I may be the champion of a lost cause, but there is no Seven Mile Island.
The name of the island that contains the towns of Avalon and Stone Harbor is “Seven Mile Beach.”
Aaron Leaming, the first owner of the island, called it Leaming’s Beach. More than 100 hundred years later the island was sold to the Tatham family, and it was then referred to as Tatham’s Beach.
When the Seven Mile Beach Company bought the island in 1887 it was named Seven Mile Beach. When the South Jersey Realty Company sold their First Mortgage Bonds, the land was described as “situated at Seven Mile Beach in Middle Township.”
This was the way many coastal islands were named. Ocean City was formerly “Peck’s Beach,” and the Wildwoods are located on “Five Mile Beach.”
The misnaming of our island is probably a result of “lazy-language” or “sloppy-speak.” This may be yet another “lost cause,” but you should know and use the correct name.
To learn more accurate facts about Seven Mile Beach, visit our historical museums. Avalon’s is located at 215 39th Street, and Stone Harbor’s is at 235 93rd Street. They each have wonderful displays, photographs, and extensive reading material to help us discover our past.
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COCA’s (Coalition Of Civic Associations of Cape May County) monthly meeting is June 1 at 2 p.m. in the Intermediate Meeting Room at the County’s Crest Haven complex.
The speaker this month is Harley Shuler, Manager of Energy Enterprises, discussing the important subject of alternative energy. The meeting is free and all interested people are welcome.
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On June 2 and 3 from 9 a.m. to noon, a Rummage Sale will be held in the Parish Hall of Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Third Avenue and 93rd Street.
New and used clothing, books, appliances, white elephants, kitchen items, linens, jewelry, computers and PC accessories, and toys and games will be available.
Proceeds support Christian Education, Vacation Bible School, and other children’s activities throughout the year.
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On June 2, over 2,700 Law Enforcement officers will carry the “Flame of Hope” torch over 900 miles in 18 major runs throughout New Jersey to raise awareness for the Special Olympics.
Months of hard work, planning, and collecting sponsorship donations will culminate that evening when one officer will be selected to carry the torch into Lions Stadium at The College of New Jersey to light the cauldron and officially open the 2006 Special Olympics New Jersey Summer Games.
Stone Harbor Police Officer Chris Palmer will carry the Torch through Stone Harbor entering the south-end of town over the Ocean Drive Bridge at 9:50 a.m., proceeding up Third Avenue to 111th Street, then up Second Avenue from 111th to 96th Street. Patrolman Palmer will then carry the Torch out 96th Street to the Wetlands Institute on Stone Harbor Boulevard.
Let’s show our support for the Special Olympics and Patrolman Palmer on Friday morning by cheering him on along his route through town.
For more information or to contribute, call the Special Olympics New Jersey Law Enforcement Sponsorship Department at 896-8000.
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Garden Club of Stone Harbor Annual Tour of Homes will take place on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.
Call Susan at 368-5692.
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At the Avalon Community Hall on June 3 the John Clark Dance Band will perform. Doors open at 8 p.m. The music plays from 8:30 to 11 p.m.
Call 967-3066.
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Celebrate National Trails Day on June 4 with the grand opening of the Jersey Islands Blueway, Cape May County’s newest paddling trail. See “On Deck” for more details.
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The Stone Harbor Chamber of Commerce will be holding its Third Annual “Taste of Stone Harbor” on Tuesday, June 6 at the Women’s Civic Club from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., free to chamber members
Call 368-6101.
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The Etcetera Fashion Show and Luncheon by the M.A.S.H. Branch of Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is June 8 at the Mirage Restaurant, 11:30 am.
Tickets are $15 and only available in advance by calling Vi Geiger at 967-7843
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The 24th Annual Avalon Garden Club Flower Show “Avalon: Then and Now,” will be held on June 10 at the Avalon Community Center, 30th Street and Avalon Avenue from noon to 4 p.m.
Admission is free.
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Avalon Performing Arts Council will be traveling to the Philadelphia Museum of Art on June 14 to view “Andrew Wyeth: Memory & Magic.”
The cost is $45. Call 967-3808.
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The Women’s Civic Club of Avalon, will host a Luncheon and Card Party at noon on June 15, at the Avalon Community Hall. Call Marge 967-5517 for tickets, $14.
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The Avalon Museum’s sixth annual Tri-Avalon Race is scheduled for June 17. It is a bike, kayak and run race. Register by mail or on race day from 7 to 8 a.m. The race begins at 8:15 a.m.
Bikers must wear a helmet and kayakers must wear an approved PFD.
For more information or entry forms, please call the Avalon Museum at 967-0090.
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Doree Loschiavo will be the demonstration artist on June 25 at the 19th APAC Art Show and Sale. She will demonstrate some of her painting techniques at 1 p.m.
Loschiavo is a graduate of the University of the Arts and a signature member of four national societies. She paints a variety of subjects in an abstract impressionistic technique in water media, mixed media and oil to produce works of visual excitement.
The APAC ART Show and Sale will also feature 62 artists and their works in competition for monetary prizes in the four categories of oil/acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, and photography. This free show will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Avalon Community Hall at 30th Street and Avalon Avenue.
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Are you interested in learning or playing Mah Jongg? Instructions will be available on June 12, at 1:30 pm. at the Avalon Senior’s Center.
Call Sue Keen at 967-5924, by June 6. Ask about other classes as well.
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This week’s regularly scheduled boards and councils: June 5, Special meeting of Stone Harbor Zoning Board of Adjustment Council to hear the Nextel/Hall Harbor variance request continues at 6 p.m.
June 6, Stone Harbor Council meets at 4:30 p.m. and Avalon Planning/Zoning Board meets at 7 p.m.
