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DAILY & WEEKLY HAPPENINGS:
Local Area Public Library
Creative Writing, Workshops, Lecture Series, Story Time, Book Club and
more...
Avalon |
Stone Harbor
Recreation Information
There are a wide variety of daily & weekly activities, programs and
special events offered by our local recreation departments.
Avalon | Stone
Harbor
The Wetlands Institute
It is a great time to see what's happening at The Wetlands Institute. Check out their events calendar and join in for an adventure in exploration and discovery!
The Wetlands Institute Calendar
Boat Ramp a Flood Source
Stone Harbor Borough Council heard recently that the borough may be
calling on Dutch expertise to resolve flooding issues at the municipal
marina boat ramp. Office of Emergency Management Director J. T. Lakose
said flooding at the boat ramp is getting progressively worse. "We can
take action to increase minimum bulkhead heights, but we also need to
plug the holes. The boat ramp is a hole," he said. He spoke of neighbors
asking the borough to take action.
Boat Ramp a Flood Source
2020 United States Census -
What You Need To Know!
The Borough of Avalon, from time to time, will release information about
the 2020 Census effort. Here are some answers to frequently asked
questions about this year's Census count. Additional information will be
posted on the municipal website.
2020 United States Census - What You Need To Know!
How Do Ratings Affect Flood Insurance Premiums?
Cape May County property owners had just over 53,000 policies with the
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in 2019, covering $12.7 billion
worth of property and furnishings. For that coverage, they paid over $36
million in premiums and fees. Flood insurance is big business in the
county and actions that can result in premium reductions are similarly
important business. Across the county, 12 of the 16 municipalities are
Community Rating System (CRS) communities, meaning they participate in
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) program that offers
various insurance discounts based on a community’s voluntary efforts in
community floodplain management, making the insured property in the
community safer for flood risk. A CRS class can be within the range of
1, the highest, to 10, the lowest. At the top is a class 1 community
that receives a 45% discount on premiums. The highest rating in Cape May
County is a class 3, a level that only 13 communities in the country and
two in the state have achieved. The two are Sea Isle City and Avalon.
Property owners will be entitled to a 35% premium reduction. The county
has four communities with a class 5 rating. They are Ocean City, Stone
Harbor, Upper Township, and Wildwood. This rating carries a 25%
discount.
How Do Ratings Affect Flood Insurance Premiums?
New in Summer 2020: Sundays at Surfside Concerts, at Surfside
Park
The Avalon Department of Recreation has announced a brand new concert
series at Avalon’s Surfside Park, located adjacent to the Avalon
Boardwalk at 30th Street and the beach. Nine concerts will be held this
summer during the "Sundays at Surfside" events, starting Sunday, June
28th. All concerts will begin at 7:00pm and conclude at approximately
8:30pm. The Avalon Recreation Department has scheduled some of the most
popular entertainers in the Delaware Valley, and the event will feature
a cross section of music from oldies to country to Irish music, and
everything in between.
New in Summer 2020: Sundays at Surfside Concerts, at Surfside Park
Update on Proposed Hotel
As an update to the question of a hotel near the Stone Harbor
Boulevard-Garden State Parkway entrance, according to the municipal
engineer, last summer Middle Township Committee decided not to vote on
an ordinance that would have approved a zoning change for the proposed
hotel property. The project cannot proceed without the zoning change,
which would make the land part of the Town Center and thereby qualify it
for water and sewer infrastructure. The matter was referred back to the
Planning Board. It is now part of the master plan review process. The
master plan is expected to be approved by the Planning Board in the late
March or early April.
Update on Proposed Hotel
UPCOMING AREA
EVENTS*
Mayors Wellness Campaign 2020
Through March 19, 2020
5 week Wellness Program consisting of health, nutrition & fitness
support sessions every Thursday, and Monday morning walks with the
Mayor.
