Columns
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•September 6, 2023
Explosive Testimony Heard in Murder Trial
During 1922, Ellis Parker, the famous Burlington County detective, was repeatedly in the national spotlight as he was instrumental in solving three highly publicized murder cases. In December of that…
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•September 6, 2023
Jersey Gator Makes a Sudden Showing; Ørsted in the Red and Rethinking Wind 1
The beach has shed its summer skin, accompanied by a changing of the beach guard. Overwhelming throngs have given way to a scattering of fervid postseason aficionados, especially anglers and…
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•August 31, 2023
The Subtle Current of Surf Culture Running Through Labor Day Weekend
The once-underground Southern California band artfully mixed punk, reggae, ska, jam band and hip-hop subcultures in the early-’90s surf and skate scene. The first two records, released on tiny little…
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•August 30, 2023
Getting Final Word on Friends in Lahaina; The Season of Batty Bats Is Upon Us
It was something like a mere week ago that I was hailing the start of the LBI’s summer season. Now, here I am bidding it a fond adieu, adios, bon voyage, arrivederci, sayonara, auf wiedersehen and…
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•August 30, 2023
Sahara Moon Marks Fitting Summer Finale; Tuckerton Porchfest Spotlights Indie Music
Who else is dying for a summer encore? This season was brimming with a little bit of everything, especially for music lovers. Perhaps that’s why every moment felt as though we were raging against…
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•August 30, 2023
Ellis Parker Digs Out the Truth
As the Jazz Age began, Ellis Parker was already a well-known figure. Sometimes called the Bald Eagle or the Sherlock Holmes of the Pines, the Burlington County detective had already solved dozens of…
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•August 23, 2023
The Island’s Laid-Back Nature Ends Swiftly; Turbines Could Play Havoc With the Bight
ALL ABOUT LBI: Considering how grounded I am in the past, you wouldn’t think I’d have much reason to muse about the thoroughly modern Taylor-made madness that befell Beach Haven last week, especially…
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•August 23, 2023
What LBI and NYC Have in Common; Outrageously Fun Summer Swell and Tropical Storm Party of Four
BEST OF THE BEST: Long Beach Island is pretty good at a few things. Generations of folks have come here because they like the simple coastal vibe. And to toot our own horn, we are really good at…
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•August 23, 2023
Ellis Parker’s Specialty: Murder
Ellis Parker was born in 1870 and became Burlington County’s chief of detectives in 1897. Eventually he would become one of the most famous law enforcement officers in the entire country; his…
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•August 17, 2023
Horse Theft Leads to Career
During the first quarter of the 20th century, Ellis Parker was one of the most famous residents of the Jersey Pines. The subject of books and magazine articles on both sides of the Atlantic, he was…
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•August 16, 2023
Lawnmowing Session of Epic Oddness; When Water Intake Takes Deadly Turn
Commencing this week’s column with a human-vs.-wildlife tale of barely believable proportions. It’s stunningly true, though.
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•August 16, 2023
Cue the Start of Seasonal Transition and Hurricane Season; Props to Great Classic Event
We haven’t had enough summer, but more than enough heat.
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•August 10, 2023
Remembering ESPN Hot Summer Nights Programming and Living Our Own Hot Summer
Back in the early ’90s, ESPN used to run a Tuesday-night lineup in the summer called Hot Summer Nights. It had its own graphics – pretty heavily ’80s influenced in colors and aesthetic with a catchy…
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•August 10, 2023
Stay Away From Our Horseshoe Crabs, Dude; Yet Another Soapy Episode Starring Turbines
Worth a mention are a couple highlights from the NJDEP Fish and Wildlife Bureau of Law Enforcement’s monthly report.
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•August 9, 2023
‘Shenandoah’ Joins the Navy Fleet
In October 1923, Ocean County was planning for one of the biggest events in its history.
