Last night this time I was lying awake after hearing a lengthy public debate about fish guts. When I say lengthy, I mean it was clocked by hours not minutes. Approximately two of them.

Atlantic Highlands is trying to make its vibrant marina -- home to Seastreak ferry service to Manhattan, commercial and recreational fisherman, sailors and motor-boaters and a couple of eateries -- a "clean marina." The Clean Marina Program is a federal/state partnership that established best management practices and guidelines for all aspects of marina management, which you'd already know if you read that somewhat hefty link. In many marinas, fish may be a small part of the operation. But here in Atlantic Highlands it's a big one, and two camps have emerged: Old-school fisherman say appropriate dumping of fish heads and guts in the water is part of the "circle of life," while beach-goers and marina mavens find floating and landed fish bits unacceptable. Two proposals were raised and, so far, rejected as part of the local enabling legislation -- piercing the eyes and bladders so fish sink, and bagging fish detritus and giving it a burial in a nearby dumpster. As part of the marathon public hearing Wednesday night members of the public suggested manual grinders feeding into the water, machine grinders and composting. Apparently research has been done into contracting fish-grinding out, and it's been found to be rather costly.

Two bottom lines here. (One) I don't know which of the alternatives mentioned would be best for the environment and best for the marina. The beaches and docks here are beautiful -- they are all the more beautiful when nothing but the rare fishkill and some driftwood and shells wash ashore. At the same time, it is entirely possible that some of fishermen's ways may be beneficial to ocean life: It is in their best interests to preserve the fish stocks out there, too. Perhaps a nearby research facility or university can shed some light on the matter without holding clean marina measures up for too long. (Two) All concerned have to consider the fact that the Clean Marina Program is about more than fish, and that its passage is expected to be both an environmental and fiscal boon, as the "incentive-driven" program's home page describes. If it's desirable, then Atlantic Highlands should do it properly -- and do it soon.

Woodruff this evening on ABC's World News Tonight began a series on Iraqi refugees. Interesting and, of course, sad.

So this is what Bob Woodruff's been up to. I was wondering about him.

You've got a friend in Pennsylvania?

Well, it seems a large number of Nova Scotians -- and Canadians in general -- do. Me.

I have discovered I currently have more friends in Halifax than I do in my hometown. This is heartening because rarely is Canada -- and Nova Scotia in particular -- far from mind. It's disturbing because, well, it makes me realize I have to get off my duff and start doing more around here. Sure, I've tried to remain politically in touch both in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Basic political volunteering, small jobs, discussion, and the rubber-chicken circuit tie me to a cadre of decent folk in the Mid-Atlantic states. That's not enough. I've done volunteer training in literacy and spoken-word book production, and have yet to volunteer.

Plus, I want to chat more with the neighbors and get better about looking up and keeping up old friendships. As Brownie Scouts we sang, "Make new friends/But keep the old/One is silver and the other's gold." Here's to riches!

On a somewhat contrary side note, enough people have now told me to write a book that I'm starting to think I could do it, and starting to consider the possibility that I should.

Expect slow progress, since I haven't even been able to keep up my blog.

Oh, and I've been informed by the kind gentleman who papered up a food post in this space that his goal is to give us one item a month. If I had known this, I could have more effectively supported his goal! That being said, I expect I'll enjoy his next installment. I'm sure you will too. As for me, I'm committing to a minimum of a posting a week -- more if I can. Watch this space.