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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
SOME AH COUNCIL MINUTES GO ONLINE Success! No matter how small the stride toward free and ready access of public information, the practice should be encouraged. For months, I had requested that the officially approved meeting minutes be made available online at the municipal website. (www.ajnj.com) I even editorialized about it. (The Silent Treatment) Fortunately, our readers also took up the call and contacted borough officials. Acting Borough Clerk Dwayne Harris was instructed to post available minutes for the last three months. Harris says the proper procedure to follow to get copies of minutes for the first 4 months of the Donoghue administration is to make a formal Public Records request. (We'll get right on it.) Since verbatim comments are no longer accepted for inclusion with the minutes of the meeting (AHHerald Report), it would be good to see the historical account is available for anyone to see. For this reason, the AHHerald will archive, free of charge to the borough, all the minutes we can lay our hands on.
For now, you can view the approved meeting minutes of April
2004 - August 2004 here on the AHHerald website. ../mydesk/2004/040819_some_minutes.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE 
MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A remembrance ceremony will be held at the Middletown World Trade Center Memorial Gardens on Saturday, September 11th, 2004, at 8:46 a.m. to pay tribute to the memory of the 37 residents lost in the terrorist attacks three years ago. Area houses of worship are asked to ring their bells at the start of the ceremony, which marks the time the first tower was struck at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
The Middletown WTC memorial gardens were constructed by local contractors who donated time and materials. A portion of the morning has been set aside to thank them. Organizations who donated their services include: Commerce Bank, Frontier Fence Co., J. Hall & Sons Monuments, Jomac Construction, Inc., K. Hovnanian Companies, Inc, H&G Laborers Local 472, J.H. Reid, Inc., Middletown Sprinkler, Montone Construction , Stavola Construction Company, Inc., T&M Associates, Trap Rock Industries, Inc. and Pantaleo Electric Free parking is available in the metered train station lot, located on Church Street across from the memorial gardens. see 2003 photos of memorial gardens ../news/2004/0819/mt_remembrance.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
Activities for the whole family - Bus tours of Victorian homes ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — The Atlantic Highlands Historical Society will host its 32nd annual Arts & Crafts Festival on Saturday, August 21st from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (rain date Sunday). The festivities will take place in Veteran's Park opposite Borough Hall on First Avenue and will be expanded from previous years, as is reflected in the name change from fair to festival. This year, it will provide more activities so families can enjoy a fun day "hanging out in Atlantic Highlands."
1:00 p.m. Dance Demonstration - The MTM Funk Troupe of
The Dance
All Day:
Quilting - Join the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council in the
making of the And where better? First Avenue will be closed to traffic in front of Borough Hall to allow everyone to participate in additional activities such as a great disk jockey leading street dancing and activities for children (including a pinata). There will be escorted tours available through our lovely Victorian town, a gift auction, children's contests, and an expanded food service. The latter includes scrumptious offerings from Indulgence Café, a great new addition to downtown Atlantic Highlands.
For more information, please call Jo-Ann Hunt at 732-708-1895 or e-mail TheJHunts@aol.com.
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ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — Chief Jerry Vasto reports the Atlantic Highlands Police Department received a call from Harbor Security at approximately 1:40 A.M. on 8/17/04. The guards on duty reported two subjects had stripped down to their bathing suits and ran to the end of Pier 5 in the harbor. The subjects were off duty lifeguards who had attended a banquet during the evening at a local establishment. The guards lost sight of them and believed they had entered the water. Upon further investigation by Patrolman David W. Rossbach and Patrolman Richard Glietz it was determined the subjects made statements to colleagues they were going to swim back to Sandy Hook. Due to the subjects being under the influence of alcoholic beverages, and the late hour, the Atlantic Highlands First Aid Squad and Fire Department were requested to conduct a water search of the harbor and possible areas the subjects may have been swimming towards. An extensive search operation was begun with assistance from the following agencies: Leonardo First Aid Squad Dive Team, Middletown First Aid Squad Dive Team, Fairview First Aid Squad Dive Team, Lincroft First Aid Squad Dive Team, Navesink Fire Co., Middletown Fire Dept. Air Cascade Unit & Fire Chiefs, New York City Police Department Aviation Unit, US Park Rangers at Sandy hook and US Coast Guard, Sandy Hook. At approximately 3:40 A.M. the subjects were located on Sandy Hook just after exiting the water at Fort Hancock- They were detained by Park Rangers until the arrival of Patrolman Richard Glietz and Detective Thomas Stone Roth. The subjects now identified as Craig Scanlan, 24, of Wardell Ave., Rumson and Kevin Vanbuskirk, 21, of Wagon Wheel Trail, Wexford, PA were charged by Patrolman Glietz with Disorderly Conduct and Borough Ordinance Violation's. They were released on their own recognizance.
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ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — The Atlantic Highlands Council of the Arts will be hosting a fun-filled event of “Dancing in the Gazebo” on Sunday August 29th at 5pm. The dancers are from MTM Dance Factory. MTM Dance Factory was formed by the artistic director of Margot T. McCray Gough who studied dance for years with top dancers and danced for MTV and the NJ Nets Power-N-Motion Dance Team. Her studio will take you into a new era of dance combining intensive training and up and coming dance styles and trends. MTM’s mission is to bring the art of dance to individuals in the most creative and fun manner. Margot is also the head of the Children’s Cultural Center Dance committee and brings such enthusiasm to the world of dance. This will be an event you will not want to miss. For more information on MTM Dance Factory visit them at 77 Memorial Parkway or call 732-291-4484. The Atlantic Highlands Arts Council will be hosting, the last Sunday of every month, a “Taste of the Arts”. The dancing in the gazebo is the third event. The council has been having great turnouts and a lot of support from all local people. Stay tuned for September’s event you won’t want to miss. To stay updated stop in borough hall or come to one of our events and sign up on our contact list. The Council of the Arts was established by Mayor Donohue to enhance the community’s quality of life by strengthening the role of the arts in the lives of area residents. The Council is committed to organizing local events to celebrate artists of all mediums of Monmouth County and New Jersey. Led by a group of creative and energetic individuals, the Council welcomes ideas and participation from Atlantic Highland's residents. We meet every third Wednesday of the month at Borough Hall.
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by ALLAN DEAN ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — The Atlantic Highlands Leo's Club successfully collected over two hundred books and received $41.00 in donations during a recent drive in support of the Head Start Program in Highlands. The donations were used to buy new books. The group will be delivering the books the second week of September, according to adult leader Jacqui Hillmann. While working on the book drive, the kids decided their next project would be to set up collection boxes around the two towns - Atlantic Highlands and Highlands - asking for certain items to be shipped to Florida to the hurricane victims. The LEO's will be talking to the Red Cross regarding the shipping. Items needed are - soap, towels, white socks any and all sizes, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Basic items that the majority of people don't have. The LEO's, which is affiliated with the Lion's Club, will soon announce the drop off locations.
