Bayshore Pharmacy of Atlantic Highlands is hosting a November food drive in coordination with the Area Association of Community Churches Food Pantry at the United Methodist Church in Atlantic Highlands and Our Lady of Perpetual Help- St. Agnes in Highlands Food Pantry in Highlands.
The coordinated drive begins Saturday, November 4 and will run through l Saturday, November 18. A food pantry box will be available for community donations at the pharmacy in the Foodtown Shopping Plaza, First Avenue at Route 36. Monetary donations will also be accepted.
“The need for donations is so great at the moment because the food pantry has seen an increase in the number of families needing assistance and we rely on the generosity of neighbors to help families in need,” said pharmacist and local resident Richard Stryker, Bayshore pharmacy owner.
“Food drives sponsored by local businesses like Bayshore Pharmacy provide a boost for our shelves and raises awareness of the need for this pantry in our community “added Tricia Curtin, Pantry Coordinator of OLPH-St. Agnes Food Pantry.
The food pantry is especially low on juice, condiments, pasta in boxes, pasta sauce, canned corn, canned carrots, canned tuna, canned chicken, bars of soap, shampoo and conditioner.
“Bayshore Pharmacy has sponsored a food pantry drive for many years,” Stryker continued, “We are happy to do our part to support our community during the holiday season since hunger has no season.”
The United Methodist Church of Atlantic Highlands hosts the Food Pantry for the Area Association of Community Churches and is located at 96 Third Avenue, Atlantic Highlands. (732) 291-0485. The food pantry is in the church basement and is currently open Thursdays from 9:00 am to noon and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The food pantry serves the immediate area from Sea Bright to Port Monmouth.
The OLPH-St. Agnes Food Pantry is at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help church basement at 141 Navesink Avenue, Highlands (732) 291-0272 It is open on Sundays 10:30 to Noon and Mondays 5:30 -to 7 pm. The food pantry serves the immediate Bayshore area.
Bayshore Pharmacy Cards and Gifts is a locally owned, full-service pharmacy, specializing in compounded prescriptions, immunizations, and insurance billing. Serving the area for 60 years and two generations, Bayshore Pharmacy also provides the area’s largest card and gift shop, offering plenty of parking and delivery services 7 days a week.
The Tower Hill Church Choir will present a special Veterans Concert honoring all United States military and military veterans at the Tower Hill Church on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 4 pm.
Fiona Smith Sutherland, the Director of Traditional Music at Tower Hill, heads the program which also includes volunteer choir members from the area. An outstanding addition to this year’s concert will be a presentation by a brass ensemble from the Military Academy at West Point.
This is the second year the Tower Hill Choir has presented a Veterans Day concert as part of its concert series, opening it at no charge to the public in order to enable others to show appreciation for the service of all veterans. When first presented last year, the Concert was so well received, church officials determined to make it an annual tradition. The church is located at 2555 Harding Road, Red Bank.
Sutherland, the full-time Director of Traditional Music at the Presbyterian church, supervises a broad and varied program of choral and handbell music as well as the Concert Series. A handbell expert herself, she also has begun a ministry of solo handbell ringers, bringing a musical education to many teens in the church.
The musician and director is also the Music Director of the Shrewsbury Chorale and the staff accompanist and assistant director for the Lakeside Choraliers in Montvale. During the summers of 2021 and 2023, she was honored to be selected as one of the Guest Conductors for the Ocean Grove Choral Festival.
Ms. Sutherland has worked as organist and choirmaster at many churches in all the northeastern states between Delaware and Connecticut for more than 35 years and performed for President Obama in 2012. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master of Music degrees at Westminster Choir College and looks forward to working with singers and instrumentalists for the second year in the new tradition of Veterans Concerts at Tower Hill.
There are no admission fees or advance reservations necessary for the Veterans Concert, though donations will be accepted to help defray expenses for the event.
While the complete presentation of musical works has not been released, the emphasis at the unique concert will be on patriotic music to show the Tower Hill choir’s feeling it is privileged to honor American veterans through music.
Greeters at the entrance to the concert hall will invite veterans to stop and get a name tag identifying them and well as their branch of service.
Local historian Walt Guenther, who takes great pride and has terrific knowledge of his beloved Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and the Bayshore in general, and for good reason, came across a post card from 1963. Remember the Bayshore Chrysler business at 153 First Avenue in Atlantic Highlands? Have any stories about it?
Even off-season, or between high seasons, Newport, Rhode Island is a busy place filled with travelers from all over, drawn to the sailing and boating history, to say nothing of the historic mansions, great shops, restaurants, hotels and B&Bs in the town.
