Stone Harbor Harvest Day Arrives October 26th
Stone Harbor Promotes Thomas Schutta to Police Captain
Captain Schutta receives congratulations from Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters
The Stone Harbor Borough Council voted 6-0 to promote Thomas Schutta to Captain of the Stone Harbor Police Department. Schutta had been serving the department as Acting Captain since June 2013. The unanimous vote to promote Schutta to the position was made during the Tuesday, October 1st meeting of the Stone Harbor Borough Council.
Captain Schutta took his oath of office administered by Stone Harbor Borough Clerk Suzanne Stanford, while his wife Kelly held a bible; also in attendance were the Schutta’s two sons, Tommy and Charlie. His new badge was pinned on him by retired Stone Harbor Police Chief Steven O’Conner. Current Police Chief Paul Reynolds and many members of the Stone Harbor Police Department were on hand to witness the promotion.
Captain Schutta began his career with the Stone Harbor Police Department in 1995. He was promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 2003, Detective Sergeant in 2006, and Acting Captain three months ago. Captain Schutta is a 1993 graduate of Rutgers University, and last year completed the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police 13-week Command and Leadership Program, and completed training at the Police Executive Institute. He serves as a RADAR instructor and certified physical fitness instructor through the New Jersey Police Training Commission.
Stone Harbor Council Introduces New Building Ordinance
The Stone Harbor Borough Council passed on first reading an ordinance that attempts to create uniform building regulations in the community based on the new flood maps recently released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The new regulations address chapters 300 and 560 and will result in a new base elevation of nine feet and an extra foot of freeboard. The new measure now advances to the Stone Harbor Planning and Zoning Board for consideration before it undergoes a final public review at the October 15th meeting of the Stone Harbor Borough Council.
“These new building regulations make practical sense and encourages uniformity for the Borough as we adapt to the new flood maps released by FEMA”, said Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters. “This new ordinance will create a set of regulations that will result in conformity to the new flood maps while also providing the Borough with additional points in the Community Rating System that may result in a higher flood insurance discount for all property owners in our community”.
A presentation was made by OSK Design Partners, PA of Stone Harbor, New Jersey on proposed changes to the construction ordinance. The presentation outlined many benefits of adding an extra foot of freeboard, which include an area for HVAC ducts and other mechanicals to be placed in a crawlspace above the base flood elevation. Additionally, buildings located in coastal “A” zones throughout the Borough would experience improved protection.
A base flood elevation of nine feet would provide a consistent and uniform datum to measure the height of all buildings, regardless of top of curb elevation. The datum of nine feet is the same, or higher, than the base flood elevation for all flood hazard zones except for the “V”, or velocity zones. Fewer than 100 properties are in “V” zones according to the latest flood maps released by FEMA.
By implementing these new building regulations, the Borough may earn enough points in the Community Rating System that would result in a higher classification and a greater discount on flood insurance for all property owners.
Stone Harbor Building Height Power Point Presentation Oct 1 2013
FAQ’s For Stone Harbor Point of Peace Memorial Park
How was the location for the Point of Peace Memorial Park selected? The Stone Harbor Borough Council approved the creation of a special committee that would help select the location and design of the park that would incorporate Stone Harbor’s artifact from the World Trade Center in New York City. Updates on the committee’s work have been provided frequently over the past 18 months during Stone Harbor Council meetings held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at Stone Harbor Borough Hall. The all-volunteer committee considered several other locations for the memorial but decided that the 123rd Street location would be best suited for a memorial and a park. Locations considered were the Water Works lot on 93rd Street, the Stone Harbor Volunteer Fire Company, the tennis courts at 96th Street, the Remembrance Garden, the Bird Sanctuary, Third and Second Avenue, and 122nd Street. Mayor Walters suggested the location that was selected.
When was the design for the proposed Point of Peace Memorial Park discussed publically? The design for the park, created by Scott Taylor of Taylor Design Associates, was unveiled during Stone Harbor’s Council meeting on September 4th, 2012. Since that meeting, Council has held over two dozen Council meetings providing the public with an opportunity to comment on the park. Information about the park has been included on the Borough’s website consistently for over a year, information has aired on our public access television station, Channel 2, and the project has been discussed in traditional media and at various public meetings.
