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To volunteer for these events and for additional information, please visit:  http://wetlandsinstitute.org/about-us/help-us-grow/volunteer-2/

Stone Harbor Beach Sweep

Join The Wetlands Institute, Clean Ocean Action, Surfrider Foundation, Borough of Stone Harbor, and Stone Harbor Property Owners Association for a spring beach sweep (or clean-up!) on Saturday, April 26th.   If you would like to participate in this volunteer opportunity please meet at Stone Harbor’s 95th Street beach entrance at 9:00am. All volunteers will be provided trash bags, gloves, and datasheets. Volunteers are encouraged to wear weather appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes to the event. No RSVPs required.

The National Weather Service has posted a Winter Weather Advisory for the potential of 2-4 inches of snow. The advisory is in effect Tuesday, March 25th at 4:00pm through Wednesday morning at 2:00am. Here is the text of the advisory posted by the National Weather Service:

Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 4 PM this afternoon to
2 am EDT Wednesday…

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued a Winter
Weather Advisory for snow, which is in effect from 4 PM this
afternoon to 2 am EDT Wednesday.

* Locations… portions of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, central
and southern Delaware and southeastern and eastern New Jersey.

* Hazard types… rain and snow to all snow.

* Snow accumulations… 2 to 4 inches.

* Timing… periods of rain and snow will develop toward midday.
Any rain or mixed rain and snow will then change to all snow by
evening, and the snow could fall moderate at times this evening
before ending overnight.

* Impacts… roadways should be wet during the daylight hours
today as temperatures are expected to rise above freezing as the
precipitation moves in. As temperatures drop later this
afternoon and especially this evening combined with a steady
snow, untreated surfaces will become slippery and potentially
snow covered. Remember, bridges and elevated surfaces tend to
ice up first.

* Winds… east to northeast increasing to 10 to 15 mph with gusts to
25 mph.

* Temperatures… rising into the upper 30s today, then dropping
into the 20s tonight.

* Visibilities… as low as one half of a mile.

Precautionary/preparedness actions…

A Winter Weather Advisory means that periods of snow will cause
travel difficulties, especially tonight. Be prepared for slippery
roads and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving.

The Borough of Stone Harbor dedicated a new public works vehicle to Jack Gryning, a longtime employee who passed away at his home on November 10^th, 2013.  The dedication was made during the Stone Harbor Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, March 18^th.

New public works vehicle

“It was our distinct pleasure to have Jack as an employee of the Stone Harbor Department of Public Works”, said Stone Harbor Public Works Superintendent Grant Russ.  “Jack was a quiet man and very dedicated to his work.  He knew every inch of Stone Harbor like it was his own”.The Borough acquired a new trash and recycling truck and added it to the Borough’s current fleet.  Employees decided to dedicate the vehicle to Gryning by creating a special logo that included his employee identification number to honor his nearly quarter century of public service to the community.

John Joseph “Jack” Gryning was a long time resident of North Wildwood and began his career with the Stone Harbor Department of Public Works on February 29^th, 1988 as a Recycling Department Laborer before he was quickly promoted to a truck driver.  Gryning worked for the Borough for over 24 years.  Before his career in Stone Harbor, Gryning served in the United States Army and was honorably discharged.  His hobbies included reading, discussing sports, and working out daily in his favorite gym.

Logo for Jack Gryning

A moment of silence for Jack Gryning was held following a presentation and discussion of his career by Superintendent Russ.  Gryning was the only member of the Stone Harbor Department of Public Works to pass away while he was still employed by the Borough.  He was anticipating his retirement at the conclusion of the 2014 summer season.

Stone Harbor unanimously awarded a contract that will result in a new Dredged Material Management Plan for the back bay waterways and channels on the west side of the Borough.  The contract was awarded during the Tuesday, March 18^th Borough Council meeting.

“Stone Harbor needs to develop a long-term plan for one of our largest environmental assets, the bay waterways and channels”, said Councilwoman Joselyn Rich, the Chairwoman of the Borough’s Natural Resources Committee.  “This development of our Dredged Material Management Plan seeks real solutions to various issues regarding the removal of sediment from our bays and channels that were compounded recently during Hurricane Sandy”.

Council awarded a contract totaling $26,500 to Ocean and Coastal Consultants of Gibbsboro, New Jersey, an engineering firm that specializes in projects of this nature.  The objective of the agreement is to identify current and future dredging demand within the waterways that fall under the jurisdiction of the Borough.  Existing data and hydrographic surveys will assess both the municipal and private dredging demands over the next ten years.  Ocean and Coastal Consultants will coordinate with both state and federal agencies to obtain their dredging demands around the project area as well.

As part of its task, Ocean and Coastal Consultants will develop alternative placement locations in a systematic manner to ensure that responsible alternatives are evaluated.  A dredged material placement alternative evaluation matrix will be delivered to the Borough at the conclusion of this project.

“Mayor and Council have recognized that the network of waterways surrounding Stone Harbor is essential to the environmental and economic viability of the Borough”, Rich said.  “This report is essential to delivering additional ideas and concepts to address this issue now, and for the next ten years to follow”.

The Stone Harbor Borough Council previously authorized the purchase of a current Confined Disposal Facility, or CDF, commonly known as Site 103; settlement is anticipated in the coming weeks.  The Borough needed to pursue ownership of the site in order to move forward with an agreement involving the New Jersey Department of Transportation so as to obtain the necessary permits to offload the dredge materials.  Borough Council anticipates adopting a capital ordinance later this year in order to begin the offload of dredge materials.  Mayor and Council are working with the State of New Jersey and the United States Army Corps of Engineers to develop a plan and time schedule for the dredging of the intercoastal waterway which is necessary before basins and back bays are dredged.

Rich announced at the Council meeting that the potential offload of dredge materials from Site 103 will cost approximately $2.5 million, while a dredging project to empty the waterways and channels from new sediment will cost approximately $2.5 million.

All photos taken Monday morning, March 17th by Stone Harbor Public Information Officer Scott Wahl.

Welcome to Stone Harbor

Ready for summer..whenever it arrives

Stone Harbor Post Office

No boating during a snowstorm

 

Fireman’s Memorial

Yacht Club of Stone Harbor

 

 

 

 

 

Stone Harbor officials have announced a one hour delayed opening for Monday, March 17th, due to the winter storm.  About six inches of snow has fallen so far, as of Monday at 6:30am.

Beginning on or about Monday, March 17th through April 1st, Third Avenue between 95th Street and 97th Street will be closed due to construction being completed by South Jersey Gas to make necessary repairs to a natural gas line.  Please plan your driving accordingly.  Thank you.