A Nice Day at the Beach -- in December

By DONALD WITTKOWSKI Alex and Marisha Dea, who live in San Diego, were raving about the sunny skies, the 65-degree temperature in December and the ocean water that was warm enough for their young daughters, Sofia and Mika, to take a dip. They weren’t talking about southern California or the Pacific Ocean. They were savoring the weather in Sea Isle City on Sunday. “It’s nice to be at the beach,” Marisha said while watching 4-year-old Sofia tip-toe into the Atlantic Ocean. Their trip to Sea Isle was highlighted by some San Diego–like weather at the Jersey Shore, just 12 days before Christmas. “It’s about 5 degrees warmer in San Diego right now, but that’s about it,” Alex said. His sister, Kira Ernst, of Cape May, joined them on the beach. Ernst’s 4-year-old daughter, Lydia, romped around in the water for some play time with Sofia. Unfortunately, the stretch of mild December weather is expected to come to an abrupt end as colder temperatures and rain sweep in on Monday, followed by a strong storm on Wednesday that is likely to bring snow to most of New Jersey. The shore, though, is expected to escape the snow and will get rain instead on Wednesday, according to the forecast. Barbara and Lee Wethman, of Turnersville, N.J., sit close to the water while enjoying their beach day. Barbara and Lee Wethman, of Turnersville, N.J., were enjoying the white stuff in Sea Isle on Sunday – the powdery beach sand, not any snow. Holding hands, they sat close to the water’s edge, soaking up serene views of the ocean. “It’s the best medicine ever for the climate we’re in now,” Barbara said, alluding to the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s the calmness, the peacefulness of the ocean that is so nice.” Barbara suggested to Lee that they should take a ride to the shore for some time at the beach. He gladly made the trip. “Oh, it’s beautiful. I’m always in for a day at the beach,” he said, smiling. Just steps off the beach, Melissa and Glenn Kapuscienski, of Doylestown, Pa., were taking cellphone photos of their 7-year-old son, Chase, next to the towering Christmas tree that serves as the centerpiece of Sea Isle’s holiday decorations in Excursion Park. Taking advantage of the gorgeous weather, the Kapuscienskis headed down to the shore for a weekend getaway at their summer home in Sea Isle. “Today, you could lay out with the sun beating down,” Melissa said of the beach-like weather. Melissa and Glenn Kapuscienski, of Doylestown, Pa., and their 7-year-old son, Chase, admire the decorations on the towering Christmas tree at Excursion Park. Chase was dressed for summer, wearing shorts and sandals. He was enjoying the break from his school in Doylestown, where he is a first grade student. “It’s good. It’s OK,” he said about the weather before he thought about it for a moment and then added, “It’s great.” At Sea Isle’s playground on John F. Kennedy Boulevard, there were seemingly as many children playing on the swings, fun house and slides on Sunday as on a summer day. Kevin McKeever Jr., 6, joined his 1-year-old brother, Charles, for a fun trip down the slides. Their parents, Kevin and Kathleen McKeever, also gave Charles a few pushes on the swing to his delight. “This is one last hurrah,” Kevin McKeever Sr. said of the nice weather. The McKeevers live in Philadelphia and have a summer home in Sea Isle. Kevin McKeever surprised his wife by mentioning that the storm Wednesday is expected to blanket the Philadelphia area with snow. We’re getting snow?” Kathleen McKeever asked. “Yes, a storm is coming,” her husband replied. “Isn’t that crazy?” she exclaimed. After they both shrugged their shoulders, the McKeevers went back to playing with their sons, enjoying, for the moment at least, the beautiful Sunday weather. Kathleen and Kevin McKeever, of Philadelphia, watch as their 6-year-old son, Kevin Jr., gives a push to his little brother, Charles, 1, on the playground swing.