The front door opens, and you are transported. Your eyes are drawn through the great room to the wall of windows where the bay unfolds in a flowing maze from Stone Harbor all the way to the Avalon Bridge in the distance.

More than two dozen adorable children in an incredible array of floats and costumes took part in the 56th annual Al Cunard Baby Parade on 96th Street in Stone Harbor on July 9. The youngsters were dressed up as their favorite TV and movie characters, superheroes and much more.

The Avalon Lions Charities Foundation celebrated a decade of giving when it held its 10th annual Charity Golf Classic on Sunday, June 24. More than 140 golfers hit the links to enjoy a beautiful day of golf at Avalon Golf Club and helped the Lions raise more than $50,000 to benefit the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children.

Bryan Cogliano has been tagged, in a manner Facebook would envy.

His one-of-a kind hat draws abundant social chatter, all through town. Cogliano has an unusual treasure, featuring the Stone Harbor beach tag for every year dating back to 1972. He has extras at home, bringing the combined total to more than 120.

If you’re reading this on the beach in the afternoon, you’ve probably already seen an orange helicopter fly by. If you’re like me, you probably have more questions than answers about the United States Coast Guard’s significant presence in our area. Here are a few things that you might not know:

Her first year as the pastor at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Saviour in Stone Harbor has been a learning experience for the Rev. Rachel Semovoski.

Every year, Stone Harbor has the pleasure of hosting the Philadelphia Flyers’ “Trial on the Isle” as a part of the team’s development camp for prospects.

Sand, sun, surf, summertime and … safety. Five big “S” words mark Memorial Day to Labor Day on the beaches of the Jersey Shore.

“Let the Good Times Roll.”

The original version of that tune came out in 1956, the year Jim Bannach was born. The song title also describes Bannach’s rich musical journey: performing, producing, traveling and corroborating.

Everyone knows that birds of a feather flock together, but for the laughing gulls in Stone Harbor and Avalon, this saying is no joke. Unknown to many, the marshlands behind Stone Harbor and Avalon host the world’s largest nesting colony of Leucophaeus atricilla, a species known as the “laughing gull” and characterized by its dark gray wings and black head.

Calling all cherubs and chubby-cheeked toddlers – the Avalon Baby Parade returns on Thursday, Aug. 2.

A Broadway actor, the late Dennis Soens, introduced the Avalon Players to Seven Mile Beach when he launched the summer theater program 50 years ago.

The Avalon Beach Patrol displayed an interesting, intriguing first half of the lifeguard racing season.

Avalon Post Office held a special ceremony at its branch on July 16 to commemorate the building’s 1960 ribbon-cutting with a memorial plaque.

I often wonder about my role … my contribution … my impact. Perhaps it is because I think about it so much that the ever-increasing awareness of the impact that the American lifestyle has on our coasts, beaches and oceans has become so alarming.

Mayor Judy Davies-Dunhour and Borough Council recognized the volunteer efforts of Nancy Cunard, Kim Jackson, Phyllis Kilgour and Michele Storb at the Borough Council meeting on June 19. The four ladies help organize Stone Harbor’s growing pickleball program with assistance from Recreation Director Miranda Duca.

It’s no secret that summer heat can sometimes be a lot to handle, but staying cool is easier than ever! Whether laying low in your beach house, out-and-about on the town, or sitting with your toes in the sand on the beach, staying cool is important.

First of all, I am not talking about “shore” songs like “Surfer Girl” or “Summer Wind.” The songs I’ll be discussing are songs that you have been hearing at clubs and restaurants for decades, either by a solo musician with just an acoustic guitar or a full band.

August is a great month to be at the shore. Summer has completely set in, and even the locals are starting to relax and enjoy everything the island has to offer. Hopefully you have time to enjoy the beach and the bay as the water is now the perfect temperature to cool off in during these hot summer days.

Nobody gets between Nora and her Bonnie’s Toppings. My girl is serious about her food. You reach for that bowl and you might lose a finger.