LivingLBI April 2013
Recovering R.I.P. Shack
After the Storm
Happy Days - It was fun doing paintings of you :)
-Cathleen Engelsen
Building a Dream ~ Living a Dream
After the Storm
As We Recover The sun will shine the sea will calm Winds subside when clouds are gone.
Together we, will rebuild With mighty minds and our strong will.
In our minds fear and flood Caused one night from above.
We’ll push our sand and build our dunes Together we will heal our wounds.
Things are gone but we are fine Friends unite and words are kind.
As we build our hearts will grow and our future we shall sow. Lisa
LivingLBI.com 3
A&R Pool Service Your Hometown Pool Professional Specializing In: • Weekly Pool Maintenance • Storm Clean Ups • Pool equipment replacement packages • Salt Systems • Openings and Closings • Filter, Pump & Heater Service and Installation • Pool Lighting and Automation
609-698-0048 Good old fashioned, quality service at reasonable rates from a local family owned business. Courteous and knowledgeable staff, fully licensed and insured. Certified Pool Operator on staff. Authorized warranty service center for Hayward and Pentair. Give us a try; you will be happy you did!
www.arpoolservicenj.com NJHIC#13VH05001500 4 LivingLBI April 2013
contents 2 6 10 11 20 22 26 29 34 39 41
After the Storm Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend Artists for a Shore Cause Sea Siren Building a Dream What’s new at Kline Brothers Cover Artist Holgate Through the Storms Long Road Home Tuckerton Seaport
42 44 45
Heart of a Landlord A Gull Meets Sandy Grow Your Own Figs
Publisher: Lisa Ball Photography by Lisa Ball For advertising call 1-609-848-1111
Surf City
200 North Blvd. Surf City, NJ 08008
609-494-2111
Tuckerton
138 Railroad Ave. Tuckerton, NJ 08087
609-296-1131
Tuckerton Lumber Co. has been serving our shores for over 80 years and intend to continue! Please be patient as we address the loose ends caused by the storm damage. Since 1932, we at Tuckerton Lumber Company have worked hard to establish and maintain a solid reputation for quality products at competitive prices. Tuckerton Lumber Company has met the needs of professional builders and the do-it-yourself market alike with over 35,000 items to offer. Tuckerton Lumber Company is ready to supply every job no matter how big or small. If you are located in the Ocean County - Atlantic County area of New Jersey, check out Tuckerton Lumber Company for your next project. LivingLBI.com 5
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or those of us who grew up on Fifth Street in Beach Haven, the pavilion at the end of the street is iconic. There are, excuse me “were”, only two on the entire island, so we always felt our street was specialdifferent from other streets that had an entrance to the beach. Much more than a wooden structure, it holds many treasured memories for my family, now fourth generation, and others who have lived here. We consider ourselves part of a Fifth Street family of sorts.
When we were little, the pavilion seemed huge to us. When we walked to the front and looked over the white railing to the sand below we felt like it was a 50’ drop. Of course the challenge was to overcome our fear, slip outside the railing, and when we felt brave enough jump to the soft, sugary white sand waiting below. Wow! What a rush! If we were really brave we added another 3 feet by jumping from the railing. Beneath the front of the pavilion, shade was provided for those seeking refuge from those burning hot summer days. Way back under the wooden boardwalk that led up to the structure was a hidden world. We would crawl back up there, dig holes, and pretend to be in a fort with our Tonka toys and army men, hidden from the outside world. We could hear people talking and walking above us but they had no clue we were just below their feet. Oh, the simple joys and imaginations of a child! Everyone would walk to the pavilion multiple times each day. Some started their day there enjoying morning coffee and newspaper. For others, who were avid surfers like myself, it was a daily ritual to look out due east, then turn our gaze north to Taylor Ave or, south towards Center St. to see how the waves were breaking and locate the best spot. It was a fairly common occurrence to see dolphins playfully cavorting just beyond the sandbar. Those with binoculars would scan the shoreline and horizon to locate fishermen and fishing boats to see what was being “caught”. Others who weren’t particularly fond of the beach or not permitted to be in the bright sunlight would sit on the wooden benches and, vicariously at least, enjoy the activities of others on the beach. When going to the beach on those crowded summer days we need only say, “I’ll be on the left of the pavilion”, or, “I’ll be on the right of the pavilion”! Those simple words provided ample direction enabling friends and family to locate us and place their beach chairs and towels next to ours. 6 LivingLBI April 2013
Seagulls could be seen perching on the roof, usually eating the clams they dropped there to break them open. Weddings were fairly commonplace and always made everyone sit up and take notice. None was more special to me than the wedding of my niece a few years back. Having spent every summer on Fifth Street it was symbolic of her deep love for the beach. For those who attended Easter Sunrise services the pavilion was again called into service. Years ago, when attendance was small, we would all gather on the pavilion, pastor and congregation. As time passed and attendance increased dramatically, the pavilion served as the pulpit with most of the congregation on the beach below. As kids we could see and clearly hear each and every ice cream truck driver, who at frequent intervals walked onto the pavilion and shook their bells loudly announcing to all of us that it was time for a special, cold, sweet, summertime treat.
a shimmering, golden path across the waves. When Nor’easters blew in, as they did on occasion and usually lasted 3 days, we could escape “cabin fever” by venturing to the end of the street, and under the shelter provided by the pavilion, observe the tumultuous churning of the ocean.
After dinner, walking down to the pavilion was part of our daily ritual. It didn’t matter that we had been on the beach all day! The pavilion was our outdoor community center where we would talk over the events of the day with friends, neighbors and visitors with the beautiful ocean as a back-drop. We would watch kids flying kites or playing in the wading pools left behind by the high tide. Or, we might observe a man with a metal detector slowly pacing back and forth looking for hidden treasure just beneath the sand‘s surface. As dusk turned to nightfall the pavilion provided a ringside seat as the moon appeared right out of the horizon, rising in all its splendor and spreading
I pray, not only for the sake of Fifth Street residents but for all those who frequent Beach Haven, that the pavilion will be rebuilt. It has far more value than being aesthetically pleasing. It truly is a symbol and a gathering place for many of us, creating a sense of family, community, and common ground. If rebuilt, it will continue to provide countless more memories. When considering whether or not to rebuild, these reasons are both priceless and timeless, far outweighing any monetary outlay!
