Schiavo Library: November 2013 Newsletter

Schiavo Library: November 2013 Newsletter
Friday Movie Matinees: We’re featuring an eclectic group of titles at our Friday movie matinees: The Hunger Games, Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, The Painted Veil, and Zero Dark Thirty. Join us any Friday at 1:00pm and enjoy a movie in quiet surroundings!

Revised Check-out Periods: For the winter we will extend check-out periods for books (and audio books) to 30 days and for DVD’s to 14 days. This should help if you are an infrequent visitor to town. So, no excuses – stop in and borrow a book, audio book or DVD. You can also renew by phoning us or emailing the library.

Superstorm Sandy – One Year Later: All the shore towns observed the one year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy. The Atlantic City TV station produced an excellent show on the local effects of Sandy. Our library is obtaining a copy of this DVD and it will be a permanent part of our collection. Call to find out when it’s available.

Magazine Swap: I "borrowed" an idea from our neighboring library in Linwood – a magazine swap. On a specially designated table, we have a selection of magazines and catalogues. Bring in one or more of yours and take one or more of ours! It’s that simple and of course, FREE!

New Displays: Watch our front cases!! A former Sea Isle resident is setting up two new displays for the holidays: Special Collectibles and Travel. Stop in after November 20th and see our newest display.

More Research: The latest issue of Scientific American has an article in it entitled, "Why the brain prefers paper." Another study in the ongoing debate of books vs. e-books ( and other electronic devices). The study found that people often understand and remember text on paper better than on a screen. Something to think about! So, don’t get rid of those books just yet.



Christine Rohrman, Library Director^{www.strathmerelibrary.org}

SIA Newsletter 11 03 2013 - Pictures of Partial Eclipse; Bulk Trash Tomorrow

To All Strathmere and Whale Beach Homeowners and Visitors,

We had about fifteen people come down to the Randolph Road beach to view this morning's partial eclipse.

Derrick Pitts was there to explain things as the eclipse progressed.

Here are some pictures of the event:

 

Derrick tells us about the partial eclipse...

 

 

 

 

and which direction to look!

 

 

A small crowd gathers to enjoy this...

 

 

 

 

Derrick brought some "solar viewers" to avoid eye damage

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's what you get if you hold the solar viewer in front of your camera.

 

Only the sun's light (and its reflection on the ocean) pass through.

 

 

 

 

Everyone takes a turn looking through the telescope.

 

 

 

Here's what we were looking at through the telescope...

 

 

A fun time - thank you Derrick (and the Tettemers)!

Here is the best picture of all - taken by Ted Kingston and posted on his Facebook page

 

 

 

 

 



Remember, tomorrow, Monday, is a bulk trash pickup day.

Remember to follow and "like" the SIA (click the "Thumbs Up" box ) on Facebook:

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Strathmere-Improvement-Association-SIA/184810134906201

 

 

 

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Upcoming Events - please add to your calendars:

Bulk Trash Pickup Monday Morning, November 4

SFEC Meeting (Nominations of Officers), 4:00 pm, Saturday, November 9

SFEC Last Cast Tournament, Friday to Saturday, November 29-30

SFEC Meeting (Election of Officers and Christmas Party), 4:00 pm, Saturday, December 7

Community Christmas Party at the Deauville Inn, 6:00 pm Saturday, December 14

 

Let us know of additions or corrections!

 

 

 

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Again, check out Carol Baker's wonderful Strathmere History website at http://www.strathmere.net/, and her blog at http://strathmere.blogspot.com/.

 

You can also see the beach and ocean from the Octagon Webcam.

 

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The Strathmere Improvement Association 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.

 

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Thanks very much for your continuing support of the Strathmere Improvement Association!

 

Linda Bateman

Elaine Holsomback

Donna Diefenderfer

Rosemarie WhelanKen Weaver

 

 

 

Happy 105th birthday to Blandine Schilling formerly of Ernie's Corner in Strathmere

Tim Cox let me know that Blandine Schilling recently celebrated her 105th birthday! She and her husband Ernie ran the grill and grocery store in Strathmere until the early 1980s.
She now lives in Hilton Head South Carolina and attends St. Francis by the Sea Church.


