Preparing for summer, officials 'unblock the ocean'

LAVALLETTE – When you unlock something as big and precious as the Atlantic Ocean, you need a big key and that’s exactly what local government officials brought with them to the beach to kick off the season summer.

The event highlighted the Philadelphia Avenue lookout and the Lavallette shoreline. It included county and local officials, Lavallette Elementary School students and staff, U.S. Navy Capt. James B. Howell, the commander of Naval Support Activity Lakehurst, and the deputy commander of the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst as well as several sailors and navy residents.

Lavallette beach was particularly inviting during the ceremony. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)

“It’s a glorious day. I can’t tell you how proud I am that Lavallette was chosen as the location for the very first ocean opening ceremony. Ocean County has 44 miles of beaches. We have a mile and we’re very proud of what we have here,” LaCicero said.

The mayor added, “Anyone who has traveled the world and visited many beaches knows that Ocean County’s beaches are second to none. The sand color, texture, and softness combine to make it the best place in the world to vacation, and as everyone knows, tourism is the number one industry here in Ocean County.

The mayor was joined by Council President Anita Zalom, Councilwoman Joanne Filippone, Councilman David Finter and Police Chief Christian LaCicero at the event, which he said will “kick off what will be a very loaded here in 2024 in Ocean County. »

Captain Howell, whose at-sea assignments include HSL-46, HSL-42, Tacron 22 and USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), led the flag salute. He became commander of NSA Lakehurst last summer and introduced the NAS Sailors in attendance.

Ocean County Commissioner Gary Quinn, left, joins Capt. James B. Howell, commander of Naval Support Activity (NSA) Lakehurst and deputy commander of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Commissioner Frank Sadeghi and several NSA sailors before the start of a ceremony. organized in Lavallette to officially unblock the Atlantic Ocean for the 2024 summer tourist season. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)

Commissioner Frank Sadeghi, who serves as liaison to the Office of Business Development and Tourism, also noted the warm, sunny day. “I don’t know if there’s anything better than being on the Jersey Shore on a day like this.”

The Department of Business and Tourism arranged for giveaways at their table, including refreshments, event Frisbees and bottled water, as well as the popular local small business.

U.S. Air Force Joint Base Aviation and Public Affairs Senior Fellow Matt Porter sang the national anthem, then it was time for Lavallette Elementary School students to sing “How Far I’ll Go” by Auli’i Cravalho from the Disney animated film “Moana”. for which they also provided sign language.

“We have a guest here. My favorite mascot. Buster is here,” remarked Commissioner Sadeghi. The big yellow character is from the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, a minor league baseball team that plays at Shore Town Ball Park in Lakewood.

Buster greeted and had his photo taken with the students and a few adults after the unlocking ceremony was over.

“I wish everyone a healthy and fun summer. We hope the weather cooperates. Good luck to all the small businesses that make up the backbone of this country’s economy. Tourism is an economic driver here in Ocean County,” Sadeghi said. Tourism is a $7 billion industry in Ocean County and creates 40,000 jobs annually.

Lavallette Elementary School students sing and sign a song from the Disney movie “Moana” during a recent ocean opening ceremony held at the borough’s oceanfront in Philadelphia Avenue. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)

Sandra Lazzaro, Ocean County Business Development and Tourism Director, said, “The Ocean County Vocational School Culinary Department baked some beautiful cookies with a nautical theme and there is also a bucket for summer fun and we have copies of the 2024 travel guide.”

Borough resident Judith Leblein Josephs came to not only attend the ceremony, but also to share information about the New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance swimsuit and goggles. She highlighted that drowning is the leading cause of accidental death among children aged 1 to 4 years. “We lose an average of 10 children to drowning each year. Swimming lessons are essential to the safety of children, especially in under-resourced communities.

The NJSSA strives to provide swimming lessons to children. “Believe it or not, some kids in New Jersey don’t have swimsuits, and because they don’t have swimsuits, they can’t take free swimming lessons. We collected 1,800 last year and this year we hope to get 2,000 new swimsuits and distribute them to various agencies.

Lavallette Elementary School students sing and sign during a ceremony to unlock the ocean held at the borough’s oceanfront on Philadelphia Avenue. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)

“One of the agencies is the Monmouth/Asbury Park Boys and Girls Club. They give swimming lessons,” Leblein Josephs said. To learn more about the programs offered and how to support the group visit NJSwimSA.org. The agency’s Facebook page is @NJSwimSA and you can also email [email protected] for information on water safety programs, newborn water lessons and infant swimming lessons in your area.

“I have worked on drowning prevention for most of my career in parks and recreation and am now a water park consultant,” she added. “This is a statewide, non-profit, all-volunteer project.”