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| Photo by Marjorie Amon Officials talk over the possibility of the school getting involved with the local facility. |
Former Beach Haven Mayor Deborah Whitcraft and Jim Vogel, who are both founders of the New Jersey Maritime Museum, met with officials from Stockton University on Wednesday, June 22, to discuss potential plans about the future of the museum.
In attendance were Assistant Provost Michelle Craig McDonald and Peter Straub, dean of the School of Natural Sciences, along with other Stockton officials from its Marine Sciences School as well as current Beach Haven Mayor Nancy Taggart Davis, who is a former dean of Stockton’s School of Health Sciences. The group discussed the details of a proposed alliance, which is expected to enhance Beach Haven’s Maritime District.
Taggart Davis, who announced the possibility of Whitcraft and Vogel deeding the museum to the school during the borough council’s regular, monthly meeting on June 13, said Beach Haven is in full support of the goal.
“I thought this would be a great thing for the town if we could have this museum going into the future,” Taggart Davis, who recently retired from Stockton after 41 years there, stated at the council meeting. “Stockton has a very good marine biology program, and I’m hoping that they can get more involved in the work that we’re doing right here with ReClam the Bay. There’s a lot going on that’s very, very exciting in that respect.”
William Burris, a former museum trustee, stressed that Whitcraft and Vogel are not retiring.
“Stockton has shown a significant interest in our proposal to create an affiliation, which may simply provide for a succession plan to ensure the museum will always be there and maintained as a significant successful community treasure,” said Burris, who is involved with the planning. “Stockton has not yet decided to do this, although I am confident they will.”
— Kelley Anne Essinger
This article was published in The SandPaper.
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