ORTLEY BEACH – Author Gregory Andrus was the special guest speaker of the Friends of Ortley Beach and spoke about his two books “Portraits of the Jersey Shore” and his latest “Sand, Sea & Rescue: Lifeguards of the Jersey Shore.”
Andrus is an author, speaker, photographer and founder of Portraits of the Jersey Shore, where he highlights people he meets and tells their stories. He tells his own story as well: sharing his alcoholism and homelessness as a young man and how he has found a deep faith and a ruling conviction that every single person has dignity and worth.
During his talk, the author spoke about the dignity of everyday people he meets and interviews along the coastal towns of New Jersey. He shared some of the specific stories of several people profiled in his book.
Andrus also said that since his childhood, he has revered lifeguards, the guardians of the sea. In the summer of 2021, he set out to create a book to honor “these saltwater warriors.”
More than 50 lifeguards from over 20 beach patrols in Ocean and Monmouth counties were photographed and interviewed for his latest book. “Sand, Sea & Rescue: Lifeguards of the Jersey Shore,” was released a year later during the summer of 2022 and includes photos, text and audio interviews, an illustrated glossary, and a memorial for the two lifeguards who died while on duty during the prior summer.
To learn more about Andrus and his work as an author and street portrait photographer you can follow him on Facebook and Instagram at Portraits of the Jersey Shore, or via his website at potjs.com/.
The group’s next speaker series presentation is 7 p.m. October 19 at Saint Elisabeth’s Chapel, 3rd Avenue, Ortley Beach. Save Barnegat Bay will present its documentary “DRIFT,” which will take viewers on a journey along the 42 miles that make up New Jersey’s largest body of water, the Barnegat Bay. The film recently won the Audience Award for Best Jersey Film at the Indie Street Film Festival.
Friends of Ortley Beach will hold its October membership meeting after the presentation. Attendees do not need to be a member of the group to attend the speaker event or membership meeting. For information about the Friends of Ortley Beach, which is a non-profit organization, visit friendsofortleybeach.org.
