The world’s largest known collection of New Jersey beach badges, over 800 strong, belongs to Bob Kugel of Ship Bottom. The first-ever book on the subject, a colorful hardcover titled 55 Years of Long Beach Island Beach Badges 1967-2022, is newly released from West Creek-based Down The Shore Publishing.

At his own raised bayside bungalow, the author beamed as he beheld the culmination of his collecting, cataloguing and writing efforts.