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5.  "THANK YOU" LUAU HELD FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS

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by BERNICE ROBERTS

KEANSBURG, NJ — It was a well attended "thank you" occasion at Laurel Bay Health and Rehabilitation Center, Laurel Ave., Keansburg, on Thursday, August 21.  Joel Willinger, owner, said that he and his staff were happy to show their appreciation to all the friends they've acquired in the emergency medical services, the ambulance services, and the fire departments from Keansburg and the surrounding areas.

(l-r) Joel Willinger, President, Laurel Bay Health and Rehab Center with Ken Straudt of New Point Fire Company and Steve Rogan , Keansburg EMS.

Their Luau Barbecue feast was held to honor Jeff Walker and Chris Rowley of Maximum Care Ambulance Service; Judy Grzyb and Donna Rizzo-Simpson of Alert Ambulance Service; John DeFillippo and Sandy Schweighardt of MONOC (Monmouth Ocean-Hospital Service Corp.); Ken Straudt of New Point Fire Company and Steve Rogan, Keansburg EMS. Keansburg officials Mayor Mike Minervini, Police Director Ed McCabe, and Volunteer Ombudsman Doug Powell were honored for their diligence in assuring the well being of the patients at Laurel Bay.  Certificates for Excellence in Service were presented to them and to all of the individuals honored. "Under The Boardwalk" and other songs with a summer theme and beach locale set the upbeat mood for the rest of the afternoon's festivities.  Guests enjoyed the scintillating performance by mother and daughter guitarists and vocalists, the DeStefanos.

Laurel Bay's Administrator Vijaya Srinivasan, known to friends as V. J. (and that is to everyone!) was enthusiastic and straightforward in recounting the extent of the appreciation for the men and women honored.

"We're fortunate to have them ready to respond whenever needed and we feel steeped in gratitude on an everyday basis, but the BBQ gives us a chance to relax with great people and tell them so over a big happy hamburger." Two visitors, leaving the BBQ area and speaking animatedly together like long-time buddies, acknowledged that they had just met for the first time today.  Geri Dugo, whose mother Catherine suffers from Alzheimer's and Parkinson Disease, and Connie Robertelli, whose mother-in-law, Angelina, had a stroke some time ago, are both very frequent visitors.  They were generous in their comments on the care and kindness the two patients always receive and the attention and commitment to all requests that they have each personally received from the staff.  Both praised  the recreation staff too as "kind and good people."  And then they left, still talking together like old friends do.

(l-r) Police Director Ed McCabe and Mayor Mike Minervini, both of Keansburg  Linda Meehan, Director of Human Resources, Laurel Bay Health and Rehabilitation Center

NAVESINK,  NJ —  It is now almost two years since the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The difficulty of balancing America's need for security from terrorism against the need to protect the privacy and freedom of each individual American is a problem which crosses all ideological lines. Many worry that in the process of improving security so as to protect our land and way of life, we are in danger of giving up the very freedoms that we are trying to protect. How we decide what we must sacrifice and what we must preserve is a crucial question. It is important that these issues be confronted and discussed so that intelligent and informed decisions can be made by all citizens.

On September 16, 2003, the Monmouth County Friends of the American Civil Liberties Union is presenting a panel discussion on the tensions between security and civil liberties under the USA Patriot Act, followed by a question and answer session. The program is being co-sponsored by the Greater Red Bank Area League of Women Voters, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County and the Quakers Shrewsbury Friends Meeting.

Speaking to these questions will be Robert A. Honecker, Jr., Esq., First Assistant Prosecutor of Monmouth County; Grayson Barber, Esq., immediate past chair of the Individual Rights Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association and, among other positions, member of the New Jersey Privacy Study Commission and lecturer at Princeton University; and Parastou Hassouri, Esq., Immigrant Rights Project Specialist for ACLU-NJ. Deborah Jacobs, Esq., Executive Director of ACLU-NJ will be the moderator.

Mr. Honecker serves as Associate Director of the Board of the National District Attorneys' Association. He is a recognized expert on hate crimes and this year received the Community Justice Award for his work in the fight against hate crimes.

Ms. Barber is a First Amendment litigator and privacy advocate with a solo practice in Princeton. She advises the Intellectual Freedom Subcommittee of the New Jersey Library Association and chairs the ACLU-NJ Privacy Committee.

Ms. Hassouri is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh Law School, holds an M.A in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. in Government from the College of William & Mary. She is a naturalized American who moved to the U.S. from Iran as a teenager. She speaks Arabic, Farsi and French, as well as basic Spanish and German.

The program will be held at the Navesink Public Library, 149 Monmouth Avenue, corner of Sears Avenue, Middletown at 7:30 PM. For travel directions, visit www.aclu-nj.org or call Elizabeth at 973-642-2086.

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• A communications plan with your family
• Getting home via an alternate route
• Having walking shoes at work
• Keeping a flashlight at work
• Change for a pay phone
• Knowing where could you buy a cold bottle of water
• Knowing where to fill up your fuel tank
• A plan to keep your food safe at home
• A battery-powered radio available
• Having fresh batteries for a flashlight, radio and cell phone
• Having a portable device that can relay a message to your family

Norris Beren, Executive Director of the Emergency Preparedness Educational Institute states that "sitting down with your family and creating a family disaster plan is critical to having answers to the questions Americans are asking themselves now."

As Executive Director of the Emergency Preparedness Educational Institute (EPEI), an Illinois not-for-profit organization, Beren says, "most people in America do not even have a plan to evacuate their home during a fire, let alone a blackout or terrorist attack."

Beren, a corporate risk specialist and expert in emergency planning, is a recognized speaker and corporate trainer. The Emergency Preparedness Educational Institute was formed to help people help themselves by bringing family emergency/planning training into the workplace.

In a new book and planning guide published by the Institute, When Disaster Strikes Home, 101+ Ways to Protect Your Family from Unthinkable Emergencies, Beren shows families how to prepare for the worst. The simple guide gives families the "emergency edge" by providing solutions, checklists, forms and ideas so families can create their own personalized plans and feel safer and more confident.

THESE ARE NOT YOUR PARENTS' BODIES

Someone told me recently that 60 is the new 40, meaning that turning 60 today is what turning 40 was to our parents decades ago.  I hope that is the truth because I just turned 60 and no way in hell do I feel 40.  I do feel great mind you but genetics have been kind to my family that and the fact that I am a gym rat.  

In the last 20 years millions Americans have become obsessed with getting healthy and in shape.  Years ago in my late 30’s I notice in a picture that my shoulders and arms seemed more narrow then my hips.  My body looked like my father's. There were not many gyms around at the time.  The Executive Health Spa opened at the Red Bank Mini Mall on Broad Street, I joined it and started working out with weights.  Soon after that the Little Silver Racquet Ball club opened on White Street In Little Silver.  I got hooked on the sport and have been playing ever since.  I go to the gym at least six times a week.  That and changing my eating habits have kept me in good shape for my age.  

