Opinion
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July 8, 2026
Narrow-Minded Lines
I advertise in The SandPaper and over the years have written a few letters to the editor. One of my favorite stories, written by Maria Scandale, was “A Native Son Restores a Legacy.”
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July 8, 2026
Always a Ram
I felt a jolt of adrenaline and wistfulness reading Southern Regional graduate Joe Spina’s class president’s remarks in my June 24 SandPaper (“Even at Yale University, Southern Valedictorian’s…
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July 8, 2026
Shut BESS Down
The following was addressed to Beach Haven Mayor Colleen Lambert and borough council.
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July 8, 2026
Engagement Continues
Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in the primary election. Now that the results have been certified and I will be on the ballot for the mayor of Ship Bottom, I want to express my…
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July 8, 2026
Proven Leadership
My name is Jim Ulrich, and I am proud to announce my candidacy for mayor of Ship Bottom as an independent candidate.
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•July 4, 2026
250 Years of Greatness on Ever-Changing LBI
As the nation celebrates its 250th birthday, one wonders what Long Beach Island was like in 1776, marveling and lamenting how much it has changed. But is the allure truly any different now than it…
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July 2, 2026
Proud Americans
Kristina McPhee’s SpeakEasy column last week (“Not Flying Flag on 250th? – Not My Father’s Country”) held my interest. I found myself nodding in agreement as love for her father, his love for this…
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July 2, 2026
Ticking Time Bomb
The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Beach Haven, located at 315 Second Street, contains over 6.5 tons of lithium-ion batteries. This irresponsible placement is an unacceptable hazard to the…
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•July 1, 2026
Happy 250th US Birthday – 1976 Artwork Gets Encore
It was on 1976, our country’s 200th anniversary. I was finishing up my art teaching degree. One more semester to go and I would be a licensed visual arts teacher.
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July 1, 2026
Yankee Doodle Don’t
I read the SpeakEasy column titled “Not Flying the Flag on the 250th? – Not My Father’s Country” with the hope that it would persuade me to fly my flag again, as I used to on a daily basis. This is…
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•July 1, 2026
Farewell From a Long Beach Island Native Son
It’s fitting that LBI is a barrier island, with a seashore washed by the suds and the foam, and I’ve been here so long I got to calling it home.
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July 1, 2026
Fiscal Sanity Needed
As we approach the Fourth of July and celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, we must remember the foundational principles that built this country and the grievances leading up to the revolution: a…
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July 1, 2026
Patriotic Response
I respect the love of country that comes through last week’s Commentary (“Not Flying Flag on 250th – Not My Father’s Country”), and I especially respect the sacrifices made by the author’s father.…
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July 1, 2026
For God and Country
Considering some observations I’ve had concerning our nation, our landmark anniversary in the 250th year since our Declaration of Independence, and the present presumption of our due allegiance, I’d…
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June 24, 2026
LBI Film Festival Shines as Beacon for the Arts
As the dust settles on another spectacular film festival season on Long Beach Island, I want to publicly celebrate the incredible success of the Lighthouse International Film Festival.
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June 24, 2026
Leadership Challenged
By the time this is published, the event I am describing will already have taken place. I belong to a group of ordinary Democratic voters who have been disenfranchised for over 20 years. We call…
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•June 24, 2026
The Path to Cooler LBI Roads Is Worth Taking
Most of us have experienced it. You get out of your car on a sunny July afternoon and the pavement is so hot you can feel the heat radiating through your shoes. Or you decide to take your dog for a…
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•June 24, 2026
No Flag Flying on 250th? – Not My Father’s Country
When something as simple as a dog’s bandana strikes you as inspirational you know there is so little representation that something so simple stands out today. Let me expound on this a bit.
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•June 18, 2026
My Backyard Is My Happy Place, Weeds and All
Being outdoors is a joy for me, especially working in my yard. In spring and fall, I usually spend an hour each day sprucing things up outside. I hesitate to use the word “garden” because it’s full…
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•June 18, 2026
Lennar Housing Development in Little Egg Not a Done Deal
The Aug. 26 Little Egg Harbor Planning Board special meeting at Pinelands Regional High School on Lennar’s proposed Venue at Summer’s Corner on Center Street made one thing clear: This community is…
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June 18, 2026
Lifesaving Addition
For the past 10 or so years I’ve been advocating for LBI surf patrols to investigate the use of drones to help patrol our beaches. I cited several examples of beach patrols elsewhere that had…
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June 17, 2026
Fab Farmers Market
On June 11 the Barnegat farmers market was saved from likely extinction.
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June 17, 2026
Foreign Aid Helps US
Many Americans hold true that U.S. foreign aid is ineffective and a waste of our taxpayer money. Opinion polls show that a hefty amount of U.S. citizens believe that we spend upwards to 25% of our…
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June 17, 2026
What’s With Democrats?
I am old enough to remember “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” performed by Joan Baez in the ’60s. Reflecting on the song and the thoughts conveyed in today’s world, the question might become “where…
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•June 11, 2026
Counting Bodies: Crab Traps Take Huge Toll on Terrapins
How the human species will treat life on earth, so as to shape this greatest of legacies, good or bad for all of time to come, will be settled in the next one hundred years.” —E.O. Wilson…
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June 11, 2026
Protect Our Water
I attended the May 14 Little Egg Harbor Planning Board meeting. My intent was to speak primarily about the proposed Lennar project at the headway of Willis Creek, pointing out the damage which would…
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June 10, 2026
Fix the Roads
Long Beach Island proudly markets itself as a premier Jersey Shore destination. Homes sell for millions, tourists pour in every summer, and taxes certainly aren’t bargain basement. Which makes the…
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•June 10, 2026
On Long Beach Island Embrace Waves of Abundance
Each morning, I spend time in quiet contemplation. I’ve found this to be a sacred time to allow the whispers of creation to stir my spirit. I also like to start the day feeding my mind with the…
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June 10, 2026
D-Day Disgrace
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s D-Day address in Normandy was not simply inappropriate, it was dangerous. Standing among the graves of Americans who died defeating fascism, he delivered remarks that…
