JerseyMan Magazine V15N1

FLYERS’ ROOKIE SENSATION

Matvei Michkov

The Woodstown Central Railroad

George Anastasia’s

MOB SCENE

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JerseyMan Magazine VOLUME 15 • NUMBER 1

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BY KEN DUNEK

The Season’s Colors Summer: Blazing Red Autumn: Burnt Orange Winter: Icy Blue Spring: Vibrant Green Why are colors associated with the seasons?

While walking in my neighborhood recently this autumn, there was an eerie glow of gold and orange in a sky littered with white cotton candy clouds.

Then the weather turned cold, and the orange turned to blue as the ice crystals started to form around the many cracks in my sidewalk.

Ken Dunek PUBLISHER ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Ashley Dunek EDITOR George Brinkerhoff ART DIRECTOR Steve Iannarelli CONTRIBUTING WRITERS George Anastasia, Jan L. Apple, George Brinkerhoff, Sam Carchidi, Alexandra Dunek, Mark Eckel, Dei Lynam, Anthony Mongeluzo, Kevin Reilly, Mike Shute, Kurt Smith Event Coordinator & Administrative Assistant Alexandra Dunek Website & Digital Coordinator Jamie Dunek Editorial gbrinkerhoff@jerseymanmagazine.com

Hoping for Spring when the warmth returns, and the trees and bushes are sprouting the emerald green buds that will soon be leaves and flowers.

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Then on to a raging blood red Summer where we are looking for shade, a sip of a cold iced tea with lemon and sugar, and an escape from the heat.

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The colors change with the temperature...just curious as to why I never noticed it before.

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JerseyMan/PhillyMan Advisory Board Peter Cordua (Chairman). . . . . . . . . . Cordua Consulting, LLC Don Eichman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alcom Printing Bill Emerson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emerson Group Jerry Flanagan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J Dog Brands Damien Ghee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TD Bank Bob Hoey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Janney Montgomery Scott Kristi Howell. . . . . . . . Burlington Co. Chamber of Commerce Ed Hutchinson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hutchinson Robert Kennedy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Waterworks Metrology Anthony Mongeluzo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCS Charlie Muracco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLM Advisors Ryan Regina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Big Sky Enterprises Scott Tanker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tanker Business Solutions Joe Tredinnick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cornerstone Bank Jim Wujcik. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Joseph Fund

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INSIDE40

“The only thing that overcomes hard luck is hard work.”

– Harry Golden

JerseyMan Magazine VOLUME 15 • NUMBER 1

ON THE COVER

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JARED McCAIN

BY DEI LYNAM ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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C E L E B R AT I N G O U R M A N & W O M A N O F T H E Y E A R H O N O R E E S

WOODSTOWN CENTRAL

BY KURT SMITH ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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AI & CHATGPT

BY JAN L. APPLE ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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RENAULT WINERY

BY MIKE SHUTE ––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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MATVEI MICHKOV

BY SAM CARCHIDI ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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PHILLY SPORTS 25 MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS

BY MARK ECKEL

COLUMNS Cover photo: Jeremy Messler Photography

1 2 J O T T I N G S • 1 8 G E O R G E A N A S TA S I A’ S M O B S C E N E 22 KEVIN REILLY • 24 GET FIT • 78 TECH TIME

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JOTTINGS

“It’s fine to celebrate success.

But it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.”

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BY GEORGE BRINKERHOFF

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OCATED BEHIND THE HILTON DOUBLETREE in Cherry Hill’s Cooper River Park lies the latest addition to Camden County’s Park System: a brand new skatepark, officially opened via a ribbon-cutting ceremony on December 18, 2024. According to the Courier-Post, it was a collaboration with the skateboarding community in Camden County.

Commissioner Jeffrey Nash, liaison to the Camden County Park system, credited Marla Rosenthal and her son Lyle, as “integral” to completing the project. “We didn’t know how to build a skateboard park. Marla (Rosenthal) and her son Lyle came to us to build one, but said, ‘We did not know how to build one. We need the community to help us build a skateboard park.’” He noted the role the skateboarding community played. “The skateboarding community here in Camden County has been a huge help in bringing this project to fruition and we cannot wait to welcome them to use the Camden County Park System’s newest amenity.”

The skatepark, which cost $900,000 to build, is one of several improvements to the county’s parks recently announced, including a $775,000 dog park in Cooper River Park; $2.5 million to the park’s playground off North Park Drive in Pennsauken; $1.3 million in upgrades two playgrounds in Collingswood; and “a $1.8 million inclusive playground in New Brooklyn Park, Winslow” which opened on December 20th. The new skatepark will be open to all ages daily until 10pm.

Source: Nick Butler, Cherry Hill’s New Skatepark: Where to find Camden County’s latest recreational site, Courier-Post, December 24, 2024.

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Photos Steve I.

New Skatepark in South Jersey

– Bill Gates

So, what’s the deal with Route 70?

THE ROUTE 70 CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, as those of you who travel Route 70 through Camden County have already figured out, is in full swing, and by the looks of things, will be heading down the stretch drive for these next two years.

Well, in case you were wondering what’s up, here are the project goals and aspirations, straight from from NJ.gov: The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is milling, resurfacing, and reconstructing 8.8 miles of Route 70 in Pennsauken, Cherry Hill, and Evesham Townships between Route 38 (Mile Post 0) and Cooper Avenue (Mile Post 8.80). The project includes improvements along NJDOT jughandles and will also upgrade all traffic signals to include smart technology, upgrade intersections to be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant, address drainage issues, and improve pedestrian safety along the corridor. The project has completed the Final Design phase of NJDOT’s Capital Project Delivery Process. Construction is anticipated to begin in September 2021 and be completed by early 2027.

During construction, there will be a real time work zone traffic monitoring system that will provide real time traffic and travel information to road users seven days a week, 365 days a year through NJDOT’s 511NJ Travel Information Services. 511NJ Travel Information Services can be accessed the through the following methods: • Dial 511 on your phone anywhere in New Jersey.

• Visit www.511nj.org.

• Receive Personalized Travel Services (PTS) to your cell phone or email accounts.

So, Happy Trials, uh Travails! Ahem, Happy Trails! Source: NJ.Gov 13

Officially recognizing our fine feathered friends

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INCE 1782, THE BALD EAGLE has appeared on the Great Seal of the United States, has been seen on money of the realm and has generally been a symbol of the USA’s freedom, power and independence. After almost 250 years of being recognized, unofficially, as a symbol of America, in December 2024 President Biden signed into law legislation passed by Congress that finally, and officially, designates the bald eagle as the national bird of the United States.

That got us a wondering, how about New Jersey and Pennsylvania? Just what are their officially recognized birds and how did they come to be designated as such? A quick search of the inter-webs provides that the eastern goldfinch is the official state bird of New Jersey, while the ruffed grouse is in “the catbird seat” as the official bird of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

According to Nicholas Ciotola, Curator, at the New Jersey State Museum, in their video entitled Why is our State Bird our State Bird?, the eastern goldfinch had been featured on stationary, buttons and other ephemera of the New Jersey Ruffed grouse

Audubon Society for some time early in the 1900s, and in 1935, Dryden Kuser, the son of the head of this Society, himself a New Jersey state senator, promoted the adoption of it as the state bird in legislation.

When he first floated his bill, in March 1935, it failed in dramatic fashion.

From an article entitled Goldfinch Gets ‘Bird,’ But Isn’t The Bird in the Altoona Tribune, March 14

New Jersey’s state bird, the eastern goldfinch.

13, 1935: “Prolonged and noisy whistling today defeated the eastern goldfinch’s chances of becoming the official bird of New Jersey. When Senator Dryden Kuser’s bill, designating the goldfinch as the official state bird, came up on the floor of the state senate, spectators and senators smothered in a chorus of whistles whatever good things Kuser might have been saying. When the whistling stopped and the roll was called, the goldfinch still needed four more votes to be anything but just another bird.”

The idea did, however, eventually take flight and was adopted in June that same year.

Pennsylvania’s adoption of the ruffed grouse,

a game bird, as its state bird had a much easier time. “I think there is no gamer bird,” said the then Governor Pinchot in a letter suggesting its designation in The Morning Call, April 31, 1931 edition. “Whether we call it partridge or ruffed grouse or pheasant, as they do in the south, it is a splendid creature. One effect of the adoption of the creature would be to stimulate interest in its perpetuation. It is decreasing in numbers and, unless we act quickly, may soon be missing from its Pennsylvania range.”

