Opinion
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February 6, 2025
Ugly American
President Trump used his opportunity to talk about the horrific collision of a Black Hawk helicopter and American Eagle flight 5342 in Washington, D.C. to blame Obama, Biden, Pete Buttigieg, DEI and…
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February 6, 2025
Plan Lacks Nuance
Recently the president suggested that Palestinian refugees not attempt to go back to their homes. He then urged neighboring countries to take in the millions of people looking for places to live.…
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February 6, 2025
One More Timeless Shot of the Old Garvey
I loved the cover on The SandPaper last week of the old garvey. Your photographer did a wonderful job. I, too, love that old boat and have been photographing it for many years. Here is one of my…
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February 5, 2025
Nothing Like America
If Dorothy had recently dropped into the U.S. instead of Oz, she probably would have said, “I don’t think we’re in America anymore, Toto.” I’m afraid we’ve elected a president more intent on…
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February 5, 2025
Legal Fee Protection
As a trial lawyer for 35 years, I know the cost and inefficiencies of trial practice, at least in New Jersey. Obviously, I have no firsthand knowledge as to why President Biden granted pardons, as…
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February 5, 2025
My Dad, My Hero
This poem is dedicated to my dad, Steve Mottola of North Beach, my go-to guy.
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January 30, 2025
Welcoming Workforce
Ninety-eight percent of Costco’s shareholders recently supported the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies. According to the board chairman, since its founding Costco has always been…
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January 29, 2025
Sound Coverage
The “Sound Waves” column last week by Monique M. Demopoulos covering the local open mic scene, old and new, was well done. Extra credit for including events that are all-music and those that also…
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•January 29, 2025
Pardon Who? Recent Actions Undermine Law and Order
Several thoughts come to mind regarding President Donald Trump’s blanket pardons and commutation of sentences of convicted Jan. 6, 2020 rioters, including those who committed violent, destructive and…
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January 23, 2025
Bridge Project Comparisons Beg Question ‘Why So Long?’
Perspective is “a way of thinking about and understanding something.” I am thinking about and trying to understand why it has taken so long to complete the Manahawkin Bay Bridge and infrastructure…
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•January 22, 2025
My Water Adventures Show Smaller’s Better Than Bigger
I’m talking boats, of course. My first boat many decades ago was a 12-foot aluminum pram. It weighed about 35 pounds. I could easily slide it into the back of my station wagon and take it anywhere.…
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January 22, 2025
Future Cuts?
Now that Donald Trump is the 47th U.S. president, what does that mean for Long Beach Island? Well, we might not have to argue about wind turbines anymore. However, what about Elon Musk’s and Vivek…
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January 22, 2025
2024 Ends With a Bang in One Local Household
New Year’s Eve at the Maguires in the Sunrise Bay community began uneventfully despite a wind-driven thunderstorm. That all changed in an instant.
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•January 15, 2025
Sad Job of ‘Undecorating’ Ushers in New Year
Every new year it’s the same. I look around at my Christmas decor and realize it has to get packed away – all the lights, tiny angels, the tree and its multiple ornaments, wreaths, greens, candles…
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•January 15, 2025
The SandPaper Artoon — January 15, 2025
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January 15, 2025
Dedicated Volunteers
The spirit of generosity and community filled the air on Nov. 30 at the annual Celebrate the Season Around the World event, and none of it would have been possible without the selfless dedication of…
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January 15, 2025
Snow Frustration
The dictionary defines snow as frozen precipitation consisting of hexagonal symmetrical ice crystals that form soft white flakes. The residences of a senior community define it in a different way.
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•January 15, 2025
MLK’s Vow to ‘Stick to Love’ More Imperative Than Ever
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr first experienced segregation when he was 6 years old. He was told by the parent of a white friend that he and that friend couldn’t play together anymore. It is no surprise…
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January 8, 2025
Beyond Grateful
We are writing this letter to praise and honor Jetty and the Jetty Rock Foundation. We have watched them grow over the last 20 years, always with a mission of giving back to the community.
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January 8, 2025
Boaters, Slow Down to Prevent Whale Strikes
Whales belong in our waters, not on our shores. In November and December there were exciting sightings and acoustic detections of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales off the New Jersey…
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•January 8, 2025
Amazing Response
On Dec. 13 we experienced a fire at our home in Barnegat Light. Words cannot express our thanks and gratitude for the community that came together to save our home.
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•January 8, 2025
Coyotes, Turbines and Drones – Are They Here and Gone?
Several days after several days of consuming mass quantities of food, I found a pair of slippers that had been hiding from me. With what I now refer to as a senior groan, I hunkered down and located…
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•January 8, 2025
Happiness Is 1,000 Pieces of Shore Memories
I am pleasantly “puzzled” by the Christmas present one of my granddaughters gave to us.
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January 8, 2025
Fire Co. Targeted
Residents both in Tuckerton and in the whole state need to be made aware of what is happening to the fire service.
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January 8, 2025
Deeper Scrutiny Needed
As New Jersey’s push for renewable energy accelerates, the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind project represents a bold step toward combating climate change. However, recent reports of over 100 humpback…
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December 19, 2024
Disappointing Meters
Surprisingly, my Atlantic City Electric bill was $63.20 for the month. My water bill is a minimum $105 a month.
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December 19, 2024
Alien Drones
Drones? Drones! Drones? The supposed drones are aliens! They are living under the Barnegat Lighthouse. The novel Situation Barnegat Light proved that. They are using the space laser that Marjorie…
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December 19, 2024
Invaluable Service
Thank you, Allan Canter (“Positive Presence,” 12/4) for your spot-on response to the possible restrictions to Wally’s outdoor expansion. The small businesses on the Island, which provide an…
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December 18, 2024
Ho, Ho, Hoedown Christmas Poems
The following are two of the winning poems written by LBI Grade School students in a contest held by the school each year. The theme was in keeping with the Ship Bottom Christmas Parade hoedown motif.
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•December 18, 2024
Christmas Trees: Big, Small – They Are All Very Special
Christmas and Christmas trees have always been magical for me. My very first Christmas trees are still very vivid in my mind. We have to go back to the 1940s. I was 5 or 6 years old, and we lived on…
