69th Street looking from Dune Drive west to Ocean Drive.

STATE GRANT AWARDED FOR 69TH STREET PROJECT

The New Jersey Department of Transportation released a $177,000 grant for the reconstruction of a portion of 69th Street between Dune Drive and Ocean Drive. Plans for the project include underground utility work including water service.

“Avalon has been very successful in obtaining grant money from the state for the repairs of various streets,” said Mayor Martin Pagliughi. “This grant money reduces the amount of funding we ask from taxpayers and those savings allow us to do additional projects in the community.”

Since 1997, the Borough of Avalon has received nearly $3 million from the State of New Jersey for the repaving of streets in the community. In 2019, the borough received a $150,000 grant for the construction of a portion of 69th Street.

The application for the grant was made by Avalon municipal engineer Thomas Thornton of Mott MacDonald. In 2019, the NJDOT received 661 applications for more than $368 million for projects. Funding for these types of construction projects come through the Transportation Trust Fund, which is supported by the state gasoline tax. A total of $161.25 million was allocated to projects throughout the state for the 2020 Municipal Aid program.

For more information on the project, go to avalonboro.net.

STONE HARBOR MAYOR DESIGNATED “MUNICIPAL LEADER”

The New Jersey League of Municipalities designated Stone Harbor Mayor Judith Davies-Dunhour as the first

“Municipal Leader” in the Local Government Leadership Program. Davies-Dunhour was the first person to complete the required coursework and submit an application for the designation.

The voluntary program is open to all elected governing body members. To participate, elected officials complete NJLM training and advocacy work and earn a certain amount of points. There are three tiers to the program, based on the points system: Municipal Leader (25 points), Municipal Innovator (50) and Municipal Pioneer (75). Starting in January 2019, points could be earned by attending trainings, seminars, writing articles for the NJLM magazine and advocating for municipal interest.

“It is incumbent upon me as the Mayor of Stone Harbor to seek information and innovative ideas as we move into the future,” Davies-Dunhour said. “In order to be an effective leader, you have to be willing and open to learning new skills, and acquiring new tools to better serve the people you represent. We are fortunate that New Jersey League of Municipalities offers many opportunities for elected officials to increase the number of tools in their toolbox.”

The mayor will receive a certificate and will be recognized for this designation at the 105th annual NJLM Conference in November in Atlantic City.

Avalon’s Beach Patrol is hiring for the 2020 season.

AVALON BEACH PATROL OFFERING HIGHER WAGES

Summer employment opportunities are now available through the Avalon Beach Patrol. The patrol has listed open positions for lifeguards and tag inspectors. However, for 2020, Avalon is doing a more proactive recruitment for these open positions.

Due to the competitive nature of employment at the Jersey Shore, the Borough is increasing funding in the Beach Utility Fund and therefore increasing salaries to make them more competitive. With the increase of minimum wage by the State of New Jersey within the next five years, it becomes imperative to offer competitive wages that attract quality individuals to work these summer jobs.

“Avalon has expanded its search for qualified applicants for these positions through various media channels, including social media and the municipal website,” said Beach Patrol Captain Murray Wolf. “I deeply appreciate mayor and council adding more funds to wages so we can have the right men and women in these important public safety positions.”

Applications are available on Avalon’s municipal website. The Avalon Beach Patrol will host its annual lifeguard test on Saturday, June 6. New applicants must complete the online application and participate in the test consisting of a half-mile ocean swim and a half-mile run and surf dash, plus an in-person interview. All successful participants must also past a rowing test by July 1 consisting of a 6-minute quarter-mile ocean row. For more information, go to avalonboro.net.

STONE HARBOR BOROUGH COUNCIL REORGANIZES

Charles Krafczek, who won re-election to the Stone Harbor Borough Council in November, was nominated to serve as council president during the annual reorganization meeting Jan. 7.

Also in the election, new council member Jennifer Gensemer won a full three-year term, and Reese Moore and Francis Dallahan, both appointed to fill vacancies, won the vote to fulfill unexpired terms: Moore for one year, Dallahan for two. Joselyn Rich and Ray Parzych are the other council members.

“Congratulations to our newly elected and incumbent members of council,” said Mayor Judith Davies-Dunhour.

“Although we are seven different individuals, with different backgrounds, we all have one goal – to do our best for the homeowners and visitors of Stone Harbor.”

Gensemer has been a resident of Stone Harbor and Avalon for 20 years and a real estate agent for Long & Foster. Gensemer graduated from Penn State as a University Scholar with a degree in finance. She is an officer and trustee for the Stone Harbor Property Owners Association, a board member for the Garden Club of Stone Harbor, and co-chair of the Book Club at the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor.

