Keeping up with the Bayshore

KEYPORT – Skye Blanks, a 2017 graduate of the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) is the recipient of the 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for service, given by the George Washington Excellence in Student life Award committee and the university’s Multicultural Student Services Center (MSSC). Blanks was unable to attend the awards ceremony since he was studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain. The Keyport resident is also a Treasury Scholar for the U.S Department of the Treasury, working in the Office of Development Results and Accountability, within the Office of International Affairs. His work here includes analyzing international economic development policies and reviewing country strategies, projects, and evaluations for the Multilateral Development Banks. Blanks also serves as the Junior Project Manager for the International Council for Small Business (ICSB) and serves as the Director of the Knowledge Hubs (KHubs) project, institutions or networks dedicated to capture, share and exchange development experiences with national and international partners to accelerate development for micro-small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Here he specializes in the ICSB’s Entrepreneurship certificate programs. Blanks is pursuing his undergraduate studies in International Affairs at the University’s Elliott School of International Affairs and a minor in creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship at the School of Business. He is President of First Gen United (FGU), the university’s only student organization for first-generation college students, an organization that assists first-generation college students in the areas of Social Support, Advocacy, and Academics. He is the son of Donald and Kathy Blanks of Keyport.

MIDDLETOWN – Residents and employees of Care One at King James joined together Friday to celebrate the 183 Covid vaccinations that were completed at the care center on Monday. Care Center Administrator Meagan Yorks said all who received the vaccine received celebratory VIP tee shirts to mark the occasion. The VIP shirts identify the residents as Very Important Persons as all are, but especially as VIP, Very Immunized Persons. The care center was one of the first in New Jersey to receive vaccine Dec. 28 and 144 staff, residents, physicians, the wound care team, and other health care workers received their first vaccine. The 183 who received an injection Monday included the second vaccine for each of them, along with a first inoculation for any staff members who had missed it the first time. They will receive their second injection on Feb. 8. “The residents were so pleased and so proud to be wearing their new tee shirts,” Yorks said. “They were happy they were among the first to receive the vaccine and kind of look at themselves as leaders and trail blazers.” The administrator added that none of the residents had shown any signs of reactions to the first shot, though some staff members exhibited minor symptoms, including soreness at the inoculation site and tiredness over the next few days. “But there were no serious reactions, and we were particularly happy to see how none of the residents had any post vaccine symptoms,” she said. Last week’s program means that all staff and residents who wanted the vaccine have now received it, including new residents who came into the care center between Dec. 28 and Jan. 18. In addition to all the modifications all nursing homes had to implement because of Covid, Care One also underwent its annual inspection by the NJ Department of Health, a five day visit from state personnel who review all aspects of health care and facilities, and speak with residents, family, staff and the state’s volunteer resident advocate. “We were so happy to see we were very successful in that inspection as well,” Yorks said, noting the inspection was “highly successful and gratifying.” The nursing home was free of all Covid from June through December, when two residents tested positive. One was transferred to the Covid unit at another Care One facility and has since returned to King James, and the other has been hospitalized. “What was most amazing and gratifying,” Yorks said, “was that no other resident or employee contracted the virus, and I can attribute that to our staff identifying the situation early and having an immediate plan and procedure in place so it did not spread to any other residents. The staff has been working hard to ensure all protocols and safety measures are in place, and the fact they could halt any spread of the disease is an indication they have been doing their jobs well. As of today, we are once again Covid free.” The Care Center currently house 90 residents and is accepting new residents so long as space permits.

