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Selling Sea Bright Down the River

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Selling Sea Bright Down the River
Highlands Council President Joann Olszewski
So Much for the Two Step

Whether you are a parent of children in school, a parent of children going to school in the future, a resident of Highlands, Atlantic Highlands or Sea Bright, or a taxpayer with or without children in the Highlands or Atlantic Highlands schools, it would be to your benefit to attend the Wednesday night, June 12 meeting of the Henry Hudson Regional Board of Education and learn what the three boards of education are trying to do to you and to Sea Bright, voters in all three boroughs, and ultimately, the taxpayers.

Highlands Council President Joann Olszewski made it clear she’s upset because “things just can’t be done this way, it is not fair to residents”

Highlands Council President Joann Olszewski

Olszewski filed a Verified Complaint against the three boards of education in the two towns,  the council president, acting both as a borough official and in her capacity as a private citizen,  charging the boards violated several laws in the actions they took at a special meeting May 28.

Wednesday, June 12, the regional board meets at 7 p.m. but without knowing what might be happening at the transitional board meeting, which begins at 6 p.m., both of which will be held at Henry Hudson school, it might be worth it to attend both.

Henry Hudson Regional PK-12 Transition Board President: Cory Wingerter (AHES BOE),Vice President: Irene Campbell (HES BOE),Appointed Members:,Allison Jacobs (AHES BOE),Karin Masina (AHES BOE),Diane Knox (HES BOE),Rebecca Wells (HES BOE),Richard Doust (HHRS BOE – Atlantic Highlands) Don Krueger (HHRS BOE – Highlands),Riky Stock (HHRS BOE – Highlands)

Highlands Council President Olszewski, as always, will be at the meeting to hear and see the final actions of the board, which, like Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, will simply be a piece of history July 1, 2024.

The new Henry Hudson Regional School Board will be an expansion of the present board, with newly elected board members in November, five from Highlands and four from Atlantic Highlands, representing the new preK-12 district approved by the voters. The transitional Boards will be the operative board between July 1 and January 1, when the first all -elected nine-member board will take over.

The Highlands councilwoman said the boards violated not one, but several laws in taking action.  Action which has still not been revealed to the public and which is designed to impinge on the power of the board of education which will be seated after a vote in November’s election.

In short, Verified Complaint which in part requests an injunction, which is filed in the law division of the Monmouth County Superior Court, charges that the May 28 resolution adopted after an executive session and absent the details of specifically what was included, was actually giving the boards’ approval for its presidents to sign an agreement with Oceanport and Shore Regional Board of Education that would essentially make it prohibitive for Sea Bright to ever be a part of the new Henry Hudson regional School district. The suit points out the boards unanimously passed a resolution to “approve the concept of Settlement …” and further “authorized counsel and the Presidents of the Boards, to negotiate a resolution with attorneys for the Oceanport and Shore regional.”

Olszewski’s action said that it has been learned that sometime this past winter or spring Oceanport and Shore Regional, the two entities that had filed suit against the boroughs for entertaining Sea Bright become a part of the new regional district, began negotiations with the boards which would result in the boards’ agreement to a dismissal of Oceanport’s and Shore Regional’s appeal of the decision the Commissioner of Education made to uphold Sea Bright’s right to be included with a vote of the people.

However, according to the Verified Complaint , the agreement the boards agreed to make with Shore Regional and Oceanport came with the condition and stipulation that Sea Bright first become an operating school district on its own before they could be considered. Such an action could not happen under current law inasmuch as Sea Bright does not have any schools in the borough.  Effectively making it next to impossible for Sea Bright to join the newly formed regional school system.

That resolution, the court papers said, was passed in violation of the Open Public Meetings Act and wrongfully delegates authority to the Boards’ respective Presidents and counsel to approve and execute a settlement agreement that does not yet exist and which may not come into effect until after two of the boards, Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, fail to exist. Advertisements for the meeting did not meet OPRA regulations for identifying the specific reason for the executive session. The boards also voted on a resolution without making it public, simply referring to the actions taken during the executive session, which were not disclosed.

Th court action said this agreement approved in the resolution would “make it nearly impossible for Sea Bright ever to join the new Henry Hudson Regional School District.” The suit further argues that “even perhaps more importantly,” it prevents “voters in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands from voting on a “referendum to consider this important issue.”

Apparently Olszewski’s Verified Complaint was made known to the school boards when it was filed in Superior Court, because Monday night, the Highlands Board , one of the two boards which will no longer be in existence July 1, at its last meeting before being dissolved, met in executive session for 15 minutes, and returned to unanimously pass a resolution to amend the May 28 resolution, but still not revealing the terms of the May 28 resolution. Beams said at that meeting she had just received the resolution 15 minutes before the meeting, presumably from Jonathon Busch, the three boards’ attorney for regionalization.

