Times Talk
Beachgoers get a look at the sudden erosion at 94th Street.
EROSION STRIKES 94TH STREET BEACH
An unusual natural phenomenon occurred in Townsends Inlet before the Fourth of July weekend when erosion to part of the beach at 94th Street appeared to be crumbling into the ocean. A social media video surfaced on the Facebook group SIC Chatter and was seen on several media outlets throughout the area.
“While not an everyday occurrence, that type of erosion can occasionally take place when the inlet beach builds up with sand and certain tidal conditions occur in conjunction with the fast moving currents in the inlet – all of which took place as we are approaching a full moon,” Mayor Leonard Desiderio wrote in the City’s July e-newsletter.
“Following that event, our Department of Public Works was able to use heavy equipment to move around some sand and flatten the beach in that area. I am told that videos of the erosion went ‘viral’ on the Internet and were seen by approximately 3 million viewers. I hope that the video will serve as a reminder of the power of the ocean and why people should only swim on designated bathing beaches while lifeguards are on duty.”
The Sea Isle City beaches are currently undergoing a replenishment project. An estimated 510,000 cubic yards of sand will be deposited on the beaches from about 75th Street to 93rd Street in Townsends Inlet and another 250,000 cubic yards will be added from 28th Street to 53rd Street. Beach closures will take place along the shoreline, with approximately 1,000 feet of beach (north to south) closed at one time.
The beach closures will move up and down Sea Isle’s shoreline as the beach fill progresses. As the beach replenishment project proceeds, operations will take place 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Weekly meetings will be held among city officials, the contractor, the Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Environmental Protection, and regular updates will be shared with the public.
For project updates and beach closures, go to the “Beach Fill” tab on the City’s municipal website, seaislecitynj.us.
Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio and Police Chief Tom McQuillen
ANTI-DRUNK DRIVING CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED
The John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers held a ceremony July 2 on the Promenade to launch its “Summer of HEROES” drunk driving prevention program. As part of the ceremony, a fleet of HERO patrol cars was unveiled, displaying the brand and safety message of the campaign.
The vehicles will be in service for traffic duty and special events in Sea Isle City and other shore towns. Sea Isle Mayor Leonard Desiderio and Police Chief Tom McQuillen were on hand along with representatives from police departments in Middle Township, Lower Township, Ocean City, Linwood and Atlantic City that were receiving the dedicated cars.
“We are extremely honored to formally join the HERO Campaign and all that they represent,” McQuillen said. “We share the same goal of protecting the residents and visitors of Sea Isle City from those that would choose to drive while intoxicated. We are looking forward to a great working relationship and helping to do our part to deter people from drinking and driving.”
As part of the campaign, each department had one vehicle wrapped with the Hero Campaign insignia, “Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver.” The police cruisers and SUVs will serve as rolling billboards for the HERO Campaign, named in memory of a 22-year-old Naval Academy graduate from Egg Harbor who was killed by a drunken driver in July 2000. Local sponsors for the campaign include the Foster-Karney Foundation, Car Toyz, ANA Towing, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, and Jane French of Ocean City.
Said McQuillen: “We were allowed to make minor changes, like in our car’s design we added a badge with the name and ‘End of Watch’ for PTL Michael ‘Mickey’ P. Cullinane on the back of our car.” Cullinane was a Sea Isle City police officer who died in 1992 at the age of 30 when he attempted to rescue an unconscious worker from a construction pit at 26th Street.
The Sea Isle City Police Department chose a Ford Explorer that was already in its fleet to be wrapped. The vehicle will be driven by officers who will proactively patrol for DWI offenders.
Antoinette Grdinich was sworn in as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) during a virtual meeting.
GRDINICH SWORN IN AS CASA VOLUNTEER
Antoinette Grdinich of Sea Isle City was sworn as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer during a Zoom meeting on June 12. She and the 12 other graduates completed 35 hours of online instruction in child advocacy, the family court system and cultural competency.
As a CASA volunteer, Grdinich will virtually meet with and advocate on behalf of children living in the foster-care system. She will recommend resources and services regarding the children’s education, medical and overall well-being. The goal is to ensure that the children attain safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible.
“We are so thankful, especially during these difficult times, that these individuals stepped forward to take the role of advocate for children living in foster care,” said Jennifer Valentine, CASA’s director of program services for Atlantic and Cape May counties. “Their advocacy will have a profound effect of the lives of children and youth in our community. These new CASA volunteers are starting a journey that will help change the stories of the children they meet and in the process their lives will be changed as well.”
Individuals interested in becoming CASA volunteers can email Debbie@AtlanticCapeCASA.org or visit AtlanticCapeCASA.org/GetInvolved.
The VFW Auxiliary officers (from left) Barbara Haines, Diane McCool, Linda White, Ruth Brown, Peg Moore, Patti Lloyd, Lori Rakus, Barb Cummings, Maryanne Hamilton and Karen Haugh.
VFW POST AUXILIARY ELECTS OFFICERS
The VFW Post 1963 Auxiliary in Sea Isle City elected its officers for the upcoming year at a meeting in which appropriate safety measures were observed due to the pandemic. The elected officers include Patti Lloyd, president; Barbara Haines, senior vice president; Diane McCool, junior vice president; Linda White, trustee; Ruth Brown, treasurer; Peg Moore, guard; Lori Rakus, conductress; Barb Cummings, trustee; Maryanne Hamilton, patriotic instructor; Karen Haugh, historian; Anne Devitt, secretary; and Stephanie Jones, chaplain.
Throughout the year, members of the Auxiliary collect donations, host special events, and assist with the planting of flowers in front of Post 1963. Membership is open to all who served in foreign lands including grandparents, parents, spouses, siblings and grandchildren of veterans.
“We look forward to resuming our efforts for veterans and active military personnel, as well as our community,” said Lloyd. “We’re going to have a great year!”
To learn more about VFW Post 1963 and its Auxiliary, go to vfwpost1963.com or follow it on Facebook.
