Town hall isn’t the first place that comes to mind when considering a holiday present, but maybe it should be. The gift of a whole summer at the beach is all wrapped up.
Island towns selling 2017 season beach badges for holiday gifts have them packaged creatively, such as Long Beach Township’s crabs carrying colored lights, or Barnegat Light’s snowman in a boat, holding a star.
Prices are at preseason rates, a big plus.
It’s the sure present that no teenager or dad is going to wish they could return to the store.
“Holiday beach badges make great Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers,” said Barnegat Light Councilwoman Dottie Reynolds. “There is a new colorful design every year, sketched by Barnegat Light’s Clerk, Brenda Kuhn. It’s a nice reminder of the fun we have at the beach.”
In Barnegat Light, the badges are on sale through December in borough hall from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. They can be ordered through a form on the website at barnegatlight.org but must be picked up at borough hall. Cost there is the preseason price of $30 plus $2 for the attractive packaging.
In 2016, more than 200 people in the north end town grabbed a holiday badge for a present or a jump on the next summer.
Beach Haven’s 2017 holiday badges are in the shape of an ornament decorated with snowflakes. They will be sold a little longer than those in the other towns, until Jan. 31 if supplies last that long.
The cost is $30 per badge. Gift boxes are an additional $2. They can be bought in person at the municipal clerk’s office, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays. Purchasers can also reserve a badge through the mail order form on the website beachhaven-nj.gov, but the badges must be picked up in person, using the receipt that will be mailed to the purchasers.
Harvey Cedars has a holiday badge decorated as a Christmas tree. It comes in a gift box at the price of $32. Only 200 are available, and about 40 were sold as of Dec. 6.
Residents can pick them up at borough hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday or 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. A mail-in form was sent out with water bills that will enable reserving a badge, but they must be picked up at borough hall.
In Long Beach Township, the cost of the holiday badge is also $30, a savings compared to the $40 cost of seasonal badges purchased after June 16. More than 500 have been sold, which is about half of the supply.
The holiday badges will be available through Saturday, Dec. 31 or while the supply lasts. They are sold Saturday and Sunday from the 68th Street Beach Badge Office at the municipal complex in Brant Beach, and Monday through Friday from the Beach Patrol Headquarters in Beach Haven Crest. Sale hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at both locations. Phone numbers are: beach badge office, 609-361-6675; beach patrol office, 609-361-1200.
The holiday badges in Ship Bottom share the same theme as the parade that drew thousands to the town: “A Shell of a Christmas.” The picture is a happy clam riding in the parade bearing a banner.
Each badge comes with a gift box, at the price of $32.
While supplies last, the badges can purchased at borough hall weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additionally, holiday gift certificates for 2017 badges are available for $30. A form and directions are available on the website, shipbottom.org.
Surf City’s decorative holiday gift-boxed badges are $32 and sold in borough hall from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Payment is by cash or check only. The badge can be seen on the website at surfcity-nj-gov.us.
— Maria Scandale
Barnegat Lights Beach Badge
