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All Saints’ Auction

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
All Saints'

All Saints’ Memorial Church (a/k/a The Stone Church) will hold its annual All Saints’ Auction Saturday, May 18.

All Saints'

Preview for the evening’s items will begin at 5:30 with the live auction underway at 7 p.m. in the Stone Church Parish House, 202 Navesink Avenue.

Price is $40 per person and includes beverages and appetizers as well as five tickets for auction baskets.

During the lively night of fun, food and festive beverages, guests can bid on a wide array of fabulous silent new and unique auction items including gourmet, beauty and entertaining baskets, and certificates to popular local restaurants. The activity leads to the live auction featuring getaways, tickets to sporting events, cooking demonstrations and much more! The community is invited to participate in the event and should note their contribution allows All Saints’ to assist with outreach commitments and help upkeep this National Historic Landmark campus which serves the community in many ways.

With limited space, guests are urged to reserve early or seek further information by visiting https://allsaintsnavesink.org/annual-auction or www.allsaintsnavesink.org/events

All Saints’ Memorial Church (a/k/a The Stone Church) will hold its annual All Saints Auction Saturday, May 18.

Preview for the evening’s items will begin at 5:30 with the live auction underway at 7 p.m. in the Stone Church Parish House, 202 Navesink Avenue.

Price is $40 per person and includes beverages and appetizers as well as five tickets for auction baskets.

During the lively night of fun, food and festive beverages, guests can bid on a wide array of fabulous silent new and unique auction items including gourmet, beauty and entertaining baskets, and certificates to popular local restaurants. The activity leads to the live auction featuring getaways, tickets to sporting events, cooking demonstrations and much more! The community is invited to participate in the event and should note their contribution allows All Saints to assist with outreach commitments and help upkeep this National Historic Landmark campus which serves the community in many ways.

With limited space, guests are urged to reserve early or seek further information by visiting https://allsaintsnavesink.org/annual-auction or www.allsaintsnavesink.org/events All Saints’ Memorial Church (a/k/a The Stone Church) will hold its annual All Saints Auction Saturday, May 18.

Preview for the evening’s items will begin at 5:30 with the live auction underway at 7 p.m. in the Stone Church Parish House, 202 Navesink Avenue.

Price is $40 per person and includes beverages and appetizers as well as five tickets for auction baskets.

During the lively night of fun, food and festive beverages, guests can bid on a wide array of fabulous silent new and unique auction items including gourmet, beauty and entertaining baskets, and certificates to popular local restaurants. The activity leads to the live auction featuring getaways, tickets to sporting events, cooking demonstrations and much more! The community is invited to participate in the event and should note their contribution allows All Saints to assist with outreach commitments and help upkeep this National Historic Landmark campus which serves the community in many ways.

With limited space, guests are urged to reserve early or seek further information by visiting https://allsaintsnavesink.org/annual-auction or www.allsaintsnavesink.org/eventsAll Saints’ Memorial Church (a/k/a The Stone Church) will hold its annual All Saints Auction Saturday, May 18.

Preview for the evening’s items will begin at 5:30 with the live auction underway at 7 p.m. in the Stone Church Parish House, 202 Navesink Avenue.

Price is $40 per person and includes beverages and appetizers as well as five tickets for auction baskets.

During the lively night of fun, food and festive beverages, guests can bid on a wide array of fabulous silent new and unique auction items including gourmet, beauty and entertaining baskets, and certificates to popular local restaurants. The activity leads to the live auction featuring getaways, tickets to sporting events, cooking demonstrations and much more! The community is invited to participate in the event and should note their contribution allows All Saints to assist with outreach commitments and help upkeep this National Historic Landmark campus which serves the community in many ways.

With limited space, guests are urged to reserve early or seek further information by visiting https://allsaintsnavesink.org/annual-auction or www.allsaintsnavesink.org/events

Rabbi Dovid Harrison at Care One

By
Muriel J. Smith
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Rabbi Dovid Harrison at Care One
Rabbi Dovid Harrison spends some tiime chatting with Richard, one of the residents at Care One at Middletown who shared time with the Rabbi during the Passover season.

