{"id":6938,"date":"2024-05-22T12:39:04","date_gmt":"2024-05-22T16:39:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/?p=6938"},"modified":"2024-05-23T08:36:00","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T12:36:00","slug":"unlocking-the-ocean-welcome-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/co.ocean.nj.us\/GalleryWP\/unlocking-the-ocean-welcome-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Unlocking the Ocean – Welcome Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bright sunshine and a cool breeze welcomed attendees to the Lavallette boardwalk on May 22 to a ceremonial unlocking of the Atlantic Ocean ushering in the 2024 summer tourism season. Joining in the first annual event hosted by Lavallette and the Ocean County Board of Commissioners and its Division of Business Development and Tourism, attendees came from the coastal community of Lavallette on the Northern Barrier Island, Joint Base \u2013 McGuire, Dix, Lakehurst, including Senior Airman Matt Porter from the United States Air Force who sang the National Anthem, the Lavallette Elementary School, Lavallette Mayor Walter LaCicero, members of Council, Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sadeghi, liaison to the Division of Business Development and Tourism, along with Deputy Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Gary Quinn, and a surprise visit by the lovable Buster, the popular large fluffy yellow mascot of the Blue Claws. A large ceremonial key turned by LaCicero, Quinn and Sadeghi was used to unlock the ocean and welcome the unofficial start of the summer season.\u00a0 \u201cThe tourism industry is a $7 billion industry in Ocean County which results in the creation of about 40,000 jobs annually,\u201d Sadeghi said. \u201cWe want to make sure that the state\u2019s $43 billion tourism industry remains robust. The success of tourism in Ocean County comes from the many partnerships developed that help support and strengthen the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t\t