If the first regular meeting of the year of the Mayor and Council is any indication, Councilwoman Linda Mazzola, the only councilperson who has served since before Jan. 1, will be a lone wolf on many decisions made by the governing body. And Mayor Carolyn Broullon, who has been mayor for a year and was a member of council prior to that, has been given more unilateral powers without need for discussion or assent by the remaining four members of the governing body. It also appears it will be a costly year for taxpayers, if the meeting is any indication. In addition to professional appointments made at the reorganization meeting Jan. 1, the governing body authorized another $70,00 for professional services, approved refunding escrows accounts totaling $13,500, agreed to pay $1,000 a year for ten years for use of a privately owned piece of waterfront property as well as exempting the owners from paying taxes on the land, and paid that month’s bills totaling $409,606.81. With public hearings set for six ordinances introduced at the reorganization meeting, the meeting ran three hours, with the majority of public hearing time spent on the proposed code to vacate a portion of Cornwall St. at the Shrewsbury River with the land being equally divided between the two adjacent property owners, Inlet Café and Turning Point restaurants. Only Ms Mazzola opposed the ordinance and reiterated her opposition to it after the public in which numerous speakers also opposed the vacation. Mazzola had also opposed the proposed code four months ago when it was presented to the previous council. Questions about and opposition to the need for the transfer and the ultimate costs it could impose on the borough focused on a bulkhead adjacent to the roadway with no one knowing specifically who would be responsible for any needed repairs in the future. Representatives of both adjacent properties also spoke at the hearing and both indicated they would be interested in taking on the obligation, but no contract was signed, or the proposed code modified to include that adjustment. Residents questioned the need for the borough to vacate the waterfront piece, saying while everyone has praise and satisfaction with the current adjacent owners, no one knows what may happen in the future. When the governing body approved the vacation by a 4-0 vote, it also approved returning the $7200 the two restaurateurs had submitted as escrow along with their request for the vacation. Ms. Mazzola also was the lone councilperson to oppose the cancellation of the requirement for all employees serving alcohol to have identification cards which had been mandated in the borough’s Code. Council proponents of the change noted the Chief of Police had indicated the ABC has to keep records of employees at licensed premises and that should be sufficient. Mayor and council unanimously approved the ten-year lease agreement with the Waterwitch Beach Improvement Association at $1,000 a year which gives the borough access to the privately owned waterfront section for recreational purposes, and further absolves the Association from paying taxes on the property. It approved the transfer of an on street handicapped parking space for a resident who had moved to another area in the borough, and another to make it a requirement for a business to have a CO before receiving a mercantile license. All but Mazzola voted for an ordinance establishing the position of confidential aide to the Mayor and Administrator and giving the mayor the sole power of setting the salary, time, and hiring and firing of the personnel, with no input either from the administrator or the four other members of the governing body. The position also gives the hired personnel full employee benefits and sets a salary range between $1,000 and $60,000 annually. Mayor Carolyn Broullon said the aide’s duties would be to discharge the day-to-day operations of the borough. The professional appointments approved unanimously included retaining engineer Richard Maser as a consulting engineer for marine coastal engineering for a year at a fee not to exceed $20,000, Phillips, Preiss, Greygiel Lehany, Hughes as a borough planner for the business district for a year at a fee not to exceed $25,000 and McManinon Scotland and Bauman as special counsel for redevelopment projects at a fee not to exceed $25,000. It authorized the return of a $6300 escrow payment to Fred Rosiak for a land use application he no longer needs at Captain’s Cove Marina, and named Frank Montecalvo to a four-year term, and Helen Chang as alternate for a two-year term on the borough’s Land Use Board. Council also approved licenses for 2021 for three inactive alcoholic beverage licenses in the borough.

