Tourism News RSS Feed
For additional information about Belmar Tourism News check out VisitBelmarNJ.com

Fit Walk Route planning

Belmar Recreation will be meeting interested persons on the boardwalk in front of the Belmar Fishing Club starting Monday March 15  at 11:00. The purpose will be to measure different routes with  Belmar residents using a Rolatape. This will assist people in setting goals and distances for walks or jogging and helping them keep accurate times and distances to mark improvement.

Our goal is to get you moving in a positive direction towards better health. The walks can start in Belmar and go in any reasonable direction and distance. If you have specific needs please plan ahead and call Michael Campbell at 732-681 3700 dial 9 then 211.

Weather permitting we will meet every weekday starting March 15 thru March 25th 2010.

The AVP is returning to Belmar this summer!!

The AVP released its 2010 Tournament Schedule today, and announced that Belmar will be one of only 12 locations on the AVP tour this season, and the only location in the northeast. The Belmar AVP event will be returning to Belmar over the June 25-27, 2010 weekend. “We’re very excited to have the AVP back in Belmar this summer,” said Belmar Ken Pringle. “The AVP event is extremely popular with Belmar’s families, and we’re a favorite event location for the ast coast beach volleyball community.” To view the AVP’s press release and the entire schedule, click here.

Last season, the AVP decided to move the event to Maryland, citing too few sponsors in the New Jersey market due to economic conditions. This season will mark the 17th time in the past 20 years the event has been held in Belmar.

Special thanks to Belmar Design/June McKim for the photo.

Mayor and Council seek bidders for Seasonal Restaurant Concession on Ninth Ave Pier

With piles of snow on the ground, and another blizzard on the way, it’s hard to envision a beautiful July evening enjoying dinner and cocktails on a pier with a spectacular view of the Belmar marina and the sun setting over the Shark River. But that’s the sizzle the Mayor and Council are hoping will attract more than 80 area restaurateurs who have been invited to attend an informational meeting on February 11, 2010 at 9 a.m. at the Belmar Municipal Building. The purpose of the meeting is to outline the Borough’s plans to bid out a concession to operate a seasonal bar and grill on the Ninth Avenue Pier, and get feedback from interested bidders so that the Borough can properly prepare bid specs for the project.

Over the past decade, the Borough has upgraded its marina into one of the finest facilities of its kind on the east coast, including more than 70 slips available for transient boaters who can rent on a daily or weekly basis. This spring, the Borough will start the next phase of upland marina improvements, which are designed to make the already popular marina a top destination for transient boaters in the New York metropolitan area, as well for land-based visitors and especially the residents of Belmar. These improvements will include the renovation this spring of the Ninth Avenue pier to include not a seasonal bar and grill, but also landscaping and seating areas for the public, a nautical flag pole and memorial area to honor Pat and Sandy Breslin, areas equipped for festival or seasonal vendors to display their goods and a booth where visitors can book kayak rentals, charter fishing, diving and sightseeing trips, eco-tours other activities.

The restaurant concession will be offered with a Special Concessionaire Permit from the State of New Jersey to serve alcohol pursuant to N.J.S.A. 33:1-42 and N.J.A.C. 13:2-5.2 (liquor license). The permit will be subject to limited hours of service and other conditions, which will be discussed at the February 11 informational session.

Currently there is only one location for service of food in the marina, a luncheonette located in the Borough’s Harbor Master building. This concession is also currently up for lease. The Mayor and Council are preparing bid specifications for both locations, and would like input from experienced restaurant owners, who may be interested in leasing this space and/or the Ninth Avenue Pier. Although 80 restaurateurs have been invited to attend, the informational meeting is open to all interested potential bidders, as well as the public at large, and the Borough plans to use information and ideas obtained during the informational meeting when preparing the bid and lease documents.

This bid opportunity is not in lieu of, but rather in addition to, the Borough’s longer-term plan to replace the Harbor Master building with a much larger, permanent building which will include a fine-dining restaurant with Concession Permit License on the second floor, as well as a variety of first-floor uses including a casual foods, ice cream, bait, tackle and chandlery, and other marine-related retail uses. The Borough has applied to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for a CAFRA permit to develop this larger facility, most likely pursuant to a long-term ground lease, and will hold additional meetings in the future once the necessary permit has been obtained.

Anyone interested in attending the February 11, 2010 meeting or in leasing the new outdoor concessions on the Ninth Avenue pier and/or the current luncheonette, and would like to review either the draft lease agreements should contact Borough Administrator Robbin Kirk at rkirk@boro.belmar.nj.us

Belmar Beach Employment Application

Below is an application to apply for a position at the Belmar Beach. The positions you may apply for are: Bathroom Attendants, Gate Attendants, Relief Gate Attendant, Ticket Booth Cashier, and Relief Ticket Booth Cashier.

If you are interested in applying for one of these positions please complete the application and submit it to Borough Hall, 601 Main Street.

