This is the final weekend of June and summer really gets into full swing with many getting ready for vacation. Next week of course features Independence Day which falls on a Wednesday, probably the most confusing day for our nation’s birthday. Most of us will be off on July 4th and I’m sure many will take the Monday and Tuesday before OR Thursday and Friday after to make for a long holiday break.
As I often remind you the summer weeks go all too fast and we really should try and maximize our enjoyment of these next couple of months. “Esquire”
Magazine has come out with a list of things we should try and do before Labor Day. These are really geared for active men and not practical for everyone but I think you’ll get the picture.
· Walk a path in the woods that has no other footprints. (They don’t
Mention to look out for ticks but I will).
· Go bodysurfing in cold water.
· See a drive-in movie. (Not very easy any longer…they were fun
when I was younger).
· Visit a completely useless roadside museum.
· Discover the best burger in town.
· Save room for dessert.
· Join your fellow gluttons at a food festival.
· Eat cotton candy in a strong breeze.
· Drink a cold beer behind the backstop after a softball game or a gin and tonic on the veranda as the nightingales sing in the lilacs. (Are
they kidding with this one?)
· On the 4th of July, drive down a road from which you can see the
Fireworks displays from several towns as you pass them.
· Spend more than two hours of a single day in a hammock.
It would really be interesting to try and do all those things over the course of a few days. Bottom line here…don’t let these days go by without having fun.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Kevin's Father
On April 30th while I was attending an awards ceremony in North Carolina my father was in the emergency room at Community Medical Center after suffering a heart attack. For the past two months our family has had to deal with what many have gone through and that is determining what’s best for an aging parent and with the help of many my Dad is now a resident of Saint Barnabas Assisted Living at Lakewood.
Through this entire process what I’ve found more than anything is that there’s a lot of help out there and caring and understanding people who will go that extra step. It’s those people who basically came to our rescue.
Our ordeal started after my father had fallen while living in his Ortley Beach apartment and needed assistance from Toms River Township Police. It was determined that he would need medical attention which led to the Tri-Boro First Aid Squad transporting him to the very busy emergency room at Community Medical Center. Once it was determined he had suffered a heart attack he was fortunate that Dr. Jay Stone was available and he received terrific care from him and those in the cardiac unit. Several days later he was off to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for a procedure, which went very well. With assistance from both hospitals we made arrangements for him to then move to the Laurelton Village Care Center in Brick for rehab and continuing care. He needs a walker to get around and the heart attack only compounded his mobility issues. During the six-plus weeks he was at Laurelton Village he came in contact with so many wonderful people that I know I’d miss quite a few if I tried to name them all. But from the Administrator to the Receptionist when he got more than anything was attention…special thanks to the two “Pats”, Madeline, and Heather. They were all wonderful and made the best out of what are very difficult circumstances.
During this period my brother, sister and I came to the conclusion that it was not in my father’s best interests to return home and we set about the task of finding an assisted living facility. Frank Gelormini, a friend and Vice President at Community Medical Center suggested the Saint Barnabas facility in Lakewood…one I did not even know about. After meeting Alexis Commodore, the administrator, and touring the place I was convinced it was the perfect next step for my father. He moved in Tuesday and despite plenty of trepidation seems to be making the transition.
I would be remiss if I did not give a special thanks to Jane Maloney and the many I came in contact with at the Ocean County Office of Senior Services.
They have guided us through every step from day one and provided information and resources which have led us to being able to help our ex-Marine father when he needed it the most. Jackie, Linda and Maria answered our many questions and helped steer us in the right direction.
While the last couple of months have been filled with concern, stress, challenges and frustration the bottom line is we should all sleep better at night thanks to many who not only helped us but do this every day. Underappreciated and probably grossly underpaid…to us they are heroes.
Through this entire process what I’ve found more than anything is that there’s a lot of help out there and caring and understanding people who will go that extra step. It’s those people who basically came to our rescue.
