Advanced Knee Pain Treatment in South Belmar, NJ

I live in Belmar, and I love surfing off Belmar beach. The waves were huge the other day, and I am pumped to say that I snagged some of the best waves of my life. This isn't me but look at this wave one dude caught a few miles south of Belmar.

Congratulations to pro surfer and New Jesey native Ben Gravy for catching this wave! Watch below!

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Anyway, after I was done having a blast in the ocean, I saw a promotional sign hanging outside of D'jais. I am happy to share information about the event, I think it will be fun for all Jersey Shore locals.

The water is starting to get warm, but it's still a perfect temperature to do a polar bear plunge. Are you ready for 49-degree water temps?! This Saturday, April 23rd the Sons of Shillelagh will host their first annual polar bear plunge. Thanks to the Sons of Shillelagh, all the details are below!

Sons of Shillelagh:

The Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh membership has participated in many polar bear plunge events over the past twenty years. Our membership wants to now create its own event where we can focus on raising money for local charities or organizations at the Jersey Shore. We plan on making this an annual event to occur each April. We appreciate the town of Belmar partnering with us to allow the event to take place. We also appreciate the support of our sponsors, members, and friends.Our net proceeds from the event will be donated to local charitable causes, including AutismMVP, as well as supporting the Belmar Junior Lifeguard program. AutismMVP is an outstanding local organization and with April being National Autism Month, it is a great time to support this charitable organization. About 1 in 44 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to estimates from CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. AutismMVP has a mission to increase the number of autism-focused educators and therapists to meet the current and future needs of students on the autism spectrum. They accomplish this by supporting unique training and professional development programs for teachers, therapists and paraprofessionals, and by providing scholarships to graduate students.Any monetary sponsorship, gift cards, or donations of supplies would be greatly appreciated.Post plunge party at D'jais with The Holme Band playing at 2PM.Please feel free to contact us with any questions via email or phone below. Thank you for your consideration.Sincerely,Dan Reilly - Irish0361@aol.com - 732-829-1711

Craig Coyle - coyfive@aol.com - 732-963-5987 Rob Defelice - Robertd1960@gmail.com - 732-996-4725

Anthony Kelly - anjackel@hotmail.com -732-859-8444

Buy tickets and go have a blast this Saturday! Help support kids with autism, for tickets, CLICK HERE! Also, if you love Belmar check out the fun list below. It's the 15 places I am most thankful for in the town...

Local photographer Nancy Orlowski snapped a photo of this snowy owl on the Belmar beach, as well as recorded a video as it took flight over the ocean on December 8. See full video in story below. Photo Credit: Nancy Orlowski

BELMAR, NJ — The snowy owl made an appearance yesterday afternoon along the Belmar oceanfront.

Local photographer Nancy Orlowski was on the 16^th Avenue beach at about 1:30 p.m. on December 8 when she captured the regal bird’s visit in both a photo (see above) and the video below as it was taking flight over the surf.

The snowy owl migrates south this time each year in search of food, including making stops along the Jersey Shore. Its most recent known sighting was last week at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Galloway (click here).

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Another popular spot to see the owl this time of year is at Island Beach State Park in Ocean County, where they like to perch themselves high on its dunes. On the N.J. Division of Parks & Forestry, State Park Service’s Facebook page, resource interpretive specialist Kelly Scott offers this overview:

“As winter approaches, so does the anticipation of seeing the majestic snowy owl in New Jersey. Native to the arctic tundra, snowy owls can migrate south for thousands of miles during the winter months in search of food. The typical winter migration area for snowy owls is along the southern border of Canada. Irruptions, or sharp population increases, of snowy owls in areas outside southern Canada are usually seen in only a few northern states on the East or West Coast. New Jersey is lucky enough to be one of those states.

The regal snowy owl is the largest owl in North America and when in New Jersey, is often seen perched high on the crest of the dunes. In their native habitat, these owls feed primarily on small rodents the size of hamsters called lemmings. Here in New Jersey, they feed on prey like mice, rabbits, ducks and gulls. They are known for their bright yellow eyes and pristine white coats. Adult males are usually all white, while females have dark brown/black markings. It is well known that snowy owls are primarily nocturnal, as undisturbed owls rarely move during the daytime. Most of the time, if they are observed flying from one location to another, it is a response to pressure and/or harassment. In New Jersey, the only real threat to these animals is humans!”

