The Bay Head Beacon

Anyone who has ever visited the beach has held a sea shell to their ear so they can hear the ocean. No matter how far away a person is from the beach, they can put the shell to an ear and hear sounds reminiscent of waves and sea breezes. This tradition has existed for countless generations, but something has changed recently. Some people are reporting that when they put a shell to their ear, they are picking up phone conversations. Lifeguards on Point Pleasant and Bay Head beaches reported that people were coming up to them and saying there was something wrong with the shells. The lifeguards verified the problem and collected some of the shells to bring to their managers. That's when Dr. Tia Mowbuhl of Seton Hall University's Audiology Department was contacted. "When people hear the ocean in shells, it's actually an auditory illusion," said Dr. Mowbuhl. "The surrounding noises resonate in the shell creating the familiar ocean sound. What people have been ex...

New Jersey beachgoers have noticed a sharp rise in the number of biting flies at the shore. Unlike years ago when insects at the beach were an occasional nuisance, biting flies have become a persistent pestilence. Some beaches are plagued by creepy "greenheads" with their painful bites that can make it almost impossible to stay outdoors. In Ocean county, it is usually black flies that scrape a person's skin and then drink the blood like a mini vampire.  As local resident Dawn MacMantis put it, "These flies really suck! All these sand flies, and sand fleas on our sandwiches! You swat at them and they just bite you more. And repellents barely work. You can almost hear the bugs laughing at you when you're putting it on." The question that arises is, what is causing this sudden spike in vicious bugs? A researcher at the Eastern Entomology Knowledge Base University Group Science (EEKBUGS) thinks she knows the answer. "Modern Americans are just too tasty,...

There is nothing more heartbreaking than losing something that is very dear to us. Maybe it is a family heirloom, or something with great sentimental value. Bay Head resident, Iona Yaht, recently suffered such a loss. While walking on the beach her favorite bracelet was lost. She searched frantically, but without success. "When you have something you really treasure," Iona said, "losing it can feel like the end of the world. When I realized it was missing on the beach, I tried so hard to find it. I mean, I didn't touch the sand with my hands or anything. You never know who has been walking on it and there's always something gross. But I did walk back and forth a couple of times hoping I might spot it." The Yaht's insurance policy would not provide full restitution for the bracelet. "I couldn't believe they wouldn't cover it," said Iona. "Just two weeks prior I had paid $12K American dollars for the bracelet while we were in Monaco....

Like many government organizations, the U.S. Coast Guard often finds it challenging to work within the limits of its budget. It can be a struggle for the Coast Guard to effectively defend our shores when they have to worry about how much things may cost. In an effort to deal with this problem, Captain Merrill Stoobing  came up with the idea of repurposing unused Coast Guard cutters as party boats. "The idea actually came to me when we were rescuing some people who had fallen off a party boat," Captain Stoobing said. "We pulled three young, intoxicated women from the Manasquan River. They fell from the boat when they were taking a selfie. Once on our boat they were mostly upset that they were missing the party. The one who had been taking selfies still had her phone and it was in a waterproof case. She turned on some music and the three of them started dancing. Most of the crew thought it was pretty funny, but I saw it as an opportunity." "Captain Stoobing reali...

In an effort to increase revenues for their town, Point Pleasant Borough is considering hiking taxes. "No one likes taxes," said Point Borough spokesperson Holden DeLine, "but sometimes it just makes sense. After careful consideration, we believe that hiking taxes will be good for the borough." This move has already created considerable grumbling in the community. Longtime resident, Laika Munnee, thinks hiking taxes at this time is a terrible mistake. "Our town's economy is largely dependent on revenue created by tourists. Hiking taxes at this time is sure to have a detrimental effect on this industry. Losses are almost certain to be greater than any gains!" Holden DeLine believes the concerns are overstated. "We are not the first community to be imposing the new tax. Many other towns have decided on hiking taxes. We believe it is the only option at this point." Urban hiking has become more and more popular in many areas, including the Jersey...

Anyone who lives along the Point Pleasant Canal is accustomed to hearing the "Ooo-ta! Ooo-ta! Ooo-ta!" of dance music coming from the party boats. The boats cruise back and forth as passengers drink, dance, and get seasick while the loud pop music plays. Lately, however, residents may have noticed a different kind of music from a different kind of boat. Two gondolas now give romantic rides on the canal while the gondoliers sing Italian opera classics. Brothers Mario and Luigi Fratelli have brought a little bit of Venice to the Jersey Shore. Growing up in Venice, the Fratelli brothers worshipped the gondoliers. "We always thought they had the best life," said Mario. "All day, up and down the canals, singing opera, making tourists happy... what could be better?" The brothers saved their money in the hopes of starting their own gondola business. Unfortunately, they didn't realize what stood in their way.  The brothers discovered that in Venice, the gondol...

What happens when a spirit that's trapped in the earthly realm loses the place it has been haunting? Maybe the creepy old house was torn down, or maybe the spirits had to leave because the building became a tourist trap when ghost hunters found out it was haunted. Whatever the reason, these spirits often find themselves without a proper home and are forced to wander, unable to fulfill their destiny as haunting ghosts. Luckily, there are mediums like Mantoloking's Krystal Bahl. She specializes in helping displaced spirits find new homes to haunt. Her ghostly experiences are so intriguing that Cake City Productions has created House  Haunters , a reality show featuring Krystal. "My work is very rewarding," said Krystal. "I may not be able to help spirits cross over to the other side, but I can help them find a home that is perfect for them to haunt. Spirits will contact me, either by séance or Ouija board to let me know the kind of house and family they are looking...

