Times Talk
SH MUSEUM OPENS TAYLOR SWIFT EXHIBIT
The Taylor Swift Collection at the Stone Harbor Museum
Calling all Swifties! This summer, the Stone Harbor Museum has unveiled a new exhibit in Taylor Swift’s honor.
The Swift family has long-running connections to the Stone Harbor community, and the new exhibit will honor Taylor’s childhood summers spent on Seven Mile Beach. From 1992-2004, Taylor vacationed with her family in Stone Harbor. During that time, she performed at two beloved Stone Harbor businesses, Coffee Talk and Henny’s. Taylor’s father, Scott, was also an EMT with the Stone Harbor Volunteer Fire Company No. 1.
The exhibit will feature four vinyl records from Swift’s 10th studio album, “Midnights,” a “Midnights”-themed guitar signed by Taylor herself, and two Taylor Swift posters. The exhibit will also display photos, donated by the Swift family, of Taylor vacationing in Stone Harbor as a child.
Teri Fishcher, president of the museum’s board of trustees, is excited to offer this new exhibit.
“Her family reached out to us and sent us some things and we created the display,” Fischer said. “Taylor Swift is an inspiration, so it was so easy to create.”
If you are hoping to explore Stone Harbor’s rich history, look no further! In addition to the Taylor Swift exhibit, the Stone Harbor Museum features photos and information on the town itself, a speaker series, and historical Stone Harbor houses. This summer, the museum is excited to offer dinosaur fossils on loan from the Alan Ewing Carman Museum of Prehistory in Cumberland County.
“People come for Taylor Swift, but they are finding that they are enjoying other things,” Fischer said. “We have photos of the history of the town, and people are walking around and seeing photos of things they used to visit.”
The Stone Harbor Museum has something for everyone to enjoy, so stop by for some summer fun. The exhibit will never go out of “Style”!
BREAKFAST WITH ‘THUNDERMOUTH’
Flyers Great Joe Watson Sets Book Tour at Uncle Bill’s Locations
Flapjacks and slap shots … perfect together? They will be the week of July 7-14 when two-time Stanley Cup champion and Flyers Hall of Famer Joe Watson embarks on “Thundermouth … The Pancake Tour,” as he visits all seven locations of Uncle Bill’s Pancake House from Ocean City to Cape May introducing his book that was released in May.
“Thundermouth” is both the Flyers legend’s nickname as well as the title of his enlightening and entertaining life story. Often referred to as the “voice of” the Stanley Cup championship teams of 1974 and 1975, it’s an appropriate moniker for a man whose loud and booming voice could cut through the ear-splitting decibel levels of the Spectrum of the 1970s.
Watson’s warm and engaging personality will be on display at each Uncle Bill’s location where he’ll take time to sign copies of his book. “We had a special relationship with our fans,” remembers the 1974 NHL All-Star defenseman and former Flyers captain. “They loved us. And we loved them. We still do!”
“Thundermouth” is a behind-the-scenes look at Watson’s life from a tiny, rural community in British Columbia to the championship parade down Broad Street.
Watson will spend a full week In Cape May County beginning July 7 at Uncle Bill’s in Avalon before moving on to Stone Harbor on July 8. Each Uncle Bill’s appearance is from 8:30-11:30am. Here’s the complete schedule:
July 7: Avalon
July 8: Stone Harbor
July 9: Cape May
July 10: Wildwood
July 12: Ocean City (40th Street)
July 13: Ocean City (21st Street)
July 14: North Cape May
Books will be for sale at each location and Watson will personalize books on request. “I’m amazed by the crowds that they draw every day to Uncle Bill’s,” Watson was saying recently from his suburban Philadelphia home. “It’s a testament to the quality of food and service that they offer.”
Not only a great opportunity to rub elbows with a Philadelphia sports legend but also chance to pick up a great, new beach read and maybe grab an early holiday gift for that special Flyers fan in your life.
Take it from Joe: “Without a doubt,” he says with his big trademark smile, “flapjacks and slap shots are perfect together!”
A BERRY SWEET STONE HARBOR TRADITION
There must be something about Third Avenue in Stone Harbor when it comes to berries. All kinds of berries. After all, spring wouldn’t be spring without St. Mary’s delicious Strawberry Festival in May. And for the past 23 years, we have marked our calendars in July for the annual Blueberry Festival at Our Saviour Lutheran Church.
It’s funny how things get started. It was just about a quarter of a century ago when Our Saviour congregant and Stone Harbor resident Bonnie Kratzer arranged for a speaker from what was then Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital.
“I arranged for a talk about dermatology,” Kratzer confirmed recently. “We had some desserts after the talk. I guess they were primarily blueberry desserts. After all, it’s that time of the year.”
One thing led to another, and a blueberry festival was born. Only minus the speaker. It’s become so popular that some Stone Harbor realtors and hoteliers say that guests calling in the winter months for summer reservations specifically ask for the week when the blueberry festival is scheduled. Who would have known?
This year the annual Blueberry Festival is slated for Sunday evening, July 14, from 6:30-8:30pm at the parish hall of the church, which is located at 93rd Street and Third Avenue.
And why not Stone Harbor? Fresh blueberries are grown right here in Cape May County. In fact, there’s a farm right offshore in Dennis Township that has berries on the vine as you read this. And let’s not forget that just about 50 miles away is the town that bills itself as the blueberry capital of the world. That would be Hammonton, which is also home to the single largest blueberry farm in the Northeast.
Suffice it to say that if it’s blueberry flavored, you’ll find it at the Blueberry Festival at Our Saviour Lutheran Church on July 14. Blueberry desserts along with another local treasure – Springer’s ice cream. Does it get any better than that? So, make a note: On July 14, skip dessert at home and head over to a Seven Mile Beach tradition – the annual Blueberry Festival at Our Saviour Lutheran Church.
Members of the Women’s Civic Club make presentation of funds to the Avalon Historical Society in support of historical marker program.
AVALON CIVIC CLUB’S FINAL ACT SUPPORTS HISTORICAL MARKER PROGRAM
On May 6, the organization that spent 80-plus years working to make Avalon an even better place to live and work performed its final act of kindness and good will to the community. The Avalon Civic Club, which ceased operations in December 2022, made its last contribution to the Avalon Historical Society in support of the historical marker program.
It was the first civic organization on the island and in its early days it was known as the Women’s Club of Avalon. The club was involved in many firsts over the years, including becoming the first organization to beautify Avalon’s public spaces with flowers in 1959.
So, one last time, we offer our sincere thanks to every member over those eight decades of the Avalon Civic Club for all the amazing work in the community. And finally, thanks for supporting the Avalon Historical Society’s historical marker program.