Tara Beams
Tara Beams

Similar action took place at tonight’s last meeting of the Atlantic Highlands Board of Education and Beams confirmed that a similar executive session and action is expected to take place at Wednesday’s Henry Hudson meeting.

Olszewski, who is a regular attendee at school board meetings, frequently asks questions. Both as a former department, department chairman, and District Supervisor in the Teaneck School District, as well as elected council member she is well aware of Roberts Rules of Order and requirements of school boards in taking action. In addition to the OPRA violations, the suit charges board actions would limit the rights of their successor board by making an agreement that would restrain future boards from further action.

At Tuesday’s meeting in Atlantic Highlands, while the Board Administrator confirmed in response to an e-mailed question that there would be an executive session at the meeting, both the agenda available online in advance of the meeting and the agenda made available to anyone attending the meeting still indicated there would be no executive session.

The Atlantic Highlands Board did go into a half hour long executive session at the end of the meeting, came out and adopted the same resolution Highlands had adopted the night previous and ended their meeting. It is that same action that is anticipated at the Wednesday meeting at Henry Hudson.

Olszewski’s action was filed by Vito Gagliardi, an attorney in the law firm which has been representing both Highlands and Sea Bright in the regionalization issue.

While terms of that May 28 resolution have not yet been made public with Busch saying at the May meeting, they would be part of the approved minutes, the Highlands board took no action at Monday’s meeting to approve the minutes either the special or executive May 28 meetings. Atlantic Highlands board approved the minutes for both the regular and the executive session at their meeting Tuesday, and both should be available Wednesday morning.

VeniVidiScripto will print the minutes as approved should they be available.

School board members from all three boards, together with Beams, have frequently and consistently said publicly they “want Sea Bright to come into the District,” saying only they would want it to happen after the regionalization of the boroughs’ three schools was in place first. “The Second Step,” they said.

Without Olszewski’s injunction, their behind-the-scenes actions appear to make that a virtual impossibility.

However, it appears, the resolutions adopted by the boards this week, again with details discussed in executive session, are designed revise a new Settlement Agreement on behalf of Oceanport and Shore Regional School Districts and once again authorize the Board Presidents to sign on behalf of the Boards. The new resolution further authorizes the Busch Law Group to take all action necessary to enter into a Stipulation of Dismissal of the matter with Oceanport and Shore Regional, apparently on their terms.

“It is clear that the conditions of the purported settlement agreement are designed to exclude Sea Bright from the new all-purpose Henry Hudson Regional School District and to prevent the voters in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands from ever considering adding Sea Bright as a constituent of Henry Hudson Regional,” Olszewski’s court action states.

Olszewski said she conferred with Mayor Carolyn Broullon, other Council-members along with Borough council  who all felt she should exercise her personal right both as a resident and a representative of the residents of Highlands.  The Councilwomen has their full support to take the action.

Sea Bright Sea Bright Sea Bright Sea Bright Sea Bright Sea Bright Sea Bright Sea Bright

Red the Verified Complaint

Guenther – 100 Years, Five Generations

By
Muriel J. Smith
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Guenther
Grandma, Dad, Aunt Gert South Bay Ave Beach Next to King Boat Works Highlands NJ 1924 Highlands NJ 1923
Grandma, Dad, Aunt Gert South Bay Ave Beach Next to King Boat Works Highlands NJ 1924

It isn’t unusual for the Guenther family to get together every summer, generations of the family coming from states across the nation to celebrate their family, their successes, their events and their history.

But this year, the Guenthers will mark a special occasion as they can trace these annual get-togethers back 100 years.

And the celebration as always, will be held in Highlands where Bruno and Mary Guenther first brought their three children for a summer holiday in 1924. The Guenthers had come from Germany and settled in New York and had taken their family on camping trips every summer. But in 1920, when there was illness in the family, the camping trips had to stop.

However, the family lived between 9th and 10th streets in New York and knew about a ferry they knew went to Highlands. So they decided to see what the little New Jersey town was like for a summer.

The couple packed up their young ones and took the ferry to Highlands, staying first at the Blair House on Navesink Avenue, a hotel which was across Route 36 from the current Off the Hook Restaurant.

The family had a boat that first year and knew from the onset that Highlands was where they wanted to spend every summer.

After that first year at the Blair House, the family rented a bungalow in The Grove, a group of bungalows on Portland Road. By 1938, as the youngsters grew and enjoyed swimming in the Shrewsbury River as well as across the bridge in the ocean, the Guenthers bought their first house here. It was obvious they loved Highlands, as they made their purchases three days after the Great Hurricane of 1938.