Rabbi Dovid Harrison, religious leader and Lubavitch-trained rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom in Red Bank spent time with Jewish residents and others at the Care One at Middletown before Passover, sharing thoughts and bringing comfort to residents.

The rabbi, who is also an attorney, has been teaching Jewish culture in the area for several years, He and his wife Hindy have three children and are both active in the community. He was invited to meet with residents at the care center at the request of residents who enjoyed an informal meeting with the religious leader.

Rabbi Harrison is a native of Miami Beach, Florida, attended high school in a French yeshiva and earned his bachelor‘s degree in Talmudic law from Yeshiva Gedolah Rabbinical College in Miami. He earned a master’s in Hebrew letters and was ordained from the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown; he earned his law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in Manhattan in 2004.

Rabbi Dovid Harrison, religious leader and Lubacitch-trained rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom in Red Bank spent time with Jewish residents and others at the Care One at Middletown before Passover, sharing thoughts and bringing comfort to residents.

The rabbi, who is also an attorney, has been teaching Jewish culture in the area for several years, He and his wife Hindy have three children and are both active in the community. He was invited to meet with residents at the care center at the request of residents who enjoyed an informal meeting with the religious leader.

Rabbi Harrison is a native of Miami Beach, Florida, attended high school in a French yeshiva and earned his bachelor‘s degree in Talmudic law from Yeshiva Gedolah Rabbinical College in Miami. He earned a master’s in Hebrew letters and was ordained from the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown; he earned his law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in Manhattan in 2004.

Rabbi Dovid Harrison, religious leader and Lubacitch-trained rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom in Red Bank spent time with Jewish residents and others at the Care One at Middletown before Passover, sharing thoughts and bringing comfort to residents.

The rabbi, who is also an attorney, has been teaching Jewish culture in the area for several years, He and his wife Hindy have three children and are both active in the community. He was invited to meet with residents at the care center at the request of residents who enjoyed an informal meeting with the religious leader.

Rabbi Harrison is a native of Miami Beach, Florida, attended high school in a French yeshiva and earned his bachelor‘s degree in Talmudic law from Yeshiva Gedolah Rabbinical College in Miami. He earned a master’s in Hebrew letters and was ordained from the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown; he earned his law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in Manhattan in 2004.

Rabbi Dovid Harrison, religious leader and Lubacitch-trained rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom in Red Bank spent time with Jewish residents and others at the Care One at Middletown before Passover, sharing thoughts and bringing comfort to residents.

The rabbi, who is also an attorney, has been teaching Jewish culture in the area for several years, He and his wife Hindy have three children and are both active in the community. He was invited to meet with residents at the care center at the request of residents who enjoyed an informal meeting with the religious leader.

Rabbi Harrison is a native of Miami Beach, Florida, attended high school in a French yeshiva and earned his bachelor‘s degree in Talmudic law from Yeshiva Gedolah Rabbinical College in Miami. He earned a master’s in Hebrew letters and was ordained from the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown; he earned his law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in Manhattan in 2004.

Atlantic Highlands High School

By
Muriel J. Smith
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2
Atlantic Highlands High School
Arnold T. Truex

In 1939, when there was an Atlantic Highlands High School and teens from Highlands had their choice of going to that school or Leonardo High School on Leonardville Road, now Bayshore School, the Atrecall, the Atlantic Highlands High year book was dedicated to a man whose name and family are still a vital part of Atlantic Highlands. The book also included a tribute to another man whose expertise, experience and lessons of good sportsmanship led the students to thank him for “a greater appreciation of love of sports…”

The class advisor was Everett Curry, the sports figure was Arnold T. Truex.

Everett Curry, who later became Mayor of his home town, was a graduate of Trenton State Teachers College and nine years later was class advisor at the school along with Miss Cecil Brayton, later identified as Mrs. Howard Engelhardt.

Atlantic Highlands High School
Everett Curry

In praising Advisor Curry, students wrote he taught them “the art of making raw materials into useful crafts,” and said that since he earned high honors when achieving his degree in Education he was able “to transfer his ability and industry not only to the manual training department” ..but also to being and advisor. At the same time, the teacher was also active with the Sea Scouts.

