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June 17th ~ June 30th, 2011
TRUTH. HERITAGE. ENVIRONMENT.
BEACHWOOD • ISLAND HEIGHTS • OCEAN GATE • PINE BEACH • SOUTH TOMS RIVER • TOMS RIVER
Crabbe Family Cemetery Grave Emblem Stolen
Ground Broken for Seaport Society ACat Building
UNKNOWN THIEVES CHISELED BRONZE PIECE OFF 1938 HEADSTONE
PAST SOCIETY PRES. OPTIMISTIC FOR AUTUMN OPENING
By Philipp Schmidt BERKELEY – State park police are appealing to the public to help locate and return a bronze emblem depicting a sailboat and local flora that was stolen off the 1938 headstone of Birkbeck Crabbe, located in the Crabbe family burial plot inside Double Trouble State Park, which was once owned by the prominent area family. Larry Ragonese, spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, said that there are no suspects at this time and that the theft occurred sometime between May 13th and May 28th. “It had been cemented into the gravestone and it seems to the best of our understanding that someone chiseled it out,” he said. “It was reported by a member of the Crabbe family and we’ve been asking people [ever since].” The cemetery plot, located within the boundaries of Berkeley Township, is not an area “nor-
mally plagued by any kind of vandalism or issues” in the past. According to research performed by Steve Baeli of the Ocean County Compendium, Birkbeck Chittenden Crabbe died at the age of 32 at midnight on Saturday, November 5th, 1938 after having accidentally shot himself on a pheasant hunting trip in Sharon, Connecticut. Attempts to save his life were unsuccessful, and he was later laid to rest where he lived part the time, at Double Trouble, where his family operated the cranberry bogs present there today. Last week, Andrew Anderson, Double Trouble State Park’s historic resource interpretive specialist, sent out a flyer showing both a photograph of the emblem and a line drawing of its features with the request that anyone, especially antique dealers, pawn shops and scrap metal recyclers, who sees the emblem to call park police at 877-WARN-DEP. Officer David Beard is assigned to the case, which is marked as #11-137.
Class of 1971
You Think What You Think and I’ll Think What I Know with Frank Domenico Cipriani When I attended my daughter’s graduation last week, I noticed that very few students had their hand over their hearts to salute the flag and sing the Star Spangled Banner. I was proud to see that my daughter did. I know that for her it was a conscious decision, a defiant expression of true devotion. On the day of my own graduation, as our jazz choir sang The Star Spangled Banner, I was the only one I could see in the long line of graduates who did not have his hand over his heart. It was also an act of defiance—I thought that an act of nonconformity was the purest form of recognizing the spirit of the Constitution, the Revolution, and notion of individualism upon which it was all based. This is, after all, according to the lyrics of the anthem, the land of the free and the home of the brave, right? Wasn’t I acting free and brave by not saluting? Precisely thirty years separate the salient events of my life from those of my father. Thirty more separate my daughter’s life from mine: Graduation, marriage and the birth of my namesake have all been in a thirty year cycle. My father graduated in 1951. I graduated in 1981. My daughter is in the class of 2011.
One ritual that my father and I observed in which she will not participate, because she is a woman, is that trip to the post office to register with Selective Services for the draft. When I registered in 1981, I thought about the class of 1971, and how much of a difference ten years had made. The obligation to register which, for me, was a simple bureaucratic exercise was a serious matter a mere ten years earlier. A decade before my registration, the same long-haired boys that donned the ridiculous velour prom tuxes of the early 1970s (and that we were still wearing in the 1980s) had subscribed to a lottery in which winning meant two years of hell in a jungle on the opposite side of the world. For them, the obligation to register meant they could become soldiers, a year after their SAT’s, three years after their final little league games, having barely graduated from Saturday morning cartoons. When I began this article in the final weeks of my daughter’s high school experience, I was sitting outside Au Bon Pain, sipping a half-disgusting hazelnut iced coffee as I waited for my little girl, two weeks removed from her prom and four years from her last Pop Warner football game,
TRYC Tune-Up Regatta
By Erik Weber TOMS RIVER – Before long, one of the best remaining examples of the original Barnegat Bay A-Cat fleet of sailboats, the Spy, will be housed and displayed on a bluff overlooking the north shore of the Toms River when the Toms River Seaport Society completes construction of its new A-Cat museum building on the corner of Hooper Avenue and Water Street, here. A classic wooden sailboat that first made its rounds on the Barnegat Bay in the 1920s, earning cups and trophy wins up and down at least that body of water, it was constructed by Bay Head boat builder Morton Johnson in 1924 from prominent yacht designer Charles Mower’s plans of the Mary Ann, an A-Cat drawn up two years earlier. Placed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places in 1985, the Spy raced until it was retired in 2000, and cont. on page 19
Call for Volunteers: Island Beach State Park PROGRAM HELP NEEDED ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK – If you enjoy spending time at an ocean beach and want to help others, then Island Beach State Park has just the spot for you. Skyler Streich, a biological technician with Barnegat Bay Partnership and natural educator and tour guide with Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey placed a call for volunteers last week, announcing that the two groups, in conjunction with Island Beach State Park, are seeking those who can help set up saltwater fish tanks, rearrange and help make displays at the nature and interpretive centers, sell merchandise at Conserve Wildlife’s soon-to-be-established gift shop, and help out during Birding-by-Kayak trips, among many other things. Interested parties may sign up to volunteer by either traveling to Island Beach State Park to fill out a volunteer form, calling 732-793-1698 or e-mailing ibspnature@netcarrier.com.
cont. on page 14
ERIK WEBER, the Riverside Signal Area sailors took part in annual Toms River Yacht Club Tune-Up Regatta. More photos on page 11.
Saving the Greys, or How a Roadside Sign Changed the Lives of Sandy and Theresa Ross
By Erik Weber
SOUTH TOMS RIVER – Life can change in the blink of an eye. Such was the case for borough residents Theresa and Sandford “Sandy” Ross, Jr. in the 1990s when, on a trip through Florida, they passed a sign that read “Save the Greys.” “I said why would someone want a grey seal or grey whale or whatever it is,” recalled Mrs. Ross, who said she quickly learned the sign referred to greyhound dogs, which have been used as racing animals for many centuries in a sport that been on the decline in recent years. “When I came home I went on the internet and I found how they get rid of these dogs in awful ways—three weeks later we had our first greyhound.” The practice of dog racing continues in a number of states across the nation, including Connecticut and Florida, and despite its
cont. on page 15
ERIK WEBER, the Riverside Signal Work commenced at a fever pitch on the Island Heights pavilion at Central and River avenues last week. Soon the second floor will be open to the public.
CONNECT TO THE RIVERSIDE SIGNAL www.riversidesignal.com
waning popularity, many racing casinos, or ‘racinos,’ maintains the sport in order to keep their license to hold the more lucrative slots and table games inside their facilities. While race track owners often protest accusations of abuse or mishandling by animal protection groups nationwide, Mr. Ross, who is also a councilman here, said that in years past the torturous ways in which many race track owners rid themselves of dogs who no longer performed were pervasive. “For a long, long time, when the animal was no longer producing for the racetrack [which typically owns them], when they’re no longer an asset, they tended to just be destroyed,” he said. “There were horror stories of large groups of them just be-
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June 17th - June 30th, 2011
The RIVERSIDE SIGNAL
BEACHWOOD Jakes Branch Park Programs Summer Extended Hours Take advantage of the long summer days and head over to Jakes Branch for the park’s extended evening hours. Stroll through the nature center, climb up the five-story observation tower to watch the sun dip low in the sky or take a short nature walk as the moon rises. Fridays, June 17th, July 15th and August 5th, the park will be open from 8:30 am until 9 pm. Free and open to all ages. Great Bay Eco-Excursion On Saturday, June 25th, seine Great Bay, walk the salt marsh, do some beginner birding and learn about other interesting sites along Great Bay, Little Egg Harbor and 7 Bridges Road in Tuckerton. Pack a lunch and binoculars. Long sleeves and insect repellant are recommended. Be prepared to get went and for your shoes to get muddy. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The trip leaves the Jakes Branch Park Nature Center parking lot at 9 am, and will return and 3 pm. Cost is $14 per person, open to ages eight to adult, maximum 12 participants. Butterfly Garden Has your youngster showed an interest in gardening and wildlife? If so, then this is the program for them. Kids will have an opportunity to plant and help maintain the Jakes Branch Park Butterfly Garden on Tuesday, June 28th from 9 am to 10 am. Cost is $10 per child, open to ages 9 to 14 years. Garden gloves will be supplied, registration required, maximum eight participants.
Beachwood Vol. Fire Co. Hits 89 By Erik Weber
BEACHWOOD - This month marks the 89th year of the Beachwood Fire Company’s existence, and we present here the first of two parts showing the steps leading up to and conditions surrounding the creation of our borough volunteer fire company, as recorded by William Mill Butler in his 1924 publication, ‘Beachwood Who’s Who and Directory’ (which can currently be purchased in reprint at the Ocean County Historical Society, Toms River). ~ Nov. 1914 – New York Tribune ‘Beachwood’ land promotion advertised May 1915 – Beachwood officially opens on Decoration (Memorial) Day weekend July 20th 1916 – B.C. Mayo writes letter on behalf of himself and Tribune to residents suggesting they meet and “appoint committees to handle the following matters” including fire protection July 29th 1916 – Residents organized the Beachwood Property Owners’ Association for the purposes outlined by Mayo 1917 (unspecified date) – “Frank J. Turner and M.R. DeMiege were re-appointed fire wardens for the year.” Butler did not mention their original appointment the previous year, but it can be safely understood that these men were the borough’s first fire wardens following the organization of the Property Owner’s Association the previous summer. January 1917 – “The picturesque Japanese pagoda house erected on Capstan Avenue by Mrs. Wanda E. Lohr was completed.” [Mrs. Lohr would later factor in as a main fundraising organizer for the borough’s first fire apparatus] 1917 (unspecified date) – “It was reported that M. Maximillian R. DeMiege, who spent the summer in Beachwood, was an agent of the French Government and had signed a $35,000,000 contract for munitions and supplies.” [Clearly related to World War I, which had been fought until this period among mostly
European nations since late 1914, but to date no further information has been found regarding this odd report on one of our two first fire wardens] 1917 (unspecified date) – [Writing about popular ice skating on Windy Cove]: “During the evenings bonfires supplied light and heat and were also utilized by the skaters to roast marshmallows.” March 5th 1917 – Beachwood Borough bill is introduced and passed by New Jersey state senate without a dissenting vote; is later passed by the House and signed by the governor. April 6th 1917 – America enters the Great War, later to be known as World War I. May 11th 1917 – A special election is held for the first borough officials; George D. Suydam is elected as a councilman for a twoyear term. May 14th 1917 – First borough council is organized; Mayor Joseph H. Senior appoints George D. Suydam chairman of the po-
January 4th 1918 – Mayor and council met for reorganization meeting; George D. Suydam elected council president. March 1918 – “A forest fire during the first week in March touched the southwest end of Beachwood, and had the wind been favorable, it might have been serious. The lot-owners were urged to comply with the ordinance to clean up the underbrush.” September 1918 – Borough switches to commission form of government due in part to “the difficulty in obtaining an adequate attendance of members of the borough council” as many held year-round homes and jobs in New York City. Fall 1918 – “The work of cleaning out the underbrush in the lots of the built-up section of Beachwood progressed considerably.” Fall 1918 – “Mrs. Wanda E. Lohr and A.D. Nickerson, of Beachwood, were among the judges of the Toms River mardi-
Beachwood Community Calendar Beach Opens! Beachwood Beach will officially open on Saturday, June 18th to swimmers and visitors. Badges and parking passes are required and can be purchased at borough hall during regular business hours from Monday to Friday. For more information, call 732-286-6000. Land Use Board The Beachwood Land Use Board will hold its next meeting on Monday, June 27th at 7 pm in borough hall on Pinewald Road. Summer Camp Begins! Beachwood’s annual summer camp officially kicks off on Monday, June 27th at Mayo Park.
Beachwood Fire Apparatus at presentation, 1921. Early borough historian and author William Mill Butler can be seen standing at foreground-left, identifiable by white hair, glasses, crossed arms and speckled bowtie.
lice and fire committee. September 25th 1917 – Primaries for the fall election held and passed with no changes from May special election. November 6th 1917 – All nominees appointed at the May special election and subsequently chosen in September primaries were elected with no changes.
gras for the benefit of its fire department.” November 11th 1918 – World War I ends with the signing of the Armistice Treaty on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. 1919 (unspecified date) – “A brush fire in the woods on the southeast part of the borough was cont. on next page
Family Fun Nights To Begin The Beachwood Municipal Alliance will hold its annual Family Fun Night series beginning Monday, July 11th from 6 pm to 9 pm at Birch and Surf Park.
