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Nun’s Beach in Stone Harbor.
Cape May County is home to a wealth of natural beauty, from cedar lakes to pristine beaches. But there is also a wealth of interesting people, charming shops, gourmet eateries, homegrown artists and daring souls. S ALT is an effort to bring some of that flavor to light. We are a small community and so are used to being overlooked or underappreciated. But with the advent of digital media, and online distribution, there is no reason why we can’t have a world-class publication. ~ David Todd McCarty, Publisher
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CONCEPT ISSUE | APRIL 2012
contents cape
m ay
c o u n t y,
new
jersey
zero to stupid in three seconds A Profile of Kurt Kelly
a little off the path The Wayward Gardening of Bekki Rich
Yarn Club Julie Petrella is Home Made
Raising A Riehl Amish barn Crow Creek Farm Gets A New Addition
Tutto Gelato Sweet Stone Harbor
herbs Photos by Michael Sperlak
Easter chicks Photos by David Todd McCarty
atlantic bounty by Stephen Spagnuola
Š2012 David Todd McCarty. All Rights Reserved. Published by Hopping Frog Studios. 401 North Delsea Drive, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210.
9712 Third Avenue | Opens at 11:00am | 609.368.2650
R unners in Bellplain. St. Patrick’s Day.
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april 2012
zero to
stupid
in three seconds
reeds beach’s Kurt Kelly tells it like it is.
I
f you’ve ever been to Reeds Beach in Cape
found. Well it turns out none of that is completely
May County, New Jersey than you’ve
true, although it’s not all completely untrue ei-
seen Kurt Kelly’s house; it’s the one that
ther. Unfortunately, for most people, they’ll never
looks like it was cobbled together from the
get to see the most interesting part of the house
flotsam and jetsom that washes up from time
because that’s on the inside. Not just because of
to time on the beaches of the Delaware Bay.
the design or the decor, but because that’s where
Before I ever met Kurt, I knew of his house. Peo-
Kurt holds court, and if you want to understand
ple said he nailed up whatever he found. Oth-
the house, then you have to understand the man
ers said the entire place was built with stuff he’d
who built it. Pull up a chair and listen to his stories.
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K
april 2012
urt Kelly sits in a chair on the third
I’m going to go back to living in the dark.”
floor of a home he built with his own
two hands. His view is practically
most accounts, he should be dead. But he’s not.
360° of uninterrupted marsh lands and sea wa-
Not today, he’ll tell you, and probably not tomor-
ter. Kurt calls it his million dollar view and when
row either.Today, he’s going to live to the best of
the sun is setting, causing the wetlands to looks as
his ability. And he’s got plans. Big plans. Plans for
if they’ve caught fire, it’s hard to argue his point.
his house. Plans for the trike he’s building out of a
He’s sitting on a million dollar view and because
motorcycle and a VW van. Plans for a movie and
of that, Kurt Kelly is a wealthy man.
a book about his life.
When Kurt first bought the house, it was
Kurt is a miracle of modern science. By
Kurt lives his life in a good deal of physi-
nothing to speak of. “Just a cinderblock shell of a
cal pain, the right side of his jaw is gone, eaten
house,” he says. “But I could see the potential.”
away by the radiation that saves his life, and he’s
That’s the thing about Kurt. He sees things
suffered some hearing loss from an infection that
that others don’t. He sees potential everywhere. In
he can’t get rid of. He looks older than he really
motorcycles, cars, homes. Even people.
is, and because of this, he surprised you when he
“I’m a cancer survivor,” Kurt tells me. “And
moves. When he’s sitting in his chair, he looks like
when you’ve been through the shit I’ve been
an old man, but when he moves, he moves with
through, you really do learn to appreciate what
the agliity of a much younger man. It surprises
you have. Because in a blink of an eye, you can lose
you. Kurt and I get together every few weeks or
it all. I’ve had my eyes opened, and there’s no way
months to film an ongoing series on the stories
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april 2012
of his life. His history, his philosophies, his plans for the future. One day I ask him about his love of motorcycles and you can actually see the twinkle in his eye. He begins by telling me about his first ride on a chopped Honda Passport and how he ended up tangled in a barb-wired fence, “like Steve McQueen” and how it was going to be hard to explain to his parents since “I wasn’t supposed to leave the fuckin’ yard.”
