Times Talk
AHLOA ELECTS NEWSHEL PRESIDENT
Tony Newshel, who has been a member of the Avalon Home and Land Owners Association leadership team since 2017, was elected the group’s president for the 2023-24 season. Four new trustees also were brought aboard in the August election.
Newshel, who resides full-time in Avalon with his wife Ginny, retired last year after 40 years as an information technology professional focused on domestic and international payments processing. A La Salle alumnus who has been involved with AHLOA for many years, was installed as a trustee six years ago before becoming AHLOA’s secretary and “IT guy” in 2019.
Ron Fairman, Deidre “Dee” Hutchinson, Richard Hluchan, and Debra Noll comprise the new board of trustees.
Fairman and his wife Julie bought their first Avalon home on 10th Street in the early 1980s. They have since built two homes and as of last August became full-time Avalon residents. While they never anticipated retiring in Avalon, they decided to give it a try and they love living here, even in the winter!
Hutchinson first came to Avalon in 1975 after graduating from Villanova, renting a house with a group of friends. She quickly realized Avalon was a shore town unlike any other. Dee and her husband, Ed, now split their time living in Avalon, Philadelphia and Juno Beach, Fla. Dee is happy to give back to the Avalon community.
Hluchan and his family have enjoyed their home in Avalon since 1993. The Georgetown alum and longtime AHLOA member is a volunteer with the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, and Interfaith Caregivers in Haddonfield. He is also involved with the Arlington (Va.) Academy of Hope, and recently returned from visiting the schools and clinics it serves in Uganda.
Debra’s grandsons Gavin and Tanner Noll represent the family’s 5th generation growing up on Avalon beaches and her husband Chris has been coming to Avalon since 1956. Originally from Newfoundland, she moved to New Jersey in 1986 with her husband and their sons Jeremy and Craig. Noll serves on the executive board of Acenda Integrated Health and is a member of Impact100 of South Jersey, a group of women seeking to change lives with grants to local nonprofit organizations.
Warren Faulk will continue to serve as the organization’s vice president, alongside treasurer John Bell and secretary Wayne Popowski.
POST 331 HOSTS GUESTS FROM VETERANS HOME
“Veterans Serving Veterans” certainly applies to the members of American Legion Post 331 in Stone Harbor who hosted 10 residents of the Veterans Memorial Home in Vineland on Aug. 7.
The guests were welcomed by Post Senior Trustee Jon Ready and other members. The visitors included three veterans from the World War II era, one of whom was 100 years old; one Korean War-era veteran; and four from the Vietnam War era, as well as two spouses of deceased veterans.
After a short welcome by Post Commander Tom McCullough and the introductions were made, the visiting home’s residents were given a guided tour of the building and its museums by Ready and fellow post members Art Faint and Dick Pike. Those who could not climb to the military museum got a virtual tour by way of a narrated video by post member Spence Jones.
McCullough offered a tour of the building and its museums as a field trip destination to the Veterans Memorial Home’s Life Enrichment assistant, RJ Morrison.
Their visit ended with lunch and conversation.
American Legion Post 331 has been a significant donor to the Vineland Veterans Memorial Home thanks to the generous donations from the residents of Cape May County.
‘GALA FOR GEORGE’S HOUSE’ SUPPORTS WORTHY CAUSE
Steve Harbaugh, of Harbaugh Custom Homes, founded George’s House, a nonprofit organization with the goal of helping displaced families transition to a home of their own. The organization is named for Harbaugh’s late father and is designed to honor his life and legacy.
It also collects and distributes toys throughout the year, capped by the holiday toy drive when “Harbaugh Village” in Mullica Hill attracts numerous visitors.
This year, Steve and his wife Gina decided to host a charitable Gala for George’s House, which was held Aug. 5 at the ICONA Avalon. All proceeds from the gala are going toward the construction of the first-ever physical George’s House.
To date, the organization has successfully transitioned three families from being displaced to now living in homes of their own.
Presented by Diller Fisher Realty and the Steve Frame Team, the event featured dinner, cocktails, live music, and an auction.
Fr. Bill Kelly prepares with the Stone Harbor Beach Patrol for the Blessing of the Sea on August 15.
ST. BRENDAN CELEBRATES WEDDING OF THE SEA
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Wedding of the Sea, presented by the St. Brendan the Navigator Parish, is quickly becoming a Seven Mile Beach tradition.
Three years ago, Father Bill Kelly held the island’s first outdoor Mass to celebrate the Wedding of the Sea, establishing a new annual Aug. 15 event for the parish.
This year’s ceremony, held at the 82nd Street recreation fields, drew a good crowd. The day’s events began at 10:30am with Mass, followed by a procession to the beach. Father Kelly was rowed out into the ocean on a lifeguard boat by members of the Stone Harbor Beach Patrol and blessed the sea as he tossed a wreath into the ocean.
While Father Kelly would have preferred calmer waves during his trip, the weather made for a perfect day.
Stone Harbor Beach Patrol Captain Sandy Bosacco and Mayor Judith Davies-Dunhour cut the ribbon at the open house of the new Beach Patrol headquarters.
SHBP OPENS ITS NEW HEADQUARTERS
In July 2021, the Stone Harbor Borough awarded a contract of $2.8 million to construct a Beach Patrol Headquarters two-story building at 95th Street. The new building created an extensive storage and office space, and an upper-level crow’s nest for a wide-range view of the beach. The design was to maximize the space for beach activities like CPR training, physical fitness training, storage for rescue equipment, and a beach tag office where tags are sold. The Stone Harbor Beach Patrol has 90 employees, so the planners made sure the new building has significant space and restroom facilities.
Conversations for a new building began in 2018, and the old building, which had been standing for more than 60 years, was demolished in September 2021. Construction started shortly after Labor Day weekend and it was officially completed and opened this summer.
On Aug. 4, the Stone Harbor Beach Patrol held an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the completion of the new building. Mayor Judith Davies-Dunhour had the honor of cutting the ribbon, accompanied by some Stone Harbor lifeguards.
The event also featured light refreshments, a tour of the new building, and SHBP beach balls! The new building is now fully operational, located on 95th Street.
Siblings Norah and Ryan teamed up to conquer the scavenger hunt challenge at the Stone Harbor Museum.
STONE HARBOR MUSEUM RAISES STAKES IN SCAVENGER HUNT
The Stone Harbor Museum opened in 1999 as a way to visit the past, and create new memories. Originally located on 93rd Street, it now is located at 9410 Second Ave., featuring a new look, and new twist to their beloved exhibits and events, such as its annual Children’s Scavenger Hunt.
“I had a scavenger hunt for years, but last year we took it up a notch,” said Teri Fisher, vice president of the board of trustees.
Since last year, each participating week a business in Stone Harbor sponsored the scavenger hunt prize. The children who completed the hunt would receive a voucher for the sponsor of the week’s business, and that child could go there to claim their prize. This was implemented as a way to keep kids excited about history, while involving the community. Every business that was asked to participate agreed do so.
“You have to make history fun,” Fisher said, “or kids aren’t going to want to learn about it.”
Children ages 2-13 may participate in the scavenger hunt. The Stone Harbor Museum is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10am to 1pm. Admission is free and donations are accepted.