The 1931 bill supported by Governor Pinchot winged its way through the state legislature without any real opposition. n

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Legacy Club Event Chickie’s & Pete’s – Marlton, NJ

Infinity Club Eagles Tailgate with TixForGood – Philadelphia

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Man & Woman of the Year Honoree Happy Hour – Cherry Hill, NJ

Chairman’s Club Event – The Prime Rib at Live! Casino

Philadelphia Eagles game courtesy of TD Bank Tim Jennings, Ken Dunek and Rob Curley

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MOB SCENE

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BY GEORGE ANASTASIA

The Grim Reaper

H

E WAS KNOWN AS THE “GRIM REAPER.” And in the world in which he lived, this was considered a positive.

Gregory Scarpa was a capo in the Colombo crime family and a major player in the brutal internecine power struggle that wracked the organization in the early 1990s. He was also a top-echelon FBI informant and, like Whitey Bulger in Boston, there is some question about whether Scarpa was being used by the feds or the feds, in particular the agent assigned to “handle” him, were being used by Scarpa.

That was in the 1990s.

But in the 1960s, when Scarpa began cooperating, there was no question about who was running the show. Scarpa got in bed with the FBI and the agency was apparently very happy to use his “special skills.”

It was a classic story of the ends justifying the means and one of more than a dozen detailed in Eric Dezenhall’s fascinating new book, WISEGUYS AND THE WHITEHOUSE: Gangsters, Presidents and the Deals They Made released this month.

From FDR’s Naval Intelligence agency using Meyer Lansky and Lucky Luciano to protect the docks during World War II to Donald Trump’s dealings with mob-linked companies in New York and Atlantic City, Dezenhall offers a political primer of the darker side of the business of government.

Politics does, indeed, make strange bedfellows.

Harry Truman’s ties and dependence on the corrupt and mob-tainted Pendergast machine in Missouri, Joseph Kennedy’s reaching out to the mob to help his son get elected and Richard Nixon’s alliance with the Teamsters and Jimmy Hoffa are all part of a history lesson that you won’t read in American Civics 101.

The stories are eye-opening and feed into the cynicism about government that is now in vogue. But in terms of wanton brutality and blatant abuse of power, nothing compares to 18

the Scarpa story.

“Scarpa had become an FBI informant on the heels of a hijacking arrest in 1959,” Dezenhall writes. “Likely the charges against him were dropped in exchange for him becoming a confidential informant in 1960.”

This was, of course, the time when Robert F. Kennedy, the attorney general and brother of the president, launched his war on organized crime and Joe Valachi, the Genovese crime family soldier, went on television as the first major Mafia snitch, detailing the workings of Cosa Nostra for all to see.

Valachi got the rep, but Scarpa was already in the game.

“Gregory Scarpa was one of the original whales in the snitch department,” Dezenhall

pened. The supposition was that they had been killed. Civil rights advocates were demanding a major investigation.

The FBI correctly figured that members of the local KKK were responsible and that the Klan knew where the bodies were buried. But getting any Klansmen to cooperate was next to impossible.

Enter Gregory Scarpa.

He was flown down to Mississippi with his girlfriend and was told who the local KKK leaders were.

Dezenhall writes that there are two different versions of what happened next.

In one, armed with a government-issued handgun, Scarpa kidnaps a Klansman, shoves the gun in his mouth and demands answers

A New York State Supreme Court judge called it “a shocking demonstration of the government’s unacceptable willingness to employ criminality to fight crime.” writes, “even though nobody knew about it for thirty years. One can debate which does more damage, snitching before the world or snitching behind closed doors.”

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TAYING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS made Scarpa a potential asset and by 1964 the FBI put him in play. His reputation for ruthlessness – he would later be described in the underworld and law enforcement circles as the equivalent of a serial killer – made him just the kind of operative the bureau needed.

At the time, President Lyndon Johnson was facing a major crisis after three civil rights workers had “disappeared” in Philadelphia, Mississippi, a hotbed of racial unrest. Johnson was under pressure to find out what had hap-

which were quickly forthcoming. In the other, Scarpa confronts and assaults the Klansman who gives him faulty information. When Scarpa learns from the FBI that he has been lied to, he returns to confront the Klansman a second time, but this time his weapon of choice is a straight razor.

Scarpa, according to Dezenhall, “held it between the man’s legs and suggested he would soon be singing falsetto.” This time he gave up the location where the bodies of the murdered civil rights workers had been dumped.

Scarpa’s role in the civil rights case surfaced years later, long after his reputation as a ruthless underworld hitman had been established.

It was part of the Mississippi Burning story that had never been disclosed and raised questions

about the ends justifying the means when law enforcement is involved.

A New York State Supreme Court judge, Dezenhall notes, later called it “a shocking demonstration of the government’s unacceptable willingness to employ criminality to fight crime.”

There is a lot of that in WISEGUYS AND THE WHITEHOUSE. Operation Mongoose, the CIA-backed plan to assassinate Fidel Castro, saw the government in bed with major crime figures like Sam Giancana, Santo Trafficante Jr. and Carlos Marcello, all of whom wanted Castro out of the way so that the mob could re-establish its casino holdings in Havana.

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HE NEGATIVE REPERCUSSIONS from that bungled operation led to one crisis after the other – the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crisis and, some would argue, the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Dezenhall doesn’t go quite that far. He subscribes to the Lee Harvey Oswald lone gunman theory and also argues that there were other ways to control and compromise President Kennedy whose sexual escapades were well known to the mobsters and could have been used to blackmail JFK. “Gangsters were angry with the Kennedys,

but it didn’t mean they were going to kill the president,” he writes, “given that the full wrath of the federal government would have descended upon them.”

He backs this up with an anecdote about Philadelphia mob boss Angelo Bruno who had been picked up on tape discussing an incident with other mobsters about an FBI agent who had been assaulted by a crime family member.

The FBI responded “off the books,” Bruno said, brutally beating the gangster who had assaulted the agent.

They “almost killed him,” Bruno said, The point being, how would the feds respond had the mob assaulted the president?

(Conspiracy theorists might argue that had the FBI or CIA been involved in the assassination, there would have been no response at all. But that’s a story for another day.)

There will continue to be theories and speculation about the murder of JFK who, as much as or more than any other president written about in WISEGUYS AND THE WHITEHOUSE, had dealings directly and indirectly with organized crime figures.

Politics does in fact make for strange alliances, and from Dezenhall’s detailed account of presidents and mobsters, it appears goodfellas have always been bedfellas. n

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DEI LYNAM

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The Entertaining Jared McCain

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“Watching film, meditation, visualization, recovery, reading; they all help me to be a better basketball player. Since high school, I have loved the mental side.”

He may play with a chip, but he also plays with purpose. McCain doesn’t count on happenstances; he trains and studies both physically and mentally to be a player fans look forward to seeing perform on game day.

“I credit my trainer, Shea, in California,” McCain said. “We have worked on me not getting sped up since high school. I am always trying to play at my pace. I am not the fastest; I am not the most athletic, so I have to find other ways to use my body to create advantages for myself, whether that 20

is coming off a pick-and-roll and holding the defender on me or getting into their body and creating space off them. I credit my trainer Shea for helping me find different ways.”

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HEA FRAZEE MET JARED when he was 11 years old and has been working with him ever since, helping him develop his skills on and off the court. Frazee’s perspective of the rookie is immensely insightful when trying to understand McCain’s rise to stardom so quickly, with just one year of college under his belt and being a midPhoto Dei Lynam

RIDAY THE 13TH delivered another damaging blow to a Sixers team that has been experiencing disappointment after disappointment for a quarter of the season. Jared McCain, the rookie guard selected 16th overall in last spring’s draft, complained of knee pain after a Sixers loss to the Indiana Pacers, their 16th defeat at the time. The following morning, the team announced McCain had a meniscus tear in his left knee that required surgery and that he would be out indefinitely.

Injuries had occurred to the team’s big three at varying times leading up to that December day, but when Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey were sidelined, a consistent source of entertainment had been the play of McCain. For his efforts, the 20-year-old was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for October/November.

In 18 appearances across those six weeks, McCain’s 16 points per game average led all rookies. His eight games with at least three triples were the most among first-year players, while his 40 three-point field goals ranked second. McCain also led all rookies with seven games of at least 20 points and two games of 30-plus points, including a career-high 34 points against Cleveland. It all added up to his first award as an NBA pro.

“I don’t believe there are fifteen players better than me,” McCain said, hinting at the why behind his early season success. “I have to have that confidence going into the NBA; I think I am the best player anytime I step on the court. It doesn’t matter if it is Donavan Mitchell; I have to believe I am the best player. I am not going to play well if I don’t. I definitely have my eye on people I want to play in my draft. I have always played with a chip on my shoulder.”

Instagram: jmccain24

first-round pick.

