Times Talk
Borough and county officials celebrate the opening of the Stone Harbor Library with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
STONE HARBOR LIBRARY HAS ITS GRAND OPENING
The long-anticipated grand opening of the Stone Harbor branch of the Cape May County Library was held May 26. Residents and visitors joined Cape May County freeholders and officials, Mayor Judy Davies-Dunhour and members of the Borough Council for the event.
“This was a long process, and everyone worked very hard to be here,” said Freeholder Association Director Gerald Thornton, with a smile on his face and ribbon-cutting scissors in his hand. “I want to thank all of the officials past and present. I am very proud to be here and I am very proud of Stone Harbor and the library commission.”
Following the ribbon cutting, county and borough officials toured the new building, located between the Stone Harbor Fire Department and Borough Hall at 9516 Second Ave. The library’s mascot, Clickety the dolphin, welcomed visitors and children into the building and guests weaved in and out of the aisles of books, children’s play stations, computer labs and leisure space. Children enjoyed soft pretzels and sticky buns while checking out the wall décor and the “Build a better world” campaign in the children’s section.
Children’s author Nancy Viau sold and autographed books, and visitors had the opportunity to browse through the book collection, check out the cooking demonstration area, 3D printer, and the drone simulator.
The project broke ground in September 2015 and opened for tours last Thanksgiving weekend. The Stone Harbor Library is one of the eight branches in the Cape May County Library system and aims to “enrich the lives” of its visitors with informational and recreational programming.
To obtain a Cape May County library card at the Stone Harbor branch, you must present proof of residency or property ownership in Cape May County such as a driver’s license or tax record. Residents of Ocean City and Avalon will be charged a fee of $90 per year to obtain a card due to nonaffiliation within the Cape May County Library system.
For more information, go to cmclibrary.org.
The portion of 39th Street to be reconstructed with the grant.
STATE AWARDS GRANT FOR 39TH STREET PROJECT
The Borough of Avalon recently was awarded a $180,343 state grant to help finance the reconstruction of a portion of 39th Street from Dune Drive to First Avenue. Avalon applies for the grant annually and was selected as one of the 373 recipients this year from among 628 applicants. Once the Borough goes out to bid for the project and awards a contract, work on the street is anticipated to begin this fall or in spring 2018.
“Maintaining safe public streets is a high priority for the Borough of Avalon,” Mayor Martin Pagliughi said. “We are very pleased to receive this grant that will repair a section of 39th Street in our community that needs work. We will continue to apply for these state grants to help lessen the burden of maintaining our infrastructure for municipal taxpayers.”
In previous years, the Borough had applied for the grant for a southern section of Dune Drive but didn’t receive the funding. The Borough’s engineer firm, Mott MacDonald, does a regular inventory of every block of every street of Avalon and makes a priority list for Borough Council to review and approve. This year, the grant was awarded for the reconstruction of the street that the Borough believes is a high priority to have repaired.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation awarded a total of $78.75 million in municipal-aid grants this year. The Borough will receive 75 percent of the grant once the contract is awarded and the remaining 25 percent upon completion of the project.
For more information about this project, go to avalonboro.net.
Mayor Judy Davies-Dunhour, Randy Bauer, Jim Talone, Bruce Tell, Josee Rich, Margaret Leisenring, Ray Parszych, Terrie Cwik, Mantura Gallagher, and Karen Lane at the Stone Harbor Museum Open House.
STONE HARBOR MUSEUM HAS A NEW HOME
After years of searching for a larger space, the Stone Harbor Museum acquired its home at 9400 Second Ave., formerly the William Ris Gallery. The museum was showcased during an open-house celebration held Memorial Day weekend and a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held June 10.
With the acquisition of more than 50,000 artifacts, videos, photographs and more, the museum had outgrown the location at 235 93rd St. The new location was acquired over the winter and members quickly got to work on the move.
“We had our closing in February and first worked on the painting and carpeting,” said Museum Director Bruce Tell. “From when we moved in to now, the space has completely changed and come to life. It was a very bold move, but definitely a great move for us. We have tons of storage space and we are now able to display more and host more exhibits. And of course, we would like feedback from the community, too.”