Students described Curry and admired ”his calm disposition and his congeniality” which they said “are always in evidence. Time and effort are meaningless to him in the execution of a task”, students wrote, and “one often hears it said of him that he never has the heart to say no.” In expressing gratitude for his everyday demeanor, his assistance with everything from the school’s Strawberry Festival to building the scenery for school plays, the students could only say “He’s tops!”

Truex, who was the boys physical education instructor for all four years of the Class of 1939, taught the students “the better evaluation of good sportsmanship and the desire to learn and play the games as near perfection as it was humanly possible.” The yearbook commentary then went on “to prove these efforts were not in vain is only to show the seasons records of those four years summarizing the main high points in their sports.

Truex brought “one of the two smallest high schools in the Shore Conference Group II Division to third place finishes in baseball and football and second place finishes in basketball and baseball in the1936-37 seasons, a tie for first place with Lakewood in football in the next year, a first in Shore Conference basketball and North Central Jersey Championship basketball, and a place in the State Finals, losing to Princeton by one point, 18-17. In the final year, Truex brought his team to a fifth place in football, a third in basketball and a first in baseball. Through it all, students wrote, he was “a Molder of Men.” and wished him luck in his future achievements and success in all his undertakings.”

Among the 45 students in the class of 1939 were Stanley Sorenson, Grandin Paddock, Edward Kwik, Harold Cottrell, Gerard Dempsey, Joanne Banfield, Anthony Carbone and William Black.

 

A

Atlantic Highlands High School

Atlantic Highlands High School Atlantic Highlands High School Atlantic Highlands High School

Fins for Freedom

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Fins for Freedom
Fins for Freedom … Earned, Never Given

NORAD of Davisville, one of the top ten auto importers in North America is a proud Premier Sponsor of Fins for Freedom, thanks to the generosity of its owner, Michael Miranda of Rhode Island as well as the enthusiasm he exudes for the project among his workers, notably Matt Martyn of Bayville.

Fins for Freedom is the three year old non-profit volunteer team of four men who work through boaters and other volunteers out of the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Harbor to annually provide a day of meals, fishing and relaxation off shore in private boats to both active duty and military veterans. This year’s event leaves from the Harbor the morning of May 18 in Armed Fores Week, following a breakfast at the Harbor and dinner upon the return trip.

“It’s seeing the difference it makes to have a day of joy and relaxation,” said Martyn, a NORAD employee who first heard of the program and eagerly signed up to assist. He said it was his privilege and joy to work as a mate on one of the more than two dozen private boats that took the servicemen and women out for the day’s fishing trip last year and he is hopeful of being able to be of service however he can this year as well.

When Martyn shared the news of the Fins for Freedom program to his boss, his enthusiasm was enough to convince Miranda he and the company could also help out with the program. He immediately made NORAD a generous financial contributor towards making it happen every year.

Martyn’s stories from last year are still fresh in his mind as he recounts tales he heard from veterans during the day. Some had never been out for a day on the water and how he recalls how good they felt to be able to spend it with other veterans. He told of a retired soldier who welcomed a respite for a day from his cares and concerns for a loved one, at home in Hospice care. He recalled his own father’s time in the Navy and the impact his military life had on his and his family’s life.

Nor has Martyn kept all the joy to himself. In addition to the NORAD contributions to ensure Fins for Freedom can provide the day’s outing for years to come, Martyn’s mother,Toni, who lives in Brick, wanted to be sure each of the would-be fishermen at least had a touch of sweetness for the day’s outing. Last year, she was at each boat to present bags of home-made cookies to each of the anglers. She’s waiting to find out the total number this year before she gets out the bowl and greases the cookie sheets.

Persons and companies wanting to donate to the Fins for Freedom fishing day can visit

Info@finsforfreedom.com

My Heart’s Journey …

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
My Heart’s Journey: Chasing Love through Europe on a Motor Scooter
My Heart’s Journey: Chasing Love through Europe on a Motor Scooter

A Memoir by Joan Foor

Foor Publishing, 2020

My Heart’s Journey … Don’t we all have one?

In 1964, when a 28-year-old woman decided she really needed to see the world, she did it, picking up a German motor scooter and taking on thousands of miles on her little motorized vehicle by herself, unafraid, eager, and never knowing what was going to be happening the next day. In the end, she had pretty well captured all of Europe, met some amazing people, fell in and out of ‘love’ several times and proved to the world a determine woman even in the 1960s could do whatever she put her mind to.

