Echoes of LB I Magazine
TM
2011 Endless Summer & Holiday Edition
Long Beach Island Arts and Lifestyle Magazine
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Sales and Rental Properties on Long Beach Island Located in the quaint fishing village of Barnegat Light, Inman Realty was founded in 1961 by Joseph W. Inman. Since 1990, it has been owned and operated by Sarah Ann Miller.
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Publisher’s Note
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y family and I have lived on LBI for many years. I am part of the third generation to live here year round. While most of my family has lived in Harvey Cedars, at the north end of the Island, we have also had family living in other towns along the 18-mile stretch. I have fond memories of summers spent with my cousins in Holgate. They ran Maxie’s Marina and Rowboat Rentals. Maxie’s was owned by the Saddlers and was in operation from about 1948 until 1983. One particular cousin-related memory involves horseshoe crabs. Those crustaceans had plenty of breeding grounds on the Island when I was a child and were easily found on the beaches. One incident I remember vividly. My male cousins would scare and chase me with the horseshoe crabs they found on the beach. I didn’t realize until years later that these prehistoric creatures have no muscles in their pinchers and could not bite me. As summer comes to an end, it’s nice to reflect on memories like this and remember the crazy times spent with family and friends. As the days become cooler and daylight hours shorten, there is still plenty to do on LBI through the fall and winter months. October brings us Chowderfest, Things A Drift’s Mini Sea Glass Festival and Art Show, and the New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge. In December, we have the Borough’s Christmas Parade and holiday Treasure Hunt, sponsored by the Ship Bottom Merchants Association. Many interesting programs and films are presented throughout the year at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences. And don’t forget to visit the museums in Barnegat Light and Beach Haven. If you haven’t visited the Island during the cooler months, it should definitely be on your “to do” list. The Island has a special appeal after Labor Day. The autumn and winter beaches, bare of colorful umbrellas, are perfect for walking the shoreline or enjoying the last warm days of sunshine. The water tends to stay relatively warm well into October. Boating and fishing are still enjoyable and the beaches are less crowded. The “off-seasons” are often the best time to hunt for shells and sea glass. This is also a fabulous time to shop at the local stores that stay open year round. Also, take this opportunity to enjoy shorter wait times at our local restaurants. You can find Echoes at all of our advertisers, the museums, the library, the Chamber of Commerce, an outdoor box on Fourth Street in Ship Bottom, and numerous establishments on and off the Island. Many advertisers have a few back editions, which have become sought after collectibles. If you can’t get here to pick up a copy, you can always read us online at www.echoesofbli.com or email us, at echoesoflbi@gmail.com. We’ll make sure you get your copy. I want to thank my dedicated team of writers, artists, photographers, editors, and designers who share my vision for Echoes. After each issue, people thank me for reminding them of special LBI memories. I would enjoy hearing your story, too. Visit me at Things A Drift in Ship Bottom. As I say with every issue, it takes an island to create Echoes of LBI. Stay, or come back, after Labor Day, enjoy more of what LBI has to offer, and create some memories. Have a nice sunset ...
First In Marjorie Amon photo
Beach Balls, Left to Right: Chelsea Steinberg Tina Overman Chelsea Stulga Holly Aitken Lauren Gleason Elizabeth Weber Chelsea Johnston Brianna Reigstad Julia Burd Kate Salerno Rachel Heussner Christine Seddon Cassandra Ettman Annabel Maschal Tarah Trebino Andie Sablosky
beachballsofsummer
The boards of summer fill the beach, one last stand before the season surfs on into autumn ... — Maggie O’Neill
inside
art, 8 photography, 14 living well, 22 poetry, 26 legends and lore, 30 beach reads, 32 lifestyle, 34 a shore thing, 60 marine science, 62 50 and counting, 63 looking back, 74 why you should stay, 80 Echoes of LBI Magazine
Cheryl Kirby - Owner & Publisher • 609-361-1668 • 406 Long Beach Blvd • Ship Bottom • EchoesofLBI.com for online magazine and media kit All content of magazine & website remains copyright of Cheryl Kirby. No part of publication may be reproduced. Advertisers: People collect Echoes of LBI - your ad has the potential to be seen over & over again for years to come! EchoesofLBI.com Email articles on history, nostalgia, poetry or art to: EchoesofLBI@gmail.com Copy Editor - Kevin M. Rooney • Designer - Pete Milnes • Photographer - Marjorie Amon • Graphic Designer - Sara Caruso Contributing Editors - Rena DiNeno, Maggie O'Neill, Ryan Marchese, Christine Rooney, Vickie VanDoren, Elizabeth Weber, Diane Stulga Cover photo: Sara Caruso: See Art section for Sara’s bio
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ew Jersey Lighthouses and selected museums will again be hosting a “Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey” weekend on October 15 and 16, 2011. Visitors will enjoy the opportunity to tour the state and visit each lighthouse over this weekend, and help raise funds for continued lighthouse preservation. These majestic beacons have played an important role in New Jersey’s history, guarding mariners and protecting our coasts for more than a century. Lighthouses serve as a reminder of American ingenuity while honoring the values of safety and heroism. Visit the lighthouses and museums on the challenge for an opportunity to step back in time and learn more about our state and country’s history. Hours of operation for each lighthouse can be found at www.lighthousechallengenj.org, www.njlhs.org and www.visitnj.org. Night climbs will be offered as well at Absecon, Barnegat, Cape May, Sandy Hook, Tinicum and Tuckerton Seaport.
Boards of Summer. Marjorie Amon photo
Autumn met me on the beach at sunrise. She brought gifts from the sea; shells, pieces of glass, and a weathered bottle in the sand. It’s good to see you, my friend. I’ve waited a year for your return. — Maggie O’Neill
Sara Caruso photos
Check out other local finds at the Art and Mini SeaGlass Festival Oct. 1 & 2 at Things A Drift in Ship Bottom, LBI
Art
Carol Freas
Art In The
Garden
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ne sunny summer morning in late July, eleven members of the Pine Shores Art Association gathered in the Edith Duff Gwinn Garden, behind the old school house museum in Barnegat Light. They arrived one by one, carrying paint boxes, easels, canvasses, and blocks of watercolor paper, as well as bug spray, cameras, and water bottles. Their mission was to capture the beauty of the garden in a “plein air” (open air) setting. Pathways meander through the Garden so flowerbeds can be viewed from all directions. Each artist selected his own spot from which to paint. Linda Ramsey chose to portray a bubbling fountain. Lori Bonami set up her easel and umbrella near a garden walk. Carlo Gaboardi and Paul Daukas preferred to paint in a shaded woodsy area, and Diana Tomash sat on a bench in a special section of the garden dedicated to Frances Selover. Years ago, Frances designed the garden and, with the help of garden club members, created an all-season oasis at the north end of our Island. Pat Morgan decided she would enjoy painting clusters of purple phlox near the back of the museum, while Carol Freas sat with her pallet near a pink hydrangea. Elaine Burnett drew a secPage 8 • Echoes of LBI
Pat Morgan
tion of the garden with green pastel chalks, and Carol Lawrence selected a shady spot near the oval shaped herb garden. This was just one of many idyllic days members of the Pine Shores Art Association have spent in the Garden. The Association has been around for more than 30 years and has always shown a great interest in painting scenes from our Island. In fact, the Association was formed in February of 1981, when eleven artists met in the old Stafford Library to discuss their mutual interests. In July of that year, 33 artists signed on as charter members and, by November, membership had reached 57. Current membership is well over 300 artists. The Association is very active within the Long Beach Island — Manahawkin community and holds monthly meetings, featuring demonstrations by well-known art instructors. Throughout the year, the Association offers art classes for both adults and children, art shows, exhibits, and art history lectures, and it also sponsors art scholarships for graduating high school artists. The lovely setting provided by the Edith Duff Gwinn Garden that is so favored by the Pine Shores Art Association is sponsored by yet another wonderful local club — the Garden Club of Long Beach Island. To say that there is a symbiotic relationship between these two organizations is an understatement. Indeed, there are many people who are members of both of these important local institutions. The Garden Club of Long Beach Island was organized in 1958, and it also contributes greatly to our local community. The Club maintains a garden at the Beach Haven Library in addition to the large garden in Barnegat Light. It holds monthly meetings with guest speakers and flower design demonstrations, as well as a Holiday Tour of Homes every December. The Club awards scholarships every spring to graduating high school seniors planning a college major in landscape design, forestry, environmental science, horticulture, botany, marine biology, or oceanography. Garden Club members have authored a book entitled Gardening At The Shore. The book addresses problems that affect the unique conditions of a barrier reef island and it contains a calendar of month-by-month gardening suggestions. The Garden Club now has a membership of 175, and its motto is “Watch Us Grow.” The Edith Duff Gwinn Garden is open to the public and really is a garden for all seasons. Orange tiger lilies, red, pink, and blue hydrangeas, white Shasta daisies, bright yellow brown-eyed Susans, red coleus, and large leafed begonias capture the eye of garden visitors. As autumn approaches, monarch butterflies stop to rest in the garden before heading south, and red, yellow, and white chrysanthemums liven up the garden beds, along with Japanese anemones and toad lilies. Leaves on dogwood and
Paul Daukas
maple trees will soon begin to change from green to shades of red and orange. A stroll through the Garden is a joy in every season — not only for artists, but for the rest of us, too! — Jackie Ostberg, more art from “Art in the Garden” in next issue!•
Linda Ramsay
Art
Ed Luterio marine art, this page
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Echoes of LBI Cover Photo by Sara Caruso
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Karen Bagnard
Tom Seiz
ara Caruso, a talented photographer and graphic designer, recently graduated from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, with a Bachelor in Art in Graphic Design. After studying black and white photography, and working with a vintage manual Asasi camera, she moved to digital and color. Though her creative spirit inspires photographs for commercial uses, she loves to work with wildlife photography. The works of Ansel Adams and Art Wolfe, inspire Sara’s photography. Some of her photos have been featured in calendars sold at bookstores, such as Barnes and Noble. Her graphic design experience has included commercial ads, posters and banners, logos, and layout designs for periodicals and websites. Although Sara lives farther from the ocean than she did as a child, she has always been fascinated with the amazing array of species that frolic in our seas. While at the beach, if she is not photographing some fascinating sight, she can be found half hunched over, scouring the sands for bits of sea glass that glint in the sun. •
Art by Art
The Hamptons it’s not. My Beachhaven is slow moving cars, joggers, cyclers and surfers; ice cream trucks for kids; eggs and milk at Murphy’s; wraps at Pearl Street Market; the LBI Historical Museum; The LBI Maritime Museum; the Surflight Theatre; and the beach and the vast, moody ocean. — Art Liebeskind
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Reflect Your Own Personal Style
Southampton by Wood-Mode.
1418 Central Avenue, Ship Bottom, NJ 08008 609-494-0011 www.franciemilanokitchens.com
For your home. For your life. For our environment.
Š2011 Wood-Mode, Inc.
Photography
s h u tter Michael Dunn and Jennifer Welc burst through an LBI wave. Photo by Jim O’Connor
re lease
Photography
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Christina Nocco relaxes near the sea. Ron Weise photo
Last Days Of Summer. Cheryl Kirby photo
Bruce Kerr
Amelia and Cullen pumpkin patch kids. Kelly Andrews photo
Photography
Shane Evans “hangs loose” On top of a 1965 Gordon and Smith surfboard. Standup crew includes: L to R, Gene Lopez, Jeff Evans, Michael Bossman (owner of board), and John Bossman. Marjorie Amon photo
The Boys Of Summer. Amy Milnes photo
The Cannibal Queen, one of the nation’s most historic aircraft, is here to give rides over New Jersey Beaches.
Marjorie Amon photo
Photography Juliana’s Treasure, by Pete Milnes
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Vickie VanDoren
Scott Palmeri
Living Well
M orning L ight M
y footsteps on the wooden boards of the easement create a baritone clunk as the roar of the surf and salty air beckon me. Through the grassy dunes and irregular slant of the fencing, I walk until the sea comes into view. My heartbeat slows. There’s no better way to restore myself than to go to the beach on Long Beach Island with a cup of coffee, before the crowds arrive ...
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Pete Milnes Photo
I sit on the dark green bench and place the cup next to me. Stretching my arms across the back of the bench, I tilt my head skyward, close my eyes, and offer my heart. My mother’s voice whispers, “Breathe in the salt air. It’s good for you.” The wind lifts my hair and cools my scalp. Bending to take off my socks and shoes, I bury my feet in the sand, toes wiggling, and massage the top of each foot with the sole of the other. Mom used to say walking on the beach was the best way to exfoliate the skin on my feet because the sand acts as natural pumice. I dig the outer edges of my hands into the gritty cleanser, lift a small mound of sand with my palms, and then rub them together as you would under a faucet. The pristine sand closest to me is dimpled with the miniature dew marks of morning. Its texture changes halfway to the ocean’s edge, where tire tracks from the beach patrol truck bisect the beach. The sand near the surf line is flat at low tide, where little waves wash away the footprints of an early morning jogger. As I sip my coffee, the hot liquid coats my throat, but not before its aroma wakens me with the anticipation of a new day. Like Mom, I do my best thinking in the morning, our favorite part of the day. The loud, constant hum of the surf calms me. The ocean is charcoal gray, and its breakwater looks like white feather boas dancing ashore. A black sock and small piece of driftwood lay lonely, like scabs on the earth’s skin. Gulls soar against the faded blue sky and stratus clouds. The honking birds float down to the beach ... peck, peck, pecking ...
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searching for their breakfast. The sun shines so brightly from behind the clouds that I cannot look straight up. I make a visor, hands to brow, and squint at the sun, glistening like a silver sheet on the surface of the water. To my left, two Adirondack chairs face each other. I wonder about who nestled there the night before and what intimate words might have been spoken. Were they lovers or were they mother and daughter, like Mom and me? The beach was one of the few places where I saw Mom completely relax; even then, she had to wait until she was in her early fifties (about the age I am now) to leave her cares behind, if only temporarily. Sometimes, she would fly a kite, tie it to the wooden arm of her sand chair, and then sit back and get a big kick out of the rainbow of silk fluttering against the July sky. She collected sea glass before it became fashionable, holding her palm out when she returned from a walk to show us her newly found treasures. Intellectually curious, she would open a box of Trivial Pursuit cards to entertain and challenge us on those carefree summer days. Her smile was wider and easier, then. My coffee cup is drained and it is time to leave this peaceful oasis. Gazing slowly at the horizon, from left to right, the curve of the earth presents itself, reminding me that my worries are small. I walk two more blocks north, sinking my bare feet into the earth at its softest. Cutting through the fenced dune path, I glance back to see Mom once more in the glory of the morning. — Joyce Hager •
Hermit Crabs Ahoy!
hings A Drift has the largest selection and sizes of healthy hermit crabs. We have adoption certificates (remember this is a pet, not a souvenir) and wellness information. Emergency number is always available. Please feel free to bring in your pet hermits for a check-up. This is very important in the spring or early summer, before molting. Also, this should be done anytime you add a new pet to your family of hermits. Bacteria are one of the main causes of problems for hermits, especially ones you have had for more than two or three years. This can easily be treated if caught before molting. We have been selling and raising hermit crabs for 35 years. Come visit Shelly, Sandy and Triton, our family pets, that we have had for 15 years. They love having their picture taken. You are always welcome to call if you have a question, 609-361-1668. •
Living Well
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The Walking Wounded
e call ourselves the “Walking Wounded” now, but we used to be athletes, once upon a time. As a matter of fact, we even managed to keep up our love for tennis for years and years after college, careers, and families tried their best to get in the way. As time went by, though, we started to experience injuries, as all athletes do. Life in your 60s and 70s is just not that easy! One of us had a bad knee, one an arthritic hand, hearts started to beat irregularly, and everyone had bad backs. Our aging bodies told us a new path was what was required. We needed a way to continue to get together and to keep active, without doing further damage to our aching joints and muscles. No way were we ready to throw in the towel or start watching grass grow. Finally, a solution emerged. Walking was the answer! So, we began meeting at Barnegat Lighthouse Park, a beautiful setting from sunrise to sunset. We found the air brilliant, the light magnificent, and the ocean breezes refreshing to our aging lungs. This gave us time together to converse, to argue, to exercise, and to bond with like-minded people by the sea. Though we are in our 70s, 80s, and 90s, we are still active, thinking clearly, and enjoying the company of old friends. We are a disparate group: left to right, there’s Herb Vogel, a former Town Solicitor of Morristown, New Jersey; next is Dr. Seymour Rebot of Beth Israel Hospital in Newark, the first nephrologist to do dialysis in New Jersey; next is Dr. Aaron T. Beck, the “Father Of Cognitive Psychology” who chairs the Beck Institute in Philadelphia; next is Howard Baker, a CPA from South Orange, New Jersey; then, Marv Levitt, an artist and sculptor who was a founding teacher at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences; Page 24 • Echoes of LBI
and, finally, our team leader, Jack Heller, a former stockbroker from Roseland, New Jersey. — Marv Levitt •
Re-Thinking Your Kid’s Nutrition
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ith the beginning of each school year, I find myself obsessively cleaning out closets, reevaluating our system for school bag storage, and contemplating a few other organizational woes – all of which are sure to make my husband’s eyes roll. Then there are all of the other backto-school chores: school supply shopping, buying new clothes, scheduling activities for the kids, etc. When you think about it, September, not January, is truly the beginning of the New Year and the time for improvement and change. Our kids feel this new beginning, as well. All those new clothes, supplies, teachers, classes, and activities — it’s all very exciting for them. September offers you a fresh start — the perfect opportunity to make lasting, positive changes within your family. It’s the ideal time to tweak your existing approaches. So, what are your goals for this upcoming school year? Is there a change or improvement that you’d like to make? One change that I continue to pursue is building a better and more nutritious lunch (or snack) for my kids. Each school year, the workload becomes more challenging and the extracurricular activities more enervating. Consequently, more and more each year, I realize the food I give my kids needs to be able to work over-time. Along with the conversation about choosing healthy foods and why they are good for their bodies, I now find myself talking to my kids about eating energy and brainpower foods. What kinds of foods does this entail? That’s simple: whole foods, not food products! In other words, avoid foods that come in packages, make dubious health claims, or include a long list of ingredients you cannot pronounce. If you are inspired to make a change to your kids’ lunches and would like further inspiration, check out thelunchbox. org. Chef Ann Cooper is working towards placing a salad bar in every public school in America! The number one thing a school can do to improve their food is to add a healthy salad bar and to have children make their own choices. When you think about it, if schools offered better food choices for our kids (with curriculum to inform about those choices), it would certainly make it a lot easier to serve more nutritious foods at home. You can’t go wrong with the following foods for lunches or snacks: • Antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies are nature’s healthiest fast food and promote healthy brain development. Choose produce with the most intense color (all are good, though!): blueberries, red bell peppers, carrots, and red cabbage. • A bowlful of oatmeal will fill your kids up and give them energy like no other breakfast food. Oatmeal entails a slow digestive process, which results in sustained energy and improved memory. [Tip: brown rice works just as well for lunch.] • Hard-boiled eggs, edamame, and hummus are strengthening foods, as they help support the muscles, a no-brainer when kids need lots of energy for their after school activities. Enjoy these suggestions! — Stacey Klag, CHC, AADP •
World Trade Center - Always Remember!
