To All Strathmere and Whale Beach Homeowners and
Visitors,
When our beach replenishment project begins, the distance from the
“borrow zone” out in the ocean to the beach is so far that they need a booster
pump to get the sand to the beach.
This pumping station has been sitting offshore for some time now. It
may sit there awhile longer...
Photo by Ted Kingston
It now looks like the beach replenishment project for
Strathmere will be delayed even
more.
You may recall that it was expected to begin last December, soon
after the contract was awarded.
The Army Corps of Engineers specifies only a completion date when
they bid a beach fill project, not a start date or intermediate dates. They say
this attracts more bidders and a leads to a more economical project, but it also
leads to delays such as we are seeing now.
The contract-specified completion date for our replenishment is
January, 2016.
Recently, we were told that it would start around April 9, but there
seem to be three problems with that schedule:
1)
The dredge is in drydock for repairs.
2)
There has been so much erosion of our beaches along the ocean, the amount of
sand to be delivered has increased more than threefold, from 400,000 cubic yards
to 1,300,000 cubic yards, meaning the work will take three times as long.
3)
Avalon has contracted with Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company to complete a
beach replenishment project for them by June 29. It appears Great Lakes will use
the equipment that was to do the Strathmere / Sea Isle City project to complete
the Avalon work and then do us. One caveat – we’re told that Avalon has not yet
received a permit for their project.
Much of this was revealed in a Press of Atlantic city article (here) on Monday, April 20. This
article is worth reading!
The Army Corps of Engineers has a website, here, that is supposed to be updated with any
changes, but as the article indicates, Great Lakes is not advising the Army
Corps of changes, so the Corps website is presumably not up-to-date.
When it finally starts, the pipe will first come ashore around the
Strathmere / Whale Beach boundary (the paper street Hamilton Road).They will
then work their way north to the Point (Corson’s Inlet State Park), and then
“flip” the pipes and start south.
Beaches will be closed 1000 feet at a time, and work will continue
24 hours a day.
We
are sorry to be the bearers of such bad news.
We
are definitely in need of the project, at least on the ocean side.
This picture was taken on Easter Sunday, just north of the Williams
Road beach entrance.
This picture was taken near high tide this morning, from the
Webster Road beach (you cannot access the beach from any roads north of
Webster):
Conversely, the beach continues to build at the Point. The sand has
built up along the steel wall constructed by Seaview Road property owners.This was also taken at high tide this morning.
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Work continues on three blocks of Bayview Drive, from
Webster to Sumner. Most of the concrete work (sidewalks, curbs and
driveways) is complete.
They still need to lay down another layer of asphalt.
Monday morning we had minor tidal flooding on Bayview, giving us a
chance to see the effect of the reconstruction.
It appears to have helped, especially around Twisties, where the
street remained dry. There was flooding north and south of there, however.
Not much you can do when the bay is higher than the
sidewalks!
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The La Fontana Del Mare Restaurant is getting a new look. Pretty
cool!
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As reported earlier, Mildred’s
is now open weekends
The Deauville Inn is now
open seven days a week.
The Old Shack will open weekends beginning May
2.
Twisties will open
on weekends beginning May 8.
Uncle Bill’s will be open Saturday and Sunday beginning May 9.
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The Ocean Drive Bridge over Townsend’s Inlet,
scheduled to reopen April
30th, will remain closed through mid-May.
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The SIA is planning a busy summer!
There will be a Summer Solstice Star Party on
Saturday evening, June 20, with Derrick Pitts of the Franklin Institute.
Two SIA meetings will be held, on July 10 and
August 14, with planning for great programs well underway.
We will again hold a Community Beach Party.
The SIA will also sponsor two presentations by Ken Weaver of the
“History of Early Strathmere” at the Firehouse August 26 and
28.
Many people have asked about the Strathmere grocery bags we sold
some years ago. This year we will have the thermal bags
available for sale.
Also responding to demand, we will be selling Strathmere
caps (hats).
Remember to follow and "like" the SIA
on Facebook:
You'll get an early look at lots of
things going on in Strathmere (some great photos by Greg Bennett, Ted Kingston
and others have been shared there).
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Also, check out Carol Baker's wonderful Strathmere
History website at http://www.strathmere.net/, and her
blog at http://strathmere.blogspot.com/.
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You can also see the beach and ocean from Ed Tettemer’s
Octagon Webcam.
**************************************
Okay, so here’s where the newsletter gets a little
personal.
Jessica and I will be leaving Strathmere and moving to St. James Plantation in North
Carolina at the end of this month. This will be my last newsletter.
Last Saturday, Strathmere threw us a “Farewell Party”,
initiated and coordinated by Wendy Dougherty. Both of us were thrilled and touched, and had a wonderful
time.
Thank you Wendy! Ken said, “It’s pretty neat, being able to attend your own
wake!”
Only in Strathmere!
The feeling is mutual!
Thanks to all – we will miss Strathmere and its “folks”
terribly!
****************************************************
Upcoming Events - please mark your calendars:
SFEC Meeting at the Firehouse, Saturday, April 25, 4:00
pm
Schiavo Library Book Sale, May 21 to June
13
SFEC Herb Hollinger, Sr. Opening Day Flounder Tournament,
Saturday, May 23
SFEC Flounder Tournament, Saturday, June
6
SIA-Sponsored Discussion by County Engineer Dale Foster on 2016
Commonwealth Avenue Rebuild, Firehouse, June ?
Jane Shetler / Debbe Starr Women’s Tournament, Saturday,
June 20
SIA Summer Solstice Star Party, Saturday Night, June
20
Fourth of July Parade, 10:30, Saturday, July
4
SIA Meeting, Firehouse, 7:30, Friday, July
10
SFEC 30th Anniversary Summer Social, Firehouse, 6:00 pm,
Saturday, August 1
SIA Meeting, Firehouse, 7:30, Friday, August
14
SIA-Sponsored “History of Early Strathmere” Presentations,
Firehouse (Ken Weaver), August 26 and 28
SFEC Nightmare in Strathmere Boat Parade, 6:30, Saturday
August 29
SFEC Kids’ Surf fishing tournament, Saturday, September
5
Let us know of additions or corrections!
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Don’t forget your 2015 SIA Dues!
The Strathmere Improvement Association invites all
owners, renters and vacationers in Strathmere and Whale Beach to join as dues
paying members. The SIA was founded in 1951 as a community organization
with the simple objective of making Strathmere a better place. We work to
preserve our town’s “hometown feeling” and to keep lines of communication open
within town, and with local government.
We are proud of the
organization's many accomplishments over the years, including sponsorship of
2012 Centennial activities, taking on a key organizing and leadership role in
Strathmere and Whale Beach relief efforts after Sandy, and hosting an annual
community beach party and concert. Additionally, the July and August SIA
meetings feature programs of interest to vacationers and
homeowners.
Your dues allow us to
continue to co-sponsor the Christmas Party and the Fourth of July Parade, as
well as the above mentioned activities.
Once again, we are
keeping annual dues to $10 per adult family member.
Please send your dues payments to
SIA at PO Box 57, Strathmere, NJ 08248. Remember to tell us
your correct e-mail address!
Also, 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 sia1912@comcast.net (for awhile) or by mailing SIA at PO Box 57 in Strathmere.
Thanks very much for your continuing support of the Strathmere Improvement Association
Also, 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 sia1912@comcast.net (for awhile) or by mailing SIA at PO Box 57 in Strathmere.
Thanks very much for your continuing support of the Strathmere Improvement Association
Linda Bateman
Elaine Holsomback
Donna
Diefenderfer
Rosemarie Whelan
Ken Weaver