Below is a reprint of the story that appeared in The Catholic Miscellany on Blandine's 100th birthday.




Blandine Schilling, 99, leads an active life of faith
BY CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS THE CATHOLIC MISCELLANY HILTON HEAD —


Blandine Schilling, 99, has become one of the best-known members of St. Francis by the Sea Church. She attends daily Mass so faithfully, always sitting in the front row, that when she left for a two-month trip earlier this summer, she was instantly missed.Daughter Susan Boyd said that dozens of people greet her by name at church social functions, and at locations around the island. Her birthdays have become a cause for celebration at the parish.

Schilling, a native of France, will celebrate her 100th birthday on Oct. 16. She said her strong religious faith and a good attitude have helped her live this long. “My faith helps me to live. I could not be without it,” Schilling said in a recent interview with The Miscellany. “I have been so blessed to have a healthy life and a healthy family.” She’s been a member at St. Francis by the Sea since 1998, when she moved to South Carolina from Florida.

She grew up in the city of Tourcoing in the north of France, in a region known for its textile mills. Schilling started working in the mills when she was 13, and became adept at a skill called “invisible mending,” which involved hand sewing to fix flaws in fabric as it came off the looms. She came to the United States through Ellis Island at the age of 19, after the death of her mother.“She had four brothers and sisters at home, and her father let her go because she could send money home,” Boyd said. “She also said she wanted to come because of the adventure of going to the United States.” Schilling remembered one humorous anecdote from her time at Ellis Island. A processing agent told her that American girls “would be jealous of her beautiful teeth.” Schilling grew up during World War I, and she said sugar and sweets were almost nonexistent.

Schilling moved to Philadelphia to live with an aunt and took a job in her mending shop. When the Great Depression hit in 1929, Schilling’s “invisible mending” was in high demand because people couldn’t afford to buy new clothes and brought them to her to be repaired. In Philadelphia, Schilling met a German immigrant, Ernest Schilling, when both were enrolled in night school to learn English. The two married and raised seven children — three girls and four boys — in Philadelphia, where Ernest ran a restaurant called the Fernwood Diner.

The family continued to grow over the years. Schilling now has 18 grandchildren and 17 great-grands. Ernest wasn’t Catholic when they were first married, so the couple said their vows in a rectory. He later became a convert, and the couple renewed their vows with a full church wedding in 1960.

They moved to Strathmere, N.J., and ran a grocery store and grill there until the early ‘80s, and then retired to Florida. Ernest died in 1991, and Schilling moved to Hilton Head seven years later. For many years, she walked to the church from her apartment at an assisted living facility adjacent to the church property.

These days, Boyd drops Schilling off for Mass in the morning. “She’s treated like the doyenne of the church,” Boyd said. “People vie to take her home when it’s over.”“She’s quite an individual,” said Dr. Vincent Rerucha, a retired physician and fellow member of St. Francis who regularly drives Schilling home from daily Mass. “She is really considerate of everybody; she’s got a good memory; she knows everybody at St. Francis. And everybody knows Blandine.”

Lorraine Dufour also drives Schilling home frequently, and the women have become close friends. “She’s a really sweet lady and such a devoted parishioner,” Dufour said. “She loves a party and loves a good time. I draw a lot of inspiration from her. She’s like an Eveready battery; she keeps going.”Schilling’s daily life is an active one. She plays games three times a week, takes senior exercise classes, and reads three or more murder mysteries a week. Her favorite author is Agatha Christie. She crochets and makes baby blankets for each new family birth.

She also still nurtures a lifelong love for travel. Her most recent trips took her to Montana for a grandchild’s wedding, Bermuda, Philadelphia and upstate New York.