“He has this incredible life filter, which is a combination of curiosity and discernment,” Frazee said of McCain. “So, when you give him something, a task, technique, or something to learn, he is interested enough to dig in and figure out if he can do that well or if that is something he should be using. He takes it to the full gamut of introspection. He can also throw stuff out that is not useful to him or isn’t working, which leads to him being a very coachable player, and he has always been that way.”

Sixers Guard Jared McCain currently has 4.3 million followers on social media.

In other words, McCain is a thinker, but he doesn’t let the brain get in the way of the body.

Even better, he enjoys having the brain and body work together and devotes equal attention to developing both.

“Watching film, meditation, visualization, recovery, reading; they all help me to be a better basketball player, “ he explained. “Since high school, I have loved the mental side. I think it

has helped me be as confident as I am. I can go out and do a TikTok dance and still come out and play as well as I can, which is a tribute to my mental side. I am always working on it. You will never be perfect with the mental side, but stay as confident as you can and know that you are due for something.”

Yes, McCain is as entertaining on TikTok as he is on the hardwood. Currently, McCain has 4.3 million followers on social media. He has managed to educate people on how to balance two demanding jobs.

“I remember when he really first got it going during Covid; that was what he was known for first on a larger scale,” Frazee shared. “He was always a very good player in the elite basketball circles, but he hadn’t blown up on the basketball scene until he had already blown up on the TikTok scene. He has been able to keep them somewhat separate. He can completely compartmentalize them in terms of his professionalism and approach to being good at basketball. It’s cool to see, and I am glad it is catching on in the culture, and people aren’t coming down on him in any way for it.”

Speedy recovery for No. 20. Replacing his energy and enthusiasm will not be easy. n

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KEVIN REILLY

Kevin Reilly is an author, motivational speaker, and former Philadelphia Eagle. To contact Kevin Reilly, visit https://www.kevinreilly52.com

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421 Santas: The Importance of a Growing Family and Tradition

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CATCH A LOT OF GRIEF from my buddies that a former NFL linebacker has a record-setting Santa collection, but I don’t care! The collection, which comprises 421 Santas (and counting), represents the growing importance of tradition and family during the holiday season.

About 40 years ago, I bought 12 Santas to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas and placed them on my mantel at home. My friends noticed the well-placed Santas and the next thing I knew, guests were bringing them to my party as house gifts.

Twelve Santas reached 30 in 1984, 75 in 1993, and 125 in 2001– I had to hire a carpenter to install a custom fireplace mantel to hold the rapidly expanding collection. Today, that mantelpiece and the 421 Santas are a reflection of my large and loving family, which also grows every year.

To set up the display, I enlist the help of my six granddaughters. They put on their stocking caps and help me unload eight plastic buckets of Santas, chirping among themselves in excitement. It takes me and my “elves” three hours to place all of the Santas, but we’re brimming with joy the whole time.

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“I had to hire a carpenter to install a custom fireplace mantel to hold the rapidly expanding collection. Today, that mantelpiece and the 421 Santas are a reflection of my large and loving family, which also grows every year.”

When holiday visitors see the collection, they are amazed by its size and splendor, and I believe they can feel the joy our family does by sharing in its organization and arrangement.

My favorite moment is when the teenagers visit and I say, “Hey do

you want to see my Santa collection in the other room?” They reluctantly mosey over to the living room, but they are ultimately dumbfounded by the 421 figures that stand before them. The usual response is “Holy s***!” and then “Sorry about that Mr. Reilly.”

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HE HOLIDAY CHEER of our collection would culminate in a Christmas Eve party at my parents’ house, which counted my five siblings, 18 grandkids, and 31 great-grandkids.

2024 will be my family’s first Christmas celebration without either of my parents.

They both passed away in the last 18 months (Dad 97, Mom 92).

They witnessed my love of the holiday season grow in my childhood. While it may be commonplace now, I was considered a fanatic as a child for beginning my countdown to Christmas right after Thanksgiving. So much so, my parents nicknamed me “Mr. Christmas.”

If there’s one thing I’ve passed on to the rest of my family, it’s the Christmas spirit. I am blessed to be able to share the wonderful season with so many people!

I advise all of you to make the holidays an opportunity to connect with your family. Invite them over throughout the month. Share in decorating throughout the house, baking Christmas desserts, or shopping for presents.

I guarantee you that everyone who looks upon your house, enjoys your baked goods, and receives your gifts, will also feel the love of the family and friends who created them together.

God is Good! And Merry Christmas!. n

Photo courtesy Kevin Reilly

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GET FIT

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BY ALEXANDRA DUNEK

Back to the Basics

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LEEP IS ONE OF OUR BASIC FUNCTIONS in life and not getting enough of it can do more harm than we realize. The inability to sleep, also known as insomnia, is categorized into two types: acute, which lasts a few days and chronic, which lasts months or years. Chronic insomnia impacts three in ten Americans daily, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). The inability to fall asleep and stay asleep results in extreme fatigue. This links to several physical and mental conditions such as depression, poor quality of life and increased risk of heart disease. If you are having trouble dozing off, you could make it your New Year’s resolution to try and improve your sleeping habits. You might find it will also drastically improve other areas of your life. Here are a few tips that might help you. n

• Turn down the room temperature or try a BedJet (cooling/warming system).

• Use blackout curtains to shield any light from coming into the room.

• Establish a consistent schedule and stick to it daily including weekends.

• Finish eating and/or drinking by 7 p.m. so you are not waking up to use the bathroom.

• No TV, phone or electronic devices for a couple of hours prior to falling asleep.

• Supplement with magnesium glycinate. It’s important to use a good quality brand such as Pure Encapsulations.

If you are having trouble dozing off, you could make it your New Year’s resolution to try and improve your sleeping habits.

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• Cut back on caffeine and/or stop drinking it too late in the day.

• Take a warm bath before bed to help relax you.

No. 9 Engine, a U.S. Army steam locomotive built in 1942, has been painstakingly restored.

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Photos Kurt Smith

Passenger cars on the Woodstwon Central.

BY KURT SMITH

The Salem County Time Machine The Woodstown Central Railroad in Pilesgrove features historic passenger train rides through Salem County. One of their engines is the recently restored No. 9, a steam locomotive from the 1940s.

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t’s not that the destination itself doesn’t have considerable merits, but it’s worth the trip to Woodstown Central Railroad just for the drive through Salem County.

Coming from the greater Philadelphia area, Salem County can be a cultural jolt.

It’s a magical world of endearing foliage, uncongested

county routes, pastoral homes and farmland.

You can easily drive ten miles without seeing a strip mall.

Woodstown Central Railroad, intentionally or not, takes full advantage of this.

The passenger train attraction doesn’t just take visitors to a simpler time. It allows them to be in a simpler place where there aren’t endless opportunities to part with the money we spend so much time earning and where the trip isn’t disrupted by thoughtless other motorists

almost by the minute.

An afternoon riding Woodstown Central brings to mind Ferris Bueller’s famous philosophy: Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

JerseyMan Magazine caught up with several folks from SMS Rail, operator of Woodstown Central Railroad, to talk about the new attraction in their quiet community.

The star of the show is the No. 9 engine, a 29

Photos Kurt Smith

U.S. Army steam locomotive built in 1942 that has been painstakingly restored. Over $1 million and 14-plus years of work were put into bringing back this classic.

Paul Harland, SMS’s Director of Passenger Operations, recalls that when the rejuvenation started, Woodstown Central Railroad

For Your Next Event Woodstown Central Railroad is a popular destination for birthday parties and…wait for it… networking events. There’s a picnic area at the station that can easily be turned into an event space, and you can reserve a train car for your group for several hours.

Ryan Costello and Chris Elder both remember a 60th birthday celebration when asked about it.

“We recently held a black-tie event on the table car where people brought in bottles of liquor, beer, and wine,” Costello remembers. “We got a lot of great photos that night, everyone had a fantastic time. We got a lot of positive reviews from that one.”

Elder adds that the party even featured a string quartet. “For a private unique event, it is something quite different to ride down in a classic train and present a meeting presentation or even have a party.

“If you wanted to use this as a business write-off, we could do that too, if you want to bring some clients.”

Groups can choose from the three classes of cars: the Coach Class, with reversing seats and opening windows; the restored Reading Railroad Caboose, with an upstairs cupola that passengers can sit in and see the upper view; or the classic restored Table Car, with booth style tables and ambient lighting.

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wasn’t even conceived yet. SMS President Jeff Sutch had a different purpose in mind.

“He wanted to restore the locomotive because the engine was built and designed to run modest-sized freight trains short distances, or shift freight cars around an industrial park, which is exactly what our headquarters are like in Pureland.

“Then Woodstown Central came to be and we said, ‘What better location than move it there, and instead of hauling freight cars, haul tourists and passengers?’”

