John and Danielle Williams of Blackwood brought their four pups to the beach.
VENTNOR – If September is known in these parts as “locals’ summer” what is October called? The answer is still “locals’ summer.”
With weather forecasters calling for a 30-degree drop overnight to more seasonable temperatures, locals and a few visitors flocked to the beach Wednesday, Oct. 2 to get-in what is likely the last great beach day of the season. Although some were sweltering with 90-degree temperatures off-shore, the cool seabreeze blowing on Ventnor’s beach made it a perfect 10 beach day.
Patty Cappetto and Mary Ferroni of South Philadelphia caught a few rays on the Ventnor beach Wednesday, Oct. 2.
Mary Ferrioni and Patty Cappetto drove the 65 miles from South Philadelphia to get what they said could be 2019’s last hurrah.
“Everyone is taking advantage of this gorgeous weather,” Ferroni said looking around at the people sunning, reading, splashing and doing cartwheels in the sand.
Although the beach in early October is normally deserted except for a few fishers casting their lines in hopes of catching the biggest striper for the Surf Fishing Derby, the crowd was reminiscent of a summer weekday.
Only a few umbrellas were open in hopes of catching the last few rays to revive a tan that’s already starting to fade.
“We’re just taking in the sun and enjoying Ventnor’s beautiful beach,” Cappetto said.
Jim Tuohy, Gordy Combs celebrate Jen Scott’s birthday on the beach in Ventnor.
Jen Scott of Cape May County had just finished her day’s work as a disc jockey for WTKU-FM in Linwood, and was celebrating her birthday with friends.
“I always come to the beach for my birthday,” she said.
She and her friends Jim Tuohy and Gordy Combs of Ventnor enjoyed eating subs for lunch, but miraculously, the seagulls were not pestering them.
“Gordy started summer with a quest to have 100 days on the beach,” Tuohy said. “Today is day No. 99.”
Gordy’s rules for counting the days include sitting on the beach for at least two hours without a shirt, Tuohy said.
When asked if he thought he would be able to reach his goal, Gordy replied, “I’ll definitely get in 100 days. If it gets too windy, I’ll just go sit near the library.”
He said Wednesday was like a mid-August day.
Retired teachers Linda Harrison of Northfield and Marilyn Tabasso of Galloway.
Marilyn Tabasso of Galloway Township said she comes to Ventnor’s beach as often as possible.
“I was here yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that. Monday was a bit chilly, so I walked on the boardwalk instead,” she said.
She usually likes to go to the beach at Oxford Avenue where her family owned a home, but her friend Linda Harrison of Northfield likes to go the beach at Portland Avenue.
Both are retired schoolteachers.
“This might be our last beach day this year,” Tabasso said.
John and Danielle Willliams of Blackwood took their dachshunds to the beach.
John and Danielle Williams of Blackwood brought their four miniature dachshunds – a mom, dad and their two precious dappled puppies.
“We came because it’s such a nice beach day,” John Williams said. “They love walking along the surf.”
A group of home-schooled children from Galloway Township enjoyed building a sandcastle that eventually turned into a volcano, one child said. Another did cartwheels across the beach, while a third carried a small horseshoe crab to show their teacher-moms.
Their day at the beach was like a field trip that included marine science and physical education.
But really, they were just having fun.
Someone left a message in the sand about global warming.
