Boater’s Bad Day: 44-Year-Old Tiffany Shattered in Breakers

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

They don’t call them “breakers” for nothing.
Captain’s Choice, a 1965 wooden Tiffany vessel, came to the coast of Long Beach Island in a rather atypical fashion – in pieces. Late Sunday evening, July 26, owner and operator Joseph Summer of Staten Island called the Coast Guard to alert them he had a malfunction with steering and was attempting to set anchor in the ocean just offshore of the Peahala Park section of Long Beach Township. Then he noticed the boat was taking on water.
Summer deployed a self-inflating, six-person life raft to get his brother and two nieces, as well as himself, safely ashore as the 44-year-old boat drifted into the surf and began to break to pieces.
With debris scattered for more than 20 blocks along the shore, beaches were temporarily closed as the remains of the boat were collected by the Long Beach Township Department of Public Works and taken to the township municipal yard. Members of the Long Beach Township Police Department, volunteer firemen from the Beach Haven and Ship Bottom companies, and a Beach Haven First Aid Squad crew, as well as Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light, responded to the scene.
The beach on 92nd Street remained closed on Monday for safety reasons until the engine and fuel tank were located during dead low tide in the evening. About 80 gallons of diesel fuel was reported on board when the boat capsized, according to police. Patrolman Mark Stanish, Special Officer Dan Petrone and Sgt. Chuck Schnell were first on the scene and saw the four passengers were already safely ashore as the boat remained foundering in the shore break off 93rd Street.
The 32-foot wooden pleasure craft had departed from Staten Island and made a pit stop Sunday in Belmar. It was en route to Atlantic City when Summer noticed trouble on board, as he was about a half-mile offshore.
Summer has contracted a boat salvage company in an effort to save whatever may be left of his vessel. For those treasure hunters looking for an adventure, it’s not as easy as “finder’s keepers.” Maritime laws state that all property from a sunken ship remains the property of the original owner, and any salvor who may come across wreckage has no right to the property.
At press time, no additional information was known about what may have caused the ship to break apart.

Guarding Personal Space: Beach Incident Spotlights Keeping Children Wary

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

No place is completely safe from crime or creepy people. Not even Long Beach Island. During the course of the season, more than one attempted abduction has been reported on the Island.
In one early June case, a woman attempted to lure two young children off the beach in Ship Bottom after engaging them in what was reported to be an inappropriate conversation. Both children were able to get away unscathed.
More recently, a young woman was the victim of an attempted abduction by a man in an SUV in the Brant Beach section of Long Beach Township. She also got away unharmed, though neither he nor the woman suspected of trying to abduct the children in Ship Bottom has been located. For more information about the most recent abduction attempt, visit lbtpd.com.
Sometimes, unfortunately, well-meaning people can trigger unnecessary alarm. Leslie Houston, Long Beach Township deputy police chief, reminded people to be aware of the “18 inches of personal space” of others. Personal space means something different to each person, certainly, and Houston noted that exceptionally outgoing people might have a different concept of personal space than a more reserved person. The same is true of city-dwellers, many of whom visit the Island during the summer season, versus people less used to the conventions of a teeming metropolis. Therefore, Houston said anybody trying to get a stranger’s attention should first announce himself or herself, rather than reaching to tap or take hold of a person.
Houston also said people should be constantly aware of who is approaching and who is around, and use good judgment when it comes to contact with strangers.
The rules are different for adults than for children. Houston advised that all people avoid traveling alone and stay in groups, remain in well-lit areas and always tell somebody where you are going. For younger people, particularly children, she said they should be instructed to never approach strangers and never answer any questions.
“There’s no reason that an adult should be asking a young child for directions,” said Houston, who noted that nearly all adult encounters with young children are “absolutely less innocent… Anybody could be a stranger – if it’s not your parent, your schoolteacher, your doctor or someone you see over your house for dinner,” she said.
As times change and technology grows in abundance, so, too, change the rules. Children no longer have to be warned not to take candy from strangers, they have to be told of the dangers that new techno gadgets can pose when it comes to an abduction attempt. For instance, Houston said that walking with headphones could muffle the sound of a person approaching. So people of all ages should be cautious to keep an ear open, especially when walking alone.
In the event of an actual abduction, New Jersey participates in the nationwide AMBER Plan, a cooperative program between law enforcement and the media to alert the community of potentially life-threatening abductions of children under the age of 18. More information about the AMBER Alert is at www.state.nj.us/njsp/amber.

Less Room to Move for Personal Watercraft, NJ Lawmakers Decide

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Personal watercraft operators are about to have less room to speed around in after passage of legislation promoted by 9th District Sen. Christopher J. Connors and Assemblymen Brian E. Rumpf and Daniel M. VanPelt. This legislation will prohibit the use of personal watercraft (PWCs, commonly referred to by the brand name Jet Ski) above the minimum headway speed within 100 feet of swimming areas, the coastline, residential homes and any persons in the water. Though this buffer zone was cut in half from the originally proposed 200 feet, it still doubles the existing legal buffer zone of just 50 feet.
“It became readily apparent that our delegation would not be able to achieve the necessary votes for our legislation aimed at enhancing watercraft safety without agreeing to this amendment” of reducing the buffer area from 200 feet to 100 feet, stated Connors.
The initiative is intended to promote safety in the waterways and avoid potential collisions.
“Even when operated at minimal speeds, these vehicles, if operated recklessly, can result in significant injury to swimmers or cause significant property damage,” said Connors.
There are also environmental concerns about PWCs running over nests when coming close to nesting islands, or devastating areas of shallow water previously untouched by motored watercraft, according to the Barnegat Bay Estuary web site.
“We don’t see any aspect of this legislation as being restrictive or having a negative impact, in any way, on recreational activity. It will only make it safer,” said Rumpf.
So far, so good. Virginia Vieytes, a sales person at Surf City Marina, said the new law may deter a select few, but not enough to cause any significant problem for business or avid watercraft users. She said the biggest problem is for those living on lagoons, but they have always been warned with “no wake” signs, and Vieytes said watercraft owners, in her experience, are usually respectful.
“A Jet Ski is still cheaper than buying a boat; it’s more efficient and it’s a lot of fun,” she said.
One relatively new measure that Vieytes said she’s happy about is that personal watercraft operators must be at least age 16 and go through an extensive safety course before being certified.
The new buffer zone measure has passed the Senate and Assembly and awaits the signature of Gov. Jon S. Corzine before it becomes law.
As a penalty for violating the new buffer space and minimum speed requirements, first-time offenders will be fined $25. That doubles with each offense until a $100 fine for a third offense. After the third offense, it is unclear whether watercraft use would be suspended.