Five yeas later, the couple moved from that house and purchased another, this one at 4 Marine Place in the Water Witch section of the borough. It was September, 1943, and the Guenthers now owned a “Kit House,” a type of bungalow popular at the time and made by Montgomery Ward or Sears and put together on the site.

Those houses and much of Highlands underwent considerable damage in the next big hurricane that ravaged the area in 1944. Undaunted, sons Arthur and Walter rebuilt their summer home facing the Shrewsbury River and it has survived many storms since then, the most damaging through those years, Hurricane Donna in September, 1960.

But it was the next Guenther generation, the generation of Walter, Kurt, Eric and Janet who once again rebuilt the Guenther Summer residence. Superstorm Sandy ravaged the entire lower level of Highlands in 2010, and the family, still devoted to summers in Highlands, rebuilt the Marine Place sanctuary and raised it in anticipation of possible future storms. Through it all, their motto has always been “Living right on the river is sometimes tough, but always wonderful.”

Nor has the family simply come to town summers and enjoyed all that Highlands has to offer. They became involved not only in the borough but in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church as well, where they are summer parishioners. Walter is recognized as one of the historians of the borough and has given walking tours identifying the families, stores, and other businesses that earlier Guenthers frequented during their summers at the shore.

Now, a century after Bruno and Mary brought their three children for a summer holiday by the sea, there are five generations of the family, together with extended family and the scores of friends the family has met through the years, who have shared memories, laughter, unique experiences, comfort in sad times, and summer recreation and relaxation in Highlands, with plans and hopes to continue the family tradition for another century or more.

Guenther

It’s A Grand Old Flag

By
Muriel J. Smith
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Grand Old Flag

With the entire school in attendance, along with veterans of several war periods, Highlands council president Joann Olszewski and local residents in attendance, the Highlands Elementary School student council retired the American flag in front of the Highlands Elementary School and raised a flag flown over the Capitol at a moving ceremony honoring the borough’s veterans of all wars.

Student Council Advisors Lauren McBain and Megan Harbstreet thanked everyone for attending the ceremony designed and enacted by the fourth fifth and sixth grades, and thanked the McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Base Honor Guard who conducted the lowering of the old flag and the raising of the flag presented to the school by Congressman Frank Pallone.

Student Council President John Moore welcomed the guests and led the group in a pledge of allegiance, with the student body presenting the National Anthem. The choral group also ended the ceremony with the new flag aloft singing “You’re a Grand Old Flag.”

Each of the student council students participated in the ceremony, including student council vice president Sean LaRue, Secretary Isabelle Thorpe and treasurer Jack Hanratty. The officers read a history of the American flag, from the time it was first designed and sewn to the 20th century when it contains the 50 stars and 13 stripes. Students explained the meaning of the stars, number of stripes and reasons for the colors.

The ceremony was first conceived by School principal William Jacoutot after the flagpole, one of the highest points on Route 36 and a focal point to travelers along Route 36, was damaged during a December storm.

Local contractor CharRon, headed by Charles LaRue, the parent of children in the school district, offered to make repairs so the flag could be hoisted throughout the winter; however, continued poor weather and the necessity to bring heavy equipment to the front of the school property in order to make repairs delayed the actual restoration for a short time until weather improved.

With the reception of a flag from the Congressman that had flown over the Capitol, Jacoutot and the Student Council advisors decided to hold a formal ceremony to raise the new flag and honor the borough’s veterans.

With veterans in the audience for the outdoor ceremony, both McBain and Harbstreet, as well as Jacoutot and the student body, thanked the borough’s veterans, and indicated their pride in the number who have served the community in all wars.

After lowering the well-used American flag and folding it, the Honor Guard from Joint Base presented it to Jacoutot. The principal announced the flag will be encased and remain on display within the school.

The Honor Guard also hoisted the new flag before saluting it and tiring their formation.

Student Council chorus members included fourth grade students Sydney Sanfratello, Gavin Devine-Nickerson, Isabella Jenkins, Amellia Penschow and Annabelle Clark, fifth grade chorus members Isabelle Thorpe, Dominique Baros, Lorilai Mannix, Isabella Roga, Isaiah Snow-Hernandez, Teagan Sachok-Ross and Lill Reeves, and sixth grade students Kaitlin Guiney and Gianna Way.

Students, advisors and Jacoutot gave special thanks to the Joint Base honor guard, hometown veterans and recognizing them as “someone who helped protect our freedom” and Congressman Palone for presenting the flag to the school.

