blog

Farewell

Farewell to my LBI Life

It’s been an amazing ride, but it’s time to say goodbye. To our mobile app users — you have been fun, inspiring, and supportive. My LBI Life mobile app will be discontinued on February 24th, 2019.

Goals

We have always been a goal focused team, always striving for what's most important to us personally, supporting the community while enjoying a work life balance.

What?! What happened?

Since the beginning in 2011, two of us, yes only two of us have built, maintained and promoted our mobile app which reached 10's of thousands of great people across the United States, in Canada and even in the United Kingdom. People just like yourself have supported us, shared their photos and messages of encouragement during the last eight years. During this time technological advances have accelerated to a pace, which has us spending more time on supporting the application and less time on generating content for you, the end user. For us, this level of work is no longer aligning with our goals. Despite our best efforts to further streamline the application, we feel the best course for us is to further pursue our life goals, maintain our primary business, which is unrelated to this mobile application, and continue to enjoy the blessing of being able to work while we travel.

Why not just add a premium tier?

That would make perfect sense, right? Just $1 dollar per month. Well, we never charged our end user and don't plan to start now. Even if we did, a monthly fee would not fix the technological challenges we face today. Therefore, we have decided against that business model.

What happens next?

Our iOS and Android App will be discontinued on February 24th, 2019. However, we will maintain our Facebook page if you care to follow and join us on Facebook.

Thank you

So thank you, dear users, sponsors and supporters. Some of you go way back to our earliest days during our beta phase in October 2011.., and some of you joined us this week. We’ve never seen such a group of happy, passionate and supportive folks. We listened to your feedback and we hope that we delivered. You drove us to be our best and it’s been an honor to be able to connect with so many who love what we have accomplished.
We will miss you.

Sincerely,
Ray Valladares, my LBI Life mobile app Founder & Community Advocate

Tuckerton Lumber Company Supports Family Promise of Southern Ocean County

 

"During the holidays Tuckerton Lumber employees like to get into the holiday spirit by wearing unique and sometimes "ugly" sweaters. Back in 2017 one of our customers suggested we start a contest to see who had the ugliest sweater. We loved the idea so much that we decided to take it to the next level and start a fundraiser. For each vote cast, everyone could make a small donation of $1 and we would give back to an organization which is directly helping locals within the community.

We decided to select an organization that I was already familiar with, was well run and was legitimately helping those in need, and we chose Family Promise of Southern Ocean County .

We had a blast! It was so much fun, everyone would come in and study the sweaters and debate which was the ugliest sweater before casting their vote and making a donation. " said Elizabeth Harrigle

About Family Promise of Southern Ocean County by Elizabeth Golla, Executive Director

How does Family Promise of Southern Ocean County carry out their mission?

"Family Promise of Southern Ocean County carries out our mission by mobilizing volunteers throughout the Southern Ocean County area, working with local community partners, school organizations, and churches to be able to provide meals, shelter and hospitality to local homeless families and their children."

Who does Family Promise Serve?

"We serve homeless families and their children within Southern Ocean County, from Lacey Township through Little Egg Harbor Township and Long Beach Island. However, we are assisting the overflow from Toms River, Bayville, Lakewood, Monmouth County if needed, but Southern Ocean County takes first priority."

How can the community support Family Promise of Southern Ocean County?

"Through volunteering, attending fundraisers, monetarily, donating supplies such as laundry detergent, toilet paper and paper towels. For an up to date list of needed supplies, you can read our wish list on our website, which changes based upon the needs of the family in the program and we always encourage people to start there. The less we have to purchase and people are willing to donate those items, then the more we can focus our funding to go directly to the programming for the families. For every dollar, that is donated, it get's turned around three times through in kind donations, which really helps us to be able to scale back on all the cost that goes out for the families."

To learn more about Family Promise of Southern Ocean County visit their website http://fpsocstaff.wixsite.com/familypromisesoc and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FamilyPromiseSOC/

To learn more about  Tuckerton Lumber, please visit the store at 200 N Long Beach Boulevard in Surf City New Jersey of call (609) 494-2111

The Flowerpot Brood - A Wildlife Biography - Science Saturday

The Flowerpot Brood - A Wildlife Biography - Science Saturday

WHAT ARE SCIENCE SATURDAYS? Science Saturday at the LBIF tackles today’s most pressing scientific, environmental, and sustainability issues that directly affect our shore community and the Barnegat Bay. Science Saturdays are interactive and informative hands-on presentations in an informal atmosphere.

