Let’s face it: New Jersey has a reputation of being a nanny state. A law was recently proposed that would ban walking-while-texting, there are pedestrian safety laws that have caused more problems than they solved and, of course, we can’t pump our own gas.

We won’t make a judgment as to whether some of these laws are well-intended public safety protections or government run amuck, but there’s no denying that the nanny state mentality is alive and well at Jersey Shore beaches. To spark a discussion, and have a little fun, we collected some of our favorites to share.

1. You Can’t Have a Picnic

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In the Long Beach Island town of Harvey Cedars, picnicking is off limits on the sand – at least the ocean sand. A sign at the entrance to each public beach in town warns sun seekers that having a picnic is only allowed at Sunset Park, the town’s bay beach. The sign wasn’t clear on whether there’s an all-out ban on food or drink (it also specifies no glass bottles, but doesn’t comment on plastic containers) or what, specifically, constitutes an illegal “picnic.”

2. You Can’t Play Ball

Want to play catch? Toss a tennis ball around with some sticky mits? A little football back by the dunes? It’s a no-no in Surf City, where “ball playing” is one of a slew of prohibitions that greet visitors with a giant “NO” sign at each beach entrance.

3. You Can’t Dig a Hole in the Sand

Hole-digging is a beach institution. Granted, going overboard comes with certain dangers, but it’s the subject of bans in numerous Shore towns.

4. You Can’t Go Barefoot on the Walkway to the Beach

In Long Beach Township, better make sure your flip-flops are securely on your feet. Going barefoot on walkways up to the beach is banned by ordinance and can, technically, net you a $1,000 fine.

5. You Can’t Drink a Beer (On the Sand)

New Jersey loves its vices. Gambling is legal just off the sand in Atlantic City, and Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would have banned smoking on the beach last year. Booze, however, is a no-no on essentially every public beach in the state. There are, however, numerous bars just feet away on most boardwalks, if you’re in the mood for an adult beverage.

6. There Are So Many Rules, You Can’t Read Them All at the Beach Entrance

Back in Long Beach Township, good citizens can obtain a full booklet of all the beach rules from beach badge checkers, lifeguards, or at town hall.

7. Your Beach Day Can’t Exceed Two Hours

Famous for its odd beach regulations (public beaches aren’t guarded, but there are guards who keep watch over public beaches run by a private association) Mantoloking is also well-known for onerous parking regulations. On nearly every beach block in town, vehicles can only park for two hours at a time. Don’t just move your car and head back to your beach chair – the time limit applies to any space in town.

7. You Can’t Bring Your Dog With You

Uniformly, up and down the Jersey Shore, man’s best friend has to stay home during the beach season. It seems normal to those from the Garden State, but “no dogs allowed” beach regulations are relatively uncommon in many other states.

8. On Some Beaches, You Can’t Smoke

There are smoking regulations in many Jersey Shore beach towns, including Seaside Heights and Seaside Park. But in others, the law varies from a full allowance to smoking and non-smoking sections divided by either blocks or the number of feet from beach entrances.

9. You Can’t Go to the Beach, Period

In some New Jersey towns, the bulk of the oceanfront is owned by private homeowners. In these towns (Mantoloking, Ocean Beach, Loveladies) the sand is off-limits to the masses.

10. You Can’t Sleep on the Beach (During Certain Hours)

If you want to take a nap on the sand, better make sure it isn’t between midnight and 7 a.m. in Surf City. Camping overnight is definitely out, but one wonders what would happen when someone takes an unexpected snooze during a late-night fishing expedition.

11. You Can’t Bring a Cooler Without Going Through an Alcohol Checkpoint First

In Brick Township, the local governing body this year passed an ordinance that requires a checkpoint at beach entrances to make sure no one is smuggling hooch onto the beach.

BERKELEY - Ocean County has agreed to spend $5.9 million in open space tax money to purchase the Cedar Creek Campground off Route 9, a local attraction for more than 50 years.

Because the funds are earmarked for land conservation only, the 27-acre campground will permanently close at the end of the current season, said Commissioner Virginia E. Haines, liaison to the environmental program.

The Board of Commissioners approved the recommendation Wednesday from the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund Advisory Committee to acquire the site from landowner Debra Fleming.

The acquisition will expand upon about 56 acres of existing open space that are already preserved around the campground site — such as the county’s Barnegat Branch Trail and William J. Dudley Park, which is owned by Berkeley, Haines said.