One of the most poignant reasons for my love of the pavilion is the vivid memory of my mom, Tamea Jones, painstakingly planting dune grass and yucca plants in the sand dunes that border either side of the entrance to the pavilion. She realized that the roots of those little plants are what helped to solidify the dunes and perform their most valuable job-- to function as a first-line of defense against storms. They did their job well during “Sandy’s” onslaught! And you my friend were a silent sentinel to Sandy’s fury! You stood your post till the very end! We thank you deeply and will miss you greatly!
Steven A. Jones
Saying Goodbye To an Old Friend
LivingLBI.com 7
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Jeffries Flooring 129th St. Beach Haven Terrace
Can We Help You?
Since 1947, We have been LBI’s Original Floor Covering Store This is our 3rd flood
Carpets • Wood Floors • Upholstery Services Ceramic • Cabinets Licensed and insured: 13VH05719300
First we have to get off the floor, so we at Jeffries are now doing roof and siding repairs, window and door replacements, insulation and sheet rock and cabinets we also have friends with electric and plumbing licenses. So please call us at 609.492.0010 and let us manage your reconstruction. We’ve done it before and we’ll do it again.
Visit our Art & Crafts Gallery of Local Artists Renewed • Refurbished • Reinvented Open Daily
Inspired Home Design
Antiques • Quilts • Folkart Architectural & Industrial Finds Nautical Salvage • Garden Lifetime Oil Candles
Through many dangers, toils and snares... we have already come. T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far... and Grace will lead us home.*
Welcome Back to LBI
609-361-8039 • www.theseawife.com 19th & Bayview Ave. • Barnegat Light, NJ 08006 Next Antique Show Sept. 16th
2013 Antique Shows
Sun. Aug 4th & Sun. Sept 15th
BROADWAY AND 4TH ST BARNEGAT LIGHT • 609 494 9640 OPEN SATURDAY - SUNDAY 11-5 Barnegat Light Pennant available at North End Trilogy *Lyrics from “Amazing Grace” by John Newton
LivingLBI.com 9
J E W E L RY
GIFTS
410 Broadway Barnegat Light
609.361.8191
C LOT H I N G
A R T
A C C E S S O R I E S
506 Broadway Barnegat Light
609.361.1101 www.wildflowersbythelighthouse.com
Artists For a Shore Cause is a grass
roots artists movement created to help Jersey Shore communities affected by Super Storm Sandy. Many homes and small businesses suffered from severe flood damage causing families to be displaced and forced businesses to close. Small family run businesses make up the majority of the Jersey Shore seasonal tourist economy. For a successful recovery it is vital for these businesses to reopen as soon as possible to bring tourists back to the region and families back to their homes. Kids Needs More Art in Jupiter, FL, is working with the m.t.burton gallery to raise money to support the efforts of two non-profit organizations leading the rebuilding efforts on Long Beach Island and in Ocean County. Simultaneous benefit exhibitions will be held in NJ and FL with the proceeds from the sale of donated art going to, Jetty + Waves 4 Water and Waves of Hope. Jetty + W4W is helping the Long Beach Island community with all phases of rebuilding after Super Storm Sandy. Waves of Hope is committed to serving the needs of families and individuals impacted by Super Storm Sandy during the long term disaster recovery process throughout Ocean County, NJ. Artists For a Shore Cause, opening reception at the m.t.burton gallery, 1819 N. Long Beach Blvd., Surf City, will be on Saturday, June 1st, from 6 - 9 pm. Donated art is available for purchase now through the summer season.
for more information Call 609-494-0006 or visit
www.mtburtongallery.com
10 LivingLBI April 2013
Sea Sirens After the Storm
How does healing happen? How does someone distance oneself from any storm’s destructive wake? By waking up and beginning to live, anew. To live is to grieve. To live is to fill one’s next moment with what helps us to recover. To live is to unlearn what covered our pain yesterday. To live is to uncover and discover who we are to become as we grow after the skies have returned to blue and we look up and it is true. To live is to align oneself with others who shamelessly live, too. Healing has never happened from the contents of a bottle. We have never been jarred out of our pain by what comes in a jar. Healing has never been bought in a bakery. Healing has never been found on a shelf of a convenience store—or the shelf of a medicine cabinet. It has never been accomplished by blaming the heavens—or ourselves. Healing has never appeared on a lifeless screen. Healing must never be confused with hiding. The tides know not of objects that have been stolen. Seagulls care not that lives have been broken. The Sea Sirens of Healing whisper to us, though, after the storm’s surge has subsided. After the sun has appeared from behind every cloud of despair. After the horizon has returned and silently beckons for us to meet it. Greet it. Smile upon its reappearance after going missing for too long. Their whisper lures us out of our stupor and invites us to join life. To watch shapeless fog give way to the outline of sand, sky, sea. To surrender to its history—and fight the fight of our life, as we dare to befriend it, again. To heal is to continue to do what has always made us feel glad—even when we are most sad. To heal is to surround ourselves with behaviors that invite health of body and wealth of heart, even when we care least about ours—or anyone else’s. To grieve has no timetable; it is a part of continuing to live in a world that respects pain— but offers opportunity and space needed to help us heal and scar. Storms of the surf and storms of the soul. Those on the island and inland, as well. Waves that break and destroy with their swell. Sirens of Healing whisper to those who weep behind closed doors.
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They whisper to those who sob on the sand. They whisper to those who have lost all to any destructive force one has never been able to control, “The world waits—begin again. Revisit what has always made you glad. Return to doing what has helped when sad. Run, not, from grieving. Live as you grieve. Love while you mourn. Learn as you sob. Grow as all about us, a world yearns and learns to survive—again.” The world waits for all who awaken and kneel in prayer. Stand up and dare. To live. NOW. On your island, on my island, on LBI. “There is often in people to whom ‘the worst’ has happened an almost transcendent freedom, for they have faced ‘the worst’ and survived it.”—Carol Pearson judy horowitz www.senoraonline.com LivingLBI.com 11
Brant Beach
RECOVERY
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‘62 Nor’Easter
Super Storm Sandy
Recovery
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BEACH HAVEN
RECOVERY
LivingLBI.com 17
Gone with the Waves The island has changed. It isn’t the first time and it won’t be the last time. With grand old Victorians from long ago, tiny little beach cottages and now towering castles, the island is constantly rebuilding. We feel sad over the loss of our childhood memories. Sand dunes have been washed away and some of our favorites shops have closed forever. When I walk up to the beach, it is clear to me why I’m so sad. It’s not the buildings that were ruined, they can be replaced, it is the friends and neighbors who are struggling to rebuild and adjust to the “new normal”. The strong will brush themselves off and forge ahead. Others will stay trapped in trauma. We tend to romanticize the past but it was never as good as we believe it was. By thinking that the past was better than it is “now”, and focus on what we lost, we will stay locked in sadness. If we view the past as simply the past, and
18 LivingLBI April 2013
accept the way thing are and what we need to do, we will move forward. When I look into the eyes of my neighbors, I see many emotions; panic, sadness, acceptance, relief and happiness. The entire spectrum of emotion. What I don’t see is a correlation of emotion to loss of property. I can’t tell someone’s loss by their emotion. The inner strength of a person surfaces during difficult times. The strong get stronger and Long Beach Island residents are particularly strong. We are a close community, helping each other get back on our feet. Very few of my friends have decided to leave the island. Most will stay, rebuild and enjoy life. We will make our homes stronger, build our beaches bigger and welcome our summer visitors. LBI is not Lisa gone with the waves.
