Go-To-Guy

“I was doing my part as a resident of the community, volunteering at food pantries, social events, school events and similar programs. I was just being a neighbor, which is good. But not good enough, not for me. I can’t help but to be involved.”

And that’s the primary reason why Jose’ Pujols is seeking election to the Atlantic Highlands Borough Council in November. Pujols is seeking one of the two seats open in the next with incumbent council member and council president Brian Dougherty. The two Democrats are opposed by Republican candidates former Councilman Brian Boms, who is also GOP chairman for Atlantic Highlands, and Ellen O’Dwyer, a former Army officer.

Pujols, who with his wife Nancy and son and daughter, both recent college graduates, lives on Sixth avenue, is a Captain with the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue unit, which he has served for 24 years.

He also served in the Air Force, both on active duty when he served at various locations around the country, including as a recruiter in Hackensack, and as a reservist at McGuire Air Force Base, until 2008.

The family moved to Atlantic Highlands from Middletown in 2019 simply because they love the community feel of the borough, its shops, parks, waterfront, fire department, police, and “all the houses are beautiful…. I’m in love with everything!” the candidate said.

Pujols also concedes part of his wanting to get more involved was spurred by being named as a defendant in the action filed by Republican candidate James Murphy when the incumbent councilman lost last year’s mayoral election by a handful of votes. “I made the list of persons that supposedly were not residents and labeled as a fraudulent vote” in the litigation, Pujols explained. 

The official notice and court action caused disbelief and concern, he said, but not anger. It’s just “I thought I was doing my part in the community that we love…. beach cleanups, participating in all local events, supporting local businesses, talking to and meeting new friends…”

Although Pujols’ name was eventually removed from the list and he never had to appear in court, it made him ready and eager to accept a request to join the Rent Leveling Board and the Veterans Affairs Committee. When approached shortly after. “I jumped on board for both! “he said enthusiastically.

When next asked to run for Council, Pujols said he was unsure at first, but after thinking about it, “I thought why not? What better way to serve my community and neighbors!! I’ve been doing it everywhere else ever since I can remember!  So I’m all in. “

Pujols points to some of his past experience and work he believes will help him be a hardworking and capable council member in addition to his career firefighting experience.

He has also been an Aeromedical Evacuation Technician/ Flight Medic in the Air Force, a volunteer EMT in Weehawken, volunteer Medical assistant /EMT at summer Camp Coconuts in Middletown, and Matawan Fire/Inspector/Fire Official / Housing Official since 2016, a position he continues to hold. “I take pride in being the GO-TO- GUY and the person that makes things happen to assist anyone when it comes to making a difference In my or any community.”

Pujols knows there are issues he will face as a councilman in addition to the school regionalization talk, he hears from neighbors. Parking on First Avenue, open space, the municipal yacht harbor, as well as new housing and buildings, but admits he does not yet have solutions. “I’m not well versed in any information on these items right now, so I couldn’t tell you what needs to be fixed or what the major problems are.

“But I am ready to see what the issues are and take on any project head on, get feedback from my community, council members, code enforcement, zoning, construction etc. and make the best decisions based on the information given and what is best for the community.  It does affect everyone in some way,” he said.

In the meantime, Pujols continued,” I think First Ave is great, I love it.  Like everything else, It can always be better.” Everyone has their opinions, he continued but warned “everything has to be cautiously reviewed to keep the integrity of the small-town vibe we currently have. I am good with positive upgrades and updates that serve the community and residents.”  

The council candidate described himself as a person who has always gotten involved in the community which he loves and aims to assist and protect the community he loves wherever he lives. He believes in “giving the people what they want and need when it comes to issues such as the automobile charging stations, praising the work Dougherty has done to provide the best that can be offered.

Go-To-Guy Go-To-Guy Go-To-Guy Go-To-Guy Go-To-Guy Go-To-Guy Go-To-Guy Go-To-Guy

You asked for it, Wild about Atlantic Highlands members said. So soon you will have it!

That’s the promise of the Wild about Atlantic Highlands leadership for a self-guided habitat walk highlighting some of the gardens in the borough which have helped make Atlantic Highlands a certified Wildlife Habitat town.

In cooperation with the Atlantic Highlands Art Council, the walk is scheduled for Saturday, October 12, from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. with a rain date the following week on October 19. Nine Certified Wildlife Habitat gardens will be featured on the non-typical garden tour which will include the gardens designed for protecting and preserving, rather than well-manicured lawns and exotic plants.

Designed to bolster the local ecosystem and invigorate the local environment, the gardens on the walk help wildlife and strengthen the environment welcome wildlife friends as well as humans. 

The tour will include gardens where bees can collect pollen, where butterflies can drink nectar, where birds can find insects to feed their young, and where ecological practices are encouraged. Each garden is a work in progress, some more ‘finished’ than others.

Complimenting the Garden Habitat Walk, AH Arts will be showcasing the work of Robert O’Connor in their main gallery at 54 First Ave. Sept. 21 through Oct. 26.  O’Connor’s exhibition, titled “Upward Toward the Light,” focuses on trees, native plants, and the philosophy that plants are an integral and important part of everyday lives.  Additionally, the artist is an avid and passionate, native-plant gardener, and will be one of the garden hosts for the Walk. 

