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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 — “TURNING POINT”, a select Christian contemporary vocal group of students from Eastern University, St. Davids, PA will proclaim their Christian faith through music and testimony on Sunday, October 19, 2003 at the Central Baptist Church in Atlantic Highlands, NJ. The performance will begin at 11:00 a.m. The program is open to the public without charge.
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by AH Councilman Louis Fligor
"The world is but a canvas to the imagination." ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — Thoreau is correct “the world is the canvas to our imagination.” We can change our world to be what we want it to be. We steer our lives in the direction we want to go, and we are the masters of our own destiny…So on a chilly, wet Sunday morning I ventured out of our home with my daughter Kallie in tow. Our destination you may ask? The Atlantic Highlands Environmental Commission’s Green Sunday beach cleanup and kayak run. As we left our home the weather took a turn for the worse, and it started to rain hard. I turned to Kallie and said, “this doesn’t look good we may have to go back home”. My daughter always the optimist said “lets just see if anyone is there Dad” so off we went to Avenue A and Sunset Beach.
During the clean-up we found some interesting items, there were the usual things like bottle caps, glass, soda cans, cigarette butts, and other paraphernalia, but there also was a living world of crabs, clams, mussels, snails and the like. The more we cleaned the beach the more beautiful it became. We were on a mission to take back our beach and I was impressed with the speed of our progress.
Paul explained we would not be going into the bay but up the creek instead, and he was giving us the paddle! This all sounded too familiar to me as I have been up the creek before without the proverbial paddle, but off we went carrying the kayaks (and our paddles) to the mouth of the mighty Many Mind Creek. After Paul gave us some basic kayak rules he got us safely into our kayaks and we were on our way!
On a more serious note: Paul & John are professionals, and I’m glad they were there with our children, they made a great event a fun and safe one.
In the end, a great time was had by all. The kid’s played volleyball on the beach and we seeded the Mighty Many Mind Creek with some Oysters. To our friends Paul Eidman of Reel Therapy Kayak Adventures, and John Pagani of Kayak East a big hearty THANK YOU! without your participation Green Sunday would not have been the success it turned out to be. To Sea Streak America, N.Y./N.J. BayKeeper, Dr. Jackie Royce and the Atlantic Highlands Environmental Commission, BRAVO! On a job well done.
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by ALLAN DEAN LITTLE SILVER, NJ — Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association (BOTMA) presents stage shows and jam sessions every third Sunday of each month from September through May (except December) at the Embury Methodist Church Hall, Church St, Little Silver.
Warm Hearted Country Please visit their web site http://www.newjerseybluegrass.org
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ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — Atlantic Highlands Mayoral Candidate Jack Archibald vows that there won’t be a resident unaware of what’s going on in the historic Monmouth County town.“While Atlantic Highlands has always run an open government, I’m committed to making sure the Atlantic Highlands residents are aware of what we’re doing and why,” said Archibald, a seven-year councilman, running to replace the departing Mayor Mike Harmon. As part of Archibald’s plan, he proposes to revamp the borough web site, make better use of the Internet for communication with borough hall and help upgrade the billboard in front of borough hall. “There is a genuine interest in our government from our residents and with their busy schedules, not everyone can make it down to town hall for our open meetings. Since the launch of our web site www.ahgop.net we have been overwhelmed by the number of residents seeking information about our borough.” Under his proposals, residents will be able to email requests to the various borough departments, reserve the sign in borough hall for town events, and directly communicate with the Mayor. “It’s been said, Government is for the people and by the people, and I want all of the people in town to know what’s going on,” Archibald said. “It’s important that residents be part of the process, because they’ll ultimately benefit in the long run.” Archibald is running on the Republican ticket along with Martin Shann and Debbie Traphagen for council seats. Polls will be open Nov. 4 from 7am to 8pm. Atlantic Highlands’ residents can find information on where and when they can vote by visiting www.ahgop.net or call borough hall at 732-291-1444. “We want people to know what their Government is doing for them,” Archibald said, “and how we can serve them better.” Archibald pledged to continue the policy of holding two public comment sessions at each meeting, more Saturday morning meetings to accommodate commuters, and the borough newsletter. “We can never get enough input from our citizens and these initiatives should allow us to have receive even more feedback.”
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RED BANK, NJ — The 23rd Walk for the Hungry will be held on Sunday, Oct.19th. "We walk to raise funds for 14 local programs that feed and house people, and help to sustain their lives; and for programs of sustainable development in over 80 countries around the world. Crop dollars go to respond quickly to disasters wherever they occur," said coordinator Janie Schildge. The Walk begins and ends at Red Bank Regional High School. Registration is at 1 pm and the Walk starts at 1:30, with a short walk immediately after that. Sponsor sheets are available at area churches and schools, or call 732-741-0528. Bring a jar of peanut butter with you. Volunteers to hand out water, or punch tickets, or drive tired walkers back are always needed. The Red Bank Walk is the largest in New Jersey, raising $101,000 last year and collecting 1 1/2 tons of peanut butter for local pantries. Come join us and help us to make a difference, in the lives of refugees and displaced persons, chased from their homes by war and unrest, or disasters. Help to supply food banks, and provide clean water for our neighbors near to us and far away. links:
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ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — The Rev. Dr. Roger M. Rice will become the new pastor of the 113-year-old First Presbyterian Church during the 10 a.m. worship service Sunday, Oct. 19.The Deacons will host a reception for Rice and his wife, Judy, after the service. For the past four years, Rice has been pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Everett, Wash., and is moving back east due to a job change by Mrs. Rice. Immediately prior to moving to Washington state, he served first as interim pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Freehold and then at the Rumson Presbyterian Church. He succeeds the Rev. Dr. George McDonald, who had been interim pastor for several months after the departure of Rev. Darlene Kline. Rice's one-year appointment here as "stated supply" pastor was approved by the church Session on Sept. 18 and by Monmouth Presbytery Sept. 23. Rice has been a Presbyterian minister since 1977 after gaining a master of divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. He received his doctor of divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary in 1988. The new pastor is a 1970 graduate of Ohio University in Athens, where he earned a bachelors degree in journalism. After college, he and Judy, who also graduated from Ohio U. with a journalism degree, served 27 months as Peace Corps volunteers in Kunduz and Kabul, Afghanistan, as teacher-librarians. In the 1970s, Roger worked as a therapist in suburban Chicago and undertook his first pastorate with a four-year stint in Lombard, Ill. From 1981 to 1986, he was pastor of the Orland Park Ill.,) Presbyterian Church and from 1986 to 1994 he was pastor of the Hamburg (N.Y.) Presbyterian Church. He was interim pastor of the Freehold Presbyterian church 1994-1996 and interim pastor in Rumson 1996-1998. He has been a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy since 1990. Roger's wife Judy is an executive with United Home Care in Manhattan. The Rices will live in the manse next to the church, located at Third and E. Highland Aves.
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HOLMDEL, NJ — The New School of Monmouth County community enjoyed their 10th annual boat day as 12 recycle boats of various types were launched in the Raritan Bay.
On boat day the bases were taken to the bay behind the “Spy House” at Port Monmouth and the superstructure and decorations added. These included painted names, roofs, silver streamers, colored flags and balloons. A 50-foot rope was then attached to each boat and the launching and subsequent rides took place. This event was attended by at least one parent from almost every New School family and many help with the final building, launching and sailing. High schoolers from the Atlantic School (a small alternative high school in Tinton Falls) helped with building and sailing and also worked at the beach on their challenge of finding ways to measure and weigh the boats. Boat day besides being enormous fun for the entire New School community also offers many lessons in science, math, teamwork, problem solving and artistic expression. The New School of Monmouth County is a small alternative school in Holmdel that emphasizes individual learning and cooperative, non–competitive environment, using a project-based curriculum.
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HIGHLANDS, NJ — Stacy Lin Smith Velez, a graduate of Henry Hudson Regional School and resident of Highlands will be a contestant on "Who Wants to be A Millionaire" The show airs October 21 at 12:30PM on WABC New York Channel 7. Anyone interested in becoming a Millionaire contestant must go through the audition process which consists of getting a passing score on a written test and passing a personal interview with a representative of the show. You must be 18 years of age or older, a resident of the 50 United States or District of Columbia, never played in the "hot seat" on either the network or syndicated Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and meet all eligibility requirements. For complete eligibility requirements please see the official rules. http://www.millionairetv.com/
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LINCROFT, NJ — Brookdale has teamed with the Mercy Center of Asbury Park to co-sponsor the Sixth Annual Community Wellness Conference on Saturday, November 15. From 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M., area residents are invited to participate in free workshops to promote a Holistic approach to wellness. The "Coming Together, One Body One Spirit" program will be held at the Salvation Army's new Asbury Park location, 605 Asbury Avenue. Keynote speaker is Dr. Anna Sweany from Our Lady Providence Catholic Church, Neptune. The program will also include workshops and activities; Reiki, yoga, financial planning, nutrition and guides to developing healthy interpersonal relationships. A variety of health screenings will be offered. "We encourage area residents and Brookdale students to join us in promoting positive directions for a healthy life style," said Odelind Lewis, Center Administrator, Asbury Park Learning Center. Registration for the free event will begin Monday, October 13 and continue through November 12. Interested participants are requested to call Teri Sanders at #732-774-3363.
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LINCROFT, NJ — Brookdale's winning forensics team continues to live up to its 2003 reputation as International Forensics Association Community College Champions. Amber Freeman, Freehold, Cheryl Dickovick, Matawan and Anna Strahs, Colts Neck competed in their first college level events at Bloomsburg University's 18th annual "Through the Looking Glass" novice tournament September 27. Dickovick won "Superior" certificate level achievement for performances in Prose Interpretation. Strahs took fifth place in "After Dinner Speaking." "The Pennsylvania tournament featured competitors from 15 colleges and universities, including Cornell University, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and West Chester University," explained team coach Dan Leyes. "The team's success is testimony to outstanding effort and an indicator of future success," he predicted. Following months of competitions, each March, the Brookdale team competes internationally. Madrid, Spain will be the location of the 2004 event. For information regarding the team's upcoming tournaments, call #732-224-2530.
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LINCROFT, NJ — Brookdale's Asbury Park Learning Center has partnered with Check-Mate Inc. to provide free monthly health screening and counseling at the 601 Grand Avenue Learning Center site. The next scheduled program is Tuesday, October 14 from 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.Check-Mate's Mobile Counseling and Testing Unit will be parked on site at the Asbury Park Center. Free health services will include screenings for diabetes and blood pressure. HIV testing and counseling and PAP tests will also be available. "Promoting preventative health care and wellness is important for all members of the community," said Odelind Lewis, Asbury Park Center Administrator. The free service is presently available through December. For additional dates and details, call the Asbury Park Center at #732-774-3363. ../news/2003/1016/bcc_health_screening.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
TRENTON, NJ — Monmouth University held the inauguration ceremony for its seventh president, Paul G. Gaffney II, on October 8 during its annual Founders’ Day celebration. President Gaffney stated: “It is an honor to be installed as Monmouth University’s seventh president on the same day we celebrate the University’s founding. Seventy years ago, in response to the dire economic circumstances of the Great Depression, the foundations were created that have led to the Monmouth University of today. As we remember and celebrate our founding, let us rededicate ourselves to the mission of Monmouth University in a new and ever-changing world.” During the inauguration ceremony, President Gaffney received his charge from Paul S. Doherty, Jr. ’67, chairman of the board of trustees, and was given the Chain of Office. The President wears the Chain of Office at formal academic occasions and it will be passed on to future presidents of Monmouth University, symbolizing the unbroken chain of leadership.