Tom Lozinski from Manasquan shot these unique photographs. He is a self taught photographer who works as a Forensic Scientist during the day. Lozinski specializes in shooting landscapes from different aspects or different times than they are normally seen. His work can be seen at www.flickr.com/photos/manasquantom or www.facebook.com/ tomlozinskiphotography. Some of his prints can be purchased at the Squan Custom Frame Shop, aka Jersey Shore Moments (Rt 71 Manasquan). Tom Lozinski can be reached by email: tlozinski@gmail.com
LivingLBI.com 19
Building a Dream ~ Living a Dream
Ship Bottom home owners Nita and Jeff Shapiro, built their dream home. Jeff, a realtor on LBI and Nita, co-owner of Art and Decor at Surf City, spent years finding unique furniture and accent pieces for their dream home. Nita’s artwork can be seen through out the house. Since this house was built on pilings, only the garage sustained some water
20 LivingLBI April 2013
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hen decorating, your home should reflect you. Choose things you love and it will all come together. When starting from scratch, concentrate on wall colors. Whether neutral or bold, the walls become your palette. I personally get excited by an eclectic decor, which is a diverse look. It doesn’t limit you and it’s fun. So go have fun. If you need an ally contact Nita at 732-580-8129.
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What’s new at Kline Bros.? Our New Location 345 East Bay Ave Manahawkin, NJ 08050 609-494-5838 KLINE BROS. LANDSCAPING now has two convenient locations, both on East Bay Avenue, Manahawkin. Their new store is quite amazing! Life size animals are on the lose. A giraffe stands tall among fountains and tropical plants. Beware of the lioness laying low. Seagulls made of wood fly over a dinosaur and Big Foot sneaks past pottery. Outside a tiger greets you and an elephant keeps watch. Farm animals such as a large cow and a super sized chicken are also available for outdoor decoration. • These animals are just another example of the extra touch that Kline Brothers adds to their outstanding landscaping. Brick pavers, stone, mulch, sand topsoil, clam shells are the base. Add your choice of pool, spa, firepit, fireplace, outdoor kitchen or water feature. Pick your choice of plants and jungle gym for the kids. The one final decision on outdoor lawn furniture. It won’t be easy with such a large selection but it will be fun. Kline Brothers also added a full florist for your convenience. A beautiful floral arrangement is the finishing touch on your newly landscaped yard. 22 LivingLBI April 2013
• • • • • • • • • • •
Brick Pavers Stone/Mulch/Sand/Topsoil/Clam Shells Fencing Pools & Spas Pool & Spa products Firepits & Fireplaces Water Features including fire and water bowls Poly-wood and Telescope Furniture Weber, Viking, Al Fresco Grills Eastern Jungle Gyms Husqvarna Lawn & Garden Equipment ...And much, much more
Continuing to carry plants, pots, gardening supplies & garden accessories along with our knowledgeable staff.
BREAKING NEWS: Big Foot spotted in Manahawkin
NEW LOCATION
Kline Bros. Landscaping 345 East Bay Ave Manahawkin, NJ 08050 609-494-5838
w w w. k l i n e b r o t h e r s . c o m LivingLBI.com 23
The house on the beach next to where the 5th Street Pavilion used to be has been removed. An empty lot is what is left behind. Our strange new views of the end of each street are a constant reminder of the power of Sandy.
New beginnings
24 LivingLBI April 2013
Visit Our Showroom
Storm Damage Discounts 660 East Bay Ave • Manahawkin, NJ 08050
www.fireplacesonline.com 609-597-FIRE
“Factory Direct Savings, Means Every Day Low Prices”
Dining Room
Carolina Select Furniture Stop in to see our gigantic 6000 square-foot showroom.
Living Room Visit Our Showroom At: 304 Route 9 (Indian Plaza) Waretown, NJ 609-698-8838 carolinaselectfurniture.com
Bedroom LivingLBI.com 25
Happy Days Shack
Happy Days Shack After Sandy
Cover Artist Cathleen Pearce Engelsen
Mrs. Engelsen is an Ocean County native with a deep appreciation of New Jersey’s rich, historical background and its breath-taking coastal scenery. She studied art at the Samuel Fleicher Art Memorial in Philadelphia and at the Philadelphia College of Art. She has also studied at Stockton State College. She paints in all medias – watercolor, acrylic and oil.
She is particularly noted throughout the state for her historical paintings. Each project reflects detailed research into the state’s past. Her sources include historical societies, libraries, and a treasury of rare old photographs. Lengthy personal interviews with local residents add to her background knowledge. She has preserved historical New Jersey scenes from northern New Jersey to the coastal shores, and to the western tip in Trenton. She was commissioned by McDonald’s restaurant to complete a series of historical paintings in Toms River, Manahawkin, Lakehurst, Burlington, Lakewood and Spring Lake. She was commissioned by IFF to do two large paintings of the Sandy Hook and Twin Lights Lighthouses for their Hazlet, New Jersey lobby. In addition, her historical paintings of Newark, Trenton,
Contact Cathleen for more information or to purchase her prints. Artbyengelsen@aol.com 609 494 5079 www.cathleenengelsen.com Barnegat Lighthouse mural painted March 1986 on the wall at McDonald’s. It was a three part painting of Barnegat Inlet, circa 1890 that included the lighthouse keepers dwelling, Sunset Hotel & the lighthouse. It was donated by Manahawkin McDonald’s to the Barnegat Light new boro hall (which is the restored Coast Guard station). It hangs in their meeting room. 26 LivingLBI April 2013
Burlington and Perth Amboy are in the executive and public offices of Public Service Electric and Gas Company. A particular favorite of Revolutionary War buffs is Mrs. Engelsen’s painting of Cannon Green, Princeton University. This painting hangs in the lobby of the Palmer Inn, Route 1, Princeton, New Jersey. Her works were selected for the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center for the city and mainland campus. Her work was selected for the 2003 Official Ocean County Decoy & Gunning Show fine art print. Her most recent commissions include scenes of Atlantic City’s Past – The Steel Pier Ballroom, Steel Pier Billboard, Atlantic City Beach Patrol and Old Convention Hall. These paintings hang in the new patient tower of AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, city campus, Atlantic City, NJ. Recent historical commissions of historic Lakewood, NJ are: The Strand Theater, The Harrison Building and The Jasper Lynch Castle. Cathleen works from her home in Surf City. Her work is exhibited and for sale at ScoJo’s restaurants at their Surf City & Tuckerton locations. You can see her work at shops, galleries & museums including Coastal Consignment & the NJ Maritime museum on LBI.