Grand Old Flag Grand Old Flag Grand Old Flag Grand Old Flag Grand Old Flag Grand Old Flag

2 Million Dollars…Who Needs It?

By
Muriel J. Smith
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Million Dollars

The Highlands Board of Education, and just as certainly the members of both the Atlantic Highlands and Henry Hudson boards of education, are all great residents of these two towns. Great people, great families, great volunteers and so generous in donating so much of their time and talent to serve on the boards of education.   Million Dollars

But sometimes you have to wonder whether they know all the intricacies before they vote on matters.

Take this regionalization for instance. Talk about it has been going on for years, but no board ever took any firm action to do anything about it. A new law comes up that would allow the three boards to pull in another town so the heavy cost of education is shared by more than the same taxpayers.

Makes sense.

Sea Bright wants to be closer to Highlands, isn’t bringing in many kids, nor shows indication of having any mass infusion of kids in the future. But they’re willing to bring over a couple of million dollars and split the costs of education three ways. Instead of the two ways this regionalization already approved continues to do.

Three ways!

Three Towns.

  The regionalization the voters approved doesn’t save a heck of a lot of money since it’s the same two towns paying all the bills, be it to one, two or three boards of education. If these three boards really wanted to, they could have regionalized the three schools anytime they wanted, without new laws or anything else. But they didn’t. Until Sea Bright indicated they’d like to join. The law was created to enable just that.

Legislators who drew up this new law with their experts must have anticipated there could be law suits. Why would a town like Oceanport, which is reaping all kinds of money from Sea Bright, want Sea Bright to leave?

They must have known there would be lawsuits.

They must have put something in the new law to prevent or overcome that, you would think. If they did not, you can start worrying about them as legislators protecting your tax dollar., too.

But, when lawyers are involved, I guess you can pretty well fight over anything. Lawyers get paid whether they’re right or wrong, just like weathermen.

So Oceanport and Shore regional filed suit; they don’t want Sea Bright’s money to go anyplace else.

So they sue.

Attorneys get to work and get paid.

Then an attorney figures a way, he says, to settle it all. There’s a special meeting called for May 28 for all three boards in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands. They meet, they go into executive session, they come out, they vote on something but won’t tell the public the details.

The attorney gets paid.

Then about ten days later, there has to be another meeting. Another vote. Another change in what everyone has agreed on May 28.

All the members of all three boards apparently agreed.

Nobody asks any questions, at least publicly, but apparently the attorney figures he needs something else. Did he forget something?

Did he just learn something new?

Did he perhaps rush his clients too much May 28?

Did he not know the whole story when he urged the May 28 vote?

Who knows?

That’s not explained publicly either.

So each of the boards apparently agrees to change what they decided at that May 28 meeting.

They meet again.

The first met last night.

It went into a 15 minute executive session, came out. In their haste to do whatever the attorney wanted them to do, they didn’t even formally go back into open session by a formal vote.

They just listened to the Superintendent read the new revised Settlement Agreement and voted to make a change in what they had unanimously agreed on ten days before.

Why?

Because the attorney told them to.

Why?

Did he make a mistake?

Did he forget something?

Did he learn something else and needed a new resolution in order to profit from it?

Or did he make a presentation to Oceanport and Shore Regional and they offered something different and now he wants the boards he represents to do what their attorney wants? Hard to tell. Because the boards are not giving the terms of the agreement now. Or at any specific date in the future.

Does the attorney get paid for the first resolution he had everybody unanimously sign, and then get paid once again for the second resolution that amends the first resolution he had drawn up? Or did the boards agree to something Oceanport or Shore Regional wanted without bothering to tell the Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, or Sea Bright taxpayers anything about?

As a resident, I can’t answer any of these questions. Because I’m not privy to any of the answers.

For the attorneys among you, here are the two resolutions:

Adopted unanimously May 28 by all three board of education:

…Now therefore be it Resolved that after careful consideration, the Boards of Atlantic Highlands, Highlands, and Henry Hudson Regional (7-12) School districts approve the concept of Settlement of the matter in accordance with the options discussed in closed session with legal counsel and hereby authorize counsel and the Presidents of the Boards to negotiate a resolution with opposing counsel and consistent with the parameters provided to Counsel to execute the Settlement Agreement revised in accordance with the matter of “ I.M.O the Verified Petition for the Proposed Creation of a PK-12 All-Purpose Regional School District by the Borough of Sea Bright, Borough of Highlands, Borough of Atlantic Highlands, Henry Hudson Regional School District, Atlantic Highlands School District and Highlands Borough School District, Monmouth County, Docket NO. S-0716-23T4 NMS

Be it further resolved that the board Presidents are authorized to sign the Settlement Agreement on behalf of the Boards, and. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Settlement Agreement shall be made a part of the official minutes of the Boards’ meetings held on May 28, 2024 when available.

