Members of the Longport Beach Patrol, including newly sworn-in Lt. Larry Randour, second from right, pose with the winners of the beach tag design contest, from left, Reese Morgan, Dominic DiGiovanni and Avery Clark.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
LONGPORT – Members of the Longport Beach Patrol gladly agreed to let Longport’s youngest citizens take the lead during the July 3 Board of Commissioners meeting.
Mayor Nicholas Russo was wearing three different beach tags designed by children who live in Longport. That’s one more than the two categories presented to budding artists in the annual beach tag design contest. Normally the children design seasonal and senior citizen beach tags, but this year there was one extra design that couldn’t be passed over.
In a packed room filled with children and their parents, Russo rearranged the agenda to allow the children to be honored ahead of the promotion of a lieutenant on the Longport Beach Patrol.
“We’re going to do the presentation of the beach tags first, because the lifeguards want their picture taken with the winners. The beach patrol guys are the face of the beach, and they want to be seen with you guys,” he told the children.
Russo said he plays no role in choosing the winners of the annual art contest. Instead, there’s a committee of municipal employees who hold a meeting to select the winners.
“About a month ago, they were all in a room and I hear all of this excitement coming out of the room,” he said. “I go in and they said, ‘One of the children drew a picture on a beach tag that looks exactly like George Clooney.’ And then, Jenna (Kelly) said, ‘Wait a minute, that’s not George Clooney, if you look closely, it’s Mayor Russo.’”
The mayor presented certificates to each of the winners.
First up was Dominic DiGiovanni, one half of a set of twins, who designed the seasonal tag. His parents popped up from their seats to take a photo of the proud moment. Dominic’s design was of the Longport Happy Face water tower acting as a lifeguard rowing a rescue boat while guarding three children on the beach.
The next winner was Reese Morgan who posed for photos with the mayor for being the winner of the senior beach tag design. Reese drew a picture of three starfish sunbathing on the beach under a bright yellow sun.
Both children had their designs reproduced on hundreds of beach tags sold to Longport beach goers.
Lastly, Avery Clark, one of identical triplets who won the competition in prior years, was honored for making Russo’s final summer as mayor a special one.
“Last year I said, ‘You children are drawing pictures of dolphins, and pictures of birds and waterfowl and clams and crabs, but nobody ever drew my picture.’ Now, someone drew my picture,” Russo said.
To honor Avery, Russo had a limited number of tags made with her design, which he funded and distributed to certain individuals in the community to celebrate his final year as mayor.
After the presentation, Commissioner Dan Lawler swore-in Larry Randour of Somers Point as lieutenant on the Longport Beach Patrol.
Beach Patrol Chief Tom Kresz said this year is Randour’s 23
rd year guarding the borough’s northern beaches, “our busier beaches,” in Longport.
“He has already stepped right in to the role, taking over our vehicle maintenance and getting everything in good shape, so we are happy to have Larry in his new position as lieutenant,” Kresz said.
The members of the beach patrol present posed for pictures with their new leader and welcomed the children to step in for one final photo.
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