While each of the B&Bs looks charming and wonderful, thanks to the high level of excellence the town apparently dictates, The Admiral Fitzroy Inn at 398 Thomas Street in the heart of the waterfront area, is all that and more.
Friendliness is its first name and adjectives including perfect, beautiful, historic, unique and picturesque help fill in some of the attributes that draw people to the Admiral Fitzroy.
The home itself has a fascinating history. It was built in 1854 by Dudley Newton, a famed architect of his time, and was originally a convent for the sisters at St. Mary’s Church. At that time, it was on Spring Street, but in the late 20th century, the house was moved to Thames Street and has been a B&B ever since.
Admiral Fitzroy himself was a British officer best known for creating the first attempt as a scientific weather predictor for the safety of ships and sailors at sea. The first easy-to-use barometer that was created is in the lobby of the Inn. The officer was commander of the Beagle on Charles Darwin’s famed trip, was later Governor of New Zealand and coined the word forecast still used today.
Set back from the road on the busy main street, it’s a flight of steps up to the bright red front door, American flag blowing in the breeze, and a step inside to charm, warmth, and the cheerful smiles and warm welcome of one of the friendliest staff you could ever meet.
To the side of the main carpeted foyer are the breakfast room with its neat white tables and chairs; on the opposite side is an inviting living room with books, an old-fashioned Victrola, even a jigsaw puzzle to work on for a few minutes as well as comfortable seating for great conversations and getting to know other guests.
But it’s the beauty of the walls and furniture in the rooms that captivate you most.
Each of the 18 rooms in the B&B is hand painted, each in its own style, but all including pastel and lightly colored flowers, ribbons, bows, and cohesion with the matching quilts and pillowcases, even the chifforobes hiding the TV and refrigerator in each room. Each room is spacious, with a full separate bath and equipped with lotions, creams, shampoos and anything else you need for morning refreshing.
That isn’t all. The three-story home also has an added staircase to the roof, where there are tables, chairs, and a spectacular view of the city while enjoying a glass of wine or some quiet serenity in the evening. Or, if you prefer to have breakfast up there, simply letting staff know about that makes it happen.
Breakfast is served throughout several morning hours, and it’s a help yourself buffet that includes breads, bagels, muffins, grains, fruits, juices, eggs, and all the extras to make them all special. Once again, it’s a smiling, friendly happy-to-see-you chef standing by eager to help.
It was my Navy daughter who found this delightful piece of R&R for me. At the Naval War College on the Navy Base in town with NJROTC cadets for a training, she had stopped in to get a gift certificate for a retiring officer and was so enthralled by the place she picked up a gift certificate for me, knowing how much I would enjoy it as well.
She didn’t even tell me that Sharon, the retired Navy Chief who is one of the staff at the main desk, is also a jewelry designer, or that the Inn is within walking distance of so many museums, restaurants, and boating opportunities.
Nor did she tell me about Dawn, another front desk attendant, who goes above and beyond to let guests know how friendly the Admiral Fitzroy is.
Going out for dinner one night after a long and happy day that left me weary, I simply wanted a light supper and a glass of wine for dinner. Dawn recommended two different restaurants, both nearby.
Opting for the closest, I went in and exited quickly once I realized the noise level and crowd was more than I could handle after a busy day. Going to the next, I once again left when the tabletop where I was seated was too close to the busy bar and the lighting was so dark I couldn’t read the menu. By the time I reached my third choice, I did not think a 15-minute wait for a table for one was worth the time and headed back to the Inn.
Dawn, eager to hear how I enjoyed my dining experience, was disappointed when I said busy restaurants did not give any indication, they really cared for a single person taking up a table for two when others were waiting and it was a disappointing experience. Rather I go back to my room at the Inn for quiet relaxation, albeit without the food and drink. We said good night amid her profuse apologies for her recommendation.
Ten minutes later, when I answered a knock on my door, there stood Dawn, a huge smile on her face and a gleeful “Look what I found!” In her hands was an ice bucket chilling a bottle of chardonnay, an Admiral Fitzroy glass, and even another cup filled with ice. (The bottle isn’t chilled yet, she explained, perhaps you can put a couple of cubes in your glass for your first glass till it’s chilled) Amid my profuse thanks, Dawn simply smiled and said, “we want you to be happy.”
Pouring a glass of wine, I took the elevator to the third floor, walked up the final flight of steps and sat on that magnificent rooftop under a nearly full moon, enjoying not only the serenity of the night, the beauty of Newport, but most important, the thoughtfulness and generosity the Admiral Fitzroy Inn.