Our thoughts are with you as you rebuild your homes and lives.
Be Our Guest Join us at Olive Garden, where our passion for creating delicious Italian cuisine is matched only by the joy of sharing it with you. From hearty new entrĂŠes and savory appetizers to old favorites like unlimited soup, salad and breadsticks, our chefs have created an abundance of flavors that will satisfy your senses and lift your spirits.
2012 Darden Concepts., Inc.
234 Stafford Park Blvd., Manahawkin, NJ 08050 at Stafford Park (609) 978-1202 | www.olivegarden.com
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HOLGATE
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ebuilding has begun in badly damaged Holgate. It will never be the same. The LBI Trailer Park has closed. What will replace those iconic mobile homes? Driving through Holgate is a shock to see. These terrible scenes will always be with me. We always knew it was possible that our beloved LBI would eventually suffer damage from a major storm but until we actually saw the damage, we really had little understanding of the power of an angry sea. Powerful waves flattened dunes and lifted decks. Without the protection of dunes, the waves were free to lift houses off of their foundations and float them into neighbors’ houses. Most people agree that beach replenishment is the answer to add protection to our beaches and only a few disagreed and refused to cooperate. Because of these few, many suffered the consequences.
Manahawkin 100th Town Hall Meeting
‘We need to rebuild an aggressive dune system,” Governor Christie said the stories of oceanfront devastation vary widely throughout the Jersey Shore, but that dune-protected areas faired better. “Nearly every shore front community should be planning an “aggressive dune system.”
“We had people lose their lives in this storm. We had people lose everything they own in this storm to protect your view ” 30 LivingLBI April 2013
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Through The Storms
By Jim Mahoney
and life is good once again. I myself haven’t endured too many bad storms on LBI though our house has. In September 1960, the year after we bought the shore house, Hurricane Donna passed by. At the ripe old age of 4, I was there with my Mom, along with two (at that time) younger siblings in diapers, Dad was in Phila. at work. Weather forecasting wasn’t like it is today; if my parents had a clue Donna would endanger LBI I’m sure we wouldn’t have been there. I still have vivid memories from that event: ocean roiling down the street, wind shrieking outside, and panes of glass breaking in the front door. Fortunately, the Beach Haven First Aid Squad rescued us during the eye of the storm in an amphibious vehicle. My Dad retrieved us later after the worst of the storm had passed. Other than a few broken windows both the house 1944 after set in place on Jacqueline Ave and we survived. Two years later, in March of 1962, that legendary nor’easter happened taking lives and uperstorm Sandy slammed directly into the Jersey coast property up and down the coast with LBI suffering greatly just a few miles south of Holgate and sure made a mess from the storm. Like so many others, our house didn’t of things from South Jersey on up into Connecticut. The fare so well that time. It came off the foundation, had a fact that the 50th Anniversary of the Great March Storm portion of the roof torn off, lost a back room, as well as of 1962, a slow moving nor’easter spanning five high windows and doors. The water line inside was about three tide cycles and all the destruction it caused, had just been feet off the floor, along with plenty of sand that was left ‘celebrated’ earlier in 2012, was a macabre coincidence! behind. The only good thing was our house got hung up Our family’s summer cottage has survived the wrath on the one next door so it didn’t travel very far. My Dad of coastal storms for many years, each
S
leaving their mark, but none have been able to destroy her. Unfortunately that sad end happened to so many others during this vicious, nor’easter enhanced, sub-tropical storm appropriately named Sandy. The story of our humble old beach cottage and how it came to be located on Jacqueline Avenue in Holgate was published in Living LBI several years ago. In short, a house had been on our lot but was gone along with many others after the 1944 hurricane. The owner bought this structure which had been ‘floating in the bay’ for $25, moved it to his lot and set it in place. It was small so he added front and back rooms soon after. My Dad bought the house in March 1959 and has been in our family since. Storms are a fact of life along the coast, some are worse than others, but be sure As it was when my Dad purchased in 1959 there is always another on the horizon. Each year usually brings one or more significant storms to Long Beach Island. Most of the time, rain pours from the sky, winds blow, waves are kicked up and puddles had it moved back onto the foundation then began the slow reconstruction process. This was before Federal Flood appear; then the storm moves on, the sun comes back out 34 LivingLBI April 2013
Insurance programs existed; he had homeowners insurance but got almost nothing from them. He did all the repairs himself keeping in mind it could happen again. Jacqueline Avenue had houses scattered all about after that storm. Coincidentally, an aerial shot of the street was selected to be put on the cover of a magazine the Ocean County Sun published about the Great March Storm of
that single view depicted, it was only one street of many… but it was our street….Jacqueline Avenue all a-jumble!! Fast forward fifty years, my parents have now departed and the house is mine to take care of. More storms have come and gone, some were significant like one that occurred in December 1992. But our house experienced no more problems during that period. I was there for a couple small hurricanes, Hannah and Isabel, but they were benign. Irene came along in 2011 during our summer vacation, we evacuated like others. We loaded the car with as many items as we could fit, including us, and made for the mainland. And while the eye passed nearby, damage to Holgate and LBI was minimal. Sadly Irene strengthened after passing through South Jersey causing many problems inland, up into New England. Then in 2012 late in October, near the end of the typical hurricane season, forecasters were talking about a potential storm brewing in the Caribbean. It might take a track right up the east coast and could affect New Jersey. Little did everyone know at the time but this storm was gonna be a bad one. My job had me out in central PA that week and each day the forecast was getting worse. All I wanted to do was drive to Holgate, cram as many of our family treasures in my car that it could hold, and leave the Island. I finally managed to get on the road Saturday afternoon, arriving on LBI about 7pm. I spent that late fall evening packing my car with stuff, bringing yard and deck items inside, all the while hoping this was another false alarm. Neighbor friends across the street were having a boys weekend gathering, so after my car was packed I went over to hang out with them, have a few pops and trade sea stories. Sunday I wandered about, taking pictures, looking at the neighborhood, walking on the beach, hoping it would all be the same there in a couple days. The wind was 1962. Our house can be seen in about the center of the picking up, the ocean was pretty