BYC Brevities
U.S. SAILING PREZ MAKES SURPRISE STOP The Beachwood Yacht Club held its annual Commodore’s Cocktail Party on Saturday, May 28th, and in honor of our country, this year’s theme was red, white and blue, the club colors. This year’s flag officers are Brigitte Hoey, Commodore; Neil Brooks, Vice Commodore; John Isdanavage, Rear Commodore; and Dave Mooney, Fleet Captain. During the event, a surprise visit was made by honorary club member Gary Jobson. Author, lecturer, Emmy awardwinning ESPN commentator and current president of U.S. Sailing, Gary launched his sailing career as a child with the Beachwood Yacht Club. Among many of Gary’s victories was winning the 1977 America’s Cup as a tactician aboard the Courageous, which was skippered by Ted Turner. He delighted members with a few of his stories that he tells so well. Beachwood Yacht Club is ready for the summer season with many planned social events. The junior sailors are looking forward to a fun-filled season, and the BYC is still accepting children aged 8 to 17 years old for the eight week sailing program, as well as the Coastal Kids proram for children ages 5 to 7 years old. For more information, please call the BYC at 732-349-9604 or visit us online at www.beachwoodyachtclub.com. ~ Submitted by Sue Bednarz
June 17th - June 30th, 2011
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The RIVERSIDE SIGNAL
BEACHWOOD Fire Co. Hits 89, cont. from page 2 put out by Mrs. F.W. Goodrich and two small boys.” August 9th 1919 – “At the annual meeting of the Beachwood Property Owners’ Association… the movement for the purchase of a chemical fire engine, started by Mrs. Wanda E. Lohr, was warmly endorsed.” August 15th 1919 – “The Beachwood “races,” a novel and amusing entertainment, in aid of the purchase of a chemical fire engine, drew a large attendance at Borough Hall. The idea was to cut long narrow pieces of tape into two strips and those that finished first in the various “heats” were the winners and ran again in the finals. Mrs. Wanda E. Lohr, chairman of the committee on fire protection, was the moving spirit, assisted by Mrs. A. Keller and Dr. J.H. Richards. Many beautiful prizes were secured by them in Toms River, among them being a gold watch donated by W.L. DeGraw. Cash donations were also received and the event proved a great success, between $300 and $400 being realized for the engine.” 1920 (unspecified date) – “Joseph A. Spears, having started to burn rubbish and accidentally set the brush afire, was fined$25.00 for failing to obtain a permit.” July 10th 1920 – “At the meeting of the Beachwood Property Owners’ Association, E.D. Collins, treasurer [later elected mayor], reported on hand: Fund for fire protection, $331.78.” July 12th 1920 – B.C. Mayo dies in Asheville, North Carolina, of pulmonary tuberculosis 1920 (unspecified date) – The Beachwood Property Owners’ Association adopts a resolution “that the association should conduct a carnival and fair during 1921, for the purpose of raising the additional money necessary for the purchase of fire apparatus.” June 20th 1920 – “A forest fire which threatened Beachwood [this] afternoon was said to have been set at Pinewald by a Jersey Central train. The fire in Beachwood burned around several houses on Beachwood Heights [their name for the area of town south of the railroad tracks, today existing as south of Route 9 from the Garden State Parkway to where it meets Atlantic City Boulevard in front of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church] but thanks to a small army of fire-fighters, under the direction of Fire Warden Joseph E. Abbott, and the Toms River fire company, the conflagration was extinguished without loss of life or property.” [this may be the very first fire call answered by residents of Beachwood not yet organized as a borough fire company] August 11th 1921 – “The lead-
ing event of the 1921 season was the Beachwood fair in aid of the fire apparatus fund. Borough hall [the original borough hall operated within an original building erected by the New York Tribune as ‘The Auditorium’, located approximately where the Mayo Park Playground stands today] was beautifully decorated with pine and oak and red, white and blue bunting and flags. Fifteen booths were arranged around the sides of the hall, with a five-foot aisle between the booths and the partition separating the main room from the veranda. The chairmen in charge of the booths were [extensive list of residents and their duties has been removed for space]. The fair was opened promptly at 4pm on Thursday, August 11th, by O. Frederic Rost, president of the Property Owners’ Association. Max DeRochemont was general chairman of the fair committee and Mrs. George D. Siffert [nee Thomas, she was the daughter Samuel Bath Thomas, founder of Thomas English Muffins] chairman of the booths in charge of the Woman’s Club. The receipts from sales were $2,170.17; cash donations, $137; total, $2,307.17; expenses, $331.30, leaving a net result of $1,975.87. Of this, the sum of $1,645.99 was paid for the handsome fourwheel chemical fire engine, which was on exhibition during the fair, and which had been previously ordered by vote of the board of trustees of the Property Owners’ Association and actually purchased by President Rost on his personal responsibility. After paying for the apparatus, there remained a cash balance of $329.88, according to a report made to the association on August 27th. Labor Day 1921 – “One of the striking incidents of [this day] was the formal presentation of the fire ring system and the fire apparatus to the borough by the Property Owners’ Association. O. Frederick Rost, president of the latter, made the presentation speech, in front of the club house, and Mayor J.H. Senior responded for the borough. The suggestion for a volunteer fire department was made about this time.” The second half of this will be printed on the Beachwood page of the July 1st edition. Don’t forget to make your donations to the department today! Checks and money orders can be sent to Beachwood Volunteer Fire Company, 745 Beachwood Boulevard, Beachwood, N.J. 08722. New members are always welcome. The Beachwood Vol. Fire Co. can be contacted by calling 732-3490014 or visiting them on the web at www.bvfd16.com.
Beachwood 1931 In early June 1931, the Borough of Beachwood modified its bathing beach ordinance to restrict the free use of Beachwood Beach to residents, property owners, their family members and “relatives or friends sojourning with such property owner or resident.” Anyone else needed to purchase bathing beach tickets from Harry Murray, the borough clerk, or other authorized borough employees. The tickets were not transferrable and cost $2 for the season. Single day tickets were 25 cents. Approximately 36 residents had petitioned the town for the adoption of the ordinance, and as a result identification tags were to be issued all those who could freely use the beach in order to separate them from those who needed to purchase beach tickets. Officials reserved the right to deny access to the beach to anyone they wished, and anybody caught being disorderly would face a $200 fine. On Sunday, May 31st, Beachwood Police Officer Frank Turner was slightly injured and his patrol car damaged after being forced into a metal light pole at the northwest corner of the Beachwood Circle, where today stands the Citizen of the Year sign, while chasing a speeding car along Atlantic City Boulevard. Over the Memorial Day weekend, borough hostelry The Brigantine was reportedly filled to capacity, and the Beachwood Union Sunday School saw 41 in attendance at the Beachwood Chapel on Compass Avenue. On June 1st, the Polyhue Yacht Club officially opened for the season, its clubhouse standing where today exists the Beachwood Community Center. That evening, a dance was held with Dave VanHorn and his orchestra out of Philadelphia providing the music. The group had performed many times for the club the season before. In other yacht club news, Commodore Puller’s wife set the social calendar with a number of activities, including Saturday afternoon teas to take place during weekly races and golf tournaments at the club’s miniature golf course. Also that month, Charles Moran, a local mason contractor, announced he had obtained a contract for work in Barnegat Pines, and E.A. Smith stated that he was installing a hot water heating system under direction of the government at the Manasquan
Beach Coast Guard Station. On Thursday, June 4th, a dinner was given at the Hoffman house to cast members of The Show Off, who had performed a benefit show for the Beachwood Fire Company, netting that volunteer organization approximately $600. A Beachwood Property Owners Association meeting was held Saturday, June 6th at the clubhouse located on the bluff above Windy Cove across from what today is the Mayo Park Playground (the clubhouse burned sometime in the 1940s and has been an auxiliary parking lot ever since). As of the summer of 1931, the property owners association took over maintaining the clubhouse from the borough with a goal to restore interest in its use by borough residents and to reinstall original amenities found when it first opened 16 years before. In this vein, they contracted Mrs. George Wenham to operate a concessions counter within the facility, and as the lodge and dining room were not being used that season, it was determined that she would also sell sandwiches and light lunches to patrons. For the 1931 season, Charles H. Haring was named president, Ferdinand J. Hosp, vice-president, Henry S. Gamp, treasurer, and Addison D. Nickerson, who actually designed and built most of the town at that point, secretary. Trustees included Mr. Haring, Lawrence Swan, Arthur Viertel, Jas. A. Butler, Joseph E. Walsh, Frank O. Price, George D. Siffert, O. Fred Rost, George Steinert, John H. Richards and Harry P. Staton. Burt Gray began to offer tap dancing lessons at the Beachwood Auditorium in mid-June, and the Beachwood Property Owners Association planned to hold dances at the same venue later in the summer season. By mid-June, the Greenbrier, the newest borough hostelry, or inn, reported solid attendance over the weekends since Memorial Day. It was announced that J.J. Hoffman would begin work at constructing a summer home for John Moran, and that he has also rented the apartment over the bakery to Paul Olsen, and yet another bungalow to a member of the Lakehurst Naval Air Station. The above was compiled as a result of research performed in the various files of the Wheeler Room at the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library.
Real Estate Report with Robert Suarez BEACHWOOD – This is the real estate report for single-family homes in Beachwood for May 2011. There are 14.88 average months of inventory (months to sell present inventory at present sales rate), 109 active listings and nine new listings with an average list price of $382,688, down from the same month last year when 27 new homes were listed with an average price of $279,572. Currently, there are five pending sales with an average list price of $188,740 after spending an average of 100 days on the market. This is also down when compared to May 2010, which had eight pending sales with an average list price of $239,800 after 126 days on the market. This month six homes were
sold with an average price of $180,100, and with the average sold price being 93 percent of the list price. They spent and average of 96 days on the market. Three were FHA loans, one was conventional and two were cash.. This is down compared to May of last year when 12 sales were recorded with an average list price of $241,249, with the final average sale price being 97 percent of listed value after spending 79 days on the market. Six were conventional loans and six were FHA loans. Judging the numbers, my opinion is that Beachwood, now with 14.88 months of inventory on the market plus nine new listings, will see prices continue to drop in the foreseeable future.
Jakes Branch Park Programs T-Ball Basics Planned to develop coordination and team play for young children in a safe way, this program will teach players the fundamentals of the sport, such as running, catching, throwing and batting. The children will also play kickball, a good lead-up sport for T-ball. Running Tuesdays from June 28th to July 12th at 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm in the Jakes Branch Park Softball Field B, cost is $13 per child ages four to seven years. Participants must bring a baseball glove and cold drink. Rain days cannot be rescheduled. Registration is required, maximum 15 participants.
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Beachwood Dems Name Three Mayoral Candidates
PUBLIC MEETING TO INTERVIEW AND PICK MAYOR JULY 6th
By Erik Weber
BEACHWOOD – The Beachwood Democratic Club has submitted three names for the borough council to pick from for Beachwood’s next mayor, who will serve out the unfinished term of Mayor Ronald W. Jones, Jr through December 31st following his resignation earlier this month. “We did submit on Monday the 12th three candidates— Bonnie Verga, Robert Clark and Ken Mullarney,” said Pat Barndt, chairwoman for Beachwood’s Democratic Club and a 2011 council candidate. “[The borough council] sent an e-mail back that they scheduled a public meeting and interview on July 6th at 7 pm, and they will make their appointment on that date.” Check back with the July 1st edition of the Riverside Signal for more information on the candidates and the appointment process.
Robert Suarez is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty and an independent real estate correspondent for the Riverside Signal. For more information, he can be reached at Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty’s Toms River office, located at 1541 Route 37 East, 732-270-6100 or through email at robert.suarez@coldwellbanker.com and online at www. robertsuarez.net. Disclaimer: All information was gathered from the Monmouth/Ocean M.L.S. All opinions are that of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Coldwell Banker and/or Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty or the Riverside Signal.
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June 17th - June 30th, 2011
The RIVERSIDE SIGNAL
ISLAND HEIGHTS Grade School Celebrates Island Heights Day “Picking all of the buildings is
STUDENTS CREATE always quite fun, using reading REPLICAS OF HISTORIC and language arts,” she continBOROUGH BUILDING ued. “How we first start this is we
By Erik Weber ISLAND HEIGHTS – As throngs of parents, siblings, relatives and visitors filled the seats and lined the walls of Lori Romano and Brooke Nelson’s third grade classroom last Monday, students giggled and whispered to one another behind desks that held up colorful cardboard creations replicating this borough’s most prominent historic structures. It was time for the school’s annual Island Heights Day, the final celebration of what had been an entire marking period of learning about the borough’s history for the third graders. Beginning in the late 18th century, students learned that the Dillon family owned the entire island before the land was divided into the Brinley, Westray and Hurry farms for much of the 19th, the former of which was then purchased and developed into one of the nine Methodist Camp Meeting communities in the state under the auspices of the Island Heights Association. As the first meetings took place on the newly cleared bluff overlooking the Toms River in 1878, interest in the island grew as a result of the late 19th and early 20th century shore resort community boom, and the two adjacent farms were converted into new real estate developments consisting of the large-style Victorian cottages present there today. The community officially incorporated as an independent borough in 1887. While Island Heights Day focuses on the history of the town, the curriculum utilized for the students to learn that history actually incorporates all aspects of the learning experience, said Ms. Romano. “Mostly we involve social studies, because in third grade we are required to learn about our community, and our community is…” started Ms. Romano. “Island Heights!” declared the students.
learn about the history of Island Heights, and then all of the buildings and information about them are photocopied and placed facedown so the students randomly select the building, and what you pick is what you get.” “The students get to read about each building and that really starts our research,” the third grade teacher said. “With that, we get out and we tour the town, and that involves physical education.” On the tours, which took place earlier this spring, students were able to be photographed beside either the historic building they chose or the location where the structure once stood. Ms. Romano’s third graders also have the unique distinction of being the first student body to have toured the John F. Peto Studio and Museum, which took place prior to their official gala opening late last month. “Using the research that we did from reading about the buildings and from our tour, the students are then asked to write about the facts of their building, using language arts in this unit as well,” said Mr. Romano. “With what we wrote about, the students are then able to use technology and computer class in this project” by typing the historic essays on Microsoft Word and creating digital “paintings” of the structures on Kid Pix, a bitmap drawing program for children. The teacher noted that as the children drew the buildings, they were also able to learn about mathematics in the form of the acute, obtuse and right angles that made up the roof pitches of their selected buildings, and art was heavily applied when beginning the three-dimensional cardboard models. Knowledge about color was gained as the schoolchildren painted their buildings to come up with such color combinations of purple out of blue and red for the door of the Bogart house and gray out of black and white for the roof of the pavilion, she said. This year’s project also incor-
porated science in the learning process, and Ms. Romano said the class learned the former residents of the Peto house used to raise minks, that recently some eagles were spotted flying around town, and that muskrats also had homes in the nearby water. “This is a completely in-school project, with only me and Mrs. Nelson here in the classroom, so the students had to work together,” said Ms. Romano, describing how teamwork was also emphasized. “Some students became
preciation and respect for their town, and to understand, when they look at an old building, that it’s not just an old building but part of the history of the town, they understand the significance of it,” he said. ”They have the opportunity to learn without trying to learn a rote lesson, and so make this thing come alive, and the mixture of social studies, language arts, math, art, technology, health, science and physical education gives a student an opportunity to be a complete indi-
ERIK WEBER, the Riverside Signal Timothy Wener and Ella Wilkins showed off the models of the historic yacht club and pavilion during this week’s Island Heights Day at the grade school.