This September 11th marks the 10th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center. Shortly after the attack, LBI local, Maggie O’Neill, enlisted her colleague Steve Moran, to help organize a beach front, candlelight vigil that stretched from Holgate to Barnegat Light. The beaches of the Island glowed with 18 miles of lights, flags and heartfelt prayers for those who died or lost loved ones on that day. May we all take a quiet moment this September 11th to fly our flags and never forget!
Poetry
Sunflowers Her mind as serene as the bay behind her, she smiles. A lone gull like a thought rising from her writing drifts over the bay. It’s late in the day say the long shadows on the bench. She came to Sunset Gazebo to see the sun set, to take note of all its fiery hues. She may even stay to see a ghostly moonrise. Late she returns to house and garden spots her sunflowers ablaze in moonlight. Begins her painting. — Frank Finale
Ron Weise photo
Grandpa’s Chanukah Stories
Pat Morgan art
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I remember as a kid, Each December, Grandpa told Stories from his childhood when Chanukah was a simple holiday. Lighting candles, one the first night, Two the second, one more each night until all eight burned so bright, The bronze menorah ablaze in light. Prayers were sung, stories told, Old ones by the adults, new ones by anxious kids finally old enough to Take a turn. Songs and clapping filled the air, Chilly to save coal. There were no gifts, no little toys for the children, just gratitude being together. They’d watch the thin candles Burn down, Wax melting, Dripping, pooling on the table. First time we celebrated without him, my father cried softly as he retold Grandpa’s Chanukah stories. For many years he continued the tradition adding memories of his own. My own eyes are wet, My heart’s so full as I tell you these stories, my Grandpa’s stories, Your Grandpa’s stories, Stories that will go On and on. — Richard Morgan
Poetry
Wondering On Christmas Eve I made a snowman fat and jolly. I dressed him up in red and green and filled his hat with holly. I saw his arms were jiggling as if he could not wait. It made me start to wonder how snowmen celebrate. — Micalia Downs, age 10 Sea Fantasy One day when wading in the sea a smiling stranger beckoned me with smile so dazzling diamond bright it filled me with a sheer delight Dancing on each approaching wave he fixed me in his emerald gaze then lured me to a planet where the sunlight dance in sea green air. It was a place so pure so rare and he and I the only pair. But I was frightened mortally and so turned back despite his plea. As I returned to my own race I kissed his shinning face. The salty taste he left in me was token for my memories. They say it was an illusion made from sea and morning sun But once when wading in the sea A merman’s smile captured me.
The Seagulls Upon majestic wings seagulls glide No laws of man do they abide A graceful landing on the dunes Where they have viewed many moons. Bellowing forth a raucous cry Which few could construe as a lullaby Diving off a fishing pier Hoping soon a fresh fish will appear. Rising daily before sunrise Sailing off into a world of pink and purple skies Awakening islanders early in the morn Who are busy at work before the day is born. Soaring to their heavenly domain For the skies forever will they reign. — Catherine Theresa Wiegand
— Gwyneth Bacon Letting Go Summer has delighted me with long walks on sandy, warm beaches, The scent of the salt air, the white foam rolling along the shore and the sounds of gulls mixed with time and calm have been the greatest gift. But nature teaches over and over if we are willing learners… Change and moving forward will always be the part of life that must be embraced in order to really be alive. The past can not be held on to or made to stand still-except in a memory. Memory is a lovely thing -especially a good memory held in the heart. But being alive only in a memory is not true living. Yes, nature is teaching over and over that something more is coming. Always there will be change. Just like a beautiful garden that continues to bloom but never stays the same. A new season of the year filled with cool air and brilliant colors is right around the corner. The new season will bring about new wonders to be enjoyed. And- new seasons of life also need to come and bring me into different places. Places of beauty, challenge, love, and learning. The new seasons hold what we don’t know, but it might be that what I don’t know is that the best might still be coming. Without letting go—I will never know. Today I let go of one thing and embrace another… — Carol Krom
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Holiday GiftGuide
Ceramic Mermaid LBI Music CD Seaglass Jewelry Photo In A Giant Clam A Beachcomber’s Odyssey Book Booty Soap For The Scurvy Dog & Wench Shark Pak Waterproof Ipod, Cell Phone Holder And much more available at Things A Drift in Ship Bottom, LBI, 609-361-1668.
Legends & Lore
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The Beach Haven Stabber
all it a legend, call it a tall tale, or call it a simple story designed to scare the daylights out of children who have been naughty. For at least one longtime Surf City resident and prominent businessman, however, the story of the “Beach Haven Stabber” is indelibly imprinted in his memory. The exact names and addresses are not important. Even in the following text, generalization may come too dangerously close to reality. The story begins with the purchase of an old house in Beach Haven, a house that once belonged to a physician. The fine home featured all the amenities of a shore home, but went one or two steps beyond the norm. The house had built into a wine cellar, with a dirt floor. It was a dark, dank place, and added character to the dwelling. Also, evident in the floor plan was a makeshift operating room downstairs, complete with left over instruments and equipment. Being one of a handful of doctors’ offices on the Island, it was a scene of many exciting and crucial events. One event, how-
ever, sparked the “Stabber” legend and brought goose bumps to the flesh to all who would know the house from then on. There was an unfortunate accident on the streets of Beach Haven one night. A fight erupted. A man was stabbed. He needed help. The victim was taken to the closest doctor’s office for treatment, pending further care at the hospital on the mainland. By the time the stabbing victim reached the Beach Haven M.D.’s examining table it was too late. He died in the house. A search for the killer turned up nothing. It is said that still today, the ghost of this unfortunate man waits inside the Beach Haven house. Confused, and seeking vengeance for has untimely death, he lingers through eternity. Young children living in, and nearby the house, knew of the haunting. Even the older folks suspected there may be something to the story. They threatened to send the children to the operating room if they didn’t behave. They told the children the ghost would rise and take out its fury on them. The restless wraith would materialize, ghostly blood would drip from the stab wound, and … and … The children were well-behaved most of the time! — From the book Legends of Long Beach Island, Stirring Tales of Ghosts, Haunted Houses, Pirates and Much More, by David J. Seibold and Charles J. Adams III (Authors of “Shipwrecks Near Barnegat Inlet” Pete Milnes Photo Illustration
Performance Bikes For All Levels!
Family owned for more than 53 years, Walters Bikes is LBI’s only full service bike shop. Check out our huge selection of mountain and road bikes, hybrids, cruisers, townies, and BMX bikes. All in stock. Famous brands like Trek, Schwinn, Giant and Eastern & more. Open all year with sales, service & smiles!
418 Long Beach Boulevard • Ship Bottom, NJ 08008 • 609-494-1991
Beach Reads
Legends of Long Beach Island — By David J. Seibold and Charles J. Adams III — “Enjoy pure and simple ghost stories, tales of piracy and treachery, and accounts of derring-do, settle back and ready yourself for a glimpse of the darker, and less conspicuous side of life on Long Beach Island ...” Available at Things A Drift in Ship Bottom, Long Beach Island.
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A Gull’s Story — all three stories by Frank Finale, Illustrations by Margie Moore — Tales of Learning about Life, the Shore, and the ABCs.” These beautifully written and illustrated children’s book tells the tale of the Gull Family and their adventures along the New Jersey Shore. Available at Things A Drift in Ship Bottom, Long Beach Island.
Cafe Aletta Fine Italian Dining at the Beach
Cafealetta.com - 414 Long Beach Boulevard - Surf City, NJ - 609.361.1333
Two Unique Restaurants, One Great Dining Experience. Come Experience It For Yourself.
Lifestyle
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aking the small or odd-shaped room (a long, narrow living room or a compressed kitchen, for example) and arranging it to create premium living space is one thing, but taking the small or odd-shaped property lot — a typical challenge on Long Beach Island — and making it the center of your outdoor living and entertaining is quite another. Even large and luxurious homes on LBI must sometimes learn to live on a small footprint of land, often 50 feet by 100 feet or 75 feet by 75 feet. Coupled with these diminutive perimeters are the many and varied municipal ordinances and setbacks that restrict the scope and location of many outdoor built features. Ultimately, these impervious features (areas that prevent water infiltration into the subsoil, including the house itself) cannot exceed 75 percent of the lot size. The remainder of the property must be left open or landscaped. Small lots, however, do not have to be about less space—that is, if they are intelligently and creatively designed. The search for original solutions demands versatility, flexibility, mobility, and practical creativity. Just because a space is small does not mean that the family must sacrifice what it considers essential — a bayside swimming pool, a fire pit, an outdoor kitchen, a pergola-covered patio, a cluster of canopied lounges, a custom gate, or a place to dance and dine. But whatever is included must fit proportionally. “A poorly designed space will create a claustrophobic and uninviting atmosphere and will ultimately not be used,” says landscape designer Elaine Sisko, of Reynolds Landscaping in Manahawkin. Thinking new options, not fewer options, creates the best possible living space for a particular home and its Designing Landscapes for the Small Property family. And seeing with an open mind is key to being able to optimize the possibilities. It all starts with a conversation. Before Mark Reynpit or an al fresco dining room cut into the overhang of an upper olds, owner of Reynolds Landscaping, can design anything, he deck, so as to make them fit into a seemingly unusable space. needs to know what a client envisions and values. “Form stems Even the selection of plant material is impacted by the site, from functionality,” Reynolds explains. “You have to be able to requiring particular attention to each plant’s width and height at function. A client may have a wish list of seven items, maturity. Need a privacy screen? A narrow hedging material but it’s not in their best interest for us to overdesign the space. like privet or boxwood would be perfect. How to best transition We’ll help them determine how to best make the space work for from one area to another without losing functional space? Narthem. Sometimes we can make a particular area multifunctional; row, upright Karl Foerster ornamental grass is ideal. other times, a feature may have to be sacrificed to achieve a balIn a tight space, it’s about location and movement and meanced design.” ticulous detail, done perfectly. Once Reynolds has a clear idea of what a client wants, Sisko What Reynolds and his team manage to do sounds a bit imtanslates the project onto paper, hand drawing the design with possible: shape a small plot of usable space into a luxurious and colored pencils and watercolors. In the end, however, Reynolds relaxing outdoor living-scape designed with you—not a generic says, “What drives my designs are field decisions. Once we’re you, but a specific you — in mind. out there, applying a design to that compact space, we may have Just as an intimate living space requires an artful, but practito revise the plan. It’s important to be willing to adjust along the cal, arrangement of furniture and fixtures, the small footprint of way in order to make things really work.” land on which many houses sit on LBI requires an even more Every project, regardless of size, is unique, and the material, creative application of design concepts. A successful design structure, palette, and orientation all come together to determine, will be in place for many years, over many generations, and will not just the functionality of the exterior space, but its very charac- influence every day and every memory a family creates on the ter. This can mean custom-tailoring features, like a triangular fire Island. — Annaliese Jakimides •
intimate spaces
Page 34 • Echoes of LBI
Photos, clockwise from top left:
Using this custom-designed koi pond as an architectural focal point, a narrow side yard has been transformed by Mark Reynolds into an aesthetic and inviting entryway. Hand crafted fencing and gateway leads to a backyard bayfront patio. Copyright: John Martinelli Taking advantage of expansive bay views, this intimate dining area and natural stone grilling area has been designed to fit flawlessly into a narrow wedge of space left from the house footprint. Copyright: John Martinelli An intimate poolside patio has been designed using Leyland cypress and Russian Olive trees to create privacy and soften the concrete pad hardscaping. Copyright: Tanek Hood/Reynolds
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Lifestyle
The Martini ...
A Cocktail With Class
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here is only one cocktail that has its own dedicated glass, its own lingo, and its own superstition: the martini. Martinis have made the “Y” shaped, stemmed glass a classic. Martinis can be “dirty” and are served at varying degrees of “dry.” For some, they can even be bad luck. It’s an impressive drink, with an impressive kick! The martini reigns supreme to this day as the drink with “style,” and it can thank no less than James Bond and the Rat Pack for its uber cool reputation. The original martini was made with a mix of gin and dry vermouth, usually in a five-to-one ratio. The dryness of a martini refers to the amount of vermouth used in the drink, with a very dry martini having little or none. A “dirty” martini contains a splash of olive juice. The exact origin of the martini is unclear. One story says it evolved from a cocktail called the Martinez served at the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco in the early 1860s. People would enjoy this drink at the hotel before taking a ferry home to the nearby town of Martinez. Another story claims a bartender in the town of Martinez created the drink. To add to its mystery, there is yet another theory that links the first martini to the name of a bartender who concocted the drink at the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York City in 1912. But it was Prohibition and the relative ease of manufacturing illegal gin during that era that led to the martini’s rise as the premiere cocktail of the mid-20th century and beyond. Nonetheless, somewhere along the way the gin martini was surpassed in popularity by the vodka martini. Generally speaking, gin lost its popularity during the 1970s and 1980s and became to be seen as old fashioned and out of touch ... your grandfather’s drink, so to speak. LBI has its share of bars with extensive martini menus. Most martinis are served as specialty drinks, using a vodka base and one or more exotic juices such as mango, pomegranate, apple, and more. They are served in the classic “Y” shaped glass and, so, are listed as martinis. Purist aficionados of the drink would disagree. Over at Buckalew’s in Beach Haven, bartender Jim said they serve about eight to ten vodka martinis to every gin martini. He also acknowledged the superstition that an even number of olives is bad luck. It has to be one, three, or five. How that myth got started, no one seems to know. One customer, Jackie, who was drinking a martini, said she always asks for an odd number of olives, but didn’t really know why. Jackie said it was her “go-to” cocktail, and she definitely drinks her martinis with vodka, not gin. Over at the Black Whale, Brianna was bartending and happy to chat about their martini menu. Here, I noted that martinis are one of the few drinks always served with top shelf brand alcohol, a definite plus. I met Joann, Lou, and Ellen at this bar, and they were happy to share their martini impressions. Joann
was sipping one as we spoke. They all agreed the air of specialness around a martini definitely contributes to its charm. Drinking a martini is a step up from other cocktails. Jim said he can drink a beer anytime, but drinking a martini is a treat. Plus, as Joann said, you get more bang for your buck. And, take it from me, she’s definitely right. Martinis pack one heck of a punch! Next, I headed down to daddy O in Brant Beach to continue my research, where I found an extensive martini menu. I was lucky enough to have Traver as my bartender. Traver actually gave me a tutorial on gin and the original martini. Gin is a juniper-based alcohol. He poured out a bit for me to taste. The Hendricks brand, infused with cucumber, had an evergreen scent. He said it is hard to find mixers for gin: “What can you mix with a Christmas tree?” I learned that Bombay Sapphire gin has a clean smell and is considered the top of the line brand. Some people feel shaking the cocktail during preparation can actually “bruise” the gin and change the flavor. Traver said only about 1 percent of his customers order gin martinis, and they are usually over the age of 50. Most martinis served at daddy O are, once again, vodka-based, specialty martinis. Customers Melanie and Pete also shared their martini thoughts. Melanie said drinking a martini definitely makes you feel special. She likes the glass, the garnish, and daddy O’s special twist of adding a touch of champagne. The results of my research on the enduring mystique of the martini were pretty consistent across the board. The glass is a big part of its charm. The suave cool of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, as well as James Bond’s famous “shaken, not stirred” order, all play a part in making the martini the cocktail with class. Whether the original gin martini ever regains its prominence, time will tell. Lately, I must say I have noticed more and more people starting to drink gin and tonic. Maybe we are in for a gin explosion. Like the Cosmo on Sex and the City, perhaps it may only take a scene of someone drinking a gin martini on an episode of Mad Men to put it solidly back on top. Either way, the martini stands alone as the classiest cocktail ever shaken. Just make sure you ask for an odd number of olives! — Maggie O’Neill •
Lifestyle
The Whole Fish And Nothing But The Fish ... And The Bait!
