Danny now a Tropical Depression — But cheer up, sunny skies and September weather are on the way!

Depression? Ugh, you can say that again! Unlike Hurricane Bill, which brought great waves, sunshine and only occasional (although sometimes scary) cloudbursts, Tropical Depression Danny is tossing a giant soggy blanket over the Jersey Shore. The good news, though, is that the skies will clear tomorrow, the humidity will start to drift down, and beginning on Monday, the forecast is for steady temperatures in the 70’s. Here comes September, the very best time at the Jersey Shore!!!

Belmar Tourism Commission Friday Night Concerts

Pyanoe Plaza, 9th Avenue & Main Street, Belmar, NJ 07719

Fridays Summer Concert Series Pyanoe Plaza 7-10 pm – 732-681-3700 ex 9-214

Every Friday evening during the months of June, July and August a different musical artist or group perform at the Pyanoe Plaza, Main Street between the hours of 7 pm – 10 pm, weather permitting. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy a night of great entertainment for the entire family.

June 5	Blackwater (Sean Hennessy	Celtic
June 12	Kevin Quinn	Variety
June 19	Joe Petrillo	Contemporary
June 26	Dream Team	Rock & Roll
July 3	Paul Marino Band	Classic Rock
July 10	Denis Coughlin	Rock & Roll Blues
July 17	Diana & Tim McCorry	Classic Rock
July 24	Danny White	Pop Folk & Rock
July 31	R & B Express	Rock & Roll
August 7	Tom Brennan	Irish & Folk
August 14	Pat Roddy Band	Rock & Roll
August 21	Round The House	Irish & Folk
August 28	Fred Lehotay’s Ragtimers	Roaring 20’s sing-a-long

Event Date(s) and Time(s):

August 28, 2009 7:00 pm

Belmar was home to Titanic Survivor

Few people know that for many years Belmar was the home of a survivor of the RMS Titanic, Elizabeth Nye.

Elizabeth Nye was born in Folkestone, England on May 27, 1882 and emigrated to the United States after the sinking. She became a U.S. citizen in May 1916. She lived in the Bronx for 35 years with her husband, George Darby, and was an officer for the Salvation Army. She had one son, Raymond. The Darby’s spent weekends and holidays in Belmar while living in N.Y. They stayed at the Kensington Home of Rest, a Salvation Army vacation home at 207 13th Avenue. In 1930 they purchased real estate on 13th Avenue. They built the duplex which is now located 315A and 315B Thirteenth Avenue.

Elizabeth and George lived on the left side in unit 315A. Their son Ray became a lifeguard in Belmar. He was based at 16th Avenue. He remained a lifeguard well into his 40’s. Elizabeth and George were 70 years old in the early 1950’s when they sold their N.Y. home and relocated year-round to their Belmar home. Elizabeth died on November 22, 1963 at the age of 81. George remained at the Salvation Army Retired Officer’s Residence in Asbury Park and died in 1968. Their son Ray had two children. He died in 1979. His son, Ray Junior, died in 2008. His daughter Jerilyn lives in Michigan.

Original photos of the Darby home in Belmar can be found at pages 122 and 126 of a recent book called, “Elizabeth Nye: Titanic Survivor,” written by Dave Bryceson. The book can be ordered through the The Titanic Historical Society, P.O. Box 51053, Indian Orchard MA 01151-0053.

Mayor’s Wellness Campaign health fair scheduled for October 10th

The Belmar Mayor’s Wellness Campaign Committee is proud to present their second annual community health fair Saturday, October 10^th.  Last year’s event featured free health screenings and evaluations and a series of presentations promoting healthy living.  Health care professionals, providers and pharmacy reps are welcome to participate in the event.  Registration is free.

In keeping with the year-old group’s aim to promote health and safety in our community, the Mayor’s Wellness Campaign recently sponsored a safety event at the new skate park on 16^th Avenue.

