Group to Hold Annual Beach Walk Despite Hurricane Sandy

The American Littoral Society will hold its 35th annual Dery Bennett Memorial New Year’s Day Beach Walk at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park in Long Branch, on New Year’s Day.

“In spite of Sandy, we are headed back to the beach” American Littoral Society Executive Director Tim Dillingham said in a release. “In fact, this year’s walk will provide not only a great way to start the New Year, but a teaching opportunity to discuss the storm, beaches and coastal development.”

The American Littoral Society has led a walk along the beaches of Sandy Hook for 35 years. This year, the damage to the National Recreation Area at Sandy Hook led the group to relocate the walk to Long Branch. The walk is named in honor of the Society’s former executive director Dery Bennett.

The American Littoral Society encourages the public to patronize local business for lunch this year, forgoing their usual hot dogs, sauerkraut and left over Christmas cookies fare.

“Sandy displaced us from our home office on Sandy Hook, so serving lunch isn’t feasible," Dillingham said. "But really, we want to have folks bring their business to local restaurants, particularly those who might have been affected by the storm.”

Members of the public interested in attending the walk should meet in front of the Pavilion at Seven Presidents Park on Jan. 1, at 11 a.m.

The American Littoral Society is a membership-based, coastal conservation organization headquartered in Highlands. The Society promotes the study and conservation of marine life and its habitat, defends the coast from harm and empowers others to do the same. To learn more, visit www.littoralsociety.org.