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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 KEYPORT , NJ — The Keyport Business Alliance will host 28 days of family-oriented special events in 2004, including the return of the 3rd Annual Americana Festival of Sails July 10-11 and 11 free weekend concerts on the waterfront throughout the summer.Kathaleen Shaw, advocate for the KBA, said new events have been added this year to expand on the success of the Alliance’s efforts to bring new businesses to the Borough along with the popularity of Keyport’s American Family Outings marketing campaign. The outings offer families a variety of day trips with planned itineraries, maps, and directions and include activities from antiquing to bargain shopping to fishing. Shaw said the expanded events calendar is made possible with additional financial support from sponsors. The season will kick off with the Borough’s 3rd Annual Memorial Day Parade on Sunday, May 30, a traditional celebration of the holiday featuring dozens of floats and marching bands playing patriotic songs. Additional events scheduled in Keyport this year include: June 18 – Antique & Classic Car Show, Keyport Plaza Shopping Center June 19-20 – Town-wide Yard/Garage Sale July 10-11 – Americana Festival of Sails, featuring food, live entertainment, a parade of colorful sailboats on the bay, crafts, games and prizes, at Beach Park overlooking Keyport Harbor at the foot of Broad and First streets July 31 – 2nd Annual Keyport Battle of the Bands, Keyport Plaza, featuring popular Jersey bands competing for prizes and judged on musicianship, showmanship, audience response and interaction, at Keyport Plaza July 31-August 1 – Keyport on Wheels, a weekend of bicycle racing, a soapbox derby and new car show, with food, music and live entertainment September 12 – Antiques & Collectibles Street Fair, with dealers from throughout the tri-state area showcasing their wares along West Front Street, featuring live jazz and a wine tasting October 2-3 – 8th Annual Country Jamboree & Chili Festival, offering food, live music, Wild West entertainment, country dancing, games for children, crafts, hay and pony rides, a petting zoo and country auction, in the downtown and waterfront area November 27 – Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration with live entertainment, caroling and visits with Santa Claus December 4, 11, 18 – Breakfast With Santa hosted by IHOP at Keyport Plaza Shopping Center December 11 – Annual Pearl of the Bayshore Candlelight Holiday House Tour, offering visitors the chance to step inside historic private residences and tour public buildings festively decorated for the holidays. “Starting with next month’s parade, we have something going on every month for the rest of the year,” said KBA President Jeffrey Fink, “and most of these events are free and family friendly.” The non-profit Keyport Business Alliance is dedicated to fostering economic development and continued revitalization of Keyport’s commercial district, as well as preserving the Borough’s historic past. Its events are made possible with support from sponsors including 94.3 The Point, Shrewsbury State Bank, and Super Foodtown/Food Circus. Additional support for Festival of Sails is provided by the Kathleen D Sailing Catamaran and for Keyport on Wheels by Buhler Automotive. For additional information on Keyport’s American Family Outings, visit www.keyportonline.com. For more information on special events in Keyport, call Allen Consulting at 732-946-2711.
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by ALLAN DEAN HIGHLANDS, NJ — Students at Henry Hudson Regional School performed a "Music for Spring" concert at the school Wednesday, April 7.
Under the direction of Band Director Thomas Elliott, t he 7th and 8th Grade Band, High School Symphonic Band and combined bands played selections from "Chicago", "Dvorak Symphony No 9" and the Beatles "Let it Be" among other tunes.The High School Symphonic Band performed a rousing rendition of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic with Tympani soloist Barry McKellar. Trumpeters Heather Engelken & Brian Reinhard performed a duet called Saint Jacome #2 that received sustained applause from the audience. It was the first opportunity for the 130-member high school and 7th and 8th grade bands to perform together this year and they did so without the benefit of rehearsing together, said Mr. Elliott. The combined band's performance of Dvorak Symphony no. 9, Movement #4 was flawless. Many of the musicians are also members of the school's marching band which returned last week from Walt Disney World where they performed with the school's flag squad marching down Main Street, USA. A video clip of the Disney parade by Ken Braswell was shown during the spring concert. Mr. Elliott thanked the students, parents and school administration for all that they did to make the Disney trip so successful and so much fun. ../news/2004/0408/hhrs_concert.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — Letter Carriers of Local 1776 Atlantic Highlands In conjunction with National Letter Carrier Association will hold a food drive Saturday May 8, 2004.Please leave non-perishable items at your house mailbox and a carrier will pick those items up or drop off non-perishable items at the Atlantic Highlands Post Office Lobby. All items donated to the Local 1776 Carriers will be delivered to food banks within Atlantic Highlands. Support your Carriers and fellow town persons.
Thank You For Your Support
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MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A 72-acre farm located off Whippoorwill Valley Road near Kings Highway East will be preserved as open space, thanks to an agreement struck between property owners James and Doris Reid, Middletown Township and the Monmouth Conservation Foundation. The township sealed their part of the deal last month when the Township Committee authorized acquisition of approximately 12 acres of the 72-acre tract. Under the agreement, the township will purchase the 12 acres for $1.4 million under the municipal open space program. Meanwhile the Monmouth Conservation Foundation will purchase the development rights for the remaining acres, said Committeewoman Rosemarie D. Peters, who chairs the township’s Open Space Committee. “Preservation of the Reid farm is a major milestone in the township’s efforts to slow growth and protect open spaces,” said Peters. “It’s also a key property in helping to preserve Middletown’s historic and rural qualities for present and future generations. I’m very pleased we were able to reach an agreement that works for everyone.” Without the agreement, the property was likely to be subdivided for construction of single family homes. The owners already had approval to subdivide the 72-acre farm in accordance with the R-220 zoning, explained Planning Director Anthony Mercantante. Preservation of the Reid property will bring the number of acres preserved in the Chapel Hill section of Middletown to more than 110 contiguous acres. The 72-acre Reid tract abuts a 44-acre tract located off Mohican Drive and Mannitto Place that the Township Committee agreed to preserve under the municipal open space program in 2002. The township currently holds a contract with heirs of the Tretter estate to purchase the undeveloped parcel, Mercantante said. “We’re very happy that we’ve been able to reach agreements with these neighboring property owners,” said Peters. “Preservation of contiguous properties affords residents greater protection from development, as well as future access to more land for active or passive recreation.” Whippoorwill Valley Road, off which the Reid Farm is located, is one of the few unpaved roads left in Middletown. The road, which runs between Chapel Hill Road and Kings Highway East, has changed little from the 18th century when the Lufburrow Mill was located there along what is known today as McClees Creek. The dirt road follows its original course through the woodlands to Navesink and is the site of the former Haskell Estate, the Lufburrow Miller’s house and several historic farmhouses. Since the Open Space Preservation Program was established in 1999 with voter approval, the township has been able to preserve nearly 200 acres throughout the municipality. Properties can be preserved in a number of ways. In some cases, such as this latest preservation agreement, the township works with organizations and municipalities that share the township’s interest in land preservation. Other properties are preserved through municipal acquisition, using funds collected through the two-cent voter-approved open space tax. Examples include preservation of 10 acres located adjacent to Bicentennial Park off Route 35 and a 6.5 acre parcel located near Middletown High School North. Properties are also preserved through other techniques, such as land swaps, donations, and conservation easements. Examples include a five-acre tract at Route 520 and Phalanx Road acquired through a land swap with Brookdale Community College, as well as six acres located along the Swimming River behind Extended Stay America on Route 520 that were donated to the township. Meanwhile, the 31.31-acre McCormack farm on Tindall Road and the 10-acre Lincroft Christmas Tree Farm are protected against development for eight years through the owners’ entry into the Municipally-Approved Farmland Preservation Program. ../news/2004/0408/mt_reid_farm_preserved.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — This class is for sailors who want to try racing their boats, crewing on "other peoples boats" or just want to improve their knowledge of the sport, the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club Race Committee is offering a racing course to get you started. The course includes classroom instruction as well as on-the-water training on the race boats at the club. The course is free! The course will include: ·Crewing on a Race Boat - The different crew positions and their
responsibilities, The course will consist of 3 classroom Sessions from 6:30 PM until 9:30 PM (with a break for pizza, drinks and meeting other sailors!) followed by 4 sailing sessions on some of the racing fleet boats, also starting at 6:30 PM. There will also be opportunity for another classroom session for on navigation at the end of the course. Schedule: Thur 4/29 Classroom: Introduction to Racing and Boat Optimization Sign up for this program by calling or emailing before 4/29/2004:
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RUMSON ROAD DRAINAGE PROJECT GETS APPROVAL FREEHOLD, NJ — This week the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders tentatively approved plans and specifications for the construction of a new drainage line on Rumson Rd. (County Route 520) in the vicinity of Tennis Court Lane, in Rumson, not far from the Sea Bright-Rumson Bridge. Formal approval is expected next week. The work will include construction of drainage inlets, pipes, concrete curbing, pavement repair as well as topsoil, fertilization and seeding. It will also include the relocation of one sanitary sewer service. The Borough of Rumson has agreed to allow the County to connect to its existing drainage system on Shrewsbury Drive. The engineer’s estimate for the project is $100,000 and 60 calendar days. A 20' wide permanent drainage easement, dedicated to the County, will be required. No state permits are required, except for a permit from the Freehold Soil Conservation District for which application has been made. No detours will be needed during construction. For additional information contact Kevin J. Nugent, at 732-431-7760.
../news/2004/0408/rumson_road_drains.htm RED BANK, NJ — Love, INC. has organized a Mother's Day Plant Sale to raise money for the Monmouth County-based charity. The sale will be held Saturday, May 8th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the front lawn of the First Baptist Church, 84 Maple Avenue, Red Bank. There will be a large selection available of quality bedding plants, potting varieties, as well as hanging baskets for your Mother's Day gift giving. Choose from 10 and 14-inch hanging baskets of Ivy Geraniums or Super Petunias. Or pick up a garden of easy-to-plant annuals (48 plants per flat): Impatiens (salmon, red, white, pink, violet); Petunias (red, white, pink, dark blue); Lobelia (light blue, dark blue); Salvia (blue, red), and Alyssum (blue, white, or pink). Bless your Mom and help support a local charity at the same time! It's like giving TWO gifts in ONE! Love INC., which stands for Love In the Name of Christ, is an original planting of the international ministry of World Vision. Since taking root on its own several years ago, this particular branch has been serving Monmouth County's needy in a growing variety of ways and is celebrating it's 10th year Anniversary this month. Carolyn Eyerman, Executive Director and Little Silver resident, will be celebrating the work of the ministry with a party for its local sponsors to be held in Rumson at the Salt Creek Grille, Thursday, May 20th. Eyerman began by organizing a Christmas-time project called Connect, which continues to collect and distribute gifts for needy children for the holidays. Having established a network with local houses of worship, Love INC. of Monmouth County began serving the local faith communities by acting as a clearinghouse for families or individuals who would contact a church looking for assistance, be it financial, crisis intervention, or with a need for housing. The organization assists hundreds of families each year. Love INC., which is in the process of moving its offices from Long Branch to Red Bank, has blossomed into a well-rounded organization that can now assist clients in applying for social services, or direct them to a number of specialized resources for necessities. Those necessities would include furniture and household items (Furnished With Love, Broadway, Long Branch), clothing to assist with re-entering the workforce (Pennies From Heaven, South Street, Freehold), hair cuts, and transportation (Wheels Appeal). They have recently begun working with the Monmouth Housing Alliance, and for those willing to participate in a mentoring program designed to rehabilitate a person to self-sufficiency, low cost housing is now an option for the homeless. The ministry also seeks to build its charitable network with local businesses that are willing to donate services; the thrust of Love INC.'s mission is to mobilize the givers who can make a difference right where they are. Communities are strengthened in good conscience as well as materially, when those in real need are reached. You can learn more about Love INC.'s programs by calling 732-758-9030. To make a tax-deductible donation, send your check, made payable to Love INC., to P.O. Box 8775 Red Bank, NJ 07701. ../news/2004/0408/love_plant_sale.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
TINTON FALLS, NJ — In celebration of Big Brothers Big Sisters Centennial year, AT&T Middletown and Aramark will host the 5th Annual Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth County on Monday April 26th, 2004 from 6:30-10 PM. Participating restaurants include: Topp’s Bavarian Haus, Oakland House of Red Bank; Aramark, Suzi’s Sweet Shoppe, Carrabba’s and Restaurant Nicholas of Middletown; Lincroft Inn, Lincroft; Lusty Lobster, Highlands; Nauvoo, Fair Haven; Sallee Tee’s GRILLE, Monmouth Beach; Scarborough Fair, Sea Girt; Possillipo, Asbury Park; A’vanti and Rooney’s Ocean Crab House, Long Branch and Salt Creek Grille, Rumson. Food will be accompanied by wines from around the world.