OCEAN COUNTY:GOP commissioner takes heat for backing Democratic prosecutor

The site buffers Cedar Creek, a 19-mile-long tributary of Barnegat Bay, which is a popular canoeing and kayaking destination that cuts through a portion of Ocean County’s Pine Barrens and serves as a natural boundary between Berkeley and Lacey townships.

The Cedar Creek subwatershed drains an area of 54.3 square miles in Berkeley, Lacey, Manchester and Waretown, and lies almost entirely within the Pinelands National Reserve, according to the Barnegat Bay Partnership at Ocean County College.

As part of the agreement, the county retains the right of first refusal should Fleming wish to sell an additional 5 acres adjacent to the campground, Haines said.

Berkeley Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. addressed the board during a public hearing on the resolution, explaining that had the land not been preserved, “it was sought after by development interests” that could have resulted in the construction of 100 to 200 new homes.

However, not everyone was celebrating the acquisition.

Jill Sidote, 54, a Stafford resident, explained to the board that her family had lived part-time at Cedar Creek for the past 45 years and she was disappointed that the county government could not continue to operate the site as a campground.

While the acquisition may be a win for the whole of Ocean County, it was a “loss for the people who spend their lives — half of the year — at that campground,” Sidote said.

For her and her summertime neighbors at Cedar Creek, Fleming’s decision to sell the property meant the loss of a second home, she said.

Commissioner Jack Kelly said the property was going to be sold “one way or the other, whether the county purchased it as open space or whether the owners sold it to be developed.”

This was the best possible outcome under the circumstances, Kelly said.

MORE:Ocean County Homelessness Trust Fund won’t help with a shelter

Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@gannettnj.com.

Babylon, NY (May 16, 2023) – Two people lost their lives in a crash that happened in Babylon on Sunday morning, May 14. Sources say the crash happened at around 10:30 a.m.

A 2013 Custom Assembly Convertible was headed east on the Ocean Parkway near Cedar Beach when it left the roadway and struck the guide wire.

Sadly, two people who were present in the vehicle lost their lives. They were identified as Daniel Fabrizio, 58, and his passenger, Diane Seghposs, also 58. Both victims were pronounced deceased at the scene.

Authorities in Babylon continue to investigate the details of the collision.

We want to offer our sincere condolences to the families of the deceased victims.

No further information has been reported at this time.

New York Car Wrecks

A common type of traffic accident in New Jersey is currently hitting a fixed object, more specifically, hedges or trees. This is also the cause of most deaths related to car accidents. The second most common types were utility poles, followed by guard rail/parked vehicle collisions. Nationally, approximately 90% of all auto accidents involved some type of driver error/negligence as a contributing factor.

Driver error may include driver inexperience, distraction, fatigue, or intoxication. Speeding and distracted drivers were common contributors to wrecks throughout the state of New York in 2019. Speeding was the highest contributor to fatalities.

Negligence or fault issues can be complicated, and a skilled New Jersey personal injury lawyer will utilize a number of sources, such as state traffic laws, police reports, and witnesses, to assist you in determining who caused your crash. Causes of collisions where another driver may be at fault include reckless or aggressive driving, failure to obey traffic laws, speeding, and inclement weather. A person who acts negligently while driving may be held accountable for the cost of damages, either to property or person, caused by his/her negligence.

Common injuries that usually result from car accidents may include bone breaks, dislocations, paralysis, whiplash, neck/spinal injuries, brain injuries, and disfigurement. Sometimes, people even lose their lives in car accidents. If someone you love has recently lost their life in an accident, you should contact a wrongful death lawyer in South Brunswick who can help you recover compensation.

Metro Law is made up of an experienced team of personal injury lawyers who will walk you through where to receive the best and most appropriate medical care, how to properly file an insurance claim with your insurance company or a third-party insurer, and how to fight for full and fair compensation for your damages.

Our firm has big company resources to see you through even the most complicated claims while we provide you with compassionate and personalized attention. We work to make you feel more confident and calm after a disastrous collision. Contact our personal injury attorneys at 800-469-6476.

Notes: Outside sources were used in the creation of this post, including news bulletins and first-hand accounts of the accident and injuries involved. As a result, the details of the accident presented have not been independently verified. If you identify any false information in the story or want the post removed, please inform us immediately, and we will correct the information or remove the post.

Disclaimer: As a member of the local community, we at Metro Law strive to improve the overall safety and quality of life for everyone who lives in our beloved state. We are extremely saddened by these accidents. We hope awareness of these dangers allows our community to take precautions and avoid these accidents. This is not a solicitation for business. This information is not medical or legal advice. We wish only the best and quickest recovery to all those involved in the accident. The photos depicted in this post are not from the actual accident scene.