Mayors
Wellness Campaign 2020
The Winds of Change
February 28, 2020
Presented by: Kris Ohleth, Senior Stakeholder Relations Manager, US
Stakeholder Management Offshore, Ørsted. Come and learn more about the
status of offshore wind development in the US, and how and why it is
currently poised to be at the center of the next energy boom.
Wetlands Institute Covered Dish Dinners
Flea By The Sea
February 28-29, 2020
Over 15 of your favorite shops under one roof...the biggest sale Sea
Isle has ever seen!
Flea
By The Sea
Lunch and Learn Series
March 6, 2020
A Temporal Comparison of Trophic Physiology and Tissue Heavy Metal
Accumulation in Northern Star Coral, Astrangia Poculata: Tropical coral
species are threatened by climate change and human activity; one
conservation approach is to study related, yet common species.
Wetlands Institute Lunch & Learn Series
The Statue of Liberty
March 7, 2020
Learn how she was built and what she symbolizes, the program will
introduce some of the people involved in her creation. The lecture will
also present brief histories of Ellis Island and Liberty State Park.
Avalon Free Public Library
Shop-A-Holics Weekend
March 12-14, 2020
Save the date for Shop-A-Holics weekend in Avalon! Featuring two great
locations, The Princeton and The Whitebrier, full of local retail stores
and boutiques offering designer clothing and accessories, drinks and
great deals - up to 75% off!
Shop-A-Holics
Weekend
AHLOA Monthly Meeting
March 14, 2020
Guest speakers are Dr. Nancy Hudanich, Borough Council President, and
John McCorristin, Borough Council Vice President, who will present the
2020 Avalon Borough Operating Budget and Capital Initiatives.
AHLOA Monthly Meeting
St. Patrick's Day Celebration
March 14, 2020
Prior to the start of the Sea Isle City parade, Mayor Desiderio and his
family will kick-off their annual "Irish Celebration" with a "Best
Dressed" competition contest.
St. Patrick's Day Celebration
St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 14, 2020
Sea Isle City will celebrate its rich Irish heritage and culture with a
parade and the wearing of the green. The annual Celtic procession will
include live pipe-and-drum music, Irish residents, Municipal and County
officials, Sea Isle's “Irish Royal Family” and many other participants.
St. Patrick's Day Parade
Update: Ingram's Thorofare Bridge to Close Monday Evening,
February 24th
Note: The overnight closure was scheduled for February 20th. However,
the closure is now scheduled for Monday, February 24th, starting at
7:00pm. Unfavorable temperatures have delayed this closure to the 24th
as a concrete pour for the new span is expected. The Ingram's Thorofare
Bridge will be closed between the hours of 7:00pm thru 5:00am due to
ongoing construction. As a result, Avalon Boulevard (C.R. 601) will be
closed to thru traffic during these hours. The roadway and bridge will
re-open after those hours and remain open thereafter.
Update: Ingram's Thorofare Bridge to Close Monday Evening, February 24th
Avalon to Regulate Free Ride Services
Fixed route and point-to-point transportation services are regulated by
Avalon "to ensure the safety" of residents and visitors, according to
Business Administrator Scott Wahl. The borough requires background
checks on drivers, as well as proof that licenses are valid and adequate
liability insurance is in force. Beginning in 2017, a new form of
transportation service evolved: free ride services. The lack of a public
fee allowed the service to run without being required to conform to the
regulations placed on other transportation providers. Wahl told Avalon
Borough Council recently that the administration would be bringing forth
a resolution to extend the existing regulations to current and future
free ride services.
Avalon to Regulate Free Ride Services
Avalon Garden Club 38th Annual Flower Show-Here's How to Enter!
Avalon Garden Club will hold its 38th Annual Flower Show on Saturday,
June 13, 2020. The location is Avalon Community Hall, 30th Street and
the beach. The show is open for the public from Noon to 4:00pm.
Admission is free. Avalon Garden Club encourages the public and any
amateur to enter the show regardless of your skill level.