gnarly and waves were shot pushed up against our neighbors at an odd angle. already lapping the dunes. I gave my house a last hug, Dismembered houses could be seen, others were in the locked the doors, jumped in the car and slowly drove up street off their foundations, rotated, etc. What a disaster the Island to the Causeway. Storm preparations were going on, people boarding windows, sand bags being placed in doorways, etc. I stopped by Brant Beach to see how their recently replenished beaches were doing, this would likely be a good test for them. Then I crossed the bridge and headed west to the suburbs of Phila where I’d be staying the next few days to ride the storm out. It now was nearly 100% likely Jersey would take a dead on hit from Sandy as she plowed ahead. Sandy struck with a vengeance on Monday Oct 28th the eye eventually passing just south of Atlantic City. The worst came through that night during the second high tide and the somewhat earlier storm surge. I was glued to the internet all day, my After 1962 storm, smashed into the neighbor’s house only source of information, reading everything I could find and posting LivingLBI.com 35
was hard to come by that week. On Wednesday, someone posted an aerial shot of Jacqueline and the adjoining streets. It was a vivid look at what had transpired and was breath-taking to look at. Unfortunately for me, I could not see our house in that shot, it was obscured by a taller neighbor’s house. But, at least it wasn’t out in the street or the nearby area surrounded by a debris field. My hopes increased a little. A picture of the dunes or what were the dunes, at the top of our street appeared on-line at one point. It showed the complete loss of sand from under the houses. The picture was most certainly a stunning view, all the houses had their lower walls blown away and were standing high on their exposed pilings. From the initial dune breach Charlie As it appeared Summer 2012 Potter had captured as he walked to Beach Haven that Monday, a nearly mile long stretch of the dunes in Holgate had info on my facebook page knowing there were others been washed away and lead to the destruction at the south just as interested. That afternoon I came across a picture end of the Island in Holgate. of a dune breach and discussing it with my friend Scott The family of a Township Police Officer lived on Mazzella we thought it looked to be near Jacqueline Ave. Jacqueline, word got out that he would be assigned to It had been posted by a fellow from Holgate, Charlie Potter; I made contact with him and confirmed the location. Holgate that first Friday, so those of us who knew Patrick Mazzella besieged him for information and pictures. I He snapped the picture of the breach between two beach was driving home that Friday afternoon across Interstate houses on the dunes across from Jacqueline and Caroline. 80 from NYC, desperate to get gas for my car which was Charlie had intended to ride the storm out, but when the nearly empty, when I got a text message from Patrick with water rose in his house he decided to evacuate to Beach some pictures attached. I couldn’t get pulled off on to the Haven by foot during low tide. It was the only breach he shoulder fast enough to take a look. His brief message noticed on that walk. Little did we know at the time what was very reassuring “you have one tough house”. The that breach would lead to. pictures showed the house from a few angles, there was a Sitting at home, Sandy rain came down, the windows car perched on the front steps, mounds of sand were in the rattled, one could only hope for the best. Monday night’s front yard, a shed was upside down next to the house in darkness came, all that could be monitored of Sandy was the side yard and the electric meter was dangling from the weather radar and it was scary looking! house. But the structure appeared intact and was where Tuesday arrived and as the day advanced news outlets it belonged. Nearly a week of wondering and nail-biting were reporting some incredible damage along the entire were over, and from that distance the news was about as Jersey Coast, up into New York City and throughout Long good as I could have expected. Sadly many others were Island. Among many other places Long Beach Island kept not to be so fortunate. being mentioned with an emphasis on Holgate and North Property owners were first allowed to visit Holgate on Beach. Along with my concerns for the safety of those in Friday Nov 9th, more than a week after Sandy had done Sandy’s path and their property, I was sure wondering if her thing. The only news thus far was terrible: devastation, our house made it. It was announced that LBI was closed destruction, like a war zone, etc. First we had to go thru to all but emergency personnel until further notice. a checkpoint on the mainland, and then driving down As the week passed, pictures and video slowly the Island much of it didn’t look bad. But as we entered dribbled out, none of which was very encouraging. The Holgate everything changed, first had to pass through devastation was incredible all along the shore. Holgate Police and National Guard checkpoints showing proper continued to be emphasized as in real bad shape. A documentation. It was not hard to see, the pictures hardly Facebook group, Holgate Update, was created by told the story. Jacqueline Avenue friend Art Levy and his buddy Abhi Sand was everywhere, the dunes had been scattered Taranath. Its membership grew quickly as interested people and moved west across this narrow spit of land. Think joined looking for nuggets of information and to share our of the worst snowstorm, snow covering everything, with sorrows and stories. This ended up being an incredible huge drifts everywhere, and that was how the sand was in resource for Holgate information over the coming weeks Holgate. Several feet deep in spots, most was spread about and also brought our little community together. on the ocean side and lessened as one went towards the bay Specific news on Holgate and my house in particular 36 LivingLBI April 2013
but it was everywhere. Then there were the houses…many still standing but walls and siding torn off, some houses in pieces, and others which had left their moorings and collided with others. The homes along the beach front were perhaps the most amazing to view, precariously perched on top of rickety looking pilings with all the underlying sand gone. It was indeed a very sad sight to see and was apparent, it would be a long, long time before Holgate returned to the seaside paradise it had been just a few short weeks before. We continued south down the Blvd in complete awe, snapping pictures of the devastation and soon came to Jacqueline Avenue. Hurley’s motel on the corner had about six feet of sand surrounding it. The two newer homes across from it had their lower walls completely torn away, everything was exposed. The older home next to Hurleys had its enclosed porch and deck ripped off. It was the same all down the block, each house had serious damage in one form or another, and of course sand was everywhere. We got half way down the block to our house. It looked much the same as the pictures but now we were here in person. I looked at it closely to see if it had shifted, but it appeared to have not moved at all. The windows and doors were closed, and other then the debris scattered about, it looked pretty good. The moment of truth was coming as it was finally time to open a door and peer inside. First I tried the front door, the lock worked but I was unable to push the door open more than a couple inches as stuff was pushed up against the door. Went around back to try that door but the key would not turn in the mechanism so back to the front for another try. This time I was able to gently force the door open wide enough to squeeze myself in, and it was sure something to see. A water line was visible about two feet above the floor, everything had shifted in the room as it floated during the flooding. Tables and a big easy chair were turned over, items were scattered about on the floor. The heavy sleeper sofa and loveseat had moved. Everything was soggy. Walked into the kitchen and dining area to find much of the same. Linoleum on the floor had buckled, cabinets had turned over and things were everywhere. Went into the back room and saw it was a good thing I
