SIA Newsletter - New Library Director; Twisties; Christmas Party; Lost & Found; Free Toll

From the Strathmere Improvement Association -
In this issue: New Library Director; Twisties; Christmas Party; Lost & Found; Free Toll

This is Christine Rohrman and she is the new Library Director at the Schiavo Library. October 27th was her first day on the job. She is a retired elementary school librarian - from Valley Park School Library in Pennsville, New Jersey. Her husband and she retired to Wildwood a little over a year ago from West Deptford, NJ. She is thrilled to be "down the shore" and especially working in this lovely town at our beautiful new library.

Please stop in and welcome Christine!

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Work continues on Twisties. The "house" now sits on the driveway while its former site is prepared for moving the bar back there. Then the new pilings can be driven for the bar, which will next be raised and placed back out by the bay.

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The Strathmere Christmas Party, sponsored by the Volunteer Fire Company and the SIA, will be held at 6 pm on Saturday, December 12 - 6:00 PM at the historic Strathmere Fire House

A light supper, a few hearty songs and a visit from Old St. Nick himself!
Can't wait to see you there!

Since Santa has to prepare his list for the party, please let us know the name, age and gender of any child (13 or under) who will be attending, so we can help him with that list!

You can respond to this e-mail sia6@comcast.net.


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Lost & Found Update - we are happy to report that every lost or found item from the recent storm posted here has been reunited with its owner. We were not able to locate the kayak that went missing in a previous storm.
We would like help with one more thing: two "smart vents", as shown on the floor below, went missing in the flood tides. They aren't cheap, so if you find one (or both) please respond to this e-mail so we can get them home! Thanks much.

By the way, if you haven't noticed, the bridge over the Strathmere Bay is now toll-free until next Spring!

Thanks to all for your continuing support!

The Strathmere Improvement Association
Butch Vandegrift - President
Ken Weaver - Vice-President
Donna Diefenderfer - Treasurer
Debbie Vandegrift - Secretary

Late November and December Events @ the Schiavo Library

Late November and December Events @ the Schiavo Library in Strathmere

November: “The Coastal Storm of Nov. 09”
We have newspaper articles and photos from the recent storm on display.

November 28 1:00 pm: Tree Trimming Party
Bring an ornament to help decorate our Christmas tree.
Refreshments provided.

Saturdays in December 1:00 pm Holiday Movies
Come and bring a friend.
Watch one of our movies or bring a favorite holiday movie to share.
Refreshments provided.

Update on Lost & Found Items - from the SIA

Not much success so far with our "lost and found" efforts...


Found so far and anxious to return home are:
1) This L-shaped walkway which now sits on the south corner of Bayview and Sherman:

2) These trash cans (no lids) found in the 200 block of Bayview (actually there are many trash cans lying around...): (it's a good idea to paint your house number on lids and cans)

 
Lost:
1) The mate of this red wicker chair that belongs at 205 Bayview:

2) A square, white umbrella stand that fills with water to stabilize an umbrella:

3) A Wilderness Pongo Orange Kayak (no picture) lost from 500 S. Bayview back in the September storm.

If you can help with any of these, please reply to this e-mail message at sia6@comcast.net


Thanks!!
The Strathmere Improvement Association
 
 

Lost and Found in Strathmere Storm - from the SIA

After finding an L-shaped walkway (between Commonwealth and Bayview on Sherman) next to his home on Friday, John Zee suggested we do a "lost and found".
We know many things found their way home this weekend, but here are two items that we could still use help with.

Found:
This L-shaped walkway (quite heavy)...

Lost:

A wicker chair like this that belongs at 205 Bayview (we found one chair, one table and one love-seat but are still missing one chair).

 
If you can help with either of these (or want help with other lost or found items), please reply to this e-mail - Strathmere Improvement Association - sia6@comcast.net



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

Storm Photos Part 2 from the Strathmere Improvement Association

Here are pictures of the North End, taken on Saturday after the wind finally calmed down. None of this is from water washing in - it's all from the winds...

And we hear that the State has reneged on its promised plantings in the State Park area this year!

Not again!

Guess water would be worse...

La Fontana's statue is resting peacefully....

The County worked to clear Ocean Drive and the storm drains, here on Saturday afternoon. The road to Sea Isle was mostly closed in the last few days...

The pictures below of the beach were taken today (Sunday). Looks like we lost beach, especially south of Vincent. I think those pilings used to be covered...

Our planted dune grass got washed over but is still there. Hopefully it will survive...

If you did not get water in your home, the biggest problem is the awful bay-bottom mud (below) that coats Bayview Drive. It's very hard not to track it in...

Sadly, many people did get water into their living areas. There are many wet, rolled-up carpets out at the curb this evening.