Avalon Garden Club 38th Annual Flower Show-Here's How to Enter!
Van Drew's Aid Sought in Snare-trap Issue
The use of snare traps for predator control at Stone Harbor Point was a
hotly debated issue at Stone Harbor Borough Council meetings in summer
2019. Faced with a need to maintain a strong working relationship with
state and federal wildlife officials, the borough stopped attempts to
press for an end to the use of what some considered inhumane use of
snare traps. The governing body is trying to continue its support of
federal and state predator-control processes at the Point, while also
requesting the intervention of U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2nd). The goal
is to see if alternative means of control can be employed, despite the
insistence of federal and state officials that snare traps are the most
effective mechanism.
Van Drew's Aid Sought in Snare-trap Issue
Upcoming Shopping Events at the Shore
Are you looking for the perfect gift or something to wear? At the right
price of course! Nothing beats a day, or better yet a weekend, of
browsing local shops or getting a great bargain! Check out the local
shopping events coming up in March and April:
Upcoming Shopping Events at the Shore
The Jersey Shore Pops
Music Director and Conductor Linda Gentille and The Jersey Shore Pops
proudly announce the highly anticipated Pops upcoming "2020 Summer
Concert Series," a trio of themed concerts featuring talented guest
artists including singer Peter Oprisko, trumpeter and vocalist Nicole
Sasser, comedian Tom Drake, and soprano Jennifer Fair. Purchase tickets
early before they sell out! The average price is $40, with group rates
available. Some venues have free parking, including the Middle Township
Performing Arts Center.
The Jersey Shore Pops 2020 Summer Concert Series
UPCOMING EVENTS*
Mayors Wellness Campaign 2020
Through March 19, 2020
5 week Wellness Program consisting of health, nutrition & fitness
support sessions every Thursday, and Monday morning walks with the
Mayor.
Mayors Wellness Campaign 2020
New Jersey and Back Again: Meet and Greet with Erin Rawls
February 21, 2020
Come meet and get to know the new Outreach Coordinator for The Wetlands
Institute, Erin Rawls. Learn about her journey as an environmental
educator working from Florida to California, and how it's brought her
back to New Jersey time and time again.
Wetlands Institute Lunch & Learn Series
Hurrikanen's Kids Fashion Show Fundraiser
February 23, 2020
Hurrikanen's Kids' will be hosting a charity fashion show to support
kids with pediatric cancer. Featuring performances from Pediatric Cancer
Fighters, Warriors, & Angel Families!
Hurrikanen's Kids Fashion Show Fundraiser
The Winds of Change
February 28, 2020
Presented by: Kris Ohleth, Senior Stakeholder Relations Manager, US
Stakeholder Management Offshore, Ørsted. Come and learn more about the
status of offshore wind development in the US, and how and why it is
currently poised to be at the center of the next energy boom.
The Wetlands Institute Covered Dish Dinner Series
Flea By The Sea
February 28-29, 2020
Over 15 of your favorite shops under one roof...the biggest sale Sea
Isle has ever seen!
Flea
By The Sea
Notice: Ingram’s Thorofare Bridge to Close
Monday Evening, February 24th
Note: The overnight closure was scheduled for February 20th. However, the closure is now scheduled for Monday, February 24th, starting at 7:00pm. Unfavorable temperatures have delayed this closure to the 24th as a concrete pour for the new span is expected, thank you.
The Ingram's Thorofare Bridge will be
closed between the hours of 7:00pm thru 5:00am due to ongoing
construction. As a result, Avalon Boulevard (C.R. 601) will be closed to
thru traffic during these hours. The roadway and bridge will re-open
after those hours and remain open thereafter.