Her Catholic faith, Schilling said, is one of the reasons she is able to stay so active. She also knows how important it is to help others live their faith, she added. Schilling is an extraordinary minister of holy Communion who regularly brings the Eucharist to shut-ins at her assisted living complex. She said she has a special devotion to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, likes to say the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi and regularly prays seven rosaries a day.

“My mother has a very strong belief in God watching over her,” Boyd said. “She’s weathered the sadness in her life with an unshakeable faith.” Schilling said she doesn’t have any overly profound advice for people who wonder how she’s lived this long. Her three simple tips sum up the way she’s approached her entire life.“Stay active, stay involved, and keep the faith,” she said.

Published Oct. 2,, 2008, The Catholic Miscellany

SIA Newsletter 10 29 2013 - Another Christmas Party Change; Sandy; Deauville; Tidal Levels; Bulk Trash; Boat Ramp

To All Strathmere and Whale Beach Homeowners and Visitors,

In our October 9 Newsletter, we advised you that there would be changes in this year's Community Christmas Party. Because of severe overcrowding at the Firehouse, it would move to the Deauville Inn and there would be a charge for all attendees nine and older.

But now we have another big change in Our Christmas Party!

 

The Citizens for Strathmere and Whale Beach organization has offered a very generous, one-time donation to keep the party free for one more year. The SIA and the Strathmere Volunteer Fire Company will still contribute what they did last year.

 

The party will take place on Saturday, December 14, from 6:00 to 10:00 pm. The Deauville will provide appetizers, a full dinner, and one drink ticket for wine or beer. We'll again ask attendees to bring their favorite desserts to share.

 

Since a free dinner at the Deauville will obviously be very popular, and we do not want to overwhelm the Deauville Dining Room, we'll put an upper limit on the number of tickets. Attendance will be limited to the following folks: Strathmere residents, homeowners, Fire Company members and SIA members.

 

You must apply for tickets by mail to the SIA at PO Box 57, Strathmere 08248, or email Donna at donnad921@comcast.net . Please provide the names of people you are requesting tickets for, your Strathmere and home addresses, and especially the name, age and shirt size of any children 12 and under.

 

Don't forget the address you want tickets mailed back to.

 

We expect tickets to run out fairly quickly, so don't wait to apply!  We do not believe there will be any tickets left to make available at the door.

 

Also, Santa would like to start planning and ordering the gifts for children 12 and under as soon as possible.

 

Sounds like a great party! Special thanks to the CFSWB and of course to the SIA and the Fire Company, also.

 

 

We look forward to seeing you on December 14!

 

 

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Today, October 29, is the date the Sandy came ashore last year. Certainly not a date to celebrate, but we should take time to acknowledge the hardships and suffering many of our neighbors endured (and some are still enduring) from that storm.

To all those who chipped in to help, whether through SURF or giving of your personal time, our sincere thanks!

 

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The storm and subsequent release by FEMA of Advisory Base Flood Elevation maps caused us all to learn about the changes in flood maps and the Biggert-Waters Act of 2012 changing the way flood insurance premiums are calculated...

Ed Tettemer passed along this New York Times article indicating folks beyond the Jersey shore are also upset...

 

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In past off-seasons, the Deauville Inn has gone to a five-day schedule, closing on Tuesday and Wednesday.

This year, they are experimenting with a full seven-day schedule. If enough people come in on Tuesday and Wednesday, they'll stay open for seven days all winter.

If you're near Strathmere on Tuesday or Wednesday, we suggest you stop in.

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We previously reported on and showed pictures of the five consecutive days (Wednesday, October 9 to Sunday, October 13) of flooding on Bayview Drive.

You might want to save this website on tidal water levels. Click on "East" (upper left) and then down the left side to the number left of "Atlantic City".

It will take you here, and you'll see a plot like the one below.

The blue line shows the "normal", or predicted height of the water off Atlantic City. The red line, or plot, shows the observed (actual) height.

The difference between them, called the residual, is plotted in green.

When we have a northeast wind, we have to watch the residual. If the water builds up and can't get back out, the residual continues to climb and the next high tide(s) can be damaging.