Avalon Flooring donated the carpeting and installation and the trustees helped paint. In the process of moving the displays, Tell and volunteers helped organize the artifacts into sections by category. Now, while guests visit the museum, they will enjoy displays pertaining to the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary, volunteer fire department, lifeguards, and more. Some of the newer acquisitions include chairs and a hutch from the Pebbles Guest House as well a piece of stairwell from the old Victorian home known as The Chateau.
“We are excited and proud that our new larger location, one block from the new library and main shopping district, will be easily accessible for everyone to explore, do research and enjoy,” said Museum President Terrie Cwik. “We invite everyone to come and visit. We are also seeking volunteers who are interested in being docents.”
The Stone Harbor Museum is a nonprofit organization that aims to acquire, preserve, display, celebrate and promote the history of Stone Harbor. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10am-3pm and Tuesday evenings 7-8:30pm. Admission to the museum is free and donations are accepted.
For more information or to donate, go to stoneharbormuseum.org.
STONE HARBOR WINS MAYORS CUP
Stone Harbor’s first-year mayor, Judy Davies-Dunhour, and her team won the 2017 Mayors Cup Bocce Tournament on May 20 at the 39th Street bocce courts. Mayors and their teams from Avalon, Stone Harbor, Middle Township and Wildwood Crest participated in the double-elimination tournament. Team Stone Harbor defeated Team Avalon, 11-9, in the final round.
“It was an honor and a privilege to participate in my first Mayors Cup Bocce Ball Tournament,” said Davies-Dunhour. “It was a great event. Of course, bringing the cup home to Stone Harbor was the icing on the cake. I suspect it is going to stay with us for a long, long time!”
The other members of Team Stone Harbor were Doug Dunhour, Bob Ashman and Julian Miralgia. Middle Township was represented by Mayor Michael Clark, Robert Matthews, Tony Robinson and Bruce Menz; Team Wildwood Crest by Mayor Carl Groon, Frank Basil, Brian Cunniff and Nick Holland; and Avalon by Mayor Martin Pagliughi, Miriam Kauterman, Chuck McDonnell and Doris Fox.
“The Mayor’s Cup Bocce Tournament is a fun and competitive way to bring our local communities together for a good day of recreation and conversation,” Pagliughi said. “We congratulate our friends in Stone Harbor for winning the cup this year, but the town is on notice ... Avalon intends to reclaim the Cup next spring, we will practice all winter!”
The event, sponsored by the Avalon Recreation Department and the Avalon History Center, followed a celebration that honored the Borough of Avalon’s 125th anniversary. During the brief ceremony, Recreation Director Chuck McDonnell and Avalon History Center Director Nina Ranalli presented Pagliughi with a commemorative plaque to recognize the milestone. Wells Memorial Presbyterian Church and Avalon First United Methodist Church were also presented with commemorative flags to honor each establishment’s
125th anniversary, as they were incorporated when the Borough was in 1892.
Following the tournament, everyone enjoyed lunch at the Avalon History Center that was catered by Circle Pizza and sponsored by 7MBCA and the Avalon Chamber of Commerce. The Avalon History Center featured displays to complement the event and highlight photos, videos and information from 1892 through now. Guests also enjoyed live music from Loud ‘n’ Klear, sponsored by the Avalon Free Public Library.
Avalon U10 girls’ lacrosse team: (Back, from left) Brooke Liebrand, Charlotte Risley, Atlee Vanesko, Maeve Quinn, Coach Amanda Bartha, Emily Leonard, Carmen O’Hara, Neysha Vasquez; (front, from left) Gwen O’Hara, Ryan Cooke, Emily Swan, Maddie Gilbert, Kameron Thomas, Jadea Lemma, Katie Pierce.
AVALON GIRLS’ LACROSSE TEAM TIES FOR FIRST
Avalon’s U10 girls’ lacrosse team, the Avalon Tide, recently tied for first place with Haddonfield Bayer in the U10AB South Jersey Youth Lacrosse League. First-year coach Amanda Bartha’s team is composed of 16 girls from Cape May and Atlantic counties.
