Today is Idus Martiae, the 74th day in the Roman calendar. Better known as the Ides of March, it was a day of religious observances in Roman times and best known in that era as the deadline when all debts had to be paid. For the common folk, it was a happy day, a time to celebrate the Feast of Anna Perenna, a time for picnics, parties, and dancing.
What it’s really known for, however, is the assassination of Julius Caesar by his friends, a turning point in Roman history. It happened in 44 BC.
It seems at some point a seer had warned Caesar who was a priest of the god Vesta as well as the Pontifex Maximus or head honcho of Rome, that harm would come to him on the Ides of March. He was on the way to the Theatre of Pompey for a Senate meeting when he saw the seer again. So Caesar turned and sneered at the seer and said “the Ides of March are come,” suggesting the seer was wrong since no harm had come to him yet. Still the seer replied, “ah, they have come, but they have not gone.”
So Caesar went into the Senate meeting where a group of 60 or so Senators and political leaders not happy with his power or position, had been conspiring to kill him. Led by his friends Brutus and Cassius, the group descended on Caesar and Brutus stuck the knife in his back.
According to Shakespeare’s version in his play, Julius Caesar, Caesar turned to his friend and said, “Et tu, Brute?” or “You, too, Brutus?” signifying that even his friends were in on the assassination.
And thus followed the civil war that led to the rise of power by Octavian, later known as Augustus, who just happened to be an heir of Julius. He went on to kill 300 Senators a few years later who had fought against him as a way of avenging Caesar’s death. That assassination also was supposed to have happened on the Ides of March.
In a further act of his new power, Brutus had coins struck to commemorate the death of Caesar. This particular version shows the two daggers representing those used by Brutus and Cassius, flanking a pileus cap, the symbol of patriotism for Castor and Polux, in mythology, the patrons of the Roman Army. EID MAR is an abbreviation for the Ides of March.
Rumrunning, bootlegging, and famous names in Highlands have always been a popular subject for reading and learning more about the history of Highlands. Whether residents at the time were personally involved in the lucrative business or not, there is no doubt that everyone knew at least one person, in most cases a relative, who was active in some form of moving illegal alcoholic beverages from boats three miles offshore to Highlands to underground caves, tunnels, or basements for transfers to Newark, New York, and points in between under cover of darkness.
One in a series of interviews I did in the 1970s about rumrunning and its impact on Highlands was with Thyra Bennett who lived on Cornwall Street and had many memories of that exciting time.
Thyra Bennett lived with her mother and stepfather from 1920 to 1937 on Cornwall St. and in the interview more than half a century later, she still giggled out loud about her memories of the prohibition era.
“There’s a lot to remember,” she laughed, “in addition to rumrunning and illegal hooch, it was the people. They were a unique lot.
“Take my Uncle Walt,” she said. “He had an outhouse with a glass window in the door. Said he always wanted to be able to see what was going on.”
Thyra was born on Miller St, daughter of Nora and William Spangler. She went to the public school which was then at the top of the hill on Miller St. “Miller St was a straight road then,” she explained, “not with a bend like it has now.”
The school burned when she was in 8th grade and she remembers the kids “were so happy then, but we didn’t know how bad it was going to be afterwards.” That was because classes were next held in the courthouse at the corner of Valley and Miller streets and graduation was in the Methodist Church. Like most of the Highlands youngsters, Thyra went to high school at Leonardo High, with Atlantic Highlands High, the two choices for local students since Highlands did not have a high school of its own.
But back to prohibition, Thyra said she remembered it well. “My mother’s three brothers were all in it. There were lots of rumrunners. Of course everybody knows Walter Kenner,” she said, referring to the man who undoubtedly was the most popular, most daring, and most outrageous of all the area’s rumrunners. “But here were others,” she said. There was the one who had a “house full of nooks and crannies, they could never find anything in his house. The house was across the street from Jack Ahearn, right next to Billy Noonan’s property, all property on the waterfront South Bay Avenue.