He Will Beg for a Treat, But Make ‘Dolphin 56’ Find His Own Dinner

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine has reported over 200 strandings, both dead and alive, of seals, turtles and crustaceans so far for 2009. Ocean County has historically been a hot spot for marine mammal activity, with 30 percent of all strandings handled by the center since 1975 occurring in our waters. A close second is Cape May County, which has seen 28 percent of the center’s caseload.
Bob Schoelkopf, the center director, said this area is a breeding ground and birthing area for bottlenose dolphins.
Some have expressed concern that more whale and dolphin sightings have occurred closer to the coastline, perhaps due to bunker, a favorite dolphin meal, near the beaches. Schoelkopf said there haven’t been an unusual number of dolphin sightings, though his organization mainly monitors stranded creatures. The Cape May Whale Watch also noted that there has been no unusual activity, and that the bulk of humpback whale sightings often occur much later in the season, generally in September.
One sighting that has many entertained is that of Dolphin 56, who seems to have made a celebrity of himself in local waters. He’s a bottlenose dolphin from Florida who migrates up here every summer because, Schoelkopf said, “He likes spending his summers in New Jersey.” All dolphins migrate, Schoelkopf said, but Dolphin 56’s healthy migration patterns are unusual because of his age: he’s in his mid-40s. The “56” branding on his dorsal fin – remnant of a Florida research project in the 1970s – makes him instantly recognizable.
Schoelkopf said that male dolphins are often not allowed to travel with pods of females because they can be dangerous to young calves, but because Dolphin 56 is no longer sexually active, the female pods have let him join in from time to time. Still, he prefers swimming solo, because it gives him a better chance of finding food – and not always in the best of ways.
“He has a bad habit of begging for food,” said Schoelkopf, who noted that it is against federal law to feed wild dolphins. “He does know how to catch fish. It (begging) is just a habit he picked up over the years in Florida.”
Schoelkopf also said that Dolphin 56, in his constant state of entertaining, recently swam alongside the boat of a rowing team, confusing its occupants but making for a memorable outing.
If you see Dolphin 56 in the water, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center asks that you contact them immediately at (609) 266-0538, and provide a latitude and longitude, if possible. Also, in the event of finding a stranded mammal on the shore, they ask that you call them and the Coast Guard or local police immediately and not touch the creature.

For Safety’s Sake, No Holes Allowed on LBI Beaches

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Want to dig a hole to China? You won’t be doing it on LBI beaches. In fact, digging holes any more than knee-deep might have the local beach patrol after you.
“Sand is unstable next to the ocean,” said Don Myers, Long Beach Township Beach Patrol supervisor.
The unpredictable nature of sand lends to collapsing and potentially trapping those inside hallowed out holes. Not only that, Keith Stokes, Ship Bottom Beach Patrol captain, said holes can cause problems for public works crews that maintain the beaches, as well as for beach patrol quads speeding by in an emergency.
“The big holes affect everybody,” Stokes said. “They’re not the best things on the beach.”
Several years ago, a young teenager suffocated when a deep trench he was digging in Loveladies suddenly buried him.
“It’s a real thing. I think people think, ‘This won’t happen to me,’ or that the sand won’t collapse on them, but it can and will,” said Stokes. In fact, a 10-year-old boy had to be rescued last week after venturing headfirst into a tunnel he had hollowed out. “Under no circumstances should you go headfirst into any hole,” said Myers. “And absolutely no tunnels.”
While the Ship Bottom Beach Patrol asks beachgoers to fill in holes that are waist-deep on a person, Myers said the rule of thumb in Long Beach Township is that there should be no holes dug deeper than the knee of the user. Though there is no ordinance in Long Beach Township specifically prohibiting the digging of holes, Myers said township beach badge checkers and lifeguards keep a close eye on digging to avoid injuries on the beaches. He also noted that, while beach badge checkers frequently make the rounds from the dunes to the water, lifeguards will also be encouraged to get off the stand more often to make sure people are safe, both in the water and on the sand.
Myers also warned of other potential beach dangers, including kite flying, walking on jetties, foreign objects including glass bottles on beaches, improperly set-up umbrellas that may be hurled by a wind gust, “and, of course, the ocean itself.”
Stokes encouraged any beachgoer with questions about beach rules or staying safe to ask a lifeguard. “Most people are pretty wise to the potential danger,” he said. “A simple question can be the difference between a good day on the beach and a bad one.”
Despite the potential dangers, however, Myers said, 99.9 percent of the time, the beach is “the world’s best babysitter.”

Plans to Protect Mordecai Island Continue

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Efforts to protect and restore Mordecai Island are continuing, an effort to “give the island a chance to regrow and reestablish itself,” said Bill Pilling, trustee and past president of Mordecai Land Trust.
Mordecai Island is a 46-acre sedge island in the bay west of Beach Haven that serves as protection for about a mile of Beach Haven’s bayfront, according to Pilling. He said the island acts as a sponge when storms approach Long Beach Island. However, there has been “significant erosion” over the last several years, mostly along the southwest edge where the Intracoastal Waterway was dredged years ago by the Army Corps of Engineers. The Mordecai Land Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to the island’s protection and preservation.
The island is also home to various species of plant and animal life, including its abundant skimmers and oystercatchers, as well as other migratory birds.
Aside from protecting the bayside coastline of Beach Haven, Mordecai Island also serves as a buffer for the Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club, which once owned the island before it was transferred to the land trust in 2001. The goal of the Mordecai Land Trust is to retard erosion and preserve the natural open space that serves as a habitat for threatened and endangered species.
Mordecai Land Trust has partnered with the Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, as well as other governmental and private organizations, to aid in the island’s growth. The first project is a breakwater, which Pilling said has all of its funding in place but will cost more than anticipated.
A second project, labeled the Southwest Mordecai Ecosystem Restoration Plan (SWMER), is on hold due to lack of surplus funding from the first project. Still, the beginning of the breakwater project is ready to go and Pilling said they are only waiting for a budget to be finalized.
The project will involve the installation of a wooden breakwater to stabilize and protect the shore, as well as other biostabilization techniques, including the installation of a Geotube, an extensive sand-filled bag that deflects wave energy.
The Mordecai Land Trust is hosting its annual house tour and “Sunset Over Mordecai” cocktail party on Saturday, July 18 in an effort to continue fundraising for the preservation of Mordecai Island. Six Beach Haven homes will be featured in the tour, which runs from 2 to 6 p.m. The cocktail party will follow at Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance (by Friday), or $40 at the yacht club on Saturday.
Another major fundraising event is planned for the fall.
For more information, visit mordecaimatters.org.

