Photos from the Beach Grass Planting on 10/10

To all Strathmere and Whale Beach Homeowners and Visitors,

As you can see above, not only was there a very successful dune grass planting on October 10, but the plantings withstood the back-to-back nor'easters of last week. The planting of 2500 grass plugs, from Webster to Sumner Roads, was sponsored by the Strathmere Fishing and Environmental Club.

SFEC Environmental Chairperson Carol Ferguson coordinated the event; the Township provided some "pogo sticks" to punch holes and Dick Omrod constructed even more. The Fire Company wet down the sand ahead of the "punchers" to keep the holes open while the plugs were inserted. Publicity and invitations to help were distributed by the SIA, the Citizens' Group and the SFEC, resulting in a turnout of over 40 volunteers!
The first step was to separate, one-by-one, the grass plugs:

Then the sand was watered down:

Holes were poked in the sand:

And the plugs inserted into the holes...

Three rows were planted for the entire three blocks...

And then a row was planted on the existing dune...

The entire job was completed in two hours (just as a light rain began).

All volunteers were invited to the SFEC dinner meeting that evening, where they were thanked for their participation.More pictures of the planting may be seen at the SFEC website here.

On another subject, the picture below shows that the transformation of Twisties has begun:

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.
Please let us know if you have comments or suggestions for items to be included in the newsletter or for the SIA in general, or if you'd like us to change (or add) your e-mail address (or the address of a friend or relative) in our records. You can contact us by sia6@comcast.net or mailing SIA at P.O. Box 57. Thanks to all for your continuing support!

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

Pets of Strathmere - Abby & Spike

This is Abby and Spike (Hartline) They are best friends and love to play. Abby is a 9 year old Black Lab who looks and acts like a puppy most of the time. Spike is a 6 year old Jack, who thinks he is a Lab and does everything his "big sister" does. They love the beach!
We bought a house on Whittier 3 years ago and our dogs love Strathmere just as much (if not more) than we do! All you have to do is say the word "beach" and they go crazy! You will find Abby and Spike on the beach - and in the water - just about every weekend, even in the Winter months! They love playing ball and will try and get everyone who passes by to play with them. They enjoy playing with other dogs on the beach too (although Spike can be a little shy at times with bigger dogs).
If you are walking by Whittier and see us on the beach playing, please stop by, say Hello and play a while!

Stormy weekend for the Shore

Some news stories regarding the Nor'Easter that's hitting the Shore. Along with high tide, there's been flooding in Ocean City, Strathmere & Sea Isle areas, along with others.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj/20091017_Storms_in_Pennsylvania__N_Y___and_N_J_.html

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/article_ef7571fa-bac5-11de-8460-001cc4c002e0.html

http://www.kyw1060.com/The-Second-Nor--Easter-Wreaks-Havoc-at-Jersey-Shor/5461980


My Dad just tried getting to Strathmere thru Sea Isle. The tide is very high and water is coming into the street right before the bridge into Sea Isle.

Heading north the usual streets on Landis are flooded, about 20th to 29th streets.
Also when you turn at the police station and head up that road that makes the sharp turn towards Landis - it is flooded several blocks too.
Several streets heading south from JFK are flooded too, which you don't see very often. Police are not letting anyone through

Now on display at the Schiavo Library Mini Museum

There are currently 2 displays at the Schiavo Library Mini Museum. The first shown in the 2 photos below was provided by the Ocean City Historical Museum and it  features photos and items from the Sindia.




The other display is from Strathmere residents Dewey and Terry Powell and it features some interesting fishing trophies and old fishing lures.

Please stop by the library to view the Mini Museum, which is right in the lobby of the Library.

A message from the Strathmere Improvement Association

To all Strathmere and Whale Beach Homeowners and Visitors,

At the September 18 (and last 2009) meeting of the Strathmere Improvement Association, we awarded two savings bonds for scholarship to Brian Furey and Nick Roash. These awards were begun by Donald and Elizabeth Bergus and will be continued by the Bergus Family in their memory.
Here are the SIA officers with Brian, who thanked the SIA for the award. Nick was unable to attend that evening.