Here you can see that on Saturday, October 12 the afternoon tide reached six feet with a residual of just over a foot.

 

The residual then went almost all the way up to two feet Saturday night, during a "low" high tide, but by Sunday afternoon, the wind had changed and the residual dropped back to one foot. We still had almost a six-foot tide, and water again in Bayview, but without the wind change and drop in the residual, it would have been much worse.

 

Now that you know how to read these things, here's an interesting "Forecast" Ted Kingston found on 10/28/12 - a day before Sandy came ashore!

Looks like they were pretty accurate.

 

 

We'll have a quiz on all this some Wednesday evening at the Deauville!

 

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Our next bulk pickup of trash will be Monday, November 4.

 

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Upper Township has received a $280,000 grant from Cape May County to rehabilitate our boat ramp on Bayview Drive.

It will include the addition of a floating dock and a pier.

 

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Remember to follow and "like" the SIA (click the "Thumbs Up" box ) on Facebook:

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Strathmere-Improvement-Association-SIA/184810134906201

 

 

 

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Upcoming Events - please add to your calendars:

SFEC Meeting (Nominations of Officers), 4:00 pm, Saturday, November 9

SFEC Last Cast Tournament, Friday to Saturday, November 29-30

SFEC Meeting (Election of Officers and Christmas Party), 4:00 pm, Saturday, December 7

Community Christmas Party at the Deauville Inn, 6:00 pm Saturday, December 14

Let us know of additions or corrections!

 

 

 

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Again, check out Carol Baker's wonderful Strathmere History website at http://www.strathmere.net/

 

***********************************************************

 

The Strathmere Improvement Association 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.

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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

 

 

 

SIA Newsletter 10 9 2013 - Bayberry and Beach Plum Planting Saturday; No Trash or Recycling Monday; Beach Funding; Christmas Party Changes; Bayview Flooding; Calendar

To All Strathmere and Whale Beach Homeowners and Visitors,

This Saturday, October 12, is the Strathmere Fishing and Environmental Club's "Environmental Day".

The Club invites Whale Beach & Strathmere residents to join them in planting Beach Plums & Bayberry bushes at 10 am at Randolph Road and the beach (rain date October 13 at noon). Please bring a shovel and gloves if you can.

In addition, the SFEC requests all to join them for a special presentation by the

American Littoral Society that afternoon at 4 PM at the Firehouse.

Refreshments will be served following the discussion.

 

 

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Since this Monday is the Columbus Day Holiday, there will be no trash or recycling picked up.

Trash will be picked up on Tuesday, October 15, but the next recycling pickup will be Monday, October 21.

The next bulk trash pickup will be November 4.

A reminder that all of Cape May County went to "single stream" recycling earlier this year.

You can now mix cans, bottles, plastic containers, newspapers and boxes in one container as indicated here:

 

Large stickers like this are available at the Post Office.

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Paul Dietrich clarified that only next year's beach replenishment will be funded 100% by mitigation funds from the Sandy storm.

Subsequent replenishment projects will revert to the formula of 65% federal funding and roughly 26% State and 9% Township funding.

 

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The Strathmere Community Christmas Party will take place on Saturday, December 14, from 6:00 to 10:00 pm and will once again be hosted jointly by the Strathmere Volunteer Fire Company and the Strathmere Improvement Association.

 

This year, however, we've had to make some changes. In a way, our Christmas Party's popularity has forced us into this. Last year, attendance climbed to well over 125 attendees. Not only was it difficult to find a seat for dinner, but the limit for the second floor of the Firehouse is just 75 people. It was, by definition, an unsafe condition and embarrassing to the sponsors.

 

Since we don't want to limit the number of attendees, we have decided to move the party to a larger location.

 

This year's party will take place at the Deauville Inn. The Deauville will provide appetizers, a full dinner (menu to follow), (drink tickets for) red and white wine, beer, soda, and water. We'll again ask attendees to bring their favorite desserts to share.

 

The SVFC and the SIA will subsidize the party with the same amount as in previous years. There will, however, be an admission charge to offset the additional costs.