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art of my personal “health uprising” has been an attempt to evaluate the foods I eat and to determine whether there is any way to get more out of them. Whole chickens are a good case in point. Previously, I would just throw out the carcass, but now I use it for making soup or chicken stock, allowing me to extend the value of my food dollars and to lower my overall consumption of resources. Recently, I went fishing with a good friend, and we were fortunate to have caught four white sea bass, ranging in size from 30 lbs. to our personal best of 55 lbs. These are highly prized fish, both from an eating perspective and from an angler perspective, since they are very elusive. So, there we were, with four beautiful fish in the cooler. In the past, we wouldn’t have given much thought about the value of the whole fish. We would have just filleted the fish and thrown the carcasses back into the sea. This time, though, the goal was to see what value, if any, the other parts of the fish might offer. First off, we had to gut the fish. Surely, those were going overboard, weren’t they? Actually, no. In fact, fish guts make for one of the best fertilizers out there, as they contain nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and trace minerals that support root and foliar growth in plants. So, we saved the fish guts, and now my garden is getting some much-needed nutrition. Excellent! Next, while I was still gutting the fish, I came across two sacks of roe (fish eggs) in each fish. I quickly remembered that, while I was growing up, that my dad would mix some fish roe in with his eggs. So, I knew they could be used. But there was a problem. He used small roe, but these were as big as my arm! After a quick Google search, though, I found a use for these large sacks of roe. As it turns out, in Italy and in other countries, large fish roe is salted and used as an additive to pasta. It’s called botargo (or, alternatively, bottarga), and it’s relatively easy to make. In fact, my five-year-old son and I are currently working on making this intriguing dish! Page 38 • Echoes of LBI
Another part of a fish that is often overlooked, a part I have been barbecuing for many years, is the collar and belly meat. If you’ve ever been to a sushi restaurant and had Toro, or blue fin belly, you know it’s highly prized and expensive. Most fish have cheeks, a belly, and collars that make for excellent eating. In fact, some would say they’re the best parts. The obvious part of the fish is the fillets. There’s no question of what to do with those delectable parts. So, now what’s left? Well, with one simple whack from a knife, we were left with a head, some bones (with some meat), and a tail. So, how on earth can we make use of these? Easy. We buried the tail in the garden for fertilizer and gave the head to science! Since 1986, the Hubbs-Seaworld Research Institute has been raising and releasing juvenile white sea bass, with over 1.5 million sea bass having been released to date. Since each white sea bass has a microchip placed in its head, when a head is returned to the Institute, it can determine whether the fish originated from the hatchery program and, if so, where it was released. So, by returning the heads, we fisherman are participating in the management of an important fishery program, which, in turn, ensures that we fishermen will be able to continue to catch these magnificent fish. Now, we were left with just the bones and the attached meat. Of course, here in the States, most people would say we had nothing left to do but dump all of this directly into the garbage. For some reason, most of us here have shunned the idea of using the whole fish. Perhaps it is perceived as, dare I say, food for “lesser cultures.” On the other hand, maybe it’s just that most of us don’t know the appropriate recipes or that those recipes typically involve more than just slapping a piece of fish on the barbecue (i.e. more work). But, in any event, I already knew better. I knew that these remnants are a great source of food and that they should certainly not be thrown away unused. When I lived in Costa Rica, I lived with the locals in a small
fishing village. The fishermen would sell the fillets of the fish they caught to tourists and keep the rest of the fish to make soup, which, by the way, was awesome. Likewise, I experienced the same practices in my travels throughout coastal areas of Mexico, Asia, and Europe. Throughout the world, most seafood restaurants serve some sort of fish or seafood soup, with the head, bones, and tails plainly on display in the bowl, to boot. In any event, in keeping with my attempt at using the whole fish, I soon fired up a large pot of water on the burner and added the bones, along with some cilantro, onions, old bay, salt, pepper, and garlic. A mere hour later, I had yummy fish soup! Our aversion to using the “whole fish” is somewhat of a mystery to me. I do know we seem to be fine with using most, if not all, of the meat and bones of chickens and pigs for chicken nuggets and hot dogs, although many of us may not realize they’re in there. So, it just doesn’t make any sense that we look at fish so differently. What is clear, however, is that failing to utilize the whole fish (or any animal, for that matter) is wasteful. Why wouldn’t anyone want to make five meals from a whole fish instead of only two meals from just the fillets? Perhaps it’s just generational. In talking with my parents, it’s evident that their parents knew the value of resources much better than we do. Indeed, I recently learned that both sets of my grandparents used fish heads in their garden as fertilizer for their most highly prized plants. So, I guess we have a lot to learn from our forefathers, as well as other cultures. In reexamining my consumption of resources I would be remiss if I left out the resource we fisherman use the most,
BAIT!! Yes, in this case, the reason the white sea bass were all around us was because we served up their favorite meal as bait — squid. Once we found some squid, we simply waited until darkness approached and then put a green light into the water. Like clockwork, the squid rose from the depths because they’re attracted, as many fish are, to the light. Since we ended up using only a portion of the several hundred we netted, we were able to save the rest for fried calamari (squid) and for our fish soup. So, as you see, we even used our leftover bait for food! So, what did we learn in this reexamination of our fishy resource? - Fillets are great, but the cheek, collar, and belly meat are perhaps even better. - Fish guts make excellent fertilizer for the garden. - Hatchery programs are great ways to help populations of fish recover, and they need to be supported. - Fish soup is a great way to extend the value of your catch. - Don’t overlook the bait! If you don’t catch any fish, you may be able to eat the bait! I learned a lot from this project and, moving forward, I will always look to utilize the full resource of whatever I harvest. And I hope this description of my experiment will challenge you to get the most out of your food sources, too. By the way, you don’t need to be a fisherman to land a whole fish. For those who aren’t into fishing, the best way to obtain a whole fish is to simply request one from your local fish market. Either way, the point is to use the entire fish ... head to tail. Just go ahead and try it! I’ll bet you’ll be glad you did! — Noel Huelsenbeck, www.healthuprising.com •
wyndecrest home 233 second st, beach haven 609.492.703 0
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Lifestyle
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Surf City Marina It’s A Family Thing ...
ook out on the Bay on a Saturday in August and you will see the water crowded with motor boats, jet skis, sailboats, and even a few fishing boats (if you’re near the Barnegat Inlet). The water is the most popular place to be on a hot summer day in August, and no one can tell you this better than Kenny Formica. Kenny is part of the third generation of the Formica family to own and operate the Surf City Marina, located on South 1st Street and the Bay. The Marina has been in Kenny’s family for more than 26 years. His grandfather, William Formica, bought the property in 1985 and, with the help of his sons, daughters, grandkids, and other relatives over the years, the Marina has grown into one of the largest and most respected enterprises on the Island. Back when William owned the business, Kenny’s uncle Val managed all operations. Kenny fondly refers to Uncle Val as the “lighthouse keeper” for the Marina because he oversaw all tasks and even lived on the property. Today, the Marina includes 45 sport ports and 49 regular slips. It is an official dealer of Platinum Certified Sea-Doo Watercraft and sport boats for the tri-state area and has recently added a Yamaha watercraft line, as well. Most notably, though, the business is entirely family owned and operated. Every summer since Kenny was a child, he has come down to LBI and stayed in the family beach house, and his relatives have done the same. Kenny’s Aunt Norma comes all the way from California. On any given Saturday, Kenny’s mother, Andrea, Grandmother Rosie, Aunt Bianca, and Aunt Norma may be cooking dinner for 25 people or more. The Formica family is entrepreneurial in more ways than one. The family owns and operates a total of five businesses: two marinas, a trash collection company, a construction business, and a fishing boat. The majority of family members live on Staten Page 40 • Echoes of LBI
Island during the winter and manage all the different enterprises. The second generation of owners, Kenny’s father (Kenneth) and Uncle William, are now preparing their sons, Kenny and William, to take over the businesses. Kenny and his cousin William intend to grow and diversify all five enterprises. When I asked Kenny if it was hard to run a family business, he smiled and responded, “Sure it is difficult because, like any team, we have our disagreements, but at the end of the day we are family and each other’s best friends.” Clearly, the Formicas are a team, and everyone plays his part. These are exciting times for the Marina, not only because the next generation of owners is taking over, but also because the boats and jet skis the Marina carries are changing as technology improves. The revolutionary Intelligent Break and Reverse (iBR™) system is integrated into every 2011 Sea-Doo model the Marina carries. It enables jet skis to stop up to 100 feet sooner than any other watercraft and features an electronic reverse capability that, when combined with the intuitive forward and neutral operations, gives the jet ski a far more advanced level of maneuverability. In addition to the new iBR™ system, the Marina also has four models featuring Intelligent Suspension (iS™) technology. Intelligent Suspension offers six inches of separation between the hull and rider, isolating the rider from the full impact of the rough water and making rides more comfortable. The Surf City Marina has certainly established some considerable roots here on the Island and has become a real mainstay of the Surf City business community. But the Marina is by no means a vestige of the Island’s past. The in-coming third generation of management of this family-run business is on the cutting edge of modern entrepreneurialism and has its sights fixed firmly on the future. — Elizabeth Weber •
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G aming at the B each KBitz: EVERYTHING ITS STACKED UP TO BE AND MORE
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eith Baum of Baum’s Harvey Cedars Auto repair shop considers himself very fortunate. Keith’s is the third generation of the Baum family to live and work in Harvey Cedars. He considers it good fortune to have grown up here on this special island, with its unique blend of sun, fun, and small town values. He sees the life he has made for himself and his family and the opportunity to build on a successful family business in the town in which he was raised as a dream come true. Keith loves the quiet, slow pace of life here on LBI and considers himself very lucky that his business has become such a mainstay of the Harvey Cedars community. But things certainly could have gone very differently in terms of Keith’s relationship with the Island. After graduating from Southern Regional High School in 1978, Keith went off to college. Upon graduation, he landed a job in Connecticut, where he met his wife, Dorothy. They came down to visit LBI frequently in those days, but always returned to what had become their everyday, “real” life in Connecticut. Fortunately, though, in the summer of 1985, they simply decided during a visit that the time had come for them to stay. Keith’s dad was thinking about retiring from the auto repair business he established in 1950 and, suddenly, it occurred to Keith that his chance to return home had arrived. Keith and his dad decided that Keith would become co-owner of the gas station and auto repair business, and that was it. With one bold move, Keith no longer had to dream of his native LBI. Keith and Dorothy built their home right above the gas station, and it’s there where they’ve successfully grown the family business and raised their two sons, Brian and David. To Keith, this was nothing short of a dream come true. Page 42 • Echoes of LBI
Jade Avery Burrell photo
Speaking of dreams, though, there is a completely different and, perhaps, surprising chapter in Keith Baum’s life that is definitely worth noting. In 2008, Keith had a dream one night about a wooden block stacking game. Astonished by his subconscious brainstorm, Keith awoke and started to write down the way the game was played in his dream. He drew the wooden cubes and, with the help of his son David, built the prototype. The name that he chose for the game is KBitz. Kibitz, of course, means “to provide meddlesome, often unwanted input.” Players alternately use one of twelve differently shaped pieces in order to build a tower. The roll of a twelve-sided die determines which piece the player will have to cope with as his building block for the next turn. Points are scored according to the number of preceding blocks upon which a new block is stacked. When making the decision about the exact placement of the next block, a player is naturally subjected to a whole lot of kibitzing! The game sells for $30.00 and can be played by children, as well as adults. It is available locally at Baum’s Harvey Cedars Auto, Regenerate in Beach Haven, Hay Market Toy Store in Ship Bottom, Surf City Pharmacy, White’s Market in Barnegat Light, Kapler’s Pharmacy in Beach Haven, and Top Techs auto repair shop on Route 9 in Barnegat. KBitz can also be purchased on Amazon.com, as well as on its own Facebook page, and you can see it demonstrated on Youtube.com. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Arbor Day Foundation. It’s truly a game for all ages and makes for the perfect family activity. The game makes you aware of when to take chances, when to be conservative, and when to put the next guy at risk! It’s a great game to play on a rainy day when you can’t go to the beach or on a sunny day when you return home from a day at the beach. So go ahead, it’s your turn! KBitz a little — you’ll be glad that you did. IT’S EVERYTHING IT’S STACKED UP TO BE AND MORE!! — Diane Stulga •
An LBI native, Carol Freas recreates historic landmarks and vacation memories in watercolor. She is a talented teacher, signature artist in national Philadelphia Water Color Society, and available for commission work.
Pat Morgan and her husband Richard have retired to their much loved LBI where Pat’s passion for watercolor and the island will be her constant inspirations. Robert Sakson is one of New Jersey’s most accomplished watercolorists. Robert is a Fellow of the American Watercolor Society and the New Jersey Watercolor Society. His art portrays LBI scenes and landmarks. All artwork available at Things A Drift in Ship Bottom, N.J.
