Times Talk
PARZYCH, LEVINS WIN SH COUNCIL SEATS
Raymond W. Parzych and Robert J. Levins, running unopposed, officially were elected to serve Stone Harbor Borough Council on Nov. 6. Parzych ran to retain his current seat on council; he received 336 votes. Levins, who ran to fill the vacant seat on council, received 305 votes. He will replace councilwoman Joan Kramar, who did not seek reelection after 10 years serving Borough council.
Parzych was selected to fill the unexpired term of Mayor Judy Davies-Dunhour after her appointment as mayor in January 2017. Parzych and his wife Bernadette, “Bunny,” have been full-time Stone Harbor residents since 1994. He spent 10 years in the United States Coast Guard and works as a Marine Surveyor. He currently serves as the chair of the Public Safety Committee and a representative of the public works and natural resources committees.
Levins and his wife, Helen, purchased their Stone Harbor home in 1989 and moved here permanently in 2003. A graduate of La Salle University, Levins retired in 1995 after a 30-year career as a police inspector with the Philadelphia Police Department. He served the United States Marine Corps Reserves for eight years, worked as the chief of security at La Salle University for nine years and currently runs a property management business in town.
Voters also re-elected Margaret Day and William Stump to the Stone Harbor Board of Education. Day, who currently serves as vice president, received 238 votes. Stump, the current board president, received 231 votes and won over challenger Kenneth Biddick, who received 168 votes. In Avalon, Dorothy Lynn Schwartz ran unopposed to retain her seat on the Avalon School Board; she received 528 votes.
Autumn de Forest and Diller Home camper Shannon put the finishing touches on “Flowers of Friends” during de Forest’s visit to St. Lucy Day School for Children with Visual Impairments.
BAREFOOT BALL RAISES MORE THAN $250,000
Through its eighth annual Barefoot Ball on Sept. 8, the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children raised more than $250,000 in support of its mission: to provide blind and visually impaired children an all-expense-paid week of summer camp. More than 300 people attended the event held at the Windrift Hotel Resort to support the home and to enjoy cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres, live music, and a live auction.
“The event is overwhelmingly supported by locals, summer residents, and numerous businesses from the community and has become a successful evening for the Diller Home,” said Matt Pappas, co-chair of the Barefoot Ball. “The generosity displayed year after year is incredible. We couldn’t do it without the help of Joanna Heston and her team at 7 Mile Publishing and Creative and Pete and Paige Compare and their staff at the Windrift Hotel for their support in hosting such a wonderful evening. I would also like to thank and recognize the continued support of my fellow co-chairs, Frank Hallinan, Matt Barnoski and Jamie Diller, as well as the rest of the Diller Home board members.”
This year’s event was highlighted by performances from the BLT Band and a special performance by camper Cole Moran and his father, Frankie, of the band Blind Wind.
The live auction was anchored by a collaborative art piece painted by some of the Diller Home campers and child prodigy artist Autumn de Forest. The piece, “Flowers of Friends,” is an original acrylic on canvas and was created specifically for the Barefoot Ball. During her latest exhibition at Ocean Galleries, de Forest made a special stop at Philadelphia’s St. Lucy Day School for Children with Visual Impairments for a painting session with students who have attended summer camp at the Diller Home. Using acrylic paint and leaf blowers, the children had a chance to join de Forest in creating this unique piece of art and naming it. The art was framed by Kim and Josh Miller of Ocean Galleries and auctioned off for $6,500. The successful bidder donated the piece back to the home and it is now on display for the 2019 season.
Additional live-auction items included popular fishing trips, a trip to the Hudson National Golf Club, and art pieces donated by Ocean Galleries from renowned artists such as Josef Kote and Kerry Hallam.
The Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children will host its annual Turkey Trot 5K and 1.5 Mile Walk on Nov. 23 to kick off Festive Friday in Avalon. For more information, go to dillerblindhome.org.
The Davis Vantage Pro2.
AVALON OEM ADDS WEATHER STATION
The Borough of Avalon’s Office of Emergency Management recently installed a weather station that will monitor and maintain historical data. The weather station, a Davis Vantage Pro2, was installed on the radio tower adjacent to the public safety building, situated 65 feet above the ground. It will allow the Borough to track real time wind speed and direction.
