The Binnacle April       2003                                                                 Volume XIX, No. 1 Ocean City Historical Museum                                  1735 Simpson Ave.,  Ocean City, NJ     08226 From The President’s Desk . . .        In case you didn’t know the ospreys returned to Ocean City on March 26^th and they are building nests with a fury. The laughing gulls are back and even the black ibis have made their way back to us. Yes, our member snowbirds are also arriving back in Ocean City. It has been a long winter and a lot of snow shoveling for those of us that stayed home.      Your museum staff and officers have had a very busy time over the winter months. A great shock occurred in the history and arts worlds when Governor McGreevy announced that he was eliminating the funding for these groups. This is serious. This will mean that many museums will have to cut programs, services, staff, and probably the hours open to the public. We have attended a number of meetings in Trenton, appeared, supplied testimony to the Assembly Budget and Finance sub- committee, and generally worked with all of our museum associations in an attempt restore this funding. What does this mean to us? Without this funding, we may have to make changes to what we do and what we had hope to do in the future.        Now for some good news; We attended the award ceremony in Trenton on April 2^nd when we officially received our award for the grant year just completed. It was sad to hear more than once during this ceremony that if the governor doesn’t restore the funding  “you are probably attending the last one of these events.”      For the last three Binnacle editions I have attempted to update you on the latest happenings on our humidity and mold problems. The changes to the HVAC equipment are presently underway. A recent survey of our facility, which is presently being reviewed by all involved parties, has suggested several other options that may be required. All recommendations to date have indicated that the museum artifacts, books, and all other objects in our building will have to be cleansed of the mold on their surfaces at the completion of all other repairs and changes. This will be exceedingly costly and time consuming and may even cause us to not be able to properly cleanse some of our historical items. We will do our best to keep the membership advised in a timely manner as to the progress on our problem.      This will be a great summer with all of the special programs and exhibits planned. One major exhibit that will open on May 17 celebrates the 80^th anniversary of the Flanders Hotel and the 75th Anniversary of the Ocean City Pops.          Let,s make this a banner summer for the Friends of the Ocean City Historical Museum, Inc. We need you.!!!!! Officers and   Trustees 2003 President Paul S. Anselm   Vice-President Joyce Brooks Secretary Gretchen Bingham Treasurer Polly Gillis Past President Marian Moore Trustees Margaret Christian Richard Grimes Raymond S. Jones Fred Miller Ruth Rundgren Margaret Schock Dorothy Turner Carolyn Tonti   Staff Business   Administrator Linda A. Long                                                            THE FRIENDS OF THE OCEAN CITY HISTORICAL MUSEUM, INC. RECEIVED AN   OPERATING SUPPORT GRANT IN 2003 FROM THE NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL COMMISSION,   A DIVISION OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.