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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
by ALLAN DEAN ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — Department of Labor Commissioner Albert G. Kroll was with the Governor James E. McGreevey at Brookdale Community College on Tuesday to hold a town meeting on the move to consolidate the state funded training programs.
Governor McGreevey
announced last week the reformation of the state's labor department. More than 27
state training programs currently administered by the Departments of Labor,
Education, and Human Services will come under the direction of the new NJ
Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The new Department will be
responsible for all state job-training programs.
"People that need workforce training are often at the lowest point of their lives," said Kroll. With the new system, "After human services needs are met the individual will be moved to the workforce development program," Kroll said. The state training programs help employers and employees. Delaire USA Fiber Optic and Electronic Specialists of Manasquan which employees 25 people used a Customized Training Grant to refocus its workforce to take advantage of new markets after the September 11 terrorist attacks. The company has added 3 new workers and as a result of training received through Brookdale the company is certified for new military contracts. Lorraine Hallock, president of Delairesaid, "It has really helped the company stay in business and win contracts." John Lloyd of Meridian Health Systems, one of
the largest employers in Monmouth and Ocean Counties with 7,500 workers said
support people are in great demand and once trained will go on to earn a higher
wage. The company taken advantage of a Customized Training Grant to train
more than 900 people over three years. He said the company will seek
another customized grant this year.
Business leaders who would like to learn more about training grants that can provide their workers with needed skills should call Brian Peters, Director of Business Services at the Department of Labor, at (609) 292-6852. Individuals would would like to improve their careers with the State's training programs should call 1-877-US2JOBS. (1-877-872-5627)
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by ALLAN DEAN ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — The Borough Council last week selected Garden State Fireworks Company, Millington, to perform the annual Independence Day pyrotechnics during the Atlantic Highlands Fireman's Fair in July. The company was one of six companies interviewed by the Fireworks Committee headed by Councilwoman Kim Spatola, Harbor Commissioner Jacob Hoffmann, and residents Candy Veth and John Bollinger. The committee proposed a new site fireworks display, bringing the launch area back to land. In years past, fireworks were set off at the base of the hill at the eastern end of the harbor. Homes sitting above the harbor, on Ocean Boulevard, were often in danger from the firework's flying embers, sometimes igniting small fires on the bank behind the homes. Last year, the fireworks were ignited from a barge that was hired for the event at a total cost of $22,000. The barge rental was $10,000 and there was a $2000 charge for towing the barge. The size of the shot was reduced from an 8" shell to a 6" shell. As a result of the reduced size and moving the fireworks off-shore, some complained that the fireworks display last year was not as spectacular as in years past. The new site will be again be located at the eastern end of the harbor, but closer to the water than in the past "The nearest home will be over 500 feet away," said Mrs. Spatola. Spatola noted that the fireworks have a fallout radius of 420 feet and the area selected conforms to state regulations. She said the committee had worked closely with Atlantic Highlands Fire Marshall Martin Hawley. The company is willing to fire a test shot, prior to the event, to help gauge the fall-out zone, said Spatola. Garden State Fire Company, run by the world famous Santore Brothers, was hired at a total cost of $10,000. Spatola said "the company was the only one interviewed that makes their own fireworks." Other companies use fireworks manufactured in China. Spatola said that Garden State Fireworks can provide unique colors and features. Some residents expressed concern about the new location saying their homes are still under threat. Joel Barber, Ocean Boulevard, asked the council, "Is the borough will to indemnify us if there is a fire?" Mrs. Spatola said the fireworks company has a $5 million insurance policy and the borough also has coverage of $5 million. She noted that several precautions are in place to prevent a fire. Harbor Commission Vice Chairman Jacob Hoffmann, also a fireman in town, said fire trucks will continue to be stationed along Ocean Boulevard and firefighters will be stationed along the bank to extinguish any flames from falling embers. The fireworks were launched from a barge in the bay last year because alarms were raised by concerned homeowners the year before. Two Ocean Boulevard families scrambled to put out small spot fires on the embankment overlooking the town's fireworks display in 2002. Embers from the fireworks landed on the decks of the homes, burning a hole in a patio umbrella. One homeowner, Kathryn Barber, also suffered a minor burn when an ember landed on her foot. The new launch site will be further away from the embankment and the homes will not be in the fall-out zone. Mrs. Candy Gawler asked if someone would be responsible to call off the fireworks if it was too windy. Borough Administrator John Phair said if wind speeds are 25 knots or greater the fireworks would be called off. Ultimately, the fire marshal will determine if it is too windy. John Bollinger, Ocean Boulevard, a fireworks committee member, said a petition had been circulated, by him and others, asking if residents wanted the fireworks moved back to the shore behind the Veth and Gawler homes on Ocean Boulevard. He said the response was in favor of move back to the harbor. He said many people complained that last year's spectacle was less than spectacular because it was farther away on a barge and the size of the display was small. The council voted 5-1 in favor of approving the contract with Garden State Fireworks. Councilman John C. Archibald, Jr. voted no saying he did not think it was wise to bring the fireworks back to the shore. "I would rather err on the side of safety," said Archibald. "The barge is a better idea." The fireworks committee will continue to discuss ways to improve the fireworks in town. They envision someday having a display to rival the Red Bank Kaboom Fireworks. That display costs in excess of $100,000 each year. The AH fireworks will be held July 2nd at dusk during the Annual Atlantic Highlands Fireman's Fair. The fireworks rain date is July 3rd. Related pages: www.ahherald.com/news/2002/0725/ah_fireworks.htm
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FREEHOLD, NJ — The Monmouth County Historical Commission has announced the opening of nominations for its 2004 Preservation Awards program.Eligible nominations include historic properties that were the subject of restoration or preservation work substantially completed in 2003. They may be privately owned, owned by businesses, municipalities or nonprofit organizations. Properties considered for this award program will not include those that have been recipients of previous Monmouth County preservations grants. Randall Gabrielan, Monmouth County Historical Commission’s Executive Director said, "The award program is part of the County’s effort to recognize the efforts of those who preserve our heritage and contribute to the County’s historic stature." The Monmouth County Historical Commission is an official agency appointed by the Board of Chosen Freeholders to encourage appreciation for and to foster public awareness of the rich and diverse historic heritage of Monmouth County. An application for the award may be made by the owner of the property or a member of the public. The application form may be obtained by writing to the Monmouth County Historical Commission, Hall of Records, Room 201, Freehold, NJ 07728, by calling 732-431-7413 or 732-431-7411.
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KEYPORT, NJ — It might be freezing outside, but competition is already starting to heat up for Keyport’s Second Annual Battle of the Bands on July 31 at Stop & Shop/Keyport Plaza Shopping Center, located at Routes 35 and 36, just off Exit 117 of the Garden State Parkway. If you or someone you know is a member of a New Jersey band looking to get discovered, Keyport wants to hear from you right now.Hosted by the Keyport Business Alliance, Battle of the Bands is your group’s chance to play before a large and lively audience for prizes, recording studio time, and featured appearances at future festivals, street fairs and special events in Keyport and other locations. The winning bands will be judged on musicianship, showmanship, and fan interaction. To be eligible to compete in Keyport’s Battle of the Bands this summer, send your tapes or CDs, press kits, photographs, resumes or bios and at least two references right now to Allen Consulting Inc., 89 Middletown Rd, Holmdel, NJ 07733, Attention: Battle of the Bands. No phone calls, please. For more information on events in Keyport or the Keyport Business Alliance, visit www.keyportonline.com.
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USEPA’s Proposed Guidance Will Skip Critical Sewage Treatment Step TRENTON, NJ – Today, 26 organizations condemned the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) draft policy that would allow the discharge of partially and inadequately treated sewage during rain events into waterways, including coastal waters. Representatives of community, conservation, diving, environmental, fishing, religious, and watershed groups, strongly urged USEPA to immediately withdraw the blending guidance and continue to uphold the nation’s momentum toward improved protection of waterways by enforcing current law. "This proposed change is irresponsible and unacceptable. New Jersey and New York have worked hard to improve marine water quality after suffering from poorly treated wastewater in the past, and this federal policy will put our waters at risk," said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action. "The proposed guidance is an environmental rollback that would circumvent the real solutions to managing wastewater treatment challenges and allow a cheap and dirty scheme that will threaten public health and the environment. The solution to pollution is not dilution." "At a time when the attentions of our Governor, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and our local residents are focused on improving water quality and levels of protection for ecological resources, EPA’s proposal is unacceptable," said Leanne Foster, Policy Director for the American Littoral Society. "At this very moment, residents and families in New Jersey and across the tri-state area are making their plans to spend yet another summer at the shore. Houses are being renovated and rented, fishing trips planned and paid for, boats are being refurbished, and fishermen and shell fishermen are making ready for a lucrative harvest. EPA’s proposal could jeopardize all of these planned activities." "What we flush down our toilets should be not be mixed with what comes out of our faucets," said Doug O’Malley, Clean Water Advocate for New Jersey Public Interest Research Group. "The Bush Administration forgets that logic by allowing sewage to skip a crucial treatment step. This is a raw deal for our waterways and our health." "New Jersey as a state is already plagued with compromised water quality that fails to meet standards set for recreational uses including fishing and swimming," said Kelly McNicholas, Administrative Assistant for the Sierra Club, NJ Chapter. The groups opposing USEPA’s draft guidance say the guidance will not motivate Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) to pursue solving the problems associated with wet weather. For instance, in coastal areas of New Jersey, facilities are reaching capacity and the proposal undermines state and local efforts to directly address the problems of inflow, infiltration, and increasing population. USEPA’s Proposed Guidance On November 7, 2003, USEPA released a draft guidance that would allow Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) to re-route sewage around secondary treatment units after the primary filtering treatment step in the sewage treatment process during wet weather. The untreated, but filtered, sewage would then be "blended" with fully treated wastewater before being discharged directly into a waterbody. The result will be inadequately treated sewage during wet weather, less incentive to fix chronic infiltration problems, and polluted waters. As proposed, this policy would apply to all of New Jersey’s POTWs, as well as entire nation’s. The proposed guidance also would apply to sanitary and combined sewers. USEPA is accepting public comments on the draft guidance, the "National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Requirements for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Discharges During Wet Weather Conditions," until February 9, 2004. Public Health and Marine Resources Threatened Contact with sewage-polluted water can make people sick. Swimming, surfing, and other contact with inadequately treated wastewater exposes people to harmful pathogens and viruses. "Blending will result in poorly treated wastewater and increased levels of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. And, one of the solutions, chlorination of blended sewage, is ineffective in treating human pathogens. The end result could well mean that, during wet weather, recreational users of our coastal waters would be more likely exposed to pathogens with increased risks of gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses. Also, chlorination by-products are highly toxic to marine life and do not have permit limits in coastal waters," said Kristen Milligan, Ph.D., Staff Scientist for Clean Ocean Action. "Surfers have been called an indicator species when it comes to water pollution. We spend more time in the water, and we are in the ocean when other people wouldn't be – like when it is cold, or during and after storms," said John Weber, Chair of the Jersey Shore Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. "Surfers therefore have much greater contact with wastewater and water-born pathogens. This proposal is a giant step backwards for surfers and everyone who depends on clean water." New Jersey monitoring only tests for indicators of bacterial pathogens, not all types of pathogens. Indicator bacteria such as these are not directly harmful to humans, but are typically found in the presence of other harmful viruses, parasites, and bacteria. Currently, the pathogen indicators used to protect human health are limited to bacterial pathogens and do not protect against viral pathogens that are common causes of bathing-related illnesses, such as respiratory infections. Elevated levels of bacterial pathogen indicators are used as the basis for closing bathing beaches and shellfish beds to protect human health. "USEPA’s proposed policy to allow inadequately treated wastewater to be discharged into our waterways would result in chronic negative effects on the shellfish beds and in turn have a negative effect on the economic vitality and survivability of the shellfish industry, not just in the Raritan Bay, but throughout New Jersey and New York," said Debbie Mans, Policy Associate for NY/NJ Baykeeper. Toxins that remain in wastewater after the treatment process also threaten the health of humans and marine life. Many of the toxins that enter the wastewater system have no permitted discharge limits. This may allow toxins to build up in sediments and the tissues of marine organisms, having detrimental, if not lethal effects on marine organisms and placing human consumers of seafood at risk. Also, chlorine added for disinfection creates a number of very toxic by-products which further threatens waterways. "Pollution directly affects the health of our waters and, in turn, directly affects the health of the animals living in these waters. In order to cleanup the waterways of this country, the sources of pollution need to be cleaned up," said Gil Hawkins, Recording Secretary and an environmental affairs coordinator for the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association – New Jersey Chapter. "Last year, the Hudson River was in one its dirtiest states in a long time and the combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and non-point source pollution were good reasons for that." "Our businesses depend upon clean water and a healthy marine environment. Marinas and their boating customers are under strict regulations in regard to sanitary waste, as well they should be. They comply. The state and nation should do no less," said Scottie Franklin, Environmental Chairperson for the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey.