Notice: Ingram’s Thorofare Bridge to Close
Committee to Analyze Beach Patrol Building
Outgoing Stone Harbor Business Administrator Jill Gougher presented a
tentative schedule, in November 2019, for the construction of Beach
Patrol Headquarters. At that Stone Harbor Borough Council meeting,
Gougher was authorized to move ahead with the cumbersome permitting
process. Gougher's projected schedule called for a detailed design to be
completed by May, a June bid process and a July construction award. The
schedule called for construction beginning after Labor Day 2020. The aim
was to have the building ready for use by Memorial Day 2021.
Committee to Analyze Beach Patrol Building
Stone Harbor Considers Tax-rate Increase
Stone Harbor Borough Council discussed a possible increase in the
municipal tax rate for 2020. The increase would move the rate per $100
of assessed value from $0.25 to $0.267, resulting in a 6.8% increase in
property tax for homeowners in Stone Harbor. The proposed increase would
net the borough an estimated $932,000 in new revenue. The new rate would
raise the levy by $170 on a home assessed at $1 million. The council
discussion included an examination of the items that would benefit from
the increase. These included several initiatives that deal with the
oceanfront beaches or the back bay waterways. Almost 55% of the proposed
increase in spending is targeted at beach replenishment, back bay dredge
management, beach and bay access, and flood mitigation. Municipal
departments, in which holding employees has been an issue, saw salary
and wage adjustments. The actual increases in the proposed budget
totaled $1.2 million. Borough actions resulting in about $300,000 in
savings covered almost 25% of the proposed increase in spending. A
recent decision to move the borough to the county's Central Dispatch has
paid dividends, with an estimated saving, in the 2020 budget, of
$53,623.
Stone Harbor Considers Tax-rate Increase
Annual Forest Fire Mitigation Program
A seasonal program for mitigating forest fire risk is underway
throughout New Jersey. According to the New Jersey State Forest Fire
Service, the prescribed burning program reduces wildfire risks by
burning buildup of undergrowth, fallen trees and branches, leaves and
other debris on forest floors. Prescribed fires, also known as
controlled burns, are generally conducted during the mid to late winter
months to minimize the amount of smoke produced and when weather
conditions tend to be safer for controlled fires, according to the DEP.
Pending weather conditions this season, the state Forest Fire Service,
part of the DEP's Division of Parks and Forestry, expects to burn
between 35,000 acres of forests and grasslands.
Annual Forest Fire Mitigation Program Is Underway In N.J.
UPCOMING EVENTS*
Polar Bear Plunge
February 15, 2020
Jump-start the season at the annual Polar Bear Plunge. Come early, as
the polar bears don't stay in the ocean very long!
Sea Isle City Polar Bear Plunge
Polar Bear 5k Run/1.5-Mile Fun Walk For Autism
February 16, 2020
This event, sponsored by Mike's Seafood, encourages runners and walkers
of all ages and abilities to participate with their families, while
supporting a worthwhile cause.
Polar Bear 5k Run/1.5-Mile Fun Walk For Autism
Mayors Wellness Campaign 2020
February 20 - March 19, 2020
5 week Wellness Program consisting of health, nutrition & fitness
support sessions every Thursday, and Monday morning walks with the
Mayor.
Mayors
Wellness Campaign 2020
Tea Time at The Avalon History Center
February 20 , 2020
Enjoy tea as they share memories of old Avalon, and make new ones!
Avalon
History Center
New Jersey and Back Again: Meet and Greet with Erin Rawls
February 21, 2020
Come meet and get to know the new Outreach Coordinator for The Wetlands
Institute, Erin Rawls. Learn about her journey as an environmental
educator working from Florida to California, and how it's brought her
back to New Jersey time and time again.
Wetlands Institute Lunch & Learn Series
Hurrikanen's Kids Fashion Show Fundraiser
February 23, 2020
Hurrikanen's Kids' will be hosting a charity fashion show to support
kids with pediatric cancer. Featuring performances from Pediatric Cancer
Fighters, Warriors, & Angel Families!
