Atlantic Highlands Yacht Harbor

Harbor Commission revenues are up seven per cent compared to the same time last year, commissioners learned at their meeting Tuesday.

Besides that, reported finance chairman Jim Krauss, more than 90 per cent of all slips are already leased for the upcoming season, and both the Harbormaster and the harbor employees deserve praise for keeping the town’s greatest and most used asset at the high standards that encourage such use.

Krauss outlined the leases pier by pier, noting that piers 2 3 and 7 are at 100 per cent capacity rental, while piers 4 and 5 only have two slips left, and piers 8 and 9 only have 3 slips left. Pier one has two slips still available, he said, meaning each slip is filled to no less than 91 per cent capacity.

On the two fixed piers, Frank’s has 22 slips available and Pier 6 has 14 vacancies. That also means, he told the commission, that there are only ten slips vacant of the harbor’s 366 slips for lease. However, the vacancies at the fixed docks will be leased to transient boaters, he said.

In addition the 171 mooring sites available are already leased to 91 per cent capacity, and the 130 land storage sites are also leased to capacity.

“This is a good indication of a successful season once again,” Strauss said, praising the harbor employees for “making the Atlantic Highlands harbor the place they want to be.”

Strauss noted there are some less positive news as well, noting that the harbor is only home to three head boats now, with the possibility of a fourth head boat arriving in the next few weeks. While the party boats that have been here for years will be missed, some of the vacant spots will be used by firms doing construction in the area, he said. But more good news indicates a 55 foot charter boat is also expected to be arriving on pier 1, the commissioner continued, indicating it appears that will be welcomed as a long time tenant

The decrease in the number of popular day and half day fishing boats is evident of what is happening across the state, he explained, noting that state fishing regulations are making it more difficult to entice recreational fishermen, citing the differences in the seasonal dates as well as the increase in the minimum size of fish anglers can take. The only good news on that front is the dates of this year’s seasons mean there are only five days between the striped bass and fluke seasons, a time when fishermen can only hook porgies.

Atlantic Highlands First Aid – Do You Have What it Takes?

Councilman James Murphy highlighted some of the reasons why Mayor Lori Hohenleitner and council, together with borough residents, are so high on praise for the volunteer efforts of the Atlantic Highlands First Aid Squad.

Murphy also encouraged and invited residents to show their pride and support of the volunteer unit, through donations, membership, or support in any way possible.

The Atlantic Highlands PBA Local 242, in holding their 35^th annual ball on Friday, May 24, is sponsoring the First Aid Squad this year in its annual fundraising activity for local groups and also inviting residents to purchase tickets or offer items for their annual Charity Auction also included in the event at the Shore Casino. Persons can contact the police at pba242tickets@gmail.com for tickets to the gala, which includes dinner, open bar, music by DJ Greg Nice and more.

So what does it take to be an EMT on any first aid squad in the state of New Jersey? Although it is a volunteer unit, as is the fire department in this and many other communities, the certification to participate in the lifesaving measures means many more hours than the volunteer hours every volunteer for the squad puts in to help others.

First Aid Squad Chief Lance Hubeny, Captain Ann Schoeller, Lt Tim Farkas and Lt. Brian Boms head up the local squad in offering ways everyone can help the squad, regardless of serving as an EMT or several other capacities. For further information on all these ways, contact members at info@ahfirstaid.org.

Because of the efforts of the leadership and the generosity of residents, the squad now has approximately 20 members responding to calls, a significant increase in participation over the past. By comparison, prior to July, 2022, when Hubeny and the team took over leadership, only eight members were responding to calls on a regular basis. Since July, 2022, these 20 volunteers have responded to 743 calls.

Currently, five volunteers are attending EMT schooling, due to graduate in six weeks. Another two members have also joined the squad, both already certified as EMTs. Another two volunteers are taking the exam for recertification this month.

In his report to the governing body as liaison to the first aid squad, Murphy pointed out this totals nine new EMTs on the volunteer squad in the first three months of this year, an impressive statistic on its own.

Murphy also pointed out the statistic is even more astonishing and admirable because of the regulations that mandate so much more education in order to be certified.

To be certified as an EMT, a volunteer must undergo 253 hours of course work, and have it completed in five months. The commitment requires attendance at three and a half hour sessions every Monday and Wednesday, as well as every other Saturday during that time. That is in addition to another 100 hours of homework and clinical study.

Atlantic Highlands is grateful and appreciative of its residents who support and enable these EMTs, First Aid members, and every volunteer who gives so much to the community.