“This weather station will be a very valuable tool for our local office of emergency management as we prepare for, and monitor, severe weather conditions in Avalon,” said Mayor Martin Pagliughi. “The station also will provide historical data that will help us make the best decisions for both short-term and long-term resiliency projects to protect public and private property.”
The information pulled from the weather station is uploaded to a free, third-party website using a satellite Internet connection so there will be no disruption in service should the Borough lose power and connection during a severe weather event. The weather station is both web- and app-based and is free to any user. Any individual can download the Davis weather app “Weatherlink 2.0” on an Android or iPhone device to check the most up-to-date conditions.
A link to the current and past weather conditions in Avalon is available on the Borough’s emergency management website, avalonemergency.org, and on the Borough’s municipal website, avalonboro.net.
A look at the new addition to the Stone Harbor Police Building.
STONE HARBOR POLICE BUILDING UPDATE
The new portion of the Stone Harbor police building is nearing completion with an anticipated move-in date on or around Dec. 12. Once the officers and staff are moved into the new portion of the building, the contractor will begin renovations to the first floor of the existing building.
“We are looking forward to having an updated facility that is safe, functional, secure, adequately sized and in compliance with modern-day laws and mandates,” said Chief Thomas Schutta. “I would be remiss if I did not continue to reiterate our sincere appreciation and thanks to everyone who has been involved with this project. The ongoing support of Mayor Davies-Dunhour, Council, Administrator Gougher and the public has enabled this project to progress to where we are today. While we will never forget where we came from, we are all anxiously looking forward to beginning a new chapter in a building representative of ‘The Seashore at Its Best.’ ”
The project broke ground last January after a contract was awarded to Aliano Brothers Construction of Vineland in the amount of $3.9 million. The entire project is expected to be complete by March. The building, designed by OSK Design Partners, includes a main public entrance on the front of the building facing 95th Street with a few police par-king spaces out front. Officers and staff will enjoy a space for administrative offices, interview rooms, a booking area, two holding cells and more. Some additional features include a police entrance on the side of the building, a rear sally-port with a drive-through aisle for the parking lot, and a rooftop HVAC system. The peak of the addition is situated at the same height of the current building and will be face brick to match the buildings in the area, such as Borough Hall.
For more information, go to shnj.org.
STONE HARBOR OFFERS RECYCLING APP
The Borough of Stone Harbor now offers a recycling app that allows users to check their collection schedule, set alerts and reminders, and receive updates regarding any changes to trash collection through an address-based app, Recycle Coach.
“The state encouraged this program and we thought it made sense to implement in the Borough of Stone Harbor to increase recycling efforts and educate our residents and visitors,” said Craig Reeves, supervisor with the Department of Public Works. “Almost everyone has a cellphone and the app makes it simple if you are unsure of what goes where and what gets recycled. We are also able to send out alerts if there is a snow day or we need to send our reminders.”
While using Recycle Coach, users can check to see what items should be recycled under the “What goes where” heading, view the pickup schedule, set a reminder to put trash out, and more. The app works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa as well for hands-free usage.
This useful tool also allows users to receive instant updates on recycling events and bulk-trash collections, and makes you aware of any changes to the curbside collection schedule, including changes due to holidays.
Users who wish to use the app can search for the Recycle Coach from the iTunes or Google Play store on a smart device. The software can also be accessed via desktop; a link is available on the Borough’s website via the Public Works page, stoneharbornj.org/departments/department-of-public-works/.
GROUND BROKEN FOR SURFSIDE PARK
Construction on the Borough of Avalon’s $2 million Surfside Park broke ground Oct. 22. Located adjacent to the boardwalk at 30th Street and the beach, the new park will feature a complete upgrade of the existing one with a new play area and playground, a picnic pavilion with tables and chairs, updated restrooms, and the addition of changing and rinsing stations. There also will be a stage area for community events, updated bike racks, and an area for family photo ops at each entrance to the park. The anticipated completion date is May 22, 2019, in advance of Memorial Day weekend.