A map of the participating hosts will be provided to registrants via email by 8 AM the morning of the Walk.   All locations are within Atlantic Highlands.  Walking or biking to complete the tour is encouraged.  The Garden Habitat Walk is free, but a DONATION in any amount will enable the Arts Council to continue offering programs like this.   

To register for the event, visit  

https://airtable.com/appdFFPBshY5gbLMJ/shrqG6YU4BIgZVTZb

Knowing most of the students at Henry Hudson High School, having been involved with them in various sports activities and other endeavors since they were youngsters and committed to the well being of all are the primary reasons why Rich Colangelo is seeking a term on the Henry Hudson Regional Board of Education in the November election.

Colangelo is running for the single one-year term open for an Atlantic Highlands resident this November, and is vying with two candidates, Chelsea Witkowski and Allison Jacobs for the position. Voters can select one of these three for the one-year term, along with one of two candidates for the one two-year term on the board.

Atlantic Highlands voters can also select two candidates for the two three-year terms to be decided this year. For the full term, it appears, since there were only two residents who applied for those positions, that incumbent board president Cory Wingerter and Claire Kozic will be elected, giving Atlantic Highlands four members on the nine-member board. with Highlands electing the remaining five to serve for terms of one to three years.

Colangelo said he wants to continue to contribute to the growth and development of all students, and feels the best way is by serving on the board. He was unsuccessful in one previous try several years ago.

Growing up in the Bayshore, Colangelo, who is married and has two sons, both students at Henry Hudson Regional, chose to make the borough his permanent home more than 20 years ago.

The candidate went to Rutgerfs University before starting his career in the mortgage industry 23 years ago. He is currently with Gateway First Bank in Red Bank. He also serves as the borough’s Code Enforcement Official and is a former member and chairman of the local Planning Board.

He also served as trustee of Kappa Sigma Fraternity (Gamma Upsilon) at Rutgers, is a past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 6552, and former recreation soccer director and cub scout leader for Troop 22 in the borough.

Currently, Colangelo remains active and enthusiastic about a number of sports and recreation programs I the borough offers for children and teens; notably, he is Recreation Basketball Director, Sandy Hook Little League Vice president and Board Member, Atlantic Highlands Recreation Committee Member, and Clinician for the Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. course for youth athletic coaches. Despite his long hours in volunteering in these areas, he is proudest of his “most enjoyable endeavor, serving as a youth coach for various sports.”

Retention of students through high school classes appears to be the largest problem at Henry Hudson, Colangelo said. The most recent enrollment comparison with other Monmouth County schools shows Henry Hudson is the smallest by approximately 80 students compared to nearby school districts and significantly smaller than most high schools in the County by roughly 280 students. 

“More students would provide more opportunities for activities, sports, and the general experience of students through exposure to more students,” the candidate explained.

Noting school population is down because of parental choices of one of the Monmouth County Vocational schools, or Magnet schools, he said “I would never fault any parent for sending their child to those schools if they have that opportunity.  However, we also lose many kids to parochial and private schools, plus some students attend other districts on a paid basis rather than attending HHRS.  This has been a persistent problem for decades”.

He feels there are several ways to correct the situation, primarily by further exploring the problems.  Citing a few ways to address this, he thinks first is to further explore the opportunity to bring Sea Bright into the fold, while still advocating for a fair deal for all participants in a three-school district. He believes there is a pathway by which each of the three boroughs would benefit and at the same time provide each student with additional opportunities. 

This, he said, would require negotiation, adding “negotiations are always contentious in the process.  Hopefully, a beneficial solution can be found where all three municipalities can see benefits, while bringing more students to HHRS.”

At the same time, the district should continue its ongoing process of making Henry Hudson Regional a school where all families want to send their children, thereby losing fewer to outside or private schools, something he feels the schools and administration have been doing well. “Continuing that effort is important, so all parents think Hudson schools are are The Place To Be, and the children are proud to be Admirals, Tigers and Ospreys. “

He estimated an addition of even 40 more children could mean more AP classes, the ability to field full sports teams (like JV programs) and allow the theater and arts programs to further their offerings with larger ensembles and productions. 

” We can still maintain that small school feeling while providing more opportunities for the students, “he said.

Still so, currently each of the three schools elicit tremendous pride in the community from the families whose children attend. He noted how proud the students are to be called Tigers, Ospreys or Admirals, and terms both the current educational and extracurricular programs “excellent” when considering the small school size.

Colangelo has attended meetings of both the high school and local school boards of education occasionally, generally to find out information or make requests for youth athletic programs and has always found both administration and boards over the years to be responsive and cooperative.

However, he has also noted that board members are not very vocal at meetings, and while he feels confident they contribute in committee meetings he is interested in the process of committee discussions and opinions, and would look for a process where information would be more easily available to the public , excepting, of course, meetings that require executive sessions because of personal or litigation.

No one likes a 4-hour meeting.,” he said, but “I have never been a fan of the opening statement stating matters have been settled prior to a meeting, reasons given as to why most votes seem to be unanimous.”  That wording is not used in other Board or Commission’s Sunshine Statements in either borough, he said, “and I believe there are members of the public who are sincerely interested in how decisions are made, on other than non-disclosure matters. “    

Asked for additional statements or information, Colangelo said “Anchor Down”, “Go Tigers”, and “Fly High Ospreys”

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Rich Colangelo