Gazette Bonus Coverage

The future of Cape May, and the public’s voice, seen as issues; Three fight over the mayor’s seat

Jersey Shore Admin — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:55:36 GMT

“The city of Cape May is totally controlled by a small special interest group,” says candidate Ed Mahaney.

“I’ve opened City Hall up as much as it can be opened,” incumbent Mayor Jerome Inderwies maintains.

“I just feel the proper planning is not being done,” William Gaffney charged.

By BILL BARLOW
Staff Writer
CAPE MAY – Three former mayors, including the incumbent, face off this year for the seat in the May 13 election in Cape May.
There are also four candidates seeking a single seat on City Council, profiled in the May 8 Gazette.
The race comes as the city winds up a multimillion-dollar renovation of the Washington Street Mall -- a project that was derailed for a year by a referendum and survived a court challenge -- and plans to spend at least $10 million more on a new Convention Hall.
The city has also completed a vision plan by consultants Rhodeside-Harwell, although it is not certain how many of those recommendations will be enacted, and is set to launch a new look at the master plan, which sets a wide vision for the town’s planning and zoning rules. Meanwhile, new state budget laws squeeze small municipalities with new spending caps and cuts in state aid.
Current Mayor Jerome Inderwies says he is running again because he wants to see through the work that is under way, and that he is the most qualified candidate to lead the town.
“I decided to run again because of the way I feel about this job, and because there are so many projects that have begun, that I began, and I want to continue with these projects and be around to see them through,” Inderwies said.
The two challengers, William Gaffney and Ed Mahaney, counter that what’s been done so far has not been done all that well, and suggest that it is past time for a change. Neither is exactly an outsider, with both having served on City Council and as mayor.
Gaffney says his reasons for running are that there has not been proper planning in city government, and that the public has been excluded from key decisions.
Mahaney also said he wanted to make certain residents and business people had a voice in city decisions.
“Presently, the city of Cape May is totally controlled by a small special interest group, which is selecting capital improvements,” Mahaney charged, saying the improvements benefit those interests and are to the detriment of the rest of the community. He declined to name anyone, but said the names are common knowledge, and suggested that it should be obvious who will benefit from the placement of the projects.
However, Inderwies maintains that he has worked toward a more open and responsive local government. Records are open to public inspection, all meetings are open, and residents have plenty of options to speak to their representatives, Inderwies said.
“I’ve opened City Hall up as much as it can be opened,” Inderwies said.
Inderwies lives on Philadelphia Avenue with his wife. He has three grown children, including his son, Fire Chief Jerry Inderwies Jr. Asked his age, he said he is “a young 73. Print that: a young 73.”
He served on City Council from 1972 until 1976, and was later hired by the city to work on community development, and was later named head of the public works department. He was reelected to council in 2000, and was both the last mayor named by City Council, and the first to be directly elected after a change in how Cape May chooses its mayor.
He won against Laura Calnan in 2002 and again in 2004, with a landslide in both elections.
Mahaney, 62, lives on Ohio Avenue and is single. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics and a masters in special education and a doctorate in special education administration from Temple University. He spent his career in education as a teacher and administrator in public and private schools. He also holds a real estate license, but said he does not expect to use it if elected. He works at the Woodbine Developmental Center.
Mahaney came to Cape May for summer work in 1966, he said, and bought his house in 1971.
He served on council from 1995 until 2003, including a stint as mayor when he was first elected.
He cited his work on getting the city’s desalinization plant built, and said that work could serve as a model for moving forward on a new Convention Hall. He also cited his work on preserving the Sewell Point Tract in east Cape May, which remains in negotiations between the state and the property owner.
Gaffney, 75, has five children and seven grandchildren. He lives on Columbia Avenue.
Gaffney was elected in 1990, and was in office until 2006, when he finished fourth in a crowded race for three seats.
He served as mayor in the 1990s and again from 1999 until 2001. He won reelection after the last change in government, when the city went from a city manager form to a strong mayor form of government. He cites his work on the Joint Insurance Fund, which he said saved the city hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Gaffney said he is worried about the amount of debt, including this year’s tax increase, and a potential increase next year if the state does not allow Cape May to skip the required down payment on the $10.5 million bond for a new Convention Hall.
“I just feel the proper planning is not being done,” Gaffney said.
He said the Washington Street Mall Project that is now winding down should have been done a long time ago.
On Convention Hall, he said too many decisions are being made at the committee level, which council then goes along with, and he pointed to a no-bid professional service contract with the architect for the new building and decisions on the design of the new building, which have not been finalized.
He was also critical of the number of projects getting under way in a short time.
“Everything is happening at once, and I just don’t think that’s proper planning,” Gaffney said.
Gaffney also promised to allow more public comment during council meetings, and to scrap rules for the public comment section, which include a five minute time limit and a rule preventing speakers from getting up more than once. He even suggested the rules could violate the state’s open public meetings act.
“If I’m elected, that whole situation will be removed,” he said. He added that the chairman can control a council meeting if someone speaks too long or is rambling, and that he could even go so far as to adjourn the meeting if a speaker does not stop talking.
Mahaney promises to go further in changing the way City Council does business. He said he would increase the number of council meetings to four a month, with two workshop meetings and two regular meetings.
“What that would do is it forces City Council members to be in City Hall at least once a week,” he said. He suggested a mayor should work at least 40 hours a week for the city, and at least 20 hours should be expected from council members.
Asked how that would work in his case, when running against two retired men, Mahaney said he plans to go on flex time at the developmental center, and that he has cut back on other activities and involvements.
Mahaney is also questioning plans for a new Convention Hall. The current hall was recently closed because of safety concerns, and the city could begin work on a new hall this year.
But Mahaney says it will take at least three years to complete a new building. In the meantime, he suggested using some kind of temporary facility, possibly a “bubble structure” or some other kind of temporary structure to house the numerous events scheduled for Convention Hall.
That will also give Cape May enough time to work on a plan for a new hall, he said, with much more detailed public input. He also suggested it should be moved off the beachfront because the most expensive building in the city should not be threatened by storms. The currents plans have been in the works for some time, but Mahaney called for a fresh start.
“The major issue in this campaign is the need to ensure that the residents and business people have total input into the projects and decisions regarding the future of Cape May,” Mahaney said.
He also suggested that the existing hall has not been properly maintained since he left office, a charge Inderwies denies.
According to city manager Luciano Corea, in the past three years, steel beams have twice been placed under the building to shore up the floor.
Inderwies said he has extensive knowledge about Cape May, and maintains that he is the best man for the job. In an interview this week, he focused on the number of projects completed, including the Washington Street Mall renovation and extensive street work, which he said grants helped fund. When each street was paved, he said, new utilities were installed at the same time. He also cited the city’s recycling program.
City Council has also taken steps to reduce density, he said, including approval of a floor area ratio ordinance. A recent vote by the Zoning Board against a proposed beachfront building where the Jetty Motel stands shows that the city is working to decrease density, he said.
Plans for Convention Hall are nearly complete, he said, although he suggested the façade on latest version is probably too modern for Cape May. However, he said he was satisfied with the design for the inside of the building.
He said he likes people, and that he likes solving problems.
“We made a lot of accomplishments. I just want to continue making them,” Inderwies said. “I want to live here and I want to live in a place residents can enjoy.”
In the council race, Jack Wichterman, Terri Swain, Harry Bellangy and Jeanne Powick will vie for a single seat up for election. The mayoral candidates each say they have not aligned with any council candidate.