roof experts, and others became stair experts and railing experts.” Following the overview of the entire project, students then stood before their visiting parents, relatives and guests to give a presentation of what they learned about Island Heights, before returning to their desks and introducing each historic structure individually. All of the students’ creations would be on display in the Cottage Museum on Simpson Avenue for the duration of the summer vacation, the teacher noted. Island Heights Mayor Jim Biggs was also on hand for the program, and he expressed his pride for the young borough residents learning about their town’s history. “It gives them a sense of ap-
vidual.” The program, currently in its eighth year under the direction of Ms. Romano, had an earlier version under the previous teacher, who would use a map to teach the children about borough history. “I believe I’m the one who brought in incorporating the touring of the buildings,” she said, adding that her past students still seem to remember the program fondly. “Normally in the 6th grade promotion when they do their speeches, their walkthrough of memory lane from kindergarten through 6th grade, a lot of times the one part that sticks out is building the buildings in third grade, so it’s nice to hear that.” A number of students also tell
Island Heights Community Calendar Secret Gardens & Scenic Porches of Island Heights Tour The Island Heights Cultural and Heritage Association the Island Heights Garden Club are co-hosting the annual self-guided garden tour on Saturday, June 25th from 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday, June 26th from noon to 4 pm. Seven gardens and six porches will be featured, and tickets cost $15 in advance and $18 on the day of the tour at the Cottage Museum on Simpson Avenue. Box lunches and other refreshments will be available for purchase at the pavilion area on River and Central avenues on the waterfront. For more information, write IHCHANJ@gmail.com or call Barbara Rooberg at 732-506-9375 Council Meeting The Island Heights Mayor and Council will hold their next meeting on Tuesday, June 28th at 7 pm in borough hall at the Wanamaker Complex on Van Sant and East End avenues. Drive Carefully! With the warmer weather, residents and visitors of all ages will be out enjoying the outdoor amenities that our area has to offer. Please slow down, obey all local speed limits and be alert when driving near playgrounds and on residential streets.
cont. on page 19
FICTION WRITERS
Are you a writer of short or longform fiction, science fiction, etc. who would like to be featured in these pages? Write us today! RiversideSignal@gmail.com or P.O. Box 93, Beachwood, N.J. 08722
June 17th - June 30th, 2011
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The RIVERSIDE SIGNAL
ISLAND HEIGHTS This Month at the Ocean County Artists’ Guild:
Sculpting Pop Culture Icons, Discovering Nature and John F. Peto By Erik Weber ISLAND HEIGHTS – It was a busy June reception at the Ocean County Artists’ Guild earlier this month, as regional artists Stephen Zorochin, whose studio is in Manasquan, Patricia Florio Colrick, of Spring Lake, and Carol J. Colvins, of Toms River shared the spotlight between two galleries that featured many pieces representing their varied styles and mediums, including a special display of a recent book Ms. Colrick wrote on the life of late 19th century Island Heights artists, John Frederick Peto. In the second gallery, Mr. Zorochin and Ms. Colrick’s shared space allowed guests to pause and reflect upon the pop culture and religious icons of the former’s large sculptures against the characteristics of nature in the latter’s paintings. ~ Mr. Zorochin, a monumental sculptor who previously created the Captain Dempster Monument for the Mercer County Fire Training Center, among others, was on hand with four sculptures of hand-painted hycrocal and cement: two depicting the Christian religious figure of Jesus Christ in differing roles, one of rock star and Jersey Shore native Bruce Springsteen that he has named Soulful Humanitarian, and his most recent work, a portrait bust of 1960s rock and roll artist Jimi Hendrix. Looking back, the Manasquanbased sculptor said he got his start in the early 1970s after an abandoned initial enrollment in a New York City art institution. “I started sculpting after I dropped out of art school [the New York School of Visual Arts], and I met a professor at Princeton University, whose name is Joe Brown, and I served an apprenticeship with him and sort of got bitten by the bug,” he said, adding that after leaving school, he became a part-time student at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, located in Boston, Massachusetts, and later wound up working with Mr. Brown. “I really didn’t focus on sculpture until I had met or worked under the professor—I would say that would be 1973—and I found working with a tangible medium a lot more interesting than painting or two-dimensional things.” On his current work focused on icons of popular culture, Mr. Zorochin said “being that I’m sort of a Sixties kind of person, our generation grew up with a lot of rock music, I connect with that.” Two copies of his Soulful Humanitarian portrait bust of Mr. Springsteen are installed at Kennedy Park in Asbury Park and at Pier Village in Long Branch. His website can be found at www.stephenzorochin.com. ~ Ms. Colrick, who described herself as “a very visual person,” graduated from Barnard College following a childhood in Short Hills, Essex County, after which she earned a masters’ degree from Columbia University’s School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and became involved in historic preservation research work, including having been part of the team that oversaw the Amsterdam Theater restoration in Manhattan. Throughout her life, which included raising her fam-
ERIK WEBER, the Riverside Signal Manasquan-based monumental sculptor Stephen Zorochin is displaying his “pop icon” series of work this month at the county artists’ guild.
erick Peto in conjunction with the restoration and reopening of his home and studio as a county museum only a short distance away. Extensively researched by Ms. Colrick, the book recounts how Mr. Peto arrived with his wife and child to Island Heights from Philadelphia in 1889 to carve out a style and existence apart from everything he had previously known. “For many years I had been aware of the house, its existence [as a bed and breakfast], and I could never justify staying in it since I lived so close to it in Spring Lake,” she said. “I followed it over the years and wondered what was going on, and then I met Barbara de la Cuesta, my publisher.” Ms. de la Cuesta had read her previous books and invited her ERIK WEBER, the Riverside Signal to write the book on Mr. Peto in Spring Lake-based artist and writer the middle of the last decade, at Patricia Florio Colrick is showing her nature-themed paintings and new book which time Ms. Colrick “soon dison John F. Peto this month. covered that this house was in a ily in Spring Lake, opening sister transition at the time, and there independent bookstores Land- was a preservation effort afoot.” “I was first was in the house mark Books in that town and Manasquan, and writing three [shortly after restoration began], local history books on Hoboken, and was very surprised because Montville and Spring Lake for parts of the studio had actually Arcadia Publishing’s popular Im- been gutted,” she said, stating ages of America series, Ms. Col- that she soon learned Michael rick said she always “maintained Califate, of Historic Building Architects, Trenton, was meticuan interest in art.” Although having started out lously turning back the clock with oils, she said in recent years on all the interior spaces of the she began to include acrylic in home. Conducting research partially her work after becoming comelectronically via online Smithfortable with the medium. Regarding the recurring sub- sonian files that allowed her to ject of nature in her work, Ms. utilize Mr. Peto’s archives, which Colrick pointed to the example his family had donated to the naof “trying to understand the en- tional institution, Ms. Colrick was ergy and the type of color pal- able to combine her sources and ette” found in a piece depicting draw together information on “the early spring marshlands Mr. Peto’s father, who “had been just bursting from the soil” and a firefighter in New York City as a other basic elements that have young man and then after he was lately been drawing her to move in the Civil War dealing in fire toward her “greater apprecia- apparatus.” “It was such a leap of faith, I tion of things that can’t speak for themselves,” such as nature and think, to leave Philadelphia and come to Island Heights—it’s pretanimals. More recently, the two main ty remote from where he’d really aspects of her career and inter- grown up—to devote himself to ests appear to have intersected his art,” said Ms. Colrick, reflectin a recent project that saw her ing upon the family and business write a new account on the life connections the younger Mr. Peto and works of late 19th Century had walked away from, resulting Island Heights artist John Fred- in white-knuckle winters when cont. on page 15
Island Heights 1931 In June 1931, boat builder Fred McInnis joined John P. Kirk of Toms River and Capt. Eli Townsend of Seaside Park in condemning the factory stock-built crafts that had been arriving to the region, making it harder to earn a livelihood at the trade. On Monday, June 1st, the Pennsylvania Railroad officially discontinued all trains running across the Toms River from Pine Beach after nearly 50 years of operation, replacing them with buses that would take passengers direct to Central Avenue from their Toms River station, which was actually located in South Toms River at the current site of the South Toms River Sewerage Authority (the station building was sold in the early 1950s and moved down the road that was constructed over top the former P.R.R. right of way, which today is the Garden State Parkway access road, and today stands on Halliard Avenue in Beachwood as a private home). Borough officials and residents were outraged and swore court action, beginning an appeals process with the state utility board. Early in the month, the Mr. and Mrs. Bailey and their daughter, Catherine, spent the Memorial Day holiday at their cottage on the bluff, while Edgar Freeman and his wife treated the youth choir to ice cream in Mrs. J. McInnis’s home after Sunday evening services. Earlier the previous week, the Island Heights Girl Scouts held their final regular meeting of the year in the Methodist Church, with Capt. Dorothy G. Taylor leading the group. Competitive games were held among the scout patrols, and the following Saturday a food sale earned the scouts $18.55 towards their camp fund for the summer. On Thursday, June 4th, troop members held a beach party and bonfire hot dog/marshmallow roast on the beach at Seaside under direction of Miss Charlotte Forrester, Mrs. Hilda Gibbs and Mr. Milton Johnson. Berneda Keyser, Emma Muller, Evelyn Gibbs and Evelyn Irons performed a few stunts and a good time was had by all. Also on Thursday evening, June 4th, the Island Heights grammar school held its closing exercises,
with Virginia Applegate and Thomas E. Wallace graduating. Beginning with a march by Miss Marie Snyder, Rev. Stanley Wagg then gave an invocation while the song Trees was sung by the school students. Following that, Tom Wallace informed visitors of the history of the school’s Ocelot Club, Miss Applegate described their activities throughout the previous year, a treasurer’s report was given by Keturah Cowdrick, and the entertainment program commenced under direction of Myrtle McLaughlin, which included songs, poems, and a few plays. Next, board of education vice president, Raymond Pettibone, presented attendance certificates and awards for perfect attendance. Ocean County Helping Teacher Mary Young then gave out reading and penmanship certificates and scholarship prizes before the ceremony closed with the school singing the song Marianina. The two graduates had selected lilac for the class flower, lilac and green for class colors, and the motto ‘Success Succeeds.’ In mid-June, the borough was represented by Walter Carron of Camden and Peter Backes of Trenton at a conference in Trenton with the state utility board to fight for the return of train service over the Toms River bridge from Pine Beach. The Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders was also represented during the meeting, by Ocean County Solicitor Jayne. The Pennsylvania Railroad offered to give the bridge to the county, which is less than an earlier offer by the rail company to offer the bridge plus approximately $14,000 for its removal. Area rumors of it being turned into a highway bridge proved untrue, as it was deemed too narrow for any worthwhile purpose, as it would only allow a single lane of traffic and besides was nearing the end of its lifespan, which was partially the reason the P.R.R. chose to discontinue service and abandon it. The above was compiled as a result of research performed by the Riverside Signal staff in the various files of the Wheeler Room at the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library.
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The RIVERSIDE SIGNAL
OCEAN GATE Borough Acquires Military Transport for Severe Weather Emergencies CHIEF FISHER: PRIMARY USE TO EVACUATE DURING FLOODING By Erik Weber OCEAN GATE – Residents of this borough who have peered across the borough hall parking lot with curiosity at the olive green military truck that has been there since earlier this spring, wonder no more. It’s here to help you in such severe weather events as last December’s postChristmas blizzard that dropped approximately 30 inches across the region and the warm-weather floods that occasionally occur along the waterfront areas. Ocean Gate Police Chief Reece J. Fisher said that the truck, a 2.5 military troop transport vehicle build in 1986 and first placed in service in 1987, is known as the M-35 and was obtained through federal surplus from the State of New Jersey “in cooperation with the Seaside Heights Office of Emergency Management, who acquired the vehicle and had it for a short time [before transferring] the surplus paperwork over to us.” According to various online
military equipment resources, including Alexandria, Virginia-based security corporation Global Security, the M-35, known commonly as part of the “deuce and a half” line of vehicles due to its 2.5 ton weight, had its roots in World War II when such transports “increased infantry mobility twentyfold and enabled it to keep pace with the rapid armor advancement.” General Dwight D. Eisenhower listed it as being “among the most vital to our success in Africa and Europe.” “This was something we were staring to look at acquiring several years ago,” said Chief Fisher. “The northeast end of town is commonly subjected to flooding depending on the storm. This vehicle would be utilized in the capacity to aid residents in the event that there is either an emergency at their house, they’re in need of some type of medical attention or require evacuation from the residence.” The price tag for obtaining cont. on page 19
ERIK WEBER, the Riverside Signal The borough’s new military-grade M-35 transport will be available to perform rescues during severe weather emergencies, here.
Ocean Gate 1931 In mid to late June 1931, Dave Sullivan was seen in town at the club house and said as recentlyelected manager of the borough baseball team, that he’s trying to get a lot of the former players back on board for a tentative first game on July 1st. Captain Bud Meyers and Fred Wacneke were also taking fishing parties out on their motorboat, and announced their official launch site as the Wildwood Avenue pier. During the weekly Sunday church service, summer residents the Manuels saw their son, James Edward, christened, while their other son, five-year-old William Parkinson, sang two songs during the ceremony. In borough homebuilding news, Samuel Miller spent a few days mid-month while Mr. Marple was busy construction a garage and apartment on his property that faces Bayview Avenue, the Montmoreney family of Point Pleasant Avenue were having an addition put on their home, and the Long Branch Avenue cottage
owned by the Grossman family was being rebuilt by W.E. Burnett after that structure was partially lost to a fire the previous fall. In municipal news, the borough clerk advertised for bids to paint borough hall, and the annual July 4th celebration was discussed. New electric arrow signs installed at Motts corner and Route 4 (later, Route 9) were lit for the first time, welcoming traffic into the borough. An official presentation of the signs was scheduled to be made by the Ocean Gate Civic Club, who purchased them for the borough. The annual oiling of the streets began, with Long Branch Avenue and Narragansett Avenue being added to the list that year, in accordance with an agreement by the borough council to do an additional borough street each year. The above was compiled as a result of research performed by the Riverside Signal staff in the various files of the Wheeler Room at the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library.