Barnegat Light Beach Patrol to Host Mile Swim

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The Barnegat Light Beach Patrol is making waves to raise funds this summer with its first Ocean Mile Swim, an event intended to take place annually.
“We hope it will be a lasting tradition,” said John Schulze, a patrol member who is helping to organize the event.
The race, which Schulze said is the first competitive one-mile swim on Long Beach Island, is modeled after similar events in Wildwood Crest and Ocean City, among others throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Schulze said.
Swimmers will dive in for the race on Saturday, July 25 at 6:30 p.m., rain or shine. The one-mile swim will take place along the beachfront in Barnegat Light, beginning at 30th Street with the finish line on 17th Street. The course itself will be contingent on the ocean currents at the time of the race. Schulze said participants will swim with the current, not against it, and he said he encourages swimmers of all experience levels to be sure to follow the course.
“Swimmers should be fit for an event like this,” Schulze said. The fastest swimmers are anticipated to finish in less than 20 minutes, while others may take up to an hour to complete the course. “It’s definitely not a short race,” he said. Lifeguards will be planted throughout the course on boards and rescue boats, and Schulze said participants should keep an eye out for fellow swimmers who seem overly fatigued and alert nearby lifeguards if necessary.
Swimmers will compete for a handful of awards, including plaques for the first three overall finishers, both male and female, as well as medals for the top three finishers in each age bracket, male and female. There are a total of 12 age brackets, ranging from 14 and under to 70 and over. A plaque will also be awarded to the first-place beach patrol or club team.
Registration will take place on 17th Street and swimmers will be transported by beach truck to the starting line. On-site registration will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., with a $25 entry fee for the race day. Those wishing to pre-register are asked to send $20 postmarked by July 18. The first 200 entrants will receive a commemorative T-shirt, and the entry fee includes food and drink for all swimmers following the race. Wetsuits are permitted and encouraged pending cold-water conditions.
Timing and results will be supervised by L&M Computer Sports and Event Productions Inc. For additional information on the race, call Schulze at 609-290-5918.

Jewish Community to Build New Island Sanctuary

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island is coming out with big plans to emerge from behind the disheveled tennis courts that currently mark its location on the Boulevard in Spray Beach.
“We are not proud of the present appearance of the tennis courts and the building itself,” said Ed Dreyfus, chairman of the new building committee. “The building is basically a block that has no indication that anything Jewish is going on inside. It’s just a plain brick wall, period.”
The structure, with no bathroom inside and facing the need for repairs in the near future, has been there for more than 45 years. Not only has its congregation outgrown the space, it is also facing problems with mold and structural upkeep, all of which Rose Valentine, past president of the JCC, said were a recipe to rebuild, not repair.
“The vision that we have is to provide a building that reflects more of who we are as a congregation,” said Dreyfus, “something that we will be quite proud of, aesthetically beautiful and based on the Judaic design.”
Beyond that, the building will also be far more functional, catering to the needs of a large congregation without outsourcing events to other venues just to house all attendees comfortably. As it stands, the JCC has only one room serving as the sanctuary, classroom, social hall, and whatever else it can be turned into within a day, said Valentine.
Though the JCC has found its one-room hybrid sanctuary and social hall sufficient for weekly Shabbat services, mahjongg tournaments and its annual bazaar, there are other congregational needs to be met. For instance, for the past three years, the JCC has utilized space at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences for its high holidays services, and even that has left them “busting at the seams,” said Dreyfus.
The congregation’s Hebrew school, which presently educates 22 students, according to Valentine, is housed in a trailer outside the main building.
There are 260 families in the congregation, said Valentine, and they are a population that Dreyfus called socially, religiously and intellectually active. “We want a building that will not only foster a greater interest in what’s going on in our congregation but will enhance what is going on in our community,” he said. This means lectures, events, services and more.
The new building will be two stories and will face the Boulevard, welcoming attendees in with backlighted, stained glass windows and angled walls that Dreyfus called “welcoming arms.” With 10,000 square feet of usable space, almost four times the space the congregation has now, quarters will be far less cramped. The office will be upgraded from its present “closet” status, said Valentine, and the kosher kitchen will also benefit from the extra space. While the permanent bench seating for 80-100 people in the sanctuary is expected to meet the congregation’s needs for the majority of the year, there will also be 100 seats in a balcony, plus room for individual, movable chairs to seat another 200 people. The walls of the sanctuary will also retract, joining the sanctuary with the social hall for occasions like the high holidays. The congregation also intends to utilize the social hall for receptions and lectures, with a raised platform for a band or speaker, as well as a permanent dance floor.
Craig W. Brearly has been retained as the project architect. The JCC is pleased that Brearly has agreed to work with the congregation, and is excited for a more comfortable, beautiful building. Dreyfus said the congregation is “going to do as much green as we can afford,” including solar panels on the roof, extra insulation, tankless water heaters, and energy-efficient lighting.
The congregation will continue raising funds over the next 18 months and hopes to begin the first phase of construction in the fall of 2010.