Paul G. Gaffney II became President of Monmouth University in July 2003. President Gaffney, a retired Navy Vice Admiral, is a respected academic leader and advocate for higher education. He was president of the National Defense University from 2000 to 2003. Prior to assuming those duties, he was the Chief of Naval Research with responsibility for science and technology investment; a substantial part of which supported basic research in American universities. He was appointed by President George W. Bush to the Ocean Policy Commission in July 2001. His distinguished naval career spanned over three decades including duty at sea, overseas and ashore in executive and command positions. He served in Japan, Vietnam, Spain, and Indonesia, and traveled extensively in official capacities. While a military officer, his career focused on oceanography, research administration and education. He is a 1968 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Upon graduation, he was selected for immediate graduate education and received a master’s degree in Ocean Engineering from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He completed a year as a student and advanced research fellow at the Naval War College, graduating with highest distinction. He completed an MBA at Jacksonville University. The University of South Carolina, Jacksonville University, and Catholic University have awarded him honorary doctorates. He has been recognized with a number of military decorations, the Naval War College’s J. William Middendorf Prize for Strategic Research, the Outstanding Public Service Award from the Virginia Research and Technology Consortium and the Potomac Institute’s Navigator Award. He has served on several boards of higher education and is a member of the Ocean Studies Board of the National Research Council. He is married to Linda and they are the parents of Crista Gaffney, a marketing professional in Northern Virginia. Benjamin R. Barber is the Gershon and Carol Kekst Professor of Civil Society at the University of Maryland and a principal of the Democracy Collaborative. A distinguished, internationally renowned political theorist, Dr. Barber brings an abiding concern for democracy and citizenship to issues of politics, culture and education in America and abroad. He consults regularly with political and civic leaders and many organizations in the United States and Europe. Dr. Barber's 17 books include the classic Strong Democracy (1984), the novel Marriage Voices (1981) and the recent international best-seller Jihad vs. McWorld. Herbert Butler was responsible for the technical direction of research and development of the first weather satellite, TIROS 1. Due to his work on this historical project, the Department of the Army awarded Mr. Butler the Commendation of Meritorious Civil Service. In the 40 years since then, TIROS and its successors have made advances in the science of weather forecasting that have been credited with the saving of millions of lives. He received a bachelor’s in physics and master’s in mathematics from Monmouth University. Eugene F. Cheslock, M.D., a retired oncologist, is Executive Vice-President of the Riverview Foundation at the Riverview Medical Center. Riverview Foundation is a non-profit organization that exists to benefit the programs and services of Riverview Medical Center and the patients and families they serve. Additionally, he is president and founder of the Parker Family Health Center and board president of Volunteers in Health. The Parker Family Health Center (PFHC) was established to serve the working poor and uninsured in Red Bank and surrounding communities. ../news/2003/1016/mu_gaffney_inaugural.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
COLLINGSWOOD, NJ — State Transportation Commissioner Jack Lettiere last week announced 6 new Transit Villages throughout New Jersey and $1.2 million to fund associated projects, including one in Matawan. "Drivers in New Jersey lose 261 million hours a year to congestion - an average of 45 hours per driver," said Governor James E. McGreevey. "New Jerseyans deserve a quality of life that is not diminished by congestion and endless sprawl. We need to spend our precious time with our families, not stuck traffic jams. By adhering to the Smart Growth principles and building upon our mass transit system, and expanding the Transit Village program, we are succeeding." Lettiere joined with State and local officials near the Collingswood PATCO Station this morning and announced six new Transit Villages and a $200,000 grant for each community. They included: Collingswood, Bound Brook, Belmar, Bloomfield, Matawan and Cranford. The monies will be used for a range of improvements including streetscaping, traffic calming measures, road improvements, bicycle paths and station improvements. "If we want to take cars off our highways, we must make mass transit a viable option, not a last resort," said Lettiere. "Under Governor McGreevey's leadership, we're doing just that * by creating 20,000 new parking spaces at our bus and rail terminals, by adding 20,000 new seats on our NJ TRANSIT trains, and now by designating six new Transit Villages that will allow people to live, shop and reach work without a car." In his State of the State address, Governor McGreevey outlined ways to improve the overall quality of life in New Jersey, such as fighting sprawl, preserving open space and protecting our drinking water. The Governor has made New Jersey a leader in farmland preservation with over 112,000 acres permanently preserved, and has moved aggressively on his promise to improve 200 local parks. He has also taken the unprecedented action of applying the highest protection possible-C1 designation-to over 40 percent of the State's drinking water. The Governor also vowed to double the number of Transit Villages by FY04. "Collingswood has a long-standing history of promoting environmentally-friendly alternative modes of transportation and mass-transit to reduce congestion in the Borough," said Senator John H. Adler (D-6). "The Transit Village grants being announced by the DOT today reflect the State's growing emphasis on controlling automobile congestion and the recognition that the pattern followed by Collingswood will ultimately do just that in New Jersey." "Collingswood is experiencing a rebirth," said Assemblyman Lou Greenwald (D-6). "This Transit Village designation and the addition of a bike path will further enhance this great community. This will help ease traffic congestion and aid in the help against sprawl." The Transit Village program is designed to spur economic development, urban revitalization and private-sector investment around public transportation. A designated Transit Village is a community with a bus, train, light rail or ferry station that has developed a plan to achieve its goals. A municipality must demonstrate a commitment to smart growth planning and transit-oriented development, as well as a commitment to maintain the architectural history of the area, and create housing, cultural and commercial opportunities within walking distance of the facility. New Jersey's six new Transit Villages join a list eight others including: Rutherford, Metuchen, Morristown, Pleasantville, South Amboy, South Orange, Riverside and Rahway. The Transit Village initiative seeks to provide much-needed congestion relief on New Jersey roadways through the promotion of public transit expansion and partnerships with the private sector. Municipalities designated as Transit Villages will be given priority consideration for funding and technical assistance by the participating agencies. Other participating agencies include, the NJ Commerce and Economic Growth Commission, NJ Department of Community Affairs, NJ Redevelopment Authority, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, NJ State Council on the Arts, NJ Economic Development Authority, NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency and the NJ Office of Smart Growth.
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LONG BRANCH, NJ — The Monmouth Ski Club announced today that their annual open house is scheduled for 7:30 PM, Friday, October 24, 2003 at the Elks Lodge, Garfield Avenue, Long Branch.The open house is a time for old members to catch up on activities of the past summer and prepare for the coming ski season. Non members are especially encouraged to attend to obtain information about Monmouth Ski Club, meet members, and have an enjoyable evening with other skiers. The Open House will offer door prizes and raffles including items donated by local ski shops, Vermont ski shops, lift tickets by major ski areas, and restaurant coupons for use locally and in Vermont. The focal point of the Monmouth Ski Club is its lodge in Pittsford, Vermont. The lodge serves as the club’s center, providing inexpensive meals and lodging for members taking ski vacations. The lodge sleeps 36 people comfortably and a cook is on staff most ski weekends. The club has a recreation room and a large dining room where members and guests eat family style. The lodge is located about 20 minutes from Killington/Pico, 40 minutes from Okemo, and 70 minutes from Sugarbush. A fee of $50.00 per person for a weekend includes the use of the lodge, linens and meals. The lodge is available to members year round for fall foliage watching, golf at area resorts and other Vermont attractions and outdoor activities. An additional benefit to Monmouth Ski Club members is the club’s affiliation with the New Jersey Ski Council. We are able to purchase member- only lift tickets at significantly discounted rates and enjoy discounts at several area ski shops. Many members say the combination of family atmosphere, tremendous savings on ski trips and the social events are highlights of the club. Although its roots are local, the Monmouth Ski Club currently has members who reside throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Vermont. The club meets every Wednesday at 8 PM from October through March at The Wilde Rover (the clubhouse of the Monmouth Rugby Club), Shrewsbury Avenue, Red Bank to process lodge bookings and conduct club business. For more information, contact Monmouth Ski Club at 732-212-9630. ../news/2003/1016/monmouth_ski_club.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
Shrewsbury Scouts to showcase the proper method to retire worn United States flags. SHREWSBURY, NJ — Boy Scouts of America, Monmouth Council, Twin Lights District, Pack 50 and Troop 50 will hold a flag retirement ceremony at Shrewsbury Borough Hall field at Monday, October 20, 2003, 7:00 PM. At this event, Shrewsbury scouts will lead in the formal retirement of United States flags. Recently, the level of patriotism has rise and many flags are flown. People need a way to properly retire worn flags. The Shrewsbury scouts have led the retirement ceremony for a number of years. This is a moving and significant ceremony that the Scouts lead. ../news/2003/1016/flag_retirement.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
SANDY HOOK, NJ — Autumn is officially here, and with it comes the annual migration of raptors and songbirds along the Atlantic Flyway. Join the Monmouth County Audubon Society for an autumn Bird Walk to look for these migrants. The event is scheduled for Saturday, October 18, on Sandy Hook. Meet at 9:00 am at the Visitor's Center parking lot. The peninsula of Sandy Hook attracts migrating raptors, shorebirds and songbirds due to the abundance of food and areas of suitable habitat. This makes Sandy Hook an excellent place to observe many species of migrating birds in a limited area. The bird “guest list” changes daily at Sandy Hook, depending on weather conditions and food supply. The trip will be led by members of the Monmouth County Audubon Society who are familiar with Sandy Hook and its birds. Linda Mack, past MCAS president and Sandy Hook trip leader, explains, “The lure of Sandy Hook isn’t just the birds. Sandy Hook is a peaceful, beautiful natural area with a variety of interesting habitats to explore. Early October is a great time of year to witness the spectacle of fall migration, not to mention the gorgeous fall colors of our native plants and trees.” The trip is open to both members and non-members of the Monmouth County Audubon Society, and admission is free. Advance registration is recommended, so participants can be notified in the event of changes or cancellations. To register, contact Debbie Grob, field trip committee, at 732-751-9131 (before 8:00 pm), at (732) USA-BIRD (after 8:00 pm), or by e-mail at dgrob@optonline.com at least 24 hours in advance. Participants should bring binoculars and dress appropriately for the weather. The Monmouth County Audubon Society, a chapter of the National Audubon Society, is dedicated to the enjoyment and study of nature, wildlife conservation, habitat protection and education. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month September through May at Trinity Episcopal Church, White Street; guest speakers address a wide variety of nature-related topics, and refreshments are provided. In addition, the group sponsors at least one field trip per month, and members receive The Osprey, the club’s bi-monthly newsletter. Further information can be obtained by calling the organization’s hotline, (732) USA-BIRD, by visiting their Website at http://www.monmouthaudubon.org, or via e-mail at mcas01@bellatlantic.net. ../news/2003/1016/mcas_migrants.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
RED BANK, NJ – Dale Rosselet will present a program entitled “Preserving Oases Along the Flyway” at the next meeting of the Monmouth County Audubon Society. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2003, at 8:00 pm at the Trinity Episcopal Church on White Street, Red Bank. The public is welcome, and admission is free. On a cold moonlit night, high above our neighborhoods the wings of thousands of songbirds strain under the force of flight. The annual nocturnal migration of songbirds is a life-and-death drama that plays out while we humans sleep though the night. The New Jersey Audubon Society is involved in a project to monitor nocturnal songbird migration and identify key stopover sites in New Jersey. Migrating songbirds use these sites as they travel between their winter homes and their breeding grounds, gaining rest and nourishment from the natural habitats all around us. Come and learn about the amazing world of migration, as well as the stopover sites in new Jersey that sustain the annual trek. The program will be presented by Dale Rosselet, Vice President for Education for the New Jersey Audubon Society. Ms. Rosselet has been with the Audubon Society since 1983 and has extensive teaching experience. Ms. Rosselet is a prolific author, developing teaching guides on topics of natural history and ecology, and has written numerous articles for Wild Bird magazine. The evening promises to be both entertaining and informative. ../news/2003/1016/mcas_nov_meeting.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
BRADLEY BEACH, NJ — Once again the Jersey Shore Community Information Bulletin is pleased to announce its most recent winners of the prestigious Lighthouse Award. The Lighthouse Award recognizes the "Shining Sites of the Jersey Shore." The Award, which is co-sponsored by the Jersey Shore Community Information Bulletin, a free online newsletter for the Jersey Shore Area, and Lone Keep Internet, Inc., is to promote and recognize those sites that are creative, fun, informative and are created by or for the residents in the Jersey Shore Area. "We feel it is very important to recognize people in the local community who are doing such a wonderful job of promoting the Web in a positive manner," stated Karen E. Jarosz, editor of the Jersey Shore Community Information Bulletin. Who are the Deserving Winners? Past winners have included the WRAT, Hobbymasters, Habitat for Humanity, Wolf Hill Elementary School and the SPCA. If you would like to nominate a site for the Lighthouse Award you can find out all you need at http://www.lonekeep.com/jscib. For additional information you can call Karen Jarosz at Lone Keep Internet, Inc., co-sponsor of the Lighthouse Award, at 732-988-4044. She may also be reached via email at karen@lonekeep.com
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LINCROFT, NJ — Brookdale's Performing Arts Center (BPAC) production of Godspell will feature 11 area teenage students in the musical's chorus. Performances are scheduled for the weekends of October 17-18 (Friday and Saturday) and October 24-25 (Friday and Saturday) at 8:00 P.M. Two Sunday afternoon shows are scheduled for October 19 and 26 at 2:00 P.M.Chorus members include; Godspell is one of the biggest off-Broadway and Broadway successes of all time. It is based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew. In this Brookdale production, director John Bukovec uses Stephen Schwartz' sparkling and energetic score to evoke the innocence of youth - a time when ideals, love and compassion had not been tainted by the hustle of modern society, and Jesus' parables reached hearts. The production includes the well known songs, "Day By Day," Learn Your Lessons Well," and "Bye My Side." Tickets are $20 general admission, $17 for seniors, children and Brookdale staff, and $10 for Brookdale students. Schools and non-profit groups are invited to a special free preview performance on Thursday, October 16 at 8:00 P.M. Interested organizations are requested to reserve through the Box Office with name of group, number of guests and service field. "Offering the free preview to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to see a musical production is an outreach effort to share the arts with the community," commented Maria Aladren, PAC Program Administrator. For reservations and information, call the Box Office at 732-224-2411. ../news/2003/1016/bcc_godspell.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
People have fascinating last names. Where did they come from? In past times, people's names reflected obvious attributes: John the Strong, Eric the Red or William the Brave seemed adequate. As the need for individual identify grew important, John the Strong's son might be distinguished by an addition to the father's first name of John: John-son, McJohn, John-ski, or O'John. When the third generation arrived, a third additive distinguished the new generation: McJohnson.
