Nightmare in Strathmere and other news from the Strathmere Improvement Association

To all Strathmere and Whale Beach Homeowners and Visitors,

This is a special week - looked forward to almost as much as the Fourth of July Holiday! "Nightmare in Strathmere" takes place this Saturday evening!

Shown above is last year's boat parade. You can see how much fun all those people are having! The fun is not limited to those with boats or docks. The Strathmere Fishing and Environmental Club, which sponsors the event, gives three categories of awards: boats, docks and houses off the bay. So get your thinking caps on and decorating skills out and get into the fun.

This is the principle fund-raiser for the SFEC, which makes many donations to Strathmere causes, including the Fire Company, the Beach Patrol, fishing organizations, the Star Party, the Wetlands program (see below) and others. They also build a number of osprey platforms in the wetlands. They raise funds by selling tee shirts and raffle tickets. This year's tee shirts (depicting an osprey on a channel marker) are available at the Hollingers on Bayview at Prescott. Raffle tickets ($10 for a book of 10) are available at Frank's Boats or Whale Creek Marina, and in front of Twisties that evening.
First prize is $1000 - second and third are $300 and $200.

The boat parade starts at the boat ramp at 6:30 (see it from the street ends and the playground!) and the awards and raffle drawing take place at the Deauville Beach House at 9:00 pm. Even more info at strathmerefishing.org. The State Police will be providing extra coverage Saturday as part of the program sponsored by the Strathmere Volunteer Fire Company (see SIA donation, below).

Also, as part of Nightmare, there will be a sand-castle building contest for children 12 and under on the beach at Webster at 10:30 Saturday morning. Get your decorating done early and come down and support the kids!

There is also a big event tomorrow evening, Tuesday, August 18, at the Schiavo Library - a presentation by the Wetlands Institute from 7:00 to 8:00 pm, entitled "Sea Creatures with Amazing Features" - for the whole family and also sponsored by the SFEC. Bring your beach chairs!
Check the library calendar website for other events.
You might also check the Strathmere Blog to learn of the great display of Strathmere Vintage Postcards at the library. Then go see it!

And don't miss the SFEC Kids' Surf Fishing Tournament from 9:00 to 11:00 at the Prescott Street beach on Saturday morning, Labor Day Weekend, September 5.


Upcoming Events (update your calendars):

*"Sea Creatures with Amazing Features" at Schiavo, 7:00 pm Tuesday, August 18
* Sand castle building contest, 1:30 Saturday, August 22 at the beach at Webster
*"Nightmare in Strathmere" Boat Parade, 6:30 pm, Saturday, August 22.
*"Cooking with Books" contest at Schiavo Saturday, August 29
*Last day of Flounder Season, Friday, September 4
*SFEC Kids' Surf Fishing Tournament, 9:00 - 11:00 am, Prescott St. Beach, Saturday, September 5
*Strathmere Ensemble Labor Day Concert at 7:00 pm Saturday, September 5
*Monday, September 7 (Labor Day): Trash and recycling pickup.
*Star Party on the Beach at Randolph, 8:00 pm, Friday, September 11
*SFEC Meeting 5:00 pm Saturday, September 12
*SIA Election Meeting 8:00 pm Friday, September 18


Some additional Strathmere websites:
Carol Baker's wonderful Strathmere History website at http://www.strathmere.net/
Strathmere Blog: http://www.strathmere.blogspot.com/
Strathmere Volunteer Fire Company: http://www.strathmerefire.com/
Citizens for Strathmere and Whale Beach: http://www.cfswb.com/
Strathmere live oceancam: http://www.strathmere.tv/
Strathmere Bay Tides: http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/get_predictions.shtml?year=2009&stn=4720+Atlantic+City&secstn=Corson+Inlet,+Strathmere,+Strathmere+Bay&thh=%2b0&thm=31&tlh=%2b0&tlm=38&hh=*0.95&hl=*1.00


SIA Donation: Thanks again for buying so many tee shirts, hats and visors. At our July Meeting, the SIA voted to donate $3000 to the Fire Company's program to provide overtime State Police protection to Strathmere. At the August Meeting, Joe Furey explained the program and praised its effectiveness.

The Strathmere Improvement Association includes all owners in Strathmere and Whale Beach and many visitors. It was founded over 50 years ago as a community organization with the simple objective of making Strathmere a better place. We are proud of the organization's many accomplishments over the years.

