Seven Mile 3.1.2006

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Stone Harbor lost one its finest citizens last week when Jack Fitzpatrick passed away at the age of 79.
Jack was known as “Mr. Stone Harbor,” a title he earned by his exceptional contribu-tions to the town and its many organizations.
Professionally Jack was the former owner of Springer’s Homemade Ice Cream and vice-president of operations at Diller and Fisher Real Estate.
He was past president and long-time member of the board of directors of the Stone Harbor Chamber of Commerce.
He was past president and long-time member of the Stone Harbor Borough Council.
While on council, Jack authored the Bird Sanctuary Ordinance in an effort to prevent over development of the residential area and the Stone Harbor Archival Committee Ordinance that established the Stone Harbor Museum.
Jack also compiled and wrote the current Stone Harbor history book titled “Stone Harbor: The Early Years.”
Jack cherished Stone Harbor, its people and its history.
He loved to celebrate history.
He served as Chairman of Stone Harbor’s 60th and 75th Anniversary, the Stone Harbor National Bicentennial Celebration, and he conducted the Fourth of July Program for over 30 years.
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The Bay Owners Association has been trudging through bureaucratic mire in their effort to dredge the private boat slips in Stone Harbor.
They report that the project should get underway June 1 starting in Paradise Bay and working north.
The DEP has set the window for the project as June 1 to Sept. 30, to protect shell fisheries and winter flounder. The project is expected to take three months.
With all the carefully planning and hard work that BOA has put into this project, I hope they finally succeed.
If you need more information contact Angelo Caracciolo, 368-2342.
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Great Decisions is an eight-week study and discussion program that promotes citizen participation in the foreign policy process.
It is the oldest and largest grass roots world educational program of its kind.
This year the topics will include: UN reform, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, energy supply and consumption, the government of President Lula da Silva of Brazil, human rights and civil liberties in an age of terrorism, effects of the growth of China and India, Turkey’s possible membership in the European Union, and planning for epidemio-logical disasters.
The free discussion programs will be held every Thursday afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. during March and April at the Avalon Senior Center. The first session will be held on March 2.
Please contact Sue Jacobson at 368-2579 to register or for more information.
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Kindergarten registra-tion for Stone Harbor and Avalon children will be on March 6 at the Stone Harbor Elementary School, 275 93rd Street. Please call the school, 368-4413, to schedule your appointment.
Pre-registration forms are available at either Stone Harbor or Avalon Elementary Schools.
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The MASH Branch of the BTMH Auxiliary will meet for lunch at Sand Barrens Golf Club on March 9, at 11:30 a.m.
The guest speakers will be Patrick Galloway, Executive Chef and Nancy Galloway, Director of Nutritional Services.
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Bring your family and friends to the Stone Harbor Lions, Bill Weir Memorial Pancake Breakfast on March 11 from 8 a.m. to noon at Uncle Bill’s Avalon Pancake House, 33rd Street and Dune Drive.
This great breakfast includes pancakes, sausage or bacon, small juice and coffee.  Donation is only $6 and benefits the wonderful Lions Charities.
Tickets are available at the door or call Bill Keenan 368-4444.
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The speaker at the Avalon Home and Land Owners meeting on March 11 will be Bruce Tell, director of the Avalon Museum.
He will provide information on the Museum’s operations and programs.
The meeting will be held in the Avalon Senior Center at 10 a.m. All are welcome.
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Stone Harbor Garden Club is meeting in the Stone Harbor Firehouse Meeting Room on March 13 at 9:30 a.m.
At the conclusion of the regular meeting they will travel in car-pools to Windy Acres Nursery. Members are advised to wear sneakers or garden shoes.
Windy Acres is the nursery that provides the beautiful plants and flowers that the Garden Club members and volunteers plant on the Second Avenue islands each year.
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The Avalon Senior Citizens Organization will hold its monthly board meeting on March 7 at 4 p.m. in the Senior Center at 31st and Dune Drive.
All ASCO members are welcome.
The ASCO monthly luncheon meeting will be on March 14 at 11:30 a.m., in the Windrift Restaurant.
Clare and Bill Lisowski will host the luncheon. The guest speaker will W. Robert Hentges, a surrogate of Cape May County.
Menu choices are ham and cabbage or salmon at $15 per person.
Please make reservations by March 7, with Madge Anderson, 213 64th St., 967-7410.
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Stone Harbor Book Club meets on the third Thursday of each month at 3:30 p.m. in the library of the Stone Harbor Elementary School to review a book.
Club members will be reviewing “The Time Traveler’s Wife” by Niffeneger, on March 16.
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Winter programs continue at the Wetlands Institute.
Movies on the Marsh: Saturdays 1 to 3 p.m. Free with regular admission. 
March 4, “Finding Nemo”; March 11, “Blue Planet 5 and 6: Tidal Seas and Coasts.”
Lunch and Learn: Bring your lunch; coffee and dessert will be provided along with a different speaker each week.
Cost is $3 for members and $5 for nonmembers.
March 7, “Stranding Stories” with Melanie Reding, Marine Mammal Stranding Center.
Aquarium Feedings: help the Wetlands Institute staff feed the fish and terrapins.
Tuesdays and Thursdays aquarium feedings are at 3:30 p.m.; Saturday, it’s 11 a.m. Free with general admission; members are free.
For information call the Wetlands Institute, 1075 Stone Harbor Blvd., 368-1211 or visit wetlandsinstitute.org
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The Avalon Senior Center welcomes all seniors from Avalon, Sea Isle and Stone Harbor.
Sue Keen, 967-5924, can answer any questions you may have about their activities or events.
The next monthly cooking class by Natalie Bailey is March 20 at 1 p.m. Please call to sign-up.
Every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. there is an Open Art Workshop, open to adults all ages, were you might paint or sketch, or bring your own art project, and work along with others.
The Senior Center has added a puzzle club, “Piece Time.” They meet and work together on the third and fourth Tuesdays at 2 p.m.
The completed puzzles are presented to an organization or group associated with the theme of the puzzle.
Book Club meets on the first Tuesday at 1 p.m. The book for March 7 is “The Peabody Sisters” by Megan Marshall.
Spanish classes are taught by Jeanne Sykes. They are held every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
There is an open bridge game every Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Intermediate Bridge classes are held Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Beginner classes continue on Fridays at 9:15 a.m. Register by calling Theresa Montgomery at 967-7002, or Sandy Burns at 368-1979.
Bingo is played every other Wednesday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Regular Bingo will be played March 15 and 29.
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Tracking the progress of our regularly scheduled boards and councils: Tonight, Avalon Council meets at 7:30 p.m.; March 7, Stone Harbor Council meets at 4:30 p.m. Avalon Planning and Zoning Board meets at 7 p.m.