Times Talk
Councilman Reese Moore
MOORE APPOINTED TO UNEXPIRED TERM ON STONE HARBOR COUNCIL
The Borough of Stone Harbor appointed resident Reese Moore to fill the unexpired Borough Council term of Karen Lane, who resigned. Moore was administered his oath of office by Borough Clerk Suzanne Stanford during the council meeting on Nov. 20. Moore will fill the term that runs through the 2019 November general election. In order to retain the seat, he will need to run in the primary election on June 4.
“Reese is a great addition to Borough Council,” said Mayor Judy Davies-Dunhour. “Just prior to taking this position he was serving as vice president of the Stone Harbor Property Owners Association, so he is plugged into Borough issues. He is not a stranger to some of the major challenges we are facing such as flood mitigation, back-bay dredging and securing federal funding for beach replenishment. I look forward to working with him.”
Moore is a graduate of the University of Delaware with a degree in business administration. He is the director at Mannington Mills, Inc., a privately held, fourth-generation floor-covering manufacturer based in Salem, N.J. He has been with the company for 31 years. He has been actively involved with the SHPOA since 2014, after he and his wife Phyllis moved to Stone Harbor as full-time residents in 2013. They have three children and two grandchildren.
“I love living in Stone Harbor,” Moore said, “and I am looking forward to working with Mayor Judith Davies-Dunhour and council on strategic planning and contributing to public policy determinations to preserve Stone Harbor as ‘The Seashore At Its Best.’ ”
Mayor Martin Pagliughi swears in councilwoman Barbara Juzaitis.
JUZAITIS FILLS VACATED AVALON COUNCIL SEAT
Longtime Avalon resident Barbara Juzaitis was appointed by Avalon Borough Council to serve the remainder of an unexpired term of Dick Dean, who retired. Council voted for the appointment unanimously during its Dec. 12 meeting and Mayor Martin Pagliughi administered the oath of office. Juzaitis will serve the remainder of the term, which expires
June 30. The next four-year term for her seat will be decided in the May 7 municipal election.
“Barbara is remarkably credentialed and brings an exemplary level of professionalism and public service to Borough Council,” Pagliughi said. “Council has made an excellent choice and I look forward to working with Barbara on many important initiatives in our community. She is a very welcome addition to the Avalon team, and highly regarded by her neighbors in Avalon.”
Juzaitis holds a master’s degree in nursing/healthcare administration from the University of Delaware and a bachelor’s degree from Immaculata University.
Serving as a professional health-care manager, director and consultant for more than 30 years, Juzaitis’ experience includes developing and implementing quality, risk, and infection prevention programs in a variety of settings. She currently works as a consultant in the health-care field and continues to engage in the community as a board member and public health representative for the Borough of Avalon’s Local Emergency Planning Committee and as a board member of the Avalon Rescue Squad. She is also a past board member for the Avalon Planning and Zoning Board, and American Red Cross/South Jersey Chapter.
“We are excited and fortunate to have someone with Barbara’s credentials, experience, and community involvement joining Borough Council,” said council president James Deever. “Barbara is coming in at a great time and will be active in our budget process, capital projects, and new initiatives for 2019, and beyond.”
The school kickoff event at Stone Harbor Elementary featuring Mayors Wellness Campaign spokeswoman Joetta Clark Diggs.
STONE HARBOR NAMED ‘HEALTHY TOWN’
The Borough of Stone Harbor was recently honored as one of eight communities to receive a 2018 Healthy Town designation from the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute. The Borough is the only municipality in Cape May County to receive this designation. The award is a result of the continued success of the Mayors Wellness Campaign and elementary school programs to promote physical activity among students.