Indeed, with the No. 9 being a true piece of history, railfans should know of the considerable effort in reviving it.

“There were a lot of parts missing,” Harland says, “because it had been moved around so much. There were many components that had to be engineered, that wooden pattern to be made, castings made, pay for those castings, machining parts done, and putting everything back together.

“Nothing on a steam locomotive is cheap.

Labor in itself is super expensive.”

Marketing Manager Chris Elder, and Assistant Director of Passenger Operations Ryan Costello, are unequivocal in their admiration for the people who made it happen.

“That No. 9 initially was a rust bucket,” Costello says. “The guys worked hard on it through the years and made it what it is today.”

Elder doesn’t discount Sutch’s passion as a major catalyst for the undertaking.

“He is a massive railfan. It’s almost contagious. Just talking with him and hearing his passion, you definitely start to be like, I can

see the appeal of all this.”

Other fans would include Railfan & Railroad Magazine, which celebrated its 50th anniversary at Woodstown, in conjunction with the unveiling of the No. 9.

Costello remembers that “there were maybe 50-75 people lined up with professional photography equipment, ready to see the No. 9. There were guys I met all the way from Saskatchewan.”

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Since opening in November 2022, Woodstown offers a variety of rail outings.

Among the most popular are holiday-themed specials.

Costello and Elder are fond of the Autumn Leaf Pumpkin and the Santa Claus Special.

The Pumpkin trip, Costello says, is geared for kids who might get antsy riding for two hours looking at leaves.

“We go 30 minutes to Fenwick Grove and our pumpkin patch. We have apple cider and donuts; you pick your pumpkin - that’s all included. We have fire pits outside, yard games for the kids, cornhole for the adults. You hang out there for a half-hour, then we come back.”

Elder notes showcasing the community, with certain trips, too. “We also do really fun ones like Woodstown Fall Fest. Walk around downtown Woodstown, see a bunch of vendors, then ride the train again.”

Harland is a fan of the Candlelight Limited, “a steam-powered Santa train that runs out of downtown Woodstown. How cool is that? Small town U.S.A., steam train running through at night, Christmas carols playing, hot

Among the many Woodstown Central Railroad excursions is the Brew to Brew, which they describe as an 11-mile jaunt through the countryside between two excellent craft breweries in the region…Farmers & Bankers in Woodstown, and the Swedesboro Brewery in Swedesboro.

As Chris Elder points out, it’s a great idea for golfers after a morning on the links.

Ryan Costello adds that “everyone has a blast on that. Sometimes people have too much fun, but that’s okay.”

Kim Wells lives in Woodstown, walking distance to Farmers & Bankers, and she and her friends saw the opportunity for a get-together with a train ride and good times.

She actually sought out this observer to tell JerseyMan readers about it.

“We started at my house, now we’re here at the brewery, then we’ll walk to the train, and from there it will take us to Swedesboro Brewery. There for a little bit, and then back on the train to come back here.”

She would “absolutely” do it again and is happy to give five stars to the Woodstown Central Railroad and the Brew to Brew. Wells loves the idea of adding a fun attraction for adults to her small town.

“I think it’s great. I love hearing the train. If I go out the door and walk a little bit down the street, I can see it. We’ve done the Mother’s Day train; they have stuff for kids. I just think it’s amazing.”

chocolate. It doesn’t get much better than that.

“Santa and steam trains go hand in hand.”

Magical holiday jaunts aside, Woodstown Central offers enjoyable trips anytime. The Continental features muffins and fresh fruit

Photo Kurt Smith

The Brew To Brew Tour

Farmers & Bankers even created a special beer for such occasions: Steam Locomotive No. 9 Vanilla Porter. According to their website, it features “Marris Otter and TwoRow barley, along with a blend of crystal and dark specialty malts.

Hopped with East Kent Goldings and conditioned on Madagascar vanilla beans.”

Ryan Costello, despite proclaiming himself as “not usually a darker beer guy”, seems to like that special combination of two-row barley and Madagascar vanilla beans.

“It’s really cool. The Vanilla Porter No. 9 is fantastic.

“Chris Elder created a graphic of the No. 9. The design is on the can as well.”

Swedesboro Brewing is no slouch either; they were voted #2 in USA Today’s 10 Best New Breweries in the United States in 2022. Both breweries get five out of five stars on Facebook.

So, if you’re a fan of craftsmanship in locomotives and in ale brewing, the Brew to Brew is definitely for you.

in a classic dining car. The Twilight Limited rides through the community in the evening, lights dimmed inside the train. The Mannington Limited is a longer ride along the southern half of the railroad. That’s just a few.

The real attraction is the view, as Harland says. “All the different scenery along the line, lakes, bridges, backyards, trees. Obviously, there’s no fall foliage in winter, but the winter landscape over the farmlands is beautiful.”

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Photos Kurt Smith

The Woodstown Central diesel locomotive

Their customers agree, inside and outside the region. It’s already been voted Best Recreation Destination by the Salem County Chamber of Commerce. Elder notes that in 2024, they expanded ridership by 300%.

“Our number one marketing channel is word of mouth. Just people going out, having fun, and posting about it.”

Harland adds, “We’ve grown from a caboose that holds 16 people to a five-car train that holds close to 240, a steam locomotive, an engine facility, a parking lot that holds 150 cars.

Just incredible progress in the last two years.”

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You’ll find no lack of enthusiasm from Harland, Elder and Costello…or Woodstown Central staff…for what they do. They’re justifiably proud of their tourist destination.

“You look around Woodstown, there’s not a ton to do,” Costello says. “We wanted to bring something into the community that would give people the opportunity to come out and do something fun.

“I love it out here, the farmland itself. Seeing this build from the ground up, from a vision of being a tourist railroad in Woodstown.

The tracks covered in brush and trees, the guys 32

knocking down these trees, getting the track clear and seeing it come to life.”

Elder, a proud Salem County native who lives in Los Angeles, says a tourist railroad in the slowed atmosphere of Salem County wasn’t intentional. But he understands that it works.

“The one allure I always say when I come back, especially from a major metropolis, is

Woodstown Central Railroad website: www.woodstowncentral.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/woodstowncentralrr Fans of Woodstown Central Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/fansofwcrr

Photo Kurt Smith

how little has changed. I went to the same high school as my grandparents and uncles. I had teachers that would call me my uncle’s name. It’s that small-town-minded.

“A lot of New Jersey is turning into massive warehouses, roads are getting wider, traffic is getting worse. People don’t realize that 30-40 miles south is this land that’s forgotten in time.”

Riding on a train powered by coal, viewing a picturesque countryside go by as your children meet their favorite celebrity, offers a moment of peace we all seem to be running at top speed to attain. It’s not just Woodstown’s refurbished trains that offer a welcome escape from modern suburban life, it’s the surroundings too.

As Elder says, “It really makes you take a deep breath and just go, ‘We don’t need to be rushing all the time.’” n

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AI and ChatGPT

The Ultimate Accelerator of Efficiency

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Magine a world where you can speak to your computer throughout the day, directing it to perform routine tasks typically assigned to an employee. Tasks such as opening and responding to emails, creating files, analyzing data, brainstorming ideas, managing a project timeline and more.

BY JAN L. APPLE

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Well, it turns out, that world is now. For more than a decade, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has increasingly made its way into the human sphere via a multitude of industries: healthcare, business, cyber security, insurance, law, construction, shipping, medicine and entertainment, to name a few. And it appears to be here to stay.

According to Steven P. “Mac” McKeon, CEO of MacguyverTech® & MacNerd Enterprises® in Glenolden, Pennsylvania, a computer professional with over 30 years of experience in technology and software engineering with a focus on cyber security, “People are often fearful of the technology. It is an unknown and misunderstood.” He’s quick to explain its many uses – for better or worse. In fact, he noted, that if he didn’t adapt and use AI (which he does daily), he would likely be out of business within a year.

McKeon described AI as intelligent automation to streamline efficiencies in business. Ad-

mittedly, it greatly reduces the need for human beings. Yet companies are signing on, saving money by not having to pay taxes and salaries or fund vacations along with other perks.

Besides accelerated efficiency, AI can provide boundless answers to personal challenges. Distraught over how to declutter your house of collected artwork by your children or seeking creative solutions to a challenging lesson plan, AI is ready to respond. By simply creating an account at chaptgpt.com (with free or premium membership), you can type in a request for solutions.

Within seconds, the chatbot will list options for preserving that cherished artwork – whether digitizing, photographing or framing – or conveying viable options for teaching that lesson.

How is AI So Smart?

How is it that AI possesses such deep pockets of knowledge? “AI has indexed all of the data of humanity, everything imaginable,” said McKeon, who described himself as a computer geek/nerd and ethical hacker. Data from books, articles, websites and publicly available sources are all within its purview.