Technorati Tags: Cape May County,Cape May,NJ,Candidates,Mayor

Four vie for single council seat; Wide range for Cape May candidates, but none want a parking garage

Jersey Shore Admin — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:00:59 GMT

By BILL BARLOW
Staff Writer

Harry Bellangy says he is concerned about Cape May’s historic landmark status.

Jeanne Powick says residents do not have a voice in Cape May.

Terri Swain says she is running because of a family commitment to the community.

Jack Wichterman says he is the choice for experience in this election.

CAPE MAY – The four candidates seeking a single seat on City Council in the Tuesday, May 13 vote each say Cape May must strike a balance between its role as a resort and its obligations to the community.
But the candidates differ on how that balance can be found, and how good a job the current City Council is doing.
The seat’s incumbent, David Craig, won the seat with a strong showing in a crowded field four years ago, but decided he did not want to seek a second term. By the deadline for filing petitions for a run, Jack Wichterman, Harry Bellangy, Jeanne Powick and Terri Swain were set to be on the ballot for the seat.
There are also three candidates for mayor – incumbent Jerome Inderwies and challengers Ed Mahaney and William Gaffney, who have both also served as Cape May Mayors. The mayoral candidates were profiled in the May 1 edition of the Cape May Gazette, and those profiles may be read at www.thecapemaygazette.com under bonus coverage.
In recent interviews, the four City Council candidates discussed their reasons for running, their backgrounds, and some of the hot issues in Cape May.
Two of the candidates have deep roots in Cape May, while two others have moved to town more than a decade ago. There are two men and two women, and three of the candidates are retired.
They presented a range of views on a variety of issues, although each expressed concern about the city’s status as a historic landmark, and there was one area each candidate agreed upon – a parking garage in Cape May would be a waste of taxpayer money.

