Times Talk
Stone Harbor Borough Council President Reese Moore stands with Councilwoman Bunny Parzych and Councilman Frank Dallahan in the Stone Harbor borough chambers.
REESE MOORE IS NEW COUNCIL PRESIDENT IN STONE HARBOR
Stone Harbor Borough Councilman Reese Moore became the council president at the annual reorganization meeting.
“It’s an honor to be appointed as the Borough Council president,” he said. “I enjoy working with the Borough Council, Mayor Davies-Dunhour, the borough employees and businesses on behalf of the Stone Harbor community.”
Also, Bunny Parzych and Frank Dallahan were sworn in to serve full terms as winners in the November 2021 election.
“I have been appointed chairperson of the Utilities Committee and am learning about Stone Harbor’s potable water, which is a precious resource,” said Parzych, a council newcomer. “The amount of our water usage is regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and that usage is growing every year. We need to conserve water by limiting irrigation of our beautiful, landscaped gardens, and carefully consider the amount of water we will use before we top off our sparkling pools.”
Parzych fills the seat left vacant by her husband Raymond, who served for five years.
Dallahan is starting his first full term on council, having previously filled a two-year vacancy. “I hope to work on my assignments on the Utilities and Public Works committees and I look forward to improving the regulations for both Committees,” he said.
Also, Jennifer Gensemer was nominated to be the council representative on the Planning and Zoning Board.
“I have a great respect for the planning board members who are serving Stone Harbor” she said. “I respect their commitment and I look forward to serving with them.”
Said Mayor Judy Davies-Dunhour: “I look forward to working with newly elected Councilmember Bunny Parzych and returning Councilmember Frank Dallahan in the year ahead. Our Council is an excellent team of individuals with Stone Harbor’s best interests in mind and I am enthusiastic about collaborating with all of my colleagues to improve and enhance services, infrastructure and safety for the future.”
AVALON SWEARS IN OFFICER BYRD
Quar’tus Byrd was sworn in as an Avalon police officer by Mayor Martin Pagliughi, then received his badge from Police Chief Jeffrey Christopher.
Byrd, who grew up in the Egg Harbor area, began his law enforcement career as a special officer in Ocean City.
“Quar’tus possesses the desire to serve, with the ability and a genuine personality that will be a great addition to the Avalon Police Department,” Christopher said. “I insist on selecting the most qualified applicants to represent the Avalon Police Department.”
The Avalon Police Department conducts a comprehensive hiring process to select individuals that possess the highest standards, desire, qualifications, physical fitness, personality, and integrity to become an Avalon police officer.
The interview process begins with a physical fitness exam, then an oral examination to test knowledge of criminal law, and an oral interview to get to know the candidate personally. Byrd set himself apart from the others in this process.
Byrd then attended the Cape May County Police Academy, where he completed the basic course for police officers and excelled in firearms proficiency with perfect scores. He graduated from the academy Jan. 13.
IT’S THE BEST TIME TO GET YOUR BEACH TAGS
With summer right around the corner, it’s time to purchase your 2022 beach tags. Who knows, it may just help the weather warm up!
This year’s seasonal beach tags for Avalon feature a brightly colored fish jumping out of the ocean. The tag was designed by Anthony Harris, a sixth-grader at Avalon Elementary School. This is the 24th year the borough has partnered with Avalon Elementary School and asked students to design the seasonal beach tag.
Beach tags in Avalon are $28 through the end of May, when the price changes to $33. Tags can also be purchased at the beach tag booth starting weekends in April, and at the Avalon Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center during open hours, and via the Viply app.
Stone Harbor’s seasonal beach tags for 2022 are inspired by the borough’s welcome signs and feature a white shell with a light blue background. Stone Harbor beach tags can be purchased at Borough Hall, Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4pm. The tags will cost $32 until May 31, after which the price goes up to $40.
Seasonal tags for both towns are also available for purchase online by going to jerseycapetags.com. The beach tags are reciprocal between Avalon and Stone Harbor.
View of the 93rd Street construction from Third Avenue.