Surnames also stemmed from one's occupation. A cooper made barrels, so if John made barrels for a living, he may be referred to as John Cooper: a windowmaker - John Fenstermacher: a violin player - John Viola: a cook - John Baker: mayor of the city - John Bergermeister. Eventually, surnames stabilized and only first names changed. Many surnames are derivatives of the same last name, often misheard and misspelled by immigration officials, family members and other record keepers: Smith, Smythe, Schmidt, Smit. Subtleties in writing last names, such as not capitalizing the second part of a Celtic name like MacCauley, and writing it Maccauley indicates the person is in bad standing with the rest of the relatives. "ian" added to a last name indicates the person is of Armenian descent, "ski" from the paternal side, "ska" from the maternal side. Contemporary times allow one to legally change, modernize or shorten a name by dropping the old additives: ski's, vander's, macher's. A short last name is easy to remember. Some Kaboshinski's are now Kabo's, DeMartinez now Martin and many Pallocska's are called Pallo. Today's surnames don't necessarily reflect past origins. Relationships of last names to people's occupations can confuse, influence and amuse listeners. Over the years, I've kept a list of last names that complement occupations. Captain Sparks - Fire Chief: Pennypacker- an accountant: Erbe- a cook: Grip - a gym teacher: Names might raise questions about one's occupational choice: Wackowitz - a housebuilder: Lawless- a lawyer: Payne - a doctor. Names that might confuse listeners: Singer - a professional dancer and Plummer - an investment adviser. Names that are just fun: Dr. Tusk - a dentist, Mr. Livengood - a successful CEO: the minister and assistant minister of my old church: the Reverends Buck and Wing: One name with an educational additive that gives me a chuckle is Dr.Twiddle, DD. (Doctor of Divinity). Dr. Smithline's confused patients called him: Dr. Streamline, or Dr. Smith Brother.
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THIS IS THE CHURCH! THIS IS OUR MINISTRY! In the book of Acts we were told that during a disagreement between the Jewish widows and the Greek widows, the church came together and appointed deacons. These deacons were asked to do the administrative parts of the church, so that the apostles could concentrate on preaching the word of God. What a preacher does today is greatly different than what preachers did in the 16th century or in the 1st century. We have the same message, but the style and the forms in which we deliver this message have changed. At the turn of the century, a Protestant preacher would regularly preach two sermons on Sunday and at least one sermon during the week. These sermons were usually one hour in length. They were in-depth studies of the Word of God. The knowledge of the Word of God was of paramount importance to the Church. Because church people would hear close to 1000 sermons per year, their knowledge of the Scripture was vast. In the 21st century, most preachers preach one sermon during the week (unless they have large churches and then they preach the same sermon 2-3 times). The sermon today is much shorter, the average being 25-30 minutes. Some preachers boast that their longest sermon was 8 minutes. While many sermons are biblically based, the emphasis today is to connect with the listeners in their living contexts, usually by supplying them with easy to remember stories and humorous illustrations. Instead of preaching two or three sermons per week, many preachers do many Bible studies. My preference is to do three Bible studies on Wednesdays – one at 6:30 AM, one at 10:30 AM and one at 7:30 PM. (I usually do these for the spring and then other Bible study leaders do them in the fall) This gives us an opportunity to come into close contact with our members and pour our knowledge and our lives in their beings. This also enables the pastors to train leaders in the church who are centered and trained in the Word of God. A couple of years ago, in a nearby community, there was a movement to take away the non-profit status of a local church. This was driven by a group who wanted to tax everything in sight. It is true that in all the countries where churches are not recognized as state churches, their properties are taxed. In the midst of this situation, one of the denominational leaders did a study of how many thousands of hours the church people, through their churches, volunteer for the communities. He divided the volunteer time between the time that the church members do for themselves and the time that they do for the community. He listed activities such as work with community children and youth, all the feeding and the clothing that is being done by churches, all the counseling that the church does freely for the community. The church people are one of the most philanthropic groups – giving for the Kingdom of Christ and also giving abundantly to the community. A new ministerial couple stopped by the parsonage. They wanted to discuss with us what it means to live next door to the church. They imagined that the church people would stop constantly to see the Pastor at his house. Our story is that the church people have become the defenders and the protectors of our family. They rarely stop without calling. The people that stop without announcing are the needy people – those who need food, those whose cars broke down and they need five dollars, those whose rents are not paid and they are being evicted, those who need someone to listen to them because no one else is listening to them. And the Lord Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” – Matthew 25:40. And thus in our days, in many ways, we continue the work that Jesus Christ started 2000 years ago.
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----PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT---- THIS CANDIDATE IS QUALIFIED FOR THE OFFICE OF MAYOR When considering the many issues facing our town in the coming years, voters need to know if their next Mayor is qualified to do the job. This candidate for the position can answer that question with a resounding yes. Not only am I intimately aware of the responsibilities of the position, but also my qualifications are far superior to that of my opponent. It has been an honor to serve as a council member with our two previous Mayors. Both Robert Schoeffling and Michael Harmon had different styles, but each one made decisions based on the best interest of our town’s future. I will continue to base my decisions on that criteria, and like both men, continue to promote Atlantic Highlands as a destination for families, investors, and anyone that enjoys a small town’s charm. Under both Schoeffling and Harmon administrations, I have served on every committee in our borough. I have a strong grasp of the issues within our emergency services department, the volunteer spirit that motivates our recreation committee, and the zoning issues with which our planning board must grapple. As chairman of the finance committee, I refinanced the borough debt last year resulting in a $250,000 savings to our borough taxpayers and I am intimately familiar with the budget process. Every committee in this town has a purpose, and it is no small feat to manage the interests of committees that range from environmental commission to a library board. I have been involved in settling the two major lawsuits along our Route 36 border and have cultivated relationships with our neighbors that led to the creation of our town’s largest park- the Lenape Woods Nature Preserve. With grant money at a premium for our infrastructure, I have met with our county and state leaders to secure money for Atlantic Highlands. Those leaders see the improvements in our town and are confident knowing that the money is being spent wisely. Finally, a Mayor should be available to his constituents. Since 2000, I have written this column without compensation to inform our readers of happenings in our town. Many of you have emailed me with questions, and I would like to think that the response time has been acceptable. You may not always have liked the answers or agreed with the columns, but unlike most candidates, my views have been open for your review. As the election comes into focus, most residents know my record and agenda. Paid for by the AHGOP Campaign Committee
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HOMESCHOOLING REVISITED Out of all the columns I have written for The Atlantic Highlands Herald, none has produced more of a response than, “Back to Homeschool” (4 September, 2003). Many of the readers who wrote were quite angry with me for poking fun at the very serious endeavor of homeschooling. “What a crock!” a reader from Wisconsin wrote. “Yes, there are people that send their kids to public school and a hand full of them make out okay, but the rest do not. Why does the average poverty level keep rising? Because parents don't care about their children and their schooling. The government doesn't either, so where are these kids supposed to learn? Not a school - the teacher has a schedule they have to get through and those that don't understand have to figure it out on their own.” Another reader says, “Perhaps you wrote the essay as a tongue in cheek satire on your own life as well as homeschooler’s. Unfortunately, as a homeschool parent, I found it offensive.” “When I started reading your article, I warned myself to give it a chance and appreciate any fun-poking. It seemed lighthearted at first, but as I went on reading, I realized there was some serious criticism that I could not ignore, so I am taking time to respond,” another reader wrote. And yet another said, “I presume that this article was tongue in cheek, but it actually saddened me. I think you misunderstand homeschooling and the brave parents that undertake it.” Some attacked me as a mother. (I found that offensive.) “My sincerest condolences to your experience as a mother,” one reader said. (Actually, my experience as a mother was very positive.) Another wrote, “If you really loved your son then you would really want to get to know him on all levels.” (I really do love my two sons and continue to know them on all levels, even though they are now both in their twenties.) Some assumed that I didn’t know any homeschoolers personally (I do), and others assumed that the only reason I thought homeschoolers teach their children at home was so that they could give them Ivy League educations (I don’t). Quite a few pointed out the many positives of homeschooling. One reader says that homeschooling turned his son’s life around academically. “A friend offered to homeschool Mike,” he says, “beginning in the middle of his 9th grade year at Columbia High School. Basically, Mike was getting C’s and D’s in school, although he was doing great with music. Well, fast-forward to the present – Mike is now a freshman at Johns Hopkins and so far, so good. He was accepted to Hopkins’ Peabody Conservatory, as well, for jazz piano, but decided not to major in music. He’s in the arts and sciences school, but is cross registering in Peabody classes.” Another says, “Homeschooling does not mean that we are sitting around the table or at desks and simulating a school environment in our living room or kitchen. It does not mean that we are home every waking minute of every day. There are classes, activities, field trips, sports, playgroups, community service and many other events that homeschooled children are able to participate in, because they are not confined to a classroom for most of the day. Things such as running errands and other daily or weekly tasks that are part of life are all learning experiences. Children, especially young ones learn by example. When you take them with you to run errands, yes it’s true it may take you longer than if you had done it alone, but you would miss an opportunity to teach them daily living skills and how to live in the real world.” But some wrote to tell me that there were some down sides to homeschooling, too. A reader from North Carolina wrote, “One regret I have is that I think my older son has mild Asperger Syndrome, which went undiagnosed. His symptoms might have been noticed in a school, as opposed to being ‘explained away’ by his mother as his ‘unique personality traits’ and accepted by me as something he might grow out of.” Some wrote to say that they were glad that they had not been homeschooled. One says, “I’m glad that I was not homeschooled. Being an only child, school was virtually my only social interaction with kids my age.” “I'm glad I was not home schooled,” another wrote. “I believe children need to learn to interact with other people in life in all kinds of situations. This kind of interaction will help them in life to deal with situations that may be pleasant or unpleasant. I think my parents taught me to the best of their abilities. I was taught to be kind and thoughtful but I don't think they could have prepared me for dealing with let's say, a bully’s harsh comments or a fellow student’s birthday party. I'm also very thankful for all of my teachers who had an influence in my life; like my first grade teacher who hugged me when I finished my first story or my 6th grade teacher who told us WWII stories and helped us understand what soldiers did for us to be free.” Another said, “I'm glad that my parents didn't homeschool me because to be honest, they didn't have the intellectual capacity to do so. Most teachers have at least a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree is needed to really advance in the profession. My parents were high school graduates but didn't have the capacity or desire to study advanced college preparatory type subjects in high school. Although they might have been able to teach the material required in the early grades, they would have become lost by the time I reached high school or even middle school. Although most parents certainly love their children, that love doesn't necessarily translate into being an effective homeschool teacher. Perhaps the most commonly cited reason for not homeschooling was the lack of socialization that some feel homeschooled children miss. “I would worry about the lack of social interaction my children would have if they were homeschooled. Sure, this has become a cliché, but the reason most clichés exist is that they pose real dilemmas that are not easily resolved,” one reader pointed out. Another told me, “Even though the social aspect is not as important as the 3 R’s, kids have to learn how to interact and deal with all kinds of personalities and cultures. How do they get that kind of experience if they’re home every day?” “I have a couple of neighbors who home school their children,” another reader says, “and at first I thought, ‘What a great idea! These children will never go through any unpleasant moments at school. They will never be bullied.’ However, they will miss out on the social aspect of going to school and they won’t encounter all sorts of bad and good moments. I often wonder if they will succeed in the real world without the protection of their parents.” A reader from Georgia writes, “Most of the homeschooled kids I’ve met have no social skills whatsoever. Their parents, in an effort to ‘shield’ their kids from the ‘evils of public school’ are only delaying the eventual reality. These kids will have to go out into the world at some point and deal with reality. I feel that they will not be as equipped as the kids who went to public school.” I must point out that many of the homeschoolers who wrote to me say that they do schedule many activities that enable their children to interact with other kids their age. I want to say again that I am amazed by homeschoolers and I didn’t mean to offend any of them. I never said that children shouldn’t be homeschooled; I merely said that I, personally, was not cut out for the job. I love my sons as much as any parent does. I was a “stay-at-home” mother and, although we made many financial sacrifices, I never regretted a minute of it. Our sons’ education was always a priority in our lives. I could have probably successfully homeschooled them, but I always felt that the professionals could do the job better. We sold both our cars one year and bought cars that were less expensive to maintain, so that we could pay for private school tuition. We worked two jobs so that they could go to the universities of their choice. We tried to teach them the value of education and hoped that it would be a priority in their lives, too. Personally, I do feel that homeschool children miss out on the “broader picture,” when they’re confined to one teacher – a parent. When I think of all the teachers I had, all of their perspectives, all of their views, and all of their teaching methods, I’m glad that I was exposed to each and every one of them. I think that I was more open to their instruction precisely because they weren’t my parents. I hold Mr. Miller, my high school English teacher, personally responsible for giving me the desire to major in English Literature. If it weren’t for him, I would never be writing this column. I went to public elementary school, private Catholic middle school, and a racially mixed inner city high school. I was exposed to drugs, “bad” kids, and violence. In fact, the second day of my junior year, there were mounted police in our cafeteria. I got through it. Why did I turn out “okay?” Because I was scared to death of my parents. After all, parents do have the greatest influence on their kids. But, I’m grateful that they weren’t the only influence on me, because I learned things in school that my parents could have never taught me.
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NO MORE RUBBER CHICKENS
This weekend the Two River Film Festival cocktail parties set the stage for changing the way charity events will be held in the future. Twenty-three restaurants served food for up to three hundred people over Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday it was located at Wilson Hall at Monmouth University. On Saturday night it was held on the tented property of the Soderstrom Estate in Rumson. For years restaurants have had a tasting for such charities as at the Culinary Classic at the Old Mill to raise money for the Food Bank of Monmouth County. With only cocktail tables and two large bars people roamed around, ate and drink at various locations and were not stuck at any one spot. I was on the committee to organize the food and liquor for both receptions and I choose to bring in the restaurant group rather than try to work with one caterer. The committee that ran the event with me were blown away by the quality of food and design of our tables. These are the Rumson gals that have held events on their estates in the past. They all told me that ours was the best party they have ever been to or had themselves. Coming from that source, we the restaurant group, should be very proud. Lisa Soderstrom, whose estate we used on Saturday night, informed us that our event beat out one that Elton John had thrown the week before both in style, class and food. I see a change in the future for all charity events as well as large private parties. I will be working with all the restaurants that participated this weekend to offer a whole new diversification of charity functions. Having worked 80 hours in four days I have not recovered enough to detail the entire event. I will try to cover that next week.
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IS THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX “ILLEGAL”? Is the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution illegal? Yes, according to We the People Foundation for Constitutional Education. You can reach the Foundation at this website: WWW.GIVEMELIBERTY.ORG. The nonprofit Foundation has been trying unsuccessfully for years to get answers from the President of the United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate Majority Leader on the legality of the 16th Amendment, which is the federal income tax. In 1913, the United States Secretary of State, Philander Knox, “committed fraud” when he declared the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution had been “legally ratified,” the People Foundation charges. It was never “legally ratified, with evidence to prove it,” the Foundation contends. In 1913, there were 38 States in the Union. There is no legal documentation that the majority of the 38 States ratified the 16th Amendment in the “exact wording” submitted to the States by U.S. Secretary of State Philander Knox, according to documents discovered by the People Foundation. Some States did not even bother to respond to the 16th Amendment proposal, according to Robert Schultz of the People Foundation, and former IRS Agent Joseph Banister, who have researched the controversial tax issue for the Foundation, along with Constitutional scholars and legal organizations throughout the nation. “The Constitution of the United States is all that stands between the people and tyranny,” the Foundation declared. “What does a free people do when faced with evidence of ratification of fraud? The Constitution tells the people to address their grievances with their government. But what does a free people do when their government doesn’t listen, or respond?” Under the federal law as written, only foreigners working in the U.S., or U.S. citizens working abroad, are legally required to pay federal income taxes. And employers are not required to withhold federal income taxes. “When taxpayers sign their tax returns, he or she voluntarily waives his or her 5th Amendment right not to be a witness against him or herself,” the Foundation explained. The Foundation put these issues before the White and Congress for the first time on April 13, 2000 – two days before the filing of federal income taxes on April 15. “After attempts to get them to respond failed on April 27, May 19 and June 2, 2000, We the People Foundation decided to take the issue directly to our elected representatives through the people of the United States themselves,” the Foundation announced June 29, 2000 at a Conference on the Legality of the Income Tax at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Then President Bill Clinton, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, and House Speaker Dennis Hastert were invited to the Income Tax Conference to represent the Federal Government. None of the nation’s highest political leaders bothered to show up with evidence that the 16th Amendment was “legally ratified” by the States, the People Foundation reported. “As Americans, we expect our elected representatives, whether in the Congress or in the White House, to respond to our needs and answer legitimate questions that are placed before them by the electorate,” Foundation officials stated. “Over the past decade, a number of groups have posed some very serious questions regarding the legality of the federal income tax. Americans from all the 50 States are now tired of being deliberately ignored on this issue,” the Foundation said. The Clinton White House, after initially accepting the Foundation’s invitation to discuss the income tax matter in a public forum, reneged on their commitment, stating: “The legality of the income tax is not a high priority at the White House. Therefore, we have decided not to participate in any conference on the subject.” The Foundation has been calling on the people’s representatives in Congress to address the income tax issue, but to no avail. Frankly, federal officials, who make salaries way over $140,000 a year with platinum benefits for life after a few years in public office, do not want anything to do with an investigation that will reveal the 16th Amendment was never “legally ratified” by the States. If the Federal Government acknowledges in any way that the ratification was a fraud, the Federal Government would have to shut down. The income tax is the big, fat piggy bank that pays their big salaries and premium benefits, and for all those bloated bureaucracies sucking the lifeblood out of America’s taxpayers. Taxpayers, finally, are demanding answers and evidence to what may turn out to be the biggest crime of the 20th Century – an illegal tax that keeps getting bigger and bigger each year, bankrupting individuals, families, businesses and institutions. That’s not the American way. Call your representatives in Congress and demand the facts on the federal income tax! This could spark the second American Revolution against an oppressive government that, like any monarchy or dictatorship, thinks it is above the law. Americans can no longer afford a lawless government! (Gordon Bishop is a national award-winning author, historian and syndicated columnist.) ../bishop/2003/gb031016_fed_income_tax.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
ARNOLD'S BIGGEST ROLE The political situation in California – steaming and swelling for weeks like an overheated volcano – finally blew up last week. Voters, in a record turnout, threw Gray Davis out of the governor’s chair and elected film star Arnold Schwarzenegger as his replacement. The political cognoscenti are shocked – although not entirely into silence. Indeed, pundits, comedians and opposing politicians have made great sport of Mr. Schwarzenegger’s film career and his lack of political experience. I was in California when Ronald Reagan was elected governor of California (1966). He got the same treatment. When he was elected President, the drill was replayed: ‘How can an actor be governor (or president)? All he can do is read lines. He isn’t smart enough. He has no experience. He’s never been in politics. He’s only a Grade B movie actor. Yadda, yadda, yadda…’ The chattering class’s criticism of both Mr. Reagan and Mr. Schwarzenegger boils down to the claim that only a professional politician can be a credible governor or president. In Mr. Schwarzenegger’s case this contention is richly ironic, since Mr. Davis was a professional politician for his entire adult life. He has experience in spades. Yet it would be hard to imagine a more disastrous performance in high office. Mr. Davis pandered shamelessly to every liberal special interest. His 5-year reign of incompetence has businessmen running for the border in droves, while illegal immigrants crowd in to enjoy his permissive immigration policies. Finally, with the state budget 38% in deficit – a record, even for California – voters gave him the boot. Could a movie star really do any worse? Evidently a lot of California voters thought not. Democrats have been the loudest hecklers about the Hollywood pedigrees of both Mr. Reagan and Mr. Schwarzenegger, since both are Republicans. But some Democratic heroes have had interesting backgrounds, too. True, none was a film star – although Bill Clinton came as close as one can, without actually being in the trade. (In fact, he was extremely close to several film stars at various times.) Woodrow Wilson was President of Princeton University before becoming governor of New Jersey. Voters evidently thought being a headmaster was excellent preparation for governing a state. Mr. Wilson scolded the state into numerous reforms at the turn of the 20th century. (Many were glad when he left New Jersey to become president in 1913.) Before succeeding FDR in 1945, Harry Truman was a haberdasher, a WW I captain of artillery, and a US senator. The press made nary a peep when Mr. Truman joined the Roosevelt ticket in 1944. No doubt everyone saw that being a haberdasher qualified him perfectly for the presidency, as one often has to wear several hats at once in the job. Numerous presidents have been lawyers, but the public did not seem to hold it against them. Some – e.g., Abraham Lincoln – even performed their presidential duties honorably and well, without being arrested, bribing anyone, or taking exorbitant fees. (I know this seems unbelievable, today, but it’s true.) Many presidents were ex-soldiers. By my count, twenty-one had actual war-service. George Washington, of course, was our first and most famous soldier. He was also the only sitting president to command troops in the field – leading the Army into Pennsylvania to quell the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794. (Thank heaven he wasn’t killed. Imagine the epitaph – “GW, Father of his country, fell in the Whiskey Rebellion, 1794.) At least seven presidents were general officers, and three were Supreme Commanders in their particular wars (i.e., Washington, Grant and Eisenhower). Politicians have come from many different backgrounds. Yet critics still ask, ‘How can an actor be governor?’ because they think actors – conservative actors, mainly – are trivial air-heads who have no mind apart from a script. (Alec Baldwin and Barbra Streissand, by contrast, are considered political geniuses.) I think I can comment on the actor question. During Mr. Reagans’s presidency my daughter and I often talked about what he brought to the office from his acting career. We saw at least three major skills: 1. A thick skin. This might be the most important skill possessed by a performer who makes it to the Big Time. It lets criticism wash over him the way water runs off a duck. Barbs that might cause an ordinary man to shoot up the newspaper office have little effect. A thick skin lets the actor stay focused and undistracted by critics’ commentary – much of which can be foolish and ill-informed. I never realized how effective the “skin” was until I heard an interview on the radio with Myron Florin, the famous accordion player and long-time musical colleague of Lawrence Welk. Mr. Florin told of early days, when the band’s performances sometimes produced scathing reviews in local newspapers. On one occasion he told Mr. Welk of a reviewer’s scorching criticisms. The band leader turned not a hair. “Did they spell our names right?”” he asked. 