“Right now, if you’re not AI-enabled, you’re disabled,” said McKeon, who frequently partners with AI products to help businesses prevent hacks as well as repair systems that have been victims of such attacks. A knowledgeable, trusted source on cyber-attacks and AI, McKeon has shared his expertise as a guest on numerous radio and television shows. He’s also a former DJ and published electronic dance music (EDM) musician.

Unfortunately, there are people out there with evil intentions and attempted fraud is all around. “I understand the dark corners of the internet,” said McKeon.

“There’s one quality that AI does not share with human beings,” he continued.” It does not have the ability to lie or be deceitful. If you instruct an AI product to create ransomware to hack someone’s computer system, it will respond that it is not able to perform such an operation.” That said, McKeon noted that humans can trick AI by telling it that they’re writing a research paper on the topic rather than explicitly directing illegal actions.

AI Programs Run the Gamut Certain AI products are highly generalized, others are more specific. “ChatGPT is a generalist; it’s meant to be trained,” said McKeon, adding that other AI models are more fine-tuned.

“Think of them as humans. Different AI programs can work together to achieve a goal.”

Rapid Advances of ChatGPT (Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) Before the technology was called ChatGPT, it was referred to as neuro-linguistic programming or natural language processing (NLP).

“NLP is a machine learning technology that gives computers the ability to interpret, manipulate and comprehend human language,” explained McKeon, elaborating that AI and ChatGPT (version 4), have advanced significantly over the past year. “From ChatGPT-3 to ChatGPT-4, it’s like going from an ant hill to Mount Everest. ChatGPT-4 is 10,000 times better and more efficient than the previous version.”

Are Conversations Stored?

“ChatGPT processes each conversation independently, treating it as a new interaction,” said McKeon. “Individual conversations aren’t stored or shared with other users. Think of it like speaking with someone who has extensive knowledge but no memory of previous conversations.”

Skippy AI One new product for the cyber security space that McKeon works with is SkippyAI by Skip Flo Inc. “Introduced in May 2024, McKeon described it as commoditized intelligence. “It’s 4.2 times more efficient than a human,” he said. The name reflects the non-threatening military term of skipper, a member of the U.S. Navy with extensive training, but no on-the-job experience.

“Skippy AI streamlines IT operations by automating routine tasks,” said McKeon. “This includes employee onboarding, automated risk remediation and service level agreement performance.”

New Product Launch Just last month, in December 2024, ChatGPT Search, a product of Open AI – the company that created ChatGPT – was introduced. “It will rival Google search,” said McKeon. The big advantage, he elaborated, is that it will provide specific answers, whereas Google supplies links to web pages that could have the information one is seeking.

A Progression of Knowledge “Think of AI like mathematics, it’s not patented,” said McKeon of the concept, a progression of knowledge. “No one really knows what AI does when it learns. It’s like a little black box.

Like humans, AI learns through repetition. It figures things out on its own and programs itself.”

McKeon credits Alan Turing and John McCarthy, often referred to as the fathers of AI, with paving the way to where we are today.

In 1950, Alan Turing published “Computing Machinery and Intelligence,” later known as “The Turing Test.” This became the benchmark, explained McKeon, for measuring machine intelligence and the foundation for the study of artificial intelligence. Turing created the Turing machine, which helped the United States crack 35

“AI serves as a tool to enhance human capabilities and efficiency.” the Enigma code during World War II. The device was used to decipher intelligence information that the Germans had encrypted.

And in 1956, computer scientist John McCarthy, along with Marvin Minsky, Nathaniel Rochester and Claude Shannon, organized the Dartmouth Conference. It was there that the field of study and term “artificial intelligence” was born.

Future of AI Whether you’re looking to increase efficiency in your business – large or small – or seeking ideas for a speech, presentation or independent research, it seems that AI is ready and willing to offer a helping hand.

Pointing to its expanding usage across the spectrum, including customer service, manufacturing, finance, and the legal world, McKeon cited one example, among many, in the legal industry: “AI can help with the inputting of infor-

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mation to prepare contracts and proposals. Instead of it taking a legal professional three or four days of work, it can be done in a few minutes.”

Another example is that of a 60-million-dollar company. “A few years ago, the company would need about 100 employees,” said McKeon. “That same company today using AI would probably need only 10 or 12 employees.”

In the next 12 months, McKeon believes that workers in a variety of industries will be displaced by AI. “The work has shifted,” he said.

“For example, there are more software developers looking for jobs than there are jobs available.”

Will AI Replace Humans?

“AI serves as a tool to enhance human capabilities and efficiency,” said McKeon, adding that it is a fallacy to assume it will totally replace us.

He compares AI to other technologies throughout history that have augmented our abilities.

Good Versus Evil Yet, AI is not without negative repercussions.

McKeon noted that a number of health insurance companies are using AI to examine medical claims. This has resulted in valid claims being denied. In the cyber security space, McKeon said about 65 percent of valid insurance claims are denied.

McKeon acknowledged that a significant portion of the content on the internet is generated by AI, yet there has been pushback. “A large amount of the information being used by AI and ChatGPT is the intellectual property of companies or entities,” he said. A number of lawsuits are ongoing to settle disputes.

McKeon compared today’s use of AI to Nobel-prize-winning physicist Albert Einstein’s equation E=mc². “That formula was used to create the atomic bomb,” said McKeon, adding that Einstein never intended for his discovery to be used to destroy human life. “He wrote to President Truman, pleading for the atomic bomb not to be used.”

Ultimately, his pleas were ignored.

For better or worse, the power and potential of AI is in the hands of humans. n

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​ ur 9th Annual Unmasking Event, O presented by T.C. Irons Insurance, was a record-breaking night! ​ osted by NBC10 Reporter Brenna Weick H (below), we recognized our six Man & Woman of the Year Honorees for their dedication to both their profession and philanthropy. With every ticket purchased came a “vote” for one of our honorees and a charity that is meaningful to them. Because of your support, the efforts of our 2024 Honorees, our silent auction, and the help of Tito’s Handmade Vodka and PayDay Employer Solutions, we donated a record-high amount of $27,000 to our honoree charities!

All six of our honorees are winners, winners in their profession and winners in our community.

But this was a contest, and we are proud to recognize our top two honorees for 2024.

Our runner-up, Leonard “Lenny the Boss” Nesmith, is receiving a $7,000 donation to the Food Bank of South Jersey.

And our winner, Marla Viturello, is receiving a $13,000 donation to Gift of Life Howie’s House.

Thank you to all our 2024 Honorees, our Sponsors and all 400 of our friends and family who came out to support.

Photos John Wilchek Photography

We can’t wait to see what year 10 brings! #Unmasking

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Our 2024 Honorees Below, left to right: Leonard Nesmith, Jaime Whalen,

Marla Viturello, Cass Forkin, Ed Satell, Kevin Hyde Photo: Jeremy Messler Photography

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Photos: Center City Photo

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Photos John Wilchek Photography

Photos:Center City Photo

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Photos: John Wilchek Photography

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Photos courtesy Renault Winery & Resort

Main property

Renault Winery & Resort A hidden gem in South Jersey

BY MIKE SHUTE

Just because the celebrations of the holiday season have ended, it doesn’t mean that the fun has to stop. In fact, the hidden gem that is Renault Winery & Resort has plenty of ways to continue to celebrate all of the seasons on the calendar, year-round, as well as those milestone events that life brings.

The property, which sits about 2.5 miles off the White Horse Pike in Egg Harbor City (less than a half hour outside of Atlantic City), has endured the test of time, as well as Prohibition – Renault got a license to sell medicinal wines – and the Great Depression, to emerge 48

in the 21st Century as a full-service resort that can not only be enjoyed by individuals, couples and families, but can also serve as a wonderful choice for weddings. It is one of the oldest continuously operating wineries in the U.S. You can enjoy a romantic date night, a fam-

ily day trip, spend a getaway weekend, play a round of golf and do so much more on this property that started with a dream of French immigrant Louis Renault more than 160 years ago. Renault set out to create champagnes and fine wines to be enjoyed by consumers worldwide and found his place right in the heart of South Jersey.

Another opportunity where the property is also finding its niche is by supplying memorable corporate celebrations and retreats as well as creative outings for employee incentive programs and deluxe team-building experiences.

The setting at Renault is ideal.

The 243-acre site is absolutely loaded with a variety of amenities and virtually the entire

Winemaker Hall

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property has been renovated, updated and upgraded since coming under new ownership in 2019. Despite the changes, Renault’s Business Development Manager Meredith Dickinson says that the vision was always to keep “America’s Most Historic Winery,” just that, steeped in history when Josh and Melanie McCallen of VIVAMEE Hospitality took over in 2019.