“With my strong commitment to community service, I am passionate about our community and will work to keep Stone Harbor ‘The seashore at its best,’ ” Gensemer said. “I’ll use my background as a financial analyst and real estate broker-salesperson to work for a transparent and efficient government, invest in the sustainability of our island and promote balanced development.”

An Incredible night at Thursdays on Dune

AVALON OFFERS FULL LINEUP OF FAMILY FUN

A full schedule of entertainment and events for this summer has been released by the Borough of Avalon in partnership with multiple community organizations including the Avalon Chamber of Commerce, the Avalon Free Public Library, the 7 Mile Business Community Association and more. Family fun is offered almost daily throughout Avalon, utilizing a variety of locations including Surfside Park, Veterans Plaza, the Avalon Free Public Library (AFPL) and even the beach.

New for 2020 is Sundays at Surfside featuring live bands at Surfside Park (which opened last year) every Sunday from 7-8:30pm. The schedule of entertainment includes 40 North, Jimmy & The Parrots, Central Park the Band and more.

The next day is Monday Funday at the AFPL and Avalon History Center, with a schedule of children’s events including Book Bingo, Behind the Scenes museum tours and more. Recreation Game Day at the 9th Street Field is held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, offering athletic activities for children of all ages.

Tuesdays start with Story Time and Teen Tuesday activities back at the AFPL and end with Avalon’s Beach Movies at dusk featuring family-friendly films such as “The Goonies,” “Frozen 2” and “Onward.”

Wednesdays feature guided Dune and Beach Walks hosted by The Wetlands Institute as well as LEGO Club at the AFPL.

Story Time returns on Thursday, followed by a children’s event hosted by the Avalon Performing Arts Council. Be sure to hit Veterans Plaza every Thursday evening for Thursdays on Dune, featuring live music, character meet-and-greets, face painting, crafts, give away and more.

And finally, Friday’s lineup includes Kids’ Friday Funday at the Avalon Community Hall, Video Game Day at the AFPL, and a return to Surfside Park for Surfside Jam every Friday from 7-9pm with music and children’s activities.

“Each year, Avalon strives to provide fun, free family events every day through the summer,” said Mayor Martin Pagliughi. “With the addition of Surfside Park, and our new concert series on Sunday evenings, this really promises to be the best year ever. We invite everyone to check out our entertainment schedule while they are in town for a weekend, week or the entire summer. You will certainly find something fun and entertaining to do.”

A full schedule of events is available at visitavalonnj.com.

The new plaque installed on the Avalon side of the Townsends Inlet Bridge.

T.I. BRIDGE GETS HISTORICAL PLAQUE

There’s something new on the Avalon side of the Townsends Inlet Bridge – remain calm, it’s still open. A historical plaque was recently installed, telling the story behind the building of the Ocean Drive bridges throughout Cape May County.

Search your memory from high school to when you learned of the WPA (Work Projects Administration), part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal that was signed into law in 1935. The program employed 8 million people over the course of eight years, providing work for unemployed individuals during the Depression. Projects around the country included roads, art projects, bridges, school and government buildings. Many of the projects, such as the T.I. Bridge, are still in use today, some 70-plus years later. . The engineering company mentioned on the plaque is still in existence today operating as “HNTB.” And many of the mechanical gearing components (made in Philadelphia, PA by the Earle Gear Co.) are still in use today!

Chief Engineer for the Cape May County Bridge Commission, Lewis Donofrio, provided some more insight. “The sign was installed by Agate Construction Co. as part of the recent project which replaced the first seven spans of the original structure. This project was partially funded by the NJ Dept. of Transportation, Local Bridge, Future Needs grant program.” As a condition of the grant program, the NJ State Historic Preservation Office reviewed the project and recommended how to preserve the historical character of the bridge by installing this interpretive sign.

The sign reads: “During the first half of the 20th Century, many movable bridges were erected in Cape May County linking the County’s barrier island resorts and connecting them to the mainland. Because the bridges were movable, commercial and pleasure boats could freely pass through the county’s back bays and inlets. The Townsends Inlet Bridge was one of four similar ‘Trunnion Bascule’ movable bridges that were designed by the firm of Ash, Howard, Needles & Tammen and erected between 1938 and 1940 by the Cape May County Bridge Commission. Funding for the Townsends Inlet Bridge was provided by the Public Works Administration. The bridge is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places for its technological significance and as a ‘monument to the Depression Era New Deal programs to improve America’s infrastructure.’ ”