Beach Haven Community Arts Program celebrates 40th year of ‘Concerts on the Green’ music series

This summer, the Beach Haven Community Arts Program is presenting its 40th year of Concerts on the Green. The annual music series includes a free public concert at Veterans Park, located on Beach Avenue between Engleside Avenue and Amber Street, every Wednesday in July and August, at 7:30 p.m.

Photo via BHCAP
Friends, family and staff of Lavish Salon
enjoy a concert at the park last summer.

“We are looking forward to another great year of presenting Concerts on the Green,” said Rob Meyer, program coordinator of BHCAP. “We have a fabulous group of bands performing this year, everything from opera to classic rock. Bring your lawn chair, and join us in Veterans Park each Wednesday night.”

Rock and roll band Garage Kept is kicking off the series July 1. The Carnaby Street Band will play 1970s and ’80s jams July 8, and Jimmy and the Parrots will cover Jimmy Buffett tunes July 15. Country music with Tequila Rose will be held July 22, R&B Express will perform oldies July 29, and The Kootz will offer pop music Aug. 5. Jersey Gold Band will perform ’50s and ’60s tunes Aug. 12, and Irish music by McLean Avenue Band will be the focus Aug. 19. Elaine and Friends will perform opera/classics Thursday, Aug. 20, and Jim Meck and the Guide Dogs will finish out the season with oldies tunes Aug. 26.

Special kids concerts with interactive children’s tunes by Makin’ Music Rockin’ Rhythms will also take place on Mondays, July 26 and Aug. 17, at 7 p.m.

In case of rain, the concerts will be held across the street from the park at the Long Beach Island Historical Museum.

This year’s summer concert series, funded in part by a grant from the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders, is also sponsored by local businesses and organizations, including Sunset Harbor Realty, Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club, Buckalew’s Tavern, Bay Village, Lavish Salon, Fantasy Island Amusement Park, Southern Ocean Medical Center, Sea Shell Resort and Beach Club, The Chicken or the Egg, The SandPaper, Kapler’s Pharmacy, Regenerate, Murphy’s Market Place, GTF Charity and LBI Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5.

For more information, call 609-492-4218 or email beachhavencap1045@gmail.com.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Comcast customers affected by service outage to receive $5 credit

Photo via Google
Customers are receiving a $5 credit.

As an apology for the Comcast network outage on Tuesday, June 23, impacted customers will receive an automatic $5 credit, Jeff Alexander, vice president of public relations for Comcast’s northeast division, said. Customers do not need to do anything to receive the credit. It will appear on an upcoming bill, he explained.

“We are very sorry about the recent interruption to Xfinity services in some Jersey Shore areas,” Alexander stated. “We know customers rely on us and we fell short of their expectations.”

Internet, TV and phone services were out early Tuesday morning due to a software issue that was impacting the network feeds to some of the company’s central and northern Jersey Shore systems, Alexander confirmed.

A company phone recording that day stated the network would be restored at 11:50 a.m. However, it was not re-established for most people until about 3 p.m. or later.

Alexander said the “length of the interruption varied by neighborhood. Some were impacted for about an hour while others were out for a longer period of time.”

Although reports about the outage being a nation-wide hacking incident circled the Internet, Alexander insisted “it was a software issue that affected some of our Jersey Shore systems – nothing beyond that.”

“Our engineers detected it proactively and remedied the problem as quickly as possible,” he said.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Beach Haven School superintendent pushes for use of security cameras

Despite urging from Beach Haven School Superintendent EvaMarie Raleigh, the board of education has not approved the usage of two remote access security cameras that were installed at the school. As part of the facility plans covered in the 2014-15 school budget, one camera was placed near the main office and another was placed near the bus entrance. Neither of them has been turned on.

Photo by Ryan Morrill
Two cameras have been installed in the school,
but their use has not been approved by the board.

“I just want to go on record every month saying that I believe this is what’s best for the security of our school,” said Raleigh. “Every school I’ve ever been in has had a security plan, has had cameras. It’s never affected anything; it’s always helped.

“It’s not because kids are fighting in the halls,” she added. “We had three iPads walk out of this building one week in November last year, when we closed. Right now we might have one missing Chromebook. I have to inventory all the numbers to see because I think we’re one short. You just never know, and things cost money. When the police came for the iPads, they asked; they suggested we have cameras.”