Summer Rentals Cater to Wi-Fi Generation with High-Tech Amenities

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

As technology continues to improve and dominate the culture, it seems to become harder to avoid business calls, BlackBerry messages and even Facebook updates while on vacation. In fact, according to David Wyrsch Jr., broker with Van Dyk Group in Beach Haven, more and more owners of rental properties on Long Beach Island have decided to provide high-tech amenities to their seasonal and weekly tenants, many of whom demand premium channels like Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon to keep their children happy, and wi-fi Internet access to keep their bosses happy.
“Internet access at the (rental) house is becoming almost a necessity,” said Matt Kulinski, sales agent at G. Anderson Agency. “Not necessarily wireless Internet, but at the bare minimum, a high speed connection.” Kulinski said “a majority” of homeowners now provide Internet service to their tenants.
“A couple of years ago, we saw a transition where houses that didn’t have air conditioning weren’t renting. We’re not there yet, but I’m sure it’s going to get to that point with Internet access,” Kulinski said. He added, “It hasn’t been a deal breaker.”
Rick Stevens, broker at Stevens Real Estate in Brant Beach, said that such amenities as high-speed wireless Internet and premium cable channels have not quite become standard, and Wyrsch said they still fall into the “perks” category.
The problem, however, comes when these things break. “Any time you have any kind of mechanical equipment in a house, there are going to be some problems,” said Stevens. A jammed toaster can be tossed and replaced at the nearest Wal-Mart for less than it costs to buy a burger and fries. Cable and Internet malfunctions, however, often require servicing that means more than adjusting the rabbit ears or changing batteries in the remote control.
“Problems with the Internet are not easily fixed,” said Wyrsch, who said that these issues open the door to complaints from tenants. “Right now we’re certainly doing our best to get people up and running and provide people the services for their rental place that they signed up for,” he said. That sometimes means resetting routers after thunderstorms blow out power, said Stevens. Still, Kulinski said that many of the big technological problems don’t involve the real estate brokers anyway, and problems are often addressed the same way they would be at home: by calling the Internet or cable provider.
When the technology is working, however, renters are taking advantage by staying caught up with friends on Facebook, their favorite television shows and work emails. “People are taking their work with them more than ever before,” said Stevens. “They have to stay connected.”
The need to stay connected, of course, negates the quintessential beach mentality of disconnected relaxation, said Kulinski. Yet the accessibility has made it easier for the family breadwinner to spend an entire vacation with their family, instead of commuting back to the office for a day or two during the vacation.
Regardless, “It gives people peace of mind to be in touch,” Stevens said.
And now, it’s even easier to be in touch, even from the sand dunes.

Keeping it Green: Electric Car Brings Fun to Harvey Cedars

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Summertime Harvey Cedars resident Phylis DeRose brought new meaning to “fuel-efficient vehicle” when she bought her Global Electric Motorcar GEM e2 electric car last summer. The yellow buggy, with no trunk and no doors, can scoot down the Boulevard at a maximum of 25 miles per hour. It can go 30 miles on a single charge. How do you charge it? Why, you plug it into an electrical outlet, of course! DeRose said the car takes 5-6 hours to fully charge, and it uses no gas at all.
GEM is a Chrysler company offering six models of battery-operated vehicles. They have been in operation for 10 years, according to the company’s web site, and are approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as a low-speed Neighborhood Electric Vehicle.
GEM says the cars “represent a new kind of personal transportation that expands the capacity to have fun.” DeRose agrees that fun is the name of the game with her beach vehicle. “Everybody waves,” she said. “Everybody is friendly when you’re driving this car.” She said she even selected the yellow model because it was a “happy color.”
While musing about the cheeriness of her Island-only vehicle, she considered polka dot stickers or other colorful decals to add to the fun.
DeRose is currently the only GEM owner on the Island, though she said she knows of one in Stone Harbor and one in Brigantine. She traveled out to the Spirit Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealership in Swedesboro after returning from Key West, where, “Everybody there has them. They’re everywhere.”
She can’t drive it off the Island, but she said it’s perfect for errands and grocery shopping – and she hasn’t lost a grocery yet, despite the lack of doors.
She said she hopes one day to drive it to the end of the Island and back, if only she can stop somewhere mid-way to charge it back up.

Pups Get to Play at New Brant Beach Dog Park

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Long Beach Township isn’t going to the dogs, but part of Bayview Park is. A site off 68th Street in Brant Beach has been designated as dog-friendly terrain, making it the Island’s second canine-friendly beach venue. The Township Commission has placed the LBT Beach Patrol in supervision of Bayview Park’s North Recreation Area as the dog park area. It is roughly the size of a football field, said Don Myers, Long Beach Township Beach Patrol Supervisor.
Previous beach restrictions stated, “No animals, except Seeing Eye dogs, whether leashed, harnessed or otherwise controlled shall be allowed upon any public beach at any place within the limits of the Township from May 1 through Oct. 1 of any year.” This regulation is still in effect on beaches throughout the Island, with the exception of Bayview Park and the Tenth Street ball field in Barnegat Light.
Dogs in Bayview Park are still required to be securely fastened on leashes. Earlier, an exception had been made to allow dogs off their leash for games of catch with soft toys. Dogs must also be licensed, with tags attached to their collars. Myers said that ensuring proper licensing is a public health issue, as is the proper disposal of pet waste.
One of the concerns about allowing dogs on beaches is water pollution from neglected pet waste. According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, “Animal waste contains a high concentration of nutrients as well as bacteria and disease-causing microorganisms that can cause problems.” Therefore, the Beach Patrol has asked that, as with any other public location, dog owners collect and dispose of any solid pet waste immediately. Myers said there have not been many problems with people leaving dog droppings on the beach during hours when attendants are present, but he added, “Not every dog owner cleans up after his or her dog, which is unfortunate.”
Myers said Beach Patrol beach badge checkers, who look after the dog park area, often have to clean up neglected pet waste early in the morning.
The Beach Patrol provides bags for owners to clean up after their dogs, as well as a hose with fresh water to keep canines hydrated and clean in the hot summer sun. Owners frequently bring their own dog bowls, as well as toys and other pet accessories along with them to the dog park, according to Myers.
Myers said he asks the public to be patient with this new project, as it is a “work in progress.” He said patrons have given feedback, both positive and negative, since the park opened in the spring. Changes have been made as a result.
Mayor Joseph Mancini, who has taken some heat from critics of the dog park since April, commented to The Beachcomber, “It isn’t controversial. There’s a handful of people that understand the word sharing. It’s for everyone’s use. There’s hundreds that love it.”
He called the people who are unhappy that dogs are allowed in Bayview Park the “squeaky wheel” and said, “There’s a couple of individuals that are very vocal.”
One change enacted since the criticism is that dogs must now be on leashes at all times. “We don’t care how long the leash is,” Mancini said. He said it could even be a 50-foot retractable lead, as long as the dog is in the control of the handler. Also, the park hours are now 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., which coincides with when the Beach Patrol is on duty at Bayview Park.
Mancini called the park an “evolving process” and he asked people to use their common sense.

