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The following is an advisory issued by the Stone Harbor Police Department regarding an alleged telephone scam from individuals representing themselves as being from a utility company:

Thursday April 3, 2014

An unidentified male contacted a local business advising the store employee/owner that he was a representative of the “Electric Company”.  The representative proceeded to tell the store owner that their electric bill was overdue and that if money was not deposited into a private account then the service would be shut off.  The unidentified male provided the store owner/employee with a call back number of (848-207-9143).  This number differed from the phone number where the subject placed the call from, which was (800-475-6116).

**Please note that similar type incidents have occurred in southern New Jersey where the caller identifies himself as “Mark Lopez” from the South Jersey Gas Company.  This subject advises the “customer” of a similar overdue payment scenario and threatens that the gas service will be disconnected without payment.

Police urge store owners and residents that if they receive this type of call not to provide personal identifier or financial information to the caller. They should immediately contact their utility provider for verification, and notify the Police Department at 609-368-2111 of the incident.

On April 10^th 2014, the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary turned on its high definition, real time camera on area populated by the relatively rare Black-crowned Night Heron.  Last night, the star of the show did not disappoint.  In fact, he brought a surprise guest, the ever proud osprey!

Heron cam is the cornerstone of a multifaceted educational initiative designed to bring the unique birds of the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary to the public and birders alike throughout the world.  The initiative began last year with the creation of virtual tour videos that showcased the diverse attributes of the Sanctuary including ancient maritime forest, a 300 year old holly tree, artistic stands of sassafras and a dynamic yet unique blend of saltwater marsh and a spring-fed freshwater pond.

With the help of students from Stockton University, the Sanctuary added an android mobile app at the end of last year.  The app is free and shows the user what birds are available in the Sanctuary, where they might be found and the sounds they make.  The app also provides highlights of the Sanctuary as you walk on its paths.  Apple aficionados will be pleased to know that an IOS app is expected before the end of the summer this year.

The star of the initiative is Heron Cam, a high definition, pan and zoom camera complete with audio and night vision that can bring the sights and sounds of the Sanctuary to everyone, 24 hours a day.  The acquisition and installation of the camera is the product of a three year effort that began with generous financial support from friends of the Sanctuary, John and Kayann Laughlin, Kathryn and John Nardone, Julian and Betsy Miraglia and Jack and Dorothy Berrigan.  Once the funds were in place, Councilwoman Josee Rich generated Stone Harbor Borough Council approval to give the project “wings”.   But as Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary Chairman, Jack Berrigan stated, “we needed the experienced, technical expertise of James Sessions, JES Hardware Solutions and Ben Wurst of the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey to get us off the ground and the ingenuity and creativity of the Stone Harbor Public Works staff led by Grant Russ and Rocky Tirado to install the equipment”.

According to Jack, the Heron Cam is the first of its kind in the world to focus on the beautiful, elegant Black-crowned Night Heron.  Jack encourages you to go to the Sanctuary website at www.stoneharborbirdsanctuary.org and watch the Heron Cam.  He expects the number of Black-crowned Night Heron to increase dramatically between now and the end of September, when they begin their migration south.  By the way, Jack would not be surprised if the Heron Cam had guest appearances by Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Green Heron, Glossy Ibis, Great Blue Heron and Egret. Be sure to check throughout the spring and summer.

The audio and night vision capabilities of the heron cam will be added over the next few weeks.

Many families choose to travel while school is out for spring break but if you prefer a vacation close to home where you can enjoy the quiet shoulder season, The Wetlands Institute has a special week packed with activities to entertain the whole family.

Ahead of summer schedule, the Institute will be open all week from April 14 to April 18 for Locals’ Spring Break. During this special week, Cape May County residents will receive a 50% discount on general admission to the Institute. Get up close with live terrapins and explore local marine life.  Take a walk on our dock or explore the wetland ecosystems from our new elevated marsh walkway!