Meisternecht was another popular name of the day, Thyra continued. “He was shot and killed on Shrewsbury Avenue. And do you know…nobody ever found out who killed him. He was working around the boats, lots of boats came in here.. There was another guy who got killed, too, at the Tuxedo Hotel, Doc somebody. Never found who killed him either. It’s true,” Thyra recalled.
According to this native, “about 50 to 75 percent of the clammers were rumrunners, they had high speed boats, but the lobstermen were really the ones. The clammers had the small boats, the lobstermen had the big, fast ones. But they all had a good time.”
True? Probably most of it Embellished? Probably a bit. But all great memories for somebody who lived through it.
With the advent of spring, the promise of warmed days and more sunshine, it is also a great time to be thinking about and planning home gardens that are not only serene and peaceful, but also sources of food sources that are particularly good for the body.
Herbs and spices are generally easy plants to grow, and many of them contain Vitamins A and C, two of the best vitamins for eye care, protection and health. Most herbs and spices are easily found in supermarkets both in and out of season, bother fresh and bottled or boxed. But combining the beauty of the garden and the satisfaction of watching something grow with the knowledge you can also grow the herbs that can be used in so many ways and help eyesight are all reasons just too good to resist to give it a try, even if you do not have a green thumb.
Let’s start with Basil.
Basil is really a member of the mint family, so already you can guess it’s busy, has green leaves, and a great aroma. Native to India, Africa and parts of Asia, it is usually more associated in the minds of culinary aficionados, with tomatoes, pizza, Italian tomato sauce, pesto and salad oils. While it is easy to find in the store, it’s also easy to grow at home, even starting it in little pots or aero gardens at home, then transplanting to the garden, window boxes, or simply bigger pots.
Another plus for growing basil in your garden is its ability to fight off insects, just like marigolds, rosemary and sage do.
The same Vitamin A that is so good for the eyes and is found in all the orange and yellow fruits and vegetables is also said to possibly lower the risk of cancer, not a prove fact, but nice to think about.
For the eyes, though, there is no doubt it’s an excellent source. An ounce of basil leaves, for instance, has about as much Vitamin A as about two ounces of cooked carrots, and more than 400 percent of the minimum recommendation for women in a day. Add the fact it’s also full of calcium and Vitamin C, and you’ve got a definite winner.
Fresh basil should be kept in the refrigerator in tightly sealed glass jars, or, if it’s for long term storage, blanch the leaves, wrap in plastic bags and keep in the freezer.
It’s a fun herb that should be explored a bit more. We already know it’s terrific with tomatoes, for fun, try it with apples, or sprinkle some chopped up basil on top of a baked apple. Be creative! It all tastes great!
Whip up some Basil Butter. Try it on that fresh roasted corn on the cob!
Basil Butter
1 stick softened butter
2 Tablespoons chopped basil
½ tsp chopped thyme
That’s it! Blend together.
Basil Oil Salad
½ Cup basil leaves
1/3 Cup olive oil (extra virgin olive oil is worth the difference I price)
½ lemon, juiced
1 tsp. brown sugar
Using a food processor, finely chop the basil, then add oil in a stream, while keeping the processor on, until the mixture is smooth. In a bowl, add the lemon juice and sugar and continue to mix well.
Great served over sliced tomatoes, or any green salad. Top with any extra basil leaves for an attractive garnish.
Borough Administrator Robert Ferragina laid out the Monmouth County plans for its reconstruction and repairs to Monmouth County roads in the borough, setting dates over the next two years.
At last Thursday’s meeting of the Mayor and Council, Ferragina reported he had met with the Monmouth County engineering firm, together with the borough engineer and the director of the Department of Public works, earlier this month in learning the county plans in more detail.
The administrator said it has been agreed that in the area of the County bridge on Ocean Blvd., plans scheduled for 2023 include the sidewalk and railing being replaced and the bridge to be resurfaced. The administrator further pointed out that the bridge resurfacing will require detours of the area for approximately six months.
The County also plans to repair portions of the wall on Ocean Blvd, also slated for 2023. Those repairs, but not replacement, are scheduled to be completed within the same time period as the bridge repairs.
Between 2023 and 2024, Ferragina continued, Monmouth County plans to resurface all of Ocean Blvd., with repaving to begin after the bridge work has been completed.
