From the editor
Have you ever walked the Boardwalk on a warm spring or fall afternoon and thought, for just a moment, that it almost felt like summer? Bikes return to the boards. Ice cream cones reappear in little hands. Restaurants open their windows, and beach chairs begin dotting the sand once again. A mild Easter weekend or during a warm, sunny autumn afternoon, it can feel as though summer has arrived like an unexpected gift. These times remind us of the summer season.
But the truth is, nothing compares to the Jersey Shore in the summertime. And by summertime, I mean that unmistakable stretch between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day — when the Shore fully comes alive.
That is when the magic happens.
Families gather on the Boardwalk, amusement rides light up the night sky, and generations return to the same shore towns year after year to continue traditions that have become part of their family stories.
Summer at the Shore is more than a season. It is a feeling.
That feeling is exactly why more than a hundred thousand visitors will make their way to the Jersey Shore this long holiday weekend. Cars packed with beach gear and bicycles will inch down the Garden State Parkway. Hotels and rental homes will fill, and restaurants and shops will welcome the return of hungry customers.
The celebrations begin Friday morning when mayors on barrier islands throughout Atlantic and Cape May counties ceremoniously unlock the ocean, symbolizing the start of summer.
In Ocean City, business owners will once again march into the surf fully dressed in suits and business attire to celebrate the beginning of another season. In Atlantic City, thousands will gather along the Boardwalk as 5,000 beach balls rain down from above during the city’s annual Memorial Day weekend kickoff celebration.
Every shore town has its own traditions and personality, yet together they create something uniquely special this time of year.
Still, as we celebrate the start of another summer, our hearts collectively broke Monday night as word spread about the missing swimmer in Ocean City. Families across the region prayed alongside first responders and loved ones as search efforts continued.
It serves as an important reminder that while the ocean is beautiful and inviting, it is also powerful and unforgiving. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of swimming only at guarded beaches and always in front of a lifeguard. As the summer season begins, please speak with your children again and again about water safety. A moment of caution can save their lives.
Memorial Day weekend is also a time to remember the true meaning of the holiday. Beyond the beaches and celebrations, Memorial Day honors the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. Their courage and sacrifice gave us the freedoms we enjoy each day.
On Monday, I encourage everyone to attend one of the many local parades, ceremonies and memorial services taking place throughout our communities, on the shore and mainland
As another summer season begins, may we celebrate with gratitude, kindness and appreciation — especially for those who sacrificed to protect our way of life.
Thank you for picking up this week’s edition of Shore Local.
Peace & Love, Cindy