This is Harry Bellangy’s second run for City Council. He fell short in his first attempt, part of a ticket in the crowded field of candidates in 2004 after the change in government meant the entire council was up for election.
Bellangy, 64, grew up in Cape May, and his family has been in the area for generations. He is single, and lives on Pearl Avenue.
He is a retired system’s analyst who said a large part of his job was designing systems to improve efficiency, which he said would help him on City Council.
Interviewed at Larry Muentz’s Alexander’s Inn on Washington Street, Bellangy was a member of the Planning Board for 15 years, and has been involved in the Center for Community Arts and Animal Outreach. He was also strongly opposed to changes in the city’s beach-management plan as it relates to the trap, neuter and release program, of which he is a strong supporter.
Bellangy cited his involvement in the construction of the city’s desalination plant, which he said should be a model for other large-scale projects such as building a new Convention Hall. In that project, he said, extensive input was gathered in the planning stage, with a wide variety of options explored, and there was very little controversy when it came time to build.
As for the Convention Hall plans, he had some praise for the most recent version of the plan, but questioned whether the city really needs as large an auditorium as is suggested, with 1,500 seats, two floors, retail space and a restaurant, and also questioned the wisdom of putting the new hall in the same place as the current one on Beach Avenue.
“Do we want to put it in the ocean, literally?” he said. He also pointed out that before the previous Convention Hall was damaged by the March, 1962, storm and torn down, it was also badly damaged in the hurricane of 1944, which caused extensive damage to the town.
Bellangy said a huge concern for him is Cape May’s status as a national historic landmark city. He said the city is on a watch list of endangered historic sites, and that with the level of development now under way, he does not see the city coming off the watch list.
He also questioned why the same few people are on several boards and commissions, saying there is a huge number of talented people in Cape May who could serve.
Asked if the overlap between boards and commissions is not at least in part a function of the limited number of people willing to dedicate their time to the meetings, he said “I know people who have asked to be on committees and commissions and they never got a call back.”
Another area of concern for Bellangy is the shifting of fire inspections for accommodations from the local fire department to the state. He said the requirements imposed by the state inspections for fire protections were unreasonable and often out of character for the historic buildings.
It ends up being far more practical for bed and breakfast owners to switch to whole-house rentals, which do not face the same level of inspections, he said.
Local fire inspectors would be required to demand the same fire protections, but Bellangy said the local inspectors would be better for the owners.
“It’s like they have to find something,” he said of the state inspectors, citing an instance where a bed and breakfast owner was fined because the door of a circuit breaker box was not closed.
He suggested the inspections could badly damage the bed and breakfast industry in Cape May, which he said would be very damaging to the town.
He also expressed support for local business, although like other candidates, he said there needs to be a balance between accommodating visitors and looking after residents.
“Tourism is our business. It has been since 1700 or something when people started to ‘resort’ in Cape May,” Bellangy said. A large amount of the costs of running the city is paid by tourism, he said, and it is a vital source of local jobs.
“We have to be friendly to our visitors. They pay a huge number of our bills,” he said.