Half a century later, this same lady now a retired Army officer, a much smarter woman and a great writer, found all here notes and collectibles from that time when she was so daring and got the idea others might like to hear her stories.

Joan Foor was right again!

My Heart’s Journey, an engaging and fast paced paperback is unique in the way Foor tells of stories of traveling from France through Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Denmark and more. She wastes little print on the beauty of the Eiffel Tower or the grandeur of Notre Dame when in Paris, or the castles of Heidelburg Germany, or even where Grace Kelly got to live after she gave up her Hollywood stardom for a happy marriage to a Prince in Monaco.

Instead, she writes about her several flirtations and weird encounters along the way, the amount and kinds of food and drink she savored in each country. She must have loved it all; she even preserved and included in the book photos of receipts in several languages, letters from home and even correspondence about her scooter which she put up for sale at the end of the trip.

The author touches on her love life that was part of the reason she took the journey in the first place, and about meeting, greeting and loving the family of her intended husband at some time further down her lifeline.

Through it all, she writes with a passion for the unusual, a daring that gave her such an exciting few months, and an experience which doubtlessly created a new foundation for her life from then forward.

What happened to the love interest, the friends she met and has kept through the years, the shocks and disappointment getting back to the States at the end of the trip are all included in a book that convinces the reader that in her later life as an Army officer, she must have been a tough lady to reckon with….but to love.

Check out My Heart’s Journey, Joan Foor, and Foor Publishing in Culver City Calif. Well worth the effort and the less than $20 purchase or library visit.

 

Other Book Reviews by Muriel HERE

Color Guards, the American Flag, and Regimental Colors

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
color guards

In the wake of college students and pro-Palestinian groups tearing down the American flag and hoisting that of another country, and recently writing the story of a Medal of Honor recipient who earned the nation’s highest military award as a color guard preserving not only the American flag but also the colors of his Army division, it is interesting to know the history of why color guards were heroes, and the nation’s and state’s colors and patriotism are so intertwined.

It goes back to the Civil War.

Soldiers on both sides of the nation during the Civil War had color guards, men chosen from their ranks because of their health, ability, pride in their belief, and dedication to their nation, be it the Confederate States or the United States.

The color guards of a regiment were regarded in high esteem, the soldier being admired for his extraordinary bravery. It was the duty of the color guard to carry the flag where his officers directed, unarmed and under fire. He was expected to face the enemy and could never retreat or break ranks; if he did, the entire regiment might follow, and the battle and war would be lost.

Regimental flags were essential during the era when men fought face to face, gun barrel to gun barrel. Reverence surrounded their flags in addition to morale and that national pride.

The regimental flags were communication vehicles for the soldiers. Bugle calls or commands by voice could not be heard over the sounds of war, so soldiers were taught from the very beginning to ‘follow the flag.”

Regimental flags had another purpose as well. In the heat of battle, with rain, dark days and smoke-filled battlefields, regiments were often scattered, and it was vital for a soldier to be able to recognize where his own troops were. The color guard played a vital role in keeping the flag aloft to keep its soldiers aware, and “Rally round the flag” explained the importance of the color guard’s mission.

Because most regiments were formed by states or sections of states, keeping men of each state together with his fellow natives, state and regimental flags also served as morale builders…the men were fighting for their neighbors and family and swore allegiance and loyalty to their regiment.

Because of the fervor for what the flags represented, they were treated with reverence and respect, never allowed to touch the ground or disrespected, and always to be preserved from capture by the enemy. With both sides in the Civil War feeling the importance of his own regimental and American or Confederate flag, the color guard always fought valiantly to prevent his flag from being taken or surrendered to the enemy.

Each regiment had two color guards, one for the regimental colors, the other for the national flag; where possible, these color guards also had two other soldiers assigned to guard them and their mission, the flags were so valuable. The color guard and his flags, held aloft, were frequently visible targets to the enemy and the men considered it a disgrace and personal humiliation if his flag lost it to the enemy. Many Congressional Medal of honor recipients have been honored for their preservation of the America flag; many lost their lives doing it.

