rebuilding the jersey shore

One year ago today, the unbelievable became our reality and one year later the world is still upside down for so many of our neighbors.

Rating Summer 2013 is such a tough thing to do. Everything from sheer joy to sheer heartbreak this summer make it difficult to answer the question.

I've had a great opportunity to meet some great people at our local Lowe's over the past month, including my visit to the Eatontown Lowes this past Saturday.

For the past month, I have been able to tell about all the ways Lowe's has been there to help us rebuild after Sandy, and this past Saturday, I was able to visit the Lowe's on Hooper Ave. in Toms River to meet the great staff there.

That's better. After last weekend, I think everybody was worried about another weekend wash out, but that certainly didn't happen. This was a good old sunny, hot summer weekend at the Jersey Shore. As more weekends like that happen, and we hope it happens every weekend, more businesses get back on track and tourists and residents alike get to see just how many shore businesses and restaurants are,

This weekend, I started a series of visits to Lowes in Monmouth and Ocean Counties as we continue to rebuild from Sandy. This past Saturday, I was at the Lowes on Route 70 in Brick.

It seems that the Memorial Day Weekend really refocused the world on the Jersey Shore. We are big news everywhere you turn.

Devastation is all around us. The work is far from done. But the monumental effort of those who have gotten us this far should not go unnoticed.

I took a ride with through Belmar with Diane after our visit to Kelly's yesterday morning. I hadn't been there since Gov.Christie's press conference at the groundbreaking. Seeing the new boardwalk work made me proud of the Jersey Shore's strength.