Seven Mile Beach is known for some of the best eateries in New Jersey and beyond! By now, you’ve had time to frequent your favorite places this summer and back again … It’s time to try something new. From fluffy pancakes and flavorful brews to signature dishes and sweet treats, the island has something for every taste bud to savor this August. While the weather is heating up outside, things are also heating up in the kitchen! Don’t miss this “Must Try” list of our favorites!

He made his first visit to the Seven Mile Beach as a 2-week-old to be baptized. Raised in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., he must have managed to get a good dose of sand in his shoes because the Jersey Shore in general and Seven Mile Beach in particular still play a large role in his life. His first job, which was unofficial because it was unpaid, was cleaning the pool at his grandfather’s property, The Whitebrier Hotel at 21st Street and the beach in Avalon.

The Avalon Lions Club raised $50,000 with its ninth annual Charity Golf Classic on June 25 at the Avalon Golf Club. A field of more than 140 helped support the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children.

What do you get when you combine four generations of a family in a shore house that fuses family heirlooms and 21st century practicality, with a crisp nautical palette? You get “Cedar by the Sea,” one of the spectacular homes featured on Cape Regional Medical Center’s 2017 Designer House Tour.

Whenever August rolls around, I’m always reminded of the Nat King Cole song – “Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, those days of sodas and pretzels and beer…” These final summer days remain jam-packed with exciting events to keep the entire family entertained, while still enjoying the lazy days of summer. Evening concerts, early morning runs, summer sales and delicious dining – those define the lazy, hazy, crazy days of August!

There’s no place like their historic home for the extended Paquette family.

The inviting, three-story house with brown cedar shingle siding on 32nd Street, so dear to the descendants of Joseph Paquette and his late wife, Ellin, might also be dear to Seven Mile residents. It’s distinctive. “As far as the tax assessment records indicate, the house appears to be the oldest home on the island,” says Avalon History Center Director Nina Ranalli.

In 2013, Meg Donohue published her second novel, “All the Summer Girls,” to national acclaim and intense local interest. Set in Avalon, the book was a best-seller that captivated readers with a tale of friendship, mystery and romance amid the borough’s familiar restaurants, hangouts, beaches and bays.

Avalon veterans and Stone Harbor upstarts notched interesting beginnings to the 2017 lifeguard racing campaign.

For Avalon, traditionally strong efforts from rowers Erich Wolf, Matt Wolf and Jake Enright repeated the pattern of recent years. Stone Harbor, meanwhile, posted some early strong results from young leaders like John Ruskey.

Where do the future leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs of America gather in the summer? The Al Cunard Baby Parade, of course.

The 55th Annual Stone Harbor Al Cunard Baby Parade on July 10 featured 40 participants who lit up 96th Street as they strolled down the block in style.

Every summer, Stone Harbor plays host to Flyers prospects and their fans for a day of hard work and fun on the beach as part of the team’s development camp. The Trial on the Isle was started by Flyers trainer Jim McCrossin and his wife, Robyn, as a way to give back to the community in which they live and to support local causes.

August is a great month to be at the shore. Everyone has settled into summer and although the island is packed, it just doesn’t seem as hectic as July. Maybe that’s because it is so hot! If you are lucky, then you are spending these hot summer days with your feet in the ocean. Unfortunately, you can’t live on the beach, so we searched the best stores of the island to come up with things to keep you “cool.”

“There’s something about this church,” says Wells Memorial Presbyterian Church’s Dave Knoche. “You feel a spiritual presence of the many people who have been here.”

Many people, indeed. This year marks Wells Memorial’s 125th anniversary.

August Events

There has always been a romantic lure of the beach. We never needed The Beach Boys to tell us that, but they sure made careers of reminding us. Clearly, romance on the beach is alive and well here in Avalon and Stone Harbor.

In fact, it seems in the past few years, one cannot travel by The Reeds, ICONA Golden Inn, The Windrift or the yacht clubs on a Friday or Saturday evening and not be certain to catch a glimpse of newlyweds.

No matter the season, Seven Mile Beach is buzzing with activity throughout Avalon’s Downtown Shopping District and Stone Harbor’s iconic 96th Street business district. This season, some businesses are celebrating grand openings while others are celebrating milestone anniversaries in town and some have decided to raise money and awareness for charity.

Some things never grow old, like vintage wine, family ties and the importance of beach-safety tips.

The United States Lifesaving Association estimates that America’s beaches had a total attendance of 210 million last year. There were 90 drownings, of which 80 occurred in unguarded areas.

Seven Mile residents and visitors are fortunate to have remnants of North Atlantic Coastal Plain Maritime Forest to explore. These relatively rare forest types were once the widespread forests of barrier islands and mainland coasts. Coastal development, however, has reduced them dramatically so that these coastal forests make up less than 1 percent of the habitat in New Jersey.

Why do I love Avalon? My love started at a young age. Like many who reminisce as I do, I started life as a shoobie. My grandparents lived on 37th Street and it was the unique smell of the seashore that would hit me when we crossed over the big bridge on Avalon Boulevard. My mom would always wake me up after our drive from Philadelphia, roll down the windows and say, “We’re here!”

August nights are hot and steamy. You almost wish you didn’t have to wear anything at all. But company still comes to visit and there is always that chance you want to run out and grab some ice cream after dinner. Rest assured we have the perfect outfit for you! Whether you are home all night or heading out, this Santiki outfit is trendy but casual, comfortable but cute.

August Calendar 2017