Scott’s advice: When you see the snowy white owl, takes as many photos as you like, but give it plenty of space.

Editor’s Note: When photos tell a story, “In the Snap-Light” will shine the spotlight on projects, events or activities in Belmar and Lake Como. If you have photos you’d like to be considered, email cgoetz@tapinto.net.

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There has been a lot of activity involving some of our favorite businesses.

Openings, closings, and everything in between.

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We learned this week that the very popular Belmar Bagels closed for good on February 12 after a big sendoff from loyal customers and friends.

The owners said on Facebook that both of them will be looking for new jobs outside of the restaurant business.

A very popular burger chain is eying up a spot in Freehold in the Elton Plaza.

There are already signs of a drive-thru.

Have you ever had a Smashburger? Yum! They are legit.

Finally, a super sweet eatery has a grand opening date for its Brick Plaza location after having to push it back.

They will be opening the doors on Friday, February 17 at 8 am.

I don't know if we're ready for this.

The hugely popular Crumbl Cookies is ready to give us a sugar rush.

Now, when it comes to diners, we don't mess around.

New Jersey is very picky about its diners, and rightfully so.

There are so many that have been around for decades and decades.

With that comes tradition. Maybe your favorite "greasy spoon" is a weekly stop for you.

When I was younger, we always stopped at the diner on Sunday mornings after church.

Can you imagine if you caught word that your favorite diner was closing? It would be devastating news.

That news was broken this week when the owner of Acropolis Diner on Main Street in Belmar announced that after 23 years in business, the final omelet had been served.

Star News Group reports, the Belmar government approved the Seaport Redevelopment Plan in 2022.

That allows the entire block that Acropolis Diner and its parking lot sit on to be transitioned into retail space and condos.

It's still unknown whether developers will allow another party to purchase the diner and keep it running.

Owner Andy Pendondjis told Star News Group:

The people of New Jersey have spoken — not only is Central Jersey a place, but it's more than 3 million residents and 170 towns strong.

Last week, we asked you to help us define the oft-debated boundaries of North, Central and South Jersey. We received more than 91,000 responses and used them to map out the state's unofficial kingdoms.

It didn't come without some heated debate, but the results were fairly clear.

For one, NJ.com readers overwhelmingly agreed that Central Jersey does, in fact, exist. More than 50,000 of the votes received went toward categorizing Central Jersey towns, far outweighing those received for North and South Jersey.

In most towns, the vote was clear cut and the section in which they resided was decided easily.

But there were a few dozen towns that remained disputed right up until the very end, receiving less than a 60 percent majority for one section or the other. Mainly these towns set up along two corridors — Interstate 78 and Interstate 195 — not coincidentally one of the most popular dividing lines for North-Central and Central-South Jersey.

Overall, however, each of the border towns were well-debated and some distinct boundaries were set.

Based on the responses, North Jersey reaches as far south as northern Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, cutting eastward across most of Essex County through Hudson.

Central Jersey crept as far north as Millburn and includes most of Union County. The notable exceptions there were Elizabeth, Berkeley Heights and New Providence, which remained North Jersey until the very end.

The southern border of Central Jersey extends well below Interstate 195. Towns like Jackson, Toms River and Berkeley in Ocean County each remained Central Jersey throughout the vote and Florence, Bordentown and Plumsted ended up there after a lot of back-and-forth.

Everything south of those points was nearly undisputedly considered South Jersey.

So now that these sections of New Jersey have been defined, what can we say about them?

North Jersey has the highest population at 3.86 million residents, followed by Central Jersey with 3.04 million and South Jersey at 1.92 million, according to U.S. Census data.

At 3,300 square miles, South Jersey covers more than 42 percent of the Garden State's total area, which Central and North Jersey splitting the remainder almost evenly.

Central Jersey boasts the highest average property taxes though North Jersey has a higher average property value.. It was also the biggest stronghold for Gov. Chris Christie during the last election.

But all of that is ultimately secondary. We asked, you voted in overwhelming numbers. Here are the final results of the North vs. Central vs. South Jersey border battle:

Click on towns for voting details.

