Don’t Forget To Share Your Shore Memories and Cast Your Vote: Time is Running Out to Help Create NJ Top Ten Beaches Calendar

(Sandy Hook, NJ) — Sentimental beach lovers have until April 28th, to cast their photo votes and share their favorite Jersey Shore memories at www.njtoptenbeaches.org.  The creators of the popular NJ Top Ten Beaches annual survey and tourism leaders from Sandy Hook to Cape May have teamed up to focus on a different angle for this year’s project by asking visitors to the web site to vote for a favorite photo and share a favorite shore memory that will help create a special limited-edition Making More Shore Memories calendar.

According to Kim Kosko, Director of Communications for the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC), “Response to this year’s request to have people put voting for their favorite beach on hold has been terrific.  Using the project web site and social media, we invited people instead to be part of helping create a special calendar that will celebrate the entire Jersey Shore and feature special events and activities between June 2013 and May 2014.  We received hundreds of photos and some great shared memories to include in the special edition NJ Top Ten Beaches calendar that will be unveiled at NJSGC’s showcase State of the Shore media event on May 23rd.  We’re still hoping to get some additional shore memories to showcase on the calendar pages and encourage people to visit the web site to submit them by the April 28th deadline.”

Shore communities, state and local businesses, and tourism groups sponsoring the calendar project include Sparks Market Solutions, LLC, Seaside Heights Business Improvement District, New Jersey Natural Gas, Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority, Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, Tuckerton Seaport and Baymen’s Museum, Monmouth County Tourism, Cape May County Department of Tourism, Belmar Tourism Commission, Atlantic County Tourism, The Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority, Bradley Beach Tourism Board, and the Jersey Shore Visitors’ and Convention Bureau.

A percentage of the calendar print run will be sold for a nominal fee at selected venues and events including the Belmar Seafood Festival and the Jersey Shore Partnership annual Summer Celebration at Sandy Hook in June.  A portion of the sale will be donated to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. The 2013 project will also include a raffle drawing for everyone who submits shared shore memories.  To vote for your favorite calendar photo contender or share your memory visit njtoptenbeahes.org by April 28th.

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.