STONE HARBOR UTILITY WORK NEARING COMPLETION
Utility work brought construction to 83rd and 93rd streets that began this winter. The construction comes as part of Stone Harbor’s Utility and Road Program and is replacing the old pipes of the sanitary sewer system with new PVC pipes. Fred M. Schiavone Construction, Inc., of Franklinville, was hired for the project at a cost of $2.6 million.
The utility work on 93rd Street was completed over the winter, and paving was set for early spring. The work on 83rd Street is progressing, with both projects expected to be completed and paved by Memorial Day weekend.
The Borough’s Utility and Road Program includes a yearly review of infrastructure throughout town allowing for improvements such as the replacement of sewer and water lines, and the reconstruction of the roadway including curbing, handicap ramps, and paving.
“Although it can create some inconveniences, upgrading and maintaining infrastructure is essential for Stone Harbor,” said Mayor Judith Davies-Dunhour. “As we move forward, utility services must be upgraded to support the demands of new development. I applaud our Public Works team and engineering consultants for being able to create a yearly road and utility improvement plan that occurs mainly in our off-season.”
Work increases to get the new home of the Stone Harbor Beach Patrol ready ahead of the summer season.
STONE HARBOR BEACH PATROL BUILDING UPDATE
Major strides are being taken to complete the construction of the Stone Harbor Beach Patrol building by Memorial Day weekend, and the $2.8 million project now looks as though it will be virtually finished by then.
Lifeguards will still be able to occupy the building Memorial Day weekend, with just minor items such as painting yet to be completed after that time, according to the project’s current schedule.
The project started the week after Labor Day and has been taking shape since the demolition of the previous beach patrol building. After the pilings and foundation were constructed, the framing, roofing and rough plumbing were completed, and the windows and siding were installed in February. The rest of the exterior, including painting and landscaping, are scheduled to be completed this spring, followed by the interior with drywall, electrical and plumbing, just in time for the summer season.
“Everyone seems to coordinate and communicate well,” said SHBP Captain Sandy Bosacco. “We are looking forward to operating in the new building that will accommodate the Borough’s 70 lifeguards as well as 20 beach tag inspectors and provide for increased equipment storage space.”
The construction of this building comes as a long-awaited update to the previous building, which served as the home of the beach patrol for six decades.
Discussions regarding the need for a new building began in 2018, and the original estimate was $4.2 million. The plans were scaled back, but the new building remains adequate to fulfill the beach patrol’s needs. The two-story building will provide extensive storage space and office space along with an upper-level crow’s nest for a wide-range view of the beach.
Rendering of the renovated Avalon Volunteer Fire Department Station.
AVALON FIRE STATION UPDATE
The first phase of construction for the Avalon fire station addition is complete. This phase consisted of modifications or relocation of underground utilities: the drinking water line from a well behind the police station, the gravity sewer line, and the forced main sewer line.
Once digging began, it was discovered that the heating and cooling lines from the shared central plant at the Avalon Elementary School were approximately 15 feet from where they were shown to be on the borough’s maps. This discovery delayed the project two weeks as the pipes need to be moved away from the site of the building addition. This resulted in a $240,000 change order from Avalon Borough Council.
In addition, the project has continued to be delayed, as many have, due to weather and resourcing materials. It is expected to be completed by next spring.
Said Avalon Volunteer Fire Department spokesman Kevin Scarpa: “The fire department expects the new addition to be completed by October 2022, with certain renovations in the existing station to be completed between November 2022 and February 2023.”
With the prospect of foundation expecting to be poured soon and the possibility of block walls going up in early April, Scarpa ensures the builder will meet the project’s deadlines.
Over the years, the station has acquired additional apparatus that the current building was not made to hold. Additions to the station will also give the overnight firefighters a place to sleep.
SINGLE-USE CONTAINER BAN STARTS MAY 4
The statewide ban on single-use carryout bags and polystyrene foam food-service products as well as request-only use of plastic straws is set to go into effect on May 4.
The new regulations were set forth by Gov. Phil Murphy and the state legislature in November 2020 and is the most advanced law on single-use plastic products in the country.
The law bans the use of single-use plastic bags, regardless of thickness, in any retail establishments, including food-service businesses and grocery stores. In addition, paper bags are no longer allowed to be used by grocery stores larger than 2,500 square feet in size. These regulations encourage the use of reusable carryout bags (made of fabric, nylon, cloth, or hemp that has stitched handles manufactured for multiple uses) whether free or at a cost to the customer.