“I am thrilled to receive the 2018 Healthy Town Designation from the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute,” said Mayor Judy Davies-Dunhour. “It is a pleasure to share my passion and commitment to wellness, fitness and healthy living with our residents and staff. I applaud everyone who took that first step in 2018 toward wellness and encourage them all to embrace a healthy lifestyle in the future. Special thanks to the Borough of Stone Harbor Recreation staff, the Stone Harbor Elementary School children and administration, and our residents for their involvement and support of our Mayors Wellness Campaign programming.”
Some of the programs that were implemented by the Borough to achieve this award include the elementary-school yoga, Healthy Art for Your Sweetheart, and introductory fitness classes in conjunction with several local gyms and fitness studios. Additionally, Davies-Dunhour led weekly “Walks with the Mayor” and hosted a school kickoff event led by Mayors Wellness Campaign spokesperson Joetta Clark Diggs.
A look at Pennsylvania Harbor prior to the dredging scheduled for this spring.
PENNSYLVANIA HARBOR DREDGING
In February, the Borough of Avalon announced plans to conduct a maintenance dredging project in Pennsylvania Harbor and awarded a contract to Trident Piling Company in the amount of $168,000 for the removal of sandy material from the channel. The material will be deposited at a location deemed acceptable by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
“As soon as we learned from boaters that the sandy material washed into the channel, we began a survey of the conditions and began the process of obtaining necessary federal and state approvals,” Mayor Martin Pagliughi said. “We had a very competitive bidding process and, as a result, saved tens of thousands of dollars on this dredging project.”
Trident Piling Company was scheduled to mobilize the week of March 25 and begin dredging a few days later. The dredging of Pennsylvania Harbor will result in more than 1,700 cubic yards of material being removed to ensure a clear navigation before the boating seasons. The harbor is located just west of 21st Street. Material will be mechanically removed and placed on a barge before being transferred via watertight trucks to the disposal facility. The entire project is anticipated to last one week.
For updates on the project, go to avalonboro.net.
A portion of the Seven Mile Island Living Laboratory
SEVEN MILE ISLAND LIVING LABORATORY LAUNCHED
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District in March announced the launch of the Seven Mile Island Living Laboratory, in partnership with the State of New Jersey and The Wetlands Institute. The Living Laboratory is designed to advance and improve dredging and marsh-restoration techniques in coastal New Jersey through innovative research, collaboration, knowledge-sharing and practical application. It also will enhance the science behind projects, methods and solutions as well as provide information on the risks and benefits of natural and nature-based feature projects.
“As someone who spends a lot of time observing our marshes and being responsible for their stewardship, I see change and believe that the best opportunity to preserve healthy marshes for the future necessitates some actions on our part,” said Dr. Lenore Tedesco, executive director of The Wetlands Institute. “The Living Laboratory provides a platform for the best minds to come together to work on adaptive measures for these complex ecosystems. We are excited to be leading this effort and continuing The Wetlands Institute’s tradition of cutting-edge research and conservation.”
Extending between the inlet boundaries of the island, the Living Laboratory includes existing and historic dredged-material placement sites, confined disposal facilities, federal and state channels including the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, extensive tidal marshes, a mixture of sandy and muddy sediments and a rich historic data set to build upon. Located near the center of the lab’s study area, The Wetlands Institute provides dock facilities, research labs, and an environmental education center.
Previously, the Army Corps of Engineers, the State of New Jersey, The Wetlands Institute, The Nature Conservancy and other partners joined together and conducted four marsh-restoration and habitat-creation projects aimed at improving coastal resilience. Seeing the beneficial impact of these projects, the Living Lab will continue to build on the success of these projects and establish a forum for experts to share knowledge, provide input and distribute information to stakeholders. Research activities, data collections and working-group meetings will begin in April 2019.
To learn more about the Living Laboratory, go to wetlandsinstitute.org.
Stone Harbor Tourism Director Jenny Olson
STONE HARBOR HIRES TOURISM, RECREATION DIRECTORS
The Borough of Stone Harbor recently hired Jenny Olson as tourism director and Tina Prickett as recreation director following the resignation of Miranda Duca, who held both those positions.