Frst picture after Sandy couldn’t get through that door! The floor had opened up when unsecured tongue and groove planks had floated away leaving a gaping hole just inside the doorway. That end of the house was the same as the front, everything had floated and stuff was tossed about. I then took a walk upstairs to the bedrooms and it appeared as if nothing had happened, it was just the way I had left it a couple weeks before. As my wife Sue and I stood there with our friend Jill, looking over the disarray inside the house we were simply dumbfounded. I couldn’t even think about where to begin, there was absolute chaos throughout the first floor. There was not a large sand build-up inside but it was there and everything was damp. At this point I said “I’m going for a walk” and went out the door to view the neighborhood, take some pictures and ponder the way forward. Like my parents I carried no flood insurance, just a fire policy, so whatever remediation was needed would all be on us. But I couldn’t worry about that now, I just needed to walk around and see how others had fared. That was a good thing because I quickly saw that many of the surrounding homes had suffered more structural damage than ours. The water level had reached about five feet in the area, so everything below that point had been inundated. It was interesting to be able to look up the street and see the ocean which typically was blocked by the dunes. That also was scary as there was no protection from the waves if any new bad weather came. After a walk about, returned to the house and joined the girls gathering and tossing wet stuff into the front yard. Going to be along slog from here, no matter what! It took five more visits to get everything out of the first floor that had to go. We tore off the paneling, drywall LivingLBI.com 37
and insulation, then removed all the floor coverings. The appliances went too: refrigerator, stove and hot water heater. After our first visit, stuff in the yard Most of the furniture had to be tossed, anything constructed of chip board which soaked up water, plus lots of other stuff. My wife gathered beach towels, linens, pillow covers and took them to a Laundromat. Think she did about twenty loads of heavy, wet, soggy, sandy laundry over a couple weekends. We tried to save any trinkets and baubles that only needed to be washed. Well the journey back continues to this day. As the lower level was gutted we applied anti-mold spray everywhere, repeating as needed over those first weeks and let the house dry out, leaving windows open to allow the house to breathe. A new electric service was installed in December to replace the dangling meter and I had power back on New Year’s Eve. A contractor has started on the interior restoration and with luck it will be done by March. There is plenty more to do for sure, but it does look like the old Surf Shack will be ready to go by the summer. I sure wish my Dad was around to chat about it. Having a place on the coast is a risky proposition; I accepted that long ago, as did my father. It is the best place to be when the weather is good, but without a doubt the worst if it is not. When Mother Nature rears her head and the oceans rise, look out, because she is in charge. Sandy dealt a terrible blow to Holgate, LBI and much of the Jersey Coast; however the lure of Long Beach Island is strong. We will recover, come back stronger than ever before, and be ready for the next onslaught.
Long Live Holgate!
38 LivingLBI April 2013
After debris removal, restoration begun
The Long Road Home The end of the island where birds fly free Surrounded by beauty of sand and sea, Are mangled memories of our dear friends, Houses ruined, but their hearts will mend. Losses were great and the road is long, They’ll brush off the sand because they are strong, With hammer and nail they’ll remember the past, But it’s the future they’ll build and come home at last. Lisa
LivingLBI.com 39
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Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen’s Museum:
Super Storm Sandy Update
Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen’s Museum is grateful for the community support and concern we have received in the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy. In response to these concerns, we are relieved to report that the Seaport is still here despite significant storm damage to our site and buildings. Executive Director Paul Hart assessed the situation succinctly: “Was it bad? Yes. Will it break us? Never.” Tuckerton Seaport will reopen the second and third floors of the Visitor’s Center (gift shop, offices, and Jacques Cousteau exhibit), the original Hunting Shanty, and Tucker’s Island Lighthouse as soon as electricity is fully restored. Work to remediate the water damage on the ground floor of the Visitor’s Center is underway and that floor is expected to be usable within weeks. Remediation of smaller exhibit buildings, such as the decoy carving shops, will take longer but should be completed in time for the 2013 Season Opening. The 40 acre site suffered water and wind damage, floating debris, and downed trees. High water crested about 18 inches inside the buildings on the boardwalk. Thankfully, the actual boardwalk and bulkhead do not appear to have suffered any storm damage. Tuckerton Seaport is carrying on with special events and winter classes. Please join us on Friday, November 16th for
Ladies Night Out. Also, mark your holiday calendars for the annual Christkindlmarkt on December 8th and 9th. Throughout December the Seaport will hold the inaugural Festival of Trees, supporting regional nonprofits which will be even more critical than when originally organized. We appreciate the overwhelming outpouring of support from our volunteers and we will soon be in a position to put them to work. Tuckerton Seaport was first built by volunteers and community support and will soon be rebuilt in the same spirit of the bay. Our hearts are with our neighbors and friends who suffered damage and loss to their homes and businesses. Tuckerton and the Southern Ocean County Region will rebuild together. For more information, please look to our FaceBook page and www.tuckertonseaport.org in the coming weeks where we will be communicating our steps towards reopening. All the buildings that suffered water damage has had the sheet rock and insulation taken out and has been treated. Now we are in the process of putting the insulation and sheet rock back. We are open daily and will be fully operational in April. LivingLBI.com 41
Do You Have the Heart of A Landlord? Buying An Investment Rental on LBI...