The second resolution, the one unanimously adopted by the Highlands Board of Education Monday night, and expected to be approved by the next two boards Tuesday and Wednesday nights is:

RESOLVED, that the Board hereby approves the revised Settlement Agreement received on June 10, 2024 from counsel on behalf of Oceanport and Shore Regional School Districts and authorizes the Board President to sign the Settlement Agreement on behalf of the Board, and further authorizes the Busch Law Group to take all action necessary to enter into a Stipulation of Dismissal of the matter, I/M/O the Verified Petition for the Proposed Creation of a PK-12 All-Purpose Regional School District by the Borough of Sea Bright, Borough of Highlands, Borough of Atlantic Highlands, Henry Hudson Regional School District, Atlantic Highlands School District, and Highlands Borough School District, Monmouth County, Docket No. A-0716-23T4, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Settlement Agreement, subject to ratification and full execution of the Settlement Agreement by the Oceanport and Shore Regional School District Boards of Education.

Million Dollars Million Dollars Million Dollars Million Dollars Million Dollars

Million Dollars Million Dollars Million Dollars Million Dollars Million Dollars Million Dollars

Regionalization:1 More Resolution in Secret

By
Muriel J. Smith
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Resolution

The Highlands Board of Education amended the resolution they had unanimously approved regarding regionalization at a special Tri board meeting May 28 at their final meeting of the Board of Education last night.

School Superintendent Tara Beams said the resolution, which she indicated she had just received 15 minutes earlier from attorney Jonathon Busch, was discussed in the executive meeting at the end of the regular meeting and members acknowledged it with their unanimous vote in approving it.

Tara Beams

The resolution, as approved by Highlands at its Monday meeting, will also be presented in the same manner for the Atlantic Highlands Board to vote at its meeting Tuesday, June 11, and the Henry Hudson Regional Board to act on at its meeting Wednesday, June 12.

The resolution approved by the Highlands boards Monday, June 10 and scheduled to be presented to the other two boards this week, reads:

Resolved, that the Board hereby approves the revised Settlement Agreement received on June 10, 2024 from counsel on behalf of Oceanport and Shore Regional School Districts and authorizes the Board President to sign the Settlement Agreement on behalf of the Board, and further authorizes the Busch Law Group to take all action necessary to enter into a Stipulation of Dismissal of the matter, I/M/O the Verified Petition for the Proposed Creation of a PK-12 All-Purpose Regional School District by the Borough of Sea Bright, Borough of Highlands, Borough of Atlantic Highlands, Henry Hudson Regional School District, Atlantic Highlands School District, and Highlands Borough School District, Monmouth County, Docket No. A-0716-23T4, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Settlement Agreement, subject to ratification and full execution of the Settlement Agreement by the Oceanport and Shore Regional School District Boards of Education.

Be it further resolved that a true copy of the Settlement Agreement shall be entered into the permanent minutes of tonight’s meeting.

Terms of the original settlement agreement, which was unanimously approved by all three boards of education at the special May 28 meeting of the three boards, have not been disclosed but will be part of the minutes whenever they are approved by all three boards. No details of what the proposed settlement agreement is was given during the public portion of that meeting either, other than the boards approved the concept of settlement of the litigation in the matter of a PK-12 all-purpose regional school district by the boroughs of Sea Bright, Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Henry Hudson, as well as the boroughs of Sea Bright, Highlands and Atlantic Highlands.

No indication has been given as to when the minutes will be approved for any of these meetings. Nor is there any indication when the public will learn what the boards of education have unanimously agreed to enable their presidents to sign, either in the May 28 agreement or in the revised agreement Highlands was the first to approve Monday night nor was any reason given why the attorney was making changes to an agreement he had presented and the boards unanimously approved May 28.

No attorney was present at Monday’s meeting.

ResolutionResolution Resolution
 

Much More Than a Massage

By
Muriel J. Smith
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3
Massage

It all started when a dear friend Mary Lea Burden invited me to be her guest at the annual AAUW luncheon at Beacon Hill Country Club. Of course, I couldn’t resist taking chances on some of their magnificent gift baskets, with funds going towards scholarships for young women to attend college. Then I was fortunate to win a lovely basket that included many things, but most of all, a $150 gift certificate for a massage at Balance Massage and Somatic, 1715 Union Avenue, in Hazlet.

And therein lies this story.