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LINCROFT, NJ — The Diversity Council of Brookdale Community College will sponsor an educational and informative presentation, "Sweatshops and Social Justice: NIKE in Indonesia - A Case Study" on Thursday, February 12. The event will be held from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. in the Warner Student Life Center, Navesink room II. It is open to the public. A suggested $1.25 symbolic donation is requested.St. Joseph University graduates Leslie Kretzu and Jim Keady will conduct the two-hour interactive multi-media presentation. The team spent August of 2000 living in a Tangerang, Indonesia factory workers' slum, subsisting on the $1.25 day typical wage paid to NIKE's subcontracted workers. Leslie and Jim will share personal accounts of their experiences. Their presentation also includes the updates from their return research trips to Tangerang in 2001 and 2002. Leslie and Jim have visited more than 140 universities and high schools across the country. They have spoken to over 30,000 students, faculty, administrators, and community members. They encourage their supporters to learn more about this issue and also to take specific action on behalf of justice for NIKE's 130,000 Indonesian workers. " We would like to give a face to the issue of sweatshops and provide direction for individuals to improve the lives of the factory workers," said Alex Iadovy, Co-chair, Diversity Council. Parking for the Warner Student Life Center is most convenient in lot #7. For more information, call #732-224-2008.
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LINCROFT, NJ — The Brookdale Community College Foundation office announces the Wilbur Ray Scholarship Dinner, a benefit for minority students, will be held on Saturday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. at Gibbs Hall, Fort Monmouth. A cash bar will be available at 6:30 p.m. The seven 2004 Wilbur Ray Service Awards honorees include the following community members and organizations:
Honorees are nominated and then voted on by the committee. In addition to recognition, Wilbur Ray Service Awards will be presented to each recipient. The Wilbur Ray Scholarship Program for Minority Students is named in honor of former Long Branch resident Sgt. Wilbur Ray, a long-time and devoted member of the Brookdale Community College Police Force. "Sgt. Ray was dedicated to education and the Brookdale students with whom he came in contact. He was a positive role model for all who met him, a devoted member of AME Trinity Church, Long Branch, a caring and concerned friend," says Philip A. Smith, chairperson of the 13-member dinner committee. Tickets for the scholarship dinner are $45. Individuals unable to attend the event may contribute a gift to the scholarship fund. For tickets and information, contact the Brookdale Foundation at 732-224-2286.
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EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — The Annual “Follow the Spirit” Conference will be held at the Hilton East Brunswick, April 23, 24, and 25 (Fri-Sun). This year’s theme is derived from Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.” “Follow the Spirit 2004” features popular and inspiring speakers, workshops, liturgies, prayers for healing, penance service, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and uplifting, Spirit-filled music performed by Refuge, a Catholic music ministry serving The Body of Christ Prayer Group at St. Francis Cathedral in Metuchen Once again free registration is being offered for first-time attendees, when registering with a returning conference attendee. On-site registration begins at 4:00 PM Friday with the first main gathering set for 7:00 PM Friday. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament also begins at 4:00 PM Friday and continues round-the-clock for the duration of the conference. Main gathering speakers will be dynamic Evangelists, Bishop Sam Jacobs, David Thorp, Sr. Ann Shields, and Molly Kelly. Workshops will be conducted by our featured speakers and other Spirit-filled members of the Charismatic Renewal on the themes of Bringing Good News to the Poor, Healing the Broken Hearted, Setting the Captives Free, Living in the Will of God, The Anointing, and Teaching Chastity to our Children. Fr. John Gordon (from Franciscan University at Steubenville) will be the Emcee. For more information, call the “Follow the Spirit” Conference at 732-495-4561 or e-mail at NJCATHCONF@AOL.COM.
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LINCROFT, NJ — Several families of 9/11 victims who received so much from America following the tragedy want to give something back -- something fun, heartfelt and memorable. A concert, suitably titled Straight from the Heart, is the venue. Proceeds will benefit several local charities that assist a wide-range of people with varied needs. Local legends Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez and Steel Retro, and the Glen Burtnick Band will heat up Brookdale’s Collins Arena on Saturday, February 14 beginning at 7pm. Brookdale Community College administrators along with several community members from various organizations are planning the event. Bill Keegan, Lieutenant, Port Authority Police Department who served as the night commander of rescue and recovery operations at Ground Zero for nine straight months proposed the idea of the concert as a way to give back. “Obviously, serving in this capacity I became very close to many of the families of officers killed on 9/11. Through this concert recovery workers and families can say ‘thank you’ to Monmouth County residents for their generous support. Donating the proceeds of a concert that people will come out and enjoy on a day that celebrates love is a great way to do that. It’s a way to keep the circle of giving alive,” he said. Community members helping to plan the event include Gina Cayne, Marlboro, president of the Jason Cayne Foundation; and Michael Cerame, Lieutenant, Middletown Police Department and volunteer with the Special Olympics. Cayne notes, “9/11 had such an impact on the nation that everyone reached out to the families who lost loved ones. We were helped tremendously and this concert is a way for us to help other families who are coping with tragedy or disability, not connected to 9/11. These families haven’t received the same outpouring of support because people just don’t know about the need.” The Jason Cayne Foundation provides help to men and women from Monmouth County who have unexpectedly lost a spouse and have at least one child under 18. The foundation was named in memory of her husband who was killed in the World Trade Center on 9/11. During the concert, special recognition will be given to four well-known members of the community for their efforts to support the victims and families affected by the 9/11 tragedy. Recipients are U.S. Senator Jon Corzine, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and Tim McLoone. Tickets are $50 for reserved floor seats, $35 general admission floor seats, and $25 for bleacher seats. Tickets available at www.ticketweb.com; Jack’s Music in Red Bank; and at Brookdale's Warner Student Life Center on the Lincroft campus, (732) 224-2788. Proceeds from the “Straight from the Heart” concert will benefit the New Jersey Special Olympics, the Kathe B. Stapleton Memorial Scholarship at Brookdale, the Jason Cayne Foundation, the Brookdale 9/11 Relief Fund and the Emmanuel Cancer Fund. For more information contact (732) 224-2639.
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NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — The Green Party of New Jersey announced that it will hold a forum on Thursday, February 5th, to discuss what the national Green Party should do in 2004 with regard to running a candidate for President. The event will take place at the Labor Education Center in New Brunswick at 50 Labor Center Way. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. David Cobb, former General Counsel of the national Green Party and current candidate for the party's nomination, will speak at the forum, as will state coordinator Steve Welzer. Welzer is advocating that the Green Party support Ralph Nader if he announces that he will again run for President. Jane Hunter, chair of the Green Party of New Jersey, commented, "There are a variety of viewpoints within our organization about what we should be doing in 2004 and whom we should be supporting. This open forum is an opportunity for Greens and others in New Jersey to meet and hear from one of our Presidential candidates and participate in discussion about this important issue." David Cobb is on a two-week campaign tour through Eastern and Midwestern states.