W
hat could be better than buying a place at the shore and having other people carry your mortgage? Sounds great, right? Before you make an offer on that little duplex, read on, and then decide if you have the heart of a landlord. A rental property in a vacation community like Long Beach Island offers perks that don’t exist with a traditional annual lease on the mainland. Traditional rental investment properties build equity and generate income for the investor, and unless the property is a duplex or larger that is also being used as your residence, equity and income is its sole purpose. A vacation rental offers the same opportunity to build equity and generate a stream of income, with the unique difference that the shorter weekly time increments allow you to enjoy the property. So what is the reality? To find out what it takes to qualify for the purchase of a rental property, I spoke with Rick Butera of Real Estate Mortgage Network, Inc., Bayville NJ who writes many mortgages in the Long Beach Island area. “If you have never owned a rental property and you intend to rely on rental income to get financing, you are not going to get a loan. But if you can put 25% down and you can carry the loan yourself, you can get financing. Rental income won’t get you the property, but it will help you to keep it.” As for timing, Rick says, “low interest rates have caused an increase in demand and the shore is the place to be. As long as you can afford it, this is a good time to do it.” He expects interest rates to stay in the mid to high 3%’s for a 30 year mortgage under $625,000 at least through spring. And if you don’t do it, he says, “you are going to miss an opportunity.” 42 LivingLBI April 2013
Marty Pecora of BayShore Agency’s® North Beach Haven office agrees with Rick’s assessment. “We won’t likely see interest rates this low for a long, long time,” he says. “Housing prices are down, interest rates are low, and there are long-time owners who have decided that they are ready to sell their homes. This may very well be one of the “good times” to buy on a resort island that is in a rebuilding phase.” Marty owns several rental properties, so he can speak as a real estate agent and as an experienced landlord. When Marty started shopping for a rental property on Long Beach Island, he narrowed down his focus to properties that had a history of being rented successfully and were close to the island’s attractions. He wanted a property that didn’t require crossing the Boulevard to get to the beach, and he wanted a property in the nicest neighborhood that needed fixing up. “If your plan is to rent to families, choose a neighborhood where the beach has a lifeguard, or if you are looking at the bayside, choose a property that is near a playground to make it more desirable.” He specifically went out to look on rainy days so he could see where it was flooded. After Hurricane Sandy, this is particularly valid advice. Managing a Rental Property Understanding the down side of having an income stream from your beach home is the key to understanding if you are cut out to be a landlord. The first time you get an irate tenant in your property you may regret rental property ownership. The air conditioner isn’t working on the hottest day of the year, the pilot light is out on the hot water heater, there are ants in the property, or the toilet is stopped up.
If you aren’t available to personally address what the tenant perceives as a crisis, Marty advises “you must have good people in place to get out and fix the problem.” Part of the value of having a Realtor is having someone to handle these emergencies. Rental offices are not property managers, but a good rental office will serve as a buffer between you and an irate tenant. When a call comes to the rental office from a tenant who is having a problem, the real estate office will contact you, the property owner, for authorization to send out a professional. If you can’t be reached, part of your agreement with the Realtor is that they are authorized to call your designated professional to take care of the problem. This service is part of the value of the agency’s rental commission, which is typically negotiated to 12%. According to Marty, for that service alone, “it is money well spent.” Property emergencies aren’t the only issues that come with owning a rental property. Tenants have been known to invite groups of friends and end up with more people than the property’s maximum occupancy rate. Or they may try to sneak in a pet, which when expressly excluded in the lease, is grounds for eviction. A group of college kids may host a beach house frat party. As a rental property owner you have to be prepared to deal firmly with this type of tenant, or retain the services of a good Realtor who can help buffer the landlord/tenant interaction. Calculating your Cost of Ownership If you aren’t discouraged by the realities of owning a rental property, next you need to consider the cost of ownership. You must enter rental property ownership expecting that cost increases come with the territory. As a direct result of Hurricane Sandy, building costs are expected to rise due to tighter building codes. The cost of flood insurance is going to increase. If you expect it, you can be prepared. Rental rates, which are set by the landlord, can be adjusted to reflect the increased cost of owning the property, but need to remain low enough to stay attractive to renters. So what are the costs of rental property ownership? Here is a simple example to illustrate the potential of real estate as an investment. It is important to talk to your accountant or financial advisor and to enlist the help of a good real estate agent before getting started, and then spend time carefully researching properties. In this example, our fictitious purchaser and their real estate agent did their homework and settled on a desirable duplex east of the Boulevard with a good rental history. The purchase price of this fictitious property is $550,000. This buyer puts 25% down ($137,500), and finances the
remaining $412,500 at 3.50% for 30 years, for a principal and interest cost of $1853.00 per month. The taxes of are $5800 per year, and homeowners and flood insurance currently cost $4000 per year, averaging $816.00 per month. The total monthly payment for principal, interest, taxes and insurance is $2669.00 per month. The buyer knows that this property has a rental history of $2500 per week/per unit from June through August, and the duplex’s units are identical. The duplex will generate $20,000 per month, ($10,000 per unit), $60,000 for the season, renting in June, July and August. Nice! Of course May, September and October are still good rental months, but this is a simple example. How does the calculation break down on costs? You know the property will generate $60,000 in income for three months, and the principal, interest, taxes and insurance will cost you $32,028.00 annually. The previous owner set a modest repair and improvement expense of $5500 per year to cover that hot water heater, new roof or broken appliance. In case every week isn’t rented, a vacancy rate of 3 weeks is factored in, (just short of 15%) a figure of $7500 for the season. A cleaning service, considered by property owners to be a worthwhile expense for a stressfree summer, will cost $2400 for a summer of weekly changeovers for both floors of the duplex. Electric and water costs can run $2000 per season. Services offered by a Realtor will run a little over $6000 for the summer, including the vacancy rate. Based on this example, your summer vacation home can result in a small profit, with time to bring your family to the beach and enjoy the benefits of ownership. Of course pre and post season is a great time to enjoy your rental because the crowds are gone and the weather is great. If these scenarios have encouraged you to buy a rental property, you just may have the heart of a landlord. As always, check with your accountant or financial advisor first, do your homework, include conversations with the township about permits and current building requirements, and if you are ready, enlist the help of a smart Realtor to help you find a rental that will help you leverage your vacation property. Donna Levy is a Real Estate Agent for BayShore Realty® in the N. Beach Haven office. Her family has owned a Holgate property since the 1970’s. Questions or comments? write2donna@Ibayshore.com Please visit her web site at www.BeachHavenLBIRealEstate.com