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•August 3, 2023
Waves of Strength Gets Stellar Waves; Potential for Open Space in Ship Bottom; Barbie’s Pink Milkshake Brings Ted Cruz to the Yard
Chances are that you’ve enjoyed something Barbie themed this week on LBI – some kind of pink milkshake, cupcake, ice cream or something else to celebrate this summer’s blockbuster that has earned…
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•August 2, 2023
Another Bout of Interglacial Weather; Jersey Can Be Such an Energy Mooch
Hard to believe we’ve already reached the median strip of summer. To say Summer 2023 has been hot barely cuts it when thinking in worldly terms. You’ve likely heard it was officially the hottest July…
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•August 2, 2023
ZR-1 Goes to Washington
The Tuckerton Beacon ended its coverage of the triumphant flight of the American-built ZR-1 over New York City and Philadelphia on Sept. 11, 1923 with an understated “ZR-1 started for her home…
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•July 27, 2023
Jetty Coquina Jam Puts Spotlight on Women, Littlenecks Put Smiles on Faces
To date, local apparel company Jetty has run 15 Coquina Jams and 17 Clam Jams. There have been spitting tubes and daring airs. There have been gracefully executed cross steps to gorgeous nose rides.…
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•July 26, 2023
Five-Turbine Trial Run Is Rhode Island Flop; Summer Bugs Having Heyday Hereabouts
This week’s turbine talk is anchored by the water-shaking news that Rhode Island has said five is enough, referring to its test of five offshore wind turbines at Block Island, which have experienced…
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•July 26, 2023
Mighty Airship Makes Maiden Voyage
Sept. 11, 1923 was a day of rejoicing and patriotism for those living in New York City and most of the tri-state area. Residents became aware that the 11th would be something special when papers…
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•July 20, 2023
Easy Honey Sweetens Up Summer at Bird & Betty’s
Hailing from Charleston, S.C., national indie band Easy Honey made Beach Haven a celebrated stop on its East Coast Surf Tour, bringing a wave of new, alternative energy with it.
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•July 19, 2023
Online Complaints Make Pure Comedy; Every Element of Summer Surf at Once
Last Sunday, we were out to breakfast at a mainland spot north of LBI. Just after our food arrived, the friendly waiter/owner of the spot asked if we needed anything else.
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•July 19, 2023
ZR-1 Takes to the Sky At Last
Throughout the summer of 1923, the country watched as the time for the first test flight of the ZR-1 neared.
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•July 19, 2023
When Island’s Viewshed Royally Rocked; Put Trophy-Sized Striped Bass to Good Use
I realize that many readers of this intentionally non-prestigious column are growing weary of week-in/week-out turbine talk. But face it, the proposed builds are the biggest thing to hit our shores…
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•July 13, 2023
Soul Project NOLA Brings the Funk to Lizzie Rose
Launched in 2014 in the heart of charming historic Tuckerton, the Lizzie Rose Music Room operates entirely on volunteerism, memberships and donations with the sole purpose of bringing a variety of…
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•July 13, 2023
Controversial Plastic Bag Ban Is Working; Tiny Baby Waves Get Us Between Swells
It has now been over a year since New Jersey enacted the ol’ P.L. 2020, c. 117 bill, or as it is known out on the streets, the plastic bag ban.
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•July 12, 2023
Tog Cheaters Get Bagged in BL; Double Whammy for Anti-Turbiners
Fish and Game Council Bureau Reports for June just arrived. One poaching bust jumps out. It was carried out by Conservation Police Officer Klitz while monitoring busy fishing activity at the South…
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•July 12, 2023
The Nation Watches ZR-1’s Progress
July 1923 had seen newspapers across the nation speculate as to when the world’s largest flying machine, the ZR-1, would rise from the sands of the Jersey Pine Barrens at Lakehurst and roar to life.…
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•July 6, 2023
Summer Waves Make for Happy Surfers; Beach Haven Council Can’t Land a Trick on Skate Park
Well, that was some weekend. Anyone see the line at Jeffreeze Old Fashioned Ice Cream in West Creek on Sunday night? Might have been a quarter mile. The line outside of Rich’s Ice Cream stretched…
