With the Governor’s orders restricting in-person gatherings, we have unfortunately had to cancel our traditional August General Meeting scheduled for Saturday, August 22 at the Firehouse.

But as many other organizations have done, we’re adapting to current conditions and have video recorded the meeting for you to view at your convenience — with the idea of maintaining as much of the content and flavor you’ve come to expect from these meetings. See the video #1 below.

This also gives us the opportunity to expand on the information-sharing part of our mission. Below you’ll also find two filmed interviews addressing very important and current issues in Surf City.

Video #1: SCTA August General Meeting

Below, you can view the Board presentation portion of the meeting. We cover:

• Board member introductions and current status of the organization;
• Treasurer’s report on the the group’s finances;
• Update on membership numbers and donations;
• Review of recent activities held (including Sand Sculpture pictures — a meeting favorite);
• And a summary of upcoming events and activities.

Video #2: Status of Covid-19 on LBI – Interview with LBI Health Officer Dan Krupinski

• Learn about…
• Work that the LBI Health Department does on behalf of all 6 LBI municipalities, including Surf City;
• Current status of Covid-19 cases on LBI;
• Contact Tracing and how the Department is handling this;
• And, the impact of Covid-19 on businesses and the schools and what is being done on both those fronts.
• Links (see below the video) for those seeking additional information on Covid-19 related issues.

In the links below provided by Dan, you can find additional information:

List of testing sites: Ocean County is still doing testing at Ocean County College, Mon, Weds, Fri, 9-12 but u must make appointment.

No prescription or symptoms required.

http://lbihealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/covidtestingsites.pdf

Case Activity

Case Demographic Info

https://insight.livestories.com/s/v2/covid-19-dashboard-ocean-county-nj/235d7065-93ef-441b-a62d-54c1813abd8a

State Covid Dashboard

https://covid19.nj.gov/

Video #3: Current Status of Flooding Issues in Surf City

We talk with Rick Bushnell, Founder of ReClam the Bay who addresses:

• What is the current situation, why and where does flooding happen in Surf City?
• What work is now being done to remediate flooding?
• Thoughts and recommendations on how to do more to reduce town-wide flooding;
• How to contact Rick if you have specific flooding issues, concerns or want to volunteer to help;
• Where to get more information on the issue of flooding in Surf City.

Here are links referred to in the video:

To see the SCTA writeup — prepared in conjunction with Rick — that summarizes the current state of flooding in Surf City and offers resources to get informed click here to find it and download it

If you would like to contact Rick directly, click here to email him: rickpatsy@comcast.net .

To see other flooding resources that Rick refers to in the interview, click her to go to ReClamTheBay.org

If you are not a member of SCTA (and do not get our emails), you can join by clicking this link.

August is one of our busier months and even with the pandemic, this August is no different.

ANNUAL SAND SCULPTURE CONTEST

On Wednesday, August 5th we will be holding our Sand Sculpture contest.
This event normally brings out the artist in everyone and is usually well attended.
It is a great event for social distancing!
It takes place on the 14th Street beach. The fun begins at 10 AM and judging starts around 1 PM.

ADMISSION IS FREE.

RAIN DATE IS THURSDAY, AUGUST 6TH

SECOND GOLF TOURNAMENT OF THE SEASON

On Wednesday, August 12th, we will be hosting the second of our annual golf tournaments.

Similar to the first one, this will take place at Island Golf, 603 Long Beach Boulevard. http://www.surfcityislandgolf.com/

It starts at 10 AM and goes until 11:45 AM.

Cash prizes to be awarded.

ANNUAL SUMMER MEETING

On Saturday, August 22nd, we will be hosting our annual meeting.

Due to the pandemic, the format will be changed slightly.

More details will be provided as they are formulated.

KEEP CHECKING BACK TO OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Several individuals and small neighborhood groups have contacted the Taxpayer Association regarding flooding issues in Surf City.  It is a subject that is brought up at nearly every general meeting the Surf City Taxpayer Association holds.  We wanted to highlight our approach to this issue and share some resources for those who are interested in more information.

We’ve prepared a downloadable document (see below) that summarizes — in detail — what the Borough is doing,  provides important links for further information and provides a contact person who has volunteered to serve as a conduit — for Surf City homeowners — for all flooding-related information in Surf City. We encourage all who are interested or affected to download this comprehensive report.

In discussions with Borough Hall, it has been decided to postpone the “Meet the Mayor Meeting” on June 20 with the possibility of rescheduling later in the summer. 

Please watch this website and your email for further updates on this event and all the other Surf City Taxpayer events.

Be on the lookout for the SCTA 2020 Membership Mailing.