Barnegat Bay ‘Nursery’ Welcomes 2.8 Million New Shellfish Seeds

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Barnegat Bay is about to start clamming up for the season. ReClam the Bay has begun the harvesting process for the first half-million baby clams of the 2009 season, according to Rick Bushnell, president of RCTB.
RCTB is an organization that works to repopulate the bay with shellfish, all the while teaching kids and adults alike what they should be doing to keep the environment clean through various outreach and educational programs.
Bushnell said he is excited about new developments with the project that have come about since last summer. RCTB has entered into an agreement with the Flexabar Corporation of Lakewood, a manufacturer of marine paints and coatings, to sponsor the planting of 2.5 million clam seeds in Barnegat Bay this summer. Bushnell said this is more than double what the organization has been able to plant in previous years. Approximately 350,000 oysters will also be planted.
Flexabar’s funding for RCTB has come from its Supplemental Environmental Project, something Bushnell said is “a really big deal.”
“We are pleased to be part of ReClam the Bay’s work,” said Rick Guglielmo, Flexabar president. “This natural resource restoration program offers a double benefit, because the clams also provide a natural mechanism for improving water quality in the bay by filtering and removing contaminants from the water.”
“Humans really are the only ones that can clean up the bay,” said Bushnell. The filter-feeding shellfish do a small part to clean the water, but it is more important for people to understand that these and other creatures find a home in the bay and that people should be more careful of the products they let get into the water.
RCTB has a growing number of volunteers, including a class of 37 who finished the certification class in shellfish growing. The class is a seven-week course in biology, health and public safety, and practices for raising shellfish, combining science and mechanics to provide graduates with a solid understanding of the benefits of the program and how to best implement them.
“We’re all citizen scientists,” said Bushnell. “We’re serious hobbyists trying to understand some of these relationships” between shellfish and cleaner water.
Graduates of the certification course aren’t the only volunteers for RCTB. There are other volunteers who help out in various capacities, sometimes assisting the certified growers with restoration and cleaning. Bushnell said RCTB is also seeking to educate local residents about the bay and the benefits of populating it with filter feeders. Education is done from the childhood level up, with interactive games and adventures, like this year’s new Clam Trail, where explorers seek out the location of each artistic giant clam, upweller (artificial shellfish nursery) or other place of interest to collect points and win awards.
Bushnell said he is also happy to report that a new upweller has been added to the treasury. Upwellers are the tanks that foster the growth of the clam seed before they are planted in the bay as baby clams. Upwellers serve as incubators, of sorts, for the clams that begin life the size of a pencil point. RCTB now has 11 upwellers spread throughout the Barnegat Bay area.
RCTB is sponsored by local businesses throughout the Barnegat Bay area, stretching from Mantoloking to Little Egg Harbor, and is funded by the Barnegat Bay Estuary Program, the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Excelon Corporation, according to its Web site (reclamthebay.org). The organization also works closely with the Barnegat Bay Shellfish Restoration Program, which was established by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean County. The New Jersey Bureau of Shellfisheries is also a partner of the group.

Ocean Wind Power Sweeps Jersey Shore with Government Backing

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Wind farming is about to take the Jersey Shore coastline by storm. As of last week, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, with the help of New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine, has issued five leases for the production of renewable wind energy. Three New Jersey companies have been given the go-ahead to construct offshore wind turbines along the Continental Shelf, six to 18 miles off the state coast.
“It’s a resource that’s there for the taking,” said Tom Beaty, president of LBI-based Alliance for a Living Ocean. ALO is an organization that promotes a healthy environment and clean waters. Beaty said the organization supports wind energy because of its environmentally friendly properties.
Kirk Larson, mayor of Barnegat Light and longtime commercial fisherman, said he was the first investor in Fisherman’s Energy, one of the companies granted a lease for wind farming. The company formed from a coalition of commercial fishermen from coastal South Jersey.
“We were against wind (power) at first for a long time, but we decided if you can’t beat them, join them,” Larson said. He said the main reason many commercial fishermen were against offshore wind farms was because of concerns about disturbing the fish, the environment or the commercial fishing process. “We didn’t want them to plop (the turbines) down and kick us out,” he said.
Because many commercial fishermen know the ocean better than anyone else, Larson thinks they’ll be the most adept at selecting and creating the most efficient environment for a wind farm. Larson also said recreational fishing near the proposed wind farms should be great because they will be a kind of “artificial reef” more than a dozen miles offshore. Larson said he hopes the turbines will be erected by 2012 or 2014.
Another of these offshore wind farms is to be constructed roughly 20 miles due east of Avalon, Cape May County. This would be the closest proposed wind farm to Long Beach Island. The company granted the lease for the turbine construction off the coast of Avalon is Deepwater Wind, LLC, which has joined with Public Service Electric & Gas Renewable Generation to form Garden State Offshore Energy (GSOE), pairing together a history of providing energy and an expertise in the development of renewable, offshore wind energy.
GSOE’s proposed project, due to be complete by 2013, will put the nearest wind turbine more than 16.2 statute miles from the shoreline – far beyond a place where a beautiful beach sunrise can be obstructed.
Though research is still being done to explore environmental effects of wind power initiatives, Beaty said, “There is nothing that’s been proven to be detrimental to the environment.” Beaty calls New Jersey an “ideal candidate for (offshore) wind farms,” given the region’s wind patterns.
In order for offshore wind farms to become a reality, environmental analyses need to take place to ensure the structures are friendly to birds, whales, marine turtles and other wildlife living by the sea. GSOE said in a press release that it is committed to working closely with New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection.
When it comes to wind power, as with many other alternative sources of energy, Beaty said, “We need to work together to follow our president’s mandate for alternative fuel sources.” GSOE’s proposed wind farm alone is expected to create enough energy to power over 100,000 households and eliminate enough pollutants to provide the equivalent of 1.5 million cars taken from the road, the planting of 2 million acres of trees, and averting the import of 16 million barrels of foreign oil every year. The wind farm is expected to have a 25-year lifespan.
Other wind turbines on land have been popping up across the state in accordance with New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan. The most recent groundbreaking was in nearby Ocean Gate (south bank of the Toms River), where they anticipate two turbines to be up and running by Labor Day weekend.

