Tough times lead to curtailed vacation plans

Sussex County residents find ways to enjoy summer while spending less, By Tom Hoffman Carolyne Tanis and her family are a prime example of the impact that the tight economy is having on Sussex County residents and their leisure spending this summer. For each of the past 10 summers, Tanis and her husband and two daughters have rented a condo for a week in either Virginia Beach, Va., or Myrtle Beach, S.C. But as the Glenwood residents have grown more frugal, they’ve opted this year to haul their pop-up camper to the Jersey Shore for a week. “We’re doing more things closer to home this summer like using our pool more,” said Tanis. The Tanis family’s approach reflects the way many Sussex County residents are cutting back on vacation and leisure spending this summer as money has gotten tighter for many people. For instance, Jay Bonn of Branchville said he’s spending more time this summer working around the house and taking one- or two-day trips, such as a recent excursion he took with his family to the Jersey Shore. Bonn is a live nursery manager at a Lowe’s store in Hampton Township. Others, like Anita Mazza, are taking advantage of cost-savings opportunities as they arise. This summer, instead of spending a week at the shore or going camping like she normally would, the Wantage Township resident said she and her daughter are planning to visit friends who have a home in Maine. Mazza said she’s also cutting back on her entertainment spending. In years past, Mazza would typically see a handful of concerts each summer. This summer, she’s limiting it to just one outing: a Barry Manilow show at the PNC Bank Arts Center in mid-August. “And we’ve bought the cheap seats on the lawn,” she added. Kids’ activities add up Summer can also become more expensive for families when the kids are home from school and parents find themselves shelling out more money to keep them entertained and occupied. For her part, Chrisanne Simeone of Vernon Township said she’s taking greater advantage of free library programs offered by the Sussex County Library System for her 7-year-old daughter. So far, Simeone’s daughter has participated in water coloring, reading and American Girl programs offered by the library. “We’d normally go to the shore and take other day trips but this year we’re taking advantage of more free programs,” said Simeone. “It’s actually nice, it’s like an old-fashioned summer.” Of course, not everyone has altered their summer vacation plans. Tammy Lambos of Hardyston Township said she and her husband and two sons are planning to go to the Jersey Shore a couple of times this summer instead of making a single trip like they normally do. Meanwhile, Kimmie Brino, a lifeguard at Heater’s Pond in Ogdensburg, said that she and her three sisters, along with their parents, are planning to travel to Wildwood for a week next month as they normally do. Some still travel Then there are exceptions like Vernon Township’s Gary Matthews. Matthews and his wife each retired from their respective jobs last month, he as a Sussex County DPW worker and she as a speech therapist for the Vernon school district. The two are planning a two-week trip to Myrtle Beach in September followed by three months in West Palm Beach, Fla., over the winter. They have plans to see Ireland in the spring or fall of 2010, said Matthews, who said he will be collecting a small pension from the county after five years of service there on top of a pension he’s already receiving from a 20-year stint as a quality assurance manager at Hewlett-Packard Co. Said Matthews, “It’s time for us to play now.”