Lavallette life boat. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
Lavallette shattered its record for beach badge sales in 2015, meeting and exceeding sales levels seen before Superstorm Sandy rolled ashore in October 2012.
The borough generated $909,678 in beach badge sales in 2015, the first time more than $900,000 was taken in.
“After the second weekend [of summer], Mother Nature was very kind to us,” said Councilman Michael Stogdill. “Not so much to our grass and our plants, but definitely to our beach season.”
Stogdill said the previous beach badge revenue record was $866,845, set in 2012. Even if badge prices were not increased slightly last year, the borough would still have broken the record, Stogdill said. The borough sold 22,949 season badges in 2015.
Borough officials praised the beach staff, saying lifeguards and badge checkers went above and beyond throughout the season.
“The ocean has been less than pleasant in terms of currents the last two weeks, and our lifeguards did a tremendous job,” said Councilwoman Joanne Filippone. “We had four rescues on New York Avenue alone, and 15 or 16 down the strip that day. They just hop to it and get the job done, and should be commended.”
Stogdill said the borough’s lifeguards especially showed their dedication during the Labor Day holiday weekend, with many coming back to Lavallette from college or their off-season homes to work one more weekend.
Stogdill, likewise, thanked the badge sales staff, who are often the first introduction people have to the borough’s beaches.
“They do an excellent job every day once the season starts, and they get it started,” he said.
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