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MIDDLETOWN, NJ — After four years of patience and perseverance, the Township Committee has reached an agreement to acquire 5.17 wooded acres from Dempsey family in the Leonardo section of Middletown under the Municipal Open Space Program.
This year the township also reached agreements to preserve 12.3 acres where Chris’s Marina is located along the Navesink River on West Front Street and a twelve-acre portion of the 72- acre Reid Farm located along Whippoorwill Valley Road near Chapel Hill Road. The remainder of the Reid Farm is intended to be preserved by the Monmouth Conservation Foundation through a conservation easement. Other properties preserved in the Bayshore since the Municipal Open Space Program was established includes almost an acre on Pulsch Street in Port Monmouth where the township’s first skateboard park is located, four acres off of Church Street in Belford, 2.5 acres located next to Waloo Park, located on Main Street in Port Monmouth, and 16 acres along Route 36 as part of a joint agreement with Atlantic Highlands. ../news/2004/0819/mt_dempsey.htmPRINT THIS ARTICLE
RED BANK, NJ — Author Sandy Komito will present the program, “My Big Year,” at the Monmouth County Audubon Society meeting on Wednesday, September 8, at 8:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the Trinity Episcopal Church on White Street. The public is welcome; admission is free. The program, “My Big Year,” is a look back at Sandy’s record-breaking 1998 Big Year, as documented in his book, I Came, I Saw, I Counted (Fair Lawn: Bergen Publishing Co, 1999). A “big year” is a 365-day birding marathon, the goal being to locate and identify as many different species of birds as possible in North America. Sandy’s 1998 Big Year broke the previous record, established by Komito himself in 1987, and tallied a mind-boggling 748 species of birds. The quest involved organizing birding trips like complex battle strategies; jumping on a plane at a moment’s notice to chase rarities; and braving harrowing weather in places like Attu Island (in the Aleutian chain). Sandy is also one of the subjects of the recently published bestseller “The Big Year” by Mark Obmascik, chronicling the race for the Big Year record between Komito and two other obsessive birders. Not only was he competing against his old record, he was also vying against two other equally obsessed birders. His gift for storytelling is a delight for obsessive birders and non-birders alike. The Monmouth County Audubon Society, a chapter of the National Audubon Society, is dedicated to the enjoyment and study of nature, wildlife conservation, habitat protection, and education. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month September through May at Trinity Episcopal Church, White Street; guest speakers address a wide variety of nature-related topics, and refreshments are provided. In addition, the group sponsors at least one field trip per month, and members receive The Osprey, the club’s bi-monthly newsletter. Further information can be obtained by calling the organization’s hotline, (732) USA-BIRD, by visiting their Website at http://www.monmouthaudubon.org, or via e-mail at mcas01@bellatlantic.net.
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SHREWSBURY, NJ — Lorraine Stone, actor, dancer and performance artist, will portray Sojourner Truth, who escaped slavery to become a famous 19th Century speaker and activist, in a one-woman show starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 at the Quaker Meetinghouse, at the corner of Highway 35 and Sycamore Avenue, Shrewsbury. Sojourner Truth was born Isabella Baumfree in Hurley, NY, in 1797. As a little girl she was sold to several masters. As a teenager she was sold to John J. Dumont, a cruel master who forced to marry another slave. Thomas, which whom she had five children. Some of her children were sold by Dumont. In 1827 she escaped her master and was taken in by a Quaker family, the Van Wageners. With their help, she won a lawsuit to have her son Peter returned to her. She was freed the following year when New York outlawed slavery. In 1843 Ms. Truth, a tall woman with commanding voice, changed her name, left New York City and traveled throughout the country advocated for women's rights and the abolition of slavery. She was an excellent traveling speaker and drew large crowds wherever she spoke. During the Civil War, she went to Washington, D.C., where she sang and preached for funds for black soldiers serving in the Union army. After the war she settled in Washington, where she continued to preach about women's rights and attempted to persuade Congress to give Western lands to former slaves. She died on Nov. 26, 1883, in Battle Creek, MI. Lorraine Stone portrayed Mary Bowser, a freed slave who impersonated a house slave to spy on the Confederate President Jefferson Davis during the Civil War, in the Shrewsbury Quaker Meetinghouse last year, and portrayed Sojourner Truth for the first time in the Meetinghouse two years ago. She first debuted her one-woman show, "Words, Love and Miracles," in Asbury Park in 1998. She has performed as Sojourner Truth for Local Commotion, a history performance company. She also dances and makes music with the local samba group M'Zumé Carnaval, and acts with the Dunbar Repertory Company in the Algonquin Arts Theater, Manasquan. A resident of Eatontown, she holds a B.A. in communications arts and sciences and has worked as a newspaper and television journalist as well as director of Trinity School for the Arts at Trinity Episcopal Church, Asbury Park. She is a field membership director for the Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts. She is the mother of three sons, Dorian, Loran and Gregory. An in-character question and answer period will conclude her performance, with light refreshments and an opportunity to meet the actor to follow. Admission is free and all are welcome. Free-will offerings to support the artist's work will be gratefully accepted. For more information, call the Shrewsbury Quaker Meeting at (732) 741-4138 and leave a message. We will return your call within 24 hours.
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MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Payroll Supervisor Helen Alfano was named Middletown’s Employee of the Year by the Township Committee tonight during a special presentation. “Middletown is very lucky to have an employee as motivated and dedicated as Helen Alfano.” said Mayor Joan A. Smith. “We are both proud and pleased to have the opportunity to present her with this well-deserved award.” Helen Alfano began working for Middletown in October, 1995 as a senior account clerk, in the Payroll division of the Finance Department. She immediately demonstrated her inter-personal skills and attention to detail and in 1997 was promoted to payroll supervisor. During 2003, Alfano worked on several issues outside the realm of her normal duties and participated in managerial meetings regarding the effects of the new timekeeping system and the requests of the various bargaining units, Chief Financial Officer Robert Roth explained. She coordinated the implementation of the new eTime timekeeping system through Automatic Data Processing, Inc. This project required many months of planning, which is only now in its final stages of completion. She worked with the MIS Department to program the attendance system to reflect the policies of the Township, all seven of our contractual obligations, and Federal and State Labor Laws. Several conferences took place with Computer Specialists and Project Leaders from ADP, he said. While Alfano was working on the eTime attendance system, she continued researching the effects these changes would have on the actual money paid to employees, and she ensured that accurate payrolls would occur once we correlated the payroll and attendance systems for the beginning of 2004. In addition, she was able to perform all of the normal duties associated with meeting over 26 payroll deadlines and the filing of mandatory tax and pension reports, he said. Alfano has also recommended procedural changes that will help streamline the processing of employees entering or leaving our employment, he added. “The efforts of Ms. Alfano have benefited the taxpayer, in that all of the duplication of postings that was inherent in our former manual time-keeping system has now been eliminated, said Roth. “She clearly has demonstrated the highest standard of dedication to the Township and is deserving of our sincerest gratitude.”
