Local News Notes
For the week of Oct. 8, 2009
Oct, 08-2009 1:05 pm
Cape May networking group to meet
NORTH CAPE MAY—There will be a Cape May networking group meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 2:30 p.m. This meeting is hosted by Victoria Commons Assisted Living Facility, 610 Townbank Road in North Cape May. The guest speaker will be Nancy Munn who will discuss palliative care. Contact Karen Fitzpatrick at 780-3058 for more information.
Candlelight vigils support Domestic Violence Awareness Month
The Coalition Against Rape and Abuse (CARA) would like to welcome the community to participate in candlelight vigils during the month of October in support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Two candlelight vigils will be held at 6 p.m. at the following locations:
Oct. 21 at the Atlantic Cape Community College, Cape May Court House branch, 341 Courthouse-Dennisville Road
Oct. 28 at the Lighthouse Deliverance Ministries Church, 215 Woodbine Ave., Woodbine
Displays included T-shirts designed by victims and survivors of domestic violence.
All month long, domestic violence displays will be located at the Ocean City Public Library, the Lower Township Public Library, the Woodbine Public Library and the Atlantic Cape Community College, CMCH branch.
Oct. 21 is “Wear Purple Day” to honor all victims and survivors of domestic violence. Call 522-6489 for information on any of the above events.
Garden Club holds Hosta seminar
CAPE MAY—The Garden Club of Cape May is hosting a Hosta seminar on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. at its monthly meeting. The meeting will be held at the Cape Island Baptist Church, corner of Columbia and Guerney avenues in Cape May, in the second floor meeting room.
Dave Husband, a master gardener, will present the program. The general public is invited to attend. For further information contact Elinor at 884-4626 or Jackie at 889-9076.
Good Samaritan rescues 3 near Cape May
CAPE MAY—Three people were rescued Friday after their 45-foot fishing boat they were aboard was taking on water in the Delaware Bay near Cape May.
The Coast Guard received a call at 1:10 p.m. from a crew member aboard the Sheriff reporting they were taking on water and in distress. The Coast Guard issued a Urgent Marine Information Broadcast to mariners to request assistance from any mariners nearby. A rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Cape May and a rescue helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City were dispatched to the scene.
The crew of the fishing boat Ambitious answered the UMIB and arrived on scene. The crew of the Ambitious towed the Sheriff and its crew to Oyster Dock in Port Norris, N.J.
“A number of local boating traffic responded to the UMIB to assist the Sheriff,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Szczurowski.
USDA declares natural disaster in Cape May County, 14 other NJ counties
United States Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack has designated 15 New Jersey counties as natural disaster areas, following heavy rainfall, hail, a tornado and associated plant diseases that led to crop losses during the 2009 growing season.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine requested the designation in August when reports came in that the extreme weather since April was causing crop and property damage on farms.
“The low-interest loans and other available programs will provide needed assistance for these farmers, helping to ensure the continued health and well-being of our state’s agricultural industry,” Corzine said.
The Office of the State Climatologist reported the statewide rainfall total for June through August was 19.18 inches, which is 6.34 inches above average and ranks as the fifth wettest summer since 1895 and the wettest since 1975.
Examples of the damage incurred by farmers this year include: some wheat fields were damaged, resulting in a 27 percent reduction from the previous year in the amount of wheat produced in the state. A hail storm in Hunterdon County destroyed one farmer’s apple crop and a July 29 tornado in Sussex County completely devastated one farm, damaged barns, silos and uprooted trees.
“Under normal growing conditions, a farmer faces several obstacles in bringing a crop to the table, from battling weather extremes, insect and disease issues to outside market influences,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher. ”In spite of that and the added problems from adverse weather conditions, our hard-working, resilient farmers still managed to bring the public high quality, delicious agricultural products this season.”
The counties included in the designation are: Atlantic, Cape May, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Salem, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties. Morris, Passaic and Union counties are named as contiguous disaster counties.
