Strathmere citizens group votes to sever link with Upper

Strathmere citizens group votes to sever link with Upper
From The Press of Atlantic City

By JOHN MARTINS Staff Writer, (856) 794-5114
Published: Monday, May 14, 2007

UPPER TOWNSHIP — A citizens group from this sprawling township's seaside village of Strathmere announced Saturday that it will be taking steps to sever the small community of about 200 people from its parent and join another nearby municipality.
Members of the Strathmere Taxpayers Association, which formed in early 2006 to contest a revaluation of property assessments, voted unanimously to refocus the group's energy toward what it is calling “de-annexation.” According to group spokesman and school board member Randy Roash, the idea to split from its mainland neighbor is an old one.

“The (revaluation) gave it some momentum, but it's something that's been discussed for about two decades,” he said.
Upper Township Mayor Richard Palombo said the township will do whatever it takes to keep Strathmere under its stewardship.
“We have been fair and equitable to Strathmere,” he said, “and we'll take fair measures to make sure that Strathmere stays a part of Upper Township.”

The township-wide property revaluation, which concluded about 18 months ago, was first reflected in local property-tax bills received in January 2006. The increase, Roash said, was as high as 800 percent for some properties.
The tax hike has caused some residents to no longer be able to afford their homes, and Roash said that a number of Strathmere's senior citizens have been forced to put their homes up for sale.

“Some of them are up against the wall,” Roash said. “The response has been, ‘If you don't like it, then leave,' and we don't buy that.”

Palombo said properties in Strathmere were assessed at a value between $200,000 and $400,000 while the standard price for a vacant lot in the village could sell for more than $800,000.
Palombo said he felt compassion for residents who can no longer afford their homes, but he said the county requires gross discrepancies between assessed and market values to be corrected.
“It just doesn't work that way,” he said.

Under a new name — Citizens for Strathmere and Whale Beach — the group will now focus on collecting signatures for its effort, which Roash said requires at least 60 percent of the population.
Roash was careful Saturday to express that the Strathmere citizens' displeasure is not directed at either the town or any of its officials.
He said Strathmere's property tax woes are the result of a statewide taxing system that he said is broken.
When asked what nearby town Strathmere residents would prefer to join, Roash declined comment.

The village occupies less than 1 square mile at the northern end of Ludlow Island, which is separated from mainland Upper by the approximately 5-mile expanse of Ludlow Bay. The remaining portion of Ludlow Island is occupied by Sea Isle City.

Sea Isle City Mayor Len Desiderio said Saturday that he has not had any conversations with the Strathmere group.
“As far as I'm concerned, they're part of Upper Township,” he said.

For Strathmere residents, who make up less than 2 percent of the entire township's population, the sentiment in regard to the association with Upper is that the relationship has not been entirely equitable.

Roash said residents are concerned about public safety, emergency management and infrastructural issues.
“Our concerns here aren't the most frequently discussed,” he added.

Palombo, however, strongly disagreed. He acknowledged that the village may have been neglected in years past, but the township, he said, has been very responsive to Strathmere's needs since he was elected mayor eight years ago.
“Strathmere is not neglected,” Palombo said, adding that it is one of seven distinct communities that make up the 64-square-mile township. “We've already accrued a half-million dollars to do a beach-replenishment program, we repair the sewer. It's almost to the point that every time you turn around, they want more.”

Aside from financial or municipal concerns, Roash said Strathmere residents have also felt culturally at odds with their mainland neighbors.
“One of the things that comes to mind on a regular basis is cultural compatibility,” he said. “We're a barrier island community. Culturally, our concerns are different from a mainland community.”

See the stars in Strathmere 5/12

The Strathmere approvement Association presents it's 2007 springtime Strathmere Star Party, this Saturday May 12th at 8:45PM on the beach at Randolph. Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer from the Franklin Institute will be the star guide. Learn about the constellations, stories of the stars, spot planets and the North Star. You can bring a blanket, binoculars or telescopes to enjoy the view.

Strathmere Memories - from Maurice J. Woolman

With permission, I'm sharing this email that I recently received -

'I was looking through your website (www.strathmere.net) this evening. The memories, emotions, and feelings of wonderful times at the beach came to life once again. I fondly remember my parents taking day trips to Whale Beach with my sister and I in tow. Friends of my parents had a home on the beach side of the highway, just north of a motel (I think it was called the Dolphin Motel). I remember walking across the hot sand and going through a break in the dunes to reach the beach. It seemed like it took forever the reach the water. Once, we had the good fortune to stay at my parents’ friends’ house overnight – it was awesome. I remember the water tank mounted to the side of the house, facing east so we could all “rinse off” after playing on the beach (true solar water heating). And I have fond memories of the diner/restaurant in Strathmere, where we had some incredibly enjoyable meals.

In the wee hours of March 6 1962, one of my brothers was born (we lived near Elmer). I can still remember the winds and driving rains at the time but was unaware of the devastation occurring at the beach. The images of that night will be forever stored in my mind. My sister and I did make it to Whale Beach that summer on Labor Day weekend with my father. I can still remember the bulldozers piling up sand from the beach to protect the highway. From just north of Sea Isle City to almost Strathmere, the beach was barren – not one house was left standing. The home of my parents’ friends ended up in the bay. I remember a Catholic Church was the northern-most building on the beach until you were almost in Strathmere. The little motel somehow survived intact, although it was now on the bay side of the highway. They later put a new foundation under it and opened for business. One other thing I remember most about this time is how the water line had moved so close to the highway…it was as if the line have moved 100 yards or more closer to the highway. From the 1998 photos on your website, it would appear the water line has moved even closer to the highway.

I had the opportunity to revisit the area about seven years ago and was amazed at the build up of houses and buildings along the highway. I remember thinking to myself, “had people not learned anything from the 1962 storm”? I now own a home and live in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. As to how I ended up here is a long story, but suffice it to say, those summers at the Jersey shore left a lasting impression on me, and my desire to be near but not on, the ocean. I hope to come back for a visit in the next year or so…nothing can quite compare with the Jersey shore and the wonderful restaurants.'

Maurice J Woolman
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Beach photos 4/20

Some photos taken 4/20/07 - Click images for larger views

A cute couple takes a romantic walk on the beach-

The beach just above Seaview, walking towards the Point -

These two photos are the dunes at the end of Seaview -

The beach at Seacliff -

On the dune at Seacliff, looking north -

Looking North from Seacliff beach -

Another north view, with the dune cliffs of Seaview to the left-

Staying Afloat, Against Rising Tide of Taxation

Read the story about Strathmere Taxes in The Upper Township Gazette

Upper Township Gazette

Yeah! The Upper Township Gazette is now online - http://www.uppertownshipgazette.com/

The bridge has reopened today too.



(yeah, I know, I need to post some Strathmere news or photos in the blog, I've been neglecting it)