Thanks for the Memories 2012. Now Get Lost!
Spotlight On
by Clark Westfield
January 2013
Happy New Year New Jersey. Happy New Year America. Happy New Year Planet Earth. This old newshound has seen enough of last year to last 100 years. The Mayans may have had it all wrong but they were onto something with their dire predictions of doom and gloom. Many tears were shed in the twelve months gone by. Homes, lives and memories gone. Fiscal cliffs not withstanding, for many in the state just paying the bills was tough enough. Money left over for a vacation? Well kids, we’ll see next year. And don’t even get me started on the Yankees!
Here is a look back at some of the more memorable and mad moments over the past year in the state, the country and around the world. Events that take place in faraway lands have an impact on New Jerseyans who have family and friends in some very dangerous places, and with the advancement of telecommunication some of the most dramatic global events can be seen instantly on CNN or via the Internet.
We also offer a glimpse into what went right specifically with New Jersey. As always, you guys rock.
Senseless Shootings
How in the world do you stop madmen who want to take lives when they don’t care about their own? A movie theatre in Aurora Colorado where people are settling in to watch a world premiere would be the last place you would think a murderous assault weapon rampage would occur. Or maybe not the last place. An elementary school in Connecticut became the saddest place on earth when another fool with a tool lashed out at his mother and then innocent children. This will stain the earth forever, and the grief that the affected families must feel is incomprehensible to anyone who has not dealt with that type of tragedy. In the wake of these horrific crimes, both in the state and on a national level, we now confront the issues of mental health and gun control with an even greater passion than before. Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik proposes putting armed guards in schools, which scares many school officials and parents while giving others some sense of security. Next up will be a recommendation of “School Marshalls,” whereby one teacher, as incognito as a Sky Marshall would be on an aircraft, would be the one with the gun. It’s all so insane.
The Good, The Bad, and The Mayors
Hurricane Sandy hit the state of New Jersey head-on when it made landfall on Monday, October 29, decimating the Jersey shoreline and knocking out power to over a million people. In the storm’s aftermath, Newark mayor Cory Booker was tweeting non-stop, offering updates on power outages, calming frazzled constituents and checking up on those in need. And then he invited neighbors without power to seek refuge at his house. Good for you Mr. Mayor. On the other side of the coin we had Trenton Mayor Tony Mack, who was indicted along with his brother and a very disreputable “businessman,” for an extortion plot that would have netted him $100,000. For a parking garage. Yes, Joni Mitchell was on to something when she sang, “They paved paradise and put up a perking lot.” Memo to Ex-Mayor Mack… you need extra cash? Buy a lottery ticket like the rest of us!
Vacation All I Ever Wanted
Tell that to the people who sailed on the Costa Concordia. I’ve cruised many times and I’ve seen people who save for years to afford a leisurely sail along the Mediterranean coastline. But not too close. That was the problem for many guests onboard who witnessed the Captain chart a course too close to the shoreline and ripped a giant hole in the hull as this Prozac Popeye steered the ship right into the rocks. Mike Stoll and Addie King of Brick escaped the ship but not until they witnesses the Captain leaving the ship early. In maritime parlance that’s called Premature Evacuation. His actual excuse was, “I tripped and fell into the lifeboat.” Yeah, try that out on your wife sometime, “Honey, I tripped and fell into that waitress.” Good luck with that.
Lost and Gone Forever
In 2012 among many others, we said goodbye to some famous New Jerseyans – an actress, a TV comedian and a superstar singer. Celeste Holm graced the screen for many decades and never failed to be endearing and beautiful. Robert Hegyes cracked us up on “Welcome Back Kotter” as Epstein, a wise-cracking Chico Marx of a man-child. And Whitney Houston, a Newark born beauty, who gave us more musical memories and highlights than are imaginable. No one will ever forget her rendition of the National Anthem at the 1991 Super Bowl when the United States was in the midst of the first Iraq war. Her tragic demise still baffles and hurts.
Signs of the Impending Apocalypse
Too few Twinkies and too many Gangnam Style You Tube videos. Beyond that, three words – Honey Boo Boo.
Sandy… The Fireworks Were Hailing Over Seaside Heights That Night
Quite simply, the Shore and towns like Sayreville will never be the same. The sight of our teenage dreams and memories gone in a flash flood will haunt us forever. The people who lost loved ones and homes they had lived in from childhood may never recover. We will rebuild and Restore the Shore but this one hurt. It still hurts, and to all of those still being affected to this day, we say, “We love you, and we will do everything we can as a caring community to help put your lives back on track.”
Which brings us to our positive lights in an otherworldly dark time…
Governor Christie
However you may have felt about this man and his confrontational style before this natural disaster (worst to hit The Shore since Snooki), one thing is for sure. He threw himself into the front lines and became a forcible presence to rival the enormous size of Sandy (no pun intended). The Republican Party wanted him to go to Pennsylvania to campaign for Mitt Romney and he basically said, “Are you nuts? My state needs me here!” He was tough, uncompromising and direct and tremendously “hands-on.” Seeing him with President Obama made me think that in four years we might be seeing them together again as outgoing and incoming commander-in-chiefs. And as a footnote, I thought it was wrong for President Obama to blame the storm on President Bush.
Bon Jovi and the Boss
Resident musical superstar musicians and philanthropists led the charge for fundraising efforts in the aftermath of the storm. Not only did they headline a spectacular concert at Madison Square Garden in December, they reached out to their neighbors on a personal level, going door-to-door in many affected towns, with not only cameras to show the world the devastation, but with food, water, clothing and other needed items. Who says you can’t go home?
First Responders
These brave men and women do what heroes do emergency situations – they run toward the danger as others run away from it. The police and fire departments, EMT’s and rescue squads, as well as community and church leaders showed the rest of the world what New Jersey is really about. As Bruce sings, “We take care of our own.” Never more true. Never more needed. Goodbye 2012. Nice knowin’ ya. Hello 2013. Please do better!
More to come…CW