2011. There are 14.46 average months of inventory (months to sell present inventory at present sales rate), 29 active listings including six new listings with an average list price of $242,966, down from the same month last year when seven new homes were listed with an average price of $296,127. Currently, there are two pending sales with an average list price of $175,000 after spending an average of 50 days on the market. During May 2010, there were no pending sales. This month there was one home sold for $160,000. It spent 36 days on the market and was a conventional mortgage. This is down compared to May of last year when two sales were recorded with an average list price of $241,249, with the final average sale price being 94 percent of listed value after spending 138
ion is that Ocean Gate, now with 14.46 months of inventory on the market plus six new listings, will se prices continue to drop in the foreseeable future. Robert Suarez is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty and an independent real estate correspondent for the Riverside Signal. For more information, he can be reached at Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty’s Toms River office, located at 1541 Route 37 East, 732-270-6100 or through email at robert.suarez@coldwellbanker.com and online at www. robertsuarez.net. Disclaimer: All information was gathered from the Monmouth/Ocean M.L.S. All opinions are that of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Coldwell Banker and/or Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty or the Riverside Signal.
Ocean Gate Community Calendar Historical Society Museum Open Saturdays The Ocean Gate Historical Society Museum and Train Station is now hope Saturdays from 10 am until noon. Groups may call 732-2695710 for tours at other times.
Drive Carefully! With the warmer weather, residents and visitors of all ages will be out enjoying the outdoor amenities that our area has to offer. Please slow Real Estate Report with Robert Suarez down, obey all local speed OCEAN GATE – This is the days on the market. Both were limits and be alert when driving near playgrounds and on real estate report for single-fam- FHA loans. ily homes in Ocean Gate for May Judging the numbers, my opin- residential streets. Free Karate Classes! Free karate classes are offered every Friday from 6 pm to 7 pm in Adrian Hall on East Cape May Avenue to all borough residents. ~ Do you have an Ocean Gate community meeting, sports game, fundraiser or event you’d like to see here? Write us at P.O. Box 93, Beachwood, N.J. 08722 or e-mail riversidesignal@ gmail.com and get it listed!
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The RIVERSIDE SIGNAL
OCEAN GATE Beach & Boardwalk Committee Reorganization Rundown By Erik Weber
On Friday night, June 10th, the Ocean Gate Beach and Boardwalk Committee held its annual reorganization meeting, with Jim Fry as acting chairman, Patrick O’Neill as corresponding recording secretary, George Cheregno as publicity, Lou Purcaro as membership chair, and Larry McDowell for fundraising. Mr. Fry pointed out the Bob Holshue and Woody Vassallo also joined the group for this year. Councilman Dave Kendrick is council liaison to the group, and Mr. Fry said that they would “basically try to hold meetings probably every other month” depending on how things work with the town and what the town is planning on doing in order for the committee to help… Mr. Fry also reported that as of May 31st the committee had in its coffers $5,445.66. “That’s down a little bit from where we were over the past couple years, we’ve probably gone through about $20,000 but different projects were done and we were working with it.”…Mr. O’Neill asked that anyone wishing to remain on the e-mail list to please write him when they change their e-mail address so that they can stay up to date on committee actions, projects, meetings and notices… Mr. McDowell presented a Powerpoint presentation on the fundraising efforts of the committee, showing the various t-shirts they purchase for $6 and sell for $13, and asked that anyone able to help sell the remaining stock during the borough’s Fourth of July festivities to please contact the committee. “It seems like people don’t think we have a need to raise money but all the little things we do,” he continued, adding that it was not true and the committee is constantly seeking new sources of revenue to provide improvements along the waterfront section for borough residents and visitors. Further fundraising ideas possible for the future include 50/50 tickets, a bus trip to Atlantic City, a River Lady cruise, insulators for cold drink cans, and a dinner catered by Thistle Fish & Chips out of Kearny, Hudson County. Recent projects funded by efforts of the committee include the restoration of the flagpoles on the beachfront and lumber for the replacement of boardwalk decking… Mr. Fry asked younger bor-
ough residents, visitors and fans of the Ocean Gate to consider lending help in the physical volunteer efforts, particularly in the restoration of beach shelters, replacement of boardwalk decking and so forth, as he pointed out that not many currently involved in the committee and volunteer efforts were particularly youthful in age any longer… a detailed map plotting out known efforts to improve and restore sections of the beach and boardwalk was presented by the committee (and reprinted in entirety below) so that those interested could see precisely where work had been done and when, and allowing the committee’s current and future members to build and maintain a visual database of the maintenance at the waterfront. Recent known projects included the current ongoing work at replacing the Wildwood Avenue pier, the restoration of all the pavilions, the repainting of benches along the boardwalk and in the pavilions, the installation of dog waste and cigarette butt receptacles, and the “adopt-a-bench’ program that installed “about 13 to 15 benches,” among others… Upcoming projects the committee is currently considering with the town includes the installation of additional handicap access points, the installation of new decking at the rebuilt pilings for the Wildwood Avenue pier, the eventual replacement of all the pilings beneath the boardwalk – which Mr. Fry said were completely gone – the replacement of metal brackets at certain pavilions, the potential installation of fence rails in the Angelsea Avenue parking lot and around the comfort station there, the upcoming cleanup of the surface beach sand by machines from the nearby townships, and the installation of new roof shingles at Wildwood Avenue Pavilion, among others… Issues the committee is currently looking at addressing are reports that winter storms having distorted parts of the boardwalk near Angelsea Avenue, vandalism to the cigarette butt receptacles believed to have been done by area youth, and the replacement of various pieces of signage that were broken or stolen… Residents present at the meeting offered numerous opinions as to the waterfront area, including the pos-
sible increased garbage pickup along the waterfront to alleviate bad odors that occasionally build up, the increased enforcement of the no-dog-walking ordinance, which many said was broken by residents and visitors fairly often, the limiting of dune grass areas from growing out beyond their current perimeters and beneath the boardwalk, which Mr. Fry said would be addressed at the beach sweep on Saturday, June 25 from 9am to 12pm, and the removal of sand from the boardwalk decking in various areas. Angelsea Avenue resident Pat Conway told the committee that she represented “about 30 families” who felt the “No Dogs” spraypainted sign on the decking along the boardwalk presented negative connotations that the town was anti-dog, regardless of the ordinance, adding that there were already signs stating no dogs were allowed on the waterfront area… Former councilman and current Democratic council candidate Frank Santarpia
asked whether anything would be done to the swingset currently housed at Mr. Purcaro’s property, which the committee had earlier hoped to install at the beach. Mr. Fry replied that the state apparently wanted a CAFRA permit to install the equipment, so they would seek other solutions for the set with the town… before closing the meeting, one resident pointed out that she had observed a number of the borough lifeguards the previous year reading books or texting on their cellphones instead of watching the beachfront, resulting in one near miss when a five-year-old noticed that a toddler had gone into the water without the lifeguard noticing, and asked that the borough look at curtailing the lifeguard’s distractions for this season. Mayor Paul Kennedy, who was present at the meeting, said that her comments were “hearsay” and that the issue should be brought before the borough council, not the beach and boardwalk committee.
ANTIQUES ETC. with Particia H. Burke
The fifth annual June Festival of Antiques in Mullica Hill, Gloucester County was held on June 11th at the Gloucester County 4-H Fairgrounds to benefit the Harrison Township Historical Society. Held under four pavilions with lawn space for a total of about 80 quality dealers, the show has an emphasis on Americana, including quilts, folk art, stoneware, and redware, in addition to jewelry, toys, glass, Victoriana, dolls, furniture and decoys. The Old Wood Shed of Brick Township was present with pewter, wooden pantry boxes, a painted plant stand and a child’s flower cart for sale while Grings’ Antiques of Ocean City, Cape May County reported selling several old board games, children’s books, seed cabinets, splint baskets, a small bench, and an early 1900s Hires Root Beer mug. The Stables Antiques of Mau-
ricetown, Cumberland County sold a spice cabinet, bistro set, two wash stands, several pieces of Roseville pottery, several pieces of Fenton, a trunk, and Staffordshire porcelain dogs while Shell Farber, of Havertown, Pennsylvania was selling U.S. coins, Tiffany silver jewelry at good prices, turquoise and silver bracelets and baseball cards from the 1950s and 1960s. As I approached the booth of Raccoon Creek at Oley Forge, Pennsylvania, I stopped dead in my tracks. There sat a salt glazed stoneware pitcher by Crolius, the early 18th century New York potter. And, not surprisingly, marked $7,800. There were also several pitchers by Remmey of Philadelphia marked from $1,400 to $1,600. A stoneware rundlet or barrel keg, incised 1809, and probably made in New Jersey was selling for $1,250.
Patricia H. Burke
Call for Volunteers: Wildwood Avenue Pier OCEAN GATE – Mayor Paul Kennedy placed a call for all volunteers interested and able to aid in the construction of decking at the recently rebuilt Wildwood Avenue pier, here, beginning Monday, June 20th. “It’s not just people swinging hammers – some duties may be [to] carry lumber onto the pier, supplying the nails, etc.,” he said in an e-mailed message to the Riverside Signal. “Anyone interested in donating some time, or if you know of anyone please inform them.” The mayor asked that interested parties first check in with him by calling his cellphone at 732678-7432 prior to starting work so that he may coordinate the effort with the existing volunteers. Anyone with questions can also call that number.
Unfortunately at about 3 o’clock it started to pour and the show was over. If you were hungry you could still buy something delicious at Yoder’s BBQ Pit from the Amish Market of Mullica Hill. They were selling homemade whoopie pies by the dozen. Or, if you had the time and/or the money you could head one mile to the historic Main Street section of Mullica Hill. Here you could browse at The Yellow Garage Antiques, a 35-dealer antiques marketplace, then walk over to the Old Mill Antique Center, Front Porch Antiques, Kings Row Antique Center, Lucky Dog Antiques, The Sign of St. George, and Trellis Antiques. I’d say the trip was antique heaven. Coming up is the 20th Annual St. Francis Antique Show & Sale, being held July 30 & July 31 at St. Francis Community Center, 4700 Long Beach Blvd., in Long Beach Township, NJ. For additional information go to stfranciscenterlbi.org
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The RIVERSIDE SIGNAL
PINE BEACH
Admiral Farragut Academy Pic of the Week This photo, taken at Admiral Farragut Academy in the late 1930s, shows cadets hard at work refurbishing a series of boats they would later sail on the waters of the Toms River.
Real Estate Report with Robert Suarez
PINE BEACH – This is the real estate report for single-family homes in Pine Beach for May 2011. There are 12.63 average months of inventory (months to sell present inventory at present sales rate), 28 active listings and seven new listings with an average list price of $412,671, up from the same month last year when four new homes were listed with an average price of $352,200. Currently, there are two pending sales with an average list price of $352,400 after spending an average of 80 days on the market. There were no pending sales in May 2010. This month two homes were sold with an average price of $247,000, and with the average sold price being 92 percent of the list price. They spent and average of 24 days on the market. This is the same compared to May of last year when two sales were recorded with an average list price of $309,500, with the final average sale price being 94 percent of listed value after spending 59 days on the market. Both were conventional loans. Judging the numbers, my opinion is that Pine Beach, now with 12.63 months of inventory on the market plus seven new listings, will see prices continue to drop in the foreseeable future. Robert Suarez is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty and an independent real estate correspondent for the Riverside Signal. For more information, he can be reached at Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty’s Toms River office, located at 1541 Route 37 East, 732-270-6100 or through email at robert.suarez@coldwellbanker.com and online at www. robertsuarez.net. Disclaimer: All information was gathered from the Monmouth/Ocean M.L.S. All opinions are that of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Coldwell Banker and/or Coldwell Banker Flanagan Realty or the Riverside Signal.
BUY LOCAL, SAVE JOBS
Pine Beach Community Calendar Council Work Meeting The Pine Beach Borough Mayor and Council will hold their next work meeting on Monday, June 20th at 7:30 pm in borough hall on Pennsylvania Avenue. Drive Carefully! With the warmer weather, residents and visitors of all ages will be out enjoying the outdoor amenities that our area has to offer. Please slow down, obey all local speed limits and be alert when driving near playgrounds and on residential streets. Pine Beach 5K The 13th Annual Pine Beach 5K & One Mile Riverside Run will take place on Sunday, June 26th with the Pine Beach Volunteer Fire Company hosting their pasta dinner for race participants the night before. Packet pickup will also be available on Saturday evening, June 25th at borough hall and early on race day. Land Use Board Meeting The next meeting of the Pine Beach Land Use Board will take place on Thursday, July 7th at 7:30 pm in borough hall on Pennsylvania Avenue. ~ Do you have a Pine Beach community meeting, sports game, fundraiser or event you’d like to see here? Write us at P.O. Box 93, Beachwood, N.J. 08722 or e-mail riversidesignal@gmail. com and get it listed!
