The Highlands Business Partnership put out a great colorful little in sheet on all the events this year, and it’s pretty impressive . There seems to be a lot going on just about every month, including the Brew by the Bay at the Seafarer on Atlantic Street on May 14 at 1 p.m., then the Seaport Craft Show at Huddy Park on May 29 starting at 10 a.m. This will be the 21st year for this craft show that features artists in everything from jewelry to furniture.
The annual Farmers Market opens this year on Jun 18 at Huddy Park, and what a terrific event that is, with so many farmers and artisans and the best local produce anywhere. This will be the 28th year for this very popular event.
There will be the second year of a fluke tournament on Jun 17 at Captain’s Cove Marina, with a tournament, prizes, and a post weigh-in party.
The annual Taste of Highlands features some of the fabulous eateries in the borough, and that’s set for June 25 from noon to 5, the 11th year they’ve been holding this event.
Of course the Clam Festival is a popular favorite and draws visitors from all over. That will be the weekend of Aug. 5, the 27tth year of featuring the shell food most connected with Highlands, and includes o much more than clams…all other kinds of seafood, beer and wine, specialty vendors, live entertainment, concerts, bands,, even more, and it’s all free!
The Twin Light Bike Ride will be Sept. 17 and entrants have their choice of signing on any one of 5 choices of distance from 15 to 100 miles. This is the 20th annual year for this event, and it’s been known for its landmark views, well-marked routes and well-stocked rest areas. Visit www.bikeny.org for more specifics.
Naturally the 21st annual Oktoberfest on Oct. 21 will feature Bavarian food, German beers, oompah bands and a lot more which will be announced closed to fall.
The handy little brochure spelling out al the events is available at all the local business partner businesses, and was made possible through the generosity of members Bahrs Restaurant, In the Grden, Captains Cove, Montecalvo and Baysore companies, Inlet Café, Dovetail vintage rentals Off the Hook, Highlands Board Club and Rentals the Proving Ground and Hufnagel Tree professional tree service.
The Highlands Business Partnership will host its first annual Fiesta de Mayo Cantina Crawl Saturday, May 7 between noon and 5 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased online for $25.00 per person. The ticket price includes a Margarita Contest with eight restaurants competing for the Best Margarita in Highlands!
Participants will sample eight 6oz. Margaritas and vote for their favorite! The fee also includes discounted food and drink specials at the local eateries and pubs, specials at participating retail establishments and some surprise samplings!
Live Mariachi music will be playing at participating restaurants to add an authentic Mexican flair to the event!
Check-in and walk-up registration are at Huddy Park, Bay and Waterwitch avenues, (301 Shore Drive – GPS) between 11am and 12:30pm. Each ticket holder will receive a wrist band and map of the participating businesses.
This is a rain or shine event and is non-refundable.
Fiesta de Mayo Cantina Crawl is made possible by participating establishments and generous sponsors including NJ State Department of Travel & Tourism, Valley Bank, Bahrs Landing, Chilangos, Chubby Pickle, Gert’s Snacks and Spices, Feed & Seed, Sandbox at Seastreak Beach, In the Garden, Inlet Café, Off the Hook, One Willow, and Seafarer.
For more information on the Fiesta de Mayo Cantina Crawl or to purchase tickets, visit www.highlandsnj.com or call 732-291-4713.
It’s true as many of you have pointed out, and thanks so much for the interest. VenividiScripto has been less than prolific this week, but as the very proud grandma I want to show you why.
My youngest grandson, Angus James Yeoman, graduated from the University of South Carolina this week and more importantly was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy at an incredible ceremony the day before graduation.
Angus is the son of my daughter Tracie and her husband Chris Yeoman and is a graduate of Donovan High School in Toms River. Tracie and Chris themselves are both former active duty sailors, Chris a Chief, Tracie a Commander, now Commander Smith-Yeoman, senior advisor of the Naval Science program at MAST on Sandy Hook. And in addition to Angus, Cdr. Smith-Yeoman had even more reasons to be proud at the graduation and commissioning, but that’s another story you’ll see here soon.
