By JF Grodeska
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS – During its regular meeting June 6 the Atlantic Highlands Borough Council recognized the 79th anniversary of the D-Day invasion and the Battle of Normandy. In a stirring and patriotic speech, council member James Murphy said that the D-Day invasion was the beginning of the end of the horrors of World War II.
“Time and time again the United States has called upon brave individuals to defend our freedoms around the world,” Murphy said. “In times of great danger, the men and women of the armed forces have stood resolutely, putting their lives at risk when we needed them the most. And in making these sacrifices they asked for nothing in return. In the Borough of Atlantic Highlands, we encourage our citizens and visitors to take time to remember our fellow Americans who fought and died so men and women they would never meet know what it is to live in freedom.”
The council, via proclamation, named June 6, 2023, as D-Day National Remembrance Day.
At the same meeting, Mayor Loretta Gluckstein declared June 19, 2023, as Juneteenth in the borough and urged all citizens to become more aware of the significance of this celebration in African American history. Juneteenth is a celebration that recognizes when word of the Emancipation Proclamation reached many in the South and Southwest, two-and-a-half years after its signing.
Heather DiBlasi, Ph.D., an addiction psychologist, updated the council and residents on the Highlands/Atlantic Highlands Municipal Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. She thanked the council for supporting the alliance and its programs for students and parents. To learn more about the Highlands/Atlantic Highlands Municipal Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, visit its page on the Borough of Highlands website at highlandsborough.org/depar tments/municipal-alliance.
Council member Vito Colasurdo, who sits on several committees (fire, environmental, shade tree, recreation), reminded residents that it’s time to register for the borough’s summer basketball camp for fourth through seventh graders. The cost of the camp is $30 and it runs from July 11 through Aug. 3. A Biddy Basketball Camp, for kids in kindergarten through third grade will be held July 12 and July 16 at a cost of $15. For more information and to sign up, go to the borough website at ahnj.com.
Council member Jon Crowley who works on the emergency services, police, public works and recreation committees, reported that “there were 1,391 (police) calls, including 39 first aid calls, 10 for motor crashes, eight arrests and 314 traffic stops.
During the public comment session, resident Muriel Smith voiced her concern over the rainbow flag being flown next to the American flag in the borough. She pointed out that U.S. Code states that “… no other flag or Pennant should be placed above or at the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America except during certain church services conducted by the Naval chaplains at sea.” Smith raised concern that when the U.S. flag is flown at half-staff, the rainbow flag would be higher than the American flag, which is prohibited by U.S. Code. The borough council said it would look into the matter.
The Atlantic Highlands Harbor is seeking responsible individuals to supplement harbor security and customer service staff on all shifts.
Upcoming events:
June 16: Farmers Market 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
June 17: Classic Car Show 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(rain date June 18)
July 4 to 8: The Atlantic Highlands Fireman’s Fair (fireworks on July 7)
The article originally appeared in the June 15 – 21, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
