From The President

With the publication of this newsletter, our 2009 membership drive begins. The board of Trustees has set a membership goal for 2009 of 1500 members. Currently, there are 1025 members. Hopefully, you will join the ROA for 2009. The ROA has been an advocate for the residents with committees focusing on Borough Affairs, Beach and Bay, Community Beautification and Civic Improvement. The trustees are looking at different ways to provide you with more timely information while reducing costs. One of these ways is to use the ROA website’s capabilities and email to stay in contact with the members.

The Trustees are becoming more active in Borough Affairs and areas that affect you as property owners. Two of these areas are beach replenishment and the removal of the out flow pipes from the beach. Both of these projects are vitally important to Stone Harbor’s future as a beach resort and to you as a property owner. The Trustees may actively seek outside help for beach replenishment to pursue action to start and complete this project. The latest Cape May County Tourism Annual Report asks the question, ‘Why buy a home in Cape May County’? The number one answer was the beach, with 54% of the respondents saying they chose to purchase a second home in the county because of the beach. Interaction with Borough Council will continue as to the removal of the out flow pipes between 104th and 110th Streets, and the emphasis will be to remove them as soon as possible.

Please consider joining the ROA in 2009. There are many projects to be completed, and with your help, they can be accomplished. The Board and I wish all of you a safe and healthy Holiday Season and a Happy New Year.

Larry Kratzer
www.stoneharborroa.com

ROA Thanks Retiring Trustees, Welcomes New Trustees, and Honors It’s “Person of the Year” at September General Meeting

At the ROA General Meeting on September 13th, Joan Kramar was presented with the ROA “Person of the Year” award. Although Joan is now an avid golfer, she finds plenty of time to dedicate to the work of several Stone Harbor organizations. Joan served as a Trustee for the ROA, and chaired the Beautification Committee.  She continued that work as a member of the Garden Club, planting many of the islands on Stone Harbor’s 2nd Ave., serving as the Garden Club’s President, and also as Director of the Remembrance Garden located at 122nd Street.  Partnering the ROA, Garden Club and the Borough, Joan was instrumental in bringing hanging baskets to the Marina and the downtown area.  She also has been active in the Republican Club, the Shade Tree Committee, and the Women’s Auxiliary of the American Legion.  This is only a brief summary of all she has done for various causes in Stone Harbor.  If there is a new project that needs volunteers, you can be sure one of them will be Joan Kramar! Thank you Joan for all you have done, and will do for Stone Harbor.

Larry Kratzer thanked the outgoing ROA Trustees for their years of service to the ROA:  Connie Ashman, Tom Cope, Larry Hanker, Lynn Kiehl, and Doug Wear.

Retiring Vice-President Tom Cope presented the slate of nominees for officers and Trustees to the membership:Joe McFadden,Vice-President, Sandy Slabik,Secretary; new Trustees; Jeff Alderton, Don Furmanski, Barry Hamilton, Barbara Hencheck, Bill Lehman, and Joyce Steele.  All were elected to their respective posts. A brief bio for each new Trustee follows.

Meet Your New Trustees!

Jeff Alderton  and his wife Lee have been coming to Stone Harbor for over 40 years, buying their current home in 1997.  Jeff and Lee enjoy Stone Harbor during the summer months and sporadically throughout the rest of the year.  He graduated from Babson College and s a Partner with Delotte Consulting, specializing in organization improvement and transition management.  Jeff is a member of the Stone Harbor Yacht Club, and has been supportive of several borough initiatives such as the Bird Sanctuary, VFW and Fire Department walks and the Town Clock.

Donald Furmanski  was born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia. He is one of two children of Josephine and Louis Furmanski.  He has been coming to Stone Harbor since, as his mother says, “ever since he was in my womb”.  After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1962 with a degree in mechanical engineering he served 32 years with the Army and Navy, and introduced six systems for the military still in use today.  Don then did engineering consulting and marketing for ten years, retiring in 2002.  Don and his wife Clare purchased their home in Stone Harbor in 1994, and moved here permanently in 2002.  This is Don’s third term as a Trustee in the ROA.  He was active in the Bay Waters Alliance and the Stone Harbor Board of Health, and is currently active with the Wetlands Institute, American Legion, Stone Harbor
Lions Club and an avid boater and fisherman.

Barry Hamilton  and his wife Lois split their time between St. Davids, PA and Stone Harbor, owning their first house in Stone Harbor in 1980. His mother’s family has been coming to Stone Harbor since the 1880’s!! Barry graduated from Lycoming College, and then earned his MBA at Drexel University. Barry retired after 35 years in the financial services industry working for both Mellon Bank and U.S.Trust Company.  Barry has served on several boards including the Pennsylvania Ballet Company, Philadelphia PAL, Radnor Library and the Pennington School.  Barry belongs to the Stone Harbor Yacht Club and enjoys golf, tennis and reading.