The new regulations also restrict the use of Styrofoam products in the food-service industry. This means that no restaurant or business selling food can serve that food out of a Styrofoam product, including containers, plates, beverage cups, meat or vegetable trays, cutlery, or egg cartons. However, there are some temporary exceptions to this part of the law: Businesses can still use small portion cups that require lids, and trays used for raw meat and fish as well as any food products that are prepackaged from the manufacturer with Styrofoam can still be sold until May 4, 2024.
Lastly, you may have noticed that at restaurants you have had to ask for a straw for your beverage. This is also due to this law, which states that unless the beverage is prepackaged with a straw, like juice boxes, the restaurant or business can no longer freely supply single-use plastic straws unless the customer requests them.
The boroughs of Avalon and Stone Harbor took the initiative to ban single-use plastic bags, plastic straws and Styrofoam in 2019.
“The prohibition of single-use plastic bags and other single-use items involved many meetings and conversations with our environmental consults and required thoughtful explanation and input from our business community,” Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi said. “This was a significant component on our Clean Water Initiative to prevent plastics and other items from ending up in our waterways, resulting in a threat to marine life. I am pleased this program has been very successful and glad to see the state has created this law largely based on the success of municipal initiatives, including those in Avalon.”
Noncompliance to the new regulations will result first in a warning, then on second offense up to a $1,000-per-day fine. Third and subsequent violations are subject to fines of up to $5,000 per day. The Department of Environmental Protection and each municipality are authorized to uphold the new law.
For more information, visit nj.gov/dep.
New directors (from top left) Anne Brickley (Administration), Julie Karavan (Development), and Michelle Ruggeri (Finance) join The Wetlands Institute leadership team of (from bottom left) Dr. Lenore Tedesco (Executive Director), Dr. Lisa Ferguson (Research & Conservation), and Brooke Knapick (Educational Program Development).
WETLANDS INSTITUTE ADDS TO LEADERSHIP TEAM
The Wetlands Institute welcomed three directors to its leadership ranks in March: Anne Brickley, director of administration; Michelle Ruggeri, director of finance; and Julie Karavan, director of development. Brickley and Ruggeri replaced Bonnie Girard, the former director of finance and administration, while Karavan filled a newly created position to help with the advancement of the organization.
Brickley comes to the institute with 10 years of experience in human resources and operational management, half of which was spent in the nonprofit sector. Ruggeri has spent more than 15 years in nonprofit finance. Karavan is a certified fundraising executive and has worked for nonprofits such as Big Brothers Big Sisters and Habitat for Humanity.
This expansion comes as the institute plans for its future: investing in its staff, physical infrastructure, and the ecosystems it is dedicated to conserving.
“We’re thrilled to welcome these new directors to our leadership team,” said Dr. Lenore Tedesco, the executive director. “We are excited to see how their wealth of knowledge benefits the institute, as we build on its sustainability for many years to come.”
The Wetlands Institute is a nonprofit organization helping teach an understanding of coastal and wetlands communities through programs in research and conservation. The institute works to restore, preserve, and protect these ecosystems for people and wildlife, focusing research and conservation efforts on issues that are affecting wetlands and all species that depend on them. It engages thousands of children and families each year in discovering the wonders of the environment, connecting visitors to nature, and inspiring them to want to take care of the world around them. For more information about The Wetlands Institute, visit wetlandsinstitute.org.
The 30th Street ADA accessible ramp is a work in progress by Avalon Public Works.
30th STREET BEACH RAMP REPLACED
The Avalon Public Works Department has rebuilt the handicap-accessible ramp at the 30th Street beach.
The project began at the end of February and is on schedule for completion in early spring. The Public Works carpenters tasked themselves with the project as the old ramp, while functional, needed repair.
The top platform, level with the boardwalk, is bigger than before, with the edge of the ramp facing the street now parallel to the street. There was also an addition of lumber along the sides on the bottom portion of the ramp to help prevent trash from blowing under it onto the dunes, and eventually the beach.