All Saints’ Memorial Church, known as the Stone Church, welcomes Eric Wyrick, Concertmaster of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) to a return presentation on Sunday, November 6 for the 41st anniversary Candlelight Concert and Reception.
Wyrick will be accompanied by acclaimed musicians, Brennan Sweet, Assistant Concertmaster NJSO, Jonathan Spitz, Principal Cello NJSO and Brett Duebner, Viola NJSO.
This performance at All Saints’ Memorial Church promises to highlight the refined musicianship of each individual, and collectively, a delightful exuberance that has gained them rave reviews and national recognition.
The program is a mixture of accessible contemporary and well-known works including Five Folksongs in Counterpoint by Florence Price, Lyric for strings by George Walker, Strum by Jessie Mongomery and String Quartet by Beethoven.
Tickets are $45 per person and include the concert in the church sanctuary followed by a candlelight reception in the parish house. This gives attendees the opportunity to mingle with the performers and fellow concertgoers.
Reservations, which are limited, can be made by phone at 732-291-0214 or on the All Saints’ Memorial Church website at www.allsaintsnavesink.org.
All Saints’ Memorial Church, an example of English Gothic Revival architecture and National Historic Landmark since 1988, hosts a number of musical and theatrical presentations annually. The Candlelight Concert has become an autumnal classic offering an opportunity for superb chamber music in a warm and inviting setting. Guest ensembles rave about the sanctuary acoustics and attendees rave about the beauty of the space resplendently framed in candle glow.
A lovely and lively reception follows in the parish house and offers a perfect venue for performers and attendees to mix and mingle.
Tickets are $45 per person and include the concert in the church sanctuary followed by a sumptuous candlelight reception in the parish house allowing attendees the opportunity to mix and mingle with the performers and fellow concert- goers.
Kindly consider making reservations early as seats are limited. Contact us by phone, 732-291-0214 or by visiting our website, www.allsaintsnavesink.org, News and Events page to inquire or make reservations
The Atlantic Highlands Chamber of Commerce will meet chamber members Justin Sonta of Edward Jones at Emilio’s Kitchen, 77 Center Ave., on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 a.m.
The Chamber offers regular meetings at local restaurants and other sites to increase networking among the numerous businesses in the borough and to introduce new businesses to the community.
For the breakfasts at Emilio’s, there will be a limited set menu and $20 cash will cover the cost.
Interested persons can RSVP on the Chamber’s website at www.ahchamber.org.
Chamber members who have attended at least one of the chamber’s networking events are invited to be guest speakers at an event. Those interested can contact Jann Catto at jann@tlcmediation.com.
Women in Business will be the featured networking event on Nov. 27 at 1st Cup, at noon.
For further information on any news about the chamber of commerce, call 732-872-8711 or email info@ahchamber.org
Tai Chi will be made easy at the Atlantic Highlands Branch of the Monmouth County Library on Monday, November 6 at 10 a.m.
Local expert Catherine Irons of Shore Tai Chi Easy will present the program designed to deal with wellness and stress management.
The precise origin of Tai Chi is unknown, yet scholars have found through ancient writings the practice was prevalent in China thousands of years ago and has been used to explore the essence of life and increase vitality, longevity, and inner peace.
Advocates of Tai Chi believe it is a primary force which creates and sustains life and have dubbed it the grandmother of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Western science has become inspired by this through research that’s it therapeutic in numerous ways.
Tai Chi Easy, which is trademarked, is a carefully developed method and approach to Tai Chi that makes it easy, beneficial and fun from the start. Rather than learning more than 100 traditional movements Tai Chi Easy can be done in two movements or three, or in a Chair.
No reservations or requirements are required to join the November 6 class.
Officials from the Monmouth County Vocational Technical School District are expected to be at a meeting November 9 to give an update on the progress of rehabilitation of the two buildings the District leases for MAST from the National Park Service on Sandy Hook.
Dr. Charles Ford, Superintendent of the Monmouth County Vocational Technical school district, and Kelly Brazelton, business administrator for the school district which includes MAST, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology represent one of the leasees requested to attend the regularly scheduled meeting to give updates.
The meeting of the Fort Hancock 21st Century Federal Advisory Committee is via ZOOM and runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Local residents have questioned rumors that while one of the two buildings, Building 56, leased several years ago by the district is currently in use, contractors are still working on the building. Building 56 and Building 23, a former barracks, were both leased by the county school district to provide accommodations for indoor drills and bathroom facilities for MAST students, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology at Sandy Hook. MAST leases 11 other buildings from the National Park Service on Sandy Hook and negotiated another lease for the two buildings several years ago to provide better and more complete accommodations for the NJROTC program.