I have noticed the change in many people over the years.  Those that watched their diet and worked out diligently have maintained a youthful appearance and attitude.  More and more people are starting to work as gyms and trainer become better and more a part of our lives.  Men and women in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s are learning to pump iron and do cardiovascular work outs.  Yoga is fast becoming the new way to gain flexibility, reduce stress and live longer.  And living longer and staying healthy is really the key. 

Youth is wasted on the young has more meaning to many today as we realize that as we get older we have a better understanding of life.  We are entering a new phase of life and want to be around for a while to enjoy it.  It is kind of neat to see our children turn into adults and our grandchildren get taller then us as it is in my case. In some cases we might get another chance at a great relationship and not blow it this time.  

Life is not a dress rehearsal a friend said to me yesterday and that point was driven home by the loss of close friend who I worked with on a number of committees.  We don't know what will happen to any of us tomorrow so I feel we must stay healthy today so we can get to tomorrow.

The following emails were sent and received today:

“To Drew Horgan

It is with a great deal of sorrow that I learned that Drew Horgan passed away last night.  He had been home on leave from Iraq for the past couple of weeks.  He had a sudden illness that had not been detected in the past. 

 Arrangements are being made at John Days for this Friday and Saturday.  I will miss Drew greatly.  His intelligence and wit was a mainstay whenever I was in his company.   Danny Murphy”

“Drew represented what was best in our community: his vision, passion and keen intelligence made life more meaningful for all.  He was so very supportive of our Kaboom! Fireworks on the Navesink endeavors.

 I ditto Danny's words and am greatly saddened by our community's loss, and wish family and friends abiding peace, James Wells, CEO Navesink House”

944 AIRPLANES: EARLY COMPUTER GAMES

California Governor Gray Davis is facing an October 7 recall election which pollsters say he will probably lose. The Guv – concerned only for the public weal (I have no doubt) – wants the courts to delay the election until March, 2004. He says this will give local election offices time to replace “antiquated” punched-card equipment with a modern, computerized voting system.

The request can hardly be denied, since even Hottentots in Darkest Africa know that Al Gore lost because Florida was still using “creaky” old card readers left over from the Cleveland administration.

During the 2000 Recount, officials and fresh-faced media types denounced “outdated” voting equipment in the Florida counties – especially those “antiquated, unreliable” card readers used to count and recount the ballots. Pundits repeatedly asked – with eyes piously raised to heaven – when Florida would come into the 21^st century.

Scene-change: November, 2002; Montgomery County, Maryland. Always zealous to be completely up-to-date, MC rolled out a fully computerized voting system for the 2002 election, designed to avoid those nasty problems that cost Al Gore Florida’s electoral votes. However, if post-election comments by citizens – both in print and on-air – are a guide, it would seem that there is still a problem.

Numerous county residents voiced doubts that their votes had actually been cast, and worried about the lack of  “artifacts” – i.e., a physical ballot. I, too, had wondered when someone would finally notice that high-tech voting – much touted as the Republic’s salvation – is non-verifiable, non-traceable, and non-duplicable. The voter takes it entirely on faith that his ballot was cast and can be verified.

Yes, yes – I see those hands raised by our computer whiz-kids. Of course, backup files can record how electronic ballots were cast. But Dude! How secure is that? Haven’t the hackers shown us, by this time, how easily files can be changed or erased or replaced? How hard would it be for a talented hacker to break into an election-records computer and change an election result without leaving a trace to betray the deed?

The punched-card ballots we used for years in Montgomery County, where I lived for 33 years, might have looked old-fashioned. (No! Not that!) But they were actually solid artifacts, repeatedly usable for recounting. Moreover, the small machines MC provided for punching our votes were – as I recall – entirely dependable and easy to use. A child could have operated them. One can only assume that those Florida tales of balky, unreliable punching devices were either much exaggerated, or were indicative of a contract filled by some election official’s brother-in-law.

An electronic ballot seems sexy and very modern, but it is non-substantial – “virtual”, as they say – and immensely susceptible to fraud and manipulation to a degree that punched-card ballots are not, provided the latter are guarded and handled with reasonable prudence. Electronic voting is so rich with opportunities for chicanery that those old stories of unplugged voting machines in Chicago precincts on election day will seem as childish as Romper Room, in retrospect.

Old computer pros like me pounded our armchairs and shouted at the TV set during the 2000 Recount, as nonsense poured out from ignorant youngsters who had no idea what they were talking about. “Antiquated” card-readers? The internal combustion engine is over 100 years old. Do we call it “antiquated”? High-speed card readers represent a technology zenith of the late 1970s, when 2400-card-per-minute machines read hundreds of thousands of cards (and millions of actual punches) per day, nearly error-free.

At that time, I worked with programs stored on 10,000 cards and containing some 1,000,000 punches. It was extremely uncommon to encounter a single error in the course of reading these gigantic decks. Had these machines produced read-errors regularly, we could not have done our work.

This is the equipment Florida and other states use for vote-counting. NASA put a man on the moon with this same “creaky” gear. How did we get Neil Armstrong there (and back) if the technology was so unreliable?

We phased out punched-card media – not because the technology was unreliable, but because it was too slow. And card-storage was too bulky and too susceptible to dampness, mice, and fire. But with ballots, solidity and replication matter far more than storage or speed. The issues are different.

The slander of Florida’s voting equipment was entirely specious. It was really a media “bums rush” to explain why Al lost the election. And in that rush, nobody noticed that when you abandon punched cards, you lose the artifacts which provide proof, enable recounting, and ultimately inspire public confidence that an election has been conducted correctly and without fraud.

The real problem in Florida was not poor technology. It was improper handling of evidence – on live TV, no less. My daughter, a Maryland attorney, called me one morning during the 2000 Recount.

“The TV is showing people fanning packs of ballot cards,” she exclaimed. “Unguarded card decks are lying on tables. Some cards have fallen onto the floor. Reporters are walking all over the place. This is evidence!” she practically shouted. “You can’t handle evidence that way!” (Of course, you can – I reminded her – if you hope to change an election result.)

Running scared from media hype about “antiquated equipment” is not the same as a thorough, informed examination of a process and an expert evaluation of its equipment. If we think fraud lurked in every chad of punched-card ballots, just watch for the possibilities with electronic voting.

Early in my career I worked at a Navy technical shop which analyzed tactical and strategic problems, often using computer programs to make complex determinations. One of those programs, actually supplied by Air Force analysts, compared the tactical needs of the Navy and the Air Force for a certain aircraft. The program indicated how many planes each branch would need for various scenarios. We executed it against varying sets of parameters (inputs), finding that Air Force needs varied widely over different scenarios. But the answer for the Navy always read, “The Navy gets 944 airplanes”.