“My favorite part of this season was watching the girls grow as a team on the field,” Bartha said. “They all have their own individual strengths that once combined make an indestructible team. Our season was filled with many jokes and laughter and was truly an experience I will never forget. When I am asked to describe this experience, I always say that I gained 16 new little best friends and I would do it all over with them if I could.”
Throughout the season the Avalon Tide played league teams from Haddonfield, Moorestown, Clearview, Cherry Hill, Kingsway and West Deptford. The Tide finished 14-1-1.
Bartha, a rising senior at Stockton University, grew up playing lacrosse for Avalon, then for the Jersey Devils club team and at Middle Township High School. When the opportunity presented itself to coach this year’s team, she decided to give it a try.
“I have never coached before, so I was nervous when I started out since I was always on the other side, playing on the field,” Bartha said. “However, once I broke the ice it was smooth sailing from there. I did my best to teach the girls all the skills I learned throughout the years but at a level that they would understand and be able to take with them throughout their lacrosse careers as well as just enjoying playing the sport. I admired their ambition to learn and play the sport. Once we were able to master the basics in the beginning of the season, I began challenging them with more complex skills such as the proper way to double team, making cuts in the circle, as well as some plays.”
The team’s roster included Ryan Cooke, Maeve Farrell, Maddie Gilbert, Jadea Lemma, Emily Leonard, Brooke Liebrand, Carmen O’Hara, Katie Pierce, Maeve Quinn, Charlotte Risley, Maeve Smith, Emily Swan, Atlee Vanesko, Neysha Vazquez, Kamryn Thomas and Gwendolyn O’Hara.
KINDERGARTENERS RELEASE TURTLES
Kindergarteners from Stone Harbor Elementary School spent a fun-filled day participating in the annual turtle release at The Wetlands Institute on June 7. Teacher Brie Accardi and her students helped release 22 turtles. The turtle release is a tradition at the end of the school year.
“I love seeing how far the students have come in just one year,” says Accardi. “I also love all the exploration that Stone Harbor Elementary provides for their students. Stone Harbor’s kindergarten class has released turtles for 26 years. When I was in kindergarten, I remember the joy and excitement of releasing the turtles and I want to keep this tradition alive forever.”
The turtles released by the students were once the eggs that The Institute staff saved from female terrapins that were struck by motorists. The eggs are cared for at The Institute to help survive their first winter and, after one year, the kindergarten class helps release them back to their natural habitat. The students saw the baby turtles during a classroom visit in September. In June, during the turtle release, they were able to see how much they had grown. Accardi and the students each named a turtle and waved goodbye when they released it.
In addition to the turtle release, students sold cookies shaped like turtles throughout the year to raise money for The Institute. This year, they raised $100, and Sturdy Savings Bank matched the donation.
Students in Accardi’s kindergarten class this year included Sasha Atalla, Blake Barnoski, Grayson Barnoski, Brynn Cunningham, AJ DeHorsey, Royce Fehrle, Willow Ferguson, Jocelyn Garcia, Robbie Haines, Quinn Hauf, Violet Knapp, Charlotte Kosmin, Anyeli Lozado Riano, Amelia Menchin, Chloe Musser, Justin Riano, Lexie Smith, Ali Stone, Ben Worton and Darren Zhao.
Corine Reynolds’ miniature arrangement titled “Welcoming a New Baby” that won Avalon Garden Club’s Best in Show in Artistic.
AVALON GARDEN CLUB FLOWER SHOW A WINNER
The Avalon Garden Club held its 35th annual Flower Show on June 10 at Avalon Community Hall. The theme, “Celebrate,” reflected times of life that are cause for celebration and was inspired by the clubs 40th year of beautifying the community.
“This year’s show was wonderful,” said Pat Fleischmann, the club president. “The club has both very talented artistic members as well as gardeners. We had 40 entries in the Artistic Division and over 100 in the Horticulture Division.”
The Lynn Covington Tri-Color Award winner by Pam Thompson.
