We need you! If you are not already a member of the OIRA, we really want you to join us. Take a look through this web site at all of the things the OIRA is involved in - from neighbors helping neighbors to dredging issues...from fishing and boating tips to saving open space on Osborn Island. The OIRA is all about quality of life on Osborn Island...in 2010 and for your grandchildren.
Follow this link to print an OIRA application. Together, we are a strong local voice! 2/22/12
Important 2012 Dates to Remember Beach Cleanup: April 28 8:30am Meet at Graveling Point Atlantic City Boat Luncheon: July 9 11:00 Osborn Island Inlet (New Chrmn Joe Somers Somersfun@comcast.net Garage Sale:August 8, 10 & 11: Cleaning up this spring? Maybe you can save your items a bit longer and donate it to the OIRA GARAGE SALE on August 10th?
OIRA
will have the annual garage sale 8/10, 8/11 and 8/12 at the Community
Center on Calabreeze Way. Proceeds of the sale will again be dedicated
to the Dredging effort this year. Any items you have that are easy to
move and suitable for resale would be most appreciated.
Kitchen items, bric a brac, tools, fishing gear, boating stuff, etc are
all desirable. Thanks in advance for helping out. OIRA Picnic: September 1 2 - 6 pm 2012 Meeting Dates: All 7pm at LEH Community Center: 3/15/12 5/17/12 7/19/12 9/20/12 11/15/12 2/03/2012 2012-2013 Budget - Public Meeting Schedule
The Little Egg Harbor Board of Education will again be hosting meetings for public input into the formation of our school budget. We want our budget process to be clear and transparent to all members of our community. It is important to the Board of Education that the public understands our process, and we would like to understand the public's concerns as well. The budget workshop meetings will be held on the following dates: 2012 NJ Saltwater Fishing License
It is required - but it is free! Here is the link to register and download your 2012 license: NJ Saltwater License July 29, 2011: ANNUAL PICNIC; ALL OSBORN ISLAND RESIDENTS INVITED
DATE: SATURDAY, 09/03/2011; [Rain Date: Sunday, 09/04/2011] TIME: 2:00 PM until 6:00PM LOCATION: Cul-De-Sac of 53 Kentucky Drive Admission: $ 12 per person; $ 5 for kids (6 – 12); under 5 free Please RSVP by: August30, 2011. Please come and bring your friends / relatives. PLEASE do not arrive early , as we will still be setting up.Also, we need lots of volunteers to help set up the site (on Friday, 09/02) – tents, chairs, tables, etc. Call Gary Rizzolo at 609-294-9021 for more information and to volunteer. Salads and desserts are needed; to avoid duplicate items, please call Barbara or Erin to inform them what you want to bring!!!
July 9th: Sunshine Foundation Fishing Tournament. Visit Scottsbt.com for more info. June 2, 2011
Paula Scully APP.COM
LITTLE EGG HARBOR — The Ocean County Freeholders have allotted $5 million to build a new concrete bridge to replace the wooden Radio Road bridge connecting Mystic Island to Osborn Island. “We’ve lived down here more than 16 years on Osborn Island,” said Ed Gautier, a resident and a past president of the Osborn Island Civic Association. “Traffic gets to be more and and more. And there are many walkers, joggers and bicyclers on the bridge who will be accommodated. It will make it safer.”
Ocean County Engineer Frank S. Scarantino said the wooden bridge was built in 1966 and its shoulders are not wide enough for pedestrian traffic. “It has reached the end of its life cycle,” Scarantino said of the bridge. “It doesn’t have a sidewalk. It has two 12-foot lanes. When we build the new bridge. It will still have 12-foot lanes but also shoulders and the 5-foot sidewalk. It will be 48 feet wide, 16 feet wider than it is now when we’re done.”
On May 18, the freeholders authorized the funds for the construction and maintenance of the new bridge. The new bridge will have a concrete deck and concrete substructure with concrete steel-filled piles. The wooden bridge was hit by a barge years ago. Though it was built to survive a horizontal strike with its redundant-batter pilings, township officials requested an inspection after the 2007 disaster in Minneapolis, where a bridge broke into sections and collapsed into the Mississippi River during the evening rush hour.