Jeanne Powick began attending city meetings in recent years, and soon became a familiar face at City Council meetings, as well as at meetings of the Revitalization Commission, the planning and zoning boards, town meetings held by the design firm Rhodeside and Harwell on a vision plan for the city, and several others.
Interviewed at her Clay Street home, she said what she heard the residents say they wanted for Cape May at those meetings was not what was being enacted by City Council and recommended by the boards and commissions.
She said as the city embarks on revisiting its master plan this year, it should listen to what the residents want.
“I feel the city needs to be very vigilant in creating a master plan that has a vision for 15 to 20 years out,” she said. That should include getting input from residents at the start of the process, she added. “Once you ascertain where you want to be 15-20 years down the road, you start to bring harmony back to Cape May because we’ll all be concentrating on the same path.”
A key element, she suggested, is for the residents to be brought together in a real town hall meeting.
Powick, 66, moved to Cape May 11 years ago. She is married, and has four children and seven grandchildren, and said she is very active in the Cape May Lutheran Church. She worked for the consulting and marketing arm of AT&T, and has a master’s degree in business. She said she was responsible for multi-billion-dollar decisions, adding that she feels that sets her apart from the other candidates.
That criticism extended to the vision plan developed by Rhodeside Harwell, and to the way the plans for the work on the Washington Street Mall – now finishing up in advance of the summer – was planned and approved.
“What I wanted was what I heard the people say they wanted, which is to have the property owners on the mall bear a part of the cost,” she said. Residential property owners have to pay for sidewalk work in front of their properties, she said, so she believes the owners of the commercial properties on the mall should kick in for the cost of the work there. She said the results of a bond referendum in 2006, in which the bond funding the work was narrowly overturned, confirmed this position.
Asked if she could be considered a candidate of change, she said it would depend on the definition of change, but that she wants to see the inclusion of residents and taxpayers in the process of deciding what they want Cape May to be in the future.
“The people feel as though they’ve been neglected, they feel as though they’ve been left out, they feel as though they’ve been not listened to, and they want to be heard,” she said. “They want a vote, they want to be heard. The council works for them, and they don’t see that right now.”
She said she gained insight into what the people want while campaigning door-to-door during the election, and that she has met extensively with numerous voters.
She suggested that the committees working on plans for parking improvements, Convention Hall and other issues are very powerful, and criticized City Council’s decision to approve a contract for architectural services for Convention Hall without competitive bidding.
“The people are just appalled,” she said. Numerous architects would have wanted to have a chance to design the building, she added.
While she praised the current plan, she said it may be too large, and questioned its placement on the waterfront. She also suggested it should be more for residents than conventions.
“I feel that the people said loud and clear that they wanted a community center,” she said.
Powick criticized the planning that has taken place so far, including the number of seats included in the plan, and the lack of a clear timeline for how long the project will take. She also questioned where users of the new facility will park.
“Too much power is in the subcommittees, and the council needs to take back that power,” she said.
She was also critical of the amount of development currently taking place.
“I think we need to determine up front how much more growth is sustainable until the quality of life in Cape May is sacrificed,” she said.
Like the other candidates, she said the city has to strike a balance between business interests and residents, but she said there are some who see Cape May primarily as a business, and maintains that kind of thinking will hurt the town.

Terri Swain, the third-generation owner of Swain’s Ace Hardware on Jackson Street, says she decided to run because of her family’s history of giving back to the community.
“It’s a part of what made us whole,” she said in an interview at the store recently.
She cited her father’s dedication to the business and to numerous community organizations, saying the kids got to see him on Sunday, but on other nights, he came home from work and immediately went right back out.
“But it was necessary for our survival, to make sure the community was getting as much in time and contributions as it needed,” she said.
Swain, 45, is engaged to Glenn McBrearty. She was born and raised in Cape May, attending Cape May Elementary and was part of the first class at the Teitelman School in the Lower Cape May Regional school district.
She went to New York University for dance, but after graduation “reality hit me. I was going to have to have a job and pay rent.”
She took some night classes at Stockton State College and then went to Pace University for accounting. She ended up working for a large accounting firm, working in Australia on an assignment and traveled elsewhere in the United States. She later became a certified public accountant.
In 1994, she returned to Cape May to help with the family business, taking a leave of absence. She worked at the hardware store as well as at her step-sister’s inn.
Swain was reluctant to cast herself as Craig’s successor on City Council, but made clear she felt they have a lot in common, and that she would bring a similar perspective to the table.
She said they disagree on some issues, but that they are both Cape May locals and relatively young for council.
“There needs to be some diversity on council, so it represents what the community is really about,” she said. She said it was a huge decision to run, but when Craig decided against seeking another term, “I felt that there needed to be a younger person.”
She also stressed that she has seen Cape May in good times and in bad, and that the town could be heading into a tough economic time, although she hopes it can be kept from getting too bad.
Swain said that she brings a unique perspective to the race.
“I feel the other candidates don’t have that kind of experience,” she said.
Like other candidates, she said she is not aligned with any of the mayoral candidates, although she says she knows all three. She said that some people perceive some alliances in the race, but none exist.
“I do my own thing,” she said.
Swain also questioned the plans for a new Convention Hall, suggesting that the two-floor design might not be very workable. She said the plans should be revisited.
“We should define the uses and build it to reflect that,” she said.
Swain was involved in the creation of a Cape May dog park on Lafayette, and she said it is important for residents and visitors to realize that no tax money went into its creation.
She said it is important for the city to look at ways to do things differently, and to see what can be done smarter or with more efficiency.
When asked about the accusation from some during the election that special interests hold too much sway in Cape May, she said “I feel that’s sad, when we have to go there.”
But she said the city should look at the process, and if there are any hints that the process is tainted “then we have to go back and do it right.”
Like other candidates, Swain expressed concern about Cape May’s historic landmark status.
She said it is important for Cape May to understand the people who come to the resort, and why.
“So many people live in this town that just really love this town,” she said.