Live music will set the mood for a fabulous silent auction which will feature a
one week stay at La Costa, a $5000 AH Fisher diamond bracelet, theatre tickets,
sports memorabilia, Brookdale college tuition, numerous gift certificates and
sports camps. The event is limited to 400 guests to insure the enjoyment of all attendees. Tickets are $65 per person. For reservations, please call 732-544-2224, extension 16.
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RED BANK, NJ — Learn about the amazing Raptor Trust at The Monmouth County Audubon Society’s April meeting, to be held Wednesday, April 14, at 8:00 pm. The meeting will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, on White Street in Red Bank. The public is welcome and admission is free. The Raptor Trust is an outgrowth of one man's long-time interest in nature and, particularly, birds of prey. Len Soucy first became interested in hawks after a visit to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, Pennsylvania, 40 years ago. From that time on he has had a passionate concern for the well-being of raptors. In 1968 Soucy bought a home on 14 acres of property in Millington, N.J. With the help and support of his family, he began to care for injured raptors, part time, in their backyard. As their work became better known, the number of birds brought to their backyard bird hospital grew dramatically. By the end of the 1970s hundreds of birds of all kinds, not just raptors, were being admitted annually. Aviaries were constantly being built and the facility expanded to house the burgeoning avian population. Throughout those years, all the work was done by the Soucys and a few dedicated volunteers and was financed totally by the Soucy family. By the early 1980s, the project had become so large and expensive that they could no longer afford to finance it alone. In 1982 the operation was named The Raptor Trust and established as a non-profit corporation in the state of New Jersey. The April 14 program, “The Raptor Trust Story,” brings to life the incredible story of how The Raptor Trust came to be. This program describes the workings of one of the most comprehensive private avian care centers in the United States. Look “behind the scenes” at a facility that cares for thousands of injured and orphaned wild birds each year, and meet some of the fascinating patients that have been brought for treatment. The presentation includes both a slide presentation and live birds of prey, beautiful creatures that capture the heart of young and old alike. The evening promises to be both educational and entertaining.
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LEONARDO, NJ — Middletown Senior Center Announces the following activities for it's members:
Antique Appraisals for Seniors
Sunday, May 2nd, 2p.m.
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LINCROFT, NJ — Brookdale's student chapter of Circle K International, the collegiate branch of Kiwanis International, earned state-wide recognition by the New Jersey District at the 40th Annual Convention March 12-14 held in Somerset, New Jersey. Two and four year college and university representatives competed for club and individual honors, presented and debated governance issues. Convention participants also attended a variety of educational forums. Brookdale members were honored for their lead in the Governor's Project for Ronald McDonald House. The club accepted a monetary award, payable to a charity of Circle K's choice, in recognition of their efforts. The Brookdale club earned the Morris Silver Single Service Award competition third place honor for the April 2003 March of Dimes WalkAmerica program volunteer efforts. Individual club member total monthly service hours ranked the Brookdale organization's overall score to a "Club of the Month" honor level. Individual level awards were presented to three Brookdale members. Morgan Forsberg, Port Monmouth, won first place in the Talent Contest. Uma Vodoor, Marlboro, took first place in the Oratorical Contest and Essay Contest. Kim Smalley, Howell, received third place in the "Save" event. Elected office for leadership positions effective April 1, 2004 were announced;
"We are proud of the achievements of our Circle K members and the contributions they make to charities and the community," said Bruce Marich, Director of Recruitment Services and Advisor to the Brookdale Circle K. Circle K International is the collegiate branch of Kiwanis International, a community based service organization. It is the world's largest collegiate service organization with 12,000 members in over 650 chapters in 12 countries. The Brookdale chapter, one of 13 in New Jersey, is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Shadow Lake Village, Middletown. For more information regarding the Brookdale Circle K's activities, including opportunities to support charity programs, call (732) 224-2798. ../news/2004/0408/bcc_circle_k.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
FREEHOLD, NJ
— Monmouth County Sheriff Joseph W. Oxley is inviting members
of the public to provide feedback and input as part of the 9-1-1 Dispatch
Center’s efforts to maintain national accreditation. The Sheriff’s Office is the
only agency of 3,088 in the nation to earn the “five star” achievement of
national accreditation in all major operating divisions. The public can provide
feedback as to the operations and performance of the 9-1-1 call center via phone
or email.
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MANASQUAN, NJ — Program on New Jersey's Geology and Fossils to be presented Saturday, April 17, 2004 from 9am - 12 noon at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center in Howell, NJ. RECEIVE CEU CREDIT & LEARN ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT During this workshop we will delve deeply into the geology of New Jersey to learn about its mineral resources and fossils. We will learn how rocks and stones that your students may see everyday have helped build the nation's major cities. Workshop activities include identifying rocks and minerals, viewing local fossils, and experiencing several fun geology activities that you can do with your students.
Teacher grades: 1-8 For educators, the workshop complements 5.1, 5.2, 5.5, 5.8, and 5.10 of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Science. To register, call 732-842-4000, Ext. 1. For more information, call 732-751-9453. Monmouth County Park System is a Registered Professional Development Provider with the New Jersey Department of Education. #4642
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LONG BRANCH , NJ — Monmouth County Democratic Party Chairman Victor Scudiery today demanded that his Republican counterpart disclose the “serious and compelling” information that he reportedly has that resulted in his denial of endorsement to an incumbent Republican Freeholder.“If Chairman Bill Dowd knows something that is so serious that it prevents one of his incumbent candidates from running for reelection, it must impact on that freeholder’s ability to do the job Monmouth County voters elected him to do,” Scudiery said. “The public has a right to know this information and Chairman Dowd should not hide it.” On the website, PoliticsNJ.com, Chairman Dowd said he refused the Republican Party endorsement for Freeholder Edward J. Stominski because he knows information that “would have landed Ed in lots of trouble.” Dowd told the website: “I received information over the weekend that I can only describe as serious and compelling and which, if it came out, would have landed Ed in lots of trouble and put an end to any questions about his electability.” “I don’t understand why Chairman Dowd would want to hide such serious information from the press and public and I call on him to release this information so that the residents of Monmouth County can evaluate it and any impact it might have on the freeholder board,” Scudiery said.
../news/2004/0408/demand_disclosure.htm Removal of freeholder candidate without due process is the ‘last straw’ KEANSBURG, NJ — This week the Bayshore Republican Conference unanimously condemned the actions of Monmouth County Chairman Bill Dowd and Senator Joe Kyrillos to remove Freeholder Ed Stominski as ill timed and undemocratic. “He and Senator Joe Kyrillos should know better than for attacking Ed Stominski in this fashion. There was no vote taken by the rank and file and nearly every municipal chairman and county committeeperson was ignored”, stated Chairwoman Mary Foley. “We have called for an emergency session of the Monmouth County Republican Committee and all loyal interested republicans for Saturday 4/10 at 10AM in Tinton Falls. Monmouth Republicans want their voices heard “The Bayshore Conference has today called an emergency meeting on Saturday morning of all Monmouth Republican Municipal Chairmen and Chairwomen, their county committees and various diverse republicans from across the county so a proper nomination process on the Monmouth County Freeholder race can be secured”, stated BRC Chairwoman Mary Foley. “The days of ignoring rank and file leadership of local republicans are over” declared Keyport Mayor John Merla (a Bayshore Republican Conference founding member). The meeting will be held at 10AM on Saturday 4/10/04 at the Holiday Inn off exit 105 in Tinton Falls New Jersey. BRC regretted the timing of the removal as well. “It’s truly unfortunate that Chairman Dowd and Senator Kyrillos chose to spring this upon us all during a very religious time” stated Foley.
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LINCROFT, NJ — Brookdale Community College will host the Hospice Foundation of America’s 11th Annual National Bereavement Teleconference entitled “Living With Grief: Alzheimer’s Disease.” This program, moderated by Cokie Roberts of ABC News, will be broadcast live via-satellite, Wednesday, April 28, from 1:30 to 4:00pm in the Main Academic North (MAN) building, room 105, Lincroft campus. Use parking lot #4 or 5. An expert panel will discuss what is known medically about the diagnosis, progression, and treatment of the disease; explore some innovative programs for patients and caregivers coping with Alzheimer’s; focus on the particular grief issues that patients and families face during the course of this illness; and examine the challenges and opportunities that Alzheimer’s disease presents to caregivers, clinicians, hospice workers, and policy advocates. The panel also will discuss dementias other than Alzheimer’s. “Due to the increase in the elderly population,
we see an increase in the number dementia cases and people suffering with
Alzheimer’s. This increase puts tremendous pressure on caregivers,” said Kathy
Pultar, Assistant Professor or Nursing at Brookdale. “This program is a service
to both professional and informal caregivers, to help them examine the
opportunities and challenges for families facing this disease.” Roberts will lead a panel of noted authorities to include: Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, College of New Rochelle; Parag Dalsania, MD, Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Lisa Gwyther, MSW, LCSW, Duke Medical Center; William Haley, PhD, University of South Florida; Richard Ham, MD, West Virginia University Center on Aging; Lin Noyes, RN, PhD, Alzheimer’s Family Day Center; and Therese Rando, PhD, Institute for the Study and Treatment of Loss. The teleconference is produced by Hospice Foundation of America, a non-profit organization working to educate health care professionals and the families they serve on issues relating to illness, loss and grief. The program is sponsored by the Foundation for End-of-Life Care, in cooperation with the Adventist Communication Network, Alzheimer’s Association, U.S. Administration on Aging and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For more information or to register call (732) 224-2315. The course code is XMEDN 077.