At the request of the Township Committee, the bridge was slated for reconstruction and initial design and concepts in mid-2010. During construction, traffic to Osborn Island has to be maintained. To do that, county officials will remove one lane of the existing bridge and build that half. When that side is completed, traffic will be permitted on the new lane of the bridge while the other side is built.
Scotty Albertson of Little Egg Harbor, who lives a mile from Osborn Island, said boat traffic is also an issue. Traffic has to be maintained both over the top of it and underneath it. That’s the main way out of Mystic Island for the boat traffic,’’ said Albertson, who owns Scotty’s Bait and Tackle.
The bridge also is the only way for Mystic Island residents to reach the township beach at the end of Radio Road. County engineers are now gathering the needed permits for the work, having applied to the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Coast Guard. The project could start this fall, depending on when permits are issued. “It’s something that has been really needed,” Mayor Ray Gormley said. “It widens the bridge so it’s not so narrow. They are going to fix the bump.”
The bump, said Tom Paxton, a resident of Osborn Island, is at each end of the bridge caused by settlement and old age when a car drives on or off the bridge deck.
“We’ve seen them repair it many times. We’ve been here going on 38 years,” said Paxton, who not only lives in Osborn Island but also owns Great Bay Marina at the end of Radio Road. “Like us, there are a lot of Osborn Island residents who are looking forward to a new bridge,” 2/23/2011
We are saddened to report that Mary Ann Loomis died last night. I don't know if you knew her, but she and her husband were one of the original founders. The viewing will be on Friday (2/25/11) at St Theresa's at 10AM and the funeral will be at 11 AM at St Teresa's. /12/2010 Annual Picnic – Open to ALL residents & guests of Osborn Island
Let OIRA help you and your family have an easy and spectacular Labor Day weekend party!! Bring your friends and family to the OIRA Picnic on Saturday, 09/04 (rain date Sunday, 09/05) --- 1PM to 6PM at the end of Kentucky Dr. Spread the word! Invite the neighbors! We want to make this the BEST picnic ever. Having your family Labor Day weekend meal at the OIRA picnic is easier than doing your own labor day weekend event, and at $12 per adult and $6 per child (for kids 6 to 12, under 6 free), it is a great value. Let OIRA do the cooking and clean up for you and your crowd. We are offering tables for 10 at $90 if pre-paid by August 26th. Entry will also be available the day of the event at full price, subject to space availability. Make sure you reserve your space early!!! Enjoy our DJ entertainment and the fire department’s fire truck for the kids. BYOB; OIRA provides hot dogs, hamburgers, Italian sausage and a member provided selection of salads & dessert. Call Jayne Soney 609-296-6775 if you'd like to make and/or bring something; it’s important to call Jayne because we don’t want 3 & 4 of the same item. OIRA also provides everything including the tables, chairs, plates, cups, and utensils and does all the set up under tents and does the clean up. All you need to do is come and enjoy. Mail your check today, along with your name, phone number and number of adults and children attending to OIRA; P.O. Box 425; Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087-0425 by August 30th!!! If you would like to volunteer to help set up (Friday), assist or clean up the day of the event, please contact President Gary Rizzolo at 609-294-9021 or OIRA@comcast.net We look forward to seeing you, your family and friends at the picnic. Please call Gary if you have any questions. 8-4-10 T-Shirts are In !
T
The T-shirts are in and ready for pick-up on Saturday, August 7 from 10am-12noon.
7/29/10
LEH police warn Osborn Island residents that there have been a number of thefts from docks and boats. These thefts often occur at night. Be aware of strangers in boats visiting the lagoons and remove items which could be easily taken. 7/27/2010
Added new OIRA Minutes and Scuttlebutt under "Minutes and Scuttlebutt", Picnic info added under "Upcoming Events"... great photos of trip to Gardeners Basin in A. C. courtesy of Ed Andrews and others. Photo of rainbow over the Stink House.