Just as a unit felt shame and horror at the capture of its flag, taking the flag of the enemy was greeted with celebration and honors. Newspapers often mentioned in Civil War battle stories how many enemy flags had been captured. News stories told of the eight men of the Fighting 69th, the New York Volunteer Infantry also known as the Irish Brigade, who were wounded or killed in carrying their flag at Antietam.

The story of the 16th Maine regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg became legendary. They were surrounded by Confederates, and fearful their flag would be taken, tore it into strips, each hiding a portion of it on their person. Many were captured and put into Confederate prisons, but still managed to keep their pieces of the flag preserved. When released in prisoner exchanges, many of the 16th Maine managed to bring their pieces of the flag back to Maine to be held in highest honors. Names of battles fought and won were often sewn on the flags and those torn or tattered in battle continued to signify the bravery of those who carried.

Roar on the River

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Roar on the River
Jersey Speed Skiff JS-65 Egg Beater Owner/driver Connie Cottrell

Never Seen a Jersey Speed Skiff?  DON’T MISS Roar on the River

The Highlands Business Partnership, Offshore Powerboat Association and Jersey Shore Boat Racing join together to present Roar on the River from May 17 to 19.

Boats for the Roar on the River will arrive Friday, May 17 and kick off a Boaters Pre-Race Party at the Seafarer, 1 Atlantic St., Highlands from 7 to 9PM. Additional activities are also available at Roar on the River Sponsor establishments; One Willow, Sandbox @ Seastreak and Off the Hook.

Saturday, May 18, from 11AM to 4PM, the “Pit” at the Seastreak Overflow Lot, 348 Shore Drive (formerly Doris & Ed’s Restaurant), will be open to the public, where Roar on the River  race fans can get autographs and photos with the drivers and view the boats.

Festivities continue with a Boat Parade along Bay Avenue at 5:00PM, starting at Huddy Park, down Bay Avenue. The parade will turn at the circle at Bahrs Landing Restaurant and head back down Bay Avenue to their designated establishment or return to the “Pit”.

The Pit will not be open to the public on Saturday night. Visitors can meet the racers and view their boats at Proving Ground, Seafarer, Sandbox @ Seastreak, Off the Hook, Chilangos and Franny’s Pizzeria.

The pre-race party will be at Chilangos at 8pm.

Sunday, May 19, Raceday begins with the JSBR race from 10am to1 pm and will be viewable from Off the Hook, Proving Ground, and the HBP Raceday Party at Veterans Park.

Kickoff of the OPA Racing series takes place from 1 to5pm, viewable from One Willow St., Sandy Hook Bay Marina, Seafarer, 1 Atlantic Ave., Proving Ground, 56 Shrewsbury Ave., Off the Hook, 1 Navesink Ave. and at the HBP Raceday Party at Veterans Park with VIP seating available at One Willow, Sandy Hook Bay Marina, Seafarer, Proving Ground, and Sandbox at Seastreak for an additional fee. Tickets are limited and can be purchased in advance at highlandsnj.com.

“We are extremely excited, and proud, to be coming to Highlands. The OPA Racing series kicks off here in New Jersey, where OPA Racing was born.” said OPA Racing’s Sr Vice President Nick Smith. He continued “Racing in Highlands as a brand-new venue and racecourse is particularly exciting. We look forward to meeting a new fan base at the Jersey Shore.”

Connie Cottrell, former local female Jersey Speed Skiff driver and inaugural 1971 Highlands Regatta Race winner, who hails from Highlands, will be in attendance with her family. As President of the Jersey Flat Bottoms, a local Jersey Speed Skiff and Ski Racing Runabout Club, Connie was responsible for organizing the first APBA sanction Regatta for Highlands.

Jersey Speed Skiff JS-65 Egg Beater
Owner/driver Connie Cottrell

Connie’s original race winning Jersey Speed Skiff “The Egg Beater”, built by her late husband, Rob Cottrell, and now owned by their grandson, Rob Armstrong will be on display for those attending the HBP Raceday Party at Veterans Park on Sunday, May 19th.

JS-69 Bumps & Grinds
owner/driver Bob Franson

The Winner’s Circle will be at One Willow Restaurant, immediately following each race, with the winners of each race there to celebrate with their fans in Highlands. The Award Ceremony takes place at the Proving Ground at 7pm followed by a post-race party.

