Opinion
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•October 30, 2025
Dangerous Path
In past letters, I’ve tried to remain measured. But today, I write with urgency. Our democracy is in peril. The Constitution is under siege. And the president, whose actions increasingly mirror those…
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October 30, 2025
Three More Years!
Regarding last week’s Commentary titled “What the ‘Freaks’ Were Doing Saturday Here in Ship Bottom” by Wendy McClure, I’d like to offer the following three points.
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•October 30, 2025
Making Memories Well Into the Off-Season
It’s that time of year again. Labor Day weekend is over and everyone is back to work and school. Let’s face it, no one from yonder likes to admit the summer is over and they are not coming back down…
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October 29, 2025
Commitment to Service
My name is Robert (Bob) Butkus and I am seeking reelection to the Ship Bottom Borough Council. Currently, I serve as chairperson of the Water and Sewer Committee and as a member of both the Parks and…
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October 29, 2025
Fight for Democracy
I attended the No Kings rally on Saturday, Oct. 18 in Ship Bottom. I was amazed at the size of the crowd of like-minded individuals in the off-season. We wanted to attend to express our…
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October 29, 2025
Mayors for Ciattarelli
As mayors of Long Beach Island communities, we are united in our support of Jack Ciattarelli for governor of New Jersey. Jack has been a strong advocate for our shore communities and understands the…
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October 29, 2025
Why I Went
Recently during an interview on Fox News, Republican Mike Johnson, the speaker of the House of Representatives, stated that the nationwide “No Kings” rally on Saturday, Oct. 18 was really a “Hate…
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October 29, 2025
Out-of-Touch Opulence
Recently, while I witnessed the walls of part of the White House (the East Wing) being demolished to make room for a $250 million Trump ballroom, I felt nauseated. Why?
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October 29, 2025
Lots to Love
The Ocean County Library System celebrated its 100th anniversary this summer. My husband and I have enjoyed many wonderful, educational and entertaining programs throughout the system. We’ll go any…
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October 29, 2025
Write-In Missing
Please correct your article titled “Few Contested School Board, Local Elections” (10/22) to reflect that I am running as a write-in candidate for Ship Bottom Council.
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October 23, 2025
We Can Do Better
Residents deserve a better Ship Bottom and I plan to right the ship toward much-needed change.
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October 23, 2025
Vote for Transparency
It is with great enthusiasm that I support Maxine Blumenthal for Barnegat Township Committee.
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October 23, 2025
No-Wake Zone
In last week’s paper, Jay Mann, in The Fish Story, commented about the ordinance concerning “vehicles passing through flood waters must not issue large wakes. Vehicularly produced waves can indeed…
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•October 22, 2025
What the ‘Freaks’ Were Doing Saturday Here in Ship Bottom
After taking part in this weekend’s No Kings 2 protest in Ship Bottom I have seen many comments on social media about what the “freaks” were doing and why don’t we find something better to do with…
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•October 22, 2025
Navigating Pre-Teenage With Raft and Paddle on LBI
It’s the craziest thing how we as human beings want more out of life or dream of something bigger.
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October 22, 2025
Qualified Incumbents
Ship Bottom deserves leadership rooted in fiscal responsibility, dedication and a complete understanding of the duties and powers of the office of council. Councilmen Robert Butkus and Tom Tallon…
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October 22, 2025
Guest Workers Needed
Some years ago I was contacted by the Internal Revenue Service and asked to help guest workers who were failing to file tax returns because they had no taxpayer identification numbers (TIN).…
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October 16, 2025
New LEH Mega-Community Will Sap Stretched Resources
The planning board should be ashamed to say they represent the residents of Little Egg Harbor. They unanimously voted, 7-0, to approve a 415-home Lennar development across from Sunrise Bay Adult…
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October 16, 2025
Effective Incumbents
On Tuesday, Nov. 4 the voters of Surf City, exercising their right to vote, will gather at the firehouse (or may have already sent in their vote by mail ballot or participated in the opportunity for…
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•October 15, 2025
Help! I’m Being Commercialed to Death on TV
If I was really going to write about all aspects of advertising and commercials, I’d have a novel, not a column. So I decided to narrow down my comments.
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October 15, 2025
New Heights of Success
On behalf of the Long Beach Island Chamber of Commerce, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who helped make this year’s 11th Annual LBI FLY Kite Festival such an incredible…
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October 15, 2025
Upstanding Citizen
I am responding to Bill Green’s letter (“Pragmatic Record,” 10/1). While Mr. Green writes that “political debate is vital, it must be rooted in fact, not exaggeration or fear,” several of his…
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•October 14, 2025
Three Noble Causes
Save LBI, The Friends of Solo Foundation and the Stafford Wrestling Club will be the charitable recipients for The Sea Shell Resort’s 28th Annual Striped Bass Derby. This event will be held on the…
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•October 13, 2025
Viewing the Last of the Mast – So Personally Meaningful
On Aug. 21 and 22, I was visiting my good friends Laura and Dick Bartlett, who have a home adjacent to the beach at 18th Street in Barnegat Light. Early in the morning of Friday, Aug. 22, I took a…
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October 9, 2025
Sincere Gratitude
The Beach Haven Community Arts Program extends our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the businesses and organizations who sponsored our free, 2025 Wednesday night Summer Concerts on the Green at…
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October 9, 2025
Trusted Steward
Ship Bottom deserves leadership rooted in fiscal responsibility, dedication and a complete understanding of the duties and powers of the office of council. Councilman Tom Tallon has consistently…
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October 8, 2025
Caring Community
A brief but most sincere thank-you goes to the couples out for a walk, the nurse who lives in the area, Ship Bottom Sgt. Brian Tretola, Officers Brian Laureigh and Joe Fiorello and EMS Ken Perry, all…
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October 8, 2025
Failure of Leadership
As of this writing we’re only a few days into the federal government shutdown, but I firmly believe that every taxpaying American citizen, whether Republican, Democrat or Independent, should be…
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•October 8, 2025
Time for a Change
I was a councilman in Ship Bottom and retired last year. I have known Bill Fenimore for 10 years and found him to be respectful, intelligent and someone who deeply cares about Ship Bottom.
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•October 8, 2025
Government Shutdown Harms More Than Federal Workers
Government shutdowns affect far more people, likely hundreds of thousands, than just government employees.