Finally, someone checked the actual programming code – written in a computational language called FORTRAN. We found the direct print statement: The Navy gets 944 airplanes. The message was not “parameterized”; i.e., “944”, expressed no computed quantity. Those calculations (and “results”) had been used in strategic and tactical deliberations at high military levels. (Some sly Air Force analysts had played a joke on us which they knew we would quickly discover.)

Prank or not, I learned something valuable about computers the day we discovered that bit of tongue-in-cheek computational chicanery. I saw that computers are tools, not oracles. They should not be trusted, implicitly, as they are only as trustworthy as the people operating them. That goes double (maybe triple) for elections.

Eventually the rest of the country will learn this, too. But if we rush headlong into electronic voting, the lesson could be a little more far-reaching than a few airplanes, more or less, for the Navy.

Governor Davis might succeed in his desperation gambit to delay the Recall election by raising the (dreaded) spectre of punched-card ballots. But take it from an old computer pro – the issue is, like, totally bögus. There is no problem with punched card voting, other than a “perception” problem.

Electronic voting, however, will become the fox in the proverbial hen-house. Very soon, every election will produce another scandal involving electronic voting. Those new, improved virtual systems will (I predict) become so hopelessly hacked and vulnerable to compromise that punched card voting will actually return as an “anti-voting-fraud innovation”.

Young journalists who were wearing diapers in 2000 will make their bones denouncing the “incompetents” who sold us computerized voting.

‘How in the world,’ they will ask (with eyes piously raised to heaven), ‘did we get snookered into abandoning artifacts?’

And old guys, like me, will sit around wearing shawls and wheezing about “944 airplanes” to anyone who will listen…

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SPOTLIGHT ON KEANSBURG by Patrick Pecora Keansburg Councilman

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FIRST ANNIVERSARY, LIBRARY GROUNDBREAKING AND OTHER INFORMATION

I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who has been reading these weekly articles and I hope you have found them informative. This is article number 52 which I have written for this column and it marks my first anniversary. If anyone has any thought on what I can do to improve this column or other items about our town that should be included please let me know. You can reach me by e-mail at Patrick@ahherald.com.

I want to remind every one that on Saturday 8/30/03 at noon there will be the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Keansburg Public Library. The ceremony will be held at the library site on Shore Blvd. near the corner of Twilight. All are invited to this public event. We have also sent invitations to other elected officials. For more information please use this link: ../news/2003/0807/kb_library_groundbreaking.htm

While I am mentioning town events, I also want to remind everyone about the Antique and Classic Car shows every Thursday (weather permitting) on Church Street from 5 to 9 PM. The car shows will continue until Thursday 9/25/03.

Next, I want to cover in a little more detail some items I brought up in previous issues of this column. First, I want to advise everyone that our town's grant application for aid was filed and sent to the state on time. The answer from the state on this aid will not be received until around the start of next year. For that reason we will not be able to fully finalize the budget numbers until we know the amount of aid we will be receiving from the state.

At this point in our budget process, the total appropriations for the next year will be $10,428,697.67. Not all of that money is spent directly by our borough for instance $4,318,002 (nearly 40%) of that total is paid directly to the Keansburg Board of Education. Then there are other portions of that money paid to the county and the state. As you can see, what seems like a lot of money for borough operations is quickly brought into perspective when you look at the whole picture.

Lastly, I want to expand a little on another item I mentioned last week and that is the fact that our town has applied for a special equipment grant. This grant is being made available through the homeland security department. We have applied for $150,000 dollars in equipment aid which will be split evenly between our police department and the fire and EMS volunteer organizations. This grant, if we receive the funds, should go a long way to alleviate some of the equipment problems in our town.

Upcoming Council meetings.

Please note that second meeting of the month for August normally held on the fourth Thursday has been cancelled this month. Additionally, in reverence to the 9/11 attack upon our country the council meeting scheduled for that date has also been cancelled. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Keansburg Borough Council will be on Thursday 9/25 at 7 PM. There may be a special meeting if necessary before the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Upcoming Borough Events.

Keansburg's Antique and Classic Car Show - Every Thursday evening weather permitting from 5 PM to 9 PM on Church Street now through September 25 our town will host an antique and classic car show. This weekly car show is a cooperative effort between Steve Lucisano of Lucisano's Pizza, the Borough of Keansburg and other town business owners.

Library Groundbreaking Ceremony - On Saturday August 30 at Noon our town will have a groundbreaking ceremony for the start of construction of the Keansburg Public Library. All are invited to attend.

New Point Comfort Annual Dinner and Dance - On Saturday October 18 from 7 PM to Midnight New Point Comfort Fire Company will host their Annual Dinner and Dance. The event will feature music provide by Chailo 6 Piece Band. The event will provide your Dinner, Beer, Soda and Coffee you can also bring your own bottle. Ticket Price is $20.00 and tickets are available from any New Point Comfort Fireman. Prizes will also be awarded: The door prize will be a Big Screen TV; the grand prizes will be $500.00, $200.00, $100.00 and $50.00. In addition, 10 weekly prizes of $50.00 each will be awarded.

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT  by Mark R. Vogel Contact : mark@ahherald.com

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CHIANTI

“I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti,” asserts Dr. Hanibal Lechter in “Silence of the Lambs.” Bizarre as his gastronomic choices may be, he at least knows his wine and food pairings. Well, I certainly can’t speak for human liver, but as for liver in general, yeah, Chianti would work. Too bad this wonderful wine will be associated with lurid madness for many years to come. Let’s see if we can undo that.

Chianti is named for the Chianti region of Tuscany in Italy. It is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape, although a variety of others are often incorporated. In fact, many “Super Tuscans” are blends of Sangiovese and other grapes but that’s another story. Like all wines, quality depends on geographic location. Some vineyards and microclimates produce better wines than others.

The Chianti region includes seven subzones. Your basic Chianti hails from within the Chianti borders but not from within any of the subzones. The label will simply state “Chianti.” Wines from one of the seven subdivisions however, are often better in quality. The best of the seven is the “Classico” region. Chianti Classico can be identified by a black rooster on the label, inevitably on the neck of the bottle. Wine from any of the remaining subzones may list the name of zone on the label, or may only be labeled “Chianti,” like it’s generic brethren. The word “riserva” on the label indicates a wine of superior quality that has been aged for three years prior to distribution. Avoid Chiantis in the traditional straw covered bottles, (known as a fiaschi). They are usually of poorer quality.

Although not as important in Chianti as compared to other wine areas, (e.g., Bordeaux, Burgundy and Piedmont to name a few), it doesn’t hurt to know who the better producers are. Two chefs can utilize the same ingredient from identical sources, but one produces an average dish while the other concocts a meal fit for a king. For the cerebral, there are many books that list well known producers. For the experiential, try different brands and keep tasting notes to guide your future choices. Or, if you’re well rounded and zealous, do both.