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PINE BEACH
June 6th Council Rundown By Philipp Schmidt During the June 6th work meeting of the borough mayor and council, a letter sent to the governing body by Stewart Farrell of the Richard Stockton College Coastal Research Center, who has been contracted to perform studies off Avon Road Beach in an attempt by the governing body to solve the erosion problems present there, suggested stockpiling sand within the amount allowed by a permit to someplace along the beach for gradual distribution along the shoreline in order to avoid warranting the need for an expensive CAFRA permit, which the borough is trying to avoid… Council President Lawrence Cuneo brought up the removal of weeds around the pavers at the Vista Park Fieldhouse, which John Sgro, the borough’s police chief and administrator, said would be taken care of by public works in the coming week, adding that a crew from the Ocean County Department of Corrections may be able to take care of the work… Pine Beach Chief Financial Officer Mary Jane Steib brought up a request from former councilwoman, Barbara O’Brien, who said she would not have time to tend to the large flower planters at the entrance to the town this year due to ongoing family commitments, and Councilman Ritty Polhemus said he would take care of it promptly… Mr. Cuneo also pointed out that public works did a great job mowing various municipal properties around town
but had left the dead grass behind to blow around borough streets, which he said looked “horrendous” and that he had received “several complaints,” adding that he also noticed some property owners doing the same and asked if there was anything to prevent the practice in the borough code. Chief Sgro said he was unaware of any current ordinance on the matter, and said that he had brought up the issue to public works employees… Councilman Matthew Abatemarco reported that he had attempted to contact a representative of the United States Department of Agriculture regarding a grant to fund new bulkheading along the borough waterfront, but had not heard back as of the meeting… Councilman Robert Budesa stated that he had a call from a town resident asking if the town would be interested in talking to Waste Management, Inc. regarding some bulk trash removal, and he said he would ask if the governing body would be interested. Mr. Cuneo stated that he didn’t think it would “hurt to listen to someone,” and Mr. Budesa said he would see about getting someone in for a presentation during the next council work meeting. Chief Sgro noted that the recent switch in bulk pickup did not “reduce or cut bulk pickup out totally” but was altered in order to allow some control on what the borough was taking in, adding that the rate difference between bulk and solid waste is about $11 per ton, and
ERIK WEBER, the Riverside Signal Republican mayor and council candidates (from left) Lawrence Cuneo, Ritty Polhemus and Susan Coletti posed with Blue Claws Mascot Buster during a Republican Club fundraiser at the fire company earlier this month.
that “even if we were to entertain private bulk pickup, we would still have to pay for it” as tipping fees do not change. Mr. Budesa said that he was not suggesting the governing body do anything at all by listening to a presentation by a private pickup company, and noted that while the neighboring borough community of Ocean Gate had switched to a private firm, that was “a whole different kettle of fish.” Chief Sgro said that if the feedback from the residents showed they wanted more bulk pickups, that he and the public works department could look into picking up more than just quarterly… Mr. Polhemus said that he recently spoke with a councilman from Atlantic Highlands Borough, which is a town approximately the same size as Pine Beach, and that they have three or four contracts with cellphone companies bringing revenue into the town by the placement of cell towers. “He’s in
the process of hopefully getting names of the contacts and maybe we can pursue that,” he said… Mr. Polhemus also inquired as to where the borough was with making plans for the cleanup of the gazebos along the waterfront, particularly the Station Avenue Beach one, as a few volunteers have previously offered to help but as yet no plans have been set. Mayor Boyle said that any work to Avon Road Beach’s shelter would require stabilizing it first. Mr. Polhemus said that that shelter was becoming “an eyesore,” and was anxious to get work started on it as soon as possible, noting that he would contact Jack Mallon, borough engineer, about possibly getting “proactive” about it… Chief Sgro said that he had a conversation with a few of the residents on the bluff at Eagle’s Point regarding fears that public works would possibly blow weeds onto their lawns or hit placed objects there while cutting
the municipally-owned section. “Basically the three of them got together and are willing to mow up to the walking path,” he said. The borough council offered its general support on the matter… “There are some problems at Vista Park, with the fence rails, a couple are pretty well rotted out and breaking,” said Chief Sgro, asking that the borough look into purchasing new supplies for their replacement... The chief also said he represented the borough at a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection held the week prior in Beachwood, and said that a new water monitoring system was being tested out by the county to likely replace their old system, thus allowing more up-to-date information as to the quality of the bathing beach areas along the riverfront… For more borough council coverage from June, check back with the next edition of the Riverside Signal for a June council wrap-up.
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June 17th - June 30th, 2011
The RIVERSIDE SIGNAL
SCENES ALONG THE RIVER
Fans of Manalapan cheered for their own during the NJSIAA Group IV Championship against Westfiled hosted at Toms River High School South last weekend.
Members of the Beachwood Fireflies (dark jerseys) faced off against a team from Manchester in their last game of the season.
Longtime Toms River High School South administrator and baseball coach, Ken Frank, stopped for a quick shot during last weekend’s NJSIAA Group IV Championships.
South Toms River Councilman Sandford “Sandy” Ross, Jr. and Andrew Howard posed for Theresa Ross’s camera during a South Toms River Municipal Alliance fundraiser at Mrs. Walker’s.
Chelsie Lacinski (r) and Danielle Marella of Muscle Maker Grill on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River handed out free wraps to patrons during a promotion last weekend.
Affordable Wireless, of Dover Road in South Toms River, was joined by Shawn Michaels (far left) and the promotion team of the 92.7 WOBM morning show,
Ocean Gate Treasures is the latest addition to borough business and area antique dealers on Ocean Gate Avenue. Currently open weekends, with plans to expand into weekdays during the summer months.
Railroad illustrator and graphic designer Peter A. Lerro, Jr. displayed his work during a train and toy show fundraiser at the Toms River Elks Club last weekend. Members of St. Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church on Church Road in Toms River posed for a quick photo between serving many Greek delicacies at last weekend’s Greek Food Fest.
Work continued at the Riverside Drive bungalow of Sandy Bagge last week.
ALL PHOTOS BY ERIK WEBER & PHILIPP SCHMIDT
June 17th - June 30th, 2011
The RIVERSIDE SIGNAL
E-Scows made a strong showing during last weekend’s annual Toms River Yacht Club TuneUp Regatta, held at the on the river/bay area between Good Luck Point near Ocean Gate and the Seaside Bridge.
ALL PHOTOS BY PHILIPP SCHMIDT & ERIK WEBER
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The RIVERSIDE SIGNAL
Barnegat Bay Festival 2011
ALL PHOTOS BY ERIK WEBER
June 17th - June 30th, 2011
June 17th - June 30th, 2011
The RIVERSIDE SIGNAL
Barnegat Bay Festival 2011
Island Heights resident and councilman, John Bendel, contributed a photo essay of his own in competition with the Riverside Signal’s (who does he think he is?). Mr. Bendel, who is also a member of the Ocean County Artists’ Guild, here, will be showing his professional photography there during the month of August.
ALL PHOTOS BY JOHN BENDEL
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June 17th - June 30th, 2011
The RIVERSIDE SIGNAL
SOUTH TOMS RIVER
South Toms River Community Calendar
Courtesy of JOSEPH CHAMPAGNE Mayor Joseph Champagne posed with a member of our armed forces during a trip earlier this month.
Class of 1971, cont. from front
to complete her interview and the girls to await the limousine then sign her first legal contract which would take these seniors to as an adult with Rutgers Air Force their special night at a location ROTC. on the grounds of the PNC Arts On prom night, as I watched Center complex. Several weeks her, I was moved by the every- earlier, my daughter had asked day miracle by which our sweet, that we stop at that same complex tiny bundles of energy don the to walk the spiral of black granite uniforms that that is the Vietdefine their age, nam Memorial. from the footie And I couldn’t pajamas to the help wondering oversize tee ball on that prom uniforms, to the night, what a fapads and helther might have mets, forays into thought, back Karate gis, and in the summer later, for this parof 1971, to see ticular daughhis son in uniter of mine, the form. That odd dress blues and combination of BDU’s of the trepidation and Civil Air Patrol. pride - the sense As I watched her you get that prepare for the you’re growing prom, taking Frank Domenico old, and that care not to upset these kids are Cipriani the impossible just too young curls of her coifto take on adult fure, I thought responsibilities. of the pony tail she wore beneath That normal lump in the throather freshman football uniform. every parent feels it. We all have As I saw her in her high heels misty-eyed recollections of those and stylish dress, I thought back onesies and that little child who to the cleats and button-downs fit so easily in your arms. But oh, of her South Toms River All-Star how the feelings must have been baseball uniform. augmented by the knowledge On prom night, pictures were that the boy who was borrowing snapped and a sizable group of your car to drive his date to the kids crowded the lawn of one of prom was going to be in Vietnam
Courtesy Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission Mathis Plaza, circa 1950s. Here you can see the two gas stations, constructed in the early 1930s, plus a diner across the way.
after graduation! The day we visited the Vietnam Memorial, we walked from one polished stone to another. I was blown away by the ages of the dead, the soldiers whose names covered the walls. Eighteen, nineteen years old. These dead boys were my little girl’s contemporaries, the prom dates, the peers, with the common, normal problems of any eighteen-year-old. They had suffered the heart and pimple struggles of any teenager. These were the naturally rebellious spirits who struggled to find their place in the world, and yet, were being called to suppress a rebellion in a nation which struggled to find its place in the world. My daughter looked into that polished granite and saw her own reflection interrupted by the names of young men that may have been her friends and classmates had she graduated forty years ago. The Vietnam War created changes in our society so profound that as a graduate of the class of ‘81 I could not associate myself with the struggles of those seniors who’d graduated a mere ten years earlier. Still, thanks to that generation, we grew frightened of asking our youth to serve. The Constitution was amended for the last time, giving those who were compelled to risk their young lives in the service of their country the coun-
terbalance of the right to elect their leaders. By 1981, society’s pendulum was swinging back in the other direction as lawmakers raised the drinking age. Our laws since then have become increasingly “Government as Mother,” as we allow our young people less freedom, fewer chances to take risks and make fatal errors. We give them fewer choices in their school systems and weigh them down with more busy work and meaningless exams. We waste their dreamfilled years with standardized tests. While many graduates of the class of 1971 were forced to sacrifice their lives, graduates of the class of 2011 have been forced to sacrifice their initiative. The class of ‘71 possessed a degree of freedom that our own children do not know. They lived in a society that demanded much of them, but allowed them the freedom to make spectacular, even fatal mistakes. The war in Vietnam was costly. It required the ultimate sacrifice of so many young prom-goers and mortarboard-tossers, a few short months after their rites of passage into the semi-adult world. As a society, we grew less tolerant of such nonsense. I came of political age during Watergate, and it engendered within me a deep mistrust of government that shaped my Libertarian views. For others, it led to a loss of faith in one’s own individual judgment. Americans felt like the nation needed the force of law to dictate when (and what) it could smoke, what it could read, and what teachers could teach our children. Measure for measure, we exchanged freedom for security. Despite that change, Vietnam allowed us to make an important choice- to serve or not to serve, to salute or not to salute. The patriotism of the class of 2011 isn’t lockstep and rote. Those who may have consciously chosen not to place their hands over their hearts were exercising a special legacy they’d inherited from those who’d served in Vietnam, that patriotism may be the last bastion of free thought in a particularly unimaginative and pre-programmed academic experience. As someone who has visited nations in which military dictatorships demand outward displays of patriotism, I am glad that here expressions of love of country aren’t mandated. They’re spontaneous and heartfelt. There, in that football stadium, as the class of 2011 processed in cont. on page 18
Council Meeting The next meeting of the South Toms River Mayor and Council will take place on Monday, June 20th at 7 pm in borough hall on Mill Street. Democratic Club Meeting The South Toms River Democratic Club will meet next on Tuesday, June 21st at 6 pm in borough hall on Mill Street. Land Use Board Meeting The South Toms River Land Use Board will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, June 21st at 7 pm in borough hall on Mill Street. Drive Carefully! With the warmer weather, residents and visitors of all ages will be out enjoying the outdoor amenities that our area has to offer. Please slow down, obey all local speed limits and be alert when driving near playgrounds and on residential streets. Sewerage Authority The next meeting of the South Toms River Sewerage Authority will take place on Tuesday, July 5th at 7 pm in the Sewerage Authority building on Mill Street. ~ Do you have a South Toms River community meeting, sports game, fundraiser or event you’d like to see here? Write us at P.O. Box 93, Beachwood, N.J. 08722 or e-mail riversidesignal@ gmail.com and get it listed!
June 17th - June 30th, 2011
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The RIVERSIDE SIGNAL
SOUTH TOMS RIVER
SOUTH TOMS RIVER 1931 In early June it was announced by Mayor Flint that a third gas company inquired about leasing space on Mathis Plaza for construction of another gas station there, accompanying the Standard Oil Company’s station at the southeast end of the plaza that already stood and the Shell Company gas station due for construction on the northeast corner (the Standard Oil Company station was taken down during renovation of that plaza approximately ten years ago, while the Shell Company station was demolished just last month, in May 2011). The borough reported it was receiving $400 per month for each of the existing rentals, and was not sure if they wanted a third station at the plaza (it was never built). During the first week of June, the A.B. Newbury Company, located on five acres along South Main Street and the oldest lumber company in the county, reopened its newly remodeled store, which included a new brick façade, a 50-foot girder replacing old iron posts to support the second floor, and new fixtures in the retail section. The company began business in 1892 after purchasing a small lumber yard owned by William Aumack. Over the course of the next 39 years,
it expanded greatly until it held yards in Barnegat, Tuckerton, Seaside Park, and Toms River (actually Berkeley Township, later South Toms River). During the opening celebration, over a thousand patrons visited and Mrs. E. Hann of South Toms River won a breakfast nook prize. At the June 8th borough council meeting, the New Jersey Bell Telephone Company applied for a revised franchise to utilize the borough streets for its cables and conduits, while the annual audit performed by William T. Newbury of Point Pleasant was submitted and accepted by governing body officials, including Mayor Flint and Councilmen Feeney, Nordstrom, Woodward, Cottrell and Applegate. Street signs were also authorized to be placed at all municipal street corners at a price of $4,000. In other news, Toms River postal employee William Clayton, a resident of this borough, returned to home and work from his honeymoon. The above was compiled as a result of research performed by the Riverside Signal staff in the various files of the Wheeler Room at the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library.
