Mud Slide on Strum Island, Fall of 2005

Mr. Kern, who has been in the property development business for over 25 years, said he has never experienced problems with any of his previous projects.
"We care as much as anyone in this area for the development of Strum Island to be clean, nice, environmentally sensitive," he said. "There's nothing I'm ashamed of that's going on out here. In fact, I'm proud of it."
One such tree, which housed an osprey nest, became a victim of the recent storm.
He has already installed a utility pole and platform in its place for the birds to rebuild on, and plans to place an additional two at other sites on the island.
There are no birds nesting in these so called utility poles that Mr Kern said there would be!!!!

October 2,2002, Lighthouse Publishing,Robert Hirtle

Mr. Kern, whose company purchased the island two years ago, said the work being carried on at Strum is not detrimental, but is necessary to stop the island from washing away.
Mr. Kern said that Strum Island has been eroding into the sea at an alarming rate for a number of years.

To stop this, he is constructing a sea wall on the southeast side of the island, which, in conjunction with the three terraces he is building up the bank, should halt the process.

"The only way you can stop erosion is to take the weight off," he explained. "In the winter time, it rains and freezes, and that whole hillside becomes one solid mass like an avalanche."

He said when the ocean hits the bottom of the mass, it breaks loose and slides into the sea.

He also said the only trees that have been removed from the island are spruce trees which have either blown down or were in danger of being uprooted.
One such tree, which housed an osprey nest, became a victim of the recent storm.
He has already installed a utility pole and platform in its place for the birds to rebuild on, and plans to place an additional two at other sites on the island.