Gazette Leader Newsnotes 10-21-09
Oct, 26-2009 2:37 pm
New beach funds headed for county
WASHINGTON – Senator Frank Lautenberg last week announced some big ticket Senate-approved federal funding which, if approved by President Obama as expected, will be headed for New Jersey shore communities, for both beach feasibility studies and more beach replenishment.
The funding will be distributed under the FY 2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act.
Some $9.7 million is headed for beaches in Cape May County, with $6,141,000 of that amount going to beach renourishment in the Ocean City areas of Great Egg Harbor Inlet and Peck Beach.
The Wildwoods will benefit from a $90,000 feasibility study to be conducted of beaches in North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest.
Additional funding includes: $1,853,000 for beach renourishment in Ocean City, Upper Township and Sea Isle City; $1,066,000 for beach renourishment in Avalon; $378,000 for beach renourishment in Cape May Point; and $189,000 for beach renourishment in Cape May Inlet.
Public invited to join ‘beach sweep’
WILDWOOD – The 24th annual Beach Sweep, a beach clean-up project sponsored by the environmental group Clean Ocean Action, will target Wildwood’s Poplar Avenue beach this Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Volunteers will clean up debris and record details about their finds for a report used by COA to seek increased funding and assistance in keeping New Jersey’s ocean and waterways clean.
Organizers of the event note that beach litter endangers animals, which often mistake litter for food. Plastic and other fibers foul surrounding waters and can fill animal bloodstreams with carcinogenic substances, according to COA.
North Wildwood’s 15th Avenue beach also was originally scheduled for the Beach Sweep, but was removed from the project due to beach replenishment efforts currently taking place there.
Other locations within the county where the Beach Sweep will occur this Saturday are: 30th Street beach in Avalon; 2nd Avenue beach in Cape May; Sunray Beach at Eldredge Avenue in Del Haven; 9th Street Music Pier beach in Ocean City; Webster Avenue beach in Strathmere; and 95th Street beach in Stone Harbor.
One beach – JFK Boulevard beach in Sea Isle City – will be covered the following Saturday, Oct. 31.
A “beach captain” will be present at each location to help direct volunteers’ efforts.
Chamber schedules ‘Hoot and Holler’ mixer
NORTH WILDWOOD – The Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Halloween “Hoot and Holler” on Thursday, Oct. 29, at Westy’s Irish Pub, 101 E. Walnut Ave., North Wildwood, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The event will serve as a membership networking mixer, as well as a collection point for cangoods for the Cape May County United Way. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served.
Organizers invite attendees to wear “spooktacular” Halloween costumes and bring along some cangoods for a worthy cause. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes.
R.S.V.P. by Friday, Oct. 23, by e-mailing erin@gwcoc.org, or phoning 729-4000, or sending a facsimile to 729-4003.
‘Mystery train’ gathers comments
Readers responded to last week’s article about a “mystery train” traversing the county with a variety of comments.
The article reported on a train carrying about 50 dilapidated freight cars that traveled slowly southward, down the spine of the county, on Oct. 8, crossing the Cape May Canal trestle and leaving the freight cars at a deserted location behind Seashore Road in Lower Township. Local and county officials reported they were unaware that the train would be passing through their jurisdictions, and did not know its purpose.
Reader Jackie Wade noted that she saw a much shorter train cross the Cape May Canal trestle headed toward Cape May last Monday, Oct. 12, and then saw it in Cape May picking up passengers for a trip to a winery. Wade’s family was welcomed to take a look at the interior of the train – which consisted of an engine, a caboose and two passenger cars – while it was at the Cape May station.
While run by Seashore Lines, the same company that ran the freight train down the county’s spine, the wine trip train was about 45 cars shorter and didn’t include any of the rusting freight cars that caused concerns among readers on Oct. 8.
Reader Robert Dempsey wrote to suggest that supporting train service within the county could result in jobs and grant money flowing into the county.
“Federal money is available under the Obama administration,” Dempsey noted. “Why not bring the money to Cape May County?”
Crest cultivates Centennial committee
WILDWOOD CREST – The borough’s Centennial Committee is inviting those interested in volunteering at Centennial activities to attend its next meeting on Monday evening, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Crest Pier Recreation Center. Refreshments will be served.
Commissioner Joyce Gould said in an interview Monday that the committee – in conjunction with the Wildwood Crest Historical Society – is planning activities to commemorate Wildwood Crest’s incorporation as a borough in April 1910.
There will be a series of events starting in March, she said, and the schedule will culminate in “one big weekend in August.”
The committee also hopes to produce several books, Gould noted. One will include past pictures from Crest Memorial and Philip Baker schools.
Sweatshirts and t-shirts bearing the Centennial logo already are available for purchase through Gould, by calling 522-0198.
Gould, Debbie Rogers, and Kathleen Queen are co-chairs of the Centennial Committee.