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FREEHOLD, NJ — Sheriff Joseph W. Oxley partnered with the U.S. Marshals Service to provide temporary emergency housing for 50 Immigration Service (INS) detainees at Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI). The prisoners were stranded aboard a federal transport plane at Newark Liberty Airport as a result of snow and ice storms that pounded the northeast. The Sheriff’s Office was able to quickly resolve the crisis by adjusting housing arrangements at Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI), which was already near full capacity at approximately 1,200 inmates. The Sheriff’s Office will receive $85 per INS detainee/ per day for the emergency housing, offsetting operating costs by $4,250 for this onetime event. Sheriff Oxley implements a number of unique and innovative efforts to help offset the costs of operating the 1,328 bed maximum security adult facility. In 2003, approximately 16% of the year’s operating costs, over $7,600,000, were offset as a result of these revenue-generating programs. “New Jersey Sheriffs help the U.S. Marshals fill a critical need by supplying their correctional facilities for federal prisoners and immigration detainees,” Marshal James Plousis said. “Sheriff Oxley’s efforts, and the outstanding operation of MCCI, help make New Jersey safer.” The Sheriff’s Office houses state and federal prisoners, requires an inmate processing fee, collects medical co-payments, and provides inmate labor programs – all to lessen the burden on Monmouth County taxpayers. In 2003, MCCI maintained an efficient average population of 1,152 (87%) by housing federal, state and Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) detainees. Housing of the additional prisoners added close to $5.8 million in revenues. MCCI also collected over $217,000 in processing fees during calendar year 2003. In addition, the inmate commissary, where prisoners can purchase personal hygiene items such as shampoos and lotions, generated over $179,000 in revenue. The medical co-pay program, similar to the charges incurred in managed healthcare plans, returned over $35,000 in 2003. Along with offsetting the cost to county government budgets, inmate labor provides added resources to municipal tax bases. Last year, inmates involved in the Labor Program at Monmouth County Correctional Institution have worked 14,396 hours in 35 municipalities throughout Monmouth County alone, resulting in an estimated savings of more than $74,139 for taxpayers. Inmate labor teams have tackled every type of project imaginable, from painting and carpentry, to restoring a Civil War-era cemetery. Participation in the Inmate Labor Program is voluntary. “The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is proud to assist Marshal Jim Plousis and the Department of Homeland Security in this emergency request for housing INS detainees,” Sheriff Joseph W. Oxley said. “Warden Bonforte and the men and women of MCCI were able to adjust inmate housing quickly, process and house the immigration detainees safely, and respond to this call for aid from our federal government. This Office is focused on sharing resources, returning value and providing the highest caliber of law enforcement services for the benefit of our residents.” For more information, please call (732) 294-5901 or log onto www.sheriffoxley.com. ../news/2004/0205/mcso_ins_detainees.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — The Monmouth County 9/11 Memorial Committee announced recently that nearly $735,000.00 has been raised to create the Monmouth County 9/11 Memorial at Mt. Mitchill Scenic Overlook in Atlantic Highlands, NJ. The project is a collaboration between the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Monmouth County Park System, Friends of the Parks and the Monmouth County 9/11 Memorial Committee. The total budget for the project, according to Jim Truncer, Director of the Monmouth County Park System, is estimated at $1,056,681.00. Of that amount, Monmouth County will spend $656,462.00 for renovations to the site. A contract was recently awarded to the lowest bidder, Precise Construction, Inc., to complete this work. "Renovations to this county park had been planned prior to September 11, 2001," according to Mr. Truncer. The balance of $400,219.00 is to be raised by the Monmouth County 9/11Memorial Committee. After the tragedy, The Monmouth County 9/11 Memorial Committee was formed by the Friends of the Parks, a non-profit organization, to design a memorial to the victims of 9/11 and raise the necessary funds to support the project. Committee Chairman, Frank Tomaino stated "We were very fortunate that the committee could designate the Mt. Mitchill site for the memorial, not only because plans had already been made by the county to renovate the site but also because it is the perfect location to pay tribute to the members of our community who were lost on September 11th, as the park affords visitors a spectacular view of the New York City skyline and harbor." The goal for these efforts, apart from renovations to the site, is estimated at just over $400,000.00. The design, selected by the committee after a long process and incorporating various ideas from the many submissions, will include a sculpture, carved in light stone, of an eagle "ascending to a better world" with a beam from the World Trade Center wreckage in its grasp. It also includes a walkway leading up to the monument, a visual timeline of the events that day, a two-foot high table of black granite that lists the names of all the individuals from Monmouth County who were lost that day and the stone sculpture to be created by renowned artist, Franco Minervini. To date, the Monmouth County 9/11 Memorial Sub-Committee has raised over $78,000.00; the group assigned the fundraising responsibility for the project. This includes nearly $6,000.00 that has been raised, in total, by local schools. Over 50 gifts of $911.00 or more have been received. In total, nearly $30,000.00 has come from local individuals and an equal amount has come from local businesses. More than 250 gifts have been received in amounts from $9.11 and up. Roughly, $325,000.00 is still needed to complete the project. " We are very pleased with the result of our efforts to date and appreciate the generous donations that have been received," stated Frank Tomaino. "Contributions are coming in at a very steady pace as we execute our fundraising plan. It may take longer than expected to reach our goal but we know the community supports this project and we all want to pay proper tribute to the victims who were lost. It takes time to complete a project like this." he added. According to Tomaino, the next phase of the fundraising effort calls for a plan to contact local community organizations for support. Speakers from the committee are available to give presentations at local meetings of the Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Clubs and other groups in the area. For more information about the Monmouth County 9/11 Memorial project and the fundraising efforts, please contact Jennifer Anderson, the consultant hired to coordinate the fundraising efforts, at (732) 870-6085 or visit www.monmouthcouty911memorial.com.
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WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ — Monmouth University held its Annual MLK, Jr. Tribute Celebration on January 22, 2004, in which the MLK, Jr. Unsung Hero/Heroine Award was awarded to Oakhurst residents Mr. Thomas E. and Mrs. Maxine Daniels, Monmouth University student Ms. Lauren Strina, and former Monmouth University employee Dr. Kevin Banks. The MLK, Jr. Unsung Hero/Heroine Award recognizes people from Monmouth University and the greater community who exemplify the spirit, life, and teaching of Dr. King, but in doing so do not often get widely recognized for their work. Mr. and Mrs. Daniels founded the Acceleration in Computer Science Careers (PAC) Program in 1984. The PAC Program teaches math and computer skills to minority students free of charge. The couple are also active members of The Community Collaboration Council, The New Jersey Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Monmouth-Ocean Minority Investment Corporation. Ms. Strina of Brooklyn, New York, is a senior Biology major and lacrosse goalie at Monmouth University as well as a devoted mother. Strina exemplifies the spirit of Dr. King through her efforts of helping others by organizing numerous community service events. Strina’s accomplishments include food drives, prom dress donations for Catherine’s Closet, blood drives, mentoring children, serving as the president of the Student Alumni Association, and being an active member of her sorority. Dr. Banks of Pleasantville, New York, was the keynote speaker at the MLK, Jr. Celebration. He is an outstanding member of the community and former coordinator of the Student Human Relations Initiative/Dean Residential Life at Monmouth University. During his 12 years as a resident of Monmouth County, Dr. Banks was actively involved as a member of Trinity AME Church in Long Branch and served as a member of the Trustee Board, president of the male choir and the Voices of Trinity. He was also actively involved with the development of the outreach programs sponsored by Trinity AME Church and he also served on the advisory boards of the Urban League’s Black Male Mentoring Program and the Joseph M. Ferraina School Community Advisory board. Currently, Dr. Banks serves as the Dean for Students at Pace University and coaches youth football for the Pleasantville Panthers.
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KEANSBURG, NJ — Keansburg Baseball, Softball and T-Ball has opened registration for the upcoming season.Sign-ups will be held every Saturday and Sunday in the month of February from 9 AM to 1 PM at the clubhouse on Collins fields. Sign-ups will be for girls ages 5 through 16 and boys ages 5 through 18. Any child who will be 5 years of age before August 1, 2004 is eligible to play. The registration fee for this season is the same as it has been for the past few seasons. It is $50.00 per child with a work duty fee of $25.00 per family. For more information on Keansburg Baseball and Softball sign ups contact Mike Yeneic at 732-495-0313.
../news/2004/0205/mt_elks.htm BELFORD ENGINE, FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT Middletown Fire Department please visit the web site at: http://www.geocities.com/M_T_F_D/ On Saturday January 24 at around 11:00 pm a fire at 650 Main Street in Belford was reported. Belford Engine, Belford Independent and Port Monmouth Fire Companies were dispatched. Upon arrival it was discovered that there was a chimney fire with extension to the roof. All of the people that were living there at the time of the fire escaped without injuries. 60 firefighters under the direction of Fire Chief Bill Hibell extinguished the fire within 20 minutes, but firefighters remained on scene until about 2:00 am to check for extension and to put out hot spots. The Middletown Fire Department Air Unit and Fire Police also responded. The residents were unable to return to the house because the power and gas were shut off to the residence. On Sunday January 25 At around 9:30 pm a possible fire in the wall was reported at 690 Campbell Ave Port Monmouth when fire fighters from Port Monmouth, Belford Engine and Belford Independent arrived they confirmed that in fact there was a fire on the second floor that extended to the attic. East Keansburg Fire Company was dispatched as the FAST Team, which stands for Firefighter Assist Search Team, whose job is to stand-by incase of firefighter injury or entrapment. The fire which was put under control at 10:20 by Fire Chief Bill Hibell was somewhat difficult to fight due to the ice condition and the cold weather. Three firefighters were treated on scene by first-aid but refused transport. Also dispatched to the fire were Navesink Hook and Ladder , Old Village, Fire Police and the Air Unit. The house was left uninhabitable due to the utilities being shut off and the fact that part of the roof had burned off. Andy Spears
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OCEAN GROVE, NJ — A unique book of love poems and chocolate recipes makes its debut in Ocean Grove to celebrate Chocolate Lovers weekend and Valentine's Day: "for Chocolate Lovers." Contributors are all local residents and summer visitors to the town. The Tri-Muse, three Ocean Grove editors, Aanensen, Florio and MacAllister, publishers of the award-winning, "Writers On the Water's Edge," again showcase local talents. "Love poems from neighbors found their way to the pages. Some contributors are award-winning poets," said Gayle Aanensen. "We are continually impressed by the quality of literature that our town produces." Her face blushed as she read a poem written in 1943 by her father-in-law to his sweetheart. To Glady:
Would it be theft for me to use
"Love me for naught but love,
Dear,"
No promise you could give me
The love that fills my bosom Al Aanensen 1943 "Local shops and inns contributed special chocolate recipes," Patricia Ann Florio added. "The mix of poetry and recipes works well and will tickle the palate of chocoholics and hearts of romantics this upcoming holiday." The Tri-Muse editors are planning another popular volume of local works, "Reflections On The Water's Edge," for publication later this year. Two book signings will take place during February 7th's Chocolate Lovers Weekend at The Manchester Inn and Ocean Plaza Hotel, both of which share recipes. Books are available in Ocean Grove shops and at Landmark Books in Spring Lake. Or give a call to the Tri-Muse at 732-897-7611. - Enjoy!
