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Aug. 12-18
Mpox Declared Global Emergency
On Aug. 14 the World Health Organization declared Mpox (previously named Monkey Pox) a global health emergency. A new strain has made spread of the virus easier. The first case in Europe has been confirmed in Sweden, and medical officials in Britain have said the virus is probably already in the population there.
A highly contagious and more severe strain of Mpox has U.S. officials preparing for its eventual arrival here. This is a different strain from the one that has been circulating in the U.S. since the global outbreak in 2022. The new strain, clade 1b, has no reported cases yet in the U.S.
An earlier strain, clade 2 Mpox, has infected more than 32,000 individuals in the U.S., with 58 deaths, according to Centers for Disease Control data. A highly effective vaccine does exist, but it would need significant ramp-up in production if an outbreak occurred. The death rate from Mpox outbreaks has ranged from 0% to 11%, but scientists estimate the death rate from the current strain is less than 1%.
Symptoms include a rash on various parts of the body, fever, chills, exhaustion, muscle aches and sore throat. Illness lasts two to four weeks. In some cases the rash can leave scars.
The most at-risk population has been gay men, but the new strain makes close personal contact with someone who has the virus risky. The virus, while most often not fatal, can still lead to serious illness.
Mpox is not Covid. It is a known virus with an existing vaccine. The fatality rate is low, but it presents a danger to those with weakened immune systems. Recent spread of the new strain to women, especially women who may be pregnant, is also a new concern.
According to the CDC, 2024 year-to-date figures show 52 cases of Mpox in New Jersey. None of these was the new clade 1b strain.
Vineyard Wind Back in Business
Vineyard Wind, a wind farm development company owned by Avangrid and Denmark’s Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, said Aug. 13 that U.S. safety officials have allowed the company to resume construction on its wind farm off the Massachusetts coast. The firm had been issued a stop-work order after a blade broke on one of its turbines on July 13 and sent fiberglass debris into the ocean and eventually onto the southern beaches of Nantucket.
The blade failure prompted a press release from Cape May County Commissioner Director Leonard Desiderio referring to it as an example of why the county has fought to keep wind turbines off its coast. The incident was also a major discussion point at a Brigantine field hearing on offshore wind farms organized by U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2).
The turbine builder, GE Vernova, attributed the blade break to a “manufacturing deviation” in Canada and vowed to inspect all blades built at that plant.
With the investigation of the blade failure ongoing, the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement gave the OK for limited construction on the 62-turbine wind farm. The installation of towers can resume, but the approved construction plan does not allow installation of new blades.
The Coast Guard is maintaining a 500-meter safety zone around the damaged turbine. It is not clear when Vineyard Wind will be able to return to full operation.
The failure was a major blow to an emerging offshore wind industry that has struggled to gain a positive public image. To date, Vineyard Wind has installed 24 of the project’s 62 turbines. The wind farm had begun producing energy. Resumption of energy production has not been approved.
Avangrid’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Central Maine Power Co., was fined $360,000 in 2021 for violations of industry testing standards meant to ensure grid stability and prevent outages. The $360,000 settlement reflected what locals see as a history of compliance issues with Central Maine Power and Avangrid.
Bottoms Up
An Aug. 13 Gallup poll found that an increasing number of Americans view even moderate drinking as bad for health. The poll results show 45% of Americans aged 18 and older believe one or two drinks a day are bad for your health. That is up 6% from last year. In 2005, only 22% considered drinking in moderation bad for your health.
What is fueling the change in thinking? One clear factor is the growing attitude among young adults that drinking is bad for health. Two-thirds of adults ages 18 to 34 say alcohol consumption is a negative.
Despite this change in attitudes, Pew Research has found that alcohol consumption has gone up for the average American. A majority of Americans still say they drink alcohol (62%), with fewer individuals drinking beer and more opting for wine in terms of per-capita consumption.
A New Jersey State Health Assessment report says that Cape May County is second only to Sussex County for percentage of individuals who binge-drink. The report indicates 22% as the percentage of adults who engage in excessive drinking.
One possible reason for the high percentage reported for Cape May may be related to the fact that the county has the oldest median age in the state, lacking the moderating impact of a larger young adult population.
Gallup also tells us that for the young adult pool, ages 18 to 34, the percentage of those who have used marijuana is the highest of any age group, at 29%.
Happenings
A man and woman were arrested in Whitesboro on child endangerment charges after police seized weapons and drugs from their residence. They face multiple charges, including possession of prohibited weapons and controlled substances.
Cape May officials and residents are alarmed by New Jersey’s new land use rules under the REAL initiative, fearing negative impacts on the city. The City Council is advocating for a more gradual approach to climate change planning.
Wildwood Crest officials are considering new measures to tackle noise and overcrowding in rental properties, including potential ordinances similar to those in Sea Isle City. The focus is on regulating rowdy houses and holding property owners accountable.
At a Beth Judah Temple event, Adrian Chrobot and Karen Uslin highlighted the vibrant and supportive Jewish community in modern Poland, contrasting it with recent U.S. tensions. They emphasized Poland’s efforts in preserving Jewish culture and history despite past atrocities.
On Aug. 14, a fire severely damaged Casa Taco and Casino Pizza in Sea Isle City. The blaze, reported at 5:06 p.m., was brought under control within an hour with no injuries, and the cause is under investigation by local and state fire officials.
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities vacated orders for Orsted’s Ocean Wind projects on Aug. 14, part of a settlement allowing Orsted to keep $175 million of escrow funds. Cape May County views this as a major win in its fight against the wind farm development.
A mural by Chanelle Rene, showcasing the history and key figures of Whitesboro and the Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro Inc., will be unveiled on Aug. 29. The mural, located in the Whitesboro Grammar School foyer, celebrates the community’s history and ongoing programs.
Sea Isle City police reported extensive damage to vehicles along Pleasure Avenue on Aug. 2, including egging and broken mirrors, with no arrests made yet. The police are investigating the incidents and seeking security footage from residents to aid the investigation.
Wildwood Crest K-9 Quest helped locate narcotics during a traffic stop on Aug. 16, leading to the seizure of cocaine, Xanax, ecstasy, and cash. Matthew Monroe, 38, was arrested and charged with multiple drug-related offenses and traffic violations.
Wildwood police and state agents seized tobacco and vape products from boardwalk stores on Aug. 13, arresting eight people in the process. The following day, the city passed an ordinance requiring local licenses for tobacco and vape sales to bolster enforcement of the state’s flavored vape ban.
The Middle Thorofare Bridge in Lower Township, which connects Diamond Beach to Cape May, is closed for an undetermined amount of time due to a failed drive shaft motor. The bridge will remain open for vessels, with repairs expected to take several weeks.
Avalon Borough Council will ask Gov. Phil Murphy to revise laws that hinder police responses to juvenile crime. Police Chief Jeffrey Christopher will draft a letter advocating for greater local authority in managing disruptive youth behavior.
At the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Aug. 15, U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew discussed securing federal funds for local projects, criticized state and federal spending, and opposed offshore wind farms and policies on transgender athletes.
Chung Ho, convicted of killing Lower Township Police Officer David C. Douglass in 1994, is set to be released from East Jersey State Prison on Sept. 23. Despite objections from the Douglass family and law enforcement, Ho was granted parole and allowed to move to Florida.
Spout Off of the Week
Wildwood Crest – All that work covering up the flaws on the almost 100 year old Middle Thorofare Bridge mean nothing if you can’t use it. They have been proposing replacement for decades. Maybe now they will get serious.
Read more spouts at spoutoff.capemaycountyherald.com.