It will have a calendar of events, a letter and an application to join or renew your membership.

You can also renew your membership by clicking here and going to our Join Us page.

We hope that you and your family doing well and adapting to our new-normal, as we move forward to the next phase of Covid-19 recovery.

Your Surf City Taxpayers Association (SCTA) board has been meeting through the winter and spring (via Zoom) to plan the summertime events and activities we sponsor, to continue to address issues facing Surf City, and you, the taxpayers, and working on other initiatives to support our Surf City community.

Events and Activities.  Please click here to see the SCTA Season Overview and Calendar of Events.  You will see that we are planning a full slate of activities.  With our ongoing Covid-19 situation, every 15 days we will evaluate whether to hold, postpone or cancel the events.  We will communicate with our members via email blasts, postings on this website and/or placing notices in the Sandpaper.

Joining — or Renewing Your Membership in SCTA.   We hope you will join the Taxpayer Association this year so that we can continue to sponsor member-oriented events, invest in projects and programs such as beautification and public safety, serve as your spokesperson / advocate on matters that are important to you and your fellow taxpayers, and continue to financially support vital local non-profit pour organization that serve our community.

You can renew your membership or join SCTA right on this website. Click here to find the annual membership form…as well as the link to join and pay via credit card.

Keeping in Touch.  The Surf City Borough Council is now holding their monthly public meetings remotely — and you can participate. Click here to go to the Borough website where you’ll find information on using the Go To Meeting app and the rules for participating. These meetings take place on the second Wednesday of every month, at 7:30 p.m.

A good friend of SCTA, Mike Tomko (proprietor at Wally’s here in Surf City) wants to let our community know about Sunday’s ALO Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser at Applebees on Route 72 in Manahawkin. It runs from 8am to10am. Cost is $10.

Read more about it here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2239576656343584/ 

For more information the Alliance For a Living Ocean, you’ll find their website here: http://www.livingocean.org/

On Friday, September 20, a group of 150 Surf City Taxpayer members gathered for the first ever “Taste of Surf City Member Cocktail Party” at the Surf City Yacht Club.

The sold-out event  brought together 150 homeowners with fifteen local merchants for an evening of hors d’oeuvres, desserts, wine, beer, music, conversation – and a spectacular September sunset. See more photos from the event below.

It was unanimously agreed that this first collaboration between the Surf City Taxpayer Association, merchant community and Yacht Club was a smashing success. So many neighbors met for the first time. Many rekindled old relationships. Over 25 different food options ranged from a Taco Bar, to empanadas, shrimp cocktail to gourmet pizza, jalapeno poppers to Swedish meatballs…finished off with assorted Cookie Bars, Fudge and Pumpkin Spiced Coffee.

A special “thank you” goes out the Surf City Yacht club for providing the perfect local venue. And thanks to all our participating merchants: Anchor Produce, Anchor Wine & Spirits, Baked on the Beach, Blue Claw Seafood Market, Country Kettle Fudge Shop-Surf City, How You Brewin, Little Bite of Italy, Mario’s Italian Market,  MKT Eatery, Okie’s Butcher Shop,  Panzone’s Pizza-Surf City, Shore Fire Grille, The Cheese Shoppe, The Sandbox Café – Surf City and Wally’s.

Here are a few of the comments sent to us by those who attended:

• “Thank you for organizing it and for holding an event where businesses and community can share and get to know each other.”
• “Fabulous night, great talking with neighbors, business community went way above my expectations. Thank you for organizing, can’t wait to do it again next year!”
• “Thanks so much for arranging this lovely event. It was so well organized; the food was delicious and an amazing group of people came together in friendship. It was a perfect evening.  Looking forward to next year’s event.”
• “Thank you for all of the hard work to put on this event! We met a lot of people we didn’t know before.  The venue, the food and refreshments were super.   Great job!”

This past Saturday was our annual Town Hall Meeting. This year’s meeting was about Keeping Surf City Safe on the beaches and everywhere else in town. The agenda included SCTA Board Nominations & Treasury report, announcement of SCTA Member Cocktail party, 2019 Sand Sculpture Contest photos, Presentation and Q & A from first guest speaker Mark Dileo from the Surf City Beach patrol and a presentation by next guest speaker Mike Wolfschmidt from the Surf City Volunteer Fire & EMS. You can find his presentation here -> 08-24-19_pdf_Town_Hall_Wolfschmidt Surf City Taxpayers Assoc 08-26-19_

If you missed the meeting and want to see any details about the Member Party or how to buy tickets, please click on the link here! -> Member_Party_PowerPoint_For_Town_Hall_Meeting

Thank you to all who showed up! A shout out also goes to Bagels & Beyond where breakfast was purchased.