Salem High School senior QB Jahki Coates raced in from 10 yards out in the opening football game of the season against Cedar Grove Friday and ran back up the sideline shouting “I am him.”

He plowed over a defender on an 11-yard run and walked back to the huddle repeating “Weight room.”

After another huge play, he touted “I’m back.” and after another “Welcome to the South.”

Coates was full of big plays and one-liners on Friday in the second game at Ocean City’s Battle at the Beach as the No. 19 Rams rolled past Cedar Grove, 53-13, in a matchup of last year’s two Group 1 regional champions.

This year, the NJSIAA added state championships, and the Rams made an early statement that any Group 1 team who has eyes on the crown will have to go through them.

“South Jersey is where it’s at, it’s nothing but winning football out here, playing a North Jersey team we took it a little personal,” said Coates. “There’s no ceiling for this team, the ceiling is the sky. I’ve never touched the sky, but I’m going to touch it this year.”

Coates was speaking to nobody and at the same time everybody with his words. He called himself the most under-rated player in the state.

“My goal is to be the most exciting player in South Jersey, and I’m going to stand on business,” said Coates, who has offers from Temple and Long Island.

His play did his speaking for him as he combined for 349 yards and six touchdowns.

“The game has slowed down a lot for him and he’s a leader,” said Salem coach Montrey Wright. “He lost a lot of weight. He runs a lot better. He’s finishing his runs and doing things on defense, he’s all over.

“He wants South Jersey to know I’m the guy at the position I play. He’s wearing it on his sleeve.”

Coates ran 11 times for 144 yards and touchdown runs of 10, 1 and 61 yards. He struggled with his accuracy early and was 4-for-13 for 58 yards and two interceptions before settling in late to finish 8-for-17 for 205 yards and TD passes of 62, 40 and 42 yards.

“I came out firing in the second half, just because I threw two interceptions doesn’t mean we’re not going to throw the ball,” said Coates. “Shooters gonna shoot. I’m a quarterback. I’m going to throw the ball.”

The 61-yard run showed Coates’ speed after shedding 28 pounds in the offseason, going from 252 pounds down to 224. He rattled off a couple perceived slights including rankings and social media posts that have given him fuel.

“I hope they didn’t forget about me, but if they did I’m going to wake them up,” said Coates. “Five, six touchdowns, that’s who I am. That’s what you’re going to get out of me all year.”

Cedar Grove actually held a 7-6 lead after the first quarter as Stephen Paradiso hit Edmund Dakar for a 34- yard score.

Paradiso added a second touchdown pass late in the game, but it was all Salem in between. Abdul Bell scored on a touchdown reception and kickoff return, while Amare Smith and Jamal Williams combined for five sacks for the South/Central Group 1 champions.

Coates and the Rams will have 13 more games potentially to keep making their point, including a barnburner in another showcase next Sunday when they meet Camden in the Rumble at the Raritan.

Last year, Salem stunned Camden on a late field goal at the Battle at the Beach.

“They have a solid team, (Camden coach) Rob Hinson coached me in high school, so we know what they’re bringing,” said Wright. “We’ll be prepared and ready to go.”

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Infant goods company buybuyBABY and its parent company Bed Bath & Beyond recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The company said it would begin liquidation sales for all 120 buybuyBABY stores, although closing dates have yet to be determined.

The retail stores and websites will remain open as the company begins “winding down” operations, according to buybuyBABY’s website.

Here is the full list of 120 remaining buybuyBABY stores in the U.S.:

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Jersey Shore mayors are sounding the alarm about a proposed expansion of off-shore wind turbines off the coast of Ocean County.

Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Paul Kanitra believes many people may not want to come to the beaches if these wind turbines are just offshore.

"I believe very strongly that having these offshore wind turbines within the visual horizon — which means closer than around 30 nautical miles offshore — would be nothing less than devastating to our tourism economy here in Ocean County," Kanitra said. "I think that the way that this has been moving — the speed that it is moving, the fact that it's been moving behind the scenes and that a lot of very shady deals have been occurring in tandem with it — is something that people really need to wake up to because by the time they see the ships going out there to start building these things, it's going to be way too late."

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It's not just the wind turbines that would be in the water that's a concern for Kanitra, but what would happen on the beach itself and with nothing that can be done locally to stop it.