Jack Wichterman is the only candidate for council this year who has served in city government, both in Cape May for one term and 13 years in Ringwood, where he used to live.
He stressed that experience during the campaign and during an interview at his Delaware Avenue home. Asked if he could be considered the “establishment” candidate, he answered an unequivocal yes.
Wichterman, 71, moved to Cape May in 1998. He and his wife have a grown son and daughter. He retired as a vice president of international sales and marketing at Oak Tree Packaging Corporation.
He lost his bid for reelection in 2004 by 46 votes in a field of 13 candidates, he said. Since then, he has been involved with the Cape May Taxpayers Association, and is also a member of the Kiwanis Club and other local groups.
“This is a time where there needs to be some experience on the council,” Wichterman said. “I think I’ve got the experience. I think there’s a lot going on in town.”
He also criticized candidates who cited how long they or their families have lived in town.
“That doesn’t mean a heck of a lot to me. I’ve been in town for 10 years and I’ve been involved since I’ve gotten to the city,” he said.
Wichterman said Convention Hall is the most important issue facing the town, and he said the city should not spend any more money keeping the former hall open.
He is also the only candidate who wants to see council move ahead with plans for the new hall, while others are calling for more public input and, in the case of one mayoral candidate, even a reworking of the entire plan.
“We’ve had at least a year of public input,” Wichterman said. “It’s time for the mayor and council to make a decision. They can start with demolition and get this out of here.”
He is not a complete fan of the current proposal. He said he would prefer the new hall stay the same size as the current hall – the latest plans call for a considerable expansion – and said Cape May should not try to compete with the convention center in Wildwood and the new performance spaces in Lower Township and Middle Township. But he said it is time to move forward.
“You can’t please everybody, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.
He also wants the city to take a stronger role in promoting the town, taking some of the burden off private groups such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Mid Atlantic Center for the Arts.
He says Cape May is not the sleepy little town that some people portray.
“Cape May is a tourist destination, plain and simple,” he said.
Wichterman says Cape May has one of the lowest tax rates in the state, and that if it wasn’t for the Lower Cape May Regional School funding formula, it would be even better.
He also spoke of the importance of the review of the master plan set to start this year.
Wichterman is an advocate of selling $10 beach tags in January. He said that’s a way to give residents a break on the cost of the tags, because the state will not allow residents to be given free tags.
He also wants to reinstitute what he called a talent bank, which he helped put together in his first term, under which those who are interested in serving on boards, commissions, committees or otherwise volunteering would put their name forward and be included in a database.
Wichterman wants City Council meetings to be videotaped for broadcast on the local cable access channel. He said he brought this idea up while on council, but that there was no interest at the time.
But he said there are a lot of people in town who have trouble getting to the council meetings.
Wichterman has also called for the county to take over the library building on Ocean Street, and either completely renovate it or replace it. He said the city sent $727,000 in library taxes to the county in 2007, as well as a huge amount of open space tax, and that the city does not see any of that back.
He has also been a critic of those who say special interests have too much influence in Cape May. He has been criticized for comments in which he said he had no idea who are the special interests. When specific people were mentioned, who serve on more than one board or influential city committee, he said they are volunteers, and that Cape May is better for their efforts.

Upper Township Middle School High School Musical

Jersey Shore Admin — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:09:07 GMT

Middle Township Skate Park Photos

Jersey Shore Admin — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:03:04 GMT

Flower Show

Jersey Shore Admin — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:18:49 GMT

Left, Barbara Pitman, Jane Perri, Nancy Benson, Terri Donahue, Pat Milligan and Beth Rumsey, all of Cape May and members of the Garden Club of Cape May, help with snacks and beverages during the annual Cape May Flower Show in the ballroom of Congress Hall.

