Times Talk
Beach-fill project expected to be completed before Memorial Day.
BACK FILL OF SOUTH-END BEACHES NEAR COMPLETION
The back-fill project of Sea Isle City’s southern-end beaches continued throughout May with a completion date expected before Memorial Day weekend. The project is not part of the beach fill project slated for the fall but was an emergency effort of back-passing sand to stabilize the beach before summer.
Sea Isle City Public Works, Police and EMS work to keep one of of six beached Common dolphins alive until the Marine Mammal Stranding Center could arrive.
DOLPHIN RESCUE EFFORT GOES FOR NAUGHT
A herculean effort was made by Sea Isle City Public Works, Police and EMS on March 21, to keep alive a pod of six beached Common dolphins while waiting for the Marine Mammal Stranding Center to arrive. Everyone formed a bucket brigade in addition to using a submerged pump to pump saltwater to the stranded mammals. Although they were able to keep the six alive, it appeared that two other dolphins were not as lucky about a block north.
Despite the amazing efforts of SIC personnel, the dolphins sadly were euthanized later that day by the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.
According to the center’s Facebook page: “The remaining six dolphins were assessed by our veterinarian and their conditions were rapidly deteriorating. The decision was made to humanely euthanize the dolphins to prevent further suffering, as returning them to the ocean would have only prolonged their inevitable death. All eight dolphins have been transported to the NJ State Lab for immediate necropsies. We share in the public’s sorrow for these beautiful animals, and hope that the necropsies will help us understand the reason for their stranding.”
Demolition of the 50-year-old Sea Isle City Public School.
OLD SCHOOL MAKES WAY FOR COMMUNITY CENTER
For those who keep track of dates and times, it was a little past 8am on March 2 when the R.E. Pierson Construction Company’s John Deere excavator took its first swing at the old Sea Isle City Public School. The building was just a bit over 50 years old. Soon the back wall of the gymnasium/lunchroom fell as demolition progressed. It was eerie seeing the basketball backboards still hanging from the ceiling, an old white piano in the middle of the floor and the old wall-mounted lunch tables tumbling down. Pierson, of Pilesgrove Township, has now completed demolition and development of the new community center can commence.
Public Works Director Don Teefy
NEW PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
The Sea Isle City Council approved the appointment of Don Teefy as the director of public works in April. Teefy is a longtime city employee and is the licensed operator of the city’s water and sewage authority. If the name sounds familiar perhaps it’s because Teefy’s father, Don Sr., was the code enforcement officer for 25 years in Sea Isle City. Teefy succeeds Jerry Rutledge, who retired after 40 years as director. Said Mayor Len Desiderio: “There’s no question that Don is the right person for this job.”