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MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Three new police officers were welcomed to Middletown tonight with ceremonial oaths of offices administered by Acting Township Clerk Heidi Abs. The newest officers to join the Middletown Police Department are: Donald E. Coates Jr. Larisa Doriety, and John S. Werner, announced Mayor Joan A. Smith.
"I am glad to see such qualified individuals join our police force," said Smith. "I am confident they will do an excellent job protecting and serving the residents of Middletown in the years to come." Candidates are selected from the state Department of Personnel’s list of eligible candidates, said Township Administrator Robert M. Czech, who serves as the municipal appointing authority. Coates and Werner will attend the Cape May Police Academy and the department’s field training program upon graduation, Police Chief John F. Pollinger said. Officer Doriety, who graduated from the Somerset County Police Academy in 2000, will enter directly into department’s field training program. Police Officer Donald E. Coates Jr.
Police Officer Larisa Doriety:
Police Officer, John S. Werner:
../news/2004/0819/mt_new_police.htm TRENTON, NJ — The New Jersey Tree Foundation announces the Second Cities Initiative - a project to reestablish urban and community forestry programs in some of NJ’s most under served communities. This Initiative will grant funding to eight communities with instruction and assistance in writing and implementing a five year Community Forestry Management Plan, while simultaneously beautifying urban neighborhoods with shade trees, and providing the necessary training to create strong urban forestry programs in these cities. The USDA Forest Service has provided funding to the NJ Tree Foundation for the Second Cities Initiative. The Second Cities Initiative expands on the NJ Tree Foundation’s Ten Cities Initiative to include New Jersey’s secondary cities, cities that are urban in nature, have smaller populations and some financial limitations. Nonetheless, these cities face the same challenges as NJ’s larger urban centers, such as low tree cover, aged and hazardous trees, high population densities, and the lack of funds to support natural resource management efforts. The secondary cities will be chosen based on criteria such as low tree cover, high population density, low per capita income, and the absence of a Community Forestry Management Plan. As a partner with the NJ Community Forestry Program, the Tree Foundation provides in-person community outreach and personalized services that these towns may need in order to come to the community forestry table. In addition to technical assistance, the Tree Foundation helps establish new working relationships between local city representatives, the NJ Community Forestry Program and the Tree Foundation staff by broadening the understanding of critical community forestry issues to a new set of urban constituents. As a result of participating in this program, the “Second Cities” will have more proactive urban forestry programs and consequently deliver a better quality of life to their residents. If you think your town qualifies as a Second City and would like to participate in this Initiative, or simply want more information about the program, please contact Tara M Casella, NJTF Outreach Coordinator by phone 609-292-6354, fax 609-984-0378, or email njtf.tcasella@juno.com. Also, find out more about the New Jersey Tree Foundation’s programs by visiting www.newjerseytreefoundation.org. The New Jersey Tree Foundation is a statewide, non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, enhancement and development of urban and community forestry activities in New Jersey through education, volunteerism, community outreach, partnerships, and grants. The Tree Foundation is committed to providing exceptional forestry programs, services and opportunities to New Jersey’s cities and towns.
../news/2004/0819/njtf_second_cities.htm 51 Unions, 71,000 Members Unite Behind Candidates LONG BRANCH, NJ — Democratic Sheriff Candidate Daniel J. Gibney and Democratic Freeholder Candidates Steve Morlino & Jeff Pringle today announced that they have received the endorsement of the Monmouth and Ocean Counties Central Labor Council of the AFL-CIO.“Steve and I are absolutely thrilled to be receiving the endorsement of the CLC,” said Pringle (D-Tinton Falls). “This is a huge boost for our campaign.” “We pride ourselves on being friends to the working men and women of Monmouth County, and I think this endorsement reaffirms that message,” said Morlino (D-Howell). “Working people are the heart and soul of Monmouth County, and it’s encouraging to know that I have their support,” said Gibney (D-Avon-by-the-Sea). The Monmouth-Ocean Central Labor Council of the AFL-CIO is comprised of some 51 different unions representing over 71,000 working men and women in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Central Labor Councils are chartered directly by the National AFL-CIO, and are given the authority to determine policy on local issues, as well as working closely with the state and national AFL-CIO to carry out the federation’s policies. “These candidates represent our values,” said Wyatt Earp, President of the Monmouth-Ocean CLC. “We look forward to a long and productive working relationship with these three exemplary individuals.” The Monmouth and Ocean Central Labor Council is the vehicle to unite the local labor community in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. By uniting the labor movement and mobilizing the local community, the Council has a critical role in local, state and national issues. In political action and community action, the foundation of the Council’s power is the solidarity between the affiliated unions. “Labor issues will be a major component of our campaign,” said Morlino. “We are absolutely committed to developing a solid working relationship with the labor community of Monmouth County,” said Pringle. “As Sheriff, I will pledge to commit to fair bargaining practices with any of the unions represented in the Sheriff’s Office,” said Gibney. ../news/2004/0819/mcd_endorsement.htmPRINT THIS ARTICLE
By Jim Robbins
NEPTUNE, NJ — Three
hundred and forty-eight road racers competed in the 12th
annual Neptune City Day 5K, presented by the Jersey Shore
Running Club (JSRC) on a cool, calm, overcast morning
of August 7 and Ryan Lavender of Belmar was the first to
cross the finish line located on Riverview Avenue at
Municipal/Beach Park at a racing time of 16:45 (16 minutes
and 45 seconds). Neptune's Scott Mghee was runner-up at
17:26 from a loop course which started on West Sylvania
Avenue and Hwy. #35, adjacent to Neptune City First Aid
building , proceeded west to Oxford Way and turned on Sixth
Avenue and meandered its way to the Park. Jeff Propert of
Bradley Beach finished third at 17:27.
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ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — On Thursday, August 26, 2004 at 7:30 pm, The Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club will be hosting another Speaker's Series event. Again, this program is free and open to the public. We will be treated to a wonderful evening with our very own local Olympic level sailor, Sarah Mergenthaler. Sarah grew up in Colt’s Neck, began sailing Opti’s at age 7 at the Monmouth Boat Club and then progressed to Lasers and Lightnings. Her other love, soccer, was her main focus during her years at Marlboro High School. Upon graduating from high school, she was named the Women’s Sports Foundation Athlete of the Year, and “Female Athlete of the Year” by the News Transcript amongst other honors. During summers off from the University of Richmond from where she graduated in 2001, she taught sailing at the Barnegat Light Yacht Club and played for the New Jersey Splash, a women’s semi-pro soccer team. Then from July 2002 through November 2003, Sarah launched a full-time Olympic campaign in the 470. Sailing with Amanda Clark, the ultimate goal was to represent the United States at this month’s Olympic Games in Athens. During this time, the two were ranked 2nd overall in the U.S., members of the U.S. National Sailing Team, and represented the U.S. in the Pre-Olympic Test Event in Athens, three World Championships, three European Championships and several other Graded ISAF events. Their bid fell just short, finishing 2nd overall in the 16 race series, ending up just 3 points out of first place! Sarah will share the highs and the few lows of the past few years, explain how they financed their campaign, and what their future plans are getting to the next summer Olympic games. Come join us for what promises to be a very special evening with a very talented and enthusiastic female sailor!
