Have a blast without the sand
BEACH NEWS
AH, BEACH SEASON. A TIME FOR SLIPPING ON that new suit, lounging in the sun and cavorting in the surf.
Now if somebody could please do something about all that sand.
If that's your sentiment, Deborah Anastos might be your somebody. Her creation is called Sand Witch, and it's a silky, food-based powder beachgoers can rub on to stay sand-free.
Anastos, 44, said she first got her idea more than a decade ago, after a friend mentioned using baby powder at the beach.
Wanting to create something safe for infants -- research shows that talcum powder can pose serious health risks when inhaled -- and heavy enough that a modest wind burst wouldn't blow it out of someone's hand, Anastos started combining food-based ingredients last year in her River Edge, N.J., home. "My husband would come home and there'd be powder everywhere," she said.
The tan-colored powder, which comes in a "shimmer" version, can be rubbed on after sunblock but needs to be reapplied after a swim. Anastos said it also keeps grass clippings, dirt and sawdust from clinging to skin. Each bottle sells online for $5.99 (getsandwitch.com).
"I always wanted to offer something for the regular moms who save all year to take a week or two down the shore," she said. "But then there's a whole crew of wealthy women and the young girls who want the shimmer."
And Anastos sees at least one more market: all those beach babies whose moms and dads prefer to leave the beach -- every last grain of it -- behind.
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[MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE]
BEACH BET VIRGINIA BEACH
VA. IS FOR CRABS?
Head to Virginia Beach on Saturday for the Mid-Atlantic Hermit Crab Challenge. The wacky event features hundreds of hermit crabs competing for the Miss Curvaceous Crustacean Beauty Pageant crown and the checkered flag at the Crustacean 500. Other awards include the Friendliest Crab, Biggest Crab, Shyest Crab and Most Athletic Crab.
The event runs 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday on the beach at 29th Street in Virginia Beach. Registration is 10 a.m.-noon. Registration in the competition and admission to the event are free. Information: 757-425-3111 or beachstreet usa. com.
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[MATTHEW VENSEL]
WHAT YOU THINK
OUR WEEKLY POLL
This week's question: How many days of summer do you usually spend at the beach? To vote, go to baltimoresun.com / baybeach Results from last week's poll. Overall, which state has the best beaches? Florida (29 percent), North Carolina (22 percent), Maryland (17 percent), California (15 percent), New Jersey (9 percent), Delaware (5 percent), Virginia (3 percent).
BEACH READ
KILLER WEEKEND
Ridley Parson / $24.95 / Putnam
Thriller novels are always a big hit during the summer months. Killer Weekend (Putnam), by Ridley Pearson, is the first of a new series set in Sun Valley, Idaho. The first book, out Tuesday, deals with the efforts of a town sheriff to thwart the assassination of a woman candidate for president.
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[ASSOCIATED PRESS]
BEACH SCENE
VIEW FROM THE WEB CAMS
Stuck in the asphalt jungle instead of lounging away on the sandy shore? Me, too. But just because we're not there doesn't mean we can't keep an eye on what's going on. Several online beach cams offer frequently updated images of Ocean City, Rehoboth Beach, Del., and Bethany Beach, Del. To see for yourself, go to oceancitycam.com, rehoboth beachcam.com or bethanycam.com.
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ONLINE
We want to see your best beach photos. Share them with us online at baltimoresun.com / beachphotos