Several Swimmers Saved From Rough Summer Surf

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Summer 2009 is off to a rough start. Persistent rain throughout the entire month of June may have dampened some spirits, but stormy weather also caused some bigger problems for the coastal community. Early season beach rescues are keeping the beach patrols busy in towns up and down the Island. Harvey Cedars Beach Patrol, which usually has 200-300 rescues per summer, had 54 rescues last week alone, according to Zeke Hill, captain of HCBP. Rough surf may have also caused the June 25 death of a man who was found floating off the beach in Harvey Cedars after bodysurfing with a friend.
After lifeguards went off duty for the night, Peter Kuhns, 54, was found unresponsive. Hill said it hasn’t been determined if the man drowned, as he could have also suffered from a broken neck or a heart attack. An investigation is ongoing as of press time, but Harvey Cedars Police Chief Thomas Preiser told The Sandpaper that the rough surf might have been a factor in the man’s death.
That same rough surf contributed to tempestuous conditions and numerous rescues on the beaches. A sand bar was washed over by the incoming tides – another byproduct of choppy seas – June 25 in Ship Bottom, sending 15 swimmers into rough water that included rip currents. The Ship Bottom Beach Patrol safely rescued all of the swimmers with no injuries.
Mark Dileo, lifeguard captain with the Surf City Beach Patrol, said that Surf City also saw a slightly above-average number of rescues made in the first week (beginning June 20) lifeguards were on duty. Tracy Schmidt, director of training and certification for Long Beach Township Beach Patrol, said that since June 21 the township had 27 rescues as of Tuesday afternoon, June 30.
Both Dileo and Hill attributed the higher number of early-season rescues to warmer than usual water, luring more people into the ocean earlier in the season.
Hill said that the combination of the radical tides, new moon and large waves caused conditions to be dangerous on the coast, with rip currents on every beach in Harvey Cedars.
Joe Miketta, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said that “prolonged onshore flow” and an “unsettled weather pattern” have both contributed to water conditions being less than ideal for bathing, with spotty thunderstorms popping up unexpectedly, and an enhanced risk of rip currents on a regular basis.
Miketta said the pattern hasn’t changed much and that erratic sea weather may continue. He reminded swimmers and surfers this week to be watchful and follow the same rules of caution when entering the ocean this season: always swim on guarded beaches during hours when a lifeguard is present, and exercise discretion when the waters appear rough.

Blamed on Heavy Rains, Trash Wash-Up Quickly Removed from the Beach

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Searching the beach for seashells took a dramatic turn on June 28 when trash began washing up on shore. Initially feared to be medical waste products, the Long Beach Island Health Department later dispelled those rumors, confirming that the debris was composed of personal waste, including discarded plastics, feminine hygiene products and home-use syringes typically associated with insulin-dependent diabetics.
According to Tom Beaty, president of the Alliance for a Living Ocean, whose mission includes maintaining clean coastal waters, the Department of Environmental Protection did a fly-over of the waters off the coast as a precautionary measure, to confirm that no other garbage slicks were present in the ocean. Nothing was found.
The debris has since been cleared and the beaches remain open. Beaty said that beachgoers should not be nervous about unsafe conditions, as none of the waste was hazardous material.
All of the debris appears to be the result of combined sewer overflow, which happens when outdated sewer systems and heavy, persistent rain combine, sending excess runoff (and whatever is floating on top of it) into the water instead of sewage treatment plants.
The runoff causing the recent wash-up is thought to have come from northern New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area after a series of significant storms hit that region, according to Tim Hilferty, director of the LBI Health Department.
The overflow, paired with a persistent flow of onshore easterly winds, forced floatable debris southward and finally onto the shore, according to Joe Miketta, meteorologist from the National Weather Service.
“New Jersey beaches, including LBI, bear the burden of trash escaping the New York/New Jersey Harbor Complex … LBI’s pristine, family-friendly beaches deserve better than upstate’s trash,” said Beaty.
Programs are in place to reduce problems related to combined sewer overflow. The Floatables Action Plan, an initiative by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, sends skimmer boats into the New York/North Jersey harbor complex to retrieve escaped floatable waste products. ALO, however, stated in a press release that the plan needs to be improved in New Jersey and that “New York needs to get on board and make (infrastructure improvements) a requirement as well. Until these improvements are made, LBI will continue to be at risk for wash-ups of northern New Jersey and New York garbage,” said Kelly Quinlan, chair of ALO’s Issues and Legislation Committee.
Although the majority of the floating waste byproducts are blamed on northern neighbors, ALO encourages local residents to make sure that they are doing their part as well. This means keeping storm drains clear of debris and ensuring garbage can lids are fastened securely to pails.

Ghost Tours Offer Alternative Entertainment for Summer Weekdays

Fri, 3 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Seeking something new and family-friendly to do with Long Beach Island summer evenings? Maggie O’Neill sought to provide just that when she created her walking ghost tour in Beach Haven last summer.
“It’s just an evening that’s an alternative to some of the other things you can do at night,” she said. “There are a lot of wonderful things to do on the Island, and the more we have to offer, the better a vacation spot we become,” O’Neill said.
One of the highlights of her ghost tour, she said, is that visitors can get up and walk around and enjoy the outdoors. “Whether you believe in ghosts or not, it provides a fun night, a stretch for the legs, and a good topic for conversation. We take it all with a grain of salt,” she said. “It’s an alternative to sitting home watching DVDs.”
“Into the Mystic Legends and Ghosts Walking Tours” explores the “haunted” sites in historic Beach Haven. “Long Beach Island has a colorful past filled with pirates, shipwrecks, bootleggers and more,” said O’Neill, who narrates the tours.
O’Neill got the idea last summer after returning from a New England vacation, complete with ghost tours, and realized Long Beach Island had no similar tours of its own to offer. “I had been collecting stories over the years and I came back and collected more,” she said.
Once her collection was complete, she created a family-friendly, alternative means of entertainment for visitors and locals alike.
“Now, you can go miniature golfing one night, go to the movies another night, and go on a ghost tour on a third night,” she said, noting that ghost tours are not always the first thing a vacationer might think of.
What else is there to do after dark on the Island? The Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce suggests a show at Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven, or a visit to the festivals, carnivals and free outdoor concerts provided at places like Veterans Bicentennial Park in Beach Haven, Bayview Park in Brant Beach, Sunset Park in Harvey Cedars and waterfront dock areas in Barnegat Light and Ship Bottom.
For dreary days when families can’t play on the beach, O’Neill suggested visiting the three museums on the Island, including Barnegat Light Museum and the Long Beach Island Historical Museum in Beach Haven, where her tours originate. The Chamber of Commerce web site also recommends the newly opened Museum of New Jersey Maritime History in Beach Haven.
O’Neill’s ghost tours take place at 8 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday night, weather permitting, through September. They will begin at the LBI Historical Museum on Engleside Avenue in Beach Haven and last approximately 90 minutes. A lantern will guide visitors to public establishments within a mile and a half of the start. They will hear stories liked the famed “little girl in white,” among other local lore.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children under 12, on sale (cash only) beginning 7 p.m. Children under 5 are free. O’Neill said she recommends those who come on the tour spend the hour prior in the museum. Comfortable shoes are advised.