Brookforest Cleanup Photos Courtesy ANDREW HOWARD, THERESA ROSS, JOSEPH CHAMPAGNE & ERIK WEBER for the Riverside Signal Last week borough residents joined representatives of Scotts Miracle Gro, the borough municipal alliance and emergency service volunteers in cleaning up Brookforest Beach Club as part of a grant program with the fertilizer company.
Saving the Greys, continued from front ing taken out in boats and being dumped at sea just to drown.” Further ways in which racetrack owners would distance themselves from the practice of mutilating or destroying the animals, he said, would be to cut off their ears. “They’re tattooed in each ear—they have the birthdate tattooed in one ear and a registration number [of the racetrack] tattooed in the other,” Mr. Ross said. “They would cut off their ears so they couldn’t be traced.” Such horror stories, the couple said, led to the creation of many groups nationwide such as Make Peace with Animals, New Jersey GAP (Greyhound Adoption Program), and Greyhound Friends, who began rescuing the dogs and monitoring the process by which their owners distribute them once their racing career was over, typically when they are between two and three years old. Mrs. Ross said that the work of groups in the United States is also mirrored by groups in Spain, who rescue Galgos racing dogs, which are similar to the greyhound. “They don’t care that these racetracks race the dogs, because that’s what they love to do, and that’s what they were bred for,” said Mrs. Ross. “If it was a matter of racing the dogs and taking care of them and making sure they got healthy foods and a vet, I wouldn’t mind, but a lot of these dogs come off the track and have scars on their backs because as they’re racing, the dog behind’s nails hit their back end and cause a wound, [and] when you get these dogs off the racetrack, the
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tartar on their teeth is as thick as their nails because they don’t brush their teeth.” She noted that a diet of high protein and carbohydrates to give the animals energy for performing in the races compounds on the dog’s teeth, “So these dogs are prone to gum disease, and we have to get their teeth cleaned, to brush them frequently.” Despite such ongoing issues, Mrs. Ross said today race track owners frequently work with the rescue organizations “because they don’t want to lose the people coming to see the race.” “[The rescue organizations] say ‘Look, when these dogs are ready to be retired, call us and we’ll try and get people down there and pick them up and we’ll try to find homes for them,” she said, adding that she had been involved in a rescue that took place in Connecticut. “There were about 18 dogs, and that was a big rescue and [they brought] them into somebody’s back yard, a fenced-in yard, and let them run to get all that energy out because they had been standing all that time from Connecticut to New Jersey,” Mrs. Ross said. “They had a big baby pool and they drank out of it [and] they laid in it, and then there’s certain people that will go up to the dogs and pet them, socialize with them, calm them down and get them washed.” Often, the animals when first rescued are “loaded with ticks and fleas,” she said, after which the dogs are tested, spayed and neutered and placed in foster homes and then matched with in-
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terested parties through various pet adoption services. Recalling their first adoption of a greyhound they named Amber, the couple said that after previously having dogs from various breeds as a mutt, an Irish setter and Dalmatians, which Mrs. Ross said “ate everything,” they were very pleased with the calm, clean and caring nature of the animals so much that several years later they adopted a second, which they named Indy. “Amber lived to be two months shy of 15, which is pretty old for a greyhound, and she was such a great dog,” said Mrs. Ross. “Indy wound up having a stroke, but we nursed her back to health and she passed away with lung cancer in February.” Suddenly met with a dog-free home for the first time in many years, she said her husband began telling her that her father, who lives with the couple, was lonely. “I think he missed it too,” she laughed, “so we got on the internet and looked up adopting greyhounds. Petfinder is really good because you can choose the pet you want, you can choose the color, the sex, and the organization [it comes from]. I was going to pick one from one and one from another, but Make Peace with Animals had contacted me and said, ‘Please adopt this sister’ of one, and because she really depends on her I said okay.” Those sisters came to the couple earlier this spring and were officially renamed Sydney Australia and Cairo Egypt. Mrs. Ross listed a number of
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facts and myths about the animals, which she said only became more common as pets in the past decade. “They are gentle, affectionate, laid back, 40 mile-per-hour couch potatoes,” she said. “They love attention, they latch onto an owner right away, they’re friendly, tolerant of children most of the time, and with proper nutrition can life 12 to 14 years, sometimes more.” “There are some unique things about them—they don’t understand glass, like a sliding glass door, or stairs,” said Mr. Ross. “You actually have to kind of show them stairs, they don’t know them [because when they were at the racetrack] they jumped up and down into a crate and run on flat ground—that’s all they’ve ever known.” He also warned to never allow them to be off a leash outside of a fenced-in area, as they’re both sight dogs and the second fastest land animal in the world, causing them to immediately chase after whatever they see with little hope of returning or being caught. The councilman said he learned that one from direct experience after
they first received Indy, their second greyhound. “Amber, the first one we had, right off the bat, she was a pet, and once we got the second one, I was sure she was going to be just as good, but she wasn’t,” he laughed. “On the first or second night we had her I was going to take her in the back on a leash and I figured, nah, I can just let her go.” “She took off and saw the gate and took off right through the gate and into the neighborhood,” Mr. Ross said. “And this is at two o’clock in the morning, and this dog doesn’t know us from Adam, and certainly didn’t know the area.” After some searching and maneuvering with the couple’s two cars, they were able to locate her and box her in two streets away from their home before she made it to nearby Dover Road, a busy highway. As to how she was able to be recaptured, Mrs. Ross shrugged. “She was probably getting tired,” she said.
Artists’ Guild, cont. from page 5 the family couldn’t rent rooms or sell paintings to vacationers. Today a somewhat obscure yet internationally recognized artist whose legacy continues to grow and shed its prior obscurity, Mr. Peto and his work were almost completely lost to the time when covert efforts began sometime after his death at age 53 in 1907 to forge the signature of William Harnett, a friend of Mr. Peto whose own work bore some similarities to that of his contemporary, over top of Mr. Peto’s in his paintings. The conspiracy was discovered by an art historian authenticating paintings believed to be Harnett’s in the 1940s. “His paintings really were destined for oblivion, I mean, they
were in oblivion,” Ms. Colrick said. “Now his fame is really international and it certainly surpassed that of his friend because there’s something going on with his subject matter, his momento mori, the decaying of life.” “He presaged a lot of things art, modern art, compositionally that really people appreciate,” she continued, adding that in her book, which contains illustrations by Lorraine Leskold, “I really tried to be accurate. The best thing of all is that it isn’t just a historical story that ends with him and his ancestors—it is now coming into a new age, so who knows what exciting things may happen.”
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June 17th - June 30th, 2011
The RIVERSIDE SIGNAL
TOMS RIVER Cattus Island Park Programs
Original Toms River High School Graduates 121st Class By Frank Cipriani
APPROX. 360 EARN DIPLOMAS TOMS RIVER – Last Wednesday, school administrators, officials, faculty and staff joined the families, friends and fellow alumni of Toms River High School and Toms River High School South to welcome the 121st class of graduates into what Senior Class President Meredith Kalinowski called “the extended South family.” It was one of three Toms River Regional High Schools to hold graduations that day, and followed graduation ceremonies at Monsignor Donovan High School and Central Regional High School the previous week. Toms River High School South is the rechristened name of the original township high school that opened its doors in 1891 and later saw the word “South” added in 1969 when a new district high school, Toms River High School North, opened in the northern area of the township to accommodate the exploding growth of the area. Originally, students from Toms River and Berkeley townships and all of the surrounding boroughs sent their students through its halls and classrooms until population growth caused multiple institutions to be established and the districts divided. Kicking off the ceremony, Senior Class Vice President Meghan Coppinger introduced the 27th Indian of the Year award, which she said was started by the class of 1985 to honor a member of the school faculty or staff “who has played a great part at making our four years at High School South ‘Indianific.’” Ms. Kalinowski presented the award to Debbie Morante, a graduate of the high school’s class of 1971 who earlier this year entered into the Toms River High School Hall of Fame for her work as a coach and trainer at the school in subsequent years, during which time she was recognized by the National Athletic Trainer’s Association and the Athletic Trainer’s Society of New Jersey. “The recipient of this year’s Indian of the Year award is a very dedicated faculty member who demonstrates perpetual ‘Indiani-
fic’ pride and is the heart and soul of Toms River South athletics,” said Ms. Kalinowski. Ms. Morante thanked the class of 2011 for the award and wished them “the best for the future.” Senior Class Treasurer Nicole Kiraly then honored class advisors Mary Regan and John Becker for their “tireless dedication and countless hours of work, [without which] many of our fondest memories at South would not have been possible.” Before turning the ceremony over to school administrators, Ms. Kalinowski was philosophical about the class’s time at South. “We have created a new legacy which we now pass down to future generations to continue in our name,” she said. “I’ve learned so much over the last four years both in and outside of the classroom there are endless possibilities and capabilities when you take advantage of your mind’s full potential. I’ve learned life is much more enjoyable when surrounded by good friends and family, and that no matter how hard it may be, that truth is appreciated, that no good deed goes unnoticed, that hard work and dedication truly pays off in the end [and] that contrary to many teacher’s beliefs, some of the best papers can be written the night before.” “We have entered into the extended South family, where we will remain forever, regardless of where we go or what we do in life,” the class president concluded. “We will always be Indians. Toms River High School South Assistant Principal Larry McCauley next addressed the class and those in attendance on behalf of school principal, Leonard Stanziano. “This year the administration at high school South met with representatives of the senior class to ask them to participate in the planning of their own graduation ceremony,” he said. “Graduation should be seen as a celebration of the class achievements, and not of individual achievements.” The school administrator then said that it was both “interesting and appropriate” that the class decided to recognize certain groups during the ceremony, including the top ten academically
KC FENNER, the Riverside Signal Toms River High School South Class of 2011 graduates took to the field to receive their diplomas this week.
ranked students, the students with perfect attendance, National Honor Society Members, those who had received scholarships and, finally, “the backbone of the senior class, the ones who made that success possible and who have developed an attitude
of excellence,” the remaining members of the class, who were all asked to remain standing while their peers and guests applauded. Mr. McCauley then recognized cont. on page 18
October 2nd, 1861: Ocean County Rifles Head to War, Part II TOMS RIVER – The following is the second part of an account of Ocean County’s first volunteer military company, the Ocean County Rifles, beginning the march to Trenton on September 21st, 1861 to fight for the Union in the Civil War, as originally printed on October 2nd, 1861, in the Ocean County Emblem, the second newspaper in existence in the recently established county. Its reintroduction to contemporary area residents’ awareness is the result of work performed by historian Patricia H. Burke for the county’s efforts to mark the 150th anniversary of that conflict over the next four years. It appears here uncut, with spelling and formatting errors and differences present. In the company was a young man who was called on by the Captain, while engaged in burning a pit of coal, of which he was owner, he at once forsook all and enlisted for the war. On the way to New Egypt we passed by a field of buckwheat in which was several men at work, some half mile distant, after viewing the procession a few minutes one of the number left his companions, ran out to the road and joined the company. We arrived at New Egypt a little past 12 o’clock, where the company was received with cheers of welcome. Arrangements had been made by Samuel Pancost for the entertainment and provisions of the company. Here we halted, took dinner, feed the horses &c. &c. About half past one the company took their seats in the carriages and the procession moved on. At Jacobstown the citizens flocked to the streets, welcoming us with kindly feelings. The ladies cam out with buckets of wa-
ter, and cups which they passed from wagon to wagon giving the welcome beverage to the thirsty soldiers. At this place also beautiful flowers, woven by delicate hands into charming poquets were presented to the company. These attentions, and manifestations show how deeply the public heart is moved, and how tenderly, how lovingly the heart of all, express that tender and kind regard for the noble defenders of our Sacred Institutions. And such were the manifestations all along the route to Trenton. The band kept up almost a constant discourse of music, until we reached the State House at the Capitol. We reached Trenton about five o’clock when the soldiers were quartered for the night, and until arrangements could be made to have them examined and mustered into the United States service. Monday morning the company was marched to the State House, and took seats in the Assembly room, where they were examined by surgeant----------------- after which they were sworn into the Government service by Lieutenant -----. These performances took up the forenoon, and in the afternoon they were marched out to Camp Olden, received rations, and camp tents, equipments &c. Here they rested for the first night in tents. On Tuesday the clothings were sent out, and the day was devoted to dressing, perfecting camp arrangements, &c. &c. In the examination of soldiers twenty-one of the company was thrown out, as not fully up to cont. on page 18
Tour Cattus Island By Bike Cattus Island now has bicycles to loan out for use within the park. The bicycles are free, however, a member of the family must provide a driver’s license for the staff to hold until the bike is returned. Adult bicycles and helmets of various sizes are available, and patrons may borrow one for two hours, seven days a week, between 8 am and 2 pm. The bicycles may not be taken out of the park. Scales and Tales Snakes are frequently subject to many myths. Participants in this program held Saturdays and Sundays except July 15th, 16th, 17th and August 5th from 11 am to 11:30 am in the Cooper Environmental Center, may join a naturalist to uncover the real truths about snakes in a live animal presentation. No registration is required. Free and open to all ages. Turtle Feeding The Cooper Environmental Center houses a variety of native turtles, including the Diamondback Terrapin, the Box Turtle and the Painted Turtle. Naturalists and youth volunteers will be on hand Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays except July 13th, 16th and 17th from 1:30 pm to 2 pm to answer all questions while they feed and otherwise care for the park’s native turtles. No registration is required. Free and open to all ages. Swallowtails and Monarchs The beauty of the Cattus Island Butterfly Garden will appeal to area residents’ sense of wonder, and this program will leave them amazed after learning about the life cycles of butterflies, their host plants and their unique characteristics. Participants to this program, being held every Friday through the summer with exception to July 15th from 3 pm to 3:45 pm, will also learn how to develop their own backyard butterfly gardens. Free and open to all ages. Nature Walk: In Search of Herps The hot days of summer bring a variety of new opportunities for viewing wildlife, and the park’s 2 pm nature walks are a long-standing tradition offering a fun, educational and interactive look at the wilds of Cattus Island. On Saturday and Sunday, June 18th and 19th, take a break from the daily grind and get back to basics with a short jaunt through one of Ocean County’s best-kept secrets. Walk will last approximately one hour, registration not required, free and open to all ages.