Chianti is a dry, red wine that can be light and somewhat vapid, (at the lower end of the quality continuum), to medium or full-bodied with respectable tannin and acidity. However, good Chianti will also embrace a balance of fruit flavors, cherry being the most often noted. This marriage of tannin, acid, and fruity or flowery essences produces a flavorful harmony appealing to the entire palate. Tannins by the way are a group of astringent substances found in grapes which bestow wine with structure, texture and flavor. Wines with higher tannins will have greater “backbone” and need time to age as the tannins mellow, intermingle with the other compounds, and deepen the character of the wine. Good Chiantis can age five to eight years while top quality wines from exceptional vintages can age beyond ten.

Because Chianti is generally a medium bodied wine, it possesses diversity with the foods it can be paired with. But a little common sense is in order. For example, I would not serve a light, cheaper Chianti with a roast. It’s simply too weak to stand up to the robust flavor of the meat. That’s when you splurge on the Classico or the riserva. Likewise, I would not match a top Chianti with more delicate foods or dishes with light sauces. It would be too overpowering.

Chianti is superb with pasta and other tomato sauce based dishes. The acidity of Chianti complements the acidity of the tomatoes to create a balanced fusion. Oh, and beer move over. Try Chianti with your next pizza. It’s a perfect match. Chianti however, also goes well with a variety of meats, especially veal dishes such as Marsala or any other brown sauces.

Chianti is generally an inexpensive wine. Your basic Chianti will run you less than $10. The upper echelon will rarely exceed $30. You can easily find Classico or riserva Chiantis in the high teens to $20. My absolute favorite everyday wine is Ruffino Chianti. You can find it in any liquor store for under $10. Chianti should be served at a temperature in the mid 60s. And if Dr. Lechter’s coming for dinner, just have him bring the wine. You do the cooking.

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JOBPATH by Caroline Ceniza-Levine caroline@ahherald.com www.thinkasinc.com

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STAYING MOTIVATED

Creative success does not always translate to career success.  It may be a creative achievement to write that book, produce that show, or create that artwork, but the book might not sell, the show might not attract audiences, and the art might not get exhibited.  Therefore, when pursuing a creative career, you need two sources of motivation:  the kind that keeps you pursuing your creative limits; and the kind that keeps you pursuing your career.  Most artists I know have a commitment to creativity.  But when the career hits roadblocks, it’s tough to stay motivated.  Here are some tips:

Commit resources to strictly creative projects.  Every individual project does not have to further your career.  There are some projects with little obvious career payoff that are necessary for skill development, creative challenge or inspiration. 

Commit resources to your business.  Once your art is your livelihood, it is a business that requires time, money and energy to grow.  Successful businesses have a clear mission, product, customer base, brand, and bottom line.  Creative business are no exception.  You need to understand your career goals – not just where you want to be creatively, but as a business.  You need to hone that craft, generate customers (i.e., audience), market yourself, and manage your finances.

Remember your ultimate inspiration.  Many people pursue the arts as hobbies.  Some of these people are extremely talented and dedicated, but somehow they decided not to make their art their career.  Therefore, when you decided to pursue a career in your art, it was a commitment beyond talent or resources.  Maybe it was the dream of a lifetime, or a challenge that called you, or a nagging in your gut.  You need to identify whatever it was that made you take the leap from amateur to professional, from dreamer to doer, from hobbyist to entrepreneur.  You need to remember this ultimate inspiration during career plateaus and creative blocks.  When you need the motivation to continue, ask yourself if your ultimate inspiration is still real for you.

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SENIOR SAVVY by Bernice Roberts email - bernice@ahherald.com

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SNOOKERING THE FRENCH

The University of Miami School of Medicine has gone to France for eating lessons. How do the French eat that rich cuisine and still stay so slim?  Is it because they call their food "cuisine" and we call ours "foodstuffs?"  Are they staying slim just to stick it to the "Ugly Americans?"  Do we care?

We've always been good to the French, like ridding their country of the "Ugly Nazis," buying their Cuisenarts, cooking in their casserole dishes, wearing Chanel #5, and docking our cars in the garage, moreover even respecting the French pronunciation and not following the English who say "GAR' age."  In fact the English have always insisted on anglicizing all French words, and Englishmen even claim that the French language is derived entirely from English words which the Frenchman then drags out through his nose and corrupts the whole vocal thing with unintended comedy.  The English are clever enough to put the whole burden of comprehension on the French listener instead of pandering to them as Americans do.  We studiously mimic the French accent, and still sound just like Americans talking with a nasty head cold.

I have a friend whom we call Hulk because of his brute size.  In spite of his macho appearance, he is an embarrassingly devout panderer to the French.  In fact one day at his "petit dejeuner" in Montmarte, he attempted one of those intricate words that end without any letter sounds - just "annh and huhhnn."  He tried so hard that he slid an entire croissant through his left nostril.  It was an awful sight mainly because a croissant is shaped like a boomerang (that's a good sturdy Australian Aborigine word where every letter is sensibly sounded).  So the croissant needed assistance from the waiter who wasn't sure whether it should come out or stay in the nose where all French word endings reside.

Because of French arrogance great numbers of their senior generation perished from callous neglect in the heat wave.  They were the generation who loved us because they remembered American armies marching through the Arc de Triumph, routing the Germans, handing out cigarettes, supplementing their meager diet with chocolates, and sharing their rations with French families and saving their children.  We were the good guys in every sense of the word.  Immediately after that came the Marshall Plan which completed the resurrection of France.

"Vive les Americains," all of France shouted in gratitude.  Then later we became "The Ugly Americans" to the next generation who soon overlooked history because they never lived through the hardship.  Americans are now depicted as people who don't suffer from the heat because they open their great big refrigerator doors about twenty times a day and stand there gawking at the vast array of goodies and soft drinks as they are making up their minds about what to gorge themselves on next.  This really contrasts with the French refrigerator which is a teeny box containing a teeny wedge of cheese and a bottle of wine.  It is powered by a teeny gerbil running a teeny exercise wheel while clutching two ice cubes.  That's because the French haven't  a clue when it comes to technology.   They're kind of like sissies who are afraid of power tools and electricity.

So who cares that the French are slimmer than we are and I even think I have the answer to the paradox.  All Frenchmen have been going about with all those unpronounced letters stuck in their noses, making them mean as well as snooty and curbing their appetites to boot.  How would you feel about eating if you had dozens of "ents, ants, and eauxes, stuck up your nose?  So ha ha ha to them, or anh anh anh as the froggies would say.

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LEGALLY SPEAKING by Rich Marcolus, Esq. Levinson Axelrod Attorneys at Law rich@ahherald.com View Archive

Levinson-Axelrod www.njlawyers.com Attorneys at Law 274 Church Street Belford, NJ 07718 (732) 787-3200 (800) 34-NJ-LAW

SUPREME COURT TO HEAR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CASE

It is expected that the New Jersey Supreme Court will hear a case concerning whether an individual who stopped at a post office to mail some personal letters while in route to do a job would be covered under workers’ compensation.