3/4/10
"The Case of the Missing Dock" "I have tied up a run-away Floating dock that was loose and heading out to the Bay. Anyone missing a dock, can come by and claim it. If you could forward this mail to the Osborn Island Association members I would appreciate it. Thank You" Thanks, Pat. 2/15/2010
For the part-timers among us, here's a first-person account of the weather on Osborn this past Valentine's day weekend. If you have not visited in a while, the end of your driveway has a snow mass which has turned to ice. We broke a snow shovel trying to break it up. Actual amounts of snow are hard to report...appears to range from a couple of inches up to about 3 feet in places where the snow has drifted. Some of the drifts are heavily compacted and frozen and you can still walk on top of them. Streets on Osborn remain narrowed from plowing. A few lagoons in Mystic are covered in a thin sheet of ice but we saw no ice in the lagoons on Osborn. Power went out on Saturday night for a couple of hours, otherwise all seemed ok. We walked around our neighbors homes and they looked good from the outside. Spring is almost here! 2/08/10 Sad News: LITTLE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP - The father of local Army National Guardsman Donald Reighn Jr. said he does not know why his son was out in the marsh early Saturday morning off Great Bay Boulevard, where he was found dead by police. "We don't know what he was doing out there. He could have been fishing or tying some kind of fishing pots," said Donald Reighn Sr., of Haddon Township, Camden County. Reighn lived at his parents' home in the Osborn Island section of the township, his father said. Reighn a carpenter, joined the Army National Guard a year ago and was scheduled to be deployed sometime this year, Reighn Sr. said. It would have been his son's first deployment. Instead, the younger Reighn, 39, of Iowa Court, was found early Saturday in the marshland. Authorities said Monday afternoon that Reighn's death has been ruled accidental. Police on a routine patrol Saturday morning found Reighn's car near the first bridge on Great Bay Boulevard with the engine running. Officers stopped to check on the unattended vehicle when they spotted Reighn's body 15 feet offshore from the bridge. The cause of death has been determined to be suffocation due to the aspiration of mud, according to Deputy Chief Michael Mohel, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Little Egg Harbor Township Police called in a dive team Saturday to help retrieve Reighn's body and officials from the Ocean County Sheriff's Office and other agencies assisted with the recovery, Mohel said. "He enjoyed fishing a lot. He loved it out there on Great Bay Boulevard. He actually tried to get a job at the Rutgers University Marine Field Station. He was always on the water," Reighn Sr. said. Services for Reighn will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Kain-Murphy Funeral Services, 15 West End Ave., Haddonfield, and Camden County. A funeral Mass will follow at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Kings Highway and Fourth Avenue, Haddon Heights, Camden County, and interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Cherry Hill. Donations may be made in Reighn's name to the Sunshine Foundation, 1041 Mill Creek Dr., Feasterville, PA 19053. 2/07/2010 For all who are not permanent residents of Osborn, OIRA meteorologist and all-around good guy John Mocko sent a note that Osborn received 16" - 18" of snow with drifts of 3.5 feet not uncommon. John said that he was not aware of power losses. Thanks, John! 1/28/10 Diane Neuman warns homeowners to check their floating docks. Apparently, a few have come loose and been captured and tied up by good samaritans. A couple were noted in the Beach/Kansas Road area. Thanks, Diane. 1/25/10 Can you please put it out on the website that someone on my lagoon had a complete trampoline blow into the water this morning. It is lodged under my floating dock and I can't seem to move it. I have seen kids playing on a trampoline about 3/4 of the way down the lagoon on the Louisiana side in the Summer. It seems to be intact so if the owner can get it out of the water, it is probably salvageable.
If anyone has any info. they can e-mail me at seajama@gmail.com or call me on 609-294-0567. If I can't get it removed by the next freeze, I will have to call the township. Thanks for your help.
Ron
1/24/10 Monthly Ladies Luncheon: The next luncheon is January 27 – 12Noon at the Green House Café; 6th St. & Long Beach Blvd., Ship Bottom; 609-494-7333. Please call Pat Shepherd at 294-9740 for info. 12/19/09 Christmas Party canceled due to snow. No revised date, yet. 12/06/2009 I just came across this:
The NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife reminds saltwater anglers that the federal government's National Saltwater Angler Registry Program requires most New Jersey saltwater anglers to register prior to fishing in 2010.
