Walking on the Moon

When the moon is in the Seventh House

And Jupiter aligns with Mars

Then peace will guide the planets

And love will steer the stars -—The Age of Aquarius, 5th Dimension

Col. Edwin Aldrin Sr. of Brielle, father of astronaut Col. Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. was honored at the Golden Dome Ball at the Governor’s mansion in Sea Girt. His son had just walked on the moon, and the $250 dance and dinner at the Governor’s ball for GOP governor candidate William Cahill celebrated the achievement of the USA winning the race to put a man on the moon.

Police Chief Millington ended his 38-year career in Sea Girt and retired to his home at 611 New York Blvd. Captian Hugh Hamblet, 713 Boston Blvd, was chosen to replace him and serve as only the third Police Chief in Sea Girt History.

Frank Palmieri continued to try and get the new Commodore Stockton hotel built. He had driven pilings for foundation work, but the pilings broke through the clay layer of the soil, and construction was halted. He needed new engineering.

The budget had gone up to over $4 million. His biggest problem was the credit market. Mortgage rates hit the highest of the century at 7.6%. While Frank continued to pay borough clerk Helen Brash for his building permits and for the liquor licence, he was tired. He had been fighting to build the new hotel since 1957, and was near the end of his rope.

Gus Steck also realized the Tremont was at the end of its useful life. The restaurant, Sand bar, and Dairy bar were quite successful, but the hotel section needed replacement. He suggested 32 condominiums and was soundly rejected at Council 4-1.

Sea Girt began the construction of an elementary school on the west side of town to be opened for the 1970 school year. A novel system of no grades was proposed for the new school, with individual instruction and progress reports, with kids moving up to the next level only when they were ready.

Chalres Hinchman’s 1900s cottage Sandown at 1 Philadelphia was for sale. The $85,000 asking price was a new record for the community.

The younger set found solace at Music Festivals. In early August, Atlantic City featured the Mamas and the Papas, Joni Mitchell & the Kosmic Blues Band, Joe Cocker, Santana, and Little Richard. Many kids went from there to the Woodstock festival in muddy Bethel, NY.

Organizers moved the big event from its namesake to a farm near White Lake in the Cattskills and the concert exploded into 300,000, with thousands more stuck in traffic on the Thruway. Peace, love, and cold rain mixed with the acts and the need to help each other. Organizers did not have food or facilities for the masses. Church leaders got local farmers to empty their fields to feed everyone, and somehow, the Hog Farm commune led by Wavy Gravy kept security laid back and calmed the audience. The kids went home dirty and tired but filled with memories. The event was recorded as a movie to let the whole generation carry the memories into the next decade. Those who stayed home could go to Asbury Park, where Led Zepplin played the Convention Hall, having turned down the option to play at Woodstock.