June 17th - June 30th, 2011
PAGE 17
The RIVERSIDE SIGNAL
TOMS RIVER Insider Trading
By Liz Campbell
Looking Everywhere and Can’t Find It? Well if you’re in Beachwood, perhaps it’s at Don Found It on Route 9. Little bit of everything and something for everyone. Within an arm’s reach is also the famous Wood N Things, a charming little store full of homemade decor, gifts and more. The place just oozes old world charm and character. Also in town is the new Casertano’s. Stop by for a delicious sandwich, cupcake, and yes, even for breakfast. Their spacious dining room is cool and cozy! Networking is Key! LA Fitness of Toms River holds customer appreciation days two times a month and invites local businesses to set up tables and network for free. It’s a great way to get your name out there. Around the corner is Artisan’s Brewery and Italian Grill, former known as Basil T’s. They are celebrating their 10th year in Toms River and are offering a $10 menu on meals, wines and brew beer to go till June 30th. What a deal! Schools Out For the Summer! And Itza Bagel, on Main Street in Toms River is still cranking out the tastiest bagels in historic downtown. Up the street is Nancy’s, another Toms River High School South favorite lunch spot. Dine alfresco on a tasty sandwich. The Farmers Market has returns to Ocean Gate at the Wildwood Avenue pier on Tuesday, June 28th from 11 am to 6 pm and will run every Tuesday until September 6th. Get out and meet the vendors and enjoy the view! The Best Kept Secret. Speaking of Ocean Gate, did you know that it holds a beautiful boardwalk and bay beach and is the definition of quaint? When enjoying what it has to offer, also be sure to stop by The Comfort Station for snacks, drinks, ice cream and all your beach needs. They serve up a tasty hot dog with a smile!
TOMS RIVER 1931 In June 1931, the Pennsylvania Railroad announced a drop in four-day excursion tickets between the township and Philadelphia, reducing the price to $2.50 from $3.00. A one-day round trip excursion ticket was $1.50… during a special meeting on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend, the township solicitor was instructed by the township committee to investigate how the water supply could be improved. Additionally, the committee debated possibly placing the purchase of the Bay Beach property, known as the Maimone tract, for a public park and bathing beach. It was decided to not bring the issue to the voters… James Citta was paid an overall amount of $1,742.02 to rebuild all of Hyers Street, beginning at Washington Street… Richard Walton was the single remaining Civil War veteran who was capable of marching in the annual Memorial Day parade, his fellow living war veterans, Gilbert G. Wood, Lawrence R. Berrien, Rev. Alonzo Chambers, William Griffin, and Alex Walton, only being well enough to watch the parade go by… during the Memorial Day parade, graves were marked for those who served in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish War and the World War… on
This Month at the Ocean County Artists’ Guild:
Balancing Textures with Carol J. Colvin TWP. RESIDENT’S ages that were “comfortable.” WORK STRIVES TO “I’ve been painting probably EASE THE MIND a good thirty years, and it was
By Philipp Schmidt
ISLAND HEIGHTS – Earlier this month, the Ocean County Artists’ Guild held their monthly opening reception that featured the work of three area artists, including longtime Toms River resident Carol J. Colvin, whose art spans the mediums of watercolor, pastels and mixed media, among others. The event, which was held in the guild’s 130-year-old Victorian home at Ocean and Chestnut avenues, here, welcomed a regular stream of members, guests and first-time visitors who were greeted first by Ms. Colvin’s use of varied textures and muted colors in the work adorning the walls of the front gallery as the late spring sun shone brilliantly outside. Speaking about how she began painting and arrived at her style, Ms. Colvin cited her work as a clinical social worker and psychotherapist to wanting to create im-
just always a way to center myself because [in] my professional training—I had a private practice for a while—and so when I came home from working with stressful families the art was something that was always there for me, and it gave me a chance to just relax and express myself,” she said. “I think because I worked with so many troubled individuals and families, I know people don’t want things on the wall that are going to scare them—they want something that’s going to ease them, and so I try to paint that way [to] make them feel better; make them happy.” “I’m pretty much self-taught,” Ms. Colvin continued. “I’ve taken classes from people who’ve had multiple degrees, but a lot of it I’ve learned through my own experimentation, reading a lot and taking workshops.” While the Toms River-based cont. on page 18
ERIK WEBER, the Riverside Signal Township resident Carol J. Colvin is showing her mixed media and water color work this month at the artists’ guild.
Tuesday, June 2nd, a group of township women held a luncheon bridge game at the Royal Pines in Pinewald, which had opened just two years earlier… the Richards family arrived in the township and opened their Money Island home for the season… over the Memorial Day weekend, the Riverview Hotel on Water Street reported a full house, in addition to having to turn many potential guests away… Senator Thomas A. Mathis and Jas. R. Hensler, the fish and game commissioner, returned to their homes on June 1st after a week at Moosehead Lake in Maine… George Disbrow, who would later go on to found and run Disbrow’s Market in Beachwood for many years, moved his family to Red Bank in order to work at an American Store (which later became what we know as the ACME supermarket chain today)… the Traco Theater on Washington Street hosted vaudeville all spring and early in June saw Al Bernard and his Dutch Masters take the stage. In mid-June Trader Horn, a new feature film starring Harey Carey, replaced the live entertainment and kicked off the summer film season… 12-year-old Ernest Zeimer was injured when he was struck by a car that was trying to get out of the way of fire trucks on a call at Main and Union
streets on Wednesday, June 3rd. Dr. Frank Brouwer examined the township youth and said he was bruised and not seriously hurt… Herman Funr started building a new house at Cranmoor Manor section of the township for Edward Brockway of Seaside Park… the Main Street home of J. P. Evernham is being remodeled, which was formerly owned by Capt. Alonzo Hyers. Wide verandas and a light brick foundation with pillars were due to be added… Officer Costa tagged a number of vehicles along Main Street for remaining in their spot for more than two hours, with a fine of $2… in the Pleasant Plains section, a new novelty shop was opened in the Lewis bungalow on Lakewood Road… on Monday, June 1st, A.B. Cranmer held a dinner for the Toms River High School baseball team to honor them for their win against Freehold… on June 10th, the high school parent-teacher association held a farewell party for the graduating class of 1931, featuring an orchestra and refreshments… the high school 1931 Cedar Chest yearbook was undergoing its final stages before publication and on Friday, June 5th, the outgoing yearbook staff was treated to the annual beach party tradition by the incoming 1932 staff members… Guy Cavandar
Insectropolis’s Bugfest 2011 is Biggest Yet OVER 500 PATRONS FOR FIFTH YEAR PROCEEDS BENEFIT LOCAL STUDENTS By Erik Weber TOMS RIVER - If what keeps you up at night has more than six legs, tends to be crawling inside the dark imagination of your mind and can occasionally be found waiting in the toe of your shoe, then Insectropolis is the place for you, said Chris Koerner, founder and director of operations at his family’s “bugseum” during last weekend’s “Bugfest 2011,” which raised funds for the Central Ocean Rotary Club’s Scholarship Fund. “This is probably the best way to get over your fear, because everyone’s having a good time and cheering for the cockroach [races],” he said. “Most people are grossed out by cockroaches, but they’re cheering for their favorite cockroach to win.” On Saturday, June 11th, over 500 patrons heeded his advice and swarmed this unique muERIK WEBER, the Riverside Signal seum, located on Route 9 in the Children watched and cheered for the northern part of the township cockroach races at Bugfest 2011 last behind Ozane Pest Control. Mr. weekend. Koerner’s family owns and operates both businesses and holds Extermination Commission. membership with the 30-year-old “This is our biggest year ever,” Central Ocean Rotary Club. said Mr. Koerner, adding that A 7,200-square-foot learning 350 patrons came for the previcenter constructed to represent ous year’s event. “All the money the idea of a “bug-themed city,” raised goes to our foundation, Insectropolis opened its doors in and our foundation supports 2005 following a half-dozen years scholarships to high school kids.” of design and construction work Now in its fifth year, he said by Mr. Koerner and his father, that the idea for Bugfest was Tom, that today is home to many spurred from ongoing efforts by thousands of live and preserved the Rotarians to serve their ceninsects, both home grown and tral county region. exotic, that appear alongside col“We’re always looking for a orful and professionally curated new project or a new fundraiser passive and interactive displays. at Central Ocean Rotary, so I just Activities for patrons of this thought that, we already had the year’s event included cockroach idea of doing some kind of event races, face painting, scavenger here, and I just figured I would hunts and other assorted fea- make [it for] the Central Ocean tures, and displays and presen- Rotary, since I belong to the club, tations were offered by Rutgers and plus I strongly believe in our University’s Master Gardener scholarship program,” Mr. Koprogram, Cattus Island Park, erner said. Herbertsville Honey Company, cont. on page 18 and the Ocean County Mosquito was elected as the baseball team captain for the 1931-32 school year… on Thursday, June 11th, Toms River High School graduated its 41st class of seniors (for those keeping score, last week the school, now known as Toms River High School South, graduated its 121st)... the Toms River Women’s Christian Temperance Union requested that the Dover Township Board of Education again teach about the effects of alcohol on the human body, a practice which began in the 1890s across the nation but in the years that followed fell out of favor… following the high school commencement, baseball team Coach William Woolley resigned his position in order to work for Neptune High School… a June 23rd minstrel show, in which members are made up in the now-outdated practice of ‘blackface’ was to take place by the Pleasant Plains Volunteer Fire Company in order to benefit the Toms River Kiwanis Club, who would use the funding to provide aid to needy children in the form of glasses, dental care and food… on Thursday, June 11th, township officials met with the state traffic commission regarding a need for traffic lights to be installed at the corner of Main and Washington streets and Main and Water streets, but left believing the state would not
authorize them until parking was banned on the west side of Main Street from Lein to Water street… the Toms River Yacht Club began considering an idea to sell its present facility at Horner Street in order to purchase property at the waterfront on the Cranmoor Country Club… an Lshaped tract of land on Hooper Avenue at Locust Street (today’s Route 37) began development under the direction of James Citta… Mrs. Caroline Elley, of East Washington Street, had Frank Johnson, a plumber from Island Heights, arrested after she paid him to dig a well on her property and hadn’t... a new house began construction on the McBean property by Howard Webster for new owners from Staten Island… Arthur Wingate’s family moved from Lakewood to the bungalow on Indian Head Poultry Farm, where his son, Charles, works… a new bungalow began construction on Sunset Avenue under direction of Clinton Clayton for Elmer Clayton… The above was compiled as a result of research performed by the Riverside Signal staff in the various files of the Wheeler Room at the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library.
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June 17th - June 30th, 2011
The RIVERSIDE SIGNAL
Continued from... High School Graduates 121st Class, continued from page 16
Bugfest 2011, cont. from page 17
a number of other school officials and board members, including recently elected board member Ben Giovine, a 2002 graduate of the school, before introducing for the first time the president of the student council of the class of 2012, Taylor VanZile, and the president of the class of 2012, Emily Cottrell. “Before we continue on, I would be remiss if I didn’t say a few words about this fine group of students,” said Mr. McCauley. “I have seen you grow into talented and responsible young adults [and] I can remember telling my colleagues, wait til you see this class. And you have not disappointed any of us.” He noted that he was most impressed by how the class had handled “personal losses” through the years. “When tragedy struck, the South family came together time after time,” the assistant principal recalled, which he hoped would serve them well in the future. “Remember, you need to be strong and determined, as you face the toughest economy since the Great Depression. Your resolve and your character will be challenged at all time, but I am confident that you will succeed because of the strong foundation that your parents have provided you, and your school has provided you.” “I told you, four years ago at freshman orientation, to select a goal, aim high, have a dream and, most of all, never, never, never give up,” he continued. “And we can see that this class never, never gave up.” Toms River Schools Assistant Superintendent Debbie McKenna next spoke to the class, stating that she tried to recall who the person was who spoke at her own graduation, but could not. “That gave me great perspec-
The museum itself was spawned from an initial idea to create a second branch of the pest control company. “Instead we decided to open up a museum in Toms River, locally, as a place for kids to come out and be educated, and also to have an attraction in our community here because there’s not a lot of attractions in Toms River; most are in the beach areas,” said Mr. Koerner, who credited the Stone Museum of Monroe Township with the concept of “taking what’s interesting about what you do and doing the same thing, with the museum.” But outside of the more common insects that might be caught regionally, how does one acquire the more exotic species that draws the big crowds? “There are suppliers in different areas of the United States, so we can go to suppliers in Arizona or Florida and get a lot of our stuff from there,” Mr. Koerner said. “Locally, we get the black
tive tonight,” she said, adding that she then decided to meet with members of the graduating class to learn what things they remembered, learned and cared about in their time at the school in forming her statements. “The first message to you, Class of 2011, is to remember where you came from. Let’s start with families. You, South students, told me that you truly honor and appreciate your parents. No one will ever love you quite the way your families do. They have made far more sacrifices than you will ever really know, so forgive them for any imperfection that you may think they have and fully love and honor them for as long as they are here,” the assistant superintendent said. “As graduates, you are also part of a larger family, the South family, a family that has been around for 121 years. Remember to respect those who came before you here at South. They, like you, appreciated uniqueness of each of their classmates, [and] they, like you, celebrated the achievements of each of their classmates in different arenas in school life.” Ms. McKenna then stated that the students should take their education at the high school as a foundation of their future lives, and to follow their hearts and passions, and to not settle for less. “Remember, your direction can always be changed, but remaining idle is as dangerous as closing doors,” she said, adding that pain and fear often stifle potential because of the mental paralysis that can be the resulting reaction. “Unfortunately, no one can overcome that fear for you – fear is something you might learn to master on your own. Remember that fear does not exist outside of your mind, and do your best to try to control it.” The assistant superintendent
Balancing Textures, cont. from page 17 artist said she began in watercolors and works with some pastels today, the majority of her contemporary pieces fall in the mixed media category, as evidenced by the prevalence of such works as Floral Design, Caribbean Swim I, Bahamian Twitter and Queen Nefertiti’s View, the creation of which typically involves “a combination of water color, collage paper, inks, paints, and whatever happens to be around.” The latter piece, which incorporates such archetypal ancient Egyptian imagery as the sun, hieroglyphs, pyramids, an ankh and a large profile of Queen Nefertiti, also utilizes a realworld texture straight from that region: papyrus paper. “You can buy anything on the internet,” Ms. Colvin laughed. “I had done the piece for some friends based on their trip for Egypt, and I had done three large canvases—this was a spinoff on that because I’ve always been interested in Egyptian architecture and culture and Nefertiti has always been one of my favorite characters.” In recent years, Ms. Colvin’s work has been the recipient of a number of awards on the local, county and state level, and in 2006 she saw two of her paintings, “Shore Birds II” and “MomMom, I like it here!” selected for publication in Long Beach Island
Rhapsody, a Jersey Shore Publications coffee table art book. Praising the county artists’ guild for its very existence as “a cultural place in Ocean County” where people could join and share in such local artwork, she added that “Ocean County doesn’t have a lot of places where you can go and see good work, and the fact that this building was left to us for this sole purpose, it’s so amazing—it’s a volunteer organization and we all do our best to keep it together and keep it moving and moving ahead.” Ms. Colvin also encouraged those who may hold an interest in creating art, but weren’t sure they had the time. “They should probably just take one of the one or two day workshops, because then you can get your feet wet and don’t have to really commit to a long class,” she said. “We have drawing classes on Saturdays, Sundays and in the evenings, but if they’re not sure they should probably start with just a workshop and see how they do with just a one-day thing.” Ms. Colvin’s website can be found at http://caroljcolvin.com, which offers a number of her paintings for interested readers. For information on more artists featured at the Ocean County Artists’ Guild this month, please turn to the Island Heights section.