For several weeks, local residents have been discussing what should be done. Opinions differ on what is the best option and, in some instances, the disagreements have turned to open arguments. On one occasion, neighbors were driven to fisticuffs as they stubbornly stuck to their own views. Holden DeLine, assistant to the Point Borough mayor, said that steps are being taken. "We are taking steps," said DeLine. "The public should rest assured that a multi-community bipartisan cross-cultural extra-terrestrial task force has been created to address the situation. We are confident that with some creative thinking, elbow grease, and due diligence we will be able to get the office supplies and stationery we need for the task force. Then we can begin arguing about what to do." Many residents remain skeptical. "I'm still skeptical," said Bay Head resident Bill O'Goods, who wished to remain anonymous. "The last time this happened back in '93, we got...

John Loo has become famous for his stools. The carpenter from Point Pleasant Borough makes many types of furniture, but it is his stools that are the most popular. Recently, his stools reached number 2 as the most purchased furniture item on the Etsy web site.  Loo believes that his practice of sending out stool samples to potential customers has been responsible for his success. "There's always some leftover scraps when I make a stool, so I cut them up into little logs, and finish them exactly as I would a stool. Then, I send them out free to anyone who wants one. When they see the quality of the finish in the stool sample, more often than not they'll want to order a full stool." So far, Loo has resisted hiring anyone else to help make stools. "I think customers like knowing where their stools come from. They don't just want anyone's stools in their homes. If I hire other people to make stools, I lose some control of the quality of the product. The last ...

About two months ago, Point Pleasant Beach opened part of its beach to nude sunbathers. It has proven to be a great success. Naked people from far and wide have been coming to Point Pleasant to worship the sun without bathing suits. This 4th of July weekend has been especially meaningful for the nudists. "I've been working on this beach since it opened," said Officer Sunny Buhnz of the Point Pleasant Police, "and I can tell you that most of the people who come here really appreciate their freedom to be naked." Officer Buhnz has gotten to know many of the regulars at the nude beach. "They're just normal everyday people who don't embarrass easily. The interesting thing is that almost all of the folks who come here seem to be senior citizens, which I guess makes sense. Point Beach has always been a family place, and a lot of these people have been coming here since they were kids, only now they're coming with no clothes on." The nude beach vis...

If you believe that the customer is always right, then you might understand why Bay Head resident Tom Ayto is so upset. Mr. Ayto is a strict vegan so he was anxious to try the new vegan restaurant in Point Beach called "Burgers and Dogs Without Cows and Hogs." The fledgling franchise promises customers the best vegan hamburgers and hot dogs they've ever eaten. Mr. Ayto disagreed, however, finding it to be a horrifying dining experience. It was so disturbing to him that he is now suing the franchise for $1.7 million. Owner of the Point Beach "Burgers and Dogs Without Cows and Hogs" franchise, Tom Otto, finds the whole lawsuit ridiculous. "We serve quality food here," said Mr. Otto, "and we stand behind our slogan that we have the best vegan burgers and hot dogs you've ever eaten. It's because our products are grass and corn fed." The concept of grass and corn fed soy products may sound bizarre, but the "Burgers and Dogs Without Co...

Young Geoff Ponte is pretty laid back for an eight year old kid. He's not that into sports or school. He mostly likes "chillin'" and playing video games. His parents were worried that their son was a little too relaxed. Then one day last year Geoff's mother, Heather Ponte,  saw a story online about an open audition for a television series. The show is based on the Dude from "The Big Lebowski" when he was a child. "I was in the kitchen reading about the audition when, just then, my son walked in wearing a robe and sunglasses and pours himself a glass of milk. He said, 'Hey Mom, how you doin'?' I knew right then that I had to get him to that audition in the city." After three auditions, the Producers of the Netflix series "The Little Lebowski" were convinced that Geoff Ponte was the boy they were looking for. "It was kind of cool," said Geoff. "The people who run the show were, like, just regular people, ya ...

" Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a Benny!" JetPack flights will soon be available on the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk. What was once something only in science fiction, has finally become a reality for common people. A new company called Up-N-Away is the brainchild of entrepreneur  Elan Mask. He believes his company is taking the first steps to making the JetPack as commonplace as unicycles. Elan Mask is well-known for his many futuristic endeavors. His company produces environmentally responsible steam-powered cars. His spaceship company is planning to begin colonizing the Sun by 2030. Now, he has set his sights on personal flight. Although currently his JetPacks are only appearing as rides in resort areas, Mask believes that soon everyone will have a JetPack in their garage. Point Pleasant Beach was chosen as one of the four places to tryout the JetPacks. Emilia Airheart is the president of Up-N-Away and says that their jetpacks are truly ...

Changes to an environment often cause animals to move beyond their usual habitats. For example, if a wooded area is cleared, deer will wander into nearby towns looking for food. Bigfoot expert, Dr. Magnus Piede of Brielle, believes that this same circumstance is what is causing a rise in Bigfoot sightings in the Bay Head area. "When Bigfoots lose their usual home environment to human development, they really have no choice but to venture into our towns and cities," said Dr. Piede. "The forests in New Jersey that Bigfoots call home are disappearing, so it's not surprising that there have been so many sightings of Sasquatches in Bay Head."  Dr. Piede learned of the Bay Head Bigfoots when he was keynote speaker at a recent Bigfoot convention in Pennsylvania. "I had come to talk about my documentary special on the Discovery Channel. As you may know, the Yeti of the Himalayas are closely related to the Sasquatch of North America. I spent four months in Tibet put...