"The state passed a bill in the middle of the night about a year ago that essentially supersedes any kind of local ordinances, local zoning, any policies that pertain to infrastructure or having any control over what would happen in our own town in relation to this — transmission cables coming on shore, infrastructure to help build and maintain these things — the state Legislature said 'we don't care what your town wants and what your town has authorized, we're going to let these companies come in and do whatever they want in your towns' and that was a very, very concerning thing to us," Kanitra said.

Kanitra said there's concern about the optics during the day and at night from these wind turbines and part of the reason why is people want to go to the beach and look at the horizon with unobstructed views.

"If you look out onto the visual horizon, and you see what really is our last pristine natural resource in New Jersey covered with wind turbines and flashing red lights at night, it's nothing short of the industrialization of the ocean," Kanitra said. "We're not anti-clean energy, we're anti ruining our tourist economy in Point Pleasant Beach and in Ocean County."

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Tourism is a huge part of the local economies of Monmouth and Ocean counties.

"If these are visible off our beaches, I think that's going to be a detraction," Toms River Mayor Maurice "Mo" Hill said.

While the beach is a big reason why people come to Ocean County in the summer, another reason for tourists and locals to head towards or into the water is to fish and there's concern about this industry as well.

"We do have a substantial commercial fishing industry (in Ocean County) off of Point Pleasant, Barnegat, you've got commercial fisheries. What impact that'll have if they're out using nets and they've got to be mindful that these are jetting up out of the water — it could impact the fishing," Hill said.

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"In some cases, as far as sport fishing, it may stimulate that, but will it impact the commercial fishing — that's a concern I think also. I can just imagine if these things are placed the way I'm seeing them being placed — they're going to be close together, so, it's going to be a hazard to navigation out there — it's just another obstacle you're going to have to be careful of."

"We don't have the luxury of just taking huge chunks of those who are coming and supporting our restaurants and businesses and tossing them away for a project like this," Kanitra said.

Another financial concern expressed by some of the Ocean County mayors is the domino effect that wind turbines will have, starting with the tourism economy and its impact on beaches, restaurants, and businesses and then onto taxpayers.

"The economic impact of this is going to be widespread, just a 10% drop in tourism — if that's all that there is as a result of these — that's going to cause real businesses to go out and not come back," Kanitra said. "It's going to hurt my residents because of the jobs that those businesses provide — it's going to have far flung effects across the state and the county that relies on the tax revenue from those businesses and that economic impact."

There are plenty of things we love to do when going down the Shore — soak in the sun, swim in the ocean, and enjoy all of the delicious local food and drinks.

But where do you go when, well, you gotta go?

State law used to require many Jersey Shore towns — the ones that accepted government money for beach replenishment — to provide public restrooms. But those rules were struck down in court in 2008 when two Shore towns (thanks Avalon and Stone Harbor) challenged them.

Now, the state Department of Environmental Protection is taking a renewed look at beach access rights, including parking and bathrooms.

So, if you’re planning a day trip and need to know before you go, we’ve compiled a list of every Shore town and the bathrooms they point beach-goers to. And in some towns, you might just have to stop off at a Wawa or gas station before you hit the sand or head home.

Hoping to rinse off or change out of your bathing suit to hit the boardwalk or bars? Good luck. Most towns don’t offer showers or changing stalls, either.

Allenhurst: Public restrooms are available for daily Allenhurst beachgoers. Paying daily beach goers can use the restrooms located on the north end of the beach close to Cedar Avenue. There is a beach club bathroom, but it is only for beach club members. There are no changing rooms and there are no showers at Cedar Avenue location.

Asbury Park: Public bathrooms are located on the boardwalk in trailers. Air-conditioned bathrooms are located inside of Convention Hall between 5th and Sunset Avenues, 1300 Ocean Ave., behind the beach office between First and Second Avenues, and on the boardwalk behind Pucker’s Lemonade.

Atlantic City: Public restrooms are located along the boardwalk at Bartram Avenue, Albany Avenue, Chelsea Avenue, Kennedy Plaza at Mississippi Avenue, New York Avenue, Garden Pier at New Jersey Avenue, New Hampshire Avenue and Caspian Avenue. People are allowed to change in bathrooms along the boardwalk, but public changing houses are located at South Carolina Avenue and Albany Avenue.

Avalon: Bathrooms are available at Borough Hall (32nd & Dune Drive), the Avalon Public Safety Building (31st & Dune Drive), Community Hall (30th & the beach), the Tennis Buildings (8th & 39th Streets), 10th & Dune Drive, and at the beach near 30th Street (next to the Tot Lot).