Swine Flu Takes on Summertime

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

School is out but swine flu is still on for summer. With children no longer reporting to school nurses when they’re feeling under the weather, officials are hoping that parents will be sure to keep sick children home even when day camp and summer fun festivities beckon. Summertime means tourist season for Long Beach Island, and vacations mean eating out, visiting amusement parks and spending time on the beach. “It’s hard to tell people to stay inside when they’re on vacation,” said Leslie Terjesen, public information officer for the Ocean County Health Department, “but stay home if you’re sick.”
Since the Health Department is no longer receiving constant updates from school nurses throughout the county, Terjesen said it’s difficult to pinpoint exact numbers of people, particularly children, staying home sick, but she said, “We had a kindergarten class of 36 with 25 out. It’s unlikely with rates like that last week that it’s all gone this week.”
Though the department gets the absentee figures, there was no report in this case that swine flu was involved.
In an effort to keep highly-populated areas contagion free, Terjesen said the Health Department is “beefing up” the information distributed to summer camps, amusement parks, restaurants and even rental properties, “bombarding them” in hopes that owners will post signs reminding people to wash their hands, carry with them alcohol-based hand sanitizers, cough or sneeze into napkins, and avoid touching their noses, mouths and eyes.
Dana O’Connor, Public Health Nurse and Supervisor for the LBI Health Department, said the local department has worked closely with the county on outreach to places like churches and summer camps, focusing on promotion and education. “We don’t have any cases here that we know of, thank God. People should still come on vacation.”
She noted that people should be taking the same precautions as with seasonal flu, since it’s essentially like an earlier onset of the same virus. She also said people on the Island can check out www.lbihealth.com for the most updated local information.
Leslie Houston, deputy chief of police for Long Beach Township, said that her police department is following the lead of the Health Department. She sees no reason to raise undue alarm. “The last thing I want to do is scare people away,” she said. “People aren’t as confined as they were when schools were in session, where (H1N1, swine flu) seemed to have a higher concentration, so I would think we would have less of an outbreak,” she said, also noting that there aren’t the same kind of congested means of travel, like buses and subways, on the Island. “People are outside enjoying the beach and the outdoors,” she said.
Terjesen said people who are suffering from a cough, fever, headache and/or vomiting should stay home for seven days, or 24 hours after their last symptom, whichever comes later. “I hope a parent wouldn’t bring a sick child to an amusement park,” Terjesen said. Although she noted that it could be difficult to take a sick leave from jobs that don’t offer paid sick days, she said it’s crucial for a sick person to isolate him or herself as much as possible from co-workers, family and friends.
It’s not just the notorious H1N1 strain of influenza that the Health Department is keeping tabs on. Terjesen also said there is an “extremely unusual” rate of seasonal flu for this time of year, something that may or may not be connected to the “extremely unusual weather” as of late.
Though the Health Department isn’t necessarily concerned about an increase in influenza cases over the upcoming holiday weekend, she said, “If there is an emergency, we will all be alerted via our BlackBerries. The state can contact us if they need to get in touch with us.” They will also continue weekly meetings to continue to monitor the progress of all strains of influenza.
H1N1 is not necessarily more dangerous than the seasonal flu, but it is a new virus to which our bodies have not yet been exposed and therefore people lack immunity. “They still need to develop a vaccine and get that distributed to people,” said Terjesen.
Recent news reports have indicated the vaccine may be made available by September.

Rain Dampens But Hasn’t Destroyed Early 2009 Season

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

It’s no surprise that we had a wet spring. Rainfall has been “well above average” for the month of June, according to Patrick O’Hara, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The closest weather station to LBI, in Atlantic City, clocked in 5.76 inches of rain as of late last week, more than three times the June average of 1.55 inches.
O’Hara said a storm track that’s stuck close to the coast instead of moving up into Canada, as it usually does, is to blame for the rain. It’s not an indication of an imminent destructive hurricane season. “It’s just the way the weather gets, sometimes. It’s abnormal, but it’s not something that hasn’t happened before,” he said.
Spontaneous downpours have sent residents scrambling for cover, excessive high tides have caused roadside flooding on the Boulevard, and dreary weather has kept some local businesses lagging in winter-season hours. The Island’s surfers, though, have not seen much problem with the persistent inclement weather.
“It’s been fantastic surf the last couple of days,” said Marco Grasso, co-owner of Wave Hog Surf Shop in Ship Bottom.
Joseph Scarpinato from Farias Surf Shop in Ship Bottom said that despite the non-beach weather, the water has been unusually warm – something he’s happy about because, he said, “I don’t have to wear a wet suit anymore!” He said rainy days haven’t kept surfers out of the ocean with the last week of good surf conditions.
West winds coming after storms have improved local surf conditions. Scarpinato said he hasn’t noticed any riptides or dangerous conditions on the water.
What may be good surf weather, though, has caused “an enormous amount of debris” to be blown up onto the beach and into the ocean, according to Elizabeth Burke, executive director of Alliance for a Living Ocean, a Ship Bottom-based water watch organization. While storms wash trash and debris into the ocean, excessive runoff from deluges can cause polluted water to find its way into the bay and ocean.
“The storms are just putting a magnifying glass on a problem that already exists,” Burke said. Yet the problems stemming from excessive rain should be looked at as “a real opportunity” to get the word out about how to protect the natural environment, she said. People get upset about the pollution problem when it becomes this visible, and their increased awareness should be tapped to help fix the problem, she said.
The waterways aren’t the only natural systems affected by the seemingly ceaseless rain and drizzle. “We have a (weather) situation going on in this country that isn’t good right now,” said Joseph Conte of Conte Farms, Tabernacle. “If things don’t straighten out pretty soon, farmers are going to have some big losses.” The rains have helped a strong blueberry crop to flourish on local farms, but Conte said that it means very little if the rain doesn’t stop long enough for the berries to be picked. “You have to pack those berries, and you can’t pack them wet, so you have to go through some kind of drying process before you can get them to the public,” he said. Otherwise, damp berries can mold quickly. “We have a nice crop of berries here,” said Conte, adding that he hopes the rain stops soon so that the crops will be marketable.