Tickets to VIP locations are available at highlandsnj.com. This event is sponsored by Offshore Power Boat Association, Jersey Shore Boat Racing, the Highlands Business Partnership, and its generous sponsors; Pacifico, the Official Beer Sponsor of Roar on the River, Surfside Iced Tea, Proving Ground, Seafarer/Marina on the Bay, Sandbox @Seastreak, Sandy Hook Bay Marina, One Willow, Off the Hook and Chilangos. For more information email hbpadmin@highlandsnj.com or call 732-291-4713

Sea Bright & Regionalization – Going Nowhere

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Sea Bright
Sea Bright Seems to Be Going From the 2 Step to the 0 Step

The possibility of the promised Second Step for a vote to include Sea Bright and its approximate $2 million into the newly formed Henry Hudson regional School district sounded even more distant than ever heard at the regular and budget meeting of the regionalization board Monday evening.

It appears that Sea Bright joining the newly formed school district any time soon is a sinking ship.

At the meeting,  board attorney Jonathan Busch made it clear that, in addition to his statements last month that he doubted the question of Sea Bright would be on the ballot in November, by state law it must be on a November rather than school or special election  ballot to be decided at all. That would indicate in all probability the Sea Bright question could not be presented to the voters to decide until November of 2025. Inclusion of Sea Bright, if approved, would then not begin until 2026 at the earliest.

Busch did not indicate whether this was added information he had recently received, or that he simply did not include it last month when asked about a possible date for a vote by the three boroughs.

The new Pk-12 Board of Education unanimously approved its first budget for the new regionalized district, absent the $400,000 savings that had been previously touted should the three schools in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands form a single district.

Only a handful of local residents were present to hear district business administrator Janet Sherlock give a thorough and detailed explanation of the $24,146,688 budget which is to be financed in part by $18,567,411 in taxes split between the two towns. The budget is approximately $500,000 higher than last year’s figures for the three schools.

The total budget is offset by several grants and funding from the district’s reserve account, which is $89,175 higher than last year. An additional approximate $31,000 comes from Union Beach as tuition from the ten students from that district who attend the Hudson district among other sources.

The approved figures represent a decrease of one cent for Atlantic Highlands taxpayers because of increased property values in that borough, and a decrease of 13 cents for Highlands taxpayers for the same reason. Th equalized property value in Atlantic Highlands is $1,178,354,088 and in Highlands, $1,016,423,398, or 54 per cent for Atlantic Highlands and 46 per cent for Highlands.

Sherlock highlighted both capital and maintenance projects planned from reserves, including air conditioning and brick work at both Atlantic Highlands and Henry Hudson schools, and windows at the Highlands school. Maintenance projects for Henry Hudson include repairing flooring on offices and updating locker rooms, flooring and cameras in Highlands, and entrance framing and new doors in Atlantic Highlands.

Sherlock said 31 students in grades 9 through 12 opted out of Henry Hudson for one of the six Monmouth County Vocational Schools but did not have figures at the meeting of how many were from each town, or what percentage that represents of the overall high school population.

Attorney fees are not included in the budget, nor could board members give any estimate of the total that was paid in the past year for the new district.

In response to questions from Mark Fisher on the promised immediate $400,000 savings not evident, Administrator Tara Beams noted that since the regionalization law is so new, “there are a lot of unknowns but added that in the future “you’ll see more.” She pointed out that with regionalization there will be one less business administrator and one less bookkeeper than currently employed.

Tara Beams

No one responded to Tracy Abby’s recommendation that if forming the regionalization has been as difficult and time consuming as Beams and Busch have indicated, including roadblocks they said they have had with the Department of Transportation and Social Security in addition to the Department of Education, it would make economic sense to retain a professional consultant to work through all the roadblocks.

Fisher asked the board to keep in mind that the Education Commissioner, in light of the fact the regionalization issue has been a focus for at last four years, that “we need to fix it.” He asked what it would take to make regionalization with another town work, and asked the board  if there were things it could do to move forward to resolve what they have indicated  are “lots of legal pieces.”