GiGi Embs of Cape May and Sandy Hoskins of Lower Township admire an Asian inspired design.

Julia Jett, 8, of North Wildwood places a fallen pretzel back onto one of the displays.

Anne George of Cape May and member of the Garden Club of Cape May talks about orchids and their roots with Judy Lord of Cape May.

Cape May Dog Park

Jersey Shore Admin — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:17:04 GMT

Photos by Jen Arthur

Judi Bernard of Cape May Point greets Bob Steenrod and she enters the new Cape May Dog Park with Maggie. Fella, formerly of Bayshore Kennels in Cape May Court House, rubs noses with Maggie. A grand opening for the park was held on Saturday, April 5.

Taylor Remster, 14, of Cape May carries in her Chihuahua Lobo before letting him loose.

Otis Spunkmeyer a.k.a. Odie of West Cape May hangs out by his owners’ feet.

Sue and Greg Schueler of Newark, Del. look forward to visiting the park again with Herky.

Student Government Day

Jersey Shore Admin — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:13:39 GMT

Earth Day Logo Reveal---Freeholder Director Daniel Beyel helps Paul Henle, a student at the Cape May County Technical School, reveal the new logo for the 2008 Cape May County Earth Day Celebration. Henle is the designer of the logo and takes home first place for the Earth Day Logo Contest.

Freeholders, Ralph Bakley, Sr., Leonard Desiderio, Daniel Beyel, Gerald Thornton and Ralph Sheets stand with the 2008 Earth Day Logo Contest winners. 1^st place winner, Paul Henle, Cape May County Technical High School, 2^nd place winner Natasha Quinones and 3^rd place winner Erin Henry, both of Glenwood Avenue Elementary School.

The following students participated in Student Government Day 2008: Melissa Macomber and Daniel Hume of Cape Christian Academy, Barnett Brooks and James Matthews of Cape May County High School, Adam Fike and John Kayanan of Cape May County Technical High School, Eliza Lotozo and Patrick Miller of Lower Cape May Regional High School, Mike Mercado and Ruby Barry of Middle Township High School, Patrick Dugan and Kristen Jones of Ocean City High School, Catherine Calemmo and Marianne Harlan of Wildwood Catholic High School and Kirby Thornton and Eric Sanguinetti of Wildwood High School.

Freeholders host Student Government Day Tuesday with seventeen students, representing nine Cape May County High Schools, presiding over the caucus and regular meetings of the Board of Chosen Freeholders. John Kayanan, a student at the Cape May County Technical High School takes notes as Freeholder Leonard Desiderio talks about the issues of the regular meeting.

Left, Ruby Barry, a student of Middle Township High School representing Freeholder Ralph Sheets, looks over the proposals for the meeting as she sits next to Kirby Thornton, a student at Wildwood High School, and Freeholder Gerald Thornton, Kirby’s grandfather.

Technorati Tags: Student Government Day,South,Southern NJ,NJ,Jersey Shore,High School,Awards,Earth Day,Logo Contest,Contest,Winners,Cape May County,Photos

North Wildwood Elks Easter Egg Hunt

Jersey Shore Admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:54:37 GMT

Owen Hall, 4, of Cape May Court House searches for the perfect Easter egg with his dad, Gene.

Ed Garton, Leading Knight, and Ed Pisarek, Holy Knight, of the North Wildwood Elks Lodge 1896 give the crowd the o.k. to hunt for Easter eggs.

Bo Albert of the North Wildwood Elks Lodge 1896 shows off some of the colorful eggs the Elks filled with candy and prizes.

Laura Lombardelli, 10, of Cape May Court House and her cousin Aine Halligan, 4, of Woodbury stop to say hello to the Easter Bunny before heading home.

Kassidy DiMarcello, 7, of Delaware County, Pa. picks an egg that was all alone in the sand and adds it to her Easter basket Saturday during the North Wildwood Elks Annual Easter Egg Hunt on 17^th Avenue and the beach.

Photos by Jen Arthur

Technorati Tags: North Wildwood,Elks,Easter,Egg Hunt,Beach,Photos,2008

We love living in Dennis Township

Jersey Shore Admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:50:04 GMT

Rachel Coulter, Natalia Donohue and Corey Smith and Charles Coulter are holding the quilt and Ali Robinson is in front and the young (brave) lady who did most of the talking.

Noah Fatale 2^nd Grade

I like Dennis Township because there are a lot of places to ride my bike.