Stephen Stirling may be reached at sstirling@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @sstirling. Find him on Facebook.

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This FREE beach on Sandy Hook Bay is less than an hour from New York City. The town has beautiful views of both the Atlantic Ocean and the city skyline and can be reached by car or ferry from Manhattan. Stay late to check out "Dock and Dine" options for dinner.

RELATED: Hidden Beach Gems Along the Jersey Shore

There are plenty of ways to spend money in Atlantic City, but a trip to the beach doesn't cost a dime. Photo by Shinya Suzuki/CC BY 2.0

Bet your bottom dollar that AC offers excitement for both adults and kids. Take a stroll along the flashy, 4-mile boardwalk, lined with casinos, restaurants, Steel Pier rides, and outlet shops, then take a break from the action on AC’s spectacular, admission-free beaches. You’ll find plenty of other ways to spend that money while in town!

This quiet beach on Manahawkin Bay is guarded from 10am-5pm during the summer and is admission-free.

Pack the sand toys and spend a peaceful day of play at Middletown’s low-key bay beaches. Without boardwalks and restaurants, these pet-friendly beaches are great spots for chilling out, building sandcastles, and strolling with the dog. Restrooms are open during the summer months.

RELATED: 100+ FREE Things To Do With Kids in New Jersey This Summer

Gorgeous Keansburg Beach boasts a beautiful view of NYC. Photo courtesy of Keansburg, NJ

If you’re looking for beach and boardwalk fun without sitting in hours of traffic, check out Keansburg off the Parkway’s exit 117. Keansburg’s boardwalk has arcades, restaurants, snack bars, and plenty of children’s rides, along with the popular Runaway Rapids water park. Enjoy playtime in the sand and cool views of New York at Keansburg’s FREE beach. Note that there is no lifeguard on duty.

Take a day trip to Lakewood’s Ocean County Park, where you can spend an active summer day without spending money. The sprawling park houses a playground, dog park, sports fields, and hiking trails. Best of all: The park’s sandy, lakefront beach is FREE and guarded from Father’s Day through Labor Day.

There's plenty to do at this Middlesex County freebie, which houses newer playgrounds at both the Laurence Harbor and Cliffwood Beach entrances, a scenic 1.3-mile boardwalk, a shady gazebo, and plenty of FREE parking. The sand and water are a bit rougher than other Jersey Shore destinations, but the waterfront park as a whole provides a few hours of sunny fun away from typical beach crowds and traffic.

RELATED: Best NJ Swimming Pools with Day Passes for Families and Kids

When you're done at the free Wildwoods beaches, hit the bustling boardwalk. Photo courtesy of Wildwoods

My own family’s summer vacation spot, the Wildwoods consists of 5 miles of beautiful beaches, all with no entrance fee. Aside from the FREE admission, the beaches of Wildwood, North Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest host free events throughout the summer, such as concerts and fireworks. From the bustling boardwalk with rides and games to various hotels and restaurants, Wildwood is the ideal Jersey Shore getaway for spending time with the family without spending on beach fees.

You'll find this little-known FREE beach nestled between Ocean City and Sea Isle City in Cape May County's Upper Township. With no boardwalk, this quiet beach is a perfect spot to relax, play, and take in the scenic shoreline. There's a lifeguard station at Williams Avenue, and the beach is seasonally guarded between Seaview Avenue South and Nelson Avenue. The quaint beach town also features seaside restaurants and boat rentals. Just as a note, the only bathrooms that I know of at this beach are a few port-a-potties in the parking lot.

This low, flat beach on Raritan Bay has calm waters and a small boardwalk. Parking is a mere $1 an hour, but be prepared to use port-a-potties.

Located in Somers Point, the beach is open to the public on weekends from Memorial Day through mid-June, then open daily through Labor Day. The seaside experience includes lifeguards, restrooms, a playground, and FREE parking. Adding to the allure is the town's annual music festival (also free) each Friday night through September.

With the exception of July 4th, Sea Isle City beaches are FREE on Wednesdays through the summer and are FREE every day for children under 12. Enjoy the boardwalk, which hosts free events throughout the summer. Driving into Sea Isle you will also see a giant playground on JFK Boulevard the kids will enjoy, though it does get hot when the sun is beating down.