MONMOUTH BEACH — The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners recently congratulated County Administrator Teri O'Connor, a Monmouth Beach resident, for receiving the “County Administrator Lifetime Achievement Award” from the New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) during their conference May 4.

“Teri is the catalyst that helps move Monmouth County forward,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “The way she works with not only the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners and staff, but with other counties to provide County-level perspective is why she is so deserving of this award. On behalf of the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, congratulations to Teri on this well deserved honor.”

“I am humbled and honored to receive this award and I may be up here by myself but this is a credit to the dedicated staff that I rely on day in and day out to make Monmouth County the great place it is,” said County Administrator O’Connor. “I stand here today because of my great County Commissioners, my senior staff and my family who have all been supportive and I want to thank NJAC for this incredible honor.”

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“Teri has worked tirelessly for the County of Monmouth throughout her career and it is an honor to work with her every day to make Monmouth County the best it can be,” said Commissioner Deputy Director Nick DiRocco, who serves as the Alternate member of the NJAC Board of Directors and formerly served as the Legislative Director for NJAC. “Congratulations to Teri for receiving the County Administrator Lifetime Achievement Award.”

“County Administrators are like the CEOs of the County and I really admire the work they put in to make their counties successful,” said John Donnadio, Executive Director of NJAC. “This award is unique because it is decided by the past recipients and I want to thank Teri for being a strong advocate for county governments.”

NJAC is committed to advocating for legislation, regulations, and policy directives that empower county governments to operate more effectively and efficiently. As a non-partisan organization that represents the only true regional form of government in the State with a unified and proactive voice, NJAC is committed to advancing innovative programs and initiatives that enhance the level of service provided and save valuable taxpayer dollars.

New Jersey is known for a lot of things — especially the Jersey Shore area and its residing beaches. Going to a New Jersey beach in the summer makes the perfect idea for a bucket list. However, when it comes to beaches, some of them require beach tags whether for a daily, weekly, or monthly fee. Don’t fret, because there are actually beaches in New Jersey that are completely free — from Union Beach to Wildwood Crest. Here’s our list of New Jersey beaches that have no admission fee.

The Atlantic City beaches are famous for a reason. The destination boasts casinos, restaurants, shopping, concerts, a fun boardwalk, and of course, expansive beaches. Beach and boardwalk activities include surfing, kayaking, fishing, and windsurfing.

This Lower Township beach in Cape May stretches from W. Miami Avenue to Lincoln Boulevard and offers free admission and also permits food. This space is peaceful and has a lot of wide open space.

This spot is located in Great Egg Harbor Bay in Upper Township. The waters are calm here, and this is a popular kayaking spot.

This state park is tranquil and quiet, and it has freshwater meadows, the Cape May Lighthouse, as well as a free beach. It’s a great spot to walk along the beach and spot some birds.

Established in 1969, the shoreland was preserved from development — resulting in a beautiful beach. The area is known for hiking, boating, interpretive tours, saltwater fishing, and crabbing. Locals also canoe and kayak.

This Stafford Township spot on Manahawkin Bay has a lifeguard from 10AM-5PM during the summer.

These scenic beaches overlook the skyline of lower Manhattan — plus, Keansburg is also home to a fun amusement park and water park to make it a full day of outdoor activities. Just be warned, beaches have no lifeguards.

These two Middletown Bay beaches are great spots for a chill afternoon. There aren’t restaurants or boardwalks in the area, so you’re not going to see the crowds that other beaches draw.

Great for surfing, fishing, and hiking, Strathmere Beach is a must-visit. The town is located in Upper Township in Cape May County, known for its grand Victorian houses.

Union Beach is in Monmouth County, and its salt marshes are an excellent place to see birds and go for walks along the bay shore.

A visit here is practically a rite of passage for Jersey natives. The Wildwood beaches span over five miles. The spacious sand areas make for a great space for beach sports like volleyball, frisbee throwing, soccer, and more. The boardwalk is one of the best in the state, boasting rides for adults and kids alike, restaurants, and bars, shopping, and more.

Founded in 1910, Wildwood Crest is a borough in Cape May County. Swimming, sailing, and sunsets are what visits experience at Wildwood Crest Beach. Locals like to jet ski, fish, and ride in sailboats. The atmosphere is peaceful and family-friendly.

