To All Strathmere
and Whale Beach Homeowners and Visitors,
Happy Valentine's Day
to All!
We have a number of items related to Sandy and the continuing
saga of flood insurance rate
increases..
The front page of the Press on February 13 had this story about the
National Hurricane Center's Final Report on
Sandy...
And in the same issue was a reprint of this editorial from the
Washington Post...
Strathmere resident Lynn Fayter attended the Upper Township Committee
Meeting in January and reports that she asked the Township
to:
1. Hire a coastal engineer to investigate
appealing the new zones.
2. Include all 700 homes in flood zones on the grant
letter of intent for elevation money (there are 700 homes in Strathmere and on
the mainland in flood zones). She says she felt it was unfair to only include
people that called to request inclusion as Upper had failed to properly inform
people of the potential for grant money. FEMA stated if a home was not included
they would not receive money.
She then attended the February 11 Meeting
and further reports that:
1. Upper budgeted money for a coastal engineer
and may partner with Ocean City and/or the county to appeal the zones.
2. 500
homes were included in the letter of intent.
In this regard, Township Engineer Paul Dietrich
reports that there is still information developing regarding the Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program and that the Township has not yet made any
decisions.
Both Paul and Lynn have asked us to publicize that the
deadline of March 1 for applying for an SBA loan to repair damage from Sandy is
fast approaching.
Lynn says, "It's a
very easy process and the SBA people are great. They are also based at the Ocean
City Library for walk-ins. Non-primary
(residence) people that rent qualify as a small business. The rates are low and
better than home equity as they may not have to purchase flood insurance like
they would for home equity (loans). Not positive but certainly something for
them to pursue. The loan can sit there until they're ready for it, might be a
good bridge for people that would need to wait for the ICC money which is not
given until the house is raised." She also suggests that you use the term
"mitigation against future damages" rather than "rebuilding" on your
application...
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There was an article from the Upper Township
Sentinel reporting on that February 11 Meeting and saying that
Strathmere may get jitney service this
summer...
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This Saturday, February 16, from 2:00 pm until 9:00 pm, elections
will be held for the Strathmere Board of Fire Commissioners (Upper
Township District #1).
There are three openings on the Board, and three candidates are
running: Karen Mitchell and Ken Weaver for three-year terms and Randy Roash for
a one-year term.
You may recall that in our January 20
newsletter, we reported that New Jersey passed a law mandating that all NJ Fire
Commissions have a website up and available to the public by February 1, 2013.
The law specified certain information that had to be included in the
website. Upper Township agreed to host, at no
charge, websites for the four Fire Districts in the Township, including posting
information provided to them by the Commissions.
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SURF - For more
than 90 days, homeowners waited for a check from their insurance company; some
still wait. Their bills, however, do not. For many, the only funds received were
from those raised by the Strathmere United Relief Fund (SURF). If you have
already donated to the fund, we thank you. We still have folks in need and
anticipate a renewed need in the spring when homes are reopened for the season.
Please consider making a donation or another donation.
Mail a check payable to the Strathmere United Methodist Church; please write
SURF in the memo line and mail to PO Box 49, Strathmere, 08248.
As one recipient said: "The only bright
spot in this whole disaster has been SURF. Knowing someone cared and was willing
to help, went a long way toward my recovery."
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This Monday is Presidents' Day, and as a Township
Holiday there will be no trash or recycling collected. Trash will
be collected Tuesday, but recycling must be held until February 25.
http://www.uppertownship.com/Road_Dept/2013/upper_township_public_works_resident_information.htm
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In our January 28 newsletter, we asked that you
write concerning window hours at the Strathmere Post Office We hope you have. If
not, please take a few minutes to do so. Again, your letter
could be the one that causes the USPS to reconsider its decision and provide us
with the morning window hours the community requested. Thanks!
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Remember to follow and "like" the SIA (click the
"Thumbs Up" box ) on Facebook:
You'll get an early look at lots of things going
on in Strathmere
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Upcoming Events - mark your
calendars:
Fire Commission Elections Saturday,
February 16, 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm
SFEC Winter
Social at the Deauville Inn, Saturday, February 23, 6:00
pm
Let us know of additions or
corrections!
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The Strathmere Improvement Association includes
all owners in Strathmere and Whale Beach and many visitors. It was founded in
1951 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 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
at sia6@comcast.net
or by mailing SIA at PO Box 57, Strathmere 08248.
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Thanks very much for your continuing support of
the Strathmere Improvement Association!
Linda Bateman
Elaine Holsomback
Donna Diefenderfer
Rosemarie
Whelan
Ken Weaver