You must register if you*
* Fish for or catch anadromous species (striped bass, shad, river herring) in state tidal waters * Fish in Federal waters (more than 3 miles from shore)
You do not have to register if you*
* Are under 16 years of age * Only fish on federally licensed party or charter boats * Hold a Highly Migratory Species Angling Permit
Online and telephone registration will begin January 1, 2010. Register online at www.countmyfish.noaa.gov or call toll free 888-674-7411.
Registration is free in 2010. 11/15/09
The Nor'easter There was a big Nor'easter the past few days and a few full-time OIRA residents checked in to give an update on the aftermath. We spoke with the McSpirits on Kansas Road who reported very high winds, extremely high tides that apparently breached the bulkheads in a couple of spots and they rescued a floating dock that was close to floating away. From Resident John Mocko "There were 3 extremely high tides & high winds with this storm. Kentucky Dr was flooded from curb to curb during these tides in front of my house on #20. I'm sure other streets were flooded also. Radio Rd was flooded by the bridge & also by Maryland Rd. The winds were gusting up to 60 mph during the height of the storm. A lot of sand was blown up to the road at the end of Radio Rd. In fact, the waves on the bay were spraying over the wall. Anyone who did not have loose furniture or trash cans "battened down" probably had them blown around." 10/02/2009 OIRA Minutes and Scuttlebutt updated.
7/24/2009
OIRA Minutes, Scuttlebutt and Dredging Letter have been added to the "OIRA Minutes and Scuttlebutt" page. Important news for all...please read. 7/14/2009 Channel Markers & “No Wake” signs are now in place for the entrance to our island!!! No need to call - "Aids in Navigation"; THANKS to Gary for his persistence!!!
7/14/2009
T-Shirts Are In!!!
Pick up at my house 27 Ohio Dr on Saturday July 18th from 8am -12 noon and Sunday July 19th from 8am -11am. Thanks, Jayne Soney 6/23/2009
To all our Osborn Island Residents: The week of June 29, Hyland Design Group and Engineers will be on Osborn Island. The Survey will include the location and elevations of bulkhead and waterfront structures – (fixed piers, floating docks, boat lifts, etc…) limits of wetland vegetation, high water line and topography / bathymetry within the projected limits of dredging. The survey will also include surrounding streets, property lines, etc… Thank you for all your cooperation; If any of your neighbors don’t have e-mail, please inform them. Please call me if you have any questions 609.294.9021 Gary Rizzolo, President O.I.R.A. Dredging Committee 6/20/2009 See The Upcoming Events page for new entries. 6/20/2009 See the end of the Local Links page for things to do on a rainy day with kids. 6/16/2009 A couple of folks asked the location of the Walmart location. Answer is on Route 9 north of Otis Bog Road. If you're not familiar with the location, go to Google maps and enter Otis Bog Road in Tuckerton, NJ and you'll see the area. Sounds as if the application was approved by the LEH Planning Board but is still waiting approvals from DEP and other agencies. Thanks, Michele, for the update. 5/22/2009 ANNUAL TRIP TO THE FLYING CLOUD [Note: Restaurant in A. C. ] Date: 07/13/2009 Rain Date: 07/14/2009 Time: 12:15PM Meeting Place: Entrance to bay (Iowa & Ohio) Cost: $20.00 per person
Menu to include a choice of 4 Entrees: · Flat Iron Steak Sandwich/ fries · Crab Cake Sandwich/ fries · Chicken Mexicana Sandwich/ fries (avocado/tomato/lettuce w/pesto mayo & bacon) Or · Chicken Caesar Salad Soda, coffee or tea and dessert [Cannoli]
RSVP: NO LATER than 06/15/2009 to Erin Kopp @ 812-1829 with number of persons attending and choice of entrée for lunch and mail payment to: OIRA @ Erin Kopp, 2 Maryland Road, Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087; NO LATER than 06/30/2009.
Let us know if you will be bringing your BOAT and how many will be ABOARD.