Our ordeal started after my father had fallen while living in his Ortley Beach apartment and needed assistance from Toms River Township Police. It was determined that he would need medical attention which led to the Tri-Boro First Aid Squad transporting him to the very busy emergency room at Community Medical Center. Once it was determined he had suffered a heart attack he was fortunate that Dr. Jay Stone was available and he received terrific care from him and those in the cardiac unit. Several days later he was off to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for a procedure, which went very well. With assistance from both hospitals we made arrangements for him to then move to the Laurelton Village Care Center in Brick for rehab and continuing care. He needs a walker to get around and the heart attack only compounded his mobility issues. During the six-plus weeks he was at Laurelton Village he came in contact with so many wonderful people that I know I’d miss quite a few if I tried to name them all. But from the Administrator to the Receptionist when he got more than anything was attention…special thanks to the two “Pats”, Madeline, and Heather. They were all wonderful and made the best out of what are very difficult circumstances.
During this period my brother, sister and I came to the conclusion that it was not in my father’s best interests to return home and we set about the task of finding an assisted living facility. Frank Gelormini, a friend and Vice President at Community Medical Center suggested the Saint Barnabas facility in Lakewood…one I did not even know about. After meeting Alexis Commodore, the administrator, and touring the place I was convinced it was the perfect next step for my father. He moved in Tuesday and despite plenty of trepidation seems to be making the transition.
I would be remiss if I did not give a special thanks to Jane Maloney and the many I came in contact with at the Ocean County Office of Senior Services.
They have guided us through every step from day one and provided information and resources which have led us to being able to help our ex-Marine father when he needed it the most. Jackie, Linda and Maria answered our many questions and helped steer us in the right direction.
While the last couple of months have been filled with concern, stress, challenges and frustration the bottom line is we should all sleep better at night thanks to many who not only helped us but do this every day. Underappreciated and probably grossly underpaid…to us they are heroes.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Sure Sign Of Summer
A sure sign that summer is here as tonight the Festival of the Atlantic concert series begins its 19th season under the stars and on the beach in Point Pleasant Beach. The Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea, under the direction of Father Alphonse Stephenson, will put on these free performances every Wednesday (except July 4th) with the finale on Labor Day. The concerts begin at 7:30 and are held on the Inlet Beach near Jenkinson’s at the northern end of the boardwalk. You can bring beach chairs and blankets and set up early for the shows which are very popular and always well attended.
The concert series is sponsored by Jenkinson’s, Diane Turton Realtors, OceanFirst Foundation, Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, Commerce Bank, Paul Zito Foundation and other local businesses.
While the concerts are free donations are accepted and over two decades the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea has raised nearly $3 million for schools, colleges and other social service organizations.
The Lavallette office of Diane Turton Realtors does run a couple of busses to the weekly shows…you can call there for details.
A big change in the Ocean County Prosecutors Office as Thomas Kelaher leaves after 5 ½ years as Prosecutor and is replaced by Marlene Lynch Ford. Kelahar, who will return to his private law practice did a terrific job during his tenure and drew praise from many in law enforcement. I used to bump into the ex-Marine on Thursdays at a Toms River diner where he enjoyed split pea soup and hearty conversation. Ford has an outstanding resume to take over the Prosecutors Office and a solid and an experienced staff to work with which should make for a smooth transition.
Dan Klein is the new head football coach at Ocean Township High School after spending the last four seasons as a Spartans assistant. He replaces Sal Spampanato who earlier this month took over the program at Monmouth Regional High School. The 28-year old Klein played at Shore Regional and later Franklin & Marshall and takes over one of the top programs in the shore area…the Spartans were 8-2 last season.
The concert series is sponsored by Jenkinson’s, Diane Turton Realtors, OceanFirst Foundation, Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, Commerce Bank, Paul Zito Foundation and other local businesses.
While the concerts are free donations are accepted and over two decades the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea has raised nearly $3 million for schools, colleges and other social service organizations.
The Lavallette office of Diane Turton Realtors does run a couple of busses to the weekly shows…you can call there for details.
A big change in the Ocean County Prosecutors Office as Thomas Kelaher leaves after 5 ½ years as Prosecutor and is replaced by Marlene Lynch Ford. Kelahar, who will return to his private law practice did a terrific job during his tenure and drew praise from many in law enforcement. I used to bump into the ex-Marine on Thursdays at a Toms River diner where he enjoyed split pea soup and hearty conversation. Ford has an outstanding resume to take over the Prosecutors Office and a solid and an experienced staff to work with which should make for a smooth transition.