../news/2004/0819/ahyc_mergenthaler.htm By Jackie White After closing its doors in the wake of the September 11th attack, the Statue of Liberty has reopened to the throngs of waiting tourists. It’s pedestal was reopened despite warnings of new terror attacks on financial centers in Manhattan, Newark, New Jersey and Washington, DC. Tuesday, August 3rd, was the reopening day, with Interior Secretary Gale Norton opening the doors with a military choir in song to George M Cohen's, “It’s a Grand Old Flag”, before the crowds stood for singing of the national anthem. As the different news reporters interviewed Assistant Interior Secretary Craig Manson he was quoted as saying” I think it shows the world that Liberty cannot be intimidated. I think it’s significant that despite the raising of the alert levels, we are still going ahead with the reopening”. What makes this Statue so important ?. Lets go back into our history book and find out the many facts, that I as a writer really never knew and below is the real story. The people of France gave this statue to the United States after it commissioned sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholic, to sculptor it, in the year of 1876, to commemorate the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence. It was a joint effort between the Americans and French, agreeing the American would build the pedestal, with the French people bringing over the somewhat completed Statue, assembling it, here in the United States. However, so the story goes, funds were not available on both sides. In France they used a means to raise money for the project by public fees, forms of paid entertainment ,a public lottery, auctions and prize fights provided some of the much needed funds. Was it enough? Read on. Another engineer was commissioned, Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, who had designed the famous Eiffel Tower, to design the massive iron pylon and secondary skeletal framework which allowed the Statue’s copper skin to move independently yet stand upright. Back in the United States, who, also at that time, was low on funds, so raising the monies for the pedestal was a task, Joseph Pulitzer, this gentleman was noted for the very famous Pulitzer Prize, opened up the editorial pages of his newspaper, “The World” to help fund the raising effort. What happened was Pultizer used his famous paper to criticize both the rich and middle class who were content to rely upon the very wealthy to provide the funds to finish the statue. Pulitizer ‘s harsh criticism was very successful in getting the people of the United States to donate to this great fund, and the financing for the pedestal was finally completed in August of 1885, with the construction finished in April of 1886. The Statue was completed in France in July 1884, and arrived in New York Harbor, on board the French frigate, “ Isere” in June, of 1885. Would you believe it arrived in 350 pieces, being packed up in 214 crates? Often wondered if any pieces were broke when they unpacked? Finally the Statue was re-assembled on the new pedestal in four months. The dedication of the Statue of Liberty took place in front of thousands of happy spectators. Going on with this long story of the Statue of Liberty lets take a moment to reflect on the pros and cons of her permanent home on Ellis Island. Still during these many years of being built, there has been many changes. The statue was placed upon a granite pedestal inside the courtyard of the star-shaped walls of Fort Wood. Which was built for the war of 1912. The United States Lighthouse Board had the responsibility for the operation of the Statue until 1901. After that date, the complete care and operation of the statue was turned over to the War Department. On October 15th, 1924, by a Presidential Proclamation, Fort Wood, and the Statue of Liberty within in was declared a National Monument. In 1933, the care of this National Monument was transferred to the National Park Service, and finally on May 11th, 1965 the entire Island was changed to Liberty Island, with it went Ellis Island and it became a part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument.. The late President, Ronald Reagan appointed Lee Iacocca to head up the private sector effort to restore Lady Liberty. Repairs totaled 87 million dollars, to date the most successful partnership in Liberty’s history. In 1984, at the start of this restoration, the United Nations designated the Statue of Liberty as a World Heritage Site, and on July 5, 1986, the newly restored Statue was re-opened to the public, which also celebrated her centennial. Sadly due to the tragedy of September 11th, 2001, after being closed for 100 days, it remained closed until August 3, 2004. Visitors now have access to the Statue’s pedestal, observation deck, promenade, museum and Park. Now, there is a distance of a little over 300 feet from the base to the top of Liberty’s crown, and guess what, I walked all the steps that it took, in 1992, to view the most magnificent view of the New York Harbor, Manhattan and New Jersey., in the crown, which had over 25 windows and swayed in the wind. Lets wish that they somehow open the rest of Lady Liberty so that you folks could see what I saw!
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NEW JERSEY'S OWN GREEK TRAGEDY New Jersey residents didn’t need to travel to the Athens to watch a Greek tragedy; our incumbent Governor provided an Olympian one of his own last week. By now, everyone in the state has seen Jim McGreevey admit to his human failings, and we can only wonder about what might have been. Once considered a rising star on the national political scene, the McGreevey era ends as a huge disappointment. His last budget was laden with pork, the state credit rating has been downgraded, and key advisors have been named in scams ranging from the selling of billboards on the Turnpike to scoring ringside tickets in Atlantic City. In hindsight, the Governor was surrounded by scoundrels and plagued by his own poor judgment. Just this year, he admitted to being “state official #1” in a federal probe of cash for land and early in his administration, he appointed Golan Cipel as terrorism chief – a man without any experience in the field. McGreevey never stood up to the Democrat party bosses by insisting on real “pay to play” reform and even now, he abides by their wishes to stay in office until November 15 to avoid a special election There is both compassion and disappointment in the Governor’s actions. From all accounts, Mr. Cipel is no saint, and despite the denials, he had to be looking for a nice payday. McGreevey put himself in a vulnerable position, and by extension, put the state at risk as well. Now is the time for McGreevey to listen to reasonable voices for the sake of our state. By hanging on until November, he prolongs his public agony and provides a distraction for the government. He should look to Connecticut, where Governor Rowland announced his resignation and followed that with a quick exit. McGreevey deserves some time to figure out his next step in life, but it should be done out of the spotlight and allow the Garden State to move on.