Raleigh also stated that it would be useful in instances where it is important to have evidence of the students’ and staff’s whereabouts.

Although not mandated by the state, the security cameras are “highly recommended” by the Department of Homeland Security, Raleigh said.

“The reason why it’s not mandated by the state is because if they mandate something, they have to pay for it,” she mentioned.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office conducted unannounced school security drills in 12 different schools in the county this year, including four high schools, four middle schools and four elementary schools, she noted. The goal of the drills, which were first announced by the state Department of Education in February 2013, is to provide technical assistance and to support school preparedness efforts.

“If there’s a real situation and they’re coming to the school, they want to be able to log into our system to see inside the school before they’re even there,” Raleigh explained after the meeting.

Student parent Kristy Davis said the doors near Willits Hall seem to be “more of a threat” since they are near the restrooms and are easily accessible.

Raleigh noted the original plan was to install four additional cameras, one of which would face those doors.

When Davis asked if there are plans to add more cameras, Board President Irene Hughes said the members are “open to discussions. We’re not going to retroactively approve anything, or approve anything without a plan. A proper plan in place would involve all state orders.”

Raleigh asked for a motion to approve the usage of the cameras, but none was given.

“I still want to know why we don’t want them,” she urged. The board did not offer an explanation.

Prior to the meeting, Raleigh requested the Beach Haven Police Department have an officer present at the meeting for public safety. Officer John Mitchell was stationed at the building.

When asked why she made the request, Raleigh said, “I don’t feel safe. I’m going to request that a uniformed officer be present at every meeting.”

In other meeting news, Davis and student parent Cassandra Mitchell expressed their confusion over the school’s new student report cards, which were first used this year and issued during the first marking period.

The report cards began to change in the 2011-12 school year, Raleigh said after the meeting. The new report cards had both standards-based items and letter grades. In 2013-14, a report card committee met three to four times during the year to revise the reports. In the fall of 2014-15, the entire teaching staff worked on revising the reports to reflect a consistent standards-based report card, which utilized samples from other districts, such as West Deptford and Berkeley Township, to look at best practices, Raleigh noted.

“The teachers worked together to determine the skills in each report card area that they would like to include to provide parents with student feedback,” she explained. “After each cluster of teachers – pre-K, grades one through three and grades four through six — were complete, the categories were streamlined to use the same vernacular.”

During the meeting, Raleigh said a more detailed explanation of the format could be discussed with parents at back-to-school night.

Kathy Kelly resigned from her position as the board’s vice president. The board voted to have board member Jen Tomlinson take the position. Kelly is still a member of the board.

The board also approved the resignation of Toni Dworkin, the school’s music teacher. Dworkin has completed her one-year contract with the school and has accepted a full-time position at another location, Raleigh noted.

The school recently received its Quality Single Accountability Continuum certification, which is required every three years by the state Department of Education. The system focuses on monitoring and evaluating school districts in five key components: instruction and program, fiscal management, operations, personnel and governance.

Raleigh is one of 70 superintendents who have been invited to attend the District Administration Leadership Institute’s Superintendent’s Summit in Boston later in July. The event provides professional development to school district superintendents and other senior education executives “to inspire innovation and leadership excellence in K12 education.”

The board recently awarded Southern Regional High School student Amanda Harrison a $1,450 scholarship through its Joseph Veitch Scholarship fund. Harrison is a Beach Haven resident and former Beach Haven School student.

The board has requested the preschool tuition rate for the 2015-16 school year be sent to committee to report back to the board for a recommendation at next month’s meeting.

In an effort to also utilize the school as a community center after school and in the summer, the building will be open a few days in August for members of the public to create a mosaic surfboard. Dates and times have not yet been confirmed, but the finished product will be presented to Beach Haven Mayor Nancy Taggart Davis at the town’s 125th anniversary event in November.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Tucker’s Island pictorial book focuses on a ‘simpler way of life’

Local residents Gretchen Coyle and Deborah Whitcraft, who co-authored their first book Inferno At Sea: Stories of Death and Survival Aboard the Morro Castle in 2012, have taken their maritime knowledge from sea to land with their newest book, devoted solely to the history of Tucker’s Island. The 8-mile-long island, formerly located between the Beach Haven and Little Egg inlets, once was home to a small community of individuals. Tucker’s Island, published by Arcadia Publishing, brings to life the history of those times with never-before-seen photos.