Olson has more than 20 years’ experience in marketing, graphic design, media planning and purchasing, and event planning and promotion. She holds a degree in communications and media studies from Villanova, and has worked with all platforms of media in Philadelphia and its surrounding counties, New York City and all of New Jersey over the last 20 years. She spent summers in Avalon and Stone Harbor since 1978, and moved to Stone Harbor from Philadelphia after she was married. She and her husband, Rick, reside in Cape May Court House.
Stone Harbor Recreation Director Tina Prickett
“I’m so excited to be part of the team at the Borough of Stone Harbor,” Olson said. “It’s most rewarding to use my knowledge and experience to help move forward a community that has been such a big part of my life. It’s a unique community … it has a little bit of everything … beautiful beaches, bay and wetlands, a great shopping district, restaurants and bars, and it still keeps its small-town and family-friendly feel, while attracting visitors from all over.”
Prickett attended Long Island University, where she played soccer and lacrosse and earned a degree in sports science and physical education. Upon graduation, she served as the assistant athletic director at the College of Mount Saint Vincent. When she moved back to her Cape May County roots, she opened a woodworking business, Salty Sailor Co. In addition to her new job in Stone Harbor, Prickett is in her second season coaching the Middle Township High School girls’ lacrosse team. She is newly engaged and serves as a local volunteer firefighter.
“I have worked in Stone Harbor every summer while growing up, so having the opportunity to serve as the Borough recreation director is a dream come true,” Prickett said. “I am looking forward to serving my community and I am focused on growing the tennis and pickleball programs and using the new building to its potential. It’s going to be an exciting year for the recreation department.”
Olson’s job duties include managing and marketing special events for the Borough and marketing for the Borough in general, including its Weekly Farmers Market, Arts & Crafts Festival, Fourth of July festivities and Island Holiday, to name a few. She will also manage the Borough’s social media and website.
Prickett will oversee the wide variety of activities offered by the Borough’s recreation department, including its pickleball and tennis programs, facilities and more.
Mike Matt and Anne Oberg at a past AHLOA Community Connections event.
AHLOA COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS SET FOR APRIL 13
The Avalon Home and Land Owners Association (AHLOA) will host its 12th annual Community Connections event on Saturday, April 13 at Community Hall. The event, which gives residents and homeowners the opportunity to stay connected within the local community, will begin at 9:30am with refreshments, followed by hot-topic talks from 10-11am.
The guest speakers will include Dr. Lenore Tedesco, the executive director of The Wetlands Institute, and Scott Wahl, the Borough of Avalon administrator and public information officer.
“We are excited about the presentations scheduled for this year’s bigger-than-ever event,” said Jack Keenan, president of AHLOA. “The golden anniversary of The Wetlands Institute will be celebrated with Dr. Lenore Tedesco on board. For several years, Avalon residents have been critically commenting on a variety of issues related to construction. On Jan. 23, Borough Council approved an ordinance, which modifies three chapters of the Avalon Code. Scott Wahl will be explaining the changes to expect on the May 1 implementation date, and department heads responsible for these changes will be on hand.”
Following the presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to browse more than 20 civic displays throughout Community Hall. Among the organizations expected to be represented are the Avalon History Center, the Avalon Free Public Library and the Avalon Chamber of Commerce. Guest speakers will stick around to answer any public questions as well.
Members of AHLOA meet on the second Saturday of each month and membership is open to all who own a property in the Borough of Avalon. For more information, go to ahloa.com.
Stone Harbor Museum Director Kim Park
KIM PARK NAMED DIRECTOR OF STONE HARBOR MUSEUM
The Stone Harbor Museum hired Stone Harbor resident Kim Park as its new director in January. She succeeds Lisa Hickman, who resigned to further her passion for writing.