COME “GASSED UP” AND READY TO GO!!!!!!! 5/22/2009
3/13/2009
Due to a start/end time conflict with Citizens on Patrol at the Senior Center on the SECOND MONDAYS, we are changing our START time for our meetings from 7:30PM to 8:00PM... Also, John Mocko will be stepping down as O.I.R.A. Membership Chair, effective May 1ST. He will be happy to train anyone interested in this position. Currently, the database is in ACCESS-2007. He has the software disk. and will install on your computer & train you in any Office-2007 application [WORD, EXCEL, ACCESS]. 3/12/2009 Boat US Group Membership Wilbur “Shep” Shepherd has renewed our Group Membership in Boat US for 2009. Our Half-Price rate for new or renewed Group Membership dues is $12.50. Use Group#: GA82917B. This includes a 1-Yr subscription to BoatUS magazine. Any questions, call “Shep” at: 609-294-9740. You choose exactly how much coverage you want. Each of their Towing Service Levels represents how much BoatUS will pay for approved towing service on your behalf. · Unlimited Gold Saltwater and Freshwater Towing: $157.00 BoatUS pays the bill within a towing service area. Provides for towing 100% from both restricted and home docks for repairs. · Unlimited Saltwater and Freshwater Towing: $116.00 BoatUS pays the bill within a towing service area. This is for all Coastal areas and inland 50 miles from the coast, and all of Florida. Provides for towing 100% from restricted docks and 50% from home docks. · $150.00 per incident Saltwater and Freshwater: $ 18.00 BoatUS pays up to $150.00 per incident.
Prices are in addition to the $12.50 Group Membership Dues Fee.
With a basic Group Membership BoatUS pays up to $50.00 per incident. CONTACT INFORMATION: BoatUS Towing Services
Phone: 800-888-4869 E-mail: Towing@BoatUS.com 3/12/2009 OIRA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION New: _____ Renewal: _____
Dues: $ 25.00 Annually; Payment due by May 1st. Our membership year extends from May 1st this year thru April 30th of the following year. Please make check payable to: O.I.R.A. PO Box 425 Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087-0425 GIFT: $_____________ to help defray expenses of mailings, etc…
Total: $__________ CHECK #: _____________ Please return this entire form with your remittance. Your canceled check is your receipt. Thank you for your prompt return. Also, please remember to complete the other side of this form for the purposes of creating a membership directory, so that we may stay in contact with each other and better serve the needs and suggestions of our membership. Benefits of OIRA membership & activities we hope you will participate in include: Neighborhood Crime Watch Neighbor-To-Neighbor Help Program Monthly Ladies Luncheon Annual Activities include (if enough interest): Spring & Fall Beach Clean-Up Memorial Day Parade August Garage Sale September Picnic October Golf Outing @ Atlantis October Annual Dinner December Christmas Party Bi-Monthly Meetings: Second MONDAY of the following months: January; March; May; July; September; November. 8:00 PM at the L.E.H. Senior Citizens Center on Radio Road. =========================================================================================== We are preparing a Membership list/Directory for 2009/2010 for all our PAID members who are paid-up by AUGUST 1ST. Please complete the following. If there is any information you do not want to appear in the Membership Directory, or additional information you want included, please let us know. Also, at the bottom of this form is your chance to let us know what additional “fun” activities & Neighbor-to-neighbor programs you might be interested in pursuing within the O.I.R.A.
I (We) would be interested in participating in the following “Fun” activities:
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT JOHN OR LINDA MOCKO – 609-294-6967. E-Mail: Jdmocko938@Verizon.Net WE WANT TO PUBLISH THE MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY BY THE MIDDLE TO THE END OF AUGUST.