There will be plenty of photos of the ceremony, the wonderful people we met, the old friends we caught up with, and so much more about almost a week in South Carolina where the sun shone, spirits were high, and our days were crammed full of love, activity, and pride.
Notice Angus in his cap and gown and as a proud Gamecock also wearing the streamer showing as a graduating senior, he was active duty.
Hey People of Atlantic Highlands and Highlands! You better start waking out before more of your rights, your decisions, your individual liberties are ALL taken away from you.
Pay attention before you’re left following the lead of those few, elected or appointed, who sound like they think you have no business thinking, asking, or even being informed on your own, let alone taking any action.
I’m angry for any number of reasons this week, but for now, maybe it’s because the people of Highlands are kind of letting the people of Atlantic Highlands run their lives. One more time.
If you’ve been around long enough, you remember more than half a century or so ago when Atlantic Highlands didn’t want Henry Hudson to be in Highlands, didn’t want their kids going to ‘that town.’ It took the determination and power of the people that got that high school up on the hill on a prime piece of land today’s Admirals are so proud to call their own. In Highlands yet.
Well, it’s the same thing now. Highlands officials, like Sea Bright officials, have taken the steps to let the people have their say on whether they want to save money and regionalize education. But they can’t even get that matter to the people in their towns to decide.
Know why?
Because Atlantic Highlands elected officials don’t care as much as the other two towns to let the people who pay all the bills and support all the businesses in town take the steps necessary to put a question on the November ballot.
Regionalization of schools is a big question across the state. And in January, after every member of the Legislature as well as the Governor approved it, the state plunked down a bunch of money so every town could call in experts and look at their own areas with professional help and review every phase of education as well as the best way to pay for it. That way, local folks would have recommendations on the best ideas for joining forces with other towns for a better education at less money. The legislation and the money given to conduct studies was a sign even state officials thought this was a question that should be decided at the local level. But, it also made clear, if the towns don’t do something themselves, well, then, the state will come in and do what it thinks is right. For your town.
So the three towns…Highlands, Sea Bright, and Atlantic Highlands, have passed that hurdle. The result is the Porzio report, a study completed by the only firm in the state that has ever presented a working, successful, economically improved regional district plan.
But for Atlantic Highlands officials, that isn’t enough. The Tri-district, just Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, paid for another study, just for the two towns. That study was supposed to be finished in March. It wasn’t. Then April. It wasn’t. Now it’s May. And apparently, it’s not done yet. Or if it is, the folks haven’t heard about it yet. As an aside, the fact a plan was paid for and scheduled to be concluded a few months back and still isn’t done makes me wonder how great the study can be on planning the future of education in the first place..
Now to the next step. In order to get a school question on the ballot, a town needs to get the approval of the Commissioner of Education. She has to read the request, study it, talk about it, make a decision, and write back to the towns to let them know she thinks that study is good and workable. The governing bodies then have to put the question on the ballot so the people can make the choice. All of that takes time. And the deadline to have it all finished is August 15. Sounds like a long time off, but think again, it will be summer and there are lots of other things going on. And red tape is always difficult to wade through in a timely fashion. And Atlantic Highlands is still hanging around without either approving a question on the ballot to start the process or holding a workshop on the one plan it has to let the people know what’s in it.
Do you see what I’m saying, Highlands people? You’re letting your next door neighbor stall and keep you from possibly having a vote on future education.
It’s been months since Highlands and Sea Bright have both said yes, please put a question on the ballot. It still needs Atlantic Highlands to say the same thing, according to state law. The Mayor wants the people to be able to have their say, looks like some of the council members want to as well. One councilman’s wife even quit her position on the school board so her husband could have a vote, kind of a weak thing to do. But the other councilman who has a wife on the board is going to be able to vote; his wife didn’t quit what she swore to do simply because things got a little tough.
But none of them backed the mayor when she asked to have a similar resolution approved. Or even a public hearing on the Porzio plan. Some said wait until that second study is finished, then hear them both at the same time.
Somehow, that sounds like an overwhelming amount of information for folks to have to absorb all in one night. What harm is there in hearing one idea being explained one night, then another idea another night? What’s wrong with letting the people know everything that’s going on?