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"Making a difference for teens in the entire Bayshore Area" With the snow, ice and freezing rain causing many problems at sea and ashore during these winter months, we still continue our Sea Scout Training Programs. Meeting each week at the Atlantic Highlands Marina, our crew is preparing for the "Cruising Season" which lies just beyond the horizon as the local waters near the thawing out phase. We'll be cruising soon! We're happy to announce some new leadership changes within our Officer and Crew Staff. Thomas Duane who is a member of The Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club and active in their Special Olympics Sailing Program has accepted the position of Committee Chairman of our Ship. In line with Tom's involvement we've volunteered our Ship's Crew and resources to aid with the Special Olympics activities by providing chase boats, qualified sailing crews and boat maintenance support to further this worthy program. Patrick Coughlin has signed aboard as First Mate and has taken on the task during these off-season months of training all of our crewmembers for their Safe Boating Certification by the New Jersey State Marine Police. Welcome aboard Patrick. In addition, Navigation, Seamanship, Marine Electronics, Salt Water Fishing and other skills make up the training agenda offered in an active fun atmosphere. Advancement in rank requires some book stuff. We have appointed new Petty Officers within the crew including Jon Stoever as the Ship's Boatswain, Grace Stoever as Ship's Purser and Eric Keiser as our Ship's Yeoman. Congratulations are in order as they take on more responsibility in leading crew affairs of Sea Scout Ship "North Star." Over the past months we've acquired several new vessels which we'll be using this summer. But first of course there will be maintenance and the ever popular scraping, sanding and caulking to be done. Our fleet now includes our double cabin cruiser "North Star" and a 26' Pearson Sloop, a 27' Catalina Sloop, a Boston Whaler, a 17' Siren sail training sloop, a 24' tunnel drive Penn Yan and two Catamarans. We've been offered, but are holding off on the acceptance of two 30' ocean capable sloops. As we recruit new crewmembers we'll look to expand our fleet as qualified crews develop. Donations of boats has to be weighed against maintenance and storage costs which requires funds which during the winter months dwindle dramatically. We presently have an O'Day 22 Sloop with trailer and motor up for sale on which we are open to all reasonable offers to help support our program. Recruiting male and female crew members 14 to 20 years of age has been slow, especially during the winter. Membership in Sea Scouting costs only $11.00 a year (plus cost of uniforms) and offers exciting events, cruising near and far and many activities that can't be found in life ashore. As an example, in March our Crew will be joining other Sea Scout Crews from New York, Connecticut and New Jersey for a Training Weekend aboard the Maritime Academy's 26,000 ton ship "T/V Empire State" at Fort Schuyler. In July these same Sea Scout Ship's and crews will be gathering here again at Atlantic Highlands for our Second Annual Rendezvous which was a great success last July as it restarted a Sea Scouting tradition that had been lost for forty years. This year there will be more Ship's in attendance and more events in and around the Marina and beaches of Atlantic Highlands as Sea Scouts from near and far enjoy the nautical, family friendly atmosphere of Atlantic Highlands and the beauty of Sandy Hook Bay. In August, we will be holding a Sea Scout "Treasure Hunt" here at Sandy Hook and Raritan Bay. Our Ship's will gather here and our crews will spend Saturday aboard the Sea Scout Archeology Research Vessel "R/V Adam Hyler." The Hyler is fully equipped with underwater cameras and sensing equipment and the crews are being trained in snorkling and scuba to actually dive to some of the interesting wreck sites some of which date back to the Revolutionary War. The following day we'll continue the treasure hunt with metal detectors on the local, somewhat unaccessable local beaches. All Ship's crews will begin training for this event in March to be qualified by August to participate in the event. Safety is our major concern in all events. Our programs bring young men and women into a new perspective of life as they learn the skills of the sea and through our Sponsoring Organization, The Seacoast Missionary Society, they learn to recognize the Hand of God upon the seas and experience the wonders that lie just beneath and upon the surface of the deep. We are now starting a major recruiting program for teens and adult advisors
who would like to put some adventure into their lives and be part of this
organization which is celebrating it's 90th year here in America. Any
interested, or just curious can call for meeting information. (732) 872-1997. *Accommodations can be made for the physically challenged. Sea Scouting is a co-ed "High Adventure" Program of BSA
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I WISH HE WOULD BE FUNNIER! One of my daughters was studying math by using a video series curriculum. In the midst of one lesson, she looked to me and said: “I wish this math teacher would use some humor from time to time. I wish he would be funnier!” That made me think of all of my math teachers that I had in school and of some other instances in which being funny was not the best. None of my math teachers smiled when they taught their course. Math was a serious subject and from the 5th to the 8th grades we had the president of the local communist party as our math teacher. He ended up teaching analytical philosophy at the Belgrade University, so he was just passing through when he taught math in our tiny village. I think that his most enjoyable times were the final exams. He did not like written exams! He liked oral exams in front of the whole class. It was the blackboard, you and him with the whole class behind you, watching to see how well you would do. You either froze and flunked or you knew everything and received his praises. I do not remember him ever being funny, but the math that I learned from him I still remember today. The classes in seminary where pastors and priests learn how to preach are known for their brutal honesty. I have seen a couple of men cry under the evaluation of their peers. In one class I preached a sermon, and when the time of evaluation came, one of the students said: Hey, Stefan, don’t you ever try to preach on hell! Your face is constantly smiling and no one will believe you!” A friend who retired from the ministry gave some farewell advice. He said that the most difficult part of the sermon for him was finding a couple of funny illustrations to lighten his sermon. As he was talking you could see the ambivalence at the table. Some indeed practiced what he said, yet others tried to remember the last time they used a funny illustration. I have heard sermons in both categories – there were times when I thought the preacher was trying to one-up Jay Leno, and I have been in churches where the preacher tried to outdo Jonathan Edwards when he preached his well-known sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”! My conclusion is that there is a time for everything, but trying to be what you are not is the worst. There is a time for laughter and there is a time for being serious, but I do not think that every sermon needs to have at least three funny illustrations or that every math teacher needs a repertoire of jokes in order to teach her subject.
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PRESS SHOULD HAVE INFORMATION ON APPOINTEE CREDENTIALS In state and national government, when elected officials fail to provide documents to journalists the idea of stonewalling begins to take hold. So last week, a few eyebrows were raised when the new administration of Atlantic Highlands refused to honor a request from the Atlantic Highlands Herald for some basic information. The issue is not only what documents were requested, but also why the new officials would deny the request. Considering the statewide uproar over public access to government records and their promise of open government, the denial is a step backward. The conspiracy theorists will point to the withdrawal of Democrat Municipal Chairman Joseph Hawley from the Sewerage Authority as proof that something may be amiss. After refusing to provide his PhD qualifications, Hawley was forced to resign from his Sewerage Authority post, which in turn focused the spotlight onto other appointments by the new administration. One would think that the administration would gladly welcome the inspection of their appointees in an effort to distance them from the latest Hawley debacle. One disturbing aspect of the Mayor’s refusal to provide basic background information on his appointees was his promise of “open government.” An open government is one where information is freely exchanged and respect for a free press is paramount, yet the events at last week’s Atlantic Highlands borough council might suggest otherwise. Even when this Councilman suggested that the Herald might list 10-15 resumes that it would like, that idea was rejected by the administration. With over 150 appointees to various commissions, board and committees, the public has a right to inspect its representatives. The request was denied based on the premise that the resumes were a personnel matter, yet this member of the personnel committee never saw the resumes either. The Fourth Estate plays an important role in our public discussions and the question now becomes- why won’t the administration provide even minimal information to the press?
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I'LL NEVER SHRUG AGAIN Over the last month I took a real estate course by Frank Felice at Maecom. It lasted from 8:45 AM to 2:30 PM Monday to Thursday for three weeks. He did a great job and all of us passed the school exam. I took the State exam this Saturday and passed it. Man, was I relieved when I was told I passed. That was a lot of material to cover in three weeks. I enjoyed the course but was a little unnerved after 40 years at having to take a three hour test. I will also never shrug again when I here about so and so taking a real estate course. To be honest, except for a few “stars in the field” and commercial brokers… for years I thought of real estate agents as house wives with extra time on their hands driving buyers from house to house. Man, was I wrong. Anyone that passed that test worked hard to do it and anyone working in the field is a true professional. It is an amazing profession from what I have seen. I really am just starting and need to learn a whole lot more about the business before I can make any comments on it. The backbone of this industry from what I have learned so far is integrity, honesty, trust and loyalty to both your client and your office. If the comradeship I experienced with my fellow students is an indication of how this profession works I will be loving it. I have always been interested in the commercial aspect of business properties and of course especially in building buying and selling restaurants. I have opened and/or been involved in six restaurants over the last 34 years and nothing matches the excitement of creating a new facility and opening it to the public. Selling a business you have created for a profit would run a close second. I guess that holds true to most businesses. I guess we could compare it to owning a boat. The best day of a boat owner's life is the day they buy it and the day they sell it. The difference is there might be 30 years or more in between. I have looked into a number of agencies and Murphy Reality Preferred Homes seems to be a great and growing company to work with. It is family run and has a great marketing plan. Of course I also love the last name (no relation). Tip of the day: Bed warmer for cold days. A. Old fashion metal container filled with hot coal or embers. B. Send husband/wife to bed first and force them to move over. C. Use your hair dryer to blow hot air under the covers for two minutes (hand held only).