Hurrikanen's Kids Fashion Show Fundraiser
Pump Station Project
Stone Harbor is initiating a ten-month project to relocate and replace
one of its two municipal sanitary sewer pumps. The project is on an
expedited schedule, with completion scheduled for the second week in
November. The borough's wastewater system utilizes two municipally owned
pump stations at 114th and 93rd streets, and one additional pump station
owned and operated by the county Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA)
near the 80th Street Marina.
Sewer Pump Station Project |
Sewer Pump Station Presentation
Stone Harbor Appoints Smith
as Borough Administrator
Robert J. Smith, of Turnersville, has been appointed as the
administrator for the Borough of Stone Harbor. A licensed attorney, and
a former New Jersey State Assemblyman, he joins Stone Harbor with eight
years of executive-level experience in municipal government.
Stone Harbor Borough Administrator
Avalon Seeking Applications for Beach Patrol/Beach Tag Checkers
The Borough of Avalon has exciting employment opportunities for the
Summer of 2020! They are seeking applications for positions with the
Avalon Beach Patrol as lifeguards, and beach tag checkers. Hurry,
positions fill up quickly!
Beach Patrol/Beach Tag Checkers
Number of Peregrine Falcons Hatched in NJ Up
The nonprofit Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey (CWF) and New
Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife's Endangered and Nongame Species
Program (ENSP) released the 2019 New Jersey Peregrine Falcon Research
and Management Program Report highlighting the continued recovery of the
peregrine falcon in New Jersey. According to a release, the number of
peregrine falcons young produced in New Jersey rose slightly to 78 in
2019, as compared to 75 in 2018. The adult population was slightly lower
at 38 known pairs, as compared to 40 known pairs in 2018.
Peregrine Falcons Hatched in NJ Up in 2019
Single-Use Plastic, Paper Bag Ban Bill
Legislators are acting quickly a few weeks after the New Jersey Assembly
failed to act on the comprehensive ban on single-use plastic and paper
bags. The New Jersey Senate Environment and Energy Committee released
the bill, known as S-864, sending it for further action.
N.J. Legislators Quickly Reintroduce Single-Use Plastic, Paper Bag Ban
Bill
Coalition for Safe Community, Cape May County Prosecutor's
Office Partner to Host Black History Month Event
Anthony Ray Hinton, former wrongfully convicted prisoner held on death
row for 30 years for a crime he did not commit and author of "The Sun
Does Shine," will be at the Middle Township Performing Arts Center in
Cape May Court House at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, for a meet-and-greet
and book signing. The event, open to the public, is hosted by the
Coalition for a Safe Community and the Cape May County Prosecutor's
Office.
Coalition for Safe Community, CMCo. Prosecutor's Office
Partner to Host Black History Month Event
UPCOMING EVENTS*
AHLOA Monthly Meeting
February 8 , 2020
Guest speaker is Krista FitzSimons, Program Coordinator/Planner, Cape
May County Division of Aging & Disability Services.
AHLOA Monthly Meeting
Valentine Luncheon/Card Party
February 12, 2020
Annual luncheon, game and card party to benefit local charities.
Avalon Civic Club
Biology and Management of Purple Martins
February 14, 2020
Allen Jackson is a Wildlife Biologist retired from the US Fish and
Wildlife Service in 2002 after 31 years. He is a martin mentor for the
PMCA and has learned the importance of proper management for both Purple
Martins and the Eastern Bluebird. These two species thrive on and
respond to active management.
Wetlands Institute Lunch & Learn Series
Polar Bear Plunge
February 15, 2020
Jump-start the season at the annual Polar Bear Plunge. Come early, as
the polar bears don't stay in the ocean very long!
Sea Isle City Polar Bear Plunge
Polar Bear 5k Run/1.5-Mile Fun Walk For Autism
February 16, 2020
This event, sponsored by Mike's Seafood, encourages runners and walkers
of all ages and abilities to participate with their families, while
supporting a worthwhile cause.
Polar Bear 5k Run/1.5-Mile Fun Walk For Autism
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