This beach is located in Somers Point, sprawling between Higbee and New Jersey Avenues. It has lifeguards, restrooms, free parking, outdoor showers, a children’s playground, and a fishing pier.

Know of another New Jersey beach town that we missed? Email us at hello@themontclairgirl.com and we’ll add!

LONG BRANCH — A New Jersey beach that's considered to be one of the most vulnerable to storms is about to get the makeover it needs.

Beach replenishment in the Elberon section of Long Branch is expected to begin in the new year and wrap up by March 1, officials announced on Tuesday.

During a press conference along the beach, Joseph Seebode with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said dredges are expected to arrive in the area and begin pumping sand on or about Jan. 10. A third dredge may be used to ensure that the project is completed by spring.

"Let's all hope for calm seas, no nor'easters, and good weather, so project delivery will be smooth," Seebode said.

The Army Corps plans to drop 1.2 million cubic yards of sand, starting at Lincoln Avenue and working north to Takanassee Lake at North Lake Drive.

"It's always cheaper to do beach replenishment than it is to wait for the storm to occur," said U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J. 6th District.

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Pallone noted that while projects like these may temporarily make beaches wider, tourism is "not even a consideration" during the beach fill process.

New Jersey Coastal Alliance was on hand for the Tuesday event to declare its opposition to this and other beach replenishment projects.

"We have seen these Army Corps projects result in destruction of marine life, the appearance of sand cliffs as much as 15 feet high, and even life-threatening sinkholes," Kushner, of the Alliance, told New Jersey 101.5 in an emailed statement. "Little is actually protected but the beachfront mansions of the ultra-rich at the expense of hardworking taxpayers."

The federal government is picking up 65% of the project's tab, Pallone said. That funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed last year. The other 35% is split between New Jersey, Monmouth County, and Long Branch.

Depending on how long it takes for the Elberon project to be completed, the Army Corps may decide to continue beach replenishment into Monmouth Beach or the West End section of Long Branch.

"Projects like this help us to better prepare and protect our communities," said Shawn LaTourette, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

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LaTourette said New Jersey is ground zero for some of the worst impacts of climate change.

State officials and the Army Corps conduct surveys on an annual basis to determine which beaches are most at risk.

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MONMOUTH BEACH — In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Red Bank Catholic High School senior Madeleine Carpenter, a Monmouth Beach resident, has curated an Ecuadorian art exhibit to be featured at Frameworks Gallery, located at 135 Monmouth Street in Red Bank.

The opening reception, open to the public, takes place Friday, Sept. 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibit will run from Sept. 15 – Oct. 27 thanks to the support of Frameworks owner, Stephen McMillion.

The idea of an exhibit came to Madeleine after a visit to Ecuador last summer. She grew up surrounded by her Ecuadorian grandmother’s art collection, often wondering what many of the pieces signified. In Ecuador, she was able to research and meet with several artists, and discovered what an incredible collection of pieces her grandmother has brought to New Jersey over the last 50-plus years.

“Growing up surrounded by these pieces in my grandma’s home, I never understood what they really were," Madeleine said. "They mostly just scared me or were in the background. However, going to Ecuador and speaking with these artists, I learned their significance. They are powerful expressions of a country’s historical oppression, geographic importance and a look into day-to-day life. For me personally, they were the same paintings on the walls of my mom’s childhood home. Learning about them helps me connect to my family’s heritage."

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The title of the exhibit “Con Ojos Propios” which translates to, “Through our Own Eyes” stemmed from an interview Carpenter did in July of 2022 with Pablo Cabrera, an important Ecuadorian artist and professor to a thriving young artist community. Cabrera expresses the importance of the country’s art community to break free from the tradition of following European influences, and encourages Ecuadorian artists to create their own aesthetic using their own perspective and experiences.