Some of the beautiful displays for different celebrations in life were created for retirement parties, first love, housewarming, wedding, and more. Mayor Martin Pagliughi presented this year’s awards. Blue-ribbon winners included Suzie Gallagher, Corine Reynolds, Debbie Bieglski, Pam Thompson, Craig Rothman, Pat Fleischmann, Joy Gligor and Sharon Cooper. Students in Mary Beth Ross’ third-grade class received a blue ribbon in the Special Exhibits division for a class project it worked on together, titled “First Day of School.”
Awards presented in the Artistic Division category and their winners were: President’s Award (Novice), Craig Rothman; Avalon Mayor’s Table Award in Artistic Design, Pat Fleischmann; Petite Award, Corine Reynolds; Lynn Covington Tri-Color Award, Pam Thompson; and Rachel H. Sloan Best of Show in Artistic, Corine Reynolds.
In the Horticultural Division, awards were presented to: Marian Poley Award (Novice), Nanci Walsh; Best of Show in Horticulture, Jane Paschal; Excellence in Horticulture, Rosemarie Dvorak; Catherine McMenamin Award (challenge plant), Elsie Kuhn, and Viewers’ Choice Award for Roses, Rosemarie Dvorak.
The Avalon Garden Club is a non-profit organization that works to beautify Avalon through various projects including ongoing planting on Dune Drive and at Avalon’s parks and gardens.
Lynn Fortino, Josee Rich, Dr. Lenore Tedesco, Kathe Hoceuar, John Flynn, Glenn Thompson, Barb Murphy and Charlene Smith at planting project.
STONE HARBOR, WETLANDS PLANT OASIS
The triangular space near 118th Street between Third Avenue and Dune Drive in Stone Harbor has been transformed into an oasis for butterflies, songbirds, hummingbirds and pollinators of all types thanks to a collaboration between the Borough of Stone Harbor’s Natural Resource Committee and The Wetlands Institute. More than 1,100 native perennials were planted May 25 within a three-hour time frame with help from 14 volunteers, three Wetlands Institute staff members, and two Borough Public Works staff.
The project, funded by the Borough of Stone Harbor, includes plants grown by a local native plant nursery that do not contain insecticides known to contribute to mortality of pollinators, especially honey bees. More than 27 species of flowering plants and two species of grasses suitable for growing in this area were planted to provide benefits to wildlife. The plants are drought-resistant and won’t need to be watered. The specific area was selected because it is along an important migration route for monarch butterflies and is more than 3,000 square feet. Educational signage will be added within the next few months.
A map of the meadow and a complete list of plants, along with descriptions, can be found on the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary website, stoneharborbirdsanctuary.com.
Estep Nagy
LOCAL WRITER RELEASES FIRST NOVEL
Estep Nagy, a longtime Avalon summer resident, is celebrating the release of his first novel, “We Shall Not All Sleep,” available July 3 in all major bookstores. The novel, set on a private island in Maine in July 1964 during the Cold War, is the product of Nagy’s different personal worlds and interests colliding with some of his notes for the book going back almost 20 years.
“In my 20s, I wrote and directed an independent feature film called ‘The Broken Giant’ [with Will Arnett, of ‘Arrested Development’ fame) that – it’s still amazing to me – was acquired by the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York,” Nagy says. “In my 30s I switched to writing plays, which was both immensely educational and immensely frustrating. Finally, I came to see that fiction was the answer, and here we are. I like to think that everything I learned along the way has managed to find its way into ‘We Shall Not All Sleep.’ ”
Nagy studied English at Yale University with a focus on modernist fiction like that of William Faulkner and Virginia Woolf. His first published fiction, a story called “The Mathematician Repents,” appeared in a small literary journal out of Southern Methodist University called Southwest Review in 2004.
Though he was born and raised in Philadelphia, his family would rent in Avalon for a week in the summer. Later, while in New York he met his wife, Caroline, whose family spent summers in Avalon. Estep and Caroline have continued the family tradition with their three children as well.
“We Shall Not All Sleep” is published by Bloomsbury USA and available in local bookstores as well as online at IndieBound, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million. The list price is $26 for hardcover. Once you acquire your copy, be sure to keep an eye out for Nagy in Avalon this summer; he will be happy to sign your copy.
Visit estepnagy.com for more information.