Fisher also asked if the board could consider bringing information to the next meeting on what this board could do in order to get the Sea Bright regionalization question moving once the Shore Regional and Oceanport challenges to Sea Bright’s inclusion in the new district are resolved, namely a vote to see if the electorate in the three towns want to include Sea Bright. “That would be awesome,” he said.

High Taxes = HIGH BUDGETS – Tell it to the Board

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Board
Two Options to Let the Board Know Your Thoughts
With the budget for the PreK-12 Henry Hudson Regional School district costing taxpayers in both Highlands and Atlantic Highlands more than half the total taxes they pay in their municipalities,  or in short, it costs more to educate fewer than 800 children that it does to operate and maintain two towns, parents and taxpayers alike should attend Monday night’s regular meeting of the transitional Henry Hudson Board of Education to keep themselves updated on the budget for this year and to hear what, if any, steps or plans are underway to include Sea Bright, known at  Regionalization “STEP 2” to share in the total costs at some time in the future.
If you can’t make the meeting, click HERE for the names and contact information for the Board Members and let them know how you feel about the taxes you pay

 

With the board under state mandate to have the new regionalization between Highlands and Atlantic Highlands completed and operational by July 1 the board will hold a public hearing at the 6 p.m. meeting on the 2024 – 2025 budget totaling $26,470,070, an increase of more than half-million dollars over the current budget. The amount to be raised by local taxation is $19,424,429 to be shared by taxpayers in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands Boroughs.

When residents of both boroughs voted to regionalize with just Highlands and Atlantic Highlands  and without Sea Bright last September, board members and professionals said at the time that including consideration of Sea Bright’s estimated $2 million to offset taxes while adding fewer than 60 students to the enrollment would be considered “as soon as possible” as a “Step 2” in the overall plan.

Since then, Henry Hudson Board attorney Jonathan Busch, who has been retained by the new board for regionalization purposes and now attends every meeting of the transitional board, at first indicated the Sea Bright question could be on a ballot soon so voters in all three towns could agree. However, last month Busch said he does not believe the question can be settled in this November’s election, citing the appeals Shore Regional and Oceanport school districts have lodged with the state Department of Education.
    The state Commissioner of Education has ruled that under the newly enacted regionalization, Sea Bright “could leave those two districts to become a member of the Henry Hudson PK-12 district”; Busch contends that the appeal of the Commissioner’s decision must be resolved before the transitional board can move forward to include Sea Bright.

 

Others in the public contend that both initiatives certainly should be worked together; starting-up the new PK-12 district by July, and moving forward with the many steps necessary to bring in Sea Bright’s students, and funding, into the new district as soon as possible. Voters would have to approve referendum questions in all three Boroughs to move forward with Sea Bright joining the new district. If even one of the three town votes not to have Sea Bright join the district, the Sea Bright students, and their current $4 million in funding, remains with Oceanport and Shore Regional schools.

So why wouldn’t this new Board let the voters decide as quickly as possible whether the Sea Bright will join the Henry Hudson district? Sooner is much better than later;  every year delaying Sea Bright into the Hudson district means at least  $2 million in potential funding is lost.

It was apparent  to all present at the April board meeting of the transitional board  that the eight of the nine  members of that board present sat completely silent during the comments made by the public regarding getting “STEP 2” moving forward as soon as possible. Nor did any board member,  all appointed members  who had previously been elected to boards by the residents of both Boroughs,  show  any favor publicly to an additional $2 million or more  of new funding coming into the new district’s coffers’ . Board members also know including Sea Bright and the additional $2 million  in the regional district would bring negligible, if any, impact to the existing class sizes in the three schools.

The budget as introduced at the April meeting, and being discussed Monday night, shows that educating students in the new preK-12 school district will cost taxpayers approximately $27,626 per student this year, one of the highest costs in Monmouth County and the state for districts of similar size. By comparison, it costs taxpayers approximately $17,843 per student in Oceanport, where the  Henry Hudson School district superintendent pays her taxes, and $22,964 in Rumson Fair Haven, the nearest regional school to Henry Hudson. Only Shore Regional, at $32,901 shows a higher cost per student in the local area.