Amelia is the owner, sole operator, masseuse, and charming talented lady who has faced some pretty heavy struggles in her own life, but has overcome them all with determination, confidence, and belief in herself.

Raised in the Amazon jungles of Ecuador, as a child she learned massaging and other healing practices from both her grandmothers, one a native of the South American country, the other from Egypt., both healers in their village. It is because of that upbringing that Amelia knew she had a distinct talent and had a special connection to nature and the earth itself. It encouraged her to travel, meet healers and shamans and become more attuned to how she could help others.

Her travels brought Amelia to the United States where she married, had a child, then faced the upheavals of a bitter separation, divorce, loss of home and a new home in a women’s shelter where she cared for her young daughter and tried to bring new light to her life.

Uneducated in the English language, she learned it on her own, begged the leaders of a trial program in Monmouth County to let her attend a class for masseuses, even though she would have to catch up a semester. But she did it, earned her certification and the necessary license to become a masseuse in New Jersey then worked for a family-owned salon for ten years.

When the owners retired from the business, Amelia felt it was time for her to start her own, and the result is a second floor, serene, restful, unique two room piece of healing, relaxation, and inner power.

The massage itself is wonderful. Unlike most masseuses, Amelia works on mind, body and spirit in her hour-long service. She works at improving circulation, introducing ways to bring fresh oxygen into muscles and joints and easing tension. To do all this, she uses more than aromatic oils, soft music, dimmed lights and a comfortable and a perfectly heated massage table. She also uses Swedish therapy, hot crystals, cupping and stone, which she said, pulls poisons and bad tissues from the body.

Her aim is not only to relax her customer, but also to rejuvenate and recharge them for the future. Her massages, she explains, are geared to inducing deep relaxation, something that will promote better sleep later on, thanks to the improved blood flow and lack of muscle tenderness. She accents attention on the tender, sore, or tense parts of the body to achieve results. And she does it with perfection.

But that’s only the Massage Room at this second-floor peaceful place. Her other room is devoted to Shamanic healing practice that includes spirit healing, drumming, chanting, and holistic healing.

Amelia’s beliefs focus on balance, shapes, colors, light, and the earth, how they all blend, how they all relate to each other, and how everyone who understands this can become a vital part of the world, albeit their own small world.

In this practice, Amelia blends the rituals and common sense of ancient wisdom with modern science to be able to connect with universal energies. For those fascinated by the subject, the connection of past to future, this wise and talented self-made woman will give you a brief history of Biogeometry, a science that combines the wisdom of ancient Egypt with the energy of the environment and technology.

Called Biogeometry by Dr. Ibrahim Karim, an architect and scientist, biogeometry reflects the holistic essence of a science that uses shapes, colors, motion and sound to induce harmony. Karim’s theory is based on energy quality found in the centers of various sciences that work together to produce a new quality that uses both science and spirituality to produce harmony. Amelia has decorated the room with the various signs and symbols of the different energies and parts of the anatomy, and uses a hammock for sessiona, the only force, she says, that moves the body just as the earth itself moves in its orbit.

That it all works is cited and praised by her customers, Amelia explains, confident herself that she understands the challenges people face, both spiritual and physical and sees a difference in them between when they enter and when they leave after their energy healing procedures.

“Life can be challenging at times,” Amelia concedes, “and both men nd women should realize they have an obligation to face and work on these challenges.” Having a bit of spiritual help, a lot of relaxing massaging, and a perfect blend of both in a session concentrating on yourself helps make it all easier and more successful.

To learn more about Balance Massage & Somatic therapy, visit Amelias’ webpage or call for an appointment at 732-791-8222.

It’s an experience you won’t forget and will leave you refreshed, relaxed, energized, and healed.

Massage Massage Massage

Henry Hudson Streakers!

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Streakers

There was a bit of a shock and a lot of laughter when Henry Hudson Regional School graduated 115 seniors 50 years ago this month. Three streakers crashed the crowd behind the graduates before running off into the woods.

The graduation ceremony was held outdoors in front of the wooded hill area and Superintendent Joseph Isch and Board of Education president Diane Hostetler were handing out diplomas to the proud teens as they marched past in caps and gowns.

Suddenly three young men, dressed in sneakers, socks and black face masks, suddenly appeared out of the woods about 30 feet behind the graduates, yelling out ‘whoops’ then racing back into the woods.

Thought unseen by most of the audience, it was enough to put the graduates into laughter and cause a bit of a stir until Isch remarked, “if they’re so proud of themselves, why are they wearing masks?” His comments drew applause and laughter and the ceremonies continued. Streakers

Patricia Null was valedictorian and Joan Bozza salutatorian of the class of 1974. Both gave “stirring speeches” about their lives at Henry Hudson.