Dan Klein is the new head football coach at Ocean Township High School after spending the last four seasons as a Spartans assistant. He replaces Sal Spampanato who earlier this month took over the program at Monmouth Regional High School. The 28-year old Klein played at Shore Regional and later Franklin & Marshall and takes over one of the top programs in the shore area…the Spartans were 8-2 last season.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
What A Difference A Century Makes
The other day I was reading the obituary of a woman who had just died at the age of 103 and the first thought that came to my mind were the changes she had witnessed in her lifetime. So I went back and looked at something I had in my files titled….”The Year was 1904.” Just listen to some numbers and statistics from a little more than a century ago:
· Only 14% of homes in the US had a bathtub.
· Only 8% had a telephone.
· A 3-minute call from Denver to New York cost $11.
· There were only 8,000 cars in the US and 144 miles of paved roads
for them to travel on.
· The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 MPH.
· Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California.
· The population of Las Vegas was 30.
· The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.
· The average wage in the US was 22 cents an hour and the average worker made between $200-400 per year.
· More than 95% of all births took place at home.
· 90% of all American physicians had no college education but instead attended medical schools, many of which were criticized by the government and press as being “substandard.”
· Sugar cost 4 cents per pound…eggs were 14 cents a dozen.
· Most women only washed their hair once a month and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
· Only 6% of all Americans had graduated high school.
· There were only 230 reported murders in the entire country.
· The five leading causes of death were Pneumonia and Influenza,
Tuberculosis, Diarrhea, Heart Disease and Stroke.
· Marijuana, heroin and morphine were all available over the
counter at drugstores.
That was 1904….can you imagine what life will be like 103 years from now?
· Only 14% of homes in the US had a bathtub.
· Only 8% had a telephone.
· A 3-minute call from Denver to New York cost $11.
· There were only 8,000 cars in the US and 144 miles of paved roads
for them to travel on.
· The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 MPH.
· Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California.
· The population of Las Vegas was 30.
· The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.
· The average wage in the US was 22 cents an hour and the average worker made between $200-400 per year.
· More than 95% of all births took place at home.
· 90% of all American physicians had no college education but instead attended medical schools, many of which were criticized by the government and press as being “substandard.”
· Sugar cost 4 cents per pound…eggs were 14 cents a dozen.
· Most women only washed their hair once a month and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
· Only 6% of all Americans had graduated high school.
· There were only 230 reported murders in the entire country.
· The five leading causes of death were Pneumonia and Influenza,
Tuberculosis, Diarrhea, Heart Disease and Stroke.
· Marijuana, heroin and morphine were all available over the
counter at drugstores.
That was 1904….can you imagine what life will be like 103 years from now?
Monday, June 25, 2007
Beginnings & Endings
Random notes on a Monday morning following what was a spectacular weekend at the shore:
Friday morning I participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of the Marquee Cinemas on Route 37 West in Toms River and was so impressed that I came back in the evening to catch a movie. There are ten auditoriums in the cinema and all of them feature stadium seating with high-back rocking chairs. Marquee Cinemas is a West Virginia-based company and the Toms River location is their 18th and first in New Jersey.
By the way my wife and I not only enjoyed the comfort of the theatre but the movie “Knocked Up” which features Grey’s Anatomy start Katherine Heigl.
Not only was Saturday one of the nicest beach days you will ever enjoy at but the ocean was like a postcard that could have been from any exotic location around the world. I don’t know about everywhere else but in Seaside Park we were looking at blue-green colors that reminded people of the beaches in Mexico or the Caribbean.
An era has come to an end with Tony Baiamonte closing his restaurant known for years as The Pizza King and later Mugsy’s on the corner of Hooper Avenue and Fischer Boulevard in Toms River. Tony will actually be building a “Boston’s The Gourmet Pizza” on the location which will open later this year. The Pizza King was where I ate many meals while a student at Ocean County College in the mid 70’s and I was among the hundreds who engraved their names in the big wooden tables. In 1998 Mugsy’s was the place to be if you wanted to watch the Toms River East All-Stars games on television as they went on to win the Little League World Series…WOBM hosted a couple of tailgate parties before the games.
