Enjoying a beautiful Labor Day weekend in Ocean City
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
OCEAN CITY – It would have been hard to pick nicer weather for Labor Day weekend, the unofficial end to summer at the Jersey shore.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic and the myriad restrictions imposed statewide limited much of the fun at the shore, families were enjoying themselves on the boardwalk and beach for the last weekend of summer.
Jennifer Coghlan of Gloucester Township was riding in a surrey along the boardwalk with her two daughters, Alanna and Nadia, and their friend Gina Mosiondz. It was their second trip to Ocean City this summer during the “totally unusually crazy year,” but Coghlan said they were really impressed with the social distancing, believing the resort was staying on top of keeping people safe. They noted they went to another shore town, saw the opposite on that boardwalk, and turned right around and left.
Another surrey was full of riders driven by Colleen Corbett of Mickleton, who had similar sentiments. Corbett agreed the summer “has been a little crazy, but we’re making the most of it.”
Their idea of making the most of summer is returning to Ocean City “all the time.”
America’s Greatest Family Resort, she said, drawing agreement from her passengers, “is our home away from home.”
They said they were trying to be careful while enjoying the beach, swimming and the boardwalk.
Corbett was riding with her daughter, Lauren, and son, Ryan, and their friends Addie Falocco and Sophia Paoletti. A quick poll about going back to school netted mixed results, with the three girls saying they were not – at all – ready for school to start this week, but Ryan nodded emphatically that he couldn’t wait to go back.
Becky Bachurski and Jimmy Klein of Hatboro, Pa., wearing their masks, were walking along the boardwalk because they just wanted to get out.
“We’ve been cooped up for too long,” Bachurski laughed and Klein agreed. Their only forays into public recently had been to local parks where they were trying to avoid people.
She noted they came to Ocean City as their getaway because her family came to the resort every year (except this year).
“My family used to come here every year so it’s kind of like a family tradition kind of thing,” she said. The family didn’t come this summer because they got a camper and have been going hiking. “I guess you can better social distance when you’re camping,” she said.
“We’re definitely going to go out on the beach, probably rent some chairs and just chill,” she said.
Jim and Diane Fries were already on the beach near the boardwalk, about a block south of the Ocean City Music Pier at Moorlyn Terrace. It happens to be their favorite spot.
The couple, who live near Bucks County, Pa., were celebrating.
“We’re just here for the day,” Jim Fries said. “We decided to pop down. It’s our wedding anniversary.”
Why did they choose Ocean City to mark their 23rd anniversary?
“We’ve both been coming here since we were little kids. We don’t go anywhere else,” he said.
“We grew up coming here,” she said. “It’s great memories.
“It’s where we go,” he added.
Asked what they were doing for their anniversary, they both replied, “This is it.” They were sitting in beach chairs on the sand, under an umbrella. “Perfection,” she laughed.
Their only other big plan for the day was to go out to dinner.
“We’re thoroughly enjoying it,” she said of the gorgeous weather that came in just in time for the Labor Day weekend.
“This is probably our fourth trip down this summer,” he said. “We’ve come down a few times and it’s been great. As a matter of fact, this is the exact same spot we’ve been in every time.”
The only thing that changed for them is the beach itself. They noticed the beach replenishment project had greatly expanded the beach. The last time they were down, the work was just north of the Music Pier. By the time they came back, the beach where they were at was done, as was the whole project.
Dayna Miller and Keli Miller, of Springfield, Pa., were day-trippers who had plopped their beach chairs near the ocean.
“We’re just down for the day,” Keli Miller said. “We used to rent for a week. I like the atmosphere here.”
“I like the beach here better than in the other towns like Sea Isle and Wildwood,” Dayna Miller said.
Both said they like to spend their day watching people, reading books and sleeping and they didn’t really think about the COVID-19 pandemic except when they’re on the boardwalk and have to wear masks.
Things aren’t really different when they’re on the beach, Dayna Miller said.
“It makes you feel like (the pandemic’s) not happening,” Keli Miller added about relaxing by the water.
Asked if they were sisters, given their same last names and same hometown, Keli said she was Dayna’s mom. Dayna said the question should never have been asked. “I’m never going to hear the end of it,” Dayna laughed.
Between the beach and the boardwalk, Tim and Kathy Sheetz were sitting on a bench at the end of the loggia next to the Music Pier, overlooking all the people on the sand below.
“We’re here for a week, but the end is in sight,” Tim Sheetz said.
They’ve been coming to Ocean City since they were kids and lived in New Jersey most of their lives before moving to Lancaster County about 25 years ago.
“Nostalgia” is a big reason for coming back, Kathy Sheetz said. “It’s the memories,” he added. “It’s a safe place to come to. We come to get away from everything else.”
We love it here.”
That love is reserved specifically for Ocean City because they are happy with their move to Pennsylvania.
“We’re never coming back to New Jersey,” she said, “except to come to Ocean City.”
They both enjoy sitting and watching people. They like to get a cup of coffee in the morning and park themselves on the boardwalk to relax after they get some exercise.
They also like just sitting on the porch of the house where they’re staying and reading.
Tim Sheetz noted their involvement in a ministry where people are hurting, and coming to Ocean City lets them refresh.
Although most of their family is in Nevada, the couple was in Ocean City with the “East Coast wing of the family,” which includes their daughter, son-in-law and “incredible 14-year-old granddaughter.”
Elle, the granddaughter, has an amazing memory and reveals it on the boardwalk as a performer, reciting speeches such as “The Gettysburg Address.” “Ask her any capital in the world and she knows it,” the proud grandfather said.
The couple noted the COVID-19 restrictions didn’t really affect them much, aside from not being able to eat indoors, “because we like to be outside anyway,” she said.
Her husband couldn’t help interjecting with jokes as he was being interviewed, apparently telling one specific joke to everyone he saw on the boardwalk, Kathy said.
“What’s the difference between a shooting star and a hamburger?” he asked, smiling. “The shooting star is a little meteor.”
Smiling herself, Kathy Sheetz said her husband is mentoring their grandchildren in his sense of humor, “much to their parents’ chagrin.”