Atlantic Highlands Mayor Lori Hohenleitner praised the meeting of three mayors and Board of education president Rich Colangelo called by Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon last week at this week’s meeting of the Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Council.
Atlantic Highlands Mayor Lori Hohenleitner
Hohenleitner reported she attended the meeting Broullon called to be sure all are updated on the question of regionalization of Henry Hudson Regional School district and Sea Bright.
Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon
The Atlantic Highlands Mayor said the meeting was very cordial and productive, mentioned “there was no food served,” and said it appears all are looking forward to “possibly making it happen” that Sea Bright will be included in the current regional district.
She noted that “we will wait until we hear something , and then will have our own financial Experts look at it and decide what is best for Atlantic Highlands.
Voters in Highlands and Sea Bright in non binding referendums last year both gave overwhelming support to the idea of Sea Bright becoming a third municipality in the district so it would be possible to share the cost of education among three, rather than two towns without the need for expansion of any of the schools in the K-12 regional district.
Lydia Smith Henry Hudson Regional School freshman Evelynn Knox, who will be competing once again, this time with her own poetry, after competing at the state level last month, isn’t the first student to bring honor to the high school in the Poetry Out Loud competition.
Former student Lydia Smith competed for three years from the time she was a sophomore until she graduated last year. One year competition was modified because of Covid and was conducted virtually and in person and won both the school and regional competition.
The second year she took honors and first place in the school, regional and state competitions. To finish it off, in her senior year, she once again won the school competition as she had done in each of her two previous years of competition.
While Lydia responded to questions from VeniVidiScripto concerning her experiences since winning the state championship in the Poetry Out Loud competitions while at Henry Hudson, Evelynn is preparing for yet another contest, because of her winning the Regional contest this year.
Evelynn will be competing for the 2024 National Finals for original written or oral poetry. The first and second place winners will be announced on May 2 and winning work is expected to be featured on the National Endowment for the Arts website and the Poetry Out Loud website.
At the same time, Lydia, a freshman at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, double majoring in Theater and Integrated ELA Education, still credits the Poetry Our Loud program and Hudson’s English teacher Jessica Merrigan for much of her success.
This year she was able to continue to appreciate her alma mater when she served as a guest judge for the Henry Hudson school event for the Poetry Out Loud competition.
Now a resident of Oakhurst, Lydia attended the Atlantic Highlands elementary School before going to Henry Hudson
She said she never had any intention of competing in the Poetry Out Loud competition; but with urging, from her teacher in her sophomore year she did enter, won for the school, then went for the state title and said, “I thought that it would be the end of my time in POL.”
But the next year “ Mrs. Merrigan pushed me to compete and to my surprise I kept moving forward.” It was because of her teacher’s support and urging Lydia kept competing and then realized “it was because of the peace I found in my recitations. The words I would analyze meant so much to me so I always took a deep dive into how I portrayed myself on stage and what I could make the audience feel.”
The speaker’s favorite poem for the 2023 competition was Kara Jackson’s “Anthem for my belly after eating too much” which she preferred over “April Midnight” by Arthur Symons and “Stomp” by Nikki Grimes.
While competing in the local, regional and state competitions were all fun, Lydia still admits that her own nervousness was one of the most difficult parts she faced… That and memorizing all the poems But she found her own solutions and worked through it.
“When I would get nervous before going on stage, I would start to doubt myself and get scared that I would forget my words. I worked through that by reciting my poem to myself right before going on and then not thinking about it again till the moment I had to recite. By distracting myself and thinking of other things, I wasn’t as worried about what could go wrong or how I could mess up during my performance. “
By contrast, “the easiest part was the research and rehearsal process. I loved deeply analyzing each poem and spending time with Mrs. Merrigan to practice and reflect on how each poem was recited at every level.”
And the best part of the competition? “All the friends I made along the way. So many opportunities opened up and so many connections came from the experience. With Nationals, I met people from all over the country and it was so great to get to know their stories and why they decided to participate.”