“Surfside Park will certainly be a heritage project that will serve families for generations to come in Avalon,” said Mayor Martin Pagliughi. “We are pleased to receive the $2 million grant from the Cape May County Open Space Program. This grant ensures that this park will be available as open space for all Avalon and Cape May County residents and visitors for many years to come.”
Avalon Borough Council awarded a contract to Fred M. Schiavone Construction, of Malaga, at its Oct. 10 meeting.
“I am excited that construction has begun on the new Surfside Park,” said Recreation Director Chuck McDonnell. “We are really looking forward to an updated venue for more activities and entertainment and to be able to expand our recreational offerings once it is complete. It is going to be a welcome addition in the Borough of Avalon.”
Work will take place Monday through Friday, with no weekend work planned. During construction, the parking lot at 29th Street will be closed. The public restrooms will be removed; however, the restrooms at Avalon Community Hall will be available as activities will take place as scheduled at the Hall.
For updates and information on the project, go to avalonboro.net.
HOLIDAY BEACH TAGS AVAILABLE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND
The boroughs of Avalon and Stone Harbor will offer limited-edition holiday beach tags beginning Thanksgiving weekend. Each borough’s tag, designed with its own theme, will be reciprocal in Avalon and Stone Harbor for the 2019 beach season. Tags cost the preseason rate of $23 and only a limited number of the holiday tags will be sold. Tags may be purchased via cash or check only; no mail orders will be accepted.
Stone Harbor chose to honor a beloved visitor to the borough on both the holiday tag and the regular seasonal tag. Higbee, the snowy owl who was known to frequent Stone Harbor, will be featured on the beach tag and forever remembered. Also new this year will be a special limited-edition boxed set available for purchase that will include a holiday beach tag and a unique seasonal beach tag. There will only be 400 boxed sets offered, so you are encouraged to make your purchase early. They will include printed details on their exclusivity. Tags will be sold during Island Holiday Weekend at Borough Hall, located at 9508 Second Ave., while supplies last on Friday, Nov. 23 and Saturday, Nov. 24 from 10am-4pm and Sunday, Nov. 25 from 10am-3pm. Any remaining tags will be sold beginning Nov. 26 at Borough Hall, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4pm.
In Avalon, tags may be purchased at the Avalon Rescue Squad, located at 3100 Dune Drive, from 11am to 5pm on Festive Friday and Snowfest Saturday via cash or check. The design of this year’s holiday tag features Rudolph posed as an Avalon lifeguard atop a lifeguard stand with a festive green-and-red life preserver. The limited-edition holiday tags each will be sold in a decorative box and are a perfect gift for anyone on your list. Any remaining tags may be purchased the following week in the Avalon Tax Collector’s office at Borough Hall, 3100 Dune Drive.
Visit avalonboro.net or shnj.org for more information.
AVALON LIBRARY AWARDED 5 STARS FOR 11TH STRAIGHT YEAR
For the 11th consecutive year, the Avalon Free Public Library achieved the maximum 5-star rating from the Library Journal’s Index of Public Library Service for 2018. This year, 7,361 public libraries across the United States were scored and the AFPL was among 257 libraries to achieve star status, and one of only six in New Jersey.
“I am grateful to be part of a community that supports and values its library so highly,” said Erin Brown, the library director. “The star ratings are based on usage, so it is truly an honor that belongs to every library patron. The rating also recognizes our dedicated staff and trustees, who strive to serve the community in innovative ways.”
Libraries across the nation are rated based on several criteria including circulation, library visits, program attendance and public Internet computer use. The five other libraries in New Jersey to receive star status include: the Bernardsville Public Library, Somerset County Library, Mercer County Library, Ocean City Free Public Library and Princeton Public Library.
Open year-round and offering an extensive collection of classic novels, best-selling and newly released books, movies, music, video games and a wide range of reference information, the AFPL is a staple of the community. In addition to its extensive collection, the library offers year-round programming for all ages including technology workshops, creative writing, book clubs, crafting, story time and more. Patrons are encouraged to “Check It Out” and visit the library online or in person to take advantage of the many resources offered.
The Avalon Free Public Library is open daily Monday through Thursday from 9am-8pm, Friday and Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 11am-3pm. It is also available 24/7 online at avalonfreelibrary.org.