NOTE: This information will only be for the exclusive use of the O.I.R.A. membership, no other use will be permitted. If you don’t want to appear in the O.I.R.A. Directory, Please check the following box: _____ 3/5/2009 Next OIRA is March 9 at 7:30pm at the Senior Center. All invited - and encouraged - to attend!2/26/2009
[Back to Firehouse, Holiday Inn, Atlantis Golf Course, Tuckerton Beach Grille];
1/14/09 Welcome to 2009! I was thinking that it would be great if one of our fortunate full-time residents of Osborn would give the rest of us an update of the conditions on Osborn after any major storms or other major events. Many of us sit at our other homes wondering what it's like on Osborn. For what it's worth, I just spent a long weekend on Osborn and found the stones in the driveway had pretty much frozen together for the winter and just the slightest hint of ice on the lagoon. Walked around my neighbors homes and gave them the "once over" for any problems - everything looked good. Bests to all! Scott 11/15/08 Check your regular mail for an envelope from Sun Bank on Mystic Island. Sun Bank did our monthly mailing for us- Thank you! 11/15/08 Holiday Party Saturday, Dec 13th. Details on "Upcoming Events" page. 10/28/08 The Little Egg Harbor Township Planning Board Meeting DatesThe LEHT Planning Board meetings are held at the Little Egg Harbor Administrative Justice Complex, 665 Radio Road at 7:00 PM in the courtroom. The meetings are held on the first and third Thursday of each month. The dates for the 2008 Planning Board Meetings are as follows: 10/26/08 OIRA membership dues are due by May 1. See the OIRA Membership page. 10/24/2008 1. There is an IMPORTANT meeting on Thursday, November 6th regarding the development of 74 homes on the old golf course site (CENTEX, now Green-Street); Time: 7:00PM; Place: LEH Administrative Justice Complex; PLEASE attend if you can!!! 2. Our regularly scheduled OIRA meeting has been moved to Monday, November 10th at 7:30PM in the LEH Senior Center; Mayor Scott Stiles will be in attendance. 3. Our Christmas/Holiday Party will be held on December 13th, starting 6:00PM at the American Legion Post 493 on Radio Rd; More information will be forthcoming shortly. 6/17/2008
Meeting Notes from OIRA with LEH Mayor Scott Stites from J6/17/2008une 17, 2008 This Special Meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm by OIRA President Gary Rizzolo followed by the flag salute. Approximately 30 people were in attendance. Gary introduced Mayor Scott Stites who then gave a brief history of himself and his involvement in the community. Following is a list of the Question and Answer session:
Answer: “Yes, about 5 or 6 years ago, but it was too expensive.”
Answer: “There has been an ongoing lawsuit for about 3 years with marina and township.
Answer: “It was made one way due to the heavy traffic and high speeds cars were going through.”
Answer: “Hopefully by the end of this year the light will be installed once all approvals met.”
Answer: “Super Wal-Mart is going before the next Planning Board Meeting; variance free. Hopefully the façade will carry a nautical theme, plenty of landscaping, and a monument style sign.”
Answer: “Local businesses are specialty shops with a loyal following and can look to the increased traffic to bring more business. Unfortunately, some will suffer.”
Answer: CAFRA ‘dropped the ball’ on application, ‘lost track’ on number of days application sat for approval. Current re-zoning has cut the use of land by 50%. Be sure to attend Planning Board meetings to keep informed of developments. [Supposedly on the schedule for July 17, 2008 @ 7:00PM.]
Answer: “Bulkhead Ordinance when home sells only . The township has one bulkhead inspector that you can call to look at un-bulkheaded lots or bulkheads in disrepair. CAFRA inspects non-bulkheaded lots for deterioration.”
Answer: “Lagoons are not a natural waterway so the State is not responsible for maintaining them.” Graveling Point Sidewalk is broken – Mayor will make a call, but the State may need to repair. Also more trashcans needed and trash needs to be picked up more often in summer months, Public Works to be notified. [Believe the sidewalk has now been repaired, and more trash cans added.]
Answer: “Repaving will be addressed once all outstanding developments are settled.”
Answer: [The Mayor did not want to respond at this time!]
Answer: Mayor’s office will send a letter to Verizon.
Answer: “Unknown at this time if it is city or state; it is believed that the strip of land is part of the Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.” [NJ Natural Lands Trust]
Answer: “Yes, I (the Mayor) will order them”. Suggestion was made that an Osborn resident boat around the township with the LEH Bulkhead Inspector to take a look at the bulkhead situation on the island. [The OIRA Dredging Committee will look into this possibility.] Meeting Adjourned 9:15pm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||