It’s obvious all the experiences taught this college freshman a level of confidence she never would have had. She admits that at one time “ putting myself onstage and not being ‘protected’ in the sense of playing another character made me fearful. I was scared of mistakes, embarrassment, and failure. But by putting myself in the right mindset and pushing to improve at every level, brought me so much peace and confidence in my ability to recite,” she explains, looking back over her high school experience…
It was the competition and the entire process leading up to it that enabled Lydia to “put myself out there,” she said. “By growing through each level and performance I did, I learned new skills and ways to enhance my recitations. That way, I was able to learn how to trust myself and be confident in my performance and what I had to give to each poem.”
Perhaps it’s the reputation Gem’s has for offering great bagels that first draws you in. Bay Avenue
Or maybe It’s because there are so few places to enjoy breakfast in Highlands these days.
It doesn’t make any difference. What matters is you realize once you step inside the Bay Avenue eatery and bakery shop, you’re going to have a happier start to your day, no matter what you have going on.
With a crowd waiting patiently to place their order, or have their order prepared on a recent Sunday morning, it was pleasant to see there was quiet conversation among strangers, there was patience and understanding as folks simply waited in line, looked over the arrays of pastries, rolls and bagels on the glass covered shelves or commented on the great cream cheese and salad varieties available in all sizes.
Once at the counter, it’s a young, vibrant, polite and courteous employee who takes your order, always with a smile, always with a pleasant word to say. You get to see the rest of the staff busy at their stations, preparing, wrapping, cleaning, all with assigned jobs, all organized, all simply making it work.
But it’s the sign on the counter that makes you realize Gem’s is really a new business in Highlands that wants to be sure the public knows it’s there to stay. And its aim is to keep people happy.
The sign first of all is a thank you to the folks for coming in and welcoming Gems to Highlands. It’s Donna’s way of telling everyone how happy she is to be opening her second shop, like the one she already owns in Keansburg, and her brother’s half dozen others in Campbell’s Junction and beyond.
But the sign goes on to apologize! The owner is apologizing to the public explaining that the staff is new and they’re still being trained!
Can you imagine? With all the happiness, great food, spotless tables and broad variety of great things to eat for breakfast and lunch, all the very well-organized hard work of so many employees, the owner still wants to apologize because everything isn’t precisely perfect every minute of the workday?
It’s time to stop in Gem’s for breakfast, lunch, or take home of a bag of goodies. Smile back at that young person behind the counter, and thank Donna for being so concerned over whether she’s playing a role in making your day a little happier.
“It doesn’t have to comply,” said Mayor Lori Hohenleitner when questioned whether the proposed sign for Borough Hall is in violation of borough codes.
Atlantic Highlands Mayor Lori Hohenleitner
The surprise response came at the end of Monday’ s meeting of the Mayor and Council when local resident Mark Fisher again asked several questions concerning the approximate $54,000 the governing body approved at the meeting for installation of a new large multicolored LED sign for in front of borough hall.
During the public portion of the meeting before the resolution was unanimously passed, When Fisher asked how many complaints they have been concerning the current sign, the Mayor “from me, personally…that number would be high,” but did not respond to Fisher’s question of how many complaints have been received from anyone in town.
Both Councilman Vito Colasurdo and councilwoman Alyson Forbes voiced their support for the sign, with Forbes saying that as a walker and a person not on Facebook, she appreciates the news on the sign.
Colasurdo said that considering the sign they are replacing is 30 or 40 years old, though no one knew the precise age, he does not think $53,422is a lot of money to spend to replace it.
Fisher said “$53,422…that’s a lot of money .” To which the Mayor responded “thank you.”
During the second portion of the meeting, when the public could voice their opinions again, Fisher cited the borough’s current sign ordinance and read some of its regulations.
Current borough law limits signs to no more than 18 square feet if for some businesses, no more than 20 square feet for non-profits, churches, schools and similar facilities.
Although no one could cite the precise size of the planned LED sign, but agreed it was larger than the sign it is scheduled to replace, it was likened to the borough sign currently on display on West River Road in Rumson, near Crazies’ ice cream store. That sign measures 28 square feet, or at least 8 square feet larger than what is allowed in Atlantic Highlands.