Avon-By-the Sea: Restrooms are located on the boardwalk at Lincoln Avenue and Norwood Avenue.

Barnegat Light: Restrooms are located at the Barnegat Lighthouse in the main parking lot and at the park office. Restrooms are also located at 10th and Bayview Avenue.

Bay Head: While there are no public restrooms on the beach, there are restrooms at the comfort station at the rear of the Bay Head municipal building in a separate structure (83 Bridge Avenue).

Beach Haven: A public restroom can be found at the Centre Street Beach entrance. Beachgoers are allowed to change in the restrooms.

Belmar: Bathrooms are on the boardwalk at 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 16th and 19th Avenues.

Berkeley Township: A restroom is available at White Sands Beach, located on 23rd avenue in South Seaside Park. The restroom has showers available outside the facility.

Bradley Beach Borough: Restrooms equipped with changing rooms can be found at the 3rd Avenue and Cliff Avenue portions of the beach. An open shower can be found at the beach entrance along Ocean avenue.

Brick Township: Restrooms with changing rooms and showers are located at Brick Beach 1 (310 Route 35 North) and Brick Beach 3 (440 Route 35 North).

Brigantine: There are portable toilets placed throughout the actual beach. There are two public bathrooms located on 16th Avenue. Although there are no showers, there is a hose for beach visitors to use near the 15th Street area.

Cape May: Called “comfort stations," the restrooms are air conditioned. The bathroom locations along Beach Avenue are at Second Avenue, Broadway, Windsor, Gurney, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Wilmington. There are also four locations in the Washington Street Mall area (which is a five minute walk and 0.2 miles from the beach).

Cape May Point: There are no public restrooms on the beach. The only public restroom is at Municipal Hall on White House Avenue under the shadow of the lighthouse. The closest shower would be in the state park (305 Light House Avenue).

Deal: There are no free public bathrooms, but bathrooms are included with paid use of the W. Stanley Conover Pavilion.

Harvey Cedars: There is a restroom in Sunset Park (W. Salem Avenue) Borough Hall, portable bathroom at Bay Beach (W 75th St.) There are outside showers at Sunset Park and at handicap ramps (Mercer Avenue and 80th Street)

Lavallette: There are no public bathrooms in Lavallette.

Loch Arbour: Restrooms are available to people with a beach badge when beach is open. Bathrooms are located at the Ocean Place Pavilion.

Long Beach: In Holgate, a restroom is located at the parking lot at the south end of Long Beach Boulevard at McKinley Avenue. Another bathroom is located at Bayview Park, 68th Street, Brant Beach; Tract 1065, North Beach; Tract 161, and Loveladies. All are handicap accessible.

Long Branch: There are comfort stations at the beach with restrooms located at Great Lawn, Laird, West End, Cottage, North Bath, as well as two trailers at Morris Avenue, and Ocean Avenue

Longport: Public restrooms can be found at the Longport Community Center (33rd Avenue & Atlantic) and Borough Hall (2305 Atlantic Avenue)

Manasquan: One each on: Inlet, Brielle Road, Main Street, Ocean Avenue. (These streets run parallel to the boardwalk).

Mantoloking: There are three facilities for bathers. The Lyman Street Beach location is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Downer in the Municipal parking lot seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and the Albertson Beach walkway Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 5 p.m.

Margate: Bathrooms are located at Huntingdon Avenue (Bloom Pavilion), Rumson Avenue, Benson Avenue (Greenhouse), Adams Avenue beach.

Monmouth Beach: There are portable toilets at 128 & 129 Ocean Avenue.

North Wildwood: There are portable toilets on almost all beach streets, and full-on bathrooms on 7th Ave., 15th Ave., 25th Ave., and the northernmost end of Old New Jersey Avenue.

Ocean City: Bathrooms are located at 1st Street, 6th Street, Music Pier, City Hall, 11th Street and 12th Street. There are also facilities at the 34th Street playground and 58th Street beach. All are handicap accessible. There family bathrooms at 1st and 12th streets.

Ocean Grove: There are free public bathrooms at Ocean Avenue, Ocean Ave & Ocean Pathway, and Embury Avenue.

Ortley Beach: Bathrooms are on the boardwalk at the end of Fielder Avenue and at the Lifeguard Station at 4th Street and Ocean Avenue. At both places, there are outdoor showers.

Point Pleasant Beach: One bathroom is at the end of Broadway Avenue, and one is at the other end of Parkway Avenue. The bathrooms are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sea Girt: The Sea Girt Beach Pavilion near Bacon and Ocean Avenues house restrooms for the public. It is open during normal beach hours and during special events at the beach.