“With the new ownership, there are so many upgrades that have helped to make this a modern resort, but at the same time we’ve really made a strong commitment to hold on to our history and embrace it,” said Dickinson. “The idea was to keep the spaces in their original historic state. We really like to repurpose and reuse a lot of the things that were made and created years ago and that helps us keep in touch with our history.”

Large offerings for big events What truly sets Renault apart from your standard resort is the flexibility and customization to hold an event of any size in one of its 19 different venue spaces which combine to offer 33,000 square feet of space. There are versatile options that can accommodate gatherings

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The glass museum

from an intimate group of 12 in the elegant Glass Museum (with a variety of glassware that dates as far back as the 13th century) all the way up to a huge blowout bash of 400 people in one of the ballrooms. And the range of options runs from memorable indoor facilities to creative outdoor patio and garden spaces. Whatever vibe, style and environment you would

like to create, you can find it at Renault, or the planners and staff there can bring it to you.

The crown jewel of Renault’s outdoor spaces has to be Parc Renault, which brings all sorts of options such as corporate picnics, award ceremonies that allow for beautiful views, live music, fire pits, S’mores kits, lawn games, unique food experiences from an onsite food truck,

Photos courtesy Renault Winery & Resort

Renault has a wide variety of Champagne and fine wines.

and Louie’s Lounge, a tented bar and lounge area named after the winery’s founder which will enhance your outdoor experience. It’s available for use throughout the year. Speaking of the outdoors, there’s even space in the vineyard itself where you can hold anything from private dinner outings to yoga classes amidst rows of grapevines.

One other amazing and historic space on the property is The Speakeasy which was operating during Prohibition, the nationwide ban on the production, sale and transportation of alcohol in the U.S. from 1920 through 1933.

Enoch “Nucky” Johnson, the Atlantic City political boss and racketeer upon whom the HBO series Boardwalk Empire (2010-14) was based, was a frequent guest. You almost expect him to walk through the door.

Dickinson explained that the corporate possibilities are truly limitless and really give organizations a chance to set themselves ahead of the pack with their clients, team members or investors by partnering with Renault for some truly unique event options. Renault has event planners and staff who will help create your perfect event.

“The one thing we hear from visitors is that

“You don’t feel like you’re in this cookie-cutter hotel-type of place. People really enjoy the variety of unique spaces.” every room and venue has a different feel to it, so when you’re here for a multi-day event you feel like you’re visiting different spaces and places every day,” Dickinson said. “You don’t feel like you’re in this cookie-cutter hoteltype of place. People really enjoy the variety of unique spaces.”

From tours and tastings at the winery to charter boat experiences along the nearby Jersey Shore, horseback riding, yoga, and even clay shooting, you’re bound to challenge your employees or give them experiences and op-

portunities they’ve probably never encountered before. They’re all great for team bonding and camaraderie in a truly memorable setting.

And with the amazing culinary options, there’s also the chance for exciting food-related experiences. One example is Charcuterie 102, where your group can design, create and enjoy their very own charcuterie boards and learn the proper wines to pair with it thanks to the help of the top-notch chefs and culinary team at your disposal.

Stay, play, eat or just hang out The resort boasts the Château Renault Hotel which carries 55 newly remodeled rooms and suites and merges contemporary design with old-world hospitality to create an escape that gives off rural European vibes. Along with this year’s efforts in completing the guest room renovations, Renault has an eye on adding more guest rooms to its hotel offering in the very near future. Another offering set to be completed in 2025 is Exhale, a full-service spa that will feature a variety of treatment rooms and recovery spaces and amenities such as a well-being boutique, Zen lounge, sauna and a 51

Any time is a good time There is always seasonal programming at Renault that’s open to the public, with familyfriendly events throughout the year.

Although it just wrapped for the winter, an annual highlight at Renault is its Vintner Wonderland, where the facility turns into a magical winter escape with ice skating, wooden cabins, heated igloos, fire pits, holiday lights and of course fine wine (or maybe some hot cocoa).

Mark your calendar and be sure to add this to your 2025 holiday to-do list, running from Black Friday through the third weekend in January. They also have a Holiday Artisan Market that allows visitors to discover unique gifts from local creators.

Renault Winery & Resort often sponsors a variety of 5K runs throughout the year for those who enjoy the chance to take in the bucolic scenery while pushing themselves for a new personal best time. Other fun public offerings 52

Photos courtesy Renault Winery & Resort

Himalayan salt grotto.

The 18-hole, 6,600-plus-yard, par-72 championship golf course, Vineyard National, turns legal wine-drinking age this year. Opened in 2004, it provides golfers with the opportunity to really get a feel for the heritage of Renault Winery as you tee off amongst the original grape vines that Louis Renault himself cultivated to create his famed American Champagne. Vineyard National, like the entire Renault property, is tucked into the Pinelands National Reserve that encompasses most of southeastern New Jersey, so the course certainly gives golfers a taste of that ecosystem. The course has daily tee times open to the public but also offers private memberships and hosts leagues and clinics to help beginners, as well as experienced golfers, sharpen their game. You can ask about having the site host your tournament or outing as well.

Visitors can also find a variety of dining experiences at Renault. Full-service, upscale dining at Taste 1864 provides the right environment, with its historic rustic ambience, for a special night out. It was originally the winery’s tasting room and has been converted into a restaurant. Live music is a staple at Taste too, ranging from talented piano performers, solo singers and even country music nights. Get your dessert on at Café La Fleur with Frenchinspired specialty sweets and treats as well as American farmhouse favorites, plus artisanal coffees and other beverages.

Vineyard National Golf Course was opened in 2004.

are Paint & Sip sessions, cooking classes, Yoga in the Vineyards, Cookies & Cocktails, wine pairing sessions and even educational events such as Meet the Maker where guests will learn how various food items are created. In February, there will be a session with Ciccio’s Olives where they will teach how olive oil is made and how to incorporate it into your cooking.

“There is something for everyone here,” Dick-

inson summarized. “We’re a fully operational resort so we have weddings, social events, private events and we’re open all the time. You can have dinner, stay at the hotel, have a couples’ night, a girls’ getaway. There’s lots of options for sure.” n

To learn more about Renault Winery & Resort, visit their website at renaultwinery.com or follow them on Facebook.

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Michkov the Magician #39

: 5′10″ Height b t: 172 l Weigh : 20) 4 (Age 0 0 2 / 9 2/ Born: 1 m, RUS e: Per c la p h t Bir k : left 7th pic , d Shoots n u t ro 023, 1s 2 : t f a r D

Flyers’ Rookie Matvei Michkov is Taking the League by Storm

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LYERS ROOKIE MATVEI MICHKOV

is turning heads with his goal-scoring, his dazzling playmaking, and his surprisingly hard-nosed play.

He’s also turning heads because, quite simply, he gets it.

Not just on the ice, but by the humble and unassuming way he carries himself — and by the way he treats his teammates and fans.

Example: In a 3-2 overtime win over St. Louis, Michkov scored the game-winner and his teammates presented him with the Player of the Game belt in the locker room. Michkov was grateful, but modest.

Goalie Aleksei Kolosov was more deserving, Michkov said.

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BY SAM CARCHIDI “Koly was the best player,” Michkov, a right winger, said as he walked the belt to his teammate in the locker room.

Example II: With 16.3 seconds left in a 4-2 loss to visiting Utah on Dec. 8, Michkov was ejected and, as he walked to the locker room, a young fan leaned from their seat and asked for his autograph on a water bottle. Michkov, who had blood on his chin from a skirmish that got him ejected, obliged.

Now that’s getting it.

“Should have signed it in blood,” cracked Al Morganti on the NBC Sports Philadelphia broadcast.

COULD BE AWARD WINNER Michkov just turned 20, and he could become the first Flyer to ever win the Rookie of the Year award. At the press deadline in

mid-December, he led NHL rookies in goals (11), power-play goals (5), and points (27 in 29 games) – and had already established himself as the Flyers’ most exciting player.

By far.

Despite his small stature (5-foot-10, 172 pounds), the ultra-intense Michkov has also shown he will mix it up with bigger opponents.

“He’s got some jam to him,” coach John Tortorella said.

But it’s his high hockey IQ that has been his calling card. His teammates, aware of Michkov’s uncanny ability to make a smart play in limited space, need to be ready to receive a pass at all times.

“He is really exceptional. His vision on the ice and his compete level are really high,” said Bill Barber, a Hall of Fame player who is now a senior advisor with the Flyers. “He sees a lot of things

Photo Len Redkoles/Philadelphia Flyers

Matvei Michkov

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Photo Len Redkoles/Philadelphia Flyers

that a lot of hockey players don’t see, and he’s not afraid of traffic. He goes to the areas where you have to get a little bit dirty to succeed.”