Fisher also pointed out the present code prohibits illuminated signs, flashing, rotating signs or colored signs and asked simply “so does the new sign comply with the borough codes?”
Which is when the Mayor responded “It doesn’t have to”
Fisher then asked? So it can go against our ordinance? The Mayor responded, “If we decide that, yes.”
Indeed, they had decided it by approving the resolution by unanimous vote earlier in the meeting.
Fisher got no response to other questions on the colors, illumination, rotation, or flashing of the proposed $53,422 sign approved for purchase at the meeting.
Apparently by the end of the meeting the new sign which fails to fall within borough limitations for signs in Atlantic Highlands, is still a go for the Mayor. When another resident asked the date of an upcoming meeting, the Mayor responded she did not know it yet, but laughingly assured the resident hat when she knows it, “we’ll put it on the new sign.”
Punishment for private businesses or no -profits who violate the sign ordinance are subject to jail terms not to exceed 90 days, or fines of up to $2,000, or 90 days of community service.
“Mean Girls”, the high school version, came to life with class, talent and enthusiasm last week as the Raritan High School drama students supported by a production staff that included everybody from Director Melanie Taylor to the parents who manned the concession stands bought their talent and vivaciousness on stage for four performances that drew close to 1,000 delighted spectators.
The drama club showed more than musical and stage talent throughout the music loaded story of high school girls and their harmful manipulative behavior with gossip, rumor spreading and bullying.
They showed a talent far beyond what one would expect at a high school level, a talent that included unique techniques in including set changes that converted a school cafeteria to a school classroom and more.
They showed a keen ability and an affection for working together, for appealing to an audience alive with applause and affection, and a sense they felt like professionals accomplishing their goal.
Damian Hubbard as Julian Bibb led a cast of dozens with Kai Feliciano portraying Janis and Olivia Devaney portraying Gretchen, seniors who have apparently enjoyed learning drama, music and the arts throughout their high school years, and making Mean Girls their final stage appearance before graduation.
Ellie Downey, who portrayed Cady, was truly a star on her own in her first Raritan High musical. The recipient of other awards for her drama presentations, she showed she is as great in a musical as she is as one of Dracula’s brides. Elvis Pupovic, taking first role on stage as a senior, in spite of his years announcing Raritan basketball games and work with Global Communications was terrific, especially in a stirring duet with Downey singing “More is Better.”
The entire cast showed dexterity and agility in everything from juggling and gymnastics to dancing and singing and exhibited not only a love for their many hours over the past two months in rehearsing their roles but a respect and affection from Raritan staff including not only Director Taylor but also vocal, music, technical, stage directions and choreographers who worked hard themselves on everything from graphics and set designs to costumes and a program that included thanks and appreciation .
And when it was all over, it was also obvious that the bullying tactics, the rumors, the meanness of the girls in North Shore High School were all just a spectacular act staged to perfection by Raritan High School students who already know that sharing tears and smiles, support and friendship are already a part of their lives and they don’t have to change in order to have others like them.
Mean Girls Mean Girls Mean Girls Mean Girls Mean Girls
With the new cannabis dispensary scheduled to open on Bay Avenue in Highlands sometime in May, it’s wonderful to see how owners Jay Mack and Tim Scramowicz are working so hard and being so creative with the exterior of the building.
The team have nearly completed the outdoor mural that covers the side wall of the dispensary facing the parking lot, and keeping it in the nautical theme the borough is suggesting and encouraging for all new construction and beautification.
In sharp contrast to Jim Kovic’s Miller St. wall that focuses on the borough of Highlands and activities within the borough in warm bright colors, the octopus and other sea life on the dispensary building add a different nautical view of what goes on near and under the sea.
Mack said the octopus is also included in the company’s logo, one of the reasons why this design was selected for the building.
Sramowicz is completing the mural before the dispensary opens, including working weekends when the weather permits.
In keeping with celebrations observing Thomas Jefferson’s birthday April 13, 1743, here are some recipes that, according to the National Constitution Center, Jefferson served at the first meeting of the First Continental Congress in 1774. The Jefferson biscuits, or scones, are still served at the City Tavern at Second and Walnut streets in Philadelphia’s historic district.