2. Intelligence. Having spent time in community theater, I can report that there are not many dummies in acting – at least, not among actors of some skill. What looks absolutely natural, and appears not to be acting at all, is really a “multi-tasking” tour de force. The actor must remember and harmonize: · the context of the current scene, · the attitude and demeanor of his own character, · his own lines and the movements he is supposed to make, · the movements and lines of other actors in the scene, and the precise timing of everything. This requires an intelligent person – certainly not the “numbskull reading lines” of frequent media depiction. The skill and intelligence of big league actors make observers think there is nothing, really, to what they are doing. An audience thinks it is entirely real, natural and not acting at all. My wife won’t watch Burt Reynolds films because she thinks he really is the swine he plays in some of his roles. This is possible, of course, but I suspect Mr. Reynolds would be pleased to know how effective his acting is. A young boy is similarly deceived when he sees a great outfielder throw to the plate from deep center field or drive a fast ball out of the park. The apparent effortlessness of the athlete’s play makes the boy imagine that this is easy and that he might do the same. In reality, of course, such ability is rare and very few boys grow to have it. Pundits and newsmen who speak of actors “just reading lines” are talking ignorantly of skills they do not understand. 3. Dramatic range. But good actors have more going for them than a thick skin and the intelligence to multi-task. They can interpret a character with exactly the right style and intensity. Different roles require different interpretations, so most actors select roles they know to be within their own dramatic range. Great actors are virtuosos at this. They can interpret any role at its proper dramatic level. Most actors who achieve professional stage and film careers of any duration – whether they are considered “great” or not – have considerable dramatic range, just as any professional ballplayer is an exceptional athlete, even if he doesn’t make the Hall of Fame. The transfer of the dramatic range skill into the political sphere is not automatic, but when it can be applied it is extremely effective. This does not mean that an actor-turned-politician is just acting, and is never genuine, but it does mean he has an instinct for how he needs to communicate and what his demeanor should be for the audience to receive his message. For this skill reporters called Mr. Reagan the “Great Communicator”. Although not counted among the greatest film actors, he had a pro’s unerring sense for the dramatic level every situation required. Yet I believe he wasn’t “acting” the role of President, but merely using his skills. Mr. Reagan was a master of the one-liner, for instance, and he knew when and how to deliver one. But he wasn’t acting. He was a genuinely light-hearted and funny guy – always wise-cracking about his age, etc. (“Listen, I knew Thomas Jefferson…”) He never seemed to take himself too seriously. “Are you a Republican?” he quipped to the nurse, as he lay near death on a hospital gurney. Nobody is acting in that kind of situation. The press couldn’t help loving him. The public did, too. What’s more, they trusted him. We can’t tell if Mr. Schwarzenegger can transfer these skills from his acting career, and we don’t know what kind of governor he will be. But so far the portents seem good. He is well briefed, he speaks intelligently, he obviously likes people (some, maybe a little too much), and he has an instinct for honesty. Voters decided he was worth a shot. Ronald Reagan communicated well, so his critics assumed he had nothing else in his kit-bag. Only in recent years have his private papers disclosed his thoughtful, intelligent analysis of the country and its problems. It’s not clear if Mr. Schwarzenegger has done any similar “analysis”. Maybe he is more than meets the eye, and maybe not. I heard a talk show host say that Mr. Schwarzenegger is worth $800 million. And an advisor said, “He could do whatever the heck he wants, including nothing. But he’s chosen to do this job.” I don’t agree with everything the Governor-elect says, but I admire his willingness to tackle a tough job. I think the three biggest things he has going for him are: (1) he understands how business works and how important it is; (2) he shares the ordinary man’s dislike of taxes; and (3) he’s not a professional politician. Hopefully, the man-crushing job he’s taking on won’t squeeze those advantages out of him. God bless him.
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NEW BILL WOULD REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO HAVE WRITTEN POLICY ON HAZING “Hazing Scandal Rocks Long Island School.” We have all seen these headlines in the past weeks. Each morning we are greeted with yet another development in this sordid tale. Hazing is not, as we would like to believe, the exclusive property of Universities. The halls of our children’s schools should be a place where they feel nurtured and safe, a space where they have the opportunity to grow and discover a new world. Unfortunately, not every student is this lucky. There is a silent threat in many schools across the country that is plaguing our children. Many of us think of hazing as something far away from the playgrounds on which our children play. The reality, however, is that hazing is happening on those playgrounds, on sports fields and in locker rooms. Victims of these crimes suffer emotionally, physically, and the damage done to the self esteem of young children and adolescents is immeasurable. This is a time in which children are shaped into the people they will become and damage such as this can affect a youngster for the rest of their lives. It is our job as parents and adults in the community to protect them from these horrors. No child should have to suffer in silence. In an attempt to protect our children from this type of violence I sponsored Assembly Bill 1373. A-1373 significantly upgrades the current penalties for cases of hazing in schools. It requires all public schools and independent institutions of higher education and each school district to adopt written policies concerning hazing. These written policies would notify students, faculty, administrators, coaches and volunteers about school policies and penalties. The bill affords immunity to an individual who reports, beforehand, a plan to haze. It also provides immunity to a physician that reports the situation to the proper authorities after having treated a victim they believe to have been hazed. Hazing has become institutionalized in some schools and this must stop. We must make it clear to all involved, faculty, students, and parents, that these situations will not be tolerated. Hazing will no longer remain any school’s ‘dirty little secret’. Currently hazing laws only apply to universities and those that occur within the official academic setting. My bill expands the current law to cover any organized, student or academic organization or activity. It also creates a legal mechanism for victims to seek compensation from responsible parties for their injuries or death. Many students who fall victim to hazing are scarred for life or experience long term psychological trauma. They should be allowed to seek compensation for their suffering. On February 10, A1373 passed through the General Assembly with a vote of 74 -1 -0. It now moves on to the Senate for consideration. Hazing must be stopped and this bill is a positive step in this direction. If you have any questions please contact my legislative office at (732) 708-0900 or email me at asmcorodemus@njleg.org.
COUNCIL INTRODUCES "KEANSBURG MOVING FORWARD" PLAN The agenda for the last borough council meeting on Thursday 10/9 was very full. Three ordinances were passed and four others introduced. Those that were approved during the meeting were ordinance 1344 authorizing a reduction of the speed limit on Hancock and Frazee to 15 MPH; ordinance 1345 which continued to amend and update wording in other ordinances that was outdated or needed corrections and ordinance 1349 which designates a portion of Hill street as a one way. Two of the ordinances passed at this meeting were a direct response to concerns brought to this council by area residents at previous meetings those were 1344 and 1349. Four other ordinances were introduced and set down for public comment and final vote during the next council meeting on 10/23 at 7 PM. Three of the four were bond ordinances as follows 1346 is the ordinance for the Waterfront Bicycle and Pedestrian Corridor; 1347 is the ordinance for the reconstruction of Raritan Avenue and ordinance 1348 is for the reconstruction of Laurel Avenue from the Bridge to Beachway. The last ordinance introduced was 1350 that is an Adoption of a Public Health Nuisance Code. In addition to the ordinances passed and introduced were 9 resolutions and there were 9 discussion items on the agenda. One of the discussion items was the appointment of a new member to the Keansburg Recreation Advisory Board. The more important discussion item and the title to this article was the introduction of a plan our mayor and this council along with the borough manager have been working on for a few months now. The plan is called "Keansburg Moving Forward" and it is a comprehensive plan of action to address many of the concerns residents of our town have raised to the council. In order to be fully implemented the plan will require changes and updates to existing ordinances and new ordinances that will have to be put into place. The borough attorney has already been asked to begin looking at the document and checking our existing ordinances. This plan has also been placed on the agenda for introduction and approval by the entire council as a resolution item during at the next council meeting on 10/23 at 7 PM. If any one has questions or concerns about the plan the next meeting would be the one you should attend to raise your concerns to the about this plan council. Over the next few months, we expect that many of the ordinance changes and new ordinances necessary to support the initiatives in "Keansburg Moving Forward" will be ready and placed on the agenda of upcoming council meetings. Here is a link to a draft version of the entire document that has been place on this web site for your convenience ../keansburg/public_notices/keansburg_moving_forward.htm Upcoming Council meetings. The last regularly scheduled meeting of the Keansburg Borough council for October will be on Thursday 10/23 at 7 PM. Upcoming Borough Events. 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. Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweep - Keansburg will participate in the fall Clean Ocean Action Beach sweeps. This is a volunteer event and items removed from the beach are catalogued for entry into a database. This is a rain or shine event and it will be held on Saturday October 25 at 9 AM. Volunteers are asked to meet in the large borough parking lot at the foot of Oakwood on Beachway. Halloween Monster Bash - On Saturday October 25 with registration beginning at 4 PM our town will host the annual Halloween Monster Bash. As usual, the event will be held on Beachway near the intersection with Raritan Avenue. The plans include at this point the hayride and other events. In addition, each child who attends will at least receive a small goody bag. The rain date will be Sunday October 26 with the time and place to remain the same.
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CONJOINED TWINS The world was treated this week to a very rare medical miracle--the separation of conjoined twins. Conjoined twins, commonly called Siamese Twins, occurs when the developing embryo cleaves, or splits into two embryos. Usually, the separation is complete yielding identical (monozygotic) twins. However, if the separation is incomplete, the embryos will continue to develop into fetuses which are attached at some area of their body. This can involve the head, torso or extremities. The complexity of the situation revolves around the fact that often times the twins share vital structures, such as a liver, heart, spinal cord or brain. Since both twins require all of the vital structures, it is sometimes not feasible to separate them, unless the structure can be split and/or reconstructed to allow each twin to function separately. The latest pair of twins that were separated were from Egypt, and were joined at the head. The delicate surgery took place in Dallas Texas and involved a large team of physicians, nurses and ancillary personnel. The surgery took about 36 hours to complete. The key behind surgery of this magnitude is to have a road map of the anatomical structures so that it can be determined ahead of time just what can be shared, what cannot be shared, and what needs to be reconstructed. This is done with various scans (CT scans, MRI ect.). It was determined that these twins shared some vital blood vessels in the brain which needed to be reconstructed in order to safely separate them. A team of neurosurgeons was called upon for this delicate portion. Plastic surgeons are also an integral part of the team, as they are needed for tissue coverage of the brain and scalp. Often times tissue expansion is done prior to the surgery. This is where small inflatable "balloons" are placed under the scalp, and inflated on a regular basis, stretching out the scalp so that enough tissue will be available at the time of surgery for both twins. Other specialists including anesthesiologists and neonatal or pediatric intensivists assure that the patients are appropriately cared for both during and after the separation. Like any operation, the key to success is careful preoperative planning followed by the meticulous execution of the plan. Coupling this with excellent pre-operative, intraoperative and post-operative care allows this kind of risky surgery to be performed with success.
