Jersey Shore Magazine

j e r s e y s h o r e • S p r i n g 2 0 1 9 65 The Token When I was 15, subway fares rose to 15 cents so MTA minted its own turnstile coins brass tokens slightly bigger than a dime, GOOD FOR ONE FARE printed and raised around a large Y punched from the center. The design attracted people who created necklaces and cufflinks with them. Several years later, I received Greetings from Uncle Sam who ordered me to report to Whitehall, Brooklyn—the Draft: Use enclosed token. My mother was upset, my girlfriend cried. Every day, young men fled to Canada to escape the Draft and hated War. I showed the letter to my principal who wrote a letter back to explain He teaches and is needed here because of our teacher shortage. A week later an official letter arrived, ordered me not to report. Relief. I wouldn't be a Draft dodger. I keep, as a souvenir, the 15 cent token. Days later, another letter arrives: Return the token. I do; quickly. After 15 years of teaching in Jersey, I go on to teach 15 more. A tattered rubbing of the vintage token lies buried somewhere in a box. —Frank Finale it left for Brooklyn. The driver held the door open until my younger brother HOME PORT THE TRACK, continued from page 66 and I caught up. It was the only race I ever saw you run. u Exorcism Goodbye old war Saigon whore VD VC Marines with maps on helmets mass graves putrid bodies Goodbye B-52s and three columns of bombs for support pocked fields burning monks Nobel-peace-prize smiles fourteen years Goodbye body-counts bandaged prisoners too many beers a night Mekong jungle rot napalmed kids hello america —Frank Finale "Exorcism" first appeared in "Peace Is Our Profession" (1981, East River Anthology, Montclair, NJ; edited by Jan Barry) Frank Finale is the author of the coffee table books "To The Shore Once More, Volumes I - III" and children's books "A Gull's Story, Parts 1 - 3." He is also coeditor of the anthologies "Under A Gull's Wing" and "The Poets of New Jersey." Mr. Finale will be giving readings, meeting readers, and signing books at events this season. Please refer to pages 6 - 9 as well as www.jerseyshorebooks.com for more information about his books and appearances. ▼ Realtors DEBORAH (SMITH) VALENTE RE/MAX BAY POINT, REALTORS 526 Bay Avenue Point Pleasant Beach Cell: (908) 278-2758 Office: (732) 899-8202, ext. 162 Email: dvalente@jerseyshoreliving.com www.jerseyshoreliving.com Please refer to our ad on page 31. Deborah (Smith) Valente is a professional sales associate for RE/MAX Bay Point, Realtors. A lifelong resident of the Jersey Shore, Debbie pos- sesses an intimate knowledge of the local market and offers an exceptional level of service and pro- fessionalism. Debbie utilizes her marketing back- ground to identify the unique value of a property in order to effectively develop a successful sales strategy. The RE/MAX Bay Point, Realtors affiliation provides extensive internet presence, as well as access to the finest marketing materials available in the industry. Additionally, the firm's unique collaboration with the New York Times and Wall Street Journal has created exclusive opportunities to drive qualified leads and place your home front and center to millions of users worldwide. If you are contemplating buying, selling, or renting, or would like to discuss market values, new FEMA regulations, contractor referrals, or interest rates, please contact Debbie. CITTA & MOFFITT LLC, REALTORS SALES AND SUMMER RENTALS 1455 SE Central Avenue, Seaside Park (732) 793-0938 www.cittamoffittrealtors.com DIANE TURTON, REALTORS www.dianeturton.com Bay Head: 88 Bridge Avenue, 732) 295-9700 Beach Haven: 217 North Bay Avenue (609) 492-7000 Lacey: 535 Lacey Road, Forked River (609) 693-7040 Lavallette: 1404 Grand Central Avenue (732) 793-2600 Point Pleasant: 2204 Bridge Avenue (732) 295-9600 Point Pleasant Beach: 630-1/2 Arnold Avenue, (732) 295-0018 Sea Girt: 512 Washington Boulevard (732) 974-8700 Spring Lake: 1216 Third Avenue (732) 449-4441 Wall: 2383 Route 34 South, (732) 292-1400 JACK GREEN REALTY www.JackGreenRealty.com Ocean Grove: 72 Main Avenue (732) 776-6400 Spring Lake: 1225 Third Avenue (732) 449-1555 Neptune City: 174 West Sylvania Avenue (732) 776-5600 u REAL ESTATE

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