The individual was hurt while exiting his car to mail letters. In dismissing the case, the Judge of Compensation found that even though this was the most minor deviation from the job, it is not within the individuals scope of employment.

For those of us who are on the road in order to complete our job, this decision may have an impact on what is covered.

For example, are you covered when you stop on the New Jersey Turnpike to go to the restroom? How about stopping for a cup of coffee? Such minor deviations are a part of everyday life and hopefully the Supreme Court will see it that way.

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PHYSICIAN'S FORUM Alan Zaccaria, MD, FACS Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon, President, Monmouth County Medical Society Chief, Plastic Surgery, Jersey Shore Medical Center www.plasticsurgery_zaccaria.yourmd.com

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NEW JERSEY PHYSICIAN'S STRATEGY FOCUSES ON THE 14TH DISTRICT

In a very important grass-roots meeting of key physician leaders in New Jersey, important strategies were hammered out regarding the upcoming election in November. Dr. Ronald Bochner, head of New Jersey Citizens United For Health Care Access called for the meeting on August 19, in Freehold. It was attended by Dr. Alan Zaccaria, President of the Monmouth County Medical Society, Dr. Steve Berkowitz, Dr. Norman Back, Dr. Frank Kelly of Ocean County, and Tim Martin, lobbyist for the Medical Society of New Jersey. Special guests for the evening included the two Republican candidates running for Assembly in the 14th Legislative District--William E. Baroni, Jr., and Sidna Mitchell.

The Medical Society of New Jersey and various grass-roots groups of physicians have come to realize that in order to have any chance at meaningful tort reform in the State of New Jersey, a regime change must take place within the Legislation. Since caps on pain and suffering has become a partisan issue, and is supported by the Republicans and not by the Democrats, the only way to get our bill passed is to change the balance of power in the State Assembly with the November election. Thus, key Legislative Districts, such as District 14, are being targeted. To that end, very interesting and positive discussions ensued with the two candidates regarding their political positions. We found them to be sincere and honest and were confident that they will support New Jersey physicians wholeheartedly and will work hard in the Assembly to preserve patient's access to quality health care in our state. We will be supporting their efforts both financially and through political action in their district during our job-action in October.

We will also be targeting other legislative districts as part of our overall strategy to preserve our health care system and to keep doctors in New Jersey. This should make for a very interesting election in November. A very interesting election in deed.

Email- Aldozac@netzero.net
Website- www.plasticsurgery_zaccaria.yourmd.com

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NO BULL FISHING REPORT by Jay Cosgrove of Bahr's Landing Marina and Restaurant Highlands, NJ  jay@ahherald.com http://www.bahrs.com

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Rich Diebold, Highlands, fishing aboard John Sisto's, Middletown, "SistoKid" landed a 135lb mako on Monday. They were tuna chunking the West Wall of the Canyon Sunday night boating 5 yellowfins and releasing 12 when the mako came to the boat. It fought like a big yellowfin as they gaffed him quickly before he had a chance to cut the line. They also released a large brown shark.

Fluke have been the best inshore game in town. With the west winds calming the ocean beaches a navy of party boats and others of all sizes are drifting w/in a mile of the beach. Some nice fluke have been caught at the Nude Beach/Highlands Reef/ and down past the Shrewsbury Rocks.

Still no sign of Weakfish.

Blueclaw crabbing is turning into another bumper crop. whether it is traps, hand lines or piling netting you are sure to fill your bushel with a little work. The best bait is fresh moss bunkers. It is not legal to use chicken necks due to environmental issues w/ some unsanitary chicken viruses.

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OLD OAK TRAIL by Joe Reynolds AH Environmental Commission Member joe@ahherald.com

mini-autobiography

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SALT MARSH GRASSES GROW IN ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS

For me, one of the most fascinating natural features of living in the Bayshore region of Monmouth County is that you never know what you will see or find. With all the roads, houses, and strip malls that overcrowd towns from South Amboy to the Highlands you would think that life in this mostly urban region would be short of natural surprises. Yet, you would be wrong.

Take for example the Charlie Hesse Pier in the Atlantic Highlands Harbor, part of Sandy Hook Bay. During the late 1800s to early-1900s, the pier was an important rail yard. Many people depended on this pier to provide a rail connection between New York City to resort towns along the coastline of Monmouth County. In the mid-1900s, however, a fire caused extensive damage to the pier.

Today, numerous people from all over New Jersey and New York gather on what remains of the pier to go fishing for bluefish, herring, bass, or flounder. Indeed, so popular is this site for fishing that people often call it the “old” fishing pier.

Unfortunately, decades of mismanagement by the property owner and abuse by visitors and teenagers have created (in my opinion) a disgusting, offensive, and shameful area. Seven days a week and throughout the year all sorts of trash and litter can widely be seen, such as beer bottles, paper bags, plastic bottles, styrofoam boxes, scraps of food, and unused fishing line. In fact, just recently I observed someone illegally dumping a full bag of trash at the end of the pier with the top open and debris blowing in the wind into the water.

If the amount of garbage is not enough to make you weep, then there is also plenty of underage drinking that occurs on weekends. The pier is certainly a noticeable blemish in an otherwise beautiful harbor.

Yet, even with this disrespect by humans for their environment, there exists nature. An approximately 20-foot lengthwise plot of hearty salt marsh grass is growing on the southwestern side of the pier. While the sight of saltmarsh grass might not seem eventful to you, it is to me. The most conspicuous tidal wetland plant in the Bayshore region is the invasive and monotonous looking Phragmities. This reed is a tall plant that grows in a dense monoculture of a few square yards to more than an acre. Therefore, it is refreshing to observe a crisp community of assorted native grasses, such as Spartina, growing in an otherwise neglected area of Atlantic Highlands.

photo ALLAN DEAN Salt Marsh Grass grows near Hesse Pier in Atlantic Highlands

The currents in the bay depositing sediments along the pier and seeds from nearby Spartina meadows most likely brought about the presence of the salt marsh grasses. The sand and rocks near the pier created a low marsh ecosystem and ideal habitat for tidal plants to grow.

Typically, seagrass meadows play an important role in an estuarine food web. They provide good homes for a variety of worms, isopods, snails, mollusks, and shrimps, which in turn are eaten by larger species including crabs, mummichogs, silverside fish, and numerous juvenile fish species. Subsequently, larger species, as well as many of the same types of fish that are being caught near the pier, eat these species. It is possible that one reason for the good fishing on Hess Pier is due to the presence of this modest seagrass meadow.

Saltwater vegetation is substantial to the health of our bay. Beds of seagrass form important nursery areas for many invertebrates and fishes. They also provide food to wintering waterfowl, such as brants. In addition, as the plants die and decompose, their remains are washed up on shore and are eaten by detritivores, such as snails, which help to continue the natural food web system in Sandy Hook Bay.

Thus, on your next trip to Atlantic Highlands you might want to stopover to observe the natural saltmarsh meadow system near Hesse Pier. Our modest meadow is a retreat for a diversity of fish and invertebrates, and unexpected good fortune for humans to delight in.