Kurt’s stories have no segue. They blend
seemlessly from one to another, often jumping back and forth in time. He ends with telling me
1761 N Route 9, Swainton, NJ behomemade.com
Wayward Gardener
about his first real bike, “a 650 Triumph. Hard trail. Zero to stupid in three seconds. No baffles. Illegal as hell. You name it, it was wrong, but it was love at first bike.” The glint is back in his eye but he’s not looking at me anymore.
Kurt loves the speed. He loves the open
road. Because it makes him feel alive, and today that’s all he’s looking for. w
9712 3rd Ave, Stone Harbor waywardgardener.com 25
the path i h
c Ri
ki Bek
s
t
way wa r he d gar
dener
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t’s not the easiest place to find, but not much worth finding is. Hidden in a little alley in the middle of Stone Harbor (behind Coffee Talk if you’re looking) is the Wayward Gardener. I don’t know if owner Bekki Rich would claim that she brought the alley to life, but there are people in the neighborhood that have said that’s exactly what she did. Being off the beaten path suits both Bekki and the Wayward Gardener. It’s an eclectic mix of garden-oriented gifts, knick knacks and clothing. And that’s just the store, because just outside is an oasis of greenery; A secluded patio of flowers, vegetables and herbs. It was early in the season when we visited, so Bekki only had a few early items out, be she assured us that in the next few weeks, the place would be overflowing with color and life. Before she opened in the Spring of 2010, the building had been a lawyer’s office, but by the time she stumbled upon it, it had been converted into a string of small shops. “I had always dreamed of having a small garden store in my home town of 30
april 2012
Stone Harbor,” she says. “I knew it was something the town could use.” As a long time gardener—finding new ways to create different gardens, from containers to vegetables—she says she is always thinking of new ways to express her love of nature and helping people create gardens that are just right for them. “I search for different, eclectic objects, trying to find new and interesting accessories for my cute little store and plants that are sometimes hard to find or not even expected. Some pretty interesting artwork from several artists can also be found here,” she says. In fact, the tagline for the Wayward Gardener is “Thinking outside the pot” and that’s what she seems to do best. In addition to the store, Bekki works with her husband, landscaper Andrew Cheatham of Andrew’s Landscaping, creating container gardens and elaborately designed potted gardens. It’s a good bet you’ve already seen her work in both public and private spaces around the island. “It’s what I love to do,” she explains. “Get your hands dirty and help things grow. It’s a simple life, but a rewarding one.” w
yarn club The First Rule Of Yarn Club. Talk About Yarn Club.
T
he first thing that caught my eye was the sign. Home Made. It had an artsy feel, and yet a very modern edge. It looked professionally designed, but spoke to something that is usually not. When we think of something being home made, we assume it will be made with love and care, but maybe a little rough around the
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edges. We expect the cookie to taste great, but maybe not be as good looking as something you buy that was made professionally. That’s because we don’t normally think of something that is home made to also be professional. We expect the opposite. Home Made is owned and operated by Julie Petrella, a young artist with a passion for yarn and thread. Walking into her 18th century home—which doubles as her studio, workshop and store—you experience that same mix of personal artistic flair with a professional design sense. There is a crafty feel about the place, but not in an amateur way that can sometimes accompany it. The space is full of natural light, with large chalkboard walls throughout, promoting upcoming classes, and current projects. Sample projects are scattered around and are in many cases, for sale. It’s as if someone let their hobby take over an entire section of their home, and then they invited strangers in to share in their passion. And that’s what Julie’s done. She bought an old farmhouse, renovated it with the help of family and friends, and then opened her doors to others who want to step outside of Facebook and Twitter, and make things with their own hands. w
april 2012
Fred’s Tavern
314 96th Street, Stone Harbor fredstavernstoneharbor.com
Seashore Ace
Ou tdoor furniture •hardware • home
260 96th Street, Stone Harbor seashoreace.com 37
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buy local support new jersey
Specializing in Vegetable and Herb Varietals for the Jersey shore v e g e ta b l e s | h e r b s | a n n u a l s | p e r e n n i a l s
1028 S Route 9, Cape May ch • 609.465.5161 • capeshoregardens.com
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Raising a Riehl
amish
barn I t’s not every day that a group of Amish men show up and build a barn using decidedly unmodern techniques. In fact, you would assume that outside of Lancaster maybe, it would be pretty rare. And for the most part, you’d be right. But here in Goshen, this is not even the first barn they’ve built here. In fact, Riehl Construction, the Amish builders from Leola, PA, have already built two others here, making this is their third barn. But the fact that a third barn here practically makes it a trend, doesn’t make it any less special. In today’s world of quick and easy con-
42