Thanks to all who have made their dues payments. Dues for the SIA are $10 per adult per year. The dues and the fund raisers provide for printing the trash regulations, mailing the post cards, funding the Fourth of July Parade, and our share of the Star Party and Christmas Party. As noted, we also donated money to help pay for extra State Police protection. If you have adult children or relatives (or visitors) who visit Strathmere, please forward this message to them - perhaps they'd like to be members also.
Please send dues payments to SIA at PO Box 57, Strathmere, NJ 08248. Remember to tell us your e-mail address!

Please let us know if you have comments or suggestions for the newsletter or for SIA in general, or if you'd like us to change your e-mail address in our records. You can contact us by responding to this e-mail (sia6@comcast.net), or mailing SIA at PO Box 57.


Thanks to all for your continuing support!



Butch Vandegrift - President
Ken Weaver - Vice-President
Donna Diefenderfer - Treasurer
Debbie Vandegrift - Secretary

Some pretty flowers and gardens around Strathmere

During my Saturday morning walk through town this week, I snapped some photos of pretty flowers -

Vintage Strathmere Postcards on display in the Schiavo Mini Museum

Please check out the Schiavo Library's Mini Museum. The first collection to show in the Mini Museum is 'Strathmere by the Sea: Vintage Postcards from Strathmere'.

The postcards, provided by the Baker Family (ahem) range from the early 1900s to the 1940s.
As I was putting together the collection for the museum, I noted the postmark on the back of one of the postcards was 'August 10th, 1909'. It was amazing to realize that the postcard had been sent exactly 100 years ago during someone's vacation here in Strathmere. See that postcard, and some other familiar Strathmere places represented in this collection, at the Schiavo Library now.

The Schiavo Library is looking for more collections to showcase in the Mini Museum, whether it is Strathmere or Jersey Shore related, or any type of interesting collection that you'd like to share. Ask at the Library for more details about showing and sharing your collection.

Strathmere Improvement Association August Newsletter

To all Strathmere and Whale Beach Homeowners and Visitors,

We are now well into the second half of Summer 2009 - with many great Strathmere events still ahead of us!

We have another terrific weekend coming up!

The SIA meets Friday at the Firehouse at 8:00 pm, and on Saturday we have the UTBP Kayak Races on the beach at Williams, from 10:30 to 3:30 (registration begins at 9:00). Shown above is the start of one of the 2008 races, so you can see the excitement! In addition to the ocean racing, there will be instructions, demonstrations, and wave riding. Admission and equipment use for both instruction and race events are free.

Check the Beach Patrol website: http://utbp.wordpress.com/

There are also exciting events coming up at our Schiavo Library - including a presentation by the Wetlands Institute on Tuesday, August 18 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm, entitled "Sea Creatures with Amazing Features" - for the whole family and sponsored by the Strathmere Fishing and Environmental Club. Check the website at http://www.strathmerelibrary.org/

Still to come are two huge events also sponsored by the SFEC: the "Nightmare in Strathmere" boat parade at 6:30 pm on Saturday, August 22 and the Kids' Surf Fishing Tournament Saturday morning, September 5. More on those events in subsequent newsletters. Also at strathmerefishing.org

This issue: Beach replenishment almost complete; Updated calendar; Strathmere websites;
Strathmere "stuff"; Improvement "suggestions"; and - Thanks again for your dues payments!

We suggest you add all the websites listed above and below to your "favorites"...

The Strathmere and Whale Beach beach replenishment project is almost complete. The dredge is now working its way into the inlet, and the pipes are being moved directly onto the Point, so sand will be pumped all along our beaches down to Sea Isle. Today's Press of Atlantic City carried a story of last night's Township Committee Meeting discussion regarding the stopping of the beachfill short of the bay:
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/cape_may/article_c6631315-56a2-5355-9885-eb20c3ab8455.html
Discussion with Dr. Farrell during and after the meeting established that this area could not be added to the project because it is not within the zone determined for replenishment by federal authorities. Nevertheless, Dr. Farrell is quite confident that a small beach will be established naturally by this Labor Day, and the whole area will fill in naturally within the next few years. We are all hoping he is correct.