Tony has contributed much to the area, has been a huge supporter of Vocational Education and for years has helped me personally by providing food to the WOBM Christmas Classic.
I’ll miss him and his pizza.
Friday morning I participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of the Marquee Cinemas on Route 37 West in Toms River and was so impressed that I came back in the evening to catch a movie. There are ten auditoriums in the cinema and all of them feature stadium seating with high-back rocking chairs. Marquee Cinemas is a West Virginia-based company and the Toms River location is their 18th and first in New Jersey.
By the way my wife and I not only enjoyed the comfort of the theatre but the movie “Knocked Up” which features Grey’s Anatomy start Katherine Heigl.
Not only was Saturday one of the nicest beach days you will ever enjoy at but the ocean was like a postcard that could have been from any exotic location around the world. I don’t know about everywhere else but in Seaside Park we were looking at blue-green colors that reminded people of the beaches in Mexico or the Caribbean.
An era has come to an end with Tony Baiamonte closing his restaurant known for years as The Pizza King and later Mugsy’s on the corner of Hooper Avenue and Fischer Boulevard in Toms River. Tony will actually be building a “Boston’s The Gourmet Pizza” on the location which will open later this year. The Pizza King was where I ate many meals while a student at Ocean County College in the mid 70’s and I was among the hundreds who engraved their names in the big wooden tables. In 1998 Mugsy’s was the place to be if you wanted to watch the Toms River East All-Stars games on television as they went on to win the Little League World Series…WOBM hosted a couple of tailgate parties before the games.
Tony has contributed much to the area, has been a huge supporter of Vocational Education and for years has helped me personally by providing food to the WOBM Christmas Classic.
I’ll miss him and his pizza.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Summer Solstice
Today is not a holiday, although it’s noted on most calendars. There are no gifts associated with it and as far as I know there’s not a Hallmark card for the occasion either. At the same time today is one of my favorite days of the year and one I lament as well.
Welcome to the first official day of summer…the three-month period I and many others live for which goes a lot faster than any other three months of the year. Summer at the shore may have some drawbacks but it’s why we put up with winter at the shore. The next 13 weeks have plenty of special events, like the Toms River Rotary Club’s 2nd annual Family Beach Party on Saturday at Shelter Cove, the 67th Annual 4th of July Fireworks in Beachwood, the AVP Pro Volleyball Tour stop in Seaside Heights and a host of fairs and festivals. However all we really need over the next couple of months is sunshine.
I can think of nothing better than curling my toes into the white sands of the 2nd Avenue beach in Seaside Park with a good book to read and my mission this year is to get their more often than last year. Summer is when cooking is done on the grill…if at all. It’s a good excuse to eat out or grab something on the boardwalk and it’s a great time to enjoy ice cream, which somehow tastes some much better now than in the winter. For those of us over 21, sitting out on your deck at the end of the day with an ice cold beer is something to savor.
I know there is a downside to this for many…heat and humidity. Sure it can get a bit sticky but I for one rarely complain because I remember winter all too well. Actually the ones with a right to complain are those who have to work in the heat…roofers, landscapers, road department guys…yet the biggest moaners are those who spend most of the day in air conditioned comfort. Another big benefit of summer….bikinis and flimsy clothes…enough said on that.
At the beginning I said today is one I lament as well as celebrate. That’s because sunset is 8:29PM and it’s the longest day and shortest night of the year. We’ve been gaining daylight for months but starting tomorrow the pendulum swings the other way. Before you can snap your fingers it will be September 23rd, the first day of autumn. My advice…don’t snap them and enjoy every moment of summer.
Welcome to the first official day of summer…the three-month period I and many others live for which goes a lot faster than any other three months of the year. Summer at the shore may have some drawbacks but it’s why we put up with winter at the shore. The next 13 weeks have plenty of special events, like the Toms River Rotary Club’s 2nd annual Family Beach Party on Saturday at Shelter Cove, the 67th Annual 4th of July Fireworks in Beachwood, the AVP Pro Volleyball Tour stop in Seaside Heights and a host of fairs and festivals. However all we really need over the next couple of months is sunshine.
