From the Editor
Welcome back, Shore Local readers, and Happy New Year. We are excited to be back after a one-week reprieve. As you may know by now, for the first time in Shore Local history, we will be publishing weekly throughout 2024. There is a lot of love and labor that goes into a weekly publication, so before we hit the ground running, we wanted to ensure our family and staff had an enjoyable rest.
During that time, Bob and I had the opportunity to relax and recharge with some live music and great company at Renault Winery’s Vinter Wonderland in Egg Harbor City. The venue has been completely transformed into a beautiful winter wonderland complete with an ice skating rink, blazing fire pits, twinkling lights, warm igloos and more.
As we wandered into the restaurant to warm our bones, we were thrilled to discover another world of entertainment going on inside. Two talented musicians played request-only tunes to a lively crowd of all ages and generations, each dancing and singing to their favorite songs. Of course, we joined in and sang along as the music transported us to fond memories of yesteryear.
Music can transcend time in a way nothing else can. The melodies of our past not only elicited the images of our more youthful selves but also the unique feelings associated with them. Decades were erased as we sang along to the soundtrack of our college years.
Our young adult daughter happened to be with us that night and reveled in some of the music from the early 2000s. But when we went nuts over ’80s or ’90s songs, she remarked with a twinge of envy that she wasn’t born sooner: “You’re lucky you’ve lived longer; music can transport you through more decades and seasons of your life.”
As I took in the scene, recognizing the multigenerational love of music that was going on around me, I held onto my daughter’s words. I am lucky to have lived so long and have the privilege of amassing such vast experiences.
That made me wonder about the incredible life of the beloved Absecon Lighthouse keeper, Buddy Grover. Buddy passed away this week at the beautiful age of 96. I can’t help but wonder what type of music brought out his fondest memories of the past or the points of view one must have at 96 years old. As the community mourns Buddy, we can only hope that he is somewhere smiling down on us with that unmistakable grin.
As we head into a new year, I look forward to the memories we haven’t made yet with the people we have yet to meet. This is set to be a record year for Shore Local! We can’t wait to bring you more local news, feel-good stories, events and happenings, live music, entertainment, and more so you can continue adding great memories to your filing cabinet for future nostalgia.
Thank you for reading this edition of Shore Local Newsmagazine. Your opinions, story ideas and suggestions are important to us. Please email shorelocalnews@gmail.com or call (609) 788- 4812.
Peace & Love,
Cindy