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On hiatus until Labor Day
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SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING AND SUMMER CONCERTS This past Thursday 8/12/04 Keansburg kicked off the annual free summer “Concerts by the Bay” series. The concert series opened this year featuring a group called “Daddy Pop”. The group played a great mix of music from various years and genres and was entertaining to all who attended. Next up will be “New Power Soul” on Thursday 8/19 and lastly will be “Saturday Night Fever on 8/26. All concerts start at 7 PM on the big lot at the corner of Raritan and Beachway. All who attend are reminded to bring lawn chairs or blankets. On Wednesday, 8/11/04 there was a special meeting of the Keansburg Borough Council. The main purpose of this meeting was to have an executive session to discuss borough issues involving pending litigation. However there was an open public portion and a few other items on the agenda. I want to speak about the open public portion first as this is something the new council majority is doing that is very upsetting to me. Again, at this meeting as at the last the newly elected council majority members voted to go into executive session before opening the meeting to the public. During this portion of the meeting, I objected once again to this new practice of making our residents and taxpayers wait possibly hours to have their chance to speak in public portion. Both councilwoman Cantillo and I voted against the motion to go into executive session before public portion. Then in the next vote we both voted against going into executive session. There where three resolutions on the agenda to be acted upon during this meeting. Again, during this meeting as at the last two more resolutions were added to the agenda for action. Resolution 144 was authorizing award of a contract for emergency storm sewer and parking lot repairs on Laurel Avenue in front of the Lauren Bay Rehabilitation center. The borough storm sewer that runs under the edge of that area caused the damage to the parking area. Resolution number 145 was inaccurately reported in the Asbury Park Press as being a temporary budget. That was not the case the temporary budget was approved as resolution 129 at the meeting on 7/1/04 for the total amount of $3,276,329. Resolution number 145 was really an emergency appropriation that would have added another 1.1 million dollars to that total bringing our first quarter expenditures to over 4 million dollars. Just to put this in prospective the entire budget for last year was just under 10 million dollars. This means the new council is trying to appropriate over 4 million dollars for spending in the first quarter of the new budget year. Do the math folks, compare the new number with last years total budget and then you may see why this should be upsetting to you. As you may well expect both Councilperson Cantillo and I had many questions about this issue. Early on in the discussion of the resolution, it was suggested that the Chief Financial Officer be brought in to discuss the issue at the next meeting before we voted without full information. I personally asked other members of the council if they had more information on the emergency appropriation and they said they had no more information then I had. They also agreed that the Chief Financial officer should be brought in to discuss the issue. However when it came time for a vote all three voted to approve more then 1 million dollars in added spending for which they admitted to not having full necessary information. Is this upsetting to you? It was to me. Thank goodness that in order to complete this emergency appropriation of taxpayer dollars this council needed four votes. Both Councilperson Cantillo and I voted against this resolution for now pending more information. Resolution 146 was for the normal payment of bills. Once again, I voted against the payment of bills because I am still waiting for resumes for all the new borough professionals. I found out at this meeting there were no written resumes for the newly hired legal firm but at least I did receive a verbal resume. It leads me to question what was the basis for the decision by the new council majority for hiring the new professionals if resumes are not readily available. Resolution 147 was the adoption of a hold harmless agreement with the Monmouth County Mosquito Control Commission for draining work they are going to perform in our borough. This resolution passed with only one abstention. Resolution 148 was adopted by all present to allow a new business in town to put up some outdoor tables pending payment of his application fee. Upcoming Council meetings. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Keansburg Borough Council will be on Wednesday 8/25 at 6 PM due to the new one meeting per month schedule. As usual, all meetings will be held in the Borough Council Chambers at Keansburg Borough Hall. Upcoming town events and announcements. Summer Concerts by the Bay: the summer “concerts by the bay”, series will continue through August this year on the large lot at the corner of Raritan and Beachway. The concerts will be held on Thursdays all starting at 7 PM. There are two bands remaining to perform on Thursday 8/19 will be “New Power Soul” and finally on Thursday 8/23 will be “Saturday Night Fever”. All concerts are free to the public and persons are reminded to bring beach chairs or blankets. Please help spread the word about the concerts by telling all of your friends, relatives and neighbors. Reminders. The new Keansburg Waterfront Public Library has a web site however like our library you may find that some of the site is still under construction at this time. However, I wanted to remind everyone of the library web site. The address is: www.keansburglibrary.us. This web site has been built and is maintained by the members of our library committee and the volunteers. ../spotlight/2004/sk040819_spec_mtg.htm PRINT THIS ARTICLE
KERRY SUES VIETNAM VETS OVER HIS ‘BOGUS’ MEDALS John Kerry is a shallow, hollow socio-pathological liar who is incapable of telling the truth. Kerry has sued his former Navy Swiftboat group to stop a TV ad exposing his war record in Vietnam as a fraud. I guess Kerry forgot about the First Amendment in our U.S. Constitution. The Vietnam vets have compiled the facts surrounding Kerry’s three Purple Hearts and Silver and Bronze Stars medals. His so-called “war hero” medals he’s now showing off in his presidential campaign was all made (or made-up) in only four months during combat in Vietnam. Kerry was the only Swiftboat sailor ever to leave Vietnam without completing the standard one-year tour of duty, other than those who were seriously wounded or killed, according to Swiftboats vets. All of this has been documented in a new book just released on Kerry’s war record titled “Unfit To Be Commander.” Kerry’s response to the Vietnam vets 3-minute commercial on his controversial four-month combat duty? Sue them! Shut them up! Prevent them from telling their well-documented investigative report. Now that’s how the nation’s leading liberal deals with
truth. When the two-hour movie was released this summer in 400 theaters in America, President Bush did not sue to stop the film from being seen by moviegoers. Why not? Because Bush believes in the United States Constitution and the First Amendment protecting free speech, even if the “speech” is full of falsehood and leftist-Marxist propaganda. Moore’s movie was distributed by a leftist organization in America. Distribution of the film in the Mideast is being handled by a terrorist organization, Hezbollah. Here is the text of the three-minute ad made by the Vietnam vets on Kerry’s four-month combat engagement: John Edwards: “If you have any question about what John Kerry is made of, just spend three minutes with the men who served with him.” Al French: “I served with John Kerry.” Bob Elder: “I served with John Kerry.” George Elliott: “John Kerry has not been honest about what happened in Vietnam.” Al French: “He is lying about his record.” Louis Letson: “I know John Kerry is lying about his first Purple Heart because I treated him for that injury.” Van O’Dell: “John Kerry lied to get his bronze star. I know. I was there. I saw what happened.” Jack Chenowath: “His account of what happened and what actually happened are the difference between night and day.” Admiral Hoffman: “John Kerry has not been honest.” Adrian Lonsdale: “And he lacks the capacity to lead.” Larry Thurlow: “When the chips were down, you could not count on John Kerry.” Bob Elder: “John Kerry is no war hero.” Grant Hibbard: “He betrayed all his shipmates…and he lied before the Senate.” Shelton White: John Kerry betrayed the men and women he served in Vietnam.” Joe Ponder: “He dishonored his country…he most certainly did. Bob Hildreth: “I served with Kerry…” Bob Hildreth (off-camera): John Kerry cannot be trusted.” Announcer: “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth is responsible for the content of this advertisement.” John Kerry came home and was the leader, along with “Hanoi Jane” Fonda, in