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LEONARDO, NJ — The next Middletown Township Historical Society meeting will be held Monday, April 19th at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Richard Levine, founder of the Middletown Folk Festival, will speak about its history with a videotape presentation. Our meetings, which are open to the public, are held at the MacLeod-Rice House, Croydon Hall, at the intersection of Leonardville Road and Chamone Avenue in the Leonardo section of Middletown Township, Monmouth County. Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome to attend. Questions? Contact middletownhist@earthlink.net Our May 17th meeting will have Frank Vosk showing a brief video (made from film) of damage in town following the May 1958 NIKE explosion on Chapel Hill. A discussion will follow. We are looking for volunteers to share their remembrances and experiences of that day. Please contact program coordinator Randall Gabrielan at 732-671-2645 or monmouthhistory@aol.com Please visit our new website for up-to-date news of events, links to websites of interest, and a brief history of the Township. www.home.earthlink.net/~lmpoll/
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RED BANK, NJ — The May meeting of the Monmouth County Genealogy Society will be held on Sunday, May 2nd at the United Methodist Church at 247 Broad Street, Red Bank, New Jersey. Ever felt intimidated when visiting a large library? Then come and join us for our lecture on "Beating Librarians at Their Own Game" and learn about the tools that librarians use so you'll feel comfortable using large repositories and find the material you know resides within their stacks. Our speaker will be James Lewis, reference librarian for the library at The New Jersey Historical Society in Newark. The meeting will be held in Fellowship Hall at the United Methodist Church at 247 Broad Street, Red Bank, New Jersey. As is our custom, please feel free to join us for refreshments and genealogy networking at 1:30 PM. We will begin our program at 2:00 PM with a short business meeting followed by our speaker's presentation. For more information or directions please call Larry Fermi, MCGS Program Chair at 732-345-7258
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HIGHLANDS, NJ — The Highlands Business Partnership will kick off its 2004 season of family-oriented special events with the Borough’s 4th Annual Seaport Craft Show on May 30. Held on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, the juried, outdoor arts and crafts show in Huddy Park, at Bay and Waterwitch avenues, is Highlands’ unofficial “welcome summer” event. The Partnership’s president, Carla Cefalo-Braswell, said the free events, including the popular Clamfest and Oktoberfest, help promote Highlands as a desirable destination for both visitors and locals alike. The Business Partnership’s events are made possible through the additional financial support of sponsors. .On Saturdays beginning July 3 and continuing through October, the weekly farmers’ market will return to downtown Highlands, featuring fresh produce, flowers and plants. Held in Cornwall Park on Bay Avenue, the open-air market attracts foot traffic and offers shoppers just-picked seasonal fruits and vegetables, along with specialty food items and homemade goods in a friendly, street-fair environment. Other events scheduled in Highlands include: August 5-8 – 10th Annual Clamfest, featuring seafood, rides, games and live entertainment in Huddy Park September 5 – Antique & Classic Car Show, featuring custom cars and hot rods, oldies music and entertainment on the streets around Huddy Park, on Bay and Waterwitch avenues. (rain dates September 6, 12) September 19 – 3rd Annual Twin Lights Bike Tour, offering mapped-out routes of scenic Highlands, the beachfront and surrounding Monmouth County countryside for cyclists of all ages and ability levels. October 2 – Oktoberfest, serving up German food and beer, live music, dancing and entertainment at Veterans Park, Bay Avenue (rain date October 3) December 3 – Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration, Huddy Park Sponsors of this year’s events include Comcast, 94.3 The Point, Budweiser and Bud Light, Hufnagel Tree Service, Super Foodtown/Food Circus, Seastreak America, Shrewsbury State Bank, and Rahm Landscaping. Additional sponsor support for Clamfest and the Twin Lights Bike Tour is provided by Meridian Health System’s Riverview Hospital. The non-profit Highlands Business Partnership is a commercial alliance dedicated to fostering economic development and continued revitalization of Highlands, as well as preserving the Borough’s historic past. For more information on Highlands, visit the Partnership’s Website at www.highlandsnj.com. For more information on the Partnership’s special events, call Allen Consulting at 732-946-2711. ../news/2004/0408/hbp_events.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
by KATHY McBURNIE ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — “If you need advice in Paw, Paw, Michigan, there’s only one place to go…” sings the cast, opening the Broadway Junior production of “Dear Edwina”, performed at Atlantic Highlands Elementary School by the 5th and 6th grade students on Wednesday, March 31. It is the second Broadway Junior Production to be performed at AHES under the skillful direction of music teacher Miss Katie Burtnick and choreographer and parent Mrs. Wendy Cohen. “This show turned out to be much more challenging than last year’s. Each cast member had a huge responsibility. I couldn’t ask for more as a teacher than to watch the students grow the way they did,” said Miss Burtnick. “Dear Edwina” is the story of a group of young people who spend their summer practicing a talk show in a garage in Paw, Paw, Michigan. The talk show host, Edwina Spoonapple, wonderfully performed by Amanda Faria, hopes that a visiting talent scout will invite her to the Kalamazoo Advice-A-Polozza Festival so that she will gain recognition in her family along with her smart and talented brother and sisters. Scott, played by Lincoln Cohen, charmed the audience with his antics designed to win Edwina’s love.
Throughout the show energetic cheerleaders (Shane Hancock, Nikita John, Brielle Duffy and Christie Boyd) gave a catchy cheer to entice the talent scout in the audience. Unexpectedly, though, the talent scout chose Scott to sing at the Advice-A-Polozza Festival, leaving the talk show cast behind. However, Edwina realized after giving advice to her little sister Katie Spoonapple (Kimberly Safara), that doing what you love, even if you don’t get an award to hang on the refrigerator, is the best advice of all. The cast and crew included 45 students, a very large participation. “We worked really hard and had a terrific time”, said sixth grader Tyler DeBoer, who played Bobby, Edwina’s new neighbor. He added that being in a play “teaches you to never give up and to try your hardest, and to keep your chin up even if you don’t get exactly the part you want”. Derek Springsteen said, ""It was especially fun playing four different parts" (a pig, a Jamaican steel drum player, Harry the Hawaiian and a partygoer). The show was so delightful that the audience was sorry to see it end. So was the cast. “I’m really going to miss the rehearsals”, said Lincoln Cohen. His mom, choreographer Wendy Cohen said, “The whole experience is wonderful for 5th and 6th graders. Learning to sing and dance at the same time is not easy, and Miss Burtnick and I did not settle for anything less than perfect. I loved watching the cast members grow from tripping over their feet to becoming confident and professional looking”.
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The wheels of progress are moving at Hudson by Dr. Brian Zychowski It is really true that a thousand mile journey begins with the first step and each subsequent step thereafter. Henry Hudson’s construction project seems like the proverbial thousand mile journey with its two years of planning, exhaustive meetings, and on-going renovation. However, I am happy to report that we are indeed making great strides and Henry Hudson’s project continues to be on budget and on schedule. Currently, the structural steel for the music room addition has been erected, the concrete slab has been poured, and the roof installed. The retaining wall in the rear of the building has been installed completely. The classroom/cafetorium addition is proceeding with footings and foundations, and the steel structure will be erected in mid April. The parking lot water detention basins have been installed and Henry Hudson will be near full parking utilization by the end of April. The basins were necessary to ensure proper drainage during and after completion of the project. Interior work has commenced during a second shift after students vacate the building. Electrical and technology contractors are currently wiring and prepping the entire existing building for the major renovation work that will be completed during the summer. Included in the summer work will be the installation of the new phone, security, and fire alarm systems. Additional summer work will include the installation of an elevator, interior doors (as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act), a new boiler system, and upgraded bathrooms and classrooms. Window and masonry installation will begin as part of the project’s Phase II schedule, approximately May 1st. Contractors will be working in designated locations throughout the remainder of the school year so as not to disrupt classroom instruction. Included in Phase II will be the completion of the interior structures of both the music room and the new classroom/cafetorium additions. Short term inconveniences and changes have required flexibility on the part of Henry Hudson staff and students. I am proud that not only did both staff and students meet the challenges of this arduous project, but the integrity of the curricular and extra curricular programs has remained uncompromised. Since ground-breaking, students have been actively involved creating a video history of the project for their TV Production class and a digital photography collection for their photography class. Photographs are posted on the Henry Hudson’s website, www.hhrs.us, so all residents can be informed about the progress of the project. In closing, I would like to thank both the Atlantic Highlands and Highlands’s communities for their continued support and cooperation in creating the best educational institution for their children. I look forward to communicating with you again once we have completed the current phase and proceeded to Phase III.
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POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES IN OPPOSITION TO GOD A friend who saw Mel Gibson’s movie, “The Passion of the Christ”, mentioned that the Devil was too visible. The Devil had too much space in the movie. Not only was the Devil too visible, she was also very pretty. Paul, writing to Ephesians, says: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” During the Holy Week, the forces of the Devil were all concentrated against the Lord Jesus Christ and the work that He had set out to accomplish on the cross. Probably the most direct description of the activity of the Devil is in Luke 22:3-6 -“The Satan entered (my underlining) called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.” It is not only Judas who does the work of the Devil. The work of the Devil against the Lord Jesus Christ is done by Judas, Pilate, Caiaphas and the mob. Judas was a friend who betrayed Jesus by a kiss. He perverted the sign of love into a sign of betrayal. Pilate was the representative of the Roman law. By his indecisiveness, he laid the law aside in order to please the crowd, because his past was too horrid. Caiaphas was the voice of discernment. He made Jesus answer by an oath. The disciples, because they believed that Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah, were willing to give their lives for Him, but Caiaphas saw in that statement of Jesus a blasphemy and sentenced him to die. Connecting the dots between Judas, Caiaphas and Pilate, one can see the work of the Devil, but the Devil is dressed in a beautiful array. If you would have asked any of these three people if they saw the evil that they have done, they would have replied that they worked for higher and nobler causes. Judas would have told us that he wanted Jesus to show who He really was and free Israel. Caiaphas wanted to defend the people Israel from more diluted Messiahs. Pilate would have told us that he wanted the good of the Israelites and did not want another rebellion on his hands and more killing. By Friday at three o’clock the forces of evil are at rest. Jesus Christ is dead. It seems that victory is on their side. The Devil who met Jesus in the wilderness and tempted Jesus in many ways had used all his connections and now Jesus is buried in a borrowed tomb. The thread in the tapestry is known by Joseph who said “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good” (Gen. 50:20). The work of the Devil and of the people that he employed is evil and inexcusable, yet through all of this God is accomplishing His plan of salvation.
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VOLUNTEERS MADE THE DIFFERENCE While the column last Thursday may have been a joke, the fire that engulfed downtown Atlantic Highlands last Friday evening was anything but. Once again, the volunteer spirit that permeates through Monmouth County shined brightly as our town’s firefighters received assistance from many neighboring towns, including Highlands, Middletown, Keansburg, Rumson, Matawan, NWS Earle and Red Bank. The cooperation from neighboring towns and the professionalism of the volunteers is a wonder to behold. Most of the departments in the Bayshore area operate under the mutual aid, and once the call goes out, reinforcements come without any questions asked. In this case, the blaze threatened the downtown area of Atlantic Highlands, and our neighbors came willingly. Almost lost in the entire episode is the fact that none of the other towns, or their fire departments ever request any remuneration for their efforts. It also gives time to ponder the future on First Avenue. The owner has stated his intention to rebuild on the lot, and another new building could complement the Hess building across the street. We can only hope that the affected merchants, particularly Margaret’s, decide to remain and keep Atlantic Highlands as their address. Small businesses are a plus for our town, and that building housed a variety of quality businesses. In the meantime, there is a gap on First Avenue. The empty lot stands as a testament to quick work- the speed of the demolition crew, the speed of a raging fire that destroyed the building. There many people to thank including our own firefighters, emergency services personnel and the ladies auxiliary. Our town takes its cap off to our volunteers and those of surrounding towns- another job well done; you have come to the rescue again.