Upcoming Events (update your calendars):

* Kids' Club at the Library, Wednesday, August 12 from 6:00 to 7:30 for grades 1 -3; "Shells, Shore and More"
* SIA Meeting 8:00 pm Friday, August 14, at the Firehouse
* Kayak Races Saturday, August 15, beginning at 10:30 on the beach at Williams.
*"Sea Creatures with Amazing Features" at Schiavo, 7:00 pm Tuesday, August 18
* "Nightmare in Strathmere" Boat Parade, 6:30 pm, Saturday, August 22.
* "Cooking with Books" contest at Schiavo, Saturday, August 29
* Last day of Flounder Season, Friday, September 4
* SFEC Kids' Surf Fishing Tournament, 9:00 - 11:00 am, Prescott St. Beach, Saturday, September 5
* Strathmere Ensemble Labor Day Concert at 7:00 pm Saturday, September 5
* Monday, September 7 (Labor Day): Trash and recycling pickup.
* SFEC Meeting 5:00 pm Saturday, September 12
* SIA Meeting 8:00 pm Friday, September 18

Some additional Strathmere websites:
Carol Baker's wonderful Strathmere History website at http://www.strathmere.net/
Strathmere Blog: http://www.strathmere.blogspot.com/
Strathmere Volunteer Fire Company: http://www.strathmerefire.com/
Strathmere live oceancam: http://www.strathmere.tv/
Strathmere Bay Tides: http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/get_predictions.shtml?year=2009&stn=4720+Atlantic+City&secstn=Corson+Inlet,+Strathmere,+Strathmere+Bay&thh=%2b0&thm=31&tlh=%2b0&tlm=38&hh=*0.95&hl=*1.00

Stock up on the SIA's Strathmere "Stuff": Thank you so much for buying so many tee shirts, hats and visors. We have sold out of caps and visors, but we have both adult and children's tee shirts @$10 (no more adult medium or XXL). Strathmere "stuff" will be available at 212 Bayview Drive (ring the doorbell). Great for Christmas presents and family group photos!

Some requests for the "Improvement of Strathmere":

Drivers on Commonwealth: Please give people going to and from the beach a "brake"! Remember that NJ State Law gives pedestrians the right of way at both crosswalks and unmarked intersections!
Trash: Please don't put any trash with foodstuffs or other garbage out in plastic bags. Your neighbors don't mind putting away trash cans after you've gone home, but they do mind cleaning up a mess scattered by seagulls!
Boaters and Jet-ski / wave runner operators: Please remember that the Strathmere Bay is a "No Wake Zone"!
Dog owners: Please clean up after your dogs, including vacant lots and along Neptune Road.

Fishermen: Please don't leave any dead fish on the beach!

Everyone: Please try to carry off the beach more trash than you carry on!

Thanks to all!

The Strathmere Improvement Association includes all owners in Strathmere and Whale Beach and many visitors. It was founded over 50 years ago as a community organization with the simple objective of making Strathmere a better place. We are proud of the organization's many accomplishments over the years.

Thanks to all who have made their dues payments! Dues for the SIA are $10 per adult each year. The dues and the fund raisers provide for printing the trash regulations, mailing the post cards, funding the Fourth of July Parade, and our share of the Star Party and Christmas Party. We have also donated money to help pay for extra State Police protection. If you have adult children or relatives (or visitors) who visit Strathmere, please forward this message to them - perhaps they'd like to be members also.

Please send dues payments to SIA at PO Box 57, Strathmere, NJ 08248. Remember to tell us your e-mail address!

Please let us know if you have comments or suggestions for the newsletter or for SIA in general, or if you'd like us to change your e-mail address in our records. You can contact us by responding to this e-mail (sia6@comcast.net), or mailing SIA at PO Box 57.

Thanks to all for your continuing support!

Butch Vandegrift Ken Weaver Donna Diefenderfer Debbie Vandegrift
President Vice-President Treasurer Secretary

Reminder 8/15 - Strathmere Ocean Kayak Festival

Upper Township Beach Patrol
Upper Township, New Jersey


Strathmere Ocean Kayak Festival

The Upper Township Beach Patrol is holding their Strathmere Ocean Kayak Festival on the beach in Strathmere, NJ on Saturday, August 15 beginning at 10:30 AM. The Festival is a kayak-learning experience for the entire family, from the complete novice to competitor, through supplied instruction, demonstration and staged ocean kayak races.

A very exciting addition this year is instruction and race for Stand Up Paddle Boards.

Kayaking and Stand Up Paddle Boards are soaring in popularity as an affective cardiovascular and upper body strength-training workout that leaves the arms and chest in chiseled form. The open ocean sprint races off the beach and through the surf are exceptionally exciting to watch. Kayak wave skiing competition will also be included.

Spectators, beginners and competitors are invited to spend a day on the beach to learn more about the sport and compete. Race entry fee with t-shirt is $20. Event admission is FREE, and all equipment will be supplied FREE for both the instruction sessions and races. The event will take place on the beach in Strathmere. Award ceremony and post-race party will immediately follow at Beach Patrol Headquarters.

