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Herald A lantern 19 May '82

Erosion Control . (From Page!) the ocean currents causing sand to collect at the base of the unit. The build up of sand results in large waves breaking further from the beach and slows their force before they reach the shore. The reef also doubles as a dam which blocks eroding sand from drifting away from the beach, thus building larger sand deposits along the shore. The seaweed is constructed of a clothlike material in three basic components. The anchor tube is the base of the unit. It is a five ft. long pouch that is filled about three-quarters deep with gravel or sand. Weighing about 60 lbs. when full, the base sits on the ocean floor. The tentacles are four ft. high strips of material connected to. the base. Attached to the tentacles are foam strips which help the tentacles to float. The cost of each unit is about $24 and including installation runs about $35 per unit. Tin-: PROJECT AT Cape Hatteras used 500 units and saved between 250-300 ft. of beach, said Garrett. If the devitfe was to be employed in Stone Harbor, approximately the same amount of kelp would be used "The advantages of the kelp are the low cost, as compared to jetties or groins, and the fact that it is aethetically pleasing because it is out of sight underwater," Garrett said noting too that the kelp doesn’t pollute, since it is 100 percent polypropylene, but does seek to provide shelter for young fish. Those attending the meeting seemed very positive about the “Kelp’s" effects. William Maher, resident of Cape May and former marine biologist, commented. "I am very curious to sw how the kelp works in a natural bekch setting. The fact that the barrier islands are here at all is due to the beach grasses slowing down the water and wind which allowed sand to deposit," he said. "I can see the Seascape uses the same principle underwater. I would like lo see the units placed along the beach areals in South Jersey which have an erosion pi^>blem." Garrett plans to conduct more minimeetings to inform the community of the advantages of .Seascape. As each winter storm claims more and more resort beaches, synthetic kelp may be gaining grass roots support. Terry Xughes Is a freelance writer in Avalon.

The Story of a Big Move-

(From Page Dfrustrations that came to pass before a new site was found would make a charm mg story to be placed on the solving at the new library which goes into "circulation" in June This Saturday a hand to-hand "book * brigade" will transfer 26,000 volumes two blocks across town to the site of Ibc new library, the former Bell Telephone switching building The move will be • illustrated - by television crews and newspaper photographers as a parddc like community event is finally recorded Mrs KIwpII calculates hundreds of peo^ pie are needed to move two books per second starting at 8:30 am until all the books arrive in their new home "Pray for sunshine," Mrs. Elwelrfcaid. For the past several months, Mrs Klwell And her aides Linda Smith and Susan Hnant, and numerous volunteers have tavn packing whiskey and super market cartons with rare books and theod dittos from all over the world that have accumulated on the upper shelves, walls and window sills of the old library, sent by library patrons who nostalgically remembered,happy moments searching for books in (’ape May THERE AkE SHELL specimens, a blinking lighthouse ia'mn. photos of Washington Street during bygone days, an Indian vase from Arizona '"You can cook beana in it." Mrs dwell said), sand dollars, a starfish, a miniature camel with all the authentic trappings of‘a real camef, and a Miss Piggy poster A bow front china closet that stood in the library 'music room' will stand in the new library, once again filled with the shell collection that has intrigued a generation of youngsters. "We are going to retain, the Cape May feeling in the new library," said Emma Elwell "You couldn't plunk a modern library down in the middle of Cape May " Every memento has a story, equal to any tale in the library, and Mrs. Elwell remembers them well- Preparipg for the move, as the old knicknacs were brought down, Mrf Elwell’s memory has frequent^ ly been stirred One "memory” not only brought hack the past, if conked her on the head A box of handmade nails and dowels dislodged by the transfer of things, fell down and "gave me quite a headache.” Mrs Elwell said But, she remembered they had come from the original house where Roth's Candy Store now stands.

AS MOVING DAY NEARS, Emma Elwell admits she views the' changeover from one library to another with some homesickness "I'll mfcs this place," she $aid "It’s been a part of my life for 21 years now. You don't divorce yourself from something like that. Oh, the memories It’s a wonderful reward when you look up at a young man who you could once barely see behind the desk Or when some youngster comes in to say he got an A from the help he got here That’s a wonderful feeling." Along with the knicknacs on the shelves will go other well remembered items such as ftir bishop's chair — sq called by youngsters who curled up on thci ornately carved oak chair to read their books, "The bishop's chair" came from Horn's Department Store in Pittsburgh and was given to the library by an elderly woman "It had been a wedding present and she wanted the library to have it. It’s been recovered ^because the children liked that ebair^go “much they wore out the upholstofy." EMMA ELWELL. TOO. came/from Pittsburgh "I was born and raised in the Allegheny Mountains and camCMo Cape May as a bride 56 years ago. I had never seen the ocean before." she recollected. She became city librarian in 1961 While generations of Cape Mayers and vacationers have enjoyed the basement library it has been a poor environment for the books "It’s damp down here," Mrs Elwell says, "I usfd to look down the shelves and see the mold on the books." The main room and three smaller rooms have become increasingly overcrowded, jOst like what happened in the storybook about the Los Angeles Zoo: Everybody agreed It was a terrible zoo. Too small. Too crowded. Too old. Too ugly. The birds spohe often and loudly about their crowded conditions. The storybook describes how the keepers moved the occupants to the new zoo, including l 1 ^ mile elephant walk fdr the elephants Cape May's books too will be "walked" hand to hand by hundreds of volunteers who will partiepate in the event "We arc going to have zone captains," Emma Elwell said. "The Library Commission has worked a long, long time setting up the book brigade " IN THE NEW LIBRARY all the old,familiar things will be affixed in new places "All the old shelving goes that's not nailed down." said Mrs. Elwell. The new

PREVIEWING ITEMS to be featured during the llth annual Champagne Fling auction benefiting the American Cancer Society, May 23 at the Golden Inn, Avalon, are chairpersons Mary Jane Soens. Jane Campbell and Alison Ruff. For donations or information, call 967-8183 or 465-369. library will have "wide open spaces," according to Mrs. Elwell. A 30x15 ft. children's section will allow for plenty of room to provide special programs for youngsters. The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts has paid for the furbishing of the childreh's area and the art department of the Cape May City Elementary School has worked on colorful tiles for its decoration. The new library will have a "nice entry way," according to Mrs. Elwell. "It will be air conditioned, moisture controlled and oil heated." A metered parking lot will provide space for four cars. "Most people bike or walk to the library." Some finishing touches remain io be worked out. "Someone is needed to sew curtains for the new library and we still need $3,000 to make ends Jor the stacks. We want to use wood in the library. It has a warmth and a nice feel to it. We want to retain the cozy feeling people have always found in the library," Mrs. Elwell said. "The building will change, but the staff is still the same. We’ve been working and planning for this for a long, long time. This is going to be a story with a happy ending." Libby Demp Forest of Cape May is a feature writer.

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