Lifestyle
Summers at Surf City Yacht Club
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here are twenty more minutes left in swim practice. It’s Friday, so we are playing “swim-o-nopoly,” our swim coach’s rendition of monopoly for the water. It’s my good friend Valerie’s turn to roll the die. She rolls and lands on “100 meters of butterfly.” We all sigh because that is definitely one of the worst places to land on the board. We can’t get through this one without taking a few shortcuts. (Hopefully, the coach isn’t watching our lane too closely.) We push off the Bay floor every second stroke, risking a few crab bites in the process. Afterwards, there are ten minutes of cool down strokes. Just as the coach blows her whistle for us to begin, my other good friend Christine swims under the lane lines to dump a big heap of seaweed on my twin brother’s back. He retaliates and starts a seaweed war between all six of the swimming lanes. Practice ends and we all crawl out of the water onto the docks, our bodies covered with seaweed. With all of us looking rather ridiculous, our swim coach, Linda, smiles at us and points to the showers by the boat slips. Only one of us has remembered shampoo, so it takes a little while before we are all cleaned and dressed. Tonight, there is a waterfront dinner here at the Surf City Yacht Club. The Club is already crowded with moms preparing the food; my mom baked her special eggplant parmesan earlier in the day. Little children in sundresses and button up shirts are running all over the Page 44 • Echoes of LBI
clubhouse. As my friends and I wait in the buffet line, we are bombarded by five six year olds, four of whom we teach in Bay Kids program. Bay Kids is a program for children, from age four to seven, that introduces them to the Club through arts and crafts, swim lessons, and story time. SCYC was one of the very first clubs on the Island to implement such a program. In addition to Bay Kids, there is another program entitled Opti 7, which offers an introductory sailing class for seven year olds. With these popular programs, it comes as no surprise that the Club is packed with young families and their small children tonight. After filling my plate, I head outside to sit with some friends seated on the dock. My friends range from five to seventeen years old. It doesn’t matter what age we are because we all just enjoy spending time together. We’re one big family! None of us dilly-dally, though. We know that the faster we eat, the sooner we will be allowed to go swimming. At every SCYC waterfront dinner it’s tradition for the all the kids to jump in the Bay. Linda and her husband Mark lifeguard, as the older kids wage epic “chicken wars” and the younger ones compete in “king of the dock.” Some kids even go swimming in their clothes! Waterfront dinners were always my favorite Fridays growing up on the Island. Ah ... those were great days! I’m older now and no longer belong to the Club. But I still keep in touch with all my swim team friends, and we often remi-
nisce about championship swim meets, the silly cheers we used to make up, swimming behind the youngest swimmers just in case they panicked, our summer crushes, and our favorite swim coach, Linda Behr. Linda coached my friends and me ever since we were eight years old; she’s been a swim coach at the club for 13 years. We all love her and her entire family. Her husband Mark helps organize the swim races, and all of their five children swam for the Club. In fact, the Behr kids made up the core of our team; we could always depend on them to win us points in first heats and to pump up our swimmers with their contagious enthusiasm. I remember Jackie and Chrissy Behr would congratulate and hug every swimmer after their race, even if the individual came in last. Although our swim team does not win every meet, we are special in another way. As Linda says, our goal as swimmers is not necessarily winning. It’s certainly nice to win, but we are on the team because we love the sport and also because we just love being together. I was never part of the Club’s sailing team, but I have heard the same kinds of wonderful stories from my sailing friends at the Club. The sailing program was created many years ago, long before the swim program began. In fact, SCYC was founded in 1894 by a group of young men who used to vacation in Surf City and wanted to create an informal club to promote aquatic sports on the Island. Over the years, more and more individuals and their families have joined the Club, which is located at 9th Street and the Bay. In 1940, the Club formally incorporated as a New Jersey non-profit corporation. The actual clubhouse was not constructed until 1953, though. Before then, there was only a gazebo and public restrooms situated on the site. In the many years of its existence, the Club has seen many changes. Leadership has switched hands, membership has grown substantially, and the sailing and swim team programs have grown in terms of both numbers and reputation. When I think of the Club now, I become nostalgic and I think to myself: “Wouldn’t it be nice to turn back time and be 11 years old again, the time before there were summer jobs or college to worry about? Wouldn’t it be great to go back to the days when I spent all those hours of sunlight swimming, teaching, and playing at the clubhouse on 9th Street?” But, the truth is, time passes and we all become older. The things we treasured at one time in our life are replaced with new treasures. As we do grow, however, we learn to appreciate these old treasures in new ways. My summers teaching young Bay Kids how to swim taught me responsibility. I took these lessons with me when I started Académie de Couleur, an art school for elementary-age children. Competing in the swim races against five lanes of huge 16-year-old boys taught me how to accept a last place green ribbon with pride. I learned that I could be a winner, even when I lose, as long as I try my best. I am a rising sophomore at Brown University now. I am no longer the little girl on the swim team. But I do often think of the many days and nights of my childhood spent at the Surf City Yacht Club. I think of the seaweed fights, cheer sections at swim meets, and watching the sunset at waterfront dinners. Then, I smile, realizing all over again how lucky I am that I still get to spend my summers on Long Beach Island! — Elizabeth Weber •
Have Wheels, Will Travel
Getting from point A to point B on the beach is easy with help from a friend
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ong Beach Township’s Beach Wheels program turns 20 next year. It’s an anniversary we should all appreciate, as it marks an important milestone in providing disabled residents and visitors to Long Beach Island with wheelchairs that allow them to make the most of the Island. While the Beach Wheels (aka, Surf Chairs) program is best known for its work in providing disabled residents and visitors the opportunity to spend the day at the beach, it also provides people with assistance in other circumstances, such as beach weddings, festivals, and other events. The chairs are made from PVC tubing and have oversized, cartoon-like wheels that can navigate tough terrain like sandy beaches and grassy fields. This free program is offered to anyone with a Long Beach Township address. Don Meyers, the Supervisor of the Long Beach Township Beach Patrol, started the Beach Wheels program back in 1992 in order to provide everyone with beach access. The program currently has the largest fleet of beach wheelchairs available on Long Beach Island, with twenty-five adult chairs and five chairs for children. There is even a special chair just for fishing available at Bayview Park. The chairs are equipped with removable footrests, umbrellas, and safety restraints. Demand for use of these chairs is high, so it is recommended that reservations be made well in advance. Keep in mind, also, that these chairs require the assistance of someone other than the user. The Surf Chair is not designed to be controlled by the person seated in the chair; it needs another to push it and to lock it into place. Surf Chairs can be reserved for up to one week by calling the LBT Beach Patrol office at 609-361-1200. They can be reserved for almost any time of year, depending on need and staffing, but most reservations are for spring, summer, and fall. Once a Surf Chair is reserved, it will be scheduled for delivery to the appropriate Long Beach Township address. The Beach Patrol office requires that you additionally confirm the reservation two days in advance. The Beach Wheel program is made possible by funding from local businesses, civic organizations, and individuals. Donations are gladly accepted in order to purchase more chairs and to keep the current ones in top shape. Please make checks payable to LBTBP Beach Wheels Program and mail them to 6805 Long Beach Boulevard, Brant Beach, NJ 08008. Every little bit makes a difference and provides supporters with the chance to help make LBI fun for everyone. Other jurisdictions offer similar programs. For more information, please contact each town directly. — Jessica M. Pepenella , Barnegat High School Senior Class of 2012 •
Lifestyle
Long Beach Island ... The Mason-Dixon Line of Football
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agles or Giants? New York or Philly? Long Beach Island is divided right down the middle on that one. Like a proverbial line drawn in the sand, and one as concrete as the Boulevard, LBI splits the fans of these storied football franchises in two. On any given Sunday, green and blue jerseys battle it out in local bars, in living rooms and on decks all over the Island. Friends and family argue over quarterbacks, third and longs, instant replays and playoff chances. Football on the Island is the modern-day War Between the States. (To be fair, the North has two teams in the fight, Jets and Giants, while the South boasts only the Eagles. ) A Sunday afternoon at the Elks, Moose, Nardi’s, Tuckers, Gateway, and every other sports gathering spot in the area resounds with “J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets” or “E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!” Giants fans usually just point to their finger, football jive for “We have a Superbowl Ring, ‘nuff said.” Like the Capulet’s and Montague’s or the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s, the final battleground for fans Page 46 • Echoes of LBI
Marjorie Amon photos
of these two cities seems to be LBI. During summer, as the population swells, you can occasionally spot a Cowboys or Redskins jersey on the Island. For the most part, though, it’s green or blue, with a vengeance. Can friends and family survive the divide? It can be done, but it is a delicate balance. A few simple rules should get you though the season with your relationships intact. First, never gloat. (This is easier said then done). Second, extend sympathy when the other team really tanks. (This, of course, will necessitate faking it). Third, do not call or speak to the losing team fan for two days after a defeat. (They need time to mourn, and your joy will probably be hard to conceal.) Last, and most importantly, if “their” team scores, smile and buy your rival a drink. (Of course, make sure to order yourself a double. It’ll help you cope.) These few simple rules should get us all through the season still speaking with each other. Or not! ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? I know I am… — Maggie O’Neill •
Shells Are My Game. B
Natural Nautical Design by Cheryl
ring the beauty of the ocean into your home with Natural Nautical Design by Cheryl. Decorating your mantel, curio cabinets or room with natural gifts from the sea lends a special serenity to any home. Whether it’s a small arrangement of shells or a large design for your living room or patio area, Cheryl will enhance any space to your specification. For 35 years, Cheryl Kirby of “Things A-Drift” in Ship Bottom has been arranging nautical designs as well as selling precious treasures from the sea. Her expertise on design and knowledge of all things nautical has been sought by shore-loving homeowners both nationally and here on LBI. Things-a-Drift has the largest selection of high grade shells on the east coast, including a perfect specimen of a Queen Helmet and a 525 pound Tridacna. These rare and beautiful shells are a fitting addition for your spa or poolside area. Other popular design choices include table top corals up to thirty inches in size. Cheryl will visit your home personally, or consult with you via the internet. In fact, the wall pictured here is from a house in Florida. The home owners selected their shells from Things-a-Drift during a visit to the Island. Emailing her the dimensions and pictures of the room they were chosen for, Cheryl sent a layout of her design. Delighted with the plan, the owners had the shells shipped and the result was a beautiful, decorative display. Create your own feng shui with gifts from the sea and professional nautical design by Cheryl.
Lifestyle
Gardening, Bioecology & Biodiversity
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xpert gardener Betty Frey, chairman of the LBI Garden Club committee that maintains the Edith Duff Gwinn Garden at the Barnegat Light Historical Museum, encourages gardeners to include indigenous plants in their gardens. Doing so helps preserve Long Beach Island’s botanical heritage and recognizes bioecology, the relationship of native plants and animals to their environment. Betty and her co-workers have been careful to incorporate native and non-indigenous plants in the overall design of the Garden, where they thrive together. This enhances the strength of the area’s biodiversity, which is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem. One recommendation is to place the indigenous plants in a manner so that they appear to be growing wild naturally. Examples of indigenous plants in the Edith Duff Gwinn Garden are bayberry, rugosa roses, American holly, honeysuckle, red cedar, dusty miller, and juniper. As long as these plants are mulched and pruned properly, they are almost maintenance-free. Here is some information to get you started on your way to a garden that promotes bioecology and biodiversity. BAYBERRIES The bayberry is a prime example of a native plant that contributes to bioecology. Flowering in late spring and yielding berries in the early fall, the bayberry bush can reach seven feet in height and grows well in slightly acidic, loamy and sandy soil. It thrives in full sun, but can tolerate shade. Ecologically, it is a good nesting site for songbirds, and its berries feed swallows, meadowlarks, woodpeckers, and many other bird species. Mature berries produce a wax that is used in candle making. In the fall, the root bark can be peeled and used for its therapeutic qualities by herbalists. Gardeners on the Island use the bayberry for beautification, as well as for preservation of the dunes. BLUEBERRIES Promoting biodiversity, the blueberry is a plant that can be grown for its salutary properties. Blueberries require two essential elements, a high water table and sandy soil. Although the Island has both these conditions, its water table is too salty to allow the blueberry to be grown naturally. Thus, in order to plant blueberries, make sure that the site is sheltered and in either full sun or light shade. The soil must be well drained and acidic. The health benefits are manifold. At 80 calories per cup, blueberries are Page 48 • Echoes of LBI
practically fat-free and contain Vitamin C, fiber, and manganese. They are the perfect antioxidant, helping to prevent cancer, cardiovascular ailments, and age-related illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s disease. RUGOSA ROSES Another popular indigenous plant is the rugosa rose. Its flowers are white, pink, or purple, and it blooms through most of the summer. In the fall, the foliage turns a bright orange, and the plant bears fruit — a wonderful food for our feathered friends, again re-enforcing bioecology. The LBI gardener has to maintain this plant carefully, or it will overtake the garden, spreading through its underground stems. GARDEN VISIT Visit the Edith Duff Gwinn Garden for a firsthand look at how lovely your garden can grow in our seaside setting, combining native and non-indigenous plants in a wonderful array of color and variety. The hard work and skill of Betty and her committee is evident in every section of the Garden, as it bursts with well-tended plants and flowers. It is a living testimony to the careful balance that honors bioecology and maintains biodiversity. — Kay Binesky •
Joe Pop’s takes on Hurricane Irene. Maggie O’Neill photo
Hurricane approached the East Coast. NOAA Satelite Image
A Tale Of Two Storms H
urricane Irene was as much a social media storm as a weather event. For days before it hit, we watched TV, posted on Facebook, texted, tweeted, and guessed at just how much impact she would have. Current technology gave us fair warning. In fact, it gave us so much time to prepare that many people saw the news as hype. Information became a blessing and a bane. Many false alarms over the years made it difficult to imagine that this time would be any different. The storm-tracking put it right over our barrier Island. Just a few days off the 6-year anniversary of Katrina, most of us erred on the side of caution. The two storms, Irene and social media, unfolded like this: We boarded up, stocked up, and powered up. [Text: I need help.] Friends arrive to carry furniture, plants, garbage cans, umbrellas, flags, and everything else outside into the garage. It takes a long time. The table and grill are tied to the deck. [Phone: Thanks.] Ok, I am battened down, but so tired from the prep that I may just hang here for the duration. Oh, oh, fire truck cruises by with bullhorn and announces it is a mandatory evacuation. [Ipad note to self: A bullhorn, really? That’s how you alert us?] There is something amusing about this in today’s technology driven world. But, quite frankly, it worked! [Text: What are you going to do?] Do we stay or do we go? Will it or won’t it? My heart says stay, but the bullhorn says go. Like all good little girls, I do what I am told. [Post: I am leaving.] I pack my important papers, my pillow, and my good jewelry (which, sad to say, fits in a tiny ziplock bag). What else? Hmmm. I grab a few of my most precious photos, those that are simply not replaceable. Did I forget anything? Oh yeah, about 3 days worth of clothes. The laptop, my phone, and chargers for both are crucial. Got to stay connected above all else. Into the car it all goes. [Text: Do you have wine?] That is an essential evacuation item. Everything is ready. Still, I hesitate. Instead of the car, I head to the Boulevard with my camera. I take some photos of the boards on Joe Pop’s. [Upload: Photos to Facebook.] It gets quiet. I am starting to think I will not have to cross the bridge. A squall blows in, hard and wet. [Phone: Let’s go now.] Cheryl, Denis, and Gigi follow me to our evacuation spot. Our initial plan was scratched when my friends’ neighborhood was designated an evacuation zone, also. We go to plan B. It is good to have lots of friends! We blow into their home, settle
in, plug in, and wait. And that is when the eye of the social media storm really hits. For the next 24 hours, I never leave my laptop or phone. [Tweet: Trifecta — hurricane, earthquake, and tornado all in one week!] [Upload: photo.] [Phone: Are you ok?] [Post, Post, Post, Post: Who, What, Where, Really?] Minute-by-minute updates keep me glued to the screen. The wind and rain outside are nothing compared to the torrent of media happenings. Instant communications let family know I am ok. Instant feedback says, “Thank God.” We are all one and we are all in this together, at least until the power goes out. And it does. Time to close the laptop and get some sleep. If I can’t be connected, it’s time for bed. Morning brings back the electricity, and I am plugged in once again. [Tweet: That wasn’t bad.] [Text: Is the bridge open?] [Post: Anyone know when the bridge will be open?] [Post, Text, Tweet, Phone: The bridge is open!] Hugs. [Spoken communication: Thank you, I will call you soon.] Minutes later, I, and about 700 other cars, head for the bridge. [Text: I’m home. No problems. How are you? Keep me posted.] I unpack, grateful to be back home. I am sure my evacuation hosts are just as grateful. First order of business is to walk the beach. It’s in pretty good shape, overall. Dune fencing took a big hit. Some areas of the beach look like cliffs, with stairs that lead to nowhere. Some homes have damage to siding, some to the roof, some have water in their lower level. But, considering what could have happened, we are very lucky. I take photos of the beach and the ocean. [Upload: Photos to Facebook.] Watching the news coverage of the aftermath is sobering. North Jersey and Vermont, in particular, will face devastating effects of Irene for days, and in some places weeks, to come. Irene took 40 lives and knocked out power in almost 8 million homes. The floods from rivers and streams have ruined roads, beaches, businesses, and homes. My heart goes out to all of those who face the staggering job of cleaning up and putting their lives back together. While this was not Katrina, Irene left her own brand of devastation behind. A hurricane and a social media storm. Hurricanes we have seen before, but this is the first social media storm of our time: a blessing and a bane. Oops, sorry, got to run, my phone just rang, I have 117 text messages, 46 emails, 342 posts, and 7023 tweets to answer. The only thing missing now is the bullhorn. Is there any wine left? — Maggie O’Neill •
Lifestyle
Becoming
Santa
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very Christmas Eve since I was 12 years old, I have accompanied my father around our neighborhood dressed as Santa’s helper. After dinner, and before the midnight church service, it is tradition for my dad to put on his Santa suit, stuff himself with two pillows, and attach to his face a long white curly beard. My brother, sister, and I dress in black in order to blend in with the night. We are Santa’s elves and, so, cannot be seen, lest we give away the Christmas Eve tradition. We each bring along our flashlights and bells and follow Santa down our long driveway. Our routine has been perfected after so many years. My brother runs to a door and knocks as hard as he can. He then hides behind the closest tree or bush. Meanwhile, my sister and I settle ourselves in concealed spots off to the side of the house so that we can shine our spotlights on Santa Claus, who is standing directly in front of the door. When the door is opened, my father then rings his bells and shouts, “Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas, I’ll be back, I’ll be back, ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!” Generally, parents have to hold back their little girls and boys as they try to run to meet Santa Claus up close. Even from far away, I can usually catch a glimpse of their shining familiar faces. I babysit many of these children, give them art lessons, and coach them in lacrosse. I remember years ago, I was putting one of my neighbors to bed shortly after the Christmas season had ended and she whispered in my ear with excited, broken words, “Elizabeth, I saw Santa Claus on Christmas Eve!” I will always remember the unforgettable sparkle in her eye as she told me her secret. There is nothing more wonderful than believing. Page 50 • Echoes of LBI
Julie Fraser Miller
We all have special holiday traditions — matching pajamas, Christmas cookies, tattered shoes full of small gifts in honor of St. Nicholas, etc. We each celebrate the Christmas season in our own familiar way. Sometimes, though, in the midst of last minute holiday shopping, baking, and preparation for guests, we forget to think about the birth of Christ or the true story of Santa Claus. But rest assured, Santa Claus is more than a roly-poly man in a red and white suit, and Jack Sanderson, writer, co-producer, and star of the documentary Becoming Santa can tell you this better than almost anyone. Sanderson’s foray into the world of Santa Claus began as he was going through a rough time just prior to the Christmas season. Sensing that he needed a wholesale change of attitude, he simply decided the best way to accomplish this was to rekindle his “Santa spirit” by becoming Santa, himself. So, for an entire Christmas season, Jack Sanderson immersed himself in the culture and character of Santa Claus. He bleached his hair a pure white, enrolled in Santa School, and appeared in all the usual places to listen to children’s Christmas wishes. You may be thinking to yourself why would someone do this? Why would someone care so much about understanding the culture and character of a man we stop believing before we were 10? Well, according to Sanderson, it’s all about the ideals Santa Claus symbolizes. Jack would tell you that no person should ever stop believing in these ideals. While he would not try to convince you to believe in Santa Claus, he would definitely urge you to understand and practice what Santa represents. Jack interviewed over fifty Santas before embarking on his
own journey. He met one man who had been playing Santa every Christmas season for the last 48 years. For some, playing Santa is a lifestyle choice; they wear what they call “Santa casual” twelve months a year, all red and green attire. There are Santa schools and Santa suit clothing lines; an entire subculture exists. Jack first realized exactly how committed this group of people is when he was auditioning for a holiday commercial. He noticed that every Santa at the audition owned his own suit, had a real white beard, and was driven there by his wife. He became intrigued by the Santa subculture and the history of Santa Claus and decided that creating a documentary would be a fun and interesting way to explore these topics. According to Sanderson, in order to understand who Santa Claus is, we must first learn the story of St. Nicholas. The saint was born during the third century A.D. in Patara, a village located on the southern coast of Turkey. He had very wealthy parents, but, unfortunately, they died during an epidemic when Nicholas was still very young. Obeying the words of Christ, Nicholas used his whole inheritance to give back to the sick, needy, and suffering. Eventually, he was named Bishop of Myra for his generosity to those in need, his concern for sailors at sea, and his unwavering love for children. On December 6, St. Nicholas’ feast day is widely celebrated in Europe in honor of this great man and on that day boys in Germany and Poland dress as bishops and ask for alms for the poor. On the eve of the feast day, Dutch children leave carrots and hay in their shoes for the saint’s horses, while St. Nicholas leaves small gifts, riddles, and chocolate initial letters in return. On the far side of the Atlantic, however, the story of St. Nicholas would ultimately be transformed into the legend of Santa Claus. The first Europeans to arrive in the New World brought with them the tradition of St. Nicholas’ feast day. Eventually, though, this tradition was entirely replaced with a new concept, Santa Claus, which has itself continued to evolve over the years. In 1821, the publication of the first lithographed book in America, The Children’s Friend, featured Santa Claus, a man in a red and white suit who arrived from the North in a sleigh with flying reindeer. We need to look no further than this anonymous poem and the accompanying illustrations to see the beginning of the shift of focus away from Saint Nicholas to Santa Claus. Throughout the 19th and 20th century, of course, the legend of Santa Claus grew in popularity, as more and more artists, writers, and advertisers, such as Coca Cola, portrayed the jolly man in his red and white suit. The Santa Claus we know today has been commercialized in more ways than we can count, but if one peels back the layers, they will find in Santa Claus the basic story of St. Nicholas, the bishop who devoted his life to caring for the needy. Jack Sanderson and director Jeff Myers hope that Becoming Santa will help their audiences to appreciate the history of Santa and, even more importantly, to remember how special it is to believe in the spirit that Santa Claus represents and to keep that spirit alive. For Jack, it’s a matter of each of us being a little more like Santa, in our own particular way. So, hold off on the dye and don’t quit your day job! You don’t necessarily need to bleach your hair or attend Santa School to spread the spirit Santa symbolizes. Rather, it’s all about giving back in selfless ways to those we love and those who need love. — Elizabeth Weber •
Fall In Love With LBI!