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RENAMING THE BAPTISTS My good friend, Pastor George Hancock-Stefan, whose writing is also found within these virtual pages, has qualifications better than mine to write on some aspects of this topic. I beg his indulgence for the encroachment. (I also commend his columns in the Pastor’s Corner to my readers for their enjoyment and edification.) It has become popular in our day to rewrite history by renaming things. In some states, schools formerly named after George Washington or Thomas Jefferson now bear names like Clifford Jervis Elementary School or Alvin D. Ridgeway Middle School. Residents objected to the historic names on the grounds that founders of our country who owned slaves are unfit models for American children. The new names typically belong to local civil rights leaders or politicians. In other places, the Civil War is still being fought, symbolically. In Virginia, the state Legislature is considering a bill that would protect Virginia’s historic monuments, streets, bridges and buildings from being renamed, relocated or removed. Government officials would have to hold a public hearing before making any changes to landmarks and statues – including statues of Confederate heroes on Monument Avenue in Richmond. The legislation – already passed unanimously by the Virginia Senate General Laws Committee – was drafted in response to events like the controversial 1987 renaming of Richmond’s Jefferson Davis Bridge. (Now the Manchester Bridge.) In 2000, the J.E.B. Stuart Memorial Bridge and the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Bridge in Richmond became the Samuel W. Tucker Bridge and the Curtis Holt, Sr. Bridge, respectively. (Both namesakes were local civil rights leaders.) Richmond city officials ordered these name-changes without considering citizens’ input.. Brag Bowling, commander of the Virginia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, says,”…these streets and buildings and monuments…honor people who have been military heroes or great leaders. New generations can name new stuff for modern heroes and should stop removing symbols of history and people of the past.” Where local politicians could not move or rename “offensive” monuments, the action has sometimes turned ugly. Earlier this month, vandals spray-painted “Death to Nazis” and “Happy Birthday, MLK” on the Lee statue on Monument Avenue In Georgia, a fierce rhetorical battle has erupted over a suggestion by Kathy Cox, state schools Superintendent, to replace the term “evolution” in school curricula with “biological changes over time” – a phrase scientists describe as meaningless. Drawn into the dispute, Gov. Sonny Perdue recommended that the standard term be retained. “If you’re going to teach evolution, you ought to call it ‘evolution’,” he said, adding that “…evolution should be taught as an academic theory.” The “renaming crusade” has reached well beyond such matters. In 2000, alumni of Wheaton College – the Evangelical school from which both Pastor George and I graduated – concluded a long vendetta against the school’s sports mascot, the Christian Crusader. The mounted Crusader (with armor and lance) was denounced as “offensive” in today’s diverse culture by selected alumni. Some spoke of being embarrassed to wear a sweatshirt bearing the Wheaton symbol when they met their Muslim friends. I was glad that former Wheaton President V. Raymond Edman – a godly man and veteran of World War I – was not alive to hear those ignorant remarks. Dr. Edman’s five sons served in World War II – one of them at Omaha Beach. He was so proud of his family’s service, and of his own, in the cause of saving Christian civilization. He often spoke of it in chapel talks when I was a student. Dr. Edman always identified Wheaton with the noble ideal of the Christian Soldier. I wondered what those squeamish alumni thought about their Muslim friends after the events of 9/11 – or whether they regretted trashing the Crusader. My son (a Wheaton grad and Army veteran) and I suggested the Mouse as the new mascot. Ultimately, “The Thunder” was selected. We applauded this imaginative choice, as it seemed to symbolize perfectly all the multicultural gas emanating from the college. We also wondered what a sweatshirt depiction of “The Wheaton Thunder” would look like. (I won’t go there.) Closer to home, the Baptist Church I attend in Northern Virginia is poised to drop “Baptist” from its name. Our pastor, who is pushing the change, claims “Baptist” is offensive to many residents within the church’s proximate territory. He calls it an unnecessary obstacle to reaching people with the Gospel, and swears on a stack of Bibles that the church will never swerve an inch from its identity as solidly Baptist and Evangelical. I have no reason to doubt that he means this. Nor do I wish to create a division in the church by opposing his wishes. Nevertheless, I shall contest the name-change at the congregational meeting that will soon convene to debate it. Some issues are more important than avoiding conflict. (Besides, I didn’t bring it up.) I am a lifelong Christian, but not a lifelong Baptist, so I don’t particularly care if I attend a Baptist church or not. (We attend this one because it is Evangelical and is near our home.) I was raised Evangelical Congregational; attended a Wesleyan College; was a Wesleyan Methodist for several years; became a Presbyterian; then a Baptist. I don’t agree with all the theological points of any of them, but remain conservative and Evangelical in my beliefs. However, I think it is important to keep the name Baptist, and I am prepared to contend for it. I see at least three reasons to do this: · Respect for the past; · Steadfastness; · The Slippery Slope. Respect for the past. Today’s Baptists – of whatever stripe – are spiritual descendants of the Anabaptists of the 16th century. The so-called “Re-baptizers” believed that Infant Baptism, as practiced by both the Roman Catholic and Reformed Churches, misled an individual about his salvation. They taught that a believer should make a clear declaration of personal faith for himself, and be re-baptized. Their model was John the Baptist, who baptized adults, not infants. For this “heretical” teaching, the Anabaptists were horribly persecuted by both ends of the “Christian” spectrum – i.e., Catholics and Reformers. (Standard punishment was execution by drowning.) Their courage and faith live on in Baptist tradition the world over. Baptists today are also Brothers Under the Skin of the Mennonites, the Amish, the Hutterites, and the Brethren in Christ – sects that arose directly out of the Anabaptist persecution. The Anabaptists were about more than baptism, but this was their point of greatest conflict. They gave their lives for this principle of their faith. They died for a name. I believe it is important for us to honor and embrace their sacrifices by holding to the name, Baptist – not tossing it away like some old rubbish someone thinks doesn’t smell good any more. I would think this even if I were not a Baptist, myself. Steadfastness. As noted earlier, our culture thinks everything can be renamed, redefined or reordered to suit modern fads. Thus, a determined radical cabal is within reach of redefining marriage, via the courts, to include homosexual perversion. Morality has been inverted – as Isaiah wrote – to “call evil good and good evil”. Christmas is now unmentionable in polite discourse. The name Jesus Christ is considered too offensive for schoolchildren’s ears (save as profanity). In such a time, it is more important than ever to remain steadfast – to stand by the old names, the old words, the old songs, the old ideas. A Baptist Church – love it or hate it – is a defined quantity with ancient and honorable origins. If ignorant modern people don’t know that definition, then we need to educate them – not become complicit in their ignorance by changing our name. The Slippery Slope. Modern social observers mock the Slippery Slope concept. They say there is no such thing, but they are mistaken. Our culture is clearly on one, and our rapid slide may or may not be stoppable. That slope is post-modernism, a seductive mare’s nest of thought and behavior in which all morality, law, and truth are considered local – meaning individual. All cultures (and religions) are called morally equivalent, and we dare not judge one over the other. Law is entirely mutable. Every man does what is right in his own eyes. In this maelstrom, the church is vulnerable. Abandoning a historic name of great honor and tradition will instantly signal to people around us that we are unified with them in post-modern culture, where everything is up for grabs. I dispute, in the most fundamental terms, that such cultural solidarity is valuable for the church. Is the name, Baptist, really an obstacle to reaching the people in our community? Perhaps. But personally, I’m not buying it. People who want nothing to do with church will give any excuse for staying away – including uncomfortable pews, clothing, non-hip music, tepid coffee and hypocrites. (The latter actually mentioned in the Dead Sea Scrolls.) Are we really so gullible as to take these seriously? After we have sacrificed our name so people will like us, can we then expect to retain the substance of our Faith? How shall we resist when our new “friends” insist that we lose the offensive Cross? What shall we do when they say the word Church is “unacceptable”, or when they declare the Savior’s name unfit for the ears of children? Yes, yes, I know – we would never cave in on these “important” issues. But are we sure? And is caving on the name really a good rehearsal for standing firm on the bigger issues ahead? As a Christian I believe the church should rise above the culture and be a counter-cultural agent – not adopt the culture’s ways. Baptists should embrace their own history as a positive force for the furtherance of the Gospel and the betterment of our society. They need to respect the sacrifice and devotion of believers who marched before them, just as Americans need to keep alive the names of the great men who served our country and gave us what we have. A familiar hymn says: “They like a mighty whirlwind’s breath swept on every field…” Baptists were in that company of Soldiers of the Cross. They still are. The world is richer and better for having had them. And Americans where we live need to see that name and know who they are. I once attended an antique car meet hosted by Buick. A sign over the entrance proclaimed, Proud of its Past – Confident of its Future That goes double for our culture, our country
and our Faith. We need to hang onto those names. Not everyone drives a Buick,
but you don’t see them changing their name.
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TAXPAYERS STILL PAYING FOR USA’S ‘BANKRUPTCY’ IN 1930 What you are about to read is America’s best-kept secret. From 1928 to 1932, there were five years of “Geneva Conventions.” The free nations of the world met in Geneva, Switzerland for five continuous years to set up what would be the “bankrupt policy” of all the participating nations. In 1930, the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and other countries all declared bankruptcy. It was the result of the stock market crash of 1929. The Great Depression triggered the bankruptcies. However, if you try to look up the 1930 volume containing the minutes of what happened, you probably will not find it. This volume has been pulled out of circulation, or is hidden in the library and is difficult to locate. This volume contains the evidence of the bankruptcy. Going into 1932, the bankrupt nations stopped meeting in Geneva. In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt came into power as President of the United States. Roosevelt’s job was to put into place and administer the bankruptcy that had been declared two years earlier. America’s “Corporate Government” needed a key Supreme Court decision to implement the bankruptcy plan. The “corporate” United States government had to have a legal case on the books to set the stage for recognizing, implementing and supporting the bankruptcy. The bankruptcy started in 1930-31. The bankruptcy became “official” when Roosevelt came into office, although the public was not aware of the “declaration of bankruptcy” in Geneva by the United States. Roosevelt was sworn in as President in January 1933. He started right away on the bankruptcy plan with what is historically known as “The Banking Holiday” – when the banks closed for a few “holidays” as millions of customers were pulling their money out of the banks. Roosevelt proceeded in pulling in gold coin to get the gold out of circulation. Roosevelt then began to “stack” the Supreme Court with close associates who would vote on one Supreme Court case to support the bankruptcy plan. There was bitter resistance to Roosevelt’s “stacking the court” with his most trusted legal advisers. Some of the Justices on the Supreme Court tried to warn the nation that Roosevelt was tampering with the law and with the courts. Roosevelt was trying to see to it that prior decisions of the court were overturned. Roosevelt was trying to bring in a new order, a new procedure for the law of the land. A bankruptcy case was needed on the books to legitimize the fact that the “Corporate U.S.” had already declared bankruptcy. The “Corporate U.S.” had to be created to replace the Constitutionally created United States of America by our founding fathers and the original 13 colonies after the American Revolution in 1776. The massive restructuting of American government was in response to a world-wide economic depression. The bankers who held the debt for the United States and other countries told these nations’ leaders: “You can do it either of two ways. The easy way or the hard way. You just accept the bankruptcy and we’ll let you out of the depression. If you don’t, you’re on your own.” The bankers, led by the Rothschilds in Europe and the Rockefellers in America, by way of the U.S. Federal Reserve bankers literally had the bankrupt nations by the throat. These bankrupt nations agreed that over a period of several years they would pass the necessary laws for the implementation of the bankruptcy in favor of the international bankers. America: A Nation of Debtors and Creditors The plan developed by President Roosevelt in the 1930s became America’s “corporate public policy.” It is known as the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). Each State in the U.S. unwittingly adopted the Code, not knowing that it compelled every taxpayer to pay off the nation’s bankruptcy debt declared in 1930 and implemented by President Roosevelt. The Uniform Commercial Code became the law of the land. Every legal action where you are brought before the court, you find yourself, since 1938, before an “equity court.” Our courts (“equity” courts) administer commercial law having a debtor/creditor law as the controlling law. Today we have an “equity court system” – but not an “equity court” as referred to in the United States Constitution or any of the legal documents before 1938 (the year the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Erie Railroad vs. Thompson). That case laid the groundwork for all legal transactions in the United States. The “equity court” was created by Corporate United States, itself a creation of the world banking system in the 1930s. The U.S. Constitution created by our founders and the 13 colonies – that original “United States of America” – no longer exists. It was replaced by the “Corporate United States” to deal with the corporate national debt. None of the sovereign states were represented in this dictatorial change of America’s judicial