Mayor’s Wellness Committee Health Fair
Taylor Pavilion,between 5th and 6th Avenues
Sunday October 10th, 11 a.m. to 3. p.m.
For more information on the upcoming health fair, contact Councilwoman Claire Deicke at ctd@verizon.net or call (732) 681-0522.

Attention: VETS

The tickets are in and they are moving at a good pace. November 11th , Veterans Day, YOUR day there will be a THANK YOU Social held at the Barclay.  6pm till 10pm, dinner, dance and a cocktail hour with 2 live bands. The event is FREE  and is our way of thanking you for you service. You may pick up tickets at 601 Main Street at the Tax window.  We can only seat 275 total so please don’t delay, stop in and get your tickets soon before they are gone. Bring that special person with you to enjoy the evening.  There will be Memorial Services and dedications earlier in the day. It will be a day full of thanks and memories that should not be missed.

Mike Campbell Belmar Recreation Director

recreation@belmar.com

Citizen Pruners: Volunteers Wanted for Sept. 5

As part of its ongoing Citizen Pruner program, the Belmar Shade Tree Commission is looking for volunteers to help prune the trees along Route 35 near the Marina. The Citizen Pruner event will be Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009 from 10-11:30 am. Volunteers should meet in front of the Fishermen’s Den near the Marina office. No experience is necessary. The Commission experts will show you the proper pruning tools and skills. It is a great way to learn, practice and help beautify Belmar.
“We know it is Labor Day weekend,” said Shade Tree Commission Chairman Brian Magovern. “We hope all the tourists see our community involvement!”

Bye-Bye, Bill . . . Helloooo Danny!

Belmar surfers are still talking about Hurricane Bill’s massive surf last weekend, and it looks like another great surf weekend is on the way. Tropical Storm Danny is following a path that is similar to Bill, although it’s projected to run parallel to the coast alll the way to the Canadian maritimes. While not packing nearly the same strong winds as Bill, Danny will track closer to the coast and should produce some serious waves.

As always, swimmers are warned to be on the watch for rip currents and strong undertows, and to always swim near a lifeguard.

Regatta gives local children taste of sailing

By Aaron Klein

BELMAR — Under bright sunshine and ahead of excellent sailing winds, 26 local children completed a three-week sailing program by competing in the Fifth Annual Mayor’s Trophy Regatta on Friday, Aug. 21, off the L Street Beach.

The Mayor’s Trophy, which has sat in Belmar’s Borough Hall since 2005, will now land in Neptune City, winner of this year’s Regatta. PNC Bank donated the trophy five years ago.

The group of 10- to 13-year-olds from Wall, Belmar, Avon and Bradley Beach, as well as Neptune City and Neptune Township, participated in the scholarship sailing program organized and sponsored by the Friends of Belmar Harbor [FOBH], as well as many local businesses.

The program, separate from other FOBH sailing instructional courses, began Aug. 1, when the novice sailors got their first taste of sailing and, in many cases, boating in general. The regatta, in which the participants compete in a series of heats and implement the lessons learned over the five-day-a-week course, marks the culmination of the program.

Pointing at a sand bar in the middle of the Shark River Basin, FOBH Director Mike Mixson explained that the program began as a way to influence the state to restart a dredging program by bringing together the mayors, recreation directors and environmental representatives of the townships that touch the harbor.

“I was a teacher at Neptune High School, and I had three or four of the five mayors at the time, so I just said, ‘Hey, you need to do this,’” Mr. Mixson said with a laugh. “They gave me the names of the recreation directors, and we formed what was then called the Shark River Round Table as a recreational as well as environmental group.

“We started the scholarship program for the kids who might have trouble paying for the regular program,” Mr. Mixson said. “The kids enjoy it and learn from it. Every town wins.”

Mr. Mixson explained that the FOBH recruited several “Belmartians,” a.k.a. Belmar residents, to donate money for the organization’s first 25 Optis, or Optimist sailboats, which are seven feet in length.