The towns authorized a study, it was done the state paid for it, and workshops have been held in Highlands and Sea Bright. Just not in Atlantic Highlands.
So once again, Highlands residents. You’re letting Atlantic Highlands make decisions for you. You’re letting Atlantic Highlands tell you that by their holding out, they can deny you the right to vote on whether you want to regionalize with them alone, or with them and Sea Bright too.
Get on the phone. Call your friends and relatives in Atlantic Highlands. Ask them why they are letting their elected officials stall in giving not only you, but themselves, the right to hear the whole Porzio plan and cast your own ballot expressing how you think things should go. Ask them to attend Thursday’s meeting of the Atlantic Highlands Council at 7 p.m. and ask why nobody is supporting the Mayor in letting the public say how they want education to go in their towns. Ask them why they don’t want a workshop as soon as possible on the Porzio plan. Then, if the tri-district plan gets done and is released, have yet another workshop on that plan.
Ask them why they don’t ask why they can’t have the same rights as their friends and relatives in Highlands and Sea Bright.
Want to know the quickest, easiest, best way to end racism? Have everyone in the nation enlist in the military!
Spending a week in South Carolina with a mixture of civilians and military, officer and enlisted, active duty and reserve, blacks, whites, Muslims, Hindu, Pennsylvania Dutch, Christians, Jews, rich, poor, educated and not so much, South Carolina native and tourist to name a few, they all had one thing in common. Color doesn’t mean a damn thing.
It all reminded me once again a lesson I learned decades ago. It was the time my son, a fourth grader, let me see that albeit unknowingly, I was teaching him to be a racist. Fortunately, it was a lesson he did not learn, but it taught me that racism is indeed a learned attitude.
I had known since before we were married that my husband, an Army veteran, was not racist, I suppose, but it simply wasn’t something we talked about. I knew there were few, if any, Blacks living in Highlands, but then, I came from Union, and other than the Vauxhall section, there weren’t many blacks there either. And that was just a section like another section where so many Irish lived, or another where all the Italians lived. And so on. Families moved close to families, friends moved closes to friends, that’s all.
These were just things you noticed, like when the daffodils come up in spring or the lilacs bloom on the highest branches first. But it simply wasn’t worth mentioning. And it wasn’t anything to talk about.
But watching the interaction this week of college kids and Sailors and Marines, with a few soldiers and airmen as well, it was so obvious that color is probably the last thing they noticed about each other. And if they did, it was only to better describe a new friend, or an old buddy.
There was the party a group from the Navy ROTC graduating class had at Steel Hand, an outstanding brewery, one of many, in Columbia. In addition to featuring dozens of varieties of beer brewed right on the spot, it also had both indoor and outdoor areas and tables for families and friends to gather, in groups large and small, for horseshoes, other games, music, dancing, and of course food and drink.
There was a group of casually clad folks ranging in age from late teens through senior citizens celebrating some event of a couple of folks among themselves. Hearing the laughter, seeing the joy, loving the outbursts of music, it was easy to grab a table near them just to hear the sheer happiness around the bar. But that wasn’t good enough for these folks. They quickly gathered us in, asked where we were from, and when they heard the military ties in our group, one of them called out to stop the music, stop the chatter, and said, “Hey., here’s a Chief! This is Chris!” And immediately the cheers started ,the fists bumped , the women run over and hugged and congratulated him, and the party instantly spread to our table. Then beyond. Then when they heard there was also a Marine in our midst, it started all over again. Young guys swapped stories of their service years with the old, experienced ones; all talked about the ships they served on, the places they were, the things, they did, the fun they had. Color didn’t matter.
Outside in the roofed in open area, it was the same way. No one cared about color, no one cared about what sex people were, no one cared where you came from or what you did for a living. It was all about simply liking to spend some time with someone they may or many not ever see again. We learned one of the females had just picked up Master Chief, one of the guy had just made Senior Chief. Both made it because of talent and hard work. They were two different colors.
It was typical throughout the week. Easy to see people of all colors and dress hugging each other, laughing together, eating in some of Columbia’s great restaurants, or shopping in their stores.