Brian is currently a second grade student at Bishop McHugh Regional Catholic School. Last year he was a straight "A" student who received both academic and social accolades. One of the special honors he received was the "Courage Award", which is given annually to the student who always "stands up for what is right". In addition, he received the "Consistency Award", which honors the student in each grade with the highest and most consistent grades. In addition to his studies, Brian is involved in extracurricular activities that include soccer, basketball, and baseball. He is learning piano and is currently a purple belt in karate at the American Martial Arts Academy in Seaville, working toward his black belt.
Nick is a Junior at Ocean City High School. and is on the Varsity Crew Team. He is an Honor Student and has been fortunate to receive the Bergus award for the past nine years, since moving to Strathmere as a year-round resident. He is a member of the Upper Township Beach Patrol and runs Nick's Lawn Service. His hobbies include almost everything "boarding" but especially snowboarding. He is also an avid scuba diver.
Our congratulations to both Nick and Brian!

If you missed the presentation on "Shipwrecks: the General Slocum and the Sindia" presentation at the Schiavo Library on October 3 you missed a fascinating evening. It was very well-reported in the Press of Atlantic City here and by the Ocean City Sentinel. We watched as the picture of Captain Sinn in the Sentinel was sketched as he spoke. Thanks to Captain Ronald Sinn and to Paul Anselm of the Ocean City Historical Museum for speaking at the event. A display of artifacts and information on the Sindia is now on display in the Mini Museum in the Schiavo Library. Also on display in the Mini Museum are antique fishing lures from the collection of Dewey & Terry Powell.
If you haven't heard, Carol Bruno was forced to resign as Library Director for health reasons.

On October 10, there was an extremely successful community dune grass planting, sponsored by the SFEC, which will be covered in the next newsletter.

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.

Please let us know if you have comments or suggestions for items to be included in the newsletter or for the SIA in general, or if you'd like us to change (or add) your e-mail address in our records. Perhaps you'd like to add other family members! You can contact us by responding to 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

Volunteers needed to plant dune grass in Strathmere

To all Strathmere and Whale Beach Homeowners and Visitors,

Many of you have volunteered to help with dune grass planting following the beach replenishment. As you can see, the replenishment has left lots of sand ready to blow around...
The Strathmere Fishing and Environmental Club (SFEC) has purchased 2500 dune grass plants and is asking everyone to volunteer to help plant them this weekend.

We've been asked to gather at Webster Road and the beach at noon on Saturday.
Discussion with the Township indicates that in their experience, the best tool for planting dune grass is a broomstick! They've promised to furnish some, but if you have an old broom, bring it along and you can poke one end into the sand for the plant and sweep the sand back with the other end! A hand trowel could also work. We expect to go back on Sunday to finish the job.

The Fishing Club has a surf fishing tournament scheduled for Friday and Saturday, and they have generously invited all who participate in the planting to take part in the awards dinner at the Firehouse at 6:00 pm Saturday at the Firehouse. While refreshments and dinner are courtesy of the SFEC, you are asked to bring non-perishable food items or make a cash donation to benefit local food banks whose stocks are greatly depleted. Some donation suggestions are: cereal, coffee, juice, pancake mix, syrup, catsup, mustard, mayonaisse, canned fruit, tuna, canned meat, paper towels, dish detergent, bar soap or deodorant, but all non-perishable items are welcome.

One proviso - this project is going to involve our entire village and the SFEC needs some idea of the expected turnout.
If you plan to help plant (and/or come to dinner), please reply sia6@comcast.net  or call 609-263-6846.

More information of the Surf Fishing Tournament and a registration form is available on the SFEC website here, or call Randy Roash at 609-263-9500.
If you weren't sure about coming to the shore this weekend, come on down! It's Indian Summer Weekend in Ocean City, with the Fall Block Party (400 crafters/vendors) on Asbury Avenue starting at 9:00 am. Take this in and come back to Strathmere in time to plant at noon!