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THE TROUBLE WITH EASTER My Second Grade Catechism teacher scarred me for life. She told us that no one could get into Heaven, unless they were baptized a Catholic. She explained what Baptism was and told us that, even though we don’t remember our Baptism day, we were indeed baptized. She said that a person could get baptized when they were older, but that it was better to have it done when you’re a baby, because of all the perils in the world. I raised my hand. “What if a little baby died in a car accident and never got a chance to be baptized?” I asked her. “Then, the baby couldn’t go to Heaven,” she replied. “Did it go to Hell?” I asked, in disbelief. “No,” she said. “It went to Purgatory.” Oh. I was temporarily relieved. Relieved, that is, until she started elaborating on all the kinds of suffering that goes on in Purgatory. But then she said that Jesus was going to come around again one day and get all of those poor little babies out of there. Two thoughts flashed through my mind. The first was how lucky I felt that I was already baptized a Catholic, and therefore “safe.” The second was how unfair God seemed to be, if He didn’t let a poor, innocent little baby into Heaven, merely because he couldn’t make it to his own Christening Day (through no fault of his own). I had a lot of Catechism teachers after that one. They all reinforced what my Second Grade teacher had said; basically, you should live your entire life preparing for your death. More specifically, you should be preparing for what happens to you after your death. Pure and simple, there are two ways and two ways only that will get you into Heaven: 1) You must be a Christian and 2) You must be a Catholic. Period. That seemed clear cut enough for me, especially since I had a manual like The Holy Bible to guide me. Everything I needed to know about getting into Heaven after I died was in there somewhere. Period. Things became less clear as I got older, however. I learned that there actually were people in the world who didn’t believe in Jesus! Can you imagine? All they had to do was read The Bible! It was all in there – in black and white! How could Jewish people read The Bible and not believe that Jesus was who He said He was? Isn’t the fact that He rose from the dead proof enough? Obviously not. But maybe it was because the Jews were reading the wrong Testament. And, according to my second grade Catechism teacher, Jewish people are doomed and never getting into Heaven, until they accept Jesus. They’re actually double-doomed, because they’re also not Catholic. Actually, they’re triple-doomed, because a lot of people blame them for the death of Jesus. (We can thank Mel Gibson for reiterating the Gospels and driving that point home once again.) At least the Baptists, the Lutherans, the Methodists, the Mormons, the Presbyterians, the Born Again Christians, the Greek Orthodox believers, the followers of Christian Science, and even the Moonies have half a shot at getting into Heaven, because they all believe in Jesus. I used to think that God would give the Episcopalians a break, and waive the “non-Catholic” rule, since their customs and traditions were so closely related to Catholicism. But then they allowed an openly gay man to be a bishop, so that idea went out the window, because gay people aren’t allowed in Heaven. (Don’t they know that?) But, at least most of these people are reading The Bible, even though they’re reading different versions of it. The Greek Orthodox Church claims that they gave the world The Bible but, since the Roman Catholic Church also makes the same claim, the Greek Orthodox people can forget about getting into Heaven, too. (It could be worse, though; they could be reading The Koran.) If my Second Grade Catechism teacher was correct, then there are a lot of people who won’t be spending their eternities in Heaven, because they simply refuse to accept Jesus as the only true Savior. Among them are, Albert Einstein, Jack Benny, Dustin Hoffman, Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein (he’s got two strikes against him, if he was a homosexual; three, if he was bisexual), Jonas Salk (who developed the first polio vaccine), Steven Spielberg, Mark Spitz, Al Jolson, Groucho Marx, Danny Kaye and Jerry Seinfeld (not to mention all the Jewish people who died in concentrations camps, including the babies). Now that I think about it, my Jewish friends, Roz and Steve (two of the nicest people you’d ever want to meet) won’t be going to Heaven, either. I can’t even imagine spending my eternity without them. The heart surgeon who saved my son’s life can’t even get in, because he’s also Jewish. And many of my dear friends and family won’t be going, too. Even though they lead wonderfully giving lives, follow the teachings of The Bible, and go to Church every single Sunday, they can’t get in because they’re not Catholic. According to my Second Grade Catechism teacher, they’re jut plain out of luck. I was hoping to finally meet my birth mother up in Heaven someday. But she committed suicide, before I had the chance to meet her. Suicide is a big “no-no” in the Catholic religion, so I guess I’m going to have to let go of that fantasy. But, come to think of it, she wasn’t Catholic, so maybe she is up there, after all. (Besides, the police report said that she was drunk when she jumped out of the window, so maybe the “suicide sin” doesn’t really count.) Gandhi won’t be in Heaven, either. Neither will Confucius. Or the Tibetan Monks, for that matter, even if they do spend their entire lives praying. What really makes me nervous, though, is the knowledge that there are so many people who are eligible to get into Heaven, who normally wouldn’t be in Heaven, had they not had the opportunity to confess their sins before they died. Mass murderers can get into Heaven if they’re Catholic, as long as they make a full confession before they die. Pedophile priests can get into Heaven, too, no matter how many kids they sexually abused while they were on earth. They get a clean slate if they confess, and they’re welcome to pass right through The Pearly Gates, untarnished. I thank God that Hitler never had a chance to make a Confession. He was born and raised a Catholic. If he hadn’t strayed (or committed suicide), he could be up there right this very minute waiting for all of us. And he’s the last person I’d ever want to spend eternity with. Think about it: If you had a choice between spending the rest of your eternal life with Adolf Hitler or Jack Benny, who would you pick? And that’s the trouble with Easter. It, once and for all, separates Us from Them – the Believers from the Non-Believers. It decides who gets into Heaven and who doesn’t. It’s the proof that Christians use to show that Jesus is our Savior – that he’s everyone’s savior. All you have to do is believe that Jesus rose from the dead, that He was who He said He was, and that He did what He said He was going to do. Then, and only then, will you be saved. (As long as you’re a Catholic, of course.) The bunnies, the bonnets, the new clothes, the eggs, the chocolate, and the Peeps aside, Easter is The Day to decide whether you believe in Jesus or not. You’re In or you’re Out. You’re Right or you’re Wrong. You’re a Christian or you Aren’t. You believe in miracles, or you don’t. You’re going to Heaven or you’re not. Either way, I hope everyone who deserves to go to Heaven gets there, regardless of their beliefs. I hope God isn’t as discriminating as my Second Grade Catechism teacher told us he is. For your sake, as well as mine.
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Part Two of a Story on Assisted Living in New Jersey Published in the Two River Times and AHHerald on March 25, 2004 ASSISTED LIVING IN NEW JERSEY - PART TWO It was a cold late one night in 1982. I was stopping by for a minute to pick up something at by friend's apartment in the Twin Gables. I parked in the driveway between the Navesink House and the Twin Gables. It was late, close to 10 PM; I was hoping that the senior ladies that had put bumper stickers on my windshield two weeks before for parking in their driveway were asleep. I went inside for about five minutes and returned to my car. As I approached the car I became aware that there was something or someone in the back seat. Startled, I slowly looked into the back seat window. All I could see was a small gray head level with the top of the back seat. Opening the door I found Emily sitting in the middle of the back seat wearing only a pink night gown. She was about 85 years old, weight about 75 pounds frail and looked at me with childlike frightened eyes. With the gentlest voice I could muster after being startled I asked, “Hello, what are you doing out here…it’s cold…where did you come from?” Of course I knew the answer, she must have been from the Navesink House. With the intonation of a child she said, “I came from in there” looking up at the Navesink House “they try to keep me inside and not let me out but I don’t want to go to bed early so I sneak out.” Telling her it was very cold out I put my coat around her and told her not to move. I ran to the side door and rang the bell. A voice directed me to the front entrance. When I told the front desk what had happened they knew immediately it was Emily. She had gotten out again and said they would send someone down to the side door to get her. I ran back to the car to wait. Emily was shivering as I climbed in the back seat. I bundled the coat around her and put my arm around her. “Oh, you keep me warm” were her first words. “My father used sit with me like this when we took our train car down to the shore when I was little.” While waiting for the nurse staff to open the side door she told me she had lived on Park Avenue in New York but came to the shore every year to the big hotels. She and her sisters had to stay with the servants and were not allowed in the front hotels. That was as far as the conversation got when the door opened and the staff took her back inside. I knew she was another living time capsule that I would have to talk to again. She was child like in gestures and stature. I came back to visit Emily over the next couple of months and learned a great deal about her and her family in the early 1900’s. These seniors are a wealth of information about our past and strikingly similar to our lives today. I guess that is the point of my story. As we become the care takers to our parents and grandparents we should find out all we can about their lives before we became the “center of the universe.” Mom has passed away also so there is really no one I can ask about what happened then. I have to rely on other relatives to learn about his and her life. So maybe it is time to sit down and ask them questions before we can’t anymore. After all how can we fully understand who we are if we don’t know where we came from? From then till now the assisted living facilities have been growing in leaps and bounds providing a real home for seniors. If you need information on them you can contact me at Danssteaks@aol.com. I am familiar with a number of them. After all we are not really that far behind them are we?