Sea Isle City: Bathrooms are located at 32nd St. & Promenade, 40th St. & Promenade, JFK Blvd. & Landis Ave., 347-42nd Place, 44th St. & Promenade, 60th St. & Central Ave., 6108 Central Ave., 85th St. & Beach, 94th St. & Landis Ave.

Seaside Heights: There are multiple comfort stations along the beach and boardwalk: at the Seaside Heights Beach Patrol headquarters located on the boardwalk at Webster Avenue; at the beach control office building on the boardwalk at Kearney Avenue; and a mobile restroom trailer that is set up for the summer on Hiering Avenue at the bottom of the ramp that leads from the boardwalk to the street. A fourth comfort station is a brand new pre-fabricated building that has 4 unisex restrooms and is located just off the boardwalk at Sheridan Ave.

Seaside Park: Bathrooms can be found near the intersection of 6th and SE Central Avenues, on 13th Avenue, and at the Bathhouse on North Central Avenue.

Ship Bottom: While there are no municipally-managed restrooms on the beach, a few can be found in other places. Restrooms can be found near the public boat ramp, Sunset Point, Ship Bottom Borough Hall, and the 6th Street Tennis Courts.

Spring Lake: Public restrooms can be found at the North End Pavilion (Near Ocean Avenue & Ludlow Avenue), South End pavilion (between Atlantic and Salem Avenues) and at the corner of Brown Avenue and Ocean Avenue.

Stone Harbor: Bathrooms are on 2nd Avenue in between 95th and 96th streets, the 95th street parking lot at the beach, and the 122nd street parking lot at the beach.

Strathmere: Recreational Beach portable toilets in Strathmere and Beesleys Point are on Williams Street Beach Patrol station (two bathrooms, one of which is handicap accessible), a handicap accessible unit at Putnam Avenue, one at Bayview Drive, one at the Boat Ramp, one on Commonwealth Whale Beach, One on Commonwealth Avenue, two at the beach 6th Street parking lot on Commonwealth Avenue, and one on Beesleys Point beach.

Surf City: There are restrooms at the 16th Street Bay Beach and the Division Street Boat ramp.

Ventnor: A restroom is at the Ventnor Fishing Pier at South Cambridge Avenue & Boardwalk.

Wildwood: While portable bathrooms are placed every 3 to 4 blocks, permanent ones are located on the boardwalk at Glenwood, Schellenger, Roberts and Bennett Avenues.

Wildwood Crest: There is a public bathroom at Rambler Road and the beach.

Jenna Wise, Dominique Ridley and Bianca Velazquez contributed to this report.

Chris Franklin can be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews or on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters.

It’s obvious that once I talk about something on the air or write about it, I can no longer call it a secret. I’ve actually mentioned this on the air before, but sort of in passing, almost praying that no one would notice.

But recently I was given the history about my little private beach and I think it’s something that needs to be shared.

Conners Beach is the little strip of sand that you see along the bay when you arrive (or leave) on the Sea Streak Ferry in Highlands.

Anytime I’ve ever come home from Manhattan on the ferry, I landed at this beach and wondered why it looked so idyllic. Well, it turns out I’m not the only one who discovered it. In fact, the place they call Conners used to be a beach club back in the '50s.

Conners Cedar Grove Hotel was something that dreams were made of. Like a fantasy destination in an old Elvis Presley movie, people met and romanced there, fell in love under the stars and dipped their toes into the calm warm waters of the bay. There was a snack bar and a pool and a legendary hotel dining room where you could order lobsters and cocktails.

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There were bungalows along the beach, which have been replaced by apartments and condos and that beautiful piece of land along the Shrewsbury River was sold to Sea Streak.

The road that runs along the old Conners land is now Shore Drive but used to be railroad tracks that brought people from North Jersey and New York to this stunning little piece of beach.

What’s so special about this beach is that it sits along a strip of bay instead of ocean, so the waves lap gently on the shore as if you’re on some deserted Caribbean island.

Running along this pretty little strip of paradise is a gorgeous trail that is part of the Henry Hudson Trail, a paved, 10-foot wide, 24-mile long trail that is a former railroad right-of-way. Some parts have views of surrounding wetlands, streams and fields.

Beginning at Conners, the trail continues along Sandy Hook Bay to Popamora Point on the Atlantic Highlands/Highlands border. Spend the day on this beach and end it with this hike. It’s a little bit of heaven in New Jersey. But shhh. Don’t tell. Let’s keep it to ourselves.

Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Judi Franco only.

You can now listen to Dennis & Judi — On Demand! Hear New Jersey’s favorite best friends anytime, anywhere and any day of the week. Download the Dennis & Judi show wherever you get podcasts, on our free app, or listen right now:

Dennis Csensits just spent a week coaching some of the best high school players in the nation at the NCAA Basketball Academy.

But the Allentown Central Catholic coach didn’t miss a beat in getting back to the Lehigh Valley to coach some of the best players in the region.

Csensits flew back from Memphis on Thursday night and was coaching his Vikings on Friday at Cedar Beach as the A-Town Throwdown continued in sultry conditions.

Central Catholic won the Cedar Beach Showcase two weekends ago and got off to a good start in its pool in the Throwdown’s 65-team varsity bracket with a 34-28 win over Quakertown. The Vikings fought back from an eight-point first half deficit, getting tough defense and a 14-point effort from Jahrel Vigo with a game against East Stroudsburg South to follow later in the night.

The Throwdown is part of Lehigh Valley AwesomeFest and Csensits said his time in Memphis was also awesome.

“The NCAA did a tremendous job of showcasing some of the best players in the country,” Csensits said. “And they really brought a really solid group of coaches together and for me I felt blessed to have the opportunity to participate and learn from a lot of really great people down there.”

Csensits was given a team to coach throughout the week.

“The goal was to put them in the best position to play to their potential and get exposure from college coaches,” Csensits said. “This event was really well-attended by a high percentage of Division I basketball coaches who wanted to evaluate the talent. I saw guys from Lehigh, Lafayette there. Everybody is looking for talent and that was a place to find it.”

Csensits said he didn’t coach or coach against Parkland’s Nick Coval in Memphis, but did get to see him play one game and said everybody was impressed.

“People were asking me about him because they knew I was from the same area,” Csensits said. “Everybody had a lot of positive things to say. He didn’t disappoint. I told everybody that he’s a handful to deal with in the winter.”

Csensits was also happy to see longtime area official Jim Haney in Memphis.

“I got to spend some time with him and he was busy training officials and getting the next generation of officials ready,” Csensits said. “It was just a good event all the way around.”

Csensits was not overly pleased with his team’s effort against Quakertown, but noted that the game was played on one of the hottest days of the summer.

“This is our last hurrah for the summer and when this is over we have to really evaluate where we’re at and put a plan together going into the school year,” he said. “We play in these summer tournaments and you’re dealing with heat and different conditions and I look at it as gut-check time because it would be easy to give in but to our guys credit, they didn’t. They competed and were able to have some success.”

Csensits singled out the play of Ja’Keir Ensley and Cole Cook who both worked hard on the boards and the defensive end.

Top Husky and Canary combine

Allen girls basketball coach Britt Kholi and Dieruff coach Cathy Piston are working together to run the girls tournament at the A-Town Throwdown.

“We worked together earlier this summer on the Queen City Classic at our schools,” Kholi, a Dieruff graduate, said. “I think it’s awesome that me and Coach Piston can combine and try to bring girls basketball back in the city of Allentown. We want to be the Lehigh Valley hub for girls basketball just the way it is for boys basketball. That’s why we need to stick together and have great basketball brains to make sure it happens.”

Kholi said it’s also great for the Allen and Dieruff kids to play in the tournament and volunteer.

“It’s about building relationships because those relationships are going to carry our kids much further down the road in life and that’s what we’re trying to do … help them make a successful transition from the courts to real life,” she said.

Piston said she didn’t feel as though girls basketball was getting the respect it deserved from past summer tournaments.

“We just felt the girls needed to be better represented and we were able to attract a lot of great teams to this tournament … Bethlehem Catholic, Central Catholic, Emmaus, Liberty, Parkland … along with some great teams from outside the area like Dunmore which has won it in the past,” Piston said. “It’s going to be very competitive.”

