Times Talk
Team Avalon (from left) James Deever, Dr. Nancy Hudanich, and John McCorristin.
McCORRISTIN IS NEW COUNCIL PRESIDENT
John McCorristin was named Avalon Borough Council president and James Deever was picked for vice president for one-year terms during the council’s annual reorganization meeting July 7.
Dr. Nancy Hudanich turned over the president’s title to McCorristin at the meeting, where all three were sworn in by Mayor Martin Pagliughi for four-year terms. Reelected May 9, the three ran together as Team Avalon.
“I want to personally congratulate John, Nancy, and Jim for earning the trust of the Avalon voters to serve them during the next four years,” Pagliughi said. “They are an integral part of the entire team that works proactively and diligently on a daily basis to provide our residents with a safe, beautiful community to enjoy for many years to come.”
Members from the Avalon Beach Patrol, Avalon Free Public Library, History Center, Recreation Department, Fire Department, Police Department, Public Works and more attended the meeting to show their support. Each council member asked a family member to hold the bible for the oath of office. Hudanich was joined by her husband, Jim; Deever was joined by his daughter, Victoria; and McCorristin by his wife, Lisa. Father Mark Cavagnaro of St. Brendan Parish presented the invocation and student minister Zachary Taylor of the Avalon First United Methodist Church provided the benediction.
Avalon Borough Council meetings are held at 4pm at Borough Hall on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.
For more information, go to avalonboro.net.
STONE HARBOR COUNCIL MEETINGS GO ONLINE
As an added convenience for residents and visitors, Stone Harbor Borough Council meetings will now be available to view online shortly after each meeting. The Borough decided this would be a great way for the public to stay up to date with what is happening in town even if they can’t physically attend the meetings.
“The Borough explored options for videotaping council meetings at my urging right after I was sworn into office in January,” said Mayor Judith Davies-Dunhour. “It is our responsibility to make information readily available and easily accessible for our taxpayers. It is another way to keep our taxpayers informed. Transparency should not merely be a buzzword or something you say to get elected. It should be the goal of every elected official.”
Internal staff will film both the work session and regular agenda meetings and upload the videos to the Borough’s YouTube account. Members of the community will be able to go online to shnj.org to view the most current meeting from the home page using their desktop or mobile device.
“Stone Harbor now offers yet another way to keep taxpayers informed on the issues we are discussing and on the decisions we are making,” Davies-Dunhour said. “You can now attend meetings and workshops, read minutes posted on our website, or watch the meetings at a time convenient for you.”
Borough Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 4:30pm. This year, council also implemented a 3pm work session before the regular meeting. This allows the mayor and council an opportunity to thoroughly discuss issues in a public setting before votes are taken during the regular meeting.
For more information, go to shnj.org.
From left, Dr. Stewart Farrell, John Van Duyne, Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi and Longport Mayor Nicholas Russo.
AVALON PART OF COASTAL FLOODING PARTNERSHIP
The first-ever public-private partnership to address coastal flooding was announced July 25 at a news conference in Avalon. Mayor Martin Pagliughi made the announcement with Longport Mayor Nicholas Russo; John Van Duyne, chairman of the Atlantic Cape Coastal Coalition; and Dr. Stewart Farrell of the Stockton University Coastal Research Center. The pilot program that will run out of the Stockton center will monitor and generate real-time tidal-flow data from hobo sensors placed throughout Avalon and Longport.
“Every flooding situation is different and this pilot program is going to give a good cross-reference historically of the different conditions and parameters that play into these different flooding events,” Pagliughi said. “We will have a better projection to be able to forecast the different flooding events, whether by the local municipalities, the county or the state. This could have legs that could go on to help the entire state of New Jersey. It will give us historical data on the coastal flooding for both nuisance and coastal storm events.”
The hobo sensors are expected to be installed by mid-August at the latest in both towns for a minimum of one year to track and monitor storm events, weather conditions and factors. The sensors will be put in a polyvinyl fluoride PVC tube with holes in it so the water gets in easily. They don’t float and will need to be sunk into the salt marsh at the end of the street or anchored onto porch pilings. Farrell and his team will survey each one to get an elevation for its placement position. The sensor will measure the pressure and will convert the pressure reading into actual inches of water.