Devon Nagle 4^th Grade

My favorite thing about Dennis Township is the marsh. This is my favorite because my family owns half of the marsh and I can go out there whenever I want. My family canoes and kayaks in the marsh

Samantha Hackett 3^rd Grade My favorite thing about living in Dennis Township is Mrs. Herlihy, the school nurse.

Bailey Carney 4^th Grade I love going to Carole’s Custard in Dennis Township. I can’t wait until it opens.

Rachel Miner 4^th Grade

I like living in Dennis Township because I like having the space to play field hockey in my backyard.

Riley DeRose 2^nd Grade

The best thing about Dennis Township is having enough room to have a skateboard ramp.

Jennifer Tarin 3^rd Grade

The best thing about Dennis Township is Art class in the primary school.

Olivia Lepor 3^rd Grade

The Reading Rumpus at the Primary school is my favorite thing to do in Dennis Township.

Charles Coulter 4^th Grade

The best thing about living in Dennis Township is the back bays because you can go boating and fishing.

Robert Cline 4^th Grade

I like Dennis Township because I like to explore the back bays.

Hunter Riggins 2^nd Grade

I like that I can ride my dirt bike in Dennis Township.

Corey Smith 4^th Grade

One thing that is great about Dennis Township is the Fire Department.

AJ Cresta 3^rd grade

My favorite thing in Dennis Township is the Art Show at the Primary School.

Rachel Coulter 4^th Grade

I like that Dennis Township has tons of room to ride horses and build a barn. If you live in a city you have only a 2 inch yard and you can’t build a barn there.

Maggie Fossett 2^nd Grade

My favorite thing about living in Dennis Township is being in the Brownies.

Ali Robinson 3^rd Grade

The neatest thing about Dennis Township is living by people who have goats and other animals in their yard.

Stephen Armstrong 4th grade

I like Dennis Township because I love going to the Rec Center.

Natalia Donohue 3^rd Grade

I love playing ball at the REC.

Natalie Arch 2^nd Grade

My favorite thing about Dennis Township is having a nice place to walk my dog.

Shannon McLaughlin 4^th Grade

In Dennis Township there is a lot of play space. That’s why I like living in Dennis Township.

Glenwood Celebrates Reading

Jersey Shore Admin — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:58:06 GMT

In honor of Dr. Seuss, Glenwood Avenue Elementary School celebrated reading in a big way. The entire week of March 3, 2008 was busy with over 50 Guest Readers from the community who read to many of the classes. Also there was a special theme each day. On Monday, Dr. Seuss's birthday was celebrated with a bilingual message: En cualquier momento, Dondequiera, En cualquier lugar, Leer! (Anywhere, Anytime, Anyplace, Read!) Tuesday was Diffendoofer Day and the staff and students wore mismatched clothing to be unique or Diffendooferous! Wednesday was Team Up with Reading Day and several star athletes from Wildwood High School shared their favorite book with the students. On Thursday, everyone wore shirts with writing on it to celebrate Read a Kid Day, and Friday's theme Grab a Hat and Read with a Cat, had everyone wearing their favorite hat! The fifth graders hosted a Reading Cafe and you could even order "worms" from the book, How to Eat Fried Worms, or "animal crackers" from the book If I Ran the Zoo. It was a great week of celebrating the importance of reading and a lot of fun as well!

Local radio host Rick Rock read to 3rd graders

Tammy Walch, USCG, enjoyed reading to 2nd graders.

Star athletes, Jamie Bottoms and Latifa McNeal read to 5th graders.

Cat in the Hat made a special visit to Mrs. Haa's Pre-Kindergarten class.

Principal Kummings read from the book, What Teachers Do After School.

Ivy Unruh, 2nd grader, is looking Diffendooferous (unique)!

Natasha, Ronald, and Joseph in Mrs. Heraux's 5C class, are ready to serve up "food" at the Reading Cafe.

Gazette Leader journalist, Carole Mattessich, read Duck at the Door to a first grade class.

World Language teacher, Mr. Carrasco, and Superintendant Anderson shared a Spanish and English version of Green Eggs and Ham to a third grade class.

Father Coffey, USCG, enjoyed reading and telling the Glenwood students about his job in the Coast Guard.

Mrs. DeGroff and 5th grader Yamilette Colon DeLeon are wearing their favorite hat to celebrate Hat Day.