A joyous Kathleen Sweeney and son Jay welcomed hundreds to the Shore Casino for its first annual St. Patricks Day event.
It was the evening after the day set aside to honor the patron Saint of Ireland, but close to 400 partygoers turned out at the Shore Casino last night to celebrate the first annual St. Patrick’ Day celebration hosted by the Sweeney and Strebb family, owners of the Casino.
And what a celebration it was! Jay, who is the head manager of the Casino with his mother, Kathleen Sweeny, gathered the kitchen crew and wait staff weeks in advance to plan a menu that’s reportedly like nothing that’s ever been served before this side of the Atlantic.
Starting with Guinness beer the favorite drink during the cocktail hour, which featured every other kind of beverage as well, from tea to Shore Casino designed special Irish themed cocktails, the kitchen’s culinary staff prepared everything from miniature twice baked potatoes filled with cheese and bacon along with whipped potatoes and mushrooms stuffed with shrimp to cheeses, dips, miniature hot dogs and more, all while preparing every popular buffet dish known to typical Irish buffets. The corned beef, accompanied naturally with potatoes and cabbage, vied for popularity with the pork, Irish stews, Shepherd’s Pie, vegetables, scones, Irish breads and more, and the dessert tray with its outstanding brownies and chocolate cake had to take a back seat to the Irish style rice pudding with raisins, fruit tarts, and bread pudding.
“It was wonderful seeing so many people so happy and enjoying themselves,” said Jay Strebb, as he greeted and welcomed the nearly 400 people who attended.
But those in attendance had more to say about the spectacular evening. “This is what Atlantic Highlands is all about,” said one guest, “everybody is out here together, everyone is laughing, enjoying themselves, it’s like one big happy family.”
And while she might be a former mayor, a former freeholder and a current immigration judge who commutes to New York to sit on the bench, Anna Little and her husband Rob wowed the crowd with their energy and Irish dancing.
With the Ancient Order of Hibernians bagpipers welcoming the crowd at the beginning of the evening, music was the theme for the night, with Irish tunes and dance the highlight. The Daly Irish Dance School came from its First Avenue studio to show to great applause and ovations the talent these youngsters have on the dance floor.
The Irish Step Dancers School on First Avenue provided joy, talent, and Irish music and dance for the crowd at the Shore Casino.
Then Irish Kevin and the Round the house Band kept young and old on the dance floor for hours, with their medley of well known Irish dance music as well as popular American rock and roll and Irish waltz. It was the Irish anthem and God Bless America that put the final touch on the evening, with guests renewing friendships with others, promising future get togethers and thanking Kathleen and Jay for bringing old-fashioned hometown fun and friendship.
“It was a fine evening,” said Kathleen Sweeney, as she sat quietly with some close friends after the party broke up, “it made me so happy to see everyone having such a good time. The wait staff, the bartenders, and the kitchen help with our wonderful chef went out of their way to make everything so very special for everyone, we have wonderful friends who pitched in and helped, too, wherever they could. It was wonderful to see how everybody enjoyed it all.”
Although it has not yet been confirmed, it appears the Shore Casino will be hosting a special celebration for Easter as well, the second of what appears to be a full season of unique activities and events at the Yacht Harbor’s Shore Casino.
Two generations of Strykers, Richard Sr, and Jr, and wives Pat and Jill were among the hundreds celebrating St. Patricks Day at the Shore Casino
The New Jersey State Park Service’s Twin Lights Historic Site will open its doors to visitors seven days a week this summer, increasing the need for volunteers, the Twin Lights Historical Society is inviting those interested in volunteering to attend the historical society’s annual Volunteers Day on Saturday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
While the day is set aside annually to honor Twin Lights volunteers, Society President Jeff Tyler is extending an invitation to prospective volunteers this year to learn more about the program. Guests will have the opportunity to meet with volunteers, some of whom have been at Twin Lights for more than ten years, during the informal meeting planned, weather permitting, for the grounds in front of the Lighthouse. Light refreshments will be served during the meeting.