the anti-war movement, calling his comrades in arms “murderers, rapists, torturers” destroying families and villages during his four months in service. The Vietnam vets called all of Kerry’s accusations lies. For a complete background on Kerry’s four months of combat in Vietnam, visit www.swiftvets.com. The only reason I decided to write this column is because Kerry himself made his “war hero” profile the centerpiece of his bid for the presidency of the United States. Kerry has opposed both the Gulf War in 1990 under the first President Bush, and the war in Iraq under President George W. Bush. He has also voted against almost every military expenditure during his 20 years as a U.S. Senator, including gutting the CIA, the FBI and the Defense Department. And he now wants to run the country in World War III between global terrorists killing innocent men, women and children throughout the world, and the American-led coalition of freedom fighters put together by President Bush. Forget about it! Alas, now he’s changing his mind, pretending to be for the war in Iraq because more than 80 percent of the residents of Iraq support the role of America in liberating their country from the mass-murdering grips of the terrorists, and the end of the reign of terror under Saddam Hussein and his two maniacal sons, who were killed in gunfire with American troops. You’re too late, Kerry Besides, no non-liberal American believes a word you say anymore, since you no longer stand for anything, as you have two or three conflicting positions on every issue You cannot take a “Yes” and “No” stand on every issue, Kerry. One cancels out the other. In a word, you stand for NOTHING! (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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DORMITORIES Summer is coming to a close. We hate to admit it. Soon thousands of students in the Garden State will be packing their cars to the brim with clothes, TV’s, computers and heading of to college. We all remember that terrible night in January of 2000 when three students lost their lives in a dormitory fire at Seton Hall. One of the young men lived in my district in Monmouth County. Unfortunately we discovered too late that there was no building code requirement for low rise dormitories to have fire suppression systems. It has been argued that if the Seton Hall dormitory had a fire suppression system no lives would have been lost, nor would dozens of others been injured. Realizing that the State must change its inadequate building code I sponsored “The Dormitory Trust Fund Act.” I and my colleagues worked together to stress the importance of protecting our children when they are away at school. With this law, we undertook the most comprehensive school construction project in state history. When the legislation was being debated, school officials were concerned that retrofitting the sprinkler systems in older dorm buildings would displace thousands of students, and that a short deadline would encourage price gouging by suppliers. The schools sought a 10 year deadline. I insisted on a shorter time frame. My bill embodied a compromise and set a four year deadline, and dedicated $90 million in loans to pay for the work. Four years later, New Jersey’s 47 residential schools have run out of time to have sprinkler systems installed in all of their dorms. When inspections were last performed, in March 2004, 40 of the schools had completed the work. The seven that had not completed the installations, including Princeton University and Bloomfield College, were expected to make sure the work was completed by the deadline which was August 1, 2004. Though the deadline was tight, most schools completed the work within the timeframe necessary. However, there are schools, such as Garden State Academy in Tranquility, a religious high school that faces $23,000 in fines for missing deadlines. They have since completed the sprinkler installation. The Rabbi Jacob Joseph School in Edison faces $36,000 in fines for having only 25 percent of its dorms. Penalties, while cumbersome, are necessary to obtain compliance. There are no other states that require sprinkler installation in dorms, however, due to the emotional subject, protecting our children, parents are inquiring, when they go to orientation, about sprinkler systems in the dorms. As a result of this powerful force, Notre Dame, Fordham University and Boston College are among the schools that voluntarily installed sprinkler systems in their dormitories. For more information on the Dormitory Trust Fund Act, please contact my office at (732)708-0900, or asmcorodemus@njleg.org
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NEW FAST-TRACK LAW IS BAD FOR THE BAYSHORE Being an environmentalist is not easy in New Jersey. It seems that for every new law or regulation put forth to protect the environment, there are more created to degrade our environment. It is really frustrating that more people do not take the quality of our water and air (the two most important resources we have on earth) seriously. Take for example what promises to be one of the most damaging bills in the history of New Jersey - State Legislature bill S1368/A3008. In June, the bill was rapidly signed into law by Governor McGreevey and is commonly referred to as the “fast track” permitting law for smart growth areas. This fast-track law primarily has an effect on growth areas as identified by the New Jersey State Map. Unlucky for us, this includes the entire Bayshore region of Monmouth and Middlesex counties. This new law will bestow "fast track" approval for environmental permits to developers. Permits will automatically be approved in 45 days if no action is taken by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP). This law will now help them gain swift and simple consent to immediately degrade our water, air, and soils, and at once build massive condo complexes all over the coastline of Raritan Bay. Alas, this is the political price we are paying for to provide broad support and preservation to the Highlands region of north New Jersey, which is an important source of drinking water for many people in New Jersey and prime natural habitat for lots of species of birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, and reptiles.
Yet, this single law has the makings to reduce the quality of As co-chair of the Bayshore Regional Watershed Council, I believe strongly that this law, as it is currently written, will have a detrimental impact to the environment in the Raritan Bay watershed region and to the long-term protection and preservation of natural resources in Monmouth County. Below is a list of nine (9) recommendations that I believe the residents of the Bayshore region of Monmouth County should consider and communicate to the Governor of New Jersey, State Legislators, and to the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in a wish that they will revisit the bill and adopt new mitigating measures in order to diminish vulnerabilities and flaws in the present law. Appreciation goes to Debbie Mans and Greg Remaud, both from the NY/NJ Baykeeper, for their help and suggestions. The law regards growth areas as per the NJ State Plan Map. Yet, the map is partially based on outdated information collected during the 1970s. Thus, there are several fundamental flaws with the current status of the map that were not addressed in the bill, but should be immediately addressed before the fast track law is put into action:
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THE TASTE OF TEXAS Because of its size, the gastronomy of Texas is analogous to a country, namely, a myriad of culinary influences that vary from region to region. Western Texans are best known for their love of beef and barbequing. “Tex-Mex” cooking, most prominent in the south, is an Americanization of Mexican influences. Many of the “classic” Mexican favorites, such as enchiladas and tacos, are American inventions with a Mexican twist. Northern Texas is more akin to the southern US. Farming, chicken, pork and homegrown vegetables dominate. Central Texas reflects the food of the early German immigrants to that area. Sausage making, meat smoking, and wiener schnitzel highlight their contributions. Finally, the gulf region has a New Orleans style. Gumbos, shrimp, crawfish, and general Creole and Cajun influences are evident. Obviously, these lines of demarcation are not etched in stone. They are merely general culinary trends existing within certain sections. Moreover, Texas is a melting pot within a melting pot. The influx of Asian immigrants and the concomitant injection of their culinary persuasions is just one example. In its early days, Texas food, or should I say “grub,” was a functional outgrowth of the cattle ranches and cattle drives that Texas was so famous for. Work on vast cattle ranches made it impractical for cowboys to return to the homestead every night. Moving the cattle from these ranches to rail stations hundreds of miles away necessitated long journeys away from home. For efficient sustenance, the chuck wagon was created. Basically, it was a supply wagon/kitchen on wheels. Meals often consisted of one-pot stews of