“I see two parts to this: the proactive and the reactive,” Russo said. “I envision that we will take this information and be reactive in a way to address where our problem areas are and then do what the engineers tell us to do that best protect our infrastructure and our properties. I also see it proactively a little bit different because if there is a way that we can use CodeRED or use other means to tell people to get their cars and prepare for these events, then we’re right on the ball when it comes to our responsibilities, and that is protecting lives and protecting property.”
In addition to historical hard-data collection, the pilot program will assist each community with further proof for grant funding and help the officials identify certain flood-prone areas to better alert citizens using some of the current systems already in place such as the CodeRED emergency-alert system and reverse 911.
For more information about the program, go to avalonboro.net.
William and Evan Bernhardt
AVALON LIBRARY OPEN HOUSE DRAWS 800-PLUS
The Avalon Free Public Library clearly was the place to be June 24 when more than 800 residents and visitors attended its second annual Open House and Story Book Bash.
“We’re thrilled so many patrons were able to join us at this year’s Open House,” said Erin Brown, the library director. “It was wonderful to see the library filled with hundreds of adults, teens and kids, all excited to learn about everything the library has to offer. Our patrons and community are the focus behind everything we do – it was a great to have a day to celebrate them.”
The day was packed with fun and surprises such as visits from princesses, superheroes and storybook characters who spent the day at the library to greet children and read stories to them. A caricature artist shared her talents, and a face-painter transformed the kids into their favorite characters. The youngsters, some dressed as their favorite storybook characters, exercised their creativity and made tissue-paper mosaics in the craft room, filled with music and balloon animals. Also, nearly 100 children signed up for this summer’s reading program.
In addition to the children’s activities, the library offered demonstrations of its variety of online programs. The apps Freegal and Hoopla, for example, enable patrons to stream music, videos and books from a device to enjoy anywhere, even on the beach. There also was a demonstration of the library’s 3D printer, one of its most fascinating features.
At the center of the library was a display by the Avalon History Center. Adults and children alike gathered around to learn about the rich history of the town.
For more information and upcoming events, go to avalonfreelibrary.org.
As shown in the winning video, Mayor Davies-Dunhour leads a bootcamp class for the Mayor’s Wellness Campaign.
STONE HARBOR WINS WELLNESS CAMPAIGN VIDEO CONTEST
The Borough of Stone Harbor recently captured first place in the Mayors Wellness Campaign Video Contest and a $1,000 prize to be used toward its 2018 campaign.
Of the 566 municipalities in New Jersey, 386 have joined the campaign and had the opportunity to submit a video. Jersey City finished second and won $500 and Chatham took third, worth $250. The New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute held the contest in honor of the Mayors Wellness Campaign’s 10th anniversary.
“We joined the Mayors Wellness Campaign in 2015 and Miranda [Duca, Stone Harbor’s recreation director] has done an outstanding job with it ever since,” said Mayor Judy Davies-Dunhour. “This is Stone Harbor leading by example, walking the walk, not merely talking the talk. It is no wonder that the Borough of Stone Harbor was named 2016 New Jersey Healthy Town. We hope you all join us for the Mayors Wellness Campaign this year.”
Davies-Dunhour and the Borough Council created the two-minute video with help from Duca and Ashley Ryan, the recreation front desk and contract supervisor. The theme of Stone Harbor’s video was “Lead by Example” and the clip was set to Justin Timberlake’s upbeat song, “Can’t Stop the Feeling.” Council members Josee Rich, Ray Parzych, Charles Krafczek, Karen Lane, Mantura Gallagher and Joan Kramer each showed how they stay active within the community by doing activities such as yoga, cycling, Zumba, playing at the playground, golfing, and walking the dog.
Stone Harbor’s video will be shown at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Conference in November and it is also available to view on the home page of the Borough website, shnj.org.
Plans are in the works for the 2018 campaign, and the prize money from the video contest will help to secure speakers, healthy foods, and prizes for individual winners such as Fitbits, blenders and yoga mats.
For details about the Mayors Wellness Campaign in Stone Harbor, go to stoneharborrecreation.com.