Most volunteers at the lighthouse offer their services at the entry point to the museum and the gift shop, answering questions and giving directions, as well as running the gift shop. Volunteers work under the direction of the Twin Lights Historical Society staff and the State Park Service Historian at the Twin Lights. Volunteers are also needed in specialized areas, including accounting, digitalization, social media and research.
Volunteers will undergo a brief educational session before assuming their duties, and will sign up for three-hour sessions on either a monthly or weekly basis. Volunteers of all ages are welcome, with high school students eligible for internship programs in which they can fulfill community service obligations.
Tyler, who started volunteering himself after his daughter gained experience during a high school internship program, said there are numerous opportunities volunteering at the Twin Lights provides. In addition to being able to be of service to others, “it is an opportunity to meet with interesting people, people from all over the world, to discuss local history with experts in the field, and to become a part of the Twin Lights family,” said Tyler. “Being a part of the Twin Lights Historical Society is such a unique benefit. To me, it is the place that everyone wants to be.”
Those wishing further information about the Twin Lights, the museum, and the volunteer program can visit the website at www.twinlightslighthouse.org, or visit the Twin Lights Society Facebook page.
The Twin Lights Historical Society is a non-profit organization formed by volunteers in 1955. Today, the Society partners with The New Jersey State Park Service, which owns and operates Twin Lights, to share its illustrious history.
For further information, visit the Twin Lights website at www.twinlightslighthouse.org
They came from all over with all their music, talent and bagpipes to make the Highlands St. Patrick’s Day parade Saturday something that vied with New York’s Fifth Avenue parade according to some spectators who came from out of state just to see it for the first time!. Congratulations are definitely in order for the Partnership and everyone involved in making this such a spectacular event that they will be talking about for ages.
Crowds were five and six deep in some places along the route cheering on their favorites. The Emerald Society and bagpipers from Morris and Union counties and more were all in the line of march to the delight of everyone, and of course MAST cadets provided a very formal, very perfect color guard at the beginning of the line. The Chief’s wife, owner of that great florist on Waterwitch Avenue, was certainly proud and honored to be the Grand Marshall and how wonderful was that.
But the smiles on the faces of both Jay Cosgrove and his dad Ray when Bahrs earned the trophy for the best in show along the line of march with their truly colorful, truly Irish looking float is enough to keep Irish eyes smiling forever.. The trophy looks even bigger and better sitting on the countertop in the restaurant. Bahrs may be viewed nationwide in that car company ad that premiered at the Super Bowl, but it’s my opinion the hometown honors at the parade meant even more to this very Highlands-oriented restaurant.
Same goes for the Proving Ground that chose to so proudly honor the volunteers in the Highlands First Aid Squad on their very magnificent float. So nice to see such wonderful local businesses so proud to be such a big part of the community.
Not to be outdone was the great Girls Café, with Mike bringing home the gold…on his trike that is. Mike went all out to decorate this tricycle in gold, complete with Irish shamrocks and everything else, along with promoting the Girls Café…a great place any day of the year. If you missed the gold three wheeler in the line of march, it’s still down at the Café for a few more days. Give yourself a smile and stop in to see it.
The Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce (EMACC) is honoring the 30th Annual Spinnaker Awards presentations at The Gramercy at Lakeside Manor Wednesday. March 23.
The Spinnaker Awards honor businesses and individuals who give of themselves to make life better for everyone in eastern Monmouth County.
Chairman Timothy Davis of Intercounty Mortgage Network, Corp. pointed out the Awards “provide the opportunity to recognize the businesses and individuals in our community that make a difference in our everyday lives, from those who that have been serving the community the longest to the newest and most influenceable startups to those that have been good neighbors making our little world in Eastern Monmouth County a better place to live and do business. We invite our community to celebrate together the accomplishments in our business community.”
Awardees to be honored March 23 are the Count Basie Center for the Arts for the Arts & Culture award, Little Silver Mayor Robert Neff for Public Service, Reardon Anderson for Community Service, Smolin Lupin for being a Corporate Good Neighbor, Covenant House NJ as an outstanding non-profit organization, Irwin Marine for serving Monmouth County for more than half a century, and Kevin Ertel, EMACC’s Next Generation Leader.