meat, beans and sometimes tomatoes. And that delivers us to Texas’ signature dish: Chili con carne, or a “bowl of red’ as Texans would say. Traditional Texas chili has no beans. If you want to add them, just throw in a can near the end of the cooking time. MARK’S CHILI CON CARNE One pound ground beef In a large pot, sauté the ground beef until browned and then remove with a slotted spoon. Drain the fat if you wish. Add the oils and then sauté the onion and peppers until soft. Add the garlic and sauté one minute. Add all of the remaining ingredients and the meat. Bring to a boil and simmer for one hour, stirring frequently. Add more salt if necessary. This recipe will produce a notably hot chili. But there are plenty of points where you can modify the heat level. You can substitute a bell or poblano pepper for the fresh hot peppers, substitute olive oil for the chile oil, and adjust or eliminate the hot sauce and/or cayenne pepper. I wouldn’t forgo the chili powder though, since this is chili con carne after all. By the way, there is a difference between chile (with an “e”) powder and chili (with an “i”) powder. Chile (with an “e”) powder is solely ground chile peppers. Chili (with an “i”) powder is a mixture of chile powder and other spices such as cumin, coriander, garlic, etc. Chili powder can always be found in the spice section of any supermarket. Achiote are the seeds of the annatto tree and the two names are often used interchangeably. Achiote can be found in the Goya section of your supermarket. Simply grind the seeds in a spice grinder. CHICKEN FRIED STEAK Texas’ premier comfort food, chicken fried steak, has no chicken in it. It is called such because the steak is breaded and pan-fried much like fried chicken. A descendent of the German dish wiener schnitzel, it is traditionally made with round steak. Top round is the most tender. Vegetable oil, as needed Heat a large heavy skillet and add at least a quarter inch of oil. The oil should be about 350 degrees. Pound the steaks with a mallet until they are half as thick. Dredge each steak in the flour, then the egg, and then back in the flour. Press the steaks into the flour to ensure complete coverage and then shake off any excess. Place them in the oil and pan-fry each side until golden brown. Remove them from the skillet and make the gravy. Pour out all but two tablespoons of the oil. Add two tablespoons of flour and cook the roux over medium heat, frequently whisking until it becomes golden brown in color. Slowly pour in the milk, constantly whisking and cook until desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper and pour over the steaks. Happy trails cowboy!
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Series on Career Help (Part 3): MENTORS Mentors offer career advice and support. Mentors are further along in your target career, so they have insights into what works and what doesn't. A former colleague of mine referred to his mentor as a guardian angel, steering him to beneficial projects and away from potential minefields. Another colleague had a collection of mentors she referred to as her board of directors. She had one mentor for help with presentation skills, another for management, and another for personal style. Often, people choose mentors in their industry and function, but that isn't necessary. You might be in banking, but have a mentor in consumer products because that mentor is a successful manager and can help you make the leap to management. You may work for a company, but have a mentor who is an entrepreneur so you can learn about risk-taking. A mentor is someone whom you respect and from whom you can learn. It is someone whom you trust and with whom you have a good rapport. How do you find this person? A mentoring relationship is like other relationships. You need to know what you're looking for: What do you need to learn? Where do you want to go in your career? You also need to attract that partner: Are you willing to work for this relationship (e.g., schedule the meetings, do research, ask intelligent questions)? Are you fun to be around? Much like other relationships, it may require several meetings to find the right mentor, but a good match is worth the effort. Caroline Ceniza-Levine, head of career consultancy CL Search Services, is also an adjunct professor of Professional Development at Columbia University and a career/life coach. Caroline can be reached at 212-502-8593 or at her website at www.thinkasinc.com.
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JIGGLING YOUR DRAWERS Right off I want to ‘fess’ up to the rules that surround saying what’s in your mind. So this is both my claimer and disclaimer: I am not a physicist, physician, geologist, philosopher, nutritionist, theologian, meteorologist, soothsayer, philanthropist, gourmet chef, or even a smart shopper. I do not have such credentials to give the aura of expertise, correctness, virtuosity and infallibility to anything I may say or write, although I am hereby tempted to note that those qualities are not necessarily found in any complete measure by those who do have the required credentials. Why else are we constantly surprised by a big change in direction in all of the fields mentioned? Instead of credentials, I only stand by my Credo, which anyway is the first and best part of the word “credentials.” It is our entitlement as we age, to try to put things in perspective. But I do have a great deal of respect for the experts who have devoted years of study to their field, and I have always tried to use their wisdom to formulate an idea or sometimes change my mind or even my Credo. One day, at the office, I tugged at my top drawer and it only opened so far. Something obviously was stuck. The noise coming from this effort, although minimal in decibels, was enough to draw many away from their earnest and important office pursuits. There was every sort of suggestion, “You have to pull harder like this,” said the office know-it-all. “Wow!” I responded. “You sure did give a hard tug.” Then we lifted him from the floor where he had somersaulted backward in an eye-dazzling performance. I might say that his own eyes seemed to be dazzled for some time afterward. Other suggestions followed, requiring ordinary tools, exotic tools, blueprints of the drawer, even a crowbar. All of these ideas carried with them this pessimistic outcome, “You’ll never get that sucker open!” Just then, Louise, who had been saying the thing that everyone had rudely discounted, seemed to me to have the calmest approach to this calamity. “Shake the drawer. Ease it smartly and quickly back and forth. That will jiggle everything around and probably dislodge the ‘stuck” thing and move it to a better place so you’ll be able to slide the drawer open.” I did it and it worked. Don’t we just love metaphors. I often think of “Jiggling” the drawer” to get good ideas ‘unstuck’ in my head, which is the top drawer of everything we believe in this life. You are what you believe. That’s why we sometimes have to ‘jiggle’ the drawer to stay optimistic and contented. I was sitting outside in the garden sort of talking to St. Francis (of Assisi). In reading his life, I found that he was a mystic. That’s just my cup of tea. We really don’t talk, you know. We just kind of ‘think together.’ He is fond of quantum physics. I say I just barely grasp some of its tenets. But I do like the idea of timelessness and parallel universe possibilities. St Francis suggests that it is sufficient just to stay open minded. For one thing, he suggests that it might just release us from the pain of some really ‘heartfelt’ regrets. We can only regret something because we now have been gifted by time and age with the compassion and insight to see how we may have acted differently. Here’s where quantum physics helps out. Our regret now, because of the timelessness which is reality, is really like a prayer for what we would have done differently in our past. It becomes the choice that was played out among the many choices that were possibilities at any given time in the realm of quantum physics. I think, but I’m not sure, that quantum physics allows for parallel universes. Weighty, but interesting. I like it because it seems to be good for the soul. It allows for releasing a regret for making a wrong choice. The penance for it was done and in so doing, permitted another reality, a better one. (I truly hope I’m not all wet.) Again, thinking in metaphors, I began connecting what is established fact about the pupils of our eyes. That is, they can diminish to near pinpoints when we see something disagreeable, and widen when we see something pleasing. I wondered if this same natural phenomenon might be happening throughout our bodies. Do the channels bringing good health and contentment open wider throughout the organs in our bodies? Might even our narrowed blood vessels open wider at moments of pleasure? Does the power of the act of forgiveness that is said to be necessary for good health or for the restoration of health cause such relief and relaxation to happen to our bodies? Forgiveness, requiring only a mental adjustment, must be worth the effort of jiggling our drawers to release it.