I can think of nothing better than curling my toes into the white sands of the 2nd Avenue beach in Seaside Park with a good book to read and my mission this year is to get their more often than last year. Summer is when cooking is done on the grill…if at all. It’s a good excuse to eat out or grab something on the boardwalk and it’s a great time to enjoy ice cream, which somehow tastes some much better now than in the winter. For those of us over 21, sitting out on your deck at the end of the day with an ice cold beer is something to savor.
I know there is a downside to this for many…heat and humidity. Sure it can get a bit sticky but I for one rarely complain because I remember winter all too well. Actually the ones with a right to complain are those who have to work in the heat…roofers, landscapers, road department guys…yet the biggest moaners are those who spend most of the day in air conditioned comfort. Another big benefit of summer….bikinis and flimsy clothes…enough said on that.
At the beginning I said today is one I lament as well as celebrate. That’s because sunset is 8:29PM and it’s the longest day and shortest night of the year. We’ve been gaining daylight for months but starting tomorrow the pendulum swings the other way. Before you can snap your fingers it will be September 23rd, the first day of autumn. My advice…don’t snap them and enjoy every moment of summer.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Good Turn Award
This area has always been blessed with plenty of people who truly believe that it’s better to give than receive. Among them is Paul Barlo, who I’ve gotten to know a bit while working on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County, an organization in which Paul now serves as President.
This Sunday the Jersey Shore Boy Scouts will honor him with their “Good Turn Award” at their 14th Annual Garden Party reception in Manasquan. By day Paul deals with his architectural company, Barlo & Associates as well as Abatare Builders of which he is founder and owner. However he spends a lot of his time giving time and effort to a myriad of organizations, serving on the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts Jersey Shore Council, President of
Dottie’s House, Vice President of Homes Now, Vice President of the Monmouth Ocean Development Council and is a member of the Brick Environmental Beautification Committee. That’s only a few of the organizations he is active with and with the exception of the Notre Dame Club of New Jersey they are all worthwhile causes.
For information on Sunday’s Garden Party which honors Paul you can call the Boys Scouts at (732) 349-1037. Proceeds will benefit their Scout Camp scholarship programs.
If events like this are your cup of tea than circle Saturday, July 14th on the calendar as Dave and Roberta Wintrode host “Artists Under the Sun” at their Toms River home. The late afternoon event is a fundraiser for the Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties’ Hungry Heart Catering Program and will feature an art exhibition, gourmet food, cocktails and music. Additional information is available by visiting the web site, www.foodbankmoc.org. The FoodBank collects and distributes food to 270 charities in the two-county area and in Ocean County alone some 30,000 different people are served each year.
This Sunday the Jersey Shore Boy Scouts will honor him with their “Good Turn Award” at their 14th Annual Garden Party reception in Manasquan. By day Paul deals with his architectural company, Barlo & Associates as well as Abatare Builders of which he is founder and owner. However he spends a lot of his time giving time and effort to a myriad of organizations, serving on the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts Jersey Shore Council, President of
Dottie’s House, Vice President of Homes Now, Vice President of the Monmouth Ocean Development Council and is a member of the Brick Environmental Beautification Committee. That’s only a few of the organizations he is active with and with the exception of the Notre Dame Club of New Jersey they are all worthwhile causes.
For information on Sunday’s Garden Party which honors Paul you can call the Boys Scouts at (732) 349-1037. Proceeds will benefit their Scout Camp scholarship programs.
If events like this are your cup of tea than circle Saturday, July 14th on the calendar as Dave and Roberta Wintrode host “Artists Under the Sun” at their Toms River home. The late afternoon event is a fundraiser for the Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties’ Hungry Heart Catering Program and will feature an art exhibition, gourmet food, cocktails and music. Additional information is available by visiting the web site, www.foodbankmoc.org. The FoodBank collects and distributes food to 270 charities in the two-county area and in Ocean County alone some 30,000 different people are served each year.
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