For more information or photos, contact the Upper Township Beach Patrol headquarters at 609-263-1151, or Jack O’Hara at 215-280-0019.

Schiavo Library - upcoming events

Just a reminder of some of the upcoming events @ the Schiavo...

* Tuesday & Thursday mornings - Free Computer classes - 30-minute morning sessions - Email Account Set-up, Facebook or Internet Navigation Instruction. This complimentary service is provided to library members through Labor Day. Contact Carol Bruno by phone (486-6265) or email cbruno@strathmerelibrary.org to register or for more details.

*Wednesday, August 12th - Kid's Club - 6pm to 7:30pm. - "Shells, Shore & More"

* Tuesdays, August 11th, 18th & 25th - Mommy & Me (reading with children ages 3, 4 & 5) 10:15 am - 10:45am.

*August 18th 7-8pm - Wetlands Institute presentation for the entire family, sponsored by the Strathmere Fishing & Environmental Club - "Sea Creatures with Amazing Features"



*Cooking with Books Contest! Use library resources (cookbooks, magazines or books) to find a recipe to recreate or to use for inspiration to make a DESSERT featuring Jersey Fresh Fruits or produce.
Bring your completed dessert to the Library at 5PM - awards will be presented at 7PM
Contact Carol Bruno by phone (486-6265) or email cbruno@strathmerelibrary.org to register or for more details.

Send in Your Six Word Wonders Contest!
Express your thoughts or feelings about Strathmere in just 6 words and win a prize during this fun and challenging Schiavo Library Contest!
It is said that Ernest Hemmingway was challenged to write a story in 6 words and he responded with "For sale: baby shoes, never worn"
Whether this is a literary folktale or a true story, the challenge of expressing thoughts and or emotions in just six words has inspired professionals and amateurs around the globe to craft pithy sayings about any number of topics. There's at least one book on the subject - 'Not Quite What I was Planning: Six Word Memoirs' (we have a copy of the book at the Library)

Now it's your turn! Create a six-word 'story' about Strathmere and submit it or several entries - to the Schiavo Library between now and August 29th in order to enter the contest. The winner or winners, will be announced Labor Day weekend and will receive a Schiavo Library Tote Bag, numerous accolades and fame on the official Schiavo Library webpage!

Include your name, contact info, and Schiavo Library card number. All work must be original.

Contact Carol Bruno by phone (486-6265) or email - cbruno@strathmerelibrary.org - to register or for more details.

Hey! You Missed a Spot!

So the Point has been filled. Almost.
The Point has been filled with fresh dredged sand straight out from Commonwealth and forward toward the Ocean, but for some reason the Point was not filled in on the bay side.
Last Winter, the township put in the big boulders, but they only went about 3/4 of the way across the face of the Point, leaving those last few houses on the bayside of the point unprotected. While some of the Point began to rebuild itself before dredging started, this area continued to erode several feet a day.

You can see exactly where the new sand stops in this first photo -

The beach wasn't filled all the way to the old bay coastline, it stops about 4-5 houses from the bay, leaving the houses there with water coming right up to the back of their property lines -

Today several homeowners put up their own beach fencing across the back of their properties, to try to encourage sand to build up. But it's going to be hard to get sand to build up when you see waves splashing against the fence at high tide -

Sorry, you can't walk around there, people. That water is several feet deep.

So the question is, Why wasn't it done? If you're going to have a big project like this done, why not do it all and do it right? It seems to me that the water that has already eroded that side of the Point will just keep coming in, washing out the new sand. I'd be pretty mad if I was one of those homeowners.

Also, the beach path at Seacliff has been reopened.

And please remember -

Don't walk on the dunes!

Please. Just because they haven't put up signs yet that say 'Don't Walk on the Dunes' doesn't mean that you can walk on the dunes. Have some common sense. Don't walk on the top of the new dunes, don't make your own path to the beach, don't climb over a fence to get to the beach.

That being said, here are some photos of the finished dredging at the Point. They are finished from the Point down tto Sherman, all beaches are open there. The dredgers are now working from Sherman down to Whale Beach.
The beaches at Williams, Winthrop, Seacliff and Seaview are huge! (don't complain that it's too far of a walk, it's better than no beach at all)

This photo was taken at the base of the dune on Winthrop, looking towards the Ocean.

From Winthrop beach looking south

Walking towards the Point

At the end of the Point, at high tide, looking back at the houses

On the Point, looking towards the Ocean