Streakers

Looking Forward

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Looking Forward

Maybe it’s the style of writing, maybe it’s geared strictly for young adults, maybe it’s that I can’t get past the too frequent foul language to focus in on the story, but clearly, Looking Forward is not my kind of book.

The story is interesting and based on real life, so there’s a sense of sorrow for Mallory Hunt, a teenaged, awkward wealthy kid who felt insecure in a class of beautiful blondes. Maybe that’s what got her years later to shape up, go into the world of high fashion as a model and completely change her exterior, but obviously not what really makes her tick.

Through far too many pages…the book is 417 pages long./…..Malory tells the story of falling in love, out of love, into drugs, out of drugs, into abortion, out of abortion, in an out of Europe, Asia and America, all because of her apparent love for a former member of her favorite band. She’s free in expressing her pain, her drama in life, her humiliations and triumphs, her love affair and far too much drama.

But even with interest in the story, reading it is more difficult because of all the interruptions of the text. The book is way too full of photos of text messages, drawings, empty pages, prologues, epilogue and finally a thanks. Looking Forward

The book is about a stupid, self-centered little girl who doesn’t want to grow up and is in love with an even more stupid, self-centered, egotist without a heart.

Not what I look for in entertainment reading.

 

Past Book Reviews HERE

Looking Forward

Erwin Bieber … Despite the Party

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Erwin Bieber

In most Bayshore towns, the primary election was more a lesson in practice than in any real competition, but in Sea Bright, where Councilman Erwin Bieber was NOT endorsed by the regular GOP, the people of Sea Bright showed they recognize how valuable he is on the Borough Council and happily made him the high vote getter in the primary, which means he an William Keller, the second highest candidate, will be the Republicans on the November ballot for re-election.

Can’t understand why the Republican hierarchy chose to support someone other than the hard working and highly intelligent and wise thinking Bieber, but Sea Bright voters, in giving him the highest vote, show they really do know what’s best for their town.

Votes also showed that it’s politics aside when it comes to the local level. In our small towns along the Bayshore, where people know what’s going on and who’s responsible for what, even without financial or any other kind of formal backing, it’s the good guy who the people want to continue in office!

In Highlands, it was also wonderful to see proud 18-year-olds coming to the polls for the very first time, happy to be there, anxious to do the right thing, and so very proud they have the privilege of voting.

With all the anxiety of being sure they know how to operate the voting machines, can’t help but wonder if it is possible for the county Board of Elections to have a “test” voting machine at the polls so people who are afraid they might make mistakes and lose their vote can try out the machine in advance, just to be sure they know where to push the “read and Print” or “Cast your Ballot” buttons. Erwin Bieber Erwin Bieber

Erwin Bieber

June 8th – the Big 6-0

By
Muriel J. Smith
-
1
June 8th

When Mayor Lori Hohenleitner cuts the ribbon at noon on Saturday, June 8, celebrating 60 years that Bayshore Pharmacy has been a vital and integral part of the Atlantic Highlands community, she will have no idea of the thousands of people of all ages who have been impacted by this family business that has was started by the borough’s former Mayor, long before he became active i the political arena.

Richard Stryker is a native and pharmacist who believes that a pharmacist’s main obligation is to help and protect the life of every customer as well as give every employee a boost and a life lesson that will be remembered and appreciated forever.

Even Ellen Sheehan Duda can’t count the number of teen age employees who got their start at Bayshore and went on to become successful police officers, business men and women, and active adults in every field of endeavor all on a firm foundation cemented by a family that believes in doing the right thing, helping others, and always providing a personal touch even while changing to keep up with the chances and challenges of the 21st century.

Richard C. Stryker is the pharmacist who started Bayshore Pharmacy six decades ago, joined with his brother-in-law Bill McDonald sometime after, sold to a long time pharmacist in the firm Scott Eagleton when he retired and now in the hands of the second generation Stryker, Richard, a pharmacist like his dad who believes he has an obligation to do what he can for his customers and the community.

Ellen Duda is the general manager of the expanded business, also a former council member in Atlantic Highlands, having served on the governing body nine years, and now with the Stryker Bayshore business for the last 26 years….with no intention of retiring anytime in the foreseeable future,

“How could I retire?” she asks rhetorically. “It’s too much fun working here and meeting so many people.”

And providing some life lessons for thee employees, right now somewhere around 30 full and part timers, most of them young people in their first jobs either summers ,weekends, or after school.