Try them with or without nuts, and smear with butter or honey before enjoying.
Jefferson’s Biscuits
2 1⁄2cups all-purpose flour
1⁄2teaspoon allspice
1⁄4cup brown sugar
1⁄2cup butter, cut in small pieces
1tablespoon baking powder
1⁄2cup milk
3⁄4teaspoon salt
3⁄4cup sweet potato, mashed
1⁄2teaspoon cinnamon
1⁄2teaspoon ginger
1⁄2cup pecans, chopped
Directions
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Combine dry ingredients.
Add butter with fork, food processor or pastry cutter until the texture is small crumbs.
Combine milk and sweet potatoes. Add to flour mixture. Add pecans.
Knead dough until it’s a smooth mass. Roll out on a floured surface to 1/2″ thickness and cut with a 2″ biscuit cutter.
Place on a greased baking sheet 2″ apart.
Bake for about 10-15 minutes, or until lightly browned.
The nation’s third President was a tireless recorder, writing down everything from how to plant seeds and vines in the garden to recipes for his favorite foods.
Thomas Jefferson’s Macaroni and Cheese
2-1/2 cups macaroni
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
2-1/4 cups milk
1 tsp salt
Dash pepper
2 cups grated cheese
Cook macaroni according to package directions until tender, drain thoroughly. While macaroni cooks, melt butter in a saucepan, stir flour until smooth, and cook a minute or two. Add milk, a little at a time, and cook, stirring constantly until sauce bubbles. Add salt and pepper.
Arrange alternate layers of macaroni and grated cheese in a medium-sized baking dish or casserole, reserving about 1/4 cup cheese to sprinkle over the top.
Pour hot sauce over all, sprinkle with the remaining cheese, and dot with bits of butter.
Bake 35 minutes in a preheated 400-degree oven. Serves 4 to 6.
If you have a cast iron griddle or cast-iron pan, the Monticello Museum staffers have modernized the three ingredient Monticello Muffins found in Jefferson’s granddaughter’s cookbook , said to be his original recipe.
Monticello Muffins
4 Cups flour
1 ½ packages of yeast
1 ½ Cups water.
Mix flour yeast and water together and knead. It will be sticky so add small amounts of flour as you go along to stop the stickiness. Place it in a bowl, cover with a towel and let rise overnight. Shape into small balls ( like golf balls) and let rise again for an hour or so.
Heat griddle and cook the muffins for five minutes on each side over medium heat.
Apathy It would seem the naysayers who were less than complimentary to Middletown Mayor Tony Perry’s proposal for the township to provide some funds for the board of education by buying some of the school property they don’t need, are placing their frustration in the wrong place.
The Mayor stepped in simply because he was listening to the people, heard a good idea, and can make it happen. The Board could have thought of something like that. But they did not. Or if they did, they did not think it was as good an idea s closing two schools and changing another.
The Mayor stepped in when the Board of Education got itself into the financial jam it’s in then only offered a single solution, one they even knew would not sit well with the people.
The Mayor dose not have any power over the Board of Education. But he does listen to good ideas, works hard, and tries to resolve problems that impact the taxpayers of his town.
It certainly isn’t the Mayor who’s to blame; he’s the elected official who actually heard an idea that made more sense than closing down schools, investigated and immediately responded. Nor does it sound like he wants to place blame right now; rather, he is looking forward to a solution to resolve a serious problem.
It’s the voters of Middletown Township who could shoulder some of it
Some of the blame should be placed on Voter Apathy.
The Board of Education is an elected body. Their meetings are open to the public. They are subject to questioning from the public.
Yet few people attend board meetings, and fewer people ask any questions. There is no doubt school budgets are complicated, and school boards don’t always do everything right.
But it is the people who put them in office who should be following up to be certain they are doing what the voters want.
Has anyone asked the board if there is an overall plan, or has there ever been one, to ensure maintenance is kept up to date to avoid the disastrous overalls that have to be done when regular attention and money are not allocated each year?
Has anyone ever questioned why the Navesink School, one of the ones the Board wants to close, scores so high academically?