How does the Borough intend to finance construction of the park? The Borough has made an application before the Cape May County Open Space Board to solicit full funding for the park. To date, the Borough has contributed more than $5,000,000 in funding to the open space program and has not received any funding in return. Our application was warmly received by the Board, and we expect to get an answer during the October 8th, 2013 Board meeting.
How much will construction of the park actually cost? The construction of the memorial to honor victims and first responders associated with the September 11th, 2001 attack on the United States is estimated to cost $347,000; bathrooms facilities proposed for the site will cost $237,000. The Borough has placed in its budget support funding for design/engineering work for the park and has spent no additional funding on the project.
What happens if the Cape May County Open Space Board does not fully fund the project? The Borough of Stone Harbor will not spend money out of the general fund nor will the Borough bond or borrow any money to finance the construction of the Point of Peace Memorial Park. Anticipated funding from the county’s Open Space program will dictate if this park will be constructed and if the project will be constructed in phases. Once the Borough receives a commitment on funding from the Cape May County Open Space Board, the project immediately moves to the Stone Harbor Administration and Finance Committee for review.
Will the Borough accept a smaller project based on funding amounts and accept public input on a smaller design shall open space funding fall short? Yes. The design of the park can be scaled down if funding amounts are not sufficient. The Borough still can provide a public park for personal reflection and tribute on a smaller scale.
What other funding opportunities are possible? The Borough has established a donation program with a direct mail piece to all property owners, providing them an opportunity to sponsor the memorial at the Point of Peace Park. Donations are placed into a special fund created by the Borough; any donations will go towards any costs associated with the construction of the park but will not go towards construction of bathroom facilities shall they occur. All donations are tax-deductible. Stone Harbor will actively seek “in-kind” donations of materials and services that are typically available during construction of September 11th memorials throughout the state.
Will the Borough be responsible for the day to day maintenance and upkeep needed at the park? Yes, the park will be maintained by the Stone Harbor Department of Public Works, much like all other public places the department maintains.
Is the park compliant with all land restrictions and regulations with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection? Yes.
What are the advantages of creating this park at 123rd Street and Second Avenue and not at another location, perhaps in our downtown district? This location already is the home of a memorial garden established by the Stone Harbor Garden Club. This project transforms a highly used parking lot in one of the Borough’s most beautiful areas and transforms it into a passive park. Thousands of families visit this area each year at one of our most popular beach access points. The intent is to not only further beautify the area but also provide opportunities for children to see the park and the artifact and engage in conversations with their parents about the sacrifice, bravery, and honor associated with the events of that fateful day.
“Go Green Community” Holds Green Fair September 21st
Stone Harbor’s volunteer Go Green Community will be on display with a Stone Harbor Green Fair this Saturday, September 21st, from Noon-4pm. The Go Green Community will have a tent downtown in the Borough as part of the Savor September celebration. Stop by and speak with committee volunteers about Stone Harbor’s water conservation efforts. We will be handing out free activity books for children and offer the public the chance to win a free rain barrel. In addition, representatives from John Deere Landscaping will join us with information and examples of effective water conservation efforts that can be applied in Stone Harbor.
Stone Harbor Holds Solemn September 11th Ceremony
Honor Guard stands with artifact from the World Trade Center provided to Stone Harbor.
Members of the Stone Harbor Borough Council were joined by Stone Harbor residents and visitors for a solemn remembrance ceremony on September 11th to honor the victims and the first responders associated with the terrorist attack on the United States 12 years ago. The ceremony was held at the Stone Harbor Point of Peace Park located at 123rd Street and Second Avenue. An artifact acquired from World Trade Center that was acquired by the Borough from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was on display and will become the centerpiece of the park.The ceremony included prayers for the victims, speakers, and Stone Harbor Elementary School students who created posters in tribute to the United States. Comments were delivered by Councilwoman Joan Kramar, Sister James Dolores of Villa Maria by the Sea, Pastor Glen Schoenberger of Our Savior Lutheran Church, Monsignor William Quinn from St. Paul’s Catholic Church, and local resident Charles Boylan who worked for Marsh McLennan, a company that lost 300 employees during the attack on the World Trade Center. Members of the volunteer Stone Harbor September 11th Committee were also present for the ceremony.
