he blazing brilliance of mid-summer has arrived with blue skies, billowing clouds, and the occasional pop-up shower that brings a welcomed break in the heat, waters the garden, and temporarily sends beach goers running for cover. Remarkably, this summer, the rain has been cooperative as most of it has fallen in the evening. Days on LBI have been warm, breezy, and glorious. Life on an island brings a keen awareness of weather and tides; everyone is a weather watcher and plans are made accordingly. Born just fifteen-months apart, my sister Merry and I have always been best friends. Growing up, we enjoyed many of the same activities; shelling was a favorite for both of us. Walking the beach in search of shells was always exciting; every tide brought new treasures. Angel wings were Merry’s favorite shell. Thinking back, I can’t recall my favorite. Perhaps I didn’t have one because I loved them all. On the beach hunting for shells, our feet and imaginations carried us from Harvey Cedars to Beach Haven and back. We never gave a thought to where we were or how far we had ventured. Not knowing where we were was part of the fun – so we never checked the street end. Checking was saved for when we got tired. Somehow the surprise of discovering how far we had gone invigorated us to continue our search on the walk home for treasures left by the changing tide. Merry and I still walk the beaches in search of angel wings and tidal treasures. We still never check to see where we are, no matter how tired be get. We are exactly where we want to be – on the beach at LBI. When summer ends, a new season begins on LBI. The beach is never more beautiful, the ocean stays warm into late October, and in the changing light of autumn the Island takes on a different vibe. Fall on LBI is festival time from September through December – starting with the 11th Annual LBI Sea Glass and Arts Festival at Things A Drift in Ship Bottom on October 5th and 6th. Artists will be on hand to demonstrate their skills. Sign up for special classes. Additionally, this year we plan to take back the Guinness World Record™ title for conch horn blowing. So, come blow your horn. That same weekend is LBI’s famous Chowderfest. The LBI FLY International Kite Festival is October 11th through 13th. November 30th and December 1st is Small Business Weekend and the 2nd Annual LBI Seashell Festival at Things A Drift. Saturday’s festival schedule includes The Shop Small – Big Homemade Cookie Challenge. The holidays will officially begin on December 7th with the Ship Bottom Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting. Special holiday events will also take place throughout the month of December. Information about our events will be available on thingsadrift.com and on Facebook @thingsadrift, @lbiseaglassfest, and @lbiseashell. This issue marks the passing of Rodney Sadler – who championed the cause for the restoration of the Lightship Barnegat. Denis and I were privileged to have known him. He will be missed by many. As always, thank you to all who worked on this issue of Echoes of LBI, with a special thank you to our new photographer Jessica Foley. It takes an island to publish Echoes of LBI. Enjoy the sunsets,
Cheryl Kirby, Publisher
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