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REPORTS OF RIVER, BAY AND OCEAN FISHING >==>>>>:> >>=>>>:>See Archive >==>>>>:> >>=>>>:>
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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
The Honk and Holler Opening Soon by Billie Letts ISBN 0446675059 (Paperback) Where has this book been? According to trade references, the hardcover was originally published in 1998. The paperback came out in June of 1999. So why is it making an appearance on local bookstore shelves now? The name Billie Letts doesn’t ring a bell with many people. But when I ask them if they saw the movie about the pregnant girl who lived in a Wal-Mart in Sequoyah, Oklahoma, there are signs of recognition. (Thanks to HBO, I auppose). That film, starring Matt Williams, Natalie Portman, Ashley Judd, Stockard Channing, and Joan Cusack was based on the 1995 Billie Letts novel “Where the Heart Is”. For “The Honk and Holler Opening Soon”, Letts brings us back to Sequoyah. Drawing on her own experiences as a native of Oklahoma, she presents an interesting cast of local odd-balls. Full of personal quirks, all of the character stand on their own. The story focuses on the owner of a drive-in restaurant called “The Honk and Holler – Opening Soon”. It is owned by a wheelchair-bound Vietnam vet who hasn’t left the building since it opened twelve years ago. He is the cook and his waitress is an aunt who raised him. Business is down and it’s the regulars who provide him with a meager income and put a little color into his life. One day, around Christmas, a tractor-trailer pulls up in front of the diner and a lady hops out with a wounded three-legged dog in her arms. A quick talker, she convinces him to take her on as a car hop. A little while later, A Vietnamese immigrant wanders through the door a declares himself to be the best repairman around. The story lasts until the following Christmas. “The Honk and Holler – Opening Soon” is a complete departure from my normal reading diet. I took a gamble when I bought it and I was well rewarded. This was a fantastic story. It is a beautiful glimpse of the real mid-western America. The story moves along well. The characters are full and entertaining. It has been a while since I stayed up real late reading. Then I got up early to finish the book. Go ahead. Read this one. It does not disappoint. Hooray for Billie Letts.
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EARLY SUMMER MORN
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(editors note: Do you have poetry to share? Send your submission to editor@ahherald.com.)
Picture This!
Picture This! We'll show you a photo each week - taken in Monmouth County - and you tell us where it is located. 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
../readers_write/index.html ABUSE OF EMINENT DOMAIN IN LONG BRANCH I read Michael Adubato's poem entitled "Abusing Long Branch", dated 6 May 2004, and am appalled and frightened about this abuse of eminent domain. I live in an old but pretty development south of South Bath Avenue, facing the ocean. Yesterday, I read of the Hovnanian "development " which is to run from Morris Avenue to South Bath Avenue. With a string of expensive developments being built currently along the ocean block from above the Ocean Place Hotel (formerly the Hilton), I expect the greedy developers with the aid of Long Branch's mayor, council and Planning Board will continue the rape of the decent property owners, like myself, and abuse eminent domain again to turn over the remaining properties from South Bath Avenue south to the entrance to the public beach at West End, to these developers. As this "army" of expensive, high density housing marches south along the ocean front block in Long Branch, I and my fellow homeowners ask what can we do to prevent the politicians from "stealing" our homes from us. Can you help us to help ourselves? Can you pass along any useful information I can share with my fellow property owners that will aid us in what I see as the next abuse of the use of eminent domain in Long Branch. I am truly sorry that I did no more than sympathize with the unfortunate folk who already lost there homes to the developers. Not wanting to fall to the developers bulldozer,
Sidney Weiss
../readers_write/2004/040805_sandy_hook.htm THE REAL STRUGGLE OF HOMOSEXUALS The shocking resignation, of New Jersey Governor, James E. McGreevey, will provoke strong feelings about the struggles of homosexuals. One gay rights activist said, “It is kind of stunning, sad to me that in 2004 people are still having to struggle because of homophobia in society to come to terms with who they are." Is it really the “homophobia” in society that causes these struggles? Or are there deeper issues involved? Over my years of ministry, I have counseled a number of people who struggle with homosexual orientation. In most cases, these people feel trapped in a lifestyle they wish they could accept. Although on the surface they appear to be kind, fun loving and easygoing, inwardly they vacillate between guilt, anger, rage and even suicidal thoughts. They come for help because they desperately want freedom from their bondage. Many of them have been to counselors who have tried to convince them to accept their lifestyle as normal. Some counselors have even told them that God approves their way of life. Yet they find it impossible to believe that they were meant to live a homosexual lifestyle. We must not be fooled by the voices of radical homosexual activists. If they were honest, they would admit that their efforts are merely a cover up for their frustration, resentment and despair. They know that changes in legislation or public opinion will not remove the agony felt by those who struggle. The homosexual lifestyle robs people of both dignity and freedom. And neither popular nor legislative changes will grant the dignity or freedom they desire. The really liberating truth is that homosexuality is a lifestyle-- not a necessary part of one’s identity. Equating homosexual behavior with personhood perpetuates the offensive notion that a person is homosexual in the same way that he or she is of a particular race or gender. Such reasoning might support the efforts of those who want this to be a civil rights battle, but in actuality it only deepens the despair of those who long for freedom. There is no hope for change unless one admits that a person is homosexual only in so far as he engages in homosexual behavior. Any other view injures human dignity. Homosexuality is not a matter of civil rights comparable to issues of race or gender. Wrongful discrimination injures someone for what she is by nature not for a type of behavior she chooses. It may be true that certain people have biological inclinations toward homosexual orientation. Yet this does not justify defining personhood on the basis of behavioral inclination. An understanding that some who struggle with homosexuality are susceptible due to biological inclination (or past abuse as children), should sensitize us to the very real pain that they endure. Yet these biological and circumstantial factors should not be used to legitimize the behavior. This does not offer the path of hope desperately sought by homosexuals. Instead, scripture provides a painful word of hope when it refuses to avoid the truth about homosexual behavior. The New Testament defines such behavior as an “…exchange of natural relations for unnatural ones” (Romans 1:26). Those who engage in this behavior know intuitively that this is true. To avoid it, they must sear their consciences. Scripture is very direct when it states, “…the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion” (Romans 1:27). This hard biblical truth is the only path to freedom because the same word that exposes our sin offers us the forgiveness and freedom we all need. Steven W. Cornell
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