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APRIL FOOL At our house April 1st is a favorite date for more than the usual silly reasons of practical jokes and improbable scenarios that end with shouts of “April Fool”. For it was on this day that my wife and I met. The date was April 1, 1961. (Obviously, I was a mere boy at the time.) I tell people that I was just minding my own business on the bus of the touring choir for our college, when this beautiful babe “threw herself at me”. (My mother had warned me about this, but did I listen?) Carol tells the story a little differently, of course. She claims she was holding a seat for her friend, Sylvia, who was late boarding the bus that morning. I – young and brash, but not blind – saw an unexpected opportunity to sit next to a bodacious choir babe, so I sat down next to her. Her protestations about Sylvia availed naught. (Even then, I was stubborn.) Throughout the day we chatted amiably and wandered around the Dupont Gardens in Delaware. I learned that she had sworn off men and now planned to be an old-maid schoolteacher. (Obviously, this was thrown down as a challenge to me.) The rest, as they say, is history. We were married sixteen months later. I often reflect on how Sylvia’s five-minute tardiness made such a difference in our lives. Carol says we would probably have met, anyway, but I am not so sure. We had already been in the choir for seven months without meeting. (Freshmen guys did not usually hang out with upper-class women.) On such Providential close-timings many a marriage has undoubtedly begun. It was for us – as I have often said over these forty-three years – God’s April Fool joke to top all April Fool jokes. But I love early April for more than these romantic reasons from my past. I also love April because it is what we have come to call “tax season”. Yes, it’s true. I love that time of the year when we all spend many hours – or else pay tax consultants lavishly – to prepare our income tax returns. Indeed, I have just completed my own return after spending much of two weeks gathering and sorting receipts and using a software package (my first time) to prepare the forms. Like most Americans, I approach the annual task with a distaste bordering on nausea. Usually I delay until a week before the deadline, although this year I actually started earlier. I knew that financial matters connected to my retirement would make things more complex. Also, the new software would require a learning curve. In the end the software was a great boon, of course, since it quickly recalculates the entire return after any change. (Experienced returniacs know the frustration of redoing numerous “schedules” of the return after inserting last-minute changes.) Why, then, do I “love” tax season if I hate doing my return, like anyone else? The answer is that as a political conservative, with libertarian leanings, I love tax season because it is one of the few times when all Americans must actually confront the ponderous, extortionate income tax system we have today, as well as the reason we have it. That reason boils down to Envy. How envy became the annual nightmare of the Income Tax is a cautionary tale for all of us. By the early 20th century a few industrialists, miners, bankers and railroad tycoons had made vast fortunes in emerging industries like steel, oil and railroads. Dollars were backed by gold, so they bought far more than the greenback of today. But, notwithstanding the mega-success of some, dollars were a lot tougher to earn than today. Many workers earned just a single dollar for a long day of hard toil. Maids and other servants made less. Orphanages and poorhouses cared for people who were in real want, but nothing existed like the welfare “safety net” of today, whereby significant income and in-kind services are provided for prolonged periods. Without work, circa 1900, you were in deep trouble. Many people in such circumstances lived on the streets without shelter or wandered as vagrants. In this economic environment – far more demanding but also less restrictive than today’s – the spectacle of rich people ostentatiously displaying their wealth in mansions and kingly living styles generated much resentment among the millions who were just scratching along. Populist politicians began to fan the flames of envy to gain political advantage. This produced two political initiatives. First was “trust-busting” – a government-led effort to break up the huge monopolies in oil, steel, railroads, etc., which might actually threaten both the economic health and wartime safety of the nation. Because of those monopolies, some prices – which now appear low from our inflated vantage point – were actually very high. Although we now consider gasoline outrageously expensive, for instance, prices during the early years of the century were really far higher than today’s – even without the high gas taxes we have. I read recently that the price of gasoline, if translated commensurately from the 1920s into today’s cost of living and wage levels, would be $10 a gallon. At a time when people were still working for $1 a day, a man could spend a whole day’s pay filling his tank with 20¢ a gallon gas – if he had a car (which was unlikely if he was making $1 a day). The second initiative launched against the “malefactors of great wealth” (as the rich were popularly tagged) was the income tax. Conditioned, as we are, to having 25% of our pay “withheld” as tax, before we even see it, we find it difficult to grasp that this was not always so. At the dawn of the 20th century, people actually took home their full earnings on payday. The man on the street could imagine nothing else. (They didn’t know when they had it good.) The major funding for the federal government came from import duties and excise taxes. The fly in the ointment was a handful of high-profile rich people, like the Carnegies, Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Goulds, etc., who had accumulated fortunes in the hundreds of millions – wealth beyond the dreams of avarice – without paying a farthing in tax. This is impossible to imagine today, and was becoming hard to swallow then. People who complained that others had made so much money without paying any tax failed to notice that they had not been taxed, either. “Envy politics” had been born. An income tax was imposed during the Civil War, but it was phased out in 1872. In 1894, farm and labor discontent spurred enactment of a peacetime income tax. Pressured by trade associations, Congress passed the Wilson-Gorman tariff bill, which included an income tax. Soon after enactment, however, a conservative Supreme Court ruled the tax unconstitutional (Pollock v. Farmers' Loan and Trust Company), pronouncing it a “communistic threat” to property. But the dogs had been let loose. During the Progressive Era, sentiment for the income tax grew so strong that in 1909 President Taft proposed amending the Constitution to permit it. An amendment was drafted giving Congress authority to impose taxes on the proceeds of any lawful business without apportionment according to population or equal treatment of all taxpayers. Support for the amendment came from a coalition of: (1) progressives alarmed by rapid concentration of industrial wealth; (2) conservatives who believed the government needed an elastic and reliable system of revenue to cope with national emergencies. By February 1913 the Sixteenth Amendment had the approval of the required three-fourths of the states. The nose of the Income Tax camel was under the tent. Thereafter, income tax legislation was quickly enacted. The “normal” income tax rate in 1913 was 1% on annual income up to $20,000 – the first $3000 being exempted for single taxpayers, and the first $4,000 exempted for married taxpayers. (This took 90% of workers off the tax rolls.) Higher (i.e., “super tax”) rates were applied to incomes above $20,000, with the maximum super tax rate of 7% applied only to incomes above $500,000. (Contrast this with today’s highest tax rate of 35% on incomes above $312,000 – comparable to about $15,000 in 1913 dollars.) Today, personal exemptions are only $3,050 per person; the individual standard deduction is $4,750. Somehow, the inflation that escalated income tax rates from a range of 1-7% to 10-35%, today, didn’t touch the exemption. If it had, today’s personal exemption and standard deduction would be worth about $45,000 per person. Of course, those original rates, which would seem idyllic today, did not last very long. The top rate quickly leapt to 77% during World War I. By the 1950s – within my working lifetime – the top tax rate was actually 92%. Naturally, very few incomes were subjected to that rate, since people earning at this level could buy advice on how to shield their income from taxation. Data from the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation shows that income tax rates have been adjusted (by my informal count) no less than 56 times over 91 years. An abbreviated table of tax rates in the lowest and highest brackets is furnished below. (Please refer to http://www.winke.com/wts/wts./histusrt.htm for the complete table and qualifying footnotes.)
Over these 91 years, wars have generally occasioned the highest tax rates. (See yellow-shaded years.) Democratic administrations (gray shading) have generally kept rates higher than Republican administrations (blue shading). Some of this is explained by the fact that Democratic administrations involved us in all four major wars in the 20th century. (Surprise!) Wars or not, however, the Democratic Party has clearly favored “soaking the rich”, while Republicans tended to lower rates whenever possible. In 1988, rates reached their lowest levels since 1930 when just two income brackets were established, with rates of 15% and 28%, respectively. As few as two rate strata had never before been established in the entire 75-year history of the income tax. (Naturally, it was too good to last.) The years 1954-’63 represent the longest period of stability in the tax rates. Tax-withholding – previously mentioned – was first established during World War II. President Roosevelt actually vetoed it, but it was passed over his veto by a worldly wise Congress that realized half of the country would be in tax-default, at year-end, unless taxes were pre-collected. Although tax legislation of recent years has exempted increasingly higher levels of income from taxation, the fact remains that millions of non-rich citizens today are taxed at rates reserved for zillionaires in the early years of the 20th century. Many inferences could be made from the data, but space does not permit. Suffice it to say, the April Fool joke is on us for thinking we could establish a tax that would touch only “rich” people. We shouldn’t have done that. The Bible says Envy is a sin. The Income Tax amounts to visitation of the “sins of the fathers on the 3rd and 4th generations”. We need to learn from this and not repeat the error. Even reckoned in strictly secular terms, envy-based public policy usually comes round to bite us. Keep the income tax in mind the next time you hear a politician say he’ll make the other guy pay “his fair share”. The “other guy” will eventually be You. We should know this by now, but ninety years on we still haven’t learned it.
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DON’T LIKE BUSH? DON’T LIKE KERRY? I have Republican friends (conservative) who question President Bush’s agenda for America. I have Democrat friends (moderates) who question Senator Kerry’s agenda for America. What to advise them? Vote your conscience. If you don’t want to vote for your party’s choice, then there’s always Ralph Nader, a genuine independent with no ax to grind, except for ridding corruption from government and corporate America. Lots of luck, Ralph. Everyone who runs for President promises to get rid of corruption in government and in corporate America. For that, you have to change thousands of years of human nature. The homo sapien species evolved to the top of the food chain by instinctively being driven by “survival of the fittest.” Yes, that’s the natural truth of our existence – all 6.7 billion humans currently occupying Planet Earth. The natural world is tough and unforgiving. Civilized societies are supposed to be more understanding, more compassionate and more forgiving. (Except, of course, for those terrorists without a soul or a conscience.) Civilizations that evolved from the natural world were the product of human intelligence. For millions of years, there was “natural law.” For thousands of years, the “natural law” became civil laws for the protection and improvement of human societies. Enough of how we got to where we are today. Specifically, which individual would best uphold the values and traditions of Western Civilization, from which America evolved in the 17th Century. Bush? Kerry? Nader? Each is Ivy League educated and recognizes the values and traditions of the
Judeo-Christian ethic, the foundation of our Constitutional Republic. Bush is a moderate Republican motivated by a faith-based belief that justice must prevail if the human race is to survive. Kerry, also a Christian, is the most liberal Senator in the United States Senate – father left than his Massachusetts colleague, Senator Ted Kennedy. Left or Right, neither men are godless, evil humans who want to destroy what they are: Americans! That said, where does Ralph Nader come into play in this corrupt, political process (government/business)? Nader is the idealist who has spent all of his adult life trying to save America from its own excesses. Nader’s life has almost single-handedly led a crusade to make corporations accountable for their actions. The same goes for government. Nader has made a difference, if only to remind us of the dark side of humankind. Much of government and business remain corrupted by that “survival of the fittest” instinct. Not even Moses or Jesus Christ could re-program the human race over thousands of years. The good news is that Western Civilization is still trying to be civil, although we seem to be moving two steps forward, and, alas, one step backward. Nader is the idealist with visions of truth in packaging for both products and people. Bush is the pragmatist with an MBA from Harvard. He sees life and survival as the application of “common sense.” Probably the two most important words in the dictionary. Kerry is a Democrat who believes heavy infusions of liberalism are the solution to America’s problems, although many of those problems are self-made. This is a World War III election. The outcome, hopefully, will be decided by those with old-fashioned Common Sense, whether they are Left, Right or Idealists in the middle. God Bless America! (Gordon Bishop, a national award-winning author, historian and syndicated columnist, is New Jersey’s first “Journalist-of-the-Year” – 1986/New Jersey Press Association.)
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No column this week. Look here next week.
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ARBOR DAY EVENT AND FOURTH ANNUAL SPRING EGG HUNT Thanks to a grant and the hard work of the volunteers on our towns newest committee that is the Keansburg Tree and Beautification Committee we will be planting trees in our Borough. On April 30, 2004 starting in Friendship Park at 10 AM and continuing to various location in the borough the Tree and Beautification committee will plant 90 trees to celebrate Arbor Day. Volunteers and others are free to join the committee as they plant the trees.
Lastly, for this week I would like to take a moment to thank all the people who helped make our borough's fourth annual egg hunt a success. I would like to start by thanking our mayor and my fellow councilpersons Patricia Gilligan, Mike Minervini, Mike Coppola and Diana Cantillo and our public works department. Special thanks go to the crew working the event that included Recreation Board Secretary Donna Marshall, member Darla Stoop and myself. Special thanks goes out to Terry Terrific for her donation of candy and to Donna and Darla for obtaining the plastic eggs and other candy donations. All the extra candy was distributed to all in attendance by the bunny. I hope I did not forget to mention anyone but if I did please know that you have my thanks. Thank you all very much! I will be sending some photograph from the event along with this article. Upcoming Borough Events. Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweeps - The Clean Ocean Action Spring Beach Sweeps will take place in Keansburg on Saturday 4/24/04 at 9 AM near Baywalk West behind the big borough parking lot on Beachway at Oakwood. Please help spread the word about the beach sweeps and ask all your friends and neighbors to attend. Arbor Day Tree Planting - The Keansburg Tree and Beautification Committee will be planting 90 trees throughout our borough in celebration of Arbor Day. The event will be held on Arbor Day and start at 10 AM on Friday April 30, 2004 in Friendship Park. Fortieth Annual Memorial Day Parade - Keansburg's Fortieth Annual Memorial Day Parade will be held on Sunday May 30. Lineup for participants will be at Noon in front of the New Point Comfort Fire Company on Carr Avenue. The Parade will step off at 1 PM. All groups and organizations are invited to participate. All groups are still welcome to participate. For participation information or for any other questions about the parade please call 732-495-1977 or 732-787-9290. Upcoming Council meetings. There will be two regularly scheduled meetings of the Keansburg Borough Council in the month of April. The first regularly scheduled meeting will be on Thursday April 8 at 5:30 PM and the second will be on Thursday April 22 at 7 PM.