They say the Civil War is not over in the South, Nor will it ever be to some people. But put it all in the hands of the military where people of all colors work together, where their lives sometimes depend on each other, where each knows he has to carry his own load and be ready to share the load of someone in need.
It’s a great lesson the US military teaches without even realizing it. Just like the lesson I almost, but fortunately never taught, without even realizing it so many years ago.
Jimbo had a new kid in his class at OLPH. For weeks, all I heard about was Byron. Byron was wonderful, Byron could do anything, Byron could jump higher, run faster, had more fun, learn more than anybody. Byron and Jimbo obviously became fast friends. I knew Byron’s dad was in the Coast Guard at Sandy Hook, so at Jimbo’s request, I called Bonita, his mom, and made arrangements for him to come to our house after school for an afternoon of play, then Bonita would pick him up later.
The afternoon was wonderful; Jimbo and Byron played in the backyard, Jimbo showed his friend all his pets, they got together with Jimmy and Bobby and Chris and played ball in the school playground. At the end of the afternoon, when Bonita picked up Byron there were shouts and claps and backslaps all around as the kids knew they would do this again and again.
At supper, rehashing the fun time they had, I casually said to Jimbo, “I didn’t know Byron was black.” Jimbo didn’t miss a beat, didn’t stop eating, he simply responded to me with “is he?” I swallowed hard with shame at what I had almost done.
As for Jimbo? Of course he carried his same nonchalance at a person’s color with him into the Marine Corps where he found just about everyone else with whom he served felt the same way.
If you have a bike you no longer need or want, the borough of Freehold is looking for gently used cycles to use in its Fourth Grade Bike Safety Program.
The borough’s Educational Foundation will be accepting bikes at the Park Avenue School Saturday, May 21, between 9 and 11:30 a.m.
All donations of bikes in working order are being accepted and will be put to good use in the safety program, said Mayor Kevin Kane.
For further information or a response to any questions, contact Lynn Reich at 73e2-462-3357.
The Public Library (MTPL) will host “Reducing Anxiety for Teens” Wednesday, May 25 at 7 p.m.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and MTPL is featuring Megan Callus, a Z-Health Applied Neuroanatomy Specialist from Reactive – Neuro-Physical Advancement Center for a mental wellness program geared toward helping teens combat and reduce anxiety through breathing techniques.
All tweens and teens between grades 5-12 are welcome to join this in-person wellness program in the library’s community room.
Registration is required and further information is available on the library’s calendar page at mtpl.org. or contact Jenna O’Donnell at jodonnell@mplmain.mtpl.org.
The Middletown Township Public Library is located at 55 New Monmouth Rd.
It was Commissioning Day at the University of South Carolina last week and a proud day for Monmouth County. From left, Ocean County’s Ensign Angus Yeoman and Middletown’s Ensign Eric DeWaters, together with Marine 2Lt. Ryan Cronin, (second from right) and Marine 2Lt. Jimmy McNamara of Freehold, celebrate with Capt. John Compton, USN, Professor of Naval Science at the University of South Carolina, and Cdr. Tracie Smith-Yeoman, USN (Retired), Senior Naval Science Instructor at MAST on Sandy Hook, a USC NROTC alumna herself and the mother of Ensign Yeoman. DeWaters and Cronin are both graduates of MAST and its NJROTC program and McNamara is a graduate of Colts Neck High School and its NJROTC program
Thursday night, May 12, at 7 p.m. is the Atlantic Highlands Council meeting and there’s nothing on the agenda about acting on a resolution to let the people vote.
It’s hard to believe, but a question as vital and necessary as whether the town wants to save money on educating its next generation and do it to the best of their ability with the best possible use of funds to accomplish this still has not been answered by the Mayor and Council…make that Council, since the Mayor has already asked for it to be put to the vote of the people.
What, people of Atlantic Highlands, are you so frightened of? Why, governing body, do you not want the people to decide what’s best for their town? Why can’t the public have the right to vote on what is best both for the folks paying the bills and the folks being educated?
