All too often at the Olympics, politics and sports get mixed up. The Olympics are arguably the world’s most inclusive sporting event, so naturally politics will spill over between countries.  In this particular column, the political columnist will write about the sporting world.

But that’s only because Atlantic Highlands doesn’t place a hometown hero in the Olympics very often.  Sure, we could wax on about the Casino Boat story, or about the new police cars, or about the latest intrigue in Monmouth County Republican politics, but those stories will be around for a while.  It is on Friday August 3, that Steven Gluckstein will represent our country on the world’s biggest stage.  Steven will be performing on the trampoline, and no matter how the young man fares, he has made this little burg proud.

There are other stories in town this week, but none as uplifting as a son of Atlantic Highlands hitting the big time.

A product of Atlantic Highlands Elementary School and graduate of Henry Hudson Regional High School, Steven has traveled throughout the world plying his trade.  He has competed for national and world championships, and like all Olympic athletes has made sacrifices along the way.  But he has reached one goal, and all of our eyes should be on him later this week.

In this small town, if you don’t know Steven, you probably know a family member. His parents have been active volunteers for our town, and his mother, Loretta continues to sit on the Hudson Board of Education.  Steven’s dad, Stephen Gluckstein, has been a member of the Planning Board, and can be seen volunteering at the recreation Halloween Parade.  Their oldest, Amanda is soon to be married and until recently, was a Park Ranger at Sandy Hook.  The Gluckstein’s are a family that make a difference in our town, and they deserve this great moment in the sun.

Because it will probably be just a moment.  Compared to a volleyball game or a tennis match, the trampoline routine is fairly quick. And at the highest levels in a competitive sport, you probably only get just one shot at the Olympic Games.  However, Steven is only in his early twenties, so he could come back for Rio in 2016. Or will it be Brother Jeffrey, who was the runner up in the trampoline competition at the Olympic Trials that continues the legacy in 2016. No matter how it turns out- and we hope for a medal-  Steven, Jeffrey and the Gluckstein family have put Atlantic Highlands on the Olympic map this week, and that is good for all sides of the First Avenue political aisle.