Smilestones
Skip Michael, Pat Michael, Denise DiDolci, Rosemarie Dvorak, Barbara Nicastro, Terri Breslin, Marie Catanese, Christine Scarpa, Dottie Klein, Jerry Klein, Tom Panzarella
ITALIAN CULTURE CLUB TURNS 15
The Italian Culture Group is celebrating its 15th anniversary and received a proclamation from the Avalon Free Public Library to commemorate the milestone March 10.
In March 2007, the library formed the community group in support of Italian history, arts, and culture. Three people attended the first meeting, and now the monthly meetings have grown significantly, to about 40 people. Terri Breslin, who coordinated the effort to form the group, was its first moderator and retired in 2019. Marie Catanese took over until November 2020, and Christine Scarpa is now the group’s moderator.
Meetings involve discussions of current events, trivia, getting to know each other, and Talk of the Town, where they pick a town of interest to discuss. In addition to their meetings, the group hosts events and activities such as opera nights, pasta making, field trips, and brunches.
Fran Dunphy
FRAN DUNPHY ISN’T DONE COACHING AFTER ALL
On April 25, LaSalle University welcomed its new men’s basketball coach to campus. Back to campus, that is. Fran Dunphy, an Avalon summer resident, unretired and accepted the job at his alma mater – LaSalle ’70. After a brilliant 30-year career as head coach at Penn and Temple, Dunphy became the first coach to take the helm at three Big 5 schools. Between recruiting, scouting and putting his new program together, it no doubt will cut into the time that he’s become accustomed to spending on the Seven Mile Beach the last few summers. Good luck, coach, we’ll be pulling for you.
Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi joined the Avalon Garden Club on April 29 at 70th and Dune Drive to celebrate Arbor Day with the planting of a native white oak in the Dune Drive median.
AVALON PLANTS WHITE OAK FOR ARBOR DAY
Keeping with tradition, the Avalon Garden Club observed Arbor Day by planting a tree. On April 29, the club planted a white oak tree at the Dune Drive island at 70th Street. The white oak is native to eastern and central North America, and has been documented to live more than 450 years.
Borough of Avalon department heads and employees, Avalon Garden Club members, and members of the clergy were among the invited guests for the celebration. Event chair Barbara Small welcomed the guests, followed by an invocation by Rev. Dr. David Montanye of the First United Methodist Church. Environmental Commission chair Donna Rothman spoke about the tree and why it was chosen. The tree blessing was given by Father William J. Kelly, pastor of St. Brendan the Navigator.
Mayor Martin Pagliughi wrapped up the ceremony by proclaiming April 29 Arbor Day in Avalon, and urging citizens to support the efforts to plant and protect our trees, and celebrate the riches that trees provide both to us and future generations.
Theresa Vassalotti, Lois Lampman, and Brittany Vassalotti of Capt’n Chucky’s.
CAPT’N CHUCKY’S REPEATS IN BEST OF THE SHORE
Capt’n Chucky’s Crab Cake Co. of Avalon won South Jersey Magazine’s Best of the Shore for Seafood category for the second summer in a row in the Reader’s Choice voting. Capt’n Chucky’s was established four years ago and is owned by the Vassalotti family. Each member of the family works together to make sure every meal is prepared perfectly. Capt’n Chucky’s is a seafood deli, and everything it prepares is heat-to-eat, which means only 15 minutes in the oven and the meal is ready. The owners are very thrilled to have won Best of the Shore again and hope to continue to provide people with delicious food that is easy to prepare at reasonable prices.
Kite Girl statue
‘KITE GIRL’ SITE GETS ITS SECOND WIND
The Avalon Garden Club and the Department of Public Works are working together to spruce up Avalon’s entryway near the Kite Girl statue at 30th Street and Ocean Drive. The garden club initiated a beautification effort at the site of the Kite Girl and asked Public Works to spruce up the area before flowers are planted. Bayshore Landscaping removed old shrubbery and planted two raspberry crepe myrtles. Public Works powder coated the Avalon script logo in Avalon blue and gave the kite a powder coating as well. The garden club will be planting cherry crush hydrangeas as well as miniature boxwoods.
Mayor Martin Pagliughi and Paul Short Sr.
POLICE UNITY TOUR RIDERS HONOR PAGLIUGHI
Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi was recognized by the Police Unity Tour, Chapter 2-South Jersey on Tuesday, May 10. The Police Unity Tour is an annual event in which hundreds of bicyclists from local police departments ride their bikes to Washington D.C. as a fundraiser. To date, the tour has raised more than $30 million to support its mission of raising awareness of officers who have died in the line of duty, and to raise money for the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial Fund. The event first started in 1999 with 22 bicyclists, and now hundreds participate every year.
Pagliughi was presented with a plaque recognizing his efforts to support the tour and its mission. The presentation was made when the riders stopped at Avalon Community Hall for breakfast on their way to Washington D.C. The ceremony included comments by Pagliughi, Avalon Police Chief Jeffrey Christopher, and Avalon Code Enforcement Official Paul Short.
ST. BRENDAN GROUP PRAYS FOR PEACE
The prayer group at St. Brendan the Navigator Parish gathered on Saturday, May 14 to say the rosary at noon as part of a national event organized by America Needs Fatima. America Needs Fatima is a campaign of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, a Catholic 501 non-profit organization. More than 20,000 rosaries were said throughout the country that day. The St. Brendan the Navigator group meets every May and October for the event, and the most recent gathering hosted more than 40 parishioners.