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EASTER PIE Every Easter when I was a boy I looked forward to my mom’s Easter pie. An Italian tradition, “Easter Pie”, as it is colloquially known, is a quiche-like, savory pie, filled with eggs, cheese, meat, and a variety of other possibilities. As a kid, all I knew or cared about was that it tasted great. Little did I know that decades later I would be dissecting the intricacies of this festive preparation. Easter is preceded by Lent, a period of time hallmarked by fasting, particularly from meat on Fridays. Come Easter Sunday, it was time to celebrate, splurge and indulge. Hence, the rich, cheesy and meaty Easter Pie Easter Pie has many different names and even more recipes, depending on the section of Italy in question. In Naples it is known as “pastiera,” and is made with ricotta cheese and whole grains of wheat to symbolize rebirth. It is also known as “pizza piena,” (stuffed pie), and in Italian-American dialect, “pizza gain.” “Pizza Rustica” is still another term and refers to the savory and rustic aspects of the pie. Sicilians make a pie made from macaroni, pork, cheese and eggs. Calabrians favor ham, sausage, hard cooked eggs, mozzarella and ricotta. In Liguria, where it’s referred to as “pasqualina,” it’s made from spinach, ricotta, cheese and eggs. In central Italy, from Umbria to Marches, the Easter Pie is more of a bread than a pie and is known as “torta di pasqua” or “pizza di pasqua.” Here’s my recipe for Easter Pie: For the crust: 2 cups all purpose flour For the filling: 6 eggs To make the crust, mix the flour and salt and place it in the bowl of a food processor. Cut the butter into cubes and add them one at a time to the dough. After each cube pulse the food processor just enough to work in the butter but no more or you will overwork, i.e., toughen the dough. The dough should resemble a coarse meal. After you’ve mixed in the butter add the eggs and pulse the dough until it comes together in a ball. Cut the dough in half so that one half is a little bigger than the other. The smaller half will be the top crust. Wrap each in plastic wrap and rest the dough for an hour in the fridge. If you don’t have a food processor, work in the butter with a dough cutter or a fork and use your hands to integrate the eggs. As for the butter, every chef in the world will tell you to use unsalted butter. But I’m a maverick. I prefer the salted. Your choice. When the dough is almost done resting start making the filling. First beat the eggs with the salt and pepper. Then blend the cheese into the eggs. If you’re using the farmer cheese, which is somewhat firmer, you’ll need to break it apart. Shred or slice the meat, or put it in the food processor for a finer textured pie and add this to the egg/cheese mixture. If you want to be really decadent add in some melted butter. Roll out the larger piece of dough on a floured board until it will fill a 9-inch pie shell. Add the filling. Then roll out the smaller piece of dough until it will cover the top. Crimp it around the edge to seal it. If you’d like, you can brush the top with an egg wash, (beaten eggs). This will give it a sheen when it bakes. Finally, poke some holes or slits in the top crust to allow the steam to vent. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. You can certainly adjust the types and amounts of cheese and meat to suit your taste. I would stick with soft or semi-soft cheeses since they will melt and bake better. Although you could add a finishing touch of some finely grated Romano or Parmesan for extra flavor. Other meat options include pepperoni, sopressa, pancetta, and sausage. Some people also prefer hard cooked eggs to the beaten or a mixture thereof. It really doesn’t matter. Every variation tastes great. You can even use store-bought, pre-made pie crusts like my mother. To this day I’m still trying to get her to make her own dough, even though her store-bought crust didn’t taste that bad. Easter pie is so good, even a touch of modern convenience can’t detract from it.
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Series on Spring Cleaning (Part 2): MAKE ROOM FOR SUCCESS Spring cleaning often means organization and de-cluttering projects. Your workspace should also be organized and free of clutter. This will make you more efficient, more effective and more inspired. By removing extraneous things that hold you back, you make room for success. Paper files. At this point, you have a quarter’s worth of project files, expense receipts, and office memos. If you don’t already have a filing system in place, you need to develop one now. For project files and office memos, you might file by project or subject and keep extra catch-all files for today’s priorities and this week’s priorities. For expense receipts, you might use an accordion file with categories for meals, transportation, supplies, postage, and other professional expenses. Once you have a system, block off time to get the first quarter material filed, and mark future dates in your calendar now for filing time for each subsequent quarter. Email. Clutter can be electronic, such as having old emails take up precious disk space. Keep your inbox free, except for new email. Respond to old email. If you can’t get to it now, create folders for each action: put friend emails in a to-catch-up folder; put electronic receipts in a to-print-and-file folder. Block off time each week to attend to the now-filed emails. Office supplies. Organizing is not just about discarding and putting away. You also need to restock what you need. Check your paper supply, daily office supplies (e.g., staples, paper clips, pens), and office equipment. If you work in a large office environment where supplies are shared, make sure that your office has what you need for the next few weeks. Don’t forget the amenities that allow you to take care of yourself throughout the day – healthy snacks (make a run to a wholesale club for energy bars, dried fruit, or nuts), tissues, water, and skincare (e.g., lotion, antibacterial handsoap).
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JUST FOUR MOMS FROM NJ As we watch the 9/11 commission unfold the up-to-now obscured details behind the World Trade Center tragedy, do we know the origin of these historic moments? It is the heroic determination of four moms from New Jersey who are responsible for the eyes of the entire world on 9/11, and all of the events preceding it, and now this extraordinary event succeeding it. Without them none of this investigation would be happening. Author Gail Sheehy has chronicled their story in her
book,"Middletown America: A Town's Passage From Trauma to
Hope." The moms are Kristen Breitweiser, Patty Casazza,
Mindy Kleinberg, and Lorie vanAuken. Without them Condaleeza
Rice's testimony would not be capturing our attention today,
Thursday, April 8. Kristen, Mindy, Patty and Lorie will be watching and hearing the testimony of Dr. Rice who has persisted in her statement, "I don't think anybody could have predicted that these people would take an airplane and slam it into the World Trade Center . . ." We will too. After Kristen's testimony cataloging all of the warnings of Al Qaeda using planes against us and the memo from a Phoenix FBI agent warning that operatives were being sent to our flight schools, it does not seem like an intelligent move for Rice to elaborate on a statement which now reveals as a glowing pointer to a cover-up. It may have been that we would accept 9/11 as our very bad chapter in the story of terrorism, painful but closed. It now looms as an awful indicator of our leaders' failure. They had their eye on another ball. Why? The Four Moms have made it possible to get answers. Would Richard Clarke have been interviewed on a book that most had never heard of or at least gave little attention? The 9/11 commission brought it before the public eye. And now we all want answers. A big question is why the 9/11 commission had to subpoena the FAA and the Pentagon. They had refused to give information on the most mysterious aspects of 9/11. Until Richard Clarke emerged, the questioning had no direction. Bush and Cheney opposed the initial investigation until it steamrollered under the power of public campaigning (Four Moms) and threatened political embarrassment. The commission is chaired by Thomas Kean, former NJ governor 89-97. Vice Chairman is Lee Hamilton, former Democratic congressman. There are four additional Republicans and four Democrats on the commission. The Executive Director of the commission is Philip Zelikow who has a link to Condoleezza Rice in that they co-authored a book. There was some disagreement on his selection because of conflict of interest. The world is watching. What a powerful event that our Four Moms from New Jersey have set into motion.
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REPORTS OF RIVER, BAY AND OCEAN FISHING COA FLOUNDER TOURNEY RESULTS: Great Tournament as the fishing was excellent! Over 50 fish weighed in. The winner got a check for $300.00! We had some of the best flounder fishing in years. The winner Gene Bradford won with his first flounder ever! He caught near his house in Rumson. At least that is what he said. Clean Ocean Action collected over $7,000.00 from their little FREE Tournament. Pastor McGrail promised me that he would email me a copy of his "Blessing of the Fleet' sermon, which he gave before the Tourney. It was truly inspirational as he reminded us how Jesus was a fish lover. The awards
ceremony was chock full of door prizes and a good 50/50.
Not to mention the clam & Crab Chili and the Jersey
Shore Ale on tap. My Friend sent me this report last Saturday: _Anglers:
Will Hoffman _email: riverbassfishing@hotmail.com _bname:
_meth:
chumming at anchor _species: Winter Flounder _Size: up
to 2.21 comm: Fished in the Bahrs flounder tournament. The fish were there but they really didn't bite today. Caught 6 fish, 5 of them were keepers. Biggest one was 2.21 pounds. A couple days of sun and the flounder will bite. I also got some striper reports from the flounder fisherman. Soon the flounder will be a memory as the big bass are due soon!
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WE SHOULD NOT HUMILIATE HISTORIC FORT HANCOCK Lately, there has been a great debate in this country about ways to defend America’s coastline from terrorist attacks. Although, in many regards, it seems that we have forgotten that coastal defense is nothing new to the people of the Jersey Shore. Take for example Sandy Hook. We should not forget that for a very long time the narrow peninsula known as Sandy Hook (located at the extreme northern point of the Jersey Shore) was an important site for defending New York City. For over two hundred years, Sandy Hook played a significant role in defending New York City and its environs from distant and combative countries, such as England, Spain, and Germany. Although it seems hard to believe today, throughout the 1800s and early 1900s, different European countries wanted nothing better than to strike New York City and inflict serious damage to a primary economic center in America. Indeed, it seems like history is currently repeating itself by way of terrorist groups. For many decades, the hook’s unique location at the entrance to New York Harbor made it difficult for enemy nations to strike NYC. Invaders had to sail well within the range of American cannons, gun batteries, and guns located on the hook in order for enemy ships to attack the New York metropolitan area. After the War of 1812, due to the hook’s remoteness from major towns and cities, the US Army used the location as an important test area for newborn military weapons. Everything from rifles and pistols to gigantic 16-inch caliber cannons were tested at Sandy Hook. On October 30, 1895, Fort Hancock was formed and from 1900 through World War II, the fort had between 400 to 800 people living at Sandy Hook at any one time. Population peaked in 1945 when as many as 18,000 people were living in tents, barracks, and officer’s houses within the fort. In 1972, the United States government created the Gateway National Recreation Area to provide parkland around New York Harbor, which is the largest urbanized piece of coast in the world. In December 1973, the US Army deactivated Fort Hancock and the National Park Service accepted possession of Sandy Hook, except for the US Coast Guard Station. From that day forward, Sandy Hook became a public recreation area. Today, however, instead of trying to honor the spirt of Fort Hancock and the important contribution that thousands of people offered to the protection of the USA, our National Park Service (NPS) has plans to commercialize the north end of Sandy Hook - the historic Fort Hancock area. Instead of taking responsibility and appropriately preserving an important historic and natural area of the Atlantic coastline, our government leaders in Washington DC plan to commercialize our public lands. At Fort Hancock, the NPS wants to award a single, 60-year lease to a private company. The individual lease would empower Wassel Reality (a.k.a. Sandy Hook Partners LLC) to develop Fort Hancock into a commercial, for profit area with commercial uses unconcerned to the associated impacts from traffic, noise, and litter onto the natural environment. What the NPS and Wassel Reality propose is the creation of a corporate or business park along the already over-commercialized Jersey Shore. Plans include the development of corporate training centers and conference centers for business people and buildings devoted to private lodging and food services for business people. The plan also calls for anywhere between 400 to 1,000 additional vehicles to enter the park on a current bustling and fast-paced singular road – Hartshorne Drive. When you ask people from the National Park System why the federal government is not renovating Fort Hancock, the familiar answer they offer is that the government is unwilling at this time to foot the approximately $75 million to rehabilitate the 30 or so buildings that need to be immediately patched up. To this day, however, I do not understand why it has taken so long for the NPS to bestow a restoration plan for Fort Hancock? The NPS has occupied Fort Hancock for close to 30 years before any principal refurbishing plans were presented to the public. During those decades important buildings at Fort Hancock could have been restored or at least properly maintained. Instead nothing was done and the burden to restore Fort Hancock has been passed onto our generation. It is very sad to believe our federal government would treat a National Historic Landmark this way. Perhaps the commercialization of our national parks is fine for some places. The Wassel Reality folks frequently compare the proposed redevelopment of Fort Hancock to the redevelopment of Faneuil Hall in Boston. Although I like Faneuil Hall and visit it often when I vacation in Boston, it contains tacky retail shops to pick up cheap t-shirts and low-priced souvenirs. It is also a busy marketplace with over 70 shops, 14 restaurants, 40 fast-food stalls, and a comedy nightclub. Should we suspect this same sort of undue regard for profit at Fort Hancock, where many people gave up time, energy, and in some cases their lives to defend America’s coastline? We do not have a lack of retail stores, office space, or restaurants along the Jersey Shore. There is simply not a need for more businesses along our coastline. Any new commercial establishments should be aimed to existing towns or communities. What the Jersey Shore has an extreme shortage of is open space and peaceful, noncommercial landscapes. This is what our federal government should not lose sight of. Our public lands and national parks belong to the people, not to the highest bidder. Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook belong to the public. It is situated in an environmentally sensitive area that is habitat to a variety of endangered and threatened species, such as ospreys and piping plovers. Fort Hancock is the people’s property and it should never be managed by a single developer with the power to transform honored public property into a commercial zone. Please urge your federal elected officials to push for the National Park Service to organize an independent group made up of local citizens, public officials, and scholars to conduct a fair and unbiased study to determine the best way to preserve Fort Hancock that is harmonious with the character of Sandy Hook. Let us try to maintain Fort Hancock as an area largely devoted to public education about our valuable local ecology and history, and a home to non-profit environmental groups. Below are web site addresses to some federal political leaders for you to contact:
Senator Jon Corzine For more information, please write to the local non-profit group dedicated to preserving Sandy Hook from going commercial: Save Sandy Hook can be reached at P.O. Box 265, Lincroft, NJ 07738.