struction, craftsmen of this level, using these types of old world techniques, are a rarity. Stan Sperlak, the artist in residence at Crow Creek Farm, and the owner of Reihl’s latest creation, wanted a timber frame barn, built using post and beam construction. After doing his research, he chose one company to help him design and build his barn. He recieved no other bids. “I knew these were the guys I wanted to work with,” he explains. “So I didn’t want to be distracted by a bidding process. I trusted them to give me a fair price for what I wanted them to
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do. And I knew they would deliver.” When asked if he’s happy with his decision, his face breaks into a huge smile and he looks over at the progress the men are making on his barn. “I’m over the moon,” he says. “I was a little worried, because I basically designed the entire barn, with help of course, but they were my ideas and I guess I started second-guessing myself. Did I make it too small? Was the pitch on the roof correct? Was I going to be disappointed with anything?” Well? “It’s actually better than I’d dreamed. In every way. I barely slept the past two nights in anticipation of this day. It’s like a lifetime of Christmas mornings for me.” Stan first acquired Crow Creek Farm in May of 1997. “I was looking for some wilderness. No neighbors, a little freedom. It’s 33 plus acres, but most of it is wet marsh; not appealing to developers at all. In fact, when it first went up for sale—this was May and the bugs can be pretty bad here in May—well they chased everyone else away. The bugs were waiting for the right person to come. And that person was me. Sometimes, I believe the land wants you. And it finds a way to behave. The day I looked at the property, no bugs.” Initially, Stan’s intention for the property was to have a nursery to grow native plants. But
april 2012
in 1998 he began studying painting with Pat Witt [Patricia Vanaman Witt] and spent a lot of time in Port Elizabeth. “I didn’t know I was a painter then,” he explains, “but the land began to speak to me and I recognized the similarities between what I was painting and the land I owned. This began my appreciation for the west side of the county.” Originally, his intention was to build a big house and a little studio, but as he began to toy around with different designs, his right-hand man Cory Brant, began pushing him towards simplicity. “I don’t know what I thought I was designing. A castle maybe. But Cory kept pushing me to simplify, simplify. I finally realized that at my home in Court House, I spent all my time in the studio and only used my house to sleep. I was thinking completely backwards. I needed a big barn and a little house, not the other way around. So, that’s what I built.” “My dad used to say that there was a time when ships were made of wood and men were made of steel. For centuries, ships were built with mortise and tenon construction. Heavy timber frames. A barn is basically an upside down ship.” Once he knew what he wanted, Stan went to see Jamie Hand, another Goshen artist known for doing a lot of timber frame restoration in area. He asked Jamie if he would help 46
april 2012
him build it, but Jamie had a better idea. Jamie introduced him to an Amish builder out of Lancaster who it just so happens, had recently built Jamie’s barn. Their name was Riehl Construction. According to Stan, it didn’t take long to decide he had the right builder. “If you can explain what you want to someone and they get it right away,” he explains. “You look in their eyes—you see they get it. And you know they can do it because you’ve seen what else they’ve done. You trust them all the way. I wanted a barn. They build barns. Their aim is simple: build good buildings. And nothing I asked for was ever a problem. There was always a way to figure it out. In most cases, if I was thinking about something, they were already in the middle of doing it.” When asked about what it was like to deal with an Amish company, again Stan smiles. “I called them. And they said, can you fax us your ideas? I’m thinking, ‘Fax you? I’m surprised I’m even talking to you on the phone.’ But they’re realistic. They live how they live because of what they believe in, but they recognize that they still need to do business with the outside world to survive. Actually, if you think about it, a fax machine is like the stone ages. They don’t have email. They don’t have a website. They needed me to fax it to them. It’s kind of brilliant if you think about it.”
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“I went up and spent a day with them going over options. Elmer Riehl [the lead designer] and I looked at different barns they’d built and we designed it together, taking pieces from this one and ideas from that one. Then I challenged them. I wanted to start in four weeks. Elmer said, ‘If you give us a check on March 1st, we can start on April 1st.’ That’s unheard of in construction. Not only were they there when they said, but they did everything they needed to do in seven days. You just never see that. “I would recommend this to anyone who appreciates a simple life like organic farming, or natural living. I’m in construciton and I see people stress out about the most mundane things like light switch placement, tile patterns or paint colors. This is so much more fun. It’s all wood. It’s just wood!” Stan was also impressed by the simplicity of working with Riehl. “You know for some reason, there was this instinctive trust. They use a one page, handwritten contract. And when you look at their neighborhoods; see where they live and work. It’s all stripped down. Just the essentials. “During the first day of construction, it was all wood. Raw timbers and nothing else. I took a small cedar tree and had one of the Amish guys put it up on the gable. It was to honor the idea that it was all from trees. I wanted to honor the fact that it was real. Nothing artificial.” w 47
tutto gelato
Authentic. Ha
Handmade. Italian Gelato. As good as Italy? Better? In Stone Harbor?
