Long Beach Island Vacation Guidebook & Map
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/137497
home • PORT Back On Its Feet Again T by Frank Finale Kelly S. Andrews he Jersey Shore is making a great come Dunes have become a big issue. On Long back…a new birth. Nine months after that Beach Island at its southern end in Holgate, Sandblaster Sandy's infamous left hook pumthere was little dune protection and the trailer meled it, brought it to its knees, and knocked park that had existed there was washed away. The out iconic landmarks and our familiar way of life, owner said that to replace it according to FEMA's we're getting up on our feet again. Most of our specifications would be too costly. He would boardwalks have been rebuilt, and many of our have to triple the rental fees to cover these costs. beaches are open and ready for beachgoers. Therefore, it will probably not be rebuilt. In Seaside, the Jet Star roller coaster and In Harvey Cedars, on the northern end Ferris wheel are gone. of LBI, there was high No longer will I be able dune protection and to use their faint figno houses were lost. ures as reference points It would seem to be rising above the island. a reasonable decision I was once able to see to allow the dunes to them from the deck be built higher and the of the Water's Edge in beach to be replenished Bayville, a favorite dinusing taxpayers money. ing spot of my friend However, some selfJoan's and mine, which ish owners feel that it was also destroyed. The would lessen the value Barnegat Lighthouse. Ferris wheel could be of their homes to have exciting. I enjoyed the feeling of slowly rising an obstructed view of the ocean. They also have from the boards and reaching a point in the sky a fear of the government and public encroaching where I was higher than a gull's eye. Viewing the on their plot of sand. darkened ocean against the shimmering lights On the other hand, we had many groups of Seaside and the other surrounding towns on coming together to clean up some of the nature a clear summer evening was exhilarating. To areas to welcome back the returning wildlife. A leave the hubbub of the boardwalk below and be cacophony of snow geese and other water birds above it all for a few moments was a silent thrill can be seen returning to the greening Edwin B. compared to riding the roller coaster with all its Forsythe National Wildlife Reserve in Brick. A twists and turns. Because of the storm's damage, group of volunteers, The Eco-Warriors of Brick, neither of these rides and many others will be continue to clean up the mile long debris field enjoyed in the summer of 2013. Gazing to the deposited by Sandy: boats, burnt wood, signs, southeast toward Long Beach Island, I could see furniture… the blinking light from the Barnegat Lighthouse, If anything, unknowingly this was one of Ol' Barney, shining brightly. I'm glad that it the most appropriately named storms bringing weathered the storm nobly. unwanted sand to all those it touched. At Island Missing will be the popular nightspot Joey Beach State Park, the main road was buried Harrison's Surf Club, which was totally devunder ten feet of sand and required bulldozers astated. As a matter of fact, the entire town of to clear it. Wildlife, being resilient, is returning. Ortley Beach, where it was, suffered heavy storm The foxes slipping through the shrubs are sleek, damage and destruction due to the fact that bright, and bushy tailed, a flash of life in the dunes were much too low. Continued on page 57 66