NJDOT Yields: Bridge Construction Delayed ‘til September

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

After relentless objections from local businesses and government officials, the New Jersey Department of Transportation has decided to cancel its planned summer construction on the Dorland J. Henderson Memorial Bridge. The work is now slated to take place after Labor Day, in hopes that the summer tourism season on Long Beach Island will remain unaffected.
“June, July and August are vital tourism months for the Jersey Shore communities on Long Beach Island,” said Gov. Jon S. Corzine in a DOT press release. “We respect the concerns of Ocean County residents, officials and business owners and will move construction on the Route 72 Causeway until after the summer season.”
The original plan was to begin a bridge resurfacing project on July 20, with single-lane closures taking place from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays until Sept. 15. The DOT said the impact on tourism, business owners and local residents would be “minimal” and that they “would never plan a project that would threaten the success of the economy during the summer season.”
Many business owners, however, thought any amount of construction would cause irreparable harm to the Island’s seasonal commerce.
“I think it (would) scare so many people away, even if the lane closures (were) only at night,” said Howie Brecher, owner of Coconuts of LBI, who called the idea of summer bridge construction “a disaster.”
Rick Reynolds, Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce executive director, told The Sandpaper, “After the washout of May and June on Long Beach Island, we don’t have even another five percent to give up. We can’t afford to take the risk.”
State Sen. Christopher J. Connors and Assemblymen Brian E. Rumpf and Daniel M. VanPelt (R-Ocean/Burl./Atl.), of the 9th District, wrote to DOT Commissioner Stephen Dilts, calling the plan to work on the bridge prior to Labor Day “unacceptable.”
“I’m very pleased that the determination was to postpone,” Connors said Wednesday. He said planning the project for the height of tourist season had at first demonstrated “an insensitivity by the administration regarding the needs of the people of this region.”
Brecher said he, along with many of his fellow business owners on the Island, is very happy that the DOT has reconsidered the decision.
“I think it’s terrific. I’m glad to see that they got some common sense. They did what they were supposed to do,” he said Wednesday.
Still, “fixing the bridge is critical,” said Brecher. William Huelsenbeck, mayor of Ship Bottom, said the DOT deemed the bridge structurally deficient three years ago, and that the sealant overlay that has been planned will not be enough. Speaking to The SandPaper last week, he called the project “a waste of taxpayer money… You can’t put a new carpet over a rotten floor.”
Though he expects the $4.1 million in federal stimulus money put into this project to remain earmarked for the resurfacing, Huelsenbeck contends the most important project to focus on is to “fast track the new bridge.”
The design phase for a new bridge is currently scheduled to take three years and will include environmental impact statements and permits.
Connors agreed that work on the new bridge needs to be fast-tracked. “The need to do these repairs (on the existing bridge) on a frequent basis underscores the need to have the replacement bridge expedited.”

31st Annual Blessing of the Fleet

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Barnegat Light is once again shining the spotlight on Long Beach Island’s fishermen with the 31st annual “Blessing of the Fleet” in Viking Village. The interdenominational dockside ceremony will take place this Sunday, June 21 at 5:30 p.m. on the Doris Mae, which is docked on 18th Street and Bayview Avenue, adjacent to the Viking Village commercial fish dock.
The event, which is sponsored by Zion Lutheran Church, is free for all visitors. Jane Preiser, a member of the church council, said she expects 400 to 500 people to come out in support of the fishermen. “It’s for them; it’s to bless the fishermen,” she said.
“It’s the same; it’s always the same,” said Presier, “but it’s nice.” As per tradition, the dockside service will feature the Valley Forge Boys Choir, a Coast Guard Honor Guard, and Barnegat Light resident Evan Washburn on the bagpipes, Presier said.
Ernie Panacek, general manager of Viking Village, said, “It is certainly going to be a special event again. … The whole thing is a special event.”
In conjunction with the blessing of the fleet, on Saturday, June 20, the Barnegat Light Volunteer Fire Co. will host its annual Fresh Fish Fest. In attendance at the dinner will be Rep. John Adler, whose congressional district includes Southern Ocean County. Panacek said Adler will be coming up from a meet and greet in Tuckerton to take part in the blessing weekend.
The dinner will feature scallops, tuna, swordfish, bluefish, calamari, and flounder, according to the Viking Village web site. It will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 10th Street and Central Avenue. Admission is $15 per person.

New Arts Festival to Take Island by Storm

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Top artists from across the country will set up shop on Long Beach Island this weekend in a world-class exhibition. Not only will the Jersey Shore Fine Arts Festival offer visitors the chance to experience more than 10,000 works of art in one location, but attendees will also be able to interact with the artists, all of whom will be in attendance throughout the festival weekend.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, at the Ethel Jacobsen School field in Ship Bottom, some of the nation’s finest works of clay, fiber, wood, glass, leather, metal, painting, photography, sculpture, jewelry and more will be on display and for sale.
Bill Kinney of Paragon Art Events, based in Centerport, N.Y., which is organizing the festival, said the event offers a unique opportunity to discuss processes and techniques with artists, as well as the opportunity “to experience the intrinsic value of art.” Nationally recognized artists in attendance include Beth Carver, David Gordon, Ken Orton and Michael George.
The show, which is sponsored in part by the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, is also expected to offer a boost to the local economy. “Every community needs an opportunity to increase revenue to the local businesses, which the festival will bring,” said Kinney. “Many (similar) shows generate millions of dollars for local merchants.”
It’s not all about revenue, either. “It’s great for the galleries, too, because we kind of stir the pot. We’re adding to the local interest in art,” Kinney said. The Island is sprinkled with galleries, exhibits and forums for creating and appreciating art, all of which Kinney expects will experience positive growth in the wake of the festival.
Admission to the event and parking are free.