Tickets purchased in advance will be $15 for adults and children 13 and over, and $5.00 for children from 9 to 12; children eight and under will be free. Tickets at the door will be $20 for adults and still $5 for children 9 to 12 (although Santa may not have gifts ready for latecomers). We think these are very reasonable prices for dinner, drinks, gifts and community camaraderie.

 

Tickets will be available at the Riordan Real Estate Office or by mail from the SIA at PO Box 57, Strathmere 08248.

 

Santa would like to start planning and ordering the gifts for children 12 and under as soon as possible. His elves will need the name, age and shirt size of all such children who are planning to attend. Please provide this information as soon as you can by e-mail to sia6@comcast.net, Donna Diefenderfer at donnad921@comcast.net or call Donna's cell phone at 215-801-5876.

 

We look forward to seeing you on December 14!

 

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We've had quite a northeast wind today (Wednesday), resulting in flooding once again on Bayview Drive.

It began to flood at 10:30 this morning and as we write this around 4:30 pm, you still can't get to many homes.

 

 

Remember to follow and "like" the SIA (click the "Thumbs Up" box ) on Facebook:

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Strathmere-Improvement-Association-SIA/184810134906201 

You'll get an early look at lots of things going on in Strathmere!

 

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Upcoming Events - please add to your calendars:

SFEC-Sponsored Beachplum and Bayberry Planting, 10 am Saturday, October 1

SFEC Meeting & Environmental Program (open to all), 4:00 pm Saturday, October 12

Community Christmas Party at the Deauville Inn, 6:00 pm Saturday, December 14

Let us know of additions or corrections!

 

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And once again, check out Carol Baker's wonderful Strathmere History website at http://www.strathmere.net/

 

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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.

The SIA kept the 2013 annual dues at $10 per adult family member. The dues and the fund raisers provide for the Fourth of July Parade and our share of the Christmas Party. We conducted a number of Centennial events in 2012, donated money to help pay for extra State Police protection, and donated to residents affected by Sandy.

 

NOTE: Since most of you never formally "signed up" as members, obviously we cannot "force" you to pay dues,which are really more like (non-deductible) donations anyway. If you don't pay, we will still keep you on our newsletter distribution. The only penalty will be that you can't vote in our (mostly uncontested) elections!

Nevertheless, we really hope you see value in our projects and enjoy the newsletters enough so that you'll contribute $10 per adult family member.

Thanks!

Dues payments may be sent 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 sia6@comcast.net or by mailing SIA at PO Box 57.

 

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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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schiavo Library: October 2013 Newsletter

Schiavo Library: October 2013 Newsletter 

Most Popular Books and DVDs for summer 2013: 
Most popular children’s books – Sea Monsters, The Enormous Crocodile & Charlotte’s Web
Most popular fiction – Gone Girl & And the Mountains Echoed
Most popular non-fiction – At Home: A Short History of Private Life & Killing Kennedy
Most popular DVD- Silver Linings Playbook (checked out a record 13 times)

Used Book Sale and Donations:
Our fifth annual “End of Summer” book sale is over and it was very successful. We made $541.80 and had 284 people stop in the library to browse and buy. Keep those donations coming!

October is Mystery Month at the Library:
For the month of October we are having a special drawing for a “mystery prize.” Check out a book (any type of book – it doesn’t have to be a mystery, even though we have LOTS of those to choose from) and enter to win.
We will also have our “Borrow a DVD for FREE” promotion this month. What a deal!

Winter Hours:
Hours will vary this winter. We’ll be open Tuesday - Saturday, either from 9-4pm or 8-3pm. This is to accommodate Melissa’s hours (she has to pick up children from school). And no Thursday evenings.

Our Library and the Used Book Sale Are Famous:
Well, maybe a little famous – we were STARS of a great article in the Hometown section of the Press of Atlantic City. Joan was even featured on the front page of that section.
Here’s a link: Article about the library



Christine Rohrman, Library Director
www.strathmerelibrary.org