Most concerning, according to local residents, is Building 23, the larger of the two leased buildings, which the school district has left lying dormant for several years since the first work on it ceased two years ago. At that time, school spokesmen said building contracts could not be out for bid due to nesting ospreys at the highest point of the building. Due to environmental regulations, endangered species cannot be disturbed. However, since the birds nested, migrated and left, yet no contracts have still been sought to repair and renovate the building. Earlier this year, it was reported more than once that bids would be sought for the construction by specific dates; however, that never happened.
Building 23 was leased by Monmouth County to provide office space, classrooms, drill space and bathrooms for students in the NJROTC program, at MAST. Every student at MAST is in the NJROTC program and must pass the Naval Science program in order to earn a MAST diploma.
The school is one of the five vocational technical schools for Monmouth County, all of which consistently rank among the top ten schools in the state for academic excellence. MAST also consistently garners national and multi-state district awards and commendations for its outstanding NJROTC program and the number of students who gain numerous scholarships both to ROTC college programs as well as all of the five federal military academies.
To a journalist who has sought information on the building, it appears that should Dr. Ford and Brazelton attend the meeting to give updates, there is a possibility they will not be able to be complete their report and provide the information the Advisory Commission is requesting as part of its routine update on activities at the national recreation area.
An OPRA request for information on updates of construction of Buildings 23 and 56 was filed and received by both the school district and the Monmouth County Commissioners Oct. 13. Brazelton responded to the request Oct. 18 indicating additional time would be necessary to fill the citizen’s request past the OPRA required Oct. 24 date.
The reason the information could not be forwarded within the allotted mandated time, she said in the letter, was due to the scope of the request and the need to review and potentially redact any documents allowed under OPRA regulations. The administrator added she anticipated the records may be made available by Nov. 14.
In response to the OPRA request sent to the Monmouth County Commissioners, Monmouth County attorney Michael Fitzgerald responded with a telephone call also indicating further time would be needed in order to provide the information.
The information requested by the journalist appears to be some of the information the Federal Advisory Committee would want at its meeting Nov. 9 since it concerns one of its leased programs.
That OPRA request whose response had to be extended included requests for information on the original estimate and date for rehabilitation for both buildings, the total cost of Building 56 rehabilitation, the smaller of the two buildings, the cost for digging out and filling in the cellar in building 56, the building now being used to house and store an approximate $1milion in federal uniforms and supplies, the number of change orders which have been issued for Building 56, the former barracks, and minutes of the meeting when that building rehabilitation was halted due to the osprey nest.
The request also included information on the number of executive session meetings that have been held concerning the buildings, as well as a copy of certificates of approval, contracts and leases concerning the buildings originally scheduled to house the award winning NJROTC program.
Because of the scope of business to be covered at the meeting, public comment will only be permitted between 11:30 and noon, and each speaker will be limited to three minutes. Callers must advise Ms Yun in advance if they want to comment and callers will then be taken on a first come basis. The Park Service will accept written comments forwarded to the Park Service and use them to remain informed for future outreach efforts. Those comments can be submitted at Gateway_Feedback@NPS.gov.
As the nation prepares to observe and celebrate the 248th birthday of the founding of the United States Marine Corps on November 10, New Jersey can honor many Marines who attributed their entry into the military through the state of New Jersey.
But there are two noted Marines whose Medals of Honor were earned at the same battle in the Civil War, while serving on separate ships.
Among the 50 soldiers, sailors and four Marines receiving the Medal of Honor at Fort Fisher, North Carolina near the end of the Civil War were Corporal Andrew Tomlin and Private John Shivers.
They remain the first two Marines who enlisted in the Marine Corps from New Jersey to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, which was first presented during the Civil War.
The Battle of Fort Fisher was fought three weeks after the first Union attempt to take this strategic site in North Carolina ended in failure, its commanding officer relieved of duty because of the poorly executed plan.
The flotilla sailing to fight the second battle was delayed due to a powerful storm off Cape Hatteras. However, one week later, 8,000 men were in the landing force that went ashore and began two more days of intense bombardment. Four hundred Marines accompanied the 1,600 sailors who went ashore and served under the command of Captain Lucien L. Dawson.
While Marines participated in major land battles at numerous sites throughout the Civil War, their main contribution was aboard ships blockading squadrons and inland river flotillas.
