A lot has changed about Long Beach Island in the last 19 years. In 2007, the average sale price of a home was still under $1 million, with a few original beach cottages for half that. The Tide Table Group was just four restaurants. Almost every surfer on the Island rode a thruster surfboard that was about 6 foot. Subbogies in Surf City was the place for an egg breakfast.

Few things have remained the same. But each year, the early fall brings a feeling of relief to Island locals exhausted from a…