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LEND - A - HAND Volunteer Center of Monmouth County (732) 728-1927

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
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LEAFNOTES by Charles Deitz charles@ahherald.com

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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.
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Ghost Light: A Memoir by Frank Rich
Publisher: Random House
ISBN 0679452990 (hardcover)
ISBN:0375758240 (paperback)

The author, Frank Rich, was born June 2, 1949 in Washington D.C.  After graduating from it’s public schools, he went on to Harvard where he was editorial chairman of The Harvard Crimson.  He graduated magna cum laude in 1971 with a B.A. in American History and Literature.  Within a few years, he was founding editor of the Richmond (Va.) Mercury, a weekly newspaper.  Not bad for a man in his early twenties, no?  Before long, he became the film critic for The New York Post and film critic and senior editor of New Times magazine.  From 1980 to 1993, Rich was the chief drama critic for the New York Times (a.k.a."the butcher of Broadway.") Since 1994, he has been an op-ed columnist with a biweekly column.

Missing from this biography are Rich’s formative years.  What led a shy, loner-type kid from the public schools in DC to Harvard and a career in theater?  Was he a genius or an industrious worker?  Was he nurtured and encouraged or did he live the cold, forgotten life of the son of wealthy divorced parents?

The answers are found in Ghostlight, the story of his childhood.  We follow Rich’s life from grammar school in the 50’s through high school graduation in the 60’s.  Together we pass familiar milemarkers like the Kennedy and the King assassinations.  The reader is there as the young man begins his love affair with the legit stage.  The incipient critic makes the theater his second home, not as an actor but as an observer.

The pace is slow.  There is no drama or excitement.  The only reason to turn the next page is for the joy of reading a well-crafted story.  Most characters are filled out with personality and motive.  Reading this story is like walking through a park with a ranger who can point out more detail than you would have ever noticed on your own

For the curious, the title refers to the superstition that if an emptied theater is ever left completely dark, a ghost will take up residence. To prevent this, a single "ghost light" is left burning at center stage after the audience and all of the actors and musicians have gone home

I never would have read this had it not been recommended by another reader. Thanks Karen.

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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Published by Doubleday Publishing
ISBN: 0385509456.

I was intrigued by the story summary in the advertisements for this book.  Copied directly from Imagine a fifteen-year-old boy, very much like Hoffman’s “Rainman” character. Put him in a small town a few hours north of London, UK.  Then, give him a run-in with the law.  These are the essential ingredients of a wonderful story by Mark Hadden.

As described at http://www.msnbc.com, “Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Routine, order and predictability shelter him from the messy, wider world. Then, at fifteen, Christopher’s carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbor’s dog, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing.”

A fan of Sherlock Holmes stories, Christopher decides to investigate the poodle's murder and turn the story into a book of his own.   It is a first-person narrative, so the reader sees everything through the filter of Christopher’s handicap.  This is a wonderfully unique perspective, fueled by Hadden’s experience working with handicapped children.

Accolades for “The Curious Incident…” are beginning.  The Today Show (NBC) recently selected it as the Book of the Month.  Go ahead, read it.  You’ll enjoy.

EXTRAS
What am I, the kiss of death?  No sooner did I recommend “Lucky” on the USA network when – whoosh. It gets yanked from the schedule.  Oh well, I should have expected it.  It’s over in the pile with Mr. Sterling and a half a dozen other shows that no one ever saw but my wife and me.

Bravo has re-started The West Wing.  I didn't watch it the first time around.  (I think I was engrossed buy the shenanigans on Drew Carey.)  Wow! What a great show.  I’ve only seen the first two episodes, but I think I owe Bravo a thanks.   Also, if you missed James Lipton’s interview with Martin Sheen, you missed a great one.

That’s it ‘til next week.

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ADOPTION OPTION by Amy Shore amy@ahherald.com

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WE'RE IN PGN !

After nine months on this adoption carousel, we’ve learned a lot of new adoption lingo; Home study, dossier, referral, POA (power of attorney), bm (birth mother), fm (foster mother), sw (social worker), fc (family court) were just a few of the many terms and abbreviations that became a staple in our every-day vocabulary.  Even Miranda was educating her fifth grade friends in adoption-speak.  Now we were happy to add the acronym PGN.  Let me tell you why.

From the start, we knew that “entering PGN” was magical.  Whenever a family entered PGN, they were ecstatic with the news, and proudly announced it on the Guatemalan adoption listserv that we daily checked and rechecked online. 

‘We’re in PGN!’ was prominently displayed in the subject lines of these emails, and you knew you were going to either be very happy for this family (in the early stages of our adoption journey), brokenhearted (in the middle of our adoption journey when we were stuck in Family Court and Lucinda’s birthmother was missing), or jealous (in the ‘I can’t wait any longer’ mode of the adoption, when you see families who received their referrals after you somehow moving way ahead of you and, despite the rules of etiquette and maturity, you wish that it was you and your child in their place). 

Anyone who knows anything about adopting from Guatemala knows the power of those letters P-G-N on hopeful adoptive parents.  It’s equivalent to Dorothy’s excitement when she finally enters the Land of Oz after following that almost endless yellow brick road!  Just when she thinks she is never, ever going home, she enters Oz.  And for us that’s PGN. 

So what is PGN?  Here’s the simple explanation:  first a family receives a referral, then DNA testing is done to make sure the baby and the birth mother are indeed related, the birth mother and the foster mother both are interviewed by a Guatemalan social worker, a report is written, and then the case moves to Family Court; all of those important documents in the dossier in addition to the new Family Court documents move to PGN, the Procuraduria General de la Nación, which is equivalent to our Attorney General’s office.  This is the “last big stop” in the adoption process. 

Guatemalan lawyers (notorial officers) in PGN review each case with a fine-toothed comb.  If there are typos, your case is “kicked out” of court until the documents are fixed.  If your notary stamps on the dossier documents that you did months and months ago have expired, your case is “kicked out.”  Is the ink not dark enough on that signature?  You guessed it—it may get “kicked out.”  (What are the rules, you ask?  I’m still trying to figure them out…and so are the adoption professionals who work with PGN daily.)  We pray that a very nice, calm, happy PGN attorney who is having a good day reviews our file.  But that is rare…  Most are very picky.

If your case gets “kicked out,” you fix the document that needs fixing (which sometimes takes weeks, because you have to start from scratch, and do all that state department-embassy authentication business that you did months ago when you first prepared the document for the dossier), and then your lawyer reenters the file back to the PGN lawyer.  That is called going “back in.”  Sometimes your file can get kicked out, put back in, get kicked out again, then put back in again, and so on, and so on…because the PGN officer does not look at the entire file in one sitting.  When he/she finds an “error” (typo or incorrect birth date—they all carry the same weight in PGN), he/she immediately “kicks out” the file.  So when the lawyer puts the file back in, the PGN officer then continues through the file.  I think you get the picture.  This is very frustrating, nerve-wracking, tedious, tiring, and time consuming.

