Letter from the Editor
Dear Readers,
There is always something a little bittersweet about Labor Day weekend. It may mark the traditional end of the summer season, but here on Seven Mile Beach, there is still so much to look forward to. September and October bring beautiful beach days, cooler evenings, great dining and shopping, and plenty of reasons to come back and enjoy Avalon and Stone Harbor.
Our “Events at a Glance,” compiled by Katie Matthews, is the perfect place to start planning. From the End-of-Summer Shop Hop and Savor September to the Avalon Arts & Seafood Festival, fall restaurant weekend, dune grass planting, beach sweeps and Halloween festivities, the calendar remains full well beyond Labor Day. The pace may change, but Seven Mile Beach certainly doesn’t slow down.
This issue also introduces us to some fascinating people with special connections to the island.
In “Stephen Sharer: Avalon’s Own Influencer,” Ben Niewoehner sits down with the hugely popular YouTube creator who has made Avalon a second home. Beyond the thousands who attended his Surfside Park concert, it was especially meaningful to see his generous support of both the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children and Friend In Need.
Mary Byrne Lamb shares “The Sands of Time,” the story behind G. Scott Shaw’s new book, “Twinkle: A Stone Harbor Memoir at the Jersey Shore.” Al Morganti catches up with a familiar Philadelphia name in “Pat Croce, Now & Zen,” exploring the journey that led Pat from sports and business to a new perspective on what really matters.
Jack Byrne takes us inside La Porteña in “A Taste of South America,” where Chef Lucas Manteca and Deanna Ebner have brought the flavors of Argentina to Stone Harbor. In “Sea to Shining Sea,” Ben Niewoehner shares the incredible story of friends Patrick Casey and Wil Cosgrove, who biked more than 3,600 miles across the country, finishing in Avalon and raising more than $13,000 for Johnnie’s Place.
Dave Bontempo remembers longtime Avalon resident Jim Thatcher in “A Lifetime, A Legacy,” a fitting tribute to someone who gave so much to the town he loved.
We also look toward the future with The Wetlands Institute as it revitalizes the Salt Marsh Trail and moves forward with plans for a new, climate-resilient facility that will expand its research, education, and conservation work for generations to come.
Summer may officially be winding down, but our time on Seven Mile Beach doesn’t have to. There are still sunsets to watch, restaurants to enjoy, shops to visit, events to attend, and memories to make. In many ways, these next few months are among the best-kept secrets of the year.
As always, thank you to our readers and to our advertisers whose support makes every issue possible. We hope you enjoy our Endless Summer issue and everything the months ahead have to offer on Seven Mile Beach.
Warm Regards,
Monica Coskey
Publisher & Editor
Seven Mile Times
mcoskey@7milepub.com