DonnaL@BayshoreLBI.com Donna Levy 1813 Long Beach Boulevard North Beach Haven, NJ 08008 www.bayshoreagency.com
609-492-3100
LivingLBI.com 43
A Sea Gull Meets Sandy
G
arth’s feathers bristled as he stood atop the bay front condo building in Barnegat Light on the morning of October 28, 2012. It had rained intermittently during the night, but now the sun shone brightly amid scattered clouds. A few scattered showers remained on the mainland directly across Barnegat Bay. Garth is a Herring Gull named by a fisherman who became his friend many seasons ago. The fisherman had left for the season, and Garth would spend the winter in Barnegat Light. His head ached due to the low atmospheric pressure that enveloped him. Garth thought it never was this bad, and by all means, given the low pressure, he should be in the midst of a terrible storm right now. Occasionally he would experience strong gusts of wind, but the winds were not sustained. From his perch he could see much of Barnegat Light, and he could see that there were very few people around. Most of the other sea gulls also had fled to the Mainland. Still perplexed, he took flight to see if he could discover from where the bad weather would be approaching. It was not easy to maneuver in the wind gusts as he began to fly the spiral pattern that he used to achieve great height. As he rose, the atmospheric pressure became lower and lower, making it difficult to maintain altitude, let alone attempt to fly higher. When he had reached a height of several hundred feet he noticed the darkened sky to the Southeast. There it was! It was so large, it seemed to be endless. Then, without warning, a sustained wind gust caught him from behind as he flew the westward leg of his spiral. Before he realized what was happening, he was propelled forward at a dizzying speed and began to tumble. First the bay stretched before his eyes, then the sky, then the bay 44 LivingLBI April 2013
again. Instinctively, he drew his wings in tight to his body, thereby offering less resistance to the wind. He stopped tumbling and his forward motion slowed. The bay was slowly coming up to meet him as he lost altitude. All the time he was being swept in a westerly direction. After what seemed to be an eternity, Garth spread his wings and regained control of his flight. He dropped as low in the sky as he could where it was easier to fly. The wind at his back continued to propel him westward. Little did he know that Hurricane Sandy was at that moment making her westward move and would be pursuing him at a speed of 29 mph. Garth continued overland with rain squalls occasionally interrupting his journey. Eventually he reached the Delaware River and crossed over into Pennsylvania. The terrain became mountainous, and he was thankful for that because he knew it was important, not only to reach shelter, but to reach high ground as well. He arrived in the Pocono Mountains and was surprised to see that other gulls were there as well. Never before had he been so far inland, but the company of his own kind made him feel better. Looking down, he noticed a small lake, no more than a half mile across, nestled within a hilly terrain made up of beckoning mountain laurels reaching down to the lake shore. Interspersed among these laurels were a number of majestic pine trees that shuddered in the wind. After circling, he descended toward the tempestuous lake surface. He saw other gulls paddling nervously about, but he did not recognize any of them. Apparently, they had not come from Long Beach Island. Slowly, nightfall enveloped the wind-battered lake and the terrain surrounding it. Garth flew to the shore and ascended the embankment into the darkness and
welcome protection of the laurels. The ground was covered with pine needles, and with little effort, he made a bed on which to spend the night. Back at the New Jersey shore, Hurricane Sandy’s core winds dropped below 74 mph, and in weatherman’s jargon, she became Superstorm Sandy. At 8 pm she made landfall with devastating ferocity near Atlantic City. Accompanying the landfall was an eye wall surge of 6-12 feet, and right behind this were seas as high as 18 feet. The pain continued to grow in Garth’s head as he experienced the close-in atmospheric pressure resulting from a storm of 940 millibars as Sandy passed over Atlantic City. Never in recorded weather history had a storm north of the Carolinas attained so low a reading. The closest had been the 1938 Long Island Express with 946 millibars. Discomfort seemed to add to the length of Garth’s night. Sleep slowly overtook him, but it was fitful, at best. The dawn finally arrived, yet still the storm raged around him. The 1000-mile diameter storm continued for two more days, occasionally offering the hope of reprieve from the drenching rain and wind, only to be followed again by more of the same. In the evenings, Garth was able to catch mice and moles that emerged from their hiding places. It was this sustenance that kept him alive. On the third night of the storm, a weary Garth tucked his head beneath a wing and thought of his mate and this year’s lone offspring whom he had last seen back at Barnegat Light. The female fledgling had never experienced a hurricane before, and her fate did not seem promising if she were separated from her mother. As Garth drifted off into sleep he thought of his beloved Long Beach Island and wondered what he would find when he returned. But he would be back!
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A Story about an Impish Spirit who Lives in a Discarded Milk Bottle at the Bottom of Barnegat Bay
Have your child or grandchild appear as a character in S. M. Zdep’s latest book, Manëtu, a children’s story (24 pg.) about a Spirit who interacts with and plays tricks on children on Long Beach Island. In addition, each copy of the book will be dedicated to the recipient and be personally autographed by the author. Please complete the form below and return it to S. M. Zdep, 226 Ocean Drive, Beach Haven, NJ 08008. The introductory price for each book is $20.00, plus $3.95 postage and handling. ------------------------------------------------------ ---------------Name of child to appear in book Child’s age (Attach list of additional names for each order) -----------------------------------------------------Name of child’s friend (Optional) Send my book(s) to Nanme:___________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________ Town, St Zip:______________________________________
Grow your own Figs Free Fig Cuttings Will again Be Available this Year LivingLBI will again be offering free cuttings beginning April 15 at Art & Décor in Surf City, 1715 Long Beach Blvd., Surf City, NJ. Phone 609-494-5038. You will have your choice of purple or yellow fig cuttings. The purple figs are smaller, sweeter and juicier. The yellow figs are larger, suitably sweet, but with the consistency of a pear. Your fig cutting is ready to be planted. Choose a VERY sunny location and give it 3-5 feet of space all around. Plant it about 8 inches deep in the best soil you have available. Keep it watered, and in 3-4 weeks you should see new growth appear. The existing leaves may fall off as the cutting gives way to new growth. As it grows, you may need to support it with a bamboo or similar stake. Do not fertilize the first year. If you cannot plant immediately, place the cutting in a container of water so that the bottom 8 inches remains wet. Early next year lightly apply a general fertilizer such as 10-10-10. Early next spring trim off the top third of new growth so that lateral branches appear. Keep it trimmed each spring if you want a bush rather than a tree. Left untrimmed, the plant can grow to 20 feet, but the fruit will be within reach of birds only. If you follow these instructions, you should have your first figs next year. Enjoy! LivingLBI.com 45
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46 LivingLBI April 2013
Happy Hour
Thursday - Sunday in March
Opening in April
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