Barbara Hencheck  and her husband John have been property owners in Stone Harbor since 1986, and members of ROA since that time.  Barbara was a Special Educator and Learning Consultant in the New Jersey public schools , retiring in 2005.  She is currently involved in community organizations in Hunterdon County such  as Municipal Alliance and Safe Homes.  She is a member of the Avalon Performing Arts Council, and a  longstanding member of the Kalmia Club, the oldest continuous women’s organization in New Jersey.

William Lehman and his wife Carole have been coming to Stone Harbor since 1967, purchasing their own home in 1979.  They have been full time residents since 2004.  William graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Electrical Engineering, and completed the MBA Certificate Program at the Wharton School.  In college he was in the ROTC, and then served in an Artillery Battalion in Germany for two years.  He is a current active member of the American Legion Post 331 in Stone Harbor.  He worked for U.S. Steel for a few years and then in the pharmaceutical industry for Merck & Co in various engineering related positions until retiring in 2000.

Joyce Steele and her husband George visited  Stone Harbor and Avalon for many years, buying their own home in Stone Harbor in 2000, moving here permanently in 2002 after buying a larger home on 104th.  Joyce and her husband met and graduated from Rutgers University, lived in Long Island,  moving back to New Jersey,  then to Yardley, PA. Joyce served as Girl Scout leader, Majority Inspector on Election Day for 25 years, substitute teacher for 10 years,  elected three times as Tax Collector for Lower Makefield Twp., also served on the Board for the Historic Morrisville Society.

ROA ANNOUNCES NEW WEBSITE

Log on to www.stoneharborroa.com to get up to date news on Stone Harbor.  The new website features a homepage that contains the latest BOROUGH NEWS and is updated regularly.  The home page also features current weather information and has tabs and links to:  events, entertainment, eating, shopping, local newspapers, the ROA newsletter, and local and state government. There is also a message board for those members interested in commenting on Borough activity. The new POLL section will allow the ROA to invite members to take polls on important Borough issues.  For members or new members wanting to join or pay 2009 dues on line, Log on to www.stoneharborroa.com

and click on the Become a Member Tab and then the pay dues online link. There the ROA intends to regularly e-mail members with notices to log on and get the update on hot topics. We need your e-mail address, so log on to  www.stoneharborroa.com

Court Finds in Favor of Shore Towns

In November 2007 Avalon sued the Department of Environmental protection (DEP) after they set beach access rules and requirements. Stone Harbor, Sea Isle City and Cape May County joined the suit at a later date. The lawsuit involved the municipality’s authority, parking and bathroom availability for beach goers.

Membership Renewal

Your membership renewal form is included in this Newsletter. As with everyone else, the costs of many of our projects done on your behalf have risen. Your membership dues assist your ROA with projects and/or contributions such as the Bird Sanctuary, American Legion, erection of flag poles at the entrances to Stone Harbor and the Marina, the hanging baskets, planting at the 3rd Ave. entrance to the Borough, Clean Beach designation, and the largest expense this year, a much improved website at www.stoneharborroa.com   If you have any questions or input for a specific committee of the ROA, they are listed with the respective chair below.  Reference the ROA Website for the chair’s contact information.

Community Affairs

Beautification: Karen Lane
Publicity: Peter Svanda
Special Events: Jean Tribulski
Beach and Bay: Bill Dougherty
Shared Services: Larry Kratzer
Civic Improvement: Alan Kaplan

Borough Affairs

Council, Zoning, Planning Mayor: Lou Schweickhardt
Recreation School Board: Jean Tribulski

Membership Affairs

Membership: Joe McFadden
Nominating: Joe McFadden
Web Site: Ned Galbally
Speaker’s: Bob Levins

ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER!!

In order to reduce costs, and “Go Green”, the ROA is considering publishing this newsletter through the website. We would like to have your comments on the move. You would be notified by e-mail when the new Newsletter has been published, with a link to the website for easy access. WE NEED YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS!! Please include your e-mail address on your membership renewal form, along with your comments concerning an electronic newsletter. Would you be more or less inclined to read the Newsletter in an electronic format rather than a mailed hardcopy?

Stone Harbor’s American Legion Post 331

The Stephen Ludlum American Legion Post had plenty to celebrate this past Veteran’s Day.  Besides being recognized as the oldest building in the borough, it was named to the State Historic Register in June, and recognized on the National Historic Register in October The building has been restored, flag poles were erected on the median on 2nd Ave. in front of the Legion, a U.S. life-saving boat is housed in the gazebo next to the building, a walkway with engraved pavers has started to take shape, and Jim “J.J.”Thompson has completed a mural illustrating the legion’s early history.  Stop down and see this “gem of history” in our midst that has been in continual use since 1915.  You can still buy engraved pavers to honor your special veteran or currently serving military personnel.

Coming Up In Stone Harbor

• Shopping and hospitality Downtown district- January 1st 2009
• Boat Show weekend - May 2 & 3
• Turtle Trot 5k - May 24
• ROA General Meeting- June 13
• Merchant's Day Sidewalk Sale - August 22
• Art & Music Weekend - October 10 & 11
• Beach Clean up with Clean Ocean Action - October 17
• Christmas in Stone Harbor - November 27 & 28