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The Volunteer Center of Monmouth County, (732) 728-1927, offers hundreds of unique volunteer opportunities. The Center is now located at 1900 Highway 35, Oakhurst, NJ, and is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. See Volunteer Opportunities
It is Sunday morning. Yesterday, I came into AH to see the damage. My heart goes out to those who lost so much. The fire on Friday night inspired a few people to wonder how the firefighter network works in this area. I explained the concept of mutual aid to the best of my ability. As the conversation progressed, it became apparent that not everyone knows the most basic fact about fire protection. So here it is. The people going into that burning building are volunteers. That is true for almost every town in Monmouth County. They do not get paid for the hundreds of hours of training and drills. They do not get paid for maintaining the trucks. They do not get paid for any of the administrative work that keeps the company running. Your fire fighting and your first aid are provided by volunteers. They are people just like you. They have regular jobs and families. They are soccer moms and football dads. Next time you hear the siren go off, may three prayers spring from your heart. First, say a prayer for the the well being of the person who needs them. Then say a prayer for the volunteers that they come home safely. Finally, say a prayer of thanks that they are not coming to see you. That’s enough of the civics lesson. Lets go on to the review. Uncle John’s Supremely Satisfying Bathroom Reader I have been reading the Reader’s Digest since I could make sense of the written word. At first it was just the jokes and cartoons. Later I got into the articles. The book is designed to give the reader approximately one article t read each day for a month. That’s not exact anymore, but it used to work like that. The short stories run a narrow gamut between entertaining and inspirational. In 1988, the people who put together the first Uncle John’s Bathroom Readers (no realtion to RD) tapped into this plan. Give the people short bursts of reading. Since then, they have turned it into a series of sixteen fantastic collection of trivia, history, and folklore. On their own web site, (www.bathroomreader.com) they describe the books thusly. “So, you ask: what is a Bathroom Reader? Simply put, we keep you occupied in the john. No more mad dashes for the perfect reading material—our books have it all! In what other masterpiece can you learn the science of soap and the history of the soap opera? Or read quotes from the likes of Calvin & Hobbes, George W. Bush, and Socrates? We bring you tales of dumb crooks, strange lawsuits, ironic deaths, forgotten history, amazing luck, odd superstitions, crazy conspiracies, spaced-out sports, word origins, movie bloopers, and much, much more.” In the 14th edition, you can learn about the history of football, the curse of MacBeth, the star spangled banner, the history of postage stamps, famous hoaxes, strange lawsuits, word origins, and hundreds of other tiny little facts of life. Someday, I expect the winner of Jeopardy to attribute his or her success to this series. Next time you are in a book store, pick one up and thumb through it. But watch out, you may not be able to put it down. For $17.00, it is money well spent. A Little Extra I was at the First Avenue Playhouse last night (Saturday). They are presenting Mary Chase’s “Harvey”. You might remember this as a Jimmy Stewart movie co-starring an invisible six-foot rabbit. Like I’ve said before, I don’t review community theater, so I’ll pass on the opportunity now. I only mention this because of someone I saw going through the door after the show. I only caught the flash of a smile from under a hooded sweatshirt. But I think I may have made a match. I am horrible at remembering names, especially when I have to connect it to a face. But the smile lingered. So maybe I’m crazy, but I would swear that I saw Patricia Sarrafian Ward leaving the theater. If you don’t know the name, go find the book “The Bullet Collection”. The story Ms. Ward tells will linger long after others have been forgotten. I reviewed it many months ago and reported that it was a difficult one to read. With the benefit of time, my opinion has changed. I can look back and say that the story was better than I initially said. In the review, I drew a parallel between the story and the photograph of the author on the cover. I believe that was the smile I saw Saturday night So, if that was you Patricia - hello! And thanks for coming to the show. On the other hand, If I am mistaken, just take it for the ramblings of a hack. See you next week with the word on Time’s Eye (A Time Odyssey, Book 1), the new one from Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter.
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READOPTION DAY On December 1st, 2003, we physically met Lucy in the lobby of the Guatemala City Marriott and held her in our arms for the very first time; on April 1st, 2004, just four months later, we held Lucy in our arms as we entered the Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold, New Jersey, to meet with the judge in his courtroom and formally readopt our baby girl from Guatemala. Readoption varies from state to state. In New Jersey, a child may be granted a name change and receive a state birth certificate if the adoptive parents fill out the necessary paperwork (there is always a mound of paperwork!!!), pay court fees, consent to a home visit from a court-appointed social worker, and appear in court. Even though one can use an attorney, Dave and I chose to save some money in the costly adoption process and fill out the readoption paperwork ourselves. We filed them in February. The social worker came to visit us on a Monday morning in March. Dave stayed home from work just for the occasion; the social worker wanted to see the parents interacting with the child in order for her to write her report. Lucy was as sweet and as active as ever, and I was glad she didn’t stick her hand into the social worker’s purse that was placed on the floor near the couch during the interview. We answered lots and lots of questions. What are Lucy’s sleeping patterns? How is she adjusting to home life? What developmental milestones has she hit? What type of personality traits does she exhibit? What was the trip to Guatemala like? How is the bonding between Lucy and her sister? Etcetera…etcetera…etcetera! The social worker was pleased that Lucy “kept her distance” and viewed her as a stranger of whom to be wary. I never thought about it until that moment, but a child who is adopted at the age of 13 months goes from the only family she has ever known to virtual strangers. Old enough to form relationships and bonds, the child is traumatized. So it’s important for the child to bond with the adoptive family. She needs to know that she is loved and cared for by these people. If this doesn’t happen, then the child will go to anyone; she will never be wary of strangers. Obviously it is imperative to the child’s safety and emotional development that bonding happens, and in our case, it obviously had. Lucy was very curious about the lady sitting on the couch that didn’t belong to the house, and she really wanted to see what was inside that purse, especially the cell phone that was sticking out, but she resisted the temptation. Ah, our girl was healthy and right on track! We had to pay three hundred dollars to the social worker’s agency after the visit and wait three weeks for the social worker’s written report (a copy sent to the judge) deeming us a good placement for Lucy. It just makes you realize that adoption is not freely accessible to anyone who wants to love a child in need of a home and family; one has to be able to afford to adopt privately. Volumes can be written about the cost of adoption… The big day in April finally arrived. We picked up Miranda from school at 2:00 p.m. and headed to the courthouse. Lucy was in a new dress, pretty polka dotted tights, and pink shoes just for the special occasion. True to form, there was no bow or barrette in her curly black hair. Lucy likes to be au natural, and there was no fooling around with her hair on April Fool’s Day, Readoption Day, or whatever this day was called here in the U.S. In the car she clutched her favorite stuffed kitty as she sat in her car seat and listened to the songs of Sesame Street playing on the car’s CD player. And on to the courthouse we drove. After passing through the metal detector, we headed to the judge’s courtroom and waited outside for our names to be called. Other families were smartly dressed, waiting their turns for readoption. A family coming out of the courtroom caught my eye. The mother was holding the hands of her Korean-born sons, one six and one twelve months old. They were dressed identically in khaki pants and green sweaters; penny loafers covered their feet. The father was walking hand-in-hand with their daughter, a girl who appeared to be about nine years old, wearing two pigtails in her hair, a dress, and dress-up shoes. She was dark-complected, perhaps from Haiti or Africa. We spoke briefly before they exited and we entered the courtroom. The woman asked about our experience with Guatemala, because she and her husband are looking into an adoption from that country next. What a beautiful family they had, all possible through various forms of adoption. I bet they will be back to readopt another child next spring… In the courtroom, we four were asked to sit at the table opposite the judge. Two assistants and a security officer sat on opposite ends of the judge’s large, wooden, raised desk, placing the judge higher than the rest of us in the courtroom. He wore a black robe and spoke into the microphone “for the record.” Miranda’s eyes widened at the formality of the moment. I think she thought she might be arrested if she did anything unacceptable! Lucy sat quietly on her big sister’s lap. No more babbling came out of her mouth when she looked up at the judge with her big brown eyes. It reminded me of the Wizard Of Oz—the awe-inspiring wizard today was the judge who was to grant us our wish—to be a family. Dave and I stood, raised our right hands on the Bible, and promised to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. The judge asked me questions: What was my relationship to the child before the adoption? “I did not know her.” Did the child have any material possessions? “No. She came with nothing.” How did the child come to the United States? “My husband and I traveled to Guatemala City to bring her back to New Jersey with us.” What is the name that you wish to call this child from this point forward? “Lucinda Rubi Jean.” He explained to us that once the adoption was finalized, Lucy would have the same rights as Miranda, our biological child. And with that, after a few more questions, a review of the social worker’s report, and a question to Dave, the judge declared our family a “proper placement for the child,” and granted the adoption. He congratulated us on becoming a family. I smiled a big smile. Of course, for the last four months we have been living as a family. So this wasn’t anything new, but it was finally formalized, cemented in “the record” of the court in the United States of America. NO ONE could sever our ties now. And that just felt so, so good. After the roller coaster we’d been on, it felt nice to step off. I kissed the top of Lucy’s head and smiled at Miranda. Dave and I let out a sigh of relief. Later we agreed that it felt like the time we were pronounced husband and wife. Symbolically, we were united as a family once again.