On Saturday, February 16, 2019 join the LBIF for Science Saturday, starting at 11:00 a.m. Presenters: Ben Wurst, Conserve Wildlife NJ and Jim Verhagen, Wildlife Photographer & Blogger Ben Wurst and “Northside Jim” will tell you about the creatures where they live. Lots of pictures and a lively Q & A will make this a fun and valuable session. Northside Jim is a bird enthusiast with some outrageous and whimsical pictures showing the lives of local wildlife that live on the Island. Ben Wurst is the osprey expert who takes care of LBI’s ospreys and their habitats and captures stunning images of both in their most intimate moments.

Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm

Fee: $5, Free to LBIF Members

For more information, visit the LBIF website or call (609) 494-1241.

8th Annual March Madness Foul Shooting Contest

The 8th Annual March Madness Foul Shooting Contest will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at 9:00 AM in the Community Center Gym. The Foul Shooting Contest is open to grades Kindergarten through high school and adults. Registration is required. You can pick up Registration Forms at the Community Center Front Desk or on-line at stfranciscenterlbi.org. All registration forms need to be returned to St. Francis Community Center, Attn: Recreation, 4700 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach Township, NJ 08008. Registration is open the morning of the event. A fee of $3.00 is required. All participants must be registered in order to participate.

All participants will be placed into groups: Kindergarten (modified distance and basket), 1st & 2nd Grades (modified distance and basket), 3rd & 4th Grades (modified distance), 5th & 6th Grades, 7th & 8th Grades, High School, Ladies 18 and older and Men 18 and older. Category winners receive a new outdoor basketball.

For more information please call St. Francis Recreation at 609-494-8861 ext. 105 or visit our website at: www.stfranciscenterlbi.org.

Tuckerton Lumber February Doorbuster Sale

Drop by the Tuckerton Lumber Surf City store for their February Doorbuster Sale, on now through February 28th. For more information, visit the store at 200 N Long Beach Blvd., Surf City or call (609) 494-2111.

 

The Southern Regional High School Fishing Flea Market

The annual fishing flea market fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, February 16th, 2019. Held in the Southern Regional Middle School cafeteria, the doors open at 8:00 AM and continues through 2:00 PM. This fundraiser offsets the cost of our club events including several inshore trips for bluefish, stripers & sea bass, surf fishing trips, meetings, seminars and instruction, and our annual offshore canyon trip for tuna and swordfish. The SRHS Fishing Club provides a truly unique experience for our young anglers. We thank you for your continued support! Admission is $4.00 and free for kids under 12.

Admission is $4. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult. All proceeds benefit the Southern Regional High School Fishing Club.

Southern Fishing Show
Morning Seminars start at 9am

15th Annual Super Plunge

Join the St. Francis Coummunity Center for the 15th Annual Super Plunge on Super Bowl Sunday, February 3, 2019 at 1:00pm!

Are you part Polar Bear? Do you have what it takes to brave the icy cold Atlantic Ocean in February? Save the date and meet us on the 48th Street beach (in Brant Beach), and be home in plenty of time for the big game! Plungers should bring with them their courage, bathing suit, towels, blankets and whatever else is needed to warm-up after the ocean dip. Costumes of all kinds are also encouraged.

Sponsored by St. Francis Community Center. All proceeds to benefit St. Francis Community Center & Southern Regional High School Swim Teams.

Pre-Registration is required. $30 per person, $15 per student Register at St. Francis Community Center Event Schedule:
Saturday, February 2: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM; T-shirt/wristband pick-up and late registration (St. Francis Community Center)
Sunday, February 3: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM; T-shirt/wristband pick-up and late registration (St. Francis Community Center)
1:00 PM – Plunge Time (48th Street, Brant Beach)
1:05 PM – Post Plunge Warm-Up at St. Francis Community Center Gym. Free refreshments. Prizes awarded for most funds raised, oldest and youngest plunger, best costume, and more.

For more information, call (609) 494-8861