and financial system. All the courts of this once great and free land have been changed, starting with the Supreme Court decision of 1938 in Erie vs. Thompson. The court, of course, ruled in favor of the creditor, thus creating the “legal” foundation for the Unified Commercial Code – more accurately, the “illegal” foundation for the Unified Commercial Code. The federal government had to destroy all other case law that had been established before 1938. (Incidentally, I was born January 1, 1938.) The federal government had to have a case (Erie vs. Thompson) to destroy all precedence, all appearance and even the statute of law itself. That is, the “Statute at Large” had to be perverted and subverted. America and its citizens were fiscally raped – and never knew it until these recent disclosures. It was right after the Erie/Thompson case that the American Law Institute and the National Conference of Commissions on Uniform State Laws created the Code that is on all taxpayers’ backs today. In reality, our legal and judicial system of “Corporate America” is an illegal system imposed on the taxpayers to force them to pay off the bankruptcy debt in 1930 – a debt that will never be paid off. (Note: The 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution – establishing a federal income tax) – was also illegally created by the federal government in 1913. There is no evidence that the 38 states at that time approved of the federal income tax. That case is now before the U.S. Supreme Court, where it has been for several years. The only way to resolve this illegal act is for another American Tax Revolution that led to this nation’s creation more than 225 years ago.) The “illegal”Unified Commercial Code was, of course, approved by the American Bar Association in 1952, which makes that organization also an illegal operation. By the middle 1960s, every state had unknowingly passed the UCC into law. Washington, D.C., adopted the Uniform Commercial Code into law, just six weeks after President John Kennedy was assassinated. Who represents the illegal “Corporate United States?” All of its public agencies and institutions, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Parks, Post Office, EPA, etc. The federal government freely gives the land, its personnel and the money it collects from taxpayers via the IRS and its “State Corporations” to the United Nations and the International Bankers as payment for the federal 1930 bankruptcy debt. The United Nations and the International Bankers use the money and services for various worldwide projects including war. War is an extremely lucrative business for the bankers of the New World Order. Loans for destruction. Loans for reconstruction. Loans for controlling people on federal property. What a legal disaster for all taxpayers – the source and hope of America’s freedom and independence. America’s Taxpayers Are Forever Beholden To The Banks The federal government put all 50 sovereign states into bankruptcy without their knowledge or approval. Ironically, the sovereign States created the federal
government, beginning with the original 13 colonies
following the successful American Revolution. Finally, there is a legal way for taxpayers to expose the
“illegal deal” made by officials of Corporate America and
implemented by President Roosevelt during his four terms in
office, the first and last President ever to hold office for
four terms. Only the rich and powerful can make that happen. If you have to appear in court on any matter, from a traffic ticket to a real estate problem, simply ask the judge that you would like “to know the true nature and cause of the action” against you. Since 1930, a defendant has never been told the “true nature and cause of the action” that led to America’s bankruptcy.” Revealing the truth of that “nature and cause” would mean the end of a corporate federal government and all of its laws since 1930. What a financial and judicial mess that would make for those who have literally enslaved taxpayers over the past 70 years – the Corporate Government in Washington, D.C. If you asked the courts, as the defendant in a case, about the “true nature and cause of the action,” the court is forbidden to tell you that information. That’s why if you question the “true nature and cause,” the judge will say, “It’s not my job to tell you. You are not retaining me as an attorney and I can’t give you legal advice from the bench. I suggest you hire a lawyer.” The problem with that suggestion is that the American Bar Association is part of the bankruptcy plan. Judges are also lawyers, from the local magistrate to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Taxpayers will never know the truth as long as the present judicial/financial system remains in place to subvert the truth of America’s declared bankruptcy in 1930. What would really blow the judges and courts away would be to compel the International Bankers to send a lawyer to the courtroom and present himself as the attorney for the “true creditor” (the International Bankers). If at any time you decide to balk at this scheme because you don’t like it, the real creditor never has to make an appearance in court to list the “true nature and cause of action” being brought against you. You end up dealing with an agency. The agency can conveniently grant itself immunity from prosecution because all it is doing (without your knowledge, of course) is administering the bankruptcy, which the government agreed during the Geneva meetings in Switzerland in 1930. Our only weapon against a rogue government is to expose it. (Gordon Bishop, a national award-winning author, historian and syndicated columnist, is the recipient of 8 Congressional Commendations and is New Jersey’s first “Journalist-of-the-Year” – 1986/New Jersey Press Association.)
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KEANSBURG MUNICIPAL CLERK AND TAX ASSESSOR. MUNICIPAL CLERK Our current Municipal Clerk, Tom Cusick, was appointed as Keansburg Borough Clerk on July 1, 1988 for an initial three-year term in accordance with State Statute. During his first term in office he completed the required courses and passed the state exam for the position, thereby, being eligible for reappointment. He was reappointed to the position in 1991 and acquired tenure as of July 1, 1993. As part of maintaining his Municipal Clerk License he is required to attend continuing education courses and his license must be reissued every two years. As you can tell our borough clerk has served in his current position through many administrations and he has been the one constant at our borough hall. I have to say I have found him to be a wealth of knowledge about our borough and our ordinances over the years that I have known him. The core duties of the borough clerk are to be secretary of the Corporation (the Municipal Corporation of the Borough of Keansburg), secretary to the governing body, licensing official, election official and recipient of all legal correspondence involving the Municipality. Most importantly, he is one of the main contacts for residents and persons needing information or service from our Borough. Our borough clerk would be the first person to tell you that we are fortunate to have has many dedicated employees who interact with him to address the particular needs of our residents. Those employees who work with him help to make his job function smoothly. As secretary to the governing body and corporation he is responsible for preparation of agendas, resolutions and various ordinances for Borough Council review and action at the meetings. He is also charged with processing all these same items to allow for their enactment and subsequent enforcement. The Borough Clerk’s office also issues all business, taxi and liquor licenses within our borough. As the Election Official for our town he has a more distinct role as opposed to most Municipal Clerks due to our non-partisan elections. His office must prepare and issue petitions, verify completed petitions and prepare the ballot. He is responsible for printing of all absentee and sample ballots as well the ballot that appears in the voting machines. His office must obtain results and certify the election results. Since our towns elections are not held in November our borough must pay for all these items. The Borough Clerk is required to have a more integrated role in the entire election process in our town. The office of the Municipal Clerk should always be (at least) the one constant in each town. Borough Council members and administrators change frequently in many communities and the office of the borough clerk provides for continuity in managing the borough’s affairs. Since 1988 there have been 17 Borough Council members and 6 Borough Managers (including our current borough clerk from 1990-93) who have served our Community. Yet since 1988 we have had only one borough clerk. TAX ASSESSOR A secondary duty of our borough clerk is also to serve as the tax assessor for our town. Our borough clerk Tom Cusick has served as our town Deputy Tax Collector from 1993 to 1997 and he was appointed as the Borough’s Tax Collector in 1997. There are also mandated courses and a required state exam for this position, which he completed in 1996. As with his job as our borough clerk continuing education credits are also required to maintain the tax collector’s license, which again must be renewed every two years. As Tax Collector he is responsible for the billing of all taxpayers in the community of which there are 3,400 line items. Obviously, collection and reports of collections are also part of the core duties in this position. The most time consuming portion of the position is the annual tax sale. Unpaid taxes are put out to sale each year to investors to help improve tax collections for our borough. In his duties as tax assessor the preparation of the tax sale certificates and setting up new accounts are a paramount concern. During the year redemptions of liens are calculated, collected and reimbursed to the respective lien holders. Determination of deductions for seniors, disabled persons and veterans are also handled through the office of our tax assessor. That office collections over $ 10 million dollars each year to satisfy the tax levy for the municipality, school and county taxes. Upcoming Council meetings. There are two regularly scheduled meetings of the Keansburg Borough Council for February the first will be on Thursday 2/12/04 at 5:30 PM and the second on Thursday 2/26/04 at 7 PM. All meetings of the borough council for this month will be held in the council chambers at borough hall. Upcoming Borough Events. Special Fund Raising Concert – The Wolftones from Ireland will make a special live appearance at the New Point Comfort Fire Company on Monday March 15, 2004. I believe the time to be 7 PM but as soon as I have positive confirmation, I will post the start time here. This concert is a fund raising event for our volunteers so please try to support this special event. Tickets purchased in advance will be sold at 20.00 dollars each while tickets sold at the door the night of the concert will be 25.00 dollars. Food and refreshments will also be sold that night. For more information, please visit www.newpointcomfort.org.
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SEND IT BACK The other day I went to lunch early at this nearby tavern. Seated at the bar, more interested in the latest issue of "Fine Cooking" than the menu, I simply ordered a cheeseburger medium-rare and fries. When my meal arrived the burger was overcooked and the fries were undercooked. The burger was not even medium. It was completely well done and dry with no pink it sight. The fries were completely soft on the outside and semi-raw on the inside. And to make matters worse, I was the only patron in the place. They couldn't even use the lunchtime rush as an excuse. Such staggering culinary blunders boggle my mind. I'm always left wondering whether it's due to overwhelming incompetence or indifference. The cook, (I won't even use the term chef), was either a mentally challenged miscreant or simply doesn't give a damn. Or maybe it's a little of both. I mean anybody, even a non-cook, could have merely looked at my fries and seen they were way underdone. Incorrectly cooked meat has been the bane of my existence. I truly cannot count the times my medium-rare steak or burger ends up overcooked. I can leave a little leeway for medium but well done is out of the question. Like the day I ordered the $30 rack of lamb medium rare and received it well done. That's inexcusable and I of course sent it back. Hey, I work in a restaurant too and I certainly make my share of mistakes. But serving a mistake is a compound error. Before the food goes out you should check it to determine quality. A simple poke will quickly differentiate a medium-rare from a well-done piece of meat. One day I was having dinner at one of those chain steakhouses. I requested a side of sautéed onions. Can you believe they didn't peel the onions? I kid you not. They sliced whole onions with the skin on and then sautéed them. When I showed the manager he shrunk in embarrassment and then gave me my entire meal for free. I've been served ice-cold soup, brown lettuce, over-cooked shrimp, stale bread, mushy pasta, and one bowl of Chinese noodles with a cockroach of prehistoric proportions. I must admit, seldom do errors of such magnitude occur at upscale restaurants. Most of the time they happen at your everyday eateries, particularly the chain restaurants. Sometimes your fellow diners will admonish you for your outrage and remind you that you're in a run-of-the-mill restaurant and not a fine dining establishment. To some extent, the general public has come to accept below average standards from average restaurants. I believe it's precisely this resignation that enables them to wallow in their ineptitude. The only way we as the dining public can do anything about it is to inform the manager or send the food back. Many people don't wish to "make a scene" or cause trouble. They suffer with their inadequate food and the establishment is never enlightened to its failings. Ultimately it is the chef you wish to inform about problems with the food. The server is merely the intermediary. Some servers don't inform the cooks about their blunders. They don't wish to create tension with a coworker via a "shooting the messenger" displacement of anger. Or they may not care. Returning the food has a far greater chance of getting the chef's attention than keeping it and merely informing the server of the error. The server is then forced to have to inform the cooking staff. So send it back! And if it's a major problem, (like the aforementioned cockroach), I would definitely inform the manager. Maintaining quality at any restaurant is a tremendous and arduous task. With so many meals being prepared at the same time, mistakes are sometimes inevitable. I am not suggesting you hassle your neighborhood eatery over minor slip-ups. And yes, you can't accept the same standard of quality from the cost-effective family restaurant as you would from a four star establishment. But I don't care how inexpensive or casual a restaurant is, there's no excuse for significantly over or under cooked food, spoiled food, or grossly impaired culinary judgment. Even as a child I knew you had to peel an onion before cooking it. More than half of all new restaurants go out of business within two years. Without feedback they are likely to perpetuate their pitfalls. Business slowly deteriorates as the management staff, ignorant to some of the problems, quizzically remains searching for the whys. So tell'em what you think and then be fair. Give them a chance to correct it and try them again.