“Best of Emerging Artist” – Hannah Toth, for “ Flamingo Fling” in Watercolor.
APAC ART SHOW STILL GROWING AT 30
The Avalon Performing Arts Council celebrated its 30th annual Art Show, “Three Decades of Art,” on June 24 at a new venue, the Avalon Elementary School. More than 500 visitors enjoyed beautiful displays of works from more than 50 professional artists and eight emerging artists from Cape May Technical High School. A total of 14 cash prizes were awarded to winners of various categories: Oil/Acrylic; Watercolor; Works on Paper/Mixed Media; Photography; and Best in Show.
“I think the 30th Annual Art Show was a success,” said APAC President Ramona Sanabria. “Attendance was up and the artists’ sales were up. In moving to the school location, we were able to offer a larger space for the artists, lighter walls with better lighting, so the overall viewing qualities were superior to our previous location. Due to the school’s multiple spaces/areas, we were able to feature the ‘Emerging Artists’ in a separate section, and the art classroom for the art workshop for children over 6, by ‘Artists on The Rocks’ of Cape May.”
With the move to the school, the art show was held in conjunction with the Avalon Free Public Library’s Open House, so visitors had the opportunity to enjoy both events at one location. This year’s show included 18 new artists and a family showcasing three generations of artists. It was juried by Carol Kardon, Phil Courtney and Laura Ducceschi, and awards were presented by Sanabria and Art Show Chair Susan McLaughlin.
“Best in Show” was presented to Nikolas Pattantyus, of Avalon, in the Photography category for “Ides of March.” He was awarded a $500 cash prize. This year’s new category, Emerging Artists, featured works from students who attend Cape May Technical High School. First place was presented to Nicolas Seliger for a photography piece; watercolor paintings by Rachael Stackhouse and Kate Conelly took second and third, respectively. “Best of Emerging Artist” was presented to Hannah Toth, for “Flamingo Fling” in Watercolor. She was awarded a $100 cash prize.
Winners in the Oil/Acrylic category: Lisa Budd, first place; Elizabeth Breakell, second; Kathleen Byrnes, third. In the Watercolor category: Keith Mountford, first; Lisa Budd, second; Claire Lorraine, third. In Works on Paper: Shirley Hawthorne, first; Betsy Miraglia, second; Linda Crane, third. In Photography: Eileen Skultety, first; Lindsay Wray, second.
APAC programs are made possible in part by a grant administered by the Cape May County Culture and Heritage Commission from funds granted by the New Jersey State Council of the Arts. The organization will host an evening of dancing and music with Jerry Blavat, “The Geater with the Heater,” on Sept. 30 at the Avalon Community Hall.
For more information, go to avalonperformingarts.org.
Singles Champion Joe Butler
CLAMSHELL PITCH EVENT CROSSES GENERATIONS
The Avalon Historical Society hosted its eighth annual W. Norman Mackey Memorial Clamshell Pitch tournament on July 22. The event, held on the 30th Street beach, had 25 participants this year as well as many spectators who enjoy the tournament.
“This year’s event was great,” said Nina Ranalli, the History Center director. “It was especially nice to have kids playing, some on teams of their own and some together with parents or grandparents. I look forward to this event each year because it’s a continuation of a game traditionally and historically played in Avalon, and also a fun activity for families to enjoy.”
Joe Butler took first place in the singles competition and Dave Apostolica finished second. Paul Cataldo and Matt Curtis were victorious in the doubles competition, with Grayson and Will Gotro second. Contestants each received a hat and winners received a trophy, each decorated with a clamshell.
The Avalon Historical Society decided eight years ago to bring the tournament back to Avalon and revive the sport that originated in the 1930s and ’40s. The tournament was named for Mackey, an Avalon lifeguard back in those days who enjoyed teaching his son Allan the game.
Competitors are given game-certified shells from the Historical Society to use during the competition. The game is played by digging two holes about 25 feet apart and tossing clams back and forth. Points are received either by getting closest to the hole or in the hole.
Proceeds from the event benefit the Avalon Historical Society and the conservation projects for the Avalon History Center’s collection of artifacts.