Photo via New Jersey Maritime Museum
Arvilla Mott Horner relaxes on
a boat in the marsh.

“As with Inferno at Sea, Deb and I are most interested in the human side of the island,” Coyle said. “Who lived there? What did they do? What kind of people preferred life on a barrier island around 1900 compared to more sophisticated towns like Tuckerton or Atlantic City?

“We have created a book for those who wonder about an island long gone,” she added. “Hopefully this book will be popular for not only those who may remember the island or heard some stories, but for generations to come. ... Tucker’s Island will interest people from Atlantic City to Forked River.”

The book starts at the very beginning, when the first people set foot on the island.

“Was it the Lenni Lenape in the 1500s? We have no idea and no proof, but it sure is nice to surmise,” said Coyle. “We know that the Lenni Lenape spent summer months on New Jersey islands, hunting game and gathering wild berries such as cranberries and blueberries.”

People later commuted to Tucker’s Island by first taking the train from Philadelphia to Atlantic City and then by horse and buggy to docks in AC, Leeds Point and Absecon, where they boated in. From the north, they traveled the railroad to Whiting and then finally by boat, Coyle noted.

“It’s neat to look at life in a whole different era. It gives readers an insight into a different lifestyle and a different time. It’s just something that they will never experience,” Whitcraft said. “Today life is so hectic. You’ve got a phone in one hand and you’ve got a computer or a laptop in the other hand. It’s a whole different world.

“People today have no appreciation for what these people saw, what they experienced, how they took joy from simple things like sitting out on the porch at night and singing and having little get-togethers with clams and the fire. It was just a different, simpler way of life,” she added. “I think a lot of people wish they could experience that. I think we all do because there’s such a hustle-bustle in our lives these days. It doesn’t mean that they didn’t work just as hard. In some respects they worked much harder than we do today, but their lives were not complicated. I think they appreciated what they had far more than we do today.”

Photo via New Jersey Maritime Museum
Samuel P. Cranmer guards
the beaches and the marsh.

The book mostly centers on the people who lived on the island during the 19th century, including life savers under Jarvis Rider and their families, lighthouse keepers Eber Rider and son Arthur and their relatives, as well as people who visited on weekends and during the summer.

“Happy faces say it all whether it was in the old St. Alban’s or Columbia hotels or rustic cottages,” Coyle said.

Eventually, houses and hotels disappeared one by one. The lighthouse fell into the sea in 1927, and the island had completely vanished by 1952.

The last people to travel to Tucker’s Island were families who could get gas for their boats in the mid- to late-1940s, said Coyle. By this time, the island was extremely small, mostly just a sandpit, with no buildings or remains left. Members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary also patrolled part of the area during World War II.

“There were never any indications that German soldiers, submariners, or spies had been on the island. But the Coast Guard auxiliary did beach their boats and walk the island, doing their part for the war effort,” Coyle said.

While Coyle and Whitcraft together offer over a century of local maritime history expertise, they said researching Tucker’s Island was difficult since much of the available information is inaccurate.

“There’s a lot of conflicting information, not because people aren’t telling the truth, but because they’re telling the history as they know it,” said Whitcraft.

The only records kept for posterity are those of the U.S. Life Saving Service – log books kept at the New Jersey Maritime Museum – and a lighthouse log book, which can be found at the Tuckerton Historical Society.

“A lot of the rest is guess work: newspaper articles here and there and some government records about building the lighthouse and lifesaving station,” Coyle said.

“You’d think the Tuckerton Beacon would have been a good source for information. However, we found that by the time information got from the island to the newspaper, it was outdated, misspelled and not helpful,” she noted.

Many of the people associated with Tucker’s Island, when it was a vibrant seashore community, were illiterate, Whitcraft noted, adding that there was a lot of inbreeding among relatives. Documentation of Hilliard Boulevard in Manahawkin, which was named after a Tucker’s Island family, has many different spellings, for example.

“Even the Hilliard family themselves spelled their names different ways,” Whitcraft said.

Photo via New Jersey Maritime Museum
Ladies clown around for the camera.

Throughout the process, however, the authors gained access to a plethora of unique research items, including those from Tim Dring, a Coast Guard historian, as well as Shirley Whealton’s genealogy book on the Rider family. George Hartnett, a Maritime Museum trustee, loaned out the Nichterlein family photo album, which Hartnett bought a few years ago on an Internet auction. Artist Cathleen Engelsen, who paints historic scenes directly from her grandfather’s photos, and Nancy Speck and her nephew Jim Allen, whose family is well photographed, also greatly contributed to the book.