“Farmers throughout the state suffered from torrential rains, hail, and even tornadoes through the summer months,” said Paul Hlubik, Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency in New Jersey. “This was one of the wettest meteorological summers on record in many parts of the state, causing disease, planting and harvest delays for a number of crops.”
The disaster designation covers losses from April 15 to the present and continuing. The designation makes farm operators in both primary and contiguous counties eligible to be considered for assistance from Farm Service Agency, provided eligibility requirements are met. This assistance includes FSA emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program.
The loans could cover up to 100 percent of the dollar value of the losses. Farmers have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans. Farmers must have suffered a 30 percent loss in crop production or physical loss to livestock, inventory or property and meet FSA’s eligibility requirements. FSA considers each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.
Farmers are encouraged to contact their local FSA office for details.
Coast Day this weekend
CAPE MAY— COAST DAY NJ has been developed by the NJMSC/NJSG and its partners to showcase New Jersey’s fishing and aquaculture industries and maritime heritage. On Oct. 11, come out with the family and enjoy eco–tours, nature walks, crab races, touch tanks, dock tours, children’s activities and more. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lobster House Restaurant, Utsch’s Marina and NJ Audubon Society Nature Center, in Cape May. Admission is free.
Free mammograms for uninsured women during October
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Atlantic Medical Imaging is joining 15 national public service organizations, professional associations, and government agencies to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Atlantic Medical Imaging will offer a free SCREENING mammography to woman 40 or older with no insurance, for all new appointments made by Oct. 31 at any of their five locations in Atlantic and Cape May counties. A screening mammogram is a routine mammogram for women with no current or past breast problems. To schedule an appointment, please call 677-XRAY (9729) or 463-9500.
Kevin J. Thornton, Esq. named as Chair of the Committee on Fisheries
ATLANTIC CITY—Kevin J. Thornton, Esq., of Lower Township, was recently appointed as chair of the Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLA)’s Committee on Fisheries. Thornton, a partner in the firm Cooper Levenson, is also a “Proctor in Admiralty” – a title used by MLA “to designate the most distinguished class of membership for practicing maritime attorneys.”
The MLA works to advance reforms in the Maritime Law of the United States, to furnish a forum for the discussion and consideration of problems affecting the Maritime Law, and to act with other associations to bring about greater harmony in the shipping laws, regulations and practices of different nations.
Founded in 1899, MLA’s membership consists of lawyers involved in maritime matters, judges active in matters involving admiralty issues, admiralty law professors, and selected non-lawyers who have provided distinguished service in the advancement of maritime law or its administration.
In addition to serving as chair of the Fisheries Committee, Thornton serves as an active member of the MLA’s Recreational Boating Committee and of the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey. Since 1999, he has served as counsel for the Garden State Seafood Association whose members are engaged in all aspects of the commercial fishing and seafood processing and merchandising industries.
A High Honors and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Rutgers College (Economics and Spanish 1980) and Rutgers University School of Law Camden (J.D. 1983), Thorton is admitted to practice in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey, the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, and all New Jersey State Courts.
Cape May City Public Library to close for renovations
CAPE MAY—Cape May and the Cape May County Library Commission will begin extensive renovations to the Cape May City Public Library this month. The library will be closed starting Oct. 19 for 10 to 12 weeks. During renovations, the Cape May County Library’s Bookmobile will be available on Fridays at the Acme Shopping Center from 1 to 3 p.m. and in Cape May Point from 10 a.m. to noon. Also, library customers are welcome to use other branches of the Cape May County Library, including the Lower Cape Branch located at 2600 Bayshore Rd., Villas and the Wildwood Crest Branch located at 6301 Ocean Ave., Wildwood Crest.
The Cape May City Public library’s book drop will remain open. Additionally, patrons can call to request materials to be sent to another branch for pick up. If you have any questions or need additional information please call 463-6350 or visit the library’s website at www.cmclibrary.org.