When everything is flawless (which could be in just a couple of weeks or a couple of months), a judge approves the paperwork in the file, and that is when you “exit PGN.”  Exiting PGN is totally amazing, because that signals the “end” of the adoption journey.  After that, the birth mother signs paperwork for the final time, and a new birth certificate for the child are issued.  The adoption is then final!

With that said, let’s get back to our case…

It was midnight again, and I couldn’t sleep again, and I slipped on my slippers and headed downstairs again to check my email again. 

I was waiting for an email from Adoption Supervisors that told us we were “in PGN.”  It had been nine months and I never thought I would ever hear those beautiful letters and our case in the same sentence.  I just kept thinking that something else would go wrong.  We got “stuck” in Family Court for five months, and it felt as if we were never ever going to progress from that step in the process.

But we did!

“On July 8^th your case was filed and entered into PGN” was the message Adoption Supervisors typed for me.  The lawyer added an exclamation mark and a smiley face, knowing how this news was going to make me feel!  (At this point, we are great pals.)  We’re in PGN!  Oh my God, WE’RE IN PGN! 

It was dark, Dave and Miranda were sound asleep, and I was sitting downstairs in front of the computer with the biggest smile on my face.  So I started to write an email, with “We’re in PGN!” in the subject line.

FINALLY it was my turn!

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FERRY RIDER by Anne Smolenski Boiko

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WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT

It was a dark and stormy night. Well, actually it was a sunny afternoon, but the night would become particularly dark and go on to cause quite a storm for New Jersey commuters. Thursday, August 14, 2003 was the day the ferries became one of the few ways out of Manhattan. Another New York event and another lesson learned. If you were one of the lucky ones, you left your office immediately and headed to the ferry docks. Pedestrians had to duck across traffic where lights were not working and crossing guards were not likely to be found. Once on the dock the early riders most likely experienced a rush of people, but it had not yet become the overwhelming crowds of evening which would give a whole new meaning to the term “Rush Hour.” Seastreak and NY Waterway reported that their high speed ferries ran from Pier 11 until close to midnight. NY Waterway ferries continued to run from the 38th Street dock until roughly 2 a.m. By then all of the passengers had been transported safely across the water. Between Seastreak and NY Waterway, roughly 250,000 people were ferried out of Manhattan to the New Jersey shores. As fast as it could be arranged, both ferry operators provided bus service to nearby train stations.

Seastreak immediately began using their priority boarding policy. This policy, simply stated, means that Seastreak acknowledges a responsibility to their monthly and weekly ticket holders as well as to those who had that morning purchased round trip tickets. This policy was enacted early at both the 34th Street dock and Pier 11. However, as the docks became more crowded and people waited for longer periods of time, riders became more determined and far less hospitable. There are always going to be those among us who are something less than endearing in situations of stress such as experienced during this power outage. Some seemingly normal people took unusual methods to insure their position on board, while others sought to profit from the situation by scalping tickets. The rest of us remained calm, shared with our neighbors, did not throw anyone in the drink and became venerable community volunteers by seeking out areas of greater need and aiding the flustered and overwhelmed bartenders. Once on land, some good hearted folks happily offered rides to those stranded in unfamiliar locations and did so for absolutely no monetary compensation.

Seastreak commuter ferry departs Highlands terminal en route to Atlantic Highlands pier.

Ticket sales at Pier 11, 34th and 38th Streets became a disaster and were for a time abandoned. The crowds were more than overwhelming. Some Seastreak passengers paid more than the assigned fare as no change was to be had, but were advised to contact the Seastreak office at a later time for a refund. Many passengers paid no fare. Some showed train or bus tickets. Neither ferry company will be able to recoup those fares. Those wishing to remit their unpaid fares may also feel free to contact the Seastreak or NY Waterway offices to do so.

The bottom line is that our ferry services performed admirably during the blackout. It is most gratifying to know that they are willing and able to move massive numbers of people when most everything else grinds to a halt. The question that lingers is, should there be any compensation to Seastreak and/or NY Waterway for the additional services and lost fares provided, and from whence should it come? Federal law provides that states may receive up to $5 million per emergency unless the President authorizes more. President Bush has granted $5 million in federal aid to New York State. Will funds be allocated to New Jersey and will any of those funds find their way to the one mode of mass transportation that continued to work well?

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POETS' LAIR by Area Poets

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DRIFTWOOD

The letter came yesterday,
a chatty pen and ink saga
from a long ago, far away beach friend;

memories adrift,

like wet brown wood
floating on a wave,
drifting in and out;

words written in sand,
erased with the tide,
hidden behind pencil-thin snow fences

in grassy dunes;
sandpipers footprints
telling where we were.

Strong winds blow
the wood back into the sea,
crashing into the jetty,

breaking in half.

GILDA KREUTER

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(editors note: Do you have poetry to share? Send your submission to editor@ahherald.com.)

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Picture This!
View Picture This! Archive

sponsored by Restaurant and Marina Visit our website WHAT'S HAPPENING AT BAHRS

../picture_this/2003/pt_030807.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 editor@ahherald.com along with your name and the town where you live. 

Be the first person to respond with the correct answer before next Thursday and we will publish your name and the town where you live. In addition, we'll send you a gift certificate for $25 from Bahr's Landing Marina and Restaurant in Highlands, NJ.

Only those responses received on, or after, the date above will be accepted.

Last Week's Picture This! Answer

Peter Berrien of Atlantic Highlands was the first person to correctly identify this location last week. A:  The entrance to Lenape Woods Nature Preserve in Atlantic Highlands

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READER'S WRITE

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

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TOWNSHIP IS RESPONSIVE TO INQUIRIES

Dear Editor:

In a recent letter posted on your website, Ms. Kathleen Carey asserts that the township has not responded to a litany of complaints she submitted to the township. It is a gross misinterpretation of the facts to suggest that the township has been non-responsive. The truth of the matter is that the majority of her concerns dealt with complaints that had been previously addressed and required no township action.  Those issues that were current were investigated and she was notified of the results of those investigations. The remainder of her concerns are under the jurisdiction of state and county agencies and are being handled by those respective agencies. 

Routine requests for service, as well as comments and concerns, are generally forwarded to the appropriate department for investigation and follow-up. Since Ms. Carey’s concerns related to private properties, her matter was forwarded to the Building and Inspections Department. The township zoning officer contacted Ms. Carey in Arizona to gather information about these concerns. Given the wide array of detailed complaints Ms. Carey outlined over the telephone, the zoning officer requested that she put her thoughts in writing.  The township Construction Official, who heads the Building and Inspections Department, then contacted her regarding the correspondence. 

Ms. Carey’s concerns are being appropriately addressed in the same manner as other requests regularly submitted by residents, business owners and property owners. The township has multiple departments, each of which is staffed with people trained to deal with a particular facet of municipal government services. We continue to find that it is most effective to have the appropriate staff member reply directly to the resident whenever possible.