“I think one of the advantages we had for this book was being able to communicate directly with descendants who all grew up on Tucker’s Island,” said Whitcraft, who noted they all still live in Ocean County. “That was big because even at the 11th hour, we were able to clarify much of the information that appears in the book.”

Photographs taken of island artifacts kept at the Maritime Museum and Tuckerton Historical Society are also included.

“We hope people will enjoy our Tucker’s Island book as much as we enjoyed writing it,” said Coyle.

The book comes out Aug. 10 and will be available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and the Maritime Museum.

An opening book signing will take place at the museum on Aug. 14 from 2 to 6 p.m. Other signings will be held at the Long Beach Island Historical Museum Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m. as well as at the Spray Beach Yacht Club Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. and the Tuckerton Historical Society Oct. 10 at 2 p.m.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Ocean County Freeholders ask Congress to support veterans cost-of-living increases

As the cost of daily expenses continue to rise, so, too, should the well-deserved benefits earned by our nation’s veterans, the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders stated. The freeholders have called on the state’s senators to support a federal bill that would increase veterans’ disability benefits as well as dependency compensation for their surviving children and spouses.

Photo via Navair
Freeholder Deputy Director Gerry P. Little
is a former U.S. marine.

“Many of our veterans have sacrificed everything to keep our nation safe,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Gerry P. Little. “It’s time for Congress to take a stand and make sure our returning veterans and their families receive all of the benefits that they have so justly earned.”

The freeholders asked Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker to support the bill, which was recently introduced on Capitol Hill. The proposed cost-of-living increases would equal the amount given to Social Security recipients.

“Ocean County is home to more veterans than any other county in New Jersey,” Little said. “It is important to our veterans, and to veterans throughout our nation, that this important legislation is quickly signed into law.”

Little, who also serves as liaison to the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau, said veterans face a variety of problems when they return home.

“Our brave men and women must know that their country will be there for them, as they were there for their country,” he said.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Shore homeowners, businesses can donate vacation time to adult cancer patients and their loved ones

For Pete’s Sake, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of families battling cancer by providing respite vacations to adult cancer patients and their loved ones, is reaching out to Jersey Shore homeowners and businesses interested in donating their home and services for such purposes.

Photo via Google
The nonprofit helps those in need enjoy a
much-needed vacation at the Jersey Shore.

The group has been coordinating these types of trips along the East Coast and in the Caribbean for over 15 years. But as patient demand continues to outweigh the supply and availability of vacation homes, the need to have a local option has become evident.

“Right now, we help about 120 families each year, but we would help so many more if we could increase our supply of donated vacation homes and services,” said Marci Schankweiler, founder and chief executive officer of For Pete’s Sake, who established the organization in memory of her husband, Peter R. Bossow Jr., whose 15-month battle with cancer ended on Sept. 1, 1999. “We’re calling on our neighbors at the Jersey Shore to open their hearts, homes and businesses so that we can support and change even more lives.”

Playing off the iconic Jersey Shore name, the organization’s recently introduced website, thejerseyshare.org, provides prospective givers with information on how they can play a role, including donating a week or a long weekend at their Jersey Shore vacation home.

But the goal of the effort is more than just passing on information, of course.

“We’re truly hoping to create a groundswell of love and goodwill,” said Amber Mercado, FPS marketing officer. “And the process of getting involved is so easy. Our team takes care of every detail.”

Since its inception, FPS has served more than 5,500 patients and their families by providing respites to Florida, the Poconos, West Virginia, the Jersey Shore, the Carolinas, Maine and the Caribbean.

To learn more about the effort, or to get involved, visit takeabreakfromcancer.org.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Hours-long Comcast outage due to software issue, now resolved

Photo via Google
Comcast Internet, TV and phone services were
down for a few hours along the Jersey Shore.

Despite Tuesday being a beautiful beach day, locals and visitors were burning to know when they would be able to get back online as Comcast Internet, TV and phone services were down for a few hours along the Jersey Shore.

The system went out early morning due to a software issue that was impacting the network feeds to some of the company’s central and northern Jersey Shore systems, Jeff Alexander, vice president of public relations for Comcast’s northeast division, told The SandPaper.