Email-
Aldozac@netzero.net
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COOKING WITH BRAINS This afternoon my friend Scott dropped by for a visit. I was busy preparing a creamy spinach soup and soon we were engrossed in comfort food and stimulating conversation. Scott is a thinker on an illimitable quest for knowledge. He never ceases to be fascinated by the nature of things. Although cooking is by no means one of his passions, he queried me on such issues as the composition of evaporated milk, if microwave heating can cause cream based sauces to break, and why egg whites whip to a greater volume in copper bowls. All of this in turn, got me thinking. The increased interest in food and cooking over the last couple decades has spawned a corollary fascination with food science. Some people not only want to know the hows, they want to know the whys. Humans are curious by nature and most of us need to know the underlying reason for phenomena. Why are older eggs better for hard-boiling? Why do severed apples, pears, and artichokes turn brown when exposed to air? Why can’t you cook acidic foods in aluminum pans? Why are custards cooked in a water bath? In order to cook something properly you don’t have to know the why, if you’ve got the how down pat. For example, you may not know that when an alkaline substance and an acid are combined, the byproduct is carbon dioxide, a leavening agent. Yet ignorance of this fact will not prevent your biscuits from rising, assuming you added the proper amounts of buttermilk and baking soda to the batter. Some individuals don’t care about the why as long as the end result is successful. But, (you know by now there’s always a but coming with me right?), knowledge of food science can make you a better cook. If you are simply mechanistically following a recipe you should be OK. But what if you are called upon to improvise, are supplied a shoddy recipe, or are forced to make something unfamiliar from scratch? Then my dear friends, you will need a deeper understanding of the products and processes at hand. Here are some examples how, or should I say, why? IMPROVISING Your friends are arriving soon for an afternoon of burgers, beers, and reposing in the sun. You decide to make your tried and true onion rings to accompany the burgers. But now you’re running behind schedule because your wife suddenly informs you that four unexpected guests are coming as well. So you prepare extra onion rings. The oil is ready and to save time you fry them all at once. But this time, instead of them turning out crunchy, they’re soggy and oily. What went wrong? Fried foods cook, in part by steaming from the inside out. The intensely hot oil causes the internal moisture in the food to boil, which then escapes as steam. The outward rush of steam prevents the surrounding oil from permeating the food and making it greasy. This equilibrium creates that nirvana of a crunchy outside and a tender, non-oily inside. If the oil’s temperature is too low, insufficient steam is produced, the oil wins the shoving match, and your food tastes like a grease sponge. Adding any amount of food to hot oil will drop the temperature of the oil. Adding a lot of food will lower it so much that it cannot recover quickly enough before steam will prevent it from infiltrating the food. Our inundated host should have cooked his onion rings in batches and poured his guests an extra beer in the meantime. 325 – 375 is the target temperature for most fried foods by the way. Procure a frying thermometer and eliminate the guesswork. INADEQUATE INSTRUCTIONS One day you decide to make homemade bread for the first time. One of the steps in the recipe says to dissolve the active dry yeast in warm water for 5 minutes. You do so, continue on with the recipe and in the end discover that your bread did not rise. What went wrong? Simple. The recipe instructions were vague and deficient. Did you take the temperature of the water before adding the yeast? Of course not. The instructions didn’t tell you to. Yeast is a living organism. It consumes sugars and expels carbon dioxide as a byproduct. This process, known as leavening, is what makes dough rise. Active dry yeast needs to be “proofed,” i.e., activated in warm water first. But the water must be between 100 and 110 degrees, preferably 105 to 110. Beyond 110 degrees it starts to die. Below 100 and it will not fully activate. Either way the leavening effect will be compromised and you’ll be making pitas instead of dinner rolls. Had you been fluent in Yeast 101 your knowledge would have transcended the pitfalls of the recipe. (PS. Make sure you check the expiration date on the yeast as well. Old yeast will not rise properly). WORKING FROM SCRATCH You just get home from food shopping. It’s your mom’s birthday and your parents will be arriving in two hours for dinner. You have a simple homey menu planned: a mixed green salad to start, followed by roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Nice. You make the salad and toss it in the fridge. Next you prep the chicken and get it in the oven. On to the potatoes. Yikes! You forgot to buy potatoes! No time to run back to the store. You frantically search your cupboards and discover a bag of rice. Rice pilaf! Of course! Your mom likes rice pilaf and you made it once before. You run through the steps in your head. Sauté some onion in butter and oil. Add the rice, cook for a few minutes and then add chicken broth, (luckily you have a couple of cans in the pantry). Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Rest for five minutes, finish with herbs and seasonings, fluff with a fork. That’s precisely what you do but when it comes time to fluff the rice, you discover a sticky, glutinous mess. What went wrong? Let me see the package of rice you used. Aha! Just as I suspected. You used Arborio rice, not long grain rice. So what you say? Well, not all rice is created equal. Short grain rices, such as Arborio, have a higher starch content than long grain rice. The lower starch content of long grain rice makes it ideal for a fluffy pilaf while that bag of Arborio is destined for risotto. The “creaminess” of a risotto is produced by the high degree of starch being released and incorporated into the fluid. This is why you constantly stir a risotto but not a pilaf. In this scenario, if you at least knew the properties of the two rices you could have evaded disaster. However, if you also knew how to make risotto, you would have turned forgetfulness into triumph. If you’d like to learn more about food science I would recommend the classic text “On Food and Cooking” by Harold McGee. And remember; always wear your thinking cap under your chef’s hat. ../food/2003/ft_031016_brains.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
Series on Change 2003 (Part 3) CHANGING YOUR LOOK Focusing on your dress, hair, posture, and other aspects of your appearance is not superficial. There is a reason why many career coaches advise people to dress like management if they aspire for the management ranks. If you appear like an executive, people see executive material. If you project a winning style, people see a winner. If you are confident with how you look, this confidence spills over into other aspects of yourself. Do an annual checkup. Even if you are currently satisfied with your look, it is important to reassess because styles change (not fashion trends, but office protocol). For example, several years ago, business casual was all the rage, but now some offices have become more formal. Pay attention to your office environment, and follow the lead of the people you admire (the levels to which you aspire), not just your peers. Take an inventory. Check clothes for stains, rips, alteration needs, and outdated styles. If you’re used to wearing the same combinations, take out all of your clothes and look for new matches. Try arranging your clothes by fabric, color, or type (business, casual, formal), so you can mix and match more easily. If you’re fashion-challenged, work with an image consultant or ask a stylish friend for help. Consider all aspects of your look. In addition to clothes, hair, complexion, posture, handshake, walk, and facial expressions make up your look. People with a great look are not messy, slouching, grumpy or disorganized. People with a great look exude energy. If you can capture that look, it means that you’ve taken the extra effort to take care of yourself. That extra self-care makes you feel good. That good feeling projects outward. Changing your look changes your outlook and better enables you to change your life. Caroline Ceniza-Levine, head of career consultancy CL Search Services, is also 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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I'M JUST WILD ABOUT HARRY Remember the song? Remember the slogan? We sturdy senior survivors remember Harry Truman with wonderful nostalgia. Plain speaking Harry. We loved him. It didn't matter his party affiliation. He was a Democrat, but in his case that didn't hinder the affection of even staunch Republicans. Harry knew how to call a prairie dog a prairie dog. That's why the nation loved him. "Margaret and the Mean Critic" . . . Harry made the front page as he vigorously defended his daughter Margaret upon her singing debut. Harry wrote a vitriolic letter to Paul Hume, music critic for "The Washington Post." Surely Hume's critique was viewed by the president as the sputtering of a lunatic. The president set him straight and the American people stood firmly behind Harry. I remember my mother saying, "I think Margaret has a lovely voice. That critic is so spiteful. Shame on him!" I remember my father saying, "Give them hell, Harry!" I don't remember anyone saying that Truman should not have said what he did just because he was the President of the United States. On the other hand I do remember that he was much admired for responding publicly and in plain English just like any good father would, to an attack on his family. Truman's staff said that he often took pen in hand and dashed off a letter or two to those who had offended him. A favorite annoyance was columnist Westbrook Pegler for whom Harry's loathing was undisguised. He never used anything as sissyish as a euphemism for Pegler. Harry just called him a "rat." This president didn't 'scrabble' with words and serve up his statements in some refried turkey hash invented by his PR people. So many of today's politicians do that and the result is that they don't even know what they just said any more than we do. Like Popeye, Truman could say, "I yam what I yam and that's all I yam." No apologies. That's why we loved him. Our Generation Remembers Little Shirley Temple's "Hoofer" Daddy Bet we remembered when all of the commentators seem to have forgotten. Haven't they all been citing Ronald Reagan as well as Sonny Bono and Clint Eastwood as the precedents for Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor? Have they all forgotten about George Murphy, US Senator: 1965-1971? He, like Reagan, was president of the Screen Actors Guild, and held many important posts after that. The Screen Actors Guild must be an excellent training ground for politics. Can you imagine having to "play" your political agenda to everyone else who is also an actor? Sounds like a nightmare! More . . . "They Can't Do That . . Can They? An energy company in Vladivostok, Russia, will 'detain' the dog or cat of any customer who is delinquent in his bill. The company must be desperate. Can you picture the capture of one of those pets? Not your average Meter Reader any more! "Technically," the mean company said, "an animal is a 'thing' and, as such, can be confiscated for an unpaid debt." Let's see how that plays out. Hope it doesn't catch on. Never will in America!
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REPORTS OF RIVER, BAY AND OCEAN FISHING
"Kemosabe" of Rumson, came home from the canyon on Tuesday with some tuna and mako. They released some bluefins. The "Shark Byte" also from Rumson returned from it's Nantucket trip. They had a good byte 355lb Bluefin Tuna.
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ANOTHER WIN FOR OPEN SPACE IN ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS Although the Bayshore region of Monmouth and Middlesex counties is located just 30 miles south of lower New York City, the area still contains some beautiful landscapes and significant habitats for a variety of animals. For example, the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 1996 identified Raritan and Sandy Hook bays has being home to over 90 species of fish throughout the year, over 45,000 birds during the winter, and a variety of endangered and threatened species, such as black skimmers, ospreys, and yellow-crowned night herons during the summer. The Bayshore region also contains some awe-inspiring natural areas including Sandy Hook, the mouth of Whale Creek in Aberdeen, and the embayment from Point Comfort to Conaskonk Point. Yet, the Bayshore region is in the middle of a perilous time to preserve what little open space we have remaining between South Amboy and the Highlands from new development and sprawl. In the past decades, the Bayshore region has become a poster child for poor planning. Local developers have been seizing the opportunity to push down the throats of many residents a helter-skelter pattern of growth. Take for example what is currently going on in Aberdeen Township where local residents are currently fighting a plan that calls for the creation of around 700 housing units on 200 acres of land near the beautiful Lake Lefferts, which is important habitat for freshwater fish and a breeding ground for migratory birds. For the last several years, residents in Middletown Township have also been battling a proposed town center project that if approved will remove acres of pasture and woodland, and in return transform the landscape into homes and stores that will further pollute our environment with traffic and noise, and water pollution into McClees Creek (part of the Navesink River watershed). Every day acres of wetlands, forests, or farmland is lost within the Bayshore region due to unwanted and unplanned development. This is why I am happy to reside in a Bayshore community where political leaders have a recent history of fighting to preserve open space and being victorious. The latest example occurred a few weeks ago when Mayor Mike Harmon and a majority of Borough Council members in Atlantic Highlands approved an out-of-court agreement among Middletown Township and a local developer that preserves approximately 30 acres of open space near Highway 36. The details of the agreement in part call for a trail that will connect the southernmost edge of the 50-acre Lenape Woods Nature Preserve in Atlantic Highlands to the approaches of Hartshorne Woods County Park in Middletown Township. In essence, the plan will help create a green corridor between two important forested natural areas in the Bayshore region for all species to enjoy. Much of the land to be acquired for open space will be purchased by Middletown Township under its open space program, with NJ State Green Acres co-financing. The agreement also concedes that the local developer will be able to build what he calls "Gate Cottage," which will create between 79 to 81 new houses north and south of Highway 36 in the "sandy fields" land, as already approved by the Middletown Planning Board. Yet, another important feature of this agreement is that 10 houses that would have been built right next to Lenape Woods by scooping out a large area of soil and trees has been negated. The plan now calls for preserving this 1.4-acre of land to be acquired by Atlantic Highlands for $225,000 and added to the preserve for all species to enjoy. In my opinion, the town did the right thing in fighting to safeguard our borders from sprawling and unwanted development. While the process might have had a better environmental education component to help enlighten new and old residents about the benefits of open space, the mere fact that this agreement brings together a plan that satisfies the three major players (Atlantic Highlands, Middletown, and the local developer) and virtually guarantees that more land in this area will not become a subdivision outweighs the negativism and partisan spin put forth by a few people. Unfortunately, the real estate boom in Monmouth County has not made purchasing land for open space easy or cheap. Indeed, it is far easier for government leaders to let their communities become over-developed. This is why I strongly believe that if nothing is done and local people do not speak out, the current Bayshore region will transform into a big sprawling area with polluted creeks, miles of traffic, high crime, and degraded parks. Thus, no question exists in my mind that Atlantic Highlands is now a better place to live.
