Turtle Talk — A beautiful, breezy Thursday evening relaxing on the lawn behind the Schiavo Library in Strathmere was the perfect setting for the Wetlands Institute “Traveling Turtles” program.
Travis Davis, a marine biologist and educator from the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, while discussing the characteristics of different types of turtles, introduced the “Traveling Turtles,” some of which included “Huey,” an Eastern box turtle; “Michaelangelo,” a painted turtle; and “Pretty Girl,” a diamondback terrapin.
Davis remarked to the large group that the Wetlands Institute is “world famous for the research we do on diamondback terrapins,” which live in the salt marshes here.
Davis also mentioned in his talk that “more terrapins lose their lives in commercial crab traps than on the road.” He showed a Terrapin Excluder Device, developed by the Wetlands, to place on crab traps so turtles are unable to get in. The devices are available in bait shops.
The “Traveling Turtles” program was sponsored by the Strathmere Fishing and Environmental Club. The Wetlands Institute offers Traveling Outreach Programs to many types of organizations including schools, libraries, campgrounds, or other social clubs.
For more information, visit www.wetlands institute.org/education/ outreach-programs.
The next event at the Schiavo Library will be readings by the Barrier Island Writers from their newest book, Inspirations from the Heart. The group will be at the library on Sat., Aug. 28, at 1 p.m.
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Upper Township Cheerleading Association – A beach barbecue will be held on Fri., Aug. 27, from 6-9 p.m. at the Deauville Inn in Strathmere. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children.
The all-you-can-eat menu includes hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, baked beans, corn on the cob, pasta salad, lemonade, iced tea, and water.
There will be a cash bar for those 21 and over. All proceeds will benefit Upper Township cheerleading. For further information or to buy tickets in advance, call 609-780-3278 or visit utca@comcast.net.
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Surf, walk, run, and ride amusements for fun, by the sea in OC –
Ruth Newman Shapiro Cancer and Heart Fund will host a 5K run and walk, and also a kids’ one-mile fun run, on Sat., Aug. 28, at 8 a.m. Register at the Sports and Civic Center Building, Sixth Street off the boardwalk, beginning at 6:30 a.m. For complete information, call 609-457-0217 or visit www. rnscancerandheartfund.org.
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Eastern Surfing Association will hold a surfing contest on Sat., Aug. 28, at the Seventh Street beach. Registration will take place at 7 a.m. the morning of the contest, with the first heat at 8 a.m. The no-wave date is set for Sat., Sept. 11. For more information, call 609-884-5277 or visit www.snj.surfesa.org.
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Sixth Annual Fun Day at Wonderland Pier will be held on Monday, Aug. 30, from 1-5 p.m. Families can purchase $20 wristbands and enjoy unlimited amusement rides all afternoon. The event benefits United Way’s Success by 6.
For further information, call 609-404-4483 or email megan@ unitedwayac.org.
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Scholarship Awards – At the August meeting of the Strathmere Improvement Association, “Donald and Elizabeth Bergus Scholarship Awards” were presented by their daughter Priscilla, who was visiting from England. Savings bonds in the amount of $100were given to Nick Roash, a senior at Ocean City High School; and Brian and Christopher Furey, both students at Bishop McHugh Regional Catholic School.
If you would like to make the public aware of events happening in your town, classroom, group, or club, please email me at laladyw@aim.com.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