The exhibit will include various paintings, sculptures, ceramics and tapestries, most of which are from Madeleine’s grandmother’s personal collection. Madeleine’s grandmother, Berthalina Vincent Moore, who migrated to the United States in the 1960’s has amassed a collection of pieces from some of Ecuador’s most prestigious artists, including, Oswaldo Guayasamin, Eduardo Kingman, Gonzalo Crow, Jose Unda and Pablo Cabrera. Additionally, Carpenter invited several young, up and coming artists to display some of their pieces, to showcase the next generation of talent in Ecuador. Select pieces will be available for sale. Artists such as Cristian Mera, Pamela Corrales and Luis Alvear, who painted the title piece for the exhibit, were excited for the opportunity. “While I have a very diverse group of friends, no one I grew up with was Ecuadorian," Madeleine said. "I wanted to curate this exhibit to show my friends and the community the richness of the beautiful pieces that I grew up with. I see no better way to help celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month than by showcasing the work of these amazing artists. I am inviting Spanish classes from my school to visit the exhibit and hope other schools will take advantage of this opportunity for students to learn from this important historical treasure.”

Teachers are encouraged to reach out for a guided tour of the exhibit for their students during school hours by emailing maddiemcarpenter@gmail.com.

No R.S.V.P is necessary for the opening reception. Ecuadorian food and drinks will be served at the reception, compliments of FUZE eatery in Eatontown.

National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 and celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

It's been a roller coaster of a winter season so far from single digit temperatures Christmas weekend to highs in the 50's and 60's to open up 2023, and curious as that may be, comes some concern for how the temps and weather conditions are impacting our Jersey Shore beaches.

Tom Herrington, Associate Director at Monmouth University's Urban Coast Institute, explains that there are a few areas of concern across Ocean and Monmouth County after some big waves in the fall have caused some shorter looking beaches.

"The beaches, particularly in Monmouth and Ocean County, are what we would consider in their winter state, they're narrower, lower because of larger storm waves that occur in the fall," Herrington said. "In particular, we have a couple of hotspot areas that we're concerned about, in terms of erosion, Ortley Beach in particular in (Toms River) Ocean County, Sea Bright, Monmouth Beach and a little bit of the Elberon section of Long Branch are more eroded than usual, but, they're kind of our hotspots, when we get a coastal storm like we had in October, we tend to see those areas erode quicker than the surrounding areas."

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Dr. Stan Hales, Director of the Barnegat Bay Partnership, explains that following a mild winter last year that still produced 8-10 weather events resulting in significant erosion, has since led to some concern for this winter with what the water could do in storms both large and small.

"I won't say the worst is yet to come, it's hard to say with the changing weather, but we do know that sea level continues to rise and with a rise in sea level over time, it takes fewer extreme events to create the level of erosion that we've seen in the past," Hales said. "We have higher water more regularly now and that does contribute to additional erosion events."

The erosion to beaches across the Jersey Shore is one of the more utmost concerns facing the local environment right now even with the protection of sand dunes.

"There's a lot of sand in the system, the dunes are pretty strong in many, many areas, so, it's just being able to weather a series of storms for instance that may come back-to-back so that you have that protection throughout the entire winter season," Herrington said. "What would concern me now is the kind of weather pattern we're entering into where we have these very strong storm systems coming in from the west coast and eventually those storm systems reach the east coast and, in some cases, can redevelop into significant coastal storms."

It's really what types of storms and how many of them come through the Jersey Shore this winter, Herrington explains, and hopefully by the spring things will be in good shape.

"Once we get through April into May, then the beaches start to naturally recover as we begin to enter the summer season," Herrington said.

The weather in the winter, especially when it gets warm, can not only bring surging storms, sea level rise, and beach erosion to communities across Monmouth and Ocean County, but, to plants and marine life.

"We live in the temperate zone and one of the things that the temperate zone is characterized by is greater annual change," Hales said. "We have winters almost as cold as they have at the poles (north and south), we have summer heat waves that are almost as warm as those seen in the tropics, so, we have tremendous seasonal variations, we have a greater range of temperatures and weather variations than you see in some other places where it's always colder or generally warmer."

As a result, Dr. Hales explains that these weather variations are what bring certain animals to the Jersey Shore.

"Winter and summer events affect the distribution and interactions of animals," Hales said. "We're seeing more southern species in New Jersey, for example, we're seeing southern pine beetle in the Pine Barrens, and it doesn't have very low temperature tolerance, but, with warmer winters, we're seeing the beetles spread through the pine barrens and cause extensive to the forests."

Dr. Hales explains that mild weather aids some things more than others as does the typical winter weather, and, if things keep changing between those two extremes, things are at risk.