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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
It’s human nature to line things up in order of preference. First, second, third, win, place, show, best-in-show, runner-up, Emmy, Oscar, Toni, Edgar, Shamus. But it doesn’t work with everything, especially kids. When my children were growing up, I coached them to avoid the term “best friend”. This was because at some point, the leader would fade back into the pack and another would surface. “Now Bob is my best friend, Dad”. Inevitably, a heart would be broken somewhere. “But I was her best friend, Dad”. My fatherly advice was to remind them that all of their friends are different. Some are funny, some are smart, some just make you feel good to be around. But don’t rank them 1, 2, or 3. They’re all your friends. Like books. This week’s column features three books, three authors and one genre – action/suspense/adventure. I don’t want to rank them as good-better-best. All three are pretty good, but they have their flaws. When the purpose of reading is to pass the time quickly turning pages, all three succeed. However, on analysis, each one has a flaw that must be ignored in order to enjoy the story. Like most fiction, there are different levels of disbelief that must be suspended in order to succeed. What are the odds he would be there exactly then? Why didn’t they just shoot him? Doesn’t he ever run out of air? Damn, he’s a good shot! How did she get the makeup off so fast? Suddenly she can walk. How did she get a reservation so quickly? If you can ignore those questions when they pop up, you’ll enjoy these three. Jack Reacher is a Clint Eastwood sort of guy. Devlin Judge is an everyman. Sidney Archer is quite resourceful.
Die Trying by Lee Child
Runner by Christopher Reich
Total Control by David Baldacci ../leafnotes/2003/ln031016.html PRINT THIS ARTICLE
LISTSERV LINKS The computer is an amazing machine. Hooked up to the Internet, with a couple of mouse clicks, my computer transports me into a whole new world. And in that cyber world there exists a group of amazing people from all different walks of life who come together on a daily basis to “chat,” ask questions, and receive support from those who really are the only ones who truly understand the anguish of all this waiting for the adoption to be complete. They are all members of the online Guatemalan Adoption Listserv that I’ve come to know and love. In the days before computerized information, I imagine that most people didn’t really understand all the nooks and crannies of international adoption. When the agency director called, you got information. When you called the agency, you may or may not have received information about your pending case. All the information about Guatemala and adoption you learned through word of mouth or library research, if anything substantial existed in the textbooks. It was an “ignorance is bliss” time, I think, because what you didn’t know most likely didn’t hurt you. For example, if your case was kicked out of PGN, you didn’t even know. All you knew was that your case was in the courts, and when it was released, you would get a call, “the call,” from the adoption agency. Nowadays, people can come together and share their experiences and knowledge like never before. The Internet provides we Guatemalan adopting families a “living room” of sorts to sit and chat and share what we know and what we feel. In the beginning, I was constantly online to read emails from members of the listserv in order to know everything I could know about adoption from Guatemala. It surprised me to learn that the baby could come home with black and blue-looking birthmarks called Mongolian Spots…and this shouldn’t scare me, because this is common. I also learned that her vaccinations may have to be repeated when she comes to the United States, because the vaccinations she gets in Guatemala may not be the right dosage or may not have been done at all. I was surprised to hear that babies often slept with the foster mothers in a bed rather than a crib. Also, it was cultural to pierce a girl baby’s earlobes, a symbol that she is loved. I read with interest a heated debate on gender: should adoptive families be able to choose a boy or a girl for their referral? And I learned all about the technical terminology and the specifics involved in the entire adoption process. Is it good that I know so much? I was able to find comfort and consolation from so many kind-hearted listserv members when I posted that Lucinda’s birthmother was missing. Through networking on the list a woman passed along the name of a Guatemalan attorney who could help us. I celebrated with those who got “the call” to bring home their babies, and I shared my sorrow with those who lost a referral. I discovered amazing information about children’s adoption book titles, Guatemalan charity organizations, American adoption agencies, state readoption procedures, INS red-tape cutting, etc, etc, etc! The list goes on and on. It’s been quite an education. However, at the same time, I heard all the “horror” stories of cases being “stuck” in the system, experienced the anguish in the words of parents who lost children, who had to endure years of infertility or years of single hood, hoping and wishing for a child to call their own. Like so much in today’s day, there is good and bad in everything. For all the sleepless nights worrying that I spent, pondering what others said on the listserv about their cases and seeing a possible link to mine, there were also those mornings when I was equipped with the knowledge to push our adoption agency a little harder for information and to get them to act faster. Knowledge is power, any way you look at it. I’ve met amazing friends on the listserv, and for them I am extremely grateful. There’s Karen who first answered my email when I requested feedback from those who had older sister-younger sister age gaps. She emailed me to tell me about her younger sister whom her family adopted from Asia when Karen was the same age as my Miranda. She told me about how excited she was, how thrilled she felt about being an older sister, how wonderful it was to share her life after so many years without a sibling. She reassured me that all would be fine, that it was a do-able situation. From that point on, she and I exchanged emails, voicing our excitement and our frustrations with the adoption journey. After giving birth to three boys, she and her husband were adopting a baby girl. Her journey started a little before mine, so Karen was the “expert” that I followed during the twists and turns each step of the way that she experienced first. When she was feeling down, I suddenly was feeling strong, sending her “hang in there” emails, telling her all would be fine. And the same was true in reverse. Karen got “the call” at the beginning of summer, and I was so delighted to hear her good news! When she returned home from Guatemala with her seven month old daughter, she told me in detail all about her experience, knowing I wanted to know everything because I would hopefully be following in her footsteps soon. And still Karen is there, months later, sending me pictures of her beautiful little girl, offering me advice and support, waiting to hear my good news. And then there was Celeste who in a roundabout way got my name from someone on the listserv. Three years ago, Celeste and her husband, fellow New Jerseyans, adopted a baby girl from Guatemala. And Celeste’s son is a few years older than Miranda. Immediately Celeste and I became friends, and her emails (and, now, phone calls) continue to be a source of inspiration. She tells me about her experiences adopting her daughter from Guatemala, gives me advice about transitions, family, and travel, and has become my cheerleader when setbacks occur. When I talk with Celeste, I know she really understands what I am feeling and thinking. She was once in my shoes. And with every laugh or sigh we share, I know I’m not alone. She is a good friend. Lastly, there’s Heidi, my newest listserv friend, who is waiting for her daughter Julia to come home. She is two months younger than Lucinda, so not only do we share our feelings about the frustrating wait, but we also daydream about our girls together. She lives in Washington state, far away, but when I see her email in my computer “in” basket, I smile and get ready to chat with a friend. There are others who have opened up their hearts and stories to me, too many to mention by name, but each and every one has made this adoption journey an incredible experience for me. It has reaffirmed my faith that people are good, kind, generous, and caring. To know that hundreds of orphans will join these people’s families and thrive in a bounty of love, who will learn tolerance, patience, and acceptance, and who will always know how much they are wanted, how much their parents struggled to bring them home—this makes me feel good, more hopeful about humanity. I am grateful for the technology that has brought us all together.
../adoption/2003/adpt031016_listserv.htm
OCTOBER IS BRINGING BIG CHANGES TO THE NEW JERSEY FERRY SERVICES SeaStreak’s new boat Wall Street was delivered on time and began its trial runs. The new boat was officially christened on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 with ceremonies both in Manhattan and New Jersey. The Wall Street is the sister ship to both the SeaStreak New Jersey and New York, all of which are 141 foot, 400 passenger high speed catamarans. The comparison of boats is reminiscent of a game where two pictures are presented as nearly identical. The idea was to find the actual differences. Passengers have quickly found differences in the boats. Some say the seats are more comfortable and contoured. Some don’t like them, but all agree that since the seats do not fold up when not it use, maneuvering around tables and trays is difficult. Tables are slightly lower and smaller. Armrests are higher and protrude further forward. My suggestion would be to remove the armrests between the seats at the tables. There are extra seats on the second level The carpeting is further recessed giving more wooden floor space around the entries and bar. It remains to be seen whether any extra insulation was added to the floor, so that during the winter months feet on the first level do not freeze. All that aside the boat is sparkling clean and we passengers should take pains to keep it that way. Controversies, however, have arisen in contemplating the new schedule and Seastreak has received a multitude of e-mails regarding same. One of the biggest changes in service is that there will now be a morning boat that goes directly to East 34th Street, with a second stop at Wall Street. This has brought smiles to those who commute to 34th Street while at the same time, those who work in the Wall Street area are something less than pleased. In brief, the changes have made some folks happy while displeasing others. SeaStreak’s task at hand is to make all of the people happy all of the time. SeaStreak management will be open to making changes to reflect need and there will be refinements to the schedule. SeaStreak’s office remains happy to receive suggestions so long as they don’t propose new places to dock the boats. This writer would propose a questionnaire to be filled out by each commuter and returned to SeaStreak so that they could better analyze need and usage. New York Waterway has also made changes this month. A global positioning system has been installed and is designed to keep its boats out of restricted waters. If a ferry were to enter an off-limits zone (1,000 ft on both sides of the Hudson River) the command center can spot it and an alarm will sound in the pilot’s cabin. The device can track a boat’s location from the Weehawken office on a computerized map. The system will feed into arrival and departure boards linked to electronic screens at each terminal. If, for example, a boat were to experience a delay, the terminal board will be capable of showing that delay. You will, however, still be able to look at the dock and know whether or not the boat is there. Eventually, the system will be tied in to the Waterway website, allowing people to track changes or delays. The system is also designed to aid the Waterway buses that operate throughout Manhattan, offering route changes to avoid traffic congestion. We are the only commuters to receive e-mails notices when a disruption in service occurs, and we continue to commute the longest distance in the shortest amount of time. The current expansion and improvement of the ferry services is yet another step forward for New Jersey residents. ../ferry/2003/fr031016_big_changes.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
ALL THINGS CONSIDERED
Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be.
A bud appears on a leafless tree,
Curvaceous in sparkling emerald
She barely moves
Stunning in the autumn of her life
She pirouettes, plays with friends, GILDA KREUTER
../poet/2003/pl031016_things_coinsidered.htm
(editors note: Do you have poetry to share? Send your submission to editor@ahherald.com.)
Picture This!