Dr. Tara Beams

There are 761 students estimated to be educated at Henry Hudson for the next school year, with  eight other parents opting to send their children to private schools, and five parents opting to send their children to other public schools including the Monmouth County Vocational Technical Schools. However, more recent records from the Monmouth County Vocational School District show seven students from Atlantic Highlands and four students from Highlands have been accepted into the VoTech schools in September.

There will be two opportunities for the public to be heard at Monday’s meeting, one the public hearing on the $26,470,000 total expenditures, of which $19,424,429 will be raised by taxes. The second opportunity will be at the end of the meeting when residents always have an opportunity to speak on any school matters. However there is always the possibility of the Board attorney shutting down any questions and comments that promote, or even reference “STEP 2”.
The last I looked, free speech is still the First Right of all US citizens.

 

Residents can view the full proposed school budget on the Henry Hudson Regional Board of Education site, or by clicking HERE.

Scudder Preserve Transferred to MCF

By
Muriel J. Smith
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0
Scudder Preserve

New Jersey Audubon announced the  transfer of the 90-acre Scudder Preserve in Middletown to Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF), a nonprofit land trust focused on preserving open space throughout Monmouth County. ),

New Jersey Audubon is a private, not-for-profit, membership organization founded in 1897 with a focus on connecting people with nature and stewarding nature for future generations throughout New Jersey,  

  The Scudder Preserve consists of 90 acres of preserved habitat originally owned by Richard and Elizabeth Scudder. In 2007 Mr.Scudder donated around 60 acres to NJA, and in 2012 the remaining 30 acres and homestead were gifted to the organization in his will.

The preserve sits on both sides of Browns Dock Road with nature trails winding their way through wooded, rolling hills, grasslands, streams, and a pond along the Scudder homestead.

“Our two organizations have taken a partnership approach in working together to make the transfer a success while keeping the environmental vision of the Scudder family intact and this beautiful space open to the Monmouth County community. This shift of ownership makes the most sense for both our organizations, allowing us to focus on our respective missions and geographies, while ensuring open space protection,” said Alex Ireland, president and CEO, NJ Audubon. 

  MCF is no stranger to the Scudder Preserve. As the nonprofit originally responsible for holding the conservation easements on the site, the Foundation has conducted annual monitoring visits and stayed in close communication with NJA as the landowner.

As part of its mission to acquire and preserve open space and farmland and conserve natural habitats throughout Monmouth County in support of outdoor recreation, agriculture, clean water, and wildlife for long-term sustainability, MCF stewards 1,100 acres of conserved lands through 46 easements across the county. 

The Scudder Preserve will remain permanently preserved under the current conservation easements, but stewardship of the easements will be co-held by MCF’s peer organization, the D&R Greenway Land Trust based in Princeton and MCF. Joining with another accredited land trust assures that the easement will continue and, in fact, be enhanced with further protections. Legally, the same organization cannot take title to the land while continuing to hold the easement(s) without having the interests merge and extinguish.   

 “D&R Greenway was happy to jump in to assist MCF with this permanent protection,” said Linda Mead, President and CEO. “This solution that brings together two sister land trusts and NJ Audubon is truly a partnership model that brings public benefit to everyone who lives in the region.” 

  “This collaboration enables MCF to solidify our organizational relevancy long into the future. In our 47 years, MCF has often acted behind the scenes to help preserve some of Monmouth’s most cherished parks, green spaces, and farms. Having our own preserve will allow us to engage with our community directly, model sustainable practices, and hopefully excite future generations to carry on our work to #KeepMonmouthGreen,” shared William Kastning, MCF’s Executive Director.

MCF has secured a $1 million donation from an anonymous donor in support of costs related to the Scudder Preserve improvement to the infrastructure, maintenance needs, as well as general operating expenses.

Photo Credit: Jena Cosimo

Founded in 1977, Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) works to acquire and preserve open space and farmland and conserve natural habitats throughout Monmouth County in support of outdoor recreation, agriculture, clean water, and wildlife for long-term sustainability. An independent nonprofit organization that works with Monmouth County and its 53 municipalities, MCF’s vision is to lead conservation and education efforts to preserve and protect our natural environment, so all individuals and communities have access to and can benefit from open space and nature for generations to come. For more information, visit www.monmouthconservation.org  

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