Smilestones
Look What the Stork Brought
MAX CREMIN COSKEY
Max Cremin Coskey arrived Aug. 19 to parents Dave and Anne Coskey, of Wayne, Pa. Max was born weighing 7 pounds, 14 ounces. Twin siblings Charlie and Cece couldn’t be more excited to have a little brother. Max’s dad, Dave, grew up in Avalon, and his mom, Anne, grew up in Wayne. The couple met at The Windrift the summer before they were both heading off to Villanova University. Anne is the advertising director for 7 Mile Publishing & Creative, and Dave works for Stryker. Max’s grandparents include Dave and Monica Coskey, of Avalon, Trish Cleveland, of Devon, Pa., Bill Cleveland, of Berwyn, Pa., and Joe Hall of Narberth, Pa. His great-grandparents include Mary Hudak, of Cape May Court House, and Jill Shay, of Exton, Pa.
JACK PATRICK GRIFFIN
Jack Patrick Griffin made first-time parents of Patrick and Briana Griffin, of Cherry Hill, on July 9. Jack arrived at Virtua Hospital weighing 6 pounds, 6 ounces, and measuring 19¼ inches. His grandparents include Tom and Mary O’Connell, of Avalon and Marlton, and Dan and Meg Griffin, of Ocean City and Newtown, Pa. Patrick and Briana look forward to introducing their son to the beach and all their favorite places in Avalon.
Tying The Knot
GORECKE-HESTON
Zach Gorecke and Joanna Heston were married at the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor on Saturday, Oct. 19, and the staff at Seven Mile Times joined in on the celebration! You might recognize Joanna’s name; she is one of our year-round writers. The couple were married among friends and family overlooking the bay in Stone Harbor. Being that Heston was busy writing for this issue, and Zach has begun a job as Assistant Prosecutor for the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office, the couple is looking forward to a December honeymoon in Antigua when things calm down. Little do they know, getting married is only the beginning!
McCORRISTIN-THOMPSON
Alice McCorristin and Thomas Thompson Jr. were married Oct. 26 in the backyard of their new home, surrounded by 200 of their closest family and friends. Alice, a preschool teacher at Avalon Elementary School, is the daughter of John and Lisa McCorristin, of Avalon. Tommy, the manager of purchasing and inventory at Dorchester Shipyard, is the son of Deborah Layton Kelleher (John Kelleher), of Cape May Court House and Thomas Thompson Sr. (Terese Thompson), of Green Creek. Alice and Tom are excited to explore the West Coast on their honeymoon next summer.
DIPESO-DWYER ENGAGEMENT
Danielle DiPeso and Sean Dwyer became engaged over Labor Day weekend. Danielle, the daughter of Robert and Gina DiPeso, of Avalon, is a graduate of the University of Delaware and an audit manager at a public accounting firm in Philadelphia. Sean, the son of Kevin and Colleen Dwyer, of Upper Township, is a graduate of Rowan University and a history teacher at Atlantic County Alternative High School. The couple met at a wedding of mutual friends a few years ago and have been dating ever since. Sean proposed on Danielle’s birthday, and the couple celebrated with family and friends at her family’s restaurant, Bobby Dee’s Rock’n Chair. A November 2020 wedding is planned at the Windrift Resort Hotel.
Trisha Luing and her daughter receiving the tandem bike in August.
BIKE GOES FOR RECORD $750 IN AHLOA AUCTION
Trisha Luing was the successful bidder during the Avalon Home and Land Owners Association Bicycle Auction announced in August. Luing bid a record $750 for the refurbished tandem bicycle, the highest bid since the organization started auctioning off bicycles a few years ago. The bicycle, donated to AHLOA by Eileen Donovan, was restored to mint condition by the Avalon Department of Public Works to be auctioned off by AHLOA.
The auction has been held by AHLOA over the past few years to promote bicycle safety throughout the island. All proceeds from the auction are used to fund AHLOA’s bike safety initiatives.
The group of Bastian and Munero families playing cornhole.
CORNHOLE TOURNEY BENEFITS LEGION POST
Over Labor Day weekend, the Basian and Munero families held their 11th annual cornhole tournament at their Stone Harbor property at 103rd Street affectionately known as “The Flag House.” This year, the tournament hosted 28 teams and raised $2,100 for the Stephen C. Ludlam American Legion Post 331.
For the latest “incornation” of the tournament, each squad was required to come up with a team name containing some form of corn reference. Some of the fun and fitting names included Cornucopia, Corn to be Wild, Amaizing Grace, and the Shuckers, to name a few. This year’s winning team was “Corn on the Coz,” consisting of cousins Charlie Bastian and Kolbe Bastian Pastore.
Check Presentation (from left): Joe Filacheck, Mike Houck, Ed Taylor, Jon Ready, Tom McCullough and Spence Jones.
LEGION DINNER RAISES $5,135 FOR DISABLED VETS
The annual American Legion spaghetti dinner fundraiser drew more than 300 and raised in excess of $5,000 on Sept. 15 at the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor. The event was sponsored by the Stephen C. Ludlam Post 331 and the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 331, and proceeds were presented to the Del Haven Chapter 44 of the Disabled American Veterans.
Post 331 members Jon Ready, Tom McCullough and Spence Jones, and SAL 331 members Joe Filacheck and Ed Taylor presented Mike Houck of the DAV with a check for $3,500 at the conclusion of the event. An additional check for $1,635 will be presented at the DAV chapter’s next meeting.
Previously, proceeds of the spaghetti dinner fundraiser were divided among multiple veteran and community organizations. This year, the membership of both American Legion organizations voted to donate the money as a lump sum to a specific veterans’ organization. The DAV provides transportation for Cape May County veterans to Veterans Administration hospitals in Philadelphia and Wilmington, Del., and to local clinics and hospitals for non-emergency care. The funds will be used to assist with this service.
YCSH Community Outreach Committee members Dr. Tim Clay, Lynne Dubler, Jackie Barnes and Michelle Altenpohl with Toys for Tots coordinator Kevin Mallon.
YCSH LAUNCHING TOYS FOR TOTS, OTHER DONATION PROGRAMS
The public is encouraged to participate in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves’ Toys for Tots program by dropping off a new, unwrapped toy to the front office at the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor. The toys will be distributed as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 15.
In addition to Toys for Tots, the yacht club’s Community Outreach Committee is coordinating the “Empty the Pantry” and “Throw in The Towel” programs, in which the club will be collecting unopened, nonperishable food items, as well as towels, sheets and bedding items through the holiday season. The food will be donated to local nonprofit organizations, and the bedding materials will be donated to the Cape May County animal shelter.