../picture_this/2003/pt_031016.htm or click herePicture 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
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 VIEW ARCHIVESETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THE AH HARBOR I am a member of the Harbor Commission and have been since 1990. Recently, there has been a lot of what at best could be called misleading information published and circulated about the Harbor and what it contributes to the town financially. I am a great believer in volunteerism, but have little patience with this criticism. It is very frustrating to me to hear all the misinformation which is circulated by people who are not in possession of the facts or choose to slant them for their own interests. I welcome the input of any interested citizen, but beg you to base your thinking on accurate information, not emotional rhetoric. Joe Hawley loves to attack the Republicans and their operation of the town and Harbor. I guess Mr. Hawley has to do this as he would have nothing to say if he told you about his accomplishments and the accomplishments of the local Democratic party he leads. Criticism is easy, actually accomplishing something is hard. Mr. Hawley would have you believe that Pete’s on the Bay would be paying the Harbor more than twice as much as the $156,000 Bayshore Associates is committed for the same premises on an annual basis. This is so ludicrous it doesn’t bear discussion by intelligent people. Pete Crosta never paid the Harbor more than $60,000 a year for the restaurant space and lost his lease due to non payment of the rent. The Bait and Tackle Shop is a separate corporation with its own lease and Mr. Crosta continues to be the lease holder of this area of the building as he is current in his rent payments. Mr. Hawley criticizes Jane Frotton, the Harbor Commission and the Borough Council for their operation of the Harbor. As I said before, when you have nothing to brag about criticism is the only thing left. Consider the following: Since 1996 the Harbor has paid the Borough over 4,770,000 dollars for shared expenses. This compares extremely favorably to what the Borough would have received if the Harbor were privately owned and paid taxes on a valuation of $10,000,000. Based on the current tax rate a $10,000,000 assessment would result in about $380,000 in taxes. Of this amount the Borough would actually get $103,000, the balance would go toward school and county taxes. In 2003 the Harbor’s payment for shared expenses is $819,000, over $700,000 more than from a privately owned facility and the Borough stills owns the Harbor. This amount is equal to about $800 in tax savings to a property owner with an assessed valuation of $300,000. Not bad for an entity which Mr. Hawley claims is run badly! Under the rules of municipal government in the State of New Jersey the Harbor is considered a Utility. As such, the Harbor has to be self liquidating which means it has to cover all of its expenses including debt service from the income it generates; it cannot use tax dollars for this purpose. All the improvements in the infrastructure and all the equipment purchased for use at the Harbor is paid for out of Harbor income or by government grants such as the Harbor received from FEMA after the 1992 storm and for the replacement of the bulkhead along the Promenade, a project which Mrs. Frotton spent over 5 years on to obtain the funding from the State. Bill Bate, our Harbormaster, successfully negotiated settlement of FEMA claims of over $4,000,000 for the costs resulting from the December 1992 storm. In addition, the Harbor has increased the number of berths by more than 60% since 1992, has purchased the property where Frank’s Pier, the Bait & Tackle Shop and restaurants, and the Seastreak office building are located, has purchased the land located east of the Harbor office from the State, has built a bandstand and seating area and has made many other improvement to the Harbor Facilities, all without costing the local taxpayers anything. Much of the work has been done by the Harbor’s own labor force in the off season between winter storage and spring launching and much of the design and engineering work has been done by the Harbormaster; all this has saved us many hundreds of thousands of dollars. People sometimes ask me how come the Harbor has a budget of $4,000,000 or so a year. Where does all the money go they ask. The Harbor’s budget includes all the gasoline and diesel fuel sold at the Fuel Dock, more than $850,000 at cost. Then there is the $819,000 for shared expenses and also more than $500,000 in debt service payments for the various projects under taken by the Harbor in recent years. The balance of the budget is used for current operating expenses such as wages, insurance, repairs, vehicle purchases, equipment purchases, maintenance, utilities and all the other expenses associated with operating the 2nd largest marina in the State of New Jersey. I am really amazed we can generate as much money as we do; we are certainly doing more on a percentage basis than almost any major corporation in this country does where a return of 5 or 6% is considered excellent; and we are not sucking money out of the Harbor and letting the maintenance go for a future generation to pay for, as was done in the past. We are netting over 20% after all the operating costs. Not bad for a small town operation, is it?
Jacob Hoffmann
../readers_write/2003/031016_ah_harbor.htm The Middletown Township Cultural and Arts Council has recently received a great deal of press. Middletown is a large and diverse township. Its citizens, like all, are entitled to their opinions; however, I think all Middletown citizens can agree on the need to continue to bring together citizens, artists, and arts organizations in order to increase access to excellence and diversity in the arts. The mission of the Arts Council is to do just that, while at the same time, not create an excess burden on the taxpayers of Middletown. The Arts Council, as a 501( c)(3) non-profit organization, is able to secure grants for programming that would not be available to the Township as a government entity. As an example, the Arts Council recently received a $4,000 grant for a new program entitled Community Connection. This program is a partnership among the Middletown Township Cultural and Arts Council, Middletown Township High Schools - North and South and Young Audiences of New Jersey. It will enable professional teaching artists to work with students and the community to create a mural and photography exhibit exploring how people of Middletown Township connect to each other and their community. This new program is projected to begin in March 2004, and in my mind is further evidence of the Arts Council’s commitment to its mission. As the Arts Council continues to evolve, it will continue to solicit financial support from public and private funding sources, as well as through its own fundraising activities and programmatic fees. I would encourage any citizen interested in promoting the arts in our community to become a member of the Arts Council. You can reach the Arts Council at 732-615-2000 ext. 2419 or by e-mail at artscouncil@middletownnj.org Linda Kish
../readers_write/2003/031016_mt_arts_excellence.htm NIMBY COMPLAINS ABOUT TOWN MALL, ER...CENTER This is in response to Joseph Azzolina's remarks made in defense of his children and his amazing plan on the Town Mall...I mean Center. Town Center. It is nice to see that Joe is a Carlin fan, as am I. NIMBY was one of Carlin's routines. I guess I am a NIMBY since I think a Town Mall...I mean Center, is a horrible, outdated, unnecessary, destructive idea. Joe, Middletown has a very high quality of life already. We don't need a mall...town, I mean town, to help things. Did anyone else see the pull out ad that was placed in the newspapers recently about the Town Mall, er....Center? It has a quote from some schnook saying that a Town Center would actually help traffic on Rt. 35 because it would provide a one stop shopping experience. Wow! Did IQs suddenly drop over the past few weeks? Am I reading this right? Joe, you need to relax and go back to counting your money. If you are so concerned about the quality of life in Middletown, how about turning your land into a beautiful park with a nature/learning center? You can even erect a statue of yourself. Then, I will no longer be a NIMBY. That is something I would love in my backyard. Since you are a politician, it is assumed you are crooked, greedy, and mean. Heck, I am sure Mayor Peters is as well. I don't care either way. I just know that I am going to vote for whomever is against a huge mall that is going to ruin a town's historic image, congest the roads even more than they are, stress out the land and its ability to sustain the people, and make the greedy even more rich. Joe, you don't care about Middletown. You just want to make sure your great great grandkids can grow up spoiled and rotten. Why don't we worry about all the vacant buildings on 35? How about we turn them back into profitable stores first. Then try to sell us your lame ideas. Maybe then a large mall...town, would be even remotely justified. Until then, go sell crazy somewhere else. Nobody trusts politicians and car salesmen. Why should you be any different? Love ya. James D'Arienzo PRINT THIS ARTICLE
ABILITY TO USE SANDY HOOK PARK MAY BE FOREVER CHANGED The National Park Service is preparing to grant a 60-year lease contract to Sandy Hook Partners, a private development firm, which will dramatically change the use of Sandy Hook and impact the future of the surrounding communities. Under the guise of preserving buildings of questionable historical importance in Fort Hancock, this pending deal will bring for-profit development on a wide scale into a public park. The nature of the park, and the towns adjacent to the park, will be changed forever. Public review was initiated and ushered along after much of the negotiations between the Park Service and the developer were completed. The public knows nothing about the scope and actual contents of the facilities to be developed by this deal. Although we have been told that "no retail" facilities will be incorporated into this plan, one has to wonder how the investors plan to recoup their investment and profit from it. The only fact we know for sure is that $60 million dollars of private money will be invested in a public park by a for-profit enterprise. The general public and their ability to use the park the way we use it now will be forever changed. A recent traffic impact study commissioned by the National Park Service and paid for with our tax dollars came to the conclusion that the only area to be effected by any increased traffic will be two intersections in Keyport and Hazlet on Route 36. Anyone who has attempted to travel on Route 36 during a summer weekend will know that this conclusion is only one of the many dubious bits of information released about this project. Sandy Hook Partners have stated that the increase in traffic in and out of Sandy Hook will be so minimal that the surrounding communities will not be effected. If this is the case, they surely will not have enough clients/visitors to make the investment of $60 million dollars worthwhile. They have not yet told the public what they plan to develop at Sandy Hook, so how can they project how many cars will be traveling to the site? The Park Service has not seen fit to release a detailed plan of what the future development in the park will be. The review process used by the Park Service was streamlined and by-passed multiple steps in the statutory review process under the ruse that this was about historic building preservation. Despite all of this lack of knowledge and ability to consider what this major change in the use of a public resource will mean to our communities we have seen little discussion about the project among the governing bodies of our town and county. It is time for someone in a position of influence to step forward and demand a detailed and open review of the facts of this negotiation, and the consequences for our community. Time is running out, another bridge will be crossed and the nature of our home communities will be once again sacrificed to the developer's plans.
Tara K. Ryan ../readers_write/2003/031016_sandy_hook_plan.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
ARCHIBALD AND
REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN As life-long residents of Monmouth County, we are often distressed and dismayed at the degree of development that has occurred over the years. While population increases necessitate additional housing and its concomitant support services, a balance between growth and conservation of open space can and must be reached. The people of Atlantic Highlands, under the leadership of Mayor Mike Harmon and his predecessor, Mayor Bob Schoeffling, have demonstrated their willingness to sacrifice "ratables" for the less tangible but equally valuable preservation of land for all of us to enjoy. In support of these efforts, the citizens of Atlantic Highlands overwhelmingly approved a referendum that provides for an additional one cent per hundred dollars valuation, to be earmarked for the acquisition of open space. Through the dedicated efforts of Mayor Harmon and Council President Jack Archibald, Green Acres grants have helped to support the purchase of open lands as they became available. Together with dedicated groups such as The Friends of the Navesink Highlands, they have steadfastly fought against outrageous proposals such as "Sudden City" and the currently proposed "Sardine City" planned for the Route 36 border with Middletown. As a result of their efforts, compromises have been reached in both cases that will mean scaled-down development and preservation of finite recreational land. Unfortunately, there appears to be a campaign being waged against the efforts of the incumbents, to the effect that grants may be lost and limited open spaces (such as property adjacent to the harbor and the land on which the Hofbrauhaus stands) will be lost to us forever. These are lands that provide access to our waterfront and to the incomparable views for which Atlantic Highlands is famous. If they fall into the hands of developers, only the new owners will have access to these resources. One needs only to look at East Pointe in Highlands and the beachfront condominiums of Sea Bright and Long Branch to see the result of development in such areas. It is hard to understand why attempts to undermine the successes of the Council are being made. Is it a fear that continued achievements will bolster the resumes of the incumbents, making it more difficult to defeat them at the polls? The present administration has worked tirelessly for the good of the electorate. We can only hope that the voters of Atlantic Highlands thank them by supporting Jack Archibald for Mayor on November 4th.
Stephen and Linda Slovenz
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Brian Unger's letter to editor attacking me for my positions on some of America's most serious problems is riddled with misinformation, misinterpretation and blatant lies. Unger, of Long Branch, is running for the State Senate in the 11th Legislative District as a candidate for the Green Party. In Europe, the Green Party is a radical liberal, socialist and Marxist organization pretending to be environmentalists. The "Greens" are trying to impose their socialist/Marxist ideology on the American electorate. As any enlightened individual knows, The "Green" Party" is green on the outside and "red" on the inside. The last thing America needs or wants in the 21st Century is a third party loaded with political misfits and rejects. Unger is so wrong with his evaluation of my column on how and why "Liberalism" is destroying America's culture and economy, that he resorts to such fantasies as this absurd assumption: "I assume your Ph.D. is from a respected university." For the record, Brian, nowhere in my biographies in Who's Who in America or the Literary Hall of Fame where I was inducted as an author in 1988 and other sources about my life as an author, historian and syndicated columnist is there any reference of Gordon Bishop holding a Ph.D. I have a BA in English from Rutgers University-College. Why didn't you bother to check out my biographical background before you concoct a Ph.D. for this writer. Your attack letter against me is filled with such inane concoctions. Get a life, Brian, learn how to think -- and write, based on facts, not fiction. Gordon Bishop
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