MANALAPAN – Not only is the Monmouth County Library alive and well, but it has seen creative growth in technology, services, and an increase in membership during the past ten months, the director told Library Commissioners at their reorganization meeting this week. Library Director Judith Tolchin agreed with the Commissioners that the COVID-19 restrictions have created trying times for a library that includes 13 branches and 13 member libraries, 137 employees, and more than 130,000 patrons. But it is comprised of a staff that is ambitious, works well together and offers and adapts creative resources to continue to serve the public, accomplishments possible because of a carefully designed team of leaders who have been capable of keeping the library flourishing, she said. While visitation within the libraries remains limited and varying in its different locations, more than 18,0000 patrons over the past six months have met this challenge themselves, by picking up their requested books and other items through the library plan without having to enter the buildings. Over that same period, another 13,000 patrons have had their questions at the library’s reference desks answered, questions which range from the opening hours for service or how to download a book or access a virtual concert. Those responses are in addition to the more than 25,000 persons who have telephoned in questions since March to any of the library branches or headquarters. “None of these has been an easy accomplishment, “ Tolchin told the commissioners, “but with an essential team and cooperative employees, we have been very successful.” The director further noted that since the beginning of the pandemic, the library has been open all but two days to provide their services in person or online. The Directors’ remarks were emphasized by the various department heads who gave their annual reports at the Board of Commissioners meeting, with Eastern Branch Supervising Librarian Kim Avagliano pointing out that while the biggest challenge was making it possible to offer a continuum of service in spite of state mandates and safety precautions, “the number of letters we have received praising us and thanking us” shows “we were never out of touch with our patrons, and we appreciate that they were able to have their library needs met.” Supervising Librarian Robyn Miller at the Headquarters Library said the pandemic gave the library staff the opportunity to polish skills in Webinars, Zoom meetings, Twitter and other online services. The biggest challenge Miller said was assuring safety and a non-stressful atmosphere when opening the libraries on a limited basis, to enable patrons to see the library meets every safety precaution, provides essential signage for reassurance, and provides safety distance space for those using library facilities. Children’s Librarian Pat Findra reiterated the positive side of the past ten months, saying programs such as bedtime story hour initiated online during the pandemic will continue in the future because of the popularity of the program. Weekly activities and suggestions for at home recreational and reading activities have also been successful online programs, she said, as well as special events which have been offered virtually throughout the limited openings. Programs Director Laura Migliore also highlighted the many new ideas which came out of the pandemic, noting her first duties after visitation limitations were mandated included cancelling all the live programs, presentations, and musical events that had been planned throughout the year. She praised Tim McLoone for offering one of the first musical programs virtually, with McLoone donating his talents and performing from his home to an on-line audience. She noted the high attendance at numerous programs, with Howell High School’s presentation one of the most popular of the series during 2020. Both Tolchin and the Board commended Headquarters Assistant Library Director Heidi Amici, who also heads the technology planning staff, for her knowledge and ability to get numerous programs online at numerous different outlets, keeping the web page current and filled with numerous activities and programs, and meeting every challenge of the technology programs. Amici quoted statistics that showed programs initiated several years ago for E-Books and audio books have been well received since their inception and throughout the pandemic, with total usage up more than 42 per cent in the past three years. Because of the interest and demands of the public, Amici said more improvements are in the making and will be implemented soon, including self-serve computer tablet stations in libraries, and more than 3,000 magazines available online beginning in February. To see what the Monmouth County Library has to offer, visit www.monmouthcountylib.org.

For all you folks in the Bayshore or close to it, you only have a few days to treat yourself to a very unique, free exhibition at the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council on First Avenue in Atlantic Highlands. The exhibit will be removed following an Open House closing reception Jan. 23 to make way for another display of local and state-wide artistry at the First Avenue art gallery and gift shop. More than 50 artists have presented a startling array of artwork in a variety of media including in oil, watercolor, pastels, shredded newspaper and three dimensional settings giving vivid images how the Covid pandemic has impacted the person, the area, and the nation. Randy Mayer’s “Staying Safe” took the blue ribbon award in the juried competition for paper, with judges identifying the work as “outstanding,” given the technical challenge his work in transparent watercolor presented. Brian McCarty took the top award for “In the Park”, a large painting judges terms “a meticulous execution because of its depiction of a park with shadows. Like many of the works on display, this painting is for sale. Margery Cohen earned an honorable