Boro_of_Belmar_Beach_Application_2010

Thank you to resident Sonny Bonjuklian

Early morning boardwalk stalkers who take advantage of the restrooms at 10th Avenue have Belmar resident Sonny Bonjuklian to thank for unlocking the doors bright and early every morning.  Before Mr. Bonjuklian took on the responsibility of unlocking the doors, the restrooms would remain locked during early hours due to budget constraints.  Of his job as volunteer key holder, Mr. Bonjuklian writes, “To some people it might not seem important, however, when passersby said ‘thank you very much,’ I knew it was well worth it.” 

Enjoy your winter Mr. Bonjuklian, and we’ll see you in the Spring!

Restrooms on the boardwalk will be closed during winter months.

Save Money – Get Your Discounted Season Beach Badges on Sale through December 31, 2009

Seasonal beach badges will be on sale beginning December 1, 2009. For the whole month of December the regular season beach badge fee will be $45 and seniors and disabled badges will be $15. Beginning January 1, 2010 the regular seasonal beach badge fee will be $50 and the seniors and disabled badges will be $15.

You can also purchase a gift box for an additional $2.

Belmar invaded by Giant Orange Octopus (watch the video!)

Visitors to Belmar’s beaches on Sunday, October 9th were treated to an awesome spectacle — a giant orange Octopus floating in the sky over the Third Avenue beach. Belmar’s Third Avenue beach has long been a popular gathering place for the Jersey Shore’s best kite-flyers, and the skies over that beach are regularly filled with a colorful assortment of kites of all sizes. But even the locals stopped and stared at the sight of a nearly block-long orange Octopus hovering over the beach.
Click here to watch the video:

(At the risk of being overly technical, we should note that the Octopus isn’t actually a kite. High above the Octopus (and not visible in the pictures) was a large nondescript white kite that was holding up the balloon-like Octopus, giving it the appearance of floating in the sky above Belmar.)

Sea Beach Amaranth Found on Belmar’s Natural Beach

Sea-beach Amaranth was discovered late this summer on the Belmar Natural Beach located between the Belmar Fishing Club and the Shark River Inlet.

Sea-beach Amaranth is an annual plant that exhibits low sprawling growth and small spinach-like leaves, and is restricted to open sandy portions of ocean beaches between the high tide line and the toe of the primary dune.

Its range had extended from Massachusetts to South Carolina.  Although originally described as abundant, the number of populations declined precipitously throughout the Twentieth Century and, following a collection from Ocean County in 1913, vanished from the flora of New Jersey.  Habitat destruction and alteration, incompatible beach grooming practices and recreational activities have all contributed to the decline of this species.  By 1989, the species was restricted to a few populations in North and South Carolina.

In 2000 Sea-beach Amaranth was discovered during piping plover survey activities in Monmouth County.  Theories for the reappearance of Sea-beach Amaranth in the region include transport of seeds through storm events and/or resurfacing of seed from beach fill operations.

To help ensure plant reemergence in previously recorded locations, an area free of disturbance (raking, scraping, vehicle access, etc.) should be established during the growing season (May to December) in all areas of suitable habitat. Symbolic string and post fencing should be installed surrounding all emergent plants, and all public access and beach maintenance activities prohibited within fenced areas.

This plant is visible at the easternmost edge of the First Avenue beach but remember to tread lightly and please leave your dog at home.

Equipment Swap

It’s that time of year again, Belmar Recreation will be accepting your Sports/Fitness gear (playable shape Please) on September 23, 24, and 25 from 0730 till 3pm at the gym 601 Main Street. . This is a great chance for you to clean out that space and help someone in need of some equipment. On Monday September 28 from 0730 am until 230 pm , the equipment that has been collected and cleaned up will be placed in the gym at 601 Main Street for people to take as needed. There is no charge for the service so let’s help each other and make some child happy.  Please contact Mike Campbell for questions 732-681-3700 Dial 9 then 211.

Belmar’s Surf Camp and Beach Bash for Autistic Children: Riding Waves and Making Memories

Beautiful skies, great waves and scores of volunteers combined on Sunday, September 13, 2009 to make Belmar’s 5th Annual Surf Camp and Beach Bash for Autistic Children another tremendous event at 7th Avenue Beach. Sponsored by the Autism Family Services of New Jersey, the event included not only surfing and trophies for more than 100 participating children, but music and games and informational booths of all kind for the children and their families. The surfing party of the program was provided Surfers Healing, a California-based non-profit that works to enrich the lives of children with autism and their families by introducing them to the joys of surfing. Israel Paskowitz, the founder and President of Surfers Healing, is here in Belmar this weekend from his home in San Juan Capistrano, California, and was among the group of professional surfers from as far away as Hawaii, who gave unforgettable rides to the children, and long-lasting memories to their parents. Kudos to all the folks at Autism Family Services of New Jersey, and the countless volunteers and local residents and businesses and helped make this program such a great success. Special mention also to Fran and Jeanne Hines for all their efforts. The event continues through Monday, September 14, 2009. Check out the brief videos below, and try to stop by and experience this event yourself.

Next Page »

Recent Posts on Belmar.com

• Celtic Chase – March 6, 2010
• Jersey Shore Juried Art Show
• Happy early St. Patrick’s Day
• Belmar’s mayor to step down
• Belmar Elementary School continues centennial celebration