As Memorial Day weekend ushers in the start of another summer season on Seven Mile Beach, our communities once again come alive with excitement, energy, and familiar traditions. From returning families and reopening businesses to packed event calendars and sun-filled beach days, there is a renewed sense of joy that makes this time of year so special.

This will be a different Memorial Day keynote speech in Avalon.

Not simply because Tom LaRosa approaches 80 and sounds like 40. Or because the slew of medals adorning his Marine unform – earned during tours of Iceland and Vietnam from 1965-71 – may shine as brightly as the colors of the holiday festivities.

Here at Seven Mile Beach, we are home to so many wonderful restaurants. From longtime favorites that have been part of the Avalon and Stone Harbor communities for decades to exciting newcomers, there is truly something for everyone.

Residents and visitors are invited to attend the Avalon Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, presented by the American Legion Post 331 (Stone Harbor/Avalon) and the Borough on Monday, May 25. The parade begins at 9am.

So, if Gritty was a human being, who could possibly combine the skill, the fun, and the outrageous behavior of the Flyers’ magnificent mascot?

Beautiful art has the power to lift, inspire, and heal.

And art lovers can experience it all when world-famous artist, actress, author, and philanthropist Jane Seymour debuts a brand-new collection of watercolor paintings at her exclusive “Vibrant Visions and Healing Hearts” exhibit at Ocean Galleries in Stone Harbor the weekend of June 12-14.

Summer has begun, making it the perfect time to find some new beach basics. We have found the best products from beach-day essentials and warm-weather style to unique finds that capture the spirit of summer.

Explore stunning fine art and connect with talented authors along Dune Drive, sponsored by the Avalon Chamber of Commerce and Avalon Free Public Library. Artists will showcase their work across various mediums, including watercolor, oil/acrylic, photography, and mixed media/sculpture.

Summer at the shore would be incomplete without Surfside Park’s classic summer concerts, and Avalon is thrilled to welcome back the Peter Mayer Group. As part of Avalon’s “Spring into Summer” series, the Peter Mayer Group will perform on Friday, June 19 at 7pm.

Casey O’Hara might be best-known across South Jersey for work that has him getting up at the crack of dawn to run Uncle Bill’s Pancake Houses. But right now, he’s also working around the clock to get a global wetsuit empire – Bewet America – off the ground in the United States.

Sometimes things just happen to work out for the best. Case in point: It was January 2003 and Sue Keen had just completed working three decades with New Jersey Bell Telephone Company.

Stroll among a vibrant mix of local vendors and discover new favorite baked goods, seasonal produce, spices, specialty sauces, fresh seafood, flowers, and much more at Stone Harbor’s weekly farmers market. This market is a perfect way to experience the flavors and community spirit of Stone Harbor.

This Memorial Day weekend feels different. Can you sense it? There’s no disputing that something, or more appropriately, someone, is missing.

One of Avalon Elementary School’s most meaningful hands-on educational traditions begins each winter with a wheelbarrow full of sand, a stack of clear plastic cups, and a bundle of American dune grass seedlings.

Driving down the causeway onto Seven Mile Beach, the lush expanse of green meadows is a welcome sight. For many, the salty air mixed with a hint of low-tide mud smell harkens the arrival of the calming times that island life brings.

Michael G. Black III was sworn in as Stone Harbor’s newest career firefighter and EMT by Mayor Tim Carney on April 21, the logical next step in his life of public service.

American Legion Post 331 made a surprise donation of $3,000 to Middle Township High School’s Navy National Defense Cadet Corps program during the cadets’ annual Military Ball on April 24 at the ICONA Windrift.

Picture this: The sun has started its slow descent into the bay, and you decide to ditch your swim trunks for something more pulled together. Head to Global Pursuit to grab this perfectly curated outfit for any occasion out on the town.