Which New Jersey Beaches Would Make Your Top 10?

Photo Credit: NJSeaGrant.org

Our friends at New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium have put together a beautiful compact calendar to bring a sense of unity to those locales still recovering from Superstorm Sandy. The yearly calendar, which typically pits beach towns against one another and encourages visitors to pick 'favorites,' has shifted its message this year to focus on shore memories.  

The calendar showcases twelve photographs that were voted to be the best over hundreds of other entries. The images are paired with twelve individual “Shore Memories” that focus on people’s unique and heartfelt memories of time spent at the Jersey Shore. $1 of every calendar sold goes to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. 

The photo above is Kelly Hunt's "Pushing Waves." According to NJSeaGrant.org, 'Kelly is a fourth and fifth grade Gifted and Talented teacher in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. She was born and raised at the shore. During the summers, she frequents the lifeguard races with her uncle and uses her passion for photography to capture the action. These and her vast library of nature photos are used to enhance her classroom decor. She lives in Hammonton, New Jersey.'

The other winning photographers represent a wide array of New Jersey beach lovers. 

The winning photographers were:

• 1st place Rick Oliva of Clinton
• 2nd place Mary McCusker of Vorhees
• 3rd place and cover photo (selected by the judges panel) Kelly Hunt of Hammonton
• 4th place Laurie VanSant of Hamilton
• 5th place Gerrie Cali of Brigantine Beach
• 6th place Rebecca Salerno of Livingston
• 7th place Elizabeth DeJesus of Mays Landing
• 8th place Julian Colon of Montclair
• 9th place Stephanie Lindley of Ocean City
• 10th place Katie Walling of Toms River
• 11th place Gregory Hnath of Jackson
• 12th Place Peter DeMille of Egg Harbor Township

The compact calendar, which measures 9 by 5 inches, costs $4.99, and is available for purchase through the consortium's website at www.njtoptenbeaches.org. The 2013 calendar images are available for online download here. 

The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium is an affiliation of colleges, universities and other groups dedicated to advancing knowledge and stewardship of New Jersey’s marine and coastal environment. NJSGC meets its mission through its innovative research, education and outreach programs. For more information, visit NJSGC on the web at njseagrant.org or on social media at facebook.com/NJSeaGrant and twitter.com/NJSeaGrant.