The three-day battle launched Jan. 13, 1865, was a massive victory for the Union, weakening the Confederacy by cutting off their supplies. The battle was also the heaviest naval armed battle in history to that time and was the largest amphibious attack during the Civil War, combining both land and naval forces. It remained the largest amphibious attack in American history until the D-Day attack in World War II nearly a century later.
With nearly 10,000 Union soldiers and 58 naval ships involved, there were 54 Medals of Honor attributed for heroism during this single conflict. Six of those Medals of Honor were awarded to Marines. The victory at Fort Fisher enabled the Union to capture Wilmington, the final major Confederate port, limiting Confederate access to supplies. The Confederacy surrendered 90 days after losing at Wilmington, North Carolina.
Andrew J. Tomlin was a corporal in the Marine Corps serving on the USS Wabash during the Fort Fisher assault. On Jan. 15, 1865, he was one of 200 Marines gathered to hold a line of entrenchments in the rear of the fort. He refused to retreat in the face of the enemy attack and remained in his position throughout the night until relief troops arrived. Cpl. Tomlin advanced through active fire to assist a wounded soldier struck by enemy fire. Cpl. Tomlin was the only Marine of four military personnel aboard the Wabash who earned the Medal of Honor
Born in Goshen in Cape May County, Tomlin survived the battle and later advanced to the rank of sergeant before being relieved from the Corps and returning to civilian life. He died Nov. 1, 1905, and is buried at Goshen Methodist Cemetery in Goshen. His Medal of Honor is at the National Museum of the US Marine Corps at Quantico, Va,
CITATION
As corporal of the guard on board the U.S.S. Wabash during the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865. As one of 200 marines assembled to hold a line of entrenchments in the rear of the fort which the enemy threatened to attack in force following a retreat in panic by more than two-thirds of the assaulting ground forces, Cpl. Tomlin took position in line and remained until morning when relief troops arrived from the fort. When one of his comrades was struck down by enemy fire, he unhesitatingly advanced under a withering fire of musketry into an open plain close to the fort and assisted the wounded man to a place of safety.
Pvt. John Shivers
Born in Canada in 1830 and enlisting in the Marine Corps from somewhere in New Jersey, Pvt. Shivers was serving aboard the USS Minnesota during the Battle of Fort Fisher.
The Medal of Honor Museum does not have any record of where or when Pvt. Shiver completed his tour of duty with the Marine Corps or where he died. Nor is there a record of where his Medal of Honor, which he received before his death, is today.
The ship on which he served, the USS Minnesota, was a wooden steam frigate launched ten years earlier, decommissioned after tours in east Asia, and recommissioned to serve as the flagship of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the Civil War. She was later stricken, beached and burned to recover her metal fittings and to clear her name for the newly ordered battleship, the USS Minnesota (BB22)
Pvt. Shivers was among the 240 men from the Minnesota in the landing force, that covered, by a barrage from their own ship, participated in the successful assault that closed Wilmington. Pvt. Shivers was one of three Marines who earned the Medal as part of the landing party which assaulted the fort.
CITATION On board the U.S.S. Minnesota, in the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865. Landing on the beach with the assaulting party from his ship, Pvt. Shivers advanced to the top of the sandhill and partly through the breach in the palisades despite enemy fire which killed or wounded many officers and men. When more than two-thirds of the men became seized with panic and retreated on the run, he remained with the party until dark when it came safely away, bringing its wounded, its arms, and its colors.
Other Recipients of the Medal of Honor attributed to New Jersey HERE
Clean Ocean Action is calling for a halt to any further approvals and authorizations of offshore windmills, in light of the forthcoming Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on offshore wind in the Northeast and the investigation into the unprecedented whale deaths in the New Jersey region.
The Long Branch based organization also called for the halt until robust and critical baseline studies as well as a pilot project to determine true ecological impacts are completed.
Their statement came after Orsted’s cancellation of the Ocean Wind 1 and 2 projects off the New Jersey Coast, seeing it as the latest and most dramatic evidence the offshore wind industry is in turmoil.
The announcement by the world’s leading offshore wind developer affirms Clean Ocean Action’s concerns that ocean industrialization is moving at a reckless pace, fueled by federal and state government fast-tracking.
“This is all too much and too fast given the entire industry’s large scale technological failures, supply chain issues, and major financial challenges, despite government bailouts,” COA leaders said. “It is long overdue for developers and federal and state governments to take a time-out, pause the reckless exploitation and industrialization of the ocean, and implement good governance, transparency, science, due diligence, and a pilot project. “