After our dinner at the Firehouse, Ocean City is planning a spectacular fireworks display from a barge off their 9th Street beach at 9:30 pm. This show will be as big or bigger than Ocean City's 4th of July fireworks!
See you Saturday! (But let us know you're coming).


Thanks to all for your continuing support!


Butch Vandegrift - President

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

New Cape library features exhibit on shipwrecks

By ROB SPAHR, Staff Writer Press of Atlantic City, 609-272-7283
Posted: Monday, October 5, 2009

Capt. Ronald Sinn, left, and Paul Anselm, of the Ocean City Historical Museum, introduced the exhibit on local shipwrecks Saturday 10/3/09 at the Schiavo Library in Strathmere, Upper Township.
For a list of New Jersey shipwrecks, visit: www.PressofAtlanticCity.com



.. UPPER TOWNSHIP - Less than a mile east of the Schiavo Library in Strathmere, the wreckage of the General Slocum - which was involved in one of the most notorious maritime disasters in U.S. history - lies beneath the sea.

Several miles northwest of that shipwreck, the remains of the Sindia sit under the sand of Ocean City's 17th Street beach.

They are only two of the thousands of known shipwrecks off the coast of New Jersey, which has the highest number of shipwrecks per square mile in the nation, but they are undeniably two of the most famous.

The newly opened Schiavo Library, a privately funded library at Putnam and Commonwealth avenues in memory of the late Dr. Rita C. Schiavo, unveiled a small exhibit of these shipwrecks Saturday night that is expected to be on display for most of the winter.

"Strathmere is a community whose people do a lot of boating, sport fishing, surfing and scuba diving. They are water-type people," said Marion Ingram, a volunteer at the library. "And since one of our main goals here is to promote New Jersey history, an exhibit of shipwrecks seemed fitting. Especially considering one of them is right off the coast from us."

Maritime safety expert Ronald Sinn and Paul Anselm, the past president of the Ocean City Historical Museum, helped introduce the exhibit by discussing the General Slocum and Sindia shipwrecks, respectively.

According to Sinn, the General Slocum, a steam excursion boat, was carrying a boatful of parishioners from St. Mark's Lutheran Church in New York when it caught fire in New York's East River on June 15, 1904.

More than 1,000 people - mostly women and children - died as a result of several safety-related problems, including faulty life preservers.

Sinn said what was left of the General Slocum was converted into a barge named The Maryland that sank off Strathmere's coast while hauling coal Dec. 4, 1911.

"We wouldn't care about it, if it weren't for that tragedy. It would just be some barge that sank," said Sinn, who is attempting to get the wreckage put on the National Historical Register. "But more than 1,000 people lost their lives in that fire. Five generations later, that basically translates to 50,000 people who never existed because of it."

While Sinn is attempting to get the General Slocum the recognition he feels it deserves, Anselm said the Sindia is already a "big deal" in Ocean City and mentioned on the National Historic Register.

"That's probably because it has always been a mystery on how it ran aground, and also because it was still visible on the beach up until 1985," said Anselm, adding a beach replenishment project covered the ship's remains.

The four-masted, steel-hulled Sindia ran aground Dec. 15, 1901, as it neared the end of a five-month voyage from Japan to New York.

There are many rumors surrounding the cause of Sindia's crash, Anselm said, including the crew being drunk, poor navigation and even a scenario involving the ship crashing while attempting to unload goods and materials from Asia that were hard to get in the U.S. during the Boxer Rebellion.

"As technology moves forward, with computers and everything, we're getting a better idea of what really happened," Anselm said.

And even though the exhibit gives just a small glimpse into the rich history of these wrecks, Anselm said it could help those who see it gain an appreciation that could inspire them to seek out more information about them.

"It gives people a chance to see a piece of history they haven't seen before," Anselm said. "And what better place to do that, then a brand-new facility such as this."

E-mail Robert Spahr:
RSpahr@pressofac.com