N
ot everyone thinks of a job at Wawa as the ideal work experience to become an entrepenuer in the gourmet food business, but for Andy Dorley, owner of Tutto Gelato in Stone Harbor, he thinks it prepared him rather well. After years of working in bars and restaurants, and a stint with Wawa at a corporate level, Andy decided it was time to finally go off on his own. Philadelphia born and raised, he’d spent his fair share of time “down at the shore.” So when it came time to open his own shop, he started looking in Cape May County. “I knew I wanted to open a place near the beach; to be part of that culture. And there was this Italian family I met that makes the most incredible gelato I’ve had outside of Italy, and they agreed to supply me.” Then he started looking for the right place. He understood from his time with Wawa how important location was, but he also recognized that he wanted a particular aeshetic. “I didn’t want to be just another ice cream shop,” he says. “I felt like if I had a place with good bones, I could keep it simple, and yet make it stand out.” The little cottage he found in Stone Harbor was perfect. And no other gelato places in town. Just what he was looking for. Painted in pastel shades, the main focal point, other than the gelato of course, is the 52
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large blackboard on the one wall. In addition to the various flavors offered that day, are notes, reviews, and comments from customers. Andy says he wipes the board every few weeks, and within a few days it’s filled again. He keeps a jar of colored chalk on the counter for those who want to leave their mark. On the day we were there, it was a steady stream of people, one after another. One family came in and a young boy, maybe eleven, piped up, “This is better than the stuff we had in Italty.” “You hear that,” Andy says looking at me. “I told you it’s good.” What we know of as Gelato in the United States, basically the same ingredients as ice cream (milk, cream, and sugar), has a much lower butterfat content—around 4-8% versus 14%. Gelato is also traditionally made in small batches through a process that freezes the ingredients quickly compared to commercial ice cream which is frozen over time on a production line. All this has contributed to gelato’s reputation as a relatively healthy dessert alternative. But don’t tell that to the kids. They just think it’s the best stuff on earth and seriously, who else are you going to listen to when it comes to dessert? Because at least one eleven year old in Stone Harbor thinks Tutto Gelato is, “better than the stuff in Italy.” w
saltnj.com
tutto gelato
9712 3rd Avenue, Stone Harbor
wetsuit world 9716 3rd Avenue Stone Harbor, wetsuitworld.com 55
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herbs
english lavendar
Photography – Michael Sperlak
basil
oregano
dill
parsely 57
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curly parsely
english
“The air was fragrant with a thousand trod and with the brightest roses blushin
William Cul
thyme
pineapple sage
dden aromatic herbs, with fields of lavender, ng in tufts all over the meadows. . . .�
llen Bryant
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easter
chicks In This Case, The Eggs Definitely Came First
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Tasting Room | Open daily from 12pm-5pm.
buy local support new jersey
600 South Railroad Avenue Rio Grande | 609.846.7347 | hawkhavenwinery.com
vineyard and winery
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Locally caught Sea Bass and Porgy are a staple fish in the Mid- Atlantic and Northeast. In recent years many well known chefs have featured both fish on thier menus making them once again in vogue. Steel ships called “Draggers,” ply the ocean towing a net. The net, once hauled back aboard the boat, is empted and the fish are sorted by size. Both Sea bass and Porgies are not only well-managed, sustainable
Atlantic Bounty species but are considered by many to be second to none when it comes to table fare. Cape May is currently the second largest port in terms of fleet size, due to it’s geographical location on the eastern seaboard. It is the commercial lifeblood for many as it creates thousands of jobs both on land and sea. Support your local fishermen. words and images | Stephen Spagnuola
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opposite Deck load of Sea bass & Porgies
april 2012
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“There are two types of fisherman
those who fish for sport
and those who fish for fish.”
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this page Crew splits the bag • opposite Full bag
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april 2012
Captain Ross Dickenson in the wheelhouse on the F/V Golden Nugget
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opposite Knee Deep in Porgies
coming june/july | issue number one
opening d
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day
HOPPING FROG
STUDIOS photography • cinematography • directing
609.602.5228 | hopping frogstudios.com