That study by the boards of education of Highlands and Atlantic Highlands that was supposed to be done in March, then April, then May, still has not surfaced. Has it been finished, released to the boards of education and still not released to the people? Cynic though I am….and 65 years as a reporter does tend to make one cynical……might the report from the tri-district be back, be read, and whoa…maybe not be as great, beneficial, pro-better education or not economically feasible than some people have been hoping for? Might it not missing some positive features like better education at a cheaper price? Might it show the only answer for regionalization is to join with Sea Bright? Or did it not even consider joining with Sea Bright? Or joining with Middletown and becoming Middletown East at Henry Hudson? These are just questions, in the absence of seeing any report, we simply don’t know what it shows.
Yet we wait. We wait for a report that’s already been promised and delayed twice. We wait to see whether this report really contacted outside sources to get complete results.
And while we wait, the clock keeps ticking. The state still requires any questions for the November ballot be intact, approved, and on their official plate by Aug. 15. Delays mean this might not happen. And wouldn’t that be ironic? We all agree the questions of education and cost should be in the hands of the people. But whoops, we made that decision too late, and missed the opportunity. So don’t worry, folks at the state level, where they don’t even know the charm, the beauty, the camaraderie, the smart kids, the cost of living or anything else about our great little corner of Monmouth County, will be the ones making the ultimate decision.
I don’t really know Tracy Abby-White. I remember writing a feature story on her and her husband decades ago when they adopted not one, but three infants and we were all thrilled, not only for the new family, but for these precious babies who found a new life. Bit I’ve read up on her in recent years. Now I know how brilliant she is, how open-minded she is, how reasonable, intelligent, and far-reaching she is in her thinking and ideas. I know she is a strong and active member of the Brookdale Board of Education, I know she’s successful in her professional life, and I know she’s been both a member of a governing body and a board of education. She doesn’t seem like a lady with any personal axes to grind, but rather, someone who loves her family, her town, her county and her country. She isn’t a quitter, she doesn’t walk about from tough decisions, nor does she linger in the background and let others speak or vote for her.
So maybe people should listen to Tracy Abby-White. Maybe people should delve deeper into why she is her urging people to attend council meetings, speak up, suggest, ask, demand, that they be given the right to express their own opinions.
Everyone cannot speak out with such conviction and powerful voice to make something better. But everyone can use that conviction and power inside a ballot box. Trace is simply asking people to let the governing body know they want that right to express their opinions in the privacy and assurance of the ballot box. It doesn’t appear the governing body is going to take any action at Thursday’s meeting to get the question on the ballot. But with some urging from residents, from questioning by voters who are up on timelines and deadlines, perhaps convincing Council at Thursday’s meeting they really want to be heard in the ballot box is enough to get action at the final May meeting to get all the “i’s” dotted and “t’s” crossed in time to make it to the November ballot.
Listen to Tracy Abby-White. Tell the Council. Then learn more about the options. And in November, feel good about yourself as you go into the ballot box and in the privacy and security of your secret ballot, do whatever you think is right for the future of education in the Bayshore.
But it still requires that first step of getting the question on the ballot. Before Aug. 15. Time’s a’wastin.
Here’s a nice, easy, refreshing and absolutely great-for-the-eyes Spring or Summer Supper for two very hungry adults or four who want to add a tuna or chicken salad alongside.. Have it with a loaf of French bread and dip the slices in olive oil, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. It just might call for a cooling Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio and perhaps a lemon sorbet for dessert.
Mango and Feta Cheese Salad
2 tsp. Balsamic vinegar
1 Tbls. Olive Oil (EVOO)
1 Cup sliced red onion
2 Cups cubed mango
1 Cup cubed avocado
1 Cup cubed cucumber
1 Cup tomato, cubed or pieces
½ Cup sliced radishes
½ Cup feta cheese, cubed
4 Cups lettuce, shredded into small pieces.
Salt and pepper to taste, but I never think either is necessary.
Blend vinegar and olive oil and whisk in a large bowl. Add onion, mango, avocado, cucumber, tomato and radishes and toss well to coat all ingredients .
Divide lettuce between two dinner plates, spoon salad on top and divide feta over each plate.
In addition to all the Vitamin A and C, there’s plenty of protein in this dish, and about 600 calories.
