will be accepted.
Can you identify the location from
this photo taken in Monmouth County, NJ? Last Week's Picture This! Answer
The AH Herald provides this space for community commentary on issues of local importance. The extended format of our Readers Write page will remind many of the Op-Ed pages in print newspapers. We hope you find the information compelling and informative. If you have something to say about a LOCAL issue, send your comments, along with your name, street address and daytime phone number to: editor@ahherald.com
../readers_write/index.html COLUMNIST IS INACCURATE, MISLEADING AND INFLAMMATORY To the Editor: One would assume that someone who runs a business disseminating information to the public would do so with a sense of the serious responsibility that that entails. Since people tend to believe much of what they read, it is an editor’s job to exercise some professional judgment to ensure that the information he publishes is as factually accurate and balanced as he can make it – or at least that it is not consistently inaccurate, misleading, and inflammatory. Your columnist Joe Caliendo, the embattled leader of the Middletown Democratic Party, is a poster child for everything that’s wrong with politics. Apparently, many members of his own party agree. They knocked him out of his election district committee seat, and attempted to overthrow him as chairman. Maybe they don’t like being led by a guy who swaggers around town saying that he’ll do or say anything to win, and smiles while he’s saying it. Politics is just a game to Mr. Caliendo, and a vicious and destructive one at that. Last year’s two Democratic candidates for Middletown Township Committee appeared on a local cable TV show recently and spent a full half-hour attacking Caliendo’s sorry leadership. They accused him of running last year’s campaign without consulting them on anything. I can understand why they might be upset, since most of the literature that was sent to Middletown residents by the Democrats was scurrilous and grossly inaccurate on almost every issue. The same can be said of his column in the Herald. Week after week, he supplies your readers with the local equivalent of supermarket tabloid material. Rather than a serious discussion of real issues or an offer of productive ideas on how to run Middletown better, Mr. Caliendo uses his space for negative political attack ads against the year’s actual or assumed Republican candidate. Most of us were sickened by such ads during last year’s fall election season and welcomed a respite from the worst that politics has to offer. You have inexplicably provided Mr. Caliendo with an opportunity to run such vicious and inaccurate attack ads in your publication, free of charge, without questioning the veracity of the content, the gross political bias, or the appropriateness of these weekly unbridled personal attacks. Emboldened by your failure to hold him to some reasonable editorial standard, Mr. Caliendo has stepped way over the line in his suggestion that the taxpayers may have paid for me to get my law degree. Nothing could be further from the truth. Every penny of the expenses for my degree was paid for out of money I had saved over the years from small inheritances I received from my mother, grandmother, and aunt. My mother, a single parent, and my grandmother, who had raised seven children on a laborer’s salary, never had much money, but they were frugal women and had managed to save small amounts during their lives. I put my modest share in the bank and saved it for a rainy day. I felt they would have been truly proud and supportive of my decision to use the money to pursue a law degree at age 51, since none of them had had the good fortune even to go to college. Nothing but malice and a reckless disregard for the truth could have impelled Mr. Caliendo to suggest otherwise. Whether his remarks and your publication of them rise to the level of actionable libel is a matter that I am investigating. In the meantime, I would suggest that you seriously reevaluate your policy of giving Mr. Caliendo carte blanche to say whatever he pleases in your publication. You are allowing your readers to be seriously misinformed, undermining your own editorial credibility, and contributing to the reluctance of decent, honest people to serve in political office. Sincerely, Rosemarie D. Peters
[editor's note: The AHHerald recognizes the need to be fair and balanced. We have a policy of not editing the opinions expressed by our contributing columnists. We have given each of them carte blanche to say what they will. We will, however, always point out factual errors. Fairness is a hard thing to define. One simple guideline for this publication, now and in the future, is to not knowingly publish unfounded rumors. We believe that rumors do not help in the public discourse of issues. I have requested that Mr. Caliendo commit himself to this guideline. With regard to balance, the AHHerald offered the Mayor space for her own unedited column at the beginning of this year. The Mayor accepted our offer on the condition that we re-publish the same column that appears in the Courier - one week after it is published in the Courier. We declined on the basis of that condition. We also offered column space at the start of former Mayor Parkinson's term, which he declined. Readers will recall that former Mayor Smith wrote a weekly column in the AHHerald during the year 2001. While the AHHerald does not always agree with what the contributing columnists write, we believe that the AHHerald should continue to be a forum where all views are shared.]
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SUPPORT THE TROOPS AS THEY BATTLE FOR GULF FREEDOM No matter what Ed Toner of Brick says about Bush, we support the troops for their bravery in what they are doing. The word "Freedom" we take for granted in the United States. It's something that not all countries have and understand. This is what our servicepersons are fighting for, to let them over in the Gulf know about "freedom" and to enjoy "freedom" the way we know it. The battle is almost over for our deployed servicepersons. Their mission is getting close to its end. Some are returning to the states. Watching the statues of the former leader fall was like the beginning of freedom to many of the people of Iraqi. An end of terrorism to most of them. An end to fear. A new beginning. Peace of mind. The beginning of freedom. Yes, some lives were lost, we are sorry for the families of those servicepersons, Americans, Englishmen, and others who lost their lives fighting for freedom in both Iraqi and Afghanistan. Peggy Cox,
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