Road project grants announced
TRENTON – Last week, the state Department of Transportation announced nearly $104 million in grants for various road projects, and municipalities in Cape May County will receive a total of about $1.9 million of those funds.
According to NJDOT, funds will be distributed for the following projects: Avalon, $140,000 for reconstruction of 28th Street between 1st Avenue and Avalon Avenue; Dennis Township, $186,000 for resurfacing of Hagen Road with drainage improvements; Lower Township, $130,000 for reconstruction of Station Road from Bayshore Road to States Avenue; Middle Township, $125,000 for reconstruction of Bennett Road; North Wildwood, $186,000 for reconstruction of Chestnut Avenue; Ocean City, $186,000 for Asbury Avenue from North Street to Third Street; Stone Harbor, $186,000 for reconstruction of 107th Street; West Wildwood, $170,000 for reconstruction of Avenue O and portions of Pine Avenue; Wildwood, $186,000 for reconstruction of Park Boulevard; Wildwood Crest, $186,000 for reconstruction of Heather Road; and Woodbine, $174,000 for Reconstruction of Scott Avenue.
Groundbreaking scheduled for ‘Wall That Heals’
WILDWOOD – Wildwood’s own one-half sized replica version of the Vietnam Memorial Wall that sits in Washington, D.C., will be located at Columbus Park here, across from the Convention Center, and veterans plan to break ground for the project on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at 12:30 p.m., at the site.
Like the original, the replica Wall will be comprised of black granite panels upon which the names of servicepeople who lost their lives during the Vietnam War are etched. When completed, Wildwood’s Wall will be 235 feet long.
Millions have visited the original Wall in Washington, D.C., with many visitors describing their visit as a healing experience, helping to lessen painful memories of the Vietnam War.
Columbus Park is adjacent to Fox Park, which is the site of many community events held throughout the year. For a week during summer 2008, Fox Park was the temporary site of a traveling Wall That Heals, with thousands visiting the city to pay respects at the display.
Organizers say they expect the permanent Wall to be fully installed by spring of 2010.
In November election, no contested races for local seats
THE WILDWOODS – When residents here go to the polls to vote for the state’s governor and First Legislative District candidates in November, they won’t face any contested municipal elections.
The only seats up this November in the Wildwoods are in North Wildwood, and all candidates there are running unopposed.
That includes Mayor William Henfey (R); Councilman at Large Edwin Koehler (R); 1st Ward Council Member Richard Ogen (R); and 2nd Ward Council Member Patrick Rosenello (R).
At the county level, Freeholder Leonard Desiderio (R) also is running unopposed.
The next contested local race among locals will be Wildwood’s special recall election, involving six candidates and scheduled for Dec. 8.
Seasonal flu vaccine clinic well attended; H1N1 vaccine clinic scheduled
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – Even as the county scheduled its very first H1N1 vaccine clinic for Oct. 30, almost 2,800 residents received vaccines for the other type of flue – the so-called seasonal flu – at the county's annual drive-through flu shot clinic, held Sunday, Oct. 18.
Those seeking vaccines Sunday waited for up to two hours, in a line of vehicles that snaked southward from the clinic site at Kindle Ford Autoplaza in Cape May Court House.
“Although we provide free flu shots to the community every year, the public has demonstrated a lot of interest this flu season in protecting themselves and their families from the flu,” Freeholder Gerald Thornton commented Monday.
The county has no more seasonal flu vaccine in stock, officials said Monday, adding that they expect more within a month’s time. When additional vaccine is received, another flu clinic will be scheduled, they said.
The seasonal flu peaks between late January and late February in New Jersey.
Meanwhile, the county has scheduled its first clinic for public distribution of the H1N1 vaccine – designed to combat swine flu rather than seasonal flu – for Friday, Oct. 30, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Atlantic Cape Community College county campus, 341 Court House-South Dennis Road in Cape May Court House.
Initially, the H1N1 vaccine will be provided only to residents falling within the following priority groups: pregnant women; healthcare workers; anyone aged 6 months through 24 years old; persons 25-64 years old with a chronic medical condition that places them at high-risk for influenza complications; and parents or caregivers of infants younger than 6 months old.
The county Department of Health also will be offering the H1N1 flu vaccine in every county school for children who present a consent form permitting them to be vaccinated during the school day.
Information on all flu vaccines will be posted on the Department’s website, www.cmchealth.net, and on the flu hotline at 463-6581.
“Boo at the Zoo” rescheduled
COURT HOUSE – In light of last weekend’s nasty weather, the county moved its annual “Boo at the Zoo” event from Oct. 17 to Saturday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The free event, which is held at the County Zoo and Park at 707 Route 9 in Cape May Court House, includes games, candy refreshments, crafts, and a scavenger hunt.
Attendees are invited to wear Halloween costumes, and a costume contest will be sponsored by Aramark at 11 a.m. Registration begins at 10 a.m. in front of Ark in the Park.
At noon, there will be a live animal show, “Creepy Creatures.”