These pictures brought to you by the Strathmere Improvement Association. Note that while the SIA Does not have its own website, I am very glad to repost their newsletters here in the Strathmere blog.

You can see previous SIA newsletters archived here

Contact SIA - sia6@comcast.net

Butch Vandegrift - President

Ken Weaver - Vice-President

Donna Diefenderfer - Treasurer
Debbie Vandegrift - Secretary

Flood photos from the Strathmere Improvement Association

Here are some pictures of Bayview Drive during the storm. All were taken around high tide Thursday evening 11/12. The highest tides were in the morning hours before it got light so we have no pictures of the worst water...

Would have sent these sooner if we had had electricity...

Starting south from Williard: (click images for larger views)

Luckily, Frank's boats did not get launched....

Hold your feet up while you swing...

Tough bike riding - wicker chair heads south...

The plants need to be "salt-water tolerant"...

A planter heads south...

These next two were taken by Ella Diamond...

Twistie's definitely needs to be raised...

Again, the bay got higher than this at the morning tides, especially Friday morning...

We call this "Storm Sudoku"...

Bayview Drive lost power from 9 pm to 4 am Wednesday night, 5 pm to 3 pm Thursday into Friday and 1 pm to 3:30 pm on Saturday. Over 31 hours. Much use of candles and lanterns and talk of generators!

Brought to you by the Strathmere Improvement Association.


Butch Vandegrift - President

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

WARNING - Tidal Flooding expected in Strathmere Thursday & Friday

As the remnants of Hurricane Ida cross into the Atlantic and combine with another coastal low, there will be a tremendous amount of rain south of us.
As this combined low moves north, with counterclockwise winds, it will encounter a strong high pressure system over New England, which will block its movement north and itself generate clockwise winds. Together, these systems will produce sustained onshore winds of 25 to 35 mph for the next three days, creating high surf, beach erosion and back bay flooding. It is also expected to rain until Saturday, though not in the amounts south of us.

"Minor" tidal flooding is likely beginning late tonight and "moderate" tidal flooding is possible by week's end. Minor flooding can be a problem for us in Strathmere - moderate flooding can be considerably worse.
Minor tidal flooding is expected for the high tide cycles early on Thursday morning and late on Thursday afternoon. However, as tidal departures increase some moderate tidal flooding is possible during the high tide early on Friday morning. At that time, tide levels may reach or exceed 7.0 feet MLLW at Atlantic City, New Jersey. We begin to have flooding problems at 5.0 feet - 24 inches more than that on Friday morning can give us real problems! We suggest you take precautions and be sure cars, trash cans and other things susceptible to flooding are moved to a safe place.

Here are the "normal" high tides for this period (from here):

Predicted "Normal" High Tides:
Wednesday 11/11 3:14 pm 4.1 feet
Thursday 11/12 4:00 am 4.2 feet
                        4:13 pm 4.0 feet
Friday 11/13 4:52 am 4.5 feet
                    5:08 pm 4.0 feet
Saturday 11/14 5:40 am 4.7 feet
                     5:57 pm 3.9 feet
Monday 11/16 2:11 pm New Moon

Here is an interesting website to track predicted vs. observed tidal levels (go to "East", then go down the left side - north to south - and click on the number by Atlantic City):
http://tidesonline.noaa.gov/monitor.html
The blue line shows the normal predicted tide levels. As the wind changed to the northeast last night, you can see the observed levels (in red) begin to exceed the predicted levels. The green line tracks the difference beween the two, or the "residual" level. It's this residual level we worry about. When the wind blows from the northeast and off the ocean, the water can't get out as the tide is supposed to go down. The longer this continues, the more the residual level builds up. If conditions occur as now predicted, that normal tide at 4:52 Friday morning could be close to seven feet!
Waves off our coast are forecast to build to around 15 feet or higher from tonight into the early part of the weekend. As a result, breakers along the coast may approach 7 or 8 feet with a good deal of beach erosion anticipated. A high surf advisory is in effect.

If you are not in Strathmere and have anything you would like secured, reply to this e-mail message and we'll see if we can help. Strathmere Improvement Association - sia6@comcast.net


This notice is courtesy of the Strathmere Improvement Association.

Butch Vandegrift - President

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

Beach Plum Planting in Strathmere TODAY!! 11/8

If you are in Strathmere - or will be here Sunday morning - we need volunteers to help plant beach plum trees.

Carol Ferguson, Environmental Chairman of the SFEC, and Dave Townsend have acquired 50 small beach plum trees to be planted on the existing dune structure in Strathmere.

We will be meeting at Webster Road and the beach at 11:00 am Sunday morning 11/8.

Bring a shovel!

Thanks much.

S.I.A.