mention for her “Inner Workings,” among the variety of works receiving commendations for the excellence of the works. Also outstanding are the store front displays presented by the husband and wife team of David Habout and Nathalie d’Iris, artists in their own rights who have blended talents in the Covid era. D’Iris and Habout combined their talents and their sense of generosity and designed and made hundreds of masks they donated to front line workers in New York and more recently, to students in two schools in Monmouth County. They also made masks which are available for sale at the Arts Council in four different sizes for toddlers, six to 12 year olds, petite or teens, and adult. My particular favorite is the creative mask the couple made for people who wear hearing aids. If you have hearing devices, then you know how often the straps get mixed with the aids themselves and it’s frustrating. This couple has a great design of a mask where the strap goes around your head rather than your ears. Comfortable, easy, and no fear of losing one of those expensive little hearing devices. I’ll tell you more about this fascinating couple next week, but Halbout is a furniture maker and instructor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and together with his wife, a textile designer, they designed the colorful and specially designed masks that have been rated at being more than 85 per cent effective. Their window displays during the Age of Covid exhibition also combine their interests and talents, with d’Iris displaying some of the elegant silk dyed scarves she has designed, together with crocheted and knitted fashionable long accent pieces for women. The designer grows her own flowers in order to ensure the organic dyes she creates from cosmos, poppies, black-eyed Susans, black walnut and other flowers and vegetables. Halbout's display includes a variety of radios and speakers, both modern and earlier, representations of his work as a sound engineer for large theaters, amphitheaters and arenas. Also available for sale, the old-fashioned pieces have been incorporated with modern speakers and connections and are displayed together with restored smaller radios also with newly designed speakers. The Arts Council is open Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays from 1 to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no admission fee and visitors are invited to browse the exhibition at their leisure without time limits. The Open House/Closing Reception is free, but tickets may be reserved on line at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-in-the-age-of-covid-closing-reception-tickets-135905313451 to ensure social distancing. Take home hors d’oeuvres by Anthony “ Weird Eye” artist and chef will be available to attendees. Even if you’re not an art aficionado, this gallery is certainly worth a stop and a visit. There’s an incredible amount of talent in this area, and to see it on display in such a beautiful and relaxing setting, is a great gift to give yourself, at no cost, during stressful times.

The Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Council, their employees, and in truth all the residents of Atlantic Highlands especially those along Bayside Drive deserve tons of credit and admiration for last Thursday’s council meeting. To begin, there were nearly 100 residents on the virtual meeting and the predominant discussion and Q&A lasted three hours or more. Focus of all the discussion was the hopeful soon to be paving of Bayside Drive, corrections to stop runoff from the hill, addition of a couple of areas where pedestrians can be off the road as a car passes and several other improvements that certainly show that borough engineer David Rohmeyer certainly knows what he’s doing. The Bayside residents all wanted to tell their stories, they wanted to talk about the speeders on the road, the fact cars turned around on private property, sometimes damaging hedges and the like when they came to the dead end at the Highlands land and the barrier that left no choice. They wanted to see whether sidewalks could be a possibility, and they talked about parking, signage and guard rails. The engineer displayed the 17 or more pages of drawings, designs, maps for all to see, and painstakingly explained everything about them. It was obvious the engineer had been working with the residents for a long time, he knew all their names, their addresses, and exactly where their homes were on the maps on display. The same with Borough Administrator Adam Hubeny. In letting residents speak at the meeting, he quickly understood if they were having problems unmuting so they could be heard and offered immediate allowances, suggestions, and even phone calls to be sure everyone could be heard. The residents asked intelligent questions and were polite and courteous in the responses, not always necessarily what they wanted to hear. But it was an amazing exchange of ideas, thoughts, and cooperation. Mr. Hubeny, who must work 27 hours a day and be a Mensa candidate with his quick memory and absolute knowledge of so much going on in the borough, made it clear all the ideas were great, some could be adapted sometime in the future, but for now, it would be necessary to concentrate on the immediate job at hand. He reminded everyone the paving is only possible because of three grants the borough had received. But, he said, if the work isn’t underway by March, that money would be gone, could not be used for anything else, and the borough simply couldn’t afford the cost of paving the road. The people understood! They listened attentively, they asked questions, they were more than content, they were grateful, their ideas were listened to and understood. There will be more talk before final approval, putting the work out for bid and the actual construction. But Thursday night’s meeting was an amazing and provocative lesson I how people working together with people can accomplish so much without rancor and discord.