Christina Scannapiego

2 weeks ago | thesandpaper.net | Victoria Ford |Christina Scannapiego

The Ned Ryerson Band may borrow its name from the fictional insurance salesman in “Groundhog Day,” but nothing about the music, or the man behind it, is on repeat. On a recent night at The Mainland in Manahawkin, frontman and band creator Mike Konopka took the stage solo, balancing acoustic covers with fun banter and a natural rapport with the crowd. The performance had the laidback charm of a backyard jam session but was unmistakably polished.

2 weeks ago | thesandpaper.net | Victoria Ford |Christina Scannapiego

From the outside, Kohr Soft Ice Cream in Little Egg Harbor looks like any other beloved Jersey Shore ice cream stand: bright signage, soft-serve swirl decals, and happy patrons strolling off with cones. But step inside and you’ll find something totally unique – a blend of a generations-old ice cream legacy stirred with Filipino flavor and hospitality.

3 weeks ago | thesandpaper.net | Victoria Ford |Christina Scannapiego

On Memorial Day, as the late-afternoon’s golden hues bathed Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, a crowd gathered along the boardwalk and bulkhead to witness something rare: the Toms River Multigenerational Orchestra performing outdoors against the backdrop of Old Barney and a glassy bay. The weather, despite early forecasts of rain, turned out flawless and warm. “It doesn’t get any better,” said Susan Degoey, director of the orchestra.

1 month ago | thesandpaper.net | Victoria Ford |Christina Scannapiego

Beach Haven just welcomed a new healthful option to town. Green Heads Salad Co., the brand-new brainchild of Dock and Claw’s Steven Haggart and Kevin Ketchel, officially opened May 16 on the corner of Second Street and Bay Avenue in Beach Haven and is now serving up grain bowls, signature wraps and protein-packed salads out of their freshly renovated space. “We felt Beach Haven was a bit lacking in the healthy food department and thought, ‘No one’s really capitalized on it,’” Haggart said.

1 month ago | thesandpaper.net | Victoria Ford |Christina Scannapiego

Nico Locandro, a physical therapist with a decade of experience in professional sports, has brought his fitness-forward approach to Beach Haven with the expansion of Local Motion, Manahawkin’s boutique physical therapy and training studio. Locandro grew up near Southern Ocean County, surfing up and down Long Beach Island. “It was always a special place to me,” he said.