Has anyone ever asked why all the elementary schools do not fall in that same category?
And so many more questions over the years. This did not happen overnight.
The New Monmouth School PTA recently held a highly successful fund raising event at the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands. Parents worked long and hard to present an evening of fun and entertainment made possible only by their hard efforts and creative ideas.
The parents, faculty, and even students teamed up to present hundreds…yes, hundreds….of gifts guests eagerly bought chances on, not only because there were so many but because each one was creative, useful, and so attractively presented they were hard to pass up.
The committee for the buffet dinner and entertainment took great care and a lot of time even for the little things. They made attractive sail boats for every table to identify reservations; they had a caller with a terrific voice and great sense of humor call out all the winning numbers’ they were so organized they did it all in their precise scheduled time frame that even left time for dancing and final cocktails while hearing great music.
They all worked so hard to provide more for the kids in the school….like a playground so every child would have a place to run, jump, laugh and play with his friends.
The parents and faculty should not have to be the ones to provide things like a playground for the kids. But they did it…because they wanted their kids to have the benefits of how things could be better with volunteerism, hard work, and everyone working together. The parents saved money for their kids’ education the board of education should have had in place. But they did it because they want to be sure there is a playground for recess or lunch time breaks in their academic day.
School boards are not known for being open and candid with their decisions on budgets, curriculum or priorities. It’s up to parents…and taxpayers…to elect the people willing to take on the job of board members, then keep in touch with them so they know what you want…and that they do it.
A series of events and activities throughout the next couple of months are all on tap in Highlands, with Mayor Carolyn Broullon announcing Monday night’ official recognition of the borough’s 125 anniversary as a municipality.
Broullon made the announcement at this week’ s council meeting, inviting all to come to Borough Hall at 6:30 Monday night for refreshments, celebrations, and an opportunity to learn more about the borough, borough hall, and the borough’s interest and plans for the future.
Also being celebrated in April and honored at the meeting are Arbor Day on April 12, Alcohol Awareness Month throughout the entire month, and Local Government Week the week of April 6, with the Highlands 125h anniversary the focal point of those celebrations.
Councilwoman Karen Chelak also noted the activities of the Business Partnership whose St. Patrick’s Day parade drew more than 12,000 people to the borough.
Jersey Speed Skiff JS-65 Egg Beater Owner/driver Connie Cottrell
The Jersey Speed Skiff weekend the weekend of May 17, other celebrations honoring Cinco de Mayo at the beginning of May, and the Partnership’s annual Craft Festival Memorial Day weekend, and the Taste of Highlands and as well as the Frank Thomas fluke tournament on Father’s Day.
The borough is also celebrating the arts councils and other group of the borough who work towards the beautification of the borough. Cited were the seven organizations involved in gardening, history, film, civic and fraternal groups who work throughout the year to enhance the borough.
Council president Joann Olszewski also reported on her recent meeting with Dr. Bill Jacoutot at the Highlands School concerning the DAR, Daughters of the American Revolution research into a home within one and a half blocks of the school wherever the Yankee troops were under cover with views of Sandy Hook where the British were in control in the months following the Declaration of Independence signing.
She noted their presence there and many other activities and personalities during the Revolution were focused in Highlands and will be recalled and commemorated during the nation’s 250th anniversary next year.
In other business, the borough also authorized Black Rose Construction’s contract totaling $741,851.98 and Colliers Engineers and Dredging contract of $64.500 for construction of a sidewalk along Shore Drive from Waterwitch Ave. to Willow St. for the safety of commuters and others enroute to the Sea Streak dock. Broullon said the work is anticipated to be completed by Memorial Day. Council also approved improvements for Washington Ave. approving a bid of $236,609.94 from Fiore Paving.
On tap for the future, Broullon said, is dredging of Jones Creek, and further consideration and exploration with other officials of a walkway across Route 36 for access to Kavookjian Field.
With the 282nd anniversary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson being celebrated April 13, it is time to recognize the third President of the United States for his brilliance, generosity, creativity, inventiveness, architectural ability and so much more.