“The handicap accessible ramp at 30th Street and the beach was in need for significant repairs, so a decision was made to replace it,” Mayor Martin Pagliughi said. “We are fortunate to have a talented carpenters’ shop that designed the new ramp and are replacing it. This will ensure that individuals with physical challenges and disabilities will enjoy the primary reason why individuals come to Avalon, to enjoy our beautiful beachfront.”
Plans are underway for renovations to the Snow Leopard Habitat at the Cape May County Park & Zoo, with a fundraising initiative by the Cape May County Zoological Society.
ZOO WELCOMES ‘ROOS, EMUS … & TOUCANS SOON
The Cape May County Zoological Society recently announced the successful completion of its Habitat Fundraising Campaign that was launched last spring. The campaign – titled “New at the Zoo! ‘Roos, Emus & Toucans Too!” – had a fundraising goal of $250,000, needed to build two new habitats to house up to 10 red kangaroos, two emus, and toco toucans at the Cape May County Park & Zoo.
The campaign was fully funded by donations to the Cape May County Zoological Society, and construction is nearing completion for the two-phase project. Phase 1 included the creation of a 12,000-square-foot outdoor area to house the kangaroos and emus, as well as a 500-square-foot, heated indoor living space for the animals. The two emus, Grant and Timmy, and three female kangaroos – Proodence, Gertroode and Roothie – already are enjoying their new home. A male kangaroo is expected to arrive this spring, and the zoo also recently welcomed a male juvenile kangaroo, Regis, who celebrated his second birthday in March.
Phase 2 of construction – the habitat for toco toucans – is nearing completion featuring 6,500 cubic feet of open area, and a 200-square-foot indoor space. The construction matches the existing South American habitats in this area, measuring 16 feet high, and includes a variety of branches, perches, and ropes. The toucans’ arrival had been scheduled for spring; however, the presence of a new avian flu in the country has temporarily delayed their arrival under quarantine restriction. And finally, the zoo’s female capybara, Budette, gave birth to her second litter of two pups on Feb. 3 and celebrated their two-week birthday on 2/22/22!
“We here at the Cape May County Park & Zoo are extremely fortunate to have the Zoological Society as our exclusive fundraising organization,” Park Director Ed Runyon said in a statement. “The Zoological Society ran a very successful campaign, and as a direct result made it possible for us to bring kangaroos, emus, and toucans to our Zoo for the first time. Throughout the multiphase project, the Society supported the Zoo at every step to assure that our new friends have the perfect homes to move into. We look forward to bringing many more improvements and new animals to the Zoo with future help from the Zoological Society.”
What’s next? Construction continues on the new Safari Café, expected to open later in the spring. The Zoological Society launched its next fundraising campaign to update the snow leopard habitat with a goal of $25,000. Funds received are planned for renovations to the leopards’ indoor sleeping area and plantings and new toys to enhance the animals’ enrichment experience. The Zoological Society will also begin an annual appeal outreach for funding through 2022 on larger projects including a new waterfall feature in the bald eagle habitat; for the care and wellness of animals; a large quarantine holding facility; and outdoor yards for the Medical Holding building, just to name a few.
Donations can be made by going to capemayzoosociety.org/donate. Be sure to follow the Facebook page for the Cape May County’s Zoological Society for more exciting updates and animal announcements!
The new website for the Avalon Environmental Commission.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION LAUNCHES WEBSITE
Interested in keeping Avalon green and beautiful? So is the Avalon Environmental Commission, and it now has its own website full of valuable information. It’s the perfect source to learn about: plants that thrive on the Seven Mile Beach and plants that cause damage; special programming events for adults and children; what Avalon is doing about conservation, and how the commission intends to keep our island as beautiful as it is.
“The website was created through the hard work and volunteer efforts of chairwoman Donna Rothman and commission members, and provides a great way for Avalon residents to learn more about our ecosystem, environmental sustainability, and stewardship,” said Mayor Martin Pagliughi. “A website is only as good as its content and the commission did an incredible job with presenting useful information to educate and motivate our community to continue best practices to protect our natural resources.” The new website can be accessed through the borough’s web page, avalonboro.net, or directly at ec.avalonboro.net.