Third grade teacher, Mrs. Sharpe, donned her favorite hat to celebrate the theme.

Charlie and Terence in Mrs. Santiago's 5B class, wore their favorite hats during the Reading Cafe.

Technorati Tags: Wildwood,Reading,Education,Dr. Seuss,Elementary School

Reader submitted shipwreck photos

Jersey Shore Admin — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:15:37 GMT

More reader submitted photographs of the beached commercial fishing boat in Wildwood Crest, NJ.

Reader Submitted Wildwood Crest Shipwreck Photos - More Photos

Commercial fishing boat beached in Wildwood Crest - Article on Breaking News

Reader Submitted Wildwood Crest Shipwreck Photos

Jersey Shore Admin — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:54:56 GMT

Photos Courtesy of Darleen Devlin

Say something Nice Day!

Jersey Shore Admin — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:22:38 GMT

Cape May County Technical High School student Chesley Barber created a say something nice day recently where students wrote down something nice about someone and posted it on a wall in the school to create a positive attitude for students while building school spirit.

Baby Seal Stranded on beach in Wildwood Crest

Jersey Shore Admin — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:45:24 GMT

Wildwood Crest, NJ - Sunday, March 2

A baby seal was found stranded on the beach in Wildwood Crest.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center says four were found along the beaches from Long Branch to Wildwood in the last two weeks and that when a seal remains on shore after resting for the night, it usually means they are sick or injured. They would like to remind the public; "if you see a stranded seal on the beach, do not approach it, because they do bite".

Thanks to Darleen and her daughter Madision for taking these beautiful photographs. We wish the little guy a speedy recovery.

Veterans Day Photos

Jersey Shore Admin — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:25:49 GMT

a large crowd gathered on November 12, 2007 at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Ocean City for the annual Veteran’s Day Ceremony.

William Cruice of the local American Legion Post salutes his fellow veterans in attendance at Ocean City’s Veteran’s Day Ceremony at Veteran’s Memorial Park.

Congressman Frank LoBiondo addresses those in attendance at the local Veteran’s Day Ceremony.

Primary School teacher Jennifer Ferrier leads a group of her students as they present their take on “What is a Veteran?”

Miss Ocean City Andrea Cocozza leads the crowd in singing “God Bless America” to close the local Veteran’s Day program.

Surfers, Hurricane Noel and the Jersey Shore

Jersey Shore Admin — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:45:07 GMT

The remnant of Hurricane Noel moving up the coast lead to monster waves in Ocean City, like these near 7th and 8th Street Saturday afternoon, Nov. 3. Local surfers and others from as far as Pennsylvania headed to the ocean on hearing of the expected waves, although in many part of Ocean City they were too choppy for most surfers, and even in the areas where the break was well formed, it was a lot of work to paddle out.

More images from the Pinwheels for Peace

Cape May County NJ News — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:47:35 GMT

Children from the elementary schools in Cape May and West Cape May, as well as from Our Lady, Star of the Sea Catholic School, planted pinwheels for peace in Wilbraham Park in West Cape May Sept. 21. The students also sang songs and some spoke to the crowd.

Hoagie sale benefits Seaville Fire Company

Jersey Shore Admin — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:45:01 GMT

UPPER TOWNSHIP – The Seaville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company will be having a hoagie sale on Saturday, July 21. Hoagies will be $4 each and can be picked up at the fire house on Route 50 in Seaville, across from Dino’s Diner, after 9 a.m. All proceeds benefit the Seaville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company.

People Poll: How do you cope with the sweltering heat?

Jersey Shore Admin — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:41:00 GMT

How do you cope with the sweltering heat?

I’m from the South, so I drink lots of pink lemonade and iced tea.
Candice Martin
Sarasota, Fl.

Air conditioning always helps, and sitting in a movie theater.
Cort Farris
Sarasota, Fl.

Go to the movies, walk the malls, stay in the shade, and drink lots of water.
Frank Gallo Jr.
Philadelphia

We’ll go in the water and stay under the umbrella.
Jean Dougherty
Allentown, Pa.

Go in the ocean and wear lots of sunscreen.
Kelly Dougherty
Bethlehem, Pa.

We come to the shore, go to the water park, and stay cool that way.
Dottie Butler
Montgomery, Pa.

Marjorie Preston can be e-mailed at marjorie.preston@catamaranmedia.com or you can comment on this story.

Upper Township 8th Grade Dance

Jersey Shore Admin — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:09:18 GMT