Times Talk
Stone Harbor Eyes Parking Changes
Last May, the Borough of Stone Harbor switched the way residents and visitors needed to pay for parking on streets in the commercial district from May 1 to Oct. 1. Gone were the days of cash payments; ParkMobile had taken over. ParkMobile is an app downloadable from any smartphone that allows people to pay for parking virtually or by phone with a credit card. The fees are $1 per hour except at the Marina Boat Launch, where parking is $10 for all day. ParkMobile charges an additional 30 cents for each transaction. The fine for a parking meter violation is $34.
This could change for 2024. At the urging of some business owners and residents, the Stone Harbor Chamber of Commerce has since appealed to the Borough Council to also include cash-friendly parking options again.
The Chamber of Commerce and store owners have pleaded that some people don’t have smartphones, aren’t great with technology, or are confused by the virtual-parking concept. The idea of paying with cash or quarters through the old cash kiosk system appeals to many residents, they say.
In answer to these requests, borough administrator Manny Parada offered a presentation at the Jan. 16 work session that showed various options for these parking issues. His presentation offered options such as adding cash kiosks funded through a few different means; shortening the paid parking session or parking day; providing parking stickers for seniors who find the technology challenging; and even to eliminate paid parking completely.
Parada laid out the expenses and revenue for each option he proposed. The council now has the final say and will consider the matter, continue discussions, and make the decision on what’s best for the borough as a whole. Since parking fees are not required until May 1, council still has some time to make this decision.
Garrett Maggio will be conducting research on the Diamondback Terrapins with The Wetlands Institute’s new fellowship program.
Wetlands Institute Starts Fellowship Program
The Wetlands Institute has chosen East Carolina University Ph.D. student Garrett Maggio as the first recipient in its newly launched Jeannie Morris Graduate Fellowship Program, designed to encourage continued education within the field.
“Working with students, providing access and mentoring them is something that we pride ourselves on and we think is important,” said Dr. Lenore Tedesco, executive director of The Wetlands Institute.
The Jeannie Morris Graduate Fellowship Program for Coastal Conservation and Research was established to help support students academically and expand research with a focus on wetlands and coastal ecosystems. The fellowship will be awarded each year to one graduate student who is currently pursuing a degree focused on natural resources, environmental science, or coastal and wetlands science.
Each year, the fellowship will come with $10,000 in funds for the student to use on research, equipment and whatever else they may need. Students who are currently working on a research project and need funds to complete it may apply for the fellowship. Tedesco shared that many applications were submitted, and one student was chosen based on merit and needs for his project.
Maggio, who is in the Biology, Biomedicine and Chemistry program at East Carolina, is currently working on a research project titled, “Using the Population Genetic Structure of a Unique Parasite to Investigate Diamondback Terrapin Dispersal.”
With his study, Maggio is hoping to investigate the population structure of the diamondback terrapin, which happens to be a species that is central to the work done by The Wetlands Institute.
“We chose him because he had a very strong project with terrapins and their population dynamics which we do a lot of work with,” Tedesco said. “His data and research will actually help to extend our own research as well, and it just maps with the work we do here.”
This fellowship program is supported by Jeannie and Jim Morris through a gift to the endowment fund.
Mastriana Retires From Avalon Borough Office
Kimberly Mastriana retired from the Borough of Avalon on Feb. 29 after 36 years of service, including eight years as the administrative assistant to business administrator Scott Wahl.
“Our relationship was about the best you could dream of both professionally and personally,” Wahl said.
He praised Mastriana for her attention to detail, her diligence, initiative, and overall heart for the borough. She does volunteer work with the Avalon Garden Club as well as other organizations, and is always eager to lend a hand within the community.
“Work aside, I’ll miss the daily conversations about Avalon and our lives,” he said. “She was a huge asset to the borough; we worked very well together and I’m very glad I had the opportunity to work with her.”
Mayor John McCorristin presenting Kimberly Mastriana with a commemorative plaque.
Sturdy Bank presents Avalon Chamber of President John O’ Dea with a check for grant funds. From left: Allan “Dutch” Dechert, Chris Allwein, Jann E. Mevoli, John O’Dea, and Sam Wierman.
Sturdy Bank Makes Donation To Avalon Chamber
Sturdy Savings Bank donated $2,500 to the Avalon Chamber of Commerce in early December as part of the Small Business Recovery Grant Program of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY).
“We hope the money will help offset some lost revenue due to canceled events over the past year and the leftover impacts from the pandemic,” said Gregory M. Matuson, president of Sturdy Savings Bank.
Along with supporting the Avalon Chamber of Commerce, 11 other local organizations also received funds from Sturdy Savings Bank under this grant program. The bank also supports many local organizations and nonprofits throughout both Cape May and Atlantic counties.
‘Spring Into Summer’ In Avalon This June
Spearheaded by the 7 Mile Business Community Association the inaugural event “Spring into Summer” will kick off this June. The month long event is centered around four themes: Arts & Music, Explore Nature, Family Fun and Summer Solstice.
“Spring into Summer” started out as a notion to bring together all the nonprofit organizations in a joint initiative. Many nonprofits have events in June, but before now everything stood on its own. “Spring into Summer” allows all the events to fall under one umbrella and unites the organizations.
With the help of many partners and grant funding from the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism, this first annual campaign was born after more than a year of planning and ideas.
The idea was to create a month full of events, with each weekend having a different theme that stems from a Saturday anchor event. Instead of being a one-day event, multiple organizations will play off that theme and carry it through with weekend and weekday activities for all ages.
Among the organizations involved with the 7 Mile Business Community Association are NJ Southern Shore, Avalon Chamber of Commerce, the Borough of Avalon, the Avalon Free Public Library & History Center, Avalon Home and Land Owners Association (AHLOA), the Environmental Commission, the Avalon Garden Club, the Avalon Lions, Avalon Historical Society and the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children.
“Being a part of Avalon’s “Spring into Summer” has been fun and challenging,” says 7MBCA President Jacquie Ewing. “The best part is the level of enthusiasm, cooperation, and support among all of Avalon’s nonprofit organizations and working together with the Borough of Avalon and the Avalon Free Public Library.”
For a comprehensive schedule of the June events lined up for “Spring into Summer,” please visit visitavalonnj.com.
Three new tennis courts will be built at the 8th Street Recreation Complex this year.
Avalon Adding Tennis Courts
Three tennis courts are being added to the 8th Street Recreation Complex, as approved by the Avalon Borough Council at its Jan. 26 meeting.
These new courts come after last year’s construction that transformed three tennis courts into pickleball courts. That construction happened with a pledge that three new tennis courts would be added in 2024.
All construction is to be done in time for the courts to be fully open and operational no later than May 1. Asphalt paving of the courts began Feb. 21.
During construction, tennis play is prohibited on the basketball courts for safety reasons. The pickleball courts can accommodate any and all tennis players during the construction.
A rendering of one of the new playgrounds.
Stone Harbor Playgrounds Due Upgrades
After inspections by the DPW and Gametime, the 97th and 82nd Street playgrounds in Stone Harbor were deemed unsafe and needed to be removed. Both playgrounds will now undergo total reconstruction and have since been taken down.
82nd Street Playground has been filled with sand so that the space may still be utilized. This summer the borough will have different games and activities available there so that the kids have some place to play.
The 97th Street Playground will be the first up for the much-anticipated updates, but no timeline is known at this time. An application for an Open Space Grant was submitted to the county that would include adjustments and updates to the basketball court, the playground and building.
The goal is to make both playgrounds more accessible and inclusive to all children while maintaining a seamless flow with the layout. There will be ADA accessible and more engaging equipment for all.