The girls championship game is slated for 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Boys Varsity: Nazareth 48, Mechanicsburg 44; I thiBethlehem Christian 33, Lehighton 29; Lancaster Mennonite 45, Pocono Mountain East 43; Timber Creek, N.J. 43, Sankofa 38; Central Dauphin 41, Dieruff 28; North Hunterdon 42, Salisbury 32; Emmaus 45, SLA-Beeber 35; St. John Vianney 40, Boyertown 35; Freedom 69, Cedar Crest 43; Central Dauphin 49, Palmerton 30; St. John Vianney 40, Boyertown 35; Allentown Central Catholic 34, Quakertown 28; Lancaster Mennonite 44, The City School 26; Reading 53, Mechanicsburg 37; Glens Falls, NY 52, SLA-Beeber 43; Muhlenberg Twp. 46, Odessa, Del., 43; Parkland 65, The City School 26; Executive 64, Cedar Crest 56; Liberty 40, Samuel Fels 38; St. Joe’s Prep 60, Notre Dame-Green Pond 52; Overbrook 59, Whitehall 44; Allentown Central Catholic 37, East Stroudsburg South 35; Overbrook 59, Whitehall 44; Timber Creek, NJ 53, Northampton 41; Boyertown 31, Allen 26; Dobbins Tech 48, Freedom 37.

Girls Varsity: Bethlehem Catholic 48, Pocono Mountain West 17; Salisbury 32, Kutztown 28; Bishop McDevitt 29, Liberty 22; Lincoln Leadership 20, Palisades 14; Imhotep Charter 29, Freedom 27; Emmaus 43, Executive 16; Bishop McDevitt 22, Council Rock North 5; Executive 24, Dieruff 17.

Boys JV: Liberty 58, St. John Vianney B 20; Emmaus 33, Mechanicsburg 29; Nazareth 421, St. John Vianney A 20; Reading 50, Southern Lehigh 17; Muhlenberg Twp. 52, Dieruff 34; Bensalem 30, ACCHS 22; Parkland 48, Malvern Prep 44; Muhlenberg Twp 45, Whitehall 30.

Girls JV: Allen 26, Whitehall 24; Whitehall 23, Freedom 14; Bethlehem Catholic 41, Allen 10.

Saturday’s schedule

All games at Cedar Beach

8:30 a.m. games: Lincoln Leadership vs. Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg (boys); Quakertown vs. East Stroudsburg South (boys); Tamaqua vs Bethlehem Christian (girls).

9:30 a.m. games: Bethlehem Catholic vs Phillipsburg, N.J. (boys); Allentown Central Catholic vs. Reading (girls); Lower Merion vs. East Stroudsburg North (boys); Council Rock North vs. Liberty (girls))

10:30 a.m. games: William Allen vs. Bensalem (girls); East Stroudsburg South vs. Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg (boys); Dieruff vs. Palmerton (boys); Saucon Valley vs. Red Lion (boys).

11:30 a.m. games: Malvern Prep vs. Central Dauphin (boys); Parkland vs. Council Rock North (girls); Southern Lehigh vs. Odessa, Del. (boys); SLA-Beeber vs. Octorara (boys).

12:30 p.m. games: Overbrook vs. Red Lion (boys); Quakertown vs. Dieruff (boys); Small School semifinals.

1:30 p.m. boys games: Emmaus vs. Octorara (boys); Pocono Mt. West vs. Odessa, Del. (boys); Abington vs. Sankofa Freedom (boys).

2:30 p.m. games: Dieruff vs. Dunmore (girls); Saucon Valley vs. Overbrook (boys); Pocono Mt. East vs. The City School (boys); Easton vs Newark Arts, N.J. (boys).

3:30 p.m. games: William Allen vs. Imhotep Charter (girls); Parkland vs. Lancaster Mennonite (boys); Northampton vs. Sankofa Freedom (boys); Small School Final Play-In.

4:30 p.m. boys games: Whitehall vs. Saucon Valley; Easton vs. St. Joe’s Prep; Abington vs. Timber Creek, N.J.; Dobbins Tech vs. Cedar Crest.

5:30 p.m. games: Parkland vs. Liberty (girls); Freedom vs. Executive Education (boys); Octorara vs. Glens Falls, N.Y. (boys); Court 4: Stroudsburg vs. St John Vianney, N.J., boys.

6:30 p.m. boys games: Parkland vs Pocono Mt. East; Whitehall vs Red Lion; Nazareth vs Bensalem; Notre Dame-Green Pond vs. Newark Arts, N.J.

7:30 p.m. boys games: Allen vs St John Vianney, N.J.; Emmaus vs. Glens Falls, N.Y.; Boyertown vs. Stroudsburg; Strath Haven vs. Lancaster Catholic.

8:30 p.m. boys games: Allentown Central Catholic vs. Abington; Newark Arts, N.J. vs St. Joe’s Prep; Executive Education vs Dobbins Tech; Mechanicsburg vs. Bensalem.

9:30 p.m.: 3-point shooting and dunk contests.

For risers and JV games go to lehighvalleyawesomefest.com/home.