For further information, visit the chamber site as www.emacc.org or call the chamber at 732-741-0055.
Established in 1928, the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber covers the communities of Eatontown, Fair Haven, Little Silver, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Red Bank, Rumson, Sea Bright, Shrewsbury and Tinton Falls. The office is located at 8 Reckless Place, Suite 1, P.O. Box 627, Red Bank.
Tom Drake says he doesn’t come from a ‘foodie’ family. But if you’ve ever sampled his Cottage Pie or Bangers and Mash Croquettes, or maybe his Crispy pickle brine Chicken Thigh sandwich, you’d think all he ever does is dream up unique recipes then prepare them with taste and elegance.
Tom is the executive chef at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club and for the past six months he has been delighting the palates of club members with unique cuisine, his own recipes, and designing each menu around the best that is available that week, ensuring that every ingredient is top quality from local farms and purveyors, from seafood and meats to extraordinary vegetables and desserts.
Chef Tom, as he is known, came to the yacht club armed with a resume of several decades in the culinary field, which officially started with his studies at the Culinary School in the Arts Institute in Philadelphia and proceeded through a number of different high end restaurants and teaching experiences. But in speaking with him, you learn that he’s been fascinated by food and its presentation from the time he was a kid and helped a family friend who catered parties, first chopping onions and slicing potatoes in the kitchen, then cooking, and eventually knowing it was the field in which he wanted to spend his career.
After high school, Tom opted to try further education in marine biology in community college, staying long enough to realize it wasn’t for him, before enrolling at the Culinary School and earning his degree.
Through the years he has been a chef at several different restaurants, including the Fromagerie in Rumson, the five diamond Hilton in Short Hills and Triumph Brewing Company in New Hope, Pa. as well as their restaurant in Red Bank. He has also left the kitchen to head up the classroom as well, teaching culinary classes to would be chefs.
When hired as chef at the Yacht Club, Chef Tom made it clear his goal is to present menus and recipes he creates that are different from dining experiences in any other restaurant. For this, he relies not only on his own creativity, but also on local purveyors, drawing his weekly ingredients from sources in Asbury Park and Long Branch, Long Valley and Vineland and numerous places in between. Nor are the ingredients simply fruits and vegetables. He has a couple of different purveyors of fish, including Lusty Lobster in Highlands and Local 130 Seafood in Asbury Park, gets his potatoes from Robbinsville, many of his dairy products from Long Valley and even his honey from Chester Township. When it comes to mushrooms, Chef Tom favors a specialty farm in Long Branch where he can select not just mushrooms, but a specific type including black pearl, or oyster, or king trumpet, depending on whether the recipe he is preparing calls for a peppery aftertaste, edible stems, or a blend with other vegetables in a soup or chili.
Clearly, for this chef at the yacht club, it’s more than cooking and serving. It’s quality, unique flavors and combinations, eye-catching presentations, and a matchless dining experience in the casual yet elegant setting of the yacht club dining room.
Food preparation at the Yacht Club presents a unique challenge for a chef who has worked in spacious kitchens with several chefs and cooks. The kitchen at the club is small and he works alone, a challenge that is enhanced by the benefit it also brings.” Everything has to be absolutely fresh, that’s why I use local purveyors,” the chef said, “I simply don’t have any room to store anything or deep freezers to keep meats or seafood. “
Chef Tom has created more than 1000 recipes of his own over the years, and does not resort to books or even his own copies in preparing his creations the five nights a week the Yacht Club serves food. He enjoys tasting each preparation to ensure it meets his own palate’s expectations. He does admit, however, he is looking forward to the expansion plans the club already has begun, and a larger kitchen that could also mean an expanded menu.
Viking Village Scallop Crudo with piccalilli, nasturtium and smoked olive oil
Currently, the Yacht Club offers two different types of Chef Tom creations. There is a Wharf Menu on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 pm as well as on Sundays from 1 pm. That menu includes lighter fare rather than three course meals, and could include anything from a Cuban sandwich or burgers, albeit they’re very special here, or simply Chips and Dip made with crispy shallots, BBQ chips and a French onion dip, with more than half a dozen different choices. There are always meat, seafood and vegetarian entrees on each menu, which changes weekly.