A company phone recording stated the network would be restored at 11:50 a.m. However, it was not re-established until about 3 p.m.

Alexander said Comcast’s engineers “proactively” detected the problem and worked “aggressively” to resolve it. He apologized for the inconvenience.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

‘Limited Partnership’ documentary to screen at Stockton’s Manahawkin Instructional Site June 30

“Limited Partnership,” a documentary film that celebrates the 40-year love story of one of the first gay couples to marry and their decades-long fight for legal status, will screen at Stockton University’s Manahawkin Instructional Site, located at 712 East Bay Ave., on Tuesday, June 30, at 10:30 a.m. The screening is being hosted by the university’s Office of Service-Learning and Political Engagement Project.

Photo via Documentary
The documentary depicts the struggle of one
of the first gay couples to marry in the U.S.

According to university officials, “Limited Partnership” premiered on June 15 on “Independent Lens Television,” an Emmy Award-winning weekly series airing on PBS Monday nights at 10. The acclaimed series features documentaries united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement and unflinching visions of independent filmmakers.

The documentary chronicles the love story between Filipino-American Richard Adams and his Australian husband, Tony Sullivan.

In 1975, thanks to a courageous county clerk in Boulder, Colo., Adams and Sullivan were one of the first same-sex couples to be legally married in the world, officials stated. Adams immediately filed for a green card for Sullivan based on their marriage. But unlike most heterosexual married couples who easily obtain legal status for their spouses, Adams received a denial letter from the Immigration and Naturalization Service stating, “You have failed to establish that a bona fide marital relationship can exist between two [expletive deleted].”

Outraged at the tone, tenor and politics of the letter, and determined to prevent Sullivan’s impending deportation, the couple decided to sue the U.S. government, initiating the first federal lawsuit seeking equal treatment for a same-sex marriage in U.S. history.

According to officials, Adams and Sullivan never wavered in their love, lost their sense of humor, or gave up their quest for justice despite a lifetime filled with health issues, money woes and legal challenges. Their personal trajectory parallels the history of the LGBT movement from their meeting in 1971 through the Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality in 2013.

A poignant love story, “Limited Partnership” celebrates Adams and Sullivan’s long path as they redefined traditional concepts of “spouse” and “family.”

For more information on the film, visit pbs.org/independentlens/limitedpartnership/.

To register for the screening, which is free and open to the public, call 609-626-3883.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Ship Bottom Brewery coming to Beach Haven in summer 2016

The beer will be flowing in Bay Village next summer, when Ship Bottom Brewery opens up a year-round, production-size brewery in the heart of Beach Haven. Owner Robert Zarko, who recently received approval for the brewery from the Beach Haven Land Use Board, expects to have beer available on draft as well as in growlers, six-packs and kegs.

This will be the company’s second location, which is expected to be bigger than the pilot brewery, which currently operates in Wallingford, Pa.

Photo via Ship Bottom Brewery
The brewery in Beach Haven will have beer
on draft and in growlers, sick-packs and kegs.

“I wanted to start small because I have four kids at home, so I figured I’d see how it went. If it went well, the idea was to get it onto the Island. So I think we’re at that point now,” said Zarko, who began home-brewing in 1995. “We’ve been in production for over two years, and we’re building up a lot of momentum. We have full distribution in New Jersey and Delaware, and we self-distribute in Pennsylvania. It seems like people are really embracing our brand and enjoying the beer.”

To clarify, there is no brewery in Ship Bottom. Zarko, who grew up in Bucks County, said the company name is a tribute to his wife’s family, who had a summer home in that town for many years.

“I always went down to Wildwood or Ocean City, Md. When I met my wife, she introduced me to Long Beach Island, and I fell in love with it,” said Zarko.

After incorporating the business in 2011, Zarko went to numerous beer fests “to try to see what people liked.” He acquired licensing and began production a year later and then rolled out the brand in 2013.

The company currently has five beers in production as well as a variety of special releases that are available only certain times of the year. The Baconator Stout, made with maple syrup and bacon, comes out around Christmas, for example.

“We sell out of that real quick,” Zarko said.

Most of the beer names, however, focus on different LBI landmarks. The company’s first beer was the Shoobie Pale Ale. Others include Barnacle Bottom Stout, Wooden Jetty Whiskey Barrel Aged Stout, LBI PA, The Shack IPA, Stupid Paddle Boat IPA and Beach Patrol Hefeweizen Ale, among others.