In spite of his magnificence or his contributions to the world, for himself, Mr. Jefferson wrote the epitaph on his own tombstone;citing the only achievements he wanted to be remembered for:
Here is buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the State of Virginia for religious freedom and the Father of the University of Virginia.
He never even mentioned he was the first Secretary of State, second vice President or third President of the United States.
That Jefferson towers over every President from Washington to Trump in such a wide variety of excellence cannot be denied.
He was a lover of study, music and history; his served his birth land as a lawyer, a member of the House of Burgesses, a legislator, Governor, member of the Continental Congress, Minister to France, Secretary of State, Vice President and President.
He doubled the size of the nation, created a University, and opened the country to further expansion and research.
He proved himself to be a shrewd and cautious negotiator when he paved the way for the Louisiana Purchase, a 830,000 square mile piece of land he got from France for roughly $15 million when Napoleon was asking for $22 million; it resulted in carving out the states of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Michigan, both North and South Dakota and even parts of what are now Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Minnesota from that land.
President Jefferson doubled the size of America with this one purchase.
He sent Lewis and Clark out those expeditions that opened up the West for this new America.
But these are the facts most people know about the man who was born in Shadwell, Virginia and is buried with his wife Martha on the grounds of his beloved Monticello in Charlottesville, which he himself designed.
There are a host of other fascinating facts about this fascinating man.
He was a musician, known to practice on the violin 15 hours a day. There’s a great story about how two other suitors came to woo the beautiful young widow Martha, while Thomas himself was courting her. Arriving at her home, the two would-be suitors heard the violin and pianoforte being played, and male and female voices raised in song. It was moving enough they realized they didn’t stand a chance against him, left and never returned to try again.
He was a voracious reader and collector of books; he had the largest library of any man in the world at one time. But when the British burned the White House and destroyed the entire library of Congress, it was Jefferson who sold his own private collection of more than 6,000 books for just under $24,000 to establish the Library of Congress.
He was an inventor and also designed improvements for earlier inventions. He is credited with inventing the dumbwaiter, that food service elevator that enabled his slaves to have prepared meals brought up to the dining room at Monticello rather than carried up steps; he was a farmer and made improvements on the plough so it could be operated on hilly pastures; he also improved the polygraph, as a voracious reader and writer, he often made copies of the more than 19,000 letters he wrote in his lifetime, many of which are preserved in various historic and private homes today. He invented a revolving bookcase, purely for beauty and convenience, he introduced crop rotation to America, improving upon what he had seen in Europe.
Jefferson brought back more than ideas from his years in France. His love of wine came about from tasting the many French varieties, his love of ice cream had him introduce that to the United States as a refreshing summertime dessert served from the ice house. He even wrote the first American recipe for ice cream which included 6 egg yolks, half a pound of sugar, two bottles of cream and a single vanilla bean.
Jefferson spoke at least four languages, English, French, Italian and Latin, and read both Greek and Spanish but by his own admission did not speak either of those two.
He was a journalist who kept records on everything from the weather and his gardens to the behavior of animals. He was an animal lover, and his pet mockingbird, Dick, was often seen perched on his shoulder at White Houses meetings.
Before he designed the University of Virginia and was the Father of the University, he designed his own home at Poplar Forest, land he had inherited, and which served as his “quiet place” when he wanted to be away from the crowds.
That building, now open to the public, is octagonal in design, with windows cut so specifically and perfectly to ensure he would receive the precise amount of sunshine he wanted to enter the rooms.
Jefferson appears to be the first President to ignore a subpoena. It was when Congress ordered him to appear in Richmond Va., with a letter he allegedly had received concerning Aaron Burr’s plan to invade Mexico.
He declined to go, saying his absence from Washington would leave the nation without a leader. Chief Justice John Marshall declined to investigate the matter; he simply dismissed the charges against Burr rather than attempt to hold the President in contempt of court.
Thomas Jefferson: tall, red-headed, quiet in tone, better on paper than by mouth, thoughtful, perhaps a bit controversial, so devoted to his wife he never married again at her request when she died after only a few years of marriage, and leader of a nation that could never have been started without him and his fellow believers in the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
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