Ampersand
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•May 18, 2016
It’s Time to Take Skeeters Seriously
Summer is only weeks away, and with the arrival of hot humid days comes the annual return of the mosquitoes.
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•March 30, 2016
Why I Stole the Kids’ Balloons
This letter is to the children in North Beach who built that truly awesome fort over Easter weekend – from the mean lady who stole your balloons.
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•March 23, 2016
Are Bay Mud Deposits a Threat to Health?
Recent retreating flood tides, including those in Superstorm Sandy, deposited bay mud with unknown amounts of chemical pollutants on the streets and lawns of properties close to the bay as well as…
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•February 10, 2016
Shelter Success Story
Five seconds after I entered the door of the Manahawkin animal shelter, I knew I was “hooked.”A large metal cage in one corner of the reception area held six playful, 10-week old kittens, all from…
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•December 21, 2015
Jury Duty: ‘I Think I Can’t’
The wind had blown to the ground most of the fading leaves that just weeks earlier looked spectacular in bright shades of yellow, red and orange. Now they sat quietly in a brown heap at the curb…
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•November 25, 2015
Confessions of a Christmas Music Lover
I voluntarily chose to put on the Christmas music channel last week while getting ready for work. Yes, you read that right – I chose to listen to Christmas music a week before Thanksgiving.
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•November 18, 2015
Her Answer Was Blowin’ in the Wind
My brother Christopher Ciccarelli wanted to propose to his girlfriend, Michele Malone, at their favorite place: LBI. Little did he know that it was going to be a good story to tell (at least we think…
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•September 17, 2015
The Wizard of Bohemia
It was originally Higman’s General Store in the 1950s. I was about 13 or 14 years old when I first became aware of the antique store that Higman’s became, The Wizard of Odds, in Beach Haven Crest…
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•September 2, 2015
On the Beach, Enjoying the Show
Just the other day we went up to the beach, got comfy in our beach chairs and leaned back to watch the show. That day the ocean was entertaining us with giant waves churning white foam in massive…
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•August 26, 2015
Bittersweet Bankruptcy Beach Reading: A Eulogy for Show Place and Surflight Theatre
“Dream the impossible dream; eat the impossible sundae …” So the song goes – or rather, went – at Show Place Ice Cream Parlour in Beach Haven. Sadly, Show Place and the adjoining Surflight Theatre…
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•August 19, 2015
On LBI, Don’t Sweat the Little Stuff
Most of the time I have the process down pat. Saturday mornings I drive to the nail salon in Ship Bottom to get there by 9:30 a.m. to try to avoid the changeover traffic of the renters who are in a…
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•August 6, 2015
Kick the Plastic Habit
During hot summer days at the Jersey Shore, beaches are crowded with folks having fun in the sun. Unfortunately, lots of litter is left behind. All beach trash is bad, but the plastics that wash and…
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July 29, 2015
More Than a Beach House
Bridget “Dillon” Cunningham, a 25-year-old teacher in North Philadelphia, recently wrote the following to mark the end of an era of good times atthe Surf City home of hergrandparents, Don and Valerie…
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•July 1, 2015
My First Non-LBI Summer
My first Long Beach Island summer came around 1957 when the Shapiros dominated the single-home construction activity close to Beach Haven while other builders were busy up and down the sprawling…
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•June 3, 2015
Memorable Weekend
This Memorial Day weekend was undoubtedly one I will never forget. It actually began on Thursday night when I stopped at a furniture store on the way to LBI and miraculously found a living room set…
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•May 20, 2015
‘The Rock’ and Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Have you had the pleasure of seeing “the rock”? I’m talking about the large granite boulder that sits in the sand on the side of the road on southbound Route 539 six miles north of Route 72. If the…
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•May 13, 2015
Old Charlie
Several years ago when I was cleaning out some old newspapers in my garage I came across a name on the obituary page that had a familiar ring: Charles Protzel. It took a few minutes, but I soon…
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•April 15, 2015
A Poem for Home
I always considered myself blessed growing up in this magical place. I spent half my childhood in the spirited woods bordering the Jersey Pine Barrens and the other half frolicking on the whimsical…
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•April 1, 2015
Jesus’ Message: Let There Be Light
The approach of Easter, following Good Friday this week, gave me thought to comment on a new perspective I recently heard about an ancient incident in history. The arrival of Gov. Chris Christie in…
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•October 29, 2014
The Uncalm Before the Storm
Editor’s Note: The following is a page from the author’spersonal journaltwo years ago.
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•October 22, 2014
Catching Our Collective Breath
Every year on the Monday following Chowdah Fest weekend, something wonderful happens to lift my mood.
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August 25, 2014
Post-Sandy, We'll Get It Together
The following was written by 14-year-old Molly Schreier in the voice of her “nana” following Superstorm Sandy.
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•August 13, 2014
The Good Witch of 105th Street
This summer started in the same old-fashioned, irritating way: runners and walkers going the wrong direction on Ocean Boulevard and Beach Avenue and the presence of sandy paws along with sandy feet.…
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•August 6, 2014
No Free Lunch, No Free Beaches
Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water again, there’s a new proposal in Trenton that would, essentially, pave the way for a state takeover of our beaches. Eliminating beach fees is…
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•July 16, 2014
Christie, Obama: Failure to Lead
Telling the truth and speaking your mind are not, statistically speaking, mutually inclusive.
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•July 2, 2014
The Survivor’s Story
She was a gentle lady, with a pretty, red, silk scarf flowing over a handsome, little sundress, and a wonderful, wide-brimmed straw hat. As she sat in the chamber, waiting for her time, she played…
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•June 25, 2014
Land Preservation in New Jersey Is at a Crossroads
“Right now, we are on track to become the first state in the union to run out of open space. I love New Jersey being first in a lot of things, but that’s not where we want to be.” That was former…
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•June 18, 2014
Finding Inspiration Inside a Melon Campaign
After interviewing Michael McWilliams at Digs Apparel, the man behind #amelonaday, which encourages others to help raise awareness for Traumatic Brain Injury by sharing beautiful images featuring…
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•May 28, 2014
One Last Vestige of Colonial N.J. Land Grants Remains
Once a year, America’s oldest continuously operating corporation meets in a tiny building in Burlington City, N.J. Instead of business suits, shareholders dress in Quaker costumes.
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•May 21, 2014
Guard Who Got Away
Contrary to the many changes to the Island over the years both in population and building development, I am happy to know that some things never change. One of those things is the tale of the summer…
