Earl Paul's umbrella is reflected in his sunglasses as he sits on the beach in Ocean City, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. For the past 26 years Paul has tried to go to the beach everyday. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Hello again, friends,

So it's almost October, the supermarket aisles are already laden with candy for trick-or-treaters and it's time to start thinking about that Halloween costume. Fall made it official on Wednesday, with the autumnal equinox. It definitely wasn't too early to send our Jeremy Schneider out to try on a few looks at South Jersey's Rasta Imposta Costumes. If you ever wished you were an Oscar Mayer wiener, have they got a costume for you!

I can't let this month slip away, though, without taking a moment to appreciate the glory of the Jersey Shore in September. The kids these days have a phrase about things that "just hit different," and if you've ever seen the way warm late-afternoon sunlight plays on the ocean on the last day of summer, you know what that means.

These days we call it "Local Summer," the weeks after Labor Day before the weather turns cold. It's when the folks who spent all summer working get a chance to pause and enjoy living at the Shore. Pete Genovese put this list together of 25 spots to enjoy the best of Local Summer. If you live near the beach, what's your favorite thing about living at the Shore this time of year? As always, my email is open.

Back in 1925, Philadelphia journalist Christopher Morley observed and documented how the Jersey Shore town he called "Fierceforest" (a play on Wildwood) began to roll up its sidewalks for the fall. He penned "The Shore In September," a sort of Whitman-esque ode to change-of-season rituals Jersey's beach towns still observe, and it's one of my favorite things to read and share at this time of year.

"The sands are lonely in the fall," Morley writes. "On those broad New Jersey beaches, where the rollers sprawl inward in ridges of crumbling snow, the ocean looks almost wistfully for its former playmates. The children are gone, the small brown legs, the toy shovels and the red tin pails."

He sees everyone: The lady from the delicatessen relaxing on the beach, the real estate agent finally getting time for a dip, the summer sailor getting ready to switch to winter roofer. He hears the bang of hammers closing up shops, and notes the silence of shuttered arcades.

"All that life and excitement, fed upon hot dogs and vanilla cones, anointed with cold cream and citronella, has vanished for another year," he writes, and it could be a century ago or last week.

Morley wrote several novels, including the one that became the classic Ginger Rogers movie "Kitty Foyle." But he was first and foremost a local journalist, who spent years observing and reflecting back to readers their communities.

It's what we do even now: Tim Hawk introduced us to Earl Paul, aka "Beach Bum One," an 85-year-old retired pipe fitter who now spends his days -- every day -- sitting on the beach. Michael Mancuso took us off the coast, with one of the 300 or so families who each year choose a legal, permitted burial at sea for their loved one.

I'll never get tired of reminding you that we're able to bring you these poignant, perceptive and so beautifully captured slices of life because of your support. If you're not yet part of our community of engaged, informed subscribers, there's always room for you here.

Also this week, ways to celebrate those decorative gourds, Omi in a Hellcat goes down, what workers want, another reason to get that shot, and the school bus driver shortage is no joke:

SPEAKING OF FALL: It's fall festival time, and here's your list of 11 autumnal fests to start filling your October calendar. It's not quite time to turn the clocks back, though -- hold that thought until November.

BAD CONNECTION: Remember back in the '80s when everybody knew a guy who had the illegal cable TV chip that got hundreds of channels? The feds allege this South Jersey guy built a $30 million empire with a digital streaming version of the same basic scheme. Naturally, he documented the arrest on his wildly popular YouTube channel, feds say.

MORE THAN MONEY: "Help wanted" signs are everywhere, and restaurant owners and Chamber of Commerce types say they simply can't find workers who want their jobs, despite high pay offers. For a worker's perspective, watch this video.

SCIENCE IS REAL: New Jersey's least-vaccinated counties are seeing 60% more COVID cases than its most-vaccinated ones. If you are able to get a shot, please get one. The life you save may not only be your own.

DRIVE YOUR OWN, GET PAID: The Camden school district is so lacking in school bus drivers they're now offering parents a $1,000 incentive to drive their kids instead. It's also offering a public transit incentive.

Finally, I'll be off next week celebrating a family wedding. I'll be back on Oct. 9, but definitely check out all of NJ.com's newsletters while I'm gone.

P.S.: Brian Williams with the zinger!