Roasted lamb loin with lollipop kale, glazed pearl onions, juniper malbec jus
Fridays and Saturdays, the Commodore’s Dinner always has three courses, appetizers, entrees and desserts, and generally an additional selection for the table of local cheese and meats. Diners are served from 6 p.m. on and to ensure the perfection Chef Tom insists of for everything out of his kitchen, reservations are necessary.
Tom and his wife Nicole have been married for almost 20 years and have a son AJ, whose talents run more to the artistic that the culinary. AJ creates art in several different media, and one of his black and white drawings is on the wall at the Yacht Club, though he prefers and has excelled at MANGA, the Japanese comic book art form.
For Yacht Club members, Chef Tom has brought not only outstanding food to their tables but also great support for New Jersey farms, unique recipes and blends of vegetables not generally found on restaurant menus, as well as a desire for perfection in every dish.
The crowd was three deep in the borough hall meeting room, and spilled out into the hallway and down the stairs as Harry Murtha was unanimously named police Captain and Travis Sodon unanimously named Sergeant at last night’s meeting of the Mayor and Council.
Murtha, a native of the borough, and a member of law enforcement for the borough since he was a security officer at the Yacht Harbor in 1995, was the first to be sworn into the higher office as Captain of the department by Mayor Loretta Gluckstein, in the presence of four generations of the Murtha family.
Sodon was sworn into the position of Sergeant minutes later, to continued applause and standing ovations for both officers. Sodon scored highest among officers taking the test for sergeant, and like, Murtha, his appointment became effective immediately.
Police Chief Scott Reinert, who was appointed to his position last month at the retirement of Chief David Rossbach, praised both officers for their excellence, their experience, and their dedication to duty, noting having the excellence of men of their caliber will enable him to continue the excellent work and dedication of the local department.
In speaking about Murtha, Reinert, who is a Monmouth County native but not a native of Atlantic Highlands, recalled when, as a young officer joining the department, he admittedly gave a lot of traffic violations. He recalled that in trying to get out of summonses, motorists would frequently say “I know Harry Murtha,.” Or “I went to school with Harry Murtha.” Amid laughter, he admitted he often questioned drivers more, asking more information about Murtha to see if they really knew him. And they always did! Praising the new captain, Reinert said “he’s the kind of guy who would cut off his arm if you needed it,” and noted that it’s men like Murtha that make the department not only professional but great.
Murtha, after receiving his Captain’s pin which was pinned by his wife, Melissa, along with his son Harry and daughter Danica, first thanked his parents for the way in which he was raised, and then thanked individual members of his family all in attendance in the front rows of the meeting room, noting how they all have played important roles in his life. He then turned to Kathleen Sweeny, and expressed thanks to his ‘adopted family,’ of Kathleen and the late Bernie Sweeney, and noted the roles both have played in his life. He added he is certain “Bernie is happy tonight and looking down on all of us.” Sweeney died Feb. 11, and Murtha and all members of the Police Department served in various positions as pall bearers and other honored positions at Sweeney’s funeral.
Soden, who introduced his wife Samantha and son Justin, who participated in pining on his new rank, also thanked Murtha, noting “he brings energy and I’m looking forward to his passing on his energy” in congratulating Murtha on the promotion. Sodon also thanked his family and all who have helped him along the way to achieve what he has achieved. The new Sergeant also praised the police department members lined up with Chief Reinert along the side of the room, saying he is more than proud to be a part of the outstanding department recognized for its excellence. He praised past chiefs under whom he has worked, from former Chief Jerry Vasto, who was present for the ceremony, along with Chief Rossbach who recently retired, and Reinert, with whom he served night duty for many years, and whom he got to know and respect well for his excellence.
All members of the governing body stood in appreciation and congratulations of the two promoted law enforcement professionals, offering their own appreciation and standing ovations for their years of service and professionalism in providing assistance to the residents and visitors to the borough.
The officers and their guests continued the celebration of their promotions with a buffet dinner at the Shore Casino immediately after the meeting.