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Series on Decision-Making (Part 1): PRICE, COST AND VALUE You see a sweater. You look at the price. It’s less than you expected, or at least you can afford it. So, you buy it. We all use price as a factor in our decision-making. We use it in our career decision-making as well: should I hire a career coach (how much does she charge); should I join that professional organization (how much is the membership); etc. Price is an important factor because it is one way to quantify what something is worth. However, we also need to consider the cost and the value of our choices, and these may not be the same as the price. That sweater may be priced at $100, but it costs you however many hours it takes to earn that $100. It also costs you whatever you had to forego to buy it. That sweater may have sentimental value (if it reminds you of a favorite relative), cosmetic value (if it adds to your wardrobe), or career value (if you’re an actor and need it for an audition). A career coach may charge a price of $100 per session. The costs include the hours it takes to earn $100 plus the hours you spend before, during and after the session. The value is in the motivation you get, the direction and advice you receive, and any savings you get from not spinning your wheels on your own. If you think you want something (to buy, to do), think: Do I have the money to pay the price? Do I have the time to bear the cost? What am I foregoing to buy/ do this? What value am I getting from this? What am I giving up? When you make a decision, think price, cost and value. Ideally, the price is affordable, the cost is bearable and the value exceeds the cost.
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MARTHA STEWART'S HAIR, "NOT GUILTY"! What determines a jury's verdict? Illusion ranks really high. After that comes "hair." They have everything to do with influencing our decision making. I feel confident that those two factors will determine Martha's innocence. I saw the connection at once when I entered K-Mart's Hair Care section. Martha's picture was prominently displayed, and all the goods there seemed to be begging me for captions. Collectively, the whole department spoke out, "I'm Martha Stewart and I do my own hair." I was intrigued by a great big hacksaw kind of scissors which I mentally labeled, "I'm Martha Stewart and I cut my own hair." Another awesome gadget was a flat, duckbilled non-curling iron I designated as "I'm Martha Stewart, and I 'just say No' to curls." The most ingenious however was the "Hair Mixer." It was a little blender that took fat strands of hair and whipped them as furiously as possible away from where they used to grow out of the scalp and made them change places with other fat strands that originated elsewhere on the head. Mind boggling! This, I determined should be called, "I'm Martha Stewart and your hairdresser couldn't even do this." Beautifully coifed women were whacking and pummeling one another with these hair weapons, eager to buy one of each as the supply was fast dwindling. I watched them leave K-Mart with their hair thoroughly tousled, disheveled, and wind blown, tresses hopelessly mixed up, and these were the customers who hadn't even used Martha's products yet. Now that gave me a great idea. Every few days I run through K-Mart shouting, "They've just brought in a new supply of 'Martha Stewart Hair Care' and it's going fast." Then I mingle with the frantic customers. My hair looks so trendy and I haven't spent a dime, but I'm kind of worn out by now. I've cut back to doing this only once a week. Now, what's my point? The illusion is that Martha is 'just one of us.' No coifed, sprayed, perfectly in sync hairdo. On the contrary, she's harried, put upon, disparaged. And she lets it show. Her hair leads the way. She never ever covers it. Her clothes, especially the black "Mother Goose" coat, are sweet and not at all showy. It gives her that appealing look of keeping doggy treats in her copious sleeves. My bet is on Martha. Without all that money, she's just like us, isn't she? We sure didn't ask that question about Leona Helmsley. Remember the cosmetic face peel she was getting while her trial was in progress. The designer clothes. The perfect hair. The arrogant posture and the snarly look. I wonder why she had no advisors? Was it really necessary for Leona to protect an ego so fragile that she couldn't let her hair get scared? That one factor, I believe, the consistently behaving hair, resulted in prison. On the other hand, I think Martha is still 'more in touch with people' than Leona is or ever was. That's why Leona couldn't even fake it. Hey men, this applies to you too. How many times has the public turned away when a guy can't drop the 'macho' or smart ass image? It's time, when the chips are down, to stop covering up our distress with either the arrogant or the macho posture. People want to see you honestly and only then will they become simpatico with you. (Come on. You've all worked that strategy in the Principal's Office. Remember?) So now, back to you, Martha. Although we don't get to see you inside the courtroom, try wearing a 'Peter Pan' collar. It worked for Nora Eddington in the Errol Flynn trial. When she got on the stand, she was the picture of youthful innocence in a darling little suit topped by that sparkling white "Peter Pan." Beyond that, it must have worked on Errol too because they married soon after. More . . . On a serious note, I heard it just reported that several antidepressants have caused children who were prescribed the drug, to commit suicide. The one drug shown so far to be safe and effective for children was Prozac. I hope this news reaches the parents of all kids taking any antidepressants. And we ask, does it have to be so? When the old fashioned doctor seemed to have the time to ask lots of questions, diagnosed and treated accordingly and "did no harm," why are we in such trouble today? Will we ever slow down again?
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REPORTS OF RIVER, BAY AND OCEAN FISHING ../fish_report/2004/nb_040108.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
1,2,3...BIRDS IN ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS Perhaps nothing is more pleasurable that seeing or hearing an exquisite bird in your backyard or in your neighborhood. The sight or call of a Mallard Duck, a Red-Belly Woodpecker, a Northern Mocking bird, or an American Goldfinch (the state bird of New Jersey), brings joy to countless people in the Bayshore region. Although winter results in challenges for birds to survive, there are still many avian species to see and hear. Birds have amazingly adapted a range of different strategies, such as puffing up their feathers, roosting, or changing their diet, to not only stay alive, but to thrive the harshness of winter. Indeed, assorted birds find our woods and wetlands in the Bayshore region to be valuable habitat for their survival during the winter season. Recently, Scott Barnes, a naturalist for the New Jersey Audubon Society at the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory, provided to me a list of bird species that were observed during the annual Christmas Bird Count. Last year’s event took place on Saturday, December 20, 2003. I thought it would be a good idea to share with you those birds that were observed exclusively in the Borough of Atlantic Highlands, since information on the location of early-winter bird populations aids in the examination of the health of our environment. Over 1,000 birds were seen by dedicated volunteers. Although this count includes birds from the same species, such as European Starlings and Brant, the list also includes a few singular birds like a Belted Kingfisher and a Common Loon. In addition, wild turkeys were observed in nearby Huber Woods County Park in Middletown, NJ. Even though Huber Woods is not part of Atlantic Highlands, I thought the sighting is notable. This is the first sighting of a wild turkey within the area in decades. Therefore, how long will it be before wild turkeys will be observed in Atlantic Highlands, especially in Lenape Woods Nature Preserve?? If you would like to join next year’s Christmas Bird Count scheduled for December 18, 2004, please contact the good people at the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory. Their telephone number is 732-872-2500. I am sure they would greatly appreciate your help and time in calculating birds in the Bayshore. Below are the birds species observed in the Borough of Atlantic Highlands on December 20, 2003. The bird name is followed by the number of species spotted. European Starling – 500
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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
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ADOPTION IS AN OPTION Several months ago, I was horrified to hear the news that a young boy was found dead in a storage bin in a Newark basement. He and his two brothers were living with a woman and her teenage son, caretakers designated by the boys’ mother who was behind bars. The woman caretaker and her son were arrested and charged with the child’s death; the two other boys were removed from the home and placed in foster care. How could this happen? In this day and age, how could a boy just disappear and no one notice for several months? How could a grown woman, a mother herself, hide a dead boy’s body and hope no one would ever find him? Of course, there was a lot of public outcry, and the Governor of NJ immediately asked for an investigation. Did the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) know about these boys and their living situation? What would become of the brothers? Families from all over the tri-state area called DYFS and volunteered to adopt the two surviving siblings. Before this sad case could fade from memory, another hit us between the eyes. An older couple with grown children, pillars in their church, who legally adopted boys whom they previously fostered, who received state money to subsidize the boys’ living situation, was accused of starving the adopted foster children in their care. Their nineteen year-old was rummaging for discarded food through the neighbor’s garbage cans late one night when DYFS was called. He looked more like a nine year-old, emaciated and small. The boys were taken out of the home and hospitalized, the couple charged, and the case put on the docket for trial. A few days ago I awoke to a morning radio newscaster saying there were more children under the care of DYFS now than ever before, and it’s not a secret that there aren’t enough workers to adequately supervise the placements of all these children. In a related story, the Governor’s wife is going to be part of an advertising campaign to promote the Safe Haven Law that legally protects mothers who, anonymously, drop off their unwanted infants at police stations or hospitals. This comes after the deaths of fourteen infants: some by strangulation, some by drowning in toilet bowls, some by hypothermia… There are permits and classes and tests in order to drive in each state, but there are no permits, classes, or tests to pass in order to become a parent. It’s the most important job anyone can do—without a doubt, the most demanding and trying job any of us may ever tackle. So why are parents-to-be so inadequately prepared? As an adoptive parent as well as a biological one, my heart bleeds for the children who fall through the cracks, the forgotten ones, and the “unlucky” ones who don’t stand a chance to live a good life. They by no fault of their own find themselves without parents who can care for them the way they deserve to be cared for. As time goes on in our civilized, highly sophisticated society, the numbers of parents who cannot care for their own children should be waning, not increasing. Drug addicted mothers often abandon at birth their drug addicted infants. Teenage girls in denial of their own pregnancies give birth, sometimes in the suburbs where we ourselves live, and discard their babies in trashcans or toilets. Remember the teenager who gave birth at her prom, literally threw away her newborn, and then went back to her date and danced the night away? Abusive and/or alcoholic parents who were most likely victims of their own parents’ abuse or illnesses take out all of their hurt and frustrations on their very own innocent children. Shaking a baby to “shut up” and stop crying is a permanent, lethal mistake for some who find themselves caretakers of babies out of necessity versus want. The poor just seem to get poorer and homeless, unable to feed, clothe, or shelter themselves properly. And with crime in society so rampant, many convicted offenders leave children behind when they go behind bars to do time. That’s how the state gains custody of so many children. There