Indefatigable volunteer Tom Caizza accepted the Little League Award as the Atlantic Highlands  volunteer of the Month on behalf of all the volunteers who work tirelessly with youngsters in the Little League program in Atlantic Highlands.

Mayor Lori Hohenleitner, in resenting the certification of appreciation noted Little League has been a borough program for 50 years, with Caizza a part of it for more than 20 years, both when he had his own children in the program as well as when they were not.

The mayor thanked Caizza for everything he has done for the borough “in countless ways” and noted the many different roles he has played in volunteering, including as a member of the Fire Department. She described him as a “team player” and a hometown hero for his uplifting ways.

Caizza accepted the honors on behalf of everyone who volunteers for the Little League he said, and declining any lengthy acceptance speech, simply said “thank you from all of us.”

Atlantic Highlands Councilman Jon Crowley was named  Executive Director of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (NJMPTVC), part of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), last month, but he showed at last night’s Borough Council meeting his extensive duties in that position will not hamper his commitment to the borough as an active Councilman.

Despite some difficulties with the borough’s ZOOM system at the regular meeting of the borough council, along with the fact Crowley was in his car and driving, he was able to attend the meeting and participate in all activities.

The press release issued at the time of his new status made it clear why he was selected for such a powerful position as Executive Director serving as the senior leader of all of New Jersey’s film initiatives, leading both the NJEDA’s film sector development work, as well as the management of the NJMPTVC.

Prior to joining the NJEDA, Crowley worked within the television industry for more than two decades, producing and directing several well-known television series including “Impractical Jokers”, “House Hunters International”, “Big Brother”, “Lizard Lick Towing”, “Love After Lock-Up”, “Trading Spouses”, “Breaking the Ice”, “Full Contact”, and “Upload with Shaquille O’Neal”, among others. Crowley is a two-time EMMY award winner, and CableACE Writing Nominee.

“As the film industry continues to expand across the state, I am excited to welcome Jon to the NJEDA where he will use his skills and experience to lead the Film Commission’s efforts to attract top-tier film and television production to the Garden State, “ said Economic Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. He added that in this role, the Atlantic Highlands councilman will “help boost Governor Phil Murphy’s mission to strengthen New Jersey’s leadership in the film sector, which will fuel our economy and create good-paying jobs for our residents.”  He continued that Crowley’s experiences will be a tremendous asset to the Commission as it works towards promoting the state as a top destination to film.

Officials in the industry have noted how film production has grown in substantial amounts since Murphy has been Governor, and Crowley’s leadership will lead to even more growth in attracting major productions and expanding the film industry’s presence in New Jersey.

Crowley has served on the borough council since 2017 and has worked with the staff of the Commission to certify the borough as “film ready.”

Atlantic Highlands Library

It’s always a busy time at the Atlantic Highlands library for everyone, including children, And this month is no different.

This Thursday, April 4, there will be a workshop on Artificial Intelligence for youngsters beginning at 3:15 p.m.

On Saturday, April 6 at 2 p.m., teens and adults are invited to learn how to do some genealogical research, finding the roots and birth nations of their ancestors.

For those who have suffered the loss of a friend, relative, or other loved one, there is a bereavement session twice this month, once on April 8 and again on April 22. Both sessions begin at 4 p.m. and give a person the opportunity to share their grief, learn from others how they deal with grief, and get some idea of how to accept a death or loss and move forward.

But it’s the Storytimes for children of all ages from ten months on that make this library so special. Children’s librarian Lauren Garcia, who also doubles as head librarian for this branch of the county library, sings, dances, laughs, reads, acts, plays and jumps all around in her fantastic story telling programs that parents love as much as the kids. Stop in on April 3 for baby story time at 9:30, stay for the two to three year old story time at 10 a.m. for another 20 minutes and see why youngsters whose parents and caregivers bring them to the Atlantic Highlands branch love books, learning, and the library so much.   Lauren obviously loves her job, but the youngsters captivated by her personality not only love her but learn so much more and are so eager to keep coming back.

Another great asset for this library is Siobhan Quinn, a wonderful woman adept at four or five languages, who is also a teacher in the Middletown school system. Siobhan will be at the local library on April 11 to give an adult language class for adults at 6:30 p.m. and she’ll be back on April 18 at 3:15 to give another language class for children.  Call the library to find out which language Siobhan is featuring and learn more about vocabulary, pronunciation and simply enjoying the sounds of another language.