then urged graduates to value love in the form of care and compassion and to continue as a “cohesive, caring group” that “continues to do more always for each other, no matter what.” As part of that, she also asked graduates, who “live in a world where and instant of text or a quick post… a smiley face, a wink or an L-O-L is supposed to replace human emotion,” to “put the phone down, shut the computer off, look each other in the eyes, talk to each other and tell each other how you really feel.” “These are things that can not be replaced by even the best electronic communication,” Ms. McKenna noted. “Today is your commencement day, and although many people see commencement as an end, commencement means ‘to begin,’” she continued. “Class of 2011, begin. Your future lies wide open as you leave with your well-earned diploma. This is your world… seize the day.” Following that, Pomp and Circumstance began to play from the field sound system and the 121st class of Toms River High School South marched up to receive their diplomas to the cheers and applause of all those present. As a final footnote to the ceremony, Ms. Kiraly then took the podium once more to ask her class to remember four things: gratitude for the free education they had received, compassion for their classmates and fellow members of society, sacrifice of themselves for others, and trust to believe in their own abilities and goals. “I now ask that you move the tassels from the left side of your caps to the right,” she said, as the crowd began again to cheer,” we are now officially graduates of Toms River High School South.”
Ocean County Rifles, continued from
widow spiders and some other insects like the Monarch [butterfly].” One dangerous insect other than the black widow that the museum has on display is the brown recluse spider, which is “not supposed to be local to New Jersey, but we do get people stating in hospitals that they got bit.” Still, Mr. Koerner said, “at Insectropolis we’re totally different because we’re all about looking at the other aspect, that there are beneficial bugs out there that are helping us, like ladybugs controlling the aphid population.” “Insectropolis gives people another way of looking at insects other than being disease carriers and dangerous,” he added. For more information about the “Bugseum of New Jersey,” visit the museum website at www.insectropolis.com. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm, and can be reached by calling 732-349-7090.
Class of 1971, cont. from page 14 for the 121st time, I said a silent prayer of solidarity with those parents of the class of 1971. How frightening the future must have seemed to them! What emotions they must have felt upon hearing Pomp and Circumstance, and The Star Spangled Banner! These days, I always proudly place my hand over my heart for the singing of the National Anthem. I have learned something in thirty years, something that my daughter’s patriotism has taught me. I have learned that history has often required of us, as Americans, perhaps an even greater sacrifice than that of rallying to the battlefield: History has required us as parents to be willing to watch our loved ones march into harm’s way. Without that willingness, no flag, no Constitu-
tion, no country could endure. I have learned that in order to preserve this nation of individuals, we free thinkers must sometimes make the choice to shield our heart and face the flag. Of all the uniforms she’ll ever wear, the one that will make me proudest is the one my daughter will don the day she becomes an officer in the US Air Force, like her grandfather before her. It will make me proud because she will do so voluntarily. She will know that she serves to protect the right of her peers today, and her own future child, perhaps a graduate of the class of 2041, to keep his heart unshielded and his hand at his side as the StarSpangled Banner yet waves, o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Charles Gaunt, Anthony Chaffee, Joseph Reynolds, Charles Sloan, and Edward Wilburt, went into the Olden Legion ; and Christopher I. Cummings joind Halstead’s Cavalry. The rest of the rejected went home. Many of the officials and private citizens of Trenton gave our company great credit, as being the most orderly, the best in appearance and largest in numbers of any that has came that city for several months past. Indeed, the company everywhere made a most happy impression upon the public, and also upon military men. Of these marks of distinction they are every way worthy. The officers whom they have chosen, will no doubt, honor their several positions, and the men amoung whom are several entirely fit to lead the company, will show on the field of battle that the public confidence has not over estimated their valor and proficiency. Subsequent accounts of our area’s involvement in the Civil War will be reprinted in future editions of the Riverside Signal.
County WIC Program to Distribute Farmer’s Market Vouchers
page 16
the standard required for this regiment. The Surgeant said that most of the rejected ones would be passed for any of the other Regiments. Our company, on Wednesday morning numbered 87, and applicants are constantly seeking admission into it, so that we have no doubt but that by this time it is full. The Regiment is called “The Stockton Rifles,” and will be commanded by Col. Joseph W. Allen. It is intended by the authorities to make this the boast Regiment of this State, and it is said that it will number some fourteen companies. Col. Allen has been an officer of the Militia several years past, is a civil engineer by profession, and, used to managing large bodies of men. It is therefore believed that he will make an able and efficient officer, A list of names of volunteers in the above company can be found on page 19. Some seven or eight of those who had volunteered in this company, and were rejected, joined other companies, as near as we could ascertain as follows:
CORRECTION
In the last issue, the caption accompanying the archival and contemporary photos of the Beachwood Library should have read: Borough councilman Steve Komsa and Library Branch Manager Nancy Bonta Voitko posed before new windows the borough installed last week, a difference from 1916, above.
$60,000 AVAILABLE FOR NEEDY PARTICIPANTS OCEAN COUNTY – According to a press release distributed by Leslie Terjesen of the Ocean County Health Department last week, $60,000 in farmer’s market vouchers has been made available to eligible participants of the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program, such as “pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children who are two years of age by June 2011.” Each eligible will receive $20 in vouchers that can be used at area farmer’s markets and are valid from now until November 30th of this year.
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June 17th - June 30th, 2011
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The RIVERSIDE SIGNAL
Letters & Continued from... A-Cat Building, continued from front soon it will be housed alongside other A-Cat fleet artifacts and a historical perspective for patrons to learn from, said Jim Lenox, past president of the society. The genesis of the decision to construct the building, which will take up a portion of the museum’s parking lot on the Ocean County-owned property where all of the society structures stand, began when the famed boat’s racing career was coming to an close toward the end of the last century and an anonymous benefactor stepped in with an offer to help fund the building if the boat’s owners would donate it to be housed there under the provision that it never be sailed again. “It had been refurbished about as much as it could be, and what they did was build a new one in the workshop on the waterfront in Philadelphia,” said Mr. Lenox, referring to an exact copy of the boat that was handled by the Independence Seaport Museum’s Workshop on the Water for the owners of the original Spy, Jane and Roy Wilkins of Island Heights, and her syndicate owners, Richard and Maggie Groff and Gary Stewart. In 2004, the workshop oversaw a cosmetic makeover of the original Spy for the seaport society, which initially housed it in the Charles and Anna Hankins Museum in Lavallette, formerly the workshop of the late Mr. Hankins, a renowned area wooden boat builder who died in 2003. “Anna Hankins, his widow, had the boat building shop in Lavalette on Main Street and offered the building to us to lease, and it was one of these deals where we would pay the expens-
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es for the building and basically the taxes, which were very, very little,” he said, noting that as the building was classified as the only manufacturing facility in Lavallette, that taxes on it were very minimal. “We didn’t heat the building or anything, and Anna was very, very generous in that she did have the building painted and generally did things to stabilize it, and we cleaned the whole thing out so it was known as the [museum].” Three years after Mr. Hankins passed away, Mrs. Hankins passed away as well, and within a year the seaport society was asked to remove the items from the workshop and vacate the premises for the new owners. “We had a really short time to move out, and Bill de Rouville has a boat yard on the river, and he and his company built one of the A-Cats, the Witch, and he took the Spy and put it in his yard and that’s where it’s been,” said Mr. Lenox. Mr. de Rouville built the Witch, a 28 foot A-Cat, during the winter of 2001 to 2002 in his de Rouville’s Boat Shop, located on Chelsea Avenue in Bayville, near Ocean Gate. Though the initial building that housed the Spy in Lavallette fell through four years ago, the past society president said that the organization “always planned to build a building for it.” A prefabricated structure supplied by Morton Builders of Philipburg, Warren County, the building will sit on a new foundation currently underway at the site, and will cost approximately $90,000. “The building is going to be 30
feet wide and 36 feet long, and it’s going to contain two porches— one facing Water Street and the other, which will join it, [facing] Hooper Avenue,” said Mr. Lenox, who noted that the county, which approved the construction in Spring 2009, was enthusiastic about the addition, and agreed to help in site plan and foundation work. “It should be an attractive building, and that’s something the county really wanted, an assurance we weren’t putting something near the county complex and downtown Toms River that’s not going to be attractive—it should be very attractive.” The Toms River Seaport Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1976 and dedicated to the preservation of maritime heritage on the Barnegat Bay. Memberships are available by sending name, address, phone number and e-mail along with $15 for individual, $20 for family, $25 for business, $150 for sustaining, $500 for patron or $1,000 for benefactor to Toms River Seaport Society, P.O. Box 1111, Toms River, N.J. 08754-1111. Individual donations can also be mailed to the same address. Visiting hours for the museum are 10 am to 2 pm Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. There is no admission fee, but donations are accepted. For further information, please visit their website at www.tomsriverseaport.org or call 732-349-9209. The website holds an archive of the past eight years of its society newsletter, should any prospective members or interested parties wish to read about the past ongoing activities and news of the organization.
Military Transport,
Capt. E.C. Page, 1. Leut. G.G. Irons, 2. do. Charles Lufton, Filer—E. Newman, Drummer,N.B. Fithian Joseph Atterson, Charles P. Camborn, John M. Clayton, Garret V. Hyers, Orlando Imlay, Isaac M. Inman, Oliver Inman, Joseph Johnson, Noah Jeffrey, David A. Johnson, James Johnson, Charles Archer, Edward J. Ashton, Francis Beaty, Jesse L. Bennet, William Brown, George Beatty, Charles Brandt, Charles Brinley, Henry Cambron, William B. Conklin, Eugene A. Crane, Hiram Craft, William R. Clayton, Job L. Crammer, Joseph Crammer, Charles Chaffie, William Dennis, Joseph C. Ellem, Andrew Elberson, John A. Errickson,
Henry Hewitt, William H. Hurley, Benjamin Holman, David C. Hankins, Joel Hulse, William Horner, James Hulce, William I. Johnson, Charles A. Johnson, Alcobam T. Johnson, Barzillia Johnson, Henry Lacher, Joseph Loveless, Wesley B. Nore[remainder unreadable] Albert S. Nutt, David McKelve, Caleb Mount, William H. Phillips, James M. P[remainder unreadable] John W. Perrine, Redin Pen, Joseph Okerson, Samuel Osborn, Benjamin A. Rogers, Washington Rogers, Thomas Randolph, Ezekiel Shinn, Lewis Southard, Jacob Tenny, Charles Truax, George R. Worth, Jesse M. Wilkins, Ezra W. Crammer, Horrace Errickson,
Jesse B. Hulsheart
Island Heights Day, cont. from page 4
cont’d from pg 6
such a benefit? Exactly zero. “It’s our obligation to maintain the equipment for a period for 18 months, and at that point if we decided to scrap it, sell it or keep it, it’s our choice,” he said. “During that 18 months the borough is responsible to maintain it and obviously anything that needs to enhance the response of the vehicle, [such as] fuel, oil, general engine maintenance, and brakes and tires.” Thus far, no such emergency
Ocean County Rifles
incident has resulted in the injury or loss of life along the waterfront due to flooding, but Chief Fisher said the acquisition of the transport would act as a security measure to make sure that track record endures. Members of the borough emergency services departments, including the fire company and members of the office of emergency management, will be trained to operate the vehicle.
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her that they or their siblings have held on to their building through the years, sometimes incorporating it into their home playtime. Ms. Romano, who grew up and resides in Manasquan, said that she enjoyed giving the students the “treasure” of being able to know and understand their hometown on a deeper level.
“I know my own town, I don’t know as much of the history,” she said. “There’s a lot of history in Manasquan, and I never got a chance to go walk and tour my town and have someone point out all the historical buildings that we grew up with, so for here even the parents seem to always come away with a fact that they didn’t know about.”
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Continued...
June 17th - June 30th, 2011