Ellen is a strong believer that because the Strykers have made the pharmacy such a family business, she has an obligation as manager to do her share in teaching her staff not only the simple rudiments of being in business with the public, but also with lifelong lessons that will get them through difficult times. ‘Bayshore Pharmacy is a great first job,” she enthuses, “because these kids learn lessons and skills needed to enjoy life. And it’s obvious they appreciate it as well,” she smiles, ticking off the number of visits, good wishes, and invitations to weddings and family reunions she and the Strykers get long after a young employee has left, gone on to college, and become successes in their own fields of work.

One of the first lessons new employees get is the October Blood Drive, when the pharmacy annually has a Blood Bank drive and every employee is encouraged to take part. As Ellen explains it, “some want to donate but they’re fearful of the needle. Sometimes it just takes holding a hand or calming them down. “But the joy comes not only when the young employee does make a donation, but even later when they write or call back years later and say they’ve continued blood donations in drivers wherever they are….and thank Ellen for giving them the courage to try it the first time.

There are series of siblings who find their first jobs at Bayshore, some, like now when there are three sets of siblings on the payroll, to other times when a former part time student will call to say a younger sibling is looking for a summer job. Currently, there are also two generations of the same family at Bayshore, as well as three sisters all working there.

Sisters Sara Litteral, Hannah and Kim Reynolds of Keansburg all are employed at Bayshore Pharmacy

Sara Litteral and her sisters, Hannah and Kim Reynolds, all come from Keansburg for their hours at Bayshore, Sara as an assistant to Ellen and Hannah and Kim as cashiers and counter clerks. The sisters also have their own business, Sister Squad Crafts, and some of their unique and creative items are for sale on Bayshore shelves. Sara’s hand painted artwork is a treasure, and also shows her talent having fun with the English language. A beach and ocean scene entitled “Don’t worry…Beach Happy” is a great housewarming gift, Kim Kristen Simonelli is another local resident who includes Bayshore Pharmacy in her resume in other jobs. She works there now, but also has a few jobs of her own, one of which is Content coordinator for Atlantic Highlands Living, the BVM Media publication that covers Atlantic Highlands and the surrounding area.

Even Scott Eagleton, the former pharmacist now retired, met his wife when both worked at Bayshore; he and Carolyn have been married more than 30 years. Ellen and her husband of 31 years have two sons, Shane, who got his first job at Bayshore, and Colin, who was never actually on the payroll was certainly volunteered a lot for his mom, she laughs, especially when she broke her arm and he stepped up to handle some of her chores.

It isn’t only the pleasant staff, the knowledgeable manager and the excellence of the pharmaceutical personnel that draw customers to Bayshore Pharmacy. It has a gift department that is not only constantly expanding, keeping up with trends, and neatly and attractively exhibited, it’s also arranged by topic and season, by popularity and need.

In addition to the rows and rows of hair, body, head, pain, beauty and everything else helpful and cosmetic displays as a well-equipped pharmacy must have, Bayshore Pharmacy is a shopper’s delight. Because it is the Bayshore, there is an entire section on shells, sand craft, ocean scenes, paintings, and fun gift items highlighting seam sand and surf; there’s another section with Atlantic Highlands, Highlands, and Bayshore commemoratives, and entire section for kids and another for specialties, including teachers and jewelry. Seasonally, there are always gift items for that particular season, although because of its popularity, Irish items are year-round, not simply offered around St. Patrick’s Day. There’s a section for gift ideas for men, from beer steins and sports memorabilia to books, jokes, and items specifically for Dads. One of the newer sections includes a variety of seasonal clothing for women, including scarves and accessories, as well as light beachwear items.

But you’ll never find a cigarette or cigar on sale at Bayshore Pharmacy. You won’t even find a Bic lighter on sale here, although strip lighters for candles and lanterns are always available.

It was March 2006, when the Strykers held a formal ceremony and called in the borough’s road department to help rid them of all the cigarette packs and cartons as well as cigars that had lined their shelves in the back of the store. The Strykers decided to end the sale of the product since they were in the business of providing health for their customers and their belief, based on all the scientific knowledge and studies of it, that the smoking products were in contrast to what they wanted to always do for their customers. Regular customers are well aware there is no tobacco for sale here; it’s only the occasional passerby who is surprised he can’t get a pack of cigarettes in this family-owned pharmacy and gift shop.

The whole family and many of the former employees as well as scores of customers will celebrate 60 years of this family owned business on Saturday from 11 AM to 4 P.M. There will be prizes, giveaways, other businesses participating and offering gifts, and plenty of balloons and congratulations for two generations of a family who has served, continue to serve and plans on decades in the future to serve their customers….all of whom they consider first and foremost, as their friends.June 8th June 8th

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