“I am very excited for this new challenge,” Park says. “Some of my goals for the museum are to expand our collection of Stone Harbor History and Video/Oral Histories of longtime Stone Harbor residents, increase our membership and visibility in the community through social media and the website, continue participation in important Stone Harbor events such as Tuesdays at the Tower, Savor September and Island Holiday, and reach out to new homeowners in town through SHPOA. I also want to continue Wednesday Night Stories with new topics and speakers and broadcast on Facebook Live, and expand our hours to include busy shoulder-season weekends as volunteer resources permit.”
Park’s family has been visiting Stone Harbor since the 1950s. She was a homeowner in the Bungalow Colony, today known as The Courts, since 2000 before moving to Stone Harbor permanently a few years ago. Park holds a bachelor’s degree from Duke and recently retired after more than 30 years with Chubb Insurance as a senior risk consultant working with high-valued homeowners in the tri-state area. In addition to running the Stone Harbor Peeps Group on Facebook, Park is also involved in community organizations including the Impact Club of Cape May County and SHPOA.
The Stone Harbor Museum offers an expansive selection of more than 50,000 artifacts, videos and displays, giving visitors and residents a chance to learn and connect with the town’s history. For more information or current hours, call 609-368-7500 or visit stoneharbormuseum.org.
The Townsends Inlet Bridge will remain closed to all traffic while work continues.
T.I. BRIDGE PROJECT BEHIND SCHEDULE
The Townsends Inlet Bridge connecting Avalon and Sea Isle City will not reopen by Memorial Day weekend as anticipated. As reported by Business Administrator Scott Wahl during the Avalon Borough Council meeting on March 27, Cape May County reports that the contractor ran into geotechnical issues and a date of reopening will be determined later once additional work has been completed.
Representatives from Avalon and Sea Isle City have pledged to remain transparent during construction and any updates provided by the County will be shared and available on avalonboro.net and seaislecitynj.us.
The $8.6 million project awarded to Agate Construction Company will result in the replacement of the old steel spans 1-7 on Avalon’s side with four new larger spans made of concrete. In 2018, the bridge also received a railing replacement to replace 25 of the 27 spans; the remaining two spans were already replaced under a previous construction contract.
The original bridge was constructed in 1939 and opened to traffic in 1940. In more recent years, the bridge has received a slew of upgrades and emergency repairs including work done to the critical path of bridge in 2015, the restructure of the steel sheeting along the roadway in 2016, emergency repairs in 2017, the railing replacement project and the addition of E-ZPass as a convenience for travelers in 2018.
Mike Hamilton instructing Boat Safety class last year.
BOAT SAFETY CLASSES SCHEDULED
The state-mandated “About Boating Safely” course is being offered again throughout Cape May County by U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 83, serving Sea Isle City, Avalon, Stone Harbor and the Wildwoods. Courses begin in April to prepare first-time boaters with all the tools they need before hitting the water. The 8-hour course includes test time as mandated by the NJ State Police-Marine Division. Classes will be held from 8am-4:30pm and cost $45 (unless otherwise noted).
The course, offered throughout Cape May County, is required for those 13 years old and older to obtain the boat safety certificate. In Avalon, the class will be held June 8 and includes lunch at the Avalon Yacht Club. The cost for this class is $60.
The proceeds from the class fee benefit the ongoing missions of Flotilla 83. Anyone wishing to receive a discount to attend any of the classes should stop by the Flotilla 83 table at the 2019 Boat Show at the Wildwood Convention Center on April 6 and 7.
Topics to be covered include introduction to boating, boating law, boat safety equipment, safe boating, navigation, boating problems, trailering, storing and protection, hunting and fishing, water-skiing and river boating. All participants will receive the 2019 course book and handouts, and their student information will be submitted to the state data records. In New Jersey, boating safety certificates are mailed to students and remain valid for a lifetime. If a replacement is needed, certificates are available at no cost from the state.
For more information or to register for an upcoming course, email or call Allen Nordt at abscgaux83@hotmail.com or 609-827-4008.
