This year’s “Nightmare in Strathmere” was rudely interrupted by Hurricane Irene. Originally scheduled for August 27, it had to be rescheduled to September 3 – the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. This meant that the SFEC had to run two major events in one day – the Kids’ Surf Tournament and Nightmare.
There is no Chairman for Nightmare. Rather, the entire Board runs the event, with President Bud of course taking the lead. Everyone really pitched in and the delayed event became one of our best ever.
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Tee shirts and raffle tickets were available at our “sales” tent outside of Twisties.
We virtually sold out of tee shirts.
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There were fears that, because so many boats had been pulled from the water with the threat of Irene, we would have very few entries in the boat parade. The boaters came through, however, and put on a great show – both in quantity and quality.
First, the judges go by to select the winning docks…
Then the boats line up for the parade…
A boat with a dancer entertains the crowds…
Then the Grand Marshall Boat…
The Grand Marshalls of the Parade were Frank and Candy Jankowski, who own and run Frank’s Boat Rentals and have done many great things for the SFEC and Strathmere…
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Then came the actual entries…
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The Pirates of Whittier Avenue say the sand from their big beach came from the Inlet and they aren’t giving it back…
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A great theme…
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“Strathmere, a Venetian Dream”. This boat did not win (they took third place), but they did a wonderful decorating job. Two “just marrieds” get transported down the bay…
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Another good pirate ship…
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Pretty clever – “The Lazy Boys Fishing Team”. This took second place.
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This “double” entry was also very well done…
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“Knock. knock. Orange you glad…”
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“The Strathmere Swamp People” – “You Kill It, We Grill It”
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This was the only “tribute” to Hurricane Irene – “The Castaways”
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Apparently we had two “Strathmere Swamp People” entries – so these folks became the Marsh People…
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This entry was probably the most original – and won first place among the boats.
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The “Strathmere Car Wash” is a politically incorrect reference to the twins from Sea Isle, seniors at Ocean City HS, who drove their SUV off our bridge into 20 feet of cold water on February 1st.
Since they escaped with only minor injuries, it was okay to spoof them. See story here.
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This, of course, is the float – oops, boat – from the parade in Animal House. To-ga, to-ga, to-ga!
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And now, pictures of the docks (we just got some more)…
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This is “Phillies on Vacation”
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The “Strathmere Memorial Cemetery”
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This is “Get Lei’d – Be Happy” They look happy!
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“Irene’s Got Nuttin’ – or Next to Nuttin'”
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“Our Flag Waves High”
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And a view of the crowd watching the boat parade…
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Then on to the Deauville Beach Bar for the Awards and Raffle Drawing
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Bud thanks the members of the SFEC Board for working
so hard all day to run both the Kids’ Tournament and Nightmare…
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He then introduces Frank and Candy Jankowski, the Parade Grand Marshalls
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First Prize for Houses Off the Bay went to
The Murrays for “Indian Summer”
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Third place for Houses / Docks on the bay went to
the Riordans for “Phillies on Vacation”
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Second place for Houses / Docks on the bay went to
the Stephensons for “Strathmere Memorial Cemetery”
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First place for Houses / Docks on the bay went to
the Weavers for “Get Lei’d – Be Happy”
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Third place for boats went to
Ralph Forbes for “Venetian Dream”
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Second place for boats went to
Jeff Gouza for “Lazy Boys Fishing Team”
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and First place for the boats went to
the McNallys for “Strathmere Car Wash”
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Then it was time for the raffle. Frank and Candy drew the ticket, and the first place winners were
Andrew and Megan Townsend!
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Second place in the raffle went to Doreen Callahan and third place went to Jim Cannon
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