The company also recently created a Killer Beesting IPA that was introduced during this year’s Hop Sauce Festival. The beer includes ingredients from The Chicken or the Egg restaurant’s signature wing sauce.

After Superstorm Sandy, a special Engine 46 Ale was created for the Ship Bottom Volunteer Fire Co.’s annual Summer Sizzle. The beer will be available during this year’s event, on July 11.

Shore Good Donuts, which opened a second location in Beach Haven this summer, also used the company’s beer in some of its batter last year. Zarko said he hopes to collaborate with the shop again this summer.

Of course, Zarko’s sights are now set on opening the new brewery, which he plans to have a soft opening for in March, before getting everything up and running for summer 2016.

“We still have to get some investment capital behind us, but we’re on our way. Everything’s going in the right direction,” Zarko said. “I think it’s something good for the Island, and if you look at breweries like Dogfish Head, they really drive traffic, especially in the off-season. So I’m hoping we’re going to be able to do that. I love the water, I love the Island, and it will be a nice place to start this up and get this going.”

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.

Second annual Pig Roast, BBQ & Bay Bash in Beach Haven June 20

Beach Haven Future is partnering with Beach Haven borough for its second annual Pig Roast, BBQ & Bay Bash on Saturday, June 20, from 4 to 8 p.m. The event will take place at Walsh Field, located near the tennis courts at South Bay Avenue and Ocean Street.

Garage Kept will be on stage for the four-hour event during the free concert.

Photo via Facebook
Beer and wine is served up by some lively
bartenders during last year's first event.

“Bring a chair or blanket, and plan to enjoy the show,” said Barb Cona, executive director of BHF.

Tickets are required for the food portion of this popular event, which includes roasted pig, smoked brisket, pulled pork, smoked BBQ chicken, baked beans, potato salad and more. Tickets cost $25, or $10 for children younger than 12. They can be purchased online at beachhavenfuture.com as well as at several area merchants, including Buckalew’s Restaurant and Tavern, Murphy’s Market, Spice It Up and borough hall.

There will also be a cash bar serving wine and beer on tap.

“You’ll see a familiar face bartending the event as Beach Haven’s favorite UPS guy is tending bar again,” said Cona. “We’ll also have the ever-popular keg of root beer, which was a big hit last year.

“This is a family event for everyone who’s in town for Father’s Day weekend,” she added. “Where else can you take your dad for an all-you-can eat barbecue for $25? ... Bring the whole family out; it promises to be an outstanding evening.”

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Garden Party by the Sea fashion show to be held at Bonnet Island Estate

Photo by Jack Reynolds
Community members show of the latest trends.

Check out this year’s hottest fashions during the fourth annual Garden Party by the Sea, a fashion show hosted by St. Francis of Assisi Parish. The event, which features clothing and accessories presented by The Island Shop, Sink R’ Swim, Sur la Plage and Tula Boutique, will be held at Bonnet Island Estate, located at 2400 East Bay Ave. on Bonnet Island, Wednesday, June 24, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Members of the community and church will be modeling the different trends.

“We repeat it mainly for the benefit of the community, and we enjoy it,” said Toby McCarthy, a member of the fashion show committee.

Light fare such as crab cakes, sliders, bruschetta and more will be provided by Spice Catering. Musical entertainment will also be presented.

Tickets for the event cost $35 per person and can be purchased at the front desk of the St. Francis Community Center, located at 4700 Long Beach Blvd. in Brant Beach, or at Bonnet Island Estate on the day-of. All proceeds will benefit the local parish and community center.

For more information, visit stfranciscenterlbi.org, or call 609-494-8861.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Annual craft fair and flea market, yard sale and bake sale in Beach Haven June 27

More than 100 craft vendors will be selling their wares during the Beach Haven Community Arts Program’s annual craft fair and flea market at Veterans Park on Saturday, June 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A variety of jewelry, handmade clothing, unique wood items, artwork, toys, floral items, fabric and kitchen items will be available.

Photo via Google
The fair includes wares from
over 100 craft vendors.

“There’s always a wonderful selection of vendors and always some new ones,” said Brenda Griffin, a Beach Haven CAP volunteer, who noted the organization has been hosting the fair for 15 years.

The event, to be held rain or shine, will benefit the local nonprofit group, which helps present the borough’s Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Christmas programs. The group also presents scholarships to Southern Regional High School students entering a college music program, as well as provides art- and music-related donations to the Beach Haven School.