Chocolate Week Decadent offers, delicious discounts and special events made to be shared with the ones you love — February 11 - 20, 2012 Wedding Road Show LBI Region’s premiere wedding planning event allowing you to meet, greet and eat your way through our fabulous wedding services and venues — April 22, 2012 Southern OceanCounty Chamber of Commerce Long BeachIsland Region DMO 265 West Ninth Street • Ship Bottom NJ 609-494-7211 • visitLBIregion.com
“Paid for in part by funding from the NJ Division of Travel and Tourism”
Lifestyle
T
Festival of Lights
he Jewish holiday Hanukkah (Chanukkah) celebrates the reclamation of the Temple in Jerusalem from the oppressive Syrian King Antiochus IV by Judah Maccabee and his followers during the Maccabean Revolt in 165 BCE, over 2,300 years ago. After recovering the Temple, Judah and his followers cleansed and prepared the sacred place for rededication, but found only enough pure oil to keep the Eternal Light, which is found in every Jewish house of worship, burning for one day. Miraculously, however, the oil continued to burn for eight days. Hence, Hanukkah, which means “dedication,” is celebrated for eight days to commemorate the recovery of the Holy Temple, the victory over the Syrians of that day, and the miracle of the burning oil. Although Hanukkah is celebrated around the same time as Christmas, it is not as central a holiday for Jewish tradition as Christmas is for Christian tradition. Nevertheless, Hanukkah is an important event in Jewish religious and family life. For instance, my good friend Dan Rosenberg and his family celebrate the holiday in very memorable ways. It is tradition for Dan’s parents to invite their entire extended family to their home for one of the eight days of observance. Dan’s mother and other relatives cook all day long to prepare enough food for the twenty to thirty people who visit every holiday season. Guests eat latkes (Jewish potato pancakes) before the main course, which is always a savory meat. When I asked Dan to describe a typical menu for the evening, he chuckled and said, “Jews love to eat!” He then began to list an assortment of different delicacies. After dinner, Dan and his relatives compete in games of dreidel. A dreidel is a spinning top with a different Hebrew letter on each of its four sides. Each letter indicates whether the spinner should put gelt (pennies or candy) into the pot, take the gelt out of the pot, take half of the gelt pot, or do nothing. The games get very competitive! Participants who gamble gelt use special chocolate coins that memorialize the coins minted by the new Page 52 • Echoes of LBI
independent Maccabee state that emerged from the Revolt. Since Hanukkah is considered a minor holiday on the Jewish calendar, there are not as many ceremonial customs associated with it as compared to some other Jewish holidays. At Passover, for example, Dan and his relatives sing songs, read aloud from the Haggadah, and sometimes put on entertaining skits. For Hanukkah, though, the customs aren’t quite as formal. The Rosenberg family often attends synagogue during the days of Hanukkah, but also plans some type of nonreligious entertainment for the evening. One year they hired a magician and another year a caricature portrait artist painted every family member. One of the last events of the evening during Hanukkah is always the lighting of the Menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum, with one branch usually higher than the other eight. Dan’s parents own more than ten Menorahs, and they are all displayed throughout the Rosenberg home (imagine having that many Christmas trees!) during Hanukkah. Dan’s favorites in the collection are the Noah’s Arc Menorah and the Fiddler on the Roof Menorah. It is custom to initially place the candles in the Menorah from right to left, but to light a new candle each night from left to right, while saying two prayers at each new candle lighting. The first candle to be lit is always the Shamash candle, commonly known as the Guardian candle, because it is used to light all others. I asked Dan what he enjoyed most about Hanukkah. He said his favorite day was always the day of the family party because it was sometimes the only time during the year he gets to see many of his relatives. For Dan, the most wonderful part of any holiday, religious or not, is spending time with the people he cares about most. The small gifts exchanged, fried latkes, and games of dreidel do not matter to him nearly as much as special conversations with his grandmother and games of hide-and-seek with cousins. These memories are what define Dan’s Festival of Lights. — Elizabeth Weber •
Fill a Pool to Fill Hearts With Joy!
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is the season to be giving and one local business is giving back to the community in a big way! Hutchison Pools and Spas is presenting its very own parade float this upcoming holiday season during the Ship Bottom Christmas Parade, and this year they are giving a pool full, literally, of toys and gifts away as a donation to the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Brant Beach. The best part about this is they need your help! Starting now and lasting until December 1st Hutchison Pools will be accepting unwrapped gifts for children of all ages at their Surf City office. The gifts will be given out to families in the area and can range from something as simple as a gift card to a bicycle and everything in between. There is no need to wrap the gifts, as that will be taken care of by St. Francis. Gifts are being accepted as soon as possible, so please contribute as much as you wish to give. Please donate to Hutchison Pools and Spas located at 619 Long Beach Boulevard in Surf City, NJ. For more information contact them at hutchpools@comcast.net or call 609-361-0202. This holiday season fill the hearts of our children by filling a Hutchison pool! — Sara Caruso •
32nd annual Ship Bottom Christmas Parade December 3
Cathleen Engelsen art
Lifestyle
Another Man’s Treasure F
rom phones to bones, beachcombers find some strange things washing ashore as flotsam and jetsam. Some of the things they find are instantly recognized as having historical significance, but many finds are mistakenly dismissed as common trash. The trick of this pastime is knowing which is which. Long Beach Island has a rich history of “stuff” washing up on its beaches, such as sea glass, bones, shells, old lures, and shark teeth. Shark teeth are especially interesting fossils, considering they may be from animals that lived several million years ago. In the last couple of years, several people have found shark teeth on the beach, as they have been dislodged by recent dredging operations off shore and washed up on the beaches of LBI following storms. It is also common to encounter large molars in the sand, but that’s a horse — well, actually, a cow — of a different color. The molars are likely bovine relics from one of the many dairy farms that were established on the Island in the late 19th century. Moreover, there was a shipwreck off the coast of LBI, also in the late 1800s, which cost the lives of both the crew and over one hundred head of cattle. This calamity is also responsible for a share of the bovine teeth and bones fragments that wash ashore today. Whale eardrums, which look like huge round coral balls, but are actually bone, are also among the strange finds waiting for you on LBI’s beaches. They are found mostly on beaches that have a strong history of whaling, like the beaches of New England. They are rare finds on the beaches of New Jersey. But rare finds are why so many of us comb the beaches, so keep an eye out for them! The pervasiveness of modern technology has provided the amateur beachcomber with a whole new set of dubious beach treasures. Nowadays, we may find a stray cell phone that got away from its owner last summer, an old class ring lost during a vacation more than twenty years ago, or an occasional iPod left behind last week by a sun worshipper. But there are still lots of rewarding historical treasures out there to be found. Lucky is the child who stumbles upon a lost toy from another era or the numismatist who comes across a gold coin. Some of us have even been lucky enough to come across arrowheads from the Native American tribes that once lived along the coast! Several of the arrowheads and spearheads found Fossilized shark teeth found in are possibly from battles involving the local Lenapi tribes and Harvey Cedars and Surf City. European settlers from the early 1700s. The point is you never know what you’ll find when you look down. If you’re not sure of exactly what you have found or if you suspect you’ve found something of significance, but are not certain, grab it and have it checked out by someone with knowledge of beach treasures. Just remember, you could be the next lucky beachcomber to make a rare find! Many of the things you find on the beach have a history, so bring all your finds to the third annual Sea Glass and Art Festival, which will be held on October 1 and 2 at the Things A Drift beach décor shop in Ship Bottom. Experts will identify sea glass and there will be a contest for “Shard of the Year” with awesome prizes. All treasures, real or imagined, are welcome. So, bring your strangest finds from the sea or Bay! — Sara Caruso text & photos • Page 54 • Echoes of LBI
HAIR • NAILS • SKIN 609.207.6052 aquableusalon@gmail.com 1406 Long Beach Blvd • Ship Bottom, NJ 08008
Lifestyle
Swizzle Dazzle
A Colorful Collection: Swizzle Sticks — A Rod Used To Stir Highballs And Cocktails — Tell Stories of Times and Places Past
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he scene is a familiar one: near-crazed “antiquers” combing through an antique shop, searching for old pictures and posters, oddball items in bottles and jars, dolls, doll houses, or iron tools. But some antique buffs are starting to take an interest in a slightly more mundane, yet equally evocative, reminder of times gone by. They’re looking for swizzle sticks! Swizzle sticks have been used for many years for many mixtures, including old glass ones for medicines and plastic ones for your morning coffee. But did you know that bars, hotels, and even railroads have used swizzles made of Bakelite, an early plastic, to mix drinks for their customers and to serve as advertisements from as early as the end of the Victorian Era in the early 20th century? Swizzle sticks literally became the business cards of places that served drinks to their patrons, and they have now become extremely popular collectables. Once an unacknowledged piece of cultural history, swizzle sticks have become lucky finds for the observant collector. With their vibrant colors and offering an opportunity for collectors to research the history of the places advertised on their sides, antique swizzles have definitely been upgraded from “trash” to “treasure.” The history of swizzles begins with the unique material from which they were originally made – Bakelite. Bakelite was Page 56 • Echoes of LBI
invented in 1907 by Leo Baekeland as the first synthetic and heat resistant form of plastic. Its chemical name is polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, a staggering thirty-five-letter word that basically means plastic! Bakelite was originally intended to serve as a cheaper alternative to glass for insulating electrical devices. After the World War II, Bakelite was even used to make fine costume jewelry — baubles that are worth thousands of dollars to high-end collectors, today. But it is Bakelite swizzle sticks that have recently caught the eye of so many collectors of 20th century cultural kitsch. David D’Imperio is a mailman on Long Beach Island by day and a swizzle stick man by night. After a lifetime of collecting everything from photography to antique fans, in the late 1990s, David turned his sights to these small, colorful mementos of our
"oh give me a house by the shining sea, past. He began his swizzle stick collection about thirteen years ago with three little sticks, and the collection has since grown to over one-hundred and fifty and counting. While a few of his finds are from Europe, most of his swizzles, which he often purchases through eBay auctions, come from all over the United States. Many sticks can be purchased for as little as ninety-nine cents, and most can be acquired for under $50.00. Nonetheless, some swizzle sticks can only be purchased for hundreds of dollars, especially if they are “freaks,” as David calls them. These “freaks” are usually shorter than the average size of six or so inches and sport rare colors, such as a red one David has that reads “LION’S DEN.” The swizzle stick’s Bakelite construction prevents its colors from ever fading and so they always look as bright as the day they were manufactured. Similar to baseball cards, there are common and uncommon sticks to collect. Orange is the most common color, with dark colors, like black and purple, being the most rare. Swizzles from places such as the Essex House in New York are common, but there are swizzles out there to be found from thousands of establishments all over the country. Most swizzles include small lettering, so sticks with large lettering are highly valued. It can all be very confusing to those new to the swizzle stick universe, but a little reading should get you on your way. On the other hand, since they take up very little space and can add a colorful flare to any room, swizzle sticks are a great start for newbie curio collectors. David does not wish to part with his swizzle stick collection any time soon. Storing them around his house in tiny Chinese brush pots, as though they were incense sticks, he enjoys the simplicity and uniqueness of swizzles. Most of his collection dates from the 1930s and 1940s, and he enjoys passing his time researching the places advertised on them, many of which are still in business to this day. For David, just as with most collectors, it’s the thrill of the hunt that continues to expand his collection. He would much rather find additions to his collection at an antique store, rather than on eBay. Unfortunately, though, very few people, including antique dealers, pay them any mind. So, the next time you are in an antique store, look closely. Hidden between old books, faded photos, or rusting toys may be a shining plastic treasure, just waiting to resume its career of mixing drinks or, perhaps, to join some of its colleagues in a display case in well deserved retirement. — Sara Caruso text & photos •
by the waves and the sand and the sky..."