“I then wrote a grant request to the New Jersey Department of Transportation,” Mr. Mixson added, “which provided a $181,000 grant to fill out the fleet, including six to eight more Optis, as well as several other boats. The Sunfield Foundation donated the money for our work barge.”

Belmar had won the previous four events, though everyone was quick to point out that winning was not paramount when it came to what the children experienced.

“It’s not just about winning… someone else gets to share in this,” said Mike Campbell, coordinator of Belmar Recreation, of the ending of the Belmar reign over the regatta. “I can’t say enough about the FOBH, they made it all possible. The instructors are all former participants in the program, and they did a great job.”

“When the program started three weeks ago, all the kids were nervous about sailing,” Mr. Campbell added. “Since then, they’ve obviously grown intellectually and emotionally about sailing. They’ve gotten more comfortable with the wind and the water. They’re not scared of the water anymore.

Neptune City unseated Belmar by scoring 10 points in a low-point system. Neptune Township was second with 11 points, followed by Belmar [18], Avon-by-the-Sea [19], Wall Township [25] and relative newcomer Bradley Beach [32].

“We did well today, with one first place in a heat and two second places,” said Ed Grill, Recreation Coordinator for Wall Township. “All of our kids are beginner sailors, but by today … you’d never know it.”

Avon, which has participated since the inception of the program, has seen interest grow over the years.

“Since we started, other kids have wanted to participate, and we’ve had to start a waiting list,” said Avon Recreation Department Director Doug Carter. “We sponsor up to six kids a year, but if we have to increase it, we can work on that.”

The FOBH invited Bradley Beach to participate for the first time last year, and the program has become a popular summer endeavor for many township children.

“Actually, once word got out last year, we received numerous calls and we started taking down names,” said Cynthia Brady, Bradley Beach Recreation Director. “It’s a great program and the kids really have a great time. I hope it instilled lifelong lessons and a love of the water.”

The following children participated in this year’s scholarship program:

Avon — Sean Anderson, Jack Cole, Jimmy Cole, Jack Krupinski, Riley McHugh, Patrick Suchecki.

Belmar — Evan Cantlon, Olivia Chamberlan, George McCormack, Michael Provenzano, Simon Wagner, Elijah Wagner, Jake Young.

Bradley Beach — Derrick Bradley, Courtney Dobrzynski, Kiera Lee, Cecilia McCormick, Clare Peropat, Sommer Totten.

Wall — Alexis Cervantes, Chris DeStefano, Carlye DeStefano, Austin Havens, Kate Kinsella, Alex Selbylovrovich, Shawn Sheppard.

More Belmar news, plus full coverage of southern Monmouth and northern Ocean counties, can be found at starnewsgroup.com.

Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Parade fundraiser September 5th

Visit Bar Anticipation on September 5th for the Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Parade fundraiser and experience the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day without the bone-chilling 30 degree weather.  Tickets are $10 and come with a complimentary drink, All-You-Can eat barbecue, and a front row seat for the Billy Lawler Band and the Jersey Shore’s best bagpipers.

Belmar and Lake Como Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Parade Fundraiser Party
Bar Anticipation– 16th Avenue, Lake Como
Saturday, September 5
2pm to 6pm
Tickets $10

For more information and tickets call (732) 681-7422 or (732) 280-2648 or visit the Belmar Parade website.

Hosting A Super Celebration

The Taylor Hardware store, located at 10th Avenue and Main Street, in Belmar, recently held a super celebration for the 115th anniversary of the business, and, the 80th birthday of Bill Connor, who is the store’s president. Currently, Joe Connor, Mr. Connor’s son, runs the business. On Friday, the store changed its True Value message board to reflect the celebrations. Mr. Connor, who celebrated his 80th birthday on Aug. 22, purchased the store on his 50th birthday 30 years ago from the former owner, John Taylor. A celebration was held at the store over the weekend for Mr. Connor [left, seated], which included his wife, Henrietta [center, seated] as well as family members and employees.

More Belmar news, plus full coverage of southern Monmouth and northern Ocean counties, can be found at starnewsgroup.com.

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