The judge’s assistant asked us if we’d like to have photos taken with the judge. We said yes, handing her our camera as we climbed the stairs to be on the judge’s platform behind the big, imposing desk. The judge shook our hands and congratulated us again, smiling at each one of us. We posed and smiled and said goodbye. As a reward for good behavior, the judge’s assistant offered Lucy and Miranda lollipops. Lucy’s eyes danced as she selected one from the hundreds in the canister. And off we went, down the hallway of the courthouse, toward the parking lot, to drive home and live happily ever after. This concludes Amy's column, "Adoption Option". Starting next week she will begin a new column called, "It's All Relative," - about raising a family in today's topsy-turvy world.
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HIGHLANDS GETS NEW FERRY TERMINAL When ferry service began operations in the Highlands in 1984, it developed a following of hearty passengers ready and willing to brave all weather conditions. In the early days in Highlands, the dock was the one now located beneath the present dock. During high tides or rough weather, loyal commuters timed their walk down the dock to avoid water splashing through the boards. No roof or wall panels protected commuters from the inevitable rain, sleet, snow and endless wind. Shopping for the heaviest, warmest, most water-repellant and protective outerwear became a group effort. Waiting for a boat’s arrival at the dock could be adventuresome and brought out some creative warming techniques when passengers would huddle together with umbrellas forming one of the earliest models in geodesic design. As ferry service approaches twenty years of service in Highlands, this last week a new terminal arrived at the Highlands dock. In keeping with the marine tradition, the terminal is built aboard a barge and has a bit of history connected to it. Originally it is thought to have been built as a coffee barge, but its exact age is unknown. SeaStreak purchased it from Boston Harbour Cruises and prior to their ownership, it was used as a floating restaurant. The barge is 159 feet long and 30 feet wide and weighs in at a slight 350 tons. It has a two tier deckhouse and service spaces below the maindeck. Modifications to the barge for use as SeaStreak’s Highlands terminal included a new heating and air conditioning system, refurbishing of the main deck, recladding of all exterior deck planking, and fittings for fendering, ramping and gangway platforms. The barge will be much appreciated in times of inclement weather. It will certainly be considerably more pleasant to sit and wait for a boat in the spacious comfort of the new waiting area, but as spring approaches, I have to look back on the days we were able to count horseshoe crabs, herons, egrets and even feed the ducklings from the dock. Access to the exterior spaces of the barge is apparently curtailed for safety reasons, so though we will enjoy other creature comforts, we will greatly miss watching the harbor wildlife. Perhaps we need to have a “name the new barge” contest, for what floating vessel ever went to work without a name? Any suggestions? How about the Charley Kramer?
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WHERE HAVE YOU WALKED...
In the Darkness of the Dark, Walks a Person who embarks.. Ron J. Nametko APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH
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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_040408.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 3 months 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. 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 ARCHIVEFORT HANCOCK TRAFFIC STUDY IS NOT REALISTIC Mr O' Such's remarks concerning the ongoing debacle at Sandy Hook are right on the mark. I attended a meeting at Monmouth Hills, and Mr. Wassel estimated that when his project was fully operational there would be approximately 800 to 900 employees at Sandy Hook. When you consider that number added to all the clients they expect to serve, the year-round presence at Sandy Hook goes up enormously. In my opinion this "Traffic Study" does not appear to be realistic. Of course, then there is the issue of funding. It is still completely beyond my understanding why or how the Wassell group received a FOUR YEAR EXTENSION TO ACQUIRE FUNDING THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE FROM DAY ONE!!! Perhaps the NPS can't count or read their own bid specs. Louis Rivera
../readers_write/2004/040408_sandy_hook_study.htm APRIL - A TIME TO THANK OUR VOLUNTEERS April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, and as the freeholder-liaison to the Monmouth County Park System, I see first-hand the dedication with which our volunteers serve our community. I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank the many men and women serving on our boards and commissions who make community service a very real and personal commitment. These unpaid members, serving throughout every facet of our county government, give generously of their time and talent in order to improve the quality of life for all of us, with their only reward being the satisfaction in knowing that they are making a difference. Monmouth County volunteers donate thousands of hours each year, attending many evening meetings, on-site inspections, reading, studying and occasionally attending conferences and seminars, in the hopes of improving their performances on their respective boards and commissions. We could never afford to pay for the level of expertise and experience that our volunteers provide to county. Yes, I am a big fan of those special individuals who volunteer for community service. That is why, on those infrequent occasions when they leave the comforts of home to attend a conference, I feel compelled to seek a higher standard of travel allowance for those dedicated individuals. Sadly, recent articles have appeared in the newspaper recounting a few abuses of travel allowances. While these are very serious and should not be condoned, we should not paint all county employees and volunteers with this broad brush, but rather, as we have done, establish policies that will eliminate future violations. Recently, the Board of Chosen Freeholders has reviewed the policy concerning the reimbursement of travel expenses and set reasonable spending allowances for all volunteers and county employees, actions that I wholeheartedly supported. We in Monmouth County government cannot truly compensate the dedicated individuals who give so freely of their time and talents, but when these fine people are away from home on county business, we can and should provide decent, but not extravagant, accommodations and meals. In my enthusiasm as a fan of our volunteers, I may have given the wrong impression regarding my stance on the reimbursement of travel expenses. I support fully the new policy that has been established. While we can never repay these selfless individuals who serve on our boards and committees, I do want to take the occasion of National Volunteer Appreciation Month to thank each and every person who devotes his or her time and energy volunteering to make our communities a better place to live for us, our children and our children’s children. Thank you. Edward J. Stominski
../readers_write/2004/040408_thank_volunteers.htm THANKS TO OFFICERS FOR HELP IN FINGERPRINTING VOLUNTEERS On behalf of the parish family of Saint Agnes I would like to thank Detective Tom Stone, Patrolmen Al Conover and Rich Glietz (all of the Atlantic Highlands Police Department) and from the Monmouth County Sheriff's Department, Officer Tom Duda for fingerprinting 127 volunteers and staff of Saint Agnes parish. This was a massive undertaking that was completed with diligence and patience. I would also like to thank Chief Gerry Vasto for committing the personnel to accomplish this task. Their work will help to ensure quality and safety in our common ministry at Saint Agnes parish. These men deserve a very large "thanks" from our parish family. May God bless them as they continue to protect and serve our community. In Christ, Fr. Bob Tynski
../readers_write/2004/040408_fingerprinting.htm MORE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEW JERSEY'S SAFE HAVEN LAW Dear Editor: It was with great sadness that I recently read that an abandoned baby was found on the beach - the second infant abandoned on our shore in less than four months. However, this second baby was not saved in time and needlessly died. In light of this tragic news, I felt compelled to remind people of New Jersey’s Safe Haven Law which allows a parent to give up custody of an abandoned newborn infant, less than 30 days old, in such a manner as to ensure anonymity, confidentiality and freedom from prosecution. As long as there are no signs of abuse, the person who brought the baby in will not be arrested. The baby must be brought to either an emergency room or a police station in New Jersey. If the parents do not want to bring the baby in, they may have someone else bring the baby to the “safe haven.”Once the baby is brought to the safe haven, the child is then examined and given medical treatment, if needed. The Division of Youth and Family Services will immediately take custody and place the child in a foster or pre-adoptive home. If the mother brings in the baby, she is offered medical treatment and social services. Once she safely turns over the baby, she is free to go. For a variety of reasons, some women may not be able to cope with the stress of being pregnant and could resort to desperate acts. Often parents that commit these types of acts are themselves extremely young and under severe emotional distress. Pregnant women need to know that they are not alone; they can anonymously and safely give up custody of their child. It is absolutely imperative that women know about the Safe Haven Act. The only way this law can save a life, is if women are aware of this safe, legal, and anonymous option. For more information about Safe Haven Act, please call 1-877-839-2339 or visit their website at www.state.nj.us/humanservices/childrenservices/safehaven.html. Sincerely, Sean T. Kean
../readers_write/2004/040408_safe_haven_law.htm THE WRONG FOCUS: RELIANCE, NOT ELIMINATION OF PROPERTY TAX To the Editor: Recently, there has been increased attention in the media on the property tax dilemma in N.J. A recent article on older Americans losing their homes due to inability to pay their property tax was especially poignant. I suggest a focus on how many people are being forced to sell their homes and leave N.J. due to their retirement income being insufficient to meet this onerous tax burden. But that article along with the others such as those from the teacher Education Association, School Board Association, and consumer fairness groups all seem to agree on one thing: Property taxes ought to be relied upon to fund education. Yes, none of them question the use of this tax. None of them question whether it is a fair tax at all. This is why they repeated use the phrase “over-reliance on property tax.” Well, if you “over-rely” then you are just saying it is too high or too much. You are thereby saying it is, de facto, fair and just and good and right. It is not. Plain and simple. The property tax is unjust because it fails to consider one’s ability to pay. This means if you are out of work or retired or not a high wage earner, you owe the same as those who have the means to pay. You have no choice. What other tax do we have that is collected regardless of whether you earn income or spend money? None. Not one. The property tax discussion must be shifted from one of how to control its increase or slightly reduce its burden. Instead we must determine that we are going to eliminate it. Do that and we will be forced to find substitute funding for schools, county and municipal government. This is the only fair and just solution to this problem. John Hendrickson
../readers_write/2004/040408_property_tax.htm PUBLIC MONEY FOR PRIVATE BLOODSPORT Monmouth County needs a deer hunt in its parks like it needs a hole in the head. Taxpayers like me resent the dissipation of our hard-earned money to kill wild and free creatures and advance the pernicious interests of builders, hunters, and their political and bureaucratic mouthpieces, all at the expense of the common good and the majority will. If the Monmouth County Park System is in thrall to a tiny hunting minority, in violation of the will of the majority, it has no business taking public money to support essentially private bloodsport or, for that matter, their own civil service careers. Let public money be used in the public interest, and private bloodsport be outlawed. Louis A. Novellino
../readers_write/2004/040408_bloodsport.htm AN OPEN LETTER TO HENRY HUDSON REGIONAL SCHOOL - ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE In a time when we are preaching the benefits of cultural diversity, when being politically correct is fashionable and when it is au courant to speak of embracing our differences, we must be clear that we are not just giving lip service to an idea and that we are actually living what we espouse. It is far too easy to say that we are inclusive, that we honor the beliefs and practices of others, it quite another thing to actually embody this way of being. We even teach others that we need to be inclusive and that we must embrace diversity, but when we are faced with the challenge of acceptance are we really up to the task. In a public school setting, we must be aware that not all of the student body comes from one religious background. Are we aware of the holidays and observances of those religions that are not in the majority? Do we allow for the observance of non-Christian holidays without penalizing those who observe them? Do we consider these holidays when planning the school's events schedule and testing? These are the questions that we all need to ask ourselves on a daily basis, if we want to see our children uphold the ideals which we say we are trying to teach. These are the questions that need to be answered if we wish to be truly tolerant. I am not sure that Henry Hudson Regional School is doing all that it can to honor its diverse student body. It is up to each of us to recognize what this means. The administration , the faculty, the students and the parents are accountable for the way in which we implement the belief systems of the community. Our school and our community reflect the ideals that we live, not those which we say we live. A concerned parent, Wendy Shankin-Cohen
../readers_write/2004/040408_hhrs_diversity.htm P L E A S E 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
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