are thousands of children in the foster care system throughout the nation in need of family life, love, and guidance. Sometime in the span of these children’s young lives, they lived in horrendous conditions and/or experienced trauma from which they may be scarred for life. The mothers got pregnant and gave birth to these children for whom they could not adequately care, love, and/or protect. Or these women found themselves in precarious situations or unfortunate circumstances that caused them to let go of their children’s hands way too soon. And where are the children’s fathers? As a society, we need to fix the family. We need to instill into our children, especially teenagers, the old fashioned ideals of our parents and grandparents who taught us to care for each other, to take responsibility, to work hard, and to always protect the family. Life is precious. It’s a gift. And we are all responsible to not let each other down. For those not fortunate to have parents or grandparents with high values and ideals, it’s time society taught them how to heal, grow, and be responsible in order to break the cycle of abuse and neglect. Pro-life? Pro-choice? It doesn’t matter, because once a child is born, he/she needs care. Once a child is born, either the child is raised by his/her biological parent(s) or someone who can provide stability, love, and care adopts him/her. Whichever the case, the child’s needs must be met. It is not acceptable to fail children, damage them, kill them, or send the survivors of such abuse and neglect into the world defenseless and helpless stuck in a bureaucratic, overwhelmed system. When I look into Lucy’s eyes, I sometimes think about the woman and the man in Guatemala who gave her life. They were not married or together, even, by the time Lucy was born, and they were both extremely poor. Lucy’s birthmother made a decision in her baby’s best interest. After carrying in her womb this baby girl, she decided that this child of hers needed loving parents and all the opportunities in life that she deserved. Unselfishly she gave her baby the gift of a life not just by carrying her to term but also by consciously deciding that she was an unfit parent. She took responsibility, even if that decision caused her heartache. And Lucy is a happy little girl, “lucky,” some people tell me, to be loved and wanted despite the baggage of her past. But I say there was no luck involved, just responsible people acting responsibly and compassionately in the best interest of a child. All children need a chance to be loved and cared for, to grow and learn, to smile and laugh, and to dream of a better world to which they can contribute and make a difference. The ones that we don’t read about in the newspaper shouldn’t be considered lucky for having what all children should have every day: stability, care, love, happiness, safety, clothing, shelter, education, and opportunity. Society needs to digest this and open its eyes before we fail more children by not doing anything to protect them. Adding more DYFS workers isn’t the long-term solution—but fixing the family is. Perhaps it needs to be shouted more loudly and clearly that, faced with an unwanted pregnancy or dire circumstances that prevent a mother and/or father from caring adequately for their child, ADOPTION IS AN OPTION. Outside the United States this seems to be heard loud and clear--why not in America?
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WHO IS THIS CAPTAIN OF THE PORT? As we attempt to keep abreast of the ice situation in the Raritan and Sandy Hook bays as well as New York harbor, it is evident that our ferry services rely upon the US Coast Guard weather services and, this winter particularly, their ice breaking capabilities. We have repeatedly heard that any ferry operating during adverse weather conditions or during emergency situations will do so only within the guidelines set down by the Captain of the Port. It is the Captain of the Port who controls vessel movements and who can, in extreme situations, close the port completely. On September 11th, it was the Captain of the Port who called all vessels to report to Manhattan and aid anyone in leaving the downtown area. During the blackout, vessels were once again called upon to aid civilians. During the threat of a hurricane or severe storm, the Captain of the Port will, for our safety, completely shut down the harbor. So, who is this Captain of the Port? Today, the Captain of the Port is Captain Craig E. Bone, Commander, Coast Guard Activities New York. He oversees Activities New York, the largest Coast Guard operational field command. This command is responsible for operations from Sandy Hook, New Jersey north through the Port of NY/NJ and further northward on the Hudson River to the Canadian border on Lake Champlain. The USCG is responsible for port security, search and rescue operations, ice breaking, vessel traffic management, marine environmental protection, maritime law enforcement, vessel safety, marine licensing, navigational aids, boat safety programs and anti-terrorism/force protection. Under the Coast Guard’s modernization program an upgraded Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) consists of 13 remote radar sites throughout the Port of NY/NJ. On an average day, this system monitors the transit of approximately 1400 commercial vessels in the area. As if this isn’t enough, there are over 1 million square feet of CG shore facilities to oversee. There are 16 boats assigned at Staten Island, Rockaway, Ft. Totten, Sandy Hook, NJ and Burlington, Vermont. Prior to his New York assignment, Captain Bone served in the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection, and the Office of Waterways Management, Planning and Policy. Captain Bone graduated from the US Coast Guard Academy in 1977 and now holds two advanced degrees, a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University Industrial College of the Armed Forces and a Master of Science in Information Systems Technology from George Washington University. Captain Bone has been awarded three Meritorious Service Medals and four Coast Guard Commendation medals. The Coast Guard provides services to large and small vessels alike. Whether we realize it or not, we are being protected by the Coast Guard and the Captain of the Port not only during poor or frigid weather conditions, but everyday. We depend on our ferry companies not only for a speedy and comfortable commute into NYC but for a safe trip as well. It is gratifying that our ferry services can rely upon the Captain of the Port and the Coast Guard both during this icy winter and everyday.
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OUR FUTURE?
From the blast, Daniel Szwaja
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(editors note: Do you have poetry to share? Send your submission to editor@ahherald.com.)
Picture This!
../picture_this/2004/pt_040205.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
READER'S WRITE The AH Herald provides this space for community commentary on issues of local importance. The extended format of our Readers Write page will remind many of the Op-Ed pages in print newspapers. We hope you find the information compelling and informative. If you have something to say about a LOCAL issue, send your comments, along with your name, street address and daytime phone number to: editor@ahherald.com VIEW ARCHIVEAMERICAN MOTIVES: A WORLD VIEW Dear Editor, I was ‘surfing’ the Web looking for a site on Henry Hudson Regional School, which I attended in 1972, and stumbled on to your newspaper site. The letter from Paul Doughty caught my eye as I wondered what a small town newspaper in the USA might print on the topic of ‘The War on Terror”. Paul expresses an opinion that is commonly held by people outside the USA. There is much truth in what he says. America has an obvious impact on the rest of the world due largely to her economic strength. The USA also uses her political and armed forces to influence others. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It all depends on the motive and what is achieved in the end. The “War on Terror” debate in Australia is focusing on whether the information provided by the “Intelligence Community” with regard to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Iraq was accurate. Many people in Australia didn’t support the invasion of Iraq (without UN sanction) because I guess we didn’t believe that the Iraqi government was behind the Sept11 attacks or that Iraq was about to nuke somebody or release some deadly virus on an unsuspecting world. It all sounds like a B grade movie plot and was probably covered by Hollywood before the News Networks got hold of it. The scary thing is that it appears to people like myself that the USA acts with little regard, or knowledge, of world history. If the USA believes it can implant “democracy” in Iraq then has anyone thought of how democratic countries became democratic in the first place? How long did it take? What form of democracy? Ours isn’t quite like yours. Does George Bush really understand the lengthy history of antagonism between Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims? What about the Kurds? Is the US prepared to stay in Iraq for a generation or two to nurture democracy along, or if this happens will this just exacerbate the tensions in the Middle East to the point that the place starts to look even more like Black Hawk Down? Or is this simply just about grabbing a bit more oil? I was shocked when I heard of the attack on the World Trade Centre. After the initial numbness I felt panic as I thought that the savageness of the attack would provoke a massive retaliatory strike by the US Government. But against whom? Unfortunately due to previous actions of the US, such as those described by Paul, I didn’t hold up much hope for an “intelligent” response. Catch the bastards who did it, or assassinate them, but don’t start a war against an ideology. Such things have been going on for centuries and haven’t really resolved anything. In my opinion the proper forum for this war is the UN and the battle should take the form of a debate where all are welcome to air their grievances. Andrus Budrikis
../readers_write/2004/040205_american_motives.htm YOU DON'T REALLY OWN YOUR HOME To the Editor: Keyport residents fear a smart growth initiative will jeopardize their homes. Red Bank residents see their neighborhood interests run rough shod over by the town council so private developer friends can overdevelop a neighbor for personal gain. Long Branch home owners told to get a lawyer when they realize their homes are about to be sold so private developers can get rich building on and selling land they thought was theirs. What is the meaning of all of this? It is merely the outgrowth of local government reverting to a feudal system wherein those living in the town do not actually own their homes. Instead, the local government sees it as their property to do with as they see fit. In feudal times, when the land barons wanted to reward their friends and supporters they would evict you and give away your home. This idea that your home really is the property of the town to do with as it seems fit to them also extends to our property tax system. In feudal times you paid tribute to the local baron in order to be allowed to live there. So today, as in medieval days, if you fail to pay your property taxes the town--the baron--will kick you off the land and give it to someone else (for the bargain basement price of what you owe). Since events such as these affect limited numbers of people, most shake their heads and then forget about it. They are not moved to realize that but for the grace of God there could go them. So nothing changes. So, the right of private ownership of property has become a myth. The tragedy is that so many people sacrifice a lifetime to purchase their homes for security in their old age only to find out they were living a myth. The law of eminent domain has been perverted from something for the public good to paying off political supporters for their private enrichment. Likewise with property taxes, the home one thought they owned is forfeited if they are unable to pay their taxes. But government cares only for increasing its own power. It does not care for helping people unless it with enhance their grip on power. Wake up people. You better stand up for the right to own your home without it being imperiled through "legal" confiscation by your town leaders. If you do not, you are just contributing to the continued undermining of one of the fundamental freedoms this country was founded upon: The right to own property. Remember, you are only the loss of a job or a private developers connections away from finding out you do not really own your home.
John Hendrickson
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