Maggie M. O'Neill Real Estate Sales Century 21 Mary Allen Realty, Inc. Ship Bottom, NJ 609-494-0700 • 609-709-1425 (cell) www.njbeachhouse.net
Lifestyle
Team Jarvis
Passion for their craft, the ability to tell a great story, and more than 60 years combined experience in New York City television, theatre, and film makes this father-son video team unique. Page 58 • Echoes of LBI
John Schwaller photo
F
rom the moment you meet this father/son team, you realize integrity and professionalism drive their work. They moved to the area five years ago (actually, a return to his roots for father, Irv), after they became intrigued with the depth of life in and around the Pinelands, which seemed to them an undiscovered jewel with mysteries and wondrous stories to tell. When JVP embarked on its first local project, The Pinelands: a History of South Jersey, Irv and Kirk surveyed the area for two years, learning about the Pineland’s people and ecosystems, and fell in love with all it had to offer. Each person they met seemed to lead them to another fascinating story. JVP’s second local documentary, entitled A Working Forest: Its Future with Fire, People & Wildlife, was created to impact legislation concerning forestry management and is now being used by 25 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. It won the Society of American Forestry’s 3rd Place National Recognition Award (2010) and is listed in the UN’s film directory for the International Year of Forests as a recommended forestry resource. Given JVP’s background, it is not hard to see why this film has been so successful. Irv served as a director, producer, and executive producer at WPIX television in NYC for 20 years. After leaving WPIX, he freelanced in the corporate world for a while and then turned his focus to documentaries. During his television career, Irv worked with the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Barbara Walters, Barbara Streisand, Louie Armstrong, Stevie Wonder, and Soupy Sales, just to name a few. He created and produced The Magic Garden; directed and produced the Little Miss America and Miss New York State pageants and a Laurel and Hardy documentary for world syndication; produced the Miss World pageant for the ABC network and the original Yule Log; and directed the Little Orphan Annie show and various evening newscasts. Kirk Jarvis pursued acting and modeling in New York City as a teen before heading off to Lynchburg College in Virginia, where he received a BA in Communications. Upon graduating, he returned to NYC and studied acting under famed teacher Gene Frankel. Kirk appeared on daytime television and in commercials and then began writing, directing, and producing his own screen and stage plays. His short film Alter was recently selected for the Lighthouse International Film Festival. In addition to his work behind a video camera, Kirk is also an independent photographer, specializing in photographs and poetry that focus on local subjects. The professional and life experience of these two creative men is a fascinating enough subject for its own documentary, but this is not Irv and Kirk’s focus. Indeed, they have a new
story to tell. This amazing duo is teaming up for another good cause, highlighting the plight of our nation’s waterways. The project is entitled Everybody’s Bay ... Until It’s Crystal Clear. Beginning in Barnegat Bay and traveling throughout the country, JVP intends to take an in-depth look at the state of our county’s waterways. Here at the Shore, water is everything: recreation, commerce, relaxation, beauty, nature, sustenance, economy. Starting from this important premise, this documentary stresses the fact that, if we are not diligent, the health of our waterways could be compromised beyond repair. Everybody’s Bay will focus on the state of our local waters in a way not done before. It will examine the threats to the health of our waters and provide insight from experts about practical solutions to reverse and prevent future harm. With input from Rutgers University’s Institute of Marine and Coastal Services, the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the Alliance for a Living Ocean, JVP aspires to educate and entertain, while enlisting the commitment of all to protect and preserve our most precious, beautiful, and important resource: water. In addition to Everybody’s Bay, JVP has undertaken a local offshoot project entitled For the Shore that looks at how everyone who enjoys the Jersey Shore can minimize negative impacts on the Bay and ocean. Through short vignettes using local residents, For the Shore will highlight easy steps to keep our waters safe, beautiful, and thriving. Another recently begun JVP project looks at the training and on the job experiences of the Ship Bottom Beach Patrol. JVP has used its own financial resources to begin the documentary films mentioned above, but is seeking completion funds. Its efforts to shine a light on vital ecological issues constitute a public service we should all appreciate, but the fact remains making penetrating and complex documentaries is an expensive venture. All Jersey Shore enthusiasts should applaud and encourage JVP’s commitment in any way possible. If Everybody’s Bay and For the Shore can provide the positive impact A Working Forest has had in the area of forest management nationwide, these films could serve as a crucial step in restoring vital water systems. So, when you see Kirk and Irv around, say hi and congratulate them on a job well done. And don’t be surprised if, in just a few minutes, you feel like you’ve known them forever. These are two great and unassuming guys with amazing talent and backgrounds who truly care about this area, its people, and the stories they tell. But don’t expect them to talk about themselves ... they are all about their next story. For further information on Jarvis Video Productions, its current and future projects, and opportunities for sponsorship of JVP films, please visit www.jarvisvideo.com.— Kara Schwaller •
A Shore Thing
Wonders T Small
here are some strange things that come out of the sea and wash ashore as flotsam and jetsam. Strange winding yellow bands that look like intestines or flat as a pancake sandy circles that you can see through. They all sound strange, if not disgusting, but finding out the mystery behind these pieces reveals a fascinating story of the life of one species of animal: the gastropod. For those of us who remember fourth grade life science, gastropods are the family of animals including snails. And while most of us think of these little guys as the pests that ate our mother’s garden, they produce some of the world’s most interesting beach treasures. If you can recall your mother saying “Don’t pick that up!” she may have been referring to the elongated egg case of the knobbed whelk (Busycon carica). At first glance it looks like a yellowish
intestine or some strange plastic tubing that fell off a barge. Before we explain this strange find we must explain the snail. All snails, including whelks, are born with both male and female reproductive organs and they don’t “decide” what they want to be until they meet another snail. Once they mate, the whelk will produce an egg case. Hidden in the tiny yellow “pods” on a long ribbon which looks like seaweed are thousands of baby whelks. They are so tiny that about fifty can fit on the top of a dime. These types of egg cases specifically belong to the channeled whelk snail which live along the east coast and are often harvested for food. As the case twirls through the water it releases the babies allowing them to be seeded wherever the current takes it. These little snails are fully formed unlike their moon snail (Polinices duplicatus) cousins who develop after they hatch through metamor-
phosis similar to how the embryo of a mammal does in its mother’s womb. They are able to feed on their favorite food, clams and oysters, as soon as they are freed from the pods, while moon snails must feed on plankton. The amazing snail has one last technique to protecting its offspring, a sand collar. We find these on the beach and they look like sand bracelets or half circles. They start off as a gel that the snail excretes from its skin to protect the young from separating when the waves hit them. Sand sticks to the outside acting as a form of camouflage to protect it from predators. Within the collar are thousands of eggs combined in a matrix that hatch out as bilobed veligers, planktonic larva of gastropods that float around eating the phytoplankton (plant) and zooplankton (animals). During the veligers stages a metamorphosis occurs as their shells grow onto their backs and form a calcium covering, a shell, that will be their home for the rest of there life. Today overfishing has reduced the numbers of
these animals, so if you see one, do pick it up and throw it back in the water. You will be saving literally hundreds of lives, and the next generation of beachcombers will have something to wonder about. When we find something on the beach, we should stop and be amazed at the evolution that nature’s little wonders go through to survive. Gastropods like snails have been surviving for millions of years since long before the dinosaurs. When something works, nature continues to build on it and thus what was once a snail’s way of life becomes a treasure to behold. — Sara Caruso text & photos •
Endless Summer 2011 Barnegat Bay
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Marine Science
Operculums of the Turban Family of gastropods were often used in making jewelry during the Victorian Era. Average size is about one inch in diameter.
Little Doors Of The Sea
O
ne of the most amazing things about Nature is the way it provides animals with defensive mechanisms that enable them to cope with their hostile environments. In fact, one could say that some of Nature’s most interesting work can be seen in some of the truly strange and unlikely armor it has designed to protect some of its more helpless subjects from existential threats. A good example of this phenomenon is the surprising, yet effective, armor Nature has given to the lowly snail. The snail relies on a thin, transparent strip of calcium permanently attached to it to save its life on a daily basis. This unlikely piece of armor is called the operculum and it is the “door” that closes off the snail to the outside world and prevents it from being eaten by predators. Operculum, a word not found in most vocabularies, is Latin for “little door.” An operculum is formed by univalve gastropods, especially snails, to protect them from attack. They are not found in bivalve shells such as mussels and clams. An operculum also protects snails from drying out in the event they end up out of the water for extended periods of time. The operculum is attached to the upper part of the snail’s “foot” and it allows it to close the opening of its shell, known as the aperture, when danger is present. The seal effected by the closing of the operculum results in the creation of a mini Page 62 • Echoes of LBI
vacuum that prevents the door from being forced open by hungry enemies. The structure of the operculum varies from one family of gastropods to another. For example, if the animal inside the shell is large and therefore more appealing to predators, the operculum tends to be thick. On the other hand, smaller snails, or ones with shells that function as extra protection, such as the Venus Comb, typically have paper thin doors. Here, on Long Beach Island, we may often come across a very thin, brown shell-like “thing” at the water’s edge. This is the operculum of the common moon snail, whose shells are also commonly found along our beaches. In cases where the operculum is small or does not close the aperture completely, the shell’s defensive capabilities are typically augmented either with spines or by camouflage. These are just some of the ways adaption has played a role in the snail’s survival in a hostile environment. So, as you can see, snails may not be quite as defenseless as they may seem. Mother Nature has given the common snail a variety of means by which to survive amidst a literal sea of hungry predators. She has even provided snails with the device all of our homes have been outfitted with in order to keep any unwanted neighbors away. She’s given them little doors! — Sara Caruso text & photos •
Operculum
Specimens
Marine Science
Lightning L
ightning has been a mysterious part of everyday weather since the dawn of man. It has been a force of destruction and not so well known as a source of life. Scientific advances have led to a great understanding of its majesty, but lightning still has its mysteries. One of the side effects of lightning is the production of nitrates and nitrites. Nitrogen compounds are necessary for plants to continue their processes to maintain life. These nitrates and nitrites are created in a three step chemical reaction called nitrogen fixation. The first step is where the lightning comes into play. With the immense heat that is created by the lightning, up to 55,000 of, the N2 and O2 molecules, which make up 78% and 21% of the atmosphere, respectively, are actually split and then combine to form NO, nitric oxide. The NO then combines with O2 and creates NO2. The NO2 readily dissolves in the falling rain and nitric and nitrous acids are formed. These are what donate the nitrates and the nitrites to the plant cycle. They also contribute to the damages of acid rain. Lightning only produces 5% of the necessary fixed nitrogen, while the rest is produced by bacteria. Lightning has some other interesting characteristics as well. Due to the
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electrical charges involved, just before it is about to strike your hair will stand on end, which is a good indication to get out of there! Another cool thing is after a lightning storm, you can sometimes smell chlorine in the air. This is actually ozone, O3, which is created along with the nitric oxide when the lone oxygen atoms react with the O2 in the air. Also, when lightning strikes ground that is rich in sand, like here at LBI, glass is formed by melting the sand. Lightning has some destructive characteristics that are known all too well to South Jersey. When something called dry lightning occurs, wild fires are sure to spark. Dry lightning is caused by the thunderstorm being too high in the sky. When the rain falls, it evaporates before reaching the ground, this is why the Doppler radar may say it should be raining where you are, but there is nothing reaching the ground. Even though rain isn’t falling, lightning still strikes, and when there isn-t any rain to put out the fire, it just keeps spreading. Lightning is an amazing force of nature that should not be reckoned with. Remember to observe its beauty from a safe place and always listen to the weather report before heading down to the beach. — Adam Geiger •
50 & Counting
H
Miss Magic 1969
onky Tonk Woman by the Rolling Stones and Give Peace A Chance by The Plastic Ono Band played on the radio, the Viet Nam War divided America, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, and Woodstock defined a generation. The summer of 1969 was one of those seminal moments in history when the forces of cultural change combined to alter the world around us. It was a summer Baby Boomers will remember forever. But it was also a time Barbara Sprague will always remember for a very different reason. Barbara Sprague of Beach Haven was a rising senior at Southern Regional that summer. Like many Jersey girls, she spent her summer at the beach sailing, clamming, and going to movies at the Beach Haven Colonial Theater. In addition to her usual beach pursuits, though, Barbra Sprague competed for and won the title of Miss Magic 1969 that summer and claimed her own place in Long Beach Island’s history. The Sprague family’s roots on the Island go back to the 1800s. Jeremiah Sprague was the keeper of the original Barnegat Lighthouse, which fell into the ocean in 1857, during the construction of the new lighthouse. In 1855, a government engineer, Lt. George G. Meade, was assigned to design and construct a new lighthouse for the Island. Four years later, Barnegat Lighthouse, the second tallest lighthouse in the United States, came on line. Barbara was born in Philadelphia. In 1952, when Barbara was 2 years old, her family moved to a home on 5th Street in Beach Haven. She now recalls how different the Island was in those days, with its abundance of natural landscape and cozy cottages. Shopping for school clothes required a trip to Atlantic City. In winter, the fire department flooded the tennis courts to create an ice skating rink. Local boys raked clams for spending money. The old bridge and back roads made her dad’s journey long on his daily commute to Philadelphia’s Navy Yard. Barbara also recalls how she and her family survived the March Storm of 1962. When the “Great Storm of March 1962” hit, her family stayed on the Island with relatives in Beach Haven Park. The powerful northeaster storm raged for days. Huge waves, 10 to 12 feet high, battered and dissected the Island. Winds of 50 knots, with gusts up to 70 knots, shook houses and tore off roofs. The Coast Guard, police, and Civil Defense teams scrambled to evacuate stranded Islanders to emergency shelters on the mainland. Thirty to forty foot seas washed a U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS Monssen, up onto the beach in Holgate. Barbara remembers watching from the second floor as houses
went floating by and disappeared. “It was like the houses fell into a hole in the ocean,” she says. The Sprague’s house in Beach Haven was damaged, but survived the storm. Two hundred and seventy homes were destroyed and most homes on the Island were severely damaged. Most unfortunately, seven lives were lost. Barbara had witnessed perhaps the most catastrophic event in the Island’s history. But better days were ahead for Barbara. Early in the summer of 1969, Barbara’s parents encouraged her to enter the Miss Magic Long Beach Island Pageant. Festivities were spread over a few weeks and included the annual Island Motorcade and a picnic and breakfast at Hannold’s in Manahawkin. And, of course, the competition came to a conclusion with Pageant Night. The competition was held at the Ship Bottom Grade School. Joe Hayes, founder of the Surflight Theater in Beach Haven, served as Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Barbara wowed the judges in her long evening dress of pale yellow taffeta. She also placed first in the Bathing Suit competition, and the other contestants voted her Miss Congeniality. The judges recognized Barbara’s special spark and chose her as Miss Magic Long Beach Island 1969. For Barbara, an exciting year full of new adventures was about to unfold. As the newly crowned Miss Magic, Barbara traveled to Trenton to present New Jersey Governor Richard Hughes with the first Striped Bass Derby entry ticket. Throughout the year, there were trophies to award and many parades and grand openings to attend. She represented the Island at the Manahawkin Founders Day festivities, dressed in a period gown of royal blue velvet. During this time, while Barbara’s brother was stationed in Vietnam, his Squadron even adopted her as their official pin-up girl. They gave her the title of Miss 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron. One of Barbra’s favorite memories as Miss Magic 1969 was the traditional lighting of the Beach Haven’s Christmas tree. Everyone was there, including Mayor Kline. Lighting this tree brought back particularly fond memories for Barbara. As a sevenyear-old Brownie, she had been chosen to light the Christmas tree. Then, Mayor Kline had to lift her up to reach the switch. Now, years later, she was absolutely thrilled to repeat the same tradition as Miss Magic Long Beach Island. Today, Barbara lives on Big Pine Key in Florida. She is retired from New Jersey Bell, and tells me that Big Pine is a lot like the island of her childhood. Barbara met her husband, Dirk Lockhard, on Long Beach Island. She has two sons, Kevin and David Gallagher, who are masonry contractors in Manahawkin. Every year, Barbara returns to visit this island paradise where, in the magical summer of 1969, she reigned as Miss Magic. — Madeline Rodgers •
50 & Counting
L ovely B ea’s I sland I entered Bea Shanklin’s home on 19th Street in Ship Bottom anxious to meet and spend time with this woman who has been a part of LBI since 1917. Fortunately, Bea was very eager to share memories of her life on the Island. But, more importantly, she wanted to share her passion for the beach and the wonderful connection she’s had with LBI throughout her 94 years. Bea was born in 1917 in Camden, New Jersey to Christopher and Margaret Gurtcheff. She had three brothers, Robert (Bob), Christopher, and Alexander. Two years before she was born, Bea’s dad read an ad in a local paper about property for sale in Ship Bottom. The ad stated it was a great place for duck hunting and fishing, both hobbies of his. Her parents took one look and purchased the land. Bea says her dad was particularly fond of the location and felt this area was the gateway to LBI. How right he was! The original 3 properties purchased by her parents included the building that now houses Surf Unlimited, as well as the adjacent house and cottage that still stand there today. Bea’s family spent their summers on LBI from 1915 until Page 66 • Echoes of LBI
1923, when they moved here permanently. Her dad sold his tailor shop in Camden and moved his business to the Island. Bea’s mother, a stay-at-home mom, was an excellent baker and well known throughout the neighborhood for her goodies. Bea attended grade school in Beach Haven and graduated from Barnegat High School in 1935. She left the Island briefly after graduation for Philadelphia, where she worked at a clerical job. Along the way, she met Jack Kilbert, a seminary student at the Union Church (The Grace Calvary Church). She would get rides from Jack back to LBI every weekend. Bea couldn’t stand to be away from the beach for long, however, and returned home after only a few months in the big city. In 1938, Bea met James (Jim) Shanklin, the assistant pastor of the Union Church in Ship Bottom. In fact, Bea was baptized in the Bay in Ship Bottom by her friend Jack Kilbert, with Jim assisting. As she was about to be leaned back into the water, Jim asked her if she would go out with him that evening. She said yes, and they then proceeded to spend the rest of their lives together. They were married in the Union Church in 1940.
