Bulletin Board
Proposed legislation to keep memorial at Hook
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6) plans to introduce legislation later this week to provide a special exemption to the Sandy Hook section of Gateway National Recreation Area to allow a World Trade Center/Pentagon memorial to remain at the park upon its completion.
The memorial will consist of two 13-foot-high marble statues surrounded by five 4-foot blocks to represent the trade center towers and the Pentagon. It is scheduled and approved for construction to begin May 11.
Under current law, the memorial must be removed upon completion. According to National Park Service (NPS) guidelines, state commemorative works cannot be located on NPS property unless Congress approves of the specific location or the NPS director finds a "compelling justification" for the monument at least 25 years after the event the monument signifies, occurred.
"With its direct view of Manhattan, Sandy Hook is the ideal place for a monument to commemorate the most horrific moment in our nation’s history," said Pallone.
Since 25 years have not elapsed since the terrorist attacks, the action would need to come from Congress, according to Pallone.
‘Stonebreaking’ slated
at Sandy Hook May 11
The Memoria Project, Red Bank, will hold a "stonebreaking" at the site of its monument May 11 at 11 a.m. at Sandy Hook, Gateway National Recreation Area. The memorial will be donated to victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. The ceremony will also feature an address by Richard Wells, deputy superintendent of the park.
The memorial will consist of four 10-ton blocks of marble used to create centerpiece statues. Rumson resident and sculptor Stephen Shaheen will discuss the project and guide Brad Smith, 16, in removing the first bits of stone in honor of his father, Karl Smith, who was killed in the World Trade Center tragedy.
The process of the project is intended to be interactive, and the community may observe and, in some cases, lend a hand as Shaheen and two colleagues carve the figures from two 13-foot blocks of marble.
The ceremony will be at parking lot K, between the north beach and Fort Hancock. For more information, call The Memoria Project at (732) 842-3995.
Students need mentors for science research
Six Holmdel High School students are currently seeking mentors from the fields of genetics, materials science, biology, technology, and animal science to guide them in research. The students are enrolled in an advanced research course for the Intel Science Talent Search, a pre-college science competition.
The Intel Corp. will award a top prize of a $100,000, four-year scholarship to the winning student, and more than 300 students will receive a monetary award.
Needed are professionals or educators interested in serving as mentors to a student.
For more information, call Jennifer Post at Holmdel High School at (732) 946-1832.