The cost of admission includes access to the Institute’s self-guided exhibits as well as participation in any of the guided activities taking place during the week: Seasonal Science Activities and Crafts, Salt Marsh Safaris, Creature Features and Crafts, Aquarium Teaching Tank and Aquarium Feedings.

Consult The Wetlands Institute’s calendar of event at wetlandsinstitute.org for a complete schedule of activities.

Stone Harbor Hydrant Flushing Schedule Week of April 21st, 2014

The Utility Department of Stone Harbor in an effort to deliver the highest quality tap water to our resident and visitors conduct “Bi-Annual System
Flushing” in the spring and fall.  This operation is conducted to clear our stagnant areas, dead end streets, hydrants and water mains of our infrastructure
to remove rust and light build up on the inside of the pipes.This is a state requirement and will be conducted in the week stated below. Our Utility
Department request if you experience low water pressure during the scheduled week that you call Public Works at 609-368-7311 to confirm the area they are
working in. After this time you may have discolored water flowing from your taps.  If this dose happen to you we ask that you run your tap and bath water
starting from the highest floor and work your way down to the lowest level in order to clear your water lines.

The week of April 21, 2014:

Starting:
– 1st Avenue, 111th to 80th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue
– 2nd Avenue, 80th to 122nd Street
– 3rd Avenue 122nd to 80th Street
– 8600 Sunset Drive to Corinthian, Golden Gate, Paradise.

The Borough of Stone Harbor has created a new registration program for the seasonal storage of kayaks at Stone Harbor Municipal Marina at 87^th Street and the bay.  A resolution to support the registration program was unanimously approved during the Tuesday, April 1^st meeting of Borough Council.

The resolution permits the free, seasonal storage of kayaks at the marina annually between the dates of April 15^th-November 15^th.  Members of the public who wish to store their kayaks at Borough-owned kayak racks must first pick up a free registration sticker at the Borough Clerk’s office inside the municipal building at 96^th Street and Second Avenue.  The free registration program will be conducted on a first come, first served basis.  Kayaks that are left at the marina past November 15^th will be impounded by the Stone Harbor Police Department.

The Borough created the free registration program in order to better regulate the storage of kayaks at the Marina due to an increase in interest and popularity.

The Stone Harbor Borough Council approved a new municipal budget for 2014 that totals $14 million and requires an eight tenths of a penny increase in the local municipal tax rate.  The budget was approved during a unanimous 6-0 vote by Council following a presentation at the Tuesday, April 1^st Council meeting.

“The creation of the 2014 municipal budget for Stone Harbor required a year-long effort by every member of Council, various committees and our finance office to improve the delivery of services while keeping a tax increase to a minimum”, said Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters.  “This budget accomplishes that while maintaining a healthy surplus for the Borough”.

The budget establishes a municipal tax rate of 23.2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.  The 2013 municipal tax rate was 22.4 cents which results in a 3.57% increase in the municipal tax rate.  The Borough maintains a ratable base of $4.41 billion and entered the budgetary year with a healthy $2.3 million in surplus.  $1.04 million of surplus funding is being used to support the 2014 municipal budget.  The Borough currently enjoys a very strong tax collection rate of 98.04%.

Like many other communities, Stone Harbor is allocating additional expenditures for group health insurance.  The Borough anticipates spending an additional $101,000 for insurance through the New Jersey State Health Benefits Plan which continues to provide the best value to the Borough.  A $51,000 increase in wages that reclassifies the position of Tourism Director to Administrative Assistant is included in the budget but is offset by a decrease in the Beach, Recreation and Tourism budget.

Stone Harbor will be saving over $217,000 courtesy of an innovative shared services agreement with neighboring Avalon for emergency dispatch services.  There is an overall decrease in the Utility Budget of $98,732 due to a reduction in the appropriation to the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority of $100,000; this represents the third consecutive year that operating expenses have significantly decreased in the Utility Budget.

View the complete budget presentation here:  Borough of Stone HarborBudget Presentation 2014