Bea and Jim first lived in Fairview and then later moved to Haddonfield. For years, Bea and her daughter spent summers on LBI, with Jim commuting to the Island on weekends, as many families did at that time. But Bea couldn’t wait to return to LBI year round. During WWII, the family’s “big house” was rented to the Coast Guard as a central station for the Island, but in 1942 a fire burnt the house down. After the war, Bea’s dad gave her and Jim that property and they built their little “Shanklin Shack” on that spot. Years later, in 1971, Bea and Jim built the Cape Cod home that now stands there and made this their year round home. They had one child, Carole, who currently lives in Alaska with her husband Lou. Carole and Lou have two sons, Louis (Casey) and Christopher (Chris). Bea now enjoys the companionship of her grandson Chris, who looks out for her and helps care for the family beach house. Casey and his wife, Karyn, were married on the 19th Street beach, with Jim performing the ceremony. Bea has three great grandchildren, Izen, Hannah, and Tommy. As Bea continued to talk about her passion for LBI and reminisced about her years on the Island, her eyes danced and her lips smiled broadly. She said that good living and long walks on the beach throughout the years are the secrets to her longevity. She would often walk the beach even in the middle of winter, thankful that she was lucky enough to be “down the Shore.” She went on to say how each time she walked up on the beach, there were always new treasures waiting to be discovered. If she happened to see another person, she could not help saying to herself, “What are you doing on my beach?” She was happy to see people come and also happy to see them go! While looking around her home, I noticed her “Walls of Love.” Her home is filled with family photos, scattered pictures of LBI beach scenes, and several photos of the Barnegat Lighthouse. Indeed, Bea has a special place in her heart for Ole Barney. She remembers back in the 1930s when the lighthouse was almost lost and how the Township had to haul in rocks and sand to build up its foundation. Like Bea, Ole Barney has continued to weather many years and many storms here on Long Beach Island! Bea remembers an Island different from the one of today. She recalls how the railroad used to be a way to get to and around LBI. The tracks ran from Ship Bottom to Beach Haven. Bea also remembers how the building that currently houses the House of Straw used to serve as the General Store, where her mother would go to buy fresh produce. The old ice trucks are another fond memory. She recalls that she and the other kids would anxiously wait to receive slivers of ice from the iceman as he made his rounds in their neighborhood. She also remembers how she learned to drive on the Island, but had to go to Atlantic City for her driver’s test. She laughs as she recalls how she had to parallel park to pass the test, a skill that would not be needed on the Island. In those days on the Island, you’d just stop and pull over somewhere out of everyone’s way! Bea has far too many beach memories to mention all of them. She really believes she learned to swim before she could even walk! Her dad taught her to jump the waves and would shout, “Go deep!” if the waves were too big to withstand. She also remembers that her mom was known as the “unofficial lifeguard” of the 19th Street beach. The neighborhood kids would be allowed to swim if “Margaret and her children” were heading up
to the beach. Indeed, as Bea grew older, she took over the honor of “unofficial lifeguard,” continuing her mother’s tradition. Best of all, the love Bea has for her Island has been passed onto her family. There is now another generation of her family on 19th Street learning to “Go deep” and playing with kids from the street whose families also share a long history in Ship Bottom. Bea has had a wonderful connection with LBI for her entire life. She feels she never really needed to go anywhere else. To her, the Island is the most magical place in the world. She speaks fondly of her Island in all seasons and of the countless hours she’s spent on the beach collecting shells and making memories that truly have lasted a lifetime. The Island is where she learned her “A- B –SEAS” and so much more. These days, at 94, Bea doesn’t get to the beach, but she still enjoys her beloved porch. There, she takes in the smell of the sea, cherishes her precious rose bushes, and visits with neighbors or old beach friends walking by. After our chat, I truly felt her passion for and connection to her beloved Island. For Bea, LBI stands for “LOVELY BEA’S ISLAND.” This is a relationship that has endured a lifetime. The Island has provided Bea with countless years of memories, and Bea has cared for it like it just as she has for every other member of her family. Thank you, Bea. — Diane Stulga •
Photos left to right: Bea, Bea’s dad Christopher and friends Long Beach Blvd in Ship Bottom (looking north); Christopher (age 3), Alex (age 6), both Bea’s brothers, and Bea (age 2 months); Bea, Christpher, Alex and Bea’s mom and dad.
John with pipe and Paul with hand on hip.
Memories Made In A Ship Bottom Cottage ...
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50 & Counting
A
devastating March storm showed no mercy when it swept across Long Beach Island in 1962. Houses, automobiles, and entire contents of homes were washed down streets and into the Bay. Among those that stood fast and survived the storm was a small Sears Roebuck cottage on 28th Street in Ship Bottom. It was built in 1926 for members of the Summit, New Jersey based Overlook Fish and Game Club, who wanted a place where they could salt water fish and go duck hunting. The 1962 nor’easter had nudged one corner of the house off its foundation and filled the crawl space with seawater, but this relatively minor damage was fixed by adding a row of cement blocks to realign and raise the house. My husband, Oz, became a member of the Club in the 1950s when our elderly neighbor, who could no longer drive, invited him to a meeting. After a few years, Oz became chairman of the Ship Bottom property. In the ‘60s, Club members were encouraged to spend family vacation time at the Shore whenever “fishing” members were not using the cottage. So, in 1960, we rented the cottage and set out for LBI, anticipating a great time on our very first Jersey Shore vacation. Our three sons, ages six, four, and one and a half, could hardly wait to see the ocean. Every 15 minutes, a voice from the back seat would call out, “Are we there yet?” My heart sank when we finally arrived at our destination. What I saw was a tired little fisherman’s cottage needing lots of loving care. For 34 years, it had stood steadfast through pelting rainstorms, raging winter blizzards, blustering windstorms, and stiflingly hot and humid summer days. Why wouldn’t it appear to be a bit disheveled? Our kids saw the cottage through a different lens ... they considered it to be a “cool” camping cabin. They dashed out of the car eager to explore the inside of the “cabin.” What we found was one large all-purpose room, a sparsely equipped kitchen, and a very tiny bathroom you could barely turn around in. The “great” room actually was a combination sleeping/dining/living space. An antique round oak table with serpent feet, plus six straight-backed chairs, indicated the dining area. At night, sliding curtains hung from metal tracks in the ceiling formed three sleeping enclosures. Clothes hooks had been randomly nailed to the walls. A janitor sized sink occupied one corner of the kitchen. An enamel-topped rectangular table provided the only work space. A temperamental refrigerator stood in another corner. I wasn’t thrilled with the amenities, but figured I could survive one week. I’ll admit, though, it did have some redeeming qualities. The house was fifth from the beach and it was walking distance to DiFiglio’s grocery store, the Ship Bottom Five and Ten, and The TaggAlong hobby shop. We found ourselves enjoying the carefree beach life more and more every day spent at the cottage. In 1970, a majority of older Club members voted to sell the cottage. Three appraisals were obtained from Island realtors. Bids from Club members were to be considered first. Our bid — the one and only member bid — was accepted. Suddenly, we became the new owners of a fishing cottage of which I once said I never wanted to see it again. Friends and relatives pitched in to help us renovate the cottage. Our sons were older now and proved to be handy with
a paintbrush. Not neat, but handy. A few pals from their Boy Scout Troop helped paint the shingled exterior a warm sandy shade. Flower boxes under the porch windows were filled with red geraniums and white petunias. An American flag, placed in a holder by the door, waved cheerfully at passersby. New hinges were screwed into the sagging shower door. Inside, Oz built Captain’s beds with storage drawers below. I made colorful, striped draw curtains to replace faded ones. A neighbor who was remodeling her kitchen gave us the cabinets she no longer needed. We added a four-burner stove and a newer model used refrigerator. Final additions included a 40-gallon hot water heater (installed in the attic), a built-in closet where the janitor sink had been, a telephone, and a TV. Paintings and photographs were hung on the walls. Our little house was looking mighty cozy. Every year, we managed to make more improvements. Eventually, a small pullout sofa was purchased for the porch to accommodate overnight guests. We all fell in love with our fishing cottage. Even me! The boys named her “Blowfish Bungalow,” after the funny puffed up fish they caught in the Bay. One year, we bought a red, tenfoot sailboat and took sailing lessons from the Clopp brothers. All of our adventures were dutifully recorded in a Log Book: dolphin sightings, how many crabs were netted in the Bay, who collected the most sea glass. Visiting friends and relatives also wrote in the Log. Some even wrote poems and drew pictures. One couple wrote: “We left Indiana two days ago to spend our honeymoon on LBI. We’re loving the beach. We’ve been steaming clams, boiling shrimp, and grilling fish, just like the natives!” A fourteenyear-old visitor wrote: “The weather was beautiful today. Mrs. Ostberg and I went sailing in the sunfish. We were going to jibe, but instead we capsized.” A scary incident was noted after our five-year-old niece wandered away on the beach. We searched frantically for an hour until, finally, we spotted a lifeguard leading a tearful, frightened little girl our way. Traditions originated during the summer vacations spent at Blowfish Bungalow are now part of our family heritage. Nowadays, when grandchildren visit, we MUST fly kites on the beach; we MUST build sand castles; we MUST play miniature golf and lick drippy ice cream cones; we MUST gather on the porch in the evening to bet on the actual time the sun sinks below the western horizon; we MUST race back from the beach to be the first to use the outdoor shower while there’s still hot water; and we MUST play Nana’s favorite card game, Aces on the Corner. At times, the game caused shouting, yelling, and even some crying. Our boys accused my mother, Nana, of changing the rules. Her response was, “These are Chicago rules, boys.” (Nana lived in Chicago). The boys argued, “But Nana, we want to play New Jersey rules!” Many happy memories were recorded in that old Log Book. We hated to part with our Sears Roebuck bungalow, but it just wasn’t big enough to comfortably enjoy our retirement years. More than a few tears were shed when we sold it in 1985. Today, we’re spending our “golden” years just a few miles up the road in North Beach. But we will always remember fondly our Ship Bottom cottage. — Jackie Ostberg •
50 & Counting
Soul Surfing F
or a few magical days back in the 1960s, a group of five sorority sisters were lucky enough to spend some time on LBI. One of the girl’s parents owned a summerhouse in Beach Haven West, and the girls were allowed to stay there for the week. As they drove over the Causeway, they were amazed at the beauty of the Island and the surrounding seascape. The scenery filled their spirits with a newfound joy and appreciation for the Shore. Their car radio was blasting songs by The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, and Frankie Avalon. They sang along with the radio and were so excited to hit the beach. With towels, baby oil, sunglasses,
Page 70 • Echoes of LBI
a transistor radio, and curlers in their hair, they were ready for the sun and fun. (Oh, how times have changed!) In the 1960s, life was a lot simpler. The guys had crew cuts, and the girls had bouffant-styled hair. Girls wore two-piece, polka dot bikinis, and men wore bathing trunks. “The Twist” and “The Swim” were the latest dance crazes. Barbeques, burger joints, and ice cream sodas were all the rage. Beach parties, beach movies, and surfing were the most popular pastimes. Teens were into peace signs, hippie bling, music, cars, and dancing. Doors were kept unlocked, and kids roamed the neighborhood without any fears or concerns. These five sorority sisters’ days were filled with hours and
hours of beach time. They took long walks, stretched out and baked in the sun, collected shells, and marveled at the serenity and peacefulness that surrounded them each day. They also spent countless hours watching the surfers in pursuit of that “Perfect Wave.” Towards the middle of the week, they met a nice guy who was a surfer on the beaches of Surf City. They began talking to him, and he eventually invited them to his house for later that evening. The girls still remember the great LBI night they enjoyed at his house. They sat in the screened front porch late into the night and did exactly what the surfer said was “the” thing to do here on LBI: sit around, talk, and hang out! (Ah, some things never change!) They talked for hours about surfing, life on LBI, and his T-Bird convertible. It’s a night they’ve all remembered ever since. Recently, I had the opportunity to reminisce with one of the girls in the photos about her friends, herself, and the surfer they met that one summer day back in 1964. She has spent many summers here on LBI and now lives here year round. She’d love to see their favorite surfer boy again and, perhaps, take another picture with him after all these years right here in Surf City. CAN ANYONE TELL US HIS NAME? If so, please contact Cheryl at Things A Drift at 609-361-1668 or email her at echoesoflbi@gmail.com. Hopefully, this is a story to be continued! Oh, wouldn’t that be swell! — Diane Stulga • .
Pete Milnes Photography
LLC
•
Photojournalist since 1982
Budget-friendly photographer for all events, private parties, small weddings, sweet 16, actors/actresses, nature and on-location personality photography. petemilnes.com • 732-671-3868
50 & Counting
Vanishing Landscape A
fter taking a friend on a recent tour of LBI, she commented on the lack of cute little beach houses from the early 20th century that are so reminiscent of a different time on LBI. Regrettably, I was only able to show her a few examples of earlier versions of vacation homes here on the Island that have survived the years. Many of the quaint little Shore homes that once dotted the towns of Long Beach Island have vanished from the landscape. The prosperous times of the 1980s were responsible for the destruction of most of these little jewels, but the little bungalows, shotgun shacks, and Shore cottages that remain have fascinating stories to tell. In any event, based on my friend’s comment, I realized that there are probably many other individuals who also wonder about the cottages of yesteryear. Many early bungalows were categorized as Arts and Crafts homes. Some of the more typical features in these homes were low-pitched roofs, wide eves, open floor plans with few hallways, and natural elements, such as wood and stone, dark wood and molding, built-in cabinets, shelves, and seating. Bungalows were popular during the early part of the 20th century, and they generally had 1½ floors, with most of the living space on the first floor. Many bungalows made good use of built-in cabinets and shelves, giving them an organized, efficient appeal. Page 72 • Echoes of LBI
20th Century LBI Beach Homes
Shotgun shacks were also popular during the early part of the 20th century. Typically, they measured one room wide and only a few rooms deep. They got their name from the common contention that one could stand in the front door, shoot a shotgun, and observe that the pellets would exit out the back door, without ever hitting a wall, due to the fact that all doors in the house lined up in a single row. Beach cottages were generally used on weekends or for summer getaways. Many of the older homes on LBI were small, cozy dwellings, where families would spend the summer and dad would come down on the weekends. Most of these homes had limited indoor plumbing and no air conditioning, other than what Mother Nature provided by way of a breeze. Kit houses, an early form of pre-fabricated homes manufactured by Sears and a few other companies, were another common feature of LBI’s early 20th century landscape. There were approximately 70,000 Sears kit homes built in the 48 contiguous states between 1908 and 1940. During the 32 years that Sears manufactured these homes, there were about 370 designs to choose from. The price ranged from $191 for a small cottage to $5972 for a more stately home design. Sears even offered mortgages from 1911-1933, which gave Sears an edge over their competitors. A 1908 reproduction Sears Catalogue shows different models
ranging in price from $795 for a small home to several thousand dollars for a larger home. Sears maintained in this catalogue “a man of average abilities could assemble a kit house in about ninety days.” There were thousands of pieces – all numbered – that came with directions on how to assemble the new home. A six-room home with “fair sized rooms” was listed at $725, but these pre-fab houses got more and more expensive as room sizes and amenities increased. Sears proclaimed that every home plan came with the seal of approval of a licensed architect, guaranteeing that the specifications will meet city building laws. Sears stated that their pre-fabricated homes were sold on the basis of a 1% profit margin, allowing Sears to pass savings on to the consumer. Each home came with standard doors, windows, moldings, floors, and hardware. Many of the lower priced homes did not include bathrooms or heat, but heating systems were available for an additional fee. One of the heating systems available in this 1908 catalogue was an Acme Hummer Soft Coal Furnace that promised to heat a large house to 70˚ in the coldest of temperatures. Its cost was $79.52. For $57.25, a pneumatic water system with a hand pump could also be purchased. Sears claimed the system would provide cool fresh water (“like water in city homes”). Since these pre-fabricated houses were shipped via railcar, the majority of kit houses can be found near early railroad lines. This made LBI a good prospect, as the main means of getting supplies to LBI in those days was a rail line that transported passengers and freight to the Island until the mid-20th century. The rail line ran parallel to where the Causeway stands today. In fact, sometimes during low tide, some of the support structure can still be seen in the Bay, near the north side of the bridge. Some kit houses still exist on LBI. There are a few con-
firmed kit houses in Ship Bottom and several in Barnegat Light. Indeed, I had the opportunity to tour one of them several years ago and recently became acquainted with the owner. Marjorie Amon is the third known owner of a 1924 Arts and Craft style Sears house located in Barnegat Light, near Viking Village. Many of the original features still exist in the home and, even though a few items in the house have been replaced over the years, the original charm remains. A beautiful wooden door with a single-paned glass window welcomes visitors into the living room. There are built-in shelves on the left wall, and the original staircase is nestled against the right wall, leading upstairs to a master suite with a home office space, bedroom, sitting room, and bathroom, where the original claw-foot tub is located. Back downstairs, French doors divide the living and dining rooms. Off the dining room is the kitchen, with the original built-in Hoosier-style cupboard. There is a short hallway off the dining room leading to two bedrooms and a bathroom. Sears kit houses generally had numbered pieces corresponding to the plans the builder used to assemble the house. Once the house was complete, most of the numbers were hidden from view behind walls. Fortunately, though, Marjorie was able to point out a number “9” on a windowsill in the dining room that is still clearly visible. In fact, most of the piece numbers that she has discovered in her home are on the windowsills. Nonetheless, examples of these piece number references, just like examples of early 20th century LBI cottages, are difficult to find these days. On the other hand, however, opportunities to appreciate examples of LBI’s architectural history can still be found if you look for them. So, next time you’re out on your bike or on an evening stroll, take a good look around and try to spot a little of LBI’s architectural heritage. This will provide you with a wonderful chance to experience the LBI of times gone by. Identifying the remaining examples of LBI’s early 20th century architectural heritage is an important part of preserving the historical record and integrity of LBI, and Echoes of LBI would like very much to be part of that effort. So, if you have a home that is one of the surviving members of the generation of houses that tell the story of early 20th century Long Beach Island, or if you know of one, please let us know. — Vickie Van Doren •