Any resident, business owner, or property owner can contact the township in a number of ways. Detailed questions, comments and concerns are best put in writing.  Residents can send correspondence via postal mail to Middletown Town Hall, 1 Kings Highway, Middletown, NJ 07748, or via email through the township website at www.middletownnj.org. Information about the responsibilities of each department can also be found on the website.

Sincerely,
Robert M. Czech
Middletown Township
Township Administrator

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 IT'S TOO BIG

A group of homeowners in the neighborhood near the Red Bank train station, myself included, have large signs in their front yards, which simply read "It's too Big!" This has prompted many a "What's too big?," which was their purpose. The grossly oversized condo/townhouse project being presented to the Red Bank Zoning Board of Adjustments for the corners of West, Monmouth & Oakland Streets, is what's too big. This 30 unit monstrosity, which will sit six feet away from our properties, is twice the size of what is permitted by ordinance. Yet back in February, the Board saw fit to give Building & Land Technology (the developers), a density variance for 35 units per acre, where only 14 are permitted, despite the strenuous objection of ALL the surrounding property owners, and many other residents of the town. Now there is a special meeting, not previously on the schedule, for 7:00 PM, Thursday, August 28, to hear arguments for final site plan approval. If granted, BLT will receive over twenty additional variances and waivers, put in place to protect residents, from just such a project. This time, however, the residents have hired an attorney, a planner and have started a grass roots organization to fight it. It ought to be an interesting time Thursday, and any one who wants to see what really goes on "Hip City", ought to come down and watch.

So why so big? Pat Nulle, formally of the Downtown Cafe and principle in the project, says that our neighborhood "screams upscale" and currently "looks like Hell". Meanwhile, in justifying his vote in favor of the density variance, Board member James Erving said that "homes in this neighborhood sell for $100,000 - $150,000, and these condos will make a tremendous improvement." Firstly, if Mr. Erving manages to find a home in our neighborhood which sells for that, he should buy as fast as he can, and resell it at twice that. Secondly, his job on the Board is to protect the quality of life, safety and welfare of the residents, and not base decisions as important as this, on his ill-conceived notions of real estate values in our neighborhood. It leads this resident to think that something is afoot here. Why would a project so ridiculously oversized sail through the density portion, despite the objections, and be granted a special site plan meeting the day before a Holiday Weekend? Why would members of the Board testify on behalf of the developers in a public session? Why would they openly fraternize with the same developer? I have my opinion, which I'll spare your readers, and phrase simply with one word: Greed.

Protest sign in front of a Red Bank home reads, "It's too big!"

This developer has many more project this sized planned in and around this neighborhood. Throw in the theater, brewpub, Schwartz fiasco, Hovnanian headquarters, and soon you will not even be able to move in this part of town, let alone enjoy the life which you came to the Borough to enjoy. It's wrong for the residents of Red Bank because simply, "It's Too Big".

Michael W. Reeps
Red Bank, NJ

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  AH DEMOCRATS PLEDGE TO REFRAIN FROM PERSONAL ATTACKS IN CAMPAIGN

Dear Sir:

As the campaign for mayor of Atlantic Highlands and two Borough Council seats starts heating up, I'd like to assure the voters of the borough that the Democratic slate -- which I am fortunate to lead -- is committed to changing for the better the way things are done at Borough Hall.

We believe that government open to input from all the people, whether elected members of another party or just plain concerned citizens, is the best route to effective, efficient and representative government. We believe that all elements of borough citizenry should be kept briefed early on about all major plans that could effect our quality of life. We believe this should be done long before pressure from citizens, whether political opponents or not, is applied.

We also think that one way to assure full participation on major issues -- whether harbor expansion, recreational development, open spaces or downtown revitalization -- is to create a healthy bipartisanship. This can be done by appointing not only the best qualified people to borough boards and commissions, but also those with a mix of political affiliations. For example, a Harbor Commission under a Donoghue administration will not be all-Democratic or all-Republican, as it is now.

Our philosophy of fairness and openness is a comprehensive one and includes the developing campaign. We Democrats have already hit the streets seeking out the opinions of as many people as we can reach. We also invite residents to express their views by writing or calling us.

Even more important to us is the tone of the campaign we are involved in. Although we think it is fair to point out our qualifications for public office and the shortcomings of our opponents, we pledge to refrain from the kind of personal attacks that have been the exception rather than the rule.

Peter E. Donoghue
Atlantic Highlands
Democratic Mayoral Candidate

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VIEW FROM MY DESK - MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER

OPEN AND HONEST?
by Allan Dean

I was truly amused when I first saw a handout from the Atlantic Highlands Democrat Executive Committee with a masthead reading "Atlantic Highlands Gazette." 

The only "item" in the one page newspaper was a letter to the editor written by Ed Mahoney with a note that the letter was reprinted from the AHHerald. In his (July 17, 2003) letter to the editor, Mr. Mahoney complained that the harbor commission was not being fair to the long time tenant of Pete's on the Bay, Peter Crosta.

Mr. Mahoney claims their were "secret plans" to put a new tenant into the building.  It happens that the new renter, Bayshore Restaurant Group was the high bidder and equipment lien holder for the Pete's on the Bay space and the space above formerly occupied by Fishtales Restaurant at the Atlantic Highlands municipal harbor.

It should be noted that at a council meeting earlier this year Mayor Michael Harmon addressed Mr. Mahoney and acknowledged that Mr. Mahoney had his own personal financial stake with the former chronically rent-delinquent tenant, Peter Crosta.

Now, since his letter to my publication is being used as campaign literature I think it is only fair that readers understand more fully what I believe is Mr. Mahoney's motive for the letter and the AH Dems motive for publishing it under the Gazette masthead.

We never gave permission for the reprinting but because it is a political flyer there is little recourse for me but to tell readers that the AHHerald does not endorse the letter, nor the "Gazette."

It is quite telling that the only item contained in the Atlantic Highlands Gazette Volume 1 - Issue 1 is Mr. Mahoney's letter and an advertisement that claims the AH Dem Candidates are open and honest. 

Open and Honest?  Who is the editor of the Gazette?

It would have been so much more informative, open and honest, if the candidates themselves had written articles. It is wasteful that former Asbury Park Press editor and Democrat Mayoral candidate Peter Donoghue was not given space in their first issue. How much better it would have been for voters to read the views of the candidates, in their own words, on the important issues facing Atlantic Highlands? 

The AH Dems could have reprinted council candidate Carl Nolan's letter requesting that the Governor withhold the $3 MILLION grant for the harbor until studies are conducted. Or, perhaps, candidate Stephanie Ladiana could have shared her views on the Many Mind Creek Greenway or the NJNG clean up or the First Avenue Streetscape project.

That none of these candidates could share their own vision for the community speaks volumes.

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