Michkov is particularly dangerous – and creative – behind the goal line, and he has bolstered the Flyers’ power play. He shows off his creativity in three-on-three overtimes, where he has more skating room and has three gamewinning goals – all scored when he was 19.

Michkov

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We don’t have anyone like him in the organization, as far as a player, as far as the skill level.”– Danny Briere The Russian right winger is on pace to collect 29 goals, which would be the seventhhighest total in franchise history among rookies, behind only Eric Lindros (41 goals in 1992-93), Mikael Renberg (38 in 1993-94), Brian Propp (34 in 1979-80), Ron Flockhart (33 goals in 1981-82), Dave Poulin (31 in 1983-84), and Barber (30 in 1972-73).

Michkov compares favorably with some of the Flyers’ recent stars. Former Flyer Claude Giroux, for instance, scored 16 goals for the Orange and Black during his first full NHL season, and Mike Richards managed 11 goals in his rookie year with Philly.

“He has a knack for scoring,” defenseman Travis Sanheim told reporters after Michkov deposited two goals in a 4-3 overtime loss in Boston. “He puts himself in a good position to score. That’s just the type of player he is.”

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FLYERS’ GAMBLE PAYS Michkov always had a high ceiling, always had a super-star-in-the-making label.

But because he was under contract with Russia’s KHL – and there were questions about whether he would ever come to North America – he slipped to No.7 in the 2023 draft, even though he was regarded as the No. 2 overall player, behind only Chicago’s Connor Bedard.

To their credit, Flyers general manager Danny Briere and draft guru Brent Flahr took a chance on Michkov, who has quickly become the face of the franchise.

“It’s pretty impressive what he’s done already,” Briere said.

When the Flyers signed Michkov in the summer, Briere was direct.

“We don’t have anyone like him in the organization, as far as a player, as far as the skill level.” he said at the time. “He’s got a lot to learn …. But we never thought that when we drafted him it would result in him coming over a year later, so that’s really exciting.”

When the Flyers drafted Michkov, they didn’t think he would play for them until 202627 because of his three-year contract in Russia’s KHL. But Michkov was released from his contract by SKA St. Petersburg in June. Michkov wanted to go to the NHL, and his KHL team, knowing Michkov’s father, Andrey, died unexpectedly at age 51 last year, felt the young man deserved a break. According to Michkov, his father couldn’t wait for him to reach the NHL. “For humanitarian reasons,” said Dan

Hilferty, chairman of the Flyers’ parent company, Comcast Spectacor, “they decided to release him.”

That started Michkov’s introduction to the NHL. Unlike many of the players the Flyers have chosen in the first round in the last decade, Michkov has lived up to the hype. He’s even thrived under taskmaster coach Tortorella, who benched Michkov for back-to-back games early in the season. “Just part of the process,” Tortorella said of the benchings. The coach loves Michkov’s competitiveness and fiery play but wants him to be more responsible on the defensive end.

After the benchings, Michkov went on a tear, collecting seven goals and 17 points in his next 15 games.

LANGUAGE BARRIER Slowly but surely, Michkov is becoming more comfortable with the English language.

The Flyers still provide a Russian translator when Michkov meets the media. The language barrier is still there, and it will take time before it fades away, but working with a tutor has helped the youngster. Ditto working with Russian teammates Egor Zamula and Ivan Fedotov.

“He speaks better as we’ve gone on here,” said Tortorella, who meets once a week in his office with Michkov and an interpreter to make sure they are on the same page, “but I don’t think he totally understands some of the things we’re going through.”

There is no barrier between Michkov and Flyers fans. If you attend a practice in Voorhees or a game at the Wells Fargo Center, Michkov Mania is in full swing as countless fans wear his No. 39 jerseys.

“I’ve never seen that many jerseys with my name on it,” Michkov said. “It’s an unbelievable feeling.”

In a way, it’s ironic because the Flyers were slow to add Russian players to their roster. In the early part of the franchise, Flyers management tended to look down on Russians because of the Cold War. That has gradually changed over the years. None of the Russians, however, have had an impact like Michkov.

“We don’t see him as a savior,” Briere said early in the season.

Well, maybe not a savior, but a player who will one day lead the long-suffering Flyers into Stanley Cup contention.

“We hope,” Briere said, “the sky’s the limit for him.” n

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BY MARK ECKEL

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN PHILADELPHIA SPORTS

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What better way to start the new year than with a discussion, debate if you will, over the most memorable events in Philadelphia sports history?

As I began to put this list together, I wondered aloud that I hoped I didn’t forget anything. My wife, in her innocence to the subject, responded, “If you forgot it, then it wasn’t that memorable.’’

Good point.

So, with that in mind to start 2025 off right here are the 25 most memorable moments in Philadelphia sports.

Philly Special

Super Bowl LII – Eagles 41, Patriots 33 The wait finally ended.

After so many close calls — two Super Bowl losses, four NFC Championship Game losses — the Eagles were Super Bowl Champions.

And it happened in miraculous fashion. And against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

When MVP candidate Carson Wentz went down for the season with a knee injury it put backup Nick Foles in charge. Foles had bounced from the Eagles to the Rams to the Chiefs and now back to the Eagles.

His performance in SB LII is arguably the greatest in the game’s existence. Foles threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns and called and engineered “Philly Special’’ in which he caught a touchdown pass on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

1985 NCAA Championship David Beats Goliath – Villanova 66, Georgetown 64 It was going to take a perfect effort in every phase of the game for Villanova to beat Georgetown.

And that’s exactly what happened.

The Hoyas were 35-2 and had five future NBA players on their roster.

They were heavy favorites from the start of the tournament and in the final.

Villanova entered the tournament 16-10 and its first three wins in the tournament were by a combined nine points. The Wildcats didn’t have a chance.

Then they shot 22-for-28 from the field, nine-for-10 in the second half, worked every possession with precision, and the greatest upset in NCAA history was in the books.

1980 World Series Phillies are World Champs – Phillies beat Royals in 6 Games The team that collapsed in the ‘60s, that couldn’t beat the Reds or the Dodgers in the ‘70s made 1980 its year.

Winning the NL East had become commonplace, and they did it again in ’80 behind Cy Young Award winner Steve Carlton.

The Phillies then survived a grueling 5-game NLCS against Houston, in which four of the five games went extra innings.

It was the Royals in the World Series and this time the Phils would not be denied. Series MVP Mike Schmidt hit .371 with 2 HRs and 7 RBI. When Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth of Game 6, the Phillies had their first title.

100 Wilt Chamberlain puts up triple digits against the Knicks You probably know 10,000 people, or so, who told you they were at the game on March 2, 1962, in Hershey, Pa. when Wilt scored 100 points in a 169-147 win over New York. In actuality, the attendance that night was 4,124.

Chamberlain, who had scored 78 points in a game a few months earlier and averaged 50.4 points per game for the season, became the first and only NBA player to ever score 100.

The big man shot 36-for-63 from the field and 28-for-32 from the foul line that memorable night in 1962.

2008 World Series The Drought Ends – Phillies beat Rays in 5 Games Philadelphia didn’t have a championship from any of its “Big 4’’ professional teams since 1983. The city was starved.

And the Phillies, with only one championship beforehand (and none since) fed it.

Led by Series MVP Cole Hamels, the Phils dispatched the Rays in five games. When Brad Lidge, who was perfect in save situations all season, got the last out of Game 5 at home the city celebrated as if it hadn’t won anything in 25 years. Well, because it hadn’t.

Bullies go Back-to-Back Flyers win the 1974 and 1975 Stanley Cups Head coach Fred Shero brought a different brand of hockey to Philadelphia. It was physical. There were fights. And it was fun.

Led by a high-scoring line of Reggie Leach, Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber and the outstanding goaltending of Bernie Parent the Flyers didn’t just win their first Stanley Cup, they went back-to-back.

In 1974, The Broad St. Bullies, as Philadelphia Bulletin writer Jack Chevalier first called them, became the first expansion team to win The Cup when they beat the well-established Boston Bruins. The following year they did it again with a Cup final win over the Buffalo Sabres.

A Really Cold War Flyers beat the Red Army What better way to get the Bicentennial started than on Jan. 11, 1976, when the Soviet’s Red Army team, thought to be unbeatable, came to Philadelphia and lost to the Flyers, 4-1.

To some, especially at that time, this win meant more than either of 59

the team’s Stanley Cups.

When the Flyers Ed Van Impe knocked Russian star Valeri Kharlamov to the ice and no penalty was called, the Soviet coach pulled his team off the ice. They came back when Flyers owner Ed Snider said they wouldn’t be paid. But they never came back in a game the Flyers dominated.