Looking Back
Ruby Reds
W
hile sorting old family photos on a chilly day, this 1917 photo of my grandparents caught my eye. Well, actually, it did more than that. It triggered a childhood memory of Surf City that came back to me in surprisingly vivid detail. While playing in the dunes on a winter day in the early 1950s, I spotted some gleaming red berries mixed in with the weeds on the white sand. So, I scooped a few up into my pocket. When I arrived back home, my Grandmother Netti identified them right away as cranberries. She talked about her excursions into the New Jersey Pinelands and its cranberry bogs with Dr. Lambert, a friend who, like millions Cathy Pennella art of others worldwide, died of influenza in 1918. To my compounds helpful in fighting bacteria. grandmother, it was a pleasant Indeed, even the early Atlantic whalers surprise that the berry could valued the health benefits associated with still be found on the Island. cranberries, storing 100 pound barrels of Recalling the cold and gustthe berries on board to prevent scurvy. ing wind of that day, I felt So, not only will cranberries add zest and chilled. And, to add to my variety to our meals today, they will also already sullen mood, I was help to keep us healthy just like those two also overtaken by thoughts of other popular native Garden State plants, how different the Island was in the Concord grape and the blueberry. the days before development LBI has everything needed to grow became such a pervasive fact of this versatile creeping vine: acid peat life. No more expansive, empty soil, good water, cold winters for dunes to play on, just empty its dormant period, and lots of sand. ey-Pembeton. unc Cha ert mb s.La Mr Dr. & summerhouses at this time of Today, however, with the high cost of year to see out my window. So, real estate on the Island, few of us have the amount of land in order to chase away my melancholy, I decided to brew a that it would take to make cranberry growing a sensible ventasty cranberry toddy. This brainstorm then provided me with ture. But, no need to worry. You have only to travel inland a another inspiration. Why not get on the computer and investishort distance to Chatsworth to find our native jewels. This gate the history of this sour jewel? tiny town in the Pinelands is well worth a visit on a sunny Vaccinium macrocapon, the cranberry, was harvested by our autumn afternoon, and you will be amazed at the sight of those native Lenni Lenape Indians, who used it for food, to make ruby red ponds filled with cranberries, waiting to be harvested dye, and as a medicinal remedy. For injuries, they mashed it for Ocean Spray. together with corn meal and applied it as a poultice. It was Since I’ve now finished my toddy, perhaps this is a good time stored in baskets as a winter staple used to prepare pemmican, to mark my calendar to check out the cranberry bogs this fall. a concentrated mixture of fats and proteins prepared by Native Oh, and there’s one more thing. Here’s the recipe for a cranAmericans. In order to prepare this hearty and highly nutritious berry toddy, just in case you, too, need to chase away the blues concoction, the crushed berries were mixed with dried fish, or simply want to spice up your day: game (typically venison, elk, or moose), and melted fat, formed Cranberry Toddy into cakes, and dried. Yummy! Perhaps I ought to mix a batch Heat 1 cup cranberry juice 6 dashes bitters to have with my toddy! 2 oz. lemon juice 1/4 tsp. cinnamon But cranberries are by no means a food of the past. 2 tbs. honey Cranberries are still an important food that every modern diet Add 3 oz. Laird’s Applejack. Serves 2 or 3 in mugs. should include. While I’m not a nutritionist, I do know that cranberries are high in cancer-fighting antioxidants and other — Carol Freas • Page 74 • Echoes of LBI
Looking Back Back row - Jimmy Plasket, Melinda Kurkian, Gay & Bobby Van Meter, Second row - Buzzy Kurkian, Cheryl & Merry Van Meter and Kenny Plasket
My Father and the Harvey Cedars Cat Burglar
T
he seashore was the summer place to be for the Kurkian family in the 1950s. Harvey Cedars on Long Beach Island was a middle class community; a collection of New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania families interspersed with Island and Pineland folk. We had marshes, inlets, beaches, the ocean, and the Bay to play in. We had salty friends and were always looking for adventure on the beach and in the coves. We ran wild from morning to night, stopping only to grab some food or eat gobs of penny candy from Mamma’s restaurant on the corner of Camden and Long Beach Boulevard. One summer, we were all shocked to learn that a burglar was preying on our unlocked cars. The cars were hastily rifled and small items were stolen. But it gave my friends and me a thrill to think that crime had come to Harvey Cedars. Our police chief, Harry Haines, cruised the Boulevard endlessly, looking important in his squad car, searching for the perpetrator. Nonetheless, we were sure that with some diligence, we kids would Page 76 • Echoes of LBI
be the ones to bring the robber to justice. We stationed ourselves in the attic of the Plasket house and, from that high observation post, constantly surveilled the scene with binoculars. The beach was our prime target since some of the cars had been burglarized while people had been swimming. We took turns at our post, but clues and shady characters were nowhere to be found. After some long days the attic became too hot, so we took to detective work on the ground. We scanned every stranger we encountered, but no one looked guilty enough to report to the authorities. Soon, our interest in the case began to wane. Investigation had turned into frustration, which ultimately led to resignation. So much for we aspiring sleuths! But the adventure was far from over. Late one warm summer evening, I awoke to the barking of my dog Bunnin. She was on the front porch and seemed unusually excited. I got out of bed and plodded into the living room to see if I could quiet her. My father was standing by the window and motioned to
me to stop. Suddenly, he sprang from the house and ran to our car, wrenched open the car door, and dragged a man from the front seat. The man squirmed and wriggled, but Dad held fast, shaking the man while the dog barked and yipped. “Call the police,” Dad yelled. (Actually, we had to run down the street to Bob Van Meter’s house to make the call, as we had no phone.) In an instant, a proud Harry Haines rolled into the front yard and hauled the burglar out of Dad’s headlock (Dad had been on the wrestling team in school). As Chief Haines cuffed the robber and took him away, my mother was heard to remark, in her characteristically wry tone, that Harry had done some “real police work” in this quiet little town and that Mrs. Haines would be very proud. We were so excited that we could not sleep for the rest of that night, preferring, instead, to go over and over the details of the heroic capture. This was an end to the crime spree that no one could have ever imagined. Not only had an additional crime been averted, but Dad and my cocker spaniel had saved the day and put this serial cat burglar in his place! We found out later that the burglar was a cook in a local restaurant. We were somewhat disappointed that we neighborhood kids had not solved the crime, but we reasoned that our family’s starring role in the apprehension was almost as good. And anyway, it made for a great story for the “How I spent my summer vacation” essay we would have to write in the coming fall. — Melinda Kurkian Gaffney •
Harry Kurkian
Life is good ... Number one in getting it done.
Patrice”Pat”Albanese
Broker Associate, ABR,SRES
Prudential Zack Shore Properties
1000 Long Beach Blvd. Ship Bottom, NJ 08008 office 609-494-7272 cell 609-226-6113 patalbanese@aol.com
Looking Back
A 92nd Street Love Story Page 78 • Echoes of LBI
I
have lived on 92nd Street on Long Beach Island every summer for 19 years. My family owns a small duplex, white with blue shutters. Beside my house is a cape cod, blue with white shutters. I remember every summer growing up, the very first thing I would do upon arrival, before unloading the car or even looking at the beach, was to run over to my neighbors’ house. At that time, Vern and Adele lived there, and their children would come up on weekends. I considered Vern and Adele (Dr. and Mrs. Rosenberg, to me) surrogate grandparents, and I used to tell them how much I loved them through the cards and little presents I secretly placed in their mailbox. I miss them now that they are no longer with us. Their story is a love story. In fact, it’s a story of many generations of love for the island so many of us are proud to call home. Vern and Adele met their very first day of college at Temple University in Philadelphia. The year was 1937. Adele was only 16, and Vern was two years her elder. From the start, Vern was very much smitten with the kind and beautiful Adele. It took a little longer for her to come around, however. She was hesitant about dating a boy from a fraternity who seemed older and less reserved than she was. She quickly learned, though, that there was much more to Vern, and it wasn’t long into their freshman year before they started dating. Adele studied business education at Temple, and Vern studied dentistry. After graduation, Vern went overseas to serve in World War II. He was a captain in the U. S. Army, stationed in Italy and working as a dentist. He returned from the war in 1943, after developing a severe ulcer, and they married in February of that year. Vern had already opened his own dentistry practice before leaving for the war, a practice he maintained for more than 40 years. Adele taught for one year after they wed in West Philadelphia, but then took a hiatus from teaching for many years to raise their children. Vern and Adele raised their two daughters, Jo Anne and Beth, in Camden, New Jersey. They bought their summer home on LBI in 1955 (Jo Anne, age 8; Beth, age 6). At the time they bought the house, there were five other houses on the ocean block of 92nd Street. Between the houses were overgrown lots that kids used as baseball fields. Now, there are 15 homes on the ocean block and no open fields. Over the last 56 years, 92nd Street and the entire Island have changed, as all places do. The beach has widened in some places and narrowed in others, new stores have been built, and larger and taller houses have replaced many of the original cape cods. But some things, even after so many years, never change. The Holiday Snack Bar still serves the best cake, change-over traffic is still a nuisance every Saturday morning, and the “little pigs” house you see from the bridge, although more ramshackle that ever, still stands. As I sat with Jo Anne and Beth on the beach, and listened to them reminisce about their childhood, I couldn’t help but smile.
So much of what they did, I also did growing up on the Island. They took classes at the LBI Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, attended the Surflight Theater children’s show on Thursdays, took swimming lessons with the Beach Patrol lifeguards, and worked summer jobs. Jo Anne worked at the library from age 16 to 23, and Beth worked at Hand’s Five and Ten for one dollar an hour. Times have certainly changed a little bit since then. The minimum wage is, thankfully, higher. Bathing suits have become less conservative, tattoos abound, and the era of the chain store (Wawa and CVS) has arrived. On the other hand, while the Island’s appearance has certainly changed, its personality and charms endure, year after year. Vern and Adele’s cape cod on 92nd Street was built in the 1940s. It originally had a pitched roof, pull-down stairs, and no upstairs at all. As their family grew and changed, however, so did the house. Jo Anne and her husband Phillip (Flip) and Beth and her husband Bruce are now the primary caretakers of the home. They have built an upstairs to accommodate the four generations of children and grandchildren who come to visit each summer. There are new family photographs on the wall, crayon drawings taped on the fridge, and a kid’s playhouse in the backyard. But, if you look closely, you can see that some things haven’t changed at all. The bedroom that Jo Anne and Beth shared was also shared by Jo Anne’s children, Jonathan and Jeffrey (now 37 and 34). Now, Jonathan and Elissa’s four-year-old son, Jonah, sleeps there, and his baby sister, Eve, will soon join him. This summer, Beth’s eldest daughter, Deena, gave birth to her first child, Alanna. Deena and her husband Matthew named their child after her great grandmother Adele, based on the occasional Jewish custom of selecting a name that begins with the same first letter as the name of the person being commemorated. It’s just one of the many ways in which the memory of Vern and Adele lives on as their family grows. Each summer, Jo Anne plants geraniums in memory of her mother, and she and her sister prune the backyard tamarack tree Vern loved so much. He loved watching his grandchildren Jonathan, Jeffrey, Deena, and Sara play in the shade of that tree. I sometimes wonder if Vern ever imagined that the home he bought 52 years ago would become the cherished beach house it is today for his loved ones. Vern often said that coming down to Long Beach Island every summer kept him young and healthy for so long. The sea breeze, the rhythmic crashing of the waves, and the company of those he loved provided him with more happiness than he could have ever asked for. And so, as I said, Verne and Adele’s story is more than just a love story between two people, it is a love story of four generations of wonderful individuals, who I am so fortunate to call my friends and neighbors. Their love for each other and the Island makes my summers here all the more memorable. Hopefully, we all have people like this in our lives. Whether we call them surrogate grandparents or summer friends, they are people we love and, most likely, do not thank enough for the memories and special times we share together. — Elizabeth Weber •
WhyYou Should Stay
The Shack Lives On! Marjorie Amon photos
LBI Film Festival Boot Camp - Getting the volunteers in shape for the Festival.
Page 80 • Echoes of LBI
Santa’s helper Jimmy Busico visited Surf City Marina last year. Kelly Andrews photo
Sara Caruso
WhyYou Should Stay
T
baymen of winter
he alarm went off at 4 A.M. Well, it was actually three alarms, set a minute apart, as I did not want to be late for today’s hunt. The fresh smell of coffee fills the house as the automatic coffee maker performs its wondrous job once again. It is my responsibility to provide coffee for the boat. All of the foul weather gear was laid out the night before, since preparation means survival when duck hunting on Barnegat Bay. It is going to be one of the coldest days of winter, so today’s hunt on the Bay is no time for poor gear or miscalculations. One mistake, one slip, or one fall into the icy waters and you may have only a few precious seconds to save yourself or a buddy. I am meeting my hunting partners, Denis and Mike, at the Barnegat Light ramp. Together, we will be heading outside of the Barnegat Inlet for our first Eider hunt, assuming the weather holds up. Eiders normally do not come down this far south, but the extreme cold of this winter has pushed them to the mouth of the Inlet. Hunting Eiders is like hunting a tank with wings, but we have been told they are very tasty waterfowl. We meet at the ramp and warm up the skiff. Next, we load up the gear: decoys, shotguns safely protected inside floating cases, ammo, and, of course, my huge thermos of coffee and buttered rolls (a true New Jersey breakfast!). It is still pitch black outside and the winds are screaming out of the northeast at 15-20 knots. A few words are said about the foreboding weather forecast, but the excitement level is too high to be deflated and so we decide to shove off. We are the picture of unified determination – three friends heading out on the coldest day of winter to hunt ducks. Many would say we are crazy, but this is an annual tradition that we always look forward to for a full year in advance. As we turn into the wind, the spray from the chop freezes instantly on the windows of the wheelhouse. I step out and use the squeegee to clear the icy buildup. To say that it is freezing out is an understatement. I am wearing so much foul weather gear that the only exposed part of me is the area around my eyes, where the salt spray freezes on contact. We ride out past Ol’Barney and watch the first light cut through the night sky. I think about how majestic the lighthouse must have been to a sea captain of yore on a night like this. Just then, the first roller approaches the 19-foot skiff, and we see the Inlet is rougher than the weather forecast had predicted. We skirt the first roller and see the second swell approaching. The engine roars and we cut across to the far side of the Inlet for some protection from the wind. We survey the situation and it does not look Page 82 • Echoes of LBI
promising. Waves are crashing across the breakers and the ocean is raging. We can see whitecaps hundreds of yards out past the foghorn. Rollers are racing through the Inlet, some as high as five feet. Someone actually suggests that we head out and see if there are any eiders outside the Bay. As the discussion ensues, I warn Captain Denis of a side wave heading our way. The engines roar again, and we are surfing a roller back into the Bay. I was so excited about our Eider hunt on the open sea, but it is clear that the winter winds are in the eiders’ favor today. There is no way we are going to attempt to anchor the layout boat in the ocean in this type of weather. We decide to head back inside the Bay to safer hunting grounds. We cruise to the leeward side of an island (I won’t tell which one!) and set out the decoys and layout boat. The Grand Architect of the Universe has provided us with a beautiful sunrise. Yes, it is freezing out and the ducks are flying in all directions, but watching the sunrise on the Bay in the middle of winter is simply good for the soul. We all agree that there is nowhere else we would rather be than hunting on the Bay today. We could not care less if we bring even a single duck onto the boat. Just watching nature and being outdoors is good enough. Fortunately, the Bay is loaded with the largest amount of ducks that any one of us has seen in a decade. Old Squaw, Bufflehead, Broadbills, Brant, and Mallards are flying everywhere. We take turns hunting from the layout boat, switching out every half hour to warm up in the wheelhouse. The decoy spread is bringing in the birds and we begin to fill our limit. After several hours of hunting, we decide to pack it up and head back to the ramp. Captain Denis does an amazing job getting the skiff on the trailer, and Mike and I pitch in to secure the boat and gear for the ride home. Our tradition is to stop and get breakfast after any hunt, especially when we are cold and hungry! At breakfast, I bring up the fact that several friends have started asking me if I have any extra game meat for them. There is a new food trend called the “Paleo” diet that is gaining popularity. The diet suggests that we eat what the cavemen ate, namely wild-caught game meats such as duck, turkey, deer, and fish. Mike and Denis both say that their friends have also been asking them for any extra game. Luckily, the ducks we have caught today will surely provide several meals for us and for our friends. We pay our bill and leave the waitress a very nice tip. Another great hunt is in our memories, and the tradition of gunning on Barnegat Bay lives on through three friends having a blast in the middle of winter. — Joseph C. McCann •
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