“Sea Creatures with Amazing Features” was a program presented recently at the Schiavo Library in Strathmere by Naturalist Intern Jessica Goodrich from the Wetlands Institute. Goodrich, who hails from South Carolina, received her Master of Science in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management from Clemson University.
When I asked her how she became associated with the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, Goodrich explained that she had attended a conference in Las Vegas titled “National Association for Interpretation,” which she described as making “nature, history, and culture understandable.”
Upon learning about the Stone Harbor facility from a Wetlands staff member also attending the conference, she decided to take a Naturalist Intern position with them.
Six sea creatures which Goodrich brought with her to the Schiavo Library were whelks, sea stars, sea urchins, green crab, spider crab, and horseshoe crab. She presented a program filled with fascinating facts, some of which were that the horseshoe crab is completely harmless, whelks are all born males, and sea stars can grow back one leg per year.
Following Goodrich’s presentation, those in the audience had a chance to look at the sea creatures up close. The Strathmere Fishing and Environmental Club sponsored the program.
Check out the ABC’s of the Wetlands – Aquarium Feedings, Back Bay Kayaking, Catch of the Day, and more fascinating programs, by clicking on “Calendar” at their website, www.wetlandsinstitute.org.
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Strathmere Improvement Association – Strathmere Honor Roll students were awarded Savings Bonds at the August meeting of the Association. This scholarship program was begun about 13 years ago by Don and Elizabeth Bergus.
Receiving bonds were Brian Furey, fourh grade; Christopher Furey, first grade; Matthew Pond, fifth grade; and John Pond, second grade, all of whom are students at Bishop McHugh Regional Catholic School.
Also awarded a Savings Bond was Nick Roash, who was unable to attend the meeting. Nick is a graduate of Ocean City High School and will enter Florida Atlantic University as a freshman in their Science Pre-Medical Program. Congratulations to all!
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Mark Those Calendars Now – The Strathmere Ensemble will return to the Excursion Park Band Shell in Sea Isle City for another free concert on Labor Day weekend, Saturday, Sept. 3, at 8:00 p.m. The program, titled “Italian Excursion,” includes the Overture to Barber of Seville; famous Arias of Puccini and Verdi; music from the popular film, The Godfather; Wolf’s Italian Serenade; and Johann Baptist Georg Neruda’s Trumpet Concerto.
Highlighting the violin section of the Strathmere Ensemble, these artists include Mitsuru Tsubota, who was a soloist with the Tokyo Symphony when she was just 10 years old; Mineko Yajima, who performed in many Broadway shows, just some of which included Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, and Sweet Charity; and Mioi Takeda, who performed in the national tour of the Star Wars concert.
The other world-class artists of the Ensemble, to be highlighted in future columns, who will also perform on Sept. 3, include Louise Schulman, viola; Daire Fitzgerald, cello; John T. Kulowitsch, bass; Michael Hinton and Charles Kiger, percussion; and soloists George Rabbai, trumpet; and Joey Metz, vocal.
For more information, visit www. seaislecitynj.us.
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For a complete list of upcoming events in the county go to the Herald calendar, in print and online, at www.capemaycountyherald.com/calendar.
If you would like to make the public aware of happenings in your town, classroom, group, or club, please email me at RWhelan@cmcherald.com
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