“I was at a meeting and saw the second plane hit the World Trade Center on September 11th”, Boylan said. “Our immediate action was to help families in our company who lost loved ones. Three weeks after the attack, I attended a service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and 5,000 people were in attendance. New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani spoke, and it was the most inspirational eulogy I ever heard”.
Boylan continued, “Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters met Mayor Guiliani two years later, and his comment to the Mayor was ‘Stone Harbor sent people to help New York City, thank you’. This Point of Peace Park will be a special place where folks can appreciate and reflect on events associated with September 11th, and remember the people who perished in New York, Washington, and Shanksville”.
Monsignor Quinn spoke about his personal experience on September 11th, 2001. “People began coming to church asking what they could do. I told them to pray. We look back and saw smoke, dust, and our leaders assuring us that everything would be alright. We will never forget, we can’t forget. Today, we pass on hope to a new generation”.
Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters was unable to attend the ceremony due to an unchangeable meeting in Trenton regarding a future dredging project in Stone Harbor. Councilwoman Kramar read a letter from the Mayor to the audience. “It is indeed an honor that Stone Harbor was chosen to host this artifact from the World Trade Center”, the letter read. “Stone Harbor sent men to New York to help after the attack. Terrorists thought they brought us down. They brought us together”.
The Borough plans to create a Point of Peace Memorial Park at 123rd Street and Second Avenue. Stone Harbor has applied for funding from the Cape May County Open Space Program to fund the construction of the park. The design for the park was unveiled to the public in September, 2012 at a Stone Harbor Borough Council meeting with continual updates on the project provided during subsequent Council meetings.
Stone Harbor Property Owners Association Meeting September 14th
Here are details about the Stone Harbor Property Owners Association general meeting to be held on Saturday, September 14th. Please click on the PDF for additional
information:
Borough to Host September 11th Remembrance Ceremony
Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters and the Stone Harbor Borough Council are inviting the public to attend a special September 11th Remembrance Ceremony on Wednesday, September 11th, from 11:00am until Noon. The ceremony will be held at the Borough’s Point of Peace Memorial Park located at 123rd Street and Second Avenue.
The Borough will pay special tribute to the men and women whose lives were lost during the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania. Honor guards from the Stone Harbor Police Department and the Stone Harbor Volunteer Fire Company will be present. The Borough will display its artifact obtained from the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey. The artifact is a section of I-beam from the site of the World Trade Center.
Students from the Stone Harbor Elementary School will be displaying special artwork at the ceremony. An invocation will be delivered by Sister James Dolores of Villa Maria by the Sea, and a benediction will be delivered by Pastor Glen Schoeberger of Our Savior Lutheran Church. Comments will be delivered by Monsignor William Quinn from St. Paul’s Catholic Church. The guest speaker for the ceremony will be Charles Boyland.
Stone Harbor Offers Free “Child Tags” for Children Identification
Nothing can be more frightening for parents or their children when suddenly a child becomes disoriented on a large, crowded beach and cannot find the family beach blanket. Stone Harbor’s “Child Tag” program helps identify children and reunite them with their parents in a quick, efficient manner.
“The Child Tag program in Stone Harbor has proved to be a very efficient tool to help children become reunited with their parents on the beach”, said Stone Harbor Beach Inspector Supervisor Megan Russ. “Parents love them because it is a free service offered by the community that provides peace of mind in the event a child becomes accidentally separated from his or her parents during a day at the beach”.
Each summer the Stone Harbor Beach Inspectors offer free Child Tags to families that can be affixed to a child’s bathing suit much like a traditional beach tag. The Child Tag contains a special number that corresponds to information provided by the parents at the Stone Harbor Beach Tag Booth. If a child becomes lost on a beach and is wearing a Child Tag, an adult can simply notify any member of the Stone Harbor Beach Patrol or any Beach Inspector. The number on the tag will identify the child and accelerate the process of reuniting the child with family members. The same tag can be used each season for children who frequent the Stone Harbor beach; current records date back to 2006 for children who are registered with the program.
Parents are simply asked to provide basic information to the Beach Tag Booth including the child’s name, date of birth, parent or guardian name, date of birth and social security number, the family local address and phone numbers, and other essential information. The Beach Tag Booth will keep that information as long as the parents ask them to do so.
For more information on the Child Tag program, please visit the Stone Harbor Beach Tag Booth located at 95th Street and the beach or visit www.stone-harbor.nj.us.