That same day, the Long Beach Island Historical Association will host its yearly Trash, Treasure and Bake Sale across the street from the park, at the Long Beach Island Historical Museum. 

“It’s all done in tandem, so it’s such a great, wonderful thing for everybody,” said Griffin, who also volunteers with the LBI Historical Association, which runs the museum.

A plethora of yard sale items from decorative objects and kitchenware to toys and books as well as homemade baked goods, including fresh-baked cookies, brownies and scones, will be available for purchase from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“We try to concentrate on everything people might want on the Island,” said Ron Marr, president of the historical association. “Everything’s used and donated, of course,” he added.

The group already has enough donations to fill the museum, Marr said, but anyone interested in donating items to the sale should call the museum this week at 609-492-0700.

“We take almost anything that’ll essentially fit in a car,” said Marr. “We don’t take bigger items or furniture. We will take usable chairs and things like that, but it has to fit in a car because most people are not going to buy anything that won’t fit in their car,” he explained.

All leftover items from the sale will be donated to the New Lisbon Developmental Center, a state-run institution that provides a comprehensive system of care for individuals with developmental disabilities. 

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Strike back against sexual violence at free self-defense class

Photo via Google
Participants will learn how to fend for
themselves in a worst-case scenario.

The St. Francis Counseling Sexual Abuse and Assault Program, based in Brant Beach, is hosting a free self-defense class on Wednesday, June 17, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The class is open to the public, and will be held at Jersey State Martial Arts Training Facility, located across the street from Rita’s Italian Ice at 702 Route 9 in Little Egg Harbor.

“You have the power to create change and make a difference toward ending sexual violence,” Erin Borysewicz, sexual assault/abuse prevention coordinator and trainer at St. Francis, stated. “It’s time to raise awareness in our community for sexual violence prevention.”

Participants will practice basic strikes and blocks, attacks and self-defense techniques. A Q&A on safety, attacker patterns and prevention, including local resources to help combat violence, will also be available.

“You will leave feeling strong, confident and healthy with an increased self-awareness,” said Borysewicz.

Wearing comfortable clothing is recommended since the class is hands-on.

To register for the event, or for more information about the counseling program, call 609-494-1554.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Beach Haven approved to implement Council on Affordable Housing spending plan

According to Beach Haven Mayor Nancy Taggart Davis, the borough is the first municipality in the state to receive approval to implement its Council on Affordable Housing spending plan, which was adopted in 2008. Beach Haven has over $500,000 in COAH funding, Borough Manager Richard Crane announced at the town council’s regular meeting Monday, June 8.

On the advice of the borough’s COAH attorney, a motion was filed to the New Jersey Superior Court a few weeks ago, which was approved. The order not only allows town officials to hire an outside firm for assistance in administering the program, but it also protects the funding from forfeiture or seizure from the state.

Photo via Micromedia Pubs
Due to damage from Superstorm Sandy, the
municipal building is expected to be rebuilt.

Crane also noted that the N.J. Economic Development Authority and the U.S. Housing and Urban Development have finally granted the town the authority to expend funds for the municipal building project, which has been on hold for about a month. Borough officials will meet with the architect this week to draw up plans for the new borough hall and also put together specifications for the demolition of the present building. Councilman Don Kakstis said officials will seek input from the community after the preliminary design is finished.

It was also announced that construction of the town’s water pump building has been completed. The town recently went back on its own water supply after using Long Beach Township’s water throughout the winter. The fire hydrant system is being flushed this week, which is about a month later than usual, Crane noted.

“That’ll be completed by the end of the week, and we’ll be good to go for the season,” he said.

In other meeting news, the council adopted an amended fee for the permanent abandonment of water service from the town’s water conveyance system.

During public comment, residents Chuck Labin and John Atkinson expressed safety concerns about the beach slope in reference to the town’s upcoming beach replenishment. Taggart Davis said the slope, according to Keith Watson, project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will be at a 1:10 ratio, which is what the town’s beaches have been at for many decades. She noted the Army Corps is also going to attempt to create some sandbars. How long it takes for nature to reconfigure the sand the way it was depends on how deep the water is, she added.

“There’s no guarantees, but the Army Corps doesn’t feel like we’re going to have a safety issue here in Beach Haven,” Taggart Davis emphasized. “... The nice thing about being sort of at the end of this plan is that we can keep checking what’s going on before they get to us. ... I think everybody’s a bit nervous, but so far it’s been pretty good.”

Before replenishment begins in September, town officials expect to invite Watson and Chris Constantino, environmental specialist of the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection, to address some concerns at a public meeting.

Resident Martha Lodge suggested the Beach Haven Police invest in a decibel reader for the purpose of accurately measuring noise levels at events in the residential section of town. She said an event during last weekend at 101 Centre St. was visited by the police three times. Taggart Davis said she had been told there were only two calls, the first of which included a warning, and the sound was negligible during the second visit. Although the mayor agreed a decibel reader is the most accurate way to measure the noise levels, she noted it requires officers to be specially trained. After many complaints, the noise ordinance was recently changed to require police to stand at least 100 feet away from the event to determine whether or not it is an issue.

“We’ve cut down on the number of weddings, and I really feel that if somebody is going to have a wedding here, we want it to be a nice experience for them,” Taggart Davis stated.

In regard to last week’s bathroom vandalism at Sunset Park in Harvey Cedars, the mayor said Beach Haven would not be opening its public restrooms at night, which was a request made by a resident at last month’s meeting.

“We are really concerned about your concerns out there,” she said. “We care, we do talk about it, and it’s an on-going discussion. ... Your comments are really helpful to us because it gives us direction in what to discuss.”

Taggart Davis encouraged the public to attend the council’s agenda meetings, which are held at borough hall every other Wednesday.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

Beach access will be free in Beach Haven every Wednesday in July and August

In honor of the year-long celebration of Beach Haven’s 125th anniversary, residents and visitors will have free access to the beach as well as to the borough’s tennis courts and public boat ramp every Wednesday throughout July and August.

Photo by Jack Reynolds
Beach-goers are usually required to have a badge.

As part of Wednesday Fun Day, the borough is also allowing folks to offer yoga and other exercise classes as well as surfing lessons at the beach and parks without having to pay a fee.

However, those interested in offering these Wednesday activities are required to fill out the proper paperwork, said Lauren Liquori, the borough’s deputy clerk.

Visitors and residents will be given access to exclusive Wednesday deals, including coupons toward many of the town’s best restaurants, shops and nonprofits. A list of merchant-provided discounts and other offers can be found on the borough’s website as well as in participating stores.

“There will be many new things to see and do, including pickleball games, exercise classes, demonstrations and fun activities for children,” said Mayor Nancy Taggart Davis. “The (Long Beach Island) Historical and New Jersey Maritime museums will be offering rain-or-shine Wednesday activities for all ages.”

A free concert, sponsored by the Beach Haven Community Arts Program, will also be held every Wednesday at Veterans Park, at 7 p.m.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.

SBR Tire’s Classic Cruise for the Critters to benefit Friends of the Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter

SBR Tire Exchange, located at 817 Route 9 North in Manahawkin, will host the second annual Classic Cruise for the Critters on Saturday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter, an all-volunteer organization that extends its help beyond assisting the county-run shelter in Manahawkin to care for the health and welfare of cats and dogs.

Photo via SBR Tire
Various show-stopping Jeeps, trucks
and cars will be on display at the shop.

A variety of cars, including lifted trucks and Jeeps and the Batmobile from Gotham City Super Cars Batmobile Club as well as Corvettes from members of the Beach Bums Corvette Club, will be on display throughout the day by local car enthusiasts.

“Any car that’s show-able, we invite,” said Bernie Rothman, owner of SBR Tire.

Registration costs $10 for those interested in entering their car for show. Breakfast is included for all registrants.

The event is also observed as customer appreciation day. Discounts on store products will be offered in honor of SBR Tire’s 28 years in business.

Music as well as food and vendors will also be available to the public.

“It was a great turnout last year,” Rothman said. “The customers appreciated it, the animal shelter really appreciated it, and it’s kind of turned into an annual thing.”

The company has been hosting this type of event since 2008, Rothman noted.

“We’re calling it the second annual event because the turnout for the animals was so good that we’re going to keep them as the beneficiary every time we do it,” he explained.

“It’s a nice day in June. We open the doors up, and people just have a good time. So we figured we’ll keep doing it,” Rothman added.

Admission to the event is free, but donations for FOSOCAS are welcome.

For more information, call 609-597-6161.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.