Concrete Charlie and The Dutchman Eagles win 1960 NFL Title – Eagles 17, Packers 13 Chuck Bednarik, who played both linebacker and center for the Eagles, and got his nickname because he sold concrete in the offseason, and quarterback Norm Van Brocklin led the Eagles to what no other players or team ever did.

They beat Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers in a playoff game.

Debt Paid 76ers win 1983 NBA Title with sweep of Lakers Julius Erving, after one of the Sixers several playoff disappointments, told fans in a commercial “We owe you one.’’

With the acquisition of center Moses Malone that offseason, Erving and Co, finally paid the debt with the NBA title over a Lakers team that had beaten them three years earlier.

The Wright Stuff Villanova wins two NCAA titles in three years They never had the McDonald’s All-Americans that Kentucky, Kansas or Duke got. What they had was a good team with a great coach.

Jay Wright guided Villanova to two NCAA titles in three years, beating North Carolina, 7774, on Kris Jenkins’ 3-pointer at the buzzer in 2016 and coming back two years later to beat Michigan, 79-62.

Back-to-Back Shutouts Eagles win NFL titles in 1948 and 1949 Running back Steve Van Buren was the star for those champion Eagles. It was the defense who shone in the championship games.

The Eagles beat the Cardinals, 7-0, in 1948.

And came back the following season to shut out the Rams, 14-0, in the ’49 title game.

The Dipper and The Kid Sixers win 1967 NBA title Wilt Chamberlain, who turned 30 during the season, and 23-year-old Billy “The Kangaroo Kid’’ Cunningham helped the Sixers to their first NBA title in seven games over the Warriors.

Ironically, “The Kid’’ became “The Coach’’ when the Sixers won their next and last title.

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500 April 18, 1987 Mike Schmidt becomes first Phillies player to reach milestone Schmidt’s 500th of his 548 career home runs came in Pittsburgh against Don Robinson. The Phillies trailed 6-5 and were down to their last out when Schmidt “hit a long drive to left. . .’’

Tragedy Times Two Two of the brightest young stars in Philadelphia sports saw their lives taken way too soon in car crashes.

Flyers’ goalie Pelle Lindbergh was killed in a crash of his Porsche on Nov. 11, 1985, the night of a Flyers win over the Bruins in which he had the game off. Pelle was 26.

Eagles defensive tackle Jerome Brown was killed in a crash of his Corvette on June 25, 2002, in Brooksville, Fla. during the offseason.

Brown was 27.

T.O. The Arrival and Departure Terrell Owens spent just 20 months as an Eagles. It felt like 20 years.

He arrived in controversy when a trade from the 49ers to the Ravens was vetoed and he was allowed to go from the 49ers to the Eagles.

There was never a training camp like the one in Lehigh in 2004 where cars lined up for miles on a daily basis. And the crowd sang his name, or initials, throughout practice.

On the field, he helped the team reach the Super Bowl and played in

the game with a broken leg.

And then came the awkward departure, complete with a suspension and him doing sit-ups on his front lawn in front of a horde of media.

Super Steve The 1972 season The Phillies won 59 games in 1972. Steve Carlton won 27 of those games. Carlton was 27-10 with a 1.97 ERA and had 310 strikeouts for a really bad team.

Perfect Together Bunning and Halladay Since 1900 there have been exactly 22 perfect games thrown in MLB. The Phillies have two of those.

Jim Bunning did it on June 21, 1964, against the Mets in a 6-0 win in which he needed just 90 pitches.

Roy Halladay was perfect against the Marlins in a 1-0 win, on May 29, 2010, throwing 115 pitches.

The Fight of the Century There has never been a heavyweight fight before or since with more anticipation than Joe Frazier/Muhammad Ali I. March 8, 1971, at Madison Square Garden the two undefeated boxers met with the title on the line. Frazier was the champ, taking the title in a tournament when Ali vacated it when he went to prison instead of the Army.

Philadelphia’s Smokin’ Joe won by unanimous decision.

The 1999 NFL draft For the past 25 years right before the draft starts, they play the clip of Eagles fans booing the selection of Donovan McNabb.

Nobody forgets it, especially McNabb.

The fans didn’t really boo the quarterback, however, they booed that he wasn’t Ricky Williams.

Hextall Scores a Goal Flyers’ goalie Ron Hextall became the first goalie to ever score a goal by shooting the puck into the opponents net in an NHL game when he did so against the Bruins in a 5-2 Flyers win, December 8, 1987.

The 2001 Sixers and A.I. We didn’t want to include teams that got to a final and lost, because the list would grow too long. But the Allen Iverson-led 76ers captured the city that year. And there were very few athletes in the city’s history that were as intriguing as Iverson.

1964 The Phillies Collapse Memorable isn’t always good.

The Phils were up 6 1/2 games in the NL with 12 to play. They lost the next 10 straight, the first seven at home. And the Cardinals caught and passed them for the pennant.

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Gola Goal LaSalle wins 1954 NCAA title Led by Tom Gola, the Explorers won the ’54 title beating Penn State in the Final 4 and Bradley for the championship in Kansas City.

The Keenan Years An unknown coach took over basically an unknown team and took them to two Stanley Cup finals in 1995 and 1997. Both times they lost to the dynasty known as the Edmonton Oilers.

Mike Keenan’s four years with the Flyers never got him a Cup, but he would later get one with the Rangers.

The Stars are Born While football fans suffered and waited for the Eagles to win a title after 1960, along came the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL. They made the title game in 1983 only to lose to Michigan. But the Stars came back in 1984 and beat Arizona for the title, July 15, 1984. Had to include this, of course, because JerseyMan and PhillyMan’s publisher, Ken Dunek, played for the Stars. n

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TECH TIME

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BY ANTHONY MONGELUZO

Future Gear

Tech Trends That’ll Blow Your Mind in 2025

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ENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE FUTURE. It’s 2025, and if you think tech hit its peak with AI chatbots and foldable phones, prepare to have your mind officially blown. The gadgets, gizmos, and game-changers rolling out now are cooler than a Bond gadget and smarter than your last smartwatch. Let’s dive into the tech trends making this year a playground for grown-ups who love their toys.

The Rise of Biohacking Gear

Smart Everything: Your Jacket Knows Your Mood

Quantum Computing: The Brainiest Trend

Remember when your phone was the only “smart” thing you owned?

That’s ancient history. Now, everything is smart—your jacket monitors your body temp and suggests a smoothie (or whiskey, depending on the mood), your shoes give you real-time running stats, and your sunglasses adjust tint for the perfect vibe. Heck, even your coffee mug has an AI assistant.

Okay, this one’s for the geeks, but quantum computing is quietly revolutionizing everything from cybersecurity to online gaming. It’s like upgrading from a bicycle to a rocket ship, except the rocket ship is made of algorithms and makes your internet blazingly fast.

The future is now, and it’s caffeinated.

2025 is the year you stop dreaming about the future and start living it.

Whether you’re upgrading your wardrobe with tech-infused fabrics, fine-tuning your body with AI, or just enjoying the ease of a smarter coffee mug, one thing’s for sure—life’s about to get a whole lot more interesting.

AI, but Make It Personal Artificial Intelligence isn’t just for automating emails or writing your breakup texts anymore. In 2025, AI is your personal coach, therapist, and wingman. Need a dinner suggestion? It knows what you’re craving before you do. Awkward pause on a date? Your smartwatch discreetly feeds you conversation starters.

AI might not make you smarter, but it sure makes you seem smarter.

Virtual Reality 3.0: Not Just for Gamers VR in 2025 isn’t about clunky headsets and cartoonish graphics anymore. It’s full immersion. Think full-contact virtual sports, lifelike vacations from your couch, and boardroom meetings where you actually high-five a hologram.

Pro tip: Virtual surfing is cool. Just remember not to lean too far forward in your chair.

Space Tech Hits the Mainstream You might not be booking a one-way ticket to Mars just yet, but space tech is getting seriously down-to-earth. Satellites are helping you track your fitness with pinpoint accuracy, and asteroid-mined metals are popping up in luxury watches and custom car builds.

“Limited edition” just got an intergalactic upgrade.

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Forget protein shakes and wearables—biohacking is the name of the game. Implantable tech is making a splash, from chips that let you pay for your beer with a wave of your hand to health monitors that track your vitals 24/7.

Not ready for implants? No worries—there are plenty of gadgets that promise to turn you into a walking productivity machine without breaking the skin.

What Does It All Mean for You?